Another day in the South

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

This stuff happens daily down here....and I mean EVERY day. And all this was in the days paper.
Gotta love the South!



1. Ga. teen accused of killing stepfather with sword

2. Police: Rock Hill woman attacks girlfriend with ironing board

3. Report: Shoplifters steal beer from Food Lion, run out of gas  :D :D :D

4. SC Lowcountry seeing more marsh rats

[Jeff]

What has happened to that famous Southern Hospitality?

This story is not meant to be a negative about the south, but probably about my naivety of being brought up as a ministers son country boy from the north.

The first time Tammy and I went to visit Mr. Tom in Florida was Christmas time 2001. We left the day after Christmas for Florida, and Tom and Gael left PA, where they were visiting relatives for Christmas. The plan was that they would get there just before us. As it turned out, they got caught in some weather on their trip, so were a bit slower.  We arrived at their home when they were still a couple hours out.  So, we decided there were a couple things we wanted to pick up, so made our way into Jacksonville to where we found a Walmart. This was early evening sometime.  Once in the store, I noticed that we were a bit different than everyone else in there. We were also getting glared and stared at. I made eye contact a couple times, and smiled, but would only get a glare in return.  We picked up what we were looking for and went to the checkout. The Lady at the checkout was very business like, and as we picked up our bags to leave, I said have a good evening, and She simply said Uhh huhhh.  We walked to the truck and went on back to Tom's where we were met by a guy that looked like Santa Clause out of Uniform sporting a big smile and a flashlight standing in the driveway.

After we got our things out of the truck, and settled in Tom and Gael's home, we talked about our evenings getting there. Tom talked about Gael's driving to fast in all that foreign white stuff and fearing for his life (He always talked about fearing for his life when Gael drove no matter what the weather).  We then talked about finding our way into Jacksonville and going to Walmart.  When I finished telling them exactly which Walmart, they gave each other a look and said together "YOU WENT WHERE??"   Apparently they seemed to think we were lucky to have survived. :D

[Texas Ranger]

Walmart is an alien country, populated by strange creatures of the night.

[Mooseherder]

They were probably saying to themselves, "Don't look at him, he crazy." :D

I saw a couple weird things today.  The first was an 80 year old man exercising and touching his toes alternating over and over.  The weird part is he was on the sidewalk that had 3 lanes of traffic going each way.
Then there was a shadow boxer on Dixie Highway.  He was on the sidewalk kicking Casper the ghost's butt.  He did appear to have proper style and form though. ;D

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

 :D :D :D :D :D Good story Jeff  :D :D :D :D :D......but it ain't crazy yet.... :D...go on down to Miami. :D :D :D

I'm trying to think of a good punch line to this joke:  :D

Hey ya'll.......did ya hear about the 2 Yoppers that walked in to the Florida Wal-Mart?  :D :D :D :D

[thurlow]

There may be SOME Southerneers that live there, but I'm not sure if Jacksonville is considered to be a part of the South..........

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

There may be SOME Southerneers that live there, but I'm not sure if Jacksonville is considered to be a part of the South..........

Good point....actually the South STOPS when you leave Georgia going into Florida.  ;D
I do know a lot of Southern folks in Fla. though.....and they are true Southern Folks!

[Jeff]

What the heck is a yopper?

[Shotgun]

b]Yoppers[/b] that walked in to the Florida Wal-Mart?  :D :D :D :D


How hurtful.  It's YOOPERS!

Norm

[Nomad]

There may be SOME Southerneers that live there, but I'm not sure if Jacksonville is considered to be a part of the South..........

Good point....actually the South STOPS when you leave Georgia going into Florida.  ;D
I do know a lot of Southern folks in Fla. though.....and they are true Southern Folks!

     Poston, Jacksonville isn't actually in Florida.  This is really urban south Georgia.  Florida starts around Palatka. 

     Jeff, I know exactly where the WalMart you went to is, and I can see exactly why Tom and Gael would've said that! 

[davch00]

Walmart is an alien country, populated by strange creatures of the night

So very true. 

If you survive any trip to any Walmart is a good day in my book. I seldom go in a Walmart, and I absolutely refuse to go in on a weekend day.

