A hissy fit

I think this is a Southernism. I have heard it all my life.

to throw a hissy fit- to get really upset at someone as in, She throwed herself a little hissy fit since she couldn't go out and play in the rain. For kids it is usually accompained with "jumping up and down and a hoopin' and a holleran'.

(BTW Thanks for the help with the flitter thing. I still am in limbo as to exactly what she is. Thanks Tish for the expression!!!! I tried to comment at your site but my computer was too slow, I'll hollar back at cha though in a day or two when thangs calm down a lit over cher. I apologize to all for two Irish posts).

Kiss Me I'm Irish

And yes I am Irish. In fact I want to be called an Irish-American from now on. Well, not really, but I would like more recognition for us Irish people who made this country what it is. There is too much emphasis on the majority Anglo-Saxon culture who have oppressed us Celtic peoples for centuries. I mean where would you people be without Guiness Beer or James Joyce? Sober illiterates. Is that the life you want? Well, keep oppressing us and we will take out literature and beer and go back to the old country. Haha not a chance.=)

On a serious note I really am Irish. My grand parents' grand parents immigrated from Ireland to Alabama during the infamous Potato Famine. Louis Alexander Scott named his daughter America in honor of their newly acquired opportunity for a better life here.

State mottos

I am sure you also received this email but I thought it was a propos for the site. I've only included the Southern States and Texas, so as not offend them. I think I have them all here, but if I've left out your state let me know. I am a little worn from the day. My favorite was Alabama (its actual motto is "Alabama the Beautiful")

Alabama
HELL YES, WE HAVE ELECTRICITY.
Arkansas
LITERACY AIN'T EVERYTHING.
Georgia
WE PUT THE "FUN" IN FUNDAMENTALIST EXTREMISM.
Louisiana
We're Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Campaign.
Mississippi
COME AND FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOUR OWN STATE
North Carolina
TOBACCO IS A VEGETABLE
South Carolina
Remember The Civil War? Well, We Didn't Actually Surrender YET!
Tennessee
THE EDJOOCASHUN STATE
Texas
SE HABLA INGLES

Flat as a Flitter

Not so recently I heard someone describing a pancake's flatness. It was described as being flat as a flitter. I am assuming that that is pretty darn flat. I looked up flitter and it seems to be synonomous with flicker or flutter. Somehow that does not seem to fit the usage here. Does anyone know what a flitter is and exactly how flat is it?

FYI I am right in the middle of trying to close out this semester and my educational career, so my posts will be short and sparse in the coming days. But please come back I have some real good stuff to post here. And reading and studying linguistics (one of my favorite things) has allowed me to appreciate my mother language even more. See y'all in a little bit.

Useless as...

Man oh man I jest kan't keep this here blog updated. One thang I've been out of town camping. Another is just sorriness. Anyway, here's a hit for you for Southern liken.

When something is useless it is as useless as teats on a boar hog. And I would say they are pretty darn useless. I've always wondered why the male species have them, but I guess God thought it necessary. If anyone has any idears let me know. (And I am sure I will git nasty emails from the proper Southern girls who are shocked by this post). My apologies to ya, ma'am.

BTW saw two books I want to read. 1)The Redneck Manifesto and 2) White Trash. Both deal with the Southerners from a sociological point of view.

Just remembered a story that was suppose to go under the Texas vs the South post. Once upon a time my wife had to go Atlanta for a job related conference. So, she and her Texan co-worker decided to take in Gone with the Wind at the Fox (Ms. Scarlett, you gonna love this one). Well, one of the first complaints was that there were so many Black people doing "servant type" jobs such as working at the hotels and restaurants. What she did not realize is that in Texas these same jobs are filled by Hispanics. Now we could debate why, but I think it would inappropriate here. It does not matter. So, she was criticizing the South for continued racism when the exact same thing was (is) happening in her state. But she failed to see that at that time the mayor of Atlanta was Black (or African-American if you want to be technically incorrect but politically correct. And yes, i realize the skin color is not "technically" black either. Touchee for you). So it was not necessarily a racist thing.

Next, when they go to the Fox and the audience clapped at the references to killing Yankees, this poor lady thought she was going to get lynched or something. She took the emotion to be some kind of revolt where the first non-Southern would be hanged by the highest limb in the courtyard. She thought the audience had some sixth sense to detect non-Southerns and riot to eliminate their presence. Anyway, a good chuckle.

Texas vs the South

James has observed that THE SOUTH and TEXAS are two separate entities.

Bravo!

That is correct. I don't have time to do actual research to confirm this, but I bet it exist. I know from personal experience this is true. Here's why.

I've lived in Texas for almost 4 years. Before that spent all my life in the South.

