July 26th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
Shucks, I could have worn a sweater this morning. I love living in a state where you may get to wear a sweater at least one day of every month except August. The problem is finding a high quality sweater that holds up. Some of my nicest sweaters are almost a decade old.
What score do you give a day when you are scheduled for a root canal at 7:45 am and it ends up that the cause of the dull ache is not the tooth? I got out of there for only $179. I was thinking at least a score of “8”. I guess it may be sinuses.
Next Wednesday you have a chance to be entertained by a great band, Davina and The Vagabonds. They will be the final act at the St. Cloud Rotary’s “Summertime by George” at Lake George in vibrant downtown St. Cloud. They were at Sunset Stage last night on the campus of College of St. Benedict and it was awesome. They ran out of ice cream for the Root Beer Floats, so next year get in line early. Both of these great outdoor concert series are free. Details at www.summertimebygeorge.com
The APHC show this week is another rebroadcast with a show that was originally broadcast in May of 2000 from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. Special guests include Randy Newman and Nickel Creek. In the News from Lake Wobegon, Carl Krebsbach takes his new boat out for the fishing opener. Enjoy the show.
“Contentment comes from gracefully accepting the good that comes to us and not from being furious at life because it is not better”. From “ A Day At a Time”
July 19th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
Aunt Maggie is doing great! Every day she finds treasures in one of many boxes that fill her garage and barn. She used to have an antique shop in Burbank, California and she has yet to open all of the boxes that surround her. Maggie is now 92 years old and still lives on the small “bad corner” near Gallatin Valley outside of Bozeman. She did have to give up driving the “Lately”, named that because at one time Ford had a motto, “Have you driven a Ford, lately”. Every Tuesday one of her drivers picks her up and takes her to the Bozeman Senior Center where the local Writers Group meets. I was able to be her driver last week and I heard nine great stories and one poem.
The APHC show this week is another summer rebroadcast with a show from September of 2011 at The Fitzgerald Theater. Special guests include Nick Lowe, Dave Moore, Megan Fischer and Andra Suchy who hails from Mandan, North Dakota. Enjoy the show.
“I know all about ‘resistance weight training’, that why I resist it” Aunt Maggie
June 28th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
You would have to score the weather today a “10”. Sunny, warm and a breeze from the north bringing low humidity. The carpal tunnel surgery was a success. I highly recommend Dr. Satterberg at Midsota Plastic Surgeons. By the way, the sign of carpal tunnel problems is waking up with numbness in your fingers at night. The inactivity during sleep allows the nerves to swell and hence the numbness and later on, the horrific pain.
This is the third time that I have had to deal with a wounded wrist. The first time was a broken right wrist caused by an impact with the windshield of a 1950 Ford Sedan. I was the youngest member of The Black Knights Car Club in Upsala and one of our pastimes was to drag race on the gravel roads outside of town. Wesley N. had borrowed the family sedan and we were in the left hand position in a race with one of his classmates, Dave C. I was riding “Shot Gun”. We drifted a little too far to the left and got caught up on the “gravel ridge”. The Ford was pulled into the ditch and hit a bridge approach. I only had time to put my right arm in front of my face and I crashed into the windshield. I can still recall the spinning tires, the stuck horn, blaring, and the blood. I ended up with a cast on a broken wrist and missed my sophomore football season.
The APHC show this week is live from the Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts with the final live broadcast of the summer season. Special guests include genre bending string band Joy Kill Sorrow, singer and songwriter Heather Masse, and harmonizing siblings The DiGiallonardo Sisters. Howard Levy sits in with the Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band. Enjoy the show.
“We make first our habits, and then our habits make us.” John Dryden
June 7th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
Tomorrow, the five Osberg brothers along with my son and grandson are heading up to Brindley’s Harbor on Leech Lake to “hammer the walleyes”. Many years ago my youngest brother was asked to join his father-in-law on a fly-in to Trout Lake in Canada. It was always the third Saturday in June, since fishing on the river that fed the lake was restricted until then. Over the years Craig invited other brothers to join the party. About ten years ago, I tagged along and it was awesome. I told the host that I would see him every year for the next 20 years for sure. The next year we booked Woody’s Fairly Reliable Guide Service on Rainy Lake out of Rainer. Three years ago we switched to Brindley’s on Leech Lake, but I miss the pub at Woody’s. www.fairlyreliable.com The ice should be off Leech by now.
This week we had to say goodbye to a true Renaissance Man, Fred Petters. Fred was a fur shop owner in downtown St. Cloud, a man of words who worked for the Liturgical Press across the path from my office in Wimmer Hall and an artist. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and a friend to the art community including Minnesota Public Radio. For many years Fred and his wife Romy would arrive on campus early, in their yellow VW Beatle, for Mass, and we would share a few early morning greetings in the parking lot. I am fortunate to have acquired a Fred Petters original water color and a vase that Romy created. I will miss Fred and I will treasure his artwork.
