OK. I'm shallow. So sue me. But I have to tell you because it's so funny.

I was honored today (Wednesday) with the excellence in media award by the Mayor's Alliance for Persons With Disabilities for many years of coverage of the disabled.

The irony, given I was recently dumped by my former media employer, was impossible not to note.

So I noted it to the crowd, who laughed along with me.

As I said in a post on www.sticksoffire.com, maybe I got the sympathy vote.

That's OK.

I took home a lovely trophy and the warmth of hugs from Mayor Pam Iorio, Becki Forsell of Yes! United, Connie Hayden-McPeak of the Hillsborough County school system and many others who were there whom I know and respect.

It was a terrific day.

So was the day before and the day before that.

Life is very good these days.

Recently, I signed on with a group who are among my favorites in the entire world: The Animal Coalition of Tampa, www.actampa.org. I'll be helping them publicize the importance of spaying and/or neutering your pet, which can be done at a reduced rate at ACT's spay and neuter clinic on Lemon Avenue in Tampa.

I've also agreed to do some freelancing for the St. Petersburg Times.

All of this has left me a little short on time to spoil the grandkids, although I was able to fit a visit in to the candy store the other day with the Little Prince and The Girl Who Will Move Mountains.

Actually, it isn't a candy store, but a GFS market where candy and other goodies are available in large lots. We stock up once a month or so on all the crap they can possibly eat.

I even let John Michael drive the Saturn Vue the mile or so of relatively quiet residential streets to pick up Emily.

When we pulled into the driveway at her house, she yelled: "I'm not getting in the car if he's driving"

Don't worry, I told her. I'm not driving with him either on major thoroughfares.

Well, not yet.