July 21st, 2017 by Gary Osberg
“We’re having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave.” I don’t remember the name of the singer, but I heard this song a lot when I was young. Last week we were at `The Cabin on Amelia’. We checked in on Sunday at 4 and checked out on the next Sunday at 11am. My niece and her husband live in Phoenix and they purchased the cabin, which is only 5 miles from Glenwood, so that they would have a place to get away from the 110 degree temps in Arizona. They decided to rent it to others on a weekly basis when they were not using it. The cabin has 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms plus a great room with `state of the art’ entertainment in case it rains. The beach toys include two kayaks, a canoe, a paddle boat and two paddle boards. It was perfect for Barby and her 10 grandchildren. I even had time to read a book. You can find the details on Facebook, by searching for “The Cabin on Amelia”.
The APHC show this week is a rebroadcast of a show from just a few months ago, in May, from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Josh Ritter sings “Getting Ready to Get Down” and “Oh Lord (Part Three)”. Jon Batiste performs “New Orleans Blues” and “What a Wonderful World” and Emma Willmann shares a few stories about Maine, roommates, and New York City. Plus Chris Thile debuts “Comey’s Waltz”. Pekka Kuusisto and Eric Jacobsen stop by to play a little Bach, and there will be a word from APHC sponsor Gutenberg Pressed Juice.
“I wish to live because life has with it that which is good, that which is beautiful, and that which is love.” Lorraine Hansberry
July 7th, 2017 by Gary Osberg
Tomorrow is the 32nd annual Hagstrom/Osberg Golf Open. This year we are going to be at the Island Pine Golf Club in Atwater, Minnesota. www.islandpinegolf.com My cousin John Hagstrom’s son Josh is the General Manager. His grandmother was my mother’s sister, Leone, Auntie to me. Auntie married Duane Hagstrom, owner of Hagstrom Chevrolet in Upsala, Minnesota. Between the two sisters there are 10 of us. Auntie’s youngest, Kevin, is a very good golfer and for many years he and I won this best ball event every year. For that reason, we named our team ‘Ming’. After all we were a dynasty. Not so much anymore.
There was a time when you had to use at least one drive and one putt for each of the team members. Now there are no such rules. There is a traveling trophy with the names of each year’s winning team engraved on a brass plate. Kevin and I are due. It has been a while. After golf we will gather at John and Carla’s house for a picnic and the award ceremony. We are fortunate to have a number of traditions in our family. I trust that your Fourth of July Celebration was a safe one.
The APHC show this week is a rebroadcast a show from November 2016 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver, Colorado. Trey Anastasio plays “Brian and Robert” and “Water in the Sky,” The Staves sing “Sadness Don’t Own Me” and “Hopeless,” and Tig Notaro discusses what it’s like to be a comedian. Plus: Chris Thile debuts “The Elephant in the Room” and leads the band on Radiohead’s “True Love Waits”. Other highlights include a word from a new sponsor, Container Pants; and a look at some of the alternative choices available at your local animal shelter. Enjoy the show on your radio or mobile device.
“Day after day, we discover our own lives. Because we never know what we will find, every discovery is an unexpected gift we give to ourselves.” Barbara J. Esbensen
June 30th, 2017 by Gary Osberg
“Put your John Hancock here.” Next week these `United States of America’ will celebrate a 241st birthday. Fifty six men, members of the Second Continental Congress, signed `The Declaration of Independence’ on July 4, 1776. The largest signature on the `unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America’ was that of John Hancock. Hence the idea that “your John Hancock” means your signature.
The final paragraph of The Declaration of Independence reads: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” A signed copy is displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. May we all pledge to do the same this coming Tuesday as we celebrate “Independence Day”.
The APHC show this week is a rebroadcast of a show originally recorded last November from The Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jason Isbell sings “24 Frames” and “Speed Trap Town,” Angélique Kidjo performs “Kulumbu” and “Orisha,” The Dover Quartet plays Barber’s Adagio for Strings. Billy Collins reads his poems “After the Funeral” and “Cheerios.” Plus: Chris Thile and the band with the Song of the Week, “I Made This for You,” Stuart Duncan and Chris Eldridge lead a medley of fiddle tunes. Also, there will be messages from sponsors, Offerman’s Noise-Canceling Headphones and the American Duct Tape Council. Tune in on your radio or smart phone.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Thomas Jefferson.
