French Lick Sounds Kinda Dirty

March 4, 2008 | Filed in: Huh?, Indiana, jennifer and tate battle

The other night at Bunco, several women were talking about French Lick, Indiana. (Prior to this conversation they were talking about the security of their wireless Internet and keeping is protected against the eyes of PRYING neighbors. Oops. Thank goodness I don’t live in THAT neighborhood.)

And we’re back from that brief tangent.

One of the women asked me if I’d ever been to French Lick. I shrugged and coyly said that I’d never heard of it. “Oh? You’ve never heard of it,” she questioned. “Well it’s a blah, blah, blah, blah, blah place…” I wasn’t really listening to the last part because I was thinking to myself, “Is it weird that I don’t know about French Lick, Indiana? And I hope they don’t find out that I steal my Internet connection.”

The thing is, though, is that maybe I have heard of it. I mean, I’ve HEARD of Hartford, Connecticut and El Paso, Texas and Istanbul, but they don’t have any special meaning for me. The next day at lunch I asked Tate if he’d ever heard of French Lick, Indiana. I whispered it quietly across the table of the semi-crowded restaurant because I sensed that NOT knowing about this place was like standing up and shouting “I HATE NOTRE DAME, PURDUE, AND the HOOSIERS.” (I don’t, by the way.)

Tate gave me a most exasperated sigh and shook his head. “It’s where Larry Bird was born.” [imagine that he was looking at me like, YOU NUMBNUT] “French Lick, Indiana?,” he said as if repeating the words French Lick, Indiana would now somehow magically make it all click in my brain.

“Why would I care about where Larry Bird was born?” I asked truly wondering why in fact I WOULD care about a 1980’s Boston Celtics, short-shorts wearing basketball player.

“It matters. We live in Indiana now, Jennifer. Basketball MATTERS,” Tate explained. And that was the end of the discussion. At least for he and I anyway. Now I’d like to include all of you in on the talks.

I have since googled French Lick, Indiana and learned that it is a resort area, but it’s also “known” (I use the term verrrrry loosely) for being Larry Bird’s birthplace . However, I’m still befuddled. Is it weird that I don’t know much, okay ANYTHING, about French Lick, Indiana? Did everyone except me take a class titled, “The Low Down On French Lick…Everything You Must Know to Have a Fulfilled Life?”

OK. I’m from Indiana. And the only things I know about French Lick are 1) it’s Larry Bird’s hometown (YES, IT’S IMPORTANT!) and 2) it sounds kinda dirty and so is always said with a bit of a Beevis and Butthead giggle to it (er, at least by my goofy self and high school friends). But I’ve never been there. And never had the desire to go. (And why would you now if the network isn’t protected! Gah!)

Carrie’s last blog post..A Day of Spring

I don’t know why you would be expected to know that since you are not a born Hoosier. My elementary school was bordered by Larry Bird Drive, I watched Eddie Bird play basketball at ISU as a child, and have eaten at Larry Bird’s Boston Connection more times than I care to remember and thus I do know about French Lick but have never been there.

Henny Penny’s last blog post..Honey, I’m hoooome!

I must confess, I have heard of French Lick, IN. However, that’s only because I see the signs when driving to STL. They always make me chuckle. I had no idea there was any significance to the town. I guess you better brush up on your useless b-ball facts now that you’re a Hoosier. Oh, and PS…the folks in IN don’t like the term “hoosier” when referring to a “red neck”. I learned that the hard way.

What’s Bunco?

Teri’s last blog post..Ya-da Ya-da Blah Blah Blah

*snicker*

you said “french lick” …

(oh yeah, i’m such a 10-year-old boy!!!!!)

janet’s last blog post..What was I going to say again?

