Jan Too
Posted at 5:10 AM on January 2, 2009
by Dale Connelly
(35 Comments)
Please forgive me, but some bleak days there's not much to say, and nothing to offer but an SLP (Stupid Little Poem).
The months and their dates have an order that's clear.
And it matters a lot where they come in the year.
As prestigious addresses are typically reckoned
The saddest of all: January the second.
Not by its own failure is this date the worst
It just suffers by being too close to the First.
For Jan One is a star. It's the tops. It's the Queen.
While Jan Two is too common. And dull. A plebian.
At the first of the First come skyrockets galore.
And sports carry on through the day.
By the second the revelers have nothing more
to offer, and nothing to say.
Their beginnings begun, their clean slates all besmirched.
The exotic birds all have been plucked and re-perched.
The hors d'oeuvres and the cookies now given to Rover.
The host and the hostess no longer hung over.
But one more hurrah for the sad overlooked
Overshadowed and sometimes maligned
Insignificant dates that occur nonetheless,
Though they're never foremost in our mind.
Comments (35)
From where I sit I'd say your bar is too high Dale! There is nothing at all wrong with a "normal" day! I'd go so far as to say "normal" is GRAND! Our household has been leveled all week with an awful stomach flu and I am hopeful that today will be Day One toward health for us!
My recommendation would be: wash hands frequently, eat no more than you feel like or skip it if you don't want it. This flu is ripping through St. Paul and you really don't want it!
Ah, it's not so bleak, Dale. In a binary world of zeros and ones, two/too would not exist. But we live in a wonderful world of AND/ALSO! More choices, more chances! Why not play "I Shall Be Released"? Perhaps local Doug Maynard's version, or surprise us.
We listen to the new show every day now, Dale. We're ex-pats in Boston (13 yrs away from the TWin Cities now), former MPR members, and we've missed you very much. Glad to have you back!
It's a Friday. The day after the Rose Bowl parade. It's the second of the month. It's still very dark outside. And cold.
I'm ready for the sun to come up, but at this stage I'm not confident it will help a lot.
Some days are like that. It helps us recognize the more beautiful, more exciting days.
And it's a good chance to nap and read a good, escapist book by the fire. Or play a board game. While the family is still around. And with all the leftovers, meals are easier to prepare.
Now, just to haul in some more firewood. And listen to some good music (after I get back from my morning 3 mile walk).
A few lines from a poem by Philip Appleman, Open Doorways (W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.)
New Year's Resolution
Resolved: this year I'm going to break my losing streak, I'm going to stay alert, reach out, speak when not spoken to, read the minds of people in the streets. I'm going to practice every day, stay in training, and be moderate in all things. All things but love.
From M___ of western Minneapolis
Dale, By the end of the month we will get nearly an hour of our daylight back-truly worth celebrating yet rarely observed.
I was listening to RH yesterday and the song got stuck. Are listeners expected to be on alert and elbow someone when this happens. There's a lot of repetition in Chain of Love but this was silly.
Happy1-2!
Beth-Ann
Thanks for the song requests, Dale. I really like your new program. Now it's not just sitting in the car, waiting for a song or an MPR story to end. Now, it's sitting near the computer speakers, waiting to hear what song you will take us to next. That should be a challenge back at work next week! Wish you could replay all 3 hours of your show!
Well, here I am again in another glamorous hotel location (last time: Indianapolis; this time: Fitchburg, Mass), able to listen to Radio Heartland thanks to a real internet connection. When I clicked and arrowed my way to the site, Leonard met me, telling me about how those cracks in everything allow the light to come in. I wonder if we could somehow amend that theorem, to include sound? If there's a crack in everything allowing the SOUND to come in, then somehow, maybe, I could position the crack to be right above the bed, so that it could open up just at the right time to wake me.... (I know; the whining is getting tedious. Sorry.)
If you haven't played it lately, might you consider "The Mary Ellen Carter?" It seems like sort of a good Jan Too song, and it was my pick for the song of 2008. That song manages to evoke sadness at loss, anger at injustice, compassion for self and others, and hope for the future--all while singing about a boat. I'd like to write something that powerful some day.
I was feeling positive about this day until I read Dale's dismal poem. But then I felt better after reading Kathy's post because our family didn't have any flu this week. But then I felt sad again because I remembered how nice it felt to give my children care and comfort when they were ill and now they're all grown up and don't fit in my lap anymore. But then I felt better after reading what Ken said (in fact Dale's reading it all right now). But then I felt sad again when he spoke of taking his 3-mile walk because I had to put my dog down last fall and no longer have my walking mate. Dale, I'm begging you - please play Monty Python's Always Look On The Bright Side of Life or Art Garfunkle's version that doesn't contain that one offensive (to some folks) word.
