Aussie! Samantha! Oi!

As Samantha is about to explain to you, we switched places living in each other's countries.  Naturally, I had to ask her to tell you a little bit more about Australia.  Yes, I made up that ridiculously silly title.

Hi Everyone! My name is Samantha and I blog over at my site "Fabulous Fabris" where I talk about anything and everything (there's a lot of cats, books, photography & DIY). Erin and I are very similar, but reversed; while she grew up in the US and is lucky enough to now live in Australia, I was born and raised in Australia, and now I live in the US. I typically get asked "which do you like more?" which is an insanely hard question to answer as I have a kids view of Australia, and an adult view of America, but there are several things that I love and miss about Australia.

The Beach

I know America has beaches, but of the few I've seen, they just pale in comparison to what I grew up with. Some crazy number like 95% of Australians live along the coasts. I happened to grow up a 5 minute drive from the beach on a place called the Sunshine Coast which is aptly named. I spent my summer weekends at the beach, riding the waves on my boogie board. My School also happened to be about a 10 minute walk to the beach (no swim beach, but we still go to go play in the sand) and we got to do weekly trips to the beach to swim at the end of the school year. The Sunshine Coast was like the Florida of Australia, all the Victorians would come up in the winter and go swimming. Too cold for my tastes, but that gives you an idea of how cold the winters were, which leads to...  

Winter... or lack thereof

You could get away with wearing short sleeves some winter days, especially if you've experience a snowy winter. When spring rolls around here in Michigan and someone comments about how it's such a nice day I just laugh because it's equivalent to a cold winter day in Australia.

Food

I think meat pies alone are enough of a reason to move back to Australia. Meat pies are everywhere and it's just the best thing ever. But they're not the only delicious treats in Australia, there are lamingtons, sausage rolls, twisties, the best fish and chips.... I could go on. I don't know how America is more fat than Australia (Ok, just kidding, but still).  

Everything

Ok, I exaggerate, but there's so much to love about Australia: the people, the atmosphere, the landscape, the unique wildlife. Everything is just so much more laid back. Whenever somebody hears that I'm from Australia, the first thing they say is "I've always wanted to go there!" but most people never end up going. Probably because it's so freakin' expensive. Don't give me the "oh, there are so many deadly creatures". If you look up your facts, basically nobody actually dies from them. Here's a fact I learned at a museum in Sydney: Don't throw at me that you're scared of sharks or drowning. Did you know that nobody has ever drowned on a patrolled beach?? Yep, it's those foolish tourists who swim where they're not supposed. Swim between the flags!

So if you ever have a chance to go to Australia, DO IT! Everyone says they love it for a reason. 

Now I'm going to leave you with some Aussie facts you may not have known (I didn't even know some of these until I found them): 

• The biggest property in Australia is bigger than Belgium. 
• Australia was the second country in the world to allow women to vote (New Zealand was first) 
• Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke set a world record for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds 
• Per capita, Australians spend more money on gambling than any other nation. 
• If you visited one new beach in Australia every day, it would take over 27 years to see them all. 
• Within days of The First Fleet’s arrival and the raising of the British flag, two French ships arrived, just too late to claim Australia for France. 
  

Thanks so much to Erin for letting me guest on her blog! I hope she's having a wonderful time visiting her family in America!! 

Thank YOU, Samantha!  Now, if she hasn't convinced you to visit Australia, what about visiting me?  Isn't that reason enough??

A German girl who was in an American world

While I'm in Texas, I've invited some guest bloggers to take over.  Today we visit Katrin who blogs at land of candy canes, and we are often sharing messages about our mutual love of books and animals. 

Hello Erin's readers! 

My name is Katrin and I feel very honored to be able to write a guest post for Erin's blog today. I am a German native but lived in America for quite a while. I am a huge book worm and I love spending time with animals. Especially with my furry family members (cats and bunnies) but I do love all animals. Other than that I enjoy doing all kinds of creative things, going to the flea market, watching a good movie or show, writing...

