It's time for the Vulcans to get rid of King Borealis so spring can return to St. Paul. "Say, what," you ask. If you're not from St. Paul, it's hard to understand why a bunch of usually quite normal people begin acting quite goofy and off their rockers around the end of January. They start going out in the cold, and today that's a brave endeavor with below zero temperatures.
The first foray into the cold comes about when the St. Paul Pioneer Press publishes the first clue for their great medallion hunt. Medallion hunters are fanatics. The clues are published just after midnight and many are already camped in parks around Ramsey County waiting for a phone call from co-conspirators who read the clue to their cold comrades. Many, in this day of wireless internet phones, don't even need a co-conspirator's help. They just check their phones from the park. Let the digging begin. Shovels and lights in hand, the medallion hunters burrow about St. Paul night and day looking for the elusive medallion. Early this morning when the temperature was in double digits below zero the first clue was published. You can find it here.
The 2008 snow sculpture contest almost didn't happen for lack of funding to make the snow blocks. The Vulcans, however, solved the problem with lots of volunteer labor and the grand idea to move the snow sculptures to the State Fairgrounds where snow is already piled. The snow sculptures will be there next weekend.
There will be a golf tournament on the ice of White Bear Lake, ice sculptures in Rice Park, Chinese New Year performances, a hot dish contest (ya, you betcha!), parades, coronation, many opportunities in the Landmark Centre, the US Figure Skating Championship at the Xcel Center and so much more. The schedule can be found at the official Winter Carnival website. Check it early so you don't miss anything!
Bubba, This year most anything outside is going to be buried under ice. The clues are really tricky to follow as you demonstrated. You have to be up on all the local current events, even the mundane ones!
Thanks for stopping by!
Posted by: Bonnie Erickson | January 25, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Don't dig a hole or knock down a pole.
Just break through the ice....
how far will we go? You really ought to go see Get into the game A hockey game maybe?
Per clue 5 combined with all other clues to date, the "invisible" object is hidden under ice.
Joe's column referred to Como Park last year and the "I found it" as his mother fended off people as she said "I meant his glasses". The glass lens was clear, much like the object everyone wants to find. Joe's recent column was talking about playing hockey and so, an invisible object would be in the ice when it was poured. You'll have to do something quite rash in low temperatures such as these, because breaking up ice on a public hockey rink is necessary to find what you are looking for: "And keep you on your toes
It may sound risible, but our puck's invisible Although it might just stick to your nose."
Gather your guys and a girl who is wise.
Consider the area and the fact that Joe's mom was a girl.
Posted by: Bubba McKay | January 24, 2008 at 02:54 PM