Book Review: Nosy in Nebraska

Melnik Nebraska may only have a population of 1,138, but truthfully, everyone in Nebraska outside of the metropolitan areas of Omaha and Lincoln lives in Melnik. I'm pretty sure everyone in rural America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and Canada to Mexico lives in Melnik.

"The best thing and worst thing about a small town was the same thing.

Everybody knew.

If you needed help, lost a job and needed money, had a death in the family, an illness, everybody knew and came to your aid. If you messed up, everybody knew and discussed every detail of the trouble."

Nosy in Nebraska is a trilogy written by Mary Connealy, and includes the individual titles "Of Mice... and Murder," "Pride and Pestilence," and "The Mice Man Cometh," with publication dates of 2008, 2009 and 2009, respectively.

Witty. It's a characteristic sometimes lacking in independent authors, especially independent authors who write Christian romance mysteries. Not to be prejudiced against that genre, but in my experience, titles can sometimes be sappy and trite to an alarmingly boring degree.

Not so with Mary Connealy, who has entertainingly and humorously captured life in a small town, and Nebraska is fortunate enough to have the setting for the fictional Melnik be in our great state.

Each title in the trilogy is a murder-mystery cozy, with romance and Christian overtones. Great reads for winter afternoons snuggled before a fire, or long, lazy summer days at your favorite beach or park.

If you find you like her writing, according to her website, there are a lot more titles to find:

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is the author of the Lassoed in Texas series, Petticoat Ranch, the Christy Award nominated Calico Canyon and Gingham Mountain. The Montana Marriages series, Carol Award Finalist Montana Rose, The Husband Tree and Wildflower Bride. A stand alone romantic comedy with cowboys, Cowboy Christmas which won the 2010 Carol Award for Long Historical Romance. A new series with ties to both of the old ones, Doctor in Petticoats, Wrangler in Petticoats and Sharpshooter in Petticoats.

If I read the descriptions right, these are more in the historical romance genre, and never having read any of them, can't comment with any authority. But... if I had to take a guess based on the three that I have read, they will be well-written, light-hearted entertainment that'll make you feel good when you're finished.

I'm glad my sister-in-law introduced me to Mary - what an interesting character. In addition to her published writing under her own name, she has an alter-ego, Mary Nealy who has written a suspense thriller "Ten Plagues." She is also an avid blogger, so you can get to know her at numerous places on the web. One of the most interesting is "Seekerville," with a subtitle of "The Seekers, Escape from Unpubbed Island." Thirteen Christian writers who collided on the way to becoming published authors, a note on their "About Us" page announces that as of July 2011, all of the authors have left Unpubbed Island - with the sale of novel-length manuscripts.

Congratulations on all their success. If you're looking for a quick read if this winter ever decides to grace us with some snow, check out Mary Connealy.

Thanks for stopping by. The coffee is always on.

Happy New Year

The house is quiet early on the morning of the first day of 2012, for the first time in about ten days. The two boys who are home are enjoying sleeping in after celebrating the coming of the new year.

Our holiday celebrations began on December 23 with the arrival of our daughter from California, marking the beginning of a gathering that would see all of us together for the first time in nine years.

The time went so fast, but we tried to make the most of it.

There was the great road trip into the Sandhills where we saw lots of scenery and wildlife.Then there was a visit to the homesteading cabin occupied by the kids' Great Grandparents.
We explored a bit of Sutherland, including Grandma Irene's First Street Fitness Center. And of course, there was the food! Our big celebration came on the 28th when all of the kids finally arrived. The meal marked the largest gathering of our kids and the Nebraska Outback side of the family in recent memory.We enjoyed our traditional holiday trip to Seifer Farms Sporting Clays to blow up some things.And we did some touristy things like visiting the Golden Spike Tower. And the Fort Cody Trading Post where we got some amazing gifts for the White Elephant exchange. It of course, was all over too quickly, but we did have time for one last drive to enjoy the beautiful Nebraska sunset.
With that foundation to build upon, 2012 is shaping up to be a wonderful year. Thank you for stopping by. Best wishes for an amazing 2012 from the Nebraska Outback. Stop by sometime... remember, the coffee is always on.

