The Second Amendment

Just the other day I got an email from school stating that President Obama was to speak there. I did a double take because it didn't seem likely that he would be speaking in Omaha, let alone at our new, ridiculous arena (I can't get student loans for living expenses or an education next semester). But 'twas true. I looked at ticket distribution and they were issuing public one Sunday from 3-8 pm. However, we had a wedding to go to at 2-6, leaving two hours. Because there were separate days with different times, I assumed there would be limited amounts at each distribution periods and areas.

Then our friend Dale posted that they had gotten tickets. We have been meaning to hang out with them for a long time but just too busy. He was at the Donald Trump rally protesting but I didn't notice him (more on that in a bit). So Jeanne decided to go see about getting tickets. I was going to go to school this morning for UNO student tickets but I could only get one so decided to go. We got to the Baxter Arena and they ran out but said the Kroc Center, which is near the Metro South campus had some left. So we decided to head there. We got there and I headed in with Ayana while Jeanne trailed behind carrying Masa. As they entered the guy closed the door behind her saying they were the last ones for tickets. As Ayana and I signed for our Jeanne got the last ones. I assumed for that day but as it came to be known, it was the last of all, save for the ones at school today which ran out by 11 am.

In the paper today, it had photos of the lines for the tickets on Sunday which filled up inside the arena and around the block. It did not mentioned the Fort Omaha Metro Campus but the Kroc Center was the same. After all that, those people waiting at northern-gusting, single-digit temperatures, I was surprised we were able to get some. Jeanne's friend saw one offer online offering $10k. If I saw that I would have sold mine. The current offers ranged from $5-50. As a result of this, though, school is cancelled on Wednesday for this

So at the wedding, I talked to my buddy Fa'iz. We talked about his chickens because we want to get some and his situation is similar to ours and it seems good for us to get some and should be easy. Added to that, I mentioned how I've been interested in hunting and have been reading up on it and have a future plan to go with Chad in Montana and/or the Dakotas (ultimately, Alaska); also, our midwife who lives up near Deadwood has a house in the mountains and she hunts as well. So we have several private land offers. But I also have never shot a gun, but wanted to bow-hunt since I've done archery many times and seemed cheaper and more attainable. Chad has gear and I would only have to worry about travel. Fa'iz said their kids' martial arts intructor has land and hunts and has invited him many times and asked if I was interested, which I said yes. It's the hunting I want to learn which is also processing it ourselves there, because ultimately I want to hike in mountains to hunt and process and carry it out and survive off the land.

Also, while talking to Fa'iz, he mentioned the Obama deal and I asked what the occassion was, as I had not read the news on my break. He said it was the post-State of the Union Address deal and since Brad Ashford went to UNO, he work this out. I like Brad Ashford for many reasons, but getting Obama to come is good. With all other political nonsense aside, I think it is great that Obama is coming here for a couple of reasons. One being that he has visited all 50 states but Nebraska was just to land at Offutt to campaign in Council Bluffs. But the other, based on that one, is that no presidents or candidates come here because Republican's (stupidly) don't need to and for Democrats, it don't make sense to.

I mentioned to Fa'iz how we had tickets to Donald Trump and stood in line with frozen toes and had to pee for over an hour only to be turned away near the door because the "fire marshall said [they] were at capacity." I found this suspicious because they issued tickets and why would they give more than necessary, it's not like an airlines. I watched the speech he gave which was posted on YouTube and he opened by saying, being an hour late already, that "thousands" of people are waiting to get in and asked if they should wait. Now, us being outside I can say there were a hundred or so people. I took all this as his typical style and figured they wanted to start already. Fa'iz said that there was a report the other day which said he does this for the cameras so they pan outside while he's speaking so it seems as if the rallies are bursting at the seams to see him. Smart man.

So the other thing at this rally was on the way to the line, checking out the merch-people with the "We Shall Overcome" buttons and me and Duffy not talking too much because our toes were frozen, we had to pee, and were kind of taking in the crowd and comments and trying not to say stuff which potentially could get us shot, we walked past the protesters. I just mentioned how ridiculous it is to protest because you're not changing minds. I could stand outside a Nickelback concert protesting how bad that band sucks, those people are still going in; however, our friend Dale was there. Now, he is different. He is more to the point where he would like to politely dialogue people. For instance, his sign said, "Iraq Vet against Trump," looking more for people to come ask why, as a vet, is he against Trump. Though, not surprisingly, he got "Traitor," "Terrorist," told to "get a job."

Once turned away, we headed quickly to Bass Pro Shops for warmth and to pee. Now, I've been to this store once, not to pee but just to observe since we were in the parking lot. However, I was quickly able to, without assistance, find the restroom, because I know how every fucking store is typically set up and restrooms are usually somewhere along the front wall or back. I paralleled this to people at the ice cream shop who come up to ask where they are. It's in the only other place it could possibly, reasonably be, you dumb fuck!