It’s D-Day for V-Day, but there is still time, even if the result is slightly Tainted Love.
Hey, they say the measure of a good song, such as that ‘70s standard that you can push into the ‘80s and beyond, is if it stands the test of time … So much love from “Soft Cell” is just a shot away, as in a couple of ounces of a favorite dessert shooter, one for her and one for you for just a total of $5. So there’s money left to buy roses? (But one for your ex is an extra fee!)
All you have to do is wander to UW Wanderoos in Amery to get this, along with shrimp Scampi, walleye, shrimp again in jumbo form, and ribs too as specials. The popular venue has borrowed the above song title in what they name as their fave featured embibement in their Valentine’s celebration, which also includes the band North of 64, (they hail from Osceola). They’re a country trio that sport five different colored hats in two different styles in their promo photos, and a singer with a rich but strong voice with just a bit of blended-in rasp on their video Losing Control, set in a slow emergency call center with tone that ratchets up, and featuring an again, strong opening and ending sequence, with guitar in-between. They go on at 7 p.m.
Call (715) 268-9217 for dinner reservations.
And to the southwest in parts around New Richmond, especially in that Badger that is Wild, you can see signs that you should have — if I’m spelling this right as it seems its been a bit since I’ve had one — a shot of a S’morgasm on Valentine’s Day and far beyond. Like Sweetest Day? Who says that nightlife that doesn’t necessarily include a life besides fine fish is fishy! And the sponsor as Revelstoke (or you could say stroke) ads it as a shot or even two.

And now to Super deals for the Big Game (said this way to avoid proprietary issues). The keeper here is the need to get those goods right during the Game itself, and the exact starting time is as fickle as the number of minutes past the hour for the beginning of the Hudson Hot Air Affair parade.
Of course your favorite haunt may or may not be in full participation. This is often as all or nothing as if a star wide-out draws single coverage, or a bull rusher gets double-teamed. The options can include drawings for greater than the usual stuff, typically at halftime, the extension of happy hour specials, and independent of those other lower-price drink options too. Weighty wings and such can be wonderfully priced. (Just weight in and get them before the two-minute warning). No firm word on whether most of the places carry forward their season-long special on Packer (and often Viking too) buckets of beer for anywhere between $15 and $20, varying greatly by the venue. And if carry-out for your home party is a need, there are convenience store things like a $20 special on pizzas as a two-fer and plenty of Pepsi.

At Paddy’s Pub and Boxty House, (now houses), owners Kirk and Jacki Mueller take pride in their well-researched menu — Ireland is really not that far. But they have discovered neither is River Falls.
Or Amery, as described above, if you wish to go south instead because Your Irish Eyes Are Smilin’ for your Valentine’s Day celebration.
So after a run of many years at their venue in the town of Hudson, just a wee bit north of the freeway, the couple (the Muellers) have doubleteamed it by adding a restaurant in downtown River Falls, in the former Mainstreeters location.
Paddy Ryan’s offers traditional Irish fare, sometimes with a twist, and that can come as well from their many accompanying American entrees and more. They include a blend of these two favorite styles, from two favorite continents, even on the plate at the same time.
Also, for an example of why you should take note of this tale of two cities, a featured Boxty and/or more gives helpings of both cod AND salmon, again all at once, prepared in a way that gives two distinct tastes, while at the same time complimenting each other.

— I think it should be called Shelby’s Slam, after its creator. Introduced at Mallard’s in New Richmond just the other day, so get one while they last as it falls into the proverbial category of “for a limited time only.” It is a margarita on steroids, since it has a little extra kick. Think the combo of pineapple flavors and a bit of hot peppers added in. And I swear, they could be some mango in there, fitting because a friend just chimed in that its her fave fruit. —

