I Love Living In Texas

I live in a fairly small city. As of the 2000 census, there was only about 32,000 people here. There has been some major economic growth since 2001 and the city is probably well over 40,000 strong now. But in the southern part of town where I live, it's still usually pretty mild. I have a fire station directly across the street from me and across from it is rural land with farm animals and lots of trees and such. This might seem strange in some places, but to have horses and cattle so nearby is comforting to me. It lets me know I'm still close to the country.

So last week I'm sitting outside going thru a cookbook trying to decide how I'm going to cook a pot roast (Dad sent me some money so I bought a roast- the first real meat I've had in the house for some time) that I want to be special. When suddenly comes this really LOUD "Moooooo!" Hearing the cows from time to time is normal, although they tend to stay more north of here especially so early in the morning when kids are going to school. Well I look over to see what the fuss is and what should I see? But the biggest darn cow running in the street, coming my way! Whoa, mama! There are two animal control trucks trying to "herd" her back to safety, but she's not having any of their nonsense. People trying to rush to work are getting pissed that they aren't able to get by the blocked intersection (hello! there's a cow running loose ya morons!) Along comes Farmer Brown, with his lasso in hand running down the street trying to catch ol' Bessie as she zig-zags back and forth between the fire station, the houses nearby and the fence that she is clearly on the wrong side of. I'm standing on the corner in my sweats and stocking feet, looking like white trash, hoping they catch her soon before one of the morons hits her. It takes about 15 minutes and 3 quarters of a mile, but they finally get her out of harm's way. I just laughed as I thought, "I know I'm in Texas NOW!"

And as if that weren't enough excitement for one week, on Saturday morning there was a major accident up the street (thank God I knew the "backways" home) requiring CareFlight to land in the field behind the fire station which is always exciting to watch. Later that same day, I happen to look out the window and casually trotting on by is one big beautiful horse, (with his owner seemingly unaware that it's not exactly the safest area for slow moving farm animals due to the speed demons too careless to slow down for the stop signs).

A cow AND a horse on MY street, only two days apart? WOW! I love TEXAS!