The APHC show this week is live from the Greek Theater in Los Angles. Special guests include singer and songwriter Colin Hay, humorist Paula Poundstone, America’s Acting President, Martin Sheen, comedienne Lily Tomlin and singing sisters Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele. Enjoy the show.
“When you are feeling sad, nothing brightens your mood better than a good piece of homemade pie.” Me
May 31st, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
I was on the campus of Saint Cloud State University this week to meet with the marketing folks. After I graduated Upsala High in 1961, I attended the U of M Institute of Technology. I was not prepared and ended up with 4 incompletes at the end of the first quarter. Even the English Composition class was more than I could handle. I met with my advisor and signed up for the same four classes, but for a variety of reasons I had the same result. The truth is that I spent a lot of time drinking beer and playing pool. In the spring of 1965, I enrolled in St. Cloud State College and this time I signed up for four liberal arts classes, no more physics and geometry. I rented a room in the home of a woman who was taking care of her dying dad. This time around, I managed to get 2 A’s and 2 B’s. I still have the text book for the Art Appreciation class. I felt better for the effort and that summer I went back to work as a draftsman, since I was planning on getting married in August.
The APHC show this week is a live broadcast from the Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Special guests include folksinger Ellis and globetrotting pianist Radoslav Lorkovic’. The Royal Academy of Radio Actors, Tim Russell, Sue Scott and Fred Newman will star in a number of skits and Garrison will spin tales from Lake Wobegon. Last week he mentioned the Krebsbach Chev sign at the baseball park. Krebsbach Chevrolet used to be where Millstream Shops and Lofts is now in downtown St. Joseph.
“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
May 24th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
Monday we will celebrate Memorial Day. This national holiday honors the men and women who have died in military service to this country. The first “Decoration Day” was celebrated in 1865 by liberated slaves at the historic race track in Charleston, West Virginia. Another Decoration Day was celebrated in Waterloo, New York on May 5, 1866 to honor those who had died in the Civil War. The name “Memorial Day” was first used in 1882, but did not become common until after World War 11. (source: Wikipedia)
When I was a youngster in Upsala, we always had a Memorial Day service at the school followed by a parade down Main Street. Sometime after I graduated in 1961, the practice died out. Then in the 80’s, Lorna Koehn, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary brought back the Memorial Day Celebration in Upsala. I can still picture her marching in front of a group of children, each holding a bunch of lilac flowers. The parade ends at the City Park, where the children still wait in anticipation for the chance to collect the spent brass shells after the 21 gun salute. They make good whistles. After that, one of the civic clubs serves a picnic lunch including “Bee Bop A Ree Bop Rhubarb Pie”.
Be sure to take the time to honor those that you know who have served. If you meet a service member, simply put our your hand and say “Thank you for serving”. They deserve our respect no matter what your position is on war.
The APHC show this week is a live broadcast from the Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Special guests include the harmonizing duo, The Milk Carton Kids and singers Aoife O’Donovan and Heather Masse. The Royal Academy of Radio Actors will entertain and of course Garrison will spin tales from Lake Wobegon. Enjoy the long weekend and enjoy the show.
“Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny.” Tryon Edwards.
May 17th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
This week we set a new record high of 95 degrees here in central Minnesota. The leaves on the trees literally burst out overnight. The landscape changed dramatically and now our thoughts can turn to spring. High school senior students are in the last days of the best times of their lives. We had adventures like “borrowing” a row boat and rowing across Cedar Lake with a broom. We called it “senior skip day”. In my case that was 52 years ago and now the term “senior’ has a different meaning.
I still am the only resident of Mill Steam Village in St. Joseph, but there is one home site that has been reserved. The cottage next door is now open for inspection every Thursday from noon until 2 PM. The “Cottages with Care Services”, which are rental units are under construction. I still have a couple of “Lost Trout Brown Ale” in the frig, so if you are in the neighborhood, give me a call.
The APHC show this week is a rebroadcast of the season’s opener from The Fitzgerald Theater. Special guests include The Derailers, Ira Glass, soul sisters, Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele and singer Holly Jones. Enjoy the show.