What to get Your Favorite Artist for Christmas

Most of the artists who entertain our friends at the Nebraska Outback House Concert Series are independent, controlling their own music, lives and destiny. They can perform the music they want, nearly all of which they have written and arranged themselves.

Our audiences often leave a concert shaking their heads "why don't we hear them on the radio?" or "they are so much better than we hear on the radio all the time." I share our audience's frustration.

Most of the artists who perform on our living room stage are doing exactly what they want to do - connecting with people through the intimate setting of a House Concert. They wouldn't have it any other way.

However, the CD sales and the radio play (online or broadcast) is their bread and butter. Tours are so expensive, that often the donations from audiences barely cover expenses. It's connecting with new fans and selling CD's that make a tour profitable.

I personally believe that fans who have been entertained by an artist who has spent a lifetime honing their entertainment skills has a certain amount of responsibility, over and above dropping a donation in the jar and buying a CD.

If we want to consistently have the opportunity to hear great new independent music, WE have to be the PR arm of these amazing artists. They don't have the PR machine of a mega record label behind them - and this is a good thing, because they also don't have a mega record label telling them what to play and how to play it.

With the access we have on the Internet, we can be a partner in their careers and help them sell albums, and other fans discover them and start talking about them. Here are a few ideas to help you along:

• First, go to the artist website at (www.MasonDouglasMusic.com, www.Neelymusic.com, www.BenBedford.com, www.jesseterrymusic.com, www.meganburtt.com, www.bethwoodmusic.com, www.kenomalley.com, www.thewaymores.net, www.marcgunn.com... there's so many more!) and sign up for their mailing list. You'll often get free music downloads, and you'll be notified of upcoming events - album releases, appearances, etc.



• Go to the artist Facebook fan page and become a fan there too. You'll most likely find the information on their official website. And don't just leave it at that... don't become a stalker, but post on their walls if you see/hear something you like.



• If you’re a twitterer, you can follow them there. Make a list of musicians you follow and check it regularly - retweet their interesting tweets, engage them in conversation. Recognize them on "#MusicMonday", "#NewMusicTuesday" and "#FollowFriday", tell your friends how much you like them.



• Check out their albums available on Amazon.com. It’s best just to search for the name of the artist and/or the name of the album. Scroll down and leave your own review of their music. Don't just purchase their music and leave your enjoyment of it to yourself! Share with others how great it is and encourage them to purchase it or listen to it too. Activity here will help your artist be more easily found.



• Do you have an iTunes account? You can find nearly all of the artists there as well, and it really helps their visibility if you “like” their music and leave reviews there too. Just search the store to find them, then poke around on your account until you find where you can leave reviews. It only takes a few minutes, and once you become a regular at it it'll take less time than that.



• Are you hooked on YouTube? Most artists have a channel there, where they post videos of their own and favorites those others post. You can "favorite", “like” and comment on the individual videos, and you can also comment to the channel - all of this will help their be more popular and more easy to find. Of course, you can also share the videos on your Twitter feeds and Facebook walls and other places on the Internet.



• Going a little further, you can go to the artist page on ReverbNation: You’ll have to register, but it’s free and gives you access to preview lots of great music. Become a fan of your favorite artists there, and you can check out their upcoming live appearance and other announcements.



• Whether you listen to your local radio station, Internet radio or services like Pandora or Spotify, request their music! Create channels with their music. Share (there's almost always a "share" button) the same when you have the opportunity.

Don't let your admiration for an artists hide under a bushel! Let your light shine wherever you have an audience - readers of Amazon and iTunes reviews, your Twitter followers and Facebook friends, other fans of the artist.

Take your job as PR person seriously! We'll all thank you when we have the chance to turn on our local radio station and hear their music!

If anyone has any more suggestions on how we can help our favorite artists get the word out, be sure to post comments here.

Thanks for stopping by. The coffee is always on.

