Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
A Good Excuse for a Bad Habit
Typical college students are known for wasting money on things like pizza, video games, various caffeinated beverages, and let's not forget beer. Although I would never encourage underage drinking – anyone who is that desperate should study abroad and learn what drinking is to another culture – or drinking on UNK's "dry" campus, I am not opposed to all-night, off campus, legal beer and Rock Band marathons--as long as your neighbors don't turn you in for noise violations and you recycle all the aluminum you accumulate throughout the night.
It makes me sick to see cans that used to hold Bush Light or Redbull overflowing from trash bins in my neighborhood every Monday morning. Some foolish, unenlightened college students are throwing away hard-earned money.
Those beer cans are made of aluminum.
Andersen Wrecking Company pays people for aluminum.
Did no one ever teach these academic beer enthusiasts how to put two and two together?
My boyfriend and I don't host a lot of parties, but between the two of us, we consume enough beer, Coca-Cola, and Arizona Green Tea to fill an average-sized trash bag with aluminum cans every three or four weeks. That trash bag usually weighs one to two pounds, depending on how many cans we crush, and aluminum currently earns sixty cents per pound. That's almost a dollar a month.
It’s not an overwhelming amount, I’ll admit, but everybody likes making easy money.
However, we also called 308-233-3206 to get a free recycling container from the City of Kearney Sanitation Department.
The recycling containers and curbside pick-up are free to anyone who pays for trash pick-up, but there are also several public-access blue recycling dumpsters located in several places around the city including one next to Herbergers at the Hill Top Mall.
Those who don't pay for trash pick-up and don't want to look for Andersen Wrecking Company cannot claim they don't know where the mall is. Those who don't admit to shopping at the mall still have to venture to that end of town to buy video games...
If beer-drinking gamers drop off one two pound bag of aluminum cans at the recycling bin next to Herbergers once a month, they will donate approximately fourteen dollars to the City of Kearney in a year.
If they recycle two pounds twice a month, they will donate close to thirty dollars a year.
If they recycle two pounds of aluminum once a week, which might be feasible depending on how many roommates are involved, they will donate nearly sixty dollars to the City of Kearney every year. That's practically community service.
I am writing this for all the college students who have ever been called underachievers. Come on! Gather up your cans, choose your preferred method of recycling and call your parents. Tell them, "Mom, Dad, I did something good today."
For those of you who chose to seek out the wrecking company, say: "I cleaned my house, got rid of some things I didn't need anymore, and made a little money in the process."
For those of you who dialed a phone number or drove to the mall, say: "I recycled, and I made an unofficial donation to the City of Kearney today.”
All of you should follow up your parents’ stunned silence with: “Aren't you proud of me?"
It makes me sick to see cans that used to hold Bush Light or Redbull overflowing from trash bins in my neighborhood every Monday morning. Some foolish, unenlightened college students are throwing away hard-earned money.
Those beer cans are made of aluminum.
Andersen Wrecking Company pays people for aluminum.
Did no one ever teach these academic beer enthusiasts how to put two and two together?
My boyfriend and I don't host a lot of parties, but between the two of us, we consume enough beer, Coca-Cola, and Arizona Green Tea to fill an average-sized trash bag with aluminum cans every three or four weeks. That trash bag usually weighs one to two pounds, depending on how many cans we crush, and aluminum currently earns sixty cents per pound. That's almost a dollar a month.
It’s not an overwhelming amount, I’ll admit, but everybody likes making easy money.
However, we also called 308-233-3206 to get a free recycling container from the City of Kearney Sanitation Department.
The recycling containers and curbside pick-up are free to anyone who pays for trash pick-up, but there are also several public-access blue recycling dumpsters located in several places around the city including one next to Herbergers at the Hill Top Mall.
Those who don't pay for trash pick-up and don't want to look for Andersen Wrecking Company cannot claim they don't know where the mall is. Those who don't admit to shopping at the mall still have to venture to that end of town to buy video games...
