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Aug. 11th, 2004 07:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
icarusHey, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
venivincere and keelywolfe (and fellow Michiganders)
You know you're from Michigan when...
1. You've never met any celebrities.
Hey! Unfair. I met Richard Gere at a Tibet rally and we talked about how he became Buddhist and how he used to be such a cynical angry young man -- for 20 minutes (really, he'll talk about the most personal things so openly). Oh. Yeah. Right, that was in Washington D.C. ...
2. "Vacation" means going to Cedar Point.
Yay! Cedar Point! I went there in 9th Grade, after begging my parents for yeeeeeeeeeeears.
3. At least 1 member of your family disowns you the week of the Michigan/Michigan State game.
Heh. No. But half the family's from Chicago and when the Bears play the Lions on Thanksgiving....
4. Half the change in your pocket is Canadian.....eh!
Yep. And most stores accepted Canadian.
5. You drive 86 mph on the highway and pass on the right.
They forgot about the newspaper on the steering wheel, the radio blasting and the Big Mac in one hand. While you drive as smooth as glass.
6. Your idea of a traffic jam is 40 cars waiting to pass an orange barrel.
Guh. No kidding. Welcome to Detroit. The same damn barrel will be there tomorrow, too (in several pieces).
7. You know how to play (and pronounce) Euchre.
Nope. Never learned. My whole family would play, but they were too interested in beating each other than teaching me the rules. :(
8. It's easy to get VERNORS Ginger Ale, Sanders Hot Fudge sauce, AND Faygo Pop.
Are there any other kinds?
9. You know how to pronounce "Mackinac."
Or else you minpronounced it once and got laughed at. Mackinac Island was a city frozen in the 1800's, those of you who are curious. No cars or modern conveniences allowed. You can stay at the hotel and live simply for a week. Mackinac bridge is - I think - the world's longest suspension bridge. And it's the only way to get to the UP. (Whaddaya mean, what's the UP?)
10. You've had to switch on the "heat" and the "A/C" in the same day.
At different times of the day, two days in a row. One word: "layering."
11. You bake with SODA and drink a POP.
I had to train myself to say the word "soda" when I moved to the East Coast.
12. The movie "Escanaba in Da Moonlight" wasn't funny. You consider it a documentary.
Huh? Never heard of it.
13. Your little league game was snowed out.
Now, see, I didn't play in little league. We didn't get much snow really. We would watch the storms coming... and get a disappointing two inches. The same storm would hit Buffalo and leave 10' drifts. Life was unfair.
14. The word "thumb" has geographical, rather than anatomical significance.
That's true. People would explain that they lived or vacationed up in the thumb. You'd say, "where?" Then they'd hold up their hand and show you exactly where. I have no idea why it mattered.
15.You show people where you grew up by pointing to a spot on your left hand.
Right hand, actually. Palm up. Get it right, folks.
16. Traveling coast-to-coast means driving from Port Huron to Muskegon.
Well, we didn't call it that. But anyone who's never seen the Great Lakes is absolutely amazed. Imagine an ocean that's strangely still, with clear winds brushing the hair off your forehead. The water washing the shore is little waves. Long, low barges that went on and on like a train, that would have been broken apart like a toys in ocean swells.
17.You measure distance in minutes.
This takes me aback. Because, for a minute there I thought, "doesn't everyone?" Is this really a Michigan thing?
18. When giving directions, you refer to "A Michigan Left."
I've no clue what they're talking about, unless they mean those frustrating old highways where in order to go left, you have to turn right. Here's another weird thing: if you ask directions (and both men and women refuse to ask directions in Michigan) they will be given to you rapid-fire and in great detail. The person giving the directions doesn't want to insult your intelligence by giving them slowly, since you've already embarrassed yourself by having to ask.
19. You know that Kalamazoo not only exists, but isn't that far from Hell.
Heh. Heh. Heh. Yeah. But it's nothing compared to downriver. Don't know you're in the downriver area? Roll down the car window. Does it smell like ripe garbage? Yep. No need to consult the map.
20. Your year has 2 seasons: Winter and Construction.
LOLOLOLOLOLOL! It's true. The roads, the roof, everything gets all fucked up in the winter. It's that freeze/thaw, hot/cold thing.
21. Home Depot on any Saturday is busier than toy stores at Christmas.
It's weird. Everyone gets the home repair bug. I think it's that once you start fixing the roof, you start thinking, "Hmm. While I'm up here, I can add an extra floor to the house."
22. You know when it has rained because of the smell of worms.
Come to think of it, I don't think I've smelled that elsewhere.
23.Owning a Japanese car was a hangin' offense in your hometown.
Oh fuck, too true. But it depends on where you were. Midland? You'll get your tires slashed. West Bloomfield? Meh.
24. You believe that "down south" means Toledo.
... and you've heard 100 Ohio jokes. How many people from Ohio does it take to drive a car? Don't ask. It's a dumb joke.
venivincere and keelywolfe (and fellow Michiganders)You know you're from Michigan when...
