Iowan BIYFers' hard-earned tax money at work buying free drinks for their Minnesotan friends.

It took me a while to type this up, but last Monday Phoeberella and I were guests of the esteemed governor of the Hawkeye (note that it's never called the Cyclone) State and his wife at a lovely gathering for alumni of various Iowa colleges and universities.

"Come home!" was the message, and it was sold with lots and lots of free grub and booze. Oh, and ice sculptures. Hence our presence there. That and a desire to see the renovated Milwaukee Road Depot and assess it as a wedding/reception location.

The verdict? Gorgeous, but too pricey. Oh, you meant about Iowa. Let me tell you, it was a great presentation. At the end even die-hard, born-and-bred Minnesotan Phoeberella was nodding her head and looking at me with a "hey, maybe" expression.

To which I responded with a frown, "What are you crazy?"

I kid because I love. To be tempted by the land of tall corn and large tenderloins (if you're a Minnesotan) or to feel all the more satisfied in your statehood (for Iowans) just click here.