What's Wrong with Ya'll?

I didn't realize how Southern I was until I moved out to California. Most things out here do not make sense to me - like traffic lights on highway on-ramps, tsunami warning tests on tv (we live in the mountains), outdoor shopping malls, and an extremely small selection of Little Debbie Snacks on supermarket shelves. But the one thing that sets me apart from everyone out here is my use of the word "ya'll." Everytime I say it (and I don't even realize I am saying it) people freak out.
We were in a shop last weekend when I said ya'll and the sales clerk yelled, "oh my goodness! You totally just said ya'll!!" Yes I did, and thank you for drawing attention to me. I suppose it is not a word that is heard too often out here on the West Coast. I guess I just didn't realize what a fuss people would make over its use. I can't imagine what it would be like for someone from Southern Louisiana to talk out here. People down there use "ya'll" like its going out of style. Example: "Ya'll enjoy ya'll meal." Oh yes. We heard that almost every time we went out to dinner. I always wondered why it wasn't "ya'll enjoy ya'll's meal" - but I guess that's one for the philosophers.
Other than feeling like fish out of water we are doing pretty well here. I am way more homesick than Mike but he admitted he is homesick too. We are hanging in there though. It always helps to break out into a rousing chorus of "Deep in the Heart of Texas." In fact, I think I'll sing a verse now. Ya'll have a great week :)

Ooooooh Texas!

Well, things have finally begun to settle down here. We have most of the furniture we need and everything else we need is not an absolute-must-have-it-right-now necessity. That is probably why the homesickness finally set in. I miss Texas soooooo much! So does Mike, but he has lived out here before so I think he is not in the same kind of culture shock I am.
Everything is different and I loved that at first. Now I just want my old neighborhood, restaurants, church, friends, traffic, etc. Haha. What I miss most of all is Taco Bueno. What I wouldnt give for some mexi dips and chips.
I have begun looking for work - which is stressful and depressing all at the same time. We have also visited several churches in the area but are having trouble finding people our own age. The churches here are great, but are very different from those back in Texas. Hopefully once we find our fit it will begin to feel more like home out here. Leaving the Bible belt makes a bigger difference than I thought it would. Seems like we have had lots of changes in a really short time - which equals stress for me. Mike just takes it all in stride.
Hopefully I will find work soon that I enjoy and that will give me some permanence as well. It is difficult to really settle into a place when you don't know how long you will even live there!
Well, that's all for now. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. They mean so much. Pray that we will find a great church and employment for me!!
Love you all! And miss you!!

My Yearbook

I thought you all might get as big a laugh as I did from these photos. I Yearbooked myself through the years and these were the winners. I have to say, 1986 was an awesome look for me.

1952

1960

1964
1966

1968

1976

1978

1986

1990


1992

1996