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Another busy month – one that started with my friend Javen Swanson and I co-facilitating a marriage equality presentation in St. Cloud on the evening of December 1. 
Javen was there for OutFront MN while I was there for Catholics for Marriage Equality MN. We made a great team! Pictured with us above is Kelly Doss, who was a key organizer of the event.Left: Part of the evening included the screening of the video series Catholics for Marriage Equality. For more information about this series, click here. To view the five "video vignettes" that comprise the series, click here.
Above: On the evening of Saturday, December 10 my friend Kathleen hosted a lovely Advent dinner at her home in South Minneapolis. Pictured from left: Brian, Bob, John, Kathleen and James.For The Wild Reed series "Advent 2011:Thoughts and Reflections," click here.
Above: With my friends (from left) John, Kathleen and Brian – December 10, 2011.Right: On Saturday, December 17, I had some friends over to my St. Paul home for a little Christmas celebration – one that involved an "Aussie Quiz"! Pictured from left: Raul, Paul, Mark, me, Walter and Tim. It was a fun night!
Left: Friends Darlene, Noelle, Eileen, Kate, Jim and Phil. For more images of this gathering, click here.
Above: Another evening of fun took place December 23, watching Velvet Goldmine and enjoying rum spiked eggnog with friends Jacob, Phil, Curtis and Liana.
Christmas Eve was spent at the warm and welcoming home of my friends Ken and Carol (above). Also present was their son Paul and daughter-in-law Carrie, Paul and Carrie's two boys Cass and Oscar, and friends Kathleen and Sue Ann.Left: Enjoying some Christmas cheer with my friend Kathleen.
Above: Paul and Cass – Christmas Eve 2011. For a picture of Cass' brother Oscar, click here.
Above: Christmas Day dinner was spent at another warm and welcoming home – that of the Jacquet-Morrison family. From left: Jackie, John, Carmen, Kim, Noelle, Liana, Phil, Alicia and Curtis.Left: With my friend Phil – Christmas Day 2011.
Right: Liana and Curtis. And to think there wasn't even a hint of mistletoe in sight!
Above: The always welcoming and generous Noelle and John. Thank you!
Above: Boxing Day dinner with friends Joey, Kathleen and Mary.Left: Joey, the young (and very talented) violinist!
Above: With my friend Kathleen – December 26, 2011.
Right: With the inspiring Polly Mann at our mutual friends Ken and Carol's New Year's Eve gathering.
Above: My friend Daniel (standing) also hosted a New Year's Eve get-together.
Above: I saw the actual New Year in at a third gathering – one hosted by my friend Mark. From left: Mark, Raul, Dan, Walter and Jim.
On the evening of Sunday, November 6, 2011, I hosted a small dinner party at my St. Paul home, Hare House. It was one of over 100 gatherings that took place across Minnesota as part of "One Day United for All Families," a consciousness-raising and fundraising initiative of Minnesotans United for All Families. As executive coordinator of Catholics for Marriage Equality MN I serve on the steering committee of this coalition, one that is playing a leading role in working to defeat the proposed "marriage amendment" which would amend the Minnesota constitution to ban civil marriage rights for same-sex couples.
Above: Clockwise from left: Jerry, Marcus, Freeman, Greg, Walter, Brian, Bob and Kathleen.Left: Freeman, Marcus and Jerry – November 6, 2011.
Above: Friends Bob, Brain and Walter – November 6, 2011. 
Above: Honoring Tom Bottelene and Pepperwolf, key organizers and leaders in the AlliantACTION movement which for 15 years held non-violent vigils and actions outside the corporate headquarters of Alliant TechSystems. Before its recent relocation to Washington, D.C, Alliant TechSystems was the largest Minnesota-based weapons manufacturer and the primary supplier of landmines, cluster bombs, nuclear missile rocket motors, and depleted uranium munitions to the U.S. Department of Defense.Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s I regularly attended the weekly AlliantACTION vigil. For images and commentary of this involvement, click here.My friend Tom also maintains CircleVision.org, along with the websites of a number of Minnesota-based justice and peace groups, including Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) and Catholics for Marriage Equality MN.
Right: My friend Marie Braun, pictured earlier this month at the special gathering in St. Paul to honor Tom and Pepper.
