We need to deal with a few things, from heat to bugs…but don’t despair. Whether you’re new to Mississippi or a lifelong resident, these hacks will make life in the Hospitality State just a bit easier!
- Don’t get bugged by love bugs.
Towboat Garage/Flickr Get proactive when it comes to the annoying task of removing pesky love bugs from your vehicle by applying cooking oil to the grill and bumper, making the removal process much easier.
- Protect your skillet.
commons.wikimedia.org Cast iron skillets are practically a requirement in Mississippi kitchens. And if you’re going to use one, do so correctly by first seasoning the skillet and, most importantly, NEVER get it wet since that will cause your trusty skillet to rust.
- Always park in the shade.
ecowomen.files.wordpress.com There’s a reason the parking spaces close to the entrance are empty! Summers are brutal in Mississippi, which makes staying cool at the top of everyone’s priority list. One way to do this is by parking in the shade…no matter how far away it is from your destination.
- Bug spray is definitely a necessity.
Mike Mozart/Flickr Think bug spray is an option? Then you’ve obviously never come face to face with a Mississippi mosquito.
- If you’re invited “snipe hunting,” don’t go.
commons.wikimedia.org Not sure how this prank got started, but it usually entails taking an unsuspecting person into the woods and getting them to hold open a burlap bag while the prankster leaves to “flush out the snipes.” After some time of sitting alone in the dark woods without sighting a single snipe, it becomes clear that this snipe hunting expedition is more like a wild goose chase (or, in this case, a wild snipe chase).
- Outdoor activities are best reserved for the winter.
Paolo/Flickr Sure, it may not seem that hot…at first, but after a half-hour in the sun you’ll quickly realize it’s much, much hotter than you originally thought.
- And if you are going to brave the summer heat, dress appropriately!
Susana Fernandez/Flickr During the summer, long pants and closed-toed shoes are outlawed in Mississippi. Okay, well technically they’re not outlawed, but they should be. When the mercury is rising, shorts, tanks, and flip-flops are your best friends.
- Know your car’s limits.
Sean Davis/Flickr Much of Mississippi is rural, which means running out of gas isn’t an option and knowing how far you can drive with the gas light on is a must.
- Understanding the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning will save you from a lot of confusion.
brainjabber.wikispaces.com In Mississippi, inclement weather can appear out of nowhere, so knowing the difference between a tornado watch and warning is mandatory. To put it simply, a tornado watch means you should be prepared, while a tornado warning means to take action.
- Toothpaste will stop the itch.
Zoomar/Flickr Fire ants like to call Mississippi home just as much as people do, which means getting bit is pretty much inevitable. And, when it does happen, make sure you have plenty of toothpaste to stop the annoying itch that accompanies the bites.
- Check your clothes and shoes before putting them on.
Lisa Brown/Flickr Mississippi is home to several poisonous spiders, including the brown recluse – a spider known to hide in piles of clothes as well as in shoes. So, before picking up a shirt off the floor or slipping your foot into a shoe, shake it out to make sure it’s spider free.
- If you need to eat on-the-go, you’ll want to grab a coke and some salted peanuts…and mix them together.
Vasekvi/Flickr No one knows exactly how far back this combination goes, but it’s believed that it was started by local farmers who didn’t have enough time to stop working and eat lunch. One thing’s for sure, if you’ve never tried the salty and sweet pairing, you’re missing out.
- A truck, tractor, or backhoe is probably a wise investment.
Travis/Flickr Physical labor is just a part of living in Mississippi, which means certain types of machinery will come in handy. One of our readers summed this up perfectly, “If you’re doing any construction, you’ll definitely need a good backhoe as trying to dig that red clay with a hand shovel is enough to make a preacher swear!”
With these tips, life in Mississippi will definitely be as easy as pie (most likely pecan). What are some other life hacks that’ll make life in Mississippi run a bit smoother?
Towboat Garage/Flickr
Get proactive when it comes to the annoying task of removing pesky love bugs from your vehicle by applying cooking oil to the grill and bumper, making the removal process much easier.
commons.wikimedia.org
Cast iron skillets are practically a requirement in Mississippi kitchens. And if you’re going to use one, do so correctly by first seasoning the skillet and, most importantly, NEVER get it wet since that will cause your trusty skillet to rust.
ecowomen.files.wordpress.com
There’s a reason the parking spaces close to the entrance are empty! Summers are brutal in Mississippi, which makes staying cool at the top of everyone’s priority list. One way to do this is by parking in the shade…no matter how far away it is from your destination.
Mike Mozart/Flickr
Think bug spray is an option? Then you’ve obviously never come face to face with a Mississippi mosquito.
Not sure how this prank got started, but it usually entails taking an unsuspecting person into the woods and getting them to hold open a burlap bag while the prankster leaves to “flush out the snipes.” After some time of sitting alone in the dark woods without sighting a single snipe, it becomes clear that this snipe hunting expedition is more like a wild goose chase (or, in this case, a wild snipe chase).
Paolo/Flickr
Sure, it may not seem that hot…at first, but after a half-hour in the sun you’ll quickly realize it’s much, much hotter than you originally thought.
Susana Fernandez/Flickr
During the summer, long pants and closed-toed shoes are outlawed in Mississippi. Okay, well technically they’re not outlawed, but they should be. When the mercury is rising, shorts, tanks, and flip-flops are your best friends.
Sean Davis/Flickr
Much of Mississippi is rural, which means running out of gas isn’t an option and knowing how far you can drive with the gas light on is a must.
brainjabber.wikispaces.com
In Mississippi, inclement weather can appear out of nowhere, so knowing the difference between a tornado watch and warning is mandatory. To put it simply, a tornado watch means you should be prepared, while a tornado warning means to take action.
Zoomar/Flickr
Fire ants like to call Mississippi home just as much as people do, which means getting bit is pretty much inevitable. And, when it does happen, make sure you have plenty of toothpaste to stop the annoying itch that accompanies the bites.
Lisa Brown/Flickr
Mississippi is home to several poisonous spiders, including the brown recluse – a spider known to hide in piles of clothes as well as in shoes. So, before picking up a shirt off the floor or slipping your foot into a shoe, shake it out to make sure it’s spider free.
Vasekvi/Flickr
No one knows exactly how far back this combination goes, but it’s believed that it was started by local farmers who didn’t have enough time to stop working and eat lunch. One thing’s for sure, if you’ve never tried the salty and sweet pairing, you’re missing out.
Travis/Flickr
Physical labor is just a part of living in Mississippi, which means certain types of machinery will come in handy. One of our readers summed this up perfectly, “If you’re doing any construction, you’ll definitely need a good backhoe as trying to dig that red clay with a hand shovel is enough to make a preacher swear!”
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