Travel on the Gravel

I'm sure my friend Cory Lien, who hails from the old Numedahl community in northeastern North Dakota and now lives and works in Grand Forks, will agree that sometimes it's hard to be Norwegian. For instance, last May he was saddled with the difficult task of riding around Grand Forks with Prince Martha Louise, who, he probably didn't notice because of concentation on his duties as host, is rather easy on the eyes. The princess, author of a children's book, was on a book tour of the region and required escort by some responsible Nordic party; Cory was the man. I'm left wondering, as I study the photo published in the Walhalla Mountaineer, has the European tabloid press seen this yet?

We're in the middle of launch events for Candles at Canaan: Signs of Life in a Lonesome Land, the double-CD release from Prairie Public Broadcasting. The CDs are compilations from my Plains Folk radio features, with piano bumpers by Bob Groves, of the NDSU music department. Bob and I did a premiere of the work at Canaan Moravian Church last Sunday, where we were kindly received. Too bad Bob didn't have time to stay for the potluck! Last Wednesday we repeated the performance in the Weber Room of NDSU Libraries, where again, people were kind. This Sunday afternoon comes the third and final launch event--at Zandbroz Variety, downtown Fargo, 2:00 PM. In good time I'll get together some information about the CD set for posting in the Plains Folk website. For now, though, the CD set is on sale through the Prairie Public Online Store. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find it.