Mass Blogging Day - Family Relationships

According to author Thomas Wolfe, “There is no spectacle on earth more appealing than that of a beautiful woman in the act of cooking dinner for someone she loves.”

I wonder if Wolfe knew the females in my family.

My mom mixed, tossed, and threw ingredients into a pan. She seldom used a measuring cup. The dish would be delicious.

Both of my grandmothers cooked in that manner, too. Grandma Larson baked the best chocolate chip cookies. Nothing compared to the moist melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Grandma Fields made superb pies, but the ultimate delicacy was found her in canning room. Jars of pickled cherries lined the shelves. When we were young, my cousin, Brian, and I would grab a jar and wander around the farm, savoring the sweet-sour combination.

Each of my aunts is known for her specialty: Ginny’s popcorn balls, Joyce’s cherry fruit salad, Deana’s various soup recipes.

Sure, there have been a few failures in the kitchen. The skunk stew incident still causes laughter during family gatherings. And at my house, there mere mention of a certain concoction of lime gelatin, diced cucumbers, and mayonnaise elicits a nasty look from Scott.
For me, cooking is an art form. It’s self-expression at its tastiest. It’s a visual palette where the cook selects each ingredient and molds it into a masterpiece.

The kitchen is where I dabble in art. Sometimes, there’s a bonus to being a creative cook.
Last weekend, I was one of five finalists in the Nebraska Beef “What’s For Dinner” Cook-off. It’s the second time I’ve made the cut. I prepared beefy taco bells. In other words, I stuffed fresh peppers with taco meat and garnished them with cheese, tomatoes, salsa and sour cream. I finished in second place.

I enjoy cooking and sharing. I learned that from the women in my family.
For many families, food is a common bond that brings them together. Look beyond the platter of rib-eyes or the bowl of three bean salad placed in front of you. Glimpse into the kitchen in many homes across Nebraska and you’ll find something wonderful happening.

You’ll find families spending time together in the kitchen, cooking, creating, and conversing.
I learned to cook by spending time in the kitchen. I’d watch my mom, aunts, and grandma gather in that room and prepare fantastic meals. I observed how the simple tasks of slicing and dicing cut through more than vegetables; it cut to the heart of the matter –family time.

Cooking is a generational phenomenon.

When my kids grew up, I kept them in the kitchen with me and tried to establish that connection. It wasn’t always an easy task; between my school schedule and their activities, we often consumed more spicy nachos, lukewarm hot dogs, and bland sloppy joes than home-cooked meals.

But as they got older, they ventured into their great-grandmother’s kitchen and watched the magic. And they’ve learned the secrets of cooking.

Can there be too many cooks in the kitchen?

Not in our family.

from Nebraska-isms: A Fresh Look At Our State, by LuAnn Schindler

A Brilliant Idea Or Wishful Thinking

I love Nebraska.

I love to travel.

I love to write.

Why can't I combine the three into something bigger and better? Sure, I write about Nebraska for the newspaper and a regional publication. But, I've been kicking around this idea that I know would be fantastic. Plus, it would involve all three of the things listed above.

The idea probably resembles a regional magazine that comes out every two months, but I think if you went to each town in the state, and went in alphabetical order, and wrote a couple of blog pieces - historical and current - about each town, you'd have a hit. If you could highlight a town a week, or even every two weeks, it would work. Plus, you'd have photo opportunities. And, it would give me stories for other publications.

Of course, there's the money issue. I'd have to make money on it. Travel isn't free. But I do think it could be an outstanding blog. I'm still pondering my options. I'd like to start next month, if possible.

Some Halloween Fun Facts

According to the Census Bureau, the estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters last year was 36 million children between the ages of 5 to 13. Well, I had three visit here: two nieces and one nephew. One below the age of 5. Guess we're not so typical here in the sandhills of Nebraska.

The Census Bureau also reports that 93 % of households consider their neighborhood to be safe. 78% said there was no place within a mile of their homes where they would be afraid to walk alone at night. It's a mile south to the in-laws. Go a mile east and you're at my brother-in-law's house. I might consider walking to one of those places in the dark. It's fairly safe. Except for the possible mangy coyotes that howl. Or the occasional heifer that slips out of the fence and scares the heck out of you when you run into it.

