Coolest dog costume ever

Puppy trick or treat in old town

Day off with the puppies? Priceless

Me in Iowa with Heath Hill and Caree Severson

My friend Caree just posted this photo on Facebook. It’s one of my all-time favorite photos, because it reminds me of the stories that come, rarely, that really affect you deeply. This was taken after a morning spent pheasant hunting with Rep. Tom Tancredo and a bunch of his supporters out in Iowa. Heath and Caree and I had spent a week on a road with the congressman. I was amazed that they let me drive around the back roads with them, as Heath swilled Mountain Dew and Caree tried to bolster Tancredo’s spirits. He was, after all, possibly the darkest horse in the Republican presidential primary field. He was drawing crowds of 20 or so, but admitted to me that sometimes he’d show up for a campaign rally and nobody at all would be there. My friends on the left spend a lot of time dissing the gun-toting, immigration-hating crowd, calling them racists, red-necks, and a thousand other loaded phrases. But Caree, Heath, the congressman – if you could have spent a week on the road with them, you would have seen how much passion they have for this cause they so truly believe in, how much they care about their country, how much pleasure they take in doing the right thing, the kindness they show to everybody they meet, and their generosity of spirit. Heath is one of the best men I’ve ever met – gracious, kind, gentle, strong, articulate, thoughtful, devoted to his family and his faith and his community. Caree has faced tremendous sorrow in her life with grace and goodness, and she always finds a way to turn sadness into a positive for all around her. I’ve never liked two people I’ve covered as much as I like Caree and Heath, and I am so blessed that they welcomed me into their lives last year. I hope they will always be a part of mine.

Chris is master of his domain

Lovely morning