Rockin' Time at the Kora Shrine

I didn't do a Say-It Sunday post today because I wanted to share a couple of pictures from the federation banquet we went to last night. It was fun (for a change). Usually these things are the most boring, excruiatingly long drawn-out affairs. Fishermen talking non-stop about fishing while under the influence of alcohol - yeehaw. Gary made the State Team so he was getting an award. Plus our company had donated one of the bigger door prizes... a G. Loomis Spinning Rod. Gary's sponsor had donated a $1000 certificate door prize towards a boat at their dealership and there were other rods, some tackle, oil, a motor, a tree stand, paintings and other things. The temple they have the banquet at is the Kora Shrine Temple in Lewiston. It's very old and very beautiful inside. There are huge murals surrounding the entire banquet hall that one man painted over the course of his life. It's one of those buildings that when you walk into.... you just stand and look around whispering 'wow!'

The food was excellent... typical buffet but everything was delicious and hot. There was an open bar (Lord help us) that operated off tips only and I can assure that these Shriners know how to mix a drink. I ordered a White Russian and it had some kick to it. The 50/50 guys came around with their rolls of tickets and after a few drinks, the money was flying every which way as everyone scrambled to get tickets for the raffle and door prizes.

After dinner, the awards started and thank God, they went pretty quickly. Then came the prizes! I've got about 1, 692 tickets that I'm trying to keep track of when they call the number. I kept getting confused but it probably had more to do with the 724 drinks, mixed by heavy-handed Shriners, that I had. I lost track of what prize they were on and suddenly I heard a number that seemed close to mine! Holy shit it WAS my number! "I hope I won the day at the spa! or the paintings!" I think to myself. No such luck. I won a Baby Gorilla Treestand. WTF? oh vay - what a night this is going to be! The next prize I won was a gallon of Evinrude oil.... can it fucking get ANY better than this? Oh yes it did! I won a 7lb boneless pork loin (which I donated to the Soup Kitchen). Now, I ask you , my readers.... was this a rockin' Saturday night or what? Treestands! Motor Oil! Pork Loin! Only in Maine! How come if the door prize is furniture, jewelry or cash I can't win anything if my life depended on it. But put some redneck prizes out there and I am golden?