“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” Steve Jobs
May 10th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
Today is a bright and sunny day in central Minnesota. The fishing opener is going to be a challenge for many in northern Minnesota. I should call Woody and ask how thick the ice is on Rainy Lake. The Osberg Brothers annual fishing trip has been moved up to the second week of June. We are going to Brindley’s Resort on Leach Lake once again. I would like to return to the tradition of Woody’s just because of the ambiance. He has a bar under the suite of rooms that we use and an ice cream shop across the street. Woody is a character and his brother Spike, a local writer, is a great conversationalist also. Fishing trips to me are less about the fishing and more about the “sitting around the hearth”.
The APHC show this week is live from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Special guests include Music City all-stars The Time Jumpers, fiddle virtuoso Stuart Duncan and singer Suzy Bogguss. The Royal Academy of Radio Actors, Tim Russell, Sue Scott and Fred Newman will back Garrison up. The News From Lake Wobegon is sure to entertain. Enjoy the show.
Don’t forget Mothers Day. I will be at Ritsche Auditorium tomorrow night working an MPR table. For ticket information go to www.stcloudsymphony.com
“All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom; justice; honor; duty; mercy; hope.” Winston Churchill
May 3rd, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good morning from Collegeville,
Yesterday we had a “thank you luncheon” for Ellen Newkirk. Ellen has been our student intern for three years and she is graduating May 11th. It was Ellen who wrote the submission letter recommending the original telegram dated January 20, 1967 authorizing KSJR to go on the air as one of the “10 objects” to represent the history of the St. Cloud area. The telegram was chosen. Ellen is a cousin of Marty Mahowald who shared the following story at our last RDAC meeting. This is Ellen’s submittal for today’s “Friday Note”. Enjoy.
“The Saint John’s University monks chose Bill Kling to help run their fledgling public radio station (which would later become MPR) because of his “bright mind” – literally. SJU graduate Marty Mahowald shares the story of Bill Kling’s selection as the station’s leader told by his professor at Saint John’s in the 1970s, Fr. Gunther Rolfson. According to Fr. Gunther, in the 1960s, Saint John’s had a mandatory lights-out policy at 10 pm when the faculty residents would flip a switch that turned off all power on each floor of the residence halls. However, one evening Fr. Gunther took a walk around campus after he and several other monks were struggling to come up with someone to run the radio station, when he noticed a light illuminating a single room in Benet Hall.
The next day, Fr. Gunther used a master key to enter the room and found a system rigged by the student to keep the power on after the switch was flipped each night. The room belonged to Bill Kling. Eventually, the monks decided Kling’s innovative and determined spirit was just what they needed for their new endeavor. According to Mahowald, “He (Fr. Gunther) said that they knew that as a fledgling business that it would have struggles, budget challenges and many other issues to deal with and it would take someone with a lot of moxy to lead it through to success.”
It turned out to be a very successful decision; Kling served as president of MPR until 2010 and created one of the greatest public radio stations in the country. “
Ellen Newkirk, CSB, Class of 2013.
The APHC show this week is live from the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia. Special guests include Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, the U.S. Fleet Forces Band, Rob Fisher, Robin and Linda Williams, Joe Newberry and the DiGiallonardo Sisters. The Royal Academy of Radio Actors will join the fun. Enjoy the show, and remember if you miss it, you can listen anytime online at www.prairiehome.org
Tonight is the Grand Opening of the Gallery Saint Germain starting at 6 PM. The new gallery is located across the street from The Paramount Theater. See you there.
“An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered.” G.K. Chesterson
April 26th, 2013 by Gary Osberg
Good glorious morning from Collegeville,
What a difference one week can make. It showed 39 degrees on my on-board temp display and the i-Phone read the same. This was the first time that it did not dip below freezing overnight this spring. The flooding may have been slowed in the Fargo area and it looks like Long Prairie River is going to over flow its banks also.
Millstream Village is not in a flood zone and perhaps the boys can start moving the dirt pile and get the patio and driveway finished. The temporary loose rock driveway worked out just fine. They should be able to salvage the rocks and use them for landscaping. Tomorrow I plan on hanging up the wind chimes. I am hoping to find out when the Sisters will move the fish to the fish pond. I have never been able to watch that very special sign of spring. By the way, the cottage is now a free Wi-Fi zone.
Next Friday night, May 3, is the grand opening of the new Gallery Saint Germain in the newly re-opened Regency Plaza across from The Paramount Theater. It starts at 6 Pm and will go until 8. The first show will feature the work of Artists Guild of Central Minnesota. Admission is free. I hope to see you there.
The A Prairie Home Companion show this week is a live performance from Lubbock, Texas. Special guests include all-star West Texas troupe, The Flatlanders, and country singer Ashley Monroe. The Royal Academy of Radio Actors plus The Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band and the latest News From Lake Wobegon. Enjoy the show.
“If your cat has its kittens in the oven, do you call them muffins?” Kaye Gibbons