Things I've learned about Texas in my first month here.

I'm waiting for Hyrum to finish some reading so we can watch 24. (We're on Season 1, Disc 4. I know, we're way behind the times, but it's been fun to watch, but very, very addicting) So, people have asked me what my impressions of Texas have been, so I'm making a list! Here goes:
1. There are no cherry dilly bars at Dairy Queen~what the heck? Only chocolate.

2. There is a Texas Pledge of Allegiance that the kids say each morning after the "real" pledge. They are very, very proud of Texas. Don't mess with Texas is big time here. As long as the Texas flag is below the American flag, I'm okay with it.

3. "I'm fixin.." does not mean you are making repairs, it means you're going to do something. Example: "I'm fixin' to go to the store, do you need anything?"

4. When they ask you at the grocery store if you want a buggy, it does not mean do you want a stroller, it means a shopping cart.

5. There is no fry sauce. (Me at Sonic: can I have some fry sauce with that? Carhop: "Fraa sauce, what's fraa sauce?")

6. I have an accent??? No honey, listen to the national news anchors~who sounds like them, you or me?

7. You can fry anything. Have you ever heard of fried oreos?!? They had them at the county fair.

8. If someone asks you if you want a Coke, it is a generic name for soda. A Coke can be a sprite, rootbeer, etc.

9. They are very courteous here. I have never had so many doors held open for me and I've been called ma'am more in the last month than I have in my whole life. I love at the mall when a teenager has tattooes all over, saggy pants down to his knees, and rings on every body part, yet he still opens the door for me, nods his head and says, "ma'am."

10. Texas women are serious about their hair, nails, and makeup. My hairdresser (Bonnie!) in Nampa said that they have awesome stylists here, and she is right.

11. You can see forever here. It's kind of a lonely feeling at first, but very neat watching the huge rolling clouds across the sky and lightning storms. Montana is known as "big sky country" but I would argue that Texas would win on that one.

12. Popcorn ceilings are still "in" in Lubbock! Even the new homes have them. That is good news for me so I won't have to scrape them off.

13. People here are super, super friendly. People you have never met will talk to you like you're their best friends in the grocery store and invite you to their church. We have great neighbors also that really look out for us.

14. I'm very impressed with the schools here. Small classes and great curriculum. I complain about the high property taxes, but when you see where they are going, it is worth it.

15. They have all day kindergarten here. The girls leave at 7:30, and are finished at 3:00. They have P.E. everyday, but recess only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Kindergarten has nap time every day, and our favorite question to ask Hailey is if she fell asleep in naptime today:) All elementary grades also have a snacktime (they bring a small snack from home everyday) to help tide them over until lunch.

16. I'm still on schools =) Corporal punishment (spanking) is still allowed in the school district we're in! You have to sign a permission slip at the beginning of the year allowing them to use it on your child if he/she is not behaving. I put a big fat X over the no, I do NOT give them permission. I haven't heard of it being used yet, but laugh when I think of a teacher asking, "do you want a whoopin?"