What are your perceptions of each state?

[AliP]

I wasn't exactly sure how to put the subject line, so sorry if it was confusing...but anyway here is my question in clearer terms:

When you think of a particular state...for instance, we'll use my home state of Idaho :nod: what are your perceptions of that state?? I already know what most of you are going to say: Potatoes. yeah, yeah, we grow potatoes here. And just for the record they send all the good, big potatoes elsewhere and we get the crappy small ones here :rolleyes: But what else do you think of...do you think people from Idaho are rednecks, no running water etc.(heard that before) lol. And for those of you who think Idaho is by Ohio, um, you're wrong! LOL. Anyway, I'm just curious is all. Perhaps, some of us can clear up the common misconceptions about our state.

So pick a state, perhaps a state that other ledgies are from, and let us know what you think. I'll keep it pretty simple...(though it would be great to get more in depth) when I think of Massachsetts, I think of really bad accents ;) (sorry dissention!) And yeah, I know not all people from MA have bad accents. I just think of that guy from Average Joe (second season) who was from Boston, and man, he had one huge accent! :)

And international ledgies, feel free to pipe in as well. It would be interesting to hear your perceptions as well!

[DrummerDeanna]

Yeah - upon reading your subject line I though, "each state!?! Man - that's going to take a while..." meaning I thought you wanted each person to speak of their perceptions for each state...um anyway I'll shut up about that now :p

So lets see..hopefully I won't offend...

Perceptions...Utah...

I've never been - but what I always think of when I think of Utah are...Mormons.

That's right - it's like someone says they're from UTah and i think, "Ah - you're mormon?" haha...I know the WHOLE state can't be mormon...but yeah - I guess there are a high number of mormons in the state...I know a good friend of mine from high school goes to school up there...she's mormon lol....so that's my perception of Utah :D

[AliP]

Yeah - upon reading your subject line I though, "each state!?! Man - that's going to take a while..." meaning I thought you wanted each person to speak of their perceptions for each state...um anyway I'll shut up about that now :p

So lets see..hopefully I won't offend...

Perceptions...Utah...

I've never been - but what I always think of when I think of Utah are...Mormons.

That's right - it's like someone says they're from UTah and i think, "Ah - you're mormon?" haha...I know the WHOLE state can't be mormon...but yeah - I guess there are a high number of mormons in the state...I know a good friend of mine from high school goes to school up there...she's mormon lol....so that's my perception of Utah :D

Actually, I think that perception is true!! I grew up very near to Utah. Southern Idaho is very mormon as well, where I grew up, but I'm not mormon. Let's just say it was difficult, to say the least!

[GateandGarden]

I tend to think people from Utah are Mormons, too, but when I finally met someone who was raised in Utah, it turned out she was Episcopalian. Of course, she's only one person.

I always thought Florida would be really liberal. Well, I used to think that--now I know better. But I figured it was a really liberal place because of Miami, andbecause of so much of the population being Hispanic. When I was a kid, that just meant "liberal" to me. :shrug:

I felt the same way about Montana, but a friend of mine with relatives in Montana set me straight and told me that was not the case at all. And her perception is that there's a lot of racism because there are so few black people there, compared to Louisiana.

I have had so many bizarre ideas about other states over the years, and this is probably due to the fact that I've only visited Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Texas. That's it. I don't get out much, clearly. But then again I get antsy when I have to travel at all. I'm like a six-year-old in that way.

Hillary

[DeadliestPoison]

No one lives in Montana, North/South Dakota, or Wyoming. :laugh:

[DrummerDeanna]

No one lives in Montana, North/South Dakota, or Wyoming. :laugh:


:laugh: :laugh: :nod: Seriously. I don't think I've ever met anyone from those states..hmmm...hehehe...

I spent my whole life (up until about 7 months ago) in New Mexico - and some of the things I've heard in my travels have been great...

"Oh you're from New MExico? WOW - your English is really good!" um....

"Oh New Mexico - do you travel to the United States often?"

Luckily it's been years since I've had those mishaps - seems people didn't even realize New MExico was a state until recently :rolleyes:

Movies tend to perpetuate the New Mexico stereotype something awful...believe it or not it's not just a huge barren land w/ nothing but old saloons, ghost towns and dirt roads...

A movie I LOVE but it always bugs me is Boys on the Side...they make Tucson out to be this total nothing antiquated place - house all secluded in the dessert, the festival they go to and the bar in which Jane works...Tucson is actually a city lol....I don't know things like that bug me...:p

[WelshWitchPMD]

A friend of a friend of mine lived in Montana for a while. Before she moved away she had a yard sale and people would ask if she had any knives or guns for sale. :shocked:

[DrummerDeanna]

A friend of a friend of mine lived in Montana for a while. Before she moved away she had a yard sale and people would ask if she had any knives or guns for sale. :shocked:

:eek: at a garage sale? That's alarming - I guess what would be even more alarming is if you friend did have those items...AND sold them at a garage sale :laugh:

[AliP]

No one lives in Montana, North/South Dakota, or Wyoming. :laugh:

The thing about Montana though is they are very granola-type people. Very outdoorsy - but those people are located in the more ritzy touristy areas of Bozeman, Missoula etc. (I went to a concert in Bozeman with my brother once and all he complained about was that the girls were all ugly :rolleyes: Gotta love the shallowness in that) The other people I think are more redneckish. But yeah, the one thing I love about Montana is it truly is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. They don't call it the 'Big Sky' state for nothing. :)

And..poor little Wyoming. I have to say that Wyoming is one of the ugliest states I have ever had the displeasure of visiting. Nothing but a barren, windy, snowy state (sorry!) The only nice place is Jackson Hole - where Harrison Ford and all the richy rich people live.

[dissention]

So pick a state, perhaps a state that other ledgies are from, and let us know what you think. I'll keep it pretty simple...(though it would be great to get more in depth) when I think of Massachsetts, I think of really bad accents ;) (sorry dissention!) And yeah, I know not all people from MA have bad accents. I just think of that guy from Average Joe (second season) who was from Boston, and man, he had one huge accent! :)

:laugh:

Everyone from the northeast has an accent, IMO. Some (like people form Boston) don't pronounce R's very well and empahsize "ah" when there isn't one in a word. :laugh: Others pronounce words so well that it doesn't seem like they have an accent, but their pronunciations are very sharp and abrupt. Personally, I have a very rich voice and I sound like I'm from England. :laugh:

Let's see...I'll go with Nevada. I always thought that was a hedonists haven, but not after the election results!

[GateandGarden]

:laugh: :laugh: :nod: Seriously. I don't think I've ever met anyone from those states..hmmm...hehehe...I know someone from Montana! :] (I have to hold to these things, being stuck in LA and all).

"Oh you're from New MExico? WOW - your English is really good!" um....

"Oh New Mexico - do you travel to the United States often?" Even I know better than to say stuff like that! :laugh: :lol:

Hillary

[DrummerDeanna]

[COLOR=DarkRed]Even I know better than to say stuff like that! :laugh: :lol:

Hillary

That's good lol - I think people are coming around now and realized New Mexico is not actually a part of Mexico...

Now what I'm dealing with everytime there's a slight weather change - now matter how slight this annoying guy at work comes in with a big print out of the weather conditions for the day and says, "SO - what do you think of this weather??" I finally snapped the other day and was like, "we HAVE clouds, frost and yes, even SNOW in New Mexico...this is nothing new...come back when the snow is as tall as me and I'll tell you what I Think!!" he hasn't talked to me since...I think he's scared of me :p

[pianogirl04]

Whenever I tell people I'm from Louisiana, they're always amazed that I don't have a southern accent. My mom's from Michigan but I don't sound like I'm from there either... I have no idea what I sound like! :lol: I'd like to think I identify with Texas more than anywhere -- I was born there and I'd love to go back for more than a few days at a time, but from what I've seen, I like it. :cool:

[GardenStateGirlie]

When people hear "New Jersey," they generally think of tomato's, Atlantic City, and people with incredibly strong accents and road rage who pronounce the states name like they're chowing down on ****. Those people are generally not from here...South Philadelphia and Long Island...the road rage? oh, we're here for sure. Depending on what you've been told, you think either farmland or wasteland. Depends on the place though but yes, that's true :laugh: Girls have big hair (some might, I suppose), drive Mercedes and BMWs (depends on the place but yes, true) walk around with fake nails and coach bags (not me but yes, true).

We don't pump our own gas, we have 24 hour diners (and you get free refills on your drinks!), Wawa's (the convenience store), and we eat real cheesesteaks. We don't drink pop, we drink soda and we eat hoagies/subs...not grinders. We are home of the Pine Barrens (where the Jersey Devil resides). We go "down the shore" during the summer, even if we're going to a beach in North Jersey. We are suburb dwellers for the most part. We are surrounded by three states (New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware). When we want to find out how to get to someones house we ask "off what exit." If you live in North Jersey, you support the Giants for football and the NJ Devils for Hockey. If you live in South Jersey, you support the Philadelphia Eagles and the Philadelphia Flyers. Our state capital is in the middle of Trenton (which is kind of the ghetto) yet our governor lives in a mansion in Princeton. We have a train that takes us into New York City and one that takes us into Philadelphia. No matter where you are in this state, you can bet there's a mall that's not far from you.

New Jersey...it pretty much is what you think... :laugh:

[ontheEdgeof17]

Well, I live in West Virginia. Here is what I hear a lot:


-"Western Virginia?" : No, we are a real state.

-"Don't ppl marry their brothers and sisters there?" Just in Southern WV

-"You own shoes?" Believe it or not, we have shoe shops here.

[AliP]

:laugh:

Everyone from the northeast has an accent, IMO. Some (like people form Boston) don't pronounce R's very well and empahsize "ah" when there isn't one in a word. :laugh: Others pronounce words so well that it doesn't seem like they have an accent, but their pronunciations are very sharp and abrupt. Personally, I have a very rich voice and I sound like I'm from England. :laugh:



I agree. My mom is from New York and everyone out here immediately picks up on her accent even though she hasn't lived there for 35 years.

