A million and a half ways Phoenix is different than Texas

1. In Texas, I didn't actually stop at the stoplight until my car was almost all the way through the crosswalks. Outside of extenuating circumstances (a Tech football game, Six Flags Fear Fest, etc.), no one walks anywhere. Crosswalks are never used. And everyone knows that you can't activate that little button under the road that triggers your green light until you roll all the way into the intersection itself. In Arizona, crosswalks are always used. People actually walk places. In the desert.

2. Take all the fat people in Texas. Divide them in half. And divide them in half again. That's how many fat people are in Arizona. Probably because they (see above) walk everywhere and probably because avocadoes and salad are staples for lunch - even for men. I haven't even seen an All-you-can-eat Steak Bar in Arizona. Sad, but true.

3. No one is from here. No one. In Texas, we are proud of our heritage, and proud of the fact that our Daddy's Daddy worked in Austin with the state government and Great Auntie Thelma lived through the hurricane in Galveston. When you're from Texas, you usually do your best not to leave. You go to elementary school, have your first drink, lose your virginity and get married all within thirty miles of where you were born. In Arizona, we have all the vagrants who wanted to leave whereever they are from. And, of course, there are those few Texans like us who either thought you had to 'see the world' (as if you couldn't see that from going to East and then West Texas!) or were forced to leave through unfortunate circumstances. Either way, I'm a proud Texan. When people ask where I'm from, I never say Phoenix. I'm from Texas, dammit.

4. Apparently, highways don't require their intros here in Fohenix. There is not a 'Loop 101' or an 'I-10'. Instead it is 'The Loop' and 'The 10'. First time I heard that, I thought they were talking about The Pac 10. That's the only The 10 I know. In Texas, you take I-35 to the North Tollway to I-45. They are interstates and