What's Texas Life Like?

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff

S&W factory tour

Shopping

Climate Changes

TMAas: The climate changes occur so frequently here because you have conflicting jet streams meeting right over south Texas. Warm humid gulf air that blows upward, COLD canadian/northern plains air that blows southward,and sometimes the occaisonal Pacific ocean storms that makes it up and across Mexico from the south west. Rarely see a day like i was used to in California. . :rolleyes: ...
 
The climate changes alot from the various places you go in Texas. Example: during my time in San Antonio I was lucky to see snow flurries, while in Killeen 2 1/2 hours North I have seen an inch of ice with an inch of snow. The rain usually comes in showers that come all at once and then there is nothing for a couple of weeks. It floods really easily and very quickly. Low lying areas are very dangerous to be in, I laughed the first time I heard this, then I witnessed what they meant and changed my mind. Every year they have high water rescues in San Antonio where people drive around barriers put up at low crossings. First they rescue the people from on top of their cars, then they fine them for driving around the barriers, then charge them for the rescue. If you saw some of the things people do you when it floods you would say they deserve it.



Scott
 
Additional cultural notes:



As mentioned above, in small-town Texas a "soda pop" is often referred to as a "soda water", pronounced "sodie wadder". The term "coke" is a catchall phrase, like soda water it can refer to ANY soft drink. Accordingly a Dr. Pepper is also a coke. :p



Although Dr. Pepper is a huge favorite due to its Waco origins (even the Baylor bear mascot drinks it), the most popular drink at any social occasion is iced tea. In the eastern portion of the state, tea is usually sweetened, in the hotter climes of the western parts it is usually unsweetened. Those who have hauled hay or done other brute work in the Texas summer heat can attest that NOTHING quenches thirst as fast as a good glass of unsweetened iced tea - not even a beer (although some may want to argue this point).



Iced tea and soda water are appropriate beverages for any meal, even in the finest restaurants. Although furriners have imported the "dinner wine" concept, in most of Texas the only wine you will see at dinner or supper is wining about the weather or a losing football team :-laf



Blue jeans and western shirts are appropriate attire for any occasion, even church. There are in fact a growing number of "cowboy churches" where your horse is welcome too (pretty much a rural thing at this point though). Although cowboy boots are the accepted norm for cowboy types, you will see a goodly number of 'em wearing tennis shoes or work boots if they are spending much time on the ground (cowboy boots are not the best for ankle express)



Cowboy hats are still common in small town Texas, much less so in the cities than they used to be. Although cowboy hats look better and give more shade, the average guy spends more time wearing a ball cap because (a) they don't blow off as easily and (b) modern limp-wristed trucks often provide insufficient headroom to wear a cowboy hat in the truck. A good cowboy hat or ball cap that really fits comfortably is a rare item, when you have one you will treasure it like King Solomon's gold.



Canine companions abound in the rural areas, regardless of breed they are called "dawgs". The ultimate honor that can be paid to a canine is to call it a "good ol' dawg", just like the ultimate compliment you can give a man is to call him a "good ol' boy". Cowboy types can be hugely sentimental about their dawgs, never never NEVER harm or make fun of a guy's dawg unless you want big trouble. :-laf



Texas women are beautiful, independent, contrary, friendly, free-spirited, tough, gentle, cuddly, prickly, fiery, and mouthy. They drive their own trucks, pull their own trailers, cut their own steak and give their men a boot in the ***** when they need it. When you come down here, you will enjoy the women IMMENSELY but just like all of us who grew up here you will spend a lot of time scratching your head :confused: trying to figure them out. You'll NEVER figure 'em out, just concentrate on enjoying 'em and get used to politely saying "Yes ma'am. . " and "no ma'am" while doing what you want to do, drives 'em absolutely NUTS :D :-laf :-laf :-laf
 
Mike Ellis said:
Additional cultural notes:... ... .....



Thanks for those! That's nice to know and helps a lot! ;)



Another thing that I want to know, what do y'all do for fun down there, on your spare time? :D



Trever
 
Several More notes:

When you go to buy groceries, you go to the supermarket, not the grocery store.



When you get to the supermarket, you get a buggy to push around. Not a Cart.



When you go to check out, you put your groceries in sacks. y'all may know those as bags, but most of us call them sacks. I myself, still insist on using paper sacks as well.



When going to the gas station, you call it an ICE HOUSE. This has different meaning up north, as well as anywhere outside of Texas. When we were in Cali a while back, I asked where the nearest ice house was. All I got in return was a dumbfounded look on the face of the person whom I asked.



Texas is also the only flag in the union that can fly the state flag as high or higher than the national flag.



The world's first rodeo was in Pecos, TX on July 4, 1883





-Chris-
 
Hopping into this one a bit on the late side, but:



I've driven all over this state. Live in NE Texas, Went to school in W. Texas, married a lady from S. Texas and have friends in all parts.



For the most part it is great. No income tax! But outrageous property tax:(

People tend to be more laid back the further away from the big cities you get. Dallas is trying their best to become the LA or San Fran.

I'll have to learn spanish fluently fairly quick. It's getting harder and harder to communicate due to the influx of Mexicans.



Not always happy to be here, but always happy to return after I've been out of town.



Extremely diverse landscape. Where our office is, you can't see 75ft in a straight line because of the trees. Out west, you pray to see a tree. Central and south is hill country.



It's hot in the summer and weird in the winter. I'm from Colorado originally, 20 degrees in the mountains feels like 20 degrees. In Texas 50 degrees with humidity feels worse than a mountain 20. And when it drops to the teens and twenties, it is miserable. It cuts through you like a knife. I've been in MN during the winter and it's a different cold than TX. The worst part about winters down here, today it's 75 and dry, yesterday it was 50 and raining and next week it may start out at 75 and end up at 35 and miserable and 100 miles away it's the opposite.



Guns are still promoted, so it can't be all bad, and on my mustang I have no cats, but as long as my brakes, horn and lights work - I pass my inspection:D
 
C. Harlan said:
When you go to buy groceries, you go to the supermarket, not the grocery store.



When you get to the supermarket, you get a buggy to push around. Not a Cart.



When you go to check out, you put your groceries in sacks. y'all may know those as bags, but most of us call them sacks. I myself, still insist on using paper sacks as well.



When going to the gas station, you call it an ICE HOUSE. This has different meaning up north, as well as anywhere outside of Texas. When we were in Cali a while back, I asked where the nearest ice house was. All I got in return was a dumbfounded look on the face of the person whom I asked.



Texas is also the only flag in the union that can fly the state flag as high or higher than the national flag.







-Chris-



maybe now everyone in PA will have a better understanding... . of US texans :-laf
 
The most beautiful women I have ever seen or talked to were in San Antonio. This was about 18 years ago when I was driving truck, stopped to make a delivery at about 4:45 pm in downtown. The owner of the place I was delivering to advised me to wait a few minutes. At about 5:15 they were coming out of the buildings in hordes, beautiful women everywhere. I was getting all kinds of Howdy's and smiles, eye contact, you name it. At 5'10 and 300lbs I'm not the best looking guy but I sure felt good after that. If I only could've stuck around for the night I probably would never've left. But then I wouldn't have met my wife and had my beautiful daughter. I recently thought we would be moving to the Houston area, we were really excited but unfortunately it didn't work out. I would take a job there in a heartbeat if anything ever came up. John
 
Darn right!! :D Just checking!! ;)



Damn that Tom' Duncan had a good voice. Peaceful music, but yet can put you in the mood reeeeaaaal fast.
 
Back
Top