@Ray: Yes, I'm originally from Minnesota, grew up there.
I went to the University of Minnesota, classes on the West Bank, across the Mississippi River. Very windy & freezing in winter. Close to graduation & couldn't take it anymore. Moved to California & got my BA from Chapman University where the weather is always nice.
Sorry about your winter experiences in Minnesota. That's about par for there. I can't understand how anyone can live there.
The story is that many many years ago, Norwegians & probably Swedes were offered really cheap land to farm there. They said, " Well, we've already got the clothes, let's go! "
