Hey Michelle,

The way you first heard "get down" in New Mexico in 1977; PRICELESS.  Especially with your brother. LOL.  I don't think they say that at all in the Northeast, but then again, I'm an old timer.  The kids are always coming up with new sayings, so, who knows?

Yes, this thread is fantastic.  You learn something new every day.  Any teenagers out there, join in and teach us something.

Decades ago, to get down was like to boogie the night away (dancing up a storm).

Gran

Gran - First time i ever had biscuits n' gravy was in Lexington, Kentucky - thought I'd died and gone to Heaven (pardon the expression) - wondered why I'd never found the stuff before.  Next time was in Myrtle Beach - just beginning to find diners in Jersey that serve it!

Nancy - red 'gravy' is actually 'spaghetti sauce' where I come from  but don't try telling anyone from Philly that!  Them's fightin words in my hubby's family. :).  Guess it all depends on where you come from!!!

However you say it, it all tastes good.

On another topic - things that wander through your yard - a female turkey decided to take up residence on the mulch pile yesterday !!!  WE'RE  seven miles outside of NYC - how did a wild turkey find it's way into our backyard!!!!!!!  If I can figure out how to do the avatar thing, I'll post her picture as my avatar!!   The neighborhood cat finally met a bird he couldn't handle!

Ann

Ann,

Be careful. Wild animals in the suburbs are much more dangerous than in their natural (or intended) habitat.  A spate of turkey attacks in the DC area made the news not to long ago. Never approach a wild turkey unless you're fixin' eat it, in which case I'm sure you can get lots of tips on how to dress it right here.

Nancy B:

"Where are you from?" (Which usually elicits the response, "What did I say?")

I asked a lady if she wanted me to throw something away.  She did the 'where are you from?' and told me that they do NOT 'throw it away', they just 'throw it'.   -another New Mexico/Colorado example.

Mimi Z:

So how do ya all think of New Yorkers?

Hey Mimi!  I was friends with a 40ish couple while they were transplanted here from NYC.  Their sense-of-urgency was at a much higher level than mine, for sure.  Their main observation of us was that we were 'too laid back'.  It drove them crazy to stand in line at any store because of all the 'unnecessary chit-chatting' that seemed to slow the line down.  I would kid them about being too uptight and recommended they visit the South if they wanted to see what 'laid-back' truly was!  I also remember empathizing with the wife about the thirty minute drive to her new job, and she really laughed hard about that; saying it was a luxury to get anywhere, especially to work, in that tiny amount of time.  Those were fun days . . .

joCee - Thanks for the advice.  Don't know exactly what she was doing but the mulch pile is right next to a big ole tree - shade and mulch.  We were trying to check for eggs without getting too close.  My concern was the passle of toddlers on the block.  If she got over our fence in one direction she could surely get out.  Anyway, I guess our mulch pile wasn't up to her standards and she split for greener territory.  There have been a few of them on the other side of town but this is a first on our side of town.  They seem to be getting used to humans - just look at you and turn away.  Don't even move - but little kids might not be so cautious.  Anyway - thanks again.

Ann 

Hey Michelle,

I know New Yorkers are always in a rush, especially in the City.  You have to run to catch the subway so you can catch the LIRR train you want or Amtrack, or go to 42nd Street (the Port Authority) to catch their bus to New Jersey.  There were times when you'd run down the stairs to catch the LIRR and the engineer and conductors are looking at you, but if it was time for the train to leave; they'd slam the door shut right in your face.  That's why commuters run.

My sister moved to Maryland when she was out of high school.  She's still there.  When I used to go down there to visit, and we would drive somewhere, like to the mall, I'd tell her these people just move way too slow. I could never live like that.  And when she brought friends up from MD and brought them to the City, they couldn't believe the hustle and bustle.  It was way too fast for them.  Ahhh, the good old days.

 Ann -  how funny that you mention a turkey.  My mail carrier drove by today and told me about a Tom turkey -  all fluffed up that followed her car today for 2 blocks attacking her tires.  Mating season definitely brings out the best in a male turkey.  Don't know how aggressive a female would get around her nest. 