If beer-drinking gamers drop off one two pound bag of aluminum cans at the recycling bin next to Herbergers once a month, they will donate approximately fourteen dollars to the City of Kearney in a year.
If they recycle two pounds twice a month, they will donate close to thirty dollars a year.
If they recycle two pounds of aluminum once a week, which might be feasible depending on how many roommates are involved, they will donate nearly sixty dollars to the City of Kearney every year. That's practically community service.
I am writing this for all the college students who have ever been called underachievers. Come on! Gather up your cans, choose your preferred method of recycling and call your parents. Tell them, "Mom, Dad, I did something good today."
For those of you who chose to seek out the wrecking company, say: "I cleaned my house, got rid of some things I didn't need anymore, and made a little money in the process."
For those of you who dialed a phone number or drove to the mall, say: "I recycled, and I made an unofficial donation to the City of Kearney today.”
All of you should follow up your parents’ stunned silence with: “Aren't you proud of me?"
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Off-Campus Drinking by UNK Students Can Have a Positive Impact on Kearney
Typical college students are known for wasting money on things like pizza, video games, clothes, and let's not forget beer. Although I would never encourage underage drinking (If you're that desperate, study abroad) or drinking on UNK's "dry" campus, I am not opposed to all-night beer and Rock Band marathons--as long as your neighbors don't turn you in for noise violations and you recycle your aluminum and paperboard waste the next day.
It makes me sick to see beer cans and Bush Light boxes overflowing from trashcans in my neighborhood every Monday morning. Some foolish, unenlightened college students are throwing away hard-earned money.
Those beer cans are made of aluminum.
Andersen Wrecking Company pays people for aluminum.
Did no one ever teach these academic beer enthusiasts how to put two and two together?
My boyfriend and I don't host a lot of parties, but between beer, Coca-Cola, and Arizona Green Tea, we fill an average-sized trash bag with aluminum cans every three or four weeks. That trash bag usually weighs **** ounces and aluminum earns **** per ounce. That's **** extra dollars every month.
Everybody likes making easy money.
However, we also called 308-233-3206 to get a free recycling container from the City of Kearney Sanitation Department.
The recycling containers and curbside pick-up are free to anyone who pays for trash pick-up, but there are also several public-access blue recycling dumpsters located in several places around the city including one next to Herbergers at the Hill Top Mall.
Those who don't pay for trash pick-up and don't want to look for Andersen Wrecking Company cannot claim they don't know where the mall is. Those who don't admit to shopping at the mall still have to venture to that end of town to buy video games...
If beer-drinking gamers drop off one **** ounce bag of aluminum cans at the recycling bin next to Herbergers once a month...twice a month...once a week...they are donating **** dollars to the City of Kearney every year. That's practically community service.
I am writing this for all the college students who have ever been called underachievers. Come on! Gather up your cans, choose your preferred method of recycling and call your parents. Tell them, "Mom, Dad, I did something good today."
For those of you who chose to seek out the wrecking company, say: "I cleaned my house, got rid of some things I didn't need anymore, and made a little money in the process."
For those of you who dialed a phone number or drove to the mall, say: "I recycled, and I made a small donation to the City of Kearney today. Aren't you proud of me?"
It makes me sick to see beer cans and Bush Light boxes overflowing from trashcans in my neighborhood every Monday morning. Some foolish, unenlightened college students are throwing away hard-earned money.
Those beer cans are made of aluminum.
Andersen Wrecking Company pays people for aluminum.
Did no one ever teach these academic beer enthusiasts how to put two and two together?
My boyfriend and I don't host a lot of parties, but between beer, Coca-Cola, and Arizona Green Tea, we fill an average-sized trash bag with aluminum cans every three or four weeks. That trash bag usually weighs **** ounces and aluminum earns **** per ounce. That's **** extra dollars every month.
Everybody likes making easy money.
However, we also called 308-233-3206 to get a free recycling container from the City of Kearney Sanitation Department.
