GENERAL INFORMATION: Texas is DIFFERENT

Nowhere but Texas

10 things I noticed when I first came to Texas

1. Stars EVERYWHERE. Not just on the helmets of the Dallas Cowboys (who are always on TV) but on just about every Pro sports team in Texas plus buildings, billboards, etc. It might be the Lone Star State but every place you look has one or more stars.

2. Peppers EVERYWHERE. When I came to Texas, I've lived here for 7 years now, I was amazed at the pepper aisle in the produce section. I never saw and entire aisle devoted to peppers when I lived anywhere else.

3. The shape of the state ON EVERYTHING. I'm not talking about road signs and highways, because you would expect that. I'm talking about corn chips, or nacho chips, crackers, and cheese. No where but Texas can you find cheese in the shape of the state. New York Cheddar doesn't come in the shape of NY - maybe someone in Wisconsin has formed the state into cheese. But no where else - Trust Me!

4. Pickup Truck editions. Every pickup manufacturer has a "Texas Edition" or "Lone Star Edition". Even the foreign jobs. You won't see a Florida Edition truck.

Or a Massachusetts edition - heck, nobody would buy a Massachusetts Edition truck.

5. State Flag Salutes. OK, I get choked up when I salute the American Flag and I think I was the only one at Jury Duty (yes, I go and don't try to get out of it) that didn't know the Texas salute. Trust me, Florida doesn't have a salute and I know California doesn't have one because if they did, I would have heard of a lawsuit saying their kids don't have to say it.

6. "Fixin". Everybody is always fixin to do this or that. Or fixin to go somewhere. Not fixing just FIXIN' or FIXEN for you English majors.

7. Jalapeños. I know this sounds like a re-hash of #2 but it isn't. McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's don't serve jalapeños as a side in other states. They just don't. You can't even ask for them at most US locations.

8. Gigantic State Flags. I'm use to Car dealers and Furniture Stores with big US Flags but this is the first state I've ever called home where you are just as likely to see a gigantic Texas State Flag.

9. Country Fried Steak and Tex Mex. Thank you Texas for two of the greatest food items to ever grace a table. I guess you can find these in other states but they don't hold a candle to the variety and pride that the Texas restaurant's seem to place on these two wonderful entrees.

10. Barbecue Grills in the Sporting Goods Stores. I told a fellow Texan, a native Texan I might add, that I found this to be strange. He said "well, where else do they sell grills in Florida". I told him stores like Home Depot or Lowes. He said, "You mean, they don't sell them in the sporting goods sections"?. It is so ingrained as a sport here that no one thinks it is strange.

My intent is not to say Texas are wrong. I love my new state but I did notice these wonderful differences. So let me drink a Shiner while I sit down to a meal of Country Fried Steak in my boots and come up with the top 10 things I love about Texas.