Size Ain't Everything

 


Since all my books are set around the great state of Texas and many of you have never actually been here - not even passing through one of our airports - I decided to talk about one aspect of it this month.  

Why now? It's October, and October is the month of the State Fair of Texas held in Dallas every year. The mascot of the fair is a really huge Texas cowboy named Big Tex. How big? From bigtex.com here are Big Tex's measurements:



Height55 ft.
Chest33 ft. 9 in.
Biceps10 ft. 9 in.
Boots12 ft.
Hands5 ft. 6 in.
Head
10 ft. in height
Inseam
20 ft.
Shoulders13 ft.
Sleeves
27 ft.
Neck
11 ft.
Waist27 ft.
Collar
16 ft. 8 in.
Hat
95 gallon
Boot size96

Big as Texas... almost.

Here's an example of just how big Texas really is. These states and regions can all fit inside Texas at the same time: 

All of New England - Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

Mid-Atlantic States - New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia

Midwest States - Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia

South Carolina and Hawaii

If I counted right, that's 15 states - close to 1/3 of our total states - that fit inside Texas at one time, with room to spare. In addition, three of the ten largest U.S. cities are in Texas: Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. 

Yeah, we're big. Yeah, we're proud. Does bigger always mean better? Nope. But it's what we have, so that's what we work with. Visit us sometime. You'll find out how friendly most of us are. 

I can't speak for that old grouchy-pants over there in the corner 😉

Happy Halloween, y'all!

Carol

Comments

That's a tall dude.
Your only competition is Alaska.
Rachna Chhabria said…
Enjoyed reading about Texas.
Vic Roustio said…
I live in Texas now. I wasn’t born here but I got here as soon as I could! Love Texas!
Leigh Caron said…
Loved the stats on Texas. My daughter lives in San Antonio now and I bet she doesn't know much of what you shared.
That is a very big dude - and I am wondering just how many States he can conceal.
Enjoy your Halloween.
Natalie Aguirre said…
My late husband was from Texas and would totally love your stats. My daughter, her boyfriend, and I just got back from a trip to Dallas and they got to go to the State Fair for the first time. My husband always wanted to take my daughter there.
H. R. Sinclair said…
That's big! I've been to Texas! The barbecue is outstanding.
L. Diane Wolfe said…
I keep saying of Texas pulls out of the union, we are moving there! I've driven through the top half of Texas many, many times.
Denise Covey said…
Hi Carol! Can't help myself. In Australia we have at least one cattle station bigger than Texas, LOL.
Bish Denham said…
Living in Texas I can attest to how big it is. No matter how you slice it, it takes 2 days to cross going east/west or north/south. Just the other day hubby and I were on I10 taking a short cut from one place to another and I said, "Oh look, El Paso is just 482 miles away. We could be there in time for dinner." That last was a sarcastic remark because it was already going on 4PM... HA!
Carol Kilgore said…
Alex - He's a long, tall Texan :)

Rachna - Cool! Each state here is unique, Texas included.

Vic - Welcome to Texas! I love it here, too.

Leigh - I love SA :)

EC - Funny! He is one big cowboy, that's for sure.

Natalie - Good that you got to visit Dallas again. I've never been to our State Fair. Supposed to be a lot of fun.

HR - The barbecue is outstanding. Everyone has their own recipes and we all have our favorites, but rarely do you find any that's just plain bad.

Diane - Although I believe that Texas is the only state that has the right to withdraw, I've heard no real rumblings of that happening. But it's a whole new world every day right now, or so it seems.

Denise - How cool! I'm assuming a cattle station is the same thing as a ranch??? That's mighty big. Your country is about the same size as ours, I think.

Bish - So true. Two days top to bottom or side to side. Love the dinner comment.
Jemi Fraser said…
Big Tex is Big!!!
We live in a big province up here, too. I'm amazed that all of those states would fit inside Texas - very cool!
cleemckenzie said…
Big is kind of a small adjective for that guy. I'd fit into his hip pocket.

Your state is right up there in size, too! I've driven across it a couple of times, so I have first-hand experience. Love your Bluebells. I can't grow them here in CA.
That's mighty big!
I've visited just the once many years ago. It was a super brief, flyby visit. Would love to be able to visit again and have a better look around.
Liza said…
I'm from one of the smallest states. I can't even imagine...
Carol Kilgore said…
Jemi - Big and bold, LOL. Not all of us agree on everything, but we all agree we're Texans :)

CLee - When I was a kid, I always thought he looked kind of scary, LOL.

Lynda - Every part of Texas is different.

Liza - I love your area of the country. You can drive through three or four states between breakfast and lunch. Not so here unless you live near the stateline someplace.
I have heard of Big Tex through a TV show but found these facts interesting
Carol Kilgore said…
Jo-Anne - Big Tex gets around, LOL :)
I remember doing an exercise like this about Texas in Social Studies class way back in seventh grade. Texas is just huge, and I've only ever been inside the Dallas airport. It's one of the states I've missed on my travels. I hope to visit someday.
Carol Kilgore said…
Tyrean - I hope you'll get to visit us one day, too. Several states are still missing from my visited list, too, with most being in the west.
Christine Rains said…
Whoa, that's big! One day I hope to visit. Hope all is well with you. :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Christine - Hope you get to visit here, too. All is good :)

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