The recycling containers and curbside pick-up are free to anyone who pays for trash pick-up, but there are also several public-access blue recycling dumpsters located in several places around the city including one next to Herbergers at the Hill Top Mall.
Those who don't pay for trash pick-up and don't want to look for Andersen Wrecking Company cannot claim they don't know where the mall is. Those who don't admit to shopping at the mall still have to venture to that end of town to buy video games...
If beer-drinking gamers drop off one **** ounce bag of aluminum cans at the recycling bin next to Herbergers once a month...twice a month...once a week...they are donating **** dollars to the City of Kearney every year. That's practically community service.
I am writing this for all the college students who have ever been called underachievers. Come on! Gather up your cans, choose your preferred method of recycling and call your parents. Tell them, "Mom, Dad, I did something good today."
For those of you who chose to seek out the wrecking company, say: "I cleaned my house, got rid of some things I didn't need anymore, and made a little money in the process."
For those of you who dialed a phone number or drove to the mall, say: "I recycled, and I made a small donation to the City of Kearney today. Aren't you proud of me?"
Friday, April 23, 2010
Puppies and Pepper Spray on a Friday Night
A few days ago, I was walking home from class like I always do. I was nearly home when a white SUV drove by, made a U-turn at the end of the block, and came to a stop right next to me.
The young male driver asked if I wanted a ride.
Like any sensible young woman, I said "No thanks," and continued walking. The driver didn't persist, and before long I saw my boyfriend's truck in the driveway, so I didn't think much of it.
Tonight, the same vehicle - at least I think it was the same one - saw me walking my dogs. I was on the same block, in about the same spot as I had been the day the driver of a white SUV asked if I wanted a ride.
The vehicle circled the block, and I continued walking beyond my destination until I was sure that I wasn't being followed.
I reached my house after a roundabout walk that my dogs thouroughly enjoyed and I quickly unlocked my door, ran inside (dragging my dogs), and re-locked the door.
My head was spinning with thoughts of work and homework and "What the Hell is going on?"
After quickly text-consulting my boyfriend - Damn him for being out of town! - and all the friends I talk to when my brain is too mixed up to put two and two together, I googled Kearney's police department on my phone, selected the phone number, and made the call.
I'm sitting at home with my dogs and my pepper spray waiting for a policeman to come interview me...
The young male driver asked if I wanted a ride.
Like any sensible young woman, I said "No thanks," and continued walking. The driver didn't persist, and before long I saw my boyfriend's truck in the driveway, so I didn't think much of it.
Tonight, the same vehicle - at least I think it was the same one - saw me walking my dogs. I was on the same block, in about the same spot as I had been the day the driver of a white SUV asked if I wanted a ride.
The vehicle circled the block, and I continued walking beyond my destination until I was sure that I wasn't being followed.
I reached my house after a roundabout walk that my dogs thouroughly enjoyed and I quickly unlocked my door, ran inside (dragging my dogs), and re-locked the door.
My head was spinning with thoughts of work and homework and "What the Hell is going on?"
After quickly text-consulting my boyfriend - Damn him for being out of town! - and all the friends I talk to when my brain is too mixed up to put two and two together, I googled Kearney's police department on my phone, selected the phone number, and made the call.
I'm sitting at home with my dogs and my pepper spray waiting for a policeman to come interview me...
Monday, April 19, 2010
My Brain is Turning to Mush!
There are only two weeks left until Spring Finals and my brain is spinning like it's in a blender. I'm incredibly anxious and all I want to do is stay up all night reading Sookie Stackhouse novels and watching True Blood until my eyes start bleeding.
I feel cornered, and I'm looking for safety in my new favorite series, but I can't seem to concentrate on anything I'm supposed to be doing, and I'm running out of time! "I'm freakin' out, man!" is the only phrase that truly captures my current frame of mind.
I have always been a bit of a procrastinator, but this week has been beyond rediculous. I am so ready for this semester to end that my subconscious mind is making my concious mind act like it's already over.