[Chris Burchfield]

I kinda thought Florida only existed so snowbirds would have a place to winter.   :D :D :D  Wife and I stayed at a KOA campground in Alligator Point some years ago for about a week.  It was a good time.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

What the heck is a yopper?

Oh Gosh Jeff......my apologizes.    I did not mean to spell it that way.  :-[ (embarrassed).

[DR Buck]

This stuff happens daily down here....and I mean EVERY day. And all this was in the days paper.
Gotta love the South!



1. Ga. teen accused of killing stepfather with sword

2. Police: Rock Hill woman attacks girlfriend with ironing board

3. Report: Shoplifters steal beer from Food Lion, run out of gas  :D :D :D

4. SC Lowcountry seeing more marsh rats

After reading the first two I began thinking " I didn't know South Carolina was a no gun state"?  ;D

[Mooseherder]

My daughter had to take some scans today of a patient and took a picture of the lady's name.
Her first name was Neverseenher.  I wish I was kidding. :

[JohnM]

3. Report: Shoplifters steal beer from Food Lion, run out of gas  :D :D :D

Maybe they should have stolen some baked beans ??? ;)

...wait!  do 'y'all' have baked beans done there?!!

[WDH]

I made some last week  :D. 

I was in Tacoma, WA having breakfast one morning.  The waitress came over and asked if I wanted coffee.  "Yes Ma'am."  She looked at me funny, then walked away.  A bit later she asked me another question, and I answered, "Yes, Ma'am."  Now she glared at me and huffed off.  When it happened the third time, she stopped and looked at me and said, "Are you making fun of me?".  "No Ma'am". 

"Ma'am?"  We were taught to be respectful to a Lady.  She thought I was mocking her.  Cultures are different.  Even at WalMart  .

[WmFritz]

What the heck is a yopper?

Good catch .... I missed it  :D :D

[Delawhere Jack]

I made some last week  :D. 

I was in Tacoma, WA having breakfast one morning.  The waitress came over and asked if I wanted coffee.  "Yes Ma'am."  She looked at me funny, then walked away.  A bit later she asked me another question, and I answered, "Yes, Ma'am."  Now she glared at me and huffed off.  When it happened the third time, she stopped and looked at me and said, "Are you making fun of me?".  "No Ma'am". 

"Ma'am?"  We were taught to be respectful to a Lady.  She thought I was mocking her.  Cultures are different.  Even at WalMart  .

How do you think she'd have reacted to "Thank you Darlin" ? 

[Magicman]

A school teacher was telling me about one of her students,  Semaj James.  His first name is his last name spelled backwards.   

[DanG]

The South doesn't really end at the Ga/Fla line, but the further south ya go, the further north ya get. :D  We can spot a yankee a mile away, and don't want to be too friendly, lest they might not go back.  We will gladly extend our hand to you though, as long as your's has money in it. ;D 8)

[thecfarm]

DanG,now I know why they keep coming back. Help me out here Dan.  ;D

[lynches lumber]

For those that dont know. Northerners are called yankees down here. The ones that dont go back are called d*** yankees. We have some great yankee friends. When some of their friends or relatives come down we usually have a get together and of course I ask of their intentions so Ill know how to refer to them. Well now there having a big get together in New York in January and for some reason they want me to come up. Hmmm. One redneck up north amongst all them yankees. Yea right. They must think I fell of the turnip truck yesterday. ;D

[Papa1stuff]

I'm one of those D*** Yankees been here about 40 years ;D ;D

[Magicman]

We do not have a choice about where we are born, but sometimes folks do have a choice about where they live.

[Raider Bill]

I'm one of those D*** Yankees been here about 40 years ;D ;D

Me too 27 years but trying to escape.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Me too 27 years but trying to escape.

Hey Raider......I don't see no bars in front of that monkey face!  :D :D :D

[Raider Bill]

Me too 27 years but trying to escape.

