What is it about Texas?
 

Hey, so I was watching a tv show last night about the Cowboys, and watching the cheerleaders prep, and I was thinking about Texas. Everyone I have met from there loves it to death, and there are so many things I have heard and seen that make it seem like Texas is not just an ordinary state...and although there is one chick I extremely dislike from there, I was curious as to what is it about Texas that makes it the way it is.............???:eek:

Tell me! BTW, I'm not from the west...I am an east coaster all the way... ;)

I'm also a die-hard east coast person, but I recently went to Texas to visit family. I got a bottle of water in the Houston airport, and it said on the label "Don't mess with Texas." I thought that was freaking hysterical. It made me think of SNL when Will Ferrell used to do George W. So, this really has nothing to do with your question, but that's my random Texas story. :p

see it is things like that i just don't get...im not texas bashing, don't worry...i just have seen so many people with "life's too short to not be a Texan" bumper sticks, people with their Texas license plate frames, my mom went there and came back with cowboy boots...what gives?? I have NEVER seen another state with something like, "Life's too short to not be a Rhode Islander..."...I really don't get it.

TEXAS! It has EVERYTHING!
Climate-snow to tropical
Geography-hills-plains-beaches
Economy-high tech-ranches-oil-big business
Style-International-Big City (Dallas Market) to country casual
Medical-They boast of 3 or 4 top medical sites in the country (Houston/Galveston)
Entertainment-First Class shows to Austin City Limits
Food-Limitless selections, 4 star to that great local diner.
beef, fresh seafood
Sports-hunting, fishing (deep sea or fresh water) sailing national teams-football baseball...
Education-top notch colleges-UT, Baylor, A&M, Rice...

The list goes on and on. If you can't find it in Texas, you're not looking!
:)

Well...Texas has sand. According to Greek Chat you can shoot some one to protect your properity, but only after dark. If you do that in the day time you're a murderer. Also they have cows. Moo. Scotland can wait, but i must see texas

Being from a place that shares a good bit of cultural identity with Texas, I would have to agree that it is one cool place! I was visiting San Antonio last summer for my fraternity's Grand Convention, and it was so much fun! Too bad that they said the week I was there was the hottest in like twenty years :)

From an outsiders perspective, I think Texans, like Montanans, cherish their "wild" and "different" personalities and culture. And that's why us from the Big Sky state are kind off pissed sometimes when rich folk from California bust in and yuppify the last best place.

No offense intended to any californians!

hey, VA is pretty cool too

Texas still doesn't have the Rocky Mtns. though!

Or Garbage Plates :)

Don't mess with Texas!!!!
 

As you might have been able to tell.. I'm from Texas :p
Born and raised. Even though I've lived here all my life, I have been to other parts of this great country we belong to, and yet, I always find myself wanting to come back to the Lone Star State. We have anything and everything you could possibly ask for

mountains... hills... the BEACH!... snow... desert heat in south texas... palm trees... and all those other trees that i don't know the names of ...an extremely huge population of many diverse cultures.. theme parks... big music city of austin... of course the famous 6th street... countless universities... huge metro areas with super big companies, small rural towns with "mom and pop stores"... football... baseball... and basketball...miles and miles of an endless highway to just drive, sit back and enjoy the scenery... and incredible history (not that any other states don't have an awesome history, but heck, we even used to be our country!) maybe that's why we love it here so much.. we like to be "unique"

Although i can't speak for everyone, I like to think most of us have an overwhelming sense of pride in where we live.

Roflmao!! This is so funny-I'm so embarrased, I'm at work right now-in the hospital-and I just read this and burst out laughing, and all the peole in the nurses station stared at me.

On a side note-the shooting people when they come into your house thing-it doesn't work if ou invite them in first.

And also-the music here rocks!! Texas music-such as Robert Earl Keen, Pat Green, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jack Ingram, etc-is so unique-you can't hear it anywhere else. They sing about topics that are unique to Texas alone-and everyone who lives here can relate to it. Mr. ChiOJenn, who just moved to North Carolina is missing the music-he told me that you can't hear it up there.

And, I will agree with what Hootie said-that if the event didn't happen here in Texas, and doesn't affect us in some way-we don't really pay attention to it.

And-before I write the great American novel here-I will say this-you will never eat better Mexican food ANYWHERE then you will down here. It's just not possible.

ChiOJenn, AMEN to that!!! It's all about the Texas music!!! And it's soooo true about the Mexican food. I went to a restaurant in Missouri earlier this summer and it was just not the same!!!

Texas, our Texas. All hail the mighty state!
 

I was born, raised, and lived my entire life up until one month ago yesterday in the beautiful state of Texas. I actually love it so much that I am tearing up right now...I am relocated to Providence, RI.

