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!

[apackof2]

If he is from Texas, he is going to tell you.
If he aint, your just going to embarrass him”.

LOL

Well my daddy used to say
"There are 2 kinds of people, Italians and those who wish they were"

[apackof2]

Did you get a chance to check your FRMail and pings yet today?

[Lakeside]

Aw... now you've gone and made me homesick!

Yes ma'am, I'm from Texas. Was born in Houston and lived there 'till I was 14. Then a travesty happened. We moved to New Orleans and at almost 52 years old I'm still trying to get over the shock. :-0

Texas gets under your skin in a way you just can't describe to non-Texans. I'll ALWAYS wish I could go back.

Great thread, Miss Billie! And thanks so much for your well wishes at my son's return from Iraq/Kuwait. I'm still grinin' from ear to ear!

[Lakeside]

Go Texan Day---Fatstock Show and Rodeo---Texas Independence Day. I'm so glad it's still a Big Thing now days because it sure was when I was young back in the day. It was my most favorite time of year in Houston.

Where do they have the Rodeo now? It was never as good as it was when it was held in the Sam Houston Coliseum. It never seemed the same when they moved it to the Astrodome but that was quite a few years ago.

Enjoy Go Texan Week, Rte66, and know there are lots of us former Houstonians out here that are remembering, too.

[Texagirl4W]

"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."

Morning, (((Miss Billie))). You have highlighted the company that I've worked at for 35 years. Makes me might proud to be a Texan, even though it took me 25 years to get here.

This is so wonderful and thank you so much for posting it again. I'll have to come back later today to read some more. This will be fun.

[Majie Purple]

Thanks for the facts about Texas. Interesting stuff. Inever knew that about the Texas flag and being allowed to separate into 5 states if you as a State wants to. And oh how I wish that my State could say that Pres. Bush came fom here!

[GodBlessUSA]

Good Morning Billie! Gorgeous thread :) I'm not from Texas but I have a lot of FRiends who are. I'd sure like to visit ya'll some day. Especially when the Blue Bonnets are bloomin. :)

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Thanks for the thread and the ping.

My McGee gggrandfather came to Texas in 1832 and fought at the Battle of Bexar in 36. Some of my Taylors were at San Jacinto, and one of them B. L. Taylor was a Captain of Calvary for the CSA.

Texas is UT, A&M, Rice, UofH, Tech, Baylor, UT and Baylor Medical. It's Fiesta in San Antonio beside the Alamo, rodeo in a hundred towns, duck, deer, dove and rattle snake hunting. The SW corner of the Great Eastern Forest and the sand dunes at Monahans. The high plains, and the coastal plains, Big Bend, and the lower Valley. It's oil at Wink, Humble, Midland, the Golden Triangle and 80 miles offshore. Bluebonnets, Indian Paints, pine trees, mountains, sand and water.

Texas is Audie Murphy, Chester Nimitz, Ike, LBJ, Mr. Sam, DeLay, and both the Bushes - Jenna and Barbara! ;-) It's the Houston Medical Center with two of the worlds best heart surgeons, DeBakey born in Louisiana and Cooley from right here.

It's Crockett, Travis, Bowie and Sam Houston.

Texas is cattle ranches bigger than some counties, refineries, oil, gas, cotton, world class medical care and the best grapefruit anywhere. It's BBQ (and not that vinegar coated pig from the Carolinas, bless their misguided little hearts), and the best Mexican food around.

Texas is football, baseball, and basketball at all levels. It's the Symphony, Opera, Theater and Ballet. It's Ft Hood, Ft. Bliss, Ft. Sam Houston and a bunch of State and National Guard posts.

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.

Y'all come on down.

[Majie Purple]

That thar paintn'a Texas is right purdy Meg!

[luvie]

Beautiful, Valerie! Right outside my little town, I'll betcha! Good to see you, and hope to see you for reals in May!

[GregoTX]

Wow ... What a song, it would bring tears to the hardest heart. Talk about your tragedy song ... "Your not from Texas" ... now thats just plum mean.

[The Mayor]

February 21, 2006

Grooves Of Grace

Read:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27

I discipline my body and bring it into subjection. —1 Corinthians 9:27

Bible In One Year: Numbers 1-3; Mark 3

A man was traveling in Canada one springtime when frost and melting snow made it nearly impossible to drive farther. He came to a crossroads and saw a sign that said, "Take care which rut you choose. You will be in it for the next 25 miles." That's a wise warning for all of us—and not just when we're driving in rough road conditions.

Whenever we come to a crossroads in life, what choice do we make? In other words, in what direction will we travel and what habits—which ruts of routine—will we establish?

