One of the first things I noticed about Chicagoland when I moved here was, besides how big Lake Michigan is, that it wasn't all that different from other places I've visited. The same traffic jammed the freeways, the same crazy drivers gave you the finger as they passed by your car going 20 miles over the speed limit, the same people were having dinner with their families, the same moon shined brightly in the sky, the same stores were being shopped at, the same...you get the picture.

I learned a lot of new things too.

I had never heard of pirogis before I moved here. Luckily, I had tasted a bagel one summer when my Jewish roomie introduced me to them. I remember her grandfather had a nice forest-green convertible Jaguar. Nice car.

I had never heard of Braunschweiger liverwurst before. My husband loves it. I will do just nicely with corned beef hash.

In Alabama, people have to go hunting for deer in deer season. Here in Chicagoland, you can find whole herds of deer grazing throughout the many fields and forest preserves surrounding the city. They aren't hunted, so they thrive.

My husband had never tasted black-eyed peas with cornbread. Never been exposed to it. He still doesn't like it. that's OK. More for me.

My kids root for Alabama football while their friends only care about the Chicago Bears. We proudly wear our crimson and white clothes amongst the blue and orange.

In Alabama, we never got snow much. Up here, people in the city have to stake claims on parking spots after they shoveled so they will have a place to park when they get home. To steal someone else's plowed spot is to risk your car's paint job.

Up here in Chicagoland, people think my accent is cute. I am always asked, "Where are you from?" Back in Alabama, people think my accent is cute. I am always asked, "Where are you from?" I guess I have an accent somewhere in the middle of southern belle and Chicago gangster.

I know I tend to complain about my whereabouts a lot, but when I think about it. People aren't so different here. People are people, no matter where they are. They are doing the same things, just differently.