LBL’s Eggner’s Ferry Bridge Collapse Updates

Last Update: 11:20 a.m. Saturday, January 28, 2012 – Update from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

See photos and more on our Facebook page.

Eggner’s Ferry Bridge Partially Collapses Following Boat Hit – News Roundup

Chad Lampe (2012-01-27) 

Click here for the audio report

The now partially collapsed Eggner’s Ferry Bridge remains split by a 312 foot cargo vessel called the Delta Mariner. The ship struck the nearly 80 year old bridge last night. Around 2800 vehicles cross the bridge connecting Marshall County to Land Between the Lakes each day. Cadiz resident Jim Dimitrious was one of those drivers last night. “I’ve been here for ten years, and you get used to seeing certain things, barges going by, and this one looked a little bit high out of the water. I just slowed down and approached it and thought I’m going to watch it and it wasn’t moving. I got up to the top of the bridge, two vehicles were ahead and I said I think I’m not going to go any farther. Mtr Parkere walked back and said I almost went off. So we blocked the bridge.”

A college tennis team from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga also narrowly escaped the collapsed bridge. Coach Carlos Garcia. “Fortunate enough to be over the bridge in the time that we were, and again, you take a few more minutes at a rest stop, or at dinner, and who know what would have happened.”

Neither Kentucky transportation cabinet officials or Foss Maritime, which operates the ship, have issued a statement on the cause of the accident. Transportation Cabinet Spokesman Keith Todd says despite planned work for navigation lights today, they were working. “As a matter of fact some of them were still working after the crash.”

Foss spokesman Sam Sacco says his company is leaving the investigation to the Coast Guard. “Lights have been mentioned, but again that will all be part of a Coast Guard Investigation.” Sacco says the ship was carrying Atlas five rockets. He says they’re stable and there are no environmental concerns associated with the accident.

HWY officials don’t know whether the bridge is repairable but they expect a long closure for this corridor to LBL. KYTC Engineer Kevin Mclaren says inspectors are on site to determine if the still standing portions of the bridge are safe for boat passage underneath. Highway officials are unsure about new routes across Kentucky Lake, no one has commented whether a Ferry would be viable. Mclaren says the Coastguard will maintain the safety zone on the lake until it’s deemed safe for boats to pass under the remaining structure.

Gov. Beshear Directs Immediate Development of Options:

Governor Steve Beshear today announced the immediate review of options for restoring the US 68/KY 80 bridge over Kentucky Lake after a large vessel struck the span last night and destroyed a main truss. Lieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Mike Hancock will visit the bridge today and talk with local officials about the investigation, alternate routing, and impact on nearby communities. “We are grateful that this wreck caused no injuries or loss of life. Since that bridge carries 2,800 cars every day, we were very fortunate that no one was on the span at that time,” said Gov. Beshear. “We’ll turn our attention to a full inspection of the bridge and determine what steps we can take next to speed up the replacement of that important artery.” Lt. Gov. Abramson and Secretary Hancock will be visiting the command center near site of bridge accident and collapse today, to discuss investigation and future options for bridge.

TN Tennis Team Escapes Narrowly

Chad Lampe (2012-01-27) 

A Tennessee College Tennis team narrowly escaped the collapsed Eggner’s Ferry Bridge last night. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Tennis team was traveling to western Kentucky for a match. The team had just crossed the nearly 80 year old bridge when the Delta Mariner struck the road deck of the bridge, causing a 300 foot span to collapse. UTC Tennis Coach Carlos Garcia: “I think we’re gonna enjoy today a little differently than just two teams trying to get a win.” Officials say no vehicles were on the bridge when the ship hit and no one on the vessel was injured. The massive ship designed for inland waterway travel was traveling outside the main channel and struck the bridge close to shore.

Update on the tennis match: The Murray State men’s tennis team dropped their opening match of the 2011-12 season to Chattanooga, 7-0, at the Kenlake Tennis Center in Aurora, Ky.

