October 4th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good rainy morning from Collegeville,
When I moved to the cottage in Millstream Village, I gave up my TV dish. I chose to go with the internet from Charter plus Netflix. I am on season four of “Breaking Bad”, episode 5. Should we meet on the street or in a coffee shop, do not tell me how season five and the series finale ended last Sunday night. I usually tune in to Terry Gross every evening, but last night I had to turn it off. They were discussing the ending of the show. I was a big fan of “Malcolm in the Middle” and Bryan Cranston played the part of the father on that show. Most of the time he acted a bit on the dimwit side. In “Breaking Bad”, Bryan’s character, Walter White, goes from mild mannered chemistry teacher to a really bad guy. “I am the one that knocks!”
The APHC show this week is another live show from The Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul. Special guests include free spirited troubadour Pokey LaFarge, bluegrass utility man, Joe Newberry and vocalist Heather Masse with pianist Jed Wilson. Enjoy the show.
Tomorrow night is the annual fundraiser at The Paramount Theater in downtown St. Cloud. This year the theme is “Gold Dust Gala, Rumors & Dreams, the music of Fleetwood Mac”. The stars include Pamela McNeil, Mary Jane Alm and Jeff Engholm. Tickets are available online at paramountarts.org There will be some fabulous prices on artwork starting at 6 PM. There are only three price points, $24 , $48 and $96. A heck of a deal. I hope to see you there.
“It isn’t the mountain ahead that wears you out; it’s the grain of sand in your shoe.” Lloyd Perry
September 27th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
This is homecoming weekend for St. John’s. The campus will be packed with alumni, students and parents. A lot of Johnnie Bread has been baked and is ready to go.
The forecast is for showers, but that will not be a problem with tuf-turf having replaced grass.
Some of my favorite memories of football games are in the mud. I was an overweight freshman on the Upsala Cardinal team in 1957. We wore the old uniforms and helmets and we did not win any fashion awards. The seniors included one, John Atkinson, who was a running back who ran with his knees pumping up and down high and hard, but he still managed to make yardage. In practice, I would simply bounce off of his knees. The memory of the pain is still with me. That may have been the year when no other team even scored on the Upsala team. In my junior year I had shed a few pounds over the summer and I had a decent year of football. The following summer I had a diving accident and so I did not play my senior year. The Upsala homecoming game is two weeks from today and I hope to be there in my letterman’s jacket.
The APHC show this week is live from The Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul. Special guests include soul-singer, songwriter, Dan Penn, fiddler-singer Sara Watkins and blues singer Hilary Thavis , (who is named after Father Hilary). The Royal Academy of Radio Actors, Sue Scott, Tim Russell and Fred Newman will entertain with a number of skits. Enjoy the show.
The Millstream Art Festival is this Sunday in vibrant downtown St. Joseph. The weather will be wonderful. The festival runs from 11 until 5 PM.
“The root of all disturbance, if one will go to its source, is that no one will blame himself.” Dorotheus of Gaza
September 20th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
This week we laid Auntie to rest in Gethsemane Lutheran Church cemetery in Upsala. Leone Hagstrom was the youngest child of my Grandmother, Laura Anderson Larson Ramlo and Louis Larson. My mother was the oldest child and they had a brother Eldon. The three of them were a year apart in age. There were many stories shared about Auntie on Wednesday, but my favorite came from her son Kevin. They had been visiting Kevin’s uncle in Alexandria and Kevin told Auntie that he wanted to get back to Upsala so he could watch the Preakness. The speed limit on County Road 17 is 55, so Kevin was doing 60. Auntie said, “You drive slow Kevin”. Kevin stepped it up a bit and a little while later, Auntie spoke up again. “We’ll never get there at this speed.”. “Ma, I don’t want to get a ticket.” , but he dutifully stepped it up again. There was silence for a while and then: “ Kevin, why don’t you just pull over and let me drive”. Kevin owns a four wheel drive pickup. Auntie was 91 years young.
