How California is better

I think as I go about in my life that this question will, but shouldn't, plague me. Which state is better? Inherently I say California because I'm from there AND my family is there. But every day I spend in Texas increases it in my eyes! The food, the clouds, the sights, etc. As such, I must simply keep my best defense as to how California is better foremost in my mind. I've used this tactic against many a people to say California is the best state and so far it's been inrefutable...until I came to Texas.

All the Texans I meet don't believe this fact of mine! I have tried over and over in the last month to get them to see it for the truth that it is! They point to the copious amounts of country songs as their source for victory! However, now I've found proof. Let the facts speak for themselves...

Songs about Texas vs. Songs about California

Teh-hes part 3

So no pictures today, but instead I'm going to write about the 'cool' people I meet everyday!

So I work in a store where tons of tourists come in every day. However, in order to get people into the store I get to stand outside of it and shout at random people. The coolest thing I get to see when I do this is all the various groups or protesters that are visiting the street I work on. My personal favorite so far has been the group that brought a statue of the Saint of San Antonio (St. Anthony?) and put it on a bar in which they proceeded to turn the statue upside down, making it do continuous flips for about 4 hours. Yep, nothing says immigration legislation unrest like the flips of a statue.

Another thing about my job is that you see the same bums everyday. I do my best to avoid them, however they are very well dressed and a lot of the time I mistake them as not-bums. One even gave me a fist bump the other day! :D I've also managed to get a few in the store in which they then inform me they have no money. Well, don't I feel sheepish!

Other people you meet on the street are those that laugh at you. I was in a particularly good mood when a guy said flippantly, "That's a store for young people!". I then stuck my foot in my mouth and said "Well for older customers..." I felt most guilty until he did some British version of flipping me off. Then I felt justified. Heaven forbid I call it as I see it I suppose.

Then there's the people that you see multiple times on the street that you've already talked to! My personal favorite so far was the man from Alaska! He asked me if I'd ever been there as he was walking past and, thanks to my Father and his fishing escapades there, I was able to get the guy in the store to buy things! Twice! We talked about fishing in Alaska. Silly man thinking I didn't know about cool things in Alaska.

One of my favorite sales gimmicks is to have a story associated with where they're from. The Alaska trivia aside, my favorite one to use is that I'm from California and know everything there is to know about fashion and what's cool! Cause what's cool in California hasn't made it here quite yet! I got a woman to buy three pairs of sunglasses off of that :D Whoot!

Then there's all the 'cool' people that come in the store. So far I've had people from Canada, New Zealand, France, and Britain come in! :D Also, one customer informed me their last names were 'Cool'. Really? I think you're dad got his named changed just so that he could be Mr. Cool and he could have a Cool jr.! But that's just me.

So yeah. I love this! So many random people get to come in! It's great!

