Trail Baboon?
I was thinking I wanted this blog to have a familiar title – something easy to recognize, but sly. A turn of phrase that describes information that’s sent out solely for the purpose of observing the reaction of the audience. Something catchy but common. However, somebody else has that title locked up, and so one must make do with the opportunity that one has.
Maybe “Braille Typhoon” would be better. “Teal Ballroom”? I’m open to suggestions.
My name is Dale Connelly and I think I just emerged from a very long tunnel. When I went in, it was 1976 and Gerald Ford was the president. I was 20 years old and just got my first job with a radio station in a distant land – KRSW in Worthington, Minnesota. I was driving from Illinois and had been told to report to the manager’s home.
My car broke down in Iowa City and I arrived a day late. The man who hired me couldn’t wait around to welcome me to town – he and has family were headed to the big city – Sioux Falls – for the afternoon.
“Let yourself in,” he said. “We’ll be back by sundown.”
He didn’t know me. I’d sent him my resume, a powder blue document that featured a large picture of me wearing long, wispy, flippy hair and a polyester suit. The photo had to be big – it took up lots of necessary space. I had no accomplishments to speak of and precious little training. He listened to a tape I made in college and we had talked on the phone just once. Miraculously, it was enough to convince him that I was a safe bet to wander unsupervised through his house for a few hours. How could that be? I might have cleaned out the cupboards and made for the hills, but I chose to stay. He became my finest boss and a lifelong friend. It was a good start and I had a wonderfully long and rich career working for the same company for 34 years. Pretty remarkable.
I understand that kind of long-term work relationship is rare today. I wouldn’t know. I’ve been cloistered. Reporting to the same place for a paycheck for over three decades was a very peaceful and secure and comforting experience, but things change and everyone hits that dusty trail into the sunset eventually. It is my turn to take that walk and see what is over the next rise. No regrets.
But I’ll have to come up with a new resume. I don’t think that 1976 version will do the job.
If you were hiring someone to be your assistant, what qualifications would they need?
Trail Baboon 
Dale,
I would hire you!
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I didn’t think anything would be live yet, but thought I’d look anyway!
My assistant would have to have a good sense of humor and have the patience of Job!
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Hi Dale! I’m very glad to see you here! I meant it, you streaming. It’s probably possible to have you do a live show and then attach the radioheartland stream even! Think it over, who would treat you better than you?
Keep a good thought and keep in touch!
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I was lucky to do 34 years of teaching in one school, so I know about the old fashioned employer-employee relationship. So we were both lucky. I might have been luckier, because I got to retire. (I have kept working on my own entrepreneurial projects, but that’s another story.)
MPR and eclectic music were always a marginal mixture. GK’s success made MPR, but somewhere I have a really old postcard from Jim Ed thanking me for my efforts to convince the powers that be not to cancel the Morning Show. I hate thinking that I’m in such a minority among the minority who supports public radio. Then again, those of us in this household have always taken some pride in being weird.
I don’t really need an assistant although I probably need help. But, if I were hiring in this little 3-person writing/publishing/miscellany shop, I’d want someone with a casual sense of direction and enough creativity and humor to make days more pleasant than they generally are by themselves.
BTW, my wife is a great editor/proofreader/publication designer. We’ve published 4 or 5 books and have a bunch of ISBNs sitting around if you have a ms. (We don’t have a distribution or advertising branch, though, except for what I do for my “textbook.”) And if Gus comes back to the hill next fall and needs a ride toward home from Northfield, one of us heads in that direction a couple times a week.
Going to miss you on the air and I’ll miss Bubby, Bart, and the rest of the crew too until they show up here.
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Hi Dale! So glad to be able to stay connected in some way!
In your new profession, I think YOU should be taking the resumes of OTHERS to see if you would consider working with them. Shoe is on the other foot, maybe?
Hey – does this mean that you might be able to sleep until the amazingly late hour of 6am or something?
Best of everything to you!
tkh
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Dale,you never miss a beat!
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Nice! You’ve been bookmarked.
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Welcome to the new world, Dale. It’s disappointing to say the least, but I’m also intrigued to see your new trail. Best of luck and thanks for all that you’ve brought to mornings–and Saturday evenings of late–all these years.