I’ve heard of French Lick only because I drove through Indiana once to visit a friend and I passed a bunch of signs. Prior to this very minute, I had no idea that Larry Bird was born there. Other than the name, I knew nothing about it until now. So you can consider yourself more well informed on French Lick than me! Which, by the way, does sound totally dirty…or maybe I am just that immature…

Maggie’s last blog post..Tramps

French Lick? You have got to be kidding. That could only be the name of something very dirty, surely not a town!

theotherbear’s last blog post..Lunching with My Classy Cuz

ok, I so agree that french lick sounds nasty. When I moved to Indiana, everyone was talking about it because of the new casino. i still think is sounds like a place where old people go to get their grove on.

and what’s up with you moving to Indiana and instantly getting into a Bunco group. I’ve been here for like 5 years and still have yet to get into it…..

emily’s last blog post..Tackle it Tuesday - the Ipod thingy…

We drive by signs for good ol French Lick each year on our annual trek to Notre Dame. I don’t know a thing about it (Larry Bird? Come on! Who knows that?) except that it exists and it’s got a really funny dirty sort of name that you can get endless “you’re so immature” looks from your husband out of if you play it right.

amy’s last blog post..Spring!

I actually thought that it was like “arm pit” florida or what us folk in Texas would refer to the panhandle, when you started out your post. I just thought it was referring to an area in IN and they just called it that of where it was located. I’m weird I know. I didn’t think it was actually the name of a town. I have never in my life heard of that. Yet I know really nothing about IN except for Notre Dame. You have to use your google skillz and find out why it’s named that..I would but I’ve got 5 minutes left of work and I’ll probably forget by the time I get home.
Jean’s last blog post..A Meme for Me

I must admit when you said you were moving to Indiana my first thought was all about basketball. It was all about Hoosiers and Notre Dame and Larry Bird.
When you said French Lick, my first thought was well….dirty….my second thought was about Larry Bird, not dirty thank god because he’s U-G-L-Y!

Alison’s last blog post..A Break

Yeah, I’m snickering like a 10 year old. French Lick… *giggles*

I’d do very poorly in Indiana. I wasn’t sure who Larry Bird was. And I find baskeball dreadfully boring.

K’s last blog post..Triptych #1

I’ve heard of French Lick (me where the sun don’t shine), but it might be a proximity thing growing up in Chicago and inadvertently overhearing it, or something? I do know that I’ve always know absolutely nothing about it other than that it should only be said in whispers and preferable with someone you love.

(the other) Maggie’s last blog post..Seven More Things

Well, I BORDER Indiana and I have definitely never heard of it. I also don’t know why you would be expected to have picked up this piece of useless information in the two weeks that you have been an official Hoosier. Let’s see: get cable/internet hooked up, unpack, find a grocery and pharmacy, find new doctors and dentists, and… Oh yeah! Learn all the local basketball trivia!

Sarah’s last blog post..Movie Reviews

Never heard of it — and you are right, it sounds kinky, or dirty, or whatever!

Those ladies aren’t on to you, are they?

Carrie’s last blog post..Minding My Own Business

I know, only because I’m from Ohio, and also my dad hsa been there on business.

The Internet thing…ha. My husband (computer geek) checks weekly to see what other wireless connections are out there from our neighbors.

Mommy Daisy’s last blog post..Primaries

Yep. I always thought it sounded dirty, too. Like, what were they thinking at the naming of the town ceremony? “Hmmmm. Interc0urse is already taken….Ball is also. I wonder if Lick is available? ooooh! What about FRENCH Lick? Yah!! Let’s do that one!”‘
And, I’ve lived in or around this area for my entire life, and can’t say as French Lick held any significance for me. Don’t feel bad!!! ha ha!

I’ve heard of French Lick, IN but only know it for it’s name. It’s sooooo dirty, and has got to be the punchline for many jokes. I was a huge Boston Celtics fan when I was a kid, and I can’t believe I didn’t know Larry Bird was from there.