North Platte Canteen Remembered

On a cold winter evening, December 17, 1941, a group of friends and family members from North Platte stood on the Union Pacific Depot staring with dismay at a troop of soldiers disembarking from the train. The parents, grandparents, children, sweethearts and friends had heard through the grapevine that their own soldiers, Company D of the Nebraska National Guard would be stopping on their way to war.

Only now, there wasn't a familiar face to be seen as the confused soldiers stared back at them in confusion. It was National Guard Company D all right, only the boys were from Kansas, not Nebraska.

One courageous young woman, Rae Wilson, stepped forward, declaring that these soldiers would enjoy the gifts she had brought. The rest of the crowd followed suit, passing out the home made foods and hand made gifts to the surprised and grateful soldiers.

Seventy years this month will have passed since that act of unparalleled generosity... what makes it unparalleled is that Rae Wilson spearheaded the effort to do the same thing EVERY TIME a troop train passed through town. On Christmas Day, the Canteen opened in the Union Pacific Depot and went on to operate for 54 months, meeting every single troop train until eventually 55,000 volunteers served more than six million service men and women.

To commemorate the anniversary, artist Denis Hurst penned and performed a tribute to the North Platte Canteen:


God bless our men and women in uniform, and those volunteers who showed them so much love so long ago.

Thanks for stopping by. As with the old-time signal of an approaching troop train "Put the coffee pot on!"

Beautiful Home to Sell at Auction December 10

After literally years of wrangling with her former husband, , my sister's home in North Platte will sell at a real estate auction on December 10,2011 at 10:30 a.m.

Marvelous 3+ bedroom, 3 bath home
810 E. 4th St., North Platte
16' x 30' garage/workshop
Splendid decks

Grand three or more bedroom, two story manor with three baths, 16' x 30' detached garage and off-street parking for several vehicles. The home offers 2,252 sq. ft. of living area under composition shingled gable roof. The home has been tastefully updated with contemporary and fashionable decor. The open kitchen/dining area measures 13' x 22' and has abundance of new cabinetry and top of the line appliances. It is heated by forced air gas furnace and there is also central air conditioning.

There are marvelous decks and this home is situated near Memorial Park and along the NEBRASKAland DAYS parade route. A large tent is included for entertaining during that and other celebrations.
This home is a true people pleaser. Plus it's on a huge lot with alley access.
Legal Description: Lot 1 Melissa 1st Replat of Trustee's Addition to North Platte, Lincoln County Nebraska.

Lot Dimensions: 109.25 x 132

Real Estate Taxes: 2010 - $2,848.44, parcel number 4536500

For more information contact Bruce Richman, 308-530-0990 or Nancy Faulhaber, 308-530-1254

Misguided Interference by Uncle Sam

HURRY, HURRY, HURRY!
COMMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY DECEMBER 1

America's rural lifestyle has long been under attack, whether from economic downturns, the weather, the EPA or animal rights group. Now we have to fight for our very future on another front - the Department of Labor.

Children are vital to the health of the rural economy, and our farm and ranch lifestyle is vital to raising intelligent, hard-working adults. Now proposed changes in the child labor laws is threatening our heritage.

In one of Nebraska's most rural counties, the Custer County Chief broke the story. According to the details printed there,

The changes are pointedly aimed at agriculture and would severely limit opportunities for young people on the farm or ranch, and in some cases eliminate them, until they are at least 16, or in some instances 18 years of age.

There is a partial exemption for kids working for their mom or dad. That exemption does not extend, however outside that narrow definition. Uncles, aunts, grandparents are not considered. Furthermore, if the teenager is paid then the parents are considered a business and the exemptions are no longer allowed. These rules would also most likely impact youth groups like 4-H and FFA.

Other proposed changes prohibit certain occupations involving working with or around animals including handling animals with known dangerous behaviors; assisting in animal husbandry practices that inflict pain upon animal or result in unpredictable behavior (such as branding, breeding, dehorning, vaccinating, castrating and treating sick or injured animals); poultry catching or cooping in preparation for market; working in a yard, pen or stall of an intact(non-castrated male animal or with female animals with suckling offspring or umbilical cords present; herding animals in confined spaces or on horseback, or using motorized vehicles such as trucks or all-terrain vehicles.

