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On The Road Again
Posted at 5:33 AM on December 23, 2008
by Dale Connelly
(31 Comments)
Our little Radio Heartland community has, or is in the process of, dispersing to far flung places, leaving behind empty desks where rootsy, washboard-to-fretboardy streams of eclectic music pour unheard into the office trashcan. Or so I fear.
Where have you gone or where do you intend to land for the holidays?
And how do you plan to get there?
Any interesting travel experiences?
Snow is making our Tuesday morning in the Twin Cities a delightful communal commuting experience. I got a lot of personal enjoyment from my trip to work this morning, both because I had work to make a trip to, and because of the sudden, festive thrill one always gets from the sight of a speeding propane tanker whizzing by on the snow covered road, mere inches away from one's own rear view mirror.
A person who has this week of (with pay) is a happy person indeed, though anyone hoping to leave town today may have a different experience than the one they imagined.
And the children! How horrible to waste a good storm on a day you already have off.
And then to spend so many unhappy hours in the car, struggling to get to a place you're not sure you want to be.
This led me to re-write the lyrics to a well known seasonal ditty about a Good King, just in case there's a teenager slumped in the back seat of the family car this morning, staring out a frosted window, trying not to listen to the cheerful chatter of parents and siblings while nursing a steaming cup of holiday resentment.
Ashley Wenceslas looked out
As the car was leavin'.
"We'll be late, I have no doubt.
If we get there, even."
"There's a snowstorm underway
Hazardous and cruel
Had it come some other day
They'd have cancelled schoooOOOOO-el."
"As it is it matters not.
Gotta go to gramma's.
To get hugged and pinched a lot.
Opening pajamas."
"Gramma's gift for two years straight
Not to say I'm bitter.
She must buy them by the crate
Just like kitty liiiiiiIIIIIIIIter."
Got any other verses? Post them below!
Comments (31)
we're listening
but i don't want to turn off the stream in order to compose anything - can't miss that music and your comments. but thanks for the laughs
This is great! Thanks for sharing Dale.
Good Morning,
Have you played already, or if not, would you please play that funny version of 12 days of Christmas...the one in which the narrator sends "thank you letters" to the gifts giver. Do you know which one I mean?
Thanks, Cynthia
The day after Christmas I'm flying to my parents' in Florida from St Paul Int'l to Tampa by way of Atlanta.....where I hear they routinely lose baggage...my clothes are already in Florida, I've shipped them down! I'll be carrying my laptop, a blanket and pillow so I'll be all set for delays..I can catch up on the Dale Connelly Show.
Here's a verse that came to mind quickly:
I don't know what I love most
The hugs or gifts or eating
Imagine just a week from now
I'll be home just reading
Love your show and RH in general. Just need to find an HD radio add-on for my car now. Thanks.
Oh ny heavens, can I relate to that Howard Peterson song. When I moved here to Nashville and changed my cell number locally, I got calls from people looking for a hospital every day for a solid year until I finally had to contact the hospital and tell them to update their records. When I was still in St. Paul, I also got numerous calls for a minister who must have had my number previously.
Glad I'm not the only one who had that experience!
I'll have you know I fully blame you for the toe-pain I have this morning, due to rigorous toe-tapping during yesterday's "500 robots in my house."
Hi, Dale - I'm finally listening. : - )
I'm at home this morning, so here is an opportunity to hear your new gig.
Speakers are a little tinny on my laptop, but it's you all right!
Hey! At the end of Oklahoma - I was startled! - thought Cap'n Billy was coming!
So do you have help or are you there by yourself?
Do you still have that quirky harmonica band playing Jingle Bells? Do you still have Simon the dog? Oh, never ming about that one - I have it!
: - )
Anyway, good to hear you!
Jolly good!
And Have a great Holiday Season!
Your friend,
Ann
Twelve Days of Chistmas -- letters version! YES!!
The King's Singers were recently in Rochester and they did that version; we about split our guts laughing!
Merry Christmas, Dale and fellow listeners!
i'm one of those lucky week-off-with-pay people---and filled with gratitude! the only bad thing is i haven't sprung for a HD radio yet, so with my low-tech dial-up here at home, no RH, no Dale....but i can still get on the blog :-)
planning to drive through the storm down to Sioux Falls today--where my sister CAN get RH....so that will make the family thing a bit better.
we agreed on no presents this year, unless donations to charity in honor of each other--so we'll be making lefse, decorating a kransekake, watching the movie Joyeux Noel (WWI xmas ceasefire), and playing games together in front of the fire....
assuming we all make it through the snow, that is!
i'm just working on getting up the gumption to get in the car and start the ordeal.
kay
"When I get to grandma's house
I will play with cousins
We'll eat sweets, romp around
and open presents by the dozens"
Holiday Greetings to all!