Along those lines, back to the Paddy. Their weekend and maybe weekday specials, both buildings, impress as they are introduced and consistently win rave reviews from their loyal customers, both owners note, kicking the pants off run-of-the-mill pub food by pints. Around for years has been their strong, as in stout and also otherwise for the weak of heart and liver, selection of beer and whiskey to wash the meal down, as any Irish gent would do. Paddy’s Ryan’s offers a selection of more than 35 Irish whiskey AND single malt Scotch, to bring in another end of The Island and fit the palate of any customer. Go on a search, north and south, to see if one Paddy’s has a slight twist on beverage take to the other Paddy’s?
And as such specials, Irish meatballs are often brought back, with both ground beef and ground pork, celery and carrot, onion and smoked Gouda, A1 and Worcestershire sauce, garlic and Guinness! Served over their Champ potatoes, named that ‘cuz they’re only partially kidding when they say, if you could take mashed potatoes to heaven, you’d take these. Here there is corny, in a wee few of the jokes and pub puns — being those told by “mouldy” patrons and picked up on their intro sign board that you can’t miss in River Falls upon entry — and as a vegetable topping. One thing that makes it a Champ is that its covered with their own, here we go again, Guinness bacon brown gravy! And that flavoring, that’s simply up to the Irish, is only an introduction to their ways to spice things up.
What’s new, besides where to find the twin venues, maybe even to this century? And out-aging in a good way both Irish-oriented locations? It’s Paddy’s own old Irish whiskey. And Irish coffee. And with it, the sausages are made Irish style, as well as in other manners, and are fluffed and aled with mustard, and are also known for the fact they’re all local in their sourcing.
Topping it off, there a multitude of ways Paddy Ryan’s frames most of their many Boxtys. And since many have asked, let’s clear this up in the same breath that we’re talking about locations — just what is a Boxty?
At just first look, leeks and more leeks to like. But Kirk would lambast me if I don’t tell the rest of the story, going two paragraphs down.
Leeks are a perfect choice because of the number of choices they avail. So have essentially a combo. This versatility allows leeks to be a fit with many main ingredients. Just tweak the spicings by the Boxty, to allow even more variety?
Leeks start big and bold, if only because the vegetable right out of the garden is larger in size then onions and the even more tart scallions. But leeks have a milder taste, in what seems to be a theme with some Irish delicacy ingredients, and can also have a hint of sour. They compliment the Boxty, but don’t overpower. To further think Boxty? “A potato pancake, but with epic flavor. We take Yukon gold mashed potatoes made with leeks, heavy cream, butter, and salt and pepper and add hash browns; then we form this into two pancake-shaped potato cakes and crisp up both sides. Your meat choice then goes in between the two Boxty cakes! Amazing flavor, and so unique!”
Beyond leeks, that leaves a situation where you won’t see the original Paddy Ryan’s from the freeway unless the fall leaves are down, even though its less than a quarter-mile away. But worth the jog over to there and the woodland view while on the way. And on the other side where they — yikes — used to hold old rodeos. Take Exit 4 a block or so to the north, then veer left at the traffic signal and follow a slightly winding road, two quick turns, just like a leprechaun would follow a rainbow to a pot of gold.
That longtime address in the town of Hudson is 709 Rodeo Drive, right at the end of the building, and you don’t even have to travel to California! And for the record, and a comparison, stop in at River Falls at 212 S. Main St. on the east side, opposite a big parking lot. We are only talking about ten miles apart.
If you live a wee bit between, and don’t want to run that route as much as Kirk and Jacki, delivery is now offered during most hours.
Sláinte! to that driver too!

For Hot Air Affair weekend, there’s live entertainment everywhere across Hudson and other parts of The St. Croix Valley state-side on Feb. 3-5, so you can choose your genre for listening and dancing all weekend, with country and rock represented the most, but bolstered by piano, jazz, one-man band, deejay, karaoke … And it should be noted that the Bloody Mary contest goes on until day’s end on Sunday, and there are no limits to how many times you can “vote,” so maybe come back, more than once? And if the cold persists, there are even cocoa bombs at many of the venues, to accompany the mocktails, too. And along with them, the inclusion of shrimp and not small ones anyone?
But with that said, here’s how hot it is musically:
— Big Guys BBQ Road House: Live music with singer-focused crooning and more from Tony Williams on Friday from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., then rock and rolling out the Thick as Thieves (they feature thumping rock but won’t steal your drink or ever be Cumbersome except on purpose) on Saturday also from 9 pm to 12:30 a.m., and add tableside magician and kids’ breakfast specials on Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon.
— Dick’s Bar and Grill: Spicy mixing-it-up as far as new-tune-takes from the biggest booth in Hudson is deejay on Friday and Saturday starting at 10 p.m., and live one-man-band music with Jeff Loven who is the master of both the guitar and vocals of all genres and maybe even throw in some throwback accordien and contests on Sunday at 8 p.m.
— Hudson Bowling Center/Plaza Lounge on The Hill: Karaoke on Saturday starting at 9:30 p.m. with one of the biggest song lists in the area that carries sound around the bar-bend and over an intimate but very lively crowd.
— Nutty Squirrel in River Falls: Live music on Friday evening from the heart of the bar and eating of all types and dancing district at 10 p.m., and to change it up deejay and dancing on Saturday starting at 10:30 p.m. A few blocks north of the university.
— The Empourium just east of Hudson: Heavy arena-rock, young-gun styles are served with the live music of Them Pesky Kids (TPK) from 8 p.m. to midnight.
— Urban Olive and Vine: Tune in early and tone it down with still flavorful live music from the southwest corner with Jazz Savvy on Friday from 6-8:30 p.m. to ring in the torchlight parade, and from a newer kid in town Empire Night on Saturday during the same times.
— Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt: Live music from country that caters to the mainstream with local legend Blue Moon Drive on Friday (and maybe they’ll do Neon Moon just like the Tim Sigler band did at the Smilin’ Moose on Friday night) from 8:30 p.m. to midnight, and from Jazmin and the Gents so you know what to expect on vocals on Saturday from 8:30 p.m. to midnight, and then back off with some bingo on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
— Ziggy’s downtown Hudson version: Piano Bar that’s both rocking and more reserved with Tim Grady on Friday and Saturday and Sunday so a total of 12 hours worth, to set the stage for upstairs with live music of the still-picking-up-speed Critical Mass band on Friday, and the even truer veterans of the regional rock scene Uncle Chunk on Saturday, with both starting at 9 p.m.

