Irish Pub Night Just Got Better

Well, I've been REALLY neglecting my blog lately...sorry that I haven't written since the joy of Kansas...not that i have a big following of readers!

For those of you who don't know, Matt, Rae, and I go out just about every week to an Irish pub...not hard to do when there are 30 billion of them in the Twin Cities. Well, last night Matt chose not to join us and did he ever miss out! Rachel suggested a bar that she heard about from a friend. It was called the Half Time Rec Bar...not exactly an Irish name, but we were guarenteed that it was Irish.

Well we knew it would be great as we pulled up to it. It was in a very residential area and looked like a Winona townie bar...similar to the Cozy Corner (Jean knows what i mean). The still had signs up from St. Patrick's Day. Across the street there was a sign that said DEAF CHILD AREA, but it was hanging upside down. And on the bar's sign, it said "Live Irish Music" but the H in Irish wasn't on the same line as the rest of the word...and the was a $ instead of an S. I knew I was going to love it there. Rachel and I both commented on how we wished Jean had been with us...she would have loved it.

When we got inside, there was a little old man on a bar stool sitting next to the door. We think he was their version of a bouncer. He greeted us with a tip of his hat and a "Good evening ladies". Later we found out his name was Bud...of course it was. The inside decor matched the outside appearance very well. A long wooden bar with polaroids of customers under the plexi-glass, a plethora of over-weight men and women, all sorts of people in irish hats and sweaters...actually speaking with Irish accents! There was even aman drunkenly dancing with a pool cue. We had found a true Irish pub indeed! As Rachel and I sat there drinking our Strongbow (which is actually a British cider...) we were trying totalk over the extremely loud Irish trio that was playing an odd mix of music. The announced that they had CDs for sale. Sadly, Rae and I forgot to pick one up. They also had T-Shirts for sale in case you were wondering.

After finishing our drinks we decided it was time to head out...we had enjoyed out time at the Rec (which apparently has bocce ball games in the basement), but we didn't want to over stay our welcome on our first trip. So we left, but not before Bud said, "Good night ladies, drive home safe." Thanks Bud, we will, and we'll see you again soon.

AFA 2005!!!!!!!!

Well, rather than write a big long entry about AFA 2005, I'll just do a photo blog...its more intersting that way!

Well, Jean Lance, and Shannon left from St. Paul and quickly realized they weren't going to California again this year.

But Lance kept the girls entertained with some mad guitar licks and the girls sang a horrible rendition of Heart of the Matter.

Shannon invented a great new game.

Lance and his ladies got married in Iowa

Jean and Shannon did some tricks.

Then we got to Kansas and checked in to the hotel. I've never stayed at a hotel wheere i had to go buy my own towel and toilet paper!

Did I mention the hotel had a pool? and a Barbie car?

and a tire swing?

Then it was time to judge...and we all know the goal of AFA is to be the sexy judge!.....or not boys.

But we had a lot of fun,

and made some important statements.

Then it was time to go home.

But not before we visited some important landmarks!

Gas: $85, Nasty Hotel: $135, Alcohol: $60, A good time in Kansas with WSU alum: Priceless

Another Straight for Gay Rights

I'm not gonna say I hate Kansas...that would be intolerant. And I'm not intolerant.

Who am I kidding???? Yes I am...way to go Kansas! 70% of your population is small-minded, ignorant, and discriminating! But, worry not Kansas, you're not alone. You have now joined 17 other states in taking away a basic human right from a sizeable portion of American citizens. I'm sure 70% of you are very proud.

When I heard that Kansas had voted "yes" to ban gay marriage, I can't say I was surprised. I mean when the entire K State campus was covered in "vote yes" messages, you could tell what the general consesus was. Yet somehow it felt important for us "liberals" (or, in this case, what I like to call "good human beings") to chalk out our own messages declaring our support for gay marriage, showing that not all straight people are hateful, and that gay marriage shouldn't even be an issue.

But as I mentioned before, Kansas is not alone. There are now 18 states that have legally banned homosexual couples from getting married, including Michigan, Oregon, Missouri, Georgia, and North Dakota. Unfotunately, its not like much wil change in these states. Homosexual couples weren't exactly allowed to get married in these states prior to this ban. But, nontheless, its a slap in the face to hear that you legally can't get married to someone you love.

Why are so many people afraid of gay and lesbian couples getting married? I don't understand. Why is it ok for couples to get married who have only known each other for days, but not a couple who has been together for 25 years? So many people say they vote against marriage to defend the tradition/definition of marriage. Well, isn't one tradition of marriage to stay married? Yet we allow divorces to occur on a daily basis without thought. After reading many articles about the latest Kansas vote, I've confirmed thatmany people voted to ban gay marriages to "defend marriage" But then I read this quotation, which i think more peole should try to understand:

Byron Defreese, a 65-year-old retiree, called the amendment "total foolishness."
"I don't know how this is going to defend my marriage of 43 years," he said. "I think it's a diversion from the real issues" (www.CNN.com April 6, 2005).

Now, it is not my intent to insult anyone. But I just have such a hard time understanding why this is an issue. Getting married to someone you love seems so simple and basic, yet its not. But, then again, I'm lucky. I grew up in a home free of discrimination. My parents raised me to accept all people...something which I admittedly still need to work on. But from a young age, I was around gay and lesbian couples. When I was a kid, my babysitters were lesbian couples. It seemed normal to me. And now some of my closest friends are gay. I only wish everyone had the same rights and opportunities for happiness.