One thing I've noticed about native Texans is that they are a peculiar people. Certainly nice and friendly and easy to like...but peculiar nonetheless. For example, my first Texas-born neighbor actually used old cowboy boots for planters and had them on his front porch. How great is that?

Yesterday, the lead story on the news was that the temperature was 109 degrees at the airport, breaking the record. People here were almost as proud and excited as the time we were chasing the record of consecutive 100 degree days (and just so you know, we got to 53 or something, and the record is in the 60's somewhere...you'd have to ask a native for the exact figures. They keep such things at the ready.) and hoping we'd actually break the record!

The 109 degree temperature even moved the story of Texas joining some multiple state powerball lottery to the 2nd item on the newscast. You'll all be happy to know that Troy Dungan said it wouldn't be near as hot today...only 103. Peculiar people, these Texans.