I had the ?good? fortune to travel to Minneapolis for the first week of February for a work conference. Snow already all over the ground, -4 to +4 degrees by day. It was charming. And did I mention it's the week before the Superbowl is held here? In fact, the conference hotel Radisson Blu [sic] was chosen for it's convenience to the conference and is joined at the hip to the Mall of America-- making it convenient to walk to the massive food court or to divert your attention by shopping or the amusement park. The conspicuous consumption and noise stimulation were overwhelming.
By happenstance, the Philadelphia Eagles were also staying at the Radisson Blu for their pre-Super Bowl LII festivities: bomb (or drug?)-sniffing dogs on every floor 3 to 6 security guards or police at every entrance, a hierarchy of MEDIA personnel with some special badge that let them special places. We regular patrons were tagged with blue bracelets at check-in (like entrance to the county fair) and we couldn't walk through the hotel lobby or get to the elevators unless we showed our bracelet to the guards. At one point, several of us tried to access the walkway from the mall back to our hotel room and the door was barred, the guard reporting the hotel was on lockdown. When we were finally allowed entrance, it turns out it wasn't a lockdown due to any threat, it was because "the team" was using the elevators. Seriously? They're THAT special that they couldn't be inconvenienced by a few well-behaved doctors sharing the hallways? And there were signs saying no autographs or photos, as IF I would recognize an Eagle if I saw one...
On a different note, Judd and I have devised a way to be outside on a cool evening. After BBQing dinner, we sit around with candles and adult beverages and warm ourselves around the gas grill. Under the full moon, it was almost like being at a campfire or chiminea. Almost.
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