The News. Hey how is it.

I got an upright bass. I haven't practiced much or at all. I am in the process of working up the courage.

Tonight a new roommate moved in. He is a recent engineering grad. Working at Sundstrand. Young and Fresh. He has 2 road bikes that are pretty sweet. He brought me a 2L bottle of fresh maple syrup that he made with a friend. I like him. He will be easy to have around. Oh, and his favorite bands are Phish and DMB.

Tomorrow another guy moves in. He is a second year law student (next year 3rd) at University of Iowa. He has a summer internship in Rockford. Very funny guy. He likes to build things.

I got 30 baby chicks in the mail yesterday and 5 baby turkeys. They will get big and jaded some day... but right now, they are precious. I took them into the church school and showed the little kids. They squealed. Did you know there are kids that might not otherwise ever see a baby chicken. One girl said to me as I was leaving, "Miss Ashley, I too am an animal lover." So earnest and sincere. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I planned on butchering the turkey's for Thanksgiving. Maybe I guess, I just have enough common sense to not tell her.

Matt has elk on his farm. And he has some pregnant ones. I am going up there next weekend, and Adrienne is meeting me there, to hopefully spot some babies. I really hope it happens. Maybe we will see one being born. Miracle of life.

Tonight my mom had a surprise birthday party for Florise. She is 88. I think my mom is so nice to do those types of things. You could tell Florise really appreciated it.

Etson graduated from college.

I saw Sandra Day O'Connor speak this week in Chicago at the Bar Association meeting. She was insightful and amazing.

The point of one thing she said: being right should be more important than being important and fairness should trump power. FAIRNESS SHOULD TRUMP POWER. What is that? That the underprivileged child who has no parent to fight for him... should be treated fair regardless of the fact that there are powerful people in opposition to him. trump. If you don't know what trump is-- it is a card concept. Look it up.