The Secret is out (Boise, Coeur d'Alene: insurance, hairstyles, loan)

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by cleosmom

Trace is a bright spot in most everyone's days

I have to agree with cleosmom. Trace does seem to make the day a little brighter with his comments.

Many who have posted in this thread have posted in other threads. What impresses me are the opinions and determination of those inviduals that WE make things happen for ourselves. We are responsible for our own lives and happiness. Sometimes our plans get slightly or greatly delayed, for different reasons, but many have that inner sense of self that keeps them working to be where they want to be ultimately.

Trace, you do have a way of uniting people even if we're not all presently in the same state. One thing I've noticed in threads you post in, is often even the regional turf wars of Idaho disappear. What I mean is sometimes Idaho is described in some publications, different threads and elsewhere has been suggested to be essentially 3 different states: Northern ID, "The State of Ada," and Southeastern ID (which somehow also includes the Twin Falls area). When I read the posts of Trace, DeseretRyder and others, the turf wars, seem to disappear, as they aren't what is the most important about Idaho.

Continue to be a bright spot in our day, Trace, and all others! After all, isn't that what life is about - helping ourselves and each other to be the best we can be?

MSR

[elousv]

1) Minimum of 5 guns per household

Check, and the 500lb. safe to put them in.

2) 4x4 Pickup truck

Check

3) An atv, snowmobile

Does wanting them count?

4) A "Tree Huggers Suck" bumper sticker.

I once had a tee shirt that said "Nuke the whales" if that counts.


5) A minimum of 3 pairs of hiking/hunting/work boots per person. Having more "dress" shoes than boots is an automatic disqualification.

Only own 1 pair of dress shoes my entire adult life. Sorel is in my closet.

6) Camo is an essential part of the wardrobe.

None yet, but one trip to Cabela's in Post Falls will take care of that.

I forgot, carry knife, belt or folder

Been in my pocket since 1978!

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by elousv

I forgot, carry knife, belt or folder
Been in my pocket since 1978!

elousv, if you're gonna be in NID, then I'm sure Trace can set you up with some real pretty knives or even practical ones

[Sage of Sagle]

Trace,

A very funny bumper sticker we see from time to time around here says:

"EARTH FIRST...we'll log the other planets later!"

And I have a T-Shirt which says"

"MEAT IS MURDER"...and then in smaller print underneath it says "Tasty, Tasty Murder"

People will start to give me a dirty look as they start to read it, then I watch their frown turn into a smile, then a chuckle, then a wink or nod.

Here is something that I compiled from a whole bunch of other sayings about life here in Idaho. I've posted it before, but I'll share it again here:

1. That ranch hand kid you just downed does more work before breakfast than you do all week at the gym. Don't treat him like a country bumpkin. It's just insulting. And next time you need your roof shoveled to avoid collapsing, I bet he'll smile as he charges you $90/hour. And guess what? You'll gladly pay it.

2. It's called a "dirt road." No matter how slow you drive, you're going to get dirt on your Escalade with your 20" chrome rims. Drive it or get out of the way.

3. The thick stuff in Spring -- it's called mud. If you like the color, don't wash your car for a couple weeks -- it'll be permanent. Just remember, if it's up to your axles, you have a problem. You may not want to wear Prada shoes driving around.

4. A lot of us started hunting and fishing when we were seven years old. Yeah, we saw Bambi. We got over it. YOU don't have to hunt to live here, but don't move here and start talking about bans on guns.

5. Tell your kid to pull his pants up. He looks like an idiot. What are you, lost?

6. If your cell phone rings while you're at a restaurant, don't be surprised when you get disapproving looks. There's this cool feature. It's called VIBRATE. Oh, and please don't chatter at the top of your lungs.

7. So, you have a fancy car. We're real impressed. We, on the other hand, will retire early because we discovered this neat little trick called "saving money" by driving our cars until well after they're paid off. Try it some time.

