The theme this season is S’Mores and More, Balloon Galore, at the Hot Air Affair, which is taking more and more of a regional presence, not only Hudson, but other cities, villages and towns in its Friday and Saturday and Sunday activities.
(Update: Late Friday night the flags that were frozen in place, so not effected by wind that would play into the picture until the morning came, spoke a tale of what would happen the next sunrise, as balloons only go up when their speed is less than 10 mph. Then come 2:40 p.m. Saturday, the next shot for a launch, and the big flags were horizontal as they wafted very strongly in the wind, much like the balloon-rising schedules that are at the mercy of the breeze, but not the cold of the night before. So your best bet for using that promo guide that’s described below, might be Sunday morning at 7 a.m. Meanwhile, places like Ziggy’s and the next-door northward Hop & Barrel have been overflowing with patrons even at the far tables that are seldom full.)
Balloons from a handful of main event sponsors include a Duluth candy company and a River Falls grocer in their scope, and other venues could be taken into the mix, if the winds are southernly, as we then include the Nutty Squirrel bar and grill as not only a ballooning host, but a party destination. If your winds head east, this list could conceivingly include a partnering Hammond venue, Cheap Andy’s. A state tourism rep is expected to carry on an attendance precedent begun by then-Gov. Tommy Thompson, by being in both Hudson and River Falls over the weekend, and maybe also hitting New Richmond, to mingle with the sponsors and such who make it run.
Aside from the four commercial balloon sponsors there are these who are both a local balloon and event sponsor: The Valley Companies, Viking Electronics and Family Fresh Market-River Falls, (and also New Richmond). There are dozens of other businesses who are either in one camp or the other. The latter two companies are teaming with Spring Creek Dental to put out a Balloon Education program on Friday, using what else as a reference, the Cloud Dancer that is a product of both Family Fresh and a pilot from Joliet, the only such one from an Illinois origin. “Learn how the beautiful hot air balloons fly in the Hot Air Affair printable educational booklet.” That can be a ready reference when more than 30 are scheduled to go up over three times over the weekend in this, the largest winter ballooning event in the country. This educational offering goes on most of the day.
Most of the ballooning and related events, such as morning launches, are held at Rock School in the heart of Old Hudson just north of The Hill district, and information especially can be gathered at merchant sponsors.

(Another weekend first — aside from those new events listed in the next paragraph — is also being unveiled through the Family Fresh new assortment of AngusPride choice beef cuts, USDA choice that starts with fresh and all-natural and boneless beef whole New York strip loin for under $7 a pound. Could treat that balloon pilot you met either on the launching field or landing field or then after-hour-party and invited over, which then spills into NFL Pro Bowl Sunday and gives something robust to that defenseless game, or use to it to spearhead your next hostess weekend of Super Bowl party, and morph into the Monday of Valentine’s Day).

So the Hot Air Affair is where the whole flurry of activities start, as also recent to the Hot Air Affair are chilling out in the ultimate way concerning temps. There is the St. Croix River Dunk, sponsored by longtime stalwart Hudson Rotary Club, ice carving in a nod to the Winter Carnival held across the river, final tastings for the S’More Wars Recipe Contest that’s sponsored by Grand Fete, and animals and big birds of the St. Croix, courtesy of Angel’s Pet World. There is a beanbag tournament at Hop & Barrell, as well. Virtually all this is going on mid-day on Saturday.
Zappa Bros. are being honored as a charter balloon sponsor, but alas Frank will not be one of them. The closest thing as far as live music involving an official sponsor — for various reasons relating to the virus and its variants and resulting vile behavior seen here at times — were local heroes Boondoggle at The Taste Of Hudson S’Mores and More, Balloons Galore, last Saturday at Camp St. Croix. The usual downtown Hudson rock and pop music shows will still go on this weekend, but elsewhere from the HHAA and in a non-official capacity, with Ziggy’s and Dick’s leading that list by having a sponsorship role, since they offer more than just bar fare, but not being listed on the Hot Air Affair calendar itself. The means the status of live music, at least as officially notated, will be absent from the festival for the second straight year, for the first such exclusions in more than a decade. But there are a boatload — balloonload? — of other festive activities, which is why this post is on this particular website.
For exact times and dates, and the possibly unfolding weather-reated changes, go to HudsonHot AirAffair.com.

Jailhouse rock? Or rap? As we fight the hoards that are now coming over here from Minneapolis/St. Paul due to must-prove-vaccination requirements, and all this might land a few thugs in the clink also …
Then there came news of a fantastic rapper, who wrote and then sang as well at light speed, that unfortunately is currently incarcerated. Lyric fodder? So hard to get gigs unless you are a hip-hopper invoking the hood. Just kidding. The speed at which he rapped its seems, is not the speed that causes the wheels of justice to turn. And then the fact that he is an older white male, also named Joe … Kinda like Eminem, age-wise, but from Hudson per se.
The only one with that genre going forth that can compare, is a relative of the powers that be at Dick’s Bar, as his speedy pace was and is way over the top, with all kinds of different verses that are a rap thing, when filling in for Jeff Loven at length during his set breaks. And is some of it original, not covers? Where are you buddy, in these Covid days?
Then this Saturday at the GasLight in Ellsworth, is Jake Nelson’s Full Band, (their wording to set them apart from duos and solos), with a fiddle and keyboards to accompany three guitars starting at 7 p.m. and going for four hours — minus possible encores. The musicians have a Johnny Be Good, down-home appeal, in addition to a guy on guitar who could match some on a runway, not just a stage. Like the thrasher from Metallica in (short hair) look. And right after I hit the send button, now for the first time, I heard on the radio the reference to just exactly when they ALL IN THE BAND cut their hair!

You can call it the (extended) karaoke crawl. And as far as an extension, of arm reach, see the last paragraph of this post for a related entertainment option, newly added.
Imagine being able to win, (if only a moral victory for you and your fans in a pandemic), at karaoke on Friday night, then follow it up with a victory that even includes great prizes the next night also, for a several more weeks running before the finals up north, the march is on.
You can do both parts of this dual vocal “championship,” starting at the Bungalow Inn in Lakeland on Fridays, and T-Buckets on the way to Somerset on Saturdays, bringing in both ends of the St. Croix Valley. The latter has killer prizes, and as far as the former, we are all anxiously anticipating the return of the actual and more official Bungalow Idol, once the virus is vanquished. But you can still strut your vocal stuff every Friday. (Disclaimer: Actual Idol is on hiatus for the moment, but good things come to those who wait).
Both nights are known for their long-honed, (although not necessarily long-haired) knowledgeable karaoke deejays, both in music and entertaining a crowd themselves, often with their own vocals to warm up the crowd, in annual competitions that see everything from Sinatra (many crooners) to hair band ballads (not as numerous but dressing the part), and all the country, rock and pop in-between.
The Bungalow features one of the biggest dance floors you will find to accompany karaoke, and people get out there and strut their stuff physically as well as vocally, and the draw for T-Buckets is the most enthusiastic group of sorta groupies that you will ever encounter. A really hot babe will be all over the likes of someone like you, living in the moment, and adding to the appeal on all fronts.
And rolling forward with the theme of the back-to-back-to-back opportunities, as per places along the route of the crawl, the Hudson Bowling Center has karaoke both Fridays and Saturdays every-other-weekend, and there is Jeff Loven at Dick’s Bar and Grill on Sunday nights at Dick’s Bar and Grill — he will bring you up to sing and even walk you through with advice to make your song sound even better — and then more karaoke at the Village Inn, as a newbie, on Monday nights, so that adds up to several nights running.

Ultimate Fighting is back at Buffalo Wild Wings on Saturday, and we think the undefeated though underdog might pull it out, before the usual packed house. Why? From a wordsmith, his name is Gane, and we thus think he has game. Is his first name Gabe? Gates as says the local ad are at 10 p.m. or 7 p.m., depending what coast you are on. (Shouldn’t they list central time, too?)

Hey Hudson, your own HudsonWiNightlife is doing a community service for … HudsonWiNightlife.
A few of you long-suffering try to find my website patrons, have written to say they can’t locate it at times, on their social media device. The answer is out in space, that is as far as the spacing is concerned.
As usual, Joe has to explain his joke. If you enter that website name and use a space or two, it may or may not call up. Try entering it in all one string, sans spaces. (And case sensitive does not appear to be an issue, this case).
To take it a step further, there are 61 and growing followers on my Nextdoor online “group” for the Village Of North Hudson, but somehow, there was a space inserted into the heading they have listed, just one, into the string. This does not appear to be problem in this specific case. But if you are one of those few, just in case …
And also, there are a select few social media devices that will not pick me up! Bad joke. But to continue that joke, if you are having trouble, ask the cutie next to you if you could look me up on their device. Conversation starter. And try to be as well versed as you can — although this is getting ahead of ourselves — on the punch line. If it flies with them, you have my permission, minus all those unnecessary disclaimers as I’ll cull them out since reading my website can be that important … and if the humor tanks, likewise, just blame it on me. One more community service, to hook you up and stay connected!

The two latest performers to pass on were much alike, and also much different, as played out with local fans and singers of their songs.
Actor/comic Bob Saget and musician/actor David Bowie pushed the envelope, but in different ways, and in what of it was out there in the public. And their visual appeal was at bookends, but shared a feminine look, which was used for both art and satire — we won’t even mention the late Betty White and Hot in Cleveland as that would be outside the two-state Minnesconsin area.
(And before I go further, let me reference the death of Clyde Bellecourt, an leading American Indian advocate based in Minneapolis. I once did a lengthy interview with him on his own turf, a small, unassuming single-story building in an unassuming part of south Minneapolis. What this place he used as an office lacked in high-class, it made up in colorful decor from his culture. This was a social justice from-the-region story that was run nationally long before the days of Black Lives Matter and the like).
When taking a bow for Bowie, karaoke is how I’ve always done it, singing as poppy as I get with Fame and all the vocal orchestrations that were really novel at their time. I’ve done it on many a night, especially years back at what is now the Nutty Squirrel in River Falls, then it was Bo’s ‘N Mine, loving to do on the long descent of that word mid-song. I also was intrigued watching some early morning TV and finding Bowie had penned a rockish opera that was strongly religion based.
As if it needs saying, HudsonWiNightlife has anointed Ellie as the semi-official western Wisconsin queen of Tic Toc. Her daily postings quickly gained a huge following, and this attention to quick detail shown forth when she had two postings on Saget within the day after his death. That speed Tic Tocing is second to only Weird Al Yankovic, who did something similar in volume and comedic-quality-haste a day after a debate, based on the debate, between Trump and Biden.
Some local fans of both Ellie and Saget say he had an alter ego to his family fare, doing very riske comedy that at times was self-deprecating, and upon hearing it were turned off. (Are you listening Miley Cyrus?) Did he push it too far and really tick someone off? Be careful about proceeding in this fashion, especially these days, HudsonWiNightlife.

So just when you thought the merriment and the leftovers that come with it are toast, so to speak, there’s the lingering possibility of yet another holiday party, such as maybe even the one for your office, if Covid does not take root — so another fruitcake. Or more Christmas cookies. Both with crust getting way too “crispy.”
Even now, after that latest shindig, you may find yourself with leftover foodstuffs that although favorites do not really combo-up foodwise — except in Joe’s brain. Here’s how to make the most of many of them, again by supplementing with what’s in your fridge already, although its maybe a stretch, moreso than your burning off New Year’s fat with fitness.
We’ll start with those deviled eggs, oh so cool, that just need their tartness rehabbed. Top with just a bit of my favorite, horseradish, and in this case the sauce is better than the straight minced vegetable. Or possibly bacon bits, and maybe for this example try to use the real ones, or thin ham slices. Finely diced red bell peppers, or the same scant texture of their lookalike, pimento anyone? Or just a touch of the green bell variety. And how about onion chopped very small. A tad of curry? Or in the realm of so hot its cool, hot sauce/chipotle. Cauliflower bits also for those bold, and celery, with a dab of ranch dressing gleaned from your favorite buffalo wings dish and then spread?
If cookies are plain and hardened, or you have only vanilla wafers, drizzle with honey or even maple syrup, (only have pancake variety?) or both, top with cinnamon or brown sugar or both, then heat in the microwave 25 seconds so they all mingle, but don’t got lost in your last Christmas carol and heat them so long they get too soft. The same treatment can be given Graham crackers in the morning. And now this in, from Keanu Reeves, add peanut butter that is preferred to be crunchy not creamy, and OK, he is not in my office being interviewed, he’s on TV with Stephen Colbert.
Plain tortilla chips — sans the salsa you used up — can be just that, so in an odd couple indeed, break those and also potato chips into pieces and mix into the same large bowl, flavors such as garlic and onion, sour cream and cheddar, dill pickle (with a bit of actual dill seed or mustard seed sprinkled on if you’ve got it), and a much smaller portion of big-flaked BBQ. Two flavors in your mouth are better than one, and also three if your eyes by now are too bleary to decipher. (Can we call it trail mix?)
All this may not please the youngsters, and you are at wit’s end, unstress through catharsis by taking in the band Them Pesky Kids this Friday, Jan. 14 at Ziggy’s. I’d bet a combo of Beastie Boys and Ugly Kid Joe, and a hefty dose of Kid Rock. Then its Audio Circus the following night, and when staff along with owner were putting up prominent promo posters mid-week, they were folded as to spell out the last three letters and form “Dio.” I doubt there will be that much metal.

