I grew up in North Dakota. it got so cold there that Superman froze his S off. I got cold in places I didn't even know I had. it gets so cold you don't need a cup for coffee -- you just carry around a chunk of it. it's not uncommon to see sun dogs out on the plains in midwinter; Mandan legend has it that the sun lights little fires on each side of itself to stay warm. it's so cold that the snow doesn't melt until August, giving about two weeks before the snow starts to fly again.

and, finally, it's so cold in the winter that the funeral homes stockpile bodies and wait until the earth thaws to dig the graves. other places welcome spring by dancing around a Maypole; in North Dakota they have lots of burials.