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Good morning from Collegeville,

 One warm sunny day after the other.  Swimmers in the lake in the latter part of September.  It doesn’t get any better than this.  Christmas Eve is three months from next Thursday. 

 Garrison might retire in two years.  I read about it in the newspaper yesterday.  I am sad.  His column this week touched on the stroke that he had Labor Day weekend and in the article he referred to it as a “chastening experience”.  He has a young daughter and I am sure that he would love to walk her down the aisle someday.  He says that he wants to keep the show going and he would like to be the show’s producer.  No matter what, it will not be the same.

 The Carlos Creek Winery Food & Wine Festival was a hoot.  The Lamont Cranston band on Friday night was wonderful.  MPR had a booth there and I met so many wonderful folks beginning with the volunteers that came to help me.  On Saturday, John and Helen, Judy and Gene, Sue and Debra made the day a special one.   On Sunday Carol and Diane helped out while my co-worker Chris was there.  The owner estimated that 13,000 folks showed up on Saturday and 4,000 on Sunday.  Some of the food vendors ran out of food by 6PM on Saturday.   I met a young musician, Gregory Michael Bruce.  He played a guitar and sang from the wine patio both days.  He will be famous someday.  He is a pharmaceutical student at NDSU in his sixth year. I will keep you informed as his career develops. You heard it here first.

 The show this week is the last of the rebroadcasts with some swing tunes, hot salsa numbers, polkas, a hula, one tango and couple of waltzes.  All of this to help you get warmed up for next week’s Street Dance and Meatloaf Supper in downtown St. Paul   You can attend the street dance even if you don’t go to the show.  It will start at 7 PM or even a little sooner.  Garrison will come outside after the show and entertain you for free.  The meatloaf is wonderful.

 “It’s not important that everyone is just like you, but it is very important that there is someone just like you.”  Charles “Tremendous” Jones

Category : General

Comments Off on September 18, 2009

Good morning from Collegeville,

It is hard to believe that it has been 8 years since the terrible events in New York City, Washington D.C and the field in Pennsylvania.  Man is capable of so much evil.  We may be the only species that is capable of such evil acts.  The rest of the living, breathing things are only acting out of the instinct to survive.  I did not know anyone who died that day, but a man who is close to one of my brother’s lost his brother when the towers came down.  He now faces a battle with cancer.  Life can be very hard.  All I can think of to do is to try and remain positive and hopeful for the future.  Cherish the little things. 

Two of my grandchildren started kindergarten this week.  Chrissy and Anna were both excited and hopefully they will remain that way.  I remember the time when I accidentally tripped my first grade teacher and she sprained her wrist.  That would have been in New Ulm.  She was good at hitting us with a ruler also.  For a month she had to use her left hand.  Sometimes she missed.

Garrison had a slight stroke, but he is scheduled to get out of Mayo today and promises to be on stage at The Fitzgerald Theater at the season opener on September 26^th.  Think positive thoughts for him please.

The show this week is a re-broadcast of a couple of Western shows done in Missoula, Montana and Pullman, Washington.  Guests include a yodeling cowboy Wylie Gustafson, rancher/songstress Stephanie Davis and the old time acoustic duo Growling Old Men.  Idaho grown singer-songwriter Charlie Sutton will do a tribute to the mighty Lentil.  Enjoy the show.   I will be working a booth at The Carlos Creek Winery Fall Festival and Grape Stomp in Alexandria.  Come out and visit for a while.

“Homo sapiens are a tiny twig on an improbable branch of a contingent limb on a fortunate tree.”  Stephen Jay Gould

Category : General

Comments Off on September 11, 2009

Good morning from Collegeville,

 The old maple tree next to the fountain on Sexton Plaza has some red and orange leaves.  It is hard to believe that Labor Day weekend is here already.  Last weekend Barby and I joined some Monticello friends at their cabin near Akeley.  Russ told me that the cabin next to theirs was more than likely going to be put on the market.  It is an old cabin without a foundation.  It is built on stacks of cement blocks.  The lot size is small and so the asking price was likely to be fairly low.  I caught the “cabin owning fever” and we spent some time dreaming and planning.  By the time we got home, the “fever” had subsided.  It is 146 miles from Monticello and the thought of “running up to the cabin” seemed like not such a good idea.  Arrowwood Resort seems like a better deal.  They bring you fresh towels every day and you don’t have to mow the lawn.

