The focus on my appearance has really surprised me. I've always been a size 14 to 16 I don't care about clothes I'd rather spend my money on cigarettes and booze.

Imagine my surprise when after a lifetime of teaching me to keep personal things to myself Mom insisted my drawings were the start of a comic strip for millions of people to enjoy.

So far I'm not surprised by anything about being a mom. It's all pretty great - but that's what I expected.

Not to be weird but I still have an ongoing relationship with my mom even though she passed away and I've been surprised at how much I've been able to convey to her. Now I sound like a total weirdo but that's true.

I was always a drama queen. I remember playing in the kitchen trying to get my mom to think I was dead and call the police. When she didn't I would cry. I was always theatrical. I don't think any of my relatives are surprised.

All sorts of computer errors are now turning up. You'd be surprised to know the number of doctors who claim they are treating pregnant men.

The biggest surprise about our marriage is that Erin was out there.

Men go into marriage with virtually no expectations whatsoever. Ten years later the men are delightfully surprised to find out that it's actually kind of nice and the women have sort of had to take a nose dive from what they thought it was going to be.

I had a sense of what leadership meant and what it could do for you. So am I surprised that I am sitting up here on the 62nd floor of Rockefeller Plaza? No.

While Mayor Daley surprised me today with his decision to not run for reelection I have never been surprised by his leadership dedication and tireless work on behalf of the city and the people of Chicago.