The Shamrock Medallion hunt begins Wednesday, Feb. 27.

Clues come out in the Belle Plaine Herald weekly.

This year's hunt is dedicated to Larry Bratsch, who found the Shamrock multiple times. He died last year.

I think I'm a little nuts.

I'd have to be goofy to go to the St. Paul Pioneer Press office at midnight to get a newspaper that contains a clue to lead me to a small, plastic medallion. But here I am, trying to find the thing again this year.

The clue in today's paper was the eighth one, and as far as I know, no one's found it yet. I figure the three-clue hunt last year got the clue writer miffed, so the clues will be harder than ever this year. Great, just great. Way to go, medallion finder from last year. Ruin it for everyone by going too fast.

I'm having a ball.

Now that the third clue in the Heimatfest medallion hunt is out, do you have a clue about the clue?

Lagoon Park this year?

Somewhere else?

The last time I was visiting my parents, I happened to watch part of the movie "National Treasure," and it got me thinking.

For those of you who haven’t seen the movie, it is about a treasure map hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence leading to several clues that give the location of a massive secret treasure. It’s a fun movie, even if it isn’t historically accurate.

A rewritten press release from the St. Paul Winter Carnival, where I will be hunting for treasure this winter:

The St. Paul Winter Carnival is proud to kick off the festival season with the 2007 winter carnival button unveiling and kids button bash on Saturday, Dec. 2, at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.