Dale, thanks for continuing the tradition of The Morning Show. I'm really enjoying the community that has quickly grown up around Radio Heartland.
Thanks for extending the show to three hours, but I would love it if all three hours were repeated in the afternoon. I often listen at work to what I missed in the morning (I don't have an HD radio in my car, yet!).
I would love to hear something by Tonic Sol-Fa since I missed their Christmas concert at Orchestra Hall last week.
Thanks again, and keep up the good work and good music!
OK, here's a verse expanding on Ashley's lament from Dale:
"It wouldn't be so bad
To get pajamas yearly
Footies on PJ don't make me sad
But Sponge Bob?!? Oh my dear-y!"
Good Morning all:
I just got back from a trip to my family gathering in Green Bay, WI. Luckily, we timed everything perfectly. We drove there Friday afternoon and returned yesterday and had clear roads both ways. Just before and in between the snows!
My son in the Marines flew into Milwaukee Friday evening where my sister picked him up and brought him to GB on Saturday for the celebration. His flights were delayed, but still made it in good time. We had a wonderful time of eating, drinking, sharing and laughing.
I'm just so thankful to have my oldest son home for a few days and just cocoon in at home with other two boys as well. I work part-time so I can be around home for a while, but I work this weekend. It will be a slim Christmas for the kids, but I'm grateful we're all home together.
I hope you all have easy travels and wonderful holidays.
Your friend, Joanne
My mom and I wrote some lyrics (there's nothing in our coffee right now)... Apologies for the inconsistent rhyme scheme:
Brandy in my coff-ee
Brandy in my egg nog,
Careful, don’t make mom’s too strong
She’ll stumble ‘round the yule log
It’s unusual to drink like this
But Uncle Ellis likes to kiss
“Eeew!” we want to scream out loud,
But pour one more, make Captain Billy proud
PS, Uncle Ellis has passed on, so we're having a very austere holiday. We're also wondering if it's too late to request some David Bowie and Bing Crosby doing "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth"?
My mom and I wrote some lyrics (there's nothing in our coffee right now)... Apologies for the inconsistent rhyme scheme:
Brandy in my coff-ee
Brandy in my egg nog,
Careful, don’t make mom’s too strong
She’ll stumble ‘round the yule log
It’s unusual to drink like this
But Uncle Ellis likes to kiss
“Eeew!” we want to scream out loud,
But pour one more, make Captain Billy proud
PS, Uncle Ellis has passed on, so we're having a very austere holiday. We're also wondering if it's too late to request some David Bowie and Bing Crosby doing "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth"?
Thank you, thank you, thank you! for the Good King Wenceslas version by Loreena McKennit! It's my favorite carol and I never hear it on those radio stations (listen in my car) that supposedly play every single possible Christmas song between Halloween and Christmas Day!
Maybe I'll buy her CD, I don't have it on disc anywhere. . .
Thanks again for the great show as always,
susie
PS Can you listen to RH Morning Show archives? Where? How? I missed Jim Ed's visit and would love to catch up, but don't seem savvy enough to find it on my own. . .
Thanks, Dale and Mike, for the music from Finland. Hope you can keep up the variety of roots music in this way. I enjoyed the visions produced by the 12 letters -- not too long for once in a season. And, thanks for sliding in this morning... do be careful.
(With editorial help from my 15-year-old son, as I drove him to school this morning)
Cell phone signal will be weak
When we leave the city.
Prospects for the coming week
Really don't look pretty.
I'll miss all the latest news.
How can I text Heather?
Do my parents even care?
No, they don't! WhateeeeEEEEver....
THANKS so much for Otis Redding today! A very nice antidote to my panic seeing the December 23!!! date on the blog . . .
Signed: Housekeeping-impaired listener; One refrigerator down whole house to go!
The dogs haven’t written their almost-annual Christmas letter, but when they do, they may include the following account of a conversation I had w a neighbor at a recent holiday party.
Me: You mentioned singing with a local Gilbert & Sullivan group.
Neighbor: Yes; it’s very light opera.
Me: Virulent opera?
