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

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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!

[Billie]

Austin City Limits - that's kind of a neat show, isn't it. We don't watch it very often but it's usually fun to see who their guests are. :)

I bought these boots just for our honorary Texans - LadyX and Mama_Bear are wearing them today and tomorrow - you want them for Thursday? :)

[showme_the_Glory]

"Thy will be done on earth as it is in Texas"

[Zacs Mom]

Texas shopping - as unique as the state!

[GodBlessUSA]

I was just telling Billie how I'm coming to Texas next Spring. Mrs.Nooseman, you are coming with me right? :)

[Billie]

I have already had the distinct pleasure of being made an honorary Canadian by a mutual friend of ours. ;-) Now I can be an "Honorary Texan" too! :-)


Well, shoot! I didn't have that pleasure bestowed upon me. :)

[Billie]

OHHHHHHHHHHH! Are you in bluebonnet country?!!! Magnificent!!!!

[Mama_Bear]

Well, shoot! I didn't have that pleasure bestowed upon me. :)

Well, don't let it bother you. She apparently just liked me better 'n you. ;-) LOL.

Anyway, Texas suits me better. :-)

[Billie]

Thank you, Colleen! That is also an awesome Easter Egg!! I didn't see it last year - now I'm looking forward to seeing what they do for the states for Easter *this* year!

[Billie]

Hi, Kitty! Am so glad you enjoyed the post and all the comments and pictures throughout. I love everyone's contributions to the thread and wish that there was more time to savor it all. I hate when I have to leave in the middle of reading the posts and then come back and have a hard time catching up to the end again.

I have to go in just a few minutes once more. :(

[Billie]

Mine too! Spring and Fall are the best seasons in Texas! Beautiful pic!

[NicknamedBob]

The most significant fact about El Paso, especially for someone who is "assigned" there, is that it is about eight hundred miles from anywhere else.

[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!)

Well, gee, anything your heart desires, the sky being the limit and all! :) Especially since I read it's your birthday! Happy Birthday, Diva!!!

[Billie]

Thank you for the post in memory of Staff Sgt. Clinton Newman, killed in Afghanistan on Friday. May he rest in peace and prayers for his family. We can never thank those enough who give their lives for our freedom.

[Lakeside]

Thanks, Billie.

It's great to BE back.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Thanks Billie---- I think I will take a trip to the Galleria and get a little something...Hehe!

[luvie]

You bet, you both had better come see me. We'll take a bluebonnet tour, and we'll visit GW's house here in Odessa from when he first came to West Texas with his parents when he was 3 years old.

The little statue to the left of the flag pole is of GW on his tricycle at age 3.

[luvie]

REST IN PEACE
SSGT. CLINTON NEWMAN
LOST IN AFGHANISTAN
2/17/06
YOU ARE MY HERO

I work in Midland and had not heard about this death of a hero.

[deadhead]

"Thank you, Colleen! "

You're Welcome :-)

Below is a photo of my niece (now the Mom of 2) from 1981, was searching for a photo of her at that time when she was wearing my cowboy boots, the same boots I wear today. Her Dad and Mom, my brother and his wife were both in the Army and stationed in Texas..., deadhead's clan has a little bit of Texas in them :-)

[Majie Purple]

"Hi, Majjie, it makes me smile to know *we* produced a great President - I would not be so boastful if I were in Arkansas. LOL" Oh I hear ya Billie! I'm also glad my State did not have to claim him as from here...LOL er uh...not so much (a LOL!)'cause I really am thankful about that!
Hey guess what I was watching Food Networks Top 5 countdown show and they were counting down there Fave State Foods today and they chose Texas Chili as # 1! Timely huh? If it's still Feb. 21. 06 when you read this check it out! Or maybe they will archive it and you can find it that way.

[KYGrandma]

Me, too. Black Walnut Drive. Does it count even if it was only 8 months? People in Dallas thought I had a northern accent but the people up here in Michigan think I have a southern accent. Oh well..