"So, do you blow yourself out?" If that sounds like an extremely personal question or a strange entry in a That’s What He Said/That’s What She Said contest, then you don’t speak Minnesotan. Most discussions of speaking Minnesotan seem to be based on a series of Ole and Lena jokes. I guess that’s fine if you are of Scandinavian ancestry, but plenty of Minnesotans have ancestors from elsewhere and a discussion of speaking Minnesotan should be based on the common experience of living in the state. There has been plenty of snow to move this winter. If someone asks if you blow yourself out, they are asking if you use your own snowblower to clear your driveway, sidewalk, etc.

My snowblower has a wooden handle (scoop or scraper). I have plenty of experience moving stuff much heavier than snow with a shovel and sometimes the low technology approach is the best. One of the disappointing aspects of living in Minnesota is watching local television news and seeing people trying to move snow using some useless combination scoop/scraper purchased for $8 at the grocery store. That’s fine if you live in some part of the country that seldom gets any snow, but we have to do better in Minnesota. If the snow is deep, you need a scoop. If there is a thin layer of snow, you need a scraper. Get it right and use the right tool for the job.