Blogging the 'Fork

Well, our appeal is in. Two more doctor visits for Keith and a few hundred additional bucks later, our fate is now in the hands of the Peace Corps' Screening Review Board, which meets Wednesdays. They may or may not take up our appeal during the next meeting. So it's one or possibly two more weeks before we get to the next stage of...well, waiting.

But backup plans proceed, and we both have phone interviews next week for teaching overseas.

Meanwhile, we've now been in Norfolk for 6 weeks and I've had a chance to look around. OK, I've had a chance to see it all.

OK, three times. But it's a very friendly place. Everyone waves at you regardless of whether they know you, especially if you're a pedestrian. This took some getting used to, coming from Seattle, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. The other thing people do in Norfolk is yard work. As most of you know, I didn't have a lawn growing up in Arizona, and I've lived in apartments ever since. So this month I mowed a lawn (well, part of one) for the first time. And I'm sure the Neimeyers' grass will recover soon.

The other thing to know about Norfolk (all Gipsons, feel free to skip this part) is that the name of the town has two legitimate pronunciations. It's not a source of conflict here because, as I said, they're just so dang nice. But occasionally you'll hear someone say "Norfork."

Without making a short story longer, suffice to say it was an incorrect clerical assumption by the state of Nebraska that led to the current spelling, and any locals who know better use the latter pronunciation because the town SHOULD have been named for the north fork of the Elkhorn river.

I mention this situation mostly to relate that it was one of the two most popular jokes at the Great American Comedy Festival, held here all last week. Festival organizers are hoping to make it an annual event. We got tickets to the semifinals, which were held in the Johnny Carson theater (named for the town's most famous native), which happens to be at the high school.

And this was the other favorite joke among the comics who were mostly from larger citiies: The theater is a really nice venue...and it's at the high school. Oh yeah, and there's a big bronze panther statue in the lobby.

As you can see, we really have little to complain about. Other than having all our plans trashed and living in our parents' basement. (if you can separate such things) It's been an enjoyable derailment, all things considered.