A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-21-06....Are You From Texas?

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

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~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

I received the following (two) emails not long ago ~ the authors are both unknown. Though I profiled my state ("Texas, My Texas") over a year ago, I couldn't resist posting these.  (Hey, we Texans are mighty proud of our roots!)

The second part, "Rules To Enter Texas", is a bit more *tongue in cheek*, so even if you're *not* from Texas, I still hope to see more smiles than groans after reading it. :)

Have you ever looked at a map of the United States? Everyone who lives in the United States can zero in on their state and name those around it, and everyone knows which ones are California, Florida, and Texas. But pick any kid off the street in Japan and draw him a picture of Texas in the dirt and he'll know what it is. What happens if you show him a picture of any other state? A puzzled look is all you'll get. (Did you ever hear anyone say, "Wow...so you're from Iowa? Cool, tell me about it?")

Texas is the Alamo, 183 men standing in a church, facing thousands of Mexican nationals, fighting for freedom, who had the chance to walk out and save themselves, but stayed instead to fight and die for the cause of freedom. We send our kids to schools named William B. Travis and James Bowie and Crockett and do you know why? Because those men saw a line in the sand and they decided to cross it and be heroes. John Wayne paid to do the movie himself. That is the Spirit of Texas.

• Texas is ocean beaches, deserts, lakes and rivers, mountains and prairies, and modern cities.
  
  
• Texas is Sam Houston capturing Santa Ana at San Jacinto.
  
  
• Texas is "Juneteenth" and Texas Independence Day.
  
  
• Texas is huge forests of Piney Woods like the Davy Crockett National Forest.
  
  
• Texas is breathtaking mountains in the Big Bend.

• Texas is the unparalleled beauty of bluebonnet fields in the Texas Hill Country.
  
  
• Texas is world record bass from places like Lake Fork.
  
  
• Texas is Mexican food like nowhere else, not even Mexico.
  
  
• Texas is the Fort Worth Stockyards, Bass Hall, the Astrodome, and Six Flags Over Texas and the Ballpark in Arlington.
  
  
• Texas is a place where towns and cities shut down to watch the local High School Football game on Friday nights.

• Texas is great companies like Dell Computer, Texas Instruments and Compaq. And LOCKHEED MARTIN AEROSPACE, Home of the F-16 Jet Fighter and the JSF Fighter.
  
  
• Texas is the shiny skyscrapers in Houston and Dallas.
  
  
• Texas is NASA.
  
  
• Texas is the beautiful, warm beaches of the Gulf Coast of South Texas.

• Texas is huge herds of cattle and miles of crops.
  
  
• Texas is skies blackened with doves, and fields full of deer.
  
  
• Texas is beautiful, old, Southern-style homes on large shaded lots in sophisticated small cities.
  
  
• Texas is symphony orchestras, art museums, natural history museums, festivals, and celebrations.

AND.........

• Texas is home to the President of the United States of America, and we are proud of our Cowboy!

By federal law, Texas is the only state in the U.S. that can fly its flag at the same height as the U.S. flag. Think about that for a second. You fly the Stars and Stripes at 20 feet in Maryland or Maine or California, and your state flag, whatever it is, goes at 17 feet.  You fly the Stars and Stripes at 20 feet in front of Pine Tree High in Longview or anyplace else in Texas, and the Lone Star flies at the same height - 20 feet. Know why? Because it is the only state that was a republic before it became a state.

Our capitol dome is the only one in the country that is taller than the capitol building in Washington, D.C. and we can divide our state into five states at any time if we wanted to! We included these things as part of the deal when we came on. That's the best part, right there.

Disclaimer: Remember, I didn't write these rules.
I don't even drive a pickup truck. :)

Applies to each person as they enter Texas...
East Coast and California-types pay particular attention!

1. Pull your droopy pants up. You look like an idiot.
   
   
2. Let's get these things straight:
   
   A)   It's called a "gravel road."
   
   B)   I drive a pickup truck because I want to.
   
   C)   No matter how slow you drive, you're going to get dust on your Jaguar. Drive it or get out of the way.
   
   
3. They are cattle & oil wells.
   
   That's what they smell like to you. They smell like money to us. Get over it. Don't like it? I-20 and I-10 go east and west, I-35 goes north and south. Pick one.
   
   
4. So you have a $60,000 car. We're impressed. We have $250,000 cotton strippers that are driven only 3 weeks a year.
   
   
5. So every person in every pickup waves. t's called being friendly. Try to understand the concept.
   
   
6. If that cell phone rings while a bunch of doves are coming in, we WILL shoot it out of your hand. You better hope you don't have it up to your ear at the time.
   
   
7. Yeah, we eat catfish & crawfish. You really want sushi & caviar? It's available at the corner bait shop.
   
   
8. The "Opener" refers to the first day of deer season. It's a religious holiday held the closest Saturday to the first of November.
   
   
9. We open doors for women. This is applied to all women, regardless of age.
   
   
10. No! There's NO "vegetarian special" on the menu. Order steak. Or you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the 2 pounds of ham & turkey.
    
    
11. When we set out a table, there are three main dishes: meats, vegetables, and breads. We use three spices: salt, pepper, and Picante Sauce. Oh, yeah - we don't care what you folks in Cincinnati call that stuff you eat. It AIN'T real chili! Real chili was born and bred in San Antonio; and real chili never met a tomato!
    