A habit is a pattern of behavior that we follow consistently. We need to decide prayerfully what habits we will practice. Will our habits be mere ruts of routine? Or will they become "grooves of grace"?

Paul referred to his life's journey as a race. He learned that the only way to stay the course was to "discipline [his] body and bring it into subjection" (1 Corinthians 9:27). That implied establishing a consistent pattern of godly behavior.

Good health habits are important, but spiritual disciplines are far more important. Are we choosing to develop consistent habits of prayer, Bible reading, and kindness?

A habit is just a rut of routine. But good spiritual discipline can transform our ruts into grooves of grace. —Vernon Grounds

Lord, keep me in Your groove of grace,
The chosen path for me;
Your will I daily will embrace
Until eternity. —Hess

In the beginning we make our habits; in the end our habits make us.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Keeping Our Appointments With God

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Hi Billie, hello to the crew here.

I am not from Texas- but I lived in Dallas for a while. North Dallas to be exact.

[Xenalyte]

I'm only second-generation Texan. My mother was born in San Antonio.

But I wouldn't trade being Texan for anything.

[Flyer]

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

I tried like heck to find a family connection to my namesake, Capt. James Chessher, but it seems it is not there. I will settle for carrying that great name forward.

Gotta run, but I'll try to drop back by later.

[Pippin]

Now, there you go again!

giving me wonderlust!

Now y'all making me think of travel again.

I need to be saving money and plan a trip to TEXAS! :o)

[lonestar]

All the critters are working on our Texas Indepencence Day parade and celebration.

I'm proud to have been born and lived in Texas. The only thing I don't like about Texas is squirrels. Gig 'em!!!

The sun is riz

The sun is set

And here I is in Texas yet!

Weinie

[ladtx]

When I was in the Army and stationed in Germany in the '80's the Stars and Stripes ran an article about West Texas. I kept the paper and here is the first part of the article.

WEST TEXAS
MEAN AND MARVELOUS

West Texas is a sunrise in the Palo Duro Canyon, a Sunday at Lake Meredith and a sunset in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park.

It’s St. Patrick’s Day in Shamrock, the Fourth of July at the Texas Cowboy Reunion in Stamford and Christmas stranded in a Panhandle snowstorm.

It’s a monument to a mule at Muleshoe, a jack rabbit statue at Odessa and an 11-foot tall roadrunner named Paisano Pete at Fort Stockton.

West Texas is oil boom and oil bust and thousands of oil pumps nodding like metal insects in a prarie ritual. It’s an Amarillo blizzard, a Sanderson flood, a Wichita Falls tornado, a South Plains duster, a High Plains hail storm and everywhere a target for killer heat waves and dry spells.

It’s an aversion to governmental handouts and cold shoulder to government interference.

West Texas is a beer bust on the Concho River and a drug bust on the Rio Grande.

It’s Longhorns and longnecks, Friday night football and Saturday night fever.

It’s Ace Reid’s cowboy cartoons and Stanley Marsh’s buried Cadillacs and an abandoned shell of a drive-in theater whose crumbling marquee once read: “Gone With the Wind.”

It’s the tree at Notrees and the impact of Impact, the tiny shadow town that brought liquor to Abilene, a city of churches and church schools, the buckle on the Bible Belt.

It’s singing America the Beautiful at a Rotary luncheon in Childress and thanking the Lord for bringing the rain and praising the senior citizens for preparing the food.

It’s a chili cookoff in Terlingua and a Lamblast in San Angelo.

It’s chicken fried steak in Quanah, calf fries in Big Spring, Tex-Mex in Midland and barbecue from Dalhart to Del Rio and El Paso to Fort Worth.

And then there’s steak.

Joe Allen’s in Abilene and the 50 Yard Line in Lubbock do with the ribeye what Picasso did with the paintbrush. In Amarillo, the Big Texan offers a 72-ounce sirloin free to anyone who eats the monster before it eats him.

An oilfield roughneck did it once, and we miss him.

In San Angelo, there’s a restored bawdy house called Miss Hattie’s, but the river city’s greater claim to fame is its steakhouses, surely the most and best of any town its size. Zentner’s Daughter didn’t invent the garlic-flavored KC sirloin but she perfected it.

West Texas is big cars and bank failures, fast horses and fat cows, wheat and corn, cotton and cantaloupe, windmills and sandhills, wildflowers and wildcatters.

[luvie]

Make those plans for the 1st weekend in May this year, and you'll meet lots of Texans. We're having a birthday party for a FReeper and it's gonna be FUN!

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Come on down! I see you live in Maryland and my first trip out of Texas, age 3 months, was to Baltimore, where my dad played for the Colts in 48 and 49. You'll like it ..... uh ..... best to NOT come in July, August, or September.