There is so much to love about Texas. The people, the places, the culture, the food. The things that make Texas great make it that way because there is no other place on earth where you can find all of those things together. There just isn't. It is like a magic combination of things that add up to so much more...a whole greater than the sum of its parts.

Everything is bigger in Texas. This is something that is heard everywhere. And...it is pretty much true. One thing in particular: Servings of food. In TX, they serve up your plate until there is no plate showing. Everywhere you go there are free refills. You can go to Taste of Texas and break the steak eating record to get your dinner for free. God bless TX!

In TX, you can make idle conversation with anyone. Say, your sacker at the grocery store. You do this up here and they look at you like you are hitting on them or something! People actually get startled when you say thank you or call them ma'am...in TX, it is standard protocol. Also, since I got here, the only doors that have been held open for me were either held by my husband or they were automatic doors...quite odd...

Texas just has an irresitable charm that is addictive. When you are raised there, you go through withdrawl. I cannot wait to go back. Can you believe that on sidewalk.com, Taco Bell is listed under Mexican Restaurants in Providence...gimme a freakin' break!
And I have been to Mexico...the Mexican food in TX is better!

So until I can get my next fix of Blue Bell...until I can get a sizzling plate of fajitas at Papasitos...I will be pining away for my home. And yes, it still is my home. Because you can take me out of Texas, but you can't take the Texas out of me!

Re: Texas, our Texas. All hail the mighty state!
 

This is so true!! I went o college in Washington, D.C. and people there act like this too. It was a shock when I moved-in Texas, if I'm walking down the street, I smile at people who walk by-everyone does that. But in D.C., I noticed that people don't look at other people's faces. And once, when my ex was visiting me at college, he was walking around Georgetown, and stopped a lady to ask for directions. Before she answered him, she grabbed her purse and held it closer to her. :rolleyes:
People are just so much friendlier down here!!

Yay! Just reading all the cool stuff about Texas makes me smile ! :D

I've only been to Texas once, and that was just a brief stopover at the Houston airport. But I'll tell you what, there was a group of people on that plane with me that were flying home to Houston and they were having such a great time among themselves that it really lent a festive air to the flight! :)

I think you gotta love a place where the residents have so much pride in their home, though!

"I was not born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could."

Thats what I see on bumper stickers all the time in Texas. I wasn't born in Texas, and I dont live there now, and I didn't spend more than three years living there, but it is the greatest state I have ever lived in, and I have lived in quite a few. My dream is to graduate college, and get back to Texas as quick as I can.

Something about living there just instils this unimaginable amount of state pride in a person. Its almost inexpainable.

I saw that bumper sticker too...and wanted to get it!!:) I loved living in Texas! I don't know what it was, but the state rocks.

Ask my sorority sister who came to visit me, she loved every minute of being there!:)

The people are nicer (I've never had complete strangers say hi and how's your day going....as I'm walking to check the mail!!!), everything is bigger, there is TONS to do, and the lifestyle is totally different there!:)

I bought my mom a bumper sticker for her car that says "Someone in Texas loves me". When we moved to Florida she was gonna take it off, but I said "No, Art's brother in law is still there-he loves you....and we'll probably be back there someday!"

I miss Texas a lot....there are so many things from Dallas that I miss....makes me wanna get on a plane to Dallas right now....and head straight for my fave restaurant, Texas Land and Cattle....OMG the steaks! And the waiters were always true gentlemen (ie. get ladies orders first, always say m'am and sir)

Texas rules!!!!:)

You, I mean Yall, :D make me want to visit Texas.

Last time I was in Texas, it was flooded.

I also heard that they were going to cut Alaska in half and make Texas the third largest state.

Although I will always be a sweet ole Tennessee gal for life.....

I was born in Houston! I absolutely love TX!! And I love when Texans find out I'm from TN and they say "Well, we have the REAL UT in Texas" It cracks me up!!!

I met a few of my sisters from TX, and they were the sweetest things ever!!

Ivory

I think the thing about Texas is that the place is not just another state...

It's a whole damned other country. They just call themselves a state so they can put their people in charge of the country:D

Thank you. After reading your post, all I can say, to express my emotion, is, Thank you.

American by birth, Texan by the grace of God

I love this state and will never ever ever ever leave. I am so lucky to be here. I have visited other states and there is no other pride like Texan pride. Being from San Antonio and tasting mexican food from Florida, Colorado, California, nothing compares, the mexican food rocks here! Every morning when i drive down 360 in Austin to go home I just look at all the pretty hills and it makes me smile :).

Don't mess with Texas :)

Don't forget about Cory Morrow, now! (He's one of my fav's) Not only am I hugely into Texas Country, can't forget about the cowboys!! :p

Everythings is awesome here in Texas: the food, music, people, outdoor life, EVERYTHING!!