Need a scary place to visit on Halloween? Fellow Nebraskans can visit Skull Creek, population 274. Now, I did a little research, and the only 'Skull Creek' I could find was a township in Butler County. I believe I'm fairly knowledgeable about Nebraska cities, villages, towns, and hamlets, but this one has me baffled. If you don't reside in the Cornhusker state, you could visit Transylvania County, PA; Tombstone, AZ; Pumpkin Center, NC; Pumpkin Bend, AR; Cape Fear, NC (now in two locations in NC: New Hanover County and Chatham County).

Americans ingest 24.5 pounds of candy on average. Of course, that's just the 2007 estimate. I don't think I ate that much. And I know I didn't give that much to my three little trick-or-treaters who visited tonight.

Will we ever finish harvesting?

Right now, I'm beginning to think we will still be in the field at Christmas. Ugh! Haven't been in the field for a week now, due to rain. Since it's mid-October here in the Cornhusker state, you have to wait for the sun to come out and the wind to blow to dry the field and beans out a bit.

It rained some Thursday night. Too wet yesterday. Tried this afternoon and it is wet. Husband thinks it will be dry enough around 6 p.m. Guess that means he will be in the field and I will be here writing, cooking and cleaning. That's the way life goes.

Have a quarter and a half of soybeans to finish. Then we will switch combine heads and pick corn.

Last year, we bought a used JD combine. Could have bought a used Case-IH that was in great condition for a few thousand more, but no, had to get this one. Then when it arrived, had to sink another $15,000 into it. Sure made the farmer in my house upset with the farmer's father who lives down the road. :(

In fact, I had to drive the combine a few times while husband was on the front of the head, raking the corn into it. Yes, he had built a "safety stand" so he didn't fall. That was extremely nerve-wracking! I think I only drove 3 miles per hour. Part of the problem was a wind storm that came through and bent the stalks. We haven't had a wind storm like that this year, so hopefully, the combine will smoothly glide over the cornfield.

Gearing up...

Chopping silage now. Should be finished by tomorrow or Saturday, I think. As long as there isn't another breakdown, should be done by then.

Combine is out of the quonset, cleaned and serviced, and ready to pick. Not sure if we'll pick corn or beans first. Bought a new bean head and I don't know if it is here yet. Haven't been down to the other farm to see if it arrived.

I think there was a slight frost last night. Should probably check the garden. I know there are tomatoes, brussel sprouts, and a load of zucchini and papaya squash out there that I really should use up. Where is the time to do that AND get my writing done? Good question.

I have a huge pan of cherry tomatoes in the garage refrigerator that I want to use to make some salsa, but I'm not sure when I'll get to that, either.

Need more minutes in the day. :)

In Search of I.M. Hipp

Thirty years ago, when I was a high school junior, my family met a Husker walk-on - Isaiah Moses Hipp - who had traveled from his home in Chapin, South Carolina to play football at Nebraska.

We understood the travel difference. During the summer of '68, we ventured to Greensboro, North Carolina, and spent part of the summer there while my dad attended classes at UNC-Greensboro.

We'd travel to out-of-town games and wait at the locker room for him to come out. Sometimes, he'd be hit up for autographs, which he would always sign. And he always spent time talking to our family. Once, at a KU-NU game in Lawrence, he and fellow Husker Andre Franklin asked if we were going home through Lincoln because they wanted to ride with us. Umm, Isaiah, I'm pretty sure Coach Tom wouldn't have allowed that, although I know we would have done it had he granted permission.

And there was the time we played at OSU. Our family had t-shirts made that said "I'm hip for Hipp" along with the number 32 blazing on the back. After meeting and talking at the locker room door, we began our journey home. We stopped somewhere in Kansas - I think Hutchinson - and the kid at the gas station said, "Hey, I saw you on TV. They showed your shirt."

And at home games, my sister and I always made a mad rush to the south field house and staked our spot to wait for him to come out. We'd wait with Tom Sorley's wife, dad and mom, and some times, Rick Berns' family would wait there with us, too.

The last time I remember seeing him was after the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day in 1980. We lost to Houston, 17 - 14. I don't remember seeing him at Andre's and Becky's wedding either (but that is another story in itself).

He was the subject of my first story I submitted to a newspaper, a personal profile of the Husker walk-on.

Why am I writing about the most famous walk-on football hero of all time? I read something about him today and it made me wonder where he is. And when I subbed at an area high school a few weeks ago, a teacher was telling the lunchroom crowd that he lived above her in the dorm. And I just smiled, remembering a small apartment, I think over on 18th street, where we met him a few times.

