You know you're from Alabama when...

I saw this on Facebook (yes, I check Facebook during the last minutes of busy season when I can't stand to look at a balance sheet for five minutes more) and thought reposting it with some of my own commentary would be funny.

1. You have a party or a barbeque whenever Alabama plays Auburn in football. Party, yes. Barbecue no. More like try not to freeze to death.

2. You go to Gulf Shores every summer. I actually haven't been since I was 20. We're Gatlinburg people now since I burn so easily.

3. You call the Atlanta Braves baseball team “us” like they’re actually from Alabama. The only team I'm really for are my Auburn Tigers. Although, if I had to pick a team, it would likely be the Texas Rangers since we have a family friend who works for the franchise.

4. You have family who would much rather visit Florida than California. Agreed. Personally, I have no use for California outside the Napa Valley.

5. You don’t “take”, you “carry” or “tote”… as in “You want me to carry you down to the 7-11?” Since when does Alabama have a SINGLE 7-11? I think a Yankee wrote this! I do speak more "Southern" around my family. I did with Grams in particular. However, I don't usually speak this way in everyday conversation.

6. A soft drink isn’t soda, cola, or pop, it’s Coke. Yep. I can tell you're not from around here if you call it anything other than Coke.

7. You call it a “buggy” and not a shopping cart. Guilty.

8. You’ve said “fixin’ to,” “might could,” or “usetacould” during the last week. I don't think so.

9. Someone you know has used a football schedule to plan their wedding date. When and if my time comes, this would be a consideration. I'd probably just not have a Fall wedding so this wouldn't be an issue. I couldn't possibly schedule around both Auburn and Alabama. And I'd totally get my feelings hurt if I found out people were picking watching football over coming to my wedding.

10. You can properly pronounce Arab, Eufaula, Opelika, Loachapoka, Bayou La Batre, and Oneonta. Considering I lived in Auburn for five years and Auburn and Opelika are in the same county, that's a "yes". I've been to the Syrup Sopping in Loachapoka and know all about "Wreck Tech". Also, in order to get to my Uncle's house, I have to drive through Oneonta, so that's a "yes" as well.

11. You know exactly what chitlins and rocky mountain oysters are, and though you may not, you know someone who eats them anyway. Ewwww...

12. You think that people who complain about the heat and humidity in other states are sissies. Even in Nashville, it's better. It's amazing the difference from Nashville to Florence to Auburn.

13. You aren’t surprised to find rental movies, groceries, ammunition and bait all in the same store. Have these people not heard of Wal-Mart? I'm pretty sure they exist outside the South?

14. Asian food is always “CHINESE” regardless of the fact that it may actually be Korean or Japanese or Thai. I know Asian food other than Chinese exists, but legit Chinese is my Asian food of choice.

15. People actually grow, eat, and like okra. One of Daddy's favorites!

16. Mamanem means the whole family, i.e., “Are mamanem comin?” It took me a while to figure this one out.

17. You measure distance in minutes or hours. People ask me how far away home is and, more times than not, I say two hours and then add "Well, 100 miles."

18. You know what “cow tipping” is. For some reason, this reminds me of Mrs. Eck's BC Calculus class and our joke about going Snipe Hunting.

19. You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas. I think Summer started early this year.

20. You know the difference between redneck, hillbilly, country, and southerner. True.

21. You think everybody from the north has an accent. Even people from Tennessee have a different accent.

22. Y’all is a word. Totally. I don't think I ever use this "word" when I'm speaking and I certainly don't use it when writing.

23. There is no such thing as tea.. it’s sweet tea. I have to argue with this. Tea, by definition, is SWEET in the South. No need to order it sweet. Any other tea should be described with a modifier. Ex. Hot tea, Earl Grey tea, green tea.

24. You say “sir” and “ma’am” if there’s even a chance someone is even thirty seconds older than you and it is just the polite thing to do. I struggle with not saying "sir" or "ma'am" to some of my coworkers. It's just habit, but is not the norm around my office.

25. Almost everyone you know is Baptist or Methodist. Pretty much true. The biggest churches are always First Methodist or First Baptist.

26. You know everything goes better with Ranch dressing, especially french fries. Eww...no.

27. Krispy Kreme doughnuts are the only doughnuts that exist. I refuse to eat Krispy Kreme since I blame them for Culpepper's closing. The Donut Shop in Florence is a somewhat satisfying replacement, but not the same.

28. You know at least one Bubba, and maybe a few guys named Bo. When Mama was pregnant with me, back in the dark ages when you didn't know what your baby was before it was born, I was "Bubba". Bo Jackson is an Auburn legend and "Bo Knows".

29. You actually get these jokes and your friends do too. *wink*