Beautiful Ohio,
O, I miss Ohio so...
I've been in Texas too long,
Hear Ohio's siren song,
Calling, calling, "Come to me,"
With the temp at one oh three,
I'm more than ready to go,
Back to my roots in Ohio!!!!

(c) Karla Dorman, 2003
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You know you're from OHIO when (Anonymous)

...you don't think of Florida when someone mentions Miami.

...you snicker when someone says they're from Tiffin, because you think of the State Hospital.

...you think Pro football teams are supposed to wear orange!

...you're proud of your state fair, but would rather go to Cedar Point.

...you know all of the four seasons: Winter, Still Winter, Almost Winter, Construction.

...you know what a buckeye * really * is, and know a recipe for candied ones (or carry one for luck).

...you live less than 30 miles from a college or university.

...you know how to predict the weather using a woollybear.

...you say "Toward the Lake" for north and "Toward the River" for south.

...you know if someone's from Northern Ohio or Southern Ohio as soon as they open their mouths.

..."vacation" means spending a day at Cedar Point or King's Island.

...you can spell * and say * Cuyahoga, Olentangy, Bellefontaine, Tuscarawas, and Wapakoneta (and you know which letter is double in "Cincinnati").

...you know what game they're playing when the Mud Hens play the Clippers.

...your school classes are cancelled because of cold (or heat).

...you remember the Blizzard of 1978.

...you know the Serpent Mounds were not made by snakes.

...you can always visit more than two amusement parks in one summer.

...you mean Kentucky when you say "due south."

...you've ever had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day...that's even if you even HAVE central heat and air.

...you know what's knee high by the Fourth of July.

...you know Ohio has a state bug and casserole.

...you install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.

...you carry jumper cables in your car.

...you know what pop is.

...you design your children's Hallowe'en costumes to fit over a snowsuit.

...you root for the Buckeyes even though you've never taken classes at Ohio State.

...you think deer season is a national holiday.

...you think driving is much better in winter, because potholes are filled with snow.

...your local paper covers local and international news on one page, but requires six pages for sports.

...you are still reading this.

...you have basements, and you don't live in the heart of Tornado Alley (and desperately wish you had one when you are).
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GAWD, I miss Ohio!!!!