It's a Texas thang.

Texas has an attitude, and it started way back. We were an independent nation for nine years, and that gave us a big head...and, yes, big hair, big belt buckles and big trucks are all common sites here in the Lone Star State.

If you were born in Texas, then you have an internal GPS unit that automatically points you to San Antonio and The Alamo. Yep, we all have 'em. Have you heard the phrase, "Remember the Alamo!" before? We're partial to it, because Texans feel that the battle for the Alamo symbolized a heroic struggle against impossible odds — a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. (Remember my post yesterday about needing room to roam?)

This is the Alamo, a place all Texans should visit...more than once.

One of our mottos here in Texas is that "Bigger is Better." We proudly state this for all to see with our state capitol building. It's a replica of the U.S. capitol building in Washington D.C....only it's bigger...and better (made out of pink granite). You sense a common theme here?

Our capitol building is in Austin, where I lived for nineteen years. I miss you, Austin!

Our state animal is the Longhorn. It's one of the biggest state animals out there (of course). Have you seen the size of it's horns? Bigger is better...

Our state flower is the Bluebonnet. They are planted along our state highways due to Lady Bird Johnson, the late President Johnson's wife. They bloom every spring and thousands of Texans make their kids squat in the midst of them for pictures. It's a tradition 'round here.


We all have a tendency to exaggerate some, and the tall tale gene is rampant among native Texans. We're the biggest state (well, Alaska is bigger, but we're better). Did you know that Dr Pepper was invented in Texas? Texas has been under six flags; Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States and the United States.

The word Texas comes from a Caddo Indian word Tejas, which means friends. We here in Texas are friendly...and bigger and better.