They are one of the most eclectic and varied, and just plain big types of eats and drinks in combo, that you can indulge in. So many hot and cold meat types sliced and in bulk, veggies green and otherwise, cheeses of all kinds and colors as this is Wisconsin, plenty of pickles and olives alike, and seasonings of various sorts all in a row, or should we say stacked into the top of a glass, jar, jug or even mug — again so many choices.
To the point that to see and taste all of what’s out there, all in one city, but also incorporating neighboring locales, you need to go on a pub crawl. And wash it down with fish fries galore, and balloon-themed food makings and samplings.
So enter the Hudson Hot Air Affair, billed as the largest winter ballooning event of its kind, warming up your hackles so you can take-in all of the even-outdoors featured activities — for its 34th year — it will include in the first weekend of February.
All new this year at the Hot Air Affair is the first-ever Bloody Mary Crawl featuring ten participating Eat/Shop/Play eating and drinking destinations over weekend of Feb. 3-5. Patrons get special prices on Bloody Marys all weekend, plus non-alcoholic and zero-alcohol Bloody Mary Mocktails available, as well. Vote for your favorite and have a chance to win a prize of Tonka Vodka and Miss Mary’s Bloody Mary Mix.
These are the close-to-a-dozen venues where you can eat and shop and play, and maybe win, too, (and a bit on their claim-to-fame decore and atmosphere):
— Bennett’s Chop and Rail House, new and lively and as their name implies featuring steak-and-beyond entrees.
— Black Rooster Bistro, across the street from Bennett’s and also new but carrying on a long tradition at the stone-decked-out location.
— Dick’s Bar and Grill, with four separate and distinct rooms and perhaps the longest tenure of a tavern in Wisconsin and yes the upper Midwest.
— Grand Fete, bunches to say and for that see below.
— Jonesy’s Local Bar and Grill, with all the games of all types you could want to play and more.
— Post American Eatery, that has a cool wood-hewn design in its backdrop of a longtime Post Office.
— Lucky Guys Distilling, bringing home the theme of their great big metal brewing vats for visual appeal.
— Plaza Bowling Center/Plaza Lounge, with an upbeat atmosphere and the karaoke to match.
— The Empourium, under new ownership and great big and open spaces after you walk inside.
— Ziggy’s Live Music, Bar and Restaurant, with so much of the above on two levels and anything else you could want.
In western Wisconsin, you can have an old-fashioned wallop of walleye and other fillets during the Friday fish fries, but that’s only where their seafood starts. These restaurants are situated right downtown and thus could be a perfect top off for the torchlight parade and fireworks over the St. Croix River set for all Friday evening: Dick’s Bar and Grill on Walnut Street, and Post American Eatery on Locust Street. You can add Jonesy’s Local at Plaza 94 to that fish fry list, and still be close in to the launch site, as this fish extravaganza has options all weekend long. While typically known for virtually-every-night music, Ziggy’s on the south end of the downtown also brings the fish, prior to their music on Friday night.
Other venues with such Friday fish offerings are Big Guy’s BBQ Roadhouse as you might guess is between North Hudson and Houlton, and also across the area are Carbone’s Pizza/Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt, Cheap Andy’s Saloon in Hammond, Nutty Squirrel Saloon in River Falls, and the Empoureum at Exit 4 in the town of Hudson.
Beyond fish and bloodys, experience the Magic of Food at Grand Fete: on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with $3 Bloody Mary Mocktails and the coolest cookoff you can image in the form of a garnish contest, 10-11 a.m. with Hot Air Affair balloon cookie decorating for ages 5-11 and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for ages 12 to adult (both free), then from 12:30-3:30 p.m. an Angry Tomato Salsa sampling with local owner Dana Steenburg. Also on Sunday, 1-3 p.m. for balsamic truffle class for adults (free).

Now that its 20 or more years later, the ex-drummer of the Black Crowes has again hit the local scene, this time in the radio talk show booth, not being the subject of the sound guy in the sound booth.
After being middle age or so in his former band’s gig at the River’s Edge near Somerset, when concerts on either side of the village were more the thing, Dave Gorman now takes his turn on the other side of the river, replacing the longtime stalwart of the KQ morning show, the now retiring Tom Bernard. He already was well into his tenure as the leader of the crew when this other show went on, as in the concert, and Gorman was in back on the skins.
I remember Gorman and his mates whipping through their rock standards with relative ease, and he supplied carefully placed but powerful drum fills to tunes, and leading their intros, like their main standard, the rockin’ out Hard to Handle. When other instruments such as percussion, of a folk style, were added the sound quality suffered. I wrote that in a concert review for the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, to the degree that the entertainment section editor asked me after it was published if I had reservations about the band and their performance. I responded that they should stick to what they do best, even if that meant making changes in the presentation of certain songs over others in their set list’s order. My recollection was that both styles were given equal treatment, judging by the way the songs were mixed in.
The crowd didn’t seem to care, and they got a good look to make such a judgment, as the concert site was sloped gently toward the stage, which was elevated by about the helght of a basketball hoop. Good thing since the lead singer, Chris Robinson, was somewhat short in stature, and he had all those folk instruments surrounding him. Above what could have been a mosh pit if the band’s sound was harder, the nearly full moon was shrouded in mist, or what was a actually pot smoke, as legalization had been a champion cause of the group long before in gained more traction — this was over 20 years ago. I could smell it on my clothes and thought gee, I sure hope I don’t happen to get stopped on the way home by the heavy law enforcement that included squads with a checkpoint at all nearby points along the state line.
Topics like lighting up were, of course, frequent fodder for the morning show, and one wonders that since the move toward legalization is now more and more popular, will the tack taken by its hosts change at all with the addition of Gorman? And on something like the occasional St. Croix Riverboat party cruises, they’d be straddling the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota, with potential differences in state laws on such matters, as they work their way through one Legislature, or the other, or both. Cruising north toward Stillwater you could light up, but south angling toward Prescott, you couldn’t? Continue on down until Iowa?
A big reason Gorman got this new gig was the fact he has had his own syndicated radio show, which even aired on KQRS for a while. He was very articulate with detailed discussion, and of course had many stories from the road — between songs on a theme and their analysis, his staple. That show had its wraps after midnight, an adjustment from now where you’d usually hit the air before dawn.

Today we will dig into anniversaries, of all types, part of the local history of rock and roll.
And wrestling too, as there is the Old School NWA stuff. Thus back to the roots of today’s entertainment for a ziggy zaggy barrel of fun. And we hope for the best with a possible boondoggle.
The local scene has abounded with marking the passing of things like 10 years in business, then 11 …
And since there are stats that these days, many grill and bars that start up only last a year or two, these anniversaries show significance. Five years can be a sign of longevity.
To summarize, on Thursday, Jan. 19, is a celebration of the fourth anniversary in business of Ziggy’s music club in Hudson. Nextdoor to that popular venue is Hop and Barrel, in the midst of its fifth anniversary slate. And looking ahead to the heyday of the Hudson Hot Air Affair, Jan. 28 features the intro event of this installment of the more than 30 years of flying high, with as its outro a Boondoggle of a band that’s been around for almost that long, part of an all-evening, five-hour blitz.

— And now there are no more Packers or even Vikings — except in Led Zeppelin folklore and also the hope for next year — so there is no more chance to take in a killer Kwik Trip special. In short, the number of points that the Packers came up with in each game during the season would give you a given amount off, for two days, your gas/pizza. (To munch on during the next weekend’s game?) So the downfall of Rodgers and Co. meant Kwik Trip saved a bunch of money. If this special ran a few years back, with Rodgers gunning for five touchdowns on any given Sunday, it just might have bankrupted the convenience store chain. —

Hop and Barrel, fittingly spelled like rock and roll with its, twice, use of the three-letter word in the three, has become known for regularly hosting comedy nights and the wrestling events, of course, so five years will likely get you ten on down the line.
The latest Hop and Barrel wrestling extravaganza, to be held on Saturday, Jan. 21, has NWA written all over it, and more than a dozen of its stars are on a promo poster that’s making its rounds at downtown establishments, yet again. The divas of course look great, but not quite at the same level as most Smackdown. So, it is billed as Beautiful Brutality. You will have to fork over a Benjamin to see them.
On Thursday at the music club that has an abutting patio, and also offers occasional comedy nights and other such events, the rub is that you can get select killer and cool/hot eats and libations for only three dollars. And on that day at Ziggy’s, there is a full six hours of music, from two different acts, the proverbial Piano Man and yes, a rock group. And after getting revved up at the wrestling two days later, you can go let it out here with another band, Flash Mob. The Mob Rules?

