Art Music and Poetry

Don't Stop Your Digging

by Ares

Just a city girl, huntin' in a frigid world
She got the midnight clue digging' anywhere
Just a small town boy, born and raised across the Croix
He got the midnight clue digging' anywhere

A digger in a smokey queue
A smell in line; who ate legumes?
For a smile they can share their lights
It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Parklit people, digging just to find a treasure
Hiding, somewhere in the night.

Shovelin' hard to get my fill,
Everybody wants the thrill
Doin' anything to move some snow,
Just one more time

Some will win, some will lose
But all were born to look for blue
Oh, the searching never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Parklit people, digging just to find a treasure
Hiding, somewhere in the night.

Don't stop diggin'
Hold on to the feelin'
Parklit people

Don't stop diggin'
Hold on
Parklit people

Don't stop diggin'
Hold on to the feelin'
Parklit people

by The Batman

“Say it ain't so, Clueless Joe,”
It’s almost that time of year!
Its time to obsess, with the Pioneer Press, 
For the hunt will soon be here!

Jus’ one plastic puck, worth ten thousand bucks,
Hidden beneath the snow.
But that’s reason enough! So you better get tough,
And put up with the cold, for the dough!

You know I got pride, I represent the East Side ,
So I hope it’s hidden there.
It might be an advantage, but I think I can manage.
For me to find it, would be fair!

To those who write the clues, please take your time to choose,
Exactly what the clues should say;
Cuz’ for the past few years, your clueless peers,
Jus’ couldn’t lead us astray.

As crowd sizes grow, the hunters then know,
That they’re right where they should be.
The “mob” at Phalen Park , was outrageous after dark,
If you saw it, then you surely agree.

All the clues that we critique, and the longer that we seek,
Adds more tension to the event.
If its found by clue eight, the hunters all get irate!
And they’ll tell you to go “pitch a tent”!

Stayin’ up all night, as the clues I’ll recite,
Over and over again.
All the research that’s done, won’t compare to the fun,
Of “searching hill and glen”.

This “Jughead has spoken”, and I long for the token,
In this, the hunt of all hunts!
So I soon will prepare, for the upcoming affair,
And dress warm for the sudden cold fronts.

After clue number two, I’ll assemble my crew,
And we’ll pick up a bottle of Jack.
Then we’ll head for the woods, to search for the goods,
Gettin’ a buzz but stayin’ on track!

King Boreas will be proud, when the roads are all plowed, 
To make way for me, . . . the finder.
Yes, his precious medallion, will be found by this stallion!
You can consider this is a binder!

I’m anticipating, and eagerly awaiting,
The release of the first clue.
I feel like I’m cursed, ‘til January 21st,
This hunt is long overdue!

Our Theme Song

by Allison Wonderland and Ares

In a dark winter snowfall, cold frost in my hair
Warm smell of hot coffee, rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
I dropped my shovel and put down my Guide so I could track through the white.

There she sat on a snow mound; With her laptop and cell
And I was thinking to myself, 'This could be Heaven or this could be Hell'
Then she pulled up the website and she showed me the way
There were voices there in every post, I thought I heard them say...

Welcome to the Hotel Coolerfornia
Such a lovely place such a lovely place In this Medallion Race
Plenty of room at the Hotel Coolerfornia
Any time of year, any time of year you can find it here

Their minds are treasure hunt-twisted, they're tracking all the clues' trends (ugh).
There's a lot of crazy, crazy folks, and they're all friends.
How they noodle the clues, thinking they're set.
But the mistakes they made last year, they tend to forget

So I emalied the Sysop, 'Please don't make me whine'
He said,'We haven't had a monitor here since nineteen ninety nine'
And still those voices are calling from far away,
Keep you up in the middle of the night Just to hear them say...

Welcome to the Hotel Coolerfornia
Such a lovely place In this Medallion race
They're huntin' it up at the Hotel Coolerfornia
What a nice surprise, if they find the prize.

Buttons on the dresser, Leftover boxes of fried rice
And she said 'We are all just prisoners here, of our own device'
And there on the Cooler boards, They've gathered, now they're stuck
They noodle it with their crazy thoughts, But they just can't find the puck.

Last thing I remember, I was Reaching for the drawer
I had to find the map back To the place I dug before
'Relax,' said the huntress, In spotters you will believe.
You can logout any time you like, but you can never leave.

Scribe on the 'pop' rocks 
with THX by her side 
Just pour me a Bailey's 
And I'll tell you "the crow flies" 
the hunt is on 
So she just sings the 'woo hoo's' 
All the time

Gave you my vulcan button 
Gave you another hairbrush 
You left me alone in the park 
With no shovel to look through the slush 
The hunt is on 
Now all I want is to find the damn puck before her!

First she has a hairy back

How she has that boil

Suddenly she find's she's out there 
11 pm -standing in line at ma press

And when the hunt knows it has you

Nothing you can do or say

You've got to hunt just everyday 
We all know the clues

You need what you need

Flashlights, hand warmers & a St. Paul newspaper

Wearing your Columbia jacket, boots, hat & glove 24/7
When the hunt is on

May be no snow on the ground 
But it's cold 
When your Scribe's on the 'pop' rocks

First she tries to claim 'Joes'

Oh, How she weighs 300 pounds

Scribe on the 'pop' rocks 
with THX by her side 
Just pour me a Bailey's 
And I'll tell you "the crow flies" 
The hunt is on 
And now all I want 
Is to find the damn puck before her!

