# Let's say some good things about Texas **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 10, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603 "2009-09-10T20:28:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/41 "2009-09-11T09:04:50Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > The best part about Texas food isn’t the taste, really. Tasty food is everywhere. The best part is the social style of it. Food is a community production in Texas. A hundred people grilling half a cow on a Tuesday evening would not be an overly strange sight in Texas. This is exactly what I’ve always liked about Cajuns (my dad’s side of the family). In Louisiana, they wont just ask you if you’d like a glass of tea when you come to visit. They’ll also ask you if you’d like some Gumbo or maybe some steak n’ gravy. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/42 "2009-09-11T09:43:37Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > When we went to the Alamo, I was expecting a kitschy tourist trap. They did have a gift shop, but I was really impressed with the sense of reverence I got from the place. Did you get to see the basement? ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_Clock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Shot\_Clock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_Clock)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/43 "2009-09-11T09:47:39Z")
Texas has three very good NBA franchises. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/44 "2009-09-11T12:24:00Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > When we went to the Alamo, I was expecting a kitschy tourist trap. They did have a gift shop, but I was really impressed with the sense of reverence I got from the place. They really did treat it with total respect and not as a theme park. When they say “The Shrine of Texas Independence,” they mean shrine. It took me apart. I know I already posted about Texas, but I must say I absolutely agree with Sigmagirl. I felt more spiritual at the Alamo than at any church I have ever visited. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/45 "2009-09-11T12:30:09Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Good Thing About Texas: it’s far away from here. Bless your heart. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/46 "2009-09-11T13:44:32Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > I miss home now. ☹ Sorry. I miss them too. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/47 "2009-09-11T14:14:23Z")
I’m a native son of Fort Worth, Texas. I’ve lived in the Lone Star State off-and-on for most of my life; no matter where I travelled, I always seemed to end up back in Texas. Currently, with the exception of one quick visit several years ago, I haven’t been back since 2000. I find myself aching with nostalgia for… •Bluebonnets in the springtime. Fields of 'em everywhere; go out to the hillcountry outside Austin and you’ll see acres of land carpeted in purple-blue flowers as far as the eye can see. •Mexican food, and German food, and chicken-fried steak with cream gravy, and kolaches, and real barbecue (not the sweet, vinegary chopped pork they have out in this part of the country), and Ruby Red grapefruit from the Rio Grande valley that are as big as a baby’s head, and…sorry, I’m starting to salivate. •Cowboys, or at least people attached to the ‘Cowboy Culture’. You see 'em outside of Texas, but it’s just not the same. In Texas you see pickup truck driving folk with cowboy hats and big belt buckles everywhere; convenience stores, shopping malls, wherever. Here in North Florida if you see one they just look like dumbasses on their way to a costume party. •Music everywhere. Tejano, Rock-n-Roll, Country, Swing; all branches, offshoots and fusions of same. It’s like the state has a soundtrack. •People who say “Howdy!” to complete strangers. •A weird cultural stew of Mexicans, rednecks, urbanites, hipsters, white bread, white trash, barrio & ghetto dwellers, beach bums and desert rats…and it all seems to work out OK most of the time. Texas has so much elbow room that all of the jagged edges of the culture clash have been worn smooth over time. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/48 "2009-09-11T16:03:32Z")
If you are not a Texan or do not live in Texas, do not come here for any reason. We have tartantulas, scorpions and an excess of Republicans. Stay away! (Fellow Texas in body or spirit, please do not encourage them. There are already too may other folks at my favorite BBQ joints, dance halls and swimming holes.) ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/49 "2009-09-11T16:10:36Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > Bless your heart. OMG, I almost forgot about the women, their big, poufy hair filled with highlights, saying “Oh, bless your heaaaaaart” when they really mean, “You fucking idiot.” Love it!! ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/50 "2009-09-11T16:22:49Z")
Lyle Lovett and cowboy boots. Although my friend who lives in Austin can’t understand my deep love of boots and prefers sandals. (Heck I love sandals too but boots… ahhh. Indescribable how much better you feel wearing boots.) ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/51 "2009-09-11T16:31:47Z")
It isn’t _Baja Oklahoma_ and fish tacos in Austin are pretty good. And if we ever had to take a national test, they’d help the curve. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/52 "2009-09-11T16:33:43Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > They took Dubya back. GRRRRRR. I wanted to say that! ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/53 "2009-09-11T16:38:55Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Austin. > > (Does that really count as Texas?) Yes. It’s a bizarre meme that Austin isn’t like Texas. Austin isn’t like Austin. Don’t think that the city is comprised entirely of burnouts that take classes at UT, skinny dip in Hippie Hollow, and then vote for Kinky. There’s pockets of places like that, but they’re in every city in America with a big college. As a Texan I don’t really care what y’all think about living here. We’re not hurting for new arrivals. But if you do move to the 512, don’t bring a car, and ride your bike _off_ the major roads 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/54 "2009-09-11T16:48:38Z")
The people are very friendly. It’s big. Really big. Drive as far as you like and, as the saying goes, “The sun is rise, the sun is set, and we is still in Texas yet!” It’s filled America’s humor vacuum regarding fat men with Stetsons, guns and boasts. The Tex-Thai food in Dallas is out of this world. Texas gave us Lyndon Johnson, Sam Rayburn, Ann Richards, Don Henley, Angie Harmon and Judge Roy Bean. Johnsons Space Center in Houston is a vital part of NASA. Sam Houston was unshakeably loyal to the Union when virtually all of his fellow Texans were struck with secession fever. If you like capital punishment, look no further! ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/55 "2009-09-11T18:35:07Z")
Tex-mex: specifically queso, fajitas and margaritas. Barbecue: specifically Coopers in Llano, Muellers in Taylor, and most especially The Salt Lick in Driftwood. Tubing down the Guadalupe or the Comal on a hot summer day. The Barton Creek Greenbelt and Barton Springs. The Alamo Drafthouse, for a myriad of reasons. Blue Bell icecream. I’ve never found a better vanilla bean. Halloween on Sixth Street. There’s a ton of stuff that I hate about Texas… but there’s also a hell of a lot that I miss. ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/56 "2009-09-11T18:49:44Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > Barbecue: specifically Coopers in Llano, Muellers in Taylor, and most especially The Salt Lick in Driftwood. Texas’s second state shrine. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/57 "2009-09-11T19:31:50Z")
I’m here. Ain’t that enough? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/58 "2009-09-11T21:51:59Z")
It’s colder than hell. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/59 "2009-09-11T23:06:11Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > I’m here. Ain’t that enough? Its enough to keep me from coming back. (joke, so smile when you say that.) If Marcie and I are really finished, and it looks as if we are, I might just go home to die; I’m old and it shouldn’t take that long. I bash Texas a lot and with good reason but every now and then I get homesick. But I always rally. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603/60 "2009-09-12T02:17:48Z")
President Matt Santos on _The West Wing._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-some-good-things-about-texas/509603.md?page=4)