You Like It Here?!

Yep, I really do!

You might live in Minnesota
- If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 18 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by. I don't understand it, but people do it. Forget all day, they'll do it for the weekend!
- If you're proud that your state makes the national news 96 nights each year because International Falls is the coldest spot in the nation. Sure! Is that sad?
- If you have ever refused to buy something because it's "too spendy". Gotta love those "Minnesota-isms.
- If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March. Yes! The one I ride by in the summer is now closed for the season. No Dairy Queen until spring for me.
- If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there. Yes, this really does happen here. I've done it, and people appreciate it!
- If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead. It's either that, or put sunscreen on that bald patch. I think a hat sounds easier.
- If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time. Personally, not a parka, but a fleece, sure. I used to work with a guy who wore shorts all year round: Parka, shorts, and Sorels!
- If your town has an equal number of bars and churches. If it's a small town, they could be kity-corner from each other.
- If you know how to say: Wayzata, Mahtomedi, Cloquet, Edina , Pequot Lakes....and Shakopee. Okay, say it with me: Why-ze-ta, Clo-kay, Eee-dine-a, Pi-qua Lakes, Shock-apee.
- If you think that ketchup is a little too spicy. Ketchup is spicy? Since when?
- If vacation means going "Up North" for the weekend. Up north always means "the Cabin". It might not even be an actual cabin, more likely what the rest of the world calls a house or condo.
- If you measure distance in hours. How far to Grandma's house? Two hours.
- If you know several people, who have hit deer more than once. Yes, and man, your car will be toast.
- If you often switch from "Heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again. Give it five minutes, the weather will change.
- If you can drive 65 mph through two feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching. Nooo, more like 25 mph. Unless it's the first snow of the year.
- If you see people wearing hunting clothes at social events. Yes. I have relitives who have worn camo or blaze to family dinner.
- If you install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked. My neighbors did this, I don't get it.
- If you think of the major food groups as beer, fish, and Venison. I thought it was beer, walleye, hotdish.
- If you carry jumper cables in your car, and your girlfriend knows how to use them. Oh yes, this is a must.
- If there are seven empty cars running in the parking lot at any given time. Yep, they have to warm up before we get in.
- If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit. Don't laugh, my mom used to do this. And there was that blizzard back in '91...
- If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow. Ugh, nasty potholes.
- If you know all four seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and of course, Road Construction. I thought there were only two season: Winter and Road Construction.
- If you can identify a southern or eastern accent. I can. I can also usually guess what region or state.
- If your idea of creative landscaping is a plastic deer next to your blue spruce. Um, no.
- If "Down South" to you means Iowa. "Down South is south of Missouri.
- If you know "a brat" is something you eat. Yes, please. With mustard, and sauerkraut.
- If you find -10 degrees "a little chilly". With wind, or without wind?

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.