Being a non-profit type who only has 21 years at the same workplace, having an assistant is one of those mythical things I’ve heard about. Sense of humor, and a belief in our common cause would be high on my list of qualifications.
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Hi Dale,
Catherine and the son and heir here-
I gave birth to the best assistant I will ever have, and have been training him up ever since.
I think loyalty and intelligence matter a lot.
The son and heir hopes you brought Bubby and the gang with you!
Clyde, I am looking for a post from YOU-same goes for all the Barbs, tim, Cynthia, Steve, Aaron, Ben and the rest of you follow travellers.
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takes a while to get the bearings in a new place we are all bound to be here sooner rather than later.
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you are priceless, Dale. Bill Kling could give up his millions and still not be able to pay you for all of the joy, the wonderful tunes, the laughs and the memories you have given us. thank you so very much.
i’m thinking of blog names.
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barb the site attatched to your name is wonderful. i saw a couple of pictures on that other blog but this is great. we can all have our own homepage reference. too cool dale. i can hardly wait to see what this becomes. the possibilities are wonderful. open your ears gus.
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I’d look for someone who can think for themselves. Someone who will tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear.
Your new blog is officially bookmarked!
Mike
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and we’re off.
happy trails trial balloon,
my happy returns trail baboon
i have been fortunate enough to have hired a good person who is my right hand and helps me make it through the trials and tribulations. quirky is a plus, nice guy who is familiar with my particular brand of dysfunction. i look for a open soul with an expressed desire to get to the goal by hook or by crook. their own creativity can be appreciated but i do care about presentation so i work to make sure there is a synergy of brainwave activity.
kind of like choosing a radio station or blog group. don’t screw this up dale. now you really can do this from bed. get some new patio furniture and dig into the studio of the millenium. remember franklin hobbs in his living room on cco? that may have been prior to your intro to the twin cities.
heart is the answer to your question. period. no second answer. in all areas of life lead with your heart. how does the guy let you go into his house without knowing you may have been the reason you are friends. people whi have brains like that deserve and are open to sharing more than a cup of coffee. i havn’t had a key to my house in , i was going to say 40 years but i believe that comes form home and i have never had a key. my first wife insisted i re key the house and lock the doors when we got married but the third time i came home late and had to wake her up to unlock the door she gave up the ghost. 10 years later she gave up on me too. my curent wife is fron chicago and the last guy killed by ted bundy was her little brothers best friend so i cut her some slack when she asks for the doors to be locked when we are all in for the night.
the stuff you choose to go through life with says all there is to say about you. lipton tea. birkenstocks, a cheesy goatee, comfy clothes, bob dylan, prarie home companion, cbs sunday morning, ken burns documentaries, marx brothers, marilyn monroe, 50 cents first thursday poker games. (tonight), art, music, books, sports, ecology, democractic beliefs, white wine, micro brewed beer, single malt scotch, northern survival tendencies. and on and on.
i don’t insist that my co worker or wife show up for cards or drink single malt scotch but the rest is pretty much mandatory.
looking forward to the new child baffoon blog dale. thanks
hope the others join in and we figure out a way to make it work.
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When considering a resume I would look for something I wasn’t looking for….if that makes any sense. If I could honestly say, “Well, I’ve never seen THAT on a resume before,” then I would think there would never be a dull moment with that person around.
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LOVE IT! Thanks Dale, and Welcome!
Yes, I know things change and time passes and never say never…. but I don’t like unexpected change. It makes me grumpy. And I’m a big softy so I cry everytime I start reading about the end of RH. I know, I know, it’s not the end… but it feels like it so that’s what I’m calling it.
It’s so easy to form friendships online– or rather ‘in writing’ of any form; pen pals or what have you.
And the TB group has been such a NICE group! Not like the usual blog comment section filled with vitriol and vulgarities… YOU PEOPLE are so NICE! Thanks for that!
And Thanks to you Dale for all you’ve done over the years… I will miss you as well. Miss hearing your voice and stories… you’ve been keeping me amused since about 1986… You sure have kept me entertained. And Thank You Again.
I’m normally so rational and logical about things and I see both sides but this…. but this… perhaps it’s just the timing in my life; I don’t know… but I am angry. And sad.
So, thanks for letting me vent, Thank YOU for handling this so well– I’m trying to follow your example. But give me a day or two yet… I’m not yet ready to be over being mad.
