Amazingly, the majority of them really love it out here, and that's why they're here. Same thing with most of the locals. They just really like living in one of the most remote places you can find, surrounded by deserts and mountains, and living life at a pretty slow pace. I certainly could never live here, even though an occassional trip for work isn't bad. I took some amazing photos tonight of the sun setting over the Davis Mountains north of Fort Davis. I drove up there for dinner and then took the scenic loop highway through the mountains for the fun of it, which involved almost hitting a cow that was standing in the middle of the highway.

Wow. And people crack hick jokes about where I live.

Got the computer back, with almost everything recovered. Its behavior has improved dramatically.

It really is pretty out there. We spent Thanksgiving 2005 at Big Bend to go hiking. We involuntarily extended our stay when we busted the oil pan in our car while driving on one of the roads in the park. :eek: We had to wait a couple of days for someone to drive the part down from Marathon (there's more to the story, but I'll spare everyone the details). The locals were great and treated us very well. Plus, we got to spend two more days hiking and enjoying the peacefulness of the area.

FYI for those coming into my neck of the woods tomorrow: Accuweather is calling for one hour of t-storms from 11a-noon. I'll be at the course early because I'm dropping the girlfriend at work and then going right there to get on the range. I think everyone has my cell number that needs it.

Oh, one more thing: girlfriend likely stopping by toward the end of dinner. :D

Hope no one slips at dinner about the ring:eek:

I'll make it easy on CM and I will break the news to her. :p

Are you going to get down on one knee and everything? ;) Y'all are wicked.

:eek:

I can think of many reasons why living below the Mason Dixon line is better. They're all unique, and they accumulate on the ground between November and March.

Unless you're in Upstate NY, in which case they accumulate on the ground from Sept. through June. :mad:

Yes, that's the one I'm thinking of.

There are trade offs. The more south you go, the worse the summer is. Summer in Houston is like winter in Rochester. It lasts about 8-9 months and is downright miserable.

I grew up in coastal Carolina where the air gets so thick from the humidity you have to jump in the ocean to dry off. (baglady knows about this)

I've lived in PHX in the summer, where you sweat from places you didn't know could sweat (eyeballs :confused:).

And I lived in SYR and ROC for 5 years (complete lapse of judgment). I'm still thawing out. Every day I would wake up, look outside, and curse. It's not humane up there. Even the moose are miserable.

I can authoritatively say that I'll take oppressive heat and humidity any day of the week over cold. Yes, the Canuck and I fight about this on a daily basis. I'm anti A/C and she's pro-igloo.

By the way, best place I've ever lived: BNE. I miss it. :(

I'm the opposite. I will take cold any day over heat and humidity. I can always bundle up in more layers.

You could run around naked in Houston in August and you'll still sweat from every square millimeter on your body. The only escape is the air conditioned indoors. And that just makes it feel so much worse when you do have to go outside.

My ancestors were from the northern parts of Europe. I really think my genes are wired for cooler temperatures.

I agree. The best investment I made last year was an electric blanket for when my wife and I are on the couch during the winter (all the heat runs upstairs) and it's quite cozy. During the summer the A/C stinks and I never want to go outside.

As for upstate NY I don't mind it. My wife has family in the Utica area so we go up there a bit (I recommend the steamed hams) and find the weather tolerable. But yea, we never have to shovel up there though. :D :p

Best. Episode. Ever. ^

Me, too.