Put the beads together and “I got my first real six-string, where they put the five and dime …”

— While Fat Tuesday was apparently slim on partiers, at both Dick’s Bar and Grill and The Village Inn in North Hudson there were three long strings of beads each hanging from the ceiling near the cash register, (possibly as encouragement for God knows what?) Hey, that might make the bartenders ring the nearby tip bell, maybe even three times!
— Reports from the trenches, literally, concerning the first major snowstorm, which wouldn’t you know it hit during the bar hours of a weekend. The co-workers of one bartender — who was to be cut soon since some places in the various spread-out sectors of the city closed early because of the storm — checked on her buried car from the warmth and safety of a front window, and their gaze was prolonged. I said: “Do you have a car, or is it an igloo?” What’s the difference? “Your igloo doesn’t do 80 in a 70 mph zone.” She nodded like there was some credence to my joke.
— At Buffalo Wild Wings, a handful of patrons said they were staying at one of the nearby motels, but didn’t know at the moment which one or where it was. I guess a blizzard will do that to you.
— A last stop was made at Wal-Mart to pick up a few things in case we got snowed in. I asked the clerk to help me find a particular kind of bandage. The varieties on the shelf offered to meet every conceivable need. “But do they shovel your walk?” And can they provide help if you nick your finger while doing so? Or if you bump into the plow that was pushing back into place one of those long metal recepticles for carts?
— Officials with the Hudson Hot Air Affair said that it’s hard to gauge attendance numbers since no admission is charged, but they could point to a line forming for moonglow spectators on Saturday night. The experience with balloon flights actually going up again was iffy, but since pilots stayed mostly on the ground, they could chat there with onlookers, so that was a plus anyway, it was said. The uncertainty with the weather is one reason that organizers have added all the other accompanying events, such as several music acts that may have helped save the day (or night). Despite weather, the four painted vintage balloons featuring artist Charlie Markert had a major presence, organizers said.
— A man was seen between balloon flights wearing only a black T-shirt, so one would think he was a tourist from warmer climes who did not know how cold it can get here. He was flanked by people carrying shopping bags, and they appeared to be windowshopping from store to store down Locust Street, not just getting in a car to drive back in warmth to the Cities. However, one wore a shirt saying Gooseberry Falls, which is on the North Shore of Lake Superior, so maybe that explains the style of dress. The trend carried over, as at the Smilin’ Moose in at night there were people standing outside waiting to get in with similar scant attire.
— So, there weren’t many jackets to be found? Apparently no drones, either, as these craft were forbidden by Hot Air Affair signage. Don’t want to compete with the balloons for air time.