In the last weekend of the month, at the kickoff to the Hot Air Affair, there are tasting samples of myriad types from dozens of local vendors, food and drink galore. And then there’s the band. Boondoggle is a longtime locally-sourced rock and roll band. Since their style is not totally ramped up volume and tempo, they are a great fit for this event, allowing patrons the option to take a closer listen and/or share conversation over food and drink, and switch from one to the other when a favorite song kicks in — but even then be able to finish that story. The members of Boondoggle have played these types of gigs for a long time. Thus they have the experience to put on a show without drowning out the speaking of their listeners with one another, as they are solid with their musicianship and not simply loud. This event is the Taste of the Hot Air Affair, a bit up nort’ at White Eagle Golf Club, from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Minus five then ten, temps falling. Or 20 or 30, wind chills. Or 40 or 50, wind gusts.
And in that (over the hills and not so far away?) place at the opposite corner of the state it was mostly a green Christmas. But go more south it was slip slidin’ away, from both rain and even more snow.
But the show that is the snow, goes on and on and on. KARE 11 last night aired a plea by fire chiefs — as their lead story no less — from the station’s home section of the metro to clear up around hydrants. And be patient with garbage removal and mailbox areas also, the latter of which you have more control over as a resident. In my neck of the woods the hydrants sit free and open to be accessed, when needed in this that can be a fire season, and even can be covered with sheer plastic hoods for more safekeeping.
Can’t always say the same for the electrical-cable-phone stacks that are often stacked up with snow. And the sidewalks, long stretches that are as bare of snow as can be, but still long walks the length of a block or so, where it is trudging and ready for stumble from snow and ice, but not sheets of it. An example of a text on the start of the battle: “Begin moving around snow piles tomorrow and Monday.”

— Additionally, I hope there were more yuks than yams in your yule, and it was yummy. But if not …
Could I be that guy, rhetorically, since my name is Joe Winter? Like that ex of, my fantasy woman, Alanis Morrissette, who is the guy said by many — but there are other theorists — to have inspired her song “You Oughta Know,” considered the most venomous breakup tune of its type and time since, basically, the ancient Greeks on the lyre.
Anyway, thus says the recruiting sign by a company that might be more fun then effective: Dear Winter. I’m breaking up with you because I need to be seeing more seasons.
That on top of: Jingle all the way, because nobody likes a half-assed jingler. (They actually wrote that. Where are the censors? Will I be blocked for my plagarism, or swear word, or both?) —

In downtown New Richmond, I saw a section of big bench with all but a tad of snow removed — so I had to check out the two on the other side of the street. Results were as mixed as the nature of the precipitation. And during a return trip for viewership, after seeing the biggest solitary snowball imaginable but not a full snowman and not connected to the Santa figure a foot away, were other benches up the way buried in even more snow, so to be neck-high.

— That like music recordings in studio need to be mixed, or be junk. On a traveling junket? The Junk FM band like so many others, though based in Minneapolis, played New Year’s Eve in the Eau Claire area, was on tap at Ziggy’s music club in Hudson on that infamous for other reasons Jan. 6, and is back there on Jan. 19, with more weekend showings in both the Ziggy’s in Stillwater and Hudson through February. And they find time to perform for the troops stationed in the Middle East between some gigs, even if there has been only scant movement toward peace among the combatants.
But for other big-time acts going on, see Picks of the Week. And Bigly is back in town, at The Smilin’ Moose, on Jan. 27. —

Thus there has been a need for “movements,” so I put down my shopping bag of music CDs and more and helped an elderly lady with that shoveling which laid before her. She had done her part, already giving it a good start, so I turned the shovel and spiked a pike to the ice a few times. (And to mention ice, there is the semi-frozen One Block Run in Hudson’s downtown this Saturday at noon near the Hudson arch in the park.
And oh that wind. I love the series of red and white lit candy canes, accompanied by glowing and sparkling globes … but … was it the gales that meant on a key bitter night in early December the plug-ins above the sidewalk were, unplugged. Its not just a guitar that does this.
Other globes were almost grounded, reaching snowbank height while decorating trees, due to the sheer weight of snow on pine branches.
And was it the same force of wind that broke open a big wooden gate that obstructs vision to the dumpster at my apartment complex. Or were people just tossing away so much stuff, even in advance of a materialistic Christmas. The shopping projections said so, increasing with each year.
Also picking up is all the housing construction in the area, Tyvek material frequently flapping in the breeze. A few weeks earlier, most of what we saw was a several-stories-high elevator installation, standing high above the land, like the forebearer of an ice cathedral. And another thing we need to construct — a brand new rock club. Both moreso at night.
Then that big ol’ ice storm.
I had never seen such slippery slopes, even when they are not truly sloped, much less have to walk on it. Any lack of complete levelness would make you fall via quickly slidden foot. Usually it slides about eight inches, but then, alas, the foot’s position always comes back to fruition. Bartender Mabel said, wisely, watch it while you walk on with your step on the way home alone. Even in the downtown sidewalks, it was tricky. Many series of sidewalks, more and more. And the ice was so slick and sheer with not a hint of snow-like moisture. But I did not fall down. Almost thought I should call Mabel to let her know the goods news, ease her mind.
A Hudson dance troupe, even though not on the northern end of my base, got what would be a trend rolling. They made, as was emailed the Wednesday Before Christmas, it official: We would have a snow day and no official dance routines and lessons, just what could be done in the comfort of their homes, literally. Then in a day or so came the announcement, which could be redacted with another snow day, and than I think re-redacted: “We are back on normal schedule.”
After many daytime private lessons had been cancelled, evening group classes and ugly Christmas sweater country dance party also got the cold shoulder and were rescheduled due to weather that took a whole dozen words to describe. “We hope to be open tomorrow, but stay tuned as we all watch the weather and roads.” Maybe just post photos.
Seems like a long time since I asked those at late fall football bonfire, far corner of their yard, which pro team was dominating, despite impending ice storm. Vikings cited, then redacted, then reclaimed. All in one sentence. No love for the actual Ice Bowl. Brings back days for which we sat and waited, outdoors, when the Vikes were cold weather warriors worry of the true Norse.

Now that The Number of The Six is past, as in not another Jan. 6 White House revolt, and the Georgia runoff of that same numerical date has been run-off by a former running back and not again challenged …
So it is finished. I hope. Maybe. But this is politics.
Makes bar math seem basic. Or make you want to hit the sports bar, for its distractions of sports and other things.
So now, take Georgia, and the now politician Hershel Walker — remember him and his debacle of a Vikings job as battering ram back and savior? — losing by only a handful of votes or two in bid to become governor. The first time around. The exact numbers? For with the alleged vagueness that its done these days, I wrote last fall, you’ll just have to stay tuned … Maybe by the time the next election rolls around, we’ll know. Sort of.
But wait, the vote was indeed held and Walker did not walk away a winner. He would not be governor although hey, c’mon really, if it comes down to 51-49 percent did you really do that bad a job in running, of this type.

— The sky is falling and its Biden’s fault. Going big to the border, soon billions, and it started with the ozone layer diminishing and allowing through a meteor that wiped out several immigrant processing stations. So Biden now has to control the weather too, and is also getting flack for not doing more about climate change. Hey, wait a minute … —

And as far as the state of things, didn’t something like this happen the former time there was such an election, as The Devil Went Down To Georgia.
(I do need to interject something here. Walker apparently suffers from mental health issues such as depression. So let’s not be too rough on him, as its been squarely charged, by even his own son, that he was goaded into running for office, so the Republicans could offer a black-man-voting-choice against another black candidate. Down South, where Walker was a superstar, moreso than now, while playing for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, it might not be known that he once attempted suicide by letting the car run while seated inside. So let’s not bring on another tragedy. I slept before finishing this article, and oddly had a dream about Southern hospitality being shown to me to make a trip along the Georgia oceanic coast inexpensive and fun).
With those things said, there still are questions, although maybe to be thrown another direction. But all accounts, this Walker was not a family values guy, but the Republicans still found him useful, politically.
And then, closer to today, there is the speakership ala McCarthy. It could change and he could have fully hopped on board between the time I am writing this and when you reddit. Oops, meant to say read it. I think vote No. 40 will be the charm, Biblicial symbolism besides.
So it goes, I fear there will there be still more questions on “winner-ship,” as the process limps along, just different races. I originally wrote this in November, as things continued with some slack, with a few races not yet finalized, and I am now calling winner-ship a word, of some import, via Webster’s.
Of interest is that on my computer, the breaking news of who would be Wisconsin governor was listed under the heading of two out-of-state newspapers, the Minneapolis-based Star-Tribune and Des Moines Register. So I guess in this state, we’re somebody now. Or again.
Simply STOP over the TOP, as in The Obstruction Party.
There is likely one obscure H named word and its not Huckebee that will haunt us courtesy of many of those elected, that being that we’ve been hoodwinked, or probably partially so. For we are still down for the added-word Simply Obstructionist Party (STOP) to mainly one and he is Ron Johnson, and because Gov. Evers got in again, the former will be limited in exacting more of his feed-the-ultra-rich actions. (Take a lesson there all you conservative farmers). The news was broken by Fox that one in five families would not be able to purchase a turkey last Thanksgiving, and obviously they are blaming Biden. The other four out of five, or maybe just three, would have no problem purchasing five or ten turkeys, thank you.
The biggest groundbreaking trend — the newer Walker politician aside — were females in the GOP in as Gov, window-dressing only as a matter of how they will dress, and skirting the issue of how many will be the ways this new conservatism will run roughshod over women.
Signs of the times …
These days, the political signs are smaller, like the country roads that they could be on — or not — even for the likes of Ron Johnson, now in again. Did see quite a bit for Evers, and what he has apparently done for small businesses.
It is or was time, a bit over a week into November, where by local ordinance to get those vote for my guy, or girl, favorites off your lawn, like along Sixth Street East, where there were three groups of four signs and each set a crucial six feet apart, within less than two blocks. The lone sign that had remained was thanking poll workers, a really thankless job these days with all the challenges to elections.
And you get bet there will be a whole another round of them to endure for months to come, and years also, as in this country you have never really lost until there is no court left to run your lawsuit through.