As a former expat I know that some things can be confusing when you live in a strange country. Which is why I want to tell you a little bit about my experiences as a German in America.

Going to the movies.

I love movies and I enjoy seeing them in a big theater. There's just something special about it: the popcorn and other unhealthy snacks, the seats, the atmosphere.....it is just very cozy in my opinion. In addition to that it is also another special experience in the US: a freezing cold one. The first time I went to the movies in America I almost froze to death. And I really mean it. It was summer, super hot out and I was only wearing sandals, t-shirt...summer stuff.  I just was not prepared and I honestly thought I wouldn't be able to survive this movie. A couple of times I was close to leaving the theater. I will never understand America's obsession with air conditioning. No matter where you go, it is freezing. Not my thing at all because I am the person who always has cold feet and uses a hot water bottle 9 months a year. That first trip to the movie theater really taught me a lesson and I never went unprepared again: I brought a warm cardigan, a scarf, even socks and hoped for the best.

No grumpiness.

I admit it, Germans can be a bit grumpy here and there. Especially when they have to wait in line. Which is why a trip to a German post office usually isn't a very enjoyable experience. People get impatient and grouchy. When I first went to an American post office, I did not know what to expect. I mean, I only knew the German counterpart....but I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, there was a long line and yes, you had to wait. But people greeted me and asked me how I was doing and actually started a conversation with me...a nice one! Without any complaints. Post office suddenly felt like a heavenly place to go. 

Eating out. 

Going to a restaurant in Germany and in America are pretty different experiences. The first thing I realized in America is that you actually have to wait to be seated. In Germany I just pick out a table, go there, sit down and wait for the waitress to arrive. In America you have to patient before you even get a table. First time we went to a restaurant in America the waitress told us that we would have to wait over an hour for a table. For me that was reason enough to just leave and go somewhere else. When I am hungry then I really don't want to wait an eternity to sit down and order my food. Grumpy, hungry German, I guess. But it turned out that's pretty common. So I tried to be patient (not my strongest quality). Also I have to admit that I always feel a little rushed when I eat in an American restaurant. The waiter often just brings the check at some point and then I feel like I have to leave. I don't know if Americans eat faster than Germans or if the restaurants are just busier but in Germany eating out usually means that you spend at least 2-3 hours in a restaurant. It feels a bit more relaxed, at least for me. I do like the free refills in American restaurants though. I always drink a lot so it is nice to get as much as you want. In Germany you have to pay for every single tiny glass of water. So sometimes you pay a lot more for you drinks than you pay for your food. 

There are some more random weird things (at least for me they are strange):

• Germans always screw up American movie titles and I don't know why. Here's an example:  "Meet the Fockers" is called "Meine Frau, ihre Schwiegereltern und ich" which means "My wife, her parents-in-law and me". "Groundhog day" is called "Und täglich grüßt das Murmeltier" ("And the groundhog greets you daily"). Sometimes they even replace an English title with another English title. "Taken" is called "96 hours" in German. Well, that makes a lot of sense. "Bend it like Beckham" is "Kick it like Beckham". There are millions of examples of how weird Germans are when it comes to naming a movie and I really have no idea why they don't just stick to the original title.

• Automatic cars. Well, that was a challenge for me. I never drove an automatic car before so the first time I felt like my right hand and my left hand were actually useless while driving. I was so used to driving a car with a stick that I wanted to change gears and use the clutch. 

• All American bank notes pretty much look the same to me. Why don't they have different colors. A couple of times I had to apologize when it took me forever to pay. Also, it seems like I am the only person who prefers paying cash in America. 

• I will never understand the obsession with red plastic cups. Or plastic dishes in general. 

• Chips for lunch. A pretty common thing in America. For me chips are a TV snack. 

• All the ice in the drinks. Too much for me. Also it waters down the whole drink if you choose something other than water. 

So now I am curious to hear about your weird expat or traveling experiences! Please share with me! Thank you so much for reading! 

And Erin, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity! You rock!

Sunday's Seven Snapshots, Canada Edition

Brooke has the philosophy that "Everyday is an adventure"; I love that.  She blogs about her home, life, and adventures in beautiful Canada.  Not too long ago, I told her that Nova Scotia was never on my radar to visit.  After all the breathtaking photos she shares, I SO want to go.

Hi everyone! I'm Brooke and I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia with my boyfriend and our dog, but we haven't always called the East Coast home. At the end of 2013, we decided to completely uproot our lives from the Canadian Prairies and go back to school. Over the course of a couple months, we quit our jobs, rented out our house, sold the majority of our possessions, and made the 4,000km drive to Halifax, Nova Scotia. To be honest, I didn't know a lot about Halifax before our move, but I couldn't be happier with our decision. Nova Scotia is an incredibly scenic province that has reignited my love for the great outdoors. Over the past 1.5 years of living here, I've been lucky to go on many great adventures, and today I'm going to share with you seven of my favorite snapshots taken around this beautiful province.

1. On top of the world at Duncan's Cove! This is one of my favorite coastal hikes. The terrain is rugged and barren and you can hike forever along the coast while the waves crash against the rocks and granite cliffs next to you. Good shoes are mandatory!

2. The Bay of Fundy is known for having the highest tides in the world, but it should also be known for beautiful sunsets. We caught this one on a recent cabin getaway. I had to eat my supper in about 30 seconds and sprint to the beach to get this picture, but it was well worth the upset stomach!

3. Crystal Crescent Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the area. If you're feeling adventurous, it also has one of the best coastal hikes that makes for a full day of fun. My boyfriend has never seen a big rock that he didn't want to climb.

4. Peggy's Cove is probably one of the most famous attractions in the area. It's not just a lighthouse though. The little village is very quintessential East Coast.

5. Lawrencetown Beach is one of my favorite places because it's where all the surfers hang out. I'm not one of them, but I want to be. Fortunately, you don't have to be a surfer to enjoy the view with your dog.

6. Last summer we drove the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton for the first time. It is an incredibly scenic drive with plenty of hikes and places to stop along the way. Apparently, it is even more spectacular in the fall.

7. I had to include this picture as proof that it's not always cold here! We actually get plenty of beautiful weather even though our recent winter would have you think otherwise. This was taken last summer at Lawrencetown Beach.   Have you ever visited Nova Scotia?

Who wants to go visit Brooke in Nova Scotia with me?!?  

Texas Chat

jenn asked the questions (she is celebrating her 10th blogiversary, and this is part of that celebration)- I answered - after all, I am currently visiting Texas, so the timing is right y'all:

one. if you could have dinner with any athlete or coach currently playing for or employed by a texas team, whom would you choose?  J.J. Watt

Photo source

two. who's your least favorite texan?  Lawrence Russell Brewer (and his accomplices)

three. whose your favorite?  Really?  How am I to choose?  I can't even choose my favorite Texas musician, or favorite Texas actor/actress, or favorite Texas philanthropist.  The very first one that came to mind was Willie Nelson. 

four. who's the most famous texan you've met in person?  Matthew McConaughey - I really just bumped into him and we shared hellos.

five. the flagship hotel in galveston, which had to be torn down due to hurricane damage, was built completely over water. the galveston island historic pleasure pier is now located where the hotel stood. if you could build anything you wanted completely over water, what would it be?  These questions aren't easy, are they?  I'm sure it's been done, but an aquarium built with water underneath.  Seeing the ocean/sea animals in as natural of a habitat as possible would be incredible.

six. galveston has the oldest newspaper in the state, the daily news. if your hometown could have the oldest of anything in the state, what would you want it to be? Oldest diner serving chicken fried steak

seven. the heisman trophy was named for john william heisman, the first full-time coach and athletic director at rice university in houston. if you were to have a trophy named after you, what would candidates need to achieve in order to qualify for the award?  Since I love live music and supporting live music, my award would be presented annually to the attendee for the most live music shows in Texas.

