Goin' Back To Houston....Houston...Houston

It's been a while since my last post. There are several reasons for that. The first being that I've been busy. John Lennon really hit the nail on the head when he sang, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." Our computer spent last week under the knife getting a power supply transplant. Our old power supply went out after a storm the other day. Probably the main reason, however, is that I've been trying to figure out a way to keep this entry from sounding like "You Might Be a Redneck If...". This blog is geared toward my fellow Native Houstonians.

Let's face it. We may not live in the prettiest city. The weather here is ridiculous. Chances are, however, if you're a Native Houstonian, you love the city. The food is great. The people are the friendliest. We live in the fourth largest city in the country, but you would never know it. If you recognize elements of the following list, you may be qualified as a Native Houstonian. I offer my deepest apologies if this is at all reminiscent of a "You Might Be a Redneck" or "Here's Your Sign" list. I assure you that was not my intent.

The Houston List
1. You used to go to Sea-a-Rama in Galveston to watch the seals and dolphins.
2. You used to beg your parents to take you to the Foley's at Northwest Mall because their
children's shoe department was a pirate ship.
3. The Thanksgiving Day Parade downtown will ALWAYS be the Foley's Thanksgiving Day
Parade.
4. You often confused former mayor Kathy Whitmire with Dustin Hoffman as Tootsie.
5. You either had a birthday party or at least attended a birthday party at CandyLand on 59.
6. Astroworld just has not been the same since the Alpine Sleigh Ride closed.
7. You danced at DanceTown USA on Airline.
8. You remember when Greenspoint Mall wasn't scary but actually had really nice fountains
throughout the mall.
9. The Astrodome is a sacred place for you.
10. You watched wrestling on Saturday night at the Sam Houston Coliseum.
11. You remember when Matress Mac was just a crazy guy trying to sell furniture in
commercials during wrestling, and you thought he'd never make it.
12. You remember when Houston had 7-11's
13. You used to watch movies at the Garden Oaks Theater.
14. You know there is a Houston Baseball Museum in the big Finger's on I-45 across from UH.
15. You watched movies at the United Artist theater in front of Northline Mall.
16. You had a shirt or bumper sticker proclaiming, "Luv Ya Blue".
17. You owned a 45 of the Oiler Fight Song.
18. You know why the Astros should retire the number 50.
19. You played putt putt or raced go-karts at the Castle.
20. You've tried Warren Moon's cookies
21. You're shocked that Dave Ward and Bob Allen have looked the same for darn near 30 years.
22. You know that Gilley's wasn't just some made up honky tonk in the Urban Cowboy.
23. You've eaten at Barbecue Inn and know not to order the barbecue.
24. As a child, you wanted to attend UH because they were turning out Heisman winners.
25. You remember when the Souther Star Amphitheater was the place to watch a concert.
26. You rembember those big weird characters at Astroworld with the orange hair.
27. You remember when Astroworld was safe.
28. Six Flags was just a park in that crappy wanna-be city, Dallas.
29. You remember Dream’s “Unbeatable” McDonald’s Commercials
30. Hakeem was Akeem
31. You shopped for a Christmas tree in front of DelMar Stadium
32. Tomball and Conroe were small towns too far away to think about driving to.
33. You've shopped at Kaplan Ben Hur in the Heights.
34. You consider Mike Scott royalty
35. The mosquito bites don’t bother you anymore
36. You refused to call the Rockets’ home, Compaq Center. It was the Summit!
37. You still hate Reliant for putting their name in front of the Astrodome
38. 1960 was just a Farm Road until Games People Play opened up.
39. You watched bands play at Billy Blues
40. You hated the “Go See Cal” commercials
41. You know the words to the Mac Haik jingle and the Westside Chevrolet jingle
42. You own a copy of the Houston Rockets version of "Whoomp There It Is!"
43. You remember when the Chronicle had to compete with the Post.
44. You know that before it was Splashtown, the land in Spring was Hanna Barbarra Land.


"As I made my way home, I thought Jem and I would get grown but there wasn't much else left for us to learn, except possibly algebra." Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee