A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....08-05-03....Texas, MY Texas

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

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For the past several weeks, we've been enjoying Mama Bear's cyber tours of various states of the USA, and she will be introducing even more as her time permits, until we've visited them all. As all our hostesses live in a different state, we decided that each of us would feature our own state, and today I'd like to invite you to Waltz Across Texas with me.

Texas is the only state to have the flags of 6 different nations fly over it. They are: Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate States, and the United States.

Texas boasts the nation's largest herd of whitetail deer.

Jalapeno pepper jelly originated in Lake Jackson and was first marketed in 1978.

President George W. Bush and former President George H.W. Bush proudly call Texas their home, and two other Presidents were born in Texas: Dwight D. Eisenhower, our 34th President, was born in Denison, Texas, on October 14, 1890; and the 36th President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, was born on August 27, 1908, near Johnson City, Texas.

Texas can lay claim to: 13 Masters titles, 11 U.S. Opens, 6 British Opens, 14 PGAs, 13 U.S. Womens's Opens, 19 Vardon Trophies (awarded annually for lowest scoring average), and 9 Ryder Cup captains.

Texas is the home of other Sports Giants and Champions: The Dallas Cowboys (NFL), Dallas Mavericks (NBA), Dallas Stars (NHL), Dallas Burn (MLS), The Houston Astros (MLB), Houston Rockets (NBA), Houston Comets (WNBA), Houston Texans (NFL), Houston ThunderBears (AFL), San Antonio Spurs (NBA), and The Texas Rangers (MLB).

Six Flags Over Texas, Schlitterbahn Waterpark ........ and the Eiffel Tower. :)

Eiffel Tower, Paris, Texas

There are fourteen other American municipalities named "Paris," and more than a few have chosen to erect Eiffel Tower replicas to pay homage to their French namesake, but no others are adorned with a giant cowboy hat.

But at 60-ft. tall, it is edged out of faux-foreign architecture dominance by a mere five feet. The Eiffel Tower in Paris, TX is 65-ft. tall, built by the local iron worker's union.

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If you thought everyone wore cowboy boots, a 10 gallon stetson hat like J.R. Ewing of Dallas, and had an oil well in their back yard, you would be only partly right. Texas is made up of seven distinct regions; In some of those regions, the stetsons and boots are more at home than others. Let's take a look at the seven regions.

Cowboy boots and stetsons are at home in large parts of this region! I spent several summers at church camp in the Davis Mountains as a young teen. Sunrise, and evening services on top of a mountain - breathtaking!

Lubbock, Amarillo, Wichita Falls.....
Farmland - beautiful rows of wheat and cotton for miles and miles, wide open spaces. Cattle, horses grazing. You'll see cowboy boots and stetsons here. :)

My very favorite of all the Texas regions - I was born in this part of the country and spent my early childhood in Austin. It's the prettiest of all of Texas to me, with crystal clear lakes, rivers and streams, rolling hills, oak trees, bluebonnets, quaint little towns, bed & breakfasts and more. Just driving through this part puts me in a vacation mood.

Oh, Big D! What you do to me! The Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex! My favorite place to shop! Shopping, Amusement Parks, Sports, Dining! It's all there. 'Nuff said. :)

I know least about this region, but the fall colors are spectacular - forests, National Parks every where! A wonderful, scenic drive.

Have spent many vacations in Corpus Christi, Padre Island. Beautiful beaches. And Houston, known most recently as Space City, the largest city in Texas, has so much to offer. Sports, shopping, entertainment, fine dining, night life.

One level below the busy streets of downtown, the Paseo del Rio is San Antonio's premier visitor experience! The popular River Walk is edged by hotels, art and gift shops, restaurants and sidewalk cafes, boutiques, and live music, riverboat cruises. I love this place!

It's like a whole other country. It has roughly 262,000 square miles of land area, and another 5,000 or so square miles of water.

More land is farmed in Texas than in any other state.

The world's third largest telescope is atop Mount Locke in the Davis Mountains.

The nation's longest highway in any one state is U.S. 83. 903 miles from Brownsville to the Panhandle. (Interstate 10 is only 878.7 miles long from Louisiana just east of Orange, Texas, to El Paso.)

