living the american dream...in minnesota

first things first: to clarify something in my last post...fancher creek is a new development that will be built in SE fresno that will be even bigger than riverpark (at some point)...it's actually very exciting, click on the link above to read more.

now to the real issue at hand...i have a cousin whose family is from the great state of minnesota...one of his family members decided to move out here to the west coast...after spending a fine amount of time with this relative (we'll call him Grant...because that's his name) i have learned quite a bit about the north star state, and i believe that minnesota, while not generally considered a heavyweight when one thinks of the status of states, is pound for pound the finest state around.

my reasons are these:
1) apparently, residents of northern u.s. states have a term for people who are exceptionally thoughtful or considerate...it's called "minnesota nice"...can you imagine a person saying, "that person was so nice, they were 'california nice'...yeah, i think not.
1b) on the same note as point #1...minnesotans have a unique sense of community and culture...for example, the state fair is known as "the great minnesota get-together" and get this...1.7 million people attend in a state that only has 5.1 million people...THAT MEANS THAT NEARLY 1 IN 3 PEOPLE ATTEND THE STATE FAIR!!!...state fairs are awesome and minnesotans understand that.
2) minnesota has 10,000 lakes and more miles of bike trails than any other state...do you know what you can do with 10,000 lakes??
3) they have a state photograph!!
4) they have the world's largest ball of twine!!

5)...and finally the biggest reason that i believe minnesota to be the great state that it is...

if you asked every single person in the united states, "have you done something interesting in you're lifetime?"...i theorize that minnesotans will have the highest per capita rate of yes answers than any other state in the u.s....if you don't believe me check out my extremely shortened list of interesting minnesotans...

-macgyver
-paul bunyan
-bob dylan
-f. scott fitzgerald
-ric "the nature boy" flair
-judy garland
-j. paul getty
-moonlight graham
-billy graham
-charles lindbergh
-john madden
-walter mondale
-prince
-charles schulz
-kevin sorbo
-vince vaughn
-laura ingalls wilder
-yanni

can you believe that?...that's practically a who's who of american history...and believe me there are other big names from 'sota (as i now call it) but i'm running out of space here.

but for now, i'm done...i've gone on for far too long...if you've made it this far congrats...i promise to write shorter posts from now on.

goodbye...and go visit minnesota.