Ben
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Greetings! Here we are all together again — ah, thing are looking up at least.
I’m not sure how to answer the question — because I keep sending out resumes to BE an assistant or secretary of some kind to somebody and I don’t even get a phone call or email. And I have an excellent and extensive resume with lots of experience. Maybe you guys can help me tweak my resume so I can at least get an interview.
I’ll keep looking at this blog today for ideas, then .. and maybe have some fun here, too.
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This is great, Dale. And thanks, Gus, for getting the comments moving 😉
Connie in Lester Prairie
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Hi Gus!
Are you tired of hearing ‘I remember when you used to be on the radio when you were just a kid!’?
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You know, I really don’t get tired of hearing about those days, because I remember when I used to be on the radio as a young lad as well, and they’re certainly some very fond memories.
I started at the annual broadcast from the State Fair, giving the sign-off announcement at 8:59 AM. All I said was “This is Minnesota Public Radio.” Of course, four-year-old Gus didn’t quite get it, and thought he was saying something along the lines of “Minnesota Publah Gradio.” Luckily, it came out sounding okay, and the audience seemed to enjoy this precocious little blonde kid up on stage with his dad. Since then, I had the opportunity to be a part of a handful of radio skits, Sherpa ads, and State Fair specials (including the Beanie Baby Barn.) I also was lucky enough to help with several live shows, including being the rock skipping correspondent at a Como Park show several years back, and the official weather forecast printer-offer at the show in Jackson, MN about four years ago.
I’m with you all in missing The Morning Show and Radio Heartland. Heck, I grew up on this stuff! But don’t worry, I’ll keep my dad in line for you all now that he’ll be home during the days 🙂
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gus i heard you on that forst state fair exposure. your dad and i are the same age and i have kids your age 23 21 before the 17 . 11 and 9 year old came along.
i worked with my dad starting when i was 18 and he became my best friend. i is a neat option and i hope you guys enjoy it. you are just begining, this is not a lifetime commitment, bet we all know and appreciate you. i am glad to see you are involved. looking forward to it, and if your dad turns out to be a jerk and you have to leave, at least you tried huh?
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Hi Gus, I remember when you were born, that your Dad made some sort of promise to your mom and played some crazy song on the air—-My daughter was born in December of the same year! BTW This is the beginning, this is not the end = PERFECT!
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Dale, welcome to the ranks of former broadcast employees! Glad to see we can still keep in touch!
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I now have said “bye” on your old site, so it feel only appropriate to say “hi” on your new one. Follow your heart. If you do that the universe will conspire to make it happen. Good luck.
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Perhaps you should consider producing an occassional concert at the Fitz. I bet you’d find a great, appreciative audience and a rewarding outlet for your creative juices.
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Glad to see there will be a new online place for us to gather and to see so many familiar names, and several new, here.
Dale – I would say that you have the chief two qualities (okay, three) I would look for in anyone I might hire: problem solving skills, flexibility, and a good sense of humor.
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howdy, gang–glad to hook up with you all here, and read dale’s words, and feel connected (i mean “hook up” in its former nonsexual meaning)….:-)
weird is good!
hope to see you all soon! and thrilled to know jim ed will be on tap tomorrow…
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kay this is dales blog now… we can do sex on this blog…can’t we dale?
i hear radio sex is great. gus cover your ears.
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Thrilled to hear Jim Ed will be around for the send-off tomorrow; it’s only fitting somehow! But now that will be 2 days in a row where I don’t get much accomplished. Not that I’m complaining–today it’s kept my mind off the fact that I’m fasting since last night for my 1:30p.m. physical.
Does it seem more optimistic over here on this site, or is it just me?
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this is optimism anonymous oa for short. its a required part of the trial baboon or the vile spittoon or the riled macaroon. i am easily off course
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So great on a 2nd to last day of Dale’s show to find this blog. Eases my melancholy (also helped to hear Slow Down Krishna again on the rebroadcast).
Here’s my funny foray into post-RH world: I thought someone on the blog said to go to Trial Baboon. So I googled that, and what came up was a combination of animal research and some very risque references to sites I didn’t want to touch! Now I’ve found the real site of Trail Baboon.
I think we should let Dale decompress and get used to his new reality for a bit and then have a picnic/party/whatever after he has some breathing room with his family. I’m guessing some musicians would like to attend too. I’d be happy to work on such an event. I bet Neal and Leandra would too.