I discovered he lives in Virginia Beach. But I want to know more. Did you get married? Have children? When did you finish your degree? What things are important to you now? What do you think of Husker football and your time in Lincoln?

I'm searching for I.M. Hipp. And I'll find him. :)

T minus 9 and counting - The Pelini Era

My bags are packed and I'm ready to go. Today is the dawn of the Bo Pelini era of Nebraska football. And I can't wait!

My prediction is Nebraska 54 - Western Michigan 28. The hubby says that WMU won't score 28 on our defense. Yes, he's also the man who decided to spend a little more $$ on the NU-ISU game last year and started his downward spiral into football predictions. :)

I'm hoping that throughout the season, fans realize that he's not GOD. He's a human being who shares his passion and vision for college football with young men from around the country. He's going to make mistakes in calls. The team will make mistakes on some plays. We'll win and we'll lose, but the bottom line is that we are learning and getting better! I just don't want fans to get down on him if something happens beyond his control.

Last year's negativity reached from Omaha to Sydney, Rulo to Harrison. Fans need a level head and then, good things will happen.

Storm Chasin', funnel clouds and thunderstorms

Everyone always says that if you don't like the weather in Nebraska, wait a minute and it will change.

At 6:30 this morning, I opened our bedroom drapes and saw a glorious thunderhead building in the southwestern sky. I pointed it out to Scott, and we both wondered if we would get any storms today. After watching a local station, the meteorologist there said we were only in the "slight risk" category.

Now, you know what that means, right? We're gonna get nailed at some point.

By noon the temperature had reached 93 degrees. I had to go to O'Neill to take some pics for a publication and run some errands. I left around 2:30 and when I reached O'Neill, I stopped to snap some photos of where the new O'Neill Community Center will be built along Highway 281.

And then, these two vans with massive amounts of antennas on top, whiz by me. The lettering on the vans say Meteorology Laboratory and College of Dupage. I jump into my Jimmy and follow them around O'Neill. Finally, they stop to refuel and I pull along side them, introduce myself, and ask if I can interview them.

They tell me to do it quickly, because as soon as they are refueled, they will be off in a flash. (Which they were!)

Seems they are part of a meteorology class which sends five different groups out for a ten-day stretch to chase storms. This is group #5. The two young men who talked to me were quite polite and told me they go wherever the storms are, and they travel across the U.S. and Canada.

On my way to town, I noticed a system building to the west, but the real storm clouds seemed to be located east of us. I asked them if they were following the eastern storm, and they said no, they were tracking the storm building here in Holt County.

And I didn't have much time to complete my errands!

Forty-five minutes later, on my way out of town on Hwy 281, I meet another SUV and a bolt of lightning reflects in its windshield. Amazing photo op! Too bad I was driving!

Heavy rain until Chambers corner and then light rain for the next 10 miles. Then nothing. Until I reach the farm and stop to speak to Scott. We can see the storm building. And it keeps building. By the time I drive the one mile to our house, it is raining heavily. And within a half hour, he's here telling me a tornado warning was issued for our area.

Take cover. Yeah, right. I'm too much like my oldest daughter Cassie. I want to watch the storm, although when I was talking to her and telling her what I saw - a funnel cloud rotating to the west of our house - she chastised me like any good child would do and told me I needed to take cover.

What, and miss all this?

Scott and I stood in the garage and watched the deluge. Puddles formed in our driveway. I said a silent prayer that our garden survive and I told Scott that I hoped nothing damaged the fields. (Reminds me of Amarillo Sky by Jason Aldean)

Heavy rain, pea-sized hail, and luckily, no damage to our garden our fields.

But I found a website sponsored by the meteorology storm chasers from Dupage that reloads every two minutes and lists storm warnings. Looks like we will be in for a long night.

Snakes in the treeline

I've never really cared for snakes, but I've always had the idea in my head that if you leave a snake alone, it will leave you alone. But as I've gotten older (and definitely wiser), I've learned that snakes are just plain gross.

Since moving to the farm, I've seen one snake in our yard; that was last summer. I went out on the deck and was going to look for something in my vehicle when I saw something slither from the flowerbed in front of the house. It was a snake. A long snake. A fat snake. A bull snake. And it scooted underneath my vehicle. I stopped in my tracks, retreated to the deck, and waited for the husband to return home and get rid of it.