Pathetically Yours,
Donna
I always look forward to this time of year. I like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve celebrations . . . but . . . by now I'm WORN OUT.
The "non-season" from now until Valentine's Day is a quiet time when there are few social obligations and I can spend some time alone and recover from all the hoo-haw that the holiday season brings. My credit card will have some time to cool off, too . . . .
Dale, forgive me for being self-indulgent...but having lost my mom last night (she passed at age 89), I just want to thank you this morning for songs like "Anthem", some of the gospel songs and Peter Mayer with "Gitchee Gummee". I'm finding them very peaceful and healing. Like others have been saying, just plain thanks for being there.
I suspect that we would all feel better if we heard a song about a more exotic location. Perhaps Easter Island? Perhaps a song about the local artifacts there? Perhaps a song that expresses longing of some sort?
Thank you/I'm sorry,
I found Dale's poem to be funny.
I wanted to suggest a wonderful local group: Mila Vocal Ensemble http://www.milavocalensemble.com/buy.html
If you've played them, I apologize for missing it.
Another suggestion is a section on listening / not listening. I think Greg has one about in ". . .in China". John Prine has a great one of being elsewhere when being upbraided and on the other end . . . actually listening (to a blithering drunk) Old Blevens by (?) Anyway, I thought a theme along this line would be fun . . . but please make it after 7 as the morning dark keeps me under the covers.
Thanks again Dale and Mike.
Aw, geez. Read the playlist before you make a request, Lisa. Sorry. (But obviously it was an inspired choice!)
Maybe along with the "jog the elbow of the disk [sic] jockey," there needs to be a companion function for listeners, prodding us to do our homework before we make willy nilly suggestions of songs to play.
I'll try to listen at 11. If I can figure out when that is, where I am.
Ground Hog's Day is only one month away! Plan your party now!
Dale, I've missed your show most mornings for the last 7 years because I've been at home with kids and the reception for the current isn't so great out here (or the kids are too loud to hear). Anyway, i got an HD radio for Christmas so I'm back and it's so good to hear your voice. I miss Jim Ed, though. and all the old characters. Anytime you want to resurrect them in some way, I'm all ears.
First of all - I love this show! I can listen all day now!
I wanted to reply to Lisa's comment on the "Mary Ellen Carter". I have a Keepers CD Whit this song on it and I have never been able to figure out why I listen to this song over and over. Lisa, you captured it perfectly and solved a mystery for me this morning!
well, the very positive thing i do today is take a nice, long look through my seed catalogs and do my orders for the 2009 gardens. we live on possibly the best potato growing land in the world :-) and this year the soil will be enriched by a thick layer of composted chicken and goat manure. FedCo MooseTubers catalog description of "Purple Viking" potatoes says you reap a crop of "lunkers" and i think this will be a record year -- lunker lunkers.
i always do the orders at this time - keeps me looking forward.
i like the song (forget the artist) that includes the line about plowing fields and leaving behind "straight, dark rows"
would it be possible to play that yet this morning? no pressure
thanks so much Dale and Mike - every morning is a pleasure
Good morning Dale!
I am impressed with your poem-writing ability even though it does indicate a rather negative viewpoint on your part. Could it have anything to do with the northern climate you are living in? I know I'm just so happy that you are still playing our music for us in 2009. Keep up the good work!
I love Jan 2 -- she's a pillow to rest on, a respite from all the bally-hoo of the previous weeks.
How about playing something from the Mills Brothers? That's a feel-good group!
My husband and I got married on January 2nd. Everyone was in town and got to avoid the worst of the holiday travel... and we got married in a theater, so that was a rare day when it was dark :)
Our wedding music included the overture to Candide and Ann Reed's first State Fair Song....among other Morning Show treats.
Good morning, Dale. Thanks for reading your poem on the air. It was so much better live than when I read it. It didn't sound too negative, just real.
You mentioned getting back to the old schedule on Monday and that will be the case in our household.
I have a request, I would like to hear Nina Simone sing "This Year's Kisses". I have it on a CD I keep in my car and my daughter and I love to belt it out when we are going down the road in places we don't live! It's back to college for her.
Have a Happy New Year.
Everybody have a great day. Thanks for all the great comments this morning - I love hearing all the heartfelt opinions of this crowd. "See" you all next week!
