November 3

When I finally meet the Lincoln County, Nebraska Democrats

1979

Grad student seminar should include material for major and non-major students. Non-majors would select an area in which to gain historical perspective. (Synthetics, textile economics and technology, etc.) Everyone present a seminar, like we did in HIST 600, and submit a review of literature or prospectus. 

2003

Unseasonably hot. Drat and grumble. Really. It was in the 80s over the weekend, and everyone was chirping about how NICE it was. Except I am in the mood for warm socks and cozy sweaters.

Yesterday in church I wrote “fear” on the paper before it was burnt. What am I afraid of? Growing old. Death. Losing my children. Poverty. War. The sun exploding. Losing Jim. Failure. Is it really possible to let go of all that fear?

2004

So it looks like another four yeras with George W Bush. It is hard to comprehend. But then, how can anything so difficult to comprehend also feel so inevitable? Kinda like death.

Comment 2024

Ah, the good old days.

2016

No scenic pictures of Nebraska today; I was too busy. I made some last-minute changes to my presentation slides, then headed to the library for my brown bag talk. It was very well attended -- twenty or so people, including a local reporter covering the event. It pays to be a big fish in a small pond. The after talk discussion was pretty amazing; I learned all kinds of things about high school dress codes in this part of country, including that girls were first permitted to wear pants to North Platte High School in 1971. That will save me lots of microfilm time.

I crawled back to my motel -- this head cold is still whipping my butt -- and took a short nap, then medicated myself up and headed to the harvest dinner at the Lutheran Church. Jackpot! The dinner was great, and I ended up sitting with a "connector". She's one of those people who could scan a room and pick out the two or three people who could identify the kids in my choir picture. One of those kids, Jimmy Nisley, was also there, and was able to name half a dozen of them.

From the Lutheran dinner, I headed to Wild Bill's Wings and Bowling for the monthly meeting of the Lincoln County Democrats. What a stalwart group! They live surrounded by friends, family, and neighbors who abuse them and steal their Hillary signs. (One elderly woman has lost seven in the last few weeks.) They spent a good part of the meeting hearing from a woman who was explaining the Affordable Care Act issues, providing solid information and talking points to counter the hair-on-fire "reporting" going on. They are determined to "go high when they go low", and they have to fight an ongoing battle for equal time in the local media. The chair agreed to attend a political forum at a local church and found himself alone in a very hostile crowd, but he delivered his message and hoped he opened a few minds, at least to the possibility of political differences without hate. Like I said, a stalwart group. I'll be spending election night with them at Wild Bill's. 

Comment 2024

I still keep in touch with several of the Lincoln County Dems on Facebook. They have never given up hope of turning Lincoln County at least just a little purple. Stalwart, indeed!

2017

Today is Friday. Yesterday was full, and very enjoyable, except for the part with the flat tire. I am still trying to get motivated for exercise. Aching knees don’t help.

2024

I had some time at a bus stop yesterday.