From the President

ASGRA has the following positions available:

• Secretary (2-year term)
• Rodeo events and training chairperson (1-year term)
• Fundraising & sponsorship chairperson (1-year term)
• Public relations chairperson (1-year term)

We are also looking for people willing to serve as members of our 2009 royalty team (1-year terms):

• Miss ASGRA
• Mr ASGRA
• Ms ASGRA
• MsTer ASGRA

Contact Mike at [an error occurred while processing this directive] if you are interested in serving in any of these positions.

Mike S.
ASGRA President

ASGRA Vagabond Chuckwagon is on the Move!!

Lonni La Bel

ASGRA Vagabond Chuckwagon

Vagabond Chuckwagon Rolls on!!

Well, no review yet of the February Vagabond Chuckwagon location, as we're going on Saturday night, Feb 28 and this article was due before that! We're looking forward to a fun time, though, as we check out our first Virginia location, Thai Square, located at the corner of Glebe Road and Columbia Pike in Arlington, VA. http://www.thaisquarerestaurant.com/index.html We plan to meet at Thai Square @ 7:00 pm on Saturday, February 28.

On to Maryland for March - I picked a charming little place on Rockville Pike that has plenty of parking. We're going Greek this time (and no smart remarks from any of you!). Join us at Mykonos Grill on Friday March 20 at 7:30pm. http://www.mykonosgrill.com/

Mykonos Grill is located at 121 Congressional Lane in Rockville, MD (just off Rockville Pike, adjacent to Congressional Shopping Plaza). They have a nice variety of choices (several veggie options for the vegetarians among us) and it's a really nice cozy restaurant with a rustic Mediterranean atmosphere. They do take reservations for dinner, so I need your RSVPs by noon on Tuesday March 17, please!! You can contact me via email at or on my cell at 703-371-7865. Come on out for another fun evening with your ASGRA friends and family!

Friday March 20, 2009
7:30pm
Mykonos Grill
121 Congressional Lane
Rockville, MD
Phone: (301) 770-5999

Contact Lonni La Bel: (cell) 703-371-7865

Grand Illusions 2.0

Hey everybody if you haven't heard Grand Illusions 2.0 is back at Remingtons every Sunday night. Jymmye Jaymes former Miss ASGRA, Miss IGRA and also a former Miss Remingtons approached the bar management and offered to try and get the bar back to hoping on Sunday nights with bringing back Grand Illusions to the bar. This was a highly successful show from 1996 to about 2002 I believe hosted by Jymmye and Blair Michaels, and after much negotiating they said yes.

Since the show started back in mid November the crowds have been slow in attendance, but have started to grow. We were able to do a successful Brandy Dover Christmas for Children with half of the proceeds going to ASGRA's general fund, and the other half to Grandmas House a home for children and families affected by AIDS, and hope to do several more fundraisers for ASGRA in the near future.

This month we celebrated Jymmye Jaymes 57th birthday and her 32 years of drag and community service to the D.C. community with 13 of those years devoted to ASGRA and the Royalty program. It was a night of toast, roast and just plain fun and there were quite a few ASGRA members there to help her celebrate. She thanks all who came out to help her celebrate especially Grandma(Joe) a devoted fan and ASGRA member #6 who has followed her from bar to bar following her drag career and lending his moral support whenever needed.

If you haven't attended the show your missing a real treat with surprises and different guest every week. Miss Jaymes (being the true drag Momma that she is) offers cameo spots to new drags breaking into the entertaining arena. Two of the regular performers are the Comic Queen of D.C. Stevie Starfyre, and the Queen of the House Miss Remingtons Chanel Devereaux, oh and PLEASE don't forget the hostess with the most-est D.C.'s First Lady Of Country Jymmye Jaymes

So here are the details
Grand Illusions 2.0
Sunday nights-Remingtons D.C.
639 Pennsylvania Ave SE
9pm SHARP over by 11pm
And as always NO COVER CHARGE

Music Reviews

1 star - Sucks, save your money and buy a beer
2 star - Borrow it from someone
3 star - Wait for it go on sale
4 star - Don't leave Wal*Mart without it
5 star - Stop whatever the heck you're doing right now, and download this puppy  