I'm not sure what he did do with it though, because snakes don't bother him.

So a little over a week ago, when I was directing a camp, he calls and tells me that when he was walking through the windbreak to get to the cattle tank to turn on the faucet so he could water the garden, he found a snake. A long snake. A fat snake. A bull snake. Yes, this anaconda (OK, so maybe I'm exaggerating) was approximately 8 feet long and about four inches in diameter. And worse yet, he picked it up. Yeah, like playing nice with the bull snake will guarantee that it will stay away from me.

Now, I'm mortified, because I refuse to walk into the forest of a windbreak just to turn on the water to the garden. No, I'm being realistic because I refuse to let the slimy creature hiss or strike at me.

I understand that they serve a purpose here. They keep the rat and mice population to a minimum and that is very important when you have tons of silage, hay, and alfalfa all over the place. But still, they are not pleasant to look at, and I'm not sure what purpose they play at our house. Except to scare the hell out of me!

Great American Comedy Festival - Youth Camp - Final Day

Wow! Such an exciting week filled with multiple laughs and fantastic learning opportunities! It has gone quickly, and today is the student's last day.

This morning, they are attending two workshops conducted by Barbara Holliday. The first is about learning how to market yourself. The second workshop focuses on game shows and how to become a contestant.

At 5 p.m., the students will showcase the work they've done this week in class. There will be four improv games, four sketches, and six standup comedy routines.

My only regret for the week is that I will be unable to attend the showcase due to a family commitment. It's called a wedding, and I need to be there, for better and for worse. OK, enough nonsense!

As the director of this camp, I hope the students take the skills they've developed during the week and apply them to any situation they face in life. Improv, quick thinking, and wit will assist students no matter what path they choose in life.

Great American Comedy Festival - Youth Camp - Day 5

Friday was the last official class day for the youth comedy camp that is part of the Great American Comedy Festival. It's been interesting!

This morning during standup class, students fine tuned their performances for tomorrow's showcase. They tightened up the opening joke and then got right in to the routine. While some of the students seem more at ease than others, the quality of material and the laughs they should generate will appeal to the audience. I'm so impressed with the work the students have completed in this class.

This afternoon, we ventured to the venue where we will perform tomorrow and blocked the sketches on stage. Next, the Brave New Workshop and Dave Reinitz ran through the entire show. I couldn't stop laughing.

And for a finale for the day, we attended the comedy finals. Competing were Drake Witham, Chris Coccia, Jim McDonald, Chuck Bartell, Erin Jackson, Shane Mauss, Deacon gray, and Marianne Sierk.

On our way back to the dorm, I enjoyed listening to the students discuss the differences in the routines presented this evening as compared to those in the semi-finals. Some comedians had partially new sets; others rearranged the material; and others used the same routine from earlier in the week.

At the end, Deacon Gray earned the winner's title, Erin Jackson took home $3,000 for second, and a third place tie occurred between Drake Witham and Jim McDonald.

Students were very impressed with Chuck Bartell, a comedian from Minneapolis. Three of my favorite bits he presents include a mood ring, telling a woman 'I love you' for the first time, and picking up hitch hikers. Hilarious!!

I was able to attend a reception for those who put together the festival, and more importantly, for those who performed. Robert Klein, a veteran comedian and actor who was on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" over 82 times, sat at our table. We shared some stories about Second City Comedy Club, limo rides, and improv guru Viola Spolin. Very funny man, and I am glad I had the opportunity to meet him.

Great American Comedy Festival - Youth Camp - Day 4

We must be getting close to the end of the week.

I say that for two reasons. First, the students are up late memorizing lines for the four sketches they will present at Saturday's Youth Showcase. Second, I'm tired.

No, really, I'm tired. Even though I watch the sessions and handle any situation that occurs throughout the day, I can feel my energy slowing a bit. I think the kids are starting to see the end, too, and they are pumped for Saturday's opportunity to perform.

Standup class began with a discussion about last night's semi-final session we attended. The instructor asked what we liked about the comics and what didn't work with their performances for us, also. Very interesting discussion ensued about joke structure and if it is best to get right to the first laugh or if spending time riffing with the audience draws the audience into the bit. Students practiced a short riff, followed by some of their routine, and then returned to riffing. This type of setup is called hammocking. The students seemed to master it in no time.

