Well, come to East Tennessee during our few weeks of ice and snow – you don’t leave the house and hope the ice storms don’t cut your power.

One of the great, and terrible, things of living here is that we go from lots of heat to bitter cold – not as hot as arizona, not as cold as new england – but add in the humidity and both feel really bad (good thing is don’t like hot? wait a few months and you got cold, reverse that also, a little further south and all you have is hot).

There are two great “Others are idiots” (no, we don’t really believe that, but like everyone there are things that take one by surprise – we regularly use hot water to remove ice from the car, I’ve been told that is a Bad Idea in the northern US) periods is during August and Feburary. Arizona type climates think 95-105 weather is easy, never mind 90-100% humidity with a dew point in the low 90’s upper 80’s (yes, lots of afternoon rain – watch your national radar in the afternoon). Then the “I can drive in the snow/ice” northerners – always in a ditch forgetting that they usually drive on flat land and well salted/prepared roads – not steep hills and plain tires that only get ice for two or three weeks of the year.

I suppose each area has thier “others are funny” moments.

And my aunt (well, honorary aunt; no actual blood relation, just a long friendship with mom) kept on telling us to eat in “Little Chinatown” if we wanted real asian food. Problem is, I don’t know where the heck that is. By the way, the conversation was in the context of “Chinatown’s not bad, but the real food is **here** (Little Chinatown).”

Now, I’ve **never** heard anyone else who knows San Francisco use that term, and I’ve gotten a couple of blank stares in response (gotta find an actual native of the city…). Does anyone know the area she’s talking about? It’s been so long, I don’t remember how to get there; I just remember it being vaguely southwest of the Tenderloin district.

And Neo, ma’am:
1. You don’t have to qualify your statement about liking food. It is a wonderful thing to enjoy, after all. One of the first things I wonder about in a new city is “where are the good restaurants?”, and I know my friends feel the same way. Food is a big pleasure for humans, and sampling excellent fare in even just a limited number of places is a positive addition to one’s life.

2. Regarding the streets: I actually thought the same thing. Except it took a whole afternoon for the fact that I’m in a place where it doesn’t snow to kick in. Felt really dumb when it finally did; thank goodness I didn’t make the observation out loud.

I did notice, however, that you’d better keep your brakes in top condition in that city. Those hills are steeeeeeeeeeep!.