Dierks Bentley

Feel That Fire

After being disappointed in the blandness of Dierks' second album, Modern Day Drifter, I skipped out on buying his junior album, Long Trip Alone. In buying Feel that Fire, I admit that my primary motive was not the music itself, but the hope that there would be some more photos like the one on the cover. On the cover Dierks' naturally curly hair, which he had buzzed down a few years ago, has grown back into an in-between cut that has that disheveled elegance look that one gets with product and a quick muss up with your fingers (what I call combing in my mornings). He sits atop a motorcycle with a charcoal grey t-shirt, staring at the camera. He's got that 'I'm a nice bad boy' smirk going on, which is totally hot. I'd climb on a Harley with him anytime from this picture! Fortunately, I'm as infatuated with the music I bought as much as I am that first picture.

Most of the songs on this CD are hard driving, rocking-out-in-a-honky-tonk tunes. The kind of melodies that you know Dierks just loves playing. This is a man who you can tell loves the music as well as the lyrics. My favorite of these songs is "Sideways". It is a great end-of-the-week-lets-go-out-and-party song as demonstrated by the chorus.

And it's hey now here we go/
DJ don't you play nothing slow/
Keep those girls out on the floor/
Gotta make 'em wanna come back for more/
Been here since the sun went down, be here when it comes back around/
Worked all week, it's time to play/
Gonna get a little bit sideways/

The song also makes a nod to what made Dierks famous in the first place. As in other CDs this one contains the white tank top reference in the first verse; Dierks stating "that look drives me wild."

Other good songs that fall into this same party category are "Life on the Run"; an on-the-lamb love 'em and leave 'em song; the current radio hit and title track "Feel That Fire" as well as "Little Heartwreaker" which you should see coming to a tush-push near your.

The one real, real slow song is also the most romantic: "I Want to Make You Close Your Eyes". Pay special attention to this one you lesbians and bi-guys. The song speaks of all those special romantic soul-mate kind of things: resting my head on your shoulder; just listening to you breath and your rythym and heartbeat. It extends this theme further to state:

Just leave a trail for me to follow you into the bedroom/
And the double entendre, naughty, naughty verse of:
Babe, there's not a button that I can't reach/

What makes this very seductive song great is that it works well not just in the bedroom, but on the dance floor. It's very much a foreplay song with its flowing, slow, two-steppable melody. It's a song that you use to lead up to that moment when you follow that trail into the bedroom. The other song that is slow-er that I like is "Beautiful World." This song is one of those songs that fits me very well. It speaks in a broad sense about sad things that you hear about in the news, but regardless it still is a beautiful world. What touches me most about this song is that it doesn't counter the sad items in the verses with anything other than the chorus repeating how the singers (Patty Griffin is the guest vocal) still believe that it is a beautiful world. The only illusion that it makes to any motive behind this positive attitude is in the last verse where Dierks sings:

So I hate that sometimes I miss what's right in front of my eyes/

What a simply stated message about retaining hope. Yes, there is much bad happening in the world, but there is also much good. This song reminds us, subtly, to continue to look for that

Every song on this CD is a good one, either in melody or lyrics. And unlike the afore mentioned Drifter, where I couldn't tell when one song ended and another began, these songs have enough of a distinction to them to make individuals on a very good CD. Of special mention should be the eco-friendiness of the CD. There is not an item of plastic to be found--once you un-wrap it. The whole case is made out of cardboard with sleeves that contain the CD and booklet. I commend the record company for their foresight in making this kind of container for their music. Here's hoping that all of coming CDs of any company will be packaged in this same manner. The slimness is great not only for the earth, but for traveling as well. The CD case fits easily into any travel baggage, and you won't even have to worry about the case cracking.

Finally, for those of you who are wondering if there are more worthwhile pictures of Direks in the booklet, there is only one that deserves my consideration: the photo contained in the main spread. Dierks does have a sexy stare-into-you look in that photo (this boy has got some nice eyes.) However, other than one other picture on the booklet, which isn't near as good as the other two, that is all you will find. It seems as though the eco-ness extended not only to the outside packaging, but also cutting down the inside as well. And if that is the reason behind it, I can certainly live with that.

