Happy Anniversary, South Florida!

August 24, 1992...a day that will live in infamy. Hurricane Andrew blew through town that day, 15 years ago. I need to scan some of my Andrew pics. Those were pre-digital camera days. After I scan some, I'll post them.

You'd think that after that mess, people would stop wanting to live here. You'd think they wouldn't build more houses or apartments in the places that flooded or were totally wiped out. You'd think, but Noooooo! Stupid, so stupid.

Anyway, I'll tell you my Andrew story later. I'm at work right now and the boss would probably get pissed if she knew what I was doing! So, in the mean time, I'll post what I got in my email this morning from my sister. Been around the block a few times, but still fun to read:

You're a Floridian IF ........
..Socks are only for bowling.
...You never use an umbrella because you know the rain will be over in five minutes.
..A good parking place has nothing to do with distance from where you're going, but everything to do with shade.
...Your winter coat is made of denim.
...You can tell the difference between fire ant bites and mosquito bites.
...You're younger than thirty but some of your friends are over 70.
...Anything under 70 degrees is chilly.
...You pass on the right and honk at the elderly, but pull over for funerals.
...You've driven through Yeehaw Junction.
...You could swim before you could read.
...You have to drive north to get to The South.
...You know that no other grocery store can compare to Publix.
...Every other house in your neighborhood had blue roofs in 2004-2005..
...You've gotten out of school early on Halloween to trick or treat before it got dark.
...You know that anything under a Category 3 just isn't worth waking up for.
...You dread lovebug season.
...You are on a first name basis with the Hurricane list. They aren't 'Hurricanes' any more, ...but 'Charley', 'Frances' , 'Ivan' and 'Jeanne'.
...You know what a snowbirds are and you hate them.
...You know why flamingos are pink.
...You think a six-foot alligator is actually pretty average.
...You were twelve before you ever saw snow, or you still haven't.
..."Down South" means Key West.
..."Panhandling" means going to Pensacola.
...You think no-one over 80 should be allowed to drive.
...Flip-flops are everyday wear.
...Shoes are for business meetings and church.
...No - wait, flip flops are good for church too, unless it's Easter or Christmas.
...Sweet tea is served at any meal.
...An alligator once walked through your neighborhood.
...You smirk when a game show's "Grand Prize" is a trip or cruise to Florida
...You measure distance in driving time, instead of miles.
...You have a drawer full of bathing suits, and one sweatshirt.
...You get annoyed at the tourists who feed seagulls.
...All local festivals are named after a fruit.
...A mountain is any hill 100 feet above sea level.
...You think everyone from a bigger city has a northern accent.
...You know the four seasons really are: almost summer, summer, not summer but really hot, and February.
...It's not soda, cola, or pop. it's coke, regardless of brand or flavor, "What kinda coke you want?"
...Anything under 95 is just warm.
...You've hosted a hurricane party.
...You go to a theme park for an afternoon, and know when to get on the> best rides. ( Space Mountain during the Electric Light Parade!).
...You understand the futility of exterminating palmetto bugs (big cockroaches).
...You can pronounce Okeechobee, Kissimmee , Ichnatucknee and Withlacoochee.
...You understand why it's better to have a friend with a boat, than have a boat yourself. ...Bumper stickers on the pickup in front of you include: various fish, NRA, Nascar, Go Gators, and a confederate flag.
...You were 5 before you realized they made houses without pools.
...You were 25 when you first met someone who couldn't swim.
...You're annoyed when people say " Florida isn't really part of the SOUTH."
...You've worn shorts and used the A/C on Christmas.
...You know what the "stingray shuffle" is, and why it's important!
...You recognize Miami-Dade as " North Cuba ".