Even well after New Year’s, the holiday display of big, long and multi-colored neon pipes (forever?) glowing were still reflecting the Light Of The World, and spelling out belatedly Merry Christmas to I-94 eastbound passersby just this side of St. Paul.
That beacon might be Hudson, where the downtown pushed thousands of partiers — most from Minnesota — through its halls and streets to ring in the New Year, with many arriving at the late hour that would be the normal closing time, and even a couple of hours beyond that, bolstering the total. A spike in numbers kept growing as the night went on — even as the cold continued to mount, reaching minus 16 toward the bitter end, and that is temperature, in Fahrenheit, not wind chill, which made the number even worse. But the cold finally gave customer traffic numbers a boot to the head come this weekend.
But on the Eve …
The spacious Hudson Tap was packed completely full with patrons, even more than usual by far, even though midnight was still waiting around the corner. The most noticeable look among bartenders was some earrings that looped and dangled down for more than two inches down the neck. A manager who is now a mommy had some time ago taken down her nose ring, passing that torch to staff. We hope that if there was any kind of direct transfer of rings, which I doubt heartily, hefty doses of disinfectant were involved. So if that is your kind of cool look, it still lives!
Despite the elements, there were some women going, and here I go again, bare midriff. (I told one server with such a look, and even shorter, that such dress is brave when its below zero, even if she’s behind a tub of beer, albeit swimming in ice. Her smile told the tale). That type of top along with, and especially, cloth leggings has replaced the Little Black Dress on New Years Eve.
A man and another man and a coatless woman ambled up to the main drag. “Where is the Smilin’ Moose? Is that it over there?” It had been just across the street the entire time. So how do people get away with showing skin on such a frosty-and-beyond New Year’s Eve in downtown Hudson? In stark contrast to the expanses that stretch on for blocks in places like the Minneapolis Warehouse District — what can be seen as the long and the short of it — a large series of Hudson bars over four blocks means you can park and patronize various of them without ever being out in the cold more than a block. Or even less.
Then there was the guy in a short-sleeved shirt — not the only one I’d seen but thank God for the collar — and a perky-in-the-right-place woman, walking along the main drag and talking about … how frigid they both were. Their destination, the Moose, had a heater pumping just over the top on the first step to get in, so maybe there could be a New Year’s kiss.
Inside that doorway, in a vestibule, the action heated up as many people tried to pass ID check and go dance. One man who looked a bit like a gangsta was let through right away — forget no wallet, no entry — as the doorman apparently knew him, and his character, we’re assuming. Another woman eventually managed to work her way inside, even though it seemed her ID was fishy. Even though she was already inside, she tracked down a friend/boyfriend/relative to vouch for the veracity of her ID, which she did at length with him. Uhm, he then had a shot at revisiting his initial decision to grant entry … so just retreat!
Others who came in were literally shaking off the cold, causing their voiced complaints to become a string of gibberish/exclamations. Even a guy in classic Minnesota flannel was shivering, verbally and physically. In an unusual twist from what you will inevitably see on any given night, nobody was being carried on the shoulders of their man, like a long lovely dancer might, going down main street. Perhaps inside? Despite the bitter cold, there were a few people who were sitting on the concrete outcroppings outside and conversing, (isn’t that what the balmier bar-rail is for?), thus stretching out bare legs. At least they weren’t like the woman with open-toed sandals where the pink toenails were quickly turning purple.
Back at Dick’s Bar, an older man who had not been out for a while was dancing slowly with stylish and carefully orchestrated moves. I told him he looked much like a younger Clint Eastwood or Keith Richards, both facially and how he shifted his feet. He really liked the comparison, especially the one to the latter performer. He added that he would not make it to the midnight ring-in, since that was before bedtime, and even 10 p.m. might be pushing it.
He was a one-timer, and there were some noticeable absences on the scene, most vital being Maya and some her friends, of either gender, who are or were regulars. In particular was someone I had not seen for years, but then had twice in December, as among her crew, at least she has been very cautious about Covid.
You could have stayed at home, and taken in a movie marathon. Even up to this date, the Microsoft Store is offering access to “revisit” the best of 2021 — and only in today’s immediate gratification society could going back a few months be “retro.”
Lastly, a backwards plug: Have have you or a loved one been negatively impacted by combat ear plugs, the ad asks? As a warm fuzzy (yeah right) reward, treat yourself as a New Year’s resolution — just do it! — to a Type O Negative combat-in-the-mosh-pit concert, as your plugs will not filter out that much stark-thumping noisy rock. Then take in the White Stripes live and Icky Thump, or as a downtown license plate said, Icky Trump?