Update from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

11:15 A.M. Saturday

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet bridge inspectors plan to continue inspection work on the US 68/KY 80 Eggner’s Ferry Bridge.  A 322 ft. section of the bridge was hit and taken down by a large cargo vessel on Thursday night. Saturday, inspectors completed a check of the west portion of the remaining bridge structure and found it to be stable but deemed the east approach to be possibly unstable and ordered everyone off except for essential personnel. KYTC traffic crews have completed installing signage to provide a marked detour to help motorists displaced by the closed bridge. The closed bridge turns a 20 mile trip from Aurora to Cadiz into a 64 mile trip. Meanwhile, engineers have asked emergency management personnel and participating police agencies to take appropriate action to keep the public off the bridge. The main concern is that people will come out on sight-seeing trips and attempt to get on the bridge for a closer look at the damage. It is unsafe for the public to be on the bridge at this time.

Leaders Respond:

Sen. Bob Leeper, of Paducah: “I appreciate the quick response by the Governor and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to help this situation in western Kentucky. I look forward to working with them to explore all the available possibilities for a solution for the transportation needs of this area.”

Sen. Ken Winters, of Murray: “I encourage our citizens to remain calm and patient as our state transportation officials investigate the structure and determine next steps. I thank the Governor and Transportation Secretary for their immediate attention to this matter, and I hope that they will fully explore many alternatives, even temporary bridges, to best serve the people of western Kentucky.”

Rep. Will Coursey, of Symsonia: ”I think Governor Beshear’s plan for an immediate review of our available options is an excellent first step in getting this bridge back open. I have been working with House leaders to see what more we can do while we are in legislative session, and want the people to know that the General Assembly stands ready to act.”

Sec. Hancock: “At this moment, we’re assessing the situation to see whether repair is feasible. We also will be exploring whether construction of the new bridge can be accelerated.”

Lt. Gov. Abramson: “We had already committed in our new six-year highway plan to replace this bridge, because we know what an important route it is for our citizens in western Kentucky. We will shift our focus to determining how to restore that route as quickly and safely as we can.”

Governor Steve Beshear:  “We are grateful that this wreck caused no injuries or loss of life. Since that bridge carries 2,800 cars every day, we were very fortunate that no one was on the span at that time. We’ll turn our attention to a full inspection of the bridge and determine what steps we can take next to speed up the replacement of that important artery.”

U.S. Senator Rand Paul: “I am relieved that it appears no one was hurt in the accident. I have used the bridge many times and know how big of an inconvenience it will be for people to take the long way around the lakes. I will visit the bridge today to meet with local officials and find out what happened and what must happen to get the road reopened, and I will do what I can to help with this situation.” Senator Paul visited the site Friday to speak with media.

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell: “I am thankful that reports indicate no one was injured in last night’s cargo ship accident at Eggner Ferry Bridge.  My office remains in contact with state officials and I have sent a staff member to the scene to update me. I will continue to closely monitor the situation.”

U.S. Congressman Ed Whitfield: “I join my fellow Kentuckians in giving thanks that there were no injuries or loss of life from this terrible accident. I will continue to monitor the situation and work to ensure all Federal agencies with jurisdiction remain on top of this incident so that this vital roadway is restored as soon as possible.” Congressman Whitfield visited the site Friday to speak with media.

All About the Delta Mariner

According to the Foss Maritime Company website, the Delta Mariner is a 312-foot long and 8,000 horsepower supply ship that transports space-bound hardware, including common booster cores, for the Boeing Delta IV rocket program. It’s designed to navigate shallow inland waterways and the open ocean. The ship hauls rocket components 550 miles from the Boeing factory in Decatur, Alabama, down the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway to Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, through the Panama Canal, arriving at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. http://www.foss.com/stories_boeing.html (Update: It appears this link is now inactive)

See photos of the Delta Mariner on Flickr.

Bridge Detour Routes

Gary Pitts 1.26.12

MURRAY, KY (wkms) -

With the collapse of the US68/KY80 Eggner’s Ferry Bridge spanning Kentucky Lake, the only way around is either north at the I-24 crossing, or south in Tennessee at the Hwy 79 crossing. Western Kentucky residents heading east who live closer to the Tennessee border would be served best heading down to Hwy 79 either on Hwy 121 south or US 641, then taking 79 east towards Clarksville intersecting with I-24. Those who are north of Mayfield or Benton would need to head north on the Purchase Parkway intersecting with I-24 there.