The best Texas city: SAN ANTONIO!!!! I just love San Antonio!! As of now, that is where I plan to end up after graduating! Austin is 1 hour north, Houston is 3 hours east and Dallas is 5 hours northeast. There is so much to do in San Antonio, yet it isn't as huge as the Dallas metroplex or Houston.

Like someone stated above, "You can take me out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of me!"

Even the national gov't recognizes us as superior- we are the only state who can fly our state flag at the same height as the national flag, the only state whos capitol is taller than the national capitol and the only state who can secede at any time with no repercussions.

Missy

Re: Texas, our Texas. All hail the mighty state!
 

This is probably the best thing that I love about Montana! Everybody is friendly, from my hometown of 2000 people, or a college town, to our relative metropolis of 115,000 :) Being an engineering student, I will probably have to leave the state if I want to make a good living, but I will definately miss it here. Good thing I have at least 2 1/2 to 3 years left of college!

2 of my girls went for Spring Break on a roat trip to Texas. They have been toCabo, Rosarito,South Beach, Hawaii...all the Spring Break "hot spots" and came back saying that it was the best spring breaks of their lives. In fact, one of them is graduating next year and is already looking to move there after graduation.

Oh, and a boy that I was enamored of last year was from Texas...big Tahoe, big smile, absolutely charming...unlike anyone I had ever met. He told me how he misses drive through liquor stores! :eek:

My friends who went to SMU absolutely love it. The passengers in a car can pre party while driving to the actually even without worry that they will be pulled over because in Texas, everyone but the driver can drink in the car..and carry guns!

You cannot have an open container in a car. No matter who is doing the driving.

But you can carry a gun.

However, you cannot carry your gun into the bar, or into the liquor store...that is a no no.

Man, how did i miss this thread....

First off, what is it about Texas? Download the MP3 "What I like about Texas" by Gary P. Nunn. Pretty much everything mentioned in this thread is in that song. As long as we're on musicians, Roger Creager, Dub Miller, and of course, Willie

I've lived here since my parents finally got stationed in San Antonio in '93 and of all the places i've lived, NoVA, Denver, Richmond, this has by far been the best.

Texas is the only state i know of to have a State Historical Landmark in another country. The site at Pont-du-hoc where Gen. James Earl Rudder(a Texan, and a Fightin' Texas Aggie) led the 2nd Ranger Battalions up the cliffs during the D-day invasions in France is a Texas State Historical Landmark.

The old Texas Embassy builiding in London is still standing and is also a Texas State Historical Landmark. Heck, i even saw a Lone Star Cafe in England, even the Brits want to be like us.

I'm sure me and all the other Texas posters on here could write volumes and volumes about why Texans are so proud, but i'm sure y'all yankees don't want to read all that.

Kitso
KS 361

Oh yeah, PLUS, our state just LOOKS cool. I mean, i see Texas-shaped EVERYTHING!

It was nice to get some props from the okie on the board, thanks ktsnake.

Oh yeah, and KDatUTC, as far as i'm concerned, the real UT is in Knoxville, that 'other school' in austin is t.u. ;)

What is it about Texas?

Three words: Tax free weekends!

(I'm not sure if other states have this too? But it is awesome!)

Ahhh, I work at Target (half the time in clothing). I worked Friday night, and man, people can be so inconsiderate, throwing men's clothing underneath the shoe racks, etc. Ahhhh, but I know, it is my job and the people I work with make it fun, so it's cool. BUT, for some reason, I got Saturday and today (Sunday) off!! I WAS BLESSED!!!

Amen to that SATX*APhi!!! As much fun as tax-free weekends are for consumers, it makes retail ppl go crazy with all the people shopping. It's like the day after Thanksgiving... gets kinda rowdy sometimes!

I am a SoCal lady who was forced to relocate to Dallas, Texas in May, 2002...

I miss my home, my family and friends--all that was near and dear to me in Southern California...

But, I have come into some of the nicest and most honorable Texans that one will ever encounter since my move of ~2.5 months...

Most people here in Dallas are honest hard working folks that are trying to make a living and raise their families to be upstanding citizens. This fact is shocking to me, because I hate to say it, as much as I love "the weather" on the beach in Cali, most of my fellow compatriots are rather crafty--or "fake"... Texans are nice and welcoming people, but lack including or trusting of a non-Texan into their lives. Which makes it extremely lonely for a single 30-something woman...;) Even though some SoCali folks are phoney (sp.) they do include new folks into their activities... The thought is: Life's a Beach, drink it up!!! But, I think my feeling is a reaction of a Southern tradition, rather than it being Texas by itself.

2 things Texas lacks and Cali has, are 3 Strikes Violation Laws and Photo Enforced Traffic lights... I think if you guys put those laws thru your legislature, life will even be easier out here...

