Most of you have likely completed all of your Christmas shopping by now. Since there are only a few more days till Christmas, that’s a good thing. Hopefully, you were able to purchase products and services from the many local merchants in the area. That effort truly does make a difference.

I am amazed at the sincere appreciation I feel each time I buy something from a local business. The reply is not just a robotic thank you, but rather a heartfelt gratefulness for choosing to spend my dollars locally rather than with an online global chain that connects with me only by my credit card number.

With our company being a locally owned business, we also sincerely appreciate when businesses choose to market with us. It helps us invest in our staff, our facilities, our publications and our communities. We know that local businesses have all kinds of advertising options today, and that the out-of-towners swoop in frequently with something bright and shiny and new to sell them. So, with that in mind, I want to say thank you to the local businesses that continue to choose to market their goods and services to each of you through our growing family of publications. 

Loyalty is said to be a thing of the past, but that’s not what we see. We see locally owned business owners and managers who look out for each other, support each other, and buy from each other during good times and bad — and encourage others to do the same. We see smart people who aren’t distracted by the fly-by-night media reps who show up for a few weeks and then disappear, but instead show their support for those who helped them get to where they are. And we see business owners and managers who truly appreciate their customers and their vendors alike, and they don’t hesitate to show it. That’s appreciation. That’s community. That’s loyalty. 

None of us are perfect, and we can all improve, but I want to thank those in the local business community for being here to serve all of us. We appreciate you. And for those of you who still need to some last-minute shopping, our local merchants would be glad to help you out. 

Merry Christmas to all, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

My recent pregnant reindeer column inspired a few of you to share thoughts about Santa’s sleigh-pullers, specifically a red-nosed one named Rudolph. I summarized a few of them, and I share of few of my comments as well. I am now inspired to take 52 minutes and watch the 1964 Christmas stop motion TV special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to recall these life lessons. 

1. It’s OK to be different. That red nose made Rudolph stand out, which, in the end, proved to save the day for Santa and the sleigh. What makes you unique? And how can you use that to help others?
2. Don’t judge others based on their differences. Rudolph was mocked for his difference, and he wasn’t allowed to play in the reindeer games. Unfortunately, meanness is not reserved for the youth. Negatively judging others is easy to do, and we have all done it. How can we turn that around and seek to learn from our differences?
3. You can’t run away from your problems. Rudolph tried, but that wasn’t the solution. Our problems seem to follow us, no matter where we go. The real challenge is in deciding how to face those problems head on and make the best of the situation.
4. Parents make mistakes, too. This is a difficult one for kids to understand — until they become parents. Rudolph’s mom and dad didn’t seem to grasp his situation, and they erred by not listening and handling it properly. We can all do better with this.
5. Never underestimate the underdog. We hear success stories like Rudolph leading the sleigh, but, in reality, those are few and far between. What we don’t hear about are the smaller (and maybe more important) victories — the positive thoughts, the heartwarming smiles and the uplifting moments that can come about from a simple comment or deed. Those can wake up the underdog and make small but meaningful differences.
6. If others aren’t doing what needs to be done, try showing them the way. We get stuck in a rut sometimes and fail to think outside the box. Sometimes we need a youngster like Rudolph to get us to think differently and solve a problem. Who can you learn from today?

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Most of you reading this were born and raised in Iowa and have dealt with winter weather driving. If you weren’t, then you are forgiven for your awful driving habits when the snow hits. For the rest of you who have experienced this many, many times… come on. It’s snow. It’s slippery. Keep moving. 

You know exactly what I’m talking about. The first snowflakes fall, and traffic on the roads drops to a standstill. Tires apparently don’t rotate in a quarter-inch of snow. By March, the majority of Iowa’s winter-weather drivers are plowing through 3-foot snowdrifts like a hot knife through butter, but the first few snowfalls seem to create unnecessary problems each year. Why is that? Are our memories that short? Do the hyped-up weather reports with new names like “ground blizzards” scare us? Or are we just appropriately cautious?   

Some people seem to be snowfall opportunists and see winter storms as a chance to offer excuses — to call in sick to work, to be late for anything, or to not show up at all. I would guess you know someone who is coming to mind right now. 

A friend of mine who owned a business in Colorado told me that getting his staff members to show up for work after a snowfall was nearly impossible, but he said they could somehow make it to the ski slopes. Amazing.

Even here in Iowa, I have dealt with a handful of employees who would call in after a snowfall and say they could not make it to work because they could not get their vehicle out of the driveway. Getting up earlier to shovel was apparently not a consideration, and they must have missed the weather reports that forecasted the storm days in advance. When I offer to drive to their homes and pick them up, it is remarkable how many people can suddenly get their cars moving. Fortunately, those situations are rare, as most Iowans do plan accordingly, and safely, while making their jobs and their everyday schedules a priority. 

Like most things in life, this, too, is about preparation and planning. Jolene and I were on a trip to Lake Tahoe several years ago, and more than a foot of snow fell overnight. By 6 a.m. the next morning, every road was plowed, every sidewalk was shoveled, and the stores had employees opening their doors and ready to serve customers. 

Now, certainly, some people should not be out in winter weather. If driving on dry pavement is a challenge, don’t risk it on ice. Stay home. Maybe move to Arizona. But, for the rest of us, it is business as usual — winter weather in Iowa. 

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

With some snow on the ground this year, I can’t help but think of the countless hours I spent as a child playing in the white stuff. Sledding down hills. Having snowball fights. Making snowmen. But, there was one snow activity I could never seem to master — igloo making.

Sure, like many of you, I could dig long tunnels into snow piles. I could create makeshift forts that would last… for a while. I could even create really good snow walls. But a domed igloo? Forget it. My many efforts resulted in the same disappointing collapses.

As a child who watched way too much television, I was intrigued by a commercial for the Sno Bloc Maker by K-tel. “Scoop it, pack it, block it.” Sounded easy. And the igloos on TV looked absolutely amazing.

“Big kids. Little kids. Moms and dads. Everyone is having fun in the snow.” They sure looked like it. The advertised price was only $2.99, and it even came with an aluminum shaping shovel. What a deal!

I wanted some of this “healthy outdoor fun” and to turn our yard into a “winter wonderland.” Who wouldn’t? So I begged Mom for one, and, lo and behold, it was under the tree on one of those Christmas mornings. My brother Steve and I bundled up and prepared for the snow-building task. We were going to create the biggest, fanciest igloo this side of the East Fork of the Des Moines River. What we were not prepared for was the variance in snow. The light stuff would not pack well in the Sno Bloc Maker. The wet snow would stick to the plastic. The slushy snow would fall out like potato soup. This was not the winter wonderland that I saw on TV.

We were patient, and, one day, we had perfect packing snow. One by one, we produced those snow blocks factory-style and stacked them up, carefully tilting each layer inward so we could properly form the dome until… you guessed it, another collapse.

“Scoop it, pack it, block it.” Right. More like “Scoop it, pack it, crack it,” as that’s exactly what happened to my Sno Bloc Maker by New Year’s Day.

All has not been lost, though. Decades later when playing in in the snow with my kids, we came up with the idea of using big plastic storage bins to create snow blocks — and they worked quite well, at least for the first row or two. The weight was a bit much for the upper layers, and the attempts at doming still resulted in the same collapses. It was still a lot of fun and another simple reminder that, despite the generation differences, some things never change.

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Independent. It is an interesting word with interesting meanings. I throw the word around a lot and stress how important it is for local media to be independent, but that’s just one definition. So what else does “independent” mean?

Some say it means not to be controlled by others, or to be truly self-governing. That can work for countries, for companies and for organizations that have the wherewithal to operate without assistance. Many say they are independent but still rely on funding from outside sources to exist. True independence, in this regard, is rare. 

Others say independent means to not be affiliated with a larger controlling unit. That defines Big Green Umbrella Media. We don’t have a “corporate” office to report to. We don’t have a board of directors to approve or disapprove of our efforts. And we don’t have out-of-town shareholders to satisfy. We do have mentors, and one of them gave me some sage advice many years ago. He said we would never be editorially sound until we were financially sound. That proved to be true, and it is valuable counsel for anyone who wants to get into this industry.

In a simpler sense, independent can mean not requiring or relying on something or someone. I often wonder if I could exist in the wild on my own, and how long I would last. I would still have to rely on many things including the land, animals, the sun, water and much more. Or how about living in an underground bunker? Could you do it, and for how long? 

Some retired folks and financial planners define independent as being free from the necessity of working for a living. Most all of us would like to experience that form of independence.

From a political view, independent means not being bound by or committed to a political party. Independents or unaffiliated voters typically outnumber Republicans or Democrats, but their voices are rarely represented. In a weird way, that may be exactly how independents want it to be.

I am proud to be independent by many of these definitions, but I also fully realize how much I need others to exist. Human contact is a necessity for most of us, but we also want to minimize many of the other things we have become reliant upon. And, the more we can do that, the more independent we will truly be.

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Pains or injuries? There is a distinction between the two, but many people use the words as the same. 

I remember being in my 30s and telling a customer who was in his 50s that my body started hurting more once I turned 30. He laughed at me and said, “You just wait!” I passed it off as just another old guy complaining about his aches and pains, and then I realized that I was the one who started the conversation.

Several years ago, I listened to a former NFL player who spoke at a conference I was attending. As one of his humorous quips, he shared that he goes to bed feeling fine and he wakes up injured. Can you relate? How does this happen?

Yes, our bodies do hurt more as we age. Although some pains deal with things that are passed along in our genes, I am convinced that our lifestyle choices are the most significant factor. Yes, what we eat, how we choose to exercise (or not exercise), and how well we sleep are critical factors in how much we ache. 

I am also convinced that we are a softer generation. We jam a finger today, and we feel like we need to have an MRI done. Emergency rooms are full of people who don’t seem to understand what an emergency really is.

I am part of the problem, too. The aches and pains keep piling up, and popping a handful of ibuprofen does make me feel better. Of course, I could stop eating the foods that are causing me inflammation and have a regular exercise plan with plenty of stretching, but that’s a lot of work. 

So, like many of you, I deal with the aches. I complain about the pains. I try to avoid the injuries. And I am probably seeing going to see my doctor too often. But, as the saying goes, better safe than sorry. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707