Teh-has part 2

No TV and no beer make Homer go something, something...along with the myriad of Simpsons quotes that find their way into my head and conversations, this one has been most prevalent. However, it has a different conclusion than our mutual yellow friends. Firstly there's enough beer and TV in San Antonio that I could easily have a gut by the end of the semester. Sadly I don't drink and I also have lots of stuff to do. It's like, instead of doing school work, I get to do all the random things in life that I haven't taken the time to do for a long while now.But enough reminiscing. Let's jump into the photos that tell the story of the past two weeks. The other interns and myself got a rental car. It is a Dodge Charger (Audrey informs me it is on the list of cars that sell out the fastest as number 5). I LOVE it. I haven't had a car in three years and I LOVE to drive despite my Uncle's lack of faith in my ability to do so. As such, we have already named him (Officer Benjamin Gonzalez) and I will be literally heartbroken come the end of August when this internship is up. He helps us get to work everyday and now I finally have the mobility to go wherever I want!
This allows me to go to various restaurants/stores that I've heard about. San Antonio has a wealth of restaurants. I'm sure anyplace does, but it seems more-so in Texas for some reason? Anyways, I'm not even half-way through my list of restaurants I want to go to. But of the 5 Texan's I asked, Rudy's was suggested every time when asked for good restaurants. So far only one other restaurant has impressed me however, which is surprisingly a Mexican food place. Mi Tierra. Check it out.
Already checked out Fiesta Texas. Six Flags started in Texas! Go figure. However, in placing Fiesta Texas on my scale of age appropriate them parks, it fits somewhere between Knott's Berry Farm(younger teens should go here) and the Six Flags in California(Older teens and above). This Fiesta was more amusing than thrilling. I'm a little biased towards the Six Flags in California however, it's my favorite place to go. They had amazing souvenirs though! :D
During my escapades, I thought I'd be a tad spiritual by going to the temple/my new ward. Excellent ward. It feels like a true singles ward and it's weird cause the only one I've ever been to is were the people in the ward are all from the same complex building. Now I have to drive 45 minutes, get lost in the farm land of Texas, and then get directions from some guys father in order to make it to a ward gathering. It's fun. The temple is gorgeous! They had stain glass windows! Which likes before I have yet to see on a temple. Very nice.
So all in all, despite my previous slights against it, I'm loving Texas. (This picture is one of the many signs I've been getting pictures of. They have very interesting signs here in Texas to say the least). It's gorgeous, there's always something to do, and I'm finally knocking things off my list of things I've been wanting to do (like get a library card from Texas, read loads of books, and get a tan without having to go tanning!). I might go crazy...crazy for Texas! ha...ha...ha...

Teh-has part 1

So...two weeks ago I was asked by an old friend to come out to Texas and be an intern. One week later I was on my way to San Antonio Texas to help him out. Not only that, but I get to help me out. I was looking forward to a lackadaisical summer where I would work a 40 hour a week job and burn my free time with friends.



And I'd have to say that's the biggest drawback. I'm leaving behind all my friends in Provo. I suppose this is what graduation is going to feel a bit like...but I'll wait to feel that grief for when it comes. To my friends I give these words of consolation; Friendships never end, they're simply put on pause. I'm good with goodbyes cause I know one day we'll serendipitously meet again! Like at Wal Mart when I'm making a midnight run to buy a Bop It game. Trust me, it's worth it.


On to Texas! The state that's vastly inferior to California...right? Well, before last week I viewed Texas through biased eyes. It was a place where everyone was Republican, they all had shotguns, drove gas guzzlers, and were a people that kept to themselves. I have since then found out that I was biased. Blame the Simpson's and King of the Hill. The people are nice, the bums are well dressed (haven't seen one that wears worn clothes), not everyone drives gas guzzlers (they have Texas edition trucks though), the grocery stores have those environmentally friendly bags, and wherever there's an American flag flying there's a Texas flag pole right next to it to accompany it. It's just...AMAZING...and I will sheepishly admit that I was wrong to ever say anything negative about Texas.


This is how we got there! I LOVE LOVE LOVE road trips! This one was no exception. The red rocks of Colorado, the expansive desert of New Mexico and Texas, and the signs on the side of the roads that said "Don't mess with Texas" are to die for. Gorgeous! I'm taking pictures best I can but to be quite honest they just don't do them justice.


So of course I have goals for the summer. The first was to get to the Alamo. Check. I walk past it every day for goodness sake! I feel so patriotic! :D
Goals
1. Draw the Alamo and San Antonio Temple
2. Go to Six Flags/Sea World/Shlitterban?(it's a water park)
3. Get Cowboy boots and a belt buckle that says "Don't Mess with Texas"
4. Get a picture of one of the signs that say "Don't Mess with Texas; Littering fine" (It's harder than you think!)
5. Visit at least one pool parlor
6. Find an Organ I can practice on (Check! But I still want to find one in one of the Catholic Cathedrals)
7. Find San Antonio Public Library (Check)
8. Buy a Hammock! (And therefore read all the books I brought)
9. Eat at Rudy's (allegedly best BBQ in Texas)
10. Get more goals! :D



So there you have it. I'm in Texas, it's amazing, and I'm going to have a blast. Whoot! It's going to be challenging but I basically plan to dominate this internship and squeeze in as much fun as I can while I do it!