Wine Down: The Sunshine State

I absolutely love living in The Sunshine State for a number of reasons, the most important one being the sun. As I sit here on my back patio wearing a bikini in February, I am reminded of how wonderful it is to live in Florida. Although it has its downsides, I feel thankful that I live here every time I see pictures of people waist deep in snow.

I would like to dedicate this blog to everyone who has left this great state to pursue other endeavors up North; I hope you are staying warm :)

You Know You're From Florida When...

You own at least five pairs of flip flops
You shrug off hurricane warnings
You've been permanently blinded by fat men in speedos.
You think no-one over 70 should be allowed to drive.
An alligator once walked through your neighborhood.
You measure distance in minutes.
You have a drawer full of bathing suits, and one sweatshirt.
You get annoyed at the tourists who feed seagulls.
All the local festivals are named after food.
A mountain is any hill 100 feet above sea level.
You know the four seasons really are: almost summer, summer, not summer but really hot, and Christmas.
Anything under 95° is just warm.
You change ethnicities in the summer.
You've hosted a hurricane party.
You go to a theme park for an afternoon, and know when to get on the best rides.
You pass on the right and honk at the elderly.
You understand the futility of exterminating cockroaches.
You can pronounce Okeechobee, Kissimmee and Withlacoochee.
You understand why it's better to have a friend with a boat, than have a boat yourself.
You've worn shorts and used the A/C on Christmas.
Socks are only for bowling.
You never use an umbrella because you know the rain will be over in five minutes.
You can tell the difference between fire ant bites and mosquito bites.
Anything under 70 is chilly.
You've driven through Yeehaw Junction.
You could swim before you could read.
You have to drive north to get to The South.
You know that no other grocery store can compare to Publix.
You know that anything under a Category 3 just isn't worth waking up for.
You dread lovebug season.
You know what a snowbird is and you hate them.
You know why flamingos are pink.
You were twelve before you ever saw snow, or you still haven't.
Sweet tea can be served at any meal.
It's not soda, cola, or pop. It's Coke, regardless of brand or flavor, "What kinda Coke you want?"
Bumper stickers on the pickup in front of you include: various fish, NRA, Nascar and Go Gators.
You were 25 when you first met someone who couldn't swim.
You recognize Miami-Dade as " Northern Cuba ".
There is a Walgreen's on every corner rather than a Starbucks.
A pre-requisite to enter a Wal-Mart is to learn Spanish.
You've gone to Disney World and come back home in one day.
You hate when the former Yankees complain about living in Florida...if the North was so great, then why don't you go back!