 The show this week is live from The Minnesota State Fair Grandstand.  It will be this recorded this evening at 8 PM and rebroadcast tomorrow and Sunday.  The Fair is celebrating the 150^th year of The Great Minnesota Get-Together.  Special guests include Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Mindy Smith, Peter Ostroushko and Andra Suchy.   The Monticello Six are going to be in row 17.  We hope to see you there.

For more details on the show and to listen to old shows, go to www.prairiehome.org

 Next Friday night the Lamont Cranston Band will be at the Carlos Creek Winery Grape Stomp Kick Off.  The grounds open at 6 PM and the show starts at 8 PM.  Booths will open at 10 AM on Saturday and at noon on Sunday.  I will be there working the booth on Saturday.  I do have some extra tickets for the Friday night show.  Simply respond to this email and let me know where to mail the tickets.  I also could use some help working the booth on Saturday from 6PM until 8PM. 

 “Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.”  Martin Luther King Jr.

Category : General

Comments Off on September 4, 2009

Good morning from Collegeville,

The students are back on campus.  The newly remodeled “Refrectory” is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The ham dinner on Monday was one of the best I have ever had.  You should really come out for lunch sometime.  They accept cash.  Come about one o’clock and you will miss the long line.  I got busted for butting in.  It is hard being a recovering jerk.

A suggestion from my son, is to check with your local school about their need for supplies.  Here is a list of what a kindergartner needs:

Tennis  Shoes for Phy Ed. , Resting Towel  , 10- Elmers LARGE glue sticks  , School Bag/Back Pack,   Kleenex- Large Box   , Crayola washable markers- Package of 8, Crayola Crayons 1 box of 8, 1 box of 16 & 1 box of 24…

Here’s what a 6th grader needs…

2 three subject notebooks,  2 pocket folders,  2 erasers,  48 #2 pencils,  pencil pouch,   2-colored pencil set,  1- 24pk of crayons,   Wide tip/fine tip markers,   2-red pens for correcting ,  2 full size boxes of Kleenex, scissors ,  4-dry erase markers (Low ODOR ONLY) ,  12″ ruler-metric & standard,   2 Large Glue Sticks ,  2 4oz Elmers glue ,   clean old sock for white boards   Optional: Disenfectant wipes and pencil sharpener

 “Now before you ask if they really need all this stuff, isn’t it sad that we, as a nation of plenty, struggle to equip our kids with scissors and pencils and glue…. for school?

 As Bernie Roberts of Edward Jones in Brainerd says, the next time your sitting at your desk, struggling thru your day, stop what you’re doing, stand up, walk out of your office and go do something for somebody else, a complete stranger if possible, without giving a second thought as to who gets the credit… try it, you may like it… I know the other person will. “    Erik J. Osberg

 The show this week is the last of the re-broadcasts.  This week the show is devoted to our four-legged friends: our pets.  You will hear a few tunes form the trusty Bertha’s Kitty Boutique Songbook, including “Cat You’d Better Come Home”,  Stephanie Davis sings “Goodnight Little Cowpup and Greg Brown sings “Like a Dog” .  Enjoy the show.

 “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”  Will Rogers

Category : General

Comments Off on August 27, 2009

Good morning from Collegeville,

 About 70 folks came out in the rain early this morning to attend Chamber Connection in the Alumni Lounge.  This is perhaps one of the most successful networking events ever devised.  I always enjoy having the opportunity to tell an audience a little something about Minnesota Public Radio and the “News from Collegeville”.  Every one gets a chance to introduce themselves and to share a “tag line”.  My brand new laptop worked this year and I was able to present a short Power Point on our website advertising opportunities and a two minute video entitled “Rain”.  Afterwards, Larry Logeman told me that I had shown only the introduction to a 6 minute YouTube Video.  He suggested that I go to YouTube and search for African Rain Song.  The group is a Slovenian jazz group, “Aradkiewicz”.  It is worth it to take the time to listen, turn up your speakers.  If you want me to send the link to you, just ask.

