My Top Ten Texas Things

Somebody up there likes us more than the other states.  Sure, a good father would never let his kids know that he favors one child over the other, but...sometimes, you just can't ignore the signs.

60 #1 songs, Wranglers, and a style that has never wavered through the years.  He team ropes, wears a black cowboy hat after Labor Day, and for extra points he has a son named Bubba.

The hottest, coolest time in Texas.  In Texas, Schlitterbahn has several locations, but my favorite is still the original in New Braunfels.  It's actually 3 separate parks and there's no better way to cool down on a hot, Summer day than tubing on the rides in the frigid Comal River water.

Texas is the BBQ Capital of the World, Lockhart is the BBQ Capital of Texas.  You really can't go wrong with most any choice in my hometown, Blacks, Chisholm Trail, Smitty's, but my all time favorite is Kreuz Market (pronounced Krites, by the way).  Besides, my buddy and fellow Lockhart Lion, Roy Perez is the Pit Master there.

Football and Texas go hand-in-hand like teenagers and selfies.  I'm a life-long Dallas Cowboys fan, but I'm also a huge fan of the Houston Texans.  My favorite player is JJ Watt.  If George Strait had a kid who was from Wisconsin and twice the size of George...it would be JJ.

It's the DisneyWorld of convenience stores.  The beaver with the ball cap has become synonymous with great jerky, fudge, and being compelled to max out your credit card once you walk through the doors.  Who knew that a successful marketing model would be centered around fabulous restrooms.

Banita Creek Hall in Nacogdoches has quietly become one of the best places to experience live music in all of Texas.  Banita has created so many great listening opportunities from the Josh Abbott Band to Cody Johnson, and legends like Ronnie Milsap to Restless Heart.  And Sam Hunt may just set an all time crowd record when he comes on May 23rd.

You can thank the folks at Blue Bell Ice Cream for adding at least an extra 5 minutes to your trip to the grocery store.  That's because once you get to the freezer aisle it takes that long to decide which of the delicious flavor(s) you're taking home with you.

Davy Crockett, William B. Travis, Jim Bowie and around 200 of the bravest souls ever to step foot in the Lone Star State.   'Nuff said.

'Texanization' is the process by which Texans add their own unique touch or style to that which was not originally from Texas.  For instance, toast, it needed to be bigger and have more flavoring so we made Texas Toast.  Poker, there are variations such as 5 card stud and 5 card draw, but that's not exciting enough.  Only Texas Hold 'em is good enough for the World Series of Poker.  It's the same with Tex-Mex.  Mexican food is great, but Texas has taken it to another level with fajitas, chili con carne, and a whole slew of Tex-Mex restaurants.

Okay, I know the list is supposed to be top 10, but Willie is his own category.  He endured Nashville for only so long before he came back home to Texas and made country music conform to his style.  Heck, his guitar, Trigger, is more famous than most any other person from any other state.