*****
The thing that bugs me is everyone assumes she is from New York City. Everytime I would tell people I was going to visit New York, they are like 'go see the statue of liberty' or are like "goin' to the Big Appla (they will be trying to copy a New York accent - annoying) or something. Plus, she doesn't have a Brooklyn accent...it's a Buffalo/Rochester accent. There's a difference, I think. People just don't realize that that there is more to New York than just the City. People out here can be soo dumb. :)

[AliP]

Well, I live in West Virginia. Here is what I hear a lot:



-"Don't ppl marry their brothers and sisters there?" Just in Southern WV




Yeah, that's what I say I hear the most about West Virginia. LOL. Or that the people live in the mountains, toothless and all!

[ontheEdgeof17]

Yeah, that's what I say I hear the most about West Virginia. LOL. Or that the people live in the mountains, toothless and all!


Well, I do live in the mountains. The tooth thing is kinda true....I have mine, but my neighbors don't. :rolleyes:

[GateandGarden]

Whenever I tell people I'm from Louisiana, they're always amazed that I don't have a southern accent. My mom's from Michigan but I don't sound like I'm from there either... I have no idea what I sound like! :lol: I'd like to think I identify with Texas more than anywhere -- I was born there and I'd love to go back for more than a few days at a time, but from what I've seen, I like it. :cool:I think I'm like you. People ask me what happened to my accent. It only comes out in certain words, and always out of nowhere. I've had people ask me if I'm from New York because I don't sound like other people around here. Of course, these were people who had probably never met someone from New York and had no real concept of what they sounded like.

Hillary

[AliP]

Girls have big hair (some might, I suppose), drive Mercedes and BMWs (depends on the place but yes, true) walk around with fake nails and coach bags (not me but yes, true).



That is soo funny! Have you seen the MTV special "Real Life - I'm a New Jersey Shore Girl" or something like that?? That's totally how I pictured girls and from New Jersey! I totally picture guys from New Jersey as always having dark hair with wife beater tank tops on and lots of jewelry. Have you seen the the other MTV special where the Italian guy and girl are planning their wedding - and he freaks out when the limo driver is late and screams in the phone - "I'm going to hunt you down and rip your stomach out!" or something like that. I was like people in New Jersey are nutsz!! LOL!

Yeah, but my perception of New Jersey is definitely big hair ladies, very thick accents, very into their ethnicity (if that makes sense) It's like a whole different world out here. For instance, people out here do not care what your ethnic background is. In fact, people don't even know what theirs is. Then when you go back East - people's lives just revolve around whether they are Italian, Polish, Greek etc. Just very different out west.

[GardenStateGirlie]

Others pronounce words so well that it doesn't seem like they have an accent, but their pronunciations are very sharp and abrupt. Personally, I have a very rich voice and I sound like I'm from England. :laugh:

:raises hand:

Me too. I'm not so sure if that's a good thing or if that makes us "fancy pants" elitist's :shocked: :laugh:

When you get my mom riled up or laughing maniacally, she sounds like a Jewish woman from the Long Island. However, she grew up 15 minutes from here and has never visited Long Island...go figure

[amber]

:laugh: :laugh: :nod: Seriously. I don't think I've ever met anyone from those states..hmmm...hehehe...

I spent my whole life (up until about 7 months ago) in New Mexico - and some of the things I've heard in my travels have been great...

"Oh you're from New MExico? WOW - your English is really good!" um....

"Oh New Mexico - do you travel to the United States often?"

Luckily it's been years since I've had those mishaps - seems people didn't even realize New MExico was a state until recently :rolleyes:

Movies tend to perpetuate the New Mexico stereotype something awful...believe it or not it's not just a huge barren land w/ nothing but old saloons, ghost towns and dirt roads...

A movie I LOVE but it always bugs me is Boys on the Side...they make Tucson out to be this total nothing antiquated place - house all secluded in the dessert, the festival they go to and the bar in which Jane works...Tucson is actually a city lol....I don't know things like that bug me...:p
:D For the record, I think of Taos, beautiful landscapes, and a fairly large artist/weird spiritual things community... :wavey:

[GardenStateGirlie]

That is soo funny! Have you seen the MTV special "Real Life - I'm a New Jersey Shore Girl" or something like that?? That's totally how I pictured girls and from New Jersey! I totally picture guys from New Jersey as always having dark hair with wife beater tank tops on and lots of jewelry. Have you seen the the other MTV special where the Italian guy and girl are planning their wedding - and he freaks out when the limo driver is late and screams in the phone - "I'm going to hunt you down and rip your stomach out!" or something like that. I was like people in New Jersey are nutsz!! LOL!

Yeah, but my perception of New Jersey is definitely big hair ladies, very thick accents, very into their ethnicity (if that makes sense) It's like a whole different world out here. For instance, people out here do not care what your ethnic background is. In fact, people don't even know what theirs is. Then when you go back East - people's lives just revolve around whether they are Italian, Polish, Greek etc. Just very different out west.

Yes and I shook my head in despair. Those? were girls from North Jersey :distress: That's another thing about this state. North Jersey and South Jersey have their similarities but they also have their differences as I think Lisa can attest to as well. Most of the farm land is way down south and the industrial is partly south (around the city) but mainly central and northern New Jersey (around NYC). You can definately tell a North Jersey girl from a South Jersey girl (accents aside). The place they filmed I'm A Jersey Shore Girl AND the bride/groom fighting was in Northern NJ. Same for Room Raiders and most of the Made shows (MTV brings their crews in from NYC and they film mainly up north). I always think they find the biggest morons from the state and put them on television and then people think, "WTF?!?." Not everyone in North Jersey is like that but sadly, some people are. South Jersey certainly has their fill of odd people as well :nod: We have snobs, rednecks (they're called pineys because they live near the Pine Barrens), total hicks, farmers (Vineland) yuppies (Cherry Hill), workaholics, alcoholics, drug addicts (Camden), etc.

In New Jersey people are very Jewish and very Italian (there are other nationalities here as well but as far as Italians and Jews are concerned, we're it :laugh: ) and yes, everyone is incredibly proud to throw it around. I think it's our location. Most people that live here have come from a city at one point or another where back years ago after emmigrating here, people seperated into their groups in the big cities and that's just the way it was. Today you still see the same activity in the city but many suburban communities have become melting pots. You're right though...it's a HUGE North East thing

[GardenStateGirlie]

:D For the record, I think of Taos, beautiful landscapes, and a fairly large artist/weird spiritual things community... :wavey:

You and I must share a brain because that's exactly what I think of too. That and lots of really fabulous stones in bracelets and necklaces...very Navajo. I love it.

[amber]

You and I must share a brain because that's exactly what I think of too. That and lots of really fabulous stones in bracelets and necklaces...very Navajo. I love it.
:nod: I've always wanted to vacation there, or retire there, or something. But if we are sharing a brain, that explains a lot, from my perspective :p And i think I owe you an apology :lol:

On a different note, i'm suprised no one has "attacked" Cali yet. I guess NJ had enough fodder to keep everyone occupied :laugh: And by the way, Jersey sounds a bit nicer than i always thought it was... :wavey:

[GardenStateGirlie]

:nod: I've always wanted to vacation there, or retire there, or something. But if we are sharing a brain, that explains a lot, from my perspective :p And i think I owe you an apology :lol:

On a different note, i'm suprised no one has "attacked" Cali yet. I guess NJ had enough fodder to keep everyone occupied :laugh: And by the way, Jersey sounds a bit nicer than i always thought it was... :wavey:


No apology necessary :laugh: I plan on finishing my college education in California but I think people get the wrong impression of the state. With shows like Laguna Beach and The O.C., it's not hard to figure out why. However, it does, after all, consist of more than "Hollywood." Meredith (Merf) was actually surprised by New Jersey. It's really not as bad as I make it out to be but yes, it's crazy and we're all really hyper and "GO GO GO!" up here. Fast-paced.

[amber]

No apology necessary :laugh: I plan on finishing my college education in California but I think people get the wrong impression the state. With shows like Laguna Beach and The O.C., it's not hard to figure out why. However, it does, after all, consist of more than "Hollywood." Meredith (Merf) was actually surprised by New Jersey. It's really not as bad as I make it out to be but yes, it's crazy and we're all really hyper and "GO GO GO!" up here. Fast-paced.
Sounds fun. Actually, it would be nice to meet other italian people.. :rolleyes: Like the ones i see in movies... :p

[GardenStateGirlie]

Sounds fun. Actually, it would be nice to meet other italian people.. :rolleyes: Like the ones i see in movies... :p

There are definitely some around here :shocked:

[amber]

There are definitely some around here :shocked:
Woohoo! My whole life, i was thinking, there's no one around here like me...with a weird "yelling family", talking loud craziness..."where's my people?!" :lol:

[wondergirl9847]

My mom told me that when she was a kid, she used to go to New York to visit some of our family. The kids up there always use to ask her if she had an oil well in her backyard and if they rode horses everywhere. LMAO!!

Yes, in Texas, we all have oil wells, ride horses everywhere, and say ya'll all the time....wait, that last one is true. Hee!!

Howdy, ya'll! :laugh:

[sara1998]

Texas... I knew some people from Texas when I was growing up. My conception of the state came from them. The wife was a big hair loud mouth, the husband was a controlling asshole with an equally large mouth, and the kids ran around dirty with snotty noses all the time.... :laugh:

And Illinois... does anyone really live anywhere else but Chicago? I've driven through this state (from north to south) and there's absolutely NOTHING!

So, I'm curious of what people think of Indiana....

[AliP]

Texas... I knew some people from Texas when I was growing up. My conception of the state came from them. The wife was a big hair loud mouth, the husband was a controlling asshole with an equally large mouth, and the kids ran around dirty with snotty noses all the time.... :laugh:

And Illinois... does anyone really live anywhere else but Chicago? I've driven through this state (from north to south) and there's absolutely NOTHING!

So, I'm curious of what people think of Indiana....


LOL! Yeah, when I think of Texas I think of guys and gals with big cowboy hats and big-ass trucks! And I heard the women wear a lot of makeup and have big hair? Is that true Christy? LOL. When I think of Texas I also think of the last scene in 'Cast Away' when Tom Hanks takes the Fed Ex package back to that lady and he stops at that destitute intersection. Kind of dusty and very open but nice, I think.

Anyway, that is so funny that you should ask about IL and IN...I was going to say that those are two states that I NEVER hear anything about. I have no idea what people are like there except I think of Chicago for IL and Notre Dame for IN. I also never hear anything about the people in OH, IA, MO, KS.

[WelshWitchPMD]

Ok I found this site about my state Rhode Island

Quahog.org Guide to Rhode Island Language Stuff
Whatchoo lookin' at?

It was inevitable that we would have to put one of these pages together eventually. After all, every other webpage that talks about Rhode Island has one. The following is by no means meant to be comprehensive -- we're willing to leave that up to the experts. Many of the words and phrases straddle state boundaries, and many of the phonetic pronunciations are true for only a small portion of the population. We've met plenty of native Rhode Islanders who have the classic accent, as well as many who have no discernable accent at all. Your mileage may vary. For a definitive guide to Vo Dynglish, see the excellent book, Rhode Island Dictionary by Mark Patinkin and Don Bousquet.

ACI
The Adult Correctional Institute. It's located in Cveaanstin. People are always either being remanded to it or escaping from it.


Antnee, Bvenda, Richit, Shevl
Names for children in Rhode Island's Italian-American neighborhoods.


Beah
An alcoholic beverage.


Bubbla
Drinking fountain. The word is apparently also used in parts of the upper Midwest and Australia. We've read in a couple of places that the usage may be related to the Wisconsin-based manufacturer, Kohler, which marketed a fountain under the Bubbler name around 1914.


Cabinet
A drink made from milk, flavored syrup, and ice cream. In other parts of the country it's called a milk shake or a frappe. A liberal interpretation of the entry for cabinet in the Oxford English Dictionary might suggest that the term originated from the English Newcastle or cabinet pudding, "a pudding made of bread or cake, dried fruit, eggs and milk, usually served hot with a sauce." Or it might not.


Camavo
A member of the holy muscle car trinity, along with the Firebird and the Iroc. Popular with mullet-headed men who have girlfriends named Shevl and who wear black t-shirts with the sleeves cut off.


Chariho
A district made up of the towns of Charlestown, Richmond, and Hopkinton.


Chourico
Pronounced shuh-reese. A smoked Portuguese sausage that is dense and spicy. There's also Linguica (leeng-gwee-sa), which is less spicy, as it's made with less chili pepper.


Cveaanstin
The municipality south of Providence and north of Warrik.


De boatayuz
More than one, less than three.


De klenzaz
The local dry-cleaning establishment.

Downsella
Where you keep that treadmill that you used for about a week back in '93.
Eas' (or Wes') Grennich
Witches may live there, but they're not pronounced.


Fuggeddaboudit!
Literally "forget about it," this phrase can mean anything from "yes" to "no" and everything in between, depending upon context and inflection. Donnie Brasco (as played by Johnny Depp), in the film by the same name, explains some of the subtleties:

"Forget about it" is like if you agree with someone, you know, like "Raquel Welsh is one great piece of ass, forget about it." But then, if you disagree, like, "A Lincoln is better than a Cadillac? Forget about it!" you know? But then, it's also like if something's the greatest thing in the world, like Mingrio's Peppers, "forget about it." Sometimes it just means forget about it.

Gagga
Otherwise known as a destroyer, bellybuster, or hot weiner. A small hot dog with a natural casing, slathered in mustard, meat sauce, chopped onions, and celery salt, and served in a steamed bun.


God
v. 1. To protect from harm; watch over. 2. To watch over to prevent escape. 3. To keep watch at (a door or gate). 4. To take precautions: god against infection. --n. 1. One that gods. 2. Watchful care: under close god. 3. Defensive posture or stance. 4. Football. One of the two players on either side of the center. 5. Basketball. Either of the two players stationed near the middle of the court. 6. A device that prevents injury, damage, or loss. (American Heritage Dictionary, sort of)


Gravy
In most places, you would get whiplash trying to get a good look at the person you overheard asking for more gravy for their paster. In Rhode island they're just asking for more tomato sauce. According to Bartlett's Dictionary of Americanisms, it has also been used to denote the filling in a pie.


Grinda
Otherwise known as a hoagie, po' boy, or sub. It's a sangwidge.


Hot
The thing in your chest that pumps blood and keeps you alive.


Idear
All those dropped Rs have to go somewhere. They end up tacked onto the ends of words ending in "A," like idear, bananner, paster, and vaniller.


Jeet?
Have you eaten yet? The appropriate response (assuming you haven't eaten) is "No, joo?"


Jimmies
A liberal sprinkling of these can brighten up a dull, dreary ice cream cone. We hear they're also called Ants in the Woonsocket area.


Lore
Don't break it or they'll put you in the ACI.


NiRoPe
Usually heard as part of the phrase, "NiRoPe Pricing," the word comes from the names of the three Cardi Brothers, Nick, Ron, and Pete, whose furniture store commercials are ubiquitous on Southern New England television and radio stations.


No school Fosta-Glosta
A catchphrase (much like "Whatchootalkin'boutWillis?"), uttered by much-beloved media personality Salty Brine during winter snow-day reports. Foster and Glocester are two abutting communities in the northwest of the state that are completely snowbound during months containing an "r." Salty always lumped the two together when making no-school announcements; most Rhode Islanders believe there's a town out there called Fosta-Glosta.

Salty's been gone from the radio for a few years now, but the phrase refuses to die. A sure way to find out if someone is lying about having spent time in the state (as though one would), is to challenge him with the phrase "No school..." A real Rhode Islander knows the rest.


No suh!
I believe you are pulling my leg, my friend.


On Special
On sale.


Packy
Short for package store, which is what they call liquor stores around here. In Rhode Island, they're not open on Sundays.


Please?
This is not a plea for more porridge, but a polite way of saying, "What the hell did you just say?"


Potty
A celebration.


PSDS
What you hang earrings from. Think about it.


P'tuckit
The municipality north of Providence and south of Attleboro.


Quahog
A kind of ocean clam, or bivalve mollusk, found in the waters of the North Atlantic. They come in two varieties: Arctica islandica, the ocean quahog; and Mercenaria mercenaria, the bay quahog. They make handy ashtrays.

The common name, poquaûhock, is taken from the languages of the Narragansett and Wampanoag Indians, and it's thought that today's pronunciation can be traced to those origins. The Narragansetts, from the west side of Narragansett Bay, probably pronounced the word "po-kwa-hok." Today's western Rhode Islanders thus pronounce it "kwa-hog." The Wampanoags of the East Bay called it "po-ko-hok," and today, eastern Rhode Islanders likewise say "ko-hog."


Rhode Island handshake
A little extra gratuity for services rendered.


Sangwidge
A meal served between two pieces of bread. Also Sammich.


Saugy
A particular brand of hot dog, made with natural casings, that cuts loose with a distinctive "snap" when bitten into.



Side by each
You'll hear this one mainly around Woonsocket. It comes from the French "côté par chacun" and would be translated by most people as "side by side." Other Woonsocketisms include the use of double pronouns, as in, "I'm going to the supermarket, me," and the misplacement of phrases or modifiers, as in, "Throw me down the stairs my bag," or "Drive slow your car."

South County
A mythical area that roughly includes Washington and Kent Counties.


Stuffie
Clam stuffing baked in a clam shell. Also known as a stuffed clam.

David Steinbrick, a producer at Cox Communications, sent us this tidbit: "Over the years, I have heard the best way to describe a 'stuffie' to an outsider. A stuffie is 'a clam meatloaf in an ashtray.' Succinct and to the point. Except the non-native may wonder why we cook food in ashtrays."


Wikkit
An intensifier that's interchangeable with "very," as in, "We was drivin' wikkit fast." Also used to mean "extremely good" or "spectacular," as in, "Them forttajuly fyahworks was wikkit!"


Warrik
The municipality south of Cveaanstin and north of Eas' Grennich.

[ontheEdgeof17]

I also never hear anything about the people in OH, IA, MO, KS.


When I think of Kansas, I think of the Wizard of Oz. Yup. That's it on that state.

[GardenStateGirlie]

Wait wait wait...so here, after all these years of getting made fun of by people out of state for saying "jimmies" instead of sprinkles, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO DO IT!!! HA!

[wondergirl9847]

LOL! Yeah, when I think of Texas I think of guys and gals with big cowboy hats and big-ass trucks! And I heard the women wear a lot of makeup and have big hair? Is that true Christy? LOL. When I think of Texas I also think of the last scene in 'Cast Away' when Tom Hanks takes the Fed Ex package back to that lady and he stops at that destitute intersection. Kind of dusty and very open but nice, I think.

Well, I don't wear ANY makeup (unless I have somewhere nice to go) and my hair is flat as a pancake, so the stereotype doesn't apply to me. LOL Dallas women are more apt to put on pancake makeup and tease their hair up to Jesus.

Out in the country, sure, you may see an intersection like that, but not in the city. Here is a link to some Fort Worth photos.

http://www.3dphoto.net/stereo/world/united_states/south/fw/dfw.html

[estranged4life]

When I think of Cali-For-NIE I usually think of how horrible it must be to travel on the highways with all those damn frequent police chases, The IGNORANCE known as Holly-WEIRD & their love for stupid sensationalized court cases (ie-OJ Simpson..."Run for the border Juice...Run") & gang violence

Too bad with the Gover-Nator in power Cali-For-NIE really has become a joke. :nod:

Oh well, Keep buying yer energy from the Oklahoma based Williams Corp. Californy-ains...We OKIES appreciate the millions! :nod:

Brian "I wonder when CA will sink off into the ocean" J.

[AliP]

[COLOR=Blue][SIZE=2][FONT=Microsoft Sans Serif]
Out in the country, sure, you may see an intersection like that, but not in the city. Here is a link to some Fort Worth photos.



Yeah, I'm definitely not thinking of the city!

[GypsySorcerer]

And Illinois... does anyone really live anywhere else but Chicago? I've driven through this state (from north to south) and there's absolutely NOTHING!


I grew up in Southern Illinois, and it's definitely "Chicago and the rest of the state." There are some nice parts in Southern IL and we do have a fascinating history.

[AliP]

When I think of Cali-For-NIE I usually think of how horrible it must be to travel on the highways with all those damn frequent police chases, The IGNORANCE known as Holly-WEIRD & their love for stupid sensationalized court cases (ie-OJ Simpson..."Run for the border Juice...Run") & gang violence

Too bad with the Gover-Nator in power Cali-For-NIE really has become a joke. :nod:

Oh well, Keep buying yer energy from the Oklahoma based Williams Corp. Californy-ains...We OKIES appreciate the millions! :nod:

Brian "I wonder when CA will sink off into the ocean" J.


hmmm, what can I say about California. Unfortunately, most of my perceptions come from Hollywood. Blonde hair, big boobs, thin rail bodies, the usual.

People in Idaho hate Californians (not me, of course!) They are all moving here and driving up prices. (I think they did a study and most of the people that move here are from Cali) Seriously, if you tell some redneck Idahoan that you are from California..watch out!! LOL!

[AliP]

In New Jersey people are very Jewish and very Italian (there are other nationalities here as well but as far as Italians and Jews are concerned, we're it :laugh: ) and yes, everyone is incredibly proud to throw it around. I think it's our location. Most people that live here have come from a city at one point or another where back years ago after emmigrating here, people seperated into their groups in the big cities and that's just the way it was. Today you still see the same activity in the city but many suburban communities have become melting pots. You're right though...it's a HUGE North East thing


I never knew that about New Jersey! I didn't know there was farming there...go figure! And the whole North/South thing is very interesting. There are no Jewish people in Idaho either. I think I've known 2 in my entire life.

[GypsySorcerer]

No one get offended; all in fun!

State Mottos

Alabama : Hell Yes, We Have Electricity

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alaska : 11,623 Eskimos Can't Be Wrong!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arizona : But It's A Dry Heat

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arkansas : Literacy Ain't Everything

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

California : By 30, Our Women Have More Plastic Than Your Honda

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Colorado : If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Connecticut : Like Massachusetts , Only The Kennedys Don't Own It Yet

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Delaware : We Really Do Like The Chemicals In Our Water

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Florida : Ask Us About Our Grandkids

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Georgia : We Put The "Fun" In Fundamentalist Extremism

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hawaii : Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru (Death To Mainland Scum,

But Leave Your Money)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Idaho : More Than Just Potatoes ... Well Okay, We're Not, But The

Potatoes Are Real Good

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Illinois : Please Don't Pronounce the "S"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Indiana : 2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iowa : We Do Amazing Things With Corn

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kansas : First Of The Rectangular States

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kentucky : Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Louisiana : We're Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our

Tourism Campaign

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maine : We're Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maryland : If You Can Dream It, We Can Tax It

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Massachusetts : Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's (For Most Tax Brackets)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michigan : First Line Of Defense From The Canadians

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Minnesota : 10,000 Lakes... And 10,000,000,000,000 Mosquitoes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mississippi : Come And Feel Better About Your Own State

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Missouri : Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Montana : Land Of The Big Sky, The Unabomber, Right-wing Crazies,

And Very Little Else

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nebraska : Ask About Our State Motto Contest

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nevada : Hookers and Poker!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Hampshire : Go Away And Leave Us Alone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Jersey : You Want A ##$%##! Motto? I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto

Right Here!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Mexico : Lizards Make Excellent pets

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New York : You Have The Right To Remain Silent, You Have The Right

To An Attorney ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

North Carolina : Tobacco Is A Vegetable

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

North Dakota : We Really Are One Of The 50 States!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ohio : At Least We're Not Michigan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oklahoma : Like The Play, Only No Singing

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oregon : Spotted Owl... It's What's For Dinner

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pennsylvania : Cook With Coal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rhode Island : We're Not REALLY An Island

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

South Carolina : Remember The Civil War? We Didn't Actually Surrender

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

South Dakota : Closer Than North Dakota

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tennessee : The Educashun State

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Texas : Si' Hablo Ing'les (Yes, I Speak English)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Utah : Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vermont : Yep

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Virginia : Who Says Government Stiffs And Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Washington : Help! We're Overrun By Nerds And Slackers!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Washington , D.C. : Wanna Be Mayor?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

West Virginia : One Big Happy Family... Really!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wisconsin : Come Cut The Cheese

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wyoming : Where Men Are Men ...and the sheep are scared!

[ShangriLaTroubl]

Umm well I had a perception as Texas of being like people riding around in big huge trucks, with shotguns in the back...and herding cattle and stuff...

But my brother moved there over the summer and I went there in July and it's quite different. Very nice actually. There ARE a lot of mexicans there, more than I have ever seen in my entire life...

My perception of Massachusetts is a bunch of houses with John Kerry signs in their yards...people jogging down the streets at 6 am with a bottle of Kaballah water, and saying "I never use tha cah." instead of "I never use the car." I also noticed Kerry says "idear" instead of "idea." That bothers me lol

Chris

[AliP]

I also noticed Kerry says "idear" instead of "idea." That bothers me lol

Chris

I noticed that too! I thought only the English did that. hmm.

[GardenStateGirlie]

I never knew that about New Jersey! I didn't know there was farming there...go figure! And the whole North/South thing is very interesting. There are no Jewish people in Idaho either. I think I've known 2 in my entire life.

Oh gosh, a ton of farming. In fact, today I stopped at a farmers market in the middle of a HUGE town (it's a small farm) and bought some apple cider. We're a very crowded state. More and more people keep moving here...we've got the most people per square mile in the country. The poor deer have no place to go anymore because people keep selling their farmland to developers who in turn, build housing developments. In that particular town (Washington Township for anyone that knows this area), there's not much land left because it's so overdeveloped. In fact, a few years back they had to completely overhaul their high school because they couldn't accomedate all of the kids.

I think I told you before but I had a friend who lived in Idaho. She said it was just open land but there was a waterpark not far from her and all the kids would go there a lot. Of course, before living in Idaho, she'd lived here, Colorado and California. It had to have been an adjustment. Do you live in a fairly large town or is it a lot of open land?

[Hawkeye]

OMG Gypsy Sorcerer, those were HILARIOUS, but these were my absolute favorites

[QUOTE=GypsySorcerer]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Florida : Ask Us About Our Grandkids

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Indiana : 2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Kentucky : Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Nebraska : Ask About Our State Motto Contest

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Jersey : You Want A ##$%##! Motto? I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto

Right Here!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vermont : Yep



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[QUOTE=GypsySorcerer]

I'll give the very best award to Florida

[estranged4life]

My version of certain State Mottos:

Alabama : At least we aint Mississippi

Arizona : We have cactuses & Stevie Nicks!

Arkansas : Where Bill Clinton fornicated first

California : Not quite as stupid as Flori-DUH!

Delaware : Are we really a state?

Florida : We like to "Boat" in "erections" every 4 years

Kentucky : Makin' Ark-i-saw look smarter

Massachusetts : "Liberals...I see liberals everywhere...They only dont know they're liberals"

Mississippi : Putting the "bred" in "In-bred yokel"

Nevada : Hookers, Poker, ELVIS & all ya can eat buffets for $5.99

New Jersey : Tony Sopranos is OUR outstanding citizen youse guys (With Jay & Silent Bob as runners up 'snootches')

New Mexico : Not really new, But definitely Mexico

New York : P*ssies

Oklahoma : Hating Texas from sun-up to sun-down (And the rest of the millinneum for that matter...Y'all!!!)

Texas : Texas...Like a whole other country...MEXICO!

Utah : 1 man....18 wives

Washington , D.C. : The F**ktard capital of the United States of A-holes

[AliP]

I think I told you before but I had a friend who lived in Idaho. She said it was just open land but there was a waterpark not far from her and all the kids would go there a lot. Of course, before living in Idaho, she'd lived here, Colorado and California. It had to have been an adjustment. Do you live in a fairly large town or is it a lot of open land?


Yeah, water parks are the thing here! LOL! I go to them as much as I possibly can in the summer (I'm not kidding - love em :)). Northern Idaho and Southern Idaho are seriously so different they shouldn't even be the same state. Southern Idaho is very open, very dry and fairly flat land, except where I grew up was in a very pretty valley. The people in southern Idaho are very conservative, very Mormon. Northen Idaho is very green, pinetrees, mountainous and humid. There are very few Mormons and it is more liberal.

But if you have seen Napolean Dynamite - that was shot in Southern Idaho. Kind of embarrassing - we are not that backwards!! But they may be were that was shot - it's a very small farmtown.

[zinester]

I've never been - but what I always think of when I think of Utah are...Mormons.

I just recently moved to Utah from Minnesota to go to school. You are right about your perception. Mormans dominate the culture. I have suffered from some culture shock. Nothing is open on Sundays. Businesses generally close a lot earlier. All of my roommates are Morman except for me and they think I am from a different planet. From my experience so far one of the first things people ask you is if you are LDS (a.k.a. Morman). A lot of people won't associate with you if you aren't.

[GardenStateGirlie]

I've never been - but what I always think of when I think of Utah are...Mormons.

I just recently moved to Utah from Minnesota to go to school. You are right about your perception. Mormans dominate the culture. I have suffered from some culture shock. Nothing is open on Sundays. Businesses generally close a lot earlier. All of my roommates are Morman except for me and they think I am from a different planet. From my experience so far one of the first things people ask you is if you are LDS (a.k.a. Morman). A lot of people won't associate with you if you aren't.

Aww...Katie, I will always <3 you even if you're not a mormon ;)

[amber]

When I think of Cali-For-NIE I usually think of how horrible it must be to travel on the highways with all those damn frequent police chases, The IGNORANCE known as Holly-WEIRD & their love for stupid sensationalized court cases (ie-OJ Simpson..."Run for the border Juice...Run") & gang violence

Too bad with the Gover-Nator in power Cali-For-NIE really has become a joke. :nod:

Oh well, Keep buying yer energy from the Oklahoma based Williams Corp. Californy-ains...We OKIES appreciate the millions! :nod:

Brian "I wonder when CA will sink off into the ocean" J.
Really, there are a lot of rural places. I was up in wine country, which is absaf***inglutely gorgeous, this weekend. Actually, much of Cali is absolutely gorgeous, and we have a ton of climate/landscape variety.

[GardenStateGirlie]

Yeah, water parks are the thing here! LOL! I go to them as much as I possibly can in the summer (I'm not kidding - love em :)). Northern Idaho and Southern Idaho are seriously so different they shouldn't even be the same state. Southern Idaho is very open, very dry and fairly flat land, except where I grew up was in a very pretty valley. The people in southern Idaho are very conservative, very Mormon. Northen Idaho is very green, pinetrees, mountainous and humid. There are very few Mormons and it is more liberal.

But if you have seen Napolean Dynamite - that was shot in Southern Idaho. Kind of embarrassing - we are not that backwards!! But they may be were that was shot - it's a very small farmtown.

I wish we had some around here. We have one amusement park not far from here and then there's Six Flags about an hour away. Other than that, you'd have to go to the beach to find one. Pretty much community pools are the thing. It's a snobby affair at those pools and I really don't like them. I never knew Northern and Southern Idaho were so different and I honestly did think small towns and a ton of farmland. Never saw Napolean Dynamite but I'll believe you just if you believe not all people in NJ are as skanked out as the girls on True Life :laugh:

[zinester]

Minnesota : 10,000 Lakes... And 10,000,000,000,000 Mosquitoes

That is so true! The mosquitoes are horrible in Minnesota. In the summer, after 8:00 p.m. the mosquitoes are out for blood.

[pianogirl04]

Umm well I had a perception as Texas of being like people riding around in big huge trucks, with shotguns in the back...and herding cattle and stuff...

I think you just described the first high school I went to. Jacked up pickups with shotgun racks. You can tell where someone goes to school by what they drive (at least in this part of the state). On the seniors' last day they parade to school driving whatever they can -- their trucks, their daddy's trucks, their fourwheelers, and I've seen a couple tractors and lawnmowers before too. It's not uncommon to see tractors and/or lawnmowers driving down the road here anyway -- happens at least once a day where I live.

Louisiana : We're Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our

Tourism Campaign

:lol: Have you guys seen any of the Louisiana tourism commercials? For some reason they're on TV all the time here. For what it's worth I have never seen any kind of festivities even close to what they advertise, but I hear Mardi Gras in New Orleans is beyond insane; I'm too chicken to go though. My best friend went last year and she said she could not wait to get out of that city. New Orleans is just a creepy place to me... it's okay to visit but it just creeps me out for some reason. There's lots of awesome concerts at the House of Blues, which just happens to be in the French Quarter... and that is not somewhere I want to be at night, even if I am with somebody.

And is it just me or are there maybe four rest stops in this whole state? The ones in Texas are a lot nicer. :nod: A LOT nicer.

[amber]

hmmm, what can I say about California. Unfortunately, most of my perceptions come from Hollywood. Blonde hair, big boobs, thin rail bodies, the usual.

People in Idaho hate Californians (not me, of course!) They are all moving here and driving up prices. (I think they did a study and most of the people that move here are from Cali) Seriously, if you tell some redneck Idahoan that you are from California..watch out!! LOL!
yeah, that's lame. My parents live in a foothill town (in Cali) and the people from cities are doing the same damn thing. :shrug:

[GardenStateGirlie]

Really, there are a lot of rural places. I was up in wine country, which is absaf***inglutely gorgeous, this weekend. Actually, much of Cali is absolutely gorgeous, and we have a ton of climate/landscape variety.

I would LOVE to visit Napa. To me I think that might be the ultimate romantic getaway. It looks absolutely gorgeous on television so i'm sure it's even more amazing in real life.

[wondergirl9847]

And is it just me or are there maybe four rest stops in this whole state? The ones in Texas are a lot nicer. :nod: A LOT nicer.

When my dad and I went to Colorado back in October, we stopped at a couple of rest stops that had been redone. They had computers to find hotels, attractions, etc. and it was REALLY nice and clean too.

[zinester]

Aww...Katie, I will always <3 you even if you're not a mormon

Thanks, Marissa :xoxo:

I was in class the other day and my professor was talking about morals, standards, ect. He said, for instance, would you date outside your race, religion, sex, ect. There were about 20 people who yelled "NO!" with a disgusted look on their face. I was appalled. He asked one of people why and he responded, "I don't date people who aren't Morman."

[amber]

I would LOVE to visit Napa. To me I think that might be the ultimate romantic getaway. It looks absolutely gorgeous on television so i'm sure it's even more amazing in real life.
it was. I wasn't in Napa, a different "wine town" and it was all trees, hills and greenery. We sat staring at the stars, being amazed we could see them all. And it was "country dark" at night, ie, you couldn't see anything for miles. The person we visited was staying in a winery house his family owned, so we had the grape field outside our door...a river behind...a big hill, covered with trees...there isn't much to do though, except enjoy fresh air and beautiful views. Oh, and we drank a lot. :D and some swam in the pool (it was butt ass freezing, i didn't go in :laugh: ) I didn't want to leave, ever. You should go. :thumbsup:

[GardenStateGirlie]

Aww...Katie, I will always <3 you even if you're not a mormon

Thanks, Marissa :xoxo:

I was in class the other day and my professor was talking about morals, standards, ect. He said, for instance, would you date outside your race, religion, sex, ect. There were about 20 people who yelled "NO!" with a disgusted look on their face. I was appalled. He asked one of people why and he responded, "I don't date people who aren't Morman."

Wow. So no mormon boyfriends for you in Utah :laugh:

You're welcome, Bobby's mom :xoxo:

[GardenStateGirlie]

it was. I wasn't in Napa, a different "wine town" and it was all trees, hills and greenery. We sat staring at the stars, being amazed we could see them all. And it was "country dark" at night, ie, you couldn't see anything for miles. The person we visited was staying in a winery house his family owned, so we had the grape field outside our door...a river behind...a big hill, covered with trees...there isn't much to do though, except enjoy fresh air and beautiful views. Oh, and we drank a lot. :D and some swam in the pool (it was butt ass freezing, i didn't go in :laugh: ) I didn't want to leave, ever. You should go. :thumbsup:

Marissa's To Do List
-find a new job
-apply for school
-find wealthy boyfriend to whisk me away for weekend in California wine country

[amber]

Marissa's To Do List
-find a new job
-apply for school
-find wealthy boyfriend to whisk me away for weekend in California wine country
ha! me too, sistah! :laugh:

[GardenStateGirlie]

ha! me too, sistah! :laugh:

Perhaps we should just whisk ourselves away and get piss drunk :laugh:

[amber]

Perhaps we should just whisk ourselves away and get piss drunk :laugh:
oops! too late :laugh: :wavey:
Your boyfriend would have to be 10 times cooler, because for me, it's an hour and a half drive, for you - ACROSS THE CONTINENT :laugh: But you're 10 years younger, so that evens it out... :p

[pianogirl04]

When my dad and I went to Colorado back in October, we stopped at a couple of rest stops that had been redone. They had computers to find hotels, attractions, etc. and it was REALLY nice and clean too.

That sounds fantastic! They just built a new rest stop just outside of town here on the interstate but I haven't been to it (no reason to, I guess). The one on I-10 going into TX is absolutely HUGE compared to the little house-looking one going into LA. And don't even get be started on the bathrooms... :distress:

I went to Lafayette and I found out that the mall down there now has free wifi -- rock on!! I wonder if there are many rest stops that have gone wireless. It'd be awesome to take a road trip and then be able to stop and get on the web, check the weather, pull up directions to something, etc...

[GardenStateGirlie]

oops! too late :laugh: :wavey:
Your boyfriend would have to be 10 times cooler, because for me, it's an hour and a half drive, for you - ACROSS THE CONTINENT :laugh: But you're 10 years younger, so that evens it out... :p

DAMMIT. A day late and a dollar short :laugh: And yes, my phantom make pretend boyfriend would have to be pretty amazing to do that.

[amber]

DAMMIT. A day late and a dollar short :laugh: And yes, my phantom make pretend boyfriend would have to be pretty amazing to do that.
:laugh: oh, Phantommakepretend...I think i know him :laugh: Yeah. I was visiting an ex, but my girlfriend drove me.

[AliP]

I've never been - but what I always think of when I think of Utah are...Mormons.

I just recently moved to Utah from Minnesota to go to school. You are right about your perception. Mormans dominate the culture. I have suffered from some culture shock. Nothing is open on Sundays. Businesses generally close a lot earlier. All of my roommates are Morman except for me and they think I am from a different planet. From my experience so far one of the first things people ask you is if you are LDS (a.k.a. Morman). A lot of people won't associate with you if you aren't.

Is this the same Katie that I met in Denver at the FM concert?? If so, I remember you telling me you were going to school Utah. (I said to myself..'uh oh' but I didn't want to tell you cause I didn't want to scare you! LOL) If it's not you then I will just comment anyway!!

Yes! I would never wish for anyone to move to Utah who is not Mormon. It is pure torture. Everything revolves around the religion. And yes, they will not associate with you if you are not mormon. When I was little, my friends parent's would not let them play with me because I wasn't Mormon. Yes, it is that bad!! And please, please, promise me you will NOT marry a Mormon. They will convert you and you will be stuck and pregnant every year! (I kid you not!)

[sara1998]

Anyway, that is so funny that you should ask about IL and IN...I was going to say that those are two states that I NEVER hear anything about. I have no idea what people are like there except I think of Chicago for IL and Notre Dame for IN. I also never hear anything about the people in OH, IA, MO, KS.

Well, I've been in Indiana all of my life, and let me educate you. Yes, we are 2 billion years tidal wave free (that's hilarious)! The perception is that "Hoosiers" are some of the most hospitable people in the nation (Hoosier Hospitality) but if you've ever encountered me driving on the road, you'll think differently! We are big on racing and basketball. I was raised 2 minutes from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and have only been to 2 Indy 500's, and the Brickyard 500 once. There are pretty densely populated areas, but once you are out of Indianapolis, these areas are separated with large corn, wheat or soy fields. We don't have an accent, but I've heard other people say we have "lazy" speech.

When I went to Arizona earlier this year, it was the first time I've been further west then Illinois in all of my life. I felt so out of place there. My friend took my daughter and I to a restaurant the first night we were there. I was in a nice T-shirt and blue jeans, and my daughter was dressed the same, (nothing different from how we'd go at home) and we get there and people are dressed in nice shirts and blazers, kahkis, good shoes. Damn, did I feel like a slob. It was some serious culture shock. The people there are so different then us.

[Jessica Leigh]

here are some perceptions about the states i have lived in... in alphabetical order...