Several proposals are aimed specifically at tractor use.
Tractors operated by 14 and 15-year old youth must be equipped with approved Roll-Over Protective Structures (ROPS) and seatbelts; and that seatbelt use be mandated. This would prohibit the use of tractors of any horsepower, including small garden-tractors; whereby the training exemption will either be removed or changed to 90 hours of study.

It would prohibit the use of electronic devices, including communication devices, while operating tractors, power-driven equipment and motor vehicles and restrict use of all power-driven equipment (similar to that of non-agricultural industries). That would seem to be a very broad definition encompassing almost all equipment used on the farm.

Another proposal would restrict young people from working on elevated structures over six feet high. Most combine cabs are over six feet. There are question being asked. Are they not allowed to use ladders either? Do barn lofts fall under this ruling?

The Department of Labor seems to contrast sharply with the wishes of Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack who is looking for ways for more young people to get involved in farming and ranching.

Do any of these activities sound familiar to you? If you grew up on a farm or a ranch, they were all probably part of your chores or duties from the time you could toddle around the farm yard carrying a bucket.

Here's what to do:

To submit comments:

1. Log on to www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=WHD-2011-0001-0001
2. Enter required information in section 1 including name and address
3. Type comment in section 2
4. Review your comments – the U.S. Department of Labor urges the commenter to carefully consider that their submissions are a matter of public record and will be publicly accessible on the internet
5. Submit

Comments must be submitted on or before December 1, 2011

Occupy Black Friday

As a matter of fact, DON'T Occupy Black Friday - stay home, enjoy your family, watch some football, eat leftovers. Avoid the madness Black Friday brings.

But, when you do go shopping, ON SATURDAY, participate in SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY! Small business is the backbone of America and the key to economic recovery. Here are some important contributions of small business according to the SBA:

Small firms:

• Represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms.


• Employ half of all private sector employees.


• Pay 44 percent of total U.S. private payroll.


• Generated 65 percent of net new jobs over the past 17 years.


• Create more than half of the nonfarm private GDP.


• Hire 43 percent of high tech workers ( scientists, engineers, computer programmers, and others).


• Are 52 percent home-based and 2 percent franchises.


• Made up 97.5 percent of all identified exporters and produced 31 percent of export value in FY 2008.


• Produce 13 times more patents per employee than large patenting firms.

And, when you spend locally, more of your dollars stay in your community:

Here are some great ideas to spend your money this Christmas - really, it's like giving three times or more - your spending is a gift to independent, locally owned business owners, who in turn spend your dollars in the community, AND you get to give great, thoughtful gifts to your loved ones.

Everything from soup to nuts: Grow Nebraska, online or at retail stores in Kearney, Grand Island and Lincoln.

Kearney
5019 2nd Avenue, #20
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 338-3520
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday: 12 noon - 6 pm

Grand Island
Conestoga Mall #144
3404 W 13th Street
Grand Island, NE 68803
(308) 382-1287
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday: 12 noon - 6 pm

Lincoln
6100 O Street, Bay #228
Westfield Gateway Mall
Lincoln, NE 68505
402-464-3030
Store hours
Monday-Saturday: 10:00am – 9:00pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Please check Westfield Gateway Web site for specific holiday hours.
November 4 - December 24

Other ideas?

Give some locally brewed craft beers. You can find all of the Nebraska Brewers on the Nebraska Beer Blog.

Nebraska Wine - check out the Nebraska Wine and Grape Growers or your local retailers for selections.

Nebraska Music - you can find a lot of great artists at Hear Nebraska, check them out then buy their music directly from their websites, at Amazon or iTunes.

Make a REAL difference with your Christmas shopping this year! Buy local.

Thanks for stopping by. The coffee is always on (purchased from our local grocery store, Maline's Super Foods in Sutherland, Nebraska.)