June 23rd, 2017 by Gary Osberg
The three Osberg Fishing Tournament team members each caught fish last Saturday at the Camp Confidence Classic on Gull Lake. We went to the same `hot spot’ as last year, but this year Rock Bass was not allowed for the `mixed bag’ category and we could not catch a walleye. It is very likely that had we been able to catch a walleye, we would have placed. We ended up turning in 3 largemouth bass, but their total weight was less than 6 pounds.
The highlight for Papa Gary was seeing Walleye Willie, age 8, featured by the Camp Confidence’s Jeff Olson in a side bet. This is Willie’s second tournament and he did win the side bet. The prize was Jeff Olson’s favorite fishing cap. We have now decided that this is a “must attend” event. Tradition is big in the Osberg family.
The APHC show this week is a October 2016 rebroadcast from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul. Esperanza Spalding performs “Unconditional Love” and “Good Lava,” Dawes lends a bit of California sunshine to a Minnesota autumn with “Roll with the Punches” and “When the Tequila Runs Out,” and Aparna Nancherla talks life in New York City. Plus: Chris Thile debuts a Halloween number, “The Dark Half of the Year,” and joins Julian Lage on “Gardens”; Gaby Moreno performs “Illusion”; and messages from APHC sponsors, the Catchup Advisory Board and the American Duct Tape Council. Enjoy the show on your radio or your iPhone ap.
“Learn to get in touch with silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose.” Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
June 16th, 2017 by Gary Osberg
A great time was had by all. My son and grandson, Walleye Willie, showed me how to fish under a full moon. We were out there until 11pm on Saturday night. We trolled with plugs and we managed to bring 5 walleye home in the live well. We are going back to Holly’s Resort next year for sure. What a blessing to have four brothers to share this tradition with. The only near tragedy came from a runaway dog that ate a big portion of the Rhubarb cake that Jean Marie had baked. The eight Osberg men range in age from 8 to 73. Picture attached.
Erik, Willie and I have signed up for the 34th annual Nick Adams Fishing Classic on Gull Lake tomorrow. Last year we placed third in the mixed bag category. This is a fund raiser for the Confidence Learning Center. You can still get in on the fun by going to www.campconfidence.com
The APHC show this week is a look back to October 2016 and the second broadcast of that season, from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats turn things up with “Wasting Time” and “Parlour,” Anaïs Mitchell performs “Now You Know” and “Clyde Waters,” and John Hodgman shares a few stories about beards and septic systems. Plus: Chris Thile and the band play “I Blew it Off”; and the Acting Company shares a word from the new sponsor, the Super Monster Mulching Mower. Chris and John Hodgman square off in a Star Wars trivia contest. Tune in on the radio or online.
“Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.” Thomas a Kempis
May 26th, 2017 by Gary Osberg
When I was a youngster in Upsala, we always had a Memorial Day service in the school gym, 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, the `Upsala First Responders’ 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.
You can help to raise funds for the Veterans Educational Historic Monument art project by going to www.vetsart.org The Army, Navy and Coast Guard paintings are hanging in the Committal Hall of the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls. Funds are needed to complete the Marine Corps and the Air Force paintings. The Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery Memorial Day service will be Sunday starting with The Richfield Symphonic Band at 1:30 pm followed by the program at 2 pm. The speaker is CSM (Retired) James Kampsen, Command Sergeant Major, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade.
Here is the Vets Art PSA. https://youtu.be/gcOEvxkesZw
The APHC this week is looking back to January 2016 with a rebroadcast from a show performed at the Fitzgerald Theater. Ben Folds sings “Capable of Anything” and “Not a Fan,” and teams up with Chris for “Army”; Ed Helms stopped by as a member of the APHC acting company and tried his hand at a little storytelling. Brandi Carlile performed “The Eye” and led everyone on “Lovesick Blues” to close out the proceedings. Plus: tunes from Chris and his fellow Punch Brothers, along with friend Sarah Jarosz; scripts from the Royal Academy of Radio Actors, Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Fred Newman; and a few reminders that in Minnesota, even as summer nears, winter is always on the horizon.