Pat Green

What I'm For

I love Pat Green's voice. He has something about that is very distinct and something that I have a hard time putting my finger on. I can best describe it as being just little bit raspy and little bit edgey, but even those adjectives don't quite put the right description on his voice. I guess the best way might be to call his voice Southern Comfort Rock. You know how Southern Comfort tastes sweet, but still has that little bit of kick in it as it goes down. That's like Pat Green's voice. Not whiskey-like; Southern Comfort-like. Unfortunately, his CD is just a little bit too smooth.

The sound of this CD is so smooth it is like a granite countertop, and not in a good way. Where Pat's voice is distinct, the songs are not. One rocking song runs right into the other with little distinction between them. In addition, the melodies are just a bit too overwhelming of Pat's voice. This is too bad because Pat's voice actually fits well with the kind of tunes on this CD: southern rock. Unfortunately, on some songs, the voice and the lyrics gets drowned out or lost in the noise of the instruments and melody. Green's voice is an instrument in and of itself and would be better served by giving it a more prominent place in the tunes.

The best thing that I can say about this CD is that it does have some really great danceable tunes on it. "Country Star" is one of them. It has that fast melody to it that you can really whip around the dance floor to. Plus, it is clever in its mention of various country artists throughout the song: Bocephus, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn. "Footsteps of Our Fathers" is another fast dance song which tells about what we learn from our ancestors and how that affects our lives today. "Lucky" is a third. Slowing it down a little bit is "In it for the Money", which brings the beats down to create a mild-two-stepper.

Two honorable mentions go to the songs "Let Me" and the title track "What I'm For." The first one is a romantic rocking song. It is similar to the above mentioned "I Want To Make You Close Your Eyes" by Dierks Bentley in theme, though it doesn't get quite so overt. But it is definitely something that you can use as a foreplay and play tune more so than "Close Your Eyes." "What I'm For" is another proud-statement-what-I-believe-in songs:

Mechanics you can trust...
...And leavin' grudges in the dust...
...I'm for learning all the words/
To the Gettysburg Address...
...I'm for Texas Margaritas/
Gettin' outta debt...
...I'm for Detroit factory workers/
When the wolf is at the door

What makes this song interesting is the hook at the end of the chorus.
You don't have to guess what I'm against/
If you know what I'm for

It makes a statement about beliefs without actually stating them (I didn't see anything in the song about newlyweds or other opposite gender specific legal relationship affirmations, by-the-way). I like that this song was able to put a new spin on something we've heard often before. Bottom line; this CD was pleasant to have as background music for me and I could definitely see myself listening to it on a road-trip and would request some of the above mentioned tunes as my local dance hall. As for owning it, I'd put it on my list, just not at the top.

Danielle Peck

Bad For Me (digital verson)

I searched high and low, far and wide, east and west and north-northeast by south-southeast for the hard copy of this CD. I was desperate to see what kind of photos were included in the booklet because let me tell you lesbian gals and bi-guys, Danielle is ridiculously hot! What you see in the photos of this lovely lady is just what you get in person. None of that photoshopped disappointment happens. Alas, I learned from my recent issue of Country Weekly that Danielle was going digital first, before releasing the real album (sigh)! So that said is the music worth buying at all? Yes and no.

This is one of those CDs that just manages to eclipse being just alright. Why it manages to do that is, number one, due to the pleasantness of Danielle's voice. She has an excellent voice that is paired well with the steel guitars that accompany many of the tunes on this CD. Also, she has a voice than can eek out emotion on songs such as "Do it for Me"; a please quit your bad habit for me song, without overdoing it. Her voice also fits well with reason number two: the variety in the songs. Danielle can sing the heart-tuggers as well as the breezy tunes just as well and this CD mixes in a little of both. My personal favorite of the lighter fare is "Get You Back."

"Get You Back" is a song that revolves around a girl who has some real confidence in getting back her man. And it has the most mixed up melody that I've heard in a long time. I've always liked songs that could throw in some slowness to it ("Seminole Wind" by John Anderson or "When God Fearing Women Get the Blues" by Martina McBride), but "Back" takes it to a new level. The verses are all slow and the choruses are all fast. What I like most about it is the bordering-on-almost-cheesy melody that the chorus has. Think of the way that people who think country is all just hillbilly foot stomping music and you'll get the idea. This doesn't detract from the song at all as long as you take it for what it is; a fun, light, comical song about winning someone back.