I know I'm in trouble when I start psychoanalyzing myself, but I can't help it. I'm lost.
I feel cornered, and I'm looking for safety in my new favorite series, but I can't seem to concentrate on anything I'm supposed to be doing, and I'm running out of time! "I'm freakin' out, man!" is the only phrase that truly captures my current frame of mind.
I have always been a bit of a procrastinator, but this week has been beyond rediculous. I am so ready for this semester to end that my subconscious mind is making my concious mind act like it's already over.
I know I'm in trouble when I start psychoanalyzing myself, but I can't help it. I'm lost.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
It Could Happen to Us
Last Thursday, April 15th 2010, the University of Nebraska at Kearney staged a mock disaster drill, complete with "injured, bloody bodies strewn across the parking lot" (Kim Schmidt and Sarah Giboney, "Mock Disaster Explodes Across Campus," Kearney Hub).
Although the "accident" was staged to test the Kearney area's emergency response teams, the event seemed to hint at the upcoming Tri-Cities Blood Drive.
The annual Tri-Cities Blood Drive has taken place for the past five years in the YMCAs of Grand Island, Kearney, and Hastings. According to the American Red Cross website, the YMCA teamed up with the Red Cross to hold a blood drive right before "family vacation" season takes hold.
All the activities available during summer break make it easy to forget the horrifying news images of all the disasters that have taken place all over the world, particularly in the past four months.
Disasters don't take summer breaks.
Not all disasters increase the need for blood as the earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, China and California in just the first two months of the year, the tsunamis that resulted from them, and the cyclone that ripped up the European coastline on the last day of February.
For example, a volcano in Iceland just erupted two days ago, Friday, 16 April 2010. Although many people equate the Red Cross with blood donation, Red Cross workers and volunteers provide much more than blood in their disaster relief efforts.
"The Icelandic Red Cross is sheltering more than 200 people...[has evacuated] about 700 people...[and] is currently assessing whether everyone in the disaster area still has enough food" (16 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
However, the effects of disasters don’t simply disappear overnight. Members of the Red Cross from multiple countries have been present in Haiti since just after the earthquakes hit and they continue to help today.
They have already given Haitians temporary shelters, latrines, medical care, vaccinations, and "more than 21,000 units of blood" – and they intend to fund shelter, emergency relief, water and sanitation projects, grants and loans for families, and disaster preparation projects over the next three to five years (12 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
Midwesterners are just beginning tornado season, hoping for “a mild one.”
People in the Southeast are approaching hurricane season and hoping that all those feisty water funnels stay as far out to sea as possible – they don’t want another Katrina.
Although people generally don’t like to think about deadly events, they cannot escape the fact that disasters happen and the people who are touched by them need help.
If UNK’s mock disaster had been a real disaster, every county in Nebraska would have held a blood drive – and a food drive – and a clothing drive – and at least one fundraiser.
Nebraska may not be touched by every disaster, but Nebraskans can always help those who are. If you can't give blood, give money; if you can't give money, give time.
Although the "accident" was staged to test the Kearney area's emergency response teams, the event seemed to hint at the upcoming Tri-Cities Blood Drive.
The annual Tri-Cities Blood Drive has taken place for the past five years in the YMCAs of Grand Island, Kearney, and Hastings. According to the American Red Cross website, the YMCA teamed up with the Red Cross to hold a blood drive right before "family vacation" season takes hold.
All the activities available during summer break make it easy to forget the horrifying news images of all the disasters that have taken place all over the world, particularly in the past four months.
Disasters don't take summer breaks.
Not all disasters increase the need for blood as the earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, China and California in just the first two months of the year, the tsunamis that resulted from them, and the cyclone that ripped up the European coastline on the last day of February.
For example, a volcano in Iceland just erupted two days ago, Friday, 16 April 2010. Although many people equate the Red Cross with blood donation, Red Cross workers and volunteers provide much more than blood in their disaster relief efforts.
