SUNDAY FUNDAY - JULY 30, 2023

 SUNDAY FUNDAY- JULY 30, 2023

Port Aransas Ferry

I went to Port Aransas on the Gulf of Mexico for three days. Port Aransas is on an island (Mustang Island). You can take a ferry back to the mainland on the east side! And I got a little tan!!!

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TEXAS FACTS:

Here are some little-known, fascinating facts about Texas:

1. Port Arthur to El Paso: 889 miles. Port Arthur to Chicago: 770 miles

2. Brownsville to Texline (north of Amarillo): 956 miles. Texline to Canada: 960 miles

3. El Paso is closer to California than to Dallas

4. World's first rodeo was in Pecos, Tx July 4, 1883.

5. The Flagship Hotel in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built over water. It was destroyed by Hurricane Ike - 2008!

6. The Heisman Trophy was named after John William Heisman, the first full-time coach at Rice University in Houston, Texas.

7. Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other area in North America.

8. Aransas Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of North America's only remaining flock of whooping cranes.

9. Jalapeno jelly originated in Lake Jackson in 1978.

10. The worst natural disaster in US history was in 1900, caused by a hurricane in which over 8,000 lives were lost on Galveston Island.

11. The first word spoken from the moon on July 20, 1969, was " Houston," but the Space Center was actually in Clear Lake City at the time.

12. The King Ranch in South Texas is more extensive than Rhode Island.

13. Tropical Storm Claudette brought a US rainfall record of 43" in 24 hours in and around Alvin in July 1979.

14. Texas is the only state to enter the US by TREATY (known as the Constitution of 1845 by the Republic of Texas to join the Union) instead of by annexation.

15. A Live Oak tree near Fulton is estimated to be 1500 years old.

16. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.

17. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. There is no period in Dr Pepper.

18. Texas has had six capital cities: Washington-on-the Brazos, Harrisburg, Galveston, Velasco, West Columbia, and Austin.

19. The Capitol Dome in Austin is the only US dome taller than the Capitol Building in Washington, DC (by 7 feet).

20. The San Jacinto Monument is the tallest free-standing monument in the world and is taller than the Washington Monument.

21. 'Texas' comes from the Hasini Indian word 'Tejas,' meaning "friends." Tejas is NOT Spanish for Texas.

22. The State Mascot is the Armadillo. An interesting trivia about the armadillo is that they always have four babies. They have one egg, which splits into four males or four females.

23. The first domed stadium in the US was the Astrodome in Houston.

24. The Beck family ranch land grant is one day's ride by horse (25 miles) in each direction from the headquarters.

25. The name of the XIT ranch in Dalhart, Texas, is "ten in Texas." That means ten counties in Texas!

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

"I asked a friend who is 80 what changes she feels in herself.

She sent me the following:

1 I have started loving myself After loving my parents, siblings, spouse, children, and friends.

2 I have realized that I am not “Atlas.” The world does not rest on my shoulders.

3 I have stopped bargaining with vegetable & fruit vendors at the Farmer’s Markets. A few pennies more will not break me, but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.

4 I leave my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is working much harder for a living than I am.

5 I stopped telling my elderly friends they've often narrated that story. The story makes them walk down memory lane & relive their past.

6 I have learned not to correct people even when they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.

7 I give compliments freely and generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a compliment, never, NEVER turn it down; just say "Thank You.”

8 I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearance.

9 I walk away from people who don't value me. They might not know my worth, but I do.

10 I remain calm when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat, and neither am I in any race.

11 I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. It’s my emotions that make me human.

12 I have learned that it's better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas, with relationships, I will never be alone.

13 I have learned to live each day like the last. After all, it might be the last.

14 I am doing what makes me happy. I owe my happiness to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be satisfied at any time; choose to be happy!

I decided to share this with all my friends. Why must we wait to be 60 or 70, or 80? Why can't we practice this at any stage and age?

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UPCOMING

August starts on Tuesdays!!!  

The Brushy Creek Brass Band played at Walburg German Restaurant last Saturday night. The restaurant lost its circus tent two years ago, but they got a new tent. Yes, it was still 103, but the tent looked nice.

We will be playing every Saturday night in October for Oktoberfest.  Get a group, come out, and listen to our music and the music of the Walburg Boys.  It is a fun, family evening!!!

The Bluebonnet Philharmonic Symphony is starting next week.  Put Sunday, October 8th, on your calendar for our Sunday afternoon matinee performance.  

Granny Basketball starts in September.  We have a great cheering section - why don’t you come out and cheer on the Georgetown FireAnts!!

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Summer may start winding down!!!  Sunrise in Austin on Tuesday is 6:49, and sunset is 8:24; on August 31st, sunrise is 7:07 and sets at 7:54 pm. - a drop of about 48 minutes!!!

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Karen White,
July 30, 2023