Iowa

Some of you may not know that I actually was born in Nebraska and lived there for about five years. But Iowa has completely stollen my heart. I wouldn't want to live in another state (well, maybe on the border of Iowa/Missouri/Kansas so I could sell raw milk! :) )!
I thought it would be fun to do a post about Iowa. So, enjoy!

Things no self-respecting Iowan would ever do...

Iowans help their neighbors. An Iowan would never think of letting a field go unharvested due to illness or death in the family. Everyone pitches in and we bring in the harvest together.

Sweet corn and field corn are two completely different things. You don't eat field corn. An Iowan would never make that mistake.

An Iowan would never visit a friend who was suffering from a serious illness or grieving without bringing a casserole. Last name of the giver marked on the bottom of the dish, of course.

Iowans traveling down gravel roads know that when they meet someone head on, it's important to give the Iowa Wave. An Iowan would never snub a fellow Iowan on a non-paved road.

Iowans don't expect the pork tenderloin to fit inside a bun. In fact, here in Iowa, the bun is a garnish. Real pork tenderloins fill the plate.

Iowans don't trust the weather forecast. If you don't like the sky, wait five minutes.

Iowans don't give up.

Iowans never miss a good fireworks show. nearly every community has their own at least once each summer.

Iowans have a special way of taking care of each other, the best food, and most dramatic weather.

http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/iowa/things-no-self-respecting-ia-would-ever-do/

Awkward things some of us have faced...

You think a 4x4 is invincible... and then you have to ask a stranger to help get your truck started.

You've lived here all your life. You still slip and fall after the first snow every winter.

You can't seem to figure out what the weather is doing. Dressing in layers is key.

You have to explain (again) that there's more to Iowa than corn fields and hog farms.

You don't trust the person trying to wave you through the stop sign, so you pretend you don't see them flailing their arms about trying to get you to "just go" ahead of them.

Someone refers to Iowa as a "flyover" state. What? Fine. Fly right over. We don't want you here, anyway.

Hint: It's important to try to be patient with people that aren't "from here" and remember... after the first snow, try to walk like a penguin to avoid falling.

http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/iowa/awkward-moments-every-ia-has-endured-at-least-once/

15 Reasons you should never, ever move to Iowa

1. It gets really, REALLY cold. Who wants frozen eyelashes and endless windshield scraping? Spend too much time outside, and you might even be mistake us for snowmen.

2. And the humidity is killer. If you really care about your hair looking nice, or not sweating, you totally won't survive here.

3. If you enjoy anonymity, forget about it. People will wave at you, talk to you, and just generally want to engage with you, so if you like your big city anonymity and detachment, you're going to hate it here.

4. The wildlife can be... unpredictable. If you're not used to looking out for random deer, raccoons, possums, squirrels and rabbits darting out in front of your car, you'll be in for a rude awakening.

5. The beef and pork are good... a little too good. There must be some sinister secret hiding behind the delectable meat cuts we consistently serve here, right?

6. Comfort food is everywhere! Burgers, mac n' cheese, Maid-Rites, giant tenderloins? You'll never want to stop eating. Some might even say we have gravy coursing through our veins.

7. Affordable housing. I mean... how can you pretend you're superior to everyone else if you don't pay a fortune for your abode?

8. Incredible sunrises and sunsets. I mean, how many of these does a person really need to see?

9. Corny humor. Get it? Because we have a lot of corn?

10. Too many writers. Yeah, we're home to the world's greatest writer's workshop but, writers are total know-it-alls, amirite?

11. Tornadoes. 'Nuff said.

12. Thunderstorms that will shake you to your toes. If you're afraid of noises that make you feel like the wrath of God is raining down upon you, you won't make it one summer.

13. Bugs. Giant mosquitos sucking your blood, boxelder bugs and Japanese beetles swarming your driveway and cicadas making their deafening noise for months on end. Just don't tell them how magical the fireflies are.

14. It's normal to buy food from strangers on the side of the road. You wouldn't want to do that, would you? Just don't mention that the food is amazing and the strangers are nice. :)

15. Too many stars. I mean, when you look up you could be in danger of getting vertigo! Much safer to stay amongst the unnatural city lights.

http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/iowa/15-reasons-not-to-move-to-ia/

Some ways Iowa is America's black sheep... And we love it that way...

Title of "Pork Queen" is a high honor, not an insult

We have cow chip throwing contests... for fun.

It's "pop", and never soda. And we don't care if you make fun of us for saying it.

We play a game called corn hole, without irony.

Forget about houses or event halls, we like to have our parties in cornfields and church basements.

We buy food from strangers on the side of the road. In some cases, we just leave our money in a box.

We actually go swimming in pools of corn .

We eat puppy chow. Not the dog food... the delicious chocolaty dessert.

http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/iowa/14-ways-ia-black-sheep/

Well, hope you enjoyed those. Let me know in the comments if you can think of any more... :)

-Abi