Arizona-
lots of old people... young people drink a lot! i found that many young adults are transplants trying to make a new life away from (in most cases) cold states... a lot of kids from minnesota especially! in scottsdale there is a HUGE amount of ladies who either don't work (supported by rich husbands) or make it look like they are one of those spoiled ladies... with bleached hair... LOTS of TERRIBLE boob jobs... we're talking cantelopes that appear to float in mid air... and they go out to lunch together and if they have a baby they have a nanny who sits with them and when the kid cries the mother barely blinks and the nanny gets up with the child and takes him/her outside. fair amount of cowboys in big trucks (it is the old west afterall) and it's normal to see a gun sticking out of the back pocket of the guy standing in front of you in the starbucks line. Tucson is, well, i call it the armpit of arizona... it smells... it really does... the only thing i have found cool about Tucson is that on the drive from Phoenix to Tucson there is an ostrich farm on the side of the road... and you don't see ostriches very often... and in arizona people decorate cacti with lights for christmas (the deserts parts, at least)

California-
it's hard to really describe california... it's got everything... laid back people, uptight people, hippies who won't touch meat or hair dye, cowboys, surfers.... hell california has tv shows take place there so much i think we all know about california

Montana-
YES I AM ONE PERSON WHO HAS LIVED IN MONTANA!!!!!!!!! they've got some inbreeding problems... SERIOUSLY!!! i was there for less than a year and met so many people who confused the **** outta me cause i wasn't sure if they were for real or not... but yes, many of them were slightly off when it came to mental capacity and whatnot... i could go on with this but i might offend people... Yes bozeman has a lot of hippies... from what i experienced, bozeman was mostly students from out of state who went to school there cause it was up in the mountains and it was nature etc... so yes... hippies... the same kind of kids who decide to leave the big city and go to school in Boulder CO. the rest of montana is a bunch of right wing, gun totin', cultish religious, red neck, fly fishing, deer hunting, live off the land type of people. people rarely fly in or out of that state... it's a good $500 for a cheap ticket to like, LA or Seattle... how do people travel? GREYHOUND!!!!!!

North Carolina-
I REAAAAAALLY don't remember a whole lot about this time in my life. but i remember very kind, sweet old southern ladies.

TEXAS-
(always has to be big letters cause everything's bigger there) I love Texas... it's like the old west... like Arizona... but it's also like the show Dallas to me (i just watched the Dallas reunion on my friend's Tivo so i'm pumped on it right now) i remember it being very hot and humid there.... and San Antonio (where i lived) stunk sort of.... at least by the river it did... Austin is different from the rest of Texas... Livia can tell you about that- it's a cool city- in this month's southwest airlines magazine they have a little thing describing Austin... "most people's CD collections are all unknown local bands... you'd better have a favorite football team and that team had better be the longhorns" etc... there were more but i can't remember it all... and of course the football thing... how many movies have been made about the obsessiveness of high school football there? lots.

Washington-
gosh... thick white socks that go halfway up your calves with birkenstocks... hippyish people... silicon valley type people (who are being safer than silicon valley was) lots of seafood... people eat salmon for dinner at least once a week i swear. clam digging... fishing... lots of seafood that people go get themselves unlike places like san fran where people just go to a market by the bay and buy it off of an icepack. eastern washington (once you get over the cascade mountains) you find a lot of bored people... meth is big... and so is white eyeliner and blue mascara. YIKES!!! to go have ANY fun you either have to travel into spokane (EWW EWW EWWWWW) or over the pass to Seattle (which can be very dangerous in winter) Washingtonians are water people... ocean, lake, river... doesn't matter... most people learn how to drive motorboats and jetskiis before they go through puberty... oh yeah.. and the apples... APPLES! lots of agriculture in WA. fresh fruit stands all over the place on the sides of the roads. apricots are big, too. anyone ever heard of Applets and Cotlets? look 'em up. they are so nasty yet so good!

[GateandGarden]

For what it's worth I have never seen any kind of festivities even close to what they advertise, but I hear Mardi Gras in New Orleans is beyond insane; I'm too chicken to go though. My best friend went last year and she said she could not wait to get out of that city. New Orleans is just a creepy place to me... it's okay to visit but it just creeps me out for some reason. There's lots of awesome concerts at the House of Blues, which just happens to be in the French Quarter... and that is not somewhere I want to be at night, even if I am with somebody.
I haven't been in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, either. I've heard all kinds of stories, and usually make me more hesitant. I don't really see the whole point in Mardi Gras, anyway. I'm not that interested in getting totally wasted and acting stupid, while being surrounded by many, many other people who are doing the same thing, but that's me. :laugh: New Orleans is kind of creepy, but I like it; as long as someone's with me I can take it. This is off-topic, but doesn't the Aquarium in New Orleans rock? I just love aquariums. Few people seem to get as passionate as I do about them. Few people who are over the age of eight.

Hillary

[strandinthewind]

I ADORE New Orleans. I grew up in essentially Lafayette and New Orleans and then attended law school at Loyola. They are both nice cities. But, I love NOLA the most. It is in my top three favorite places in the world. But - to each their own :cool:

[amber]

California-
it's hard to really describe california... it's got everything... laid back people, uptight people, hippies who won't touch meat or hair dye, cowboys, surfers.... hell california has tv shows take place there so much i think we all know about california

Word. We really do have everything. you forgot to mention ghetto ass mofos, tons of different cultures, and almost every kind of weather/landscape you could want :cool: :cool: Not to mention every kind of food... :D

[DrummerDeanna]

I just love aquariums. Few people seem to get as passionate as I do about them. Few people who are over the age of eight.

Hillary

No - I also LOVE aquariums...though my love for them did become more pronounced when my nephew was born and proved to be a HUGE animal lover - he is so obsessed with animals...and so I've been to an aquarium with him - made me just fall in love with them again - I was completely mesmerized...they're so peaceful and I just love so many water creatures :D

[SuzeQuze]

:eek: at a garage sale? That's alarming - I guess what would be even more alarming is if you friend did have those items...AND sold them at a garage sale :laugh:

LOL! I was in Maine and got a ride from a local to the store. I was sitting on something and had to move it to sit on the seat. She said, "Oh sorry, that's my gun." So for Maine my perception is everyone has a rifle in their car!

[DrummerDeanna]

LOL! I was in Maine and got a ride from a local to the store. I was sitting on something and had to move it to sit on the seat. She said, "Oh sorry, that's my gun." So for Maine my perception is everyone has a rifle in their car!

:eek: Oh my. That would be so frightening...lol...

[DrummerDeanna]

The thing that bugs me is everyone assumes she is from New York City. Everytime I would tell people I was going to visit New York, they are like 'go see the statue of liberty' or are like "goin' to the Big Appla (they will be trying to copy a New York accent - annoying) or something. Plus, she doesn't have a Brooklyn accent...it's a Buffalo/Rochester accent. There's a difference, I think. People just don't realize that that there is more to New York than just the City. People out here can be soo dumb. :)


:nod: :nod:

I'm starting to see this now that I've moved to Rochester.

It started early with many members of my family always so interested in my moving to New York - "Will you be close the Statue of Liberty?" "Oh - I've always wanted to see New York City - how exciting to live there..."

Um...yeah - I have told them over and over that Rochester is at least 5 hours from NYC - does no good...

When I got here I called my grandma who immediatly said, "Did you see the Statue of Liberty??"

Then I talked to my uncle who said "Hey - how YOU doing" All Joey like....I'm like..."Dude - I didn't move to Brooklyn here...I live in Rochester...

Anyway - it's driving me nuts...

[SuzeQuze]

I thought it was a myth but as soon as I got out of the car having crossed over into Utah, the first person I encounted walked up handing me a Book of the Mormon. Religion is far nowhere near as prevalent here which made it even more startling to me and I realise I probably shouldn't have laughed at him. Of course as soon as I opened my mouth the conversation, like the entire trip, revolved around the fact that I'm Australian.

I used to work for a company that was very liberal because it started in "The People's Republic of Cambridge" which is a somewhat derogatory name for Cambridge, MA. Then, we were bought by a company from Provo, Utah. Yes, they all seem to be Mormon! It is a very different religion/lifestyle from anything I am used to.

When the Olympics were in Utah, SNL did this hilarious skit with Mormon guys in suits skiing next to the competetors with the book trying to make converts. It was great! :lol: :laugh:

[SuzeQuze]

Sounds fun. Actually, it would be nice to meet other italian people.. :rolleyes: Like the ones i see in movies... :p

Come to the North End in Boston! :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Villavic]

Don't know how valid is my point of view, since I've been always been a visitor, but here I go because I found it interesting:

California: Sun, beaches, mexicans and orientals. I love SAN FRANCISCO, the most beautiful US city, for me. Los Angeles was dissapointing. San Diego is very nice. An expensive state.

Florida: kind of a second home. I love it. more sun and beaches. Not so expensive.

New Jersey: industries. close to NYC.

New York. Just Manhattan I know. Culture, crazy people, interesting places. Drugs also, homeless. Rich people. Many contrasts in a short space. One of a kind.

Texas: Dallas and Houston big cities. Compaq, Microsoft, BMC. Huge corporations. Fancy but boring cities.

Washington: Boeing and Microsoft. Nice country. But too rainy and cloudy. Anyway very cool city Seattle.

Massachussetts. Nice also. Lobsters! Nice people.

[SuzeQuze]

I haven't been in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, either. I've heard all kinds of stories, and usually make me more hesitant. I don't really see the whole point in Mardi Gras, anyway. I'm not that interested in getting totally wasted and acting stupid, while being surrounded by many, many other people who are doing the same thing, but that's me. :laugh: New Orleans is kind of creepy, but I like it; as long as someone's with me I can take it. This is off-topic, but doesn't the Aquarium in New Orleans rock? I just love aquariums. Few people seem to get as passionate as I do about them. Few people who are over the age of eight.

Hillary

I went and it is exactly that, a bunch of drunk people doing stupid things. It was really fun but I wouldn't do it again.

[strandinthewind]

I went and it is exactly that, a bunch of drunk people doing stupid things. It was really fun but I wouldn't do it again.

I am from there and I can only do it about every two or perhaps now three years. Fortunately, when I go, I stay with friends in their house - so I have some break from the madness :laugh:

[amber]

Don't know how valid is my point of view, since I've been always been a visitor, but here I go because I found it interesting:

California: Sun, beaches, mexicans and orientals. I love SAN FRANCISCO, the most beautiful US city, for me. Los Angeles was dissapointing. San Diego is very nice. An expensive state.

