Day Brightener – You Know You’re From Arizona When…

1. You can say Hohokam and no one thinks you’re making it up.

2. You no longer associate rivers or bridges with water.

3. You know that a “swamp cooler” is not a happy hour drink.

4. You can contemplate a high temperature of 120 degrees as “not all that bad, after all it’s a dry heat.”

5. You know that you can make sun tea outside faster than instant tea in your microwave.

6. You have to run your air conditioner in the middle of winter so that you can use your fireplace.

7. The water coming from the “cold” tap is hotter than that from the hot” tap.

8. You can correctly pronounce the following words: “Saguaro”, “Tempe”, “Gila Bend”, “San Xavier del Bac”, “Canyon de Chelly”, “Mogollon Rim”, “Cholla”, and “Tlaquepacque”, “Ajo”.

9. Its noon on a weekday in July, kids are on summer vacation, and not one single person is moving on the streets.

10. Hot air balloons can’t fly because the air outside is hotter than the air inside.

11. You buy salsa by the gallon.

12. Your Christmas decorations include a half a yard of sand and 100 paper bags.

13. You think someone driving while wearing oven mitts is clever.

14. Most of the restaurants in your town have the first name “El” or “Los.”

15. You think six tons of crushed rock makes a beautiful yard.

16. You can say 115 degrees without fainting.

17. Vehicles with open windows have the right-of-way in the summer.

18. People break out coats when the temperature drops below 70.

19. You discover, in July, it only takes two fingers to drive your car.

20. The pool can be warmer than you are.

21. You realize Valley Fever isn’t a disco dance.

22. People with black cars or have black upholstery in their car are automatically assumed to be from out-of-state or nuts.

23. You know better than to get into a car/truck with leather seats if you’re wearing shorts.

24. Announcements for Fourth of July events always end with “in case of monsoon…”

25. You have to explain to out-of-staters why there is no daylight savings time.

26. You can say “haboob” without giggling.

27. You know all about “Ladmo Bags.”

28. You’re either for Squaw or Piestewa Peak.

One thought on “Day Brightener – You Know You’re From Arizona When…

  1. I was from AZ. Left the state in ’82. January could get into the upper “teens” at night, but it was 65 degrees by 11am. Nobody had fireplaces, there was no need for them.

    Evaporative “swamp” coolers could be better then A/C because you can regulate moisture content; AZ was very dry with little humidity to deal with. But many folks went to A/C.

    The “highs” weren’t over 105, but yes, it was stupid to drive a dark colored vehicle; or have dark upholstery. If there was no covered parking, you put a large, thick hand towel over the steering wheel, and vented the windows at least two inches.

    Years later, Tucson had grown so much I was shocked to see it attaining temps like Phoenix; in some cases, 118 degrees… effin Saudi Arabia.

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