Texas: or, I can see Mexico from my house

Texas is an infamous state, isn’t it. “You all can go to hell, I’m going to Texas” (it’s hot enough to confuse the two). “Don’t mess with Texas. “ and my personal favorite, “Don’t mess with Texas Grandmas”, courtesy of the bumpersticker on Mike Hotlzman’s skyblue ford hatchback.. Either way, Texas has always existed as a legendary state, a place both viewed with awe (they still have the death penalty! Everybody has a gun!) and fear(see the former). However, being from Michigan, a state known for not needing the death penalty because you’ll possibly get shot there, I know not to rely on stereotypes. Or at least I am vaguely aware of that. Well, I try. Sometimes.

After enduring a cripplingly terrifying flight (for me at least), we landed in Dallas. Or to be more precise, we landed in Irving, TX, a suburb of Dallas. And like all suburbs, it left a lot to desire. Unless you desire Walmart, something called Whataburger, or Goodwill (actually, I did desire that last one. I got a great sweater and an Irish flag belt.)

Typical highway. fail.

Sprawling highways and chain restaurants snaked through the landscape. Sprawling highways named after Texas’s most revered natives.

I guess at least it was the first one? No, that's still not ok.

It should be noted that the people of Texas are outrageously polite. Smiling at perfect strangers, making small talk to whoever is around. As a native Northerner who has lived mostly in cities, I find this extremely disconcerting. I would say it was the weather but I find extremely hot weather makes me less friendly, more homicidal.

It’s also worth noting that, being an angry city person, I am used to a general political stance of “maybe Obama isn’t the best, but he’s better than the last few (except Clinton. He was the best)”. Which is why I spent about 20 minutes in the bookstore marveling at the political table that boasted books such as “Obama Zombies”, the telling account of how the youth movement behind Obama’s election was based on brainwashing.

Or perhaps you would prefer this more concise evaluation of Obama’s administration

I also got a window into the demographics of Irving, TX.

This change in demographics does lead to some amazing advertising;

Colbert?

All kidding aside, I’m probably just bitter because it’s TOO GOD DAMN HOT.

The further west you go, the more the winds pick up, the landscape gets dustier and you’re left with a vague fear you’ve stepped into “there will be blood”. The copious amount of small oil wells do little to assuage this fear (um, there would be a picture if I could figure out how to turn it vertical).

Being on tour, most of my pictures have been taken from cars, so it’s rare to capture that fact that, once you leave the urban centers, Texas does have a majesty to it’s landscape.

Please ignore the dashboard.

I leave you with my personal favorite song about Texas, by Jon Wayne.