If you are braving it out there tonight to ring in the New Year, you will probably be OK as far as temps at that point. If you stick it out to the usual closing time of 4 a.m. that might be a different story.
Right now, just after 8 p.m., the temperature is about that number of degrees, nine to name it. May not drop that significantly between now and midnight, but four hours after that, it could be as low as or feel like 16 below or worse. So that last 3 a.m. secondary-ring-in at the Smilin’ Moose could be beholden to temps like you might see up north in true moose country, (and not the old St. Paul area venue). But as the cabbie acknowledged with a slight nod worthy of Santa, even when it comes to The Frozen (drinks?) those who have been drinking want to stay drinking as long as there are cool dancers, despite the cold.
Bear through it all like you have seen on a flashing — fittingly — sign at TMS Auto, which has not only two different ways to say Happy New Year, but dispersed between them images of a series of explosions — the fireworks kind, for effect, not your transmission in this cold.
And if you survive it until tomorrow, take in the small band — as you can’t fix much for this price — Free Glue at Urban Olive and Vine come 6 p.m. For all those Xmas toys that have come apart from being overplayed.
Can’t overplay it, Happy New Year!

Sometimes if you “do it” long enough you “do it” well. Like a rock band. KISS comes to mind, as well as lots of danceable stuff.
So for New Year’s Eve: Got there. Done that. Here’s the tried and true, for a decade or two, then some relative newcomers who could do worse then to emulate them:
— By sheer standards of people dancing, to unabashedly dance tunes, over years of consistency, you go to the Smilin’ Moose. They are adding a second ringing in of 2022, at 3 a.m. to keep it rolling forward, as they like so many Hudson area clubs are staying open until 4 a.m. This isn’t your Daddy’s New Year’s at the old Dibbo’s, where they would never shut down until … If? When? Brunch and far beyond.
— Dick’s might usher you out a bit earlier, using an often hastily called last call, but that is OK because their music is again, Starting Back At 4 p.m., led by the latest duo fronted by gentleman Josh. Later, the tunes take on a creative often-mixed-song DJ sound. A good dozen hours of tune based enjoyment.
— The Bungalow Inn in Lakeland digs even deeper into their vault of history with another show by Gary LaRue, enabling a waltz-size dance floor to be filled. A great list of wines is there, as always. Like Dick’s, there are food specials too, so you may still need to make reservations.
— The Gas Lite in Ellsworth has all such things, so it might be worth it to go south of my home-base border town to live it up. They’ve also had your back by keeping the latest hours possible all through the holidays and come the Eight O’Clock Hour on NYE, there’s the holiday rarity of a rock band, Coconut Tiger, and theirs with a touch of glam. It is also billed as Alicia’s birthday, so there are two things to wish her, so stop in. And while there, try out the special holiday dart tournament. Prizes for more than only Alicia.
— T-Buckets near Somerset has entered into the fray in a big way with what they play — as this newer club starts the eve early with karaoke (with DJ) — which though only a few years into existence has made its mark. And with the frequent girth of their prizes too, as a bonafide contest rides on into January/February. With price of champagne going up world-over due to short supplies, and that long NYE tradition being put on the back-burner by some venues, what is cooler as an option to ring in the New Year then with a pizza party, (of course at midnight, and I bet the chef is going to really be hopping to it come 11:40 p.m.)