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eight. if a songwriter in texas wanted to write a country song about your life, what might serve as the perfect title for this tune?  "You can take the girl outta Texas but not Texas outta the girl" 

nine. if you could be doing anything at all in texas at this very moment, what would it be?  I'm about to do it.  As I write this, I'm about to go eat at Wings 'n' More in College Station with my brother, sister-in-law, nieces, and nephew.  Can't think of a whole lotta things I'd rather be doing.

ten. what is the single greatest moment in texas history?  Battle of San Jacinto

eleven. mary kay ash of mary kay cosmetics had a twelve-thousand-square-foot, pink mansion in dallas. if you could have a supersized home what twist would you give it to make it uniquely yours?  I'd have a huge, comfy bath tub with a station full of bath soaps, washes, and bubble baths...plus a station with hot tea or wine so I can easily fix my drink of choice.  Oh, and there'd be a music station too with relaxing playlists, and fuzzy blankets on the floor for my kitties to rest on while I'm in the bath.  They like that.

twelve. of all the songs you can think of where the word "texas" or the name of a texas town appears in the song's title (for example, "amarillo by morning"), which one is your overall favorite?  First one to come to mind is ZZ Top's La Grange

thirteen. of the scores of films filmed in whole or part in texas, such as "apollo thirteen," which one is your favorite, and which one is your least favorite?  Again, realllllly difficult for me to choose, but I'd say Urban Cowboy for favorite and The Alamo (2004) for least favorite.

fourteen. texas a&m is recognized as home of the twelfth  man because its students stand throughout the entire football game to show support for the team. what is the best example of texas pride you have ever witnessed?  Any time I see someone in the armed forces serving in another country waving a Texas flag or wearing a Texas flag, my heart swells. 

Photo source:  Marines with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) hold up the Texas state flag during a remembrance ceremony for San Jacinto Day at the 2nd MAW (Fwd.) headquarters compound on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 21. San Jacinto Day commemorates a battle between the Texas Army and Mexican forces and is considered the turning point for Texas' independence from Mexico, April 21, 1836.

fifteen. texas tapped its first oil gusher in nineteen-one, and the state now produces about five hundred million barrels of crude oil annually. if you had five barrels of oil that you could sell at current market value, what would you buy with the money?  Sad to admit, but I'd pay off debts.

sixteen. to people who don't hail from the lone star state, the texas twang can indeed sound a bit strange, but to your ears which united state's region's people have the oddest sounding accent?  Not sure...maybe Bostonians?

seventeen. what is your biggest pet peeve about texans as a whole?  I LOVE Texas pride.  I don't love Texas arrogance or ignorance or an unwillingness to experience other cultures.

eighteen. if you could have been there to witness any specific moment in texas sports history, what moment would you choose?  Of all the Texas teams that I support, the only one to win a championship that proved them better than all others that year was the Houston Rockets.  So, I'd love to have been at the game that the Rockets won those finals.  (I did attend two MLS Cups when the Houston Dynamo won.)

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nineteen. what is the most disappointing, perhaps downright depressing moment in the history of texas sports?  There's been a lot.  The Astros getting swept by the White Sox in the World Series, that hurt. 

twenty. if you could build a dream house along any lake or river in texas, where would you go build it, and what would your waterfront retreat look like?  A house along the Guadalupe River.  It's where we vacationed when I was a kid, and I've been back several times as an adult.

twenty-one. if you were offered one hundred free acres of land anywhere in texas to use or develop as you wish, where would you want your property to be located and what would you do with it?  Build a camp in the Hill Country for disadvantaged kids

twenty-two. what is the most beautiful geographical feature in the entire state of texas?  Well, I'm stretching with this one, but I can't list some of my favorites about Texas without mentioning bluebonnet season, so I'll say rolling hills in Central Texas with bluebonnets and Texas wildflowers scattered all over.

