Ah, Minnesota. The state where it can be 110 degrees in the summer and a whopping -45 degrees in the winter. The place where there's 10,000 lakes (*cough* 11,842, not counting those less than 10 acres) and thousands of trees. The land that is more interesting than Iowa (sorry not sorry) and less interesting than, well... nothing!

If you couldn't already tell simply by the few phrases you have already read, I'm Minnesotan and proud! Why is it that you were able to tell, aside from the title of this article, where I was from simply because of a few sentences? Probably because they're true! I recently asked some friends about what makes a Minnesotan a Minnesotan, here's what I got:

1. The cold never bothered me anyway.

Lies, so many lies.

2. Duck, Duck, Grey Duck.

You can also never really remember what you say when people ask. Goose? Grey Duck? Same thing.

3. When there are six separate types of tater tot hot dish brought to Thanksgiving.

They also end up gone by the end of the night.

4. Everything is called a salad, even when there's no lettuce.

Potato salad, pasta salad, dessert salad, watergate salad (aka green fluff).

5. You probably own or know someone who owns a cabin.

You also live there for a good part of the summer.

6. We apparently say "bag" weird?

Maybe you say bag weird. Ever think of that?

7. You know how to pronounce "Shakopee," "Mahtomedi," "Wayzata," and "Faribault."

If you don't, good luck.

8. -30 degrees and 8 inches of snow? Let's go to work, or school, or everywhere else except the warmth of our beds.

Those days where you just want to stay home exist all the time, but never happen.

9. You know it's vacation time when you hear "up north."

Cabins, hunting, and fishing oh my!

10. "The Cities" means Minneapolis and St. Paul.

"Yeah, it's in the cities." Someone, not Minnesotan: "Which city?"

11. Can't make it to high school hockey? It's probably on t.v.

For the love of all things Minnesotan, don't interfere with the hockey tournament.

12. "Ope, sorry."

Every time you run into someone, this is bound to be said.

13. IT'S POP.

The only soda I know is 'sota.

14. The Minnesotan goodbye.

Need to leave like now? Good luck! Should've said bye an hour ago!

15. 50 degrees? Let's go to the beach!

You read that right.

16. 40 degrees is both shorts and sweater weather depending on the time of year.

It's a blessing in the spring and a curse in the fall.

17. #MinnesotaTooNice.

You always find a way to be nice to someone. Even if you don't want to be.

18. You know what Purple Pride is.

You don't care that we aren't the greatest, Purple Pride or die.

19. State bird: the mosquito.

We also probably look like this in the summer.

20. Wiscons(ew)

If you are from Wisconsin, I am so very, very sorry. Cheesehead.

21. Caribou.

Not the animal.

22. Droolin' Moose.

23. Avoiding the Mall of America.

It really isn't all that great.

24. Frozen Lake? Let's jump in it!

It's for a good cause! Plus we could skate, fish, and do who knows what else!

25. You always seem to find yourself coming back.

After all, there's no place like home.