February Winter Excursion 2007 (Part 1 of 6: The Red Shed Vigil)

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So this is my latest adventure. I was hand-picked by Michael S to experience a traditional travel phenomenon, known here as "Winter Excursion" (i forget what Mike calls it but i will call it that). It is by now a cultural tradition inspired by and, until this trip, only experienced by the near extinct ancient, bronze-age Bell-Beaker Culture that is today composed of only
Mike S and Pat S.

Warning: This story is based on actual events. Certain liberties have been taken by the author to humiliate, discredit, and basically just lie about certain characters and events portrayed hereout. Not everything you read actually happened - some things have, other things have not. This difference will not be obvious. It is the authors intent to rewrite history and have it remembered the way he wants it to be. Integrity Schmegrity!

Anyway, so begins the journey:

(Photo By Pat S.)

So that's me as Pat has pointed out in his picture. And i got new tires also, not because i was cautious of the snow or anything, but because my steering was off due to an out-of-round tire, i could just as easily have had another pair of old tires on that weren't out-of-round and still totally kicked ass on the road.

Oh and did i mention that this trip commenced the morning after Minnesota's first big blizzard? You don't need to write a comment here about how completely bad ass we are for pulling that stunt. We already know that.

In fact i laughed heartily at all the cars we saw on our way up, stranded on the side of the road - yelling and sometimes screaming for help. Mike rebuked me that i should not challenge fate - that we could be next. But i sternly re-rebuked him back, "fate can go f**k itself! Fate doesn't have the balls to f**k with us!"

Such self-confidence on my part didn't seem to calm Mike's nerves however.

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(Photo By Pat S.)

Here is Pat and his grandparents. We met them at the "Red Dog" for brunch that morning. Now traditionally we would have met them at the "Red Shed" but that place apparently closed down. There was much lament about that fact. Pat's grandparents didn't seem to mind and even seemed a little apathetic toward Mike's obvious grief about this matter. Perhaps it's a generation gap thing.

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(Photo By Pat S.)

And here is the sign for the "Red Shed" just across the street from the "Red Dog". It was like pulling teeth for Mike to find out from Pats Granddad how he could acquire this sign. We finally learned that evil of all possible evils, Denny Hecker, bought the lot, intending to tear down this special space and put a car dealership there in it's place. Is there no respect for the sacred anymore?

Anyway, you'll notice a red candle under the sign, there are also two smaller candles to either side. Mike and Pat tried to light them but the winds of fate were too strong. But although there was no flame it was truly, still, a vigil in spirit. Likely, the candles remain there to this day.

(Cropped From Above Photo)

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(Photo By Pat S. - Click To Enlarge)

Here's a GORGEOUS panoramic view of the "Red Shed". Pat is a great photographer isn't he!? By the way i should mention that Pat's grandparents did not accompany us for the "Red Shed" vigil. What's up with that?

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(Click To Enlarge)

Above is one of my two cats, George, back at home. He's wondering if, this time, i've finally left them behind forever to starve to death in helpless isolation and loneliness. (Someday i will, you silly cat, someday i will).

I suppose you're wondering how i got a picture of my cat while i'm more than a hundred miles away? Let's just say, i'm not such a bad photographer myself, thank you very much.

So after leaving the candles under the much coveted "Red Shed" sign we headed north again to Duluth, with "Nice Comp 8" in the CD player, and visions of sugar plumbs dancing in our heads.

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