Category Archives: 2022

More Today Than Ever

Posted on September 2, 2022 by Ray V.

“Today we need a nation of minute men; men who are not only prepared to take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life.” -President John F Kennedy, 1961 …and … Continue reading →

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Be Thankful

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Ray V.

“Despite all our accomplishments, we owe our existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.” -Farm Equipment Association of MN & SD.

Posted in 2022, Lessons Learned, life | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

On Survival

Posted on August 24, 2022 by Ray V.

Me, just a few years out . . . I am no longer apologizing for being me. I am so sick and tired of having to silence my beliefs and observations  for the sake of other people’s feelings . . … Continue reading →

Posted in 2022, culture, Wisdom | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Sunday Pipes #72

Posted on July 9, 2022 by Ray V.

It might be a little long, but can anyone listen to any 60-second segment of this piece and not recognize it? George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue,  by The Scott Brothers Duo

Posted in 2022, pipe organ, Sunday pipes | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

As True As It Gets

Posted on July 5, 2022 by Ray V.

I’ll just leave it at this. . . Prepared for incoming.

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Sunday Pipes #60*

Posted on March 27, 2022 by Ray V.

*I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends I wasn’t motivated to go searching for a piece for this week.  I gave up and thought that no one would notice.   As I perused my news feeds this morning, … Continue reading →

Posted in 2022, pipe organ, Sunday pipes | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Staver, On Moods

Posted on February 19, 2022 by Ray V.

Twenty or so years ago, I was fortunate to have my first, personal  interaction with Mike Staver. Since then, our paths have crossed a few times and I always valued the time I got to spend in his company.  While … Continue reading →

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Flashback (A Must Read)

Posted on February 18, 2022 by Ray V.

I came accross this meme earlier today and the picture caught my eye and then I embraced the value of the verse. The picture,  a Phoenix rising from the flames also reminded me of a record album I won at … Continue reading →

Posted in 2022, 25 blogs, Grand Funk Railroad, nostalgia, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

364 Days Clean, Then. . .

Posted on February 12, 2022 by Ray V.

To start, please know that I take addiction/recovery very, very seriously and this post in no way should be interpreted otherwise.  Sometimes though, I just need to laugh at myself a bit. Last evening, returning home from work, I found … Continue reading →

Posted in 2022, 25 blogs, Girl Scout Cookies | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

My Daily, Boring Life . . . Interrupted

Posted on February 11, 2022 by Ray V.

Back during my firefighting days, we would regularly experience some excitement during the course of a day.  It was to be expected and danger was just part of the job. Not so much at a funeral home/cremation society location. Today … Continue reading →

Posted in 2022, 25 blogs | Tagged , , | 13 Comments