The Kentucky State Police request that motorist who normally travel westbound on US 68 through the Land between the Lakes to please avoid LBL and KY 453 or The Trace as well as US 68.

Parks Remain Open

Both Lake Barkley and Kenlake State Resort Parks remain open. Guests should use alternative routes, such as Interstate 24 on the northern end of the Land Between the Lakes.

Coast Guard Establishes Safety Zone

Gary Pitts 1.26.12

MURRAY, KY (wkms)

The established Safety Zone stretches one mile north and south of the bridge.

Coast Guard officials say an inspection team from Paducah, KY is on board the vessel that struck the bridge to determine damage and cause.  The Delta Marina is a 312-ft supply/freight ship. Officials say it was carrying empty space rocket shells.

US Coast Guard officials have established a water Safety Zone around the collapsed Eggner’s Ferry Bridge restricting water traffic. Officials say at least four local law enforcement boats are patrolling the area, and one Coast Guard vessel is en route to inspect the damaged ship that hit the bridge.

Bridge Collapse Disables Internet Connections

Gary Pitts

MURRAY, KY (wkms)

A Graves County Education official says as a result of the bridge collapse, internet connections to at least six different school districts are down. Calloway, Graves, Mayfield, McCracken, and Paducah Independent districts have all lost internet access.

Tommy Phillips, Manager of Network Services for Murray State University confirms that the reason MSU’s primary Internet connection is down is due to cut fibers as a result of the bridge collapse. The university is currently running on backup Internet connection, with a lower bandwidth capacity than the primary. This means that Internet access will be noticeably slower, and it will likely be days before the primary connection is back up. He asks for patience as they explore options to restore Internet services to the normal level.

Weekend Energy Preview 1-28

Here’s what’s in the mix this week. It’s so destructive; it’s like steering a boat full of expensive rocket cargo into an old foggy bridge, rendering tons of metal and concrete into a ridiculous pile of spaghetti!

Highlights

Major Lazer – Original Don feat. The Partysquad (Flosstradamus Remix) –  Here we are again. Another song by Major Lazer in the highlights section. You probably think I’ll just highlight anything they do? Well, you’re probably right. I wasn’t a huge fan of the original mix of Original Don. It was less dancehall than their flawless album Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do, and instead had a very standard hardstyle drumbeat. But that’s what Diplo and Switch sought to do in the first place. Take an underground musical style, one perhaps even reviled, and spin it into an infectious web that eats your face (in a good way). For closed-minded individuals like myself, check out the Flosstradamus remix, because it blows out the track into an incredible moombahton rhythm, complete with sounds all too familiar to those who follow Diplo’s work. While you’re at it, check out the swinging music video for this song.

Gato Preto – Tschukudu (Flore Remix) – See this week’s “Discovery” below.

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip – Cauliflower feat Kid A (Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix) – I was almost done with the mix, but missing like four minutes. I thought, you know what this needs? Some Dan le Sac & Scroobius Pip. They will absolutely enhance any mix for any get-together, whether it’s a soiree, business meeting, or block party. The lyrical throwdown between Dan and Kid A is what obviously makes this song, but what makes the remix is the dissonant guitar riffs from Does It Offend You, Yeah? reminiscent of their song “We Are Rockstars.” The remix is as complex and sophisticated as anything Dan le Sac & Scroobius Pip have put out. Do yourself a favor and pick up their albums Angles and The Logic of Chance, if you haven’t already. Here’s the official video for the original mix.

St. Lucia – We Got It Wrong – It’s the song I didn’t want to like, but couldn’t resist. I guess that’s a highlight, eh? Anyway, this song closes out the first hour tonight. It’s totally mellow, with a low rumbling thunderstorm of drums and otherworldly singing. It’s not really dance-y, but just resonates in your head. Like their name, it feels warm and tropical, though a bit agitated. If I were on the beach listening to this, I’d probably be wondering if it’s time to pack it up and go inside (but in a good way). St. Lucia may be just out of range for Weekend Energy, but their music is splendorous. Doing a quick iTunes search, here I see four tracks (three and a remix). All of them are nothing short of excellent. So I suppose that gives them a perfect track record. How many artists have that? Just a link to the song, but enjoy it.