Ah yes.....anyone Italian (or knows an Italian) certainly knows that gravy is red!!!!!   LOL

My grandma (would have been over 100 by now) taught me ALOT.......her favorite phrase was OY MEIN (guess that came from her Jewish friends in Brooklyn!!!!)   And whenever she traveled, she packed her VELICE (spelling??) it was a word she used for suitcase.   And GOD Bless all the women of that day......a dress, stockings (real stockings!!) and a girdle!!!  Now, if my legs have a good tan.......I'm "good to go"!!!  LOL

This is sooo much fun seeing and reading the different phrases/words from all over..........I wonder if Marty has had a chance to read these??

Love and peace..........Anne Marie

Mimi - your post brought back all the 'commuter memories' or should i say flashbacks - i worked in nyc for years, commuted from NJ - OY!!  Mostly downtown by Path, and NJ trains.  Once in a great while by bus through Port Authority when someone or other was on strike.  What a challenge!!  Developed the habit of always carrying  a tote with - something to read, eat, drink and of course the ever present 'Walkman' (and crosstrainers) - never know when commuter delays' as the press would call them would leave you sitting in a subway tunnel or on the rr tracks in the middle of the meadowlands with nothing but time on your hands and nothing to do for hours while 'we do everything possible to expedite your commute' as the voice on the PA would say (or some facsimile thereof).  To this day I pack my own little snack/survival bar in a tote when I travel.  Those infamous NY commuter delays really trained me well!!!

Deni - The turkeys are ubiqiutous out here in the suburban towns further out west from us!  And the Canadian geese - well they just take over in nesting season and humans just better stay away or else!!  Very dangerous birds when egg-sitting!

Ann 

Hi Ann,

Oh, commuting to work by subway, train, and bus is a nightmare to all commuters.  The only thing I liked about the LIRR was I could take a nap.  Back in the 80's, it was a St. Paddy's day.  Got to Penn Station and there were major delays; but the way they handled this one was to let the commuters get on their trains.  A friend and I had gotten on the train, we had to stand, but figured, hey, at least we'll get to Jamaica.  Well, they let all the trains go into the tunnel and then they died for 3 hours.  That was the last time they sent trains into the tunnel knowing there would be no power at all.  No air, standing room only, couldn't even sit on the floor, (you couldn't find a conductor), many people became ill.  People were jumping off the train.  We learned our lesson from that one.  If there were problems at Penn, go into a restaurant or bar and wait it out.  Memories or the commute from Hell!

Mimi Z:

A friend and I had gotten on the train, we had to stand, but figured, hey, at least we'll get to Jamaica.

Now to us Okies 'Jamaica' is a island in the Caribbean! 

And the last time I drove my truck into the river it SANK!

Not even with a 30-pak of Bud at my side would I try a train!!

.................. OK OK Just 'joshing'

Omg, this thread is hilarious!  I don't know how I didn't jump in earlier!  But the comparison of the NY Metro peeps with everyone else as being totally rushed and hating to wait while people are liesurely chatting... dead on!!!  We have no patience!! LOL  I have lived in NJ my entire life (about 25 miles west of NYC), except for 4 years at Michigan State.  When I was there, I was floored at how you walked out of Meijers and the cars just stopped to let you cross the street, for no other reason than you're a pedestrian.  I figured I would come home four years later and step off the curb without looking and get plowed over.  It's SOOO different!! 

Ann, you're 7 miles from NYC, and a surviving Sox fan?  You poor girl, it can't be easy.  

I had biscuits and gravy for the first time last year while visiting friends in Indiana.  What an interesting concept!  Pretty good! 

I'm finally caught up, and I just have to laugh some more.

Pam, I have to ask, you got directions to "make a dog leg" from someone in NJ?  I'm going to guess that had to be South Jersey?  Up here, most of our major roads have "jug handles" (on many major roads you can't make a left turn at a traffic light-you have to veer off to the right onto a mini-exit before you get to the light and turn left onto the crossroad) which make visiting drivers insane. (And conversely, the first time I had to use a turn lane on a 4-lane highway in MI I thought I was going to be killed by oncoming turners.)

The whole "get down" thing-that is just hilarious!  It DOES have a totally different meaning around here, although the only people you actually hear saying "get down" are KC and the Sunshine Band.

My NJ accent is really watered down after living in the midwest (even though it's been ## years...), but when I got to college my friends were merciless.  They called me Cawfee Tawk (as in SNL from the Mike Myers days), and the wrote on the wipe-off board on my door: "I tawk like that awl the time becawse I'm from New Jersey."