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twenty-three. what is the most exciting annual event held in texas?  I'll go with South by South West (SXSW) because I love music, and I love Austin.

twenty-four. what is the most overrated tourist attraction in texas?  Prada storefront "artwork" in Marfa

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twenty-five. texas has more miles of highway--over seventy thousand--than any other state in the nation. if you had to do a summer road trip within texas on only one of the highways, which highway would you travel and what would be the main points of interest for you along the way?  I suppose I'd say I-10 because Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso are all on it...but I-10 is not exactly my fave.  I'd rather hit the back roads.  I'd think that would be a much more interesting trip.  "(P)oints of interest"?  The food.  I'd eat at diners, taquerias, even gas stations.

I'm at my dad's and step-mom's now.  I've had little to no time to visit any of your blogs, but I haven't forgotten you.  I will be back to visiting, reading, and commenting after my Texas getaway.

All hail Queen Dolly

Jana does a fine job of introducing herself, and she says pretty much what I was going to say, so I'll just let her say it:

Hi, Erin’s readers! I’m Jana and I blog at Jana Says and I’m thrilled to be guest posting here while Erin is back in the U.S. It’s going to be hard filling in for her but I’ll try. There more I get to know Erin, there more we realize just how much we have in common. So it came as no surprise to either of us that we both have a shared, unabashed love for, of all people, Dolly Parton. Two rocker chicks who love Dolly. How great is that? I mean, how can you not love Dolly? She’s an icon, fabulous, and pretty much all around one of the greatest entertainers and songwriters ever. And not only that, she’s in Steel Magnolias, which is a movie I quote almost daily. While you might not enjoy Dolly’s songs or Steel Magnolias as much as I do, here’s some things about her you’re sure to appreciate:

1. She keeps her private life private. In an age where we have celebrities shoved down our throats and in our faces hourly, and where celebrity marriage last as long as a roll of toilet paper, Dolly has been married to her husband Carl for 49 years and finding a picture of him is about as rare as finding a unicorn. I love that about her, keeping her husband out of the spotlight (from what I understand, at his request, too) and her marriage away from chronic gossip.
2. She owns an amusement park. Dollywood. In East Tennessee. Where she’s from. Dolly grew up in poverty and when she had the money, she bought the amusement park as a way to keep businesses and jobs in her home county.
3. She’s ridiculously accomplished. Dolly’s written thousands of songs, is an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) nominee, is tied with Beyonce as the most Grammy nominated woman EVER (she’s won a bunch, too), is in more Hall of Fames than would be fun to read, and she’s been honored with a bunch of humanitarian awards. Oh, right. And she wrote “I Will Always Love You” and we all know what that did for Whitney.
4. She started The Imagination Library. Like she did with Dollywood, she founded it to help her home county. The premise of the program is to increase literacy and foster a love of books among preschoolers by sending them one age appropriate book per month. FOR FREE. And there’s no income requirement. It’s expanded since it’s inception and now, almost one million kids from the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK are registered. And it’s all been done with very little publicity.
5. She says stuff like this (all images found on Mashable):

  I know that, on the surface, Dolly’s all big hair and rhinestones and makeup and plastic surgery and fake boobs but underneath all of that, is a fiercely talented, smart, savvy, creative businesswoman who embraces who she is with no excuses. It’s a special kind of awesome.  

I love this post because Dolly is fantastic and Jana is awesome and all the reasons Jana loves Dolly are reasons I love Dolly.  One more thing that I have to mention about Dolly: her look isn't unique.  In fact, she admits that she was inspired to fix her hair, do her make-up, and wear her clothes fashioned by the local backwoods hooker from her hometown.  And she OWNS that.  She owns her fake boobs, her wigs, her nails, her nips & tucks, and her vanity.  I admire and love that about her. 

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I show you my books; you show me yours... vol.4

I'm in Texas now, probably stuffing my face with as much TexMex as possible.  But, I can't miss this link-up.  It's my favorite link-up ever because, well, you know, book nerds unite!  Because I'm vacationing and family-ing, I may not read all the links immediately. I WILL read them because I love seeing the input from other blogging readers. I encourage you to do the same. 

 

Now, here's what I've read since our last link-up...

