deep in the heart of texas...

Well.... looks like we've got the Rodeo in town!

(you know you live in texas when everyone is talking about the "rodeo")

The next few weeks March 1st-20th are filled with all things rodeo in the Houston area. So grab your boots, hats and friendly cowboys and cowgirls and get your rear end to the rodeo. 

Ok but honestly, I haven't never felt more "I live in Texas" than this past weekend. Tomas' dad gave us tickets to head over to the "World Championship Barbecue Cookoff" (screams heaven for a vegetarian). This event kicks-off the whole rodeo... which started today. So, since I am far from being from Texas, I hadbeen trying to get a grasp as to what this means/what this event would be like.

It was incredible! There were TONS of tents all on the grounds/parking area of Reliant Stadium.  You had to have a ticket to get into the "tented" area and then you had to have ANOTHER ticket to get into your specific host tent. In these tents were all you can eat BBQ and more importantly drinks! 

 (this was our ticket into the cook off) 

So off we went with our tickets (which we then were given bracelets to wear to readmit us). Once in the tent it was pure TEXAS. 

Cowboy boots on every foot. 

Hats on heads.

Jeans with interesting stitched patters abound. 

Country music playing by a western DJ with a real intense mustache.

Southern twangs spittin every which way. 

deep in the heart of Texas. 

There were a ton of food and a ton of people. There was a buffet of BBQ and a ton of meat (or something like that).  There also was INCREDIBLE chocolate cake (that was more up my alley). It was an open bar with a liquor/wine bar and a beer area. We had officially settled in for the night. 

We made some friends from South Caroline and Forth Worth... the South Carolina man was "preparing" for a marathon. The longest he has ever run is 2.5 miles... but he informed us he was on a 40 week training program.  The Fort Worth cowboy said he felt guilty eating meat in front of a vegetarian, but "not that guilty to not eat it." 

deep in the heart of texas.

Tomas and I did our rounds of tent time (food/drink), people watching, concert listening, people hunting (trying to find friends who we knew were there but there was NO cell phone reception due to the mass quantity of people on the grounds), carnivaling (the action of walking around the carnival). Tomas failed miserably at a carnival game (don't tell him I said that) and later we went on one of those carnival swing ride things.... simply marvelous.

 I would do it all again if I could. It was quite the "Texas" event.

deep in the heart of texas.

The stars at night, are big and bright,
deep in the heart of Texas,
The prairie sky is wide and high,
deep in the heart of Texas.
The sage in bloom is like perfume,
deep in the heart of Texas,
Reminds me of, the one I love,
deep in the heart of Texas.

The coyotes wail, along the trail,
deep in the heart of Texas,
The rabbits rush, around the brush,
deep in the heart of Texas.
The cowboys cry, "Ki-yip-pee-yi,"
deep in the heart of Texas,
The dogies bawl, and bawl and bawl,
deep in the heart of Texas.