As for the question of assistant, that’s my daily life here at an art and design college in the president’s office. Hopefully I’d hire someone with the qualities I hope I possess, on most days: patience, diplomacy, a listening ear, good spelling, and the ability to make puns that keep my co-workers from hanging around when it gets busy.
Dale, I could see you running something like the Cedar Cultural Center. I’m always good at planning other people’s careers, just not my own so much.
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Believe me, anyone who would be lucky enough to get Cynthia for her assistant is a lucky person indeed. She has had the job of being my friend for nearly 34 years (it’ll be 30 this fall, Cynthia!), and let me tell you, it’s been more than full time.
I come from a Lifetime With the Company familiy, and can only just…just…barely imagine what would happen if my employer of 22 years turned me loose….
I honestly can’t imagine having an assistant. It’s hard enough for me to ask a work study student to do my photocopying. Most of the stuff I need doing I couldn’t possibly burden someone else to do….
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Also, I just have to add that I loved Barb in Blackhoof’s comment above – beautifully said. And if the rest of you are looking for some incredible photos from her farm that will warm your heart, click on Barb’s name. Makes me feel good to look at the goats today.
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I wouldn’t hire anyone who deals with pain by cracking one-liners and quoting, so-called, uplifting quotes. Be especially cautious if she invents boyfriends.
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when you figure out what you are doing pls let us in on it; i just cancelled my sustaining membership and would love to redirect those funds
i know whatever you do it will be great (and i hope it involves Bart and Spin and Bubby, etc)
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yayask, you and i are on the same track. stay tuned. i need dales blessing but we are beginning a daleconnelly.com sustaining membership drive on 6/6 at 6:06 ( my sons birthday and time of birth)
i believe we can get him all set up with the spinoff dollars from the disenfranchised folk that are out there.
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Barb, I hope to start comvering my albums and cds including Keepers to mp3s soon if I can find time to figure out the hows of it. Mp3 can be shared more easily than other formats, but in most cases illegally, but maybe not this one. It was very generous of you to give your Keepers to others, you’re a true sweetie!
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you too
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Kim… I may be able to make copies as well…..
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Dale (and Gus) – I am very happy to see this new blog even though I’m not much of a blogger. It might be a good thing because I have gotten very little done today except to go back and forth reading the blogs on both sites. I agree with Ben, I don’t mind change but I like to be eased into it. I get grumpy too! Its a good thing that you adjust better than I do so that we could already have this new site to follow you to.
I am an assistant and flexibility is the key. Someone once told me that there are two kinds of people, organized and flexible. I always valued flexible the most. You can tell that from one look at my desk. Hmmm, saying I value flexibility and saying I like to be eased into change seem contradictory but I think they are two different things. I can be flexible if someone interrupts what I am working on but I don’t like change that includes loss.
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Well, I if my work performance today was representative of my usual performance, I sure wouldn’t hire me! It’s hard to work when you are grieving. My assistant would need a good knowledge of statistics and psychometrics, the ability to read my horrible hadwriting and decipher my rambling dictation, the ability to entertain rambunctious kids while I interview their parents , and a sardonic sense of humor. My husband has worked at the same state agency since 1987. It was his first job out of graduate school and he has put in enough years to retire. He’s not going to, though, at least for a few years. I will be in the same position in 6 years, although I will probably keep working for a few years past that as well. My current job is only my second since graduate school. I can understand the feeling as though you have come out of a tunnel,
Dale, after 34 years at the same organization.
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he didn’t belong to any organazation for many of those years he worked with jim ed
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And now the world seems sane again.
Hello, Dale. Welcome back.
Are you going to “broadcast” over the blog? Is that even possible?
Of course, we all would like for you to keep talking to us, and writing for us, and picking music to play for us. How could that work? Instead of you coming to us (via MPR), could we come to you? Could we pay a fee? There will be a lot of unspent MPR contributions floating around!
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bingo
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thanks for the offers of copies of the Keepers albums! a blogger who shall remain nameless (but it’s the one who cracks uplifting quotes and invents boyfriends – Carlos is an invention????) has offered to help me find some. we will try not to be illegal, of course. Carlos would probably not wait for anyone doing 4 years hard time. and who would milk the goats?
thanks for the kind words about Steve’s blog. he will update soon, but we’ve been busy w/ garden etc.
i remarked to the nameless one that this circle of “friends” would never have met if it weren’t for Dale, RH and TB.