 The show this week is a mix of three shows done from the Starlight Theater in Kansas City, Missouri.  Guests include Roy Blount Jr., Calvin Trillin, Iris Dement and Jearlyn Steele.  I hope to see you at the live show at The Minnesota State Fair, Friday night the fourth of September at 7:45 PM. 

 “After a full belly all is poetry”  Frank McCourt

Category : General

Comments Off on August 21, 2009

 Good morning from Collegeville,

 Summer has finally arrived in central Minnesota.  It may hit 90 degrees today.  Last weekend Barby rented a four bedroom townhouse at Arrowwood Resort on Lake Darling in Alexandria.  Barby has three daughters and six grandchildren under the age of four.  It was not hot and sunny but with the Big Splash Indoor Water Park, it did not matter.  I took Elijah, age three, down the first small slide and then down the medium slide.  After that his dad went with him time and time again.  I think that we made four trips to the water park.  A good time was had by all.  The resort provided everything including a load of firewood for the out door fire pit.  We sat out there until 10 pm without any bugs.  They probably used Mosquito Yard Guard.  Needless to say I would highly recommend Arrowwood Resort.  Check them out at www.arrowwoodresort.com

 The show this week is a special show for English Majors, a poetry compilation show with a remembrance of Hayden Carruth, a poem by and a song for, Kenneth Rexroth and more Poets Laureate past and present than you can shake a stick at, including Billy Collins, Robert Bly and Maxine Kumin.  Other guests include Elvis Costello, Brad Paisley, Nellie McKay and Nick Lowe.  It sounds like a wonderful show.

 “Reputation is what folks think you are.  Personality is what you seem to be.  Character is what you really are.”  Alfred Armand Montapert

 Bonus quote:  Luke, age three, to sister Jillian age seven months old, on Monday after the water park trip:     “You can’t get in the bathtub, you don’t have a red band on”  

Category : General

Comments Off on August 14, 2009

Good rainy morning from Collegeville,

What does it mean when the rain drops leave bubbles in the puddles?  It seems to me that we should expect an all day rain.  This area has been blessed with quite a bit of rain, unlike the Twin Cities area, so it is nice and green out there. 

Last Friday two English majors were married in St. Cloud.  On Saturday Barby and I went to the reception on a small estate in rural Sauk Rapids.    The bride teaches English with Barby at the ALC School in Buffalo.  The groom teaches at SCSU and he is applying for a doctorate program.  We were greeted by the bride in her gingham dress and cowboy boots and her good friend Michael who had arranged for the sign on the marquee at The Paramount Theater, announcing their “Day of Awesome” , the decorations at the reception and he was in charge of making the name tags.  He asked Barby if it was Barbie like the doll and Barby said, “No it is with a Y”. 

“Oh Snap”,  Michael replied, “The girl has her own doll”.   

The wind had died down and it was a delightful evening.  Each of the guests received a gift to remember the event by, a book mark with the brides five favorite books listed on one side and the grooms favorite books listed on the other.  Very creative.

The show this week is a mix of two Oklahoma shows with native Okie, legendary bluesman Elvin Bishop singing “Oklahoma Country Girl”, some foot-stomping barroom tunes from “The Hot Club of Cowtown” and Arlo Guthrie sings “Oklahoma Hills”.  Enjoy the show.   By the way, today is Garrison’s birthday. 

“All lovely things will have an ending, all lovely things will fade and die, and youth, that’s now so bravely spending, will beg a penny by and by.”  Conrad Aiken

Category : General

Comments Off on August 7, 2009

Good morning from Collegeville,

It is hard to believe that today is the last day of July already.  July 2009 is one of the coolest July’s on record.  No 90 degree temps reported in the Twin Cities.  I always have my swimming trunks in the car trunk, but I have yet to go swimming.  I have not been in the garden for weeks and with all things that Barby and I have going on; I may not be able to do much for a long time.  Kerry says that she has dug some Yukon Golds and the beans are ready. 

