Secrets of the City

I f-ing hate the Winter Carnival. I hate the very IDEA of a Winter Carnival, in fact. Winter is to be endured, not enjoyed and feted with “carnivals.” Yes, I am a Grinch, and I am so glad every year when the Winter Carnival is over, which simply means we are closer to a more sane season known as spring.

“Winter is to be endured, not enjoyed and feted with “carnivals.”‘

Well said.

If those Vulcan guys were wearing white, they’d look like Klansmen.

I have only been to one Winter Carnival event as a spectator (years ago), although I do enjoy the ice sculptures, which are world-class.

Last year, our annual American Lung Association stairclimb fundraiser was the kickoff event for the Winter Carnival, so the whole WC royalty was there, along with the stray Vulcan or two (or is that Krewe?).

This year we are back in Minneapolis, climbing the Accenture Tower.

What is wrong with those Saint Paul people? They should be sitting in their basements stewing over the long winter and readying their weaponry for a fun old shooting rampage on the first day of spring! Attempting to have fun during winter. That’s crazy!

You miss the point.

On the contrary, I understand perfectly.

“If those Vulcan guys were wearing white, they’d look like Klansmen.”

OMG, that’s the funniest fucking thing I’ve ever read. Ever. Thanks!

Maybe not the nuances.

I just always thought those guys looked creepy. The symbols and the vaguely Teutonic lingo.

“I f-ing hate the Winter Carnival. I hate the very IDEA of a Winter Carnival, in fact. Winter is to be endured, not enjoyed and feted with “carnivals.”

Wow. Perhaps you should consider moving elsewhere. This is Minnesota.

What’s wrong with enduring? To everything, there is a season.

my favorite thing about winter carnival is reading the medallion hunt message boards. It’s kind of like Hardy Boys meets Fargo with a tad of chat-room muscles thrown in for good measure.

It has always seemed to me that the Vulcans are simply a fraternity for guys who went to vocational school.

To my mother, I’m sure the thought of celebrating winter by standing in subzero weather to look at ice is not unlike commemorating my birthday by going into labor again.

Might I suggest making this more of an indoor event? Between the X, the Roy Wilkins, and RiverCentre, there’s a lot of space to work with.

Vulcans are more like Kiwanis Club members with a drinking problem.

Vaguely Teutonic, Rat? I don’t think there’s anything vague there.

I think they’re more like Drinking Club members with a Kiwanis problem.

I went to high school with the girl who is “Queen Aurora” this year. Does anyone else think it is weird that the queen is a young, hot beauty queen and “King Boreas” is some old dude?

“Weird” is being diplomatic.

Some of us live with the possibility of being molested by Vulcans everyday.

Brr. Crowded and cold. No thanks.

Sorry. That annoys me when people come to a thread to say what they don’t like about the topic of that thread.

The Winter Carnival is great b/c it is in St. Paul so usually doesn’t get in my way. Hooray for the Winter Carnival! (If I want to go to Senor Wong’s during the carnival, I WILL curse any traffic or carnival-goers in my way.)

Does anyone else think it is weird that the queen is a young, hot beauty queen and “King Boreas” is some old dude?

no.  I find it encouraging.

To my horror, I found myself having to go to the HEART of the parade, moments before it started in DT St. Paul this morning. Family emergency. Seriously, I had to weave through waiting parade floats and fire engines, and flag down a cop to move the barrier. Cop was very nice.

Note to jerk on awaiting float who said “Good luck!” as I weaved through: shut the hell up.

Lesson: don’t worry about facing your greatest dread, joke-y or not. You’ll somehow get through.

The melting castle. Because it’s warming up.

/What?

I watched a gang of medallion hunters on Harriet Island today. I was in the warm confines of the Science Center watching through a telescope.