Minnesota is indeed a strange place...

As I was watching the Vikings/Packers game last night and cheering for the home team (and continuing to marvel at the fact that Brett Favre is wearing purple?!?!), I couldn't help but think about this strange state that I live in. I can say that as I have now lived in Minnesota for nearly 8 (really?) years, and have lived other places to compare it to. I have to preface all of this by saying I really do enjoy living here, we have great friends, and I know this is where God has called us. Minnesota definitely has its charms. However, we live in a strange land and here are a few reasons why...

1. Every year, the Vikings are going to win the superbowl. I kid you not, every year that we have lived here, the Vikes start the season out well, everyone rejoices and is fanatical that THIS WILL BE THE YEAR! I remember very clearly a couple of years ago when they started 6 and 0, there was even a paper with that very headline. For the record, no superbowl wins, let alone appearances yet. But this year... ha!

2. The weather. Do I really need to expound? We can have 100+ degree days in the summer, and then in winter 20, 30 even 40 below temps without windchill. The seasons change dramatically, this past week we went from 80 degree days to 40s and 50s. Yuk.

3. People that grow up here can't imagine why anyone would want to live anywhere else. I remember asking a friend of mine in college that had grown up in the twin cities where he was going to go after he graduated, and he looked at me like that was the craziest thing to ask, and he replied, "Uh, home, to Minnesota. Where else would I go?" I can think of quite a few other states or even places in the world it might be a little cool to live... and we won't even bring weather into the discussion.

4. The whole east bank/west bank of the river thing, when it really is north and south. Downtown Minneapolis is set at an angle, making even those of us who aren't directionally challenged confused. That darn river. Did they really have to design the streets so they run parallel to the river? Couldn't they have made them run N-S and E-W? You would think so.

5. The state fair. Minnesotans think that they have the best fair in the world. OK, it is big and has lots of greasy food and unhealthy things to eat, but IT IS A FAIR, people. Smelly animals, lots of people, and carnival rides. Is it fun, yes. Should you experience it, yes. Is it the best fair ever, debatable.

6. There is always something in season that can be fished, shot or speared. And people never seem to be content with whatever season that is. If it is goose season, we look forward to deer opener. When it is deer season, we can't wait for ice on the lake for ice fishing. And don't even get me started on the ice fishing. The crazies that take their buckets out before the lakes are frozen over and sit a few feet from the edge of open water and fish. It is madness.

And finally, my biggest quandry of all...

7. THE ROADS ARE NUMBERED DIFFERENTLY FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY! How frustrating is this? You are driving on County Road 4, you cross a county line and suddenly you are on County Road 83. How does this make sense at all? It makes giving directions nearly impossible. "Ok, you start on 77, but then it turns into 29, but then you curve north and it turns back into 77, but only for a mile and then it becomes 45." With out even turning off that road! As much as Minnesotans love each other and their state, don't you think they could have all gotten together and come up with a sane system of naming roads?

These are only a few of the charms of this great state. I could have talked about the accent (sometimes not an exaggeration), the fact that they play spring baseball/softball (despite the fact spring does not exist), or how people like to drive under the speed limit, but we will save that for another post. Right now I think I hear Luke yelling "Ooofda!" Better go check it out! :)