I wake up sometimes and I wonder why I bother to fight the traffic, the lines, the politics and just life in general.  When I was a younger man than I am now, I used to get in my truck, flip a coin and drive til I ran out of fuel, then I would pick up a little ranch work here and there to get me to where ever I decided to go.  I liked being care free.  I liked the idea of noone telling me what to do, when to do it, how to do it and for how long.

Instead, somewhere along the way, I bought into the "American Dream" of the more you have the better.  Well, I can honestly say the toys are nice, new cars are nice, and while I enjoy those things, I would gladly give it up to go back to the younger me I was 15 or 20 years ago.

Of course I can't do that.  I probably romanticize my life living on the open ranges of the western states, or the Camps I had frequented during hunting season in Colorado.  I would probably be singing a different tune when I had to cut firewood or freeze, hunt or starve, or jump in a cold creek to bathe or stink to high heaven.

Yeah, Sometimes I think about how it used to be and how much I miss certain aspects of the life I used to live, but then sometimes.... I have been known not so show sound judgement.

Have a great day.

When I travel, I am never surprised by the reactions I get from being a Texan.  Not  just some Naveau country nite club cowboy, but a 7th generation, God fearing, door holding Texan that says "Yes Ma'am, No Sir" and takes my hat off in a ladies  house or at the dinner table.  I don't try to be Texan, not unless a lot of liqour has been served up, and I find myself immersed in an identity that most find fascinating. 

I know my history, my heritage and My State.  I love Texas.  There is most certainly not another place like it.  "It ain't braggin' if you can back it up" and Texas backs it up all the way to the bank.  We have Cowboys, Rednecks, Hippies, Yuppies, Geezers and Greenhorns.  We have Bar B Que unlike anywhere else thanks to our abundant supply of Mesquite wood. 

We have High School football that rivals most universities and the most beautiful women in the world.  We have mountains, desert, plains and hill country.  We have oil,  Cattle, Industry and Women, did I already mention that?

Most of all we have pride.  Pride does not mean you think you are better than anyone else.  It is something that comes from within and you are proud always, not just sometimes.  Sure we have our problems too, but we just pull ourselves up by our boot straps and nip it in the bud, open a can of whoop ass or simply fix it.  We like to Fix things in the south.  We our the home to Presidents, Movies Stars and still the most famous folks are still Our Own Characters.  We have long horns, Tall tales and short ropes.  We make fun of ourselves, but don't ya'll do it.  We wave when we pass someone on the road, or move over to the shoulder to let the car behind us pass.  We like to eat, drink, dance and chase pretty gals, we have a lot of pretty gals in Texas.  Did I mention that?

So if you ever find yourself in need of a vacation, and we all do, just stop on in and sit a spell.  We will be glad to make you a glass of fresh lemonade or sweet tea and then we can sit on the porch a spell and watch the sunset in a Glorious Burnt Orange as the Angels pay tribut to the Texas longhorns.  If you listen real close, you will still hear the sound cattle being called by cowboys on the range and the smell of honeysuckle on the vine.

Well for those of you who know me well, you know I am always venturing into new and unexplored territory when it comes to business.  What most people don't get is this; it is not the money that motivates me, money is just a way to pay bills, and you never really own it, it is uncle Sams and he is gonna want it back, one way or the other, I promise.

What motivates me is seeing what I can do and how I can do it.  When I was a young kid, that often got me into trouble and I am the epitomy of "I wish I knew then, what I know now".  I have often ventured into a realm of spiralling challenges that have led me places I wanted to be and some I did not.  There were many people along the routes I chose that were inspirations to me and I hope somehow, they found some inspiration in me. 

I have often been misunderstood as most of us have, and while my intentions were never intended to be detrimental, I have to say that often that was how they could have been percieved.

I have had business partners that were good and some that were terrible.  I have had friends that were really just acquaintences and strangers that were best of buds, but the one thing I am still looking for is missing.  The ever elusive and problematic tale of true love.

As my plane landed at the Austin Airport, I grabbed my bag from the overhead and stepped back into Texas.  I don't mean I landed on Terra Firma and my feet touched my sacred home, no.  I stepped into it physically, parting the Heat and Humidity with my every foot step.  The temperature today was 103 on my back porch and not even the marlins could find a thing to sing about.

I always coming home and while most think we are crazy to live in this heat, It takes a true Texan to appreciate that Texas truly does everything in a big way, and that means spring heat too.  Each day find me more immersed in my culture and I love it. The Texas Draws get better as a man ages and starts looking for a shorter way to make his point.  You have to listen really careful nowadays, even the yanks that have moved here years agon can fool the untrained ear.

 

It is sure good to be home.