"The Icelandic Red Cross is sheltering more than 200 people...[has evacuated] about 700 people...[and] is currently assessing whether everyone in the disaster area still has enough food" (16 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
However, the effects of disasters don’t simply disappear overnight. Members of the Red Cross from multiple countries have been present in Haiti since just after the earthquakes hit and they continue to help today.
They have already given Haitians temporary shelters, latrines, medical care, vaccinations, and "more than 21,000 units of blood" – and they intend to fund shelter, emergency relief, water and sanitation projects, grants and loans for families, and disaster preparation projects over the next three to five years (12 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
Midwesterners are just beginning tornado season, hoping for “a mild one.”
People in the Southeast are approaching hurricane season and hoping that all those feisty water funnels stay as far out to sea as possible – they don’t want another Katrina.
Although people generally don’t like to think about deadly events, they cannot escape the fact that disasters happen and the people who are touched by them need help.
If UNK’s mock disaster had been a real disaster, every county in Nebraska would have held a blood drive – and a food drive – and a clothing drive – and at least one fundraiser.
Nebraska may not be touched by every disaster, but Nebraskans can always help those who are. If you can't give blood, give money; if you can't give money, give time.
Kearney, Disaster Area?
Last Thursday, April 15th 2010, the University of Nebraska at Kearney staged a mock disaster drill, complete with "injured, bloody bodies strewn across the parking lot" (Kim Schmidt and Sarah Giboney, "Mock Disaster Explodes Across Campus," Kearney Hub).
Although the "accident" was staged to test the Kearney area's emergency response teams, the event seemed to hint at the upcoming Tri-Cities Blood Drive.
If the mock disaster had been a real disaster, every county in Nebraska would have held a blood drive.
However, the annual Tri-Cities Blood Drive is a yearly event that takes place in the YMCAs of Grand Island, Kearney, and Hastings. According to the American Red Cross website, the YMCA teamed up with the Red Cross to hold a blood drive right before "family vacation" season takes over everyone's minds and erases the memories of horrifying news images of all the disasters that take place all over the world every day.
Disasters don't take summer breaks.
Not all of these disasters increase the need for blood as the earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Japan and California as well as the resulting tsunamis the first two months of this year; the cyclone that ripped up the European coastline on the last day of February.
For example, a volcano in Iceland just erupted two days ago. Although many people equate the Red Cross with blood donation, Red Cross workers and volunteers provide much more than blood in their disaster relief efforts. "The Icelandic Red Cross is sheltering more than 200 people...[has evacuated] about 700 people...[and] is currently assessing whether everyone in the disaster area still has enough food" (16 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
Members of the Red Cross from multiple countries have been present in Haiti since just after the earthquakes hit and they continue to help today. They have already given Haitians temporary shelters, latrines, medical care, vaccinations, and "more than 21,000 units of blood"--and they intend to fund shelter, emergency relief, water and sanitation projects, grants and loans for families, and disaster preparation projects over the next three to five years (12 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
Although the "accident" was staged to test the Kearney area's emergency response teams, the event seemed to hint at the upcoming Tri-Cities Blood Drive.
If the mock disaster had been a real disaster, every county in Nebraska would have held a blood drive.
However, the annual Tri-Cities Blood Drive is a yearly event that takes place in the YMCAs of Grand Island, Kearney, and Hastings. According to the American Red Cross website, the YMCA teamed up with the Red Cross to hold a blood drive right before "family vacation" season takes over everyone's minds and erases the memories of horrifying news images of all the disasters that take place all over the world every day.
Disasters don't take summer breaks.
Not all of these disasters increase the need for blood as the earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Japan and California as well as the resulting tsunamis the first two months of this year; the cyclone that ripped up the European coastline on the last day of February.