(and Cynthia in Mpls, i think it was i who said “Trial Baboon” – oops, sorry!)
and Clyde – the print is nice and big on THIS blog, right? 🙂
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the print is nice!!!
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Well, I have written, printed out and mailed an actual paper letter to Bill Kling. Hopefully, an eloquent, heartfelt and polite letter regarding my feeling for this huge disservice to RH, Dale and everyone who cares about quality, interesting music and companions. I don’t know if it will change anything, but I did my part. Don’t know if they bother to read the blog, but they will read my letter in black and white.
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bravo
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Dale,
You’re in the reader. Thanks for playing Two Little Feet and Bright eyes this morning.
Wishing you the very best tomorrow and with all that is to follow.
Sarah Jane
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Well, hey, isn’t this cool!
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holly nice icon
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Random idea
While a career takes planning and time to manage maybe you could find a way to make money off of the “new” media. There are tons of podcasts which have survived long term. You could probably engineer a podcast by yourself and charge a subscription fee. I was thinking you could even give the Tuesday-Wednesday podcasts away and only charge for the Monday Friday podcasts.
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stay tuned dan
daleconnelly.com sustaining memberships coming soon. dale can you line up the free cd’s?
we will allow you to arrange the oks from peter ostrushko, peter mayer, pat donahue, how is dean mcgraw doing? claudia schmidt, metamora, bobby macfarrin, etc. cmon dale get to work
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Hi Everybody!
Thanks for making the trip over here to Trail Baboon. I have had a rather busy day so far but it has been a surprising amount of fun to play requests all morning and read the sweet/sour combination of compliments and condemnations pouring through my mailbox. And now this new outlet! And to find you here (with help from my faithful and brilliant son Gus) is a thrill.
In answer to the question posed in the blog: Mike Pengra has been a pillar of strength through this crazy week. If I were hiring an assistant, my only requirement is that he would be Mike Pengra. My resume writing advice? Put “Mike Pengra” at the top of the page. When I start looking for work, that’s what I’m going to do. We’ll sort it out later.
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I tried to post on Trial Balloon and couldn’t. What’s with that? Are they blocking us somehow so they can limit the groundswell of support for you? This whole crazy announcement has me stunned.
Let me know if my annual MPR donation can be of use for your new venture. I would rather support people than computers.
And I cannot believe how gracious you’re being to your heartless employer. I thought MPR had more class than this.
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hey could we hire him tommorrow and throw a wrench into mpr’s smooth transition? anyone with twins autographs on a drum head is my guy
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I wonder if the news of your departure, Dale, was done in this abrupt manner so that the push back from Radio Hearltand supporters could only go on for a couple of days rather than for weeks as it did when the Morning Show ended? Two days is hardly enough time to get the news out and say good-bye to a long time friend, is it?
At any rate, I am glad that Jim Ed and Mike will be with you as you celebrate your last Radio Heartland Show on MPR. It will be great to hear your two ‘voices of the morning’ together again. Could this be the begining of a renewed collaboration for the two of you in another venue? Curious minds long to know! : )
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Cheers to Mike Pengra! I was looking for a reason to crack one open.
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have one for me too
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you know, dale, another great venue would be outdoors at minnehaha park, outside the seafood restaurant….laid-back crowd, gorgeous place, great food, good ambiance, and add your voice and music? heavenly…..
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Dale-This helps ease the pain a little. I will have some extra money floating around after tomorrow and would be happy to pay a fee to hear something similiar to RH. Hope something can come of it.
Barb in Blackhoof-I wanted to say I enjoy checking your website, love those goats.
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can i add you to the list?
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Thanks, Dale, for all the good times you gave us over the years at MPR–the shows at the Fitzgerald, the fun and games at the State Fair, the Morning Show. Someone as creative as you are will land a great job in no time.
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I just looked and there are 171 comments on Trial Balloon and it looks like they can’t take anymore. There’s no form to put in a comment anymore than I can see. Interesting …
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Don’t worry too much about the resume, Dale. You have plenty to put on one, so you will not have any problem. I’m very glad you have started this blog and look forward to the possibility of continuing in some way the conversations that were facilitated by the Trial Ballon blog.
