Minneapolis's Finest

Let me tell you a story...

With the end of yesterday's big snow storm, I spent a good two hours shoveling the various pathways around the Manfort. But it took the plow until around 11:00 PM to come through and clear the road to the curb. So after finishing my evening movie, (Transformers II), I put on my coat and headed out at half past midnight to shovel a path through the snowbank before the snow turned into the icy equivalent of granite by morning.

A couple of shovel-fulls into it, I notice a cop turn the corner and come down Chicago Ave toward me. He flicks on the spotlight and blinds me as he pulls up. I'm sure I looked quite menacing in my blaze orange winter coat wielding a snow shovel. [rolls eyes] We have the following exchange:

Passenger-side Cop: What are you up to?"
Me (wanting to say, "Looking for buried treasure"): "Shoveling snow."
Passenger-side Cop: "Why are you shoveling in the middle of the night?"
Me (probably looking more than annoyed): "So that I can clear this path before the snow turns rock hard."
Passenger-side Cop: "Well, it's dangerous to be in the roadway. You should probably do that in the morning."
Me: "So you're saying it would be less dangerous when there's twenty times more traffic on the road during the day?" (Oh snap! I secretly congratulate myself)
Passenger-side Cop: "I suppose you're right, carry on then."
Me: stares at idiot cop waiting for them to leave...
Passenger-side Cop: "Have a good night." And they drive off at 5 miles an hour for the next two or three blocks.
Me: "Alright, buddy. Enjoy that donut. Dumbass."

Now my lack of a successful alliance with our local police is no secret, but I thought that was just effing ridiculous. Thanks for wasting 5 minutes of my life. And good job protecting our community against those dangerous midnight snow shovelers.