Texas

[drogulus]

     I'm going to Texas on Saturday to see my father and have fun. My girlfriend is also going and has never been to this place so she will not understand why there are 3 bail bondsman offices in a 2 block stretch in Arlington. Yes, I'm going from the good Arlington in Massachusetts to the evil Arlington where my father lives. It's a town between Dallas and Ft. Worth. Thank goodness these names are not just placeholders for intuitions. You can go there. There are other Arlingtons as well but they're of no concern here.

     So, what do you think about Texas? Can anything be done about it? Would you like to live there? Is it safe?

[Bu]

Some tasty chicken down in Texas.  Maybe you could send me a bucket of some during your visit? 

[Drasko]

So, what do you think about Texas?

[drogulus]

     We're off to a good start.

[Bulldog]

So, what do you think about Texas? Can anything be done about it? Would you like to live there? Is it safe?

Everything about Texas is outstanding except for the weather.

[Catison]

Do yourself a favor and check out Austin while you're there.  It is just a (Texas sized) stones throw away.

[Catison]

I wish everybody who visited Austin would do so on these 100+ degree days. It would greatly reduce the likelihood that they would ever want to move here.'

Oh I remember those days when a shower merely a formality.

[drogulus]

    We're not going to move far from our base. It's really a visit, not sight-seeing.

    I would like to see Austin some day.

[Valentino]

I've been to USS Texas, or onboard, rather. Houston had no sidewalks, but college radio played Heather Nova. And you always have ZZ Top.

[DavidRoss]

(1) Get yourself some real chili.
(2) And pecan pie.
(3) Saturday night casual classics at the Dallas Symphony:

GERSHWIN: Cuban Overture
PIAZZOLA: The Four Season of Buenos Aries
DVORAK: Slavonic Dance Nos. 1, 2, 5, 8
COPLAND: Four Dances from Rodeo

(4) Be polite and you'll be safe.
(5) Pull that attitude of smug superiority in the wrong place and you will get your ass kicked.

[Joe Barron]

I have this idea that if I ever visit any sourthern state, I'm going to disappear and end up on a chain gang just for having a Pennsylavania license plate. They don't need my crazy ideas.

An Austin musician I interviewed once (he was originally from Pa) descrobed Austin to me as a blue boil on the red butt of Texas. And they gave us Molly Ivins and
Bill Moyers, so they cant be all bad.

The governor has talked about secession, and I'm all in favor.

I guess my attitude is summed up by the T-shirt that begins "Don't mess with Texas."

[Valentino]

A girl I once knew gave me a "Don't mess with Texas" ashtray. Must be 20 years ago.
Before I retire I give you my favourite song by That little ol' band from Texas:

If you're down in Acuna and you ain't up to being alone
Dont spend all your money on just any honey that's grown.
Go find the mexican blackbird and send all your troubles back home.

They all call her her puta cause no one really knows her name.
She works the cantina, dancin and a-lovins her trade.
Her mama was mezcan and her daddy was the ace of spades.

Oh, lets drive that old chrysler down to mexico, boy.
(Said, keep your hands on the wheel there.
Oh, it sure is fine, aint it?
Now, ya got it! hand me another one of them brews from back there.
Oh, this is gonna be so good.)

Mm, shes hot as a pepper but smooth as a mexican brew.
So head for the border and put in an order or two.
The wings of the blackbird will spread like an eagle for you.

Oh, one more time,
(Can you roll me another bull durham, please?
Cant you do it with one hand, boy?)

Have a splendid weekend. I'd do Saturday night casual classics in Dallas.

[Joe Barron]

Who is the Austin musician?'

Ray Benson, of Asleep at the Wheel.

[SonicMan46]

OK, all - I'm waiting for Gurn to 'chime into' this thread -  

Personally, I love Texas history, such a transitional piece of geography - Spain, Mexico, & US!  I've made about a half dozen visits, including San Antonio (w/ the Alamo), Austin (Driskoll Hotel a must visit or stay!), Houston, & Dallas - but I must say that these 'city' visits really cannot reflect the variety and beauty of this large state - would take months, if not years, to appreciate!    Just a voice of experience - took me a number of years to appreciate the vast variety of own my home state, North Carolina-

[drogulus]

I've been to USS Texas, or onboard, rather. Houston had no sidewalks, but college radio played Heather Nova. And you always have ZZ Top.

    I was on the USS Massachusetts in Fall River. I'd love to see the Texas. The website says it's the last dreadnaught. I suppose what they mean is pre-1914 or some other semi-arbitrary distinction. Anyway, it's pre-Arizona.

[Gurn Blanston]

Well, Texas is the greatest state in the Union, and I've been to all of them and lived in a few. I wasn't born here, but I got here as quick as i could.    Y'all don't have anything to worry about in Arlington, it's (was?) a nice little city. I lived in a couple of places near there, and worked there for a few years. Stuff happens, but that's true anywhere. As Don says, the weather is a bit touchy at times, it takes some getting used to and y'all aren't going to be here long enough for that. So you'll have some stories to tell your grandkids about how your ass got burned up in Texas because you were, ummm, adventurous enough to come down here in the summer. April and October are the right times, BTW. Anyway, I've lived here for 30 years now, and I can't imagine living anywhere else. The people are honest and friendly (except if you're a smartass. I'd advise against that ). Just relax and have a good time.



----------------
Listening to:
Jakob Lindberg / Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble - G 446 Quintet #2 in E for Guitar & Strings 4th mvmt - Polacca (Tempo di minuetto)

[Gurn Blanston]

    I was on the USS Massachusetts in Fall River. I'd love to see the Texas. The website says it's the last dreadnaught. I suppose what they mean is pre-1914 or some other semi-arbitrary distinction. Anyway, it's pre-Arizona.

Yes, pre-1914. Head on down to Corpus and check it out. It's cool!



PS - Don't be fooled looking at a map though, it's a full 8 hour drive from Arlington to Corpus!

----------------
Listening to:
Jakob Lindberg / Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble - G 449 Quintet #5 in D for Guitar & Strings 4th mvmt - Andantino pausato con variazioni

[SonicMan46]

Do they still call it "Variety Vacationland" like they did when I lived there as a kid?'

Well, when you were a kid living in North Carolina?  That title may have changed over the centuries - 

But, at present, the so-called Tarheel State has a lot of variety to offer, e.g. do you want 'Original 13 colonial history', Sea coast/Outer Banks, Mountains (including much of the Blue Ridge Parkway), Revolutionary/Civil War history, and much more - if you've not been here in a while, please try to come back! 

[SonicMan46]

1962-1965. There was a nifty tune that went with a jingle "North Carolina, land of mountain breezes, North Carolina (some other fine attribute, probably something about Kitty Hawk, the Mako lights, or Bucky Fuller being at Black Mountain College).

http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/vacationland/index.html

And evidence of why that would stick in the brain:

http://www.wral.com/golo/blogpost/5314811/

Thanks for the links - I moved to NC in 1971; can't comment on seeing that particular plate on a car (but of course could have easily missed it!) - but still plenty to enjoy here!  BTW, Black Mountain is just outside of Asheville and a great place to visit - a college no longer exits (but was pretty famous in its time).

Concerning the economy - in a sorry state w/ the loss of textile & furniture manufacturing (won't mention tobacco since I'm in the medical profession and on a 'non-smoking' campus) - grape growing & wine has partially replaced some of this previous industry, but the future of the state will involve a different direction - we're working on it!   

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

The governor has talked about secession, and I'm all in favor.

Texas was an independent country in the 19th century. IMHO, it should be again.