So glad there’s another Bunco player out there!

all things bd’s last blog post..Fashion Tuesday: Nocturnal Accessorization

OMG i love Bunco…

our travel icon is a beanbag with woody woodpecker on it…so you can just imagine all the woody jokes ALL NIGHT LONG.

I’ve never heard of it. I asked my husband, “Have you ever heard of French Lick, IN?” And he replied, “yeah. It’s a town.” And I said, “but how do you know about it?” And he said, “It’s a town, right, in Indiana.” So I’m thinking he hasn’t heard of it, but you know, can’t admit to NOT knowing something.
I swear you were making up the name. French Lick, seriously?

Cathy’s last blog post..The Stats

Do you live under a ROCK, woman? HOW is it at all possible that you don’t know the name of the obscure Indiana town where Larry Freakin’ Bird was born? Come on. Really. EVERYONE knows that. Everyone cool, anyway.

Oh wait. Shoot. I’ve outde myself as uncool again. Damn.

AMomTwoBoys’s last blog post..What IS It With Boys?

Jennifer, Jennifer, Jennifer. Am I going to have to take you to a Pacers game and school you on all things Hoosier? Larry Bird matters, a lot. Pretend you agree, it’ll be easier that way.

Also, you should know that there is a Starbucks IN Conseco Fieldhouse (pretend you knew that’s where the Pacers play), so you can sip you latte while pretending to know what is going on. It’ll be OK.

Burgh Baby’s Mom’s last blog post..Best Day Ever?

I was born in French Lick and lived there until recently! When I mention where I’m from, people either snicker or ask if I know Larry Bird. Yes, I know my hometown’s name sounds like a low budget porn…

I’ve heard of French Lick, but only because I saw it on a list of dirty city names (along with Bohner’s Lake, WI, Dickey, ND, and Willacoochie, GA, among others). And speaking as a soon-to-be Hoosier, I thank you for this valuable public service announcement!

MollyDoll’s last blog post..First Toofum

I thought those ladies were totally pulling your leg when they asked you about French Lick, Indiana. What a crazy name for a town. I consider myself lucky I even know who Larry Bird is. I have no clue where he was born. Well now I do, thanks to you.

Christine’s last blog post..Cooking with Bean

Never heard of it. Of course we’re more football fans (NFL) than anything.

French Lick…Larry Bird…sounds like the making of a p*rn flick. Tee hee.

Jamie’s last blog post..Queen Bees and Drama Queens

p.s. I AM impressed, however, that you are already in a Bunco group! Way to get around woman!
Jamie’s last blog post..Queen Bees and Drama Queens

HAHA. My husband is the same way about the facts he learns on Sportscenter. As if that were common knowledge!! I think that I have heard of French lick, but I am not sure… Thanks to you, I will never be “unsure” again.

Rachel’s last blog post..The Other Cheek.

I’ve heard of it, but have no idea why I would’ve heard of it. I think it should be a sister city to Climax, MI.

Never heard of it, but can see it being important in Indiana!

Stephanie’s last blog post..Haiku Friday

I thought this was funny, and so I read it out loud to Paul. And he said, “Usually I go months without hearing ANY REFERENCE to Larry Bird, but that’s the second one I’ve heard TODAY.”

Even if we DID care about Larry Bird, why would we care where his hometown was? What does that have to do with ANYTHING? That’s what _I_ want to know, Indiana if that is your real name.

Swistle’s last blog post..My Shift Ends at NEVER O’Clock

I’ve heard the name of the city, but never in reference to Larry Bird. Seems rather unimportant to me!

Jenni’s last blog post..Next Time, I’ll Let Her Finish

French Lick? French Lick? Never heard of it. Why on earth would you name a town French Lick?

Mama DB’s last blog post..Tuesday Tattle

Who the hell named a town French Lick?
So strange…

Mrs. Mustard’s last blog post..At the whim of a benevolent dictator

That’s nothing. Every summer we drive past Big Bone Lick State Park on our way to the family vacation spot.

Rosie’s last blog post..Scott Baio is 46… and PREGNANT episode 7

I think you should go visit French Lick just ot get aquainted with what a real French Lick is….Happy times in Indiana.

tommie’s last blog post..Four things

Hmmmm…. never heard of it either.

At least you didn’t move to OHIO. Cause… there is NOTHING famous in OHIO. I am lucky like that!

OHmommy’s last blog post..Shhhh!!!! I am going on a picnik…

I remember seeing a sign the last time we drove to Notre Dame. I asked Puppy if he knew, & I got the same disdainful Larry Bird comment. Join the club!

Anglophile Football Fanatic’s last blog post..WW: Snow! In Dallas? In March!!?!

I would have been equally clueless!

Arkie Mama’s last blog post..Bad Mommy Confession No. 243

When I lived in Kentucky, driving by Big Bone Lick State Park ALWAYS gave me the giggles! I don’t think anyone famous was born there.

My class in French Lick took place in the backseat of a car and had NOTHING to do with Larry Bird.

MammaLoves’s last blog post..Tell Me How I Did It

LOL French Lick?!?!

Christy’s last blog post..Sensory Processing disorder

I’ve never heard of it and I do know who Larry Bird is. And it does sound kind of dirty. See, I could never tell someone I was from a place called French Lick.

Bren’s last blog post..Coughing, Peeing, and Sex…One of These Things Is Not Like The Others

Oh my friggin’ CHRIST. I know that Larry Bird was born there because I have a husband who is obsessed with LB and the Celtics. I have a house with thousands of dollars in Celtic memoribilia and a firstborn that was born on 12/8 because when we planned her conception he wanted her born on 12/7 [LB's birthday]. I went into labor that day, but had her the next. *lol*

That’s the only way I know anything about that freaknasty town!!

Maria [Immoral Matriarch]’s last blog post..I know they love me.

*memorabilia*

I hate that word.

What a horrible name for a town! No one knows French Lick. Don’t believe them if they say they do!

wright’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday - Spring is Coming

I don’t live in IN, but I’ve never heard of it. I have heard of Larry Bird, but that’s it…

Devan’s last blog post..I hate you blogger & Not Miserable Monday

I think if you HEARD of it before, you’d remember…

Ha. French Lick.

~JJ!’s last blog post..March (it better be better)

One of the announcers for the Sacramento Kings was born in French Lick Indiana. Since I used to live in Sacramento and watch or go to all the basketball games I have “heard” about French Lick Indiana 385 times.

Now when someone talks about French Lick, you know that Jerry Reynolds and Larry Bird were born there. That will impress all the Basketball loving Indianians

Or not.

Amy’s last blog post..Flu Advisory

That does sound dirty. Nasty, even. My favorite odd place name is Dildo. I kid you not - it’s a town in Newfoundland.

andi’s last blog post..I’m such a good mother

Um, never heard of it, didn’t know who Larry Bird was until I read your post, and honestly, I don’t really care. I hate basketball; actually all sports except, maybe, the one I think of when I hear the words “French” and “Lick” in the same sentence.

Kori’s last blog post..Quirky, Shmirky

And I am kind of being a smarty pants here-I DO vaguely remember the short shorts. And for those sickos out there who think I have a dirty mind, well, I REALLY meant the sport of French as in Fries, lick as in ice cream!
Kori’s last blog post..Quirky, Shmirky

French Lick is treated like it was the birthplace of Jesus in Indiana. I am sure there is more than one shrine in Larry Bird’s honor in that town. Even though I have lived in Indiana pretty much all my life I have never visited French Lick. They recently got a casino and that might be enough incentive to head over there.

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I will confess I have heard of French Lick, but I can’t recall why I have heard of it. Being from Bama, I have no interest in basketball, so it was not because of Larry Byrd. I would guess it stuck with me because it just made me laugh. Much like you do!

justmylife’s last blog post..The powers that be are trying to tell me something…..

