I kissed a girl...

Here is a second batch of laugh-worthy southern-isms and short stories of my experiences...

Pine straw-NOT pine needles, I constantly get corrected on this one. They use it in landscaping everywhere and they always talk about "fixing the pine straw" and "adding more pine straw." Straw is for horse bedding sillies!

Along the landscaping theme, no one ever "mows the lawn," but because of the constant rain and sun combo, they "cut the grass" a lot. They look at you a little funny if you talk about mowing, must be one of those damn Yankees!

Georgia Law (and order?)

Most ridiculous law ever!!!! You cannot buy alcohol on Sunday! Poor Brady had to listen to me rant for days on end on the blatant disregard for separation of Church and State. That is the only explanation I can come up with, anyway. Brady says me complaining about it makes me sound like a drunk, and perhaps that's why no one wants to dispute it. It's just ridiculous! UGH! Don't even get me started on the concealed weapons laws!

Moving on...

It is legal to talk on your cell and drive, though I am still conditioned to drop my phone in a panic when cops drive by. I can't imagine what they must think. I no longer have CA plates to explain my strange behavior (though I still have not conceded my CA license, my picture is actually cute!). O and here they aren't "plates," they are tags, and you have to go to the "tag office" to get them. They actually hand them to you right there!! Kind of amazing, though it took me 5 trips with numerous document requests, a yelling match, and an all out tearful meltdown for us to get all of ours, but that's another story entirely.

Police only have blue lights, which is weird to me, and school buses have flashing lights on top of them, for some inexplicable reason. Someone told me it was so helicopters could find them in the fog. Ummm ok?

On the topic of roads, you do not take the "freeway," but rather, the "interstate," it's called I-75 for goodness sake! They are always correcting me on this one too. Also, no one tells you the name of the exit you should take from the "interstate," but only the exit number. I'm always like "ya, but what road is it?" Confused looks always follow.

On a completely different note, one of my extremely conservative, very sheltered (but 30-something year old) coworkers asked me if that Kelly Perry girl really is a lesbian. The laughter that ensued was slightly rude on my part, but I just could not contain myself. I mean, seriously!?!?

This is my new habitat, and I am definitely a bit out of place, but it has really helped me to identify who I really am, and that is a valuable (yet often strange and uncomfortable) experience. I will keep you all updated on my craziness, and hopefully it will be entertaining as well as enlightening for both myself and you, dear reader.