In October, Marie was the recipient of The Courageous Woman Award from the Friends of the Anne Pederson Women’s Resource Center at Augsburg College. This award recognizes women who courageously strive for social justice and peace on campus or in the wider community and whose efforts make a difference to women. It's just one of numerous awards Marie has received over the years. In 2006, for instance, she and her husband John were the recipients of the Vincent L. Hawkinson Foundation for Peace and Justice Honorary Award.
Above: Thanksgiving trifle! I was fortunate to be able to spend time and share food with two groups of friends this Thanksgiving. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me when I enjoyed the company of Ken, Carol, Paul, Carrie, Cass, Oscar and SueAnn.
I did, however, get some snaps that night when at the home of the wonderful Jacquet-Morrison family! Left: Liana and Curtis (with Eddie!).
Right: Phil and Ahmed.
Left: Hello, Quinny!
Above: Rosanne Cash in concert with the Minnesota Orchestra – Friday, November 18, 2011.This concert was one of two great musical performances I saw in the space of two days. For more about my "musical weekend," click here.
Above: My friend Brian snapped this photo of me when we were recently at Butter Bakery Cafe in South Minneapolis. Next door is a great store called Present Moment Herbs and Books. Here I found two books that greatly interested me: Essential Sufism and The Art of Being and Becoming.
Above: I was going to wait until after Thanksgiving to put up my Christmas Tree, but decided I'd do so instead while listening as soon as I could to Kate Bush's latest album, the winter-themed 50 Words for Snow. It was released Monday, November 21. And that evening seemed the perfect time to set up and decorate my tree! Plus, outside there was still snow on the ground from a weekend snowfall!
For more about Kate's 50 Words for Snow, click here.
Above: The trees in front of my St. Paul home, aglow in the early morning light of the last day of November 2011.See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
Out and About – November 2010
Out and About – November 2009
Out and About – November 2008
Out and About – November 2007
Another busy month for this out gay man, seeking to be all about embodying God’s justice and compassion in the Church and the world!
I turned 46 this October. Imagine that! I didn't host a party this year as in previous years (see, for example, here and here) but various groups of friends and colleagues orchestrated little celebrations for me. How lucky am I?
Left: About to blow out my birthday candles at a Catholics for Marriage Equality MN Video Project Committee meeting. With our first "project" well underway, we're in full swing planning future ones!
Right: Celebrating with friends Bill (right), who shares the same birthday as me, October 23, and Travis, who's birthday is the day after. We're at Fabulous Ferns in St. Paul, MN.
Above: Friends Michael, Kate, Liana and Curtis.
Left: With my dear friend Noelle.
Right: Friends Annslie and Phil.
Above: Friends John, Bob and Brian on the shores of Lake Pepin, MN – Saturday, October 15, 2011.
Left: Dining out at the famous Hillside Fish Cafe in Wisconsin.
For more images and commentary on our adventures in Mississippi River Bluff Country, click here.
Above: With friends Liana, Curtis, Phil and Raph – October 12, 2011.
Raph, a good friend from Australia, was in the Twin Cities for a week-long visit. For more photos and commentary of Raph's visit, click here.
Above: Packing emergency "blizzard boxes" for the clients of various Twin Cities-based food support services with friends Jane and Betsy – Wednesday, October 26, 2011.
Above and below: Autumn in Minnesota!
For more images, click here and here.
Above: My good friend Angie and her husband Bryan – Thursday, October 28, 2011.
Angie's dad Myron passed away earlier in the month and on October 27 I traveled to Montevideo, MN, for his funeral. As sad as the occasion was, I appreciated and enjoyed reconnecting with Angie and her family.
Above: Raising a toast to Myron!
Above: A Jack-o'-lantern on the front porch of my friend Phil's house. For some thoughts of mine on Halloween, click here.
Javen was there for OutFront MN while I was there for Catholics for Marriage Equality MN. We made a great team! Pictured with us above is Kelly Doss, who was a key organizer of the event.
Above: With my friends (from left) John, Kathleen and Brian – December 10, 2011.
Christmas Eve was spent at the warm and welcoming home of my friends Ken and Carol (above). Also present was their son Paul and daughter-in-law Carrie, Paul and Carrie's two boys Cass and Oscar, and friends Kathleen and Sue Ann.
Above: Christmas Day dinner was spent at another warm and welcoming home – that of the Jacquet-Morrison family. From left: Jackie, John, Carmen, Kim, Noelle, Liana, Phil, Alicia and Curtis.
Above: Boxing Day dinner with friends Joey, Kathleen and Mary.
