You Know You're From Iowa When...

I am from Iowa, and I'm proud of it. I think Iowa is one of the best places in the world and I love being back so close to it! But I stumbled across some fun "you know you're from Iowa when" sayings on a friend's blog and have now compiled a list of my own from various sources. If you're from Iowa, you'll probably relate to most of these:-) Have fun!

You Know You're From Iowa When...

• You measure distance in minutes
• Weather is 90% of your conversation
• Snow tires came standard on your car
• The top 5% of your graduation high school class went to Iowa State -- everyone else attended the U of I
• You have no problem spelling or pronouncing "Des Moines" or "Illinois"
  
• You know the answer to the question, "Is this Heaven?"
  
• Your school classes have been canceled because of cold
• You know what "uff-da" means and how to use it properly
• You know what "Amish Country" is
• You've licked frozen metal
• The only reason you go to Wisconsin or Missouri is to get fireworks (or Indiana:-)
  
• You wear shorts when it's 50 degrees out in March, but bundle up and complain in August when it goes below 60 degrees
• You carry jumper cables in your car
• You drink "pop"
• People from other states love to hear you say "Iowa" and other words with "Os" in them
• You know what "Hawks" and "Clones" are
• When someone says they are going out for dinner or supper, you know which meal they are talking about
• You know what "cow tipping" is (and that it actually isn't possible)
• You learned to drive when you were 10
• You know what a Maid-Rite is and know they cannot be served with ketchup
• You say "cattywampus" instead of "kitty-corner"
• You've ever had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day
• Detassling was your first job
• All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit or vegetable
• You're think people are idiots who say: "You grow great potatoes there."
• You consider being called a "Pork Queen" an honor
• During a storm you check the cattle before you check the kids. (Dad!)
• There's a tornado warning and the whole town is outside watching for it. (what else would you be doing?!)
  
• The local gas station sells live bait.
• You're on a first name basis with the county sheriff. (Dad again...)
• You can eat an ear of corn with no utensils in under 20 seconds.
• Vacation means driving through the Amanas or going to Adventureland
• You've ever been on a "Geode Hunt"
• You have at least 10 recipes for ground beef. At least 10. (Mom: "Of course!")
• You're concerned about the rates of corn growth in Illinois as compared to that of Iowa's.
• Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor on the highway.
• You know what's knee-high by the Fourth of July.
• Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.
• You find -20 degrees "a little chilly"
• You know if another Iowan is from southern, middle or northern Iowa as soon as they open their mouth.
• You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching.
• Directions are given using "the" stoplight as a reference
And my all-time favorite...

• You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked