<p>Tabbysmom: THAT was great...and so is "Nuorlons" if i can remember the pronunciation correctly!</p>
<p>From suburban Atlanta:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Atlanta is comprised entirely of one way streets. The only way to get out of Downtown Atlanta is to turn around and start over when you reach Greenville, South Carolina.</p></li>
<li><p>All directions start with, "Go down Peachtree..." and include the phrase, "When you see the Waffle House..."</p></li>
<li><p>Peachtree Street has no beginning and no end and is not to be confused with Peachtree Circle, Peachtree Place, Peachtree Battle or Peachtree Corners.</p></li>
<li><p>Atlanta is the home of Coca Cola. That's all we drink here, so don't ask for any other soft drink... unless it's made by Coca Cola.</p></li>
<li><p>Atlantan's only know their way to work and their way home.</p></li>
<li><p>Gate One at the Airport is 32 miles away from the Main Concourse.</p></li>
<li><p>It's impossible to go around a block and wind up on the street you started on. The Chamber of Commerce calls it a "scenic drive" and has posted signs to that effect so that out-of-towners don't feel lost....they're just on a "scenic drive."</p></li>
<li><p>The 8 a.m. rush hour is from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. The 5:00 p.m. rush hour is from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning and lasts through 2:00 a.m. Saturday.</p></li>
<li><p>Reversible lanes are not understood by anybody... especially those of us who live here.</p></li>
<li><p>"Sir" and "Ma'am" are used by the person speaking to you if there's a remote possibility that you?re at least 30 minutes older than they are.</p></li>
<li><p>"Sugar" is a more common form of address than "Miss". So is "Honey". "Honey" is always used by Waffle House waitresses.</p></li>
<li><p>Ponce de Leon Avenue can only be pronounced by a native, so do not attempt the Spanish pronunciation. People will simply tilt their head to the right and stare at you. (The Atlanta pronunciation is "pont duh LEE-on")</p></li>
<li><p>The falling of one rain drop causes all drivers to immediately forget all traffic rules; so will daylight savings time, a girl applying eye shadow in the next car, or a flat tire three lanes over.</p></li>
<li><p>If you're standing on a corner and a MARTA Bus stops, you're expected to get on and go somewhere.</p></li>
<li><p>Atlanta is pronounced "LAN-uh".</p></li>
<li><p>Construction on Peachtree Street is a way of life, and a permanent form of entertainment, especially when a water line is tapped and Atlanta's version of Old Faithful erupts.</p></li>
<li><p>Construction crews aren't doing their job properly unless they close down all lanes except one during rush hour.</p></li>
<li><p>Atlanta's traffic is the friendliest around. The commuters spend hours mingling with each other twice a day. In fact, Atlanta's traffic is rated number 1 in the country. You will often see people parked beside the road and engaged in lively discussions.</p></li>
<li><p>Atlantans are very proud of our race track, known as Road Atlanta. It winds throughout the city on the Interstates, hence its name.</p></li>
<li><p>Georgia 400 is the southern equivalent of the AutoBahn. You will rarely see a semi-truck on GA400, because even the truck drivers are intimidated by the oversized-SUV-wielding housewives racing home after a grueling day at the salon or the tennis match to meet their children at the school bus coming home from the college prep preschool.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Oh Georgiamom - that's great - Georgia 400, only road in the nation swallowed by a building. You forgot the immediate effect of a single snowflake, or God forbid, ice storm - Yankees cannot comprehend the fear it strikes in the hearts of all (not to mention the runs on the grocery stores.)</p>
<p>Tabbyzmom - GREAT - how about your house looks up at the levee? Don't ya'll have Moon Pies in NO, is that a Mobile thing?</p>
<p>Cangel - you're right - at the mere mention of the "S" word, there is no milk or bread left in any grocery store, and there are no generators, de-icers, or space heaters left in any Home Depot.</p>
<p>in Feb 2000, school was cancelled over virtually the entire northern half of the state because snow was forecast. However, when the cold front actually made it to the border, the air was so dry that the snow never materialized. too funny!</p>
<p>gosh, I love this country!!</p>
<p>Haven't lived in Scotland for almost 20 years, but here's what I remember:</p>
<p>No one thinks it's unusual that your village has more sheep than people.</p>