Best wishes to you, Dale.
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is this jim?
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Like ‘yayask’, I’ve cancelled my MPR sustaining membership and am ready to contribute to whatever amazingly creative endeavor you end up with, Dale. Thanks so much for helping me ease into my weekend mornings over the past 20 years.
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got you on the list
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Since I can’t post on the Trial Balloon, I’d like to request 2 songs:
Pat Donahue: This is Not the End
kd lang, Roy Orbison: Crying
No problem if you can’t get to them. I’d much rather listen to you and Jim Ed.
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david
i noticed all you need to do is mention it and i can hear kd lang sing that roy orbison great…. can’t you
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Yes, Tim. I’ll still hearing them right now.
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fyi, i have most of the Keepers cd if anyone wants to copy them. my favorites are the first one and the one about cars
SO looking forward to hearing Tom tomorrow am! hope retirement agrees with him, i think it’s great
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what about cowboy keepers
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oh, yeah, i might need to copy some keepers disks!!! I had the celtic one, which i just passed on to a 6th-grader i was tutoring who was doing a report on Ireland–He LOVED the song about why Paddy’s not at work today, and the girl i was tutoring at the same time could not stop herself from leaping out of her chair and dancing to the reels and jigs…
oh, happy, oh, sad, i’m laughing out loud at Bart the bear…..oh, god, how i’ve missed that combination of voices…..the banter…..
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A class act all the way, Dale.
I too taught 34 years at the same place (University of North Dakota) and “retired” to Saint Paul, happy to be closer to, among other things, The Morning Show, where I became a steady listener. I hope the larger community we are a part of finds (funds?) a way to “employ/exploit” your talents for all of our benefits. One piece of your work I particularly valued beyond the wonderfully eclectic music and nuanced commentary/skits etc. was hearing, live, about an upcoming concert at Ginkgo’s say, or some other venue in time to be able to attend.
I’m sure you can’t know what will emerge from this upheaval, but thanks for the trial of “Trail Baboon” as one stab at the future. Back to where I started: I was unable to follow your example and retain my sustaining membership in MPR, mostly because I know enough about non-profits etc., and MPR specifically, to believe that the most important me$$age I could send was the one that guided their deci$ion. I’d love for them to earn my membership back, not necessarily by hiring you back in some capacity (fat chance!), but something of enough integrity.
Thanks for everything. I, as many, will be looking for your work on whatever Trail it may appear. How wonderful to hear Jim Ed live one more time. Thanks for that JE, you whose initials were a part of the name Jasper, let it not be forgotten.
jimck
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jim?
the memberships at daleconnelly.com will go 100% to the right place. good for you to realize before the rest of us that the $$$ ge tin the way sometimes. other times they provide the way. let us begin
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I said goodbye to MPR this morning. Hello Dale. Glad to find up and on-line.
Jacque
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on the list
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Whew…finally found my way here…after finding the link to Trial Balloon already removed from the Radio Heartland website at 10:30 (I had to break from my home computer to milk, feed, drive to work)…listening to Dale on Midday as I write.
So glad we still have a space to share and continue to build on this community. Have a safe weekend, y’all.
PS. Will Mike be checking in on this blog as well? Maybe even Jim Ed?
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I didn’t get a chance to comment on the old site, but glad I found this one. I have grown with you, Jim Ed, the Morning Show, and Radio Heartland. You are truly a credit to broadcasting. I know exactly what you’re feeling now as I was “relieved” of my position in January. After 30+ years in the same industry, it’s a tough pill to swallow. But I am a firm believer in “When God closes a door, he opens another”. Be patient, enjoy some time off (and sleeping in) and something better will open up. I’ve entered a whole new phase of my working life – at a much more enjoyable pace and profession.
The very best to you and your family. We’ll all stay in touch here.
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I’m in, Dale. You’re too good a friend after 25 years on the air to say goodbye to. The new blog might be a great starting point for creating something brand new and wonderful out of the internet. Consider presenting comedy skits in audio and or/video form, posting them on the blog for our entertainment, maybe suggesting and linking some new acoustic americana music you think we might enjoy listening to, recruit Jim Ed to resurrect his characters and your writing skills, and expand from there. If the quality is there (and it will be) along with sufficient quantity, I for one would be willing to use part of my MPR contributions to fund your efforts. Who knows, it could pay well enough to make it worth your while, and you, with help from us loyal fans, could be a pioneer in internet innovation.