Before the clock struck ten, it was time for the revelry to begin. As the warmer weather had set it.
Like even last year’s 16 below temps — which still did not seem to create much of a damper — could keep the crowds away from their haven of haunts for another holiday, them being open two more hours, (weekday time).
This was New Year’s Eve in downtown Hudson, although it took a few venues a bit to get rolling, thinks were relatively balmy inside and out, and come time for the evening news, the news was that I didn’t even want to guess how many thousands of people the overall joint would eventually push through, by the typical 4 a.m. closing.
A stop at Hudson Tap, at around 8 p.m., where the flood of people had not set in. Give that a half-hour, and the families with young kids would be slowly replaced by the more typical New Year’s Eve-ish crowd, as it filtered in. A quick walk that was a very short jaunt toward the freeway, saw a few couples that could be Classic Rockers working their way back to where I had been.
Then cut ahead to a little after 9 p.m. I thought I recognized the server who was setting up shop behind a steel tub, which was then filled with several bags of ice and then beer She thought things were, still, a bit slower than her liking. But our eyes met as one, and I advised: “give it 20 minutes.”
The resulting rush, for her and co-workers, was like an octopus with suction cups at the tips of its squishy legs. (I’ve just been waiting to use that gag).

This is not as funny as Geico:
Three straight insurance offers popped up into my inbox in just two seconds and only two did Universal coverage and one just Life. And so goes my life. They need a life. Or this time, was it me. Minnesota 3-2 beer? And can I get Insurance for such semi-spam?
A full 3 into 2 messages popped up on my inbox screen red-hot-button prompter, as I think another had just arrived and was deemed to be starred (or trash?) in my eyes, so does that mean it’s deleted, and that’s OK, as we’ve all been there?? (When a tree falls and wind thusly blows in the woods and no one hears or “sees” it with starry eyes … and did this mean I’m actually the one to blame, if I got the analogy wrong?) I think — in a nano-second it was — this time they were timely — when on the bus ticket they said St. Paul and not Hudson, actually, was the place to be picked up. Oh, wait that was my other bus line (yes, there were taken simultaneously, believe it or not, and see how in the previous post. Just that the latter ticket should have said Lakeland rather than the park and ride across from the Hudson Target store). So we go round again?

At Ziggy’s, would the elves and their pointy ears on yet another holiday be behind the counter, on their way back to pick up at the bar-rail, or there out in the audience. Oh, it was a patron, but on this night not listening to a Celtic band.
Next the keyboard, three women (and I think one guy?), were gathered around, on the edge of the ivories. I said they could be the Piano Women. Their bling could bring a jingle.
And bling? I saw out for the first time in ages, a fabulous and leggy woman sporting barely-there strappy and spiked heels. There had been the fashion motif to have worker-meets-metal-concert boots that were tweaked to have a smaller-scale, cool style look, but has now turned functional with the cold and snow. (More relatively soon on this website, about such fashion trends that more and more define things …)
Back up the way again, just north of the corner with Walnut, was an Old School Hudson antique shop, being on the move, which had a set of two scaffoldings taking up space on the sidewalk, to be walked around. (This was the second time I’d had to negotiate this space, and again (after-hours?), there was no construction crew racing things forward, like the whole deal where there on the freeway are/can be dozens or hundreds of orange barrels and nobody blasting concrete, at least at the time. (Maybe I should change-up my driving schedule).
The first time to get-on-by this walking barrier, I encountered on the other side a worker for FedEx, and it was a game of chicken to see who would first enter into the 12-foot-long narrow foot track that still was stilted in snow. He graciously gave in. What a professional.