But for the sheer length of such contests, at more than half a year, The Nutty Squirrel in River Falls is the One. One. Like the Metallica song, which you just might hear. Every Wednesday night there has been a series of prizes starting at $50 for first place, and then you go back at the end of every month for a shot at $300, and the grand finale is tonight and you won’t want to miss it because the anointed one will earn $1,200! You do have to have qualified on one of those earlier Wednesdays to go for the big money. So take a Shot In The Dark, via Ozzy, because here is an inside tip: In the past the sound system has been loud enough to overpower a mere mortal singer, but if you have the vocal chops as far as your own volume and can rise above it … Four figures can await.

There were carolers and online holiday wishes well into the eve on Christmas Day.
That could of served as a reminder to me on a walk down to Kwik Trip around noon on Dec. 24, as with those many who I saw along the way, I said Merry Christmas, neglecting the HH (and second Jewish HH) phrasing.
Leading those with holiday cheer was a Fed Ex driver — not just one, but two of a team. I was still across and up the street when he expressed wishes to me first — as he went around the back of his delivery truck and his partner the front and center — then repeated them a moment later. Big smiles both times. The partner ran one house ahead to get a package there, using her feet not her wheels. I wished him the same, adding I hoped he had the day off. Yes, he replied, after this last stop and perhaps two or three others.
Then there was the lady with the dog. I elected to walk straight rather than turn, so I could amble toward her as I have an uncanny weakness for canines, and I sensed such for this one in particular. The conversation went this way and that, about the importance of our animals to us almost as if they were surrounding the manger, for longer then usual.
At Kwik Trip, the crew was on in full force, as was the case for the next couple of days, with thankfully breaks in shifts slated so everyone could have their holiday, so at three of the four machines there was a big sign that said — next register over. I told the guy at the end that because of the time of year and all to remember, like last shopping lists items to bring over, that didn’t “register.” He responded: “It’s too early for that.” I didn’t know if he meant time or day, or for the overall holiday.
Cut to the night after Christmas. A cabbie said that the evening before had been pretty big, and that tonight would have been even bigger, but for all the snow coming down, followed by icy rain. As was echoed at Dick’s Bar, college students who are back home and usually are out were not the norm, although virus concerns among that crowd who can feel very invincible were not the factor, according to the cabbie. And Jeff Loven was probably not as long in the tooth, likely having quit playing at 10 or midnight.
Then things for a time got less holiday-ish.
Although Dick’s (another 365 place in town) was busy, the guys, mostly, at the bar the night before were a bit ugly, and not just like in an ugly sweater contest, it was said. Bump into you and be a bit surly, I was told, as these (holi)-days bring out stress … And up the way, a place that typically is among the most hopping, they had to be cutting staff partway. One older guy was taken to task by a woman when he undoffed his mask to quaff a bottled water. A lot of that these days, and not just during air travel. But on this night, the day was saved when a guy I didn’t even know wished me Merry Christmas (chosen words) and hugged my not once not twice but thrice.
And so then better again.
Since it was really pretty I decided to walk home. Oddly, the newly fallen snow had a crisp that gave grip to my shoes. The first thing I was was a worker on the roof of Pier 500, already, blowing off snow and maybe building on the success of their rebuilt roof from the storm of a couple of months ago. Across the street, Lakefront Park was decked out with a wider than usual variety of lights, much more than I had even seen in it, on all of the trees and all, in addition to the band shell.
All around were duos of dipsey doodles as far as swirling tire tracks from at this point as many plows as cars, and one of the former had a big snowblower loaded in its back end to match its blade, and both were put to work before it was last call down the way.
The houses along a road less traveled, as well as the main drag, had many more than usual Christmas Lights Out (and Shining) On Their Front Porches All Night Long. Even from just a few days before. Striking among them was the small porch with many dozens of small and varied do-dads of all shapes to seal the deal.
Just before the village/city bridge — under which the crispness disappeared in the snow to walk on — many dabs of decorative drizzle donned the spruce/balsams along the sidewalk, looking like both the Christmas trees and the ones out in the yard, from my boyhood home.
There also were a couple of small crosses, one understated by the fact it was hung lighted on an older metal door, and one noticed because it was formed into the shifting drifts of an intersection by another one of those plows.
Nearer to home, and I’ll stop waxing poetic at this point, a perfect rectangle was formed by a driveway made gray with sheen from shoveling at just the right time earlier that night, and then I slipped and fell backwards, for the second such time this month. Especially these snow-filled days and nights, watch your step not the slate-gray!