Discovery

Gato Preto

WOWOWOW. This Portuguese/Mozambique duo blew me away this week with their single “Tschukudu.” It’s got a sick Brazilian tribal beat by DJ Lee and intense Portuguese rapping by Gato. Everything about this song is cooler than the other things in the mix this week. 2012 started out a bit ho-hum until earlier this week when I stumbled upon a bundle of remixes of this song. Though I love the raw intensity of the original mix, I was floored by the Flore remix (unintentional alliteration). It tones down some of the halting beats and makes it more of a deep house rumbler. It’s perfect for the mid-hour, like throwing a curveball into your ears. Gato Preto looks stylish, they sound unique, they are certain to stand out from the crowd as they certainly stand out in the mix tonight. Can’t wait to hear more!

Check out an interview and some live performing:

Almost Made It

Rusko

On his Wikipedia page, Rusko is defined as an English dubstep producer, though his dubstep is different than the harder Skrillex sound that’s really taken off. Rusko has a much gentler approach, with more of a dnb influence. Just check out his stellar single Everyday, or his remix of Sunday Girl’s Stop Hey, or his remix of Dutch Flowers by Skream. It just sounds more sophisticated. So I almost had Sigma’s remix of Somebody To Love in the mix, but took it out in favor of the dnb song Reach by Tantrum Desire. Rusko always gets in the mix, though. I’ll probably put this in next week.

Second Hour Rewind

The second hour rewind is the previous week’s first hour. In this mix, hear Scarlett & The Pixels, Thecocknbullkid, Gooseflesh, Gemini Club, Afrojack, and Neelix. Thecocknbullkid is one of those artists that makes a big splash and then recedes away into the ocean. Unless you have a British iTunes account or something, you’ll have a tricky time finding her songs – including some of her best “One Eye Closed” and “Yellow.” I loved her 2009 album Querelle, in particular the single “I’m Not Sorry.” It had a brash, hard beat that just melted into the vocals, leading up to a super catchy chorus, but that’s all I got. I’d complain to Cocknbullkid, but she’s not sorry.

 

“Crank up your stereo, bust out the strobe light and kick up the bass.”

Weekend Energy has been blowing out car stereo systems, upsetting the neighbors and enhancing the night life of western Kentucky every weekend since July 2007 on WKMS. Host Matt “McG” Markgraf pours through hundreds of songs each week to create “the loudest show on public radio” featuring the best techno, dance and electronica from around the world. Weekend Energy airs Saturdays on 91.3 WKMS from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Stream it live on wkms.org Saturday nights.

Hear the show streaming online or else.

Datebook: January 27 – Yue Fei Wrongly Executed 870 Years Ago

Yue Fei was a Chinese military general during the era of the Southern Song Dynasty. He is best known for leading the defense of Southern Song against invaders from the Jurchen-ruled Jin Dynasty in northern China, before being put to death by the Southern Song government. He was granted the posthumous name of “Wumu” by Emperor Xiaozong in 1169, and later granted the posthumous title of “Prince of E” by Emperor Ningzong in 1211. Widely seen as a patriot and national hero in China, since after his death, Yue Fei has evolved into a standard epitome of loyalty in Chinese culture. Despite his sweeping victory over the Northern Song, pushing his troops northward, his efforts were opposed by a party seeking appeasement within the capital led by minister Qin Hui. Yue Fei was ordered to return from the battlefield, and obeyed the Emperor’s command. On January 27, 1142, he and his son were executed on false pretenses, causing an uproar by the people. Decades later, Yue Hei was exonerated and is celebrated today for his patriotism and contributions to poetry, martial arts, and military methods.

It’s Friday, January 27

The Marvelous Wonderettes return to Playhouse in the Park for two encore performances tonight at 7 and Sunday afternoon at 2:30. The musical comedy takes place at the 1958 Springfield High School prom and features popular tunes from the 50s and 60s. $11 tickets can be purchased by calling 759-1752.