During improv, the students worked on the group mind activities they will be presenting on Saturday. Four types of improv will be presented. The first improv is titled "bus". One student will drive the bus and as each person boards the bus at a new stop, he or she will assume a certain type of character. Everyone on the bus will assume those characteristics. Once all students are aboard, they will exit the bus, and the improv will continue until the drive is once again, the only person left.

Next, students will perform a game of freeze tag. Now, this isn't the type of elementary playground game you grew up with. Instead, two people enter the stage, walk around, and when someone yells freeze, they do as told, look at the pose they both have assumed, and begin a scene. At some point during their scene, "freeze" will be heard and someone will tag one of the players and assume that position and start a new scene.

The directed story - which I discussed earlier - will be the third type of group mind activity that the students will demonstrate. Oh, so much fun! This is a good activity to show off a person's creativity level.

The final improv activity is titled "Dear Diary." Even though the students are together in a group, each student jumps in and pens a diary entry for the person or object suggested.

And now, on to sketch comedy/sketch writing. Students blocked the scenes and discovered that some of them need to memorize their lines . . . by tomorrow's dress rehearsal. Overall, they did a good job with the scripts. Only a little bit of improv on some of the lines!! :)

Tonight, we watched both sessions of semi-final competition. Wow! There were some spectacular routines. The first group featured Joe Klocek, Erin Jackson, Shane Mauss, Jamie Lissow, Dan Boulger, and another comic who took the place for someone who was unable to be here. In fact, I think he actually flew in to Omaha today and performed tonight. The top two advancing from this session were Erin Jackson and Shane Mauss.

At 8:00, we watched Darryl Lenox, Deacon Gray, Paul Varghese, Myq Kaplan, Marianne Sierk, and Joe DeRosa. Each one of them had energetic shows, with Marianne Sierk and Deacon Gray advancing to tomorrow's final round of competition.

I find it interesting that both women in the competition advanced, especially after being told earlier this week that women in comedy usually don't do well in competition because there are more men than women who perform the standup bit. But I think both women in this competition have their own style that they bring to the stage and it works! So congratulations to all the comedians who will joke around tomorrow for a grand prize of $5,000.

With that said, I see there are five minutes left until the stroke of midnight, commencing the beginning of Day 5 of Youth Comedy Camp at the Great American Comedy Festival. And, since I'm close to falling asleep at the keyboard, I bid everyone adieu.

Until tomorrow! Keep joking....

Great American Comedy Festival - Youth Comedy Camp - Day 3

OK, so technically we're half way through day 4 of youth comedy camp at the Great American Comedy Festival. I'll talk about yesterday's happenings though, and leave today's for a post for later tonight!

Again, I am in AWE of the talented kids who are attending the camp. Amazing! Simply amazing!

Stand up class started with an explanation of riffing - where a comedian talks with the audience. I found it interesting how quickly the students were able to come up with funny responses on the spot. The other students gave false names and made up jobs and location of residence so the comedian could interact with the audience. I heard some very good stuff!!

If you attend the events at Johnny Carson Theater at night, the folks from Reader's Digest have a joke booth there. You enter the booth and record your joke. The grand prize winner wins a trip to New York City. I've been practicing my joke that I plan to record tonight. The students have been coming up with their own jokes and have recorded their one-liners.

The Reader's Digest group visited camp yesterday. They even provided some audience participation. We certainly appreciate the assistance they offered!

During improv, the students worked on the structures they will be using in Saturday night's Youth Comedy Showcase. They definitely have a group mindset! My favorite to watch yesterday was the group story when each student was given an emotion. Then, each portion of the story they told had to use that emotion through the language. Wow! I heard some pretty creative stories about a vacation in Florida.

Sketch comedy and sketch writing finalized scripts and assigned parts for the showcase. Then, it was off to memorize lines in time for Thursday's class.

As a surprise - or actually more like a break from rehearsing - we attended the second semi-final section. Very impressive. Six outstanding comics from across the country performed and the top two advance to Friday's finals. Listening to the students on the way back to the dorm was interesting. Some agreed with the judges' decision; others felt there were other comedians who were better. But, the judging criteria was listed in the program, and we talked about perspective and how to decide how the audience reaction plays into the decision.

More practicing and fine-tuning stand up routines, and then, finally, lights out!

Whew!

Great American Comedy Festival - Youth Comedy Camp - Day 2

Wow! I can not believe the level of talented kids we have participating in the comedy camp this week. Simply amazing!

