Nebraska – Irene North

Puck’s last ride

On 2026-10-13

One of the first pictures I took of Puck. I used my Sony 3.2 megapixel camera.

Note from Irene: A former editor once told me not to include more than 10 pictures in a post because people will lose interest. I’m breaking that rule today.

Paul and I made a trip to the Panhandle Humane Society to sort out the final details of our cat, D’Argo, who had been tragically struck and killed by a vehicle on Highway 71 near the University’s Panhandle Research Center. Before we went in, I specifically mentioned we needed to wait a while before we got another cat.

While I was speaking to some folks inside, one of the employees spoke with Paul, expressed her condolences and then said she knew what would help. She went in the back and came out with a 9 month old Flame Point Siamese cat. I looked at Paul’s face when she placed the cat in Paul’s arms.

“Damn it. We have another cat,” I said to myself.

It still makes me sick

By Irene

On 2026-06-24

In Ramblings

Moments before sunrise, the visitors center at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is still obscured in fog.

Sometimes, you reach a point in your life where you think, “fuck it. I’m going to tell the story.” I don’t want to hold onto the bullshit anymore. It’s time to tell the story so I can move on.

Last respects

By Irene

On 2026-04-23

In Nebraska, Ramblings

From left, me, Beardog Bob, and National Park Ranger Anne Wilson at the 60th anniversary celebration of Agate Fossil Beds National Monument on June 7, 2025.

The drive north on Highway 29, was a somber one. My mind was elsewhere and I didn’t take note of the weather. A good storyteller would have remembered to do that, but I didn’t today.

When it rains, it pours

By Irene

On 2026-04-13

In Ramblings

My supervisors.

EMDR and therapy have been rough lately. It’s okay. That’s how it works. However, I hadn’t anticipated the current deluge of events, which have rained down more drops than I feel I can handle all at once.

Going nowhere

By Irene

On 2026-03-22

In Ramblings

A honey bee approaches a flower as it searches for nectar in the flowerbed outside Riverside Discovery Center.

“When are we leaving?” Paul said.

“For what?” I said.

“I’m so tired of this clown show,” he said.

Don’t worry

By Irene

On 2025-12-12

In Stories

Me, age 23, in my CSO uniform, standing in front of the best car I ever had – a 1989 Toyota Corolla SR5 coupe with pop-up headlights.

About a month after receiving my bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, I accepted a position with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police Department (UNLPD) as a Community Service Officer (CSO). The intention was to take advantage of the $3 a credit hour – max six hours per semester – the university offered to employees and get a master’s degree in Anthropology.

Friends don’t let friends protest alone

By Irene

On 2025-10-19

In Photos

Me, right, with my friend Roberta.

The second No Kings protest against the Trump regime was held on Saturday, October 18, 2025. These are some of the photos I took of all the people I know who turned out for the event in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Why I protest

By Irene

On 2025-10-18

In Photos

A photo of me I actually like. No Kings Protest in Scottsbluff, October 18, 2025. The guy with the Trump balloon took this photo of me.

It wasn’t until 2025 that I decided to protest. I’ve made the phone calls and sent the letters, but, over the last 15-20 years, all I get is a polite “fuck you” or no response at all. At today’s No King’s protest in Scottsbluff, I joined at least 300 people in an effort to try and effect some change.

Only take yourself with you

By Irene

On 2025-09-02

In Stories

The outfit I wore to the Sun Dance.

Driving East out of Scottsbluff, I pass all the familiar sights which bring me peace and put a smile on my face. There were the dozen or so horses walking with each other in still dew-laden field. Red cows meandered among the shimmering rolling hills of the morning. The sun glistened everything along my route North along Highway 385.

Somewhere past Alliance and before Chadron I turned right down a dirt road. Around a quarter of a mile later, I turned left into a field. I had reached my destination of a journey that had begun more than a year before.

Clear connections of conscious through conversation

By Irene

On 2025-08-08

In Ramblings

Oh, hey, look at that alliteration I accidentally did with my title. Anyway…

I had lunch yesterday and the day before with two really good friends whose opinions I value and respect. For the last year, I’ve been toying with the idea of two different blog posts, but have been hesitant to write them. Ultimately, this is my blog and I can write what I want, but I also want to be respectful of other people and not come off as an angry bitch.

Writings

Tag: Nebraska Page 1 of 13

Puck’s last ride

It still makes me sick

Last respects

When it rains, it pours

Going nowhere

Don’t worry

Friends don’t let friends protest alone

Why I protest

Only take yourself with you

Clear connections of conscious through conversation