On the way to work today, I was driving behind a little station wagon and both the driver and passenger were doing that thing where you reach out your window and grab the windshield wiper as it swoops by so you can slap it onto the glass and dislodge ice from your crappy blades. After a while, you get pretty good at it. And if you can do it while zipping down I-94, driving in the unplowed passing lane, behind a semi, whilst blasting Molly Hatchet upon the stereo ... well, then you’re at the expert level.

That got me thinking about the unique skill set you develop growing up in snowy places. I know how to drive up icy hills, build your basic snow fort, navigate frozen sidewalks in dress shoes, and work a snowblower. I know people who can winterize their bicycle and other people who can waterproof formerly non-waterproof boots. And someone out there has gotta know how to remove the dreaded "ice on the inside of the windshield," right?

What else is there? What other environment-bred skills do we Midwesterners possess?