Vaya con dios
 

So i'm writing this post as i lay on my bedroom floor. Everything i own, well at least the good stuff, is packed in a UHaul, bound for South Da-FREAKIN-kota tomorrow.

And i'm sad. I've been driving around Texas a lot lately, having gone to A&M the past couple of weekends, and last sunday night when i left college station, not to return until god knows when, i was honest to goodness depressed. I have a feeling that sadness will intensify as soon as i cross the Red River.

I grew up an Army brat, so i was all used to being the new kid. I was always ready to move on to a new part of my life and see new things. Whether it was Northern VA, Denver, or Richmond, the new moves brought new hopes. When i found out at the end of my 8th grade year that i would be moving to Texas, oh my goodness was i excited. I had been to Texas once before, we drove down one thanksgiving from Denver to watch A&M play Arkansas, and i was jazzed about being able to call myself a "Texan".

So here we are, 10 years later. I went from bein the new kid freshman year in HS to being a BMOC my sr. year. Then i went and spent the better part of a decade (6 years for those that are counting) in my 2nd home, Aggieland, learning about all kinds of things, from books to what kind of man i was and would become.

On the eve of my departure from the Lone Star State, i feel a feeling that i haven't felt in about 10 years. Fear, uneasiness, insecurity. I've got to be the new kid all over again, except this time, i'm a man, and have a job, and have other responsibilities.

I want to thank my SA GC buddies lifesaver and SATX. After leaving A&M and all my brothers behind in either Dallas or Houston, this summer had little prospect of being any fun. Y'all have definately made my last summer here one of the best. Thanks to all my other GC buddies, Hootie, AGDiva, Earpman, and some of the rest, too notorious to mention.

lol, i don't know why i'm writing like i'm leaving GC, i'm only leaving Texas, i'll be sure to come hunt y'all down when i get established somewhere.

in closing, i'm going to leave y'all with the words of the great Gary P. Nunn

You ask me what I like about Texas
I tell you it's the wide open spaces!
It's everything between the Sabine and the Rio Grande.
It's the Llano Estacado, It's the Brazos and the Colorado;
Spirit of the people down here who share this land!

You ask me what I like about Texas
It's the big timber roundneck Nacadoches
It's driving El Camino Real into San Antone
It's the Riverwalk and Mi Tierra Dancing to the Cotton-eyed Joe
It's stories of the Menger Hotel and the Alamo!
(You remember the Alamo!)

Hey, you ask me what I like about Texas
It's Blue Bonnet and Indian paint brushes
Swimming in the sacred waters of Barton Springs
It's body surfing at Freo
It's Saturday night in Del Rio!
Driving across the border for some cultural exchange!

It's another burrito, it's a cold Lone Star in my hand!
It's a quarter for the jukebox, boys,
Play the Sons of the Mother Lovin' Bunkhouse Band!


__________________

Kitso
KS 361 seconds i could stay away from Texas and it would be too long.

good luck

Good luck. Hope to read about your exploits soon. Be safe.

Hey Ya F***ing Greek - Greek, I thought you would at least call on way through KC!:)

Just tried to call Ya and see where you were on the road again! No Frigggin answer!:(

When you get hooked into GC, let me know what the deal is!:D

Happy Trails Bro !

MAN ARE YOU GOING TO LOVE WESTERN S D!:(

Best of luck in your new state.....I'm sure Texas won't be the same without you!

Kitso, best wishes on your journey, your move, and your new home!

Cream
361 best wishes I extend to Kitso! :)

Good Luck. I'm sure you'll be fine. You've done it before, you said youself. Go do good.

Good luck to you in your move. I sure hate to see you leave Texas because you are such a loyal Texan. Take that Texas spirit with you and share it with new friends.

You know you are one of my favorite Aggies - and I really mean that!!!

361 messages I expect to have from you around the Texas - A&M football game

Been to Rapid City three or four times. We (our company) have just rebuilt part of a TV station up there.

It ain't Texas, but has a lot to explore.

Watch out for the Harleys! Sturgis is only about ten miles away.

To quote lifesaver's signature Texas is a state of mind - John Steinbeck

Enjoy your new surroundings, and live a lot!!
Texas will still be here for you when you are ready to come home ;) .

I'm sending you good moving vibes from Illinois!

Kitso's leaving Texas? Man, that's like me becoming a Republican! ;)

Just kidding guy, have a great time. I know how hard it is to leave a place that you truly love.

361 new friends you'll make your first week

Best of luck in SD (DeltAlum is right, there's tons to explore) and with the new job.