The Humane Society of Calloway County hosts Fashion 4 Paws tomorrow from noon to six in the Curris Center Ballroom on the campus of Murray State. The formalwear consignment sale event also features live music by Bordertown, custom-designed jewelry, and a silent auction.

The Clara M. Eagle Art Gallery hosts an opening reception tonight from six to eight honoring two new exhibits. The Curris Center Gallery displays Kevin Beasley’s minimalist installation exploring phenomenology and perception, and the main gallery presents a juried exhibit titled, “White Hot Gold: Examining the Role of Performance in New Media.” There’s more about the exhibits at murraystate.edu/artgallery.

Visit us online at wkms.org, and thanks for listening.

Tracy’s Racer Roundup 1-26-12

Here’s what’s being written about the undefeated Murray State University Racer basketball team:

sportsradiointerviews.com posted a nice interview with Steve Prohm:

“Our league doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Morehead State finished second in our league last year. We won the regular season. Our second-place team moved on to the second round of the NCAA tournament. And then two years ago, we went to the second round. Two out of the last three years, we had an NBA draft pick in our league.”

– Racer head coach Steve Prohm

ology.com wonders if an undefeated Racer squad could be rewarded with a coveted 1 seed in the Big Dance.

The Murray State Racers are turning themselves into one of the most exciting and confounding storylines of the college basketball season. At 20-0, Murray State has a great shot at becoming the first college hoops team to go undefeated in the regular season since UNLV did it in 1990-1991, before losing to Duke in the Final Four.

In case you missed it, the New York Times wrote a great in-depth article about the Racer’s magical season and its effect on the community.

There are close to 18,000 people in Murray, according to the 2010 census, and it seems that almost all of them have an opinion on the Racers. (“There are a lot of coaches in this town,” Prohm said.) They pack the 8,700 seats in CFSB Center on game nights, giving the Racers a distinct home-court advantage.

Datebook: January 26 – Bessie Coleman Turns 120

Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman was born on January 26, 1892 (and died April 30, 1926). She was the first female pilot of African American descent and the first person of African American descent to hold an international pilot license. Inspired by tales of WWI fighter pilots, she dreamed of taking to the skies. Being African American and a woman, she was refused admittance in American flight schools, so she learned French and went to Paris, since women were already pilots there. On June 15, 1921, Coleman became the first African American woman in the world to earn an aviation pilot’s license. She realized a career in exhibition flying and became a media sensation as “Queen Bess” when she returned to the U.S. She was called “the world’s greatest woman flier” and performed daredevil maneuvers to massive crowds over New York and Chicago. At a show in Jacksonville, Florida, while attempting to pull out of a dive, the aircraft got stuck plummeting to the ground. She was thrown from her seat 500 feet above and died on impact. It was later found that a wrench had gotten stuck in the gearbox.

It’s Thursday, January 26

Dr. Matthew Gianforte, pianist and assistant professor at Murray State, presents a recital titled “Musical Tributes” tonight at 7:30 in the Performing Arts Hall of the Doyle Fine Arts Building. The free concert features works by Robert Schumann, Frederic Chopin, and Franz Liszt.

A screening of the documentary American Teacher takes place tomorrow at 11AM in the Alexander Hall auditorium on the campus of Murray State. The documentary chronicles the stories of four teachers as they reach different milestones in their careers, offering a deeper look at the teaching profession in America today. The screening is free and open to the community.

The Paducah Symphony Orchestra’s second annual “Made in America” concert takes place on Saturday at 4PM at Harrison Street Baptist Church in Paducah. Hear African American spirituals, art music, and hymns. Admission is $10 for adults and free for students. Purchase tickets from the PSO office at 444-0065.

Find more community events online at wkms.org.

the morning cram [you don't know the power of the dark side edition]

Apparently, Starbucks makes a lot of coffee…and a lot of money.

NPR reports the coffee chain known for it’s iconic dark roast has got it’s ‘mojo workin’ under the leadership of CEO Howard Schultz.

Kentucky~ Alleged embezzlers have a day in court. Soldiers return to a hero’s welcome. Hey, I think that buggy covered in highly reflective tape might have Amish people in it. “Caylee’s Law” requires you to tell somebody if you lose your kid. Romney and Gingrich want Kentucky.