This week another St. Cloud businessman died much too young.  Paul Strommen was only 59 years old.  He spent his whole life working in the business of helping to make each day a better day by providing flowers for folks to enjoy.   Paul and his wife owned St. Cloud Floral.  His first job was working for his parents in the shop for 10 cents per hour.  The funeral is tomorrow at the Church of St. Paul in St. Cloud.

For that reason and others, I am going to knock off early and go fishing with my son.

The show this week is a show for Lutherans and the people who love them.  Special guests include VocalEssence and Dan Newton.  Enjoy the show. 

“Dost thou love Life?  Then do not squander Time; for that is the stuff Life is made of.”  Benjamin Franklin

Category : General

Comments Off on July 31, 2009

Good morning from Collegeville,

 On Monday the 13^th, I climbed into my rust-free 2004 Bonneville with 185,575 miles on it and headed west to visit Aunt Maggie in Bozeman, Montana.  967 miles later I pulled into The WB Lazy M Ranch.  (Working Bill, lazy Maggie)   Aunt Maggie has a sign in her kitchen that says “The only reason I have a kitchen, is because it came with the house.” 

 Maggie was a model in LA, one time owned an antique shop in North Hollywood, California and her house is filled with treasures from the past.  She recently found a box with 49 Barbie dolls in it.  I found a box in the barn and we had a fun time unwrapping the 1985 newspaper pages wrapped around one item after the other.  One of the items was a 1925 Montana license plate. 

 I was on a mission to pick up a chair that belonged to my children’s great-great grandparents.  When Barby and I were there last summer, we did not have room for the chair, hence the trip.  I found a wonderful golf bag and a fly fishing pole that had belonged to Uncle Bill.  I hope to find some place to learn fly fishing this winter and plan to return to Montana to catch trout in the Gallatin River which in only a few miles from Aunt Maggie’s ranch.  We drove “up” to Cinnamon Lodge for supper which is on the Gallatin close to West Yellowstone.  A beautiful drive.

 The show this week is another compilation of shows presented last November at The Fitzgerald Theater.  Special guests include Pert’ Near Sandstone, Kristin Andreassen and Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele.  Maria Jette sings a song for Swedes, “O Vermeland”.   Enjoy the show.

 “The central purpose of each life should be to dilute the misery in the world.”  Karl Menninger

Category : General

Comments Off on July 24, 2009

Good morning from Collegeville,

Never before have I been so proud of belonging to a special organization.  The show in Avon on the Fourth of July was so very special.  Garrison played to the crowd and the event.  He had two WW II veterans as guests, each telling their story.  They both were raised in the area and both spoke German at home which made them very valuable in the war effort in Europe.  Garrison gave them all the time they needed to tell their story.  Local folks read special poems.  The Mayor of Avon was wonderful.  Garrison interviewed a Catholic Priest and a Lutheran Pastor.  The Guy Noir skit was done with only Garrison and Tom Keith doing the sound effects. We sang the National Anthem in the key of G.   It was estimated that 10,000 showed up with lawn chars and blankets on a beautiful sunny day.  A huge thank you to the folks that came forth with financial assistance to make this free event possible.   Bursch Travel  American Express,  St. John’s Abbey,  College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, Gold’n Plump Poultry, Fishers Club, Albany Chrysler and Mosquito Yard Guard.

The show this week is the first of the summertime series of compilation shows, a show in honor of Bastille Day, celebrated on July 14^th.  Special guests include tenor Raul Melo, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain.  Enjoy the show.

I will be driving to Bozeman, Montana next week, so there will not be a weekly note.  I will be visiting with Aunt Maggie and I am sure that many stories will be coming forth. 

“Don’t do drugs, do public radio”  Anonymous      

Category : General

Comments Off on July 10, 2009