My cousin Darren sent me this. He lives in Clovis, CA (I live in Clovis, NM – cool coincidence, huh?). Clovis, CA is in the Central Valley (a.k.a. the Sacramento Valley) of California. It can get rather hot there. I liked the following, since much of it applies to living in NM:
[quote]
You know you’re in the Central Valley when. . .[list=1][li]You have to explain to company from out of town what animal “Tri-tip” comes from and that it’s indigenous to the area.[/li][li]You buy salsa by the gallon.[/li][li]You think a red traffic light is just a suggestion.[/li][li]All your out of state friends start to visit after October, but clear out before the end of April.[/li][li]Most of the restaurants in town have the first name “El”, “La” or “Los”.[/li][li]You think 6 tons of crushed rock makes a beautiful yard.[/li][li]You notice your car overheating before you drive it.[/li][li]You no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water.[/li][li]You see more irrigation water on the street than in the river.[/li][li]You know a swamp cooler is not a happy hour drink.[/li][li]You can say 115 degrees without fainting.[/li][li]A vehicle with open windows has right-of-way.[/li][li]People break out coats when the temperature drops below 70.[/li][li]In July, you discover you only need two fingers to drive your car.[/li][li]You think someone driving wearing oven mitts is clever.[/li][li]The pool can be warmer than you are.[/li][li]You can make sun tea instantly.[/li][li]You run your air conditioner in the middle of winter so you can use your fireplace.[/li][li]People with black cars or upholstery are assumed to be out-of-towners.[/li][li]Hot air balloons can’t go up; the air outside is hotter than the air inside.[/li][li]You realize that Valley Fever isn’t a disco dance.[/li][li]Water from the cold water tap is the same temperature as water from the hot water tap.[/li][li]It’s noon in July, the kids are on summer vacation, and not one person is moving in the streets.[/li][li]You actually burn your hand opening the car door.[/li][li]The best parking place is determined by shade instead of location.[/list=1][/li][/quote]