Florida: kind of a second home. I love it. more sun and beaches. Not so expensive.

New Jersey: industries. close to NYC.

New York. Just Manhattan I know. Culture, crazy people, interesting places. Drugs also, homeless. Rich people. Many contrasts in a short space. One of a kind.

Texas: Dallas and Houston big cities. Compaq, Microsoft, BMC. Huge corporations. Fancy but boring cities.

Washington: Boeing and Microsoft. Nice country. But too rainy and cloudy. Anyway very cool city Seattle.

Massachussetts. Nice also. Lobsters! Nice people.
Wow, you've been to a lot of places. Just a quick tip, you're not supposed to call Asian people Orientals. You're supposed to say Asian, or even better, if you happen to ever be talking more specifically - Japanese, Chinese, Laotian, etc. :wavey: That's if you're here, and talking to Americans.

[SuzeQuze]

I am from there and I can only do it about every two or perhaps now three years. Fortunately, when I go, I stay with friends in their house - so I have some break from the madness :laugh:

Oooh, sounds great. I always wanted to go back when it wasn't Mardi Gras so I could actually see the city, particularly the French Quarter. The way Anne Rice describes it in her novels it just sounds soo beautiful. I also wanted to see a graveyard since graves are all above ground which would be so different! Kind of morbid I guess! Also, during Mardi Gras, we just ate what we could get ahold of because picking and choosing was very difficult when having to go through mobs of people and not knowing the area. I'd like to get a more local experience than all of that touristy stuff we did.

I have to say, it was quite a different experience for me to exit an airport, grab a hurricane (rum/juice drink), and hop on a bus. That was how the trip began, egads! :lol: :laugh: :lol:

[Merf]

Aww...Katie, I will always <3 you even if you're not a mormon

Thanks, Marissa :xoxo:

I was in class the other day and my professor was talking about morals, standards, ect. He said, for instance, would you date outside your race, religion, sex, ect. There were about 20 people who yelled "NO!" with a disgusted look on their face. I was appalled. He asked one of people why and he responded, "I don't date people who aren't Morman."

First of all, OMG IT'S KATIE!!!@!!!!!!1111 :wavey: :xoxo:

Secondly, I'm was born and raised in North Carolina and here's some common things I get asked:

"Does everyone smoke down there? Do you smoke?" -Yes, "everyone" smokes down here (I'd say like 20%-30% regularly) and I do not pay more than $3.25 for a pack of cigarettes.

"Do you like NASCAR?" - While my brother and dad like NASCAR and watch it regularly, I don't. I just have a favorite driver (just to fit it around here I guess :lol: ) For the record "my driver" is Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Just because.

"You're from Charlotte? That's in South Carolina, right?" -NO. NO NO NO NO NO. CHARLOTTE IS IN NORTH CAROLINA. I'm sure DeeGeMe could tell you how aggravating it is when people get North Carolina & South Carolina confused. They are VERY different. (Marissa will tell you it's like the difference b/w North and South Jersey because it really is.)

"Do you go to the beach a lot?" No. I don't ever go to the beach. The closest beach is Myrtle which is 3 hours away. I haven't been to the Outer Banks since I was a kid because it's 7 1/2 hours by car. I kid you not. It would take about 10 hours to drive from one end of NC to the other.

Lastly, it's hilarious how many of my friends here are shocked that I'm a "native" Charlottean. I can't tell you how many people I know have told me that I am the ONLY person they know that is actually FROM Charlotte. :laugh:

[Villavic]

you're not supposed to call Asian people Orientals. You're supposed to say Asian, or even better, if you happen to ever be talking more specifically - Japanese, Chinese, Laotian, etc. :wavey: That's if you're here, and talking to Americans.

Thanks! In spanish you can say orientales. Actually some people say "chinos" to all asians, not only chinese but japanese, koreans, etc. That's too bad.

And yes, I was lucky to be in many states. I even forgot to mention DC, New Orleans, Raleigh, Las Vegas, Arizona (Monument Valley), Utah (Lake Powell), Detroit, Philadelphia. United States is a beautiful country.

I'm a voyager!!!

[GardenStateGirlie]

"Does everyone smoke down there? Do you smoke?" -Yes, "everyone" smokes down here (I'd say like 20%-30% regularly) and I do not pay more than $3.25 for a pack of cigarettes.

I still remember your face when you saw the prices here. That? is why people from New Jersey drive to Delaware and buy cartons :nod:

[DeadliestPoison]

(re: Indiana) We don't have an accent, but I've heard other people say we have "lazy" speech.
See, weird. I don't hear accents in most people around me, but when I listen to recordings of myself, when I'm done shuddering and wincing at my voice (I HATE it), I can detect a slight accent. o_O

Anyway. Indiana's lame. That is all.

[amber]

I still remember your face when you saw the prices here. That? is why people from New Jersey drive to Delaware and buy cartons :nod:
:lol: :laugh: The kind i like (American Spirits) are $5 a pack. How much in Jersey?

[pianogirl04]

I haven't been in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, either. I've heard all kinds of stories, and usually make me more hesitant. I don't really see the whole point in Mardi Gras, anyway. I'm not that interested in getting totally wasted and acting stupid, while being surrounded by many, many other people who are doing the same thing, but that's me. :laugh: New Orleans is kind of creepy, but I like it; as long as someone's with me I can take it. This is off-topic, but doesn't the Aquarium in New Orleans rock? I just love aquariums. Few people seem to get as passionate as I do about them. Few people who are over the age of eight.

Hillary

Mardi Gras scares me. It's like an extension of Christmas, one more reason to party. :rolleyes: New Orleans is cool as long as I'm in a group. I went last year with my debate team and we went to the Riverwalk and the Aquarium -- I hadn't been there since I was 9 and my gosh, things have changed!! There's so much more there now than there used to be... frogs and petting a sea urchin, among other things... there's so much there now that I can't remember what all of it is. I must say the jellyfish was my ultimate favorite -- and the penguins, of course. ;) I was walking around with three of my teammates, we were all seniors, and for two hours I was eight again, absolutely mesmerized. Over jellyfish. I've still got a pass to the zoo and the aquarium that doesn't expire until August of next year -- I wonder how hard it would be to talk my mom into a road trip... she's wanted to take a tour of a cemetary for a long time now, I'm not so sure I could handle that -- with my luck, I'd get possessed or something :lol:

[pianogirl04]

I ADORE New Orleans. I grew up in essentially Lafayette and New Orleans and then attended law school at Loyola. They are both nice cities. But, I love NOLA the most. It is in my top three favorite places in the world. But - to each their own :cool:

How did you like Loyola? My major's sorta up in the air right now and one option I'm entertaining is music therapy -- I would do four years locally and then go to Loyola. I haven't done a ton of research but I've seen that they have music industry/audio engineering classes too. I can handle NOLA in a group, but it's not somewhere I want to get lost in... or try to find a place to park in... :lol:

[Jessica Leigh]

:lol: :laugh: The kind i like (American Spirits) are $5 a pack. How much in Jersey?

OMG i paid $9.50 for a f*cking pack of cigarettes in atlantic city!!!!!! this drunk guy walked up to me and asked if he could bum a cigarette (you know, social/drinking smokers who bum off of you in public places) and i looked at him and said "dude, i spent $9.50 for this pack" and he goes "oh and you're a smoker? you smoke them?" and i said "yes i SMOKE them" and he walked away sheepishly... i think he was gonna try to hit on me and bumming a cigarette was his way of breaking the ice... but hell no.... when i spend almost 50 cents for each cigarette i'm not gonna give them away to strangers who are occasional smokers!

[strandinthewind]

I stayed in the French Quarter a couple years ago for a week. It's fantastic. :) I haven't read anything by Anne Rice, but John Kennedy Toole nailed the French Quarter in Confederacy of Dunces. And...The graveyards were just about my favorite part of that trip. There's a really cool wax museum...The people there are more hospitable and friendly than those here in the Bay Area. Oh, and the food....Don't even get me started on the food...

Hope you get back to New Orleans soon! :wavey:

-Justin

A Confed. of Dunces is probably my fav. book ever!!!!!!!!!!!! I laughed out
loud so many times while reading it in public, people stared at me!!! :laugh:

I am glad you enjoyed it and my hometown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[strandinthewind]

How did you like Loyola? My major's sorta up in the air right now and one option I'm entertaining is music therapy -- I would do four years locally and then go to Loyola. I haven't done a ton of research but I've seen that they have music industry/audio engineering classes too. I can handle NOLA in a group, but it's not somewhere I want to get lost in... or try to find a place to park in... :lol:

I liked Loyola. I was on the Broadway Campus which is where the Law School is. But, a ton of my friends went to under grad there. They all liked it. The music building is to die for. I used to go and practice piano there. I shoulda practiced some more :laugh:

[GardenStateGirlie]

OMG i paid $9.50 for a f*cking pack of cigarettes in atlantic city!!!!!! this drunk guy walked up to me and asked if he could bum a cigarette (you know, social/drinking smokers who bum off of you in public places) and i looked at him and said "dude, i spent $9.50 for this pack" and he goes "oh and you're a smoker? you smoke them?" and i said "yes i SMOKE them" and he walked away sheepishly... i think he was gonna try to hit on me and bumming a cigarette was his way of breaking the ice... but hell no.... when i spend almost 50 cents for each cigarette i'm not gonna give them away to strangers who are occasional smokers!

Girl, in a casino they will screw you even more. Generally they are that expensive here though...maybe a dollar or so less outside of the casino.