8. Let's get this straight. If I'm in front of you, I get to go slow, and you get to wait. Coming unglued will just mean next time you're stuck in a snowdrift, I keep on driving past you. And rudely passing a tractor is social death in this neighborhood...keep that in mind.

9. We eat dinner together with our families because we WANT to. Many folks go to church on Sundays and we go to high school football games on Friday nights. We still address our seniors with "sir" and "ma'am," and we sometimes still take Sunday drives around town to see friends and neighbors. Feels weird at first...but you'll get used to it.

10. We don't do "hurry up" well. You're in a hurry, why don't you jump on a plane to New York City to get your adrenaline fix.

11. Yeah, we eat a lot of potatoes. And yes, there's a difference between our potatoes and what you bought at some steakhouse 1500 miles from here. Ever have "fresh Alaska salmon" in Mexico? Yeah...you get the picture.

12. Yes, they are livestock. That's what they smell like (money). Get it? Livestock -- income -- money? Get over it. Don't like the smell? Interstate 15 goes two ways. Interstate 90 and 84 go the other two. Pick one.

13. So every person in every car around here waves to their neighbors? Yeah, it's called being friendly. Understand the concept?

14. That Highway Patrol Officer that just pulled you over for driving like an idiot...his name is "Sir," no matter how young he is.

15. We have lots of trees. They have sap. It drips from them. You park your Navigator under them, and they'll leave a logo on your hood. In the windstorms they even fall on cars...park appropriately.

16. You burn an American flag in our state, you get beat up. No questions. The lunatic fringe contingent of our state legislature -- all four of them -- enacted a measure to stop this. There is now a $2.50 fine for beating up the flag burner.

17 You may be Houdini on a skateboard. But pull in front of my pickup towing my horses and they'll be writing a sad letter home to your mama. Learn to skate on the sidewalk, junior. Oh wait, there's no sidewalks. Stay out of the street and you may live.

18. OK. This one should be simple. It's called a "co-op". That means we all buy in bulk and save money, and the co-op store helps support that mission. Unhappy with grandpa who's trying to help you over in the feed aisle because he's not faster helping you lift a 150lb sack of feed into your Lexus SUV? Probably the wrong store for you. Fact is, probably the wrong state for you.

19. Yes, we shoot guns on Sundays, after we're done at church. Don't like guns? Think only the cops should get to own guns? Sure, you can vote your mind, just over that little line into what we call "Washington State" in that crime infested hole called "Spokane".

20. You start hollering at my kid from the sidelines in a sporting match, you better watch your mouth. See, we teach our kids to play tough but to play fair. You start getting all "WWF" on the sidelines is just going to result in your getting beat down by my grandpa, who can still kick your ass.

21. Yes, we have Mexican food at the grocery store. It's in the international section, which is less than half the length of the beef jerky section. We love Mexicans. They can come visit and spend their tourism money just like Canadians. We just don't want to turn into Mexico. It's nothing personal.

22. Agape at the motorcycles running around with helmetless riders? Wake up and smell Darwinism at work. Stupid people remove themselves from the gene pool, why should we get in their way?

23. You want to complain about the bugs in your state? We're not impressed. We have moths the size of bats (seriously), spiders that weave webs in treetops to catch birds (seriously), and carpenter ants so tough it takes a hardcover book to squash them. No, we don't have cockroach problems though...Florida gets those, and they can keep them.

24. OK, for those of you with your fingers primed to dial 9-1-1 every time you see a fire, you're going to be one busy (and unpopular) person here. Burn piles are going all the time during the wet season, and nobody is burning down the forest. Just learn how we do it, and get a permit in the dry season.

25. Like having your power on 24/7? Buy a generator. $5000 buys a decent 10Kw backup. Better yet, buy some candles and camp stoves, and keep wood ready for your wood stove.

26. Want plowed roads in the winter in a rural area? Better buy a plow 'cause you'll be paying for one 5 times over if you have to keep calling a service. And if you plow, look out for your elderly neighbors...it's what we do here.