1. You've never met any celebrities.
Hey! Unfair. I met Richard Gere at a Tibet rally and we talked about how he became Buddhist and how he used to be such a cynical angry young man -- for 20 minutes (really, he'll talk about the most personal things so openly). Oh. Yeah. Right, that was in Washington D.C. ...
2. "Vacation" means going to Cedar Point.
Yay! Cedar Point! I went there in 9th Grade, after begging my parents for yeeeeeeeeeeears.
3. At least 1 member of your family disowns you the week of the Michigan/Michigan State game.
Heh. No. But half the family's from Chicago and when the Bears play the Lions on Thanksgiving....
4. Half the change in your pocket is Canadian.....eh!
Yep. And most stores accepted Canadian.
5. You drive 86 mph on the highway and pass on the right.
They forgot about the newspaper on the steering wheel, the radio blasting and the Big Mac in one hand. While you drive as smooth as glass.
6. Your idea of a traffic jam is 40 cars waiting to pass an orange barrel.
Guh. No kidding. Welcome to Detroit. The same damn barrel will be there tomorrow, too (in several pieces).
7. You know how to play (and pronounce) Euchre.
Nope. Never learned. My whole family would play, but they were too interested in beating each other than teaching me the rules. :(
8. It's easy to get VERNORS Ginger Ale, Sanders Hot Fudge sauce, AND Faygo Pop.
Are there any other kinds?
9. You know how to pronounce "Mackinac."
Or else you minpronounced it once and got laughed at. Mackinac Island was a city frozen in the 1800's, those of you who are curious. No cars or modern conveniences allowed. You can stay at the hotel and live simply for a week. Mackinac bridge is - I think - the world's longest suspension bridge. And it's the only way to get to the UP. (Whaddaya mean, what's the UP?)
10. You've had to switch on the "heat" and the "A/C" in the same day.
At different times of the day, two days in a row. One word: "layering."
11. You bake with SODA and drink a POP.
I had to train myself to say the word "soda" when I moved to the East Coast.
12. The movie "Escanaba in Da Moonlight" wasn't funny. You consider it a documentary.
Huh? Never heard of it.
13. Your little league game was snowed out.
Now, see, I didn't play in little league. We didn't get much snow really. We would watch the storms coming... and get a disappointing two inches. The same storm would hit Buffalo and leave 10' drifts. Life was unfair.
14. The word "thumb" has geographical, rather than anatomical significance.
That's true. People would explain that they lived or vacationed up in the thumb. You'd say, "where?" Then they'd hold up their hand and show you exactly where. I have no idea why it mattered.
15.You show people where you grew up by pointing to a spot on your left hand.
Right hand, actually. Palm up. Get it right, folks.
16. Traveling coast-to-coast means driving from Port Huron to Muskegon.
Well, we didn't call it that. But anyone who's never seen the Great Lakes is absolutely amazed. Imagine an ocean that's strangely still, with clear winds brushing the hair off your forehead. The water washing the shore is little waves. Long, low barges that went on and on like a train, that would have been broken apart like a toys in ocean swells.
17.You measure distance in minutes.
This takes me aback. Because, for a minute there I thought, "doesn't everyone?" Is this really a Michigan thing?
18. When giving directions, you refer to "A Michigan Left."
I've no clue what they're talking about, unless they mean those frustrating old highways where in order to go left, you have to turn right. Here's another weird thing: if you ask directions (and both men and women refuse to ask directions in Michigan) they will be given to you rapid-fire and in great detail. The person giving the directions doesn't want to insult your intelligence by giving them slowly, since you've already embarrassed yourself by having to ask.
19. You know that Kalamazoo not only exists, but isn't that far from Hell.
Heh. Heh. Heh. Yeah. But it's nothing compared to downriver. Don't know you're in the downriver area? Roll down the car window. Does it smell like ripe garbage? Yep. No need to consult the map.
20. Your year has 2 seasons: Winter and Construction.
LOLOLOLOLOLOL! It's true. The roads, the roof, everything gets all fucked up in the winter. It's that freeze/thaw, hot/cold thing.
21. Home Depot on any Saturday is busier than toy stores at Christmas.
It's weird. Everyone gets the home repair bug. I think it's that once you start fixing the roof, you start thinking, "Hmm. While I'm up here, I can add an extra floor to the house."
22. You know when it has rained because of the smell of worms.
Come to think of it, I don't think I've smelled that elsewhere.
23.Owning a Japanese car was a hangin' offense in your hometown.
Oh fuck, too true. But it depends on where you were. Midland? You'll get your tires slashed. West Bloomfield? Meh.
24. You believe that "down south" means Toledo.
... and you've heard 100 Ohio jokes. How many people from Ohio does it take to drive a car? Don't ask. It's a dumb joke.
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no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 09:12 pm (UTC)5. You drive 86 mph on the highway and pass on the right.
