Freemont Mall- Fremont Nebraska

I took a few photos around the small mall in Fremont.  It reminded me of the mall I went to a lot growing up in Owensboro KY, the Lincoln Mall.

There was a restaurant, a movie theater, and a Nebraska Sports shop.

I was super excited to find Midland College gear at the Sports shop, and I bought a shirt.

Also, it looks like the college is taking up some space here, which is good to see- keeping a small mall going.

Runza- Fremont Nebraska

When I spent that January in Fremont many years ago, hanging out at the college in town, I had to walk to the nearby Runza as the college's food service was closed my last 2 nights in town.  I think Runza is a really unique small chain in the area, and I like their food!

We stopped by that same Runza in 2012 and again on this trip to town.

Enjoying a meal at Runza is a real treat!

Midland Lutheran College- Fremont Nebraska

I actually thought I had mentioned this before somewhere on the blog....  but I checked, and I don't think I ever did.

YEARS ago (I won't say exactly how many) while proudly attending Berea College here in Kentucky, I actually "swapped" out with this college, at the time called Midland Lutheran College, in Fremont Nebraska.

Back then, both colleges had what we called "short term".  Everyone took a few days off for Christmas break, ending the first semester.  Then, in January, you started one very focused class taking only that one class through January.  Second semester then started in February.  AND, if you wanted to, you could ask another school with short term if you could go there for January.

I thought that sounded fun so I called a few schools about swapping out.  Unknowingly, I called an all girls school!  They actually were willing to work with me (still, it was more of a complicated situation than I wanted to get in to).  I called several other schools too.  After talking to the different institutions, Midland College was very agreeable and easy to work with.....  I decided to go there.  Plus, they were offering a really interesting short term class.  I bought a plane ticket to Nebraska.

Midland kindly sent a van out to pick me up at the small Omaha airport (I actually saw a friend/fellow Berea student at the airport- she was from Nebraska and was flying back to Kentucky!).

Anyway, I had a very nice time in Nebraska.  I was there for a month and read a lot.  I was also really able to focus on the class, which was enjoyable.

It was a calm campus.  I do remember going one night to see a juggler who was brought in for a small show.  There weren't many other students there, but the juggler challenged the audience.  He said he could juggle any 3 items.  Well, a security guy gave him his baton.  Someone else literally had a dead FISH!  Another person had a bowling ball!!!!  The juggler was able to juggle the three items, but barely.

The other students there were all pleasant.  It was, to me coming from Berea (where kids LOVE to debate everything) a very relaxed campus.  The MLC students all seemed to really get along.  It was sweet and I enjoyed this.

AND, my future wife (who I was not dating yet at this time) was at Berea.  We both admitted that we missed each other a lot while I was in Fremont.  We started dating soon after I got back to Kentucky, and we are now married.

So, I spent a nice (yet cold and snowy) January in Fremont Nebraska on the Campus of Midland College.  That month would have a big influence on the rest of my life.

We stopped by when we drove through in 2012.  I enjoyed stopping by again on this visit to once again see the college and the town.  It was nice walking around the campus again.

Hollywood Candy- Old Market, Omaha Nebraska

You MUST stop by Hollywood Candy in Omaha if you are there!  Its one part collector shop, one part massive candy shop, one part huge arcade, and one part museum!

Twisted Fork in the Old Market Area of Omaha Nebraska

So, last time we were in Omaha, we stopped by the Twisted Fork in Old Market, and we really LOVED it.  Sure, we wanted to give another place a try (there are LOTS of options) but we wanted to go here again more.  It was really good.

Here are a few pics.  I had a great sandwich and salad.

Jackson Street Booksellers in the Old Market Area, Omaha Nebraska

We stumbled into Jackson Street Booksellers on this trip through Omaha and man, was it exciting!  We got there a little before closing time, but I still had plenty of time to check things out.  Still, if I lived in the area, I would be spending hours here each month!

It was a true joy just exploring, and seeing the great books that were available.  I browsed their very impressive signed book section towards the front (there were some higher end items).

As you know I love books on the Civil War and they had some great books.  I also like travel books, and EACH STATE was well represented.

I found a VERY interesting book on one of my favorite vacation spots, Sedona, that looked interesting.  I picked it up for a fiver.

