10 Questions About…

Do you know long you can watch a parade in sub-zero temperatures? I can do it for about 45 minutes. That’s how long we lasted today at the Winter Carnival Parade.

The good news about a freezing cold parade is that you don’t have to get there too early to get a good view. We went downtown about noon. We saw the ice sculpture – which are very cool. (No pun intended.) We had a little lunch at Pazzaluna and then we headed to the parade. We saw and heard many Vulcans at the bar. I think they have a whole new set of rules – but I’m going to go out on a limb and say the bars do A-OK when they’re in the house.

The parade is kind of funny. The big highlight is the hot air balloon baskets that shoot nice, warm fire into the air. I think there were about 6 in the parade. I wish every other group had a big flame. Otherwise we saw some princesses – often inside a car. There were politicians and union groups. There was a big military presence. We paid special attention to the marching bands now that Lily is taking trombone lessons. I think your lips would freeze to the instrument in this weather but the musicians seemed to be OK.

The girls got a bunch of necklaces. The other good thing about a sub-zero parade is that you only have to show your nose to get a necklace. I’m not saying it always worth getting so undressed in public – but you know kids these days. They’ll show their noses to anyone in any temperature.

After the parade – or when we were done anyways – we stopped into the St Paul hotel for a little hot chocolate. (Lily took a video of most of the parade. If she uploads it, I’ll link to it later.)

We have been reading the Medallion clues. For readers outside in Minnesota, the carnival hides a Medallion each year. The St Paul newspaper runs a clue a day until someone finds the medallion. It’s hard to find – especially in a snowy years. People go out with shovels and picks once they think they know where it is. I have seriously looked for the medallion a couple of times. I have never been close to finding it.

Anyways, we think it might be near the Excel Center – but I’m supposed to keep that quiet. Kate would give me the eye each time I mentioned it in public. Nothing like giving away the farm I guess. I said that if we get above 20 degrees this week and we have a specific area better pin-pointed then we can hunt for the medallion.