<p>Sheep have the right of way; if they're in the road, you'd better plan on waiting because hitting one can cost you the replacement cost of the sheep plus the cost of all their projected progeny.</p>
<p>Of course cows have long hair.</p>
<p>You actually find a turkey for Thanksgiving but have to defrost it right away because your freezer is too small.</p>
<p>You remember to buy your TV license...if it's a good year you splurge on the license for color TV.</p>
<p>The village butcher shoos the cat off the counter before cutting your pork chops.</p>
<p>The same village butcher is baffled when you ask for 1" thick chops because you're making stuffed pork chops.</p>
<p>You end up buying extra chops, stuffing and cooking them, and taking them to the village butcher and his family.</p>
<p>You drop by your local and three people buy you a shot and a pint before you get 3 feet in the door.</p>
<p>You learn that there is no such thing as "Scotch"...it's whiskey!</p>
<p>You develop a taste for whiskey until you return to the States and see how expensive it is.</p>
<p>You know that New Year's doesn't start 'til midnight, and it consists of walking from house to house in your village and sharing a toast. When you reach the last house in the village, everyone walks back to their homes, singing loudly (and usually off-key).</p>
<p>You think the sound of 100 pipe bands is the most stirring sound in the world.</p>
<p>You know what is worn under a kilt...but won't tell.</p>
<p>You know when Burns' Day is and don't mind the haggis.</p>
<p>You wonder how the reputation for stinginess came about, because you think Scots are the most generous people you've ever known.</p>
<p>Georgiamom: Sounds like Atlanta could borrow the saying that we used to have in New York about the rush hour:</p>
<p>You can leave at 6:30 AM and join the rush to beat the rush.
You can leave at 7:30 and join the rush itself.
Or you can leave at 8:30 and join the rush that waited to miss the rush.</p>
<p>After reading another post I felt the need to ask. Do you carry a purse or a pocketbook? Purse in Ca.</p>
<p>SBMom - I will tour you around. And, I have my grandmother's middle name and my son goes by my maiden name.
Over30 - we have a Christmas on the Bayou where Santa comes down the bayou in a pontoon (the kids think alligators pull it underwater) He gets off at every pier, hands out candy, and takes orders.
cangel - Actually, there is a swamp at the rear of our property! We are in the metro N.O. area, not right in the heart of the city near the levee. And yes, we have moon pies. Sometimes they are thrown in the Mardi Gras parades along with the beads, doubloons, toys, etc. Like Mobile, children here are mystified at the thought of a parade where nothing is thrown. "What's the point?"
sgiovinc1 - yes, the pronunciations are interesting. Depending on what part of the area you are from, it can be pronounced various ways. N'Awlins is common, N'oryuns, but NEVER New OrLEENZ.
Mom60-I carry a purse.
Everyone come on down!!!!!!!</p>
<p>Backhandgrip:</p>
<p>To give you some insights into NE. This whole thread has been very interesting and humorous. We have just returned from visiting the family in the Midwest for Thanksgiving, and I just read thru all 12 pages of discussion. My husband and I both grew up in the Midwest, both middle children from large families, both attended college in the Midwest. We chose to live in NE after college because we were absolutely fascinated with the culture here, which can only be described as vibrant and intellectual. And both our children currently attend college in the NE.</p>
<p>It really became obvious on our visit to the midwest this past week the difference living here has had on our children. Although their cousins and they are all in college, there is a certain sophistication and polish that comes with living here. This is most evident in the vocabulary, vernacularisms, and interests. Relatives were shocked that I would let my children travel (alone) to Boston or NYC by train, and my kids were bored to DEATH by the stories of the local basketball and football games, and laughed at the use of "them thar" by college students! The lifestyle in the midwest could best be described as "insular" - not that interested in life outside their realm of consciousness. My family is viewed as a bit of a freak show when we visit. But I wouldn't move back for the world - or as my brother who lives in CA says, "Visiting the midwest after being away is like being a cat with tinfoil on its paws - can't wait to get back home and take the tinfoil off!" </p>
<p>I sent the humorous regional summaries to the kids - they thoroughly related to the characterizations!</p>
<p>BTW - I carry a purse.</p>
<p>Mezzomum;</p>