Hey Raider......I don't see no bars in front of that monkey face!  :D :D :D

Best laid plans..... Bought the Tenn land so my Son and I could move up there but...... He went and got a good job here in Florida which we doubt he could find in that area and gave me a Grand Daughter who's Mother would not do well with the mountain life  ;) plus the 2008 bust set my business plan back a bit. My hopes of selling off my rentals went to, well you know where so until property values get back to at least somewhat normal I'll just dream about living in the hills full time.
Not all bars are steel.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

My Father-in-Law took a BIG hit in 2008. He has a Harley. He says once he gets on his hog, he forgets about it all. Must be something in the air. 

[Jeff]

My Mom was born in Logan county West Virgina, and almost all my relatives on her sid still live in the southern end of the state. The family name was McClure.  My mom had a mild southern accent until she got on the phone with someone from "Down Home"  Then you slap couldn't understand er fir about a week. :D

When I was visiting Tom, we took to playing the game where when we went some place I'd talk in my repressed maternal, southern accent and he would let me know how I did.  It started out him giving me a D+, but a week later I'd moved up to a B. :D  I've got a lot of southern blood flowing through my veins.  I enjoyed the heck out of Mr. Tom's swamp, and he had grown quite fond of the U.P.  Tom lived most of his life south of Georgia, but no one should ever dare say he wasn't the complete, exemplary, Southern Gentleman.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Good story Jeff. 

[WDH]

He epitomized Southern Gentlemenness.  He was very kind and generous.  He was also patient (even with yankees  :D). 

[DR Buck]

My Mom was born in Logan county West Virgina, and almost all my relatives on her sid still live in the southern end of the state. The family name was McClure.  My mom had a mild southern accent until she got on the phone with someone from "Down Home"  Then you slap couldn't understand er fir about a week. :D

My wife was raised "back up in the hollar" down in the southwest corner of Virginia and suffers from the same speach impediment after any visit down home.  :D

[Roxie]

When I was learning to talk, we lived in North Carolina.  A trained ear can pick up an occasional drawn out vowel, but after a few hard beverages, all doubt is removed. 

Mom now lives back down in Sparta, and after I get off the phone from her, it takes me hours to sound like myself. 

[WDH]

Anybody from Alabama PA has to have a little drawl  :D.

[LeeB]

Nah Roxie, it only take a little while on the phone with your mom to sound like yourself. It may take hours to sound the way you think you should.  :D

[Roxie]

Mom would like that kind of thinking.   

[Okrafarmer]

I enjoy trying to pick out the person's home by their accent. The one that always throws me is New Zealand-- met one of those last night at church, a college student. I had to ask her where she was from, because it didn't sound quite Australian, and didn't quite sound British. By now, I should know, that means New Zealand. As soon as she told me New Zealand, I quickly said, North Island, or South? She said North Island, east coast.

Our Maine accent is quite thick. Some of the southern ones are too. I have had to translate for Maine Yankees and Southrons at least once. I think I helped to a avoid a very tragic situation in fact. When you're visiting up north, Southern gentlemen, it is best to be very cautious how you ask the waitress for "ice."

[Magicman]

I once commented to a guy about being from Minnesota.  He asked how I knew, and I replied "his voice".

After we parted PatD said that I should be ashamed of myself, "you know that you saw his truck tag".   ;D

[Slabs]

My Father-in-Law took a BIG hit in 2008. He has a Harley. He says once he gets on his hog, he forgets about it all. Must be something in the air. 

Naah!  A happy biker is recognized by the number of bug spots on his teeth.

[Raider Bill]

My Father-in-Law took a BIG hit in 2008. He has a Harley. He says once he gets on his hog, he forgets about it all. Must be something in the air. 

Naah!  A happy biker is recognized by the number of bug spots on his teeth.

 

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

 :D :D :D :D :D

[Okrafarmer]

And all this time I thought that was cavities!

[DR Buck]

My Father-in-Law took a BIG hit in 2008. He has a Harley. He says once he gets on his hog, he forgets about it all. Must be something in the air. 

Naah!  A happy biker is recognized by the number of bug spots on his teeth.

