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Just as a kiss can linger, so do Valentine’s Day remembrances, (just like KISS-themed pinball, without the Wizard)

Valentine’s Day, there was this update on what would seem an appropriately named band, KISS, featured on a long-running pinball machine at Dick’s Bar and Grill, and taking another turn on this holiday of “I was made for lovin’ you baby.” (Almost makes you forget about one of the bartenders and his famous cyborg arm worn while gaming when off-duty).
On the machine, bassist Gene Simmons is shown typically spewing fire, but there is a problem. His non-guitar arm is displayed pointing to the crowd with Devil Horns — a signal that has been given many meanings and he helped popularize — which meant that there is no ignition device being held on his person. An explanation offered by my visiting nephew: Its Dragon’s Breath.
Nephew Ian then played a standard on the jukebox that was perfect for its Sick Of Love Songs theme, Paint it Black by the Stones. I then looked at the Simmons head displayed on the middle of the pinball machine and thought, yes indeed, he’s painted black (and white).
Ian, a Burnsville resident, by the way loves to check out Hudson, even though he has been steered to the dark side by his online friends. They have made it known that on the world-wide web, Hudson’s political climate has been singled out as decidedly “non-nightclub.”
At the Smilin’ Moose, there was a new way to treat your “dear,” or should I say “deer,” by blowing them up! No not seriously, but by virtue of a video game where zombies that included that Wisconsin rather than Minnesota antlered creature just kept on coming at the shooter, in greater and greater numbers. Ian’s adversary mentioned the obvious that God, what hunter wouldn’t love this!
V-Day also was spelled out on the signs of certain establishments, such as Dairy Queen, where that night there was a one-word slogan honoring the holiday with a single letter missing (think heart-y fare) and other such single letters scattered around the border (remind you of your date?) Also, there was RJ’s Meats, which advertised on their marquee a steak and seafood special for the day, then added at the bottom that they were looking for new hires, (was their V-Day traffic, with guys looking to be over-the-top, and cooking for their dates, that pronounced?)
Lastly, on a more timely and much more serious note, news traveled around the area later on Sunday about a mother’s murder in rural Hudson and the high-speed chase involving the shooter, who fired at police and later shot himself. The daughter of that woman works in the hospitality industry in the downtown and fellow servers from various venues (check the name on the Agave Kitchen sign) were among the many people out and about that night, bringing a more somber tone to the whole evening.

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