Max, this seems to have been quite different from Dave's usual exagerated, satirical piece, as this all rang very true to my recollections of three subboreal winters on the UND campus in Grand Forks. The naming of the pumping station in Dave's honor was in the fine tradition of the Will Rogers, Jr. Sewage Lagoon in Devils Lake, ND -- my home town. He's also absolutely right about the plentitude of parking, but be aware: not all the parking spots have outlets for head-bolt heaters.

http://home.mn.rr.com/wwftd/

Max, this seems to have been quite different from Dave's usual exagerated, satirical piece, as this all rang very true to my recollections of three subboreal winters on the UND campus in Grand Forks.

Perhaps satire and exaggeration were unneeded?

not all the parking spots have outlets for head-bolt heaters.

There was an overflow parking lot at the U of Manitoba, which was about 15 minutes' walk (no tunnel/overhead walkway) from the part of campus where you'd actually want to be. It was called Hell Lot - all the other lots were named by letters of the alphabet - and I don't think it had plug-ins either. The normal parking lots are creepy - rows upon rows of painted white wooden posts, each with four outlets. It looks like a war cemetery when there are no cars there.

I like "the unmistakable WHUPWHUPWHUP of North Dakotans enthusiastically applauding with heavy gloves." It never occurred to me that someone from Miami has no idea what it sounds like to applaud with mittens on.

BTW, tsuwm, I didn't realize you were from Devil's Lake. Is that not The Lake That Is Eating North Dakota? Attempts to deal with it are causing a lot of cross-border tension in that area. Since I lived in Manitoba for most of my formative years, I know all about the flooding, the Red River, and other fun prairie stuff!