After almost a week off and some much-needed rain, the boys are back in the field seeding. So far things seem to be going well, and no one has called needing parts after a breakdown, although with about a week left of seeding there’s still time for that. Seeding season, like harvest, is completely dependent on the weather, and it looks like a beauty of a week to finish up.

By Bob Simmons, CEO, Simmons Multimedia As you can well imagine, because The Borderland Press and our radio station group are co-located in the same building, we hear a lot of stuff from the public in the course of a week. It’s not uncommon for readers and listeners alike to reach out to give us their opinion about everything from the weather, to the streets, to the school referendum, etc.,etc. As I’ve stated previously in this column, it is not our position to take sides in any matter or twist the narrative. Our corporate policy is to simply report the facts. Who, what, where, when and sometimes - why.

I’m known for writing and working on the go - whether it be from the passenger seat of a vehicle, on a bus, or on a plane. I’m lucky that my job can follow me wherever I go.

By Bob Simmons, CEO, Simmons Multimedia I love dogs…cats, not so much. This time of year folks are out and about walking their dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Well, we survived graduation. We had more than one but less than 10 minor issues in the set-up process. Thank goodness I started unpacking and assembling my Amazon supplies with enough time to discover and reorder items with missing parts, wrong parts and parts that didn’t quite work the way the Chinese instructions explained. Amazon has clearly given up on the returns department and just tells you to keep the defective item, and they’ll send a new one. I now have a drink dispenser with no lid but two perfectly good ones with lids. I have three pub tables, including one without a leg to go on the base. I have metal arches with fabric covers with two screws on the wrong side, but I made it work anyway. Good thing these were all cheap little extras that we could have lived without, if necessary.

I had a really nice Mother’s Day spending time with family and friends. We spent a good deal of time outdoors and were pleasantly surprised to find the wind took the day off, even though every weather app promised it would be relentless, making outdoor plans difficult.

Last Thursday and Friday, Rebecca, Nick, and I headed down to Fargo for the North Dakota Newspaper Association (NDNA) 139th Annual Convention. It was so nice to be able to spend time with coworkers outside of the office.

Graduation is here, and in true North Dakota style, the weather is going to be crap. We had 90 degrees last week, and now the forecast for graduation day includes a chance of snow. Thankfully, our garage is heated, and about an hour into the party, everyone will be wearing a nice warm beer blanket. We’ll have a fire going on the patio, and I’m sure a few brave young souls will pull up a chair and toast a marshmallow or two. My own graduation from high school was 30 years ago. I know it’s hard to believe because I’m only 29. My graduating class from Watford City High School had 41 students. I don’t know what the numbers are now, but it’s a lot more than 41 since Watford City is now a Class A school. I don’t remember much about my graduation day other than wearing a blue dress with gold buttons and gold high heels that hurt like hell. As co-valedictorian, I helped give the commencement address, which was written by myself and three other students. It was your standard, “thank you parents and teachers” and “reach for the stars” yada yada yada speech. I have since lost touch with the majority of my classmates, and I have no idea if anyone achieved their original goals. I was planning a medical career and a stint in the Peace Corps with my friend, Becky, neither of which happened. The Peace Corps seemed like a very altruistic thing to do while getting to travel and see the world. As per my prior article, you know that Becky and I made it as far as Sandusky, Ohio, on our senior trip. I did graduate in a medical-ish field as a dietitian, but I never wanted to work as a dietitian, and I didn’t until I moved to Langdon and didn’t have any other options.

By Bob Simmons, CEO, Simmons Multimedia Many of you know that Diane operates what I refer to as a ‘hobby bar’ called Sip Happens a few nights a week. This endeavor has provided us both with untold hours of fun. Lots of folks think we are nuts for doing this with all the other things we have going on in our lives, but we really enjoy visiting with and serving folks from throughout the region each week. It gets us out of the house and away from Netflix.

I would suggest that if you’ve never attended a state music competition, it’s time to block off the first Saturday in May and book a hotel for next year. There’s a good chance that if I can go again next year, I will. With Catelyn being a senior and no sign of my youngest feeling inspired to be musical, last weekend was a wrap on most music events on our calendar. This week we still have three high school drama shows to attend as well as the last spring high school band and choir concert, but trips to the state music competition with a child competing have come to an end.