My travel plans, or not, were an experience right before Christmas along the (bus) lines of the classic holiday movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles. But throw in cancelled bus rides (plural) and stolen luggage also, at the very time my bus was supposed to be arriving, and then leaving again. This was not The Who’s silly Magic Bus.
But in the long haul, since I’m still able to get home for the holidays, just on a different holiday, New Year’s, I can max out on Christmas for the majority of its 12 days anyway. (But now the horrific snow and such appears slated for yet another return and encore, depending just where you are along the swirling meteorology mess). Happy New Year!
The cancellation craziness started when Flixbus bolted on me, more than two days before the trip was set to roll out down the highway on the day before Christmas Eve, leaving from the Union Depot station in St. Paul. Those highways proved heinous in places. But not nearly everywhere.
So hey, there are other options out of St. Paul, and eventually even air and Amtrak travel were considered. So my next step was to call Megabus, which I thought with their likewise once a day, every day, trip to Milwaukee, had saved me at Christmas as even in this late-going I got a fare. Or …
Little did I know there would be a round two.
When I was dropped off, I saw that I still had a few minutes before the bus arrival. Whew. Wind around the corner with my two big bags and one small and get right to the gate. That’s when my cell phone dinged and my mood flattened like a worn-out tire. There would be no bus pulling up. Like so many they were caving in to the weather. Then send days later a survey, if you are Megabus, for you to describe what was “pleasant” about your trip, the one you never took.
When I turned around to read the latter of the cancellation text messages, and more importantly the refund policy, I set a small bag down next to a stairwell, then walked up it because a big van that was loading at the time appeared to be my Megabus. (Could the text be in erroneous? But when looking further, it turned to be a metro transit vehicle). I told the other four potential passengers waiting by the depot door about the cancellation, which was so newly given that they needed to review it first on their own phones.
My non-grinchlike behavior was not rewarded, as when I turned around I could not find the bag. Apparently it had been stolen during the span of a minute or two. I initially feared that some important medications were now lost, and since they had been filled the day before, getting a replacement would not be allowed by the doctor for the majority of the coming month, which in my case could put me into medical crisis for — anxiety. That’s enough to make anyone anxious. I thought it through and determined that the medications in question were likely stowed away in another suitcase. So I breathed easier, for the moment. I wouldn’t be able to check in the well-packed luggage for them until home, however, since my driver was near. He was nice enough to double back, as I had called in the midst of my quick search to ask, while reaching down to the bag that was now non-existent, at least in my newly formed opinion. Restless, I checked around the area once more. No dice. A security guard called one of his mates to quick the video camera, and that did not yield anything, although he did wish me a Merry Christmas. Twice.
I think I know where the bag went. Preface this, there was much more security there then usual, and they were asking people about their business. One man stood out, who was trying to bum a cigarette, even though he had one in his hand. I didn’t have that, but I thought I’d dig into that bag I lost and offer him one of my last candy canes, along with good holiday cheer. But then I got sidetracked. So maybe he got one anyway. Or more.
When home, I saw that only two meds were missing — aspirin and caffeine — but both of them now seemed even more needed. Then when sitting down to write this story, the news hit my brain like a blizzard cyclone bomb — my newly minted reporter’s notebook was also gone with the wind. Would I still have the write stuff?
The driver had been sympathetic, on various fronts. The company should have known well beforehand that travel would be curtailed, although the storm could have been far worse in the area as far as snow, but the roads were just a bit greasy traveling out of St. Paul, getting cleaner while heading east. “What you really have to watch is the black ice,” he said, adding there was precious little of this to make him in danger of a skid. Upon further review with weather reports, conditions had turned worse again with heavier snow near Madison, which tapered off near Milwaukee until the lake effect hit as busses veered south to Chicago — the entire route my vehicle would have taken. So there were a lot of factors for the bus company planners to consider.
It is ironic, he agreed, that the big bus company based in Germany, which had bought-out Greyhound, would be more on top of weather situations, and canceled on a timely basis, then one with a longer tenure in the States. And they followed up before the holiday was over, to offer a 25 percent discount on the next ride. Megabus, on the other hand, did not send what was only an automated cell phone survey to me until two days later, which asked if I had a “pleasant” trip (by bus or driver?). Then back to Flixbus, and their new offer of a 25 percent discount on a next fare for my trouble, although the time-frame to use it isn’t long. Could I claim that, both, along with my refund/new trip? Or have to pick one? A latter email from Flixbus said they were experiencing some fine-tuning with their very revised slate of post-acquisition pickup spots. Maybe used their off-time due to weather to get that tweaked. Sounds reasonable to me; my family not as forgiving. And my inbox continues to be bombarded with more offers and counter-offers from both bus services, some tied to the trip that never was. Greyhound would make three.

The local geography of it …
As we neared Lakeland and the state line, other considerations came into play. The next fare lived near Somerset. Winding through Bayport, then using the new Stillwater bridge sounded pretty sweet, and I remember thinking I could see those three church steeples near downtown Stillwater against the horizon if I turned my head. A sweet view I thought, and help salvage the holiday. Taking the other route around the river from Hudson to Houlton, I feared, could yield the same problem I had encountered a number of times on Wisconsin Hwy. 35 just to the south of the bridge after construction — very bad fog, or in this case wind driven snow.
As it was, we opted to go to New Richmond via Roberts, and Interstate 94 was fine for driving, with Wisconsin Hwy. 65 having more blowing snow.
A recent text from my mom had said that almost everyone on the other end was sick, some quite a bit so, thus the new plan might have been for the best anyway. Could they even make it that night? One moderately ill couple said they would try, but would they expose my elderly dad. My brother was in need for his shovel, a Christmas present. And his daughter had a crazy story like mine, locked out of their house with the dog and having to seek shelter in a nearby church. Fitting during this season.
Once in the apartment building, I saw that a Good Samaritan/Santa — maybe even the carrier himself — had dropped copies of the area advertising shopper right at the doorways of some of the units.
Inside, there was one more trick waiting to be played on me. I phoned my mom back and gave her a further breakdown of what the coming weekend would or could entail — she had been next on the initial calling chain after my driver — and while on the line, the power went out. Or appeared to. Again a trick. After a bit of pondering, I thought it odd that the computer was still on, so I flipped the light switches and thank God there was again light!
And over Christmas itself back there, the TV went out during the Packer game, but this time the coverage could not be restored until the final whistle.
And that carry-on bag that was stolen? Mom replaced it in triplicate, as a gift, when I actually got home for Christmas/New Year. I guess the travel plans, such as they were, gave her a lot more shopping time.