“Moral courage, the courage of one’s convictions, the courage to see things through the eyes of the world, is in constant conspiracy against the brave. It is the age old struggle – the roar of the crowd on one side and voice of the conscience on the other.” General Douglas MacArthur
May 19th, 2017 by Gary Osberg
Toe rings may have to wait for a while. Last Saturday it was 80 degrees. Tomorrow it will be in the mid 40s. For the fishing opener, my grandson Walleye Willie, went to Lake Mille Lacs with his dad and a couple of other guys. They caught over 20 walleyes and Willie landed his personal best, a 25 ½ incher. Picture attached. If you go to Mille Lacs, check out Appeldoorns Sunset Bay Resort.
50 years of broadcasting public radio in Minnesota started with 90.1 KSJR from here in our studio on the third floor of Wimmer Hall. In case you missed it, here is a story done by our very own Cathy Wurzer on the TPT Almanac broadcast May 5th. http://www.tpt.org/almanac/episode/the-early-days-of-mpr-in-collegeville/
The APHC show this week is the second of our two bonus May live broadcasts from our home base in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the Fitzgerald Theater. Joining Chris are musical guests Jim James and Aimee Mann, and comedian Hari Kondabolu. Host, Chris Thile, has a brand-new Song of the Week; our friend Sara Watkins joins as Chris’s duet partner for the first time this season, and she’ll also add a little fiddle to the band, along with Jerry Douglas on Dobro, music director and pianist Rich Dworsky, guitarist Chris Eldridge, Alan Hampton on bass, and drummer Ted Poor; the Royal Academy of Radio Actors, Serena Brook, Tim Russell, and Fred Newman, will amaze and astound on scripts and sounds effects; and they will celebrate a few musician birthdays. Tune in on your local public radio station or watch live (Saturday, 5pm-7pm Central Time) at prairiehome.org!
The Chamber Music Society of St. Cloud presents the Carpe Diem String Quartet tomorrow evening at Atonement Lutheran. www.chambermusicstcloud.org
“Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.” Robert Louis Stevenson.
May 4th, 2017 by Gary Osberg
I am planning on planting Yukon Golds tomorrow, so this is going out early. The author Richard Ford was a guest on “Fresh Air” hosted by Terry Gross this week. He has written a memoir about his parents titled “Between Them”. He was born in 1943, fifteen years into his parent’s marriage and as an only child, he always thought that he had come between them. His father died when Richard was young and his mother died a few years ago. It reminded me of my Dad and this story that I wrote shortly after he died.
“Clearing out Dad’s room has been quite the experience. Many years ago Dad went to work as a dishwasher at Little Sisters of the Poor in St. Paul. His boss was Maxine Rowan and they became good friends. When Maxine died, Dad asked me to sing two songs at her memorial service. I sang The Lord’s Prayer and Amazing grace a Capella.
One of the pieces of furniture that Dad brought with him when he moved in with me was a glass front corner unit with glass shelves. One of the items on a shelf was an egg with silver decorations on the top and a seam around the middle. I was thinking that it had a doll inside of it, but when I tried to lift the top part off, it would not easily come apart. I took it into the kitchen and using a table knife, I pried it open. What I found was ashes! “Oh my God, it was Maxine”. I spilled a little in my haste to replace the top and quickly returned it to its place in the curio. A few years later I dug a hole next to Dad’s headstone and buried it there.”
The APHC this week is a rebroadcast of the season finale in Saint Paul, Minnesota with The Avett Brothers, Jesca Hoop, and Jen Kirkman. Tune in this weekend on your local public radio station. Chris and the gang will be back at The Fitzgerald Theatre with a brand-new live broadcast next Saturday!
More from this Episode
“Find expression for sorrow and it will become dear to you. Find expression for a joy and it will intensify its ecstasy.” Oscar Wilde
April 28th, 2017 by Gary Osberg
Another event filled week at Collegeville, as we continue to celebrate 50 years of broadcasting. Tuesday was MPR Day all day long at St. John’s ending with Garrison Keillor’s Gratitude Tour show at Escher Auditorium on the campus of the College of St. Benedict. Cathy Wurzer did an awesome job broadcasting from Brother Willie’s Pub in Sexton Commons. There were archival clips from MPR’s early days and interviews with folks who helped to make MPR great. Alison Young hosted Classical MPR from 10 until 1 PM and The Current’s Host Jill Riley was on the air from Brother Willie’s in the afternoon.