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta - I loved this book. So much love. I loved these characters (many are the same from Marchetta's book Saving Francesca that I reviewed here).  The author captures the spirit of the Sydney suburb and culture so well, all the while getting the reader to become emotionally invested in the characters.  I wanted to know what happened but didn't want it to end. Marchetta needs to write more! 5/5

 

You by Caroline Kepnes - Jana read this, and we share some similar tastes in books, so I thought I'd definitely read this one.  The book is intense and provocative, most of the characters are severely flawed and damaged, and many scenes gave me the heebie jeebies.  The downside to the book is I found myself with about 100 pages left to read thinking, "okay, I got it...now, let's just get it over with already".  Wanting a book to end isn't a good thing.  I don't know why I reached that point.  I still enjoyed the intensity and anticipation involved, but I was ready for it to be finished.  I still recommend it if you like reading about creepy, psychotic stalkers.  3.5/5

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum - I read this for The Official 2015 TBR Pile Challenge - The book bounces back and forth between a German woman living in Germany during WWII, and her adult daughter, professor of German Studies who lives in America.  I had high expectations for this book, and I was disappointed.  The daughter's character was flat to me.  There was one storyline that was completely unnecessary and lessened the enjoyment; it didn't work with the character development at all.  This book examines atrocities of WWII and looks at the desperation of women living in German towns. The things the maternal character experienced and lived through were extremely painful and scarred the rest of her life. I'd prefer if the book focused completely on her and less on her daughter in the aftermath. There are better books out there about this time period.  2.5/5 

The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence - In recent years, I've read a few books with awkward narrators that have proven to be endearing and enjoyable. It took me a little longer to get into this one, but it definitely won me over.  Highly intelligent, socially awkward Alex Woods in not your average teenager.  He has no father or grandfather figure in his life and no one that he considers a friend (except his neurologist that he meets after being diagnosed epileptic, an astrophysicist that he meets after being hit by a meteor, and a librarian or two). He develops such a relationship and friendship with a neighbour. The story takes the reader on a journey examining issues such as morality, mortality, loyalty, and how far would you go for something you believe in. 4.5/5

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King - I don't read much Stephen King because I'm not really into fantasy/paranormal. This isn't that. A goodreads reader's choice winner for 2014, this is a straight up thriller with a retired detective, an unusual group of helpers, and a disturbed antagonist. Seriously. This bad guy is a total whack job.  Some of his thoughts and actions are so disturbing, they are really uncomfortable to read.  But, a demented, disturbed bad guy makes for a good thriller/mystery.  There were some far-fetched moments, but I was willing to go there for the sake of the story.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  Apparently, it's the first of a trilogy.  I look forward to reading the next two books. 4.5/5

Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty - I don't even know how I feel about this book. At times, I rolled my eyes. Other times, I wanted to slap some sense into these women, the both of 'em.  Then, my heartached and my heart swelled.  Stories of friendship, family, faith in oneself and faith in others, parental love, spousal love, and new love...this book has all of that and more. I was endeared, at times; and I was annoyed other times. I got all kinds of feels. 

The Book of Joe by Jonathan Tropper - This author has 5 or 6 books. I've read two. I will read them all. His characters are dysfunctional and flawed. So much so that it is difficult to decide if you really, really like them or are absolutely annoyed by them.  As the book states: "I find that most people worth knowing are fucked up in some way or another.”  I couldn't agree more, and I enjoy Tropper's characters and writing style immensely. 4.5/5

Let me know what you've read lately. Any of these?

What's so great about Texas

As I am visiting family, friends, and loved ones, I've roped in a few bloggers to guest post. The very first request I sent was to jenn (she doesn't like uppercase letters, so I'm super impressed that she used them in this post).  I've known jenn for 25+ years, and through the wacky world of facebook, we reconnected a few years back.  jenn blogs at quirky pickings; as a blogger, she is one of the most honest, vulnerable, courageous, skilled writers out there.   