For example, a volcano in Iceland just erupted two days ago. Although many people equate the Red Cross with blood donation, Red Cross workers and volunteers provide much more than blood in their disaster relief efforts. "The Icelandic Red Cross is sheltering more than 200 people...[has evacuated] about 700 people...[and] is currently assessing whether everyone in the disaster area still has enough food" (16 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
Members of the Red Cross from multiple countries have been present in Haiti since just after the earthquakes hit and they continue to help today. They have already given Haitians temporary shelters, latrines, medical care, vaccinations, and "more than 21,000 units of blood"--and they intend to fund shelter, emergency relief, water and sanitation projects, grants and loans for families, and disaster preparation projects over the next three to five years (12 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
Saturday, April 17, 2010
HAZMAT Computer Yard
a failed computer recycling business plus an angry landlord equals a yard full of computers
Does Jack Herrel really expect people to belive that he simply couldn't handle his business?
He hasn't brought any charges against the man he rented his shop from for dumping HAZMAT lead-filled computers on his lawn.
Did he set the whole thing up in order to call attention to the problem of electronics recycling?
Does Jack Herrel really expect people to belive that he simply couldn't handle his business?
He hasn't brought any charges against the man he rented his shop from for dumping HAZMAT lead-filled computers on his lawn.
Did he set the whole thing up in order to call attention to the problem of electronics recycling?
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Dead Until Dark
I just started reading Charlaine Harris's Dead Until Dark on Friday, and I'm pretty sure I have to finish it tonight! This vampire mystery novel is full of multiple types of action and the main character, Sookie Stackhouse, is a compelling amatuer detective/mindreader. This book is a fast, fun read.
The rest of this series is already on my summer reading list along with the Vampire Hunter D series. I have only seen a few episodes of True Blood, HBO's adaptation of Charlaine Hariss's vampire series, but a little bird told me that the first two seasons are out on DVD...
The rest of this series is already on my summer reading list along with the Vampire Hunter D series. I have only seen a few episodes of True Blood, HBO's adaptation of Charlaine Hariss's vampire series, but a little bird told me that the first two seasons are out on DVD...
Funerals
Why is it that some people can talk crap about a dying person right up to the very second that person dies, but at the funeral, they can only say how much they loved that person?
The alcohol must have something to do with it...
Why do religious people say that funerals celebrate life and death?
Probably because some people go to the funeral to celebrate the person's life and others go to celebrate the fact that they never have to see the person again.
Some people wonder where pets go when they die. I wonder what they think when people leave them at home to attend funerals.
"Please, bring me a bone this time!"
"Yuck! Any liver but that one!"
The alcohol must have something to do with it...
Why do religious people say that funerals celebrate life and death?
Probably because some people go to the funeral to celebrate the person's life and others go to celebrate the fact that they never have to see the person again.
Some people wonder where pets go when they die. I wonder what they think when people leave them at home to attend funerals.
"Please, bring me a bone this time!"
"Yuck! Any liver but that one!"
Saturday, April 3, 2010
A Land Beyond Her Time
There once was a boy who grew up working, fishing, and hunting on the plains of Nebraska. He loved the open space almost as much as he loved his family. In high school, he talked to his friends about girls, cars, and where he would like to live some day. Some of his friends wanted to move to exotic, faraway lands where they would drive boats to impress scantily clad girls. Others wanted to drive dog sleds and hunt the wild lands of the far north where the permafrost would make girls want to cuddle in their bear hides. But this boy wanted a piece of land much like the one he grew up on and a girl who could fish.
After high school, he tried living in the city. It wasn't what he wanted. He tried moving near the great park called Yellowstone – he still had to live in the city. He traveled to Mexico and Alaska, but he only wanted to be back home in Nebraska.
Eventually, he met a girl who confused him so much that he couldn't help but love her. They dated for a while, went on a wild road trip, and lived together for three years. He loved her, but something still restricted his happiness: they rented a place in town.
On his twenty-fifth birthday, the boy woke up and announced “I am a quarter of a century old today.” The girl blinked, grumbled “appy erfday,” and rolled over. If the house wasn’t burning, she didn’t get up at six a.m.