Garrison was on stage at the Escher Auditorium for almost two hours. He entertained a sold out house with stories, starting with the farm house in Freeport where he spent many hours in the upstairs bedroom with an Underwood typewriter trying to craft a story worthy of The New Yorker. He had made a trip to Freeport that day to Charlie’s Café to visit with the folks that inspired his News From Lake Wobegon. The sing-a-long was my favorite part. He even had us sing `Silent Night’, the one song for which I know the bass part well enough to feel like a real Lutheran Choir Member.
The next evening “Bring the Sing” filled the Abbey Church with a blend of voices from all over central Minnesota. G. Philip Shoultz III , who directs VocalEssence, was able to conduct a group of several hundred men and women, most of whom had never sung together before. Choirs from SJU and CSB, along with a chamber orchestra directed by Axel Theimer, and The Saint John’s Boys Choir were part of the performance. Michael Barone, the creator of “Pipe Dreams”, introduced St. John’s organist Kim Kasling. Michael Barone started working for MPR, here in Wimmer Hall, on August 20, 1968. Someday you will be able to listen to this great music online or on your smart phone at www.classicalmpr.org/choral I will be sharing the date and time thru this Friday note when it becomes available.
The APHC show this week is a February 2017 rebroadcast from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Lucius sings “My Heart Got Caught on Your Sleeve” and “How Loud Your Heart Gets”; Brad Mehldau teams up with Chris Thile for “Scarlet Town” and “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” and he demonstrates a bit of piano improvisation; Tom Papa ponders the news, life as an adult, children, and marriage. Plus: Chris’s Song of the Week, “Valentine’s Day for Parents of Small Children,” and messages from SCAT-3000 — a smart car calibrated for Minnesota drivers — and the Catchup Advisory Board.
Those who live here in central Minnesota will be able to enjoy more choral music this weekend. Minnesota Center Chorale is performing “Oye la Musica” at First Methodist Church in Sartell Saturday evening at 7 and The Great River Chorale is presenting “A Mosaic of Gifts” at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud this Sunday afternoon at 4.
“Run a moist pen slick through everything and start afresh.” Charles Dickens.
April 21st, 2017 by Gary Osberg
What a week! Minnesota Public Radio is celebrating 50 years of broadcasting all year long. On Monday, Bill Kling, Gary Eichten and Cathy Wurzer were in our studio to film a segment for tonight’s Almanac show on TPT. Almanac airs at 7pm. It was great fun listening to Bill and Gary reminisce about the first year and the start of what was to become the largest network of public radio stations in the world. The story about some guy strapping a grand piano on his back and carrying it up 3 flights of stairs was worth the price of admission alone. I am not sure when they removed the piano.
On Tuesday of next week, Cathy will be in Brother Willie’s Pub at 6 am broadcasting Morning Edition live until 9. Alison Young will broadcast Classical MPR from 10 am until 1 pm. `The Current’ host Jill Riley will be on the air from 3 until 6 pm with a live performance by Communist Daughter during the 5 o’clock hour. It will be MPR Day all day long on St. John’s campus, with studio tours from 11 until 2:30. Garrison Keillor’s “The Gratitude Tour”, sponsored by Eye Associates of Central Minnesota, will be performed live from Escher Auditorium at College of Saint Benedict at 7 pm. Details are at www.mpr50.0rg
The next day “Bring the Sing”, a free community choral event, takes place in the Abbey Church from 5 to 8 pm. All three SJU and CSB choirs will participate. G. Phillip Schoultz from VocalEssence will conduct.
The APHC show this week is a look back to February and the broadcast from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Amos Lee sings “One Lonely Light” and “A Change is Gonna Come”; Jenny Lewis performs “Just One of the Guys” and “Heads Gonna Roll”; and Nate Bargatze shares a few thoughts about dog medicine, time travel, and friendship. Plus: host Chris Thile will perform his Song of the Week, “Falsetto”; Noam Pikelny joins Chris to play “Waveland”; the story of country music legend Buddy Lee Bedford; and a message from show sponsor Le Poulet Chaud Café.
“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind and the third is to be kind.” Henry James.
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