Sherrilee
Hey, Dale... today is my last official day of vacation. Monday I go back to teaching elementary music. I was so happy to hear Meredith Fierke on your show because I taught her to play the guitar when she was a little kid. You and the Ghost of Elvis inspire me to "rock on" as a teacher and musician.
Here is the poem I wrote on Jan 2, which has nothing to do with the date, really.
I have bought new under-wear
to wear under what, you ask
I say that does not matter
You should ask, rather
what over.
Barb - I think the song you want is Stan Rogers' "Field Behind the Plow." ("Watch the field behind the plow turn to straight dark rows. Put another season's promise in the ground.") It seems that whatever the need, there's a Stan Rogers song that fills it.
Dale - One of the moments from the LGMS I remember most took place a number of years ago. You played Stan's "45 Years", a song about his wife, and then played "All He Ever Saw Was You", written to Stan's widow by Kate Wolf following his early and senseless death. This was followed by Eric Bogle's "Dancing Kate," written after Kate left us far too soon. I was driving and had to pull off the road until I could once again see through my tears.
To Joel,
I love your poem. Are you married?
Dale - Just wanted to thank you for being here 24/7; I just can't get the right mix of stuff on Pandora! Looking forward to the new year with Radio Heartland on my computer.
Thanks for "The Mary Ellen Carter". Stan Rogers was (is) wonderful. If you haven't listened to Lock Keeper sung by John Gorka lately, please do. It remains my favorite Stan Rogers song.
Love your show. Miss Jim Ed Poole, but ... You guys introduced me to many people such as James Keelaghan's
Cold Missouri Waters. We now have all his CDs. Unfortunately, we find his earlier recordings much better than the remakes you are using.
Thanks to you and Jim Ed Poole, we went to a live concert of James Keelaghan. This was some years back and his voice had the drive it seems now to be missing. NET RESULT: Please keep playing him, but use his earlier recordings, They're much better.
We did, by the bye, contribute to your internt project.
Computer streaming is nice, but any chance Rochester MPR will have something easier in on-air?
Love your show. Miss Jim Ed Poole, but ... You guys introduced me to many people such as James Keelaghan's
Cold Missouri Waters. We now have all his CDs. Unfortunately, we find his earlier recordings much better than the remakes you are using.
Thanks to you and Jim Ed Poole, we went to a live concert of James Keelaghan. This was some years back and his voice had the drive it seems now to be missing. NET RESULT: Please keep playing him, but use his earlier recordings, They're much better.
We did, by the bye, contribute to your internt project.
Computer streaming is nice, but any chance Rochester MPR will have something easier in on-air?
Dale, How about "Deep Thought" for the name of the Radio Heartland computer? From "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" which was originally a RADIO DRAMA....
Greetings all:
I definitely second the motion to name the RH computer that plays great music while Dale and Mike are gone "DEEP THOUGHT." Hitchhiker's Guide was hysterical. Thanks for the suggestion, Holly!
Joanne
Hello! Just checking in on Jan 4...this blog is a few days old...but I have been enjoying Radio Heartland Friday Saturday and will enjoy today as I work at my computer...I just love it.
Thanks thanks and Happy New Year!
I guess I'm getting to this a couple of days late, but I like your poem about Jan 2 (and other overlooked, underrated, shall we say, filler dates of the calender). Did you write that?
The moon has been beautiful in the last few days, a bright crescent in the crisp winter sky.
I'm very much enjoying the music on Heartland. Have you ever played Madeleine Peyroux? Would love to hear some of her songs.
Holly, thanks for the reminder about Hitchhiker's Guide and Deep Thought. I think somewhere in our collection we have an lp copy of the first Hitchhiker's radio drama. It was (and still is) brilliant!
Jack, thanks for the endorsement from Rochester. At the moment there are no plans to extend Radio Heartland to HD channels around the region. I think making what we have as successful as possible will be a good argument to improve and expand, so don't hesitate to tell your friends about our online stream if you think they'll like it.
Michelle, thanks for having Radio Heartland on over the weekend. The blog typically takes a break on Saturday and Sunday, though I guess there is no such thing as a blogger holiday. I'm glad you like the programming. Do you think weekends would sound better if we could put some syndicated programs in the schedule?
Patti, thanks for the nice words about the poem. I am responsible for writing it but I think of my poetic urge as a burden rather than a gift. I will try to be judicious about sharing it. And I agree with you about Madeline Peyroux. She is terrific and we have her in the schedule. If HAL (the computer) doesn't play something of hers soon, I will.
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