I, Airhead in Idaho

Our time in Idaho is coming to a close.  I have had some pretty funny moments here.
Let's go down memory lane:

---1st semester at BYU-I during the winter semester, and it's complete winter.  My teacher starts giving a lesson, the says, "You know, I saw David A. Bednar skiing this weekend."
I'm think, "Cool, skiing... in winter?  Wouldn't he be totally freezing, and wouldn't the lakes be completely frozen?  I guess they have some amazing body suits out here."
6 MONTHS LATER I realize he was talking about SNOW skiing, not WATER skiing.

---6 months ago, maybe even before Thanksgiving, I saw this billboard advertisement:

I thought, "Cool, 'excellent run'... in winter?  By an old guy, on a hill? And why would he be holding skis?"  It was 10 minutes later that I realized it wasn't a JOGGING run, but a SKIING run.  

Those two stories crack me up!  Oh man, I learned so much while I live out here.  But I do believe I'll always think "skiing" is water, and a "run" is jogging.


30 THINGS I'VE LEARNED WHILE LIVING IN IDAHO.
I wrote this list probably 2 years ago.  I posted it to Facebook but never published it here. 
Maybe it's worth reading, maybe not.  Do what you please, please. 

1. The Subaru Outback is an "it" car. A status symbol. At first I thought it was a poor persons car, and very ugly. Now after years of seeing tons people with nice jobs driving these, I very much want one.
2. Steamed vegetables are delicious! Had no idea how to steam veggies, but once I tasted broccoli steamed and lightly flavored I was hooked. Southerners, you've got to get in on this wonderment. 
3. People don't know squat about the Civil War. Or the Reconstruction. Deep sadness in my heart.
4. It is important to own a humidifier. 
5. It can snow in July.
6. Plateaus do exists! Have no idea how. I guess I really didn't believe my fourth grade teacher when we had that geography lesson.
7. When one says they are going skiing, and it is in the middle of February, he/she means snow skiing. Not water skiing.
8. If your nose bleeds because of high altitude, stick Vaseline up it. 
9. Snow fights are dangerous! Do not willing participate in a "white out." 
10. One cannot breath in snow. It will melt and chock you! 
11. Also take off make-up before a snow fight. Again, the snow will melt and smear all the prettiness.
12. The Indian War stories are very, very sad. I'm so sorry Chief Joseph! 
13. There is racism everywhere. Being from B'ham, AL, I kinda thought it was that area's legacy. Nope. The attitude towards all minorities--Black, Asian, Mexican/Hispanic, and especially the Native Americans--one word: wow. 
14. Ranchers and farmers are hard core. They work their butts off.  18 hour days, easy. My potato eating will never be the same.
15. So I guess one stops watering wheat so it turns golden brown? 
16. Air-conditioning is a luxury. To cool one's home during the summer, open the windows at night to let all the yummy 40 to 50 degree air in.
17. "Moving pipe," is a job, mostly for young men. It means moving the watering system in fields... Seems hard core, and not sure how it's done. 
18. Mountains are beautiful. And there is more than one range is the West. I thought Every mountain in the West was part of the Rocky Mountains. 
19. Fry sauce. It can be found in most stores. A combination of ketchup and mayonnaise. Total weirdness.
20. Own multiple coats. They are needed in every month. A light one for summer evenings, a heavy for January winter death. 
21. Boise is said with the "s" sound, not "z." Wyoming is said the way it looks. I totally thought the "ing" was replaced with a "ee" sound! Like "Wy-om-ee." Where did I get that from?
22. Swedish Fish is a candy. Not fish. Had no idea about this yummy gummy treat!
23. To get frost and snow off ones car, one uses a "scraper," that is sold in stores. I didn't know that! I just thought one pours a hot pitcher of water on the car!
24. If snow is not shoveled off it can become compacted and turn into lick layers of ice. Yeah, thanks Davenport Apartments for never clearing the parking lot, so I had to grab the side of the building to make it to sidewalk safely! 
25. Falling on thick layers of ice hurts!! Like bad!!
26. A place 4,800 feet above sea level has 20% less oxygen than a place 300 feet about sea level. Rexburg should sell oxygen masks and tanks to incoming Freshman. 
27. Saying "I have a church activity," is not an excuse to miss something. 
28. Ferns die out here. Even if you take them in the bathroom with you when you take a shower.
29. Ice blocking is a fantastic activity! 
30. Even if -4 is the high, one is expected to go to class.