The APHC show this week is live from The Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul. Special guests include acoustic groove masters Vasen, minimal Motown singers and drummer Chic Gamine and mandolin madman Chris Thile. Plus the royal Academy of Radio Actors, Tim Russell, Sue Scott and Fred Newman. The Guy’s All Star Shoe Band and the latest News From Lake Wobegon.
“Kathy, I was born to have fun” Leone Hagstrom 1922-2013
September 13th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
It is a beautiful crisp morning here in central Minnesota. Fall is just around the corner. My daughter has lots of Butternut Squash and loads of tomatoes in “our garden”. All I did was plant the Yukon Golds and the seeds for the squash. This is the first time that I have planted Butternut, I chose them because they are the easiest to remove the skin from. The Vegan Squash Soup recipe from Barby’s daughter calls for “cubed squash”.
This week my mother’s sister had to have emergency gall bladder surgery at HCMC in Minneapolis. She is having a tough time of it. I swore to never reveal her age, but in 1935 two beautiful blond teenage Norwegians moved to Upsala where Grandma and Bert Ramlo had purchased a grocery store from the Pearson family. The boys in school almost twisted their necks off as my mother Bea and her sister Lee walked the hallowed halls of Upsala High. Auntie married Duke Hagstrom and they lived in the same house next to the fire hall in Upsala their whole lives. For many years Auntie would make the rounds of the nursing homes in Little Falls and Albany visiting her friends. Many of them were younger than she was. Think positive thoughts for Auntie please.
The APHC show this week is kicking off the fall season with a live performance at The Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul. It will be followed by the annual Meatloaf Supper and Street Dance on Exchange Street in front of the theater. Special guests include honky-tonk heroes Chuck Mead and His Grassy Knoll Boys, singing sisters Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele and soprano Ellie Dehn. The Royal Academy of Radio Actors plus The Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band will do their thing and of course, Garrison will bring us up to date on the News From Lake Wobegon. Enjoy the show.
“The time to be happy is now; the place to be happy is here; the way to be happy is to make others so.” Robert Green Ingersoll.
September 6th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
The note this week was cut and pasted from my son Erik’s website theoutdoorreport.com.
“In our family, Labor Day weekend means a trip to Uncle Brian’s Cabin. It’s our way of saying goodbye to summer & one last weekend dedicated to feeling Minnesota. What I mean by that is a celebration of why we live here, sky blue waters, great food, fantastic fishing & family fun. This year, the weekend began with temperatures in the mid 80’s which lead to perfect swimming weather. Eventually the temperatures dropped far enough to make fishing the favorite activity. “The Cabin” is a gorgeous log cabin nestled in the woods on a small environmental lake near Aitkin, MN. It’s a great place to get away from it all, and the warm orange glow inside the cabin has a way of refreshing your soul.
This little lake doesn’t have much in the way of BIG fish, but it does have a healthy trout population. We’ve never really tried to fish for trout over Labor Day weekend, however, this year my son Willie demanded we give it a shot. Uncle Brian took Willie & I out in his 14 foot boat powered by an electric motor. We trolled the deep water with small crankbaits & “cow bell” rigs with crawler harnesses. Sometimes keeping it simple makes for a more enjoyable day on the water. No electronics, no big boat, no big motors. Just three guys trolling around hoping to feel the heavy strike on the end of the line. Low & behold, it worked. We managed to catch 3 nice eater sized trout that made the annual Labor Day feast even more memorable.
Keep in mind, just because Labor Day has come & gone, & it feels like summer is over, that doesn’t mean we are going to stop “feeling Minnesota”. Fall brings some of the best fishing of the year & hunting is going to be in full swing soon. As always, remember it’s not about having time, it’s about making time! Erik”
The APHC show this week is a rebroadcast of a show originally broadcast from St. Olaf College in Northfield in November of 2011. The St. Olaf Orchestra and the St. Olaf Choir team up for “Fields of Gold”. Heather Masse sings “A Distant Melody”. In Lake Wobegon, exiles return home for Thanksgiving.
