We also heard that her "book" The Dad Who Hates Christmas (ahem) was one of only two books chosen from three class levels at her school to be submitted to the regionals! I'm very proud of her, and glad that I busted my ass in helping her with making the binding look good (oh, and providing my particular brand of grumpy inspiration).
Add to this the phone call I just got from my buddy Bob (who'd sort of "fallen off the radar" after coming down here to help get everything out of my Mom's place two summers ago) saying he was going to be in town for a thing down at Navy Pier tomorrow and would come up afterward to help me cheer the BEARS (have you been practicing?) on to victory tomorrow! Very cool.