Good luck with whatever you do.
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PS- I’ll post a link to your blog on my blog- for what that’s worth. 🙂
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You are the fourth person in two weeks that I know who has been forced to suddenly find new means of employment. I was stunned when I heard what MPR had done to you. I have been able to stream your program each day at work and have enjoyed it immensely! My mornings will be much sadder times. You’ve been with me in the mornings for all of my working life. It was bad enough when Tom Keith retired. I’m glad you established this blog. I never posted before but will be sure to follow this one regularly. Take care!
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Don’t throw away the rolodex. I bet 95% of the folk artists out there would be thrilled to give you permission to play their music on any streaming audio program you might happen to develop in the future. I’ll be listening when that day comes.
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Hey Dale!
Have you ever thought about writing for the Prairie Home Companion?
We think you’d be quite good at it.
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Party? There’s gonna be a party? Include me in! Minnehaha Falls Park would be a great location.
I hope all the old RHers get the word about Trail Baboon. As others have noted, this takes a little of the sting out of our loss.
Have a great weekend Dale and fans.
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Dale,
I was able to listen to the end of the show this morning. You certainly are a class act. I’m not sure I could have been as gracious as you were. I cannot believe that MPR could just shut the door on your work with no thanks, no sadness, no acknowledgement of your fine commentary.
How would you like me to send the word about your blog? You deserve an audience and I’ll spread the word however you want me to.
Enjoy some time to reflect and to regroup. I hope all of us fans can be of help.
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tell em he’s here
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Now that I’ve managed to dry my eyes, I’ve got to weigh in.
As you know, Dale, I retired a couple of years ago after more than 40 years in public radio. I did a lot of stuff. For example, I helped start a station where the primary language was Navajo. Once I left matters in the hands of a bilagaana (anglo) intern for a little while. All he had to do was play a tape, but when I got home and turned on the radio, I discovered he had played the tape backwards. I wish we could play this damned tape backwards, Dale. When I hired you at KRSW 34 years ago, working in public radio was about as much fun as you could have and still get paid (a little) for it. And in Southwest Minnesota, home not only to farmers and livestock and untold expanses of corn and soy beans, but to amazingly talented poets, musicians, sculptors, writers, photographers and more, well… that was about as good as it got. If we ever used the term “sustainable,” it was in reference to agriculture, not business models — although I’m sure the folks in St. Paul wondered more than once what they had let loose down there.
Anyway, to cut short what could be a very long and lugubrious post, you moved on to the big city to find fame and… well, fame on The Morning Show, and I moved along first to Seattle and then to DC. Especially at WAMU in DC I thought we made a good go of it, what with all that bluegrass in drive time on what was supposed to be an NPR news giant — and we were damned successful, too, which I think annoyed the hell out of certain folks who thought that no sane corporate leader would allow a pack of hillbillies into such a serious and important establishment (sound a little familiar?). Across town at NPR there must have been a screw loose, too, because I somehow got elected chairman of the Board of Directors for four years. Maybe they’d like those four years back, I don’t know. But I think things turned out ok.
Anyway, what I’m trying to get at with this brief personal biography is that I did many things in public radio that some people might find interesting and maybe even a little cool. But nothing has ever given me more pleasure or satisfaction over the years than the fact that I hired you for Minnesota Public Radio. Just think: I heard your first MPR broadcast, and since I was listening to RH last week (the Hinkley tribute) on my iPhone down here in Atlanta, I heard one of your last. It’s been quite a run, my friend, and it makes me sadder than I can say that it has come to an end. I can only hope and pray that there’s enough sanity left in this world that someone will have the good sense to put you behind a microphone again, and soon. I look forward to seeing THAT headline on your Vile Doubloon, or whatever you call it.
And finally, if I ever hear of you saying those kinds of things about me again, I’ll cut you off without a penny! You hear?
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See what I mean, everybody?
Best boss ever.
Thanks, Kim!
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Woke up in the middle of the night wondering whether KBEM could use a new program. Could be some good synergy with the traffic guy. And I’d start sending them money in a heartbeat.
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