First, I watched part of the stand up class. Each student presented a basic routine and then was given a critique by Dave Reinitz who is serving as the class instructor. Students will now take the knowledge they learned about joke structure and add details to the routines they will present at the Youth Comedy Showcase.

The improv class just gets better and better! Today's activities included the freeze game and the ladder. Brave New Workshop talked quite a bit about building a scene by saying yes, and then letting the sketch grow from that point. I like that the kids are up and moving. They were good yesterday, but today, there was a new energy.

And in sketch writing/sketch comedy, the students had completed outlines. The group brainstormed and offered ideas for each sketch based on the five elements of a sketch:

• satirical point
• characters
• setting
• scene of action
• the "funny"

Following the discussion, the groups began pounding the keyboards and spent approximately 45 minutes writing the sketch. BNW instructors read the scenes in front of the students and once again, the group mind brainstormed ideas.

Tonight, we ventured to the Johnny Carson Theater at Norfolk Senior High for the amateur night. Twenty comedians from across the nation signed up for the competition. In fact, my inside informers tell me that when it was time to register for tonight's performances, the 20 slots were filled within 5 minutes. Amazing!

The young man who won ended with a bit about why reality TV needs to end and we need to return to original programming. Hilarious! Simply truthful.

Great American Comedy Festival - Youth Camp - Day 1

Today was officially the first day of the Great American Comedy Festival's youth comedy camp. I'm the director, and let me tell you, I'm ready for sleep!

Students checked in last night, and we did all the usual camp stuff: rules, regulations, goals. And then, the full-fledged pig out with build-your-own-sundaes, M&M cookies, and five varieties of potato chips. That was simply the appetizer. Then we completed the mixer with a meat lover's delight pizza.

I've realized that we really try to make things easy for kids. The catering company delivers breakfast to the dorm. All they need to do is walk downstairs, select from the luscious layout, return to their room, and then eat.

The first class featured stand up comedy. Today, I discovered a few things about writing jokes. Jokes consist of three elements: a set up, a connector, and the punchline. Always consider the degrees of difference in something - how something is bad and then each step away from that should be something worse.

Need an example? Ok, how about I say that I just love those silent conversations you have with others in an elevator. First, there's the bulleted eye contact that darts toward then and then quickly averts when you sneak a glimpse at the person. There's the moment when you both reach to push the floor button. And then there's the moment when the monotonous tones of elevator music rush through your brain....and you both realize the toe-tapping, head-bobbing music has turned both of you into those crazy brothers from Night at the Roxbury.

And then - a break for lunch. Keep 'em feed and busy and they'll eventually tire out. A wise woman told me that once.

The afternoon was spent with instructors from Brave New Workshop. I have one word for this fantastic group of performers: awesome, awesome, awesome! (Technically, it is one word. I just used it three times for effect.)

The improv workshop began with several games so the kids could build trust. This workshop time seemed like it flew past us! I was so engrossed watching the kids and was hit with the energy burst they were generating.

After a break, and some goldfish crackers, the kids began learning about the art of sketch comedy writing. Using the local newspaper and personal lists of joys and angers, the whiteboard became the fodder for a brainstorming session. So many interesting and unique ideas! Then, I was called away on camp business, so I missed the basic outline of the sketch (darn it), but I do believe that the basics include a theme, character(s), and place, as well as two other elements that I will discover tomorrow.

Dinner at Valentino's (a Nebraska tradition) and a trip to the Elkhorn Valley Museum for the Johnny Carson exhibit completed day one. Free time and some homework assignments kept students at the keyboard or at the ping pong table in the game room until lights out.

And yes, it's time for some peace and quiet and much deserved rest before tomorrow's outing.

What a fantastic opportunity and such a talented group of young people from across the U.S.! I'm glad I am able to be a part of it.

Reporting live (and close to sleep) from Norfolk, Nebraska..... until tomorrow. Same comedic tim(ing), Same comedic channel.

Weird holidays for June 8

Another listing of unique, weird, or wacky celebrations for this day in history.

Abused Women and Children's Awareness Day does NOT seem like a strange holiday. It's a day of awareness, a day to learn about the battered and abused. There isn't a bold history written about the subject. I'm sure it has been going on for a long time. Picture the manner in which cavemen are depicted: clubbing the woman over the head and dragging her to the cave. Fast forward to present day; the abuse could be happening in the house next door and you might not even be aware. Make yourself aware and offer support - or even escape - for those who suffer at the hands of an abuser.

