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Karen Telleen-Lawton: CaliTexas 2

Texas has a lot going for it, as I shared in my last column: a profusion of Blue Bonnets (lupine) and other wildflowers, safe and scenic bike paths, and a gracious Southern style.

They also boast coastlines facing just about every direction, thanks to barrier islands and a sloping east-south coast.

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Bolivar Peninsula, Texas. (Karen Telleen Lawton)

Texans dress across a similar spectrum as Californians, ranging from casual to better-left-unseen. Their official motto is “Friendship,” which we felt in spades.

I encountered some surprises in the Lone Star State. Most importantly, we didn’t discern a huge difference between Mexican food in California and Tex-Mex. We tested and tasted this proposition all along our route.

A friend explained that Tex-Mex dishes have more cheese, but the only item that bore that out for us was a menu item listed as “chili con queso.” I ordered “con queso” once, naively thinking it was chili topped with grated cheese. Instead, it was melted processed cheese in a bowl for dipping chips.

Other than that disappointing order, Tex-Mex was delicious from El Paso to Galveston and everywhere in between. Ask my bathroom scale if I enjoyed the food!

Another surprise was a remark by a guard at The Alamo that Texas is permitted to fly its flag as high as the U.S. flag.

“Since we were first a country for a decade, we negotiated that right when we joined the Union,” he revealed.

I thought that was a fascinating factoid but wondered (to myself) about Hawaii, which was a kingdom before it was a state.

Turning to the internet, I discovered that any state may fly its flag as high as the American flag – but no higher. So there you go.

You might consider Texas to be a solidly red state. Indeed, Fox News played in every hotel breakfast room we visited. Both U.S. senators plus 25 of 38 Texas representatives are Republican. However, Texans themselves are decidedly purple.

According to Pew polls, 40% are Republican or lean Republican, 39% are Democrat or lean Democrat, and 21% have no lean. This may be why Texas seems environmentally conscientious, with the yawning exception of oil and gas issues.

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Take birders, for instance. In Galveston, we attended a week-long birding event called Feather Fest. Texas is on the Central Flyway and sees an amazing variety of birds, from tiny calliope hummingbirds to dazzling roseate spoonbills.

In a competitive annual bird count, a Texas group almost always comes in first place, which is a tribute not only to the variety of birds but also to the number of birders who go outside to spot them.

Seven of the top 10 count areas this year were Californian (Santa Barbara placed sixth with 196 species), but first place (218 species) and third place (202 species) were Texas regions.

Birders, not surprisingly, are highly interested in land and water conservation and protection.

I asked Feather Fest organizers whether Texas birders tend to lean toward one party or the other. They insisted that you cannot predict. Political affiliation by whether or not someone is a birder. “All Texans are very protective of the environment.”

We met two Texas science teachers at a birding event kayaking through an estuary. (I clarified first that alligator habitat is freshwater, not seawater or brackish water.) I asked them how it was to teach about the environment in Texas. They looked at each other and chuckled. “It’s not easy,” they admitted.

Texas has a whole separate science curriculum than the rest of the nation, they told me. But by and large, they teach about the environment and ignore the politics.

They just get stuff done without mentioning words like “carbon taxes” and “climate disruption.”

Will it work in the long run? I don’t know. The Texas equivalent of our Western Gull is their Laughing Gull, so that may say something.

Plastic-Free July

During my visit to Easter Island, situated 2100 miles west of mainland Chile, I was struck by the ubiquity of plastics. It was a profound experience encountering plastic waste in such a remote and pristine environment, prompting me to reflect on the pervasive nature of plastic waste in our world.

The Library

The public library held a special place in my heart as my first love outside of my family. My connection to it resonated with Susan Orlean’s description in “The Library Book”: “I loved wandering around the bookshelves, scanning the spines until something happened to catch my eye.” The library offered a sanctuary for exploration and discovery, shaping my love for literature and knowledge.