[amber]

OMG i paid $9.50 for a f*cking pack of cigarettes in atlantic city!!!!!! this drunk guy walked up to me and asked if he could bum a cigarette (you know, social/drinking smokers who bum off of you in public places) and i looked at him and said "dude, i spent $9.50 for this pack" and he goes "oh and you're a smoker? you smoke them?" and i said "yes i SMOKE them" and he walked away sheepishly... i think he was gonna try to hit on me and bumming a cigarette was his way of breaking the ice... but hell no.... when i spend almost 50 cents for each cigarette i'm not gonna give them away to strangers who are occasional smokers!
$9.50???!!! is that normal? were the cigs made of gold?!! $9.50!!? :eek: :mad:

[WelshWitchPMD]

I still remember your face when you saw the prices here. That? is why people from New Jersey drive to Delaware and buy cartons :nod:

Why are they so cheap in Delaware? I remember passing though there on one of my Mac excursions in Sept and my friend was shocked at the price of a carton. This was at a WAWA near Wilmington a really scummy WAWA to boot. :eek:

[strandinthewind]

$9.50???!!! is that normal? were the cigs made of gold?!! $9.50!!? :eek: :mad:

The dirty little secret about cigs. is most state's treasuries and certainly the Federal Treasury could not run without the revenues collected from cigs. So, although they know they are addictive, they just tax them more. Go figure.

[amber]

The dirty little secret about cigs. is most state's treasuries and certainly the Federal Treasury could not run without the revenues collected from cigs. So, although they know they are addictive, they just tax them more. Go figure.
Yeah, and that's fine, i'm just shocked. I thought ours were really high, but 9.50 is very, very high. that's 4.50 more than ours.

[AliP]

. eastern washington (once you get over the cascade mountains) you find a lot of bored people... meth is big... and so is white eyeliner and blue mascara. YIKES!!! to go have ANY fun you either have to travel into spokane (EWW EWW EWWWWW) or over the pass to Seattle (which can be very dangerous in winter) !


Yep, everyone calls Spokane "Spokecompton." Very crime ridden especially for only being around 200,000. But I do like to go there to shop. :)

[AliP]

\
When I went to Arizona earlier this year, it was the first time I've been further west then Illinois in all of my life. I felt so out of place there. My friend took my daughter and I to a restaurant the first night we were there. I was in a nice T-shirt and blue jeans, and my daughter was dressed the same, (nothing different from how we'd go at home) and we get there and people are dressed in nice shirts and blazers, kahkis, good shoes. Damn, did I feel like a slob. It was some serious culture shock. The people there are so different then us.

Yeah, I felt the same way there. Kind of reminded me of Las Vegas in the way all the girls dressed very prissy and for the most part 'slutty.'

[GardenStateGirlie]

Why are they so cheap in Delaware? I remember passing though there on one of my Mac excursions in Sept and my friend was shocked at the price of a carton. This was at a WAWA near Wilmington a really scummy WAWA to boot. :eek:

Eh...no offense to anyone living in DE but Wilmington isn't the nicest area. The reason? Delaware has NO SALES TAX AT ALL. People go there so they don't have to pay any tax on the cigarettes. They're much much cheaper there.

[GateandGarden]

No - I also LOVE aquariums...though my love for them did become more pronounced when my nephew was born and proved to be a HUGE animal lover - he is so obsessed with animals...and so I've been to an aquarium with him - made me just fall in love with them again - I was completely mesmerized...they're so peaceful and I just love so many water creatures :D

Mardi Gras scares me. It's like an extension of Christmas, one more reason to party. New Orleans is cool as long as I'm in a group. I went last year with my debate team and we went to the Riverwalk and the Aquarium -- I hadn't been there since I was 9 and my gosh, things have changed!! There's so much more there now than there used to be... frogs and petting a sea urchin, among other things... there's so much there now that I can't remember what all of it is. I must say the jellyfish was my ultimate favorite -- and the penguins, of course. I was walking around with three of my teammates, we were all seniors, and for two hours I was eight again, absolutely mesmerized. Over jellyfish. I've still got a pass to the zoo and the aquarium that doesn't expire until August of next year -- I wonder how hard it would be to talk my mom into a road trip... she's wanted to take a tour of a cemetary for a long time now, I'm not so sure I could handle that -- with my luck, I'd get possessed or something

I'm so glad I'm not the only older person who loves going to an aquarium! Last time I went to the Aquarium of the Americas they had nurse sharks you could pet. That was so cool. I have a thing for that lone sawfish, too. He's stuck in the huge tank with all the sharks. There's only one and I always imagine he feels very strange, knowing that he's the only sawfish, and nothing else looks remotely like him. He has a huge, long saw for his nose! I just can't get over how wild that is! Yeah, I'm like an eight-year-old again every time I go there.

Oh, and I am afraid to go into a cemetary over there too, especially at night. I tend to believe the ghost stories and I'm easily scared, so I figure I need to stay far away from that.

Hillary

[jadegypsy]

Ohhh another CA person checking in: First I adore CA especially SF.

Best misconception: ALL of CA is SUNNY! Nope sorry esp. SF it's always foggy, so funny to see tourists running around in sweatshirts saying SF and shorts ;)

Everyone does not speak valley girl, although sometimes it can be contagious...

California does exist north of SF, and no Norther and Southern CA don't go to war every sunday;)

Oh CA's capital is not SF or LA, ten points to the person who knows what city it is:D


to GateandGarden: Ever been to Monteray Bay Aquarium? It's awsome!

[amber]

Ohhh another CA person checking in: First I adore CA especially SF.

Best misconception: ALL of CA is SUNNY! Nope sorry esp. SF it's always foggy, so funny to see tourists running around in sweatshirts saying SF and shorts ;)

Everyone does not speak valley girl, although sometimes it can be contagious...

California does exist north of SF, and no Norther and Southern CA don't go to war every sunday;)

Oh CA's capital is not SF or LA, ten points to the person who knows what city it is:D


to GateandGarden: Ever been to Monteray Bay Aquarium? It's awsome!
Rock! :thumbsup: Sacramento. (what do my 10 pts get me?) Monteray Bay Aquarium is great! No, we and the south do not go to war, but we should be separate, they're taking all our water! hehehe. Desert a** mofos... :D
oh, you forgot - women here have the highest cancer rate. We win!! :( :mad: :rolleyes:

[estranged4life]

Oh CA's capital is not SF or LA, ten points to the person who knows what city it is:D


the rock band Tesla, Sacramento!

Unless the Gover-Nator had it changed it has been Sacramento for as long as I have been alive...

Brian j.

[jadegypsy]

Rock! Sacramento. (what do my 10 pts get me?) Monteray Bay Aquarium is great! No, we and the south do not go to war, but we should be separate, they're taking all our water! hehehe. Desert a** mofos...

Amber you get ten :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D Although considering you LIVE in CA, but then again that used to be the most missed question on our History exams, drove our teacher INSANE!

And we can't seperate from the south they provide soooo much entertainment, plus we can at least claim to live in the same state as the OC. A great guilty pleasure show!

Oh must add one more misconception: Eveything North of CA is pot land (no only Humbolt and Berkeley exports it!)

[amber]

Oh must add one more misconception: Eveything North of CA is pot land (no only Humbolt and Berkeley exports it!)
um...actually...hehehe...more than humbolt and berkeley...but that may not have been on your exams :D

[amber]

the rock band Tesla, Sacramento!

Unless the Gover-Nator had it changed it has been Sacramento for as long as I have been alive...

Brian j.
I didn't know that! *squeal* Also, Cake is from Sacramento, I like Cake better :sorry: That's what that song is about "the land of race car yayas...the land where you can't change lanes...where large, fuzzy dice still hang proudly,like testicles from rear view mirrors..." :laugh:

[jadegypsy]

I don't know Cake, not a big Telsa fan...Run a bit more toward Bay Area bands...like the J. Airplane...but then again my geography for bands is pretty poor...

Oh for another state, OHIO: everyone is from there, they just move away, and it seems evey concert tour seems to start in that state...Although Cleveland is not as bad as it is precived to be and the R&R museum is awsome, plus alot of great music came outta there...Oh and Coventry is a great hippie town;)

[sara1998]

Anyway. Indiana's lame. That is all.

Ya, it's pretty lame, but it's home.... at least to me. If you don't mind me asking, what side of town do you live on? I'm close to Brownsburg.

[DeadliestPoison]

Ya, it's pretty lame, but it's home.... at least to me. If you don't mind me asking, what side of town do you live on? I'm close to Brownsburg.
I'm in northeast Indianapolis, near Oaklandon, McCordsville, etc. The lame part of Indianapolis ;)

[Jessica Leigh]

Girl, in a casino they will screw you even more. Generally they are that expensive here though...maybe a dollar or so less outside of the casino.

dude i almost **** in my pants... i asked for two packs and the girl rung me up and i saw $19.00 and i choked, literally, and yelled "oh F*CK no!!" i felt kind of bad at how rude I was but i was SHOCKED. the casinos in vegas aren't even that bad... at the gift shop at the MGM grand they are only 6 bucks... which is what you are going to pay at any bar in any city almost. Last week in san jose i paid $6.50 and was glad that i was on my way to the airport to go hooooome where i can get them for $4.00 or three packs for $8 when they have their specials.

[Jessica Leigh]

Yep, everyone calls Spokane "Spokecompton." Very crime ridden especially for only being around 200,000. But I do like to go there to shop. :)

lol... one of my uncles is a sheriff in spokane... i remember one christmas we spent at his house and he was called out to a domestic violence call where a husband and wife were threatening each other with guns and firing them in the air. in fact i think it was meth related too... lol.. and maybe a little too much eggnog/ brandy was enjoyed.

[stargazer99]

Wait wait wait...so here, after all these years of getting made fun of by people out of state for saying "jimmies" instead of sprinkles, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO DO IT!!! HA!

I live in the far north suburbs of Chicago (about 20 mins. from the WI border). I know people from WI who call them jimmies as well... I'd never heard that expression before meeting them.

As far as the Midwest states go (IL, IA, IN, WI, etc.), aside from the big cities, there's not a whole lot there. A lot of farm land. Illinois is very flat. (Wisconsiners call us, among other names, "flatlanders", which is supposed to be an insult.) I'm bored to tears driving through any of those states. And it's COLD during the winter, muggy during the summer. Being close to Chicago is about the only thing I like about living here. There's a ton to do there. Lots of music, restaurants, shopping, theater, architecture, night life, sports, etc. Plus the lake. And it's a huge melting pot.

I may be moving to Dallas within the next 6 months, though. My husband has been working there for almost a year. I'm looking forward to the warmer climate, but am apprehensive about Dallas in general. What scares me most is that it is very conservative down there. For a midwestern state, Illinois is pretty liberal (mostly due to Chicago, probably). And I definitely fall into the liberal category, so... I don't know how well I'll get along down there.

- Mary