Tennessee~ Hate crime victim’s dad is disturbed by ‘don’t say gay’.

Racer Update

Bracketologists say Murray State’s current undefeated run isn’t your typical Cinderella story.

From: NCAA.com’s Amy Farnum

This week, the Racers are the only remaining unbeaten team in the nation, are No. 11 in The Associated Press poll and have climbed up to No. 9 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Top 25, becoming the first OVC team to crack the top 10 since Western Kentucky in final poll of the 1970-71 season.

 

The news of MSU’s perfect record has been splattered all over the ESPN bottom line and sports pages all across the nation, especially after Syracuse suffered its first loss of the season to Notre Dame last weekend.

 

the morning cram [The next time I have to come in here I'm crackin' skulls edition]

Good News. If you’re ever captured by Somali Pirates, Obama’s got your back, even if you’re Danish!

NPR reports Obama sent in his A-squad to deal with a hostage situation. With their success rate, I think Obama should start using the special forces to deal with all of his problems. Let’s start with a raid on the investment banks.

Kentucky~ The PRA is now a city agency. Here’s to hoping shiny tape will save our Amish from jail.  Cadiz seeks to ban synthetic marijuana. Looks like Kentucky teachers may have to be held back. The Commonwealth considers a tax amnesty plan.

Tennessee~ Titan tire hopes to hire 300 people  by the year’s end.

 

 

Datebook: January 25 – Guiding Light Debuts 75 Years Ago

Guiding Light is an American television soap opera credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009. It is also among the longest running broadcast programs in history of any kind, across radio media for 15 years, and then television media for 57 years, being first broadcast five days after President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s second inauguration. The show’s title refers to a lamp in the study of Reverend Dr. John Ruthledge, a major character when The Guiding Light debuted in 1937, that family and residents could see as a sign for them to find help when needed. Guiding Light was created by Irna Phillips, and began as an NBC Radio serial on January 25, 1937. In 1947, the show moved to CBS radio. In 1952, it began airing on CBS television. It would continue to air on both television and radio until 1956. The series was expanded from 15 minutes to a half hour in 1968, and then to a full hour in 1977. Guiding Light aired its 15,000th televised episode on September 6, 2006.

It’s Wednesday, January 25

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network of Western Kentucky hosts a meeting for volunteers, pancreatic cancer survivors, caregivers, and supporters tomorrow night at 6:30. The meeting will be held in the Borders Community Room of the Lourdes Hospital Marshall Nemer Pavilion. All attendees are encouraged to wear purple. For more information, visit pancan.org.

The Pennyroyal Area Museum in Hopkinsville hosts a Russian Artwork exhibit through the end of the month. See stacking dolls, lacquered barrettes, a lacquered chess set, woodburning paintings, and more. The museum is located at 217 East 9th Street and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 4:30 and on Saturday from 10 to 3.

Applications are now being accepted for participation in the 2012 Paducah Downtown Farmers’ Market, which will be held April 25 through November 21. Regional vendors can reserve a space at the farmers’ market for an individual day, a weekend, or the complete season. Register online at paducahalliance.org/farmersmarket.

Find more at wkms.org.

Good Read – Bossypants by Tina Fey

Bossypants
by Tina Fey

Buy this book on Amazon

(Your purchase supports WKMS!)

Product Description:

Before Liz Lemon, before “Weekend Update,” before “Sarah Palin,” Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV. She has seen both these dreams come true. At last, Tina Fey’s story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon — from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence. Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we’ve all suspected: you’re no one until someone calls you bossy.

Jenni Todd says:

If you like to laugh, then please, read Bossypants! It’s Tina Fey’s “kind-of” memoir published last year. While I loved the show biz highlights about Second City, SNL, and 30 Rock (and cutie Alec Baldwin), I really connected (and laughed hysterically) with her reflections on being a young woman, a wife, and a mother. Near the end of the book there is a chapter titled, “The Mother’s Prayer for Its Daughter” that had me rolling in the floor unable to breath. It’s three pages of comedy gold for men and women, daughters and sons, mothers and fathers.

Book’s now in paperback. Here’s last year’s interview with Terry Gross.

Click here to check out more Good Reads.