The season opener at The Fitz and the meatloaf supper is one week away.
“What every child wants to know is: ‘Do your eyes light up when I enter the room? Did you hear me and did what I say mean anything to you?’ That’s what they’re looking for. That’s what everybody is looking for.” Toni Morrison
September 3rd, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
Ninety two years ago, a boy-child was born in Pretare, a village in the Appennine Mountains on the Adriatic coast of Italy. Anthony Caponi grew to be a giant in the art world. In his lifetime, Tony created hundreds, maybe thousands of sculptures, many from rocks. He also established the Caponi Art Park and Learning Center in Eagan, Minnesota. Forty years ago today, the “Granite Trio” was dedicated on the mall in downtown St. Cloud. The Granite Trio was commissioned by the St. Cloud Community Arts Council, known today as Visual Arts Minnesota. The arts council was lead by the late, Arlene Helgeson.
Today at 10 am, Tony and his wife Cheryl will be honored at the site of “The Granite Trio”. At 11:30, a restored film on the making of “The Granite Trio” will be shown on the big screen at The Paramount Theater. A light luncheon will be served.
Seventy years ago today, another boy-child was born in Little Falls, Minnesota, 25 miles east of Upsala. In his lifetime he sold Herman Miller Office Furniture, Xerox Copiers and 15 second messages, promoting other folks companies and events, on Minnesota Public Radio in central Minnesota, Sioux Falls and Sun Valley, Idaho.
The APHC show this week is a very special compilation of shows from The Minnesota State Fair. Special guests will include Suzy Bogguss and Shawn Colvin. Enjoy the show.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” from Mary Oliver’s “The Summer Day” a poem beloved by Arlene Helgeson
August 23rd, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
The weather in central Minnesota this morning is beautiful. The students are back on campus and that always makes it special. The fountain in front of Sexton Commons now has fish and one lonely turtle, so there has not been a “dumping of detergent” to make bubbles for a number of years. It is said that “Koi” will adapt to their habitat. If they are kept in a small aquarium, they will stay small. If they are placed in a larger aquarium, they will grow larger. In a huge tank, they will grow to be 3 feet long.
Next Friday there will be a special celebration of the 40 year anniversary of the dedication of The Granite Trio in downtown St. Cloud. The sculptor, Anthony Caponi and his wife Cheryl will be in town. Tony Caponi is 92 years old. Arlene Helgeson and the St. Cloud Community Arts Council (Visual Arts Minnesota) were instrumental in the creation of these wonderful unique sculptures. The event will start at 10 AM at the site and then the party will move to The Paramount Theater for refreshments and a viewing of a movie produced on the creation of the sculptures. I hope to see you there.
The APHC show this week is a rebroadcast of a show that was recorded at the Grandstand at The Minnesota State Fair in September of 2010. I am quite sure that Barby and I were in the audience. Special guests were Sara Watkins, Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele and the Anoka High School Marching Band. Enjoy the show.
“I do not believe that you can do today’s job with yesterday’s methods and be in business tomorrow.” Nelson Jackson
August 19th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
Wow! The weather in central Minnesota has been great! It is supposed to warm up next week just in time for the State Fair, the Great American Get Together. I have not been to the fair for awhile, ever since Garrison quit doing the Friday night show at the Grandstand. I miss that. I tried to get tickets to one of the fall shows at The Fitzgerald, but I did not succeed. He is doing a special new “Rhubarb Show” following the regular show. Check it out at his website “prairie home dot org”.