27. Want to have "the government" pave your roads? You just made "most unpopular" in the area, since you are trying to raise MY taxes because your Lexus doesn't like dirt roads.

28. Looking for somewhere "open minded" to live? Try Boise, Moscow, or Sandpoint. We have some extreme liberals here also...they get to feel intellectually superior, and we try to humor them while we mock them later.

And last....No, we don't care how much better you did things in California or New York City. If it was so great there, why not stay there? If it's better here, then shut up already.

[boisefan88]

Well that's welcoming and open-minded.

I guess if you happen to fall in line it's okay. But for the rest, I'm just not sure...

[DESERTRYDER]

Fun words to read Sage.\
Words to live by also.

[Sage of Sagle]

Originally Posted by boisefan88

Well that's welcoming and open-minded.

I guess if you happen to fall in line it's okay. But for the rest, I'm just not sure...

I think these are written in jest, but with a gentle point. Maybe it's just a "North Idaho" thing...but it sure seems to be about right for folks around here, regardless of affluence or education....

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by Sage of Sagle

I think these are written in jest, but with a gentle point. Maybe it's just a "North Idaho" thing...but it sure seems to be about right for folks around here, regardless of affluence or education....

No, Sage I don't think it's a North Idaho thing, more like an Idaho thing

[Trace_Rinaldi]

Originally Posted by Mtn. States Resident

I have to agree with cleosmom. Trace does seem to make the day a little brighter with his comments.

Many who have posted in this thread have posted in other threads. What impresses me are the opinions and determination of those inviduals that WE make things happen for ourselves. We are responsible for our own lives and happiness. Sometimes our plans get slightly or greatly delayed, for different reasons, but many have that inner sense of self that keeps them working to be where they want to be ultimately.

Trace, you do have a way of uniting people even if we're not all presently in the same state. One thing I've noticed in threads you post in, is often even the regional turf wars of Idaho disappear. What I mean is sometimes Idaho is described in some publications, different threads and elsewhere has been suggested to be essentially 3 different states: Northern ID, "The State of Ada," and Southeastern ID (which somehow also includes the Twin Falls area). When I read the posts of Trace, DeseretRyder and others, the turf wars, seem to disappear, as they aren't what is the most important about Idaho.

Continue to be a bright spot in our day, Trace, and all others! After all, isn't that what life is about - helping ourselves and each other to be the best we can be?

MSR

Well dang, thanks MSR! I try to stay positive, even when things can be very negative at times. I think it was Churchill who said "Attitude is a little thing that means ALOT" I think those are words to live by, and what draws me here, and also to Idaho. Some people may be turned off by "The Idaho Way" which is very well described in Sage's post, and I DO think its an Idaho thing in general, im not turned off at all. Quite the opposite.
I fell in love with North Idaho but I could be happy just about ANYWHERE in Idaho. I dont think of Idaho as seperate at all, to me its one great state with alot of variety and variation which is a good thing.
Im also very encouraged by my friends here like Desertryder, ST11 and others who are in a similar situation, and cant wait to be in a place where we will be among people who think like us, and live like we want to live.
I know Im not alone feeling like a fish out of water, and to us Idaho is one big ole lake!


BTW Sage, that was a great list and I feel more at home already, having read it!.. Growing up on a farm in rural So Cal I can identify and have had MANY of those thoughts and feelings myself. And I was born here!!! Go Figure!


Also to my list, Im adding IDAHO plates ASAP!!! And selective amnesia.. The kind that makes you forget where your from when asked. I notice its pretty common in Idaho..HAha.. Might be fodder for another Urban Legend..

[GhostInTheShell]

Originally Posted by Sage of Sagle

Every time a magazine writes up Sandpoint as one of the best places to live/retire in America, everyone here groans except the real estate agents....

You folks are cracking my up so much my eyes are watering. I can picture the grumbling and groaning vividly, either from the radio or the articles!