Initiated in 1957 by the Bahai's of the United States to promote racial harmony, Race Unity Day has grown into a celebration of diversity promoting equality, unity, acceptance, respect, and love. The unity day is celebrated on yearly on the second Sunday in June.

The Festival of Weeks, or Shavo'ut, is the second of three major Jewish festivals with both historic and agricultural ties. This holiday celebrates the first fruits were harvested and carried to the Temple. The historical perspective celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. Shavo'ut has close ties to Passover. Counting from the second day of Passover to the day prior to Shavo'ut is 49 days - 7 weeks. This accounts for the name of the festival. Labor is not permitted on Shavo'ut. Custom calls for staying up the first night and studying the Torah. Then, most pray early the following morning. Also, a dairy meal is customary during the festival. Why? Two possible reasons: some believe it has to do with Israel being considered a land of milk and honey; others feel it is because the Torah had just been received, which included dietary laws, and as a result, both meat and dairy meals were not available. The final custom is the reading of the book of Ruth.

Today is also Write to Your Father Day. Considering that next Sunday is the real father's day, you might want to take advantage of this week and pen a heartfelt letter to your dad. This celebration has an interesting history. Three poets from San Luis Obispo came up with the holiday. Why? Because 70 percent of U.S. prisoners grew up fatherless and because poets use a few words to get to the heart of the matter. Take a look at the writing exercise these three offer.

Multicultural American Child Awareness Day celebrates what some may consider a twist of irony. We're celebrating the American child who is multicultural. I say celebrate ALL children! They are our future.

Orphan's Train Memorial Day is celebrated today. I could not find any information about the origins of this memorial day; however, I'm going to guess that this celebration honors those orphans who were placed on trains and sent across the U.S. to adoptive homes. Quite of a few of the orphans ended up in my home state of Nebraska.

Having a bad day? Turn that frown into a smile and celebrate Upsy Daisy Day. According to Merriam-Webster, the people who started this happy holiday did it as a way for people to get up gloriously, gratefully, and gleefully. So true. When you wake up, you have the power to decide if you are going to be positive or negative that day. Upsy daisy is also an interjection used to reassure a child when he or she is being lifted.

searching for veggies

Well, Tuesday was a sad day. We went asparagus hunting and most of it had gone to seed already. We did find enough to have asparagus with cheese sauce for dinner though. :)

Last year, we went looking for asparagus almost every day for two weeks and always came home with enough for a meal.

This year, because of the wet weather, the season started about a week later and there wasn't as much as usual. I'm sure it also depends on where you look. I have a plan for next year. I guess there's quite a bit across the highway, so I'm going to go every afternoon and gather enough for meals and freezing.

I can remember going a few times when I was growing up. We'd go with Meem, Shelley and Marsha. And then one year, we just didn't go. I'd forgot about it until last year.

I've been told that Holt County is the best place to hunt for the ditch veggie. Sure seems there's a lot! One Sunday when we were out hunting for it, we saw a car from Illinois. Uh, get out of here and let the locals have their veggies!! :)

I made a good casserole with asparagus and onions, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and croutons. Very good, but the favorite in this house seems to be with melted cheese.

A Part of Nebraska History - Black Homesteaders and a New Monument

Over a hundred years ago, a small group of Black homesteaders journeyed to the sandhills of Nebraska and ended up homesteading land near Goose Lake. This lake is located just north of the Wheeler and Holt county line (and about six miles west of my house). The area was named "Bliss" for the family who housed the post office. (side note: There were approximately 90 post offices in Holt County around this time.)

For the next few years, blacks and whites lived side by side as peaceful neighbors. The evidence of camaraderie exists in photos of an integrated school, baseball team, church, and cemetery. Hector Dixon owned over 1,000 acres plus held a job at the Amelia Creamery. He was also a school teacher. Another black homesteader - Jerry Freeman - was one of the first mail carriers.

Eventually, most of the black settlers left the area because the land was difficult to farm. Many of them moved to Grand Island or other large cities because factory jobs were plentiful. Eventually it came down to supporting your family instead of following your dreams. By the end of World War I, all had vanished from this North Central Nebraska region.