And Texasprincess, yeah, TAX FREE WEEKENDS are an interesting thought, but really, other than buyin' stuff for the kids, does Texas as a state really save? Just asking...

I'm not really sure what the figures are for saving $$ through the entire state..

but I can tell you that $8 per every $100 doesn't seem like much, but for college students all over Texas that bought clothes this weekend, it's 8 more dollars (for every $100) for pizza money :D

Great Tex-Mex food, cold beer, nice texas gentlemen-what more could you want? Beside a day that DOESNT reach 100 degrees.....

I forgot to mention......
 

MEXICO BEING A COUPLE OF HOUR AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nothing's better than a spontaneous weekend in Mexico!! ;)

Hooray for tax-free weekend! I was in Houston this past Thurs, Fri and Sat for the sole purpose of shopping. I found out about the tax-free shopping when I got there. I was very pleasantly surprised :) I got some great deals on back-to-school stuff - including the Sketchers I've been lusting for :) And I was able to get to a Tiffany's to get my bracelet engraved. yay.

However, I will forever be a loyal New Orleanean. If only we could get some better shopping!

This is Texas
 

When you're from Texas people that you meet ask you questions like, "Do you have any cows?" It's nice to be able to say yes. They ask you, "Do you have horses?" Yup.
Bet you got a bunch of guns, eh? Of course. They all want to know if you've been to Southfork. They watched Dallas. Have you ever looked at a map of the world? Heck yes you have. Look at Texas for me just for a second. That picture, with the Panhandle and the Gulf Coast and the Red River and the Rio Grande is as much a part of you as anything ever will be. As soon as anyone anywhere in the world looks at it they know what it is. It's Texas. 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 I show you a picture of any other state? You'll get it maybe after a second, but who else in the
world would?! Even if you do, does it ever stir any feelings in you?' In every man, woman and child on this little rock the Good Lord put us on, there is somewhere in them a person who wishes just once he could be a real live Texan and get up on a horse or ride in a pickup or dance at a dancehall. Did you ever hear anyone in a bar go, "Wow...so you're from Kansas...Cool. Tell me about it"? There is some bit of Texas in everyone. Do you know why? Because Texas is Texas. Texas is the Alamo. Texas is 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. We send our kids to schools named William B. Travis and Bowie and do you know why? Because those men saw a line in the sand and they decided to be heroes. John Wayne paid to do the movie himself. That is Texas. Texas is Sam Houston capturing Santa Anna 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 Big Bend. Texas is shiny skyscrapers in Houston and Dallas. Texas is the uniqueness of Austin. Texas is a world record bass from places like Lake Fork. Texas is the best colleges around. From Houston to Lubbock and everywhere in between. Texas is Mexican food like nowhere in the world, even Mexico. Texas is Lone Star beer and Shiner Bock. Texas is larger-than-life legends like Willie Nelson and Buddy Holly, Earl Campbell and Nolan Ryan, Denton Cooley and Michael DeBakey, Lyndon Johnson and George Bush. Texas is great companies like Texas Instruments, Dell Computer and Compaq. Texas is huge herds of cattle and miles of crops. Texas is skies blackened with doves and leases full of deer. Texas is the best Barbecue anywhere. Period. Texas is the nicest people you'll ever meet. Anywhere. Not to mention,
the PRETTIEST girls. Texas is a place where cities shut down for the COWBOYS on Monday Night Football and the streets are deserted during church. Texas is the best music, with the best musicians in the world. Texas is beaches, deserts, lakes and rivers, mountains and prairies. If it isn't in Texas, you don't need it. No one does anything bigger or better.
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 California, or Maine, and your state flag, whatever it is, goes at 17. You fly the Stars and Stripes in front of Pine Tree High in Longview at 20 feet, the Lone Star flies at 20 feet. Do you know why? Because we place being a Texan as high as being an American down here. Our capitol is the only one in the country that is taller than the capitol building in D.C. We signed those in as part of the deal when we came on. That's the best part right there. When we came on, Texas was its own country. The Republic of Texas. Aren't you proud to be a Texan? You should be. Some of us where born Texans. It took the rest of
us a little longer to get here.

5pointcrown-

I swear, i'm sittin here, listening to Cory Morrow, reading your post and i got teary-eyed. Made me want to break into a rendition of Texas our Texas.

Much props, and a big Hell Yeah!!!

One addition i'd make. Texas is Friday Night Lights. It's having your Main Street dead empty, while every person and every cop in town is at the football stadium to watch the greatest sport ever, Texas High School Football. I'm serious, we used to joke about how you could rob the WalMart in town blind as long as you hit it on Friday night around 8 o'clock. It's roadtripping an hour to 2 hours to watch your team play your bitter rival.


Kitso
KS 361