Texas

[mandaleigh1981]

Yeah, guns are a very big part of Texas culture. I've found that as I get older (I'm 21 now), I'm much more open to guns than I was when I was younger. It's just something you get used to and, depending what lifestyle you live, it becomes more of a necessary part of your life than you ever expected it would be. I'm looking into getting a license for a gun. I have a feeling I may need one eventually.

The Hill Country is lovely, for the most part. I have some family up there. The only issue I've ever had up there (and this is not based on the entire population of a town or an area, so I don't mean to offend anyone who may read this), is that I faced a bit of...ugh, racism. I think it depends on the time of year or something, but when I made my way to Fredericksburg for the first time last year, it was not pleasant. There were just a few places where my Mom, sister and I got stared and glared at pretty bad. And this past summer, I went into an ice cream parlor there and everybody stopped and stared. I have no idea why. It was very uncomfortable.

That being said, there were parts of the town where people were very kind to us. I think it might have just been a few select places. But I suppose you can face that kind of stuff anywhere in Texas, if you're unlucky enough.

Anyhoo, enough of my troubles. Things up there are beautiful and honestly, I'm totally jealous that you live up there, haha!

I know from being German,how closed a group they can be. I have a family reunion up there every year and they are pretty standoffish, as we are not "from there". We left for San Antonio years ago, and so now as a consequence, we are outcasts. At least most were nice, I am glad for that. I grew getting picked on, but for the opposite. I was one of the only white kids in a Hispanic neighborhood. The boys mothers did not not want them anywhere near "that white girl". Many of the girls treated me bad. It sucks to be an outsider. As a result, now I am a loner except for my family. I can socialize, and I can talk to people pretty well, I just choose to keep to myself. And since I am happy, it doesn't matter anymore

 

[mandaleigh1981]

Gun culture??? America has always had her guns. Before America became a country, it was mandated by law that most men and some female heads of household, within a certain age, own and carry firearms to be ready to fight in the standing militia. This included carrying your guns to church. Guns were considered a tool back then and should be today. The colonists were always being attacked, if not by Indians but by Britain's European enemies.

Okay, chicken (hawk) story: I am working (seriously I do this at times

)...I hear a slight ruckus outside the window. I see Penny (speckled sussex) walking by ruffling her feathers. I figured she was picking on the chicks again. I peered past her and saw a small hawk on the ground watching them. I go running outside and I have 2 older hens and a 16 wk chick/poult walking by without a care. The hawk was smaller than my girls. I chased the hawk off. What gives? My flock runs if a hawk is overhead, but this little guy they didn't pay any attention to except to ruffle their feathers.

Lisa

Wow! Our dogs killed a hawk not too long ago. I think he made the mistake of thinking the weenie dogs were actually hot dogs and the three of them ganged up on the hawk til the big dog, Minerva got there. She weighs 160lbs and one bite was all it took. I was a little sad (they are beautiful birds), but at least my chickens are safe!

 

[LBejaran]

I got stared at too when I first moved into town... I don't think it's a racist thing as much as it is a new person thing, I live in a town of 300 people and new people just weren't seen!

Maybe. I just found it odd, considering Fredericksburg is a tourist town. You'd think they'd get used to it.

 

[Italia]

Joke...........

A lonely man walks into a pet store and tells the clerk that he is interested in a pet that he can really communicate with. The clerk laughs and says well yes we have a talking parrot. The man gets excited about the idea of the talking parrot and says yes. Well, the clerk says, you might not want this one. He has been on a sailors ship for the past few years and he has picked up some really bad language. So the man thinks on this for a minute and decides to buy the parrot anyway.

He brings the bird home and the first two weeks were great and then it started. The bird had all kinds of nasty things to say. As a punishment the man puts him in the freezer for 30 seconds. He takes him out and asked...... Do you know what you did? Bird replies yes. Do you have any questions? Bird says no. Are you going to do it again. Bird says no.

This worked great for a week when the parrot started saying things so vile this man could not believe it. So he puts him back in the freezer for a minute. Takes him out. You know what you did? Yes. Got any questions? No.

Two minutes later the parrot screams the most vulgar of things in the mans ear so he sticks him in the freezer for a full five minutes. When he takes him out the parrot was shaking.

Do you know what you did?
Yes
Do you have any questions?
Yes, what did the turkey do?

 

[mandaleigh1981]

My Jerseys are ordered!

They will be ready two weeks from today. Now, how to contain my excitement til the little buggers get here......

 

[bnjrob]

I got stared at too when I first moved into town... I don't think it's a racist thing as much as it is a new person thing, I live in a town of 300 people and new people just weren't seen!

Yep. Smaller, close-knit communities always stare and talk about anyone new and/or different looking/acting. But that is anywhere, not just Texas.

Although Texas is a whole other country, which people don't always believe until they get here and then they get it.

I'm just surprised that someone would be shocked at the "gun culture". I've lived in other places and most people I ran into still thought that Texas was one big tumble weed-filled desert and that we still had shootouts between cowboys and Indians, and everyone had a horse. So having someone come to TX that DIDN'T expect things that may be considered more "western" or "farmy" these days, whatever you want to call it, is odd to me.

And, to make this chickeny....yes I do run outside with a shotgun when the dogs alert me that there is a coyote close by, cuz AH ain't running no buffet. (said with a really bad TX accent)

 

[adni02]

Hey I get that.  I don't think the government ever tells us the whole truth about anything!  Including 9/11.  I don't think we will ever know the truth about that or anything else that the government has done over the last 100 years.  And most people walk through life with their head in the clouds, never questioning the lies they are told.  I find it very sad.  Whoever was responsible for 9/11, the truth remains that the people we are supposedly going to help hate Americans, hate Christians, hate everyone that is not like them.  My idea for foreign policy, lets stop giving aid and help to countries who hate American and let them hate us for free.  

Giving aid and then sendind drone to kill women and children is the reason people hate america.

 

[LBejaran]

I know from being German,how closed a group they can be. I have a family reunion up there every year and they are pretty standoffish, as we are not "from there". We left for San Antonio years ago, and so now as a consequence, we are outcasts. At least most were nice, I am glad for that. I grew getting picked on, but for the opposite. I was one of the only white kids in a Hispanic neighborhood. The boys mothers did not not want them anywhere near "that white girl". Many of the girls treated me bad. It sucks to be an outsider. As a result, now I am a loner except for my family. I can socialize, and I can talk to people pretty well, I just choose to keep to myself. And since I am happy, it doesn't matter anymore

Maybe it was just culture shock for me, haha! Where I'm from (down here in Harlingen), there is a wide array of white people, hispanics, blacks, asians, it's just a free for all. Nobody really makes a fuss down here. I guess it's because it's predominantly minorities, but still. I try not to let it bother me, but it really freaked me out that there were a bunch of white people staring at my brother and I while we were getting ice cream because we had summer tans. Mind you, my brother is super dark, but it shouldn't matter.

That being said, I do like Fredericksburg...kinda. I prefer Boerne, but I think that's just a preference. We always stop by the candy store on main street and buy about $60 worth of candy, haha! It's a tradition now and I love it.

 

[TexasLisa]

My Jerseys are ordered!

They will be ready two weeks from today. Now, how to contain my excitement til the little buggers get here......

Don't forget to contact the post office to let them know they are coming in.

Lisa

 

[bnjrob]

Maybe. I just found it odd, considering Fredericksburg is a tourist town. You'd think they'd get used to it.

Nope, tourists just give the local gossips more to chew the fat about.