1. In Texas you do not necessarily get served sweet tea.
2. In the South there is a lot of Black influence, in Texas a lot of Hispanic influence
3. The language is similar but not the same (even though we both use y'all that does not mean anything. I heard that y'all has actually gone mainstream. Looking into this for a possible future post.
4. The food is different. Texas=Tex/Mex whereas in the South the food is "soul" (take too long to explain here) or seafoodish. Texas does have a coastline on the Gulf as do most Southern states (including Georgia and SC who have an Atlantic Coast; excluding Tennessee)
   
5. No moon pies in Texas (yes I realize that moon pies are specific to the Deep South, but this is a difference)
6. Texas has a emphasis on cattle for livelihood while in the South there is pecans, watermelons, peaches, and peanuts etc. etc.
7. Texas have the most pride of any one in the USA. Everything is Texas this or Texas that. You would never hear about something being Miss (except mud pies) or Ala or Tenn or SC. No sir. Texans are the proudest people when it comes to their state. You really are your own country. I guess that is why YOU out of all the poeple can fly your state flag level with the US flag.
   
8. Depending on how where you are in Texas or the South will determine how much Native American influence is there.
9. I would say Texas and the South are not the same but are likable cousins.
10. I should also say that some of my critique could be that I live in a large city in Texas whereas in the South I lived in a rural community. I am recognizing my comparison as being potentially city vs country rather than Texas vs the South.
    

That Southern Hospitality Wanes

I call myself a Southerner but for the life of me I can not seem to be hospitable to my friends and neighbors who stop by. But again I am bowed up like a Halloween Tom Cat. I do apologize. Several people have giving me some ideas and I've not been able to post them yet. I'll get to them if you can just hold your horses (that's sounds more West than South). Others have left comments that I have not responded to yet. So instead of hiding them in the comments section of each post I want to address some them here. Try to treat y'all might nice and sweet, offer you a big o' glass of tea (do you even have to ask if it is sweet or not?) or water. So have a seat and read on.

For Ms Scarlett:
I am still going to get over to the Southern Ring. I have not ignored ya. Thank ya much for puttin' me on ya blogroll. I feel promoted or something. And you were right about the wake thing it does not always have an "a" in front of it. And even though you got a lot of "AL" tendencies I still thank you are true GA gal. What about sending us some of them thar nice tastin' peaches. They're the best!!!

For Janice:
I got your email about me calling ya trashy here. I guess it depends on how you define it. =) You're a good sport though. Say, when y'all coming back home to the South? Y'all really do need to get out a ther.

For KC:
You tell that forin' wife of yours that if she's a'gonna live in this country she better learn how to speak real English and stop always correcting yours. Smiles. Tell her "hi" and inform her of my humor. Otherwise she might get mad at the both of us. BTW, I am going to take that comment and put here on the main page if that's alright? I liked it. And you was right about the correctness of gettin' runned over vs. ran or ranned over.

For James:
I plan on doing a post dedicated to the differences between the South and Texas. I am glad a Texan agrees with me about the differences. Hang in ther being in Yankee Land and all.

For Frenchy:
Yeah, that's about right. Everybody becomes Aunt and Uncle something. I can't tell you how many "nieces and nephews" I have. And I guess in latino culture they take that "Mi Casa es Tu Casa" seriously. Well, it's all good. I don't mind folks dropping in and staying for a little while at the house, but they better not wear out their welcome. However, I do appreciate you stopping by this here site. You are welcomed any time, and you can stay as long as you like.Thanks again!

Well, now that I have exhausted my list of people who actually read this blog (Yeah,Yeah, I know I left out a couplun's of ya. Not intentional. But I believe I've tied up all those ends with y'all. But if I haven't let me know and I'll get to ya right fast like) I think I'll go and get me a nap (ha, I've got too much work for that nonsense).

Here's a samplin' of dialect Suthern

My friend Janice is a dye hard Alabamian even though she done got above her raisin (by moving to Yankee land), so what she sayz I don't pay no mind to. I especially don't listen at 'er when shez all the time complaining abouts where I growed up being trashy. Man, has she looked in her back yard lately? She must have a half dozen cars spread out all over her backyard.

Anyway, she sent me this dialect of Suthern which somebody called Alabamaisms. You decided for yourself:

You know you're from Alabama when-

You have a party or a barbeque whenever Alabama plays Auburn in football. You go to Gulf Shores every summer. You call the Atlanta Braves baseball team "us" like they're actually from Alabama. You would much rather visit Florida than California. You don't "take", you
"carry" or "tote"... as in "You want me to carry you down to the 7-11?" A soft
drink isn't soda, cola, or pop, it's Coke. You call it a "buggy" and
not a shopping cart. You've said "fixin' to," "might could," or
"usetacould" during the last week. Someone you know has used a football schedule to
plan their wedding date. You know the meaning of the phrase "Fobbed
again." You can properly pronounce Eufaula, Opelika, Bayou La Batre,
and Oneonta. The Talladega 500 is the biggest sporting event of any sort
during the entire year. You know exactly what chitlins and mountain
oysters are, and you know someone who eats them anyway. You think that
people who complain about the humidity in other states are sissies. You
aren't surprised to find rental movies, groceries, ammunition and bait
all in the same store. You've missed a wedding or a funeral to go to a
football game. Asian food is always "CHINESE" regardless of the fact
that it may actually be Korean or Japanese or Thai You actually get
these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Alabama.