Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Speaking of Country Music

My newest obsessions...  


 

... Such a romantic.

Part Two: "Texas"


I guess it's about time I update this thing... because the "big-scary-grownup-holycrapIactuallyhavetodothis" move is done. I'm here. I’m a “Texan". Now, there's a sentence I never thought I'd say...

My trip down here was interesting. I held it together for the onslaught of goodbyes that our group of friends went through during my last weekend in Boston. I held it together when I sat down in my empty room... after all of my furniture had been packed up and shipped south. I even held it together as we drove out of Brighton and I took one last long look at that “Gone with the Wind” house and the balcony that two years ago I saw and knew I couldn’t live without… 

"The house... it brings you luck" - prior resident
(here's to hoping they're right)

It’s funny when certain moments hit you. Like a wall. A brick wall. Suddenly, I’m at the airport, throwing up the Jay-Z HOV in airport security… and that’s when it happened. That’s when every emotion I felt for the last six months came spewing out of me in a fit of hysteria that I can only describe as “scream crying”. I looked back and saw both my parents say, “We love you”, and I didn’t have a chance. I didn't even have time to be embarrassed. The best part came when the security guard took it upon himself to inform me that, “we can’t actually see you naked in this body scanner”… Not why I’m crying buddy. 

Four hours later, I stepped off the plane (a hot mess might I add) and onto Texan soil. 

Endless boots in Fort Worth, TX

Let me stop right here and confirm what everyone is wondering... Yes, Texas is it's own little world! More and more people are moving to this state, and people from here can't get enough of it. They know every existing state fact, right down to the state bird, nut, tree, flower... and on more than one occasion, someone has told me that Texas is the only state that can voluntarily secede from the Union if they decide to do so. Um, what? What's funny is it all makes total sense when you start to pick up on the culture down here... a culture that is unlike any other place I've ever been!

The other day I drove past a liquor store with a drive through. It's like they are promoting drunk driving while at the same time providing fantastic convenience for their customers. I'm not sure if I should be appalled or thrilled by that... So, obviously I drove through. Right next to said liquor store was a mattress outlet that used God as the main appeal in their marketing scheme. Now, I've seen a lot of ridiculous advertising, but shouldn't something as sacred as religion be well... sacred? Besides, don't Catholics have enough guilt without having to worry about the big guy not loving them because they didn't buy tempurpedic? 

Don't get me wrong... I may complain about the driving and the construction... and the fact that I'm 1,700 miles away from my friends & family... but I do actually find myself enjoying many things about this place. The guacamole is unreal, and the margaritas make me seriously reconsider my distaste for tequila. Plus, I could listen to country music all day long, and the freedom to travel around and explore new areas outside of Dallas is pretty cool. Just last weekend, when Grace and mom were here visiting, I experienced my first ever rodeo! Can't find bull riding like that in Boston.

Western Saddles as bar stools

I promise to stay more on top of this going forward... I really do appreciate the support from everyone! Even if all you do is read my blog and laugh at my jokes (or tell me you laugh at my jokes)... well, that's enough. Thanks for everything. Something tells me this ride is far from over... so stay tuned!

Oh, and here's a few apartment pics... it's finally a home! 



 
Cheers for now