 

Somehow I knew Raider Bill would have something worth saying to that.    ;D       However, I do know a biker can me happy without the bugs.   That's what windshields are for.  ;D

[Raider Bill]

Windshields are you you "old" guys :D :D :D

[grweldon]

My Mom was born in Logan county West Virgina, and almost all my relatives on her sid still live in the southern end of the state. The family name was McClure.  My mom had a mild southern accent until she got on the phone with someone from "Down Home"  Then you slap couldn't understand er fir about a week. :D

When I was visiting Tom, we took to playing the game where when we went some place I'd talk in my repressed maternal, southern accent and he would let me know how I did.  It started out him giving me a D+, but a week later I'd moved up to a B. :D  I've got a lot of southern blood flowing through my veins.  I enjoyed the heck out of Mr. Tom's swamp, and he had grown quite fond of the U.P.  Tom lived most of his life south of Georgia, but no one should ever dare say he wasn't the complete, exemplary, Southern Gentleman.

Hmmm... I moved from Michigan to Georgia (via the military) in 1983.  When I went overseas and came back, the lady I married while in Georgia insisted that we go back!  All the folks I worked with didn't really buy the explaination that I was practically southern from birth since one set of grandparents was from Kentucky and the other set was from Arkansas!  They still called me a D*** Yankee!  I've worked extremely hard to develop my southern accent over the 30 years I've lived in the south.  When I visit up north, they all ask me where I'm from.  They are insensed when I tell them I'm from Michigan!  Not only that, nobody in the south has any question that I'm a Yankee!  I guess some things will never change!

[Roxie]

That's the tragedy of mixed marriages.  It's the children that suffer.   

[muddstopper]

Most of the native Floridians I have met seem to be close to regular southern folks. Most of the Yankees i have met, well, their just Yankees. Its the Halfbacks I cant seem to get along with. Those are the yankees that moved to Floridia, found out they didnt fit in and decided to move halfway back. Seems they couldnt get along up north, couldnt get along in Floridia, so they stopped halfway back so they could make everyone else as miserable as they are.

[Raider Bill]

Most of the native Floridians I have met seem to be close to regular southern folks. Most of the Yankees i have met, well, their just Yankees. Its the Halfbacks I cant seem to get along with. Those are the yankees that moved to Floridia, found out they didnt fit in and decided to move halfway back. Seems they couldnt get along up north, couldnt get along in Floridia, so they stopped halfway back so they could make everyone else as miserable as they are.

I resemble that remark. CNY to Fla. to Tenn. I seem to fit in fine, well to a point I guess. ;)

[Mooseherder]

I'm not sure why people have to be so hurtful Bill.
My Brother and Sister In law moved to Mountain City Tenn.
He was a native Floridian.  People there call Floridians, "Floridiots".
I hope no one does that to you.  At least not to your face. :D
I moved here from Maine for good when I was 25 after a brief stint here in 1979.
That means more than half my time on this southern part of Earth.  The reason for being here was sun and opportunity.
Sorta like an economic refugee if you will.  My kids have thanked me on several occasions for having had the foresight.
The benefits to all areas are many.  They can call me anything they want to as it don't really effect anything but their own ignorance.
It's their loss to act that way.  I may spend the rest of my time trying to go back there at least for a few months or so.
Having been here so many years and seeing many changes doesn't change the fact that there are still a lot of Southerners here no matter what the other South says about it.  Heck, I've even said this is the 6th Borough down here.  You know what, a lot of those folks are good also.
The license plates are of many variety here now. Don't y'all know how to drive!  ;D

[Slabs]

[/quote]

Somehow I knew Raider Bill would have something worth saying to that.    ;D       However, I do know a biker can me happy without the bugs.   That's what windshields are for.  ;D
[/quote]





THe guys with the windshields are "Cyclists".  Real BIKERS get out there and mix it up with the bugs.

[WDH]

Bill,

That is a little better picture of you than your Avatar  .  You must have had a bad night and a long day when your Avatar one was took  :-\.  (Hey, I am not saying that you are not a handsome guy  :D).

