Do you smell Funnel Cake?


Mmmmmm? Can you smell it? The sweet, bready aroma drifting upon the air. You inhale, savoring the fragrance of the doughy-goodness infused with the essence of powdered sugar. (Well, ok, I like mine drenched in powdered sugar!) The fact that it is deep fried in oil does not deter you, after all, there can’t be more than 3000 calories per funnel cake!?

Its Oregon Trail Days again in Western Nebraska! That means: Food Fair. Street Dance. Music. Carnival. BBQ. Car show. Quilt fair. Chili cook-off. Wine tasting. Parades. Square dancing. Did I mention Food Fair? And the list goes on. Visit the official website so you don’t miss out on the action: http://www.oregontraildays.org/

I grew up all over the world in a variety of big cities. With that in mind, some people thought I would have a hard time adjusting to a small town but I absolutely LOVE it. Oregon Trail Days is one of those reasons. There is something special about a community that blocks off whole sections of town in order to promote people to gather and have a good time together.

Being an insurance agent in a smaller town is also one of the reasons I love my career so much. Working, shopping, and living in the same community as my clients, I am better able to help them protect the things that they value the most. And along the way many of these people become my good friends. There is nothing better than that. (Except maybe Funnel Cake!)

Does your community have a special celebration? What’s your favorite part?

Super Heroes in Western Nebraska


It is 7:25 pm. The sky outside is getting darker and darker. The Weather Channel desktop icon begins flashing yellow, then red. The wind that had been whipping the trees suddenly ceases to blow and the air becomes eerily calm. The birds stop chirping. The weather alert radio begins screeching. The woman grabs her laptop, cell phone, superhero cape, and uneaten dinner off the grill as she runs downstairs to the blaring of the tornado siren and the beating of the first hail stones. While desperately trying to remain calm (superheroes never panic and definitely don’t throw up), the woman begins to receive phone calls about storm damage. Her fingers fly across the keyboard

Tornado Season

Many of the postings I have done have a light, fun, and informative flavor, which is the whole purpose of this blog. However, summer storms can be quite serious and thus, this posting is meant to provide you with helpful and possibly life saving information.


Ready America is a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and man-made disasters. Their website, www.ready.gov/america/getakit/familyneeds.html , provides terrific information about emergency preparedness. I urge you to visit their site to create an emergency kit for your household. Ready America provides a detailed list of suggested items for your kit, some of which include:

Where do all the tumbleweeds go?

Driving down the highway the other day fighting the 90 mile per hour winds (you think I’m exaggerating but I’m NOT!) I pondered this and many other life altering questions:


• So, really, where DO the tumbleweeds go?

• And for that matter, where do they come from in the first place?

• And why the heck do they run in herds that attack your car when you least expect it?

Munchkins and Memories

I was reading the newspaper today and came across this headline: “Raabe, ‘Wizard of Oz’ Munchkin actor, dies at 94”. Do you know which Munchkin he was? He played the forensic pathologist. No, I am not confusing the “Wizard of Oz” with CSI or Dexter…. There really was a forensic pathologist in the movie. Mr. Meinhardt Raabe was the Munchkin official with the solemn yet profoundly jubilant duty of making the determination that the Wicked Witch of the East had passed on to wherever Wicked Witches go when they are squashed by flying houses. (It can’t be a good place!) It should be noted that Mr. Raabe was no run-of-the-mill pathologist, however. Holding the the official death certificate, his pronouncement was extremely detailed as he stated with authority,


“As coroner I
must aver,
I thoroughly examined her,
And she’s not only merely dead,
She’s really most sincerely dead!”

Do you remember the “magic” of this movie? I do.

April Fool's Day & the Flying Truck

Happy April Fool’s Day!

Where did this tradition come from? Although the true roots are not known, the most popular theory is that it began in France during the late 1500’s. The Gregorian calendar was adopted, changing the New Year from the traditional week long celebration from March 25 through April 1 to the date we currently recognize: January 1. Due to poor communication systems back then, as well the rebellious nature of some, many people either didn’t know of the change or refused to acknowledge the new date and continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1. Those who failed to make this change were the victims of pranks and made fun of as “April Fools”.
On this day of tricks and silliness I wanted to share this photo with you. First of all, let me tell you that this is NOT a joke. This is a real photograph, of a real pickup truck, and a real situation that occurred a number of years ago when my dad was working in Northern Peru. What is your first impression?

If you said that it looks like the truck is flying….you would be correct! The water below is a small tributary

Bad Hair Day

It rained here the other day, thanks to me. No, I cannot call forth rain from the heavens and I did not wash my car - which seems to produce a storm every time. No, I did something every woman knows will absolutely guarantee poor weather: I fixed my hair! You see, I renewed my driver’s license the other day. (Yes, that means it’s almost my birthday!) With that in mind, I thought it would be wise to have a decent hair-do, after all, who wants to me immortalized for the next several years with a bad hair day! Mother-Nature did not agree.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!


Although not 100% Irish, I’m about as Irish as they come (red hair and fiery temper… occasionally…)

When I was a kid we visited Ireland and I have strong memories of green, green, and more green. The entire landscape was gorgeous and green, not to mention covered in historic castles. We visited one such castle, Blarney Castle, which houses the famous Blarney Stone. The stone is believed to be half of the
Stone of Scone which originally belonged to Scotland. Scottish Kings were crowned over the stone, because it was believed to have special powers of royal succession. There are innumerable stories and legends about the stone but the most commonly accepted version is that, in gratitude for Irish support at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314 (a Scottish defeat of the English), Robert the Bruce gave a portion of the stone to Cormac McCarthy, King of Munster, who then permanently installed the stone in the battlements of his castle at Blarney.
The legend goes on to say that anyone who succeeds in kissing it is said to earn the gift of persuasive speech, eloquence, and skill at flattery. In other words: the “gift of gab”.

This all sounds just terrific, after all, who doesn’t need to have good communication skills, especially in today’s business world? However, as with many things, there is generally a catch --

Hello World!

This is an exciting day for me....I am now officially a blogger. Yippie! My goal is to share information, insights, and inspirations that will convey my passion and excitement about insurance (and whatever else catches my attention).

Yes, I said - "passion and excitement about insurance" - it is NOT an oxymoron. I absolutely love my chosen profession. It is challenging, every day is different, and I am able to help every single person I work with by protecting the things that are most important to them. What can be better than working in an industry that gives people the peace of mind to sleep well at night, knowing that if some unforseen disaster strikes, they will be able to rebuild their lives?

Not convinced about the "passion" part yet? Have no fear, I am sure I will win you over. Tune in later for more Insights from Insurance by Katie!