Erin wanted me to talk to y'all about Texas, and for weeks her email inviting me to write a guest post sat in my inbox, waiting for me to find the words. It's just that there's so much I could say. Ours is not a small state. It's the second largest, second most populated state in the nation. It covers a total area of 268,581 square miles. Crossing Texas from the west's El Paso to the east's Orange means traveling 762 miles. Not so long ago I drove from my home (a northern suburb of Houston) to Lubbock up in the panhandle; it took around ten hours or so, and I listened to ten CDs on the trip. El Paso's closer to San Diego, California than to Houston, by the way, and Beaumont is closer to Jacksonville, Florida than to El Paso. It takes the better part of a day to get out of here, pretty much any direction you go, and that really sucks. But most of us--save for gals like Erin--are so fond of this place that we don't want to leave.

I've been fortunate in that I've gotten to do quite a bit of traveling in my life. I've seen about a third of the United States and toured parts of Western Europe on three separate occasions. I'm always excited to venture out. I'm always glad to be home. It's not that I think Texas is the best; it bothers me when people say it is. I'm inclined to say it's not, actually, that that's pretty conceited and makes us look like assholes, but then I'm hard-pressed to come up with a state that's better. Also every time I watch Lone Survivor and Mark Wahlberg, playing Marcus Luttrell, tells the kid he's from Texas, there's this sudden surge of pride within me--like it really is the best place. Still, it can't compete with other countries. I am in love with England and Wales and the Netherlands and Germany and, closer to home, there's the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts, and their beaches are infinitely, infinitely better than ours. But Texas has managed to produce some pretty nifty stuff.

That right there's the best flag ever made. In 1831, Mexico gave settlers of Gonzales, Texas a cannon to be used in fending off the Comanches. Four years later, Mexico tried to take it back. Instead of handing over the cannon, those Texans fashioned a flag. And so began the first military engagement of our revolution.

The best thing ever said about Texas was spoken by Davy Crockett: You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas. There's a popular  bumper sticker: I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could. There's a Texas A&M t-shirt bearing a quote by General George S. Patton, Jr.: Give me an army of West Point graduates, and I'll win a battle; give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win the war.

What makes Texas so great, I think, is its diversity. East Texas looks nothing like the west: half the state is forest and half is desert. The Rocky Mountains, so prevalent in the American West, trail off in the panhandle so, yes, there are mountains here, though most outside the state argue this. Central Texas' Hill Country, near San Antonio and Austin, has the prettiest terrain. Then there's the culture: a lovely blend of Southern charm and chivalry, Western ruggedness and simplicity and Southwestern boldness and vitality. The food, the drinks... the booze: we make a lot of yummy yummy goodness here, like the breakfast burrito, chicken fried steak, king ranch casserole, Dr. Pepper and Shiner Bock. And the people... Texas is a veritable melting pot, indeed. I think a lot of that is because six flags have flown over this state: Spain, France, Mexico, our own, the Confederacy and the United States. And part of that is because, well, America's been a haven for so many.

It's gonna sound really corny, but I'm quite fond of the shape of our state. So many in America look like blocks. And then there's Texas, much of its border defined by the rivers and the sea.

What makes me love this place? The trees--the oaks, the  magnolias and the pines. Driving the backroads is one of my favorite things to do. That trek I made to Lubbock? I took the long way (because it doesn't matter how you go; your ass is gonna be planted for an unbearably long time) so I could enjoy the scenery. And my street looks like this nine months of out the year:

On those days when my inner landscape is so dreary, sometimes all I have to do is take a walk.

Winter lasts about four weeks; the temperature rarely drops below forty, and snow and ice are anomalies. Sure, it gets hot here, but I have a feeling y'all know what that's like. And yeah, there are hurricanes, and those can be pretty scary, but then we live an hour away from the Gulf of Mexico, which is little more than a cesspool (I'm only being honest... really, y'all, our beaches suck, but at least we have some).

There's lots to do here. It's a good place to be. Mostly? There's the swimming; the only good thing I can say about the university of texas is that they have a damned fine swimming program, one of the best facilities in the country and some of the best swimmers, like Brendan Hansen, Ian Crocker and Aaron Peirsol. And there's the football, but I'm sure Erin's told you about that.

Actually I haven't talked much about football...that gives me a future blog post idea.......