[Raider Bill]

Most of the native Floridians I have met seem to be close to regular southern folks. t of the Yankees i have met, well, their just Yankees. Its the Halfbacks I cant seem to get along with. Those are the yankees that moved to Floridia, found out they didnt fit in and decided to move halfway back. Seems they couldnt get along up north, couldnt get along in Floridia, so they stopped halfway back so they could make everyone else as miserable as they are.

I might even take you off my christmas card list if I ever decide to have one.

[barbender]

 I have been picked out for being from MN many times by my accent. My mom was born and raised in Wyoming, she's lived in MN for 35 years and still has I tbink 100% of her WY accent. I went to central Georgia once, around Macon, to visit some friends that moved there from up here. High on my list of sightseeing was the true southern redneck (we have rednecks in MN too) Well at a local country gas station, there was a group of 'em standing around the back of a pickup swilling brews from the ice coolers inside the station (we don't have those up here, except for pop, or soda, or coke, ah whatever you call it in your locale  ;D) well these boys were drinkin' their beer under a billboard that said "STDs-get tested, get treated"
  ;D I wanted to snap a picture but I wasn't brave enough ;D

[Okrafarmer]

In Greenville, SC, and its "suburbs" (if you can call them that), many of the people who live here now have moved here in the last 30 years, from all over the world. Many have moved down from up north, including me. Seems like only about half the people right in around Greenville have lived in the area all their life. (my fraction may be off, but it's my perception). About  13-14 years ago, when I was living and working down here, I got ready for a trip up to see my folks in Maine. My little car's gas gauge was either not working, or inaccurate, so I filled a little 2 gallon jug to put in my trunk in case I ran out.

I was filling said jug near Greenville, when I looked over and locked eyes with something that could only be described as a genuine southern redneck, complete with perforated rusty dusty classic car, which he was filling with gas. He looked at me, cocked an eyebrow, and said, "Haaaaay, buuhhddy, whaaaaachaaaagooowwnaadooo wiv' dat gassoleeen?"

I was a little taken aback, but not to be seen as nervous, I said, rather quickly, "This is my reserve, in case I run out of gas, I won't be stranded."

He looked at me, a slow grin of understanding dawning on his face. "Guhuh!" he laughed. "You must be a Yankee!"

Not sure how he ever figured that out.  :

[stamper]

I can reconize what county [in the state I live in] people are from, from what they say or how they say it.

[Magicman]

I speak and say Good Morning, Good Afternoon, etc.  Be nice and courteous to folks and they will return the good will.  And even when those few don't, I make them wonder why I am so happy.   ;D

[Okrafarmer]

I can reconize what county [in the state I live in] people are from, from what they say or how they say it.

I almost got that way with people in Maine, but I didn't stay theya long enough to perfect the system. Maine has 16 counties, some of them have some serious differences from each other, in culture, outlook, and accent.

[Woodchuck53]

Met a engineer from the office out here one day and walked her thru a process we were fine tuning. When she sat down at lunch and was settled i asked her where she was from. Being an engineer she said guess. I told her Ludiwicie (?)
Ga. She couldn't believe I would guess that right. After 30+ years I could still here the southern Ga. melody in her speech. Quit a nice dark lady.

[thurlow]

Haven't thought of Ludowici in a looooooooooooong time;  spent some time at Fort Stewart in the late '60s/early '70s and Ludowice was..........at times..............off limits to soldiers.  Can't imagine why   8) :D

[muddstopper]

Most of the native Floridians I have met seem to be close to regular southern folks. t of the Yankees i have met, well, their just Yankees. Its the Halfbacks I cant seem to get along with. Those are the yankees that moved to Floridia, found out they didnt fit in and decided to move halfway back. Seems they couldnt get along up north, couldnt get along in Floridia, so they stopped halfway back so they could make everyone else as miserable as they are.

I might even take you off my christmas card list if I ever decide to have one.

Heres wishing you a Merry Christmas, even if I dont get a card.

[Woodchuck53]

Evening Thurlow. That was were I was stationed also. 92 Engineer's Black Diamond. May 74 thru to Nov. 76. Battalion welder in the motor pool. Small world after all. Helped an old bee keeper in Ludowici build boxes and mill cypress. What a slower pace things seemed to be back then.

[Raider Bill]

You too my Friend!