They forgot about the newspaper on the steering wheel, the radio blasting and the Big Mac in one hand. While you drive as smooth as glass.
Or like the other day I was in the slow lane going 90 and getting passed.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 10:17 pm (UTC)And I used to be one of the fastest drivers on the road.
Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 10:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 11:27 pm (UTC)Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 11:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 11:37 pm (UTC)Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 11:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 11:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 11:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 09:24 pm (UTC)My godparents are Michigan State fans, and my family are huge Michigan fans (we have 8 seats of season tickets, but 4 people). We usually call each other a few times during the 'big game' to fling insults.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 10:15 pm (UTC)Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 10:44 pm (UTC)(hums "Hail to the victors...")
Well, maybe I'll cut you a tiny little bit of slack. Even though both my husband and I are UofM alumni, his sister and her husband are the other flavor, and we still get along.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 11:34 pm (UTC)Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 09:37 pm (UTC)That is the gospel truth. I was so freaked out about accepting Canadian money at first when I got a job here after living in Virginia my whole life.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 11:36 pm (UTC)*Icarus gets jittery and runs off to beta*
It's so funny we've lived in the same areas. I grew up in Michigan and then moved to Maryland. Were you in Northern Virgina? (Which is its own world from the rest of VA. ;)
Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 01:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 11:42 pm (UTC)*cracks up* Oh, how true that is. Actually, back in the day, we used to go to Boblo Island which was a lot of fun, though didn't have all of the rollercoasters that CP had.
And I owned a Toyota and worked at a Ford plant. Yes, I had to park in a different part of the parking lot and they told me to be careful of my car. How nice!
I've been in CA all of a year but I still laugh at all things Michigan. Very cool. *g*
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 12:06 am (UTC)Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 05:57 pm (UTC)I do remember that the water ride was quite a lot of fun.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-11 11:51 pm (UTC)17.You measure distance in minutes.
We did that in MN, too - the only thing that makes sense, anyways, as it doesn't matter how many miles, but the condition of the road/traffic (if you're in the Cities).
A word on directions in MN, that frustrated me endlessly: You'd be lost and stop and ask for direction and get this answer:
Go to the next cross-roads and turn North; at the third cross-roads, turn East.
The f?? I'm lost, it's overcast - I HAVE NO CLUE WHERE NORTH OR EAST ARE!! Oh, and the look you got when you asked "Uh, so is that two lefts...?"
How many people from Ohio does it take to drive a car?
Well, I have to know, now!
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 12:05 am (UTC)Don't say I didn't warn you.
Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 01:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 01:24 am (UTC)They did, however have a viking bowling alley. There is nothing like a bunch of snowed in drunk college kids bowling to make the night exciting. In fact, at NMU, you can take bowling as a PE credit.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 01:46 am (UTC)Now see, there's a Phys Ed class I can deal with. Unfortunately I just learned today I must get more exercise or have my bones snap like twigs. But, but... it'll cut into my online time.
This is perfect timing. I'm updating the Percyfest site with new stories. How's your story going?
Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 03:09 am (UTC)What story? My Percyfest story is already on the website:
Lost by Lerah99 (http://home.earthlink.net/~percyfest/fic/lost.html)
Did I have another story that I was supposed to be working on? (I am a complete ditz sometimes).
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 09:10 am (UTC)Hmm.
Okay. I need to update the list with the pointer to your story, and maybe repost the whole Master List, updated, because there are some new stories coming it, and there are two ongoing WiPs in the Ficathon. I'm also going to be having a Percy Yard Sale soon.
Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 02:10 am (UTC)This takes me aback. Because, for a minute there I thought, "doesn't everyone?" Is this really a Michigan thing?
Yes, everyone does. It's on every single one of these lists I've seen so far. :D
After all, what point is there in measuring by miles? That doesn't tell me what time I need to leave the house.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 06:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 08:59 am (UTC)Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 03:10 pm (UTC)That was really great, especially six and fifteen. Where did you hear it?
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 05:49 pm (UTC)Too true. I live in southern Ohio and most people from here usually do not think they have an accent, although many of them have a slight southern accent. I think this is do to many of the people who live here now originally started out in Kentucky and West Virginia.
What's really an eye opener is talking to someone with a very strong southern accent and having them talk about your accent, which you do not even think you have. Happened to me in Southern Alabama when I was 14. An eight year old told me that I had a funny accent!
no subject
Date: 2004-08-14 09:45 am (UTC)My brothers both graduated from MS and my sister and I from U of M, so football season is rough.
There are people who can't play Euchre? ;)
Rent Escanaba in the Moonlight. It was a small film so it's harder to find but ab-so-lutely hilarious, especially if you're from Michigan. It was based off a play and I've seen it live too. Hilarious.
17.You measure distance in minutes.
I had to think about that for a minute and then went d'oh! Doesn't everyone do that? O_o
no subject
Date: 2004-08-15 01:17 am (UTC)I'll leave you alone now :)
no subject
Date: 2004-08-15 12:29 pm (UTC)Icarus