Black Lives Matter

Last week, my email inbox was flooded with what I feared were mere platitudes about Black Lives Matter from organizations I am involved with. Everyone seemed to be expressing apologies, acknowledging that no one had been doing enough. This experience prompted me to reflect on the importance of taking meaningful action to support the Black Lives Matter movement.

Triple Emergencies II

In my last column, I discussed the interconnected global emergencies of pandemics, climate change, and biodiversity loss. A friend reached out to me, seeking clarification on the relationship between these issues. I found it challenging to articulate a clear explanation, prompting me to delve deeper into understanding the intricate connections among these triple emergencies.

Plastic-Free July

During my visit to Easter Island, situated 2100 miles west of mainland Chile, I was struck by the ubiquity of plastics. It was a profound experience encountering plastic waste in such a remote and pristine environment, prompting me to reflect on the pervasive nature of plastic waste in our world.

The Library

The public library held a special place in my heart as my first love outside of my family. My connection to it resonated with Susan Orlean's description in "The Library Book": "I loved wandering around the bookshelves, scanning the spines until something happened to catch my eye." The library offered a sanctuary for exploration and discovery, shaping my love for literature and knowledge.

Black Lives Matter

Last week, my email inbox was flooded with what I feared were mere platitudes about Black Lives Matter from organizations I am involved with. Everyone seemed to be expressing apologies, acknowledging that no one had been doing enough. This experience prompted me to reflect on the importance of taking meaningful action to support the Black Lives Matter movement.

Triple Emergencies II

In my last column, I discussed the interconnected global emergencies of pandemics, climate change, and biodiversity loss. A friend reached out to me, seeking clarification on the relationship between these issues. I found it challenging to articulate a clear explanation, prompting me to delve deeper into understanding the intricate connections among these triple emergencies.
  • Bridges and Toilet Paper

    February 26, 2018
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) Toilet paper and bridges are two essential items…
  • Hospital Stays

    February 12, 2018
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) In the past horrific months, miracles abounded. It…
  • Basking in the Light of Ordinary Times

    January 29, 2018
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read original in Noozhawk here) Vacation photos are extra-ordinary. You can gaze upon your family’s smiling…
  • Collaborative Intelligence

    January 15, 2018
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) When I was in school, we each completed…
  • Jumping Back Into Market

    January 1, 2018
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) If politics isn’t driving you crazy, then the…
  • Compost My Remains

    December 18, 2017
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) There’s something fitting about an environmental entrepreneur named…
  • On Global Migration Sunday

    December 4, 2017
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) Picture people huddled in the grass: a crowd…
  • Boobies Are Here

    November 20, 2017
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) To think I flew to the Galapagos to…
  • Least Favorite Inventions

    November 6, 2017
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) You know those hot air-hand dryers in restaurant…
  • Health Care for Californians

    October 23, 2017
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) My goal, in fewer than 600 words, is…
  • Save More, Stress Less

    October 9, 2017
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) Last time I discussed buckets as an image…
  • Buckets of Money

    September 25, 2017
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) Although it’s been years since I’ve scooted my…
  • Aunt Marge’s China

    September 11, 2017
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) Aunt Marge’s pastel Lenox dinnerware. (Karen Telleen-Lawton) Have…
  • A Mathematical Woman

    August 28, 2017
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) I loved math growing up. Theorems made intuitive…
  • Santa Barbara Spain

    August 13, 2017
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) Living with Santa Barbara’s Moorish architecture, I thought I’d…
  • Paddling With a Shark Off Carpinteria

    July 30, 2017
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) Have you ever had that dream where you’re…
  • Conscientious Capitalism: Be Sincere

    July 17, 2017
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) A generation after the first mentions of conscious…
  • Corporations and Nature as People

    June 19, 2017
    by Karen Telleen-Lawton, Noozhawk Columnist (read the original in Noozhawk by clicking here) What do Santa Barbarans, Google Inc., and New Zealand’s Whanganui…

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Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Bird on a Tree Stump