a texas-shaped hole in my heart

My dear friend Aimee moved last week and it has been a major bummer. I have handled my funk by vascillating wildly between extreme busy-ness (organize closets! Paint bathrooms!) and extreme lethargy. I pretty much either want to be so busy I can't think about how sad I am, or asleep. Our little town has had such a rough time with the economic crisis and, one by one, I have seen too many friends pack up and leave Medford. This move was just almost too much to handle.

But it has been a week now and I am feeling better. Better enough to blog, at least! And while I miss my friend, I realize that this is a great thing for her family and I am so very happy and excited for them.

I also realize that just because you don't live next door to someone doesn't mean they aren't your friend anymore. I have tons of friends! They just happen to live in Texas and Washington and Maryland and Virginia and Kansas and Utah and Arizona and all over the place. I love and miss all of you wonderful friends!

So in honor of my friend Aimee and of my own turning point today, I would like to post 10 Fun Facts about Texas. Hopefully some of these facts will fill that Texas-shaped hole in my heart. (It really IS the biggest state! Ouch!)

Ten Reasons Why Texas Is Awesome

1. The armadillo is the state mammal.
   




2. The first word spoken from the moon on July 20, 1969 was "Houston."
   




3. King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas is larger than the entire state of Rhode Island.
   




4. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco, Texas in 1885.
   




5. Even their state capitol building is the biggest! It is 8 ft taller than the U.S. Capitol building. And it's kind of fruity looking.








6. In Texas, it is still a "hanging offense" to steal cattle. (Also illegal: putting graffiti on someone else's cattle. Hopefully not a hanging offense.)
   




7. It is also against the law to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel window.
   




8. The Mars plant in Waco Texas produces 75% of the world's Snickers bars.
   




9. Rodeo is the official state sport.
   




10. Texas was an independent nation fron 1836 - 1845. Surprised, no?
    

Mostly, Texas is awesome because my friend Aimee lives there. Do you know any more fun facts? Feel free to share!