Don't mess with Texas!

Did you know that that slogan came from a littering campaign? It did. My pal Kelley told me that and show knows everything so... I think its probably true.

I just got back from my first ever solo trip, which was also my first time to Texas.

I was in the massive state for about 3 and a half days and had all kinds of strange fun.

My plane touched down to Waco and I did what I'd never done before- got a rental car all on my own, checked into a hotel on my own, and took to the "town". The drive from the airport to the hotel left me in a jubilant fuss. "OH!! ITS THE SOUTH!! LOOOK AHH!H!!!HH!! I'M IN TEXAS! OAK TREES! AHHH FIELDS! BRICK BUILDINGS! BRIDGES OVER WACO COUNTY!"

It all was very L.A. I looked around and literally said to myself " This is what the south looks like in movies!" . *Sigh. What a rookie. What a city-slickin rookie.

I got there a day early thinking " Yes, Carly. You will explore the city, get a feel for the people, and soak in all that is Waco."

As it turns out that's not a whole lot. I checked into my hotel and did a loop around the common areas... NOT A SOUL! I didn't see anyone. It felt Shining-esque and creepy. Then I thought, where can I find a bunch of people to watch? I looked up downtown areas which... kind of don't exist and the closest thing I could find to a stroll downtown was a stroll through ( drumroll) The Mall. I know, weird choice, but the whole place felt like a ghost town so I wanted to go where I assumed people would be.

Everything was different there than in L.A. Here are some I noticed:

1) They serve styrafoam everywhere! Its literally ILLEGAL in santa monica

2) Subway doesn't have avocado here... infact... its almost unseen anywhere! We are so spoiled, Cali.

3) They can get away with really Jesus-y things. Our culture in California receives culturally Christian things as totally tacky. I do, actually. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love Jesus. However, those shirts that say " Jesus Pieces" instead of Reeses or...

Make me crawl in my skin. Yuck.

4) What is a V-Neck? Nobody knows here. I looked like the village bicycle sporting a V. In Los Angeles, that's all you ever see!

5) What is a vegetarian? Folks, this is not a good town to try vegetarianism. All you will eat is deep fried vegetables and crappy salads. A woman asked me what it was like to be a veggie as if she were asking someone " What was it like to be probed by aliens?". Her eyes were glazed over with pure terror. Priceless.

6) Traffic doesn't exist.

7) Movies are cheap as all get out.

8) Nobody looks like hippies.

Ok, I could go on and on but you get it. Its different. Different is fun, I think!

There WAS one place that I felt at home.. No, better than at home. Common Grounds coffee shop. This coffee shop made no sense in the context of the rest of the Waco, Tx. Its artsy, tasteful, full of hipsters, well decorated, and, well, COOL.

I jotted down notes and sketches of all the neat installation type decor like an inspired inventor.

Ps:

In order to fit in as a girl here you must be wearing a) short athletic shorts, b) flip flops, c) a cool fleece and or college t- shirt and c) well groomed hair face and nails. I sauntered into the coffee shop with messy hair, a beanie, skinnies, toms and a pea coat. I might as well have been wearing a chicken suit.

The rest of the trip was filled with great music, brilliant speakers/ thinkers, and a life-shaping conference. I got to enjoy David Crowder's Fantastical Church Music conference. I could try to recap that but, this blog is already long enough. I will start blogging again. I will.

Until next time,

Yeehaw.