What it's like to live in MN in the Winter....

Many people I have met ask how I could live in Minnesota - especially with 'the winters' MN has. Here, an insider look at things that only people who have lived through snowstorms know....

During a snowstorm... the plows make one path down the road at a time (usually) - but when the wind is blowing like crazy, the path disappears quickly. So I guess on where the road is and hope for the best....

Sure, the white stuff LOOKS pretty sometimes....

Any car I own MUST have a sunroof... but on days like today it is rendered pretty useless

In the winter, I keep my gas tank at least half full.. that way, if I go in the ditch, I still have gas to keep my car running so I don't freeze to death waiting for help

Big snow days means schools are closed and parking lots empty..

Snow and high winds while traveling over straight stretches of road with no tree cover on either side mean visibility is bad at best....

I use markers to help me guess where the roadway is - anything from mailboxes to signs to power lines help with the guess...

When parked at the destination for a period of time (say, a work day), I lift my windshield wipers up to the sky so that they don't freeze onto my windshield... if they do, they are basically useless when needed to clear the windshield to see...

And I keep a winter kit in my car, including: Gloves, hat, ice scraper, boots, and a shovel just in case.