Inspired by the Pioneer Press Medallion Hunt

Once again its the season to be out freezin
in the great medallion hunt open to all.
A tradition and a Celebration
they started in St. Paul.

With clues that are truly poetic
and rhythm that really swings
we bring this hint that will help you
get to the bottom of things.

What's more precious 
than the treasure of a King?

Crystal clear clues make it child's play to win
if you're willing to be an iconoclast.
So don't put it off, now's the time to begin
you never know how long it will last!

Every time you read a new line
don't let circular thinking reign,
but don't always believe you're eyes
for we're playing a tricky game.

To search for carnival treasure
can be a strain on the brain!

A well trained eye is one reason why
a good hunter stays on the attack.
This is a lesson you need to apply,
if you're on the wrong track, don't blow your stack!

If you are wise you will surmise
there are enough trees around.
So get out there and search, ya dig?
Sooner or later the treasure will be found.

Hey, Hey, OK, OK
Its all about this game we play!

Inspired by the Pioneer Press Medallion Hunt

It's the thrill of the hunt
the elusive treasure we seek

It's that little bit of rebel
inside us young and old
makes us bundle up, grab our tools
and brave the Minnesota cold

Keeps us runnin round in circles
tryin to follow all their clues
But still we keep on diggin
even though we got the Treasure Hunt Blues

It's that little bit of pirate
that lives inside us all
that sets our minds to flight
with each new midnight call

Keeps us runnin round in circles
tryin to follow all their clues
but still we keep on diggin
even though we got the Treasure Hunt Blues

It's the satisfaction of trying
using our brains and brawn
even if we don't find it this year
next year we might be right on!

Still we keep on diggin even though
I got the (I got the)
You got the (You got the)
We got the Treasure Hunt Blues

The Scribe wrote on his posting slate 
And posted for all to see 
"If faith's anew' then why don't you 
All come to mass with me?"

And one replied, "Can't go inside 
For long have I feared the worst 
For much I've scoffed and pissed Him off 
And into flames I'll burst.

Or maybe I never really thought 
That any harm could come 
But I'll err on the side of being sure 
And with the priests, stay mum.

But I'll tell you a sin or two 
Though imagined or real they be 
And whether they're lies or super-size 
My conscience can be set free.

So rub-a-dub-dub come hop in my tub 
And I'll tell you my Alli-Sins 
'Bout whips and chains and walking canes 
And a few more ... just for shits and grins.

But what I must confess is that I obsess 
'Bout hockey pucks hidden in tins 
And I dream at night of parks all white 
And that one of the Cooler Crew wins!

Now I'm done confessing so please give me your blessing
I've gotten it all off my chest 
Super-size or with fries I've my eyes on the prize 
Just let me get on with my quest."

The night is cool
I’m in line by you.
They think of us “fool”
To wait for the clue.

In line for 2 hours,
It never seems as long.
New friends are now ours,
At 11, we here the gong.

We rush for the paper,
Never trampling a foot.
A dollar a layer,
Searching for loot.

With the love for the search,
And our pride by our side.
The parks are our church, 
As we hunt city-wide.

We search on the ‘net, 
And chat with our friends.
Do we want it? You bet!
Will we find it? Depends.

As the clues, they all dwindle;
Others patience is thin.
Our hearts will rekindle, 
“We hope they don’t win”.

The last clue appears,
It soon will be won.
We must face our own fears, 
The hunt is all done.

'Twas the eve of the hunt, we were ready for the haul.
Not a digger was sleeping, at least not in St. Paul!
Their shovels were clutched oh so proudly with care,
in hopes that the medallion soon would be theirs!

The diggers were dressed in their boots with good tread,
While visions of dollar signs danced in their heads.
With dad in his long johns and me with my scarf,
We just started off our long walk through the park.

When out on the playground I heard something shatter,
I sprang from my car to see what was the matter.
Away to the swings I flew in a flash,
Slamming the door, almost breaking the glass!

The slide was all covered with new fallen snow
And the monkey bars had icicles that hung really low,
When what to my wondering eyes should appear?
But the whole cooler crew and some 40 oz beers.

With a leader who knew there wasn't much time,
I knew in a flash it must be Terry Valentine!
Swifter than cheetahs her diggers they came
As she whistled and shouted and called them by name.

Now jake inge now green brown now medalling kids and marley king!
On tim the hunter on ian on eags and leelabell!
To the top of the hill to the top of the park!
Now dig away! dig away! dig away all!

Like a plow they uncovered every inch of that place,
Their noses all red and hope in their face.
They dug way up high and some down below,
But not one could uncover that medallion in the snow!

And then in the distance I saw by the water,
A man with a paper, it must be a spotter!
All smug was his face and his eyes sometimes scattered,
He looked like a bum cuz his clothes were all tattered!

The man with the paper was now in his car,
All toasty and warm smoking a big cigar
But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight
Happy digging to all and to all a good night!