Have a safe trip, and let us know when you get there!!!

I love that song. Good luck with the move! :)

Thanks for the well wishes y'all. I did indeed make it here alright, after 22 hours of driving.

It rained all the way through Texas, from Austin to Dallas and i called one of my friends to complain about it. What she said made me smile. She goes, "well, apparantly Texas realizes that it's losing a true and faithful son and obviously you're not the only one that's sad about it."

That definately made me smile :)

Well, i'm here, i need to start unpacking. Look for my first post after i start teaching on monday, probably entitled "the 361 ways my kindergarten class drives me nuts" :p

Kitso
KS 361 red bulls i drank on the way from Dallas to Rapid

6 Days.

6 days and this misplaced Texan will be back in the promised land.

I can't wait! My lord, what an interesting 3 months it has been. Made me all the more appreciative of where i'm from and where i call home.

Kitso
KS 361

We're waitin' for ya! Hurry back!!

Mwahahaha. If I meet up with you guys, I'll be sure to wear a Husker shirt. ;)

Ohhh, no! I can't wait to see this!! :p

I hope to meet the both of ya'll and Lifesaver over the Christmas break :). It has bee very sunny the last few days-absolutely beautiful weather-Texas is waiting for you.

I am all up for it. From what I understand, were hanging out the sunday after christmas. Flying Saucer? Fox & Hound? Duke's Roadhouse if we can get in - its really crowded. They have $5 pitchers. Thats definately my speed.

Life, if you guyys get to meet up, buy a pitcher, send me the bill, raise your mugs and think of me!:)

Wish I could be there with you all!:D

:( I can't go then b/c I have to work. Why can't it be Saturday? Please.

I am so sorry I didn't tell you any sooner, but Kitso on Saturday night, Kitso will be in Dallas with the GC'ers from the area. He chose to meet up with us on Sunday, grrr. I know you said that you had to work that day, but Kitso will get to SA on Sunday. I don't know what your work schedule is like, but we will be hanging out Sunday evening. We were looking forward to FINALLY meeting you! I guess it'll have to wait, yet again.

I have to work unfortunately (5 days in a row-yuck!)
someday we will meet up.
How long is Kitso going to be in town?

I believe he will be in town until Tuesday; however, I believe he's made other plans with friends/family, so the day designated for us GC'ers is Sunday. I could be entirely wrong -- he could also be able to meet up on Monday or Tuesday. Haven't been able to talk to him this weekend because he is out of town. Will try getting in touch with him later tonight.

OMG! I am back in TX as we speak! (I don't know who remembers me here on GC...I don't post that much anymore). But I am so happy to be here! I am only here for 8 days, but that is 8 days that I don't have to be in New England, i.e. HELL.

BTW, my husband lived in RC, SD before he moved to TX (until he was 17) and his mom still lives there. I have to say that as places go, SD is not bad (unless you want to shop). I think the people are nice there. It seems to me that the people talk like midwesterners and live like it's the wild west. I shot a gun for the first time there this summer.

In about 4.5 years, I will be moving back to TX FOR GOOD DAMMIT! Until then, every apartment or house that I live in will be my little personal Texas. Wherever I am we will eat Rotel and Frito Pie, long for the day Shiner Bock will be locally available and say "fixin' " when nothing is broken!

;)

Me and lil Kitso will be in SA on sunday and monday. On Tuesday we're heading back up to Dallas and i'm dropping her off in Austin. She's spending New Years with some of her sisters on 6th street.

As far as nights dedicated to GCer's, both nights are free if you guys want. lifesaver has graciously offered to let me and sis crash at his place.

lifesaver, all those places sound good. Remember though, i want to drink a few at the Menger so i can stumble out and across the street to hug the Alamo :D

Kitso
KS 361 hours now.....;)

New England isn't that bad! I lived there for 4 years, and now that I'm away, I miss it terribly. I wasn't a big fan for my first two or three years, now I love it! :D

I remember you! Welcome back to Texas! Glad to hear you are doing relatively well. We eagerly await your permanet return! :)

Your sister is coming? Yay! She's super nice. :) I won't be the only girl, woo hoo!

I took Sunday off so I can go-just let me know where and when :)

Yay!! One of us will be in touch. I'm PM'ing you.

I love Rhode Island as much as I do Texas. But I miss Newport the most during the hot as heck summers down here!!! Give me a winter snow storm over 105 degree summer heat anytime.:D

If I have said it once, I have said it 100 times.

No one EVER died of a heart attack shoveling the heat out of the driveway.

I'll take the heat please.