Take me back to WyoBraska

Welcome to state line road one, an arbitrary place in the prairie where Wyoming and Nebraska differentiate themselves.

Beautiful, eh?

People in eastern Nebraska sometime forget the panhandle exists. The southeast corner of Wyoming is flatland country, blending in with the panhandle more than the mountains of the rest of the state. Hence the birth of the term WyoBraska. It is my home, and I love it.

Here it is:

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This has created a slight identity crisis in my life. Cops always question why a car with Nebraska license plates is registered to a girl with a Wyoming drivers license, especially now that I live in Ohio. Good thing I'm such a great driver and never get pulled over.

I usually claim Wyoming because UW is my Alma Mater. Buuuutttt.... our home is actually in Nebraska. But I went to high school in Wyoming. But I grew up showing at the Kimball County fair. But I went to Youth Group in Pine Bluffs. But I went to church at the Bushnell UMC. I love Runza; I love Chugwater Chili. I've screamed "Gooooooo biiiiiiiiiiiig reeeeeed....... GO BIG RED!" on the steps of our nation's capitol. I've seriously considered getting Steamboat tattooed on my body. I grew up genuinely thinking Tom Osborne was the most influential man in the world. Cheyenne Frontier Days is the most profoundly wonderful event in the world.

What's a girl to do?!    

Well, share with you fun facts about both states, of course! I arrived back in Mountain Standard Time late last night for my first trip home since moving to Ohio. In honor of this great event, I want you to get to know both my home states. Did you know:

• The largest coal mine in the USA is the Black Thunder mine located near Wright, Wyo.
• Kearney, Nebraska is located geographically dead center of the U.S.-between Boston and San Francisco, each way is exactly 1733 miles on either side of Hwy 30.
• Wyoming is the least populated state in the Union, with a whopping population of 544,270.
• Arbor Day was started in Nebraska City in 1872 by Sterling Morton to encourage tree planting.
• The Wyoming state name came from the Delaware Indian word, meaning "mountains and valleys alternating."
• The 911 system of emergency communications, now used nationwide, was developed and first used in Lincoln, Nebraska.
• The JC Penney stores were started in Kemmerer, Wyo.
• Kool-Aid was invented by Edwin Perkins in 1927 in Hastings, Neb. He changed his soft drink syrup, Fruit Smack, into a powder to make it easier to ship.
• Yellowstone was designated America's first official National Park in 1872; Devils Tower was designated as the first National Monument in 1906; Shoshone National Forest was a first as well in 1891; all in Wyoming.
• The Sand Hills of Nebraska are the biggest grass-covered sand dunes in the Western Hemisphere. They cover about one-fourth of the state. Only the Sahara and the Arabian deserts have bigger areas of sand.

Sources: http://www.50states.com/facts/nebraska.htm, http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WY-Facts.html,

I found this "Black Table" blog this morning with a listing of Six Things You Don't Know About: (fill in the blank). It had entries for both Wyoming and Nebraska. Pretty good stuff:
Nebraska -- http://www.blacktable.com/munson040616.htm
     ***very funny and accurate description of Nebraska. So true in so many funny ways. 
Wyoming -- http://www.blacktable.com/tharp040728.htm
    ***also pretty funny, although I wouldn't agree with the significance of some of these things. For example, calling Wyoming a "hotbed of feminism" isn't entirely accurate. Yes, we were the first state to allow women to vote, etc., but most will tell you it wasn't under the noble context of advancing women's suffrage. We just didn't have enough people. If Wyoming wanted to be a state, it needed more voters. It wanted to be a state, so it let girls vote. Pretty simple. But, that simplicity is what I love about the Cowboy State. Also, I've never heard of the crazies it talks about in #3, but I'm sure it's true. Wyoming's a big state, folks, and people can blend in and disappear here, especially weirdos. We were famous for hiding outlaws in the wild, wild west, and it's no different now.

How's that for an "afterthought?"

I have a very busy and exciting week ahead, complete with a calf fry tonight, an engagement celebration, banquets, pedicures, family, dear old friends, UW's graduation, fundays and Mother's Day. I am so blessed, lucky, and happy to be home!