The world's largest spring fed swimming pool, with a 62,000 square foot surface (almost 1.5 acres) is Balmorhea State Park in the Big Bend Region. It's one of the largest man-made pools in the United States.

The world's tallest masonry structure (taller than either the Washington Monument or the Statue of Liberty) is the San Jacinto Battlefield Monument.

The world's most complete collection of working World War II aircraft is the Confederate Air Force, located in Midland (home of the Presidents Bush).

And finally, there are over 1400 FReepers who fly the Texas flag on their profile pages - more than any other state. :)

Welcome to Texas, Ya'll!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-04-03 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[mrs tiggywinkle]

**A wide variety of butterflies can be found in Texas, but the monarch rules!**

The monarch rules in Northern California too. :o) The eucalyptus trees in Pacific Grove are home to millions from November to February. You can scoop them up and just hold them...it's chilly so they don't move freely til later in the day. Beautiful site.

[lonestar]

...5 now hot bodies and a dog in 105 degree heat!!

As they saying goes, "If you don't like the weather, wait 30 minutes." Another,

"The sun has riz, the sun has set, and here I is in Texas yet." (somebody beat me to it?)

I actually live closer to Chicago than to El Paso. Maybe we should do some redistricting that direction, too. LOL!

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

My thought on that interminable dash was,"Who on earth could live HERE??!!"

While Texas is a perfectly wonderful place to live for most people, former Marines, wimps that they are, might find the going a bit tough. Try France! ;-)

[Billie]

It looks like it's going to be good!

Well, the REALLY good part of it is that MY STATE'S DONE!!!!!!!

The rest of you still have yours ahead of you!!!

[Diver Dave]

My compliments again, Billie. Ya done good. Can definitely see why all you Texans boast so proudly.

Atta Girl!!!

[LadyX]

"While Texas is a perfectly wonderful place to live for most people, former Marines, wimps that they are, might find the going a bit tough. Try France! ;-)"

(Pulling self up to my full 5' 4" 115 lb. frame)
Ah do bee-li-uv yew must be either a swabbie or dogface, eaten alive with Corps-Envy..:))

T'was within my extraordinary ability to bear, but was extremely distasteful..:))

Ya ever been to Elliott's Beach at Parris Island???!!!
The Swamp was more fun than Texas.

Furthermore, there is no such thing as "former" Marine! One does not divorce the Corps, and it is one's identity for life and Beyond, guarding the Pearly Gates.....

...:))

[LadyX]

Knew I could count on you, jw...:))

So glad you're back!

[jwfiv]

It's been great to be on the road, but I'm ready to sit still for a couple of days...)

[MaryFromMichigan]

Here is one more picture from our Texas trip.
Hope we get to visit Texas again soon!
Good night all!
I had a lovely visit! Thanks much! Group hug!

[WVNan]

You tell em girl! Once a Marine always a Marine. Sistah mine I was beginning to get worried as I traversed almost the entire thread before seeing that you had checked in. I didn't have an e-mail either, so double worry. I got in late.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Furthermore, there is no such thing as "former" Marine!

OK, EX Marine if you will!

ROFLMAO.......................

[The Mayor]

Sure the fun starts when I'm goin to bed, LOL!

I'll post this now cause I'm leavin early again in the AM.. Maybe : )

The Mayor

[ValerieUSA]

Our Governor, Rick Perry, handing an award to the winner of the 4K race in Dublin, TX

[LadyX]

So glad you two waded into the Finest waters and took the big step toward being a Regular.

Lotsa "Life-savers" and "Life-savors" here..:))

[WVNan]

G'night Tooters. Sorry I wasn't around to say hidee and share a thought or two. Have a good rest. God love ye.

[WVNan]

Man o man do you ever have a proper handle. You're asking for it aren't ye? LOL

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Does Gruene Hall mean anything to y'all?

Was there last summer.

[LadyX]

EX ????!!!

Read my pursed and snarling lips, HC - -

I did not divorce the Marine Corps.
I chose to be a Member for Life.

The Corps is in my blood, and will not desert me.

Cadence calling is My Lullaby!

Semper Fi, dogface/swabbie...:))

[LadyX]

Your charm is exceeded only by your thoughtfulness, Rus - -

I'll save a cup to heat in the microwave in the morning..:))

[jwfiv]

Good morning to ya, Mr. Mayor...)