Welcome to Bluebonnets and Boots
Howdy! Bienvenido! Bonjour!
I am one of those overly-proud, adores everything Lone Star, Native Texans. “Native Texan” is not merely “being born in Texas”; it’s a cultural-phenomena here in the Lone Star State. It means knowing Texas is inherently superior to all other states and countries – it means loving Texas more than Kanye loves Kanye.
There are unwritten beliefs that come with being part of this Native Texan ‘cult’:
George Strait is King
Selena is Queen (sorry Beyoncé)
Whataburger is and always will be superior to In-N-Out
Dr. Pepper is the drink of the gods
Bluebell is the ice cream of the gods
Pecan pie is the pie of the gods (you see a trend here?)
Brisket is the best barbecue, and no one does it better than Texas
The Texas State Capitol in Austin is bigger than the one in DC for a reason (the reason shall remain unwritten as it’s borderline sedition)
Oklahoma is occupied North Texas
We own the moon because ‘Houston’ was the first word spoken after Armstrong and Aldrin landed the Eagle on it
Granted, there are quire possibly a thousand more beliefs Native Texans hold, and some are based on which region or city you are from, and which college team(s) you root for. Many of these will be covered one blog post at a time as I explore everything that makes this state great: our history, our culture, our food, and our people.
“What are your credentials?” you might ask. I certainly do not hold a degree in journalism; instead, I opted for a degree in history and education. I’ve accumulated experience in learning Texas history from books and travel, and then was brazen enough to teach it to seventh graders (oh the horror – thirteen-year-olds). I’ve been part of a few historical societies and written a few grants to preserve Texas history.
But mostly, my main credential is my overflowing love for my state. I was born in Beaumont and raised where the piney woods meets the Gulf Coast (called ‘southeast Texas’). Then I was whisked away to Alabama in my childhood – and I missed Texas every day. My Alabama friends can attest that I would not shut up about how great Texas was, and why it was great, and how I wanted to go back – and I’m certain at times they wanted me to go back. Eventually, I received the news that we were moving to Dallas – home of the Cowboys! It was a double treat: back to Texas and to the city I’ve always dreamed of living in. (Dear Houston readers: Please do not be offended. I cherish Houston greatly, and I remained a true Astros fan, for better or worse, ‘til death do us part, amen.)
Now I am a mere fifteen minutes from the corporate headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys (and Dallas Stars), living in the top ‘US city to live in’. Frisco has become an inspiration to me with its boomtown hustle-and-bustle. More-and-more non-Texans are moving to our great state; therefore, we need to introduce them to what makes us great – and preserve what makes us great.
Babe’s Chicken in Frisco TX showcases a little history in a quickly modernizing city.
You will find this blog is not a typical ‘travel blog’. It will not tell you where to travel and how to travel (though I’ll certainly cover accommodations, entertainment, and food). Instead, it will offer you insights on places in Texas you have always wanted to go, or never knew existed. Sometimes there will be a history lesson (old habits die hard). Sometimes it will just be a craving for brisket tacos. Enjoy. Relax. Grab a sweet tea and read.
FAQs:
Will this blog cover politics?
No. It may discuss politicians in a historical context (example: President Eisenhower was born in Denison, TX) or contemporary politicians in a cultural context (example: this taco stand is a favorite for Senator John Doe). I’ll save the political debate for Texas Monthly.
Will this blog cover sports?
Yes (but I won’t be covering sports analysis). High school. College. Professional. Football. Baseball. Basketball. Hockey. Soccer. Rugby. Swimming. Gymnastics. Rodeo. Sports and Texas go hand-in-hand. It is part of our culture. “Friday Night Lights” is a Texas phrase appropriated by the rest of America. However, we’re not just about football anymore.
FYI, Texas has:
5 NFL Super Bowl wins (Dallas Cowboys: 1972, 1978, 1993, 1994, and 1996) professional football
8 NBA Championship wins (Houston Rockets: 1994 and 1995; San Antonio Spurs: 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014; Dallas Mavericks: 2011) professional basketball
1 MLB World Series win (Houston Astros: 2017) professional baseball
1 NHL Stanley Cup win (Dallas Stars: 1999) professional hockey
4 WNBA Championship wins (Houston Comets: 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000) professional women’s basketball
2 MLS Cup wins (Houston Dynamo: 2006 and 2007) professional soccer
9 NCAA Football Championship wins (Texas: 1963, 1969, 1970, and 2005; Texas A&M: 1919 and 1939; TCU: 1935 and 1938; SMU: 1935) collegiate football
1 NCAA Basketball Championship win (Texas Western, now known as UTEP: 1966) collegiate basketball
6 NCAA ‘College World Series’ wins (Texas: 1949, 1950, 1975, 1983, 2002, and 2005) collegiate baseball
5 Women’s NCAA Basketball Championship wins (Texas: 1986; Texas Tech: 1993; Baylor: 2005 and 2012; Texas A&M: 2011) collegiate women’s basketball
2 NCAA Volleyball Championship wins (Texas: 1988 and 2012) collegiate women’s volleyball
In the 2016 Rio Olympics, athletes from the state of Texas earned 26 gold medals, 6 silver medals, and 10 bronze medals – more medals than China or Russia
The University of Texas at Austin student athletes have accumulated 83 Olympic gold medals, 38 silver medals, and 22 bronze medals; Texas A&M student athletes have 8 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze; Baylor student athletes have 10 gold and 3 bronze; Texas Tech student athletes have 4 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze; and Rice student athletes have 1 gold and 1 bronze. That’s 106 Olympic gold medals and 184 total Olympic medals from Texas university student athletes!
That’s a lot of Texas sports to talk about!
Will this blog cover companies and small businesses?
Absolutely. Companies and small-business that are based out of Texas will get a lot of love – especially the Texas-based small businesses. And I do not cover any business for paid endorsements. This is about supporting Texans, not about making money under the table!
Got any more questions? Please feel free to email them in!