One of the more serious song subjects on the CD is "She Just Likes to Cry". The story is of an abusive man who lives next door to the singer of the song. What makes this song have such a wallop is that there is no resolution to it. There are no verses or bridges about the man getting caught and put away or the abused packing up and leaving or getting her inner resolve to leave. What we are left with is a situation that continues to go on. What makes this powerful is it makes you think about how often that happens in real life. Songs have neat endings, but life doesn't. This song reflects that.

On the positive side of the serious subjects is the track that immediately follows "Cry"; "That's what Angels Do." The song sings about the everyday angels in our life who help "pull us through" tough times. The verses focus specifically on your momma and daddy, but the chorus sums up best all the situations beyond those two mentioned

That's what angels do/
That's what love is for/
Points you to a window, when you can't find a door/
When you're all out of faith/
And it's more than you can take/
You're not strong enough/
You need someone to pull you through/
That's what angels do

Rounding out the serious category of songs is "This is Not Goodbye". The songs theme is those times when you leave someone, but it is not a final goodbye. The story revolves around a young boy at various stages of his life: divorce of parents, first day of school, college and, at the end, death. The story focuses more on the mother-son relationship, (which if we're to believe the old logic of the anti-gay forces, would cause this kid to grow up gay due to the "overbearing" mother and distant farther). The song is a nice one for putting what we feel about those type of goodbyes into words to a sweet song.

So, is this latest CD by Ms. Peck good for you? Maybe. As mentioned Bad for You is a CD that manages to be better than alright, but doesn't achieve being great. This is one of those CDs where if you are a fan of the artist than it is definitely worth buying, but if you are a just fan of country music, wait for it to go on sale. And use the money that you do save to see Danielle in person because the music is good and the view of this gal ain't "bad" either.

Patrick Hunter
Trail Ride Coordinator
Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association (ASGRA)

Coosie's Corner

Sour Milk Pancakes

2 Cups Flour
2 tsp Sugar
1 ½ tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
2 Cups Buttermilk
2 Tbsp butter, melted
2 Eggs, beaten
Spray Oil
Maple Syrup

1. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together into a bowl. Stir in the buttermilk and melted butter. Add the beaten eggs.
2. Heat a frying pan, spray with oil, and drop spoonfuls of batter.
3. Turn pancakes over when bubbles appear at sides of pancakes.
4. Serve with maple syrup.

This serves 4 (12 pancakes)

In The Dust

There were eighteen dirt road miles and more
Between my place and her front door
When the weather got dry
That dust would cover my beat up Ford

I remember so well that first sweet night
She said please stay and I said all right
When I woke up in the morning
She was driving away to work

When I looked for a note I was out of luck
Till I walked outside to my beat up truck

She wrote:

"I" on the left front fender
"Love you" on my door
"Forever" all the way to the tailgate of my beat up Ford
She made hearts on all three hub caps
O what a sweet reward
"I love, you forever" written in the dust of my beat up Ford

Well I never could dream some words in dust
Would make my heart just dang near bust
Maybe you can understand now
Why I never do wash that truck

And a lot has changed ever since those days
We got three kids that road's been paved

O only yesterday in blew a wind storm full of dust
So early this morning she woke up
Found my note on her brand new truck

It said:

"I" on the left front fender
"Love you" on her door
"Forever" all the way to the tailgate of her brand new Ford
I made hearts on all four hubcaps
O what a sweet reward
"I love you, forever" written in the dust of her brand new Ford

So early this morning she woke up
Found my note on her brand new truck

It said:

"I" on the left front fender
"Love you" on her door
"Forever" all the way to the tailgate of her brand new Ford
I made hearts on all four hubcaps
O what a sweet reward
"I love you, forever" written in the dust of her brand new Ford

On the left front fender
"Love you" on her door
"Forever" all the way to the tailgate, she goes all the way
Made hearts on all four hubcaps
O what a sweet reward
"I love you, forever" written in the dust of her brand new Ford

In the dust
Left in the dust
Found it in the dust
She wrote "I love you, forever"
In the dust of my beat up Ford

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