Internet Fun Find

In researching information for my new job - wait, WHAT? Sorry, I don't have time to jump into that right now, but I promise I'll get to it. However, in the process of dabbling around on the computer for work I found an article on buzzfeed titled, 23 Words That Have a Totally Different Meaning in Florida. I'll share the ones that spoke to me:

WINTER

What it usually means - The coldest season of the year

What it means in Florida - It is slightly less hot (Yep, this is true. Although, slightly might be an exaggeration.)

HUMIDITY

What it usually means - Hot and sticky

What it means in Florida - An omnipresence that hits you like a brick wall when you step outside at 7 a.m. (This is so true, especially during the next one...)

SUMMER

What it usually means - An enjoyable time for beach trips, frozen yogurt, and fun in the sun.

What it means in Florida - A LITERAL HELLSCAPE (The first year I moved here wasn't bad. I was used to southern Indiana in August. But now that I've been here for 25+ years? I leave in the summer if I can!)

SUBS

What it usually means - A Sandwich

What it means in Florida - A heavenly bundle of joy God spreads to the world through Publix. (I couldn't find a photo of a sub from Publix. Weird because this is the truth. We eat these things for dinner every other week. Madison lives on them. Floridians take them to the beach. Yum!)

FLIP FLOPS

What it usually means - Shoes you wear in the summer, usually to the beach.

What it means in Florida - Shoes you wear to school, to work, to the grocery, to clubs, and to every other event or hangout. (Yep. The truth)

COCKROACH

What it usually means - A terrifying creature you sometimes find in your house

What it means in Florida - OMG! THAT’S NOT A COCKROACH. IT’S A PALMETTO. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! (I was looking for the picture of my mom upside down pretending to be a dead cockroach, but I couldn't find it, darn it. However, yes, in Florida our roaches are HUGE)

RAIN

What it usually means - A day or two of gray skies and precipitation

What it means in Florida - Your friendly torrential downpour at 3 p.m. every day. (We can always count on that especially in the summer)

STAYCATION

What it usually means - Taking off work to hang out at home.

What it means in Florida - Disney World! (Yep, we are spoiled)

STEERING WHEEL

What it usually means - That piece that allows you to control a car.

What it means in Florida - A burning wheel of death that has been sitting in the parking lot for an hour. (And I would add leather seats to this category as well. Ouch! Miserable in Florida)

65 DEGREES

What it usually means - Great day for a light jacket

What it means in Florida - Where are my UGG boots? (You can always tell the Floridians from the northerners on days like this because we are the ones in gloves and hats!)

SNOW

What it usually means - White stuff that falls from the sky in winter

What it means in Florida - That small pile of ice in the freezer. (Sometimes in the summer we stick our heads in the freezer just to feel the snow)

KEYS

What it usually means - What you use to unlock doors.

What it means in Florida - Paradise (The most beautiful place in Florida!)

TAN

What it usually means - When your skin turns a darker color from being out in the sun all day.

What it means in Florida -  A base level of color you consistently sport just from walking from your car to your office.

WILDLIFE

What it usually means - Deer

What it means in Florida - Gators (Oh, how true this is. Darcy and Tom have a story for how true this is)

MIAMI

What it usually means - A fun place to vacation.

What it means in Florida - Its own separate country. (You will find everyone comes from somewhere other than Florida in Miami)

POOLS

What it usually means - A fun activity to do in the summer. 

What it means in Florida - What you get into when you get home from school. (Sadly, for my kids, not so much any more.)

Here are the ones I would have added to the list had I been asked. 

SUNSCREEN

What it usually means - A lotion to put on before going to the pool or beach.

What it means in Florida -  Our daily regime we put on every morning before starting our day.

CITRUS

What it usually means - Something you buy in the grocery.

What it means in Florida - Fruit we have to pick up out of our yards after it falls off our trees.

SUNGLASSES

What it usually means - What you put on when going out in the sun.

What it means in Florida - What we put on in the morning and wear all day long.

And lastly, FLORIDA

What it usually means - A place to visit.

What it means in Florida - Home