I’ve been to French Lick (snicker) and it’s not all that great. Unless you like smoky gambling boats and overpriced drinks, there’s not too much to do there that you can’t do somewhere else. But there is a really big yellow hotel that’s old and kind of cool, and lots of boating.

And I don’t much care for basketball either, so I guess living all your life in the basketball state doesn’t make a *lick* of difference.

Where you do need to go in Indiana is Brown County - specifically Nashville, IN. They have all these cute crafty little stores and in the fall it’s insanely busy because everyone goes to “look at the leaves,” but really they’re shopping… well, that’s what I’m doing. (It’s fun in the spring and summer too.)

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okay, so maybe I found you because you were one of the only ones to take pity on my newbie-ness and to respond to my blogroll request. (Thanks by the way) - but you are seriously way funny! And all I have to say is, who is Larry Bird? (Just kidding).
Jen

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I am impressed you know that Larry Bird played for the Boston Celtics. I couldn’t even tell you that much! Sports trivia is not my thing. But, how fun would it be to say French Lick everytime you talk about your hometown!

Megan’s last blog post..Do not refrigerate. Shake well.

Okay…listen…

I live in Indiana. I’ve lived in Indiana for (a total of) half of my life. I HATE basketball, I don’t give a flying fig about Larry Bird or the Hoosiers or the Pacers. I had NO idea that Larry Bird was FROM French Lick. I knew that he was (maybe still is?) owner of the PAcers…or somehow related to them in recent years.

Honestly, I DON’T CARE. I’m the “Hoosier” (and I use THAT term lightly) that you WANT to know *giggle*

Seriously…I’ve heard of French Lick…never been there, know nothing about it other than the name…and the fact that I may have been through it before…may have, but I’m not sure.

Nashville is what you want to know. Kitschy little crafty-shopping town next to Brown County State Park (gorgeous views). Yeah, SHOPPING is what’s important to me…not basketball *lol*

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I have never heard of it….and I definitely didn’t know that Larry Bird grew up there.

Never heard if it. I could care less about basketball. Seriously, as I doubt Larry gives a crap about where I was born. I thought you were leading up to something sneeky, french lick.

mandy’s last blog post..10 lbs gone!

i’ve never heard of it, but am w/ you- it sounds dirty.

it sounds like one of those towns you hear about and laugh at- say- prospertiy, townville, pumpkintown, sc
i know there are a million more (not in sc) but i don’t feel like taxing my brain.

unless you’re a larry bird fan, i wouldn’t expect anyone to know it.

however, if it’s worth going there to get your own french lick, well—- maybe worth checking out.

mpotter’s last blog post..…yet the gloating continues

I live near an Intercourse, Paradise, Blue Ball and Bird in Hand. Seriously.

anne’s last blog post..The operation continues

Obviously, you’ve never traveled much through the Pennsylvania Dutch Country! If you head north from Paradise you will encounter Intercourse, but if you go too far, you will get to Blue Ball! No kidding! I went to the Lancaster area 1st as a teenager and have not been able to forget the town names - I even got a t-shirt!!

AHH Man! I just saw Anne’s post - I thought I was the first!

I took that class, but it wasn’t about Indiana, that’s for sure!

Lori’s last blog post..The Royal Family

We have a Sugar Tit and a Beaver Lick. Ya can’t make this stuff up.

Dawn’s last blog post..Kissing John Cusack

…Dawns comment made me snort water out of my nose and I totally forgot what I was going to say!

Clink’s last blog post..outside the obvious

fellow hoosier here… the new french lick/west baden resort/spa is actually gorgeous, worth a weekend trip with somebody you love (who is an adult). Then again, even without the resort and spa, I would totally go to Sugar Tit and Beaver Lick, just to say I’d been. What state is that?!

