Tomorrow will be one month since we (I’ve) moved here.  In that time we’ve experienced quite a lot, learned a lot, etc.  One thing that has changed is that we have learned a new vocabulary either through learning a new word or hearing and seeing phrases we never had a use for.

Here’s the list along with what I think I’ve determined these things mean where applicable:

Snowshower: a time when it is drizzling and snowing at the same time.

Sunbreak: a period when you’ve seen no sun for so long and now you suddenly get a few minutes/hour of sun.  It is a "break" from the doom and gloom that includes some "sun".

Storm: new word usage here.  No thunder.  No lightening.  Probably no rain. But apocalyptic winds that last for hours.

Volcano Evacuation Route: Same sign with different icon that we’re used to seeing as marked Hurricane Evacuation Route

Mudslide: Never heard in Florida, we have no use for this word.

Road has collapsed due to mudslide: another statement never heard in Florida… and I’ve heard it here like 5 times in this past month.

Plateau:  The area where we live is referred to as "on the plateau".  Plateau is a word your average Floridian may use to discuss weight loss but never geography

Volcano Alarm: Huh?  In my personal opinion, by the time I’d hear such a thing I’d already be dead.

Earthquake Insurance:  The Washington version of Hurricane Deductible.

Black Ice:  I still don’t know, depends on who you ask.

Air of Enumclaw: Town is surrounded by pastures.  With the right mix of rain, wind, etc it can get a bit "fragrant".

Statement we were shocked to hear in Washington?  Hurricane Force Winds… we hear that a lot.

That concludes today’s vocabulary lesson.  Here’s to another month living in the Evergreen state.