Why do the damn bars have to close so early? I know what you're thinking: Isn't 2:30 late enough? Well, not when I have to work until midnight! For me, the night is young. I'm wide awake and feel like I could keep partying for several more hours. As far as I'm not concerned, the bars needn't close before the sun comes up... if they really need to close at all. I mean, if we let the bars decide how late they want to stay open - and if they deny service to those already visibly intoxicated as they are required to by state law - then going to the bar would be like a house party and they'd all close when everyone just started trickling out on their own. I kind of like that idea.

In the little bit of time I had tonight, first I went on down to The Xtreme, where I met up with Carrie, Matt, and Corey. Carrie and Matt had been partying for several hours - first at The Bar and then at The Xtreme - so they were about ready to head home by the time Corey and I got there. Corey and I only stuck around for an hour - long enough to say we'd been there, have a beer, and hit the road - and then we headed downtown to meet up with Amy, Dan, and Jen. We met them at Houdini's, but they were predictably ready to leave by the time we got there, so we walked in, said hi, and the five of us walked out. Those three wanted to go to The Bar, but Corey and I had our hearts set on Ravens, so we went down there instead. I tried starting a tab, but since I only had time for one drink anyway, I ended up eventually paying for it in cash. I insisted several times that the bouncer should throw me out so I could make a faux drunken scene, but he said it would be too much work. I suppose. That was the full-on excitement of tonight.

Upon returning home, I had hoped that today's new P-C stories would be up, but they weren't, so I couldn't link to the one I wanted. I did find one worthy of comment - one relating to several of my earlier posts - and I'll get back to that in a minute (follow me here!). I decided to check my email also, and I found an email from Carrie requesting that I mention her bunnies. She and Matt have baby bunnies right now, but they haven't found enough good homes for all of them, so the thinking is that maybe someone will read this post and have interest. Anyway, if anyone is interested in one of her baby bunnies, check out her website for more info.

Okay, back to the P-C story. The news out of city hall is that the Appleton Licensing and Ordinance Committee has denied the Appleton Area Jaycees' permit request for their annual Independence Day fireworks show because the application was filed three days after the deadline. Steve Wideman writes in his article that "Appleton’s full Common Council... has a history of denying permits for late applicants." Yeah, my ass. I'm still pissed about the New Year's Around the Park celebration being granted a permit by the full council. Earl Brooker tries to sound like a real hardass stickler for the rules in the article, yet New Year's Around the Park was allowed to occur - in his ward no less! So, Mr. Brooker, rules can be bent for events in your ward, but not in the wards of others? I'm also still disappointed that I was out of town for the election in April. My one vote wouldn't have kept him from being reelected - yes, I live in the same ward as Mr. Brooker somehow - but at least I would have known that I helped the other side' cause.

That's enough out of me for one night. I should try to get more work done on the TT website since I'm still so wide awake.