Help Eradicate Multiple Sclerosis

I just found out that a friend of mine was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Erin, her husband Josh and their whole family are wonderful people. My heart goes out to all of them.

Her sister Megan has decided to do more than just feel sad about her sister's diagnosis. She is going to be participating in a walk to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. If you know someone who has been affected by this horrible disease, if you never want to see another person afflicted with it or if you simply care about what I care about, go to Megan's page and donate a few bucks for her walk. Add six cents for me.

Update: She only needs $125 more to reach her goal of raising $1000. If 10 people kick in $12.50, she'll have done it.

Update: She did it and more! Megan has raised $1, 230, $230 over her original goal of $1000. She has a new goal of $2000. I think she'll do it.

River East Arts Center Reception, April 20th

My sister, Jillian, would really like to turn some folks out for her upcoming event at work. She works at the River East Arts Center, which I hear is pretty cool (I don't know that firsthand because I haven't been there yet). But Jillian is cool and kind of a hipster, unlike myself. So go to her event if you're in town. Its on a Sunday, so I will likely go as well.

"So Jillian, what is this REAC of which you speak? I love me some free events!"

Well, since you asked, REAC is The River East Art Center - the place where I spend most of my time. It's a multi-use arts facility incorporating professional fine art galleries, resident artist studios, and an art school. Plus, the place is huge and gorgeous and sophisticated.

I know you people - you never get invited to places like this, so take the opportunity!

We are having a reception on Sunday, April 20, and showcasing the work of our resident artists in conjunction with a ticketed event happening at the same time for ARTEahora. If you want to buy tickets for Aldo and Tom's thingy, they're $60.

OUR EVENT IS FREE!

Details:
435 E.

Illinois (by Navy Pier)
6:00 - 9:00pm
Free admission, food, booze

If all that didn't grab your attention: my mother will be volunteering for us that night. If you don't know about my mother, you better ask somebody. Naturally, I will be there as well.

For additional info, hit me up with a message or send a text to my cell. Check ya later, bitches.

Kisses,
J-Killa

Katie the Obama Kid says...

This little girl is so completely adorable! It's not hard to tell that she's been paying attention to politics lately. What a doll.

Equal Marriage for All

For as long as I can remember, I have been a strong supporter of equal marriage rights for people of every sexual orientation. I've always had gay people in my life and I've never considered them any different than myself or anyone else.

All parents keep funny little stories about their kids growing up and mine are no exception. One of their favorites is when, at the age of 4, I came up to them and asked what "gay" meant. Being the progressive people that they are, my parents wanted to make damn sure that they explained this in an enlightened way.

So they started in on explaining homosexuality to me and they quickly noticed that I looked very confused. As they were going on about how sometimes men love men and sometimes women love women, I interrupted them. I said, "I know about that! I want to know about "Don we now our gay apparel". D'OH!

My parents were incredibly amused that I knew all about homosexuality and that it was far easier to explain that to me than what my Christmas carol meant. We constantly hear from conservative America about how they don't want to have to explain these things to their kids, yet to kids it's the easiest thing in the world to understand. Gay marriage is even easier for kids to understand, as marriage and kids is the obvious progression of life in their little minds.

So why the hell can't adults seem to wrap their heads around this idea?

Well, some can. In fact, plenty of Illinoisans can and they're setting out to do something about the inequality of marriage in our state. I'm among them. I believe that, if you love somebody, you should be able to marry them. Period. It's not anybody else's business. If you don't like gay marriage, don't have one!

Recently, a group formed on the online networking site, Facebook, supporting the idea of civil unions in Illinois. Over 8,000 people joined in a very short period of time. Several people I have worked with in the past are working on taking advantage of this. They're created the website Civil Unions Illinois to organize the obvious groundswell of support for civil unions in IL. Go over there and sign up.

State Representative Greg Harris is the chief sponsor in the House of legislation supporting civil unions in IL, House Bill 1826. State Senator Heather Steans is the chief sponsor of the legislation in the Senate.

Hillary's blanking Obama

If you're familiar with the Sarah Silverman business of "F**king Matt Damon", you'll get a kick out of this. All is jest, Hillary fans. Don't get on my case!