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 ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

[Billie]

I took this photo last summer near Sonora, Texas, on I-10, where the interstate cut through this mountain. The flag, flying so high above us, was just overwhelmingly beautiful!

[Billie]

I know, I know, I'm late, I'm late. But Texas is SOOOOOO Big, it took me SOOOOOOOO long to post it. :)

"Texas, Our Texas"

Written by William J. Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright
Composed by William J. Marsh

Texas, Our Texas! all hail the mighty State!
Texas, Our Texas! so wonderful so great!
Boldest and grandest, withstanding ev'ry test
O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest.

Texas, O Texas! your freeborn single star,
Sends out its radiance to nations near and far,
Emblem of Freedom! it set our hearts aglow,
With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.

Texas, dear Texas! from tyrant grip now free,
Shines forth in splendor, your star of destiny!
Mother of heroes, we come your children true,
Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you.

God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.
God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

I love the graphic of the woman holding the Texas flag. Beautiful. :o)

**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. **

A lifeguard's nightmare. lol

hey spookie...this is your day to enjoy a bit of Texas!

[iceskater]

It was well worth the wait!

[MeekOneGOP]

Wow ! Great job on the Texas map, Billie !

Chicken D's Anthem
Click here or on the pic !

I wonder if Clint's headin' out to Albuquerque to round up some stray Texas 'RATS ??

Click here or on the pic !!
The Good, the bad, and the Ugly .

[JustAmy]

Good Morning!!! Its about time! LOL

Hope I can get some computer time today; my Texas roots are deep. I also need to read the into; I just read a small portion.

[Calpernia]

Wow GREAT post Billie! Well worth the wait this morning. May I add this?

Love that show!

[Calpernia]

Morning to ALL!

[MeekOneGOP]

I'm not new...just the screen name is new. :o)

Howdy, stranger. Can ya give us a hint ?? Hmm ? California flag ...

[mrs tiggywinkle]

I could tell you...but then I'd have to kill you.

what a dork.

[Calpernia]

>>>>what a dork.

???

That seemed uncalled for.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

Calm down...it was a hint as to what my former screen name is.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

freepmail in a sec

[Texagirl4W]

Good morning to all. Great pictures, Billie. Makes me so proud to be a transplanted from Cajun land (which I still love of course) to Texas.

[Calpernia]

I certainly don't know anyone on the finest thread that calls others dorks.

But I'm still new to the finest. Maybe Billie or Mama_Bear are familiar with Finest Freepers who call others dorks here?

[MeekOneGOP]

Oh ! You moved from New York ??? . . .

[mrs tiggywinkle]

I sent you a freepmail explaining, Calpernia.

It was not my intent to bring difficulty to this sweet thread. My attempt at having fun greatly flubbed. I'm sorry to have offended. I'll take my leave now.

mrs tiggywinkle aka HSM

[Calpernia]

Apologies! It is an innocent "guess who I am"

[MeekOneGOP]

Everything's ok. I know who it is now !! (I think) hehe !

[MeekOneGOP]

HomeSchool Mama ?

[mrs tiggywinkle]

sshhhh

[mrs tiggywinkle]

I should have thought a bit longer before posting, as to how it may come across. I understand about the amount of trolls...I even had difficulty convincing my mother on FR. :o/

thanks.

[MeekOneGOP]

You're secret's safe with me !! lol !
Sorry for my silly wrong guess on the Freep mail there.

[WVNan]

LOL. Now I know why the thread was late. Aw shucks, you would do one of my favorite states on a day when I have to be away all day and evening. Well, have fun with Texas today. Love ya'll.

[Calpernia]

Welcome back Mrs. Tiggywinkle :)

[Billie]

Hi, there, love that new screenname! (I've read 'ahead' so I know who you are!)

Thanks, "mama"! Don't go! (also read that you were 'leaving' now) LOL

[Billie]

Thank you! (Gosh, I should be posting all my 'cowgirl' logos! :)

[Temple Owl]

Good Mornoing Billie and God Bless America and Texas. I don't see any reference to Langtry, the Pecos. or Judge Roy Bean.

Did you know that Judge Roy Bean's brother, Josh, was the first mayor of San Diego?

[Billie]

404 Error - File Not Found :(

Couldn't open your first graphic, Meekie. Copied and pasted the link and it still wouldn't open for me. Bet it's cute, though, with a name like that. :)

Glad you like the map - the 'regions' were alread there - I just added a few graphics 'n' things to it. :)

[Billie]

LOL! Good morning, Amy! It wasn't so terribly late for you West Coasters - but almost lunch time for the East Coast before I got this clunker posted today. :)

[mrs tiggywinkle]

[Billie]

Thank you, Cal!

I've never watched "King of the Hill" - you like it, huh?! :)

[Calpernia]

LOVE IT! It is a catchy tune whether you are familiar or not. ;)

[Billie]

.... transplanted from Cajun land

Hi there! Always glad to see you. :) I love visiting "Cajun land" - pretty country, GREAT food! Love gumbo!!!

[JustAmy]

I'll be back soon. I'm giving up my computer so a 3 1/2 year old can play Maisy1 Can you believe that? I'm an old softie!

Did this already post?

[Calpernia]

:-)

[MeekOneGOP]

It is cute. Lowbridge did it. It's the Chicken D's. His website host is probably down or something.

When it comes alive again, I'll save it and upload it to my Comcast so it won't die in the future.

[Billie]

Hi, again, Cal and MsTiggy. I see that you have had an explanation re "the Dork" comment. It was uttered with utmost affection. :)

[MaryFromMichigan]

Good Morning! :)
This is a picture my sister took at her place near Kemp, Tx.
Great state! All the more special 'cause my sister lives there!
Hot there, though! 103º today, even warmer tomorrow!

[Calpernia]

ROFL!!!!

That mouse has been by my desk too! :)

[The Thin Man]

Texas! Phooey! Texas this......Texas that.....Texas, Texas, Texas! All we hear from you is Texas!

Billie, I really love your Texas thread. I wish we could have one every week. :-)

[mrs tiggywinkle]

sweet...mrs tiggywinkle loves flowers and butterflies. :o)

[Billie]

Well, darn! I wish you could stay and Waltz Across Texas or SquareDance with us, or just have some great Mexican food with us! :)

[mrs tiggywinkle]

Gorgeous pic!

[Aeronaut]

[Billie]

Hi, Temple. I'm sorry about Judge Roy Bean and the Law West of the Pecos and Langtry and so many other things I left out - there is just so much history and so many things to mention.

The movie "Giant", filmed in Marfa, Texas, putting that little town on the map and making a bigger star of James Dean.....much, much more!

[Calpernia]

{{{Aeronaut!}}}}

Really missed your fly overs. The thread just didn't start right without seeing your plane go by!

Speaking of which, what is today's date? Where are the coffee and donuts :(

[Calpernia]

That is breath taking!

[Pippin]

nic?

[Pippin]

nic?