The boy drove to his favorite fishing spot, just a few miles from where he grew up. Later in the day, he visited his parents. His dad knew of a house for sale that was out in the country and right on the creek. The boy wanted that house – or at least the land it was on.
He went home that night and begged his girlfriend to go to the bank with him. He was so excited that he paced all over their tiny rented space as he talked. He had to have that land…and the first-time home-buyer’s credit would run out soon.
The girl wasn’t so sure. As a child, she had lived just a few miles from a town in North Carolina. After her parents divorced, she and her mom moved to Nebraska, but she flew back to North Carolina to spend the summers with her dad. As she gained new friends and kept in touch with her old friends, she realized that most other girls wanted to talk about who they would marry, how many kids they would have, and what their wedding dresses would look like. She preferred to talk about her future as a scientist, or a computer systems analyst, or maybe a female Hugh Hefner – you never know.
By the time she met her boy-friend, she had started attending Wayne State College; spent a semester in Europe; dropped out; spent a year working at a DEB in Grand Island; and registered at Grand Island Central Community College to try to figure out what to do with her life.
She had learned that she liked being in town, and that didn’t change much when she and the boy moved to Kearney, so she could attend UNK. When the boy asked her to buy a house with him out in the country, she replied “I haven’t lived more than five minutes from Subway in nine years.” The house in the country meant more than just moving away from her favorite eatery, though.
She wasn’t ready to start a family; she didn’t feel old enough to own ten acres; and she absolutely did not want to live next to a corn field.
Dustin Selden: iamafiend@hotmail.com
Brittany Seawell: Britt_brat_15@hotmail.com
After high school, he tried living in the city. It wasn't what he wanted. He tried moving near the great park called Yellowstone – he still had to live in the city. He traveled to Mexico and Alaska, but he only wanted to be back home in Nebraska.
Eventually, he met a girl who confused him so much that he couldn't help but love her. They dated for a while, went on a wild road trip, and lived together for three years. He loved her, but something still restricted his happiness: they rented a place in town.
On his twenty-fifth birthday, the boy woke up and announced “I am a quarter of a century old today.” The girl blinked, grumbled “appy erfday,” and rolled over. If the house wasn’t burning, she didn’t get up at six a.m.
The boy drove to his favorite fishing spot, just a few miles from where he grew up. Later in the day, he visited his parents. His dad knew of a house for sale that was out in the country and right on the creek. The boy wanted that house – or at least the land it was on.
He went home that night and begged his girlfriend to go to the bank with him. He was so excited that he paced all over their tiny rented space as he talked. He had to have that land…and the first-time home-buyer’s credit would run out soon.
The girl wasn’t so sure. As a child, she had lived just a few miles from a town in North Carolina. After her parents divorced, she and her mom moved to Nebraska, but she flew back to North Carolina to spend the summers with her dad. As she gained new friends and kept in touch with her old friends, she realized that most other girls wanted to talk about who they would marry, how many kids they would have, and what their wedding dresses would look like. She preferred to talk about her future as a scientist, or a computer systems analyst, or maybe a female Hugh Hefner – you never know.
By the time she met her boy-friend, she had started attending Wayne State College; spent a semester in Europe; dropped out; spent a year working at a DEB in Grand Island; and registered at Grand Island Central Community College to try to figure out what to do with her life.
She had learned that she liked being in town, and that didn’t change much when she and the boy moved to Kearney, so she could attend UNK. When the boy asked her to buy a house with him out in the country, she replied “I haven’t lived more than five minutes from Subway in nine years.” The house in the country meant more than just moving away from her favorite eatery, though.
She wasn’t ready to start a family; she didn’t feel old enough to own ten acres; and she absolutely did not want to live next to a corn field.
Dustin Selden: iamafiend@hotmail.com
Brittany Seawell: Britt_brat_15@hotmail.com
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