* My mom’s birthday was yesterday, and it didn’t end all that well for her. Mom is a bigtime Hillary Clinton supporter, despite having a personal friendship with Barack Obama. Last night’s primary results crushed her hopes that a woman would be elected president this year.

Like many smart, strong women in her age group, my mom has always been a trailblazer. She’s been the “first woman” to do so many things that i can’t even count them any more. Yet, she always had plenty of time for her family, which she cherishes above all else in this world.

A quick story. Mom worked for the US Department of Defense in Germany and was often sent away on temporary duty assignments. A memory that came back to me this week was arriving home from school and discovering that Mom had found the time to come home during her lunch hour and bake a pie for her five sons.

I don’t know why that memory popped into my brain, but it certainly gave me a warm feeling. Thanks, Mom, for everything.

* Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday and Joan Reeder, the wife of Small Newspaper Statehouse Bureau Chief Scott Reeder, has a wonderful reason to celebrate. From Scott…

Anna Rose Reeder was born at 7:33 am Tuesday at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. She weighed in at 8 pounds and 1 ounce. She is 20 1/2 inches long and has a full head of hair. Both Mom and baby are doing great. Big sister, Grace, is thrilled. We are quite blessed.

* I ran into Lt. Governor Pat Quinn yesterday and he asked me to pass along his thanks to all of you for your witty, well-written comments on Tuesday’s Question of the Day. He seemed quite impressed with your abilities. I always brag that I have the best commenters in the business, so keep up the good work.