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!

[ValerieUSA]

[ValerieUSA]

[ValerieUSA]

[ST.LOUIE1]

Morning,

A bit on the 'braggy' side today, ain't we? : )

Great thread, great state, terrific graphics, and, yes.....I read the whole thing. LOL

BTW, this Missouri boy has no desire to be a Texan. : )

[Rte66]

Sssshhh. Can you hear it?

"That's 10."
"That's 20."
"That's 30."
"That's 40."

Forever into the night.

[Rte66]

Them cars ain't growed a lick since I been watchin' 'em mosta muh life! Whadder they feedin' 'em, anyway?

[Kimmers]

Great Post!!! My husband is already in Dallas and I will be joining him after my son graduates from high school next year. He is looking at A&M ....we already have a truck and lots of guns, so I guess we are good to go....

[Rte66]

Why, yes, Ma'am, I am!

Loved your little animation slide show up above the "Dubya Walkin'" one - it has my birthplace, my marriage place and one of my job places all in one little neat package!

I'd like to add ... This is Texas ... the Lone Star State of Texas ... this is the Giant ... Land I Love!

~~~
Just like a sleeping giant sprawling in the sun,
In one great hand the Rio Grande
In the other, Galveston.
Where oil wells laugh at angels
And buzzards wheel above,
This, then, is Texas--
Lone Star State of Texas.
This, then, is Texas--Land I love.

My ma was born in Dallas, Father in Ft. Worth.
You can bet your boots I got my roots
In the good old Texas earth.
Just see the silver dollars
Falling from above.
This, then, is Texas--Lone Star State of Texas
This, then, is Texas--Land I love.

God made these lonely acres where I ride alone,
But the devil cursed this land with thirst
And he bleached it like a bone.
One day a wild tornado
Next a gentle dove.
This, then, is Texas--Lone Star State of Texas
This, then, is Texas--Land I love

Song Title: Giant
Music-Dmitri Tiomkin
Lyrics-Paul Francis Webster, 1956

[Pippin]

HOWDY ((((BILLIE)))!

[Pippin]

(((LOUIE)))

Hughs from a MARYLAND GAL!

;o)

[Allegra]

Dang right I'm from Texas. And right proud of it.

A little town called Houston. Some people have heard of it.

;-)

[Rte66]

Yee Haw!

IT'S GO TEXAN WEEK IN HOUSTON

More than 4800 trail riders are heading into town right this minute, to converge in Memorial Park Friday for a hootin' and hollerin' good time.

Friday is GO TEXAN Day, where everyone wears Western wear - EVERYONE!

Check out the Trail Ride routes and stops - if they're coming through your town, go out and wave "Howdy!" to these hardy souls who've braved freezing temperatures and rainstorms just to come to our Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Parade this Saturday!

Trail Rides

Then come on down and ...

LET'S RODEO!!

[Allegra]

Go Texan Week. This is the third year I've missed that. I'm not a kicker, but I've always had fun getting into the spirit of Go Texan Day.

I did get to be home during Lynrd Skynrd's appearance at the rodeo last March, though. Got to go to the pig races and livestock show and all of it.

And no, we couldn't resisit the urge to yell "Freebird!" during Skynrd's concert. ;-)

[ladtx]

Good morning Billie. I haven't dropped by in a while but couldn't resist the thread about Texas. Part of my family has been in Texas since it was a Republic. Our oldest son will be getting out of the Air Force by the end of the year and will move back to Texas and our whole family will be back in Texas where they belong. Here is my favorite quote about Texas, specifically West Texas.

A German artist named Ludwig Bemelmans once visited far West Texas, exploring its forbidding but majestic mountains and barren desert, and afterward said: “It is what Beethoven reached for in music. It will make you breathe deeply whenever you think of it, for you have inhaled eternity.”

[GregoTX]

Years ago my Daddy imparted to me some wisdom, which is truer today than it was when he said it. What makes it truer is the age of the Internet.

He said; “Never ask a man if he is from Texas. If he is from Texas, he is going to tell you. If he aint, your just going to embarrass him”.

[Zacs Mom]

Living in and lovin' Texas!

And I'll count myself blessed, indeed, if I spend the rest of my days...



Waltzin' Across Texas

Great thread ~ thanks, Billie!

[DollyCali]

PINGING a few others to a neat Texas thread

A simply lovely thread Billie in EVERY way possible. Great material, factual & fun. Great Graphics. GREAT/GORGEOUS presentation from deep in the heart of Texas.

After living in Houston for two years I fell in love with the state. Only left as I had a "better job" offer in Charleston(as fate would turn out never materialized as my short time to help mom here "first" turned into a decade plus.)

I loved San Antonio & "my beach" was a quaint fishing area with closest community being Matagorda. I DID have to go to see "southfork" as I was a Dallas addict during it's years of glory. I traveled to DFW in 2002 to be part of the Billy Graham crusade & just relished in lunch & a shopping spree at Neiman Marcus.

MOVIE ADDICT THAT I AM.. I must recommend recent movie Glory Road about a touching story about a Texas college football team from a few years back

[DollyCali]

ah.. let's change the word FOOTBALL to BASKETBALL in prior post!

[ladtx]

Lyrics from my favorite Lyle Lovett song:

That's Right (You're Not From Texas)

You say you're not from Texas
Man as if I couldn't tell
You think you pull your boots on right
And wear your hat so well

So pardon me my laughter
'Cause I sure do understand
Even Moses got excited
When he saw the promised land

That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

See I was born and raised in Texas
And it means so much to me
Though my girl comes from down in Georgia
We were up in Tennessee

And as we were driving down the highway
She asked me baby what's so great
How come you're always going on
About your Lone Star State

I said that's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

Oh the road it looked so lovely
As she stood there on the side
And she grew smaller in my mirror
As I watched her wave goodbye

Those boys from Carolina
They sure enough could sing
But when they came on down to Texas
We all showed them how to swing

Now David's on the radio
And old Champ's still on the guitar
And Uncle Walt he's home with Heidi
Hiding in her loving arms

That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

They're OK in Oklahoma
Up in Arkansas they're fair
But those old folks in Missouri
They don't even know you're there

But at a dance hall down in Texas
That's the finest place to be
The women they all look beautiful
And their men will buy your beer for free

And they'll say that's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

So won't you let me help you Mister
Just pull your hat down the way I do
And buy your pants just a little longer
And next time somebody laughs at you

You just tell 'em you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

[freema]

"Anyone that can survive our heat in an un-airconditioned car deserves at LEAST an honorable mention! LOL! Come back to see us some time!"

In true Texas form...I am hereby obligated to state I survived in an un-airconditioned car while very pregnant-
when the back window broke on a trip to Corpus Christi.

And I made a few new Texans ; )

(not in the car, mind you LOL!)
(cain't say they was lil' Texans, neither, 'cause they wasn't!)