KLQP Podcasts

RAYMO’S RAMBLINGS – BEST TIME OF THE YEAR

Autumn at Sleepy Hollow Farm, Vermont, USA

BEST TIME OF THE YEAR

This is my favorite time of the year. Why? Mostly because of the weather. I love the cool, crisp mornings and the color of the trees. With excitement I enjoyed the first snow fall. Fall high school sports are winding down and the section playoffs are underway . I’m looking forward to going down to the Twin Cities to cover the state high school tournaments. The excitement that surrounds these section tournaments is so much fun to be around.

The last week of October is the busiest time of the year for me. Section volleyball and football, along with state XC. Winners advance and losers leave the tournament and go home. For me, broadcasting a section championship is the best. The winning team goes on a trip to the state tournament and to watch the kids, parents, coaches, and fans celebrate at that moment of winning a section championship. It is so much fun.

It’s also harvest time for my farmer friends. I like watching the combines, tractors and trucks in the field this time of year. Sometimes I wish I was a farmer. To be your own boss and work the land.

When I was a hunter, I always looked forward to deer hunting and duck hunting. I’m not a hunter anymore, but when fall comes around I do get the urge once in a while to hunt. I have great memories of hunting with my family and friends, full of stories and laughs. I don’t really know why I quit hunting. Maybe I just lost interest or I guess life got real busy. I miss it.

Another reason this time of the year is my favorite is because I know winter is coming and winter is my favorite season. I love the beauty of the snow and the cold. I catch a lot of grief when I mention that winter is my favorite season. When people complain about winter I ask them why do you live in Minnesota? My grandma Myrna always loved winter. Growing up this is something we shared together.

Before winter comes, Thanksgiving arrives. This is by far my favorite holiday. To me, Thanksgiving is all about thanking God for all the blessings he has given me, like family, friends, living in this country, health, food etc. Thanksgiving means family time.

So when the temperature this time of the year drops, I think of all these things. That’s why it’s my favorite time of the year

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Posted: October 18, 2017
Under: Raymo's Ramblings

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RAYMO’S RAMBLINGS – MY HOUSE

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MY HOUSE

The other night I was sitting in my comfortable recliner watching television. I looked around the living room and started thinking about how much I really enjoy the house we have lived in for about 40 years. It looks and feels homey. Our house has a lot of character, and is very relaxing. We have always loved our neighborhood on fourth Avenue in Madison.

In the confines of these walls, we have raised four children and created a family environment. Many holidays have been celebrated in those 40 years. We have cried, laughed, fought, loved, and done life in this house.

Roxie and I bought our home from the Herians in 1978, when we were 20 years old. The family had not even put the house up for sale before we bought it. Roxie’s sister Kathy and brother-in-law Larry were living next door at the time. The Herians had told Kathy they were going to put the house up for sale, and told us about the Herians’ home. Roxie and I had a meeting with Kathy and Larry. The subject was about living next to each other, and if it would work out okay. We bought the house. They have been the best neighbors ever!

We moved into the house on June 30^th 1978, it was our oldest son’s first birthday. So, after family and friends helped us move in, we celebrated Josh’s first birthday on our new patio in the backyard in the 100-degree heat! That’s what I remember most about that day.

The house is small. How we raised four kids in this house is beyond me. The house is very small for a family of six to live in, but we made it work. It’s an old house, built in the 1920’s. We have made many changes over 40 years. We have knocked out walls, removed paneling, painted, new flooring, carpeted, replaced all the windows, rearranged a number of rooms, and gutted the basement, pouring a new concrete floor. Outside we shingled, sided the house, planted trees and removed bushes. And added a double garage. Many improvements over a 40-year span.

Now that both of us are getting older, we know a time is coming when we may need to leave this house and move into an apartment or senior center. That will be a sad day. Hopefully we can finish our days out in this house.

I need to give credit to my wife. She has really done a nice job making this house into a home. It’s a nice place to be. It’s a safe place to be. It’s a comfortable place to be. It’s our home and we like it.

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Posted: October 15, 2017
Under: Raymo's Ramblings

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RAYMO’S RAMBLINGS – CANCER DOES SUCK

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CANCER DOES SUCK

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I don’t know or how this started, but high school volleyball teams have really made an impact in bringing awareness to breast cancer. The team wears pink, holds fundraisers at volleyball matches, encourages women to get mammograms, and helps support the women and families that are battling breast cancer.

Tuesday the Dawson/Boyd and LQPV girls’ volleyball teams, combined their efforts and raised $1600 for the local LQP Hope Network. The LQP Hope Network will share the money with LQP County families who are fighting cancer and struggle to pay the bills.

This year, cancer takes on a new meaning for me. A couple weeks ago, my daughter in law, Jenny, found out that she has breast cancer. She will start chemo soon. This has devastated our family. I have watched friends and family members that I love battle cancer before, but never someone in my immediate family.

Now I get pretty emotional and pay more attention to the cancer events at these volleyball matches these past few weeks. I wear pink and donate with a new perspective. Cancer sucks. Lots of emotions run through you when you receive the terrible news. Anger, shock, sadness, worry and helplessness. It sucks, I don’t know how else to say it. I think about Jen and pray for her every day!

Many of my friends and family members have gone through what Jen is experiencing. Jen is a fighter, she is one of the strongest women I have ever met. She’s a military girl so you know she’s tough, but she needs help while going through this. Her husband, her kids, and her family will support her during this tough time. She will beat this.

In conclusion, I’ve never felt so connected to the ‘DIG PINK’ nights at those volleyball matches like I have the last few weeks. I pray that research can soon find a cure for this terrible disease. So, I congratulate all the area volleyball teams for what they are doing this October, bringing awareness, and raising money during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thank you!

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Posted: October 11, 2017
Under: Raymo's Ramblings