<p>Not sure if 'Chip Butties' are a Scottish or Northern England delicacy. Sound familiar? (Thick French fries, sandwiched between two butter-lathered pieces of white bread). Had to see it to believe it myself!</p>
<p>Also, I will sneak this site in, under the 'global village' nature of this thread..<a href="http://www.sorryeverybody.com%5B/url%5D">www.sorryeverybody.com</a>. I enjoyed it anyway. :)</p>
<p>Mezzomom: I've never even been to Scotland. My mother never went there. But we have the picture of her father in his kilt (at age 8, with his father)--and some things last through generations! As for what a Scotsman wears under his kilt, check out this picture: <a href="http://www.snopes.com/photos/risque/queen.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.snopes.com/photos/risque/queen.asp</a> of a Scotsman with the Queen--just about a week ago.</p>
<p>(My grandfather was disowned by his parents for marrying an Englishwoman. She was disowned for marrying a Scotsman. So they went to America, where they did all right.)</p>
<p>Yes to #3! We did a college visit in Atlanta and spent hours hopelessly lost & driving around on all too many Peachtree St/Ave/whatevers. It was scenic though.</p>
<p>I have been in NYC way to long as tonight was the lighting of the tree at Rockefeller Center. I was on the express bus and all you could hear was groans as we began approaching 50th Street (Radio City Music Hall) as to why were there all of these people out in the street holding up the traffic (BAH, HUMBUG). A woman got ont he bus complaining that it took her 45 minutes to get across the street because the police was not letting any one cross thje streets and people had to stay to one side.</p>
<p>LOL at the Indiana/Illinois posts; my son actually found it on this board after I told him about it. We flew to Chicago Thanksgiving and then drove over to Purdue and Notre Dame and I kept thinking, "These people are so PALE!" It was so strange seeing electric fans in the dorm windows. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and I had the best steak ever in West Lafayette, IN. Has anyone had Garrett popcorn from Chicago? Wonder what makes it so good...also, the deep dish pizza in Chicago is fabulous, not to mention the hot dogs. </p>
<p>Texas - and carries a purse
PS Now I know why women up north don't have big hair: the knit caps would ruin it!</p>
<p>Here's a few more Texan ones: </p>
<p>You know where all the good Mexican restaurants are (and there's usually one in every strip center).
You use the phrase "fixin' to" almost daily.
You can properly pronounce the town Mexia and Mesquite.
You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door but by the availability of shade.
A bad traffic jam involves two cars staring each other down at a four-way stop, each determined to be the most polite and let the other one go first.
When you hear a tornado siren, you go out and look for a funnel.
You know that everything goes better with Ranch.
You know that "y'all" is singular and "all y'all" is plural.
You are 100% Texan if you have ever had this conversation:
"You wanna Coke?"
"Yeah."
"What kind?"
"Dr. Pepper."</p>
<p>Tookie...very cute. I wonder why no one form the BURBS of NYC is chiming in here. Probably too busy trying to earn enough money to pay for all those real estate taxes. It's surprising to me that any of us have enough money to send our children ANYWHERE other than the local community college!</p>
<p>You know you're from the Boston suburbs when your real estate taxes yearly are higher than your parents paid for the house that you've inherited from them and now live in.... and can't afford to repair because you are paying the real estate taxes.</p>
<p>DadofSam, if it makes you feel any better, here in VT there is NO rush hour!</p>
<p>I carry a pocketbook, not a purse. But frequently in VT, for many, they carry a backpack. </p>
<p>Sybbie, yep, it is a great country and it is fascinating all the different regional things about it. That is why sending your kid to a college that has a diverse student population from all over, really is a great environment to mix with. </p>
<p>Sgio...I dunno if I buy into the fact that Westchester folks are hurting for money (even if taxes are high). I don't like to generalize about an entire subset of people, but the folks I know in that neck of the woods are far better off financially than anyone in my neck of the woods, or let's say, me. Very different lifestyles. My kids have friends from there and it is a different world in this respect. Just my observations. I know you were kidding, and are also coming from a certain perspective but it was funny for me to read!</p>
<p>Susan</p>