RAYMO’S RAMBLINGS – CHRISTMAS, LIGHTS, DECORATING, MUSIC & MOVIES

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CHRISTMAS, LIGHTS, DECORATING, MUSIC & MOVIES

Some people go hog wild putting Christmas lights up. Outside their home, inside their home, on garages, barns, trees, just about anywhere. Of course, when I think about Christmas lights on homes, I always think of Chevy Chase’s house in the movie Christmas Vacation! Now that was awesome!  Realistically that would be a lot of work to do.

 In previous years we have put lights on the outside of our house. Not this year, we were too tired. That is our excuse. The weather has been fantastic for putting up outdoor lights, but my wife and I have no ambition to do so. I think we are turning into Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis in Christmas with the Kranks. We finally put up our tree last Sunday and found it to be quite a chore

Actually, putting the Christmas tree up in your home should be a festive event. It should look like a scene from a Hallmark movie with Christmas music playing, people sipping hot chocolate, and everyone enjoying the moment. That didn’t happen! Lights were tangled, the tree stand broke, and we argued over the lights. She wanted white lights, I wanted blue lights. I thought we had enough lights on the tree, but she said we needed more.  It was a fun afternoon. That is how our marriage works, we disagree and still have fun and enjoy each others company. It’s weird I know. Top it all off my hot chocolate wasn’t hot anymore. Merry Christmas

Before I am accused of being a Grinch, I will say I do really enjoy most Christmas movies. Christmas Vacation is my favorite. I can watch that movie over and over again and laugh every time. The characters are funny. The story is great, and one of the best characters in any movie ever is cousin Eddie. Randy Quaid plays that part very well. His quotes in the movie are spectacular, “You serious Clark,” “If you scratch his belly Clark, he will love you till the day you die,” “You glad to see us Clark?”

Other Christmas movies that I enjoy. It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, and Elf. Yes, I do enjoy Elf because I am a big fan of Will Ferrel. I don’t care for Miracle on 34th Street. Home Alone is ok.

As for Christmas music, I can listen to a few songs, but not all day long! Some radio stations play just Christmas music in December. I want my regular oldies songs. I get teased for not liking Christmas music. Does anyone else feel this way? Now when I say Christmas music I’m not talking about the old church hymns, but songs like I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus or Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. It feels good to get this off my chest. I feel better now.

I know I sound like a big Scrooge, but I am just not into the Christmas spirit yet. Maybe we need some snow on the ground. I guess I need to focus on the real reason we celebrate Christmas. I know that will get me excited about the season. It always does. Focus your thoughts on Jesus this holiday season and things will be just fine. He is the reason for the season.

Posted: December 2, 2017
Under: Raymo's Ramblings
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KAYLA DANIELS INTERVIEW

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KAYLA DANIELS

Paul Raymo interviews Nashville recording artist Kayla Daniels. Kayla will be at the City Hall Bar and Grill Saturday Aug 26th from 7 to 11pm.

Posted: August 24, 2017
Under: Interviews
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RAYMO’S RAMBLINGS – MUSIC

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MUSIC

I think every community should have a Music in the Park night during the summer months. I have attended Appleton on Tuesday nights and this past week for the first time went over to Canby. Something about sitting in a city park in the summer with others in your lawn chair or sitting on a park bench and listening to someone play music. The community really comes together in some special way.

I was so impressed with the crowds that both Appleton and Canby get at this Music in the Park nights. Usually a group is selling ice cream, or serving popcorn. As was the case Monday in Canby the snow cone guy was there with his snow cone vehicle.  Children were playing on the playground in the park and running around. All different generations are represented, but mostly it’s an older crowd, of which I am included now turning 60 next month.

Attending these music events with your spouse or with friends makes it that much more enjoyable. Sitting in my lawn chair for over an hour and not swatting one mosquito was nice too. The reason for my blog is to discuss the subject of “music”

 Listening to all the different kind of music has been interesting. I remember attending Music in the Park one night and hearing polka. Now I have never cared to listen to polka, or Waltzes, it all sounds the same to me. Bluegrass music on another night, now again I have never cared to listen to Bluegrass. Last Monday it was the Big Band era music, which I must admit, I really don’t care for either. But for some reason on Monday I really enjoyed listening to it for the first time.

I will say this after sitting in a city park with a good number of people and hearing Polka, Bluegrass, the Big Band music and other type of music, I have really come to like it now. As a matter of fact, while sitting at my computer typing this blog I am listening to Big Band music. It can be relaxing. So a good number of you are probably wondering, “I wonder what type of music Paul enjoys listening to?”

My favorite music is 60’s and 70’ music. The Beetles, Monkees, Beach Boys, Tom Petty, The Carpenters, Elton John, and the list of groups from the 60’s and 70’s is long. That is the music we play on KLQP during the day, and I love it. I also enjoy listening to today’s Christian music from Newsboys, DC Talk, Big Daddy Weave, Casting Crowns, Matthew West and more. That is music that speaks to my soul. It’s comforting music and can lift your spirits.

Those are my favorites. So I don’t know if Big Band, or Bluegrass, or even Polka will ever reach my list of favorites. But I can tell you this, attending the Music in the Park evenings has exposed me to that music and recently has me listening more and more to it. So if you see me out walking and I have my earbuds in, I just might be listening to Bluegrass or Big Band or yes, even Polka.  Maybe.

Posted: August 8, 2017
Under: Raymo's Ramblings
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