Sus’s last blog post..Snuffling Little Red

I only knew that because Woody mentioned it on an episode of Cheers once!

my minivan is faster than yours’s last blog post..Kicking Ass and Taking Names

french lick…bwahahahaha…er…never heard of it. but, i’m from michigan…we have places like hell, here. much, much classier sounding cities…
french lick…bwahahahahaha…sorry.
the thing that kills me is…larry bird and his short shorts!! so, of course he’s from french lick…

[...] That’s The Bird. And NOT the one born in French Lick, [...]

I just happened to stumble upon this (and I realize this comment is coming a couple months too late) and thought you might like to hear from someone who grew up next to French Lick. Here are a few tidbits that will make you look like you know all about French Lick.

West Baden and French Lick are basically the same town since they literally run into each other….they just have different post offices. And for some reason the school system is not named after either town, it is named Springs Valley. And Springs Valley High School is on Larry Bird Blvd. (When I was in school they had Larry’s old jersey hung up in the gym.) Various places around all of Orange County still boast old Larry Bird “treasures”…..and we all grow up knowing exactly where Larry Bird’s house is.

French Lick is not only the home of Larry Bird…..it also has Pluto water (which stinks to high heaven!) and the mineral springs. It is thought that the name French Lick may have come about from the “salt” the mineral water left on the rocks. The wild animals (deer mainly) would come and lick at the salt and create “Licks” which are found all around here. I guess that was combined with the French who had settled into this area to create French Lick…..apparently they didn’t have a dirty bone in their body! haha

The West Baden Resort (known to us locals as “the Dome”) was once the largest suspended dome in the world and considered the eight wonder of the world. It is a beautiful place that was once a college. It has an amazing design and they still give tours even though it has been re-opened to guest for a little while now.

The new casino is next to French Lick’s resort. The French Lick Resort was once one of the “it” places to be in the 1920’s. It is said that famous gangsters (Al Capone is supposed to have been one of them) use to come “hide out in the hills” at the resort when they needed to lay low for a while. There is also the rumor that there are secret tunnels out of the resort so that they could make a quick escape if needed.

Well, I hope you enjoyed your French Lick lesson! Don’t worry about not knowing….there are so many stories in the beautiful hills of Southern Indiana that you can live here all your life and still learn new ones!

This is my first foray into your blog today and I love your style. I am from Illinois originally and although I have heard of French Lick I didn’t know about the Larry Bird thing so I think that should help your pain somewhat. I am subscribing to your blog… you make me laugh in a midwest / southern kind of way that I miss sometimes. I live in the west now and I dont think there is a French Lick California and if there were one, it would probably be something created by the porn industry.

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I'm Jennifer, Mom to Carson, 3, and Ella, 2. Wife and Bossaholic to Tate. My claim to fame is that I'm the #1 search result on Google for "kids pooping in pools!!." You can follow me on Twitter, see my stumbles at StumbleUpon, view my photos on Flickr, and contact me by email.

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2009 Booklist

The Given Day
Love in the Time of Cholera
Esther; It's Tough Being a Woman
~~Why is My Mother Getting a Tattoo?~~ I
~~Whitethorn Woods~~ B
~~The Five People You Meet in Heaven~~ A
~~Paula Spencer~~ B-
~~Digging to America~~ A
~~Rebecca~~ A-
~~The Friday Night Knitting Club~~ B
~~The Reader~~ B+
~~The Shack~~ B+
~~The Kite Runner~~ A
~~Three Junes~~ C-
~~Kitchen Confidential~~ A
~~A Cook's Tour~~ A
~~The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas~~ A
~~My Friend Leonard~~ A
~~Daisy Chain~~ F
~~The Gravedigger's Daughter~~ B-
~~A Girl Named Zippy~~ A-
~~Eat, Pray, Love~~ A
~~Water for Elephants~~ B+
~~The Book Thief~~ A++
~~The Poisonwood Bible~~ A+
~~The Hunger Games~~ A

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