I'm Back in California!

So, I'm back in California now....and not just for a Vacation!  This summer we packed up and moved to San Diego, my hubby's hometown, thanks to a new job. 

I can not tell you how good it feels to be back.   When my husband, who came earlier than us, picked us up at the airport and we got in the car and drove through the city with all the palm trees, stucco buildings, murals, HILLS, marinas, etc....I just wanted to scream for joy.  I was HOME!

Don't get me wrong...I had grown to love where I lived, and I still dearly miss so many of the people there.  So many people who had become like family.  But the place itself, the geography, weather, etc.....it's never felt like home the way California does.

I'm even sleeping better.    The whole time I've been in Texas I've struggled with insomnia (and in summer, when I can go to bed when I want, a creeping sleep schedule).   I haven't had that trouble since I came back.

So, anyways, I'll be writing more soon about how I'm seeing California now after being away so long, and fun outings we've been doing, etc....but I just wanted to let you all know I'm back.

And Now Texas has Earthquakes...

Alright already, first there was snow in Southern Cal, and now there's earthquakes in Texas?  Of course, it was only a few little quakes...all under 3.0.  That would hardly be an event in California, but people out here are more used to blowing than shaking (meanwhile in California, they are crying "tornado" over a dust devil.)

But anyways, back to the quakes...guess theres's been a few of them now up in Irving, TX (yeah, there's an Irving in California too...so I have to specify, this is the one near Dallas).  And funny, in the various news reports I've seen, I haven't once seen this...

www.dropcoverholdon.org

Yeah, that's what you're supposed to do during an earthquake, just so you know.  Not that the little quakes in TX have been all that deadly, but still, I'm surprised, since there's been several of them now, not to see any safety warnings (sort of standard fair.).  Cause actually, if there ever was a larger earthquake in Texas it would be more deadly than one in California, since the buildings out here are build for tornadoes, not quakes.  DO NOT RUN OUTSIDE.  You do NOT want to be standing next to a brick building in a quake.  Or parking under an underpass, for that matter.  Or sitting under your Aunt's collections of heavy glass figurines.

But hopefully no one here in Texas will ever really need that info.  Cause while there's a lot in California I miss, I'm happy to let Cali  keep her earthquakes, thank you very much.

You Might Be a Texan If...

I stole some of these from Jeff Foxworthy...the green ones are my own, or at least significantly altered by me.  I'm NOT a Texan...just a Texifornian, so...well, just feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.  Feel free to suggest some of your own!

You might be a Texan if...

• If someone in a Lowe's store offers you assistance and they don't work there. 
• If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time.

(If you've ever worn shorts, a parka, and Sorels...you might be a California mountainer)

 <- sorels="sorels" span="span">

• If 'Vacation' means going anywhere south of Dallas for the weekend (DOES NOT apply to most Texifornians!)
• If you've ever gone "offroading" on the median to escape a traffic jam.
• If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once.
• If you keep a gun to protect your house...but leave it unlocked.
• If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph, you're going 85, and everybody's passing you (can I have an AMEN!)
• If you think more than 2 inches is "a lot of snow." 
  
• If you have no idea how to drive on snow or ice.
• If you find 60 degrees 'a little chilly,' 

(If you find 70 degrees 'a little chilly,' you might be a Texifornia)

• If you don't see the problem with eating breaded friend vegetables with your breaded fried chicken.
• If you're eating Black Eyed Peas today!  (Happy New Year!) 

If you actually understand these jokes, and share them with all your Texas friends, you definitely live in Texas .

I assumed by that last line that Jeff Foxworthy WANTED these passed on.  But if that's not the case, Mr. Foxworthy, just let me know I'll take them down.   

 

 

 

This is Texas Summer

TEXAS HEAT by manewind

I had this coversation with some of my facebook friends back in July...

ME:  Wow...it's 2:41 and ONLY 91 degrees out...no, seriously, this may be the coolest day we've had all summer!

CALIFORNIAN FRIEND:   Getting homesick for living in the shadow of the Mojave?

TEXIFORNIAN FRIEND:  Seriously!!! I know! Aren't we getting close to 30 days in a row of over 100 degrees this summer?!? I am ready for fall! :)

MY MOM (A New England Texifornian):  30 days! Try 60!!! And more of the same next week!

TEXAS FRIEND:  ‎98 here...I almost had to run back in for a jacket earlier :)

---

Well, it's been another month of triple digits since then (which I was glad to be out of Texas for half of).   The heat inspired one Texas blogger to make a Texas version of "The Beat Goes On" (The HEAT goes on).  But seems we're finally getting a little relief now (at least here in Waco).  It's been comparatively "nice" the last couple days...and more rain is expected later this week.   

Giveaway and Interview With Texifornian Author

  

Today I stumbled on a giveaway for the book Tailor Made Bride - a romance set in Texas an written by a Texifornian!  When asked why she set the book in Texas, the author, Karen Witemeyer said...

