Congratulations to the Dixie Chicks on their Grammy achievement last night . . . Album, Record, and Song of the Year for 2006!

This "rare" group photograph was snapped following a 2004 concert at the Fox Theater in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to this group shot, I was also fortunate to take individual pictures with Natalie, Emily, and Martie.

Yesterday and Friday evening were busy days in Springfield. In addition to trying to find out if the George Clooney and Matt Damon rumors were true (they were not!), I spent some time with four-time Boston and four-time NYC marathon champion Bill Rodgers at the Springfield Road Runners Club annual "Monster Mash."

"Boston Billy" likes . . . uh, "loves" to talk about his running experiences. As he signed a 1979 Boston Marathon poster, he carefully detailed each person shown on the poster, as well as why he took his cap off the last several hundred yards of the race (he thought he'd be faster). He also signed a Sports Illustrated and talked extensively about the 1978 race depicted on the cover.

The next day I was up early, still trying to check out those rumors. I did get an up close view of Senator Barak Obama as left the Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Convention Center to make his announcement that he would be a candidate for President of the United States. He was running late as he left, so he opted not to stop for pictures or autographs.

No problem, though, as I have this great photograph with the Senator when he visited Jacksonville last year.

After Obama departed the hotel, I made my way to the Old State Capitol to check out the scene. It was a packed house! After the announcement, the crowds thinned and I made my way to the media area where MSNBC's Chris Matthews was conducting a live shot. I did manage to acquire some quality air time "in the background" during the live shot. I caught up with Chris afterwards as he was checking out of his hotel. The "Hardball" host was accommodating with the photograph and autograph requests, and he was especially thankful to be out of the cold weather.

Finally, how often do you get the chance for a photo opportunity with two legends . . . Mark Twain and Abe Lincoln!

The Police reunite tonight!

Stewart Copeland, Andy Summers, and Sting will take the stage at tonight's 49th Annual Grammy Awards for their first ever Grammy performance. What will they sing? Roxanne, Message in a Bottle, Every Breath You Take, King of Pain, Synchronicity II, Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, Spirits in the Material World, Don't Stand So Close to Me, Wrapped Around Your Finger, Can't Stand Missing You . . . so many choices. Whatever they sing, I'm sure it will bring back memories of seeing the Police live in 1983 at the Assembly Hall in Champaign. It's the first time The Police will perform together since 1984.

This photograph, above left, with Sting was taken last May in New York City as he left a TOFOG (Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts) concert. One of the members of TOFOG . . . Russell Crowe.

It's always good when you can get an autograph and picture "inside" when the temperature "outside" is below freezing . . . way below freezing. That was the case Saturday night as we "crashed the party" at the fund-raiser for the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival Scholarship Program at the Sheldon Concert Hall. The special guest was Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss. While we patiently waited to meet Richard, we dined at the dessert table and enjoyed a drink from the bar. After the initial rush subsided, we made our way over to his table. Richard was in a great mood and chatted us up while signing our items and taking pictures.