There were high shelves, books stacked on the floor, and sections that went on and on.  If you love books, make sure you stop by on your visit to Omaha Nebraska!

Old Market in Omaha Nebraska

We were at Old Market back in 2012 on our first trip driving to South Dakota.  I was also there for a bit in the 90s during my college days.  I hope to get back more often, as this is just a very cool and fun to explore area.

There are several unique shops, local restaurants, and fun people in general.  Old Market is several blocks of attractive old buildings well maintained and restored that are vibrant and exciting.

Its a great place to people watch and walk.  Also, for a bigger city, getting there (and getting around Omaha) is pretty simple.  Sure, its a bigger city, but it has an unrushed, friendly vibe.  Its not a terrible hassle to navigate.

I remember visiting in the 90s and going in to a record shop.  That record shop didn't have what I was looking for, but the staff tipped me off to another shop that did!


There are still cool music shops here.  There were some interesting collector shops too.  One store had vintage toys (it was kind of an antique toy mall) and they had a huge main floor and basement.  You could shop there all day!

I found a great bookstore (more on that later) and we had a nice meal.

I believe most of the hotels in the area offer shuttle service to and from Old Market (ours did).

Here are some photos, but google around about Old Market some more.  it is a very unique place.

Outlaw Tales of....... by TD Griffith

As we planned out our trip to South Dakota, I was itching to read some books about cowboys and outlaws in the area.

I found a couple of great books by TD Griffith that really satisfied that need!  "Outlaw Tales of South Dakota" and "Outlaw Tales of Nebraska" were really enjoyable books to get me in a mood for our road trip!

These two books go together like...  well Nebraska and South Dakota.  Also, I have always linked these two states together, like siblings.  In my brain they are connected tighter than the two Dakotas.

Oh, and check out the great covers on both!  I know my bad photo doesn't do them justice, but each book has a beautifully painted front.  Check 'em out!

So, each book contains around a dozen short stories about outlaws in the state.  Most have a very "old west" vibe going on, though each book ends with a somewhat more modern tale (think 40s and 50s).  Horse races, hanging, card games and prostitutes are all over the books.

Our South Dakota, Nebraska and a Few Other States Road Trip

 So, we are home and recovering from a massive road trip driving around several cool sites in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana.  It was one really fun time!

This was somewhat of a redo trip from one we did in 2012.  We had a great time on that trip, and we have simply been itching to get back out to the area.  In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if we got back out there again in the next few years!

Its a nice drive out to South Dakota.  Driving and traffic aren't bad, roads are open, and there is a lot to see!

We did have to do things a little different on this trip though.  Last time, we included the town of Deadwood, and we also made it to Devils Tower.  We would have loved to do those sites again, but, from a budgeting our time standpoint, we just couldn't.

We had a REAL issue with caves on this trip too!  They were all closed!  Like, all of them.  More on that later, but we struck out going underground.

We were able to visit my all time favorite coffee chain, CARIBOU!  When we lived in Cleveland, I went to Caribou coffee all the time!  Unfortunately, the chain has pulled out of a lot of areas (including Ohio).  They are out west though, and I got my fill!

I was also able to spend a little bit of time at a college I went to BRIEFLY in Nebraska- Midland!  I will tell that story a little later, but I spent a COLD January on that campus.  I had a good time though!  Good peeps.

AND, you can't go to this area without a proper visit to Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse!  We did both carvings again!

THIS TIME, we did do a bus tour through the Black Hills, spending a day with Fort Hayes & Mt. Rushmore Tours.....  LOTS more on that later, but we had a really fun time with those guys.

Anyway, here are just a few pictures from our adventures....

Nebraska Wildfires

As we left South Dakota, driving from the Hot Springs area towards Alliance Nebraska I thought the sky looked a bit hazy.  I chalked it up the the weather but, after some time, I smelled smoke.

The smell of smoke was noticeable well before we left South Dakota.  Maybe a farmer was burning some junk I thought.  After some time though, I realized it was significant.

We stopped for gas in a small town, and someone told us fires were happening all over the place.

We actually drove past one.  Do some googling about the fires, they did a lot of damage.....



Carhenge- Alliance, Nebraska