    
12. You bring "coke" into my house, it better be brown, wet, and served over ice. You bring "Mary Jane" into my house, she better be cute; know how to shoot; drive a truck; and have long hair.
    
    
13. College and High School Football is as important here as the Lakers and the Knicks there; and a dang site more fun to watch.
    
    
14. Yeah, we have golf courses. But don't hit the water hazards - it spooks the fish.
    
    
15. Colleges? Try Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech or the U of H. They come outta there with an education plus a love for God and country; and they still wave at passing pickups when they come for the holidays.
    
    
16. We have more folks in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, than any other state; so "Don't Mess with Texas!" If you do, it will get you whipped by the best.
    
    
17. Always remember what our great governor Sam Houston once said: Texas can make it without the United States, but the United States can't make it without Texas."

"Texas, Our Texas"

Written by William J. Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright
Composed by William J. Marsh

Texas, Our Texas! all hail the mighty State!
Texas, Our Texas! so wonderful so great!
Boldest and grandest, withstanding ev'ry test
O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest.

Texas, O Texas! your freeborn single star,
Sends out its radiance to nations near and far,
Emblem of Freedom! it set our hearts aglow,
With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.

Texas, dear Texas! from tyrant grip now free,
Shines forth in splendor, your star of destiny!
Mother of heroes, we come your children true,
Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you.

God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.
God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.

12-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #14

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 02-20-06 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Kitty Mittens]

Oh, Wow, Billie, what a Thread!! It is Fabulous, and I So Loved Reading it! I Also Love Being a Texan! :)

So Many Lovely Graphics throughout Everyone's Posts! Meg, your Flowers are Breathtakingly Beautiful, and Amy, the Little Kitty with the Cowboy Hat on his Head is Cute Beyond Words!

Everyone have a Wonderful Evening!

iss itty

[Billie]

Hey, GeeBee! Thank you! You would love the bluebonnets!

I love your sparkling gif!

Some rope tricks I guess. :)

[Billie]

Texas is a bunch of people who have been here for two hundred years and some great ones who came last week. It's a second chance.

I LOVED your additional "Texas is..." information! Thank you! Was hoping for lots of great posts such as this, and we're gettin' 'em!

[Billie]

Hello, Rus! Just now getting to your daily bread and coffee, and the coffee is looking pretty good again right now.

[Billie]

Hi, Diva! Did you like Dallas when you lived there? I love to go shopping in Dallas - one of my favorite places!

[Billie]

I can't stay and chat, but when HoustonCurmudgeon pings me, I dang well better show up.

LOL! Hello Houstonites! Glad you dropped in today!

[Billie]

Good afternoon, lonestar! weinie's poem is so cute. :)

GO!einie! GO!

[LadyX]

Well, gee golly dang, Billie - I'n an Official Honorary Texan!! - - -

YIPPEE-KI-YAY !!!

[Billie]

Hey, I spent three years in El Paso, but that's Texas the way H2 in Hawaii is an Interstate highway.

Well technically El Paso *is* in Texas! But barely - and even a different time zone. I know there are some neat things about El Paso, but I have little experience with the city - it's a stopover flight going to Las Vegas, though. :)

[Billie]

Hi, sweet sistah! I can't believe I'm just now getting to your post from 'early' this morning. But here I am and there you were and here you probably aren't now.

You honeymooned in Texas?!!!

You will Love San Antonio and really must go sometime. The RiverWalk is such a relaxing, beautiful place to stay, and of course there are all the historic places to see.

Thank you for your kudos on the thread today. Got to reuse some of the graphics from my Texas and my Horse threads! :)

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Hi Billie! When I lived in Dallas I was poor! I didn't shop much. Perhaps I should take a field trip back and get myself a little something.... what would you recommend? (The sky is the limit!)

[Billie]

All your flowers are fitting right in today! :) Love the white horses in this one. :)

[nancetx]

In memory of:

Staff Sgt. Clinton Newman killed in Afghanistan 2/17/06
born in Midland, Texas. Stationed at Fort Bragg.

From a grateful Lamesa, TX resident.

Nancy

[Billie]

Hi, Amy! Such a cute cowboy kitty kat! :) I have just about given up posting any more graphics or I won't be able to catch up before dinner! Glad you like the thread - I think I see your Aunt's poem a little further down. Getting there! :)

[Billie]

Thank you for reporting in, TheMom! Happy to have you on board! :)

[Billie]

Thank youy! I love the poem!

[Billie]

Soooo, does this mean you're hosting a giant FR's Finest FReeper party at the Billie Ranch? What's the date and time?

You and Lin wanna come help me get the bunk house all spruced up for the big shindig? :) We'll bring in Willie and Waylon for the dance. :)

[GodBlessUSA]

Your thread is gorgeous, as always and I really enjoyed reading :). I tried to grow bluebonnets in my garden last spring. I was so excited, I thought they were coming up and it turned out it was weeds. LOL I'll be in Texas one day. Probably next spring, to visit LuvW. Luv is taking me to see where President Bush grew up.

[Billie]

Thank you, PaL. I'm glad you enjoyed the information. You are probably gone now, but wanted to say hello!