Why Texas Is Awesome

I woke up at 4:30 this morning - not on purpose.  My eye mask slipped off and something very bright woke me.  My eyes are sensitive.

My immediate thought was "it's time to wake up..."  Then I thought "don't forget to order enchiladas."  That's when I knew it wasn't time to get up.  At 4:30 am, the moon was so bright and shining directly into my room.  I thought it was the sun.  That's what happens at 4:30 in the morning.

I Digress.

I thought about it - only a Texan would wake up and remind themselves to order enchiladas. Enchiladas are not in my future, but I thought about them.  I'm not talking authentic enchiladas - delish - I'm talking Tex-Mex.  I'm going to miss Tex-Mex.  I also saw a recipe for spicy, avocado chicken enchiladas yesterday.  That might have triggered this.

So I thought, with only 12 days left as being a Texas resident, I would remind you guys why Texas is the best state in the world.

1.  Rick Perry, contrary to popular belief, is not the only resident of Texas - neither is George W. Bush.  Yes, rich white people who have no compassion for the poor or minorities exist. They live in Texas.  Bigoted politicians also live in Texas.  These people live everywhere.  So back off my state.  Do you ever go "California, eh, they have nice beaches but you know, Richard Nixon" or "I love Maryland, but John Wilkes Booth murdered the president!"  No, nobody says that because you can't base a state's livability off a few infamous people born there.  On the other hand, if you're going to play that game, here's some fun examples from Texas:

1. Academy Award winning actor Chris Cooper.
2. Willie Nelson (who owns a gas station in Carl's Corner, TX because he loves Texas so much).
3. John Archibald - a physicist known for coining the term "black hole."
4. Edward White - first American astronaut to walk in space.
5. Wiley Post - first person to fly solo around the world.
6. Davey Crockett.

2.  Texas has awesome food.  Men's Health ranked Corpus Christi, TX as the fattest city in America.  El Paso and Dallas are 3rd and 4th, respectively.  Houston and San Antonio are also in the top ten.  Putting health issues aside for a moment, how do you think these people got so fat?  It's because Texas has damn good food.  First, Mexicans - Tex-Mex - chimichangas, enchiladas, refried beans.  Food of this kind is unrivaled anywhere else in the states.  Second, barbecue - BBQ.  There are four different styles of barbecuing in Texas. Four in one state. Also, in Texas there is a philosophy for great BBQ - "you can never have enough beef."  That is so American it hurts.  Third, Whataburger - Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit.
Finally, this is a menu from a restaurant in Austin:

To have the freedom to put chicken fingers and mozzarella sticks on your sandwich is a testament to the versatility that which is Texas.

3.  Beer.  I don't know if you guys have had Shiner Bock, but it's good.  It was started in 1909 by a German immigrant named Kosmas Spoetzle who worked in Egypt for nine years making beer at the pyramids.  No joke.

4.  Schlitterbahn is a family owned water park that is fed by the Guadelupe River.  No chlorine, all awesome.

5.  We have deserts, and mountains, and cities, and beaches.

6.  The Texas economy is possibly OK.  At least the cost of living is low.  The median household income is $50,000 and that's reasonable because it's so cheap to live here. Whether it's because there is oil everywhere or because of the influx of immigrants from Mexico, demand in Texas is high.  The country may be falling apart, but Texas isn't.

7.  Texans are so gosh dang friendly.  They just want to watch football and chill.  When people pass you on the street and say "Hi," they just want to say hi.  They don't want your money.  The Texas state motto is "Friendship."  When a guy offers to buy you a drink, he comes back with a pitcher of beer.  Chivalry is not dead in The Lone Star State.

8.  Texas has a really cool history.  We were our own country once!  The Alamo is an awesome story of bravery and courage.  It's nice we had fore-bearers in this state who fought for their independence and were intensely brave about the whole thing.  That's something to be proud of.

In conclusion, say what you will about Texas.  Say what you will about Republicans, gun owners, etc. If there's one thing Texans have, it's pride in the place we grew up.  You don't see that in Connecticut.  Yeah, it's a little insane to be surrounded by some people who really want Texas to secede from the nation.  But I think those people love Texas and want to defend it and save it from a country that is falling apart.  I mean, it's sort of badass if you think about it.  And that's what Texas is all about - being badass.