Neighbor: That sounds good. I’ll take that!
Me: Did P.G. Wodehouse write lyrics for some of the Gilbert & Sullivan operas?
Neighbor: I’m not familiar with P.G.A. Wodehouse.
Cheerio, and thank you Dale, Mike, guests, MPR, & listeners for the gift of a Christmas Day program!
The dogs haven’t yet written their almost-annual Christmas letter, but when they do, they may include this account of a conversation I had at a recent party in the neighborhood.
Sue: You mentioned you used to sing with a local Gilbert and Sullivan group.
Neighbor: Yes, it’s very light opera.
Sue: Virulent opera?
Neighbor: Yes, that too. I like that.
Sue: Did P.G. Wodehouse write lyrics for some of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas?
Neighbor: I’m not familiar with P.G.A. Wodehouse.
Cheerio, and thank you Dale, Mike, guests, MPR, & listeners for the gift of a broadcast on Christmas morning!
Pardon me! I didn’t intend to send my email twice. I didn’t see the 1st post because I forgot to refresh the blog—or something like that. I’m all hot and blushing to be making such a mistake—and so publicly! 8-(
Thanks for playing Peter Mayer; I would like to hear either Peppermint Wind or Angel in the Snow. I think they're good winter songs! Love the show and maybe the snow?
Just discovered you through Prairie Home Companion online. Love it!!
Snowing today off and on in New Mexico. Nothing like high desert weather after decades in California. But my origins are UP Michigan.
Contributions forthcoming after January- you know all maxed out for the holidays slim as it is.
Hello Dale,
We enjoyed an early Christmas family trip to Minneapolis to visit my parents, sister and her family including the 8 year old Heidi who stood in line with my sister Nancy for your last show (thank you for acknowledging her with the sleigh song). Now we are back in Hancock, Mich our sweet home and able to hear you on line. We have been without the Morning Show for a long time here, so this is a wonderful chance to continue our online listening tradition. Many many thanks to you and all those who had the vision to keep your fabulous programming flowing. Here's an addition to your versifying today and a hint at our favorite way to listen.
Good Dale Connelly's still here!
We are truly grateful!
Grab your partner, have no fear,
You'll enjoy a plateful!
Waltzes, fox trots, schotiches
We dance every morning
In the kitchen 'round the chairs
Sometimes without waaaaarning!
Many many thanks and here's hoping for a Christmas morning waltz or two.
Phyllis in Hancock
And What happened to Vic Tedesco on your show?? he is a St. Paul native who's been playing here for 50 years. It'd be a great tie-in to Tony Bennett. Best accordion music outside of Milwaukee...I don't recall his music played on your show, or have I listened closely enough?
I was trying to come up with more ideas for a vocal interlude in the afternoon. So I have several ideas
1. how about a classic bit from the morning show?
2. how about some sort of contest? The prize could be getting your request/dedication on radio heartland.
I have no idea what a good contest would be. Some sort of song soduko maybe? Dale plays three songs and the listeners have to figure out what the fourth song would be. Heck Dale could even cheat and just pick three songs at random, and listeners will find some connection!
All winners can be randomly selected by HAL (to ensure fair and impartial judging :-) HAL is fair and impartial right?
I love this service. I am a member of MPR, and The Morning Show was always one of my motivations for sending in my membership. I'm making an additional donation, but I want to make sure that Radio Heartland gets the credit. Is there anyway to make sure our donations trickle on down to where we want them to go?
Dale:
I hear on the radio that you'll be working on Christmas morning, along with a bunch of great guests. Even though I haven't quite figured out how to get Radio Heartland into my living room and kitchen, I did order an Airport Express, which should arrive in time for my adult children to set up.
Thank you for all the holidays you've been down at the station, playing great music for us, cheering us up, making us laugh. I was always surprised to hear The Morning Show on the air on Christmas and Thanksgiving and every other holiday that fell on a weekday. Most radio people would have gotten a sub for that day, but no, you and Jim Ed were there, having gotten up at the crack of dawn -- again-- just to delight us.
Thank you for all the years of dedication to your audience. Thank you for being there this Thursday. I sure hope I can listen while I'm having coffee and watching the socks and tea and candles be unwrapped.
Dale,
Merry Christmas Eve!
Is there a recording of the Who carol from the cartoon version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas'? If so, it would be fun to hear them welcome Christmas.
Thanks for being the gold in the toe of stocking for so many of us!
Beth-Ann
Related Programs
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