Question for Iowans here.

[Wapsie B]

Why is it that people in this state take such delight in complaining about the weather? I was in the grocery store tonight, and a guy in front of me was talking to the cashier about the winter weather and how we may get some more precip next week. I couldn't help myself and piped in and said, "You know, this is Iowa. We get cold and snow now." But it fell on dear ears. Just one thing that really irritates me about living here. It just seems so many get a real thrill about bitching about the weather, no matter that time of the year it is, and it's wearing thin. I just want to tell them to please enjoy the day. I say all this as a native of the state.

[ClintonTyree]

1. That isn't specific to Iowans................

it happens everywhere. I live in western NY and all people talk about in the winter is the weather. It's western NY people, snowfall capital of the US!
I just think you're having a bad day and this pushed you over the edge. Complaining about the weather is common to every state. I lived in Florida for a few years and people were always complaining about the weather there. It's human nature.

[Pirate Smile]

2. I love your sig line. I don't know how to answer your question because I

haven't heard anyone bitching about the weather just the snow days.

All I know is that after having the kids home for Christmas break and they were BORED (even after all the gifts)and bugging each other and me, I was sure as hell ready for school to start.

Monday, Wednesday and Thursday were all snow days. I think the ice on last Saturday was probably the worst although it did snow all day long on Wednesday. It is Iowa. I expect it.

I don't know - people like to bitch! If you hang around here very much, you must know that by now.

[kariatari]

4. 'twas an amazing game. best i saw all weekend.

[Wapsie B]

12. Yeah, I know there's no

way to get around hearing about the weather. The gloom and doom mentality just gets on my nerves I guess. Just a pet peeve of mine, nothing more.



My sig is from Gary Dolphin, the voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

[CornField]

17. Did you e-mail Bob Bruce at WMT?

If you send him a request e-mail, he'll send you the mp3 of that Dolphin /Hawkeye moment.

[Wapsie B]

21. Thank you for that!

I love listening to Dolph call the games.

[mr_hat]

27. Check it out at scothawk.com >

He has both the ABC call and the Dolph/Eddie call synched to the TV coverage. Classic!

[KG]

3. it's different in FL. we don't bitch about the weather here. we like it!

[Pirate Smile]

7. Oh, yeah, we know. My in-laws go there in the winter and give us

a weather description at the opening of every phone call.

There is always a special glee they have when it is shitty here.

I try to hand the phone off to my husband before they can start because it is ANNOYING!

[KG]

8. well, the weather was really great here today, 70's and sunny ...

hello? hello?

[Pirate Smile]

22. Well, you are a lucky duck during the winter but we don't have a hurricane

season.

[Liberal In Texas]

5. Didn't live in Iowa, but next door in Nebraska

for a looooong time.
I got so sick of the winter weather I moved to Texas 23 years ago.

New Years Day I grilled steaks in the back yard. What a difference!

[SarahB]

6. I'm a former Nebraskan too.

People here in New England complain about Winter. Ha! New England's Winters have nothing on Nebraska and Iowa's Winters.

[Liberal In Texas]

9. Ain't that the truth, SaraBelle

But I must say, my brother moved to so. Michigan and they get hammered all the time with piles of snow.

Of course, they know how to deal with it pretty well.

I've gotten so climatized to Tx weather (I think my blood has thinned or something) when I go north in the winter I'm more miserable than I remember when I lived there.

[Wapsie B]

13. Cool.

[the Princess]

10. Hey babe

It's cold here in Iowa too. The trick is to find someone to keep you warm.

[Wapsie B]

11. That's very true.

Generate some heat with some good luv'n.

[the Princess]

20. *snort*

I'm not in Iowa I'm in Colorado!!!!! LOL

DUH!

But it was 14 the other morning. Cold but good snuggling weather.

[Hardrada]

14. OMG, 12 inches of Snow in My Town

It really is 12 inches. Our civic response was stretched to capacity but somehow we survived. 6 inches is all most of us have been used to in recent years or can manage. No one has seen anything like it since 1974. I'm not sure we can take anymore since no one knows where to put it. I guess over here in Eastern Iowa we don't know whether to brag or complain. We had enough to make most surfaces slick. Yes, this heavy (and mesmerizing) snowfall is best with a partner. Very true.

[CornField]

15. I confess. I'm a bitchy Iowan.

But, in my own defense, I'm not a native and I had never actually experienced winter until my corn boy husband transplanted me here. You should also know that I only bitch about winter. I love the other three seasons here.

My first winter in Iowa, I kept all the local wrecker services in business. I had an old Monte Carlo (rear-wheel drive) and she and I met every damn ditch in Linn County.

[SarahB]

16. I love your sigline.

Read this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[CornField]

18. Thanks!

I missed that whole thread about it. It was interesting to read what folks had to say.

I've been working on a women's history project with my 12-year-old daughter. Hopefully, we'll eventually unveil all of our hard work as a web site to supplement middle school curriculum. Even if that doesn't happen, it's still been wonderful working so closely with her as she discovers how so many women have influenced our nation and made their own marks within the world.

My daughter wanted me to use the poster in her room as my sig. She "allowed" me to settle for the one I have because the other was too long. Here it is:

I fight like a girl who refuses to be a victim.
I fight like a girl who is tired of being
ignored and humored and beaten and raped.
I fight like a girl who's sick
of not being taken seriously.
I fight like a girl who's been pushed too far.
I fight like a girl who offers and
demands respect.
I fight like a girl who has a lifetime of
anger and strength and pride
pent up in her girly body.
I fight like a girl who doesn't believe in
fear and submission.
I fight like a girl who knows that
this body and this mind are mine.
I fight like a girl who knows that
You only have as much power
as I grant you.

I fight like a girl who will never allow you
to take more than I offer.
I fight like a girl who fights back.

So next time you think you can distract yourself
from your insecurities by victimizing a girl,
think again.
She may be me and
I fight like a girl.

[SarahB]

19. I like that as well.

I also have a 12 year old daughter. It's nice to see her as much more empowered than I felt at her age. Strong girls make strong women.

[REP]

23. Family's From Adair County

You CAN'T be a native! *Enjoy* the day? SAY WHAT? Nonononono.

Midwesterners talk about the weather because we have so goddamned much of it to talk about.

[Wapsie B]

24. My family's from Fayette County.

Grew up about 15 miles from Hawkeye, Iowa.

I've always been a contrairian of sorts. Not one to follow the crowd.

[REP]

25. We're All Gone From Fontanelle Now

But that certain Iowa attitude lives on!

[Wapsie B]

26. Yes it does!

I know that attitude is part of what they call Iowa stubborn.

[mr_hat]

28. I was born in Oelwein, but of my kin are dead or gone.

[Wapsie B]

29. Hey, so was I!

Fransiscan Sisters of Mercy Hospital. Cool!

[mr_hat]

30. Mercy Hospital, yup. My Mom was born and raised there. Her

folks owned the Grand Theater, until it burned down, back when.

[LincolnMcGrath]

31. Just tell them to wait until tomorrow.

"If you don't like Midwest weather, just wait a day because it will change"

I have lived all over, yet I prefer the Midwest.

[Wapsie B]

32. I don't know what I'd do

if I moved to a warm weather climate. Yeah, it will change. I just try to take the great days we have and grin and bear the bad. But most years even a hard winter most days are not that bad at all, and some are very nice.