On the last day of our short vacation, Barby and I stopped at Brinkley’s Harbor Resort on Leach Lake. We were checking out the new cabins. Before we left for home, I purchased a Diet Pepsi, they didn’t have Diet Coke. A little ways down the road I felt a little pain in my stomach. I decided it was time to break that addiction once again. I heard a story on public radio about the formula for Coca-Cola and they claimed that there was a special way of taking the bad stuff out of the cocoa leaves, but my theory is that there is a little bit left. Now I have marked that Diet Pepsi can with the note, “my last can, 8-7-13” and I have it on the file cabinet in my office. When one takes medication for “Acid Reflux” it makes no sense to drink soda. Wish me luck.
The APHC show this week is a summer replay of the 2011 Hawaiian New Year’s Eve Show. Special guests include Danny Carvalho, Ledward Kaapana, Jeff Peterson and Jake Shimabukuro playing “Hi’ilawe”. Heather Masse and Erica Rhodes join the Royal Academy of Radio Actors. Garrison spins a tale from Lake Wobegon. Enjoy the show.
“Dreaming about a thing in order to do it properly is right; but dreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong.” Oswald Chambers
August 9th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
Another beautiful Friday in central Minnesota. The three days at Bass Lake in Akeley were wonderful. The 50’s era cabin next door to Russ & Carol’s place has still not sold. That old urge to sell it all and spend the rest of my days “at the lake” came back. I have not ever been inside, but likely, it has that distinct smell of mice, which would make it tough to use as a permanent place to live. I am not ready to “hang it up” so it is doubtful that I would be satisfied. Like Barby says, I love the action and the business of meeting new folks. If I do my job right, I get to meet new people every week.
This morning at Chamber Connection I met a young lady who survived breast cancer and getting dumped. Look for her book on Amazon. “My Three Lumps” by Gwen Rosha Anderson. I am not sure what the third lump was.
Upsala Heritage Days Festival kicks off tonight at the City Park in Upsala with a free country & gospel concert starting at 7:30. I will be driving my friends restored Thunder Bird in the parade tomorrow which starts at Gethsemane Lutheran Church at 10:30. This year the theme is “Ole and Lena & 130 years of Swedes in Upsala”.
Just plug 120 Church Blvd, Upsala, MN 56384 into your Garmin 1300.
The APHC show this week is a rebroadcast of a show from January 2012 with Brad Paisley, playing “This is Country Music”, Cantus performing “There’s a Meetin’ Here” and Andra Suchy will join Garrison in a number duets. Enjoy the show.
“Think like a person of action and act like a person of thought.” Henri Bergson
August 9th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
This day is a “10” for sure. Next week, Barby and I get to go to a cabin near Akeley. This time I plan to leave the “smart phone” in the car. It is hard to get away with the “tether” that comes with an iPhone. I will call my children and alert them that I am out of range.
They say that there is no justice, but there used to be a “Justice Nilson” who lived in Upsala. The first time that I accrued real vacation time, I decided to go back to Upsala to spend some time at Cedar Lake at the swimming beach. I stayed with my grandmother in the attic room above the grocery store. One day I decided to try horseback riding. I knew that Justice had horses so I went out to his farm and sure enough he was willing to saddle up “Nelly”. I must have given off the scent of a “rookie” since Nelly promptly took me on a ride through the yard and under the clothes lines. It may have been the shortest ride ever. Justice just stood there laughing at the “city slicker” come home.
The APHC show this week is a rebroadcast of a March 2011 broadcast from The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Emmylou Harris sings “Darlin’ Kate”, the hit band The Civil Wars will perform “Poison and Wine”. Sam Bush and Stuart Duncan play “Diamond Joe” and Sara Watkins joins Garrison on “Tomorrow is Forever”. It is one of the best shows ever.
Third Street Brewhouse is bringing back their seasonal ale “Jack’d Up”. The brewers are jacking it up with pumpkin pie spices. Look for it at your favorite tavern and off-sale store.
“What we do upon some great occasion will probably depend on what we already are; and what we are will be the result of previous years
of self-discipline.” H.P. Liddon
Category :
General 
Comments Off on October 4, 2013 