"I grew up in California, but I came to Texas for college, married a Texan, and never left. I fell in love with the glorious sunsets, frontier spirit, and the friendliness of the people. I knew I wanted to set my stories in this great state. Living here, I'm also able to bring authenticity to my writing since I can research the setting firsthand."

You can read the rest of that interview at the Giveaway Lady Blog.  You can read more about Karen Witemeyer and her books (and find some other giveaways too) at her blog:  http://karenwitemeyer.com/books.html.

 

Souvenir Saturday: To Mess or Not Mess With Texas

You've all heard the phrase "Don't Mess With Texas." It's been used by the state in an anit-littering campaign, but when you usually hear it it's got nothing to do with littering.


But, of course, if you're a Californian living in Texas, it's hard not to mess with Texas now and then (and I don't mean littering):


CALIFORNIA, LET' S MESS WITH TEXAS !!! by march1694
Design customized t shirts at zazzle.com


I Mess With Texas by PerilousApparel
Design custom t-shirts at zazzle





Especially when Texans start coming up with things like this...


I mean, cause sometimes...


Texas is a mess. by funnycustomtshirts
Browse Texas T-Shirts

But on the other hand, if you're a Texan living in California, you might prefer something like this...


The Girl From Texas by trracie
See more Texas girl T-Shirts

...or this.


Don't Mess With Texans (black T) by ronscottcom
Make personalized tshirts at zazzle.com

But my absolute fave is this...


Don't Mess with China by mathcaddy
Browse more China T-Shirts

Souvenir Saturday - Texifornia Tee

I like to search for funny and interesting "stuff" related to Texas and California. This week I found a particularly Texifornian T-shirts at Zazzle.

TEXIFORNIApopulation: 1 by dustinvs

LIKE IT! Though I might argue that Texifornia has a lot larger population than one!

I'm gonna try to do this "Souvenir Saturday" every week. Originally was going to make it T-Shirt Tuesday, but that just excludes entirely too much good stuff (like bumper stickers and postcards and strange little figurines). Should be fun!

.

Texifornia Vulture Breath Chili

The following recipe was shared by Texifornian "Chili Bob" who has been making this chili for 20 years (guess I didn't coin the term "texifornia" after all--but I sort of suspected that). He was nice enough to share the recipe with us. I haven't tried it yet (as it takes a few hours prep and my kids rarely give me that time to cook) but I'm looking forward to when I get the chance!

Texifornia Vulture Breath Chili
(California State Champion 2003)


2-½ hours prior –
3½ lbs lean beef (mock tender, tri-tip) ground or cubed into
approx. ¼ inch cubes. “Brown” (actually gray) ½ at a time
(in a separate fry pan) using 1T of butter flavored Crisco per
½. Add 1t of NM (New Mexico) red chili powder per ½ while “browning”. Place “browned” meat into stockpot with;

1 can Swanson beef broth (14-½ oz)
1 can Swanson chicken broth (14-½ oz)
1 can Swanson Vegetable broth (14-½ oz) – optional
1T onion powder

Bring to a boil / simmer – keep covered (stir occasionally)

1-½ hours prior -
Add to stockpot;

1 can tomato sauce (8 oz)
1T onion powder
1T paprika (160)
1T chili powder (reg.)
1t cayenne
½t cumin

Take one fresh jalapeno (stem removed), score the skin 8-
10 times being careful not to slice deeply into the pepper.
Float the pepper in the stockpot until tender. Strain juice
(only) into the pot.

½ hour prior
- Add to the stockpot;

1T Lewisville Hot chili powder
1-½T Lewisville Mild chili powder
1T NM red chili powder
½T chili powder
1T cumin
1T garlic powder
¼t cayenne

Add one more fresh jalapeno as described above (optional)

10 minutes prior -
Mix in separate container (tomato sauce can works great);
1T+ Bisto (brown gravy making mix)
1T onion powder
½T chili powder

with a small amount of water to make a loose paste and add to pot.

At this point you can add to your liking (optional);

½t cumin or,
½t cayenne or,
more chili powder or,
onion powder or,
garlic powder or,
salt to taste
Do not over adjust, as it will still blend prior to judging.

More Texifornian Politics

Interesting Texifornian political tid-bits browsing the blogs today:

Found a blog by a Californian in Texas keeping an eye on politics in the two largest states in the country. (11/20/06 - She's now back blogging at her regular blog--Blue in Texas)

And...this quote by George W. Bush:

"I was raised in the West. The west of Texas. It's pretty close to
California. In more ways than Washington, DC is close to California."
-4/8/2000

(Found at Bushisms Explained.)

What is a Texifornian?

What is a Texifornian, you ask? Very simply a Texifornian is any person who has lived in both California and Texas for any length of time. A silly name for a silly concept--all part of a silly site. But, actually, not so silly, because the culture shock is hard, whether you are coming to Texas from California, as I did, or vice-versus. I hope through this site to bring together people who have experienced this so that we can share some laughter, our frustrations and homesickness, the things we love and the things we hate about where we are and where we've been.

If you didn't reach this blog through our main site, please visit us at www.texifornia.com.