During these years, the blacks who passed away were buried in Goose Lake cemetery. During the 1920s and 30s during the Dust Bowl, several of the graves blew open. The white neighbors removed the remains and buried them in Valley View cemetery, which is located approximately four miles north and one or two miles east of the Goose Lake area.

Things changed, people moved, others remained. The black homesteaders, who built sod houses and dreamed of a better life than what they had as slaves in the South, were a forgotten element of Nebraska history. Their dreams withered and blew away along with the dust during the 30s and the sand that blows so strongly here today.

Then, a twist of fate brought people to the remains of one of the sod houses. And there, in the dirt, they found a toy pistol. Speculation swirled about who had owned the toy gun. And then, fate took another turn as one of the people who found the gun shared the treasure with his cousin, who became obsessed with finding the story.

That story and research culminated with the publication of Hector's Bliss: Black Homesteaders at Goose Lake, Nebraska, by Dennis Vossberg of Plainview, Nebraska.

That could've been the end of the story, but Vossberg wrote in the book's epilogue, that the black settlers who were re-interred at Valley View deserved a monument.

And so, a movement took hold. People began sending money to Vossberg for the monument. One of my husband's aunts was one of the first people to send a donation. And the people who own Plainview Monument Company were good enough to donate time and materials to the cause.

So, nearly one hundred years after their passing, the black homesteaders have a monument honoring the contributions they made to Nebraska's history and to the memory of their life near Goose Lake. And on Memorial Day, the monument was dedicated with an amazing crowd of close to 150 people in attendance. That's pretty amazing when you consider how rural it really is out here!

Eileen Watson, of Selma, Alabama, was able to at attend the dedication, along with her son, Dean, who resides in Lincoln. I had the pleasure of interviewing this remarkable woman prior to her visit, and I was so impressed with her. She commented about how her older relatives could hardly believe that the people here raised money for a monument for their ancestors. But, as she pointed out, segregation did not seem to be an issue in this area for the residents of Goose Lake and the Bliss area.

And what was most touching and impressionable to me was how people treated her like she was a long lost family member who had returned home. I was able to speak with her prior to the dedication at the cemetery, and when I introduced myself, she hugged me like we had been friends for a long time.

In an era that will probably see its first Black candidate nominated on the general election ballot in November, yet an era that still suffers from racial tension, I can proudly attest that there was none of that here on Memorial Day.

She's Finally Graduating!

It seems like a long 5 1/2 years, but when I look back on that period of time, I think there have just been so many events that occurred during this time frame that it seems like it took a lifetime.

Here's my reason to celebrate on December 22. My oldest daughter is graduating from UNL. And this momma couldn't be any prouder!!

There was a semester at another school in Lincoln. I think it was good for her to experience that, even though I never saw that college as a true fit for her, her personality, her ambitions. And then a transfer to UNL, which turned into a very good move.

During these 5 1/2 years, there was a wedding, four funerals, a part-time job that meant full-time hours, a paid internship that turned into a full-time job, induction into the Sociology honorary, and a myriad of tailgate parties.

Plus things I'm sure a daughter doesn't want her mother to know.

But I must say that this is a milestone I'm happy to take part in.

Why didn't Danny Woodhead get a Hesiman Invite?

Danny Woodhead, who was a standout at North Platte High School and went on to earn some of the top honors in college football did not receive an invitation to last weekend's Heisman ceremony. And I'm wondering why.

The Chadron State College back ran for more yards than any player in the history of college football. Let me say that again. Woodhead ran for more yards than ANY player in the history of college football. In four years, he ran for 7.962 yards. That's six hundred yards more than the previous record.

He also ranks second in career all-purpose yards. He has 109 career TDs, which ties the NCAA record. Plus, he scored 654 career points, ranking him 2nd in that category. And for the second season, Woodhead was named to the AP Little All-America first team.

So tell me why this outstanding football player didn't get asked to NY last weekend? And more importantly, why didn't he win?

Oh, that's right. He doesn't play for a Division IA school. No, he was passed over by Nebraska when they Billy Blue Eyes was at the helm. Instead, Woodhead chose Chadron State and made it fun to watch football.

Even one game was televised on NET this season. Unfortunately, it's the game Woodhead got injured in shortly after kickoff.

It's a shame that if football's highest honor is supposed to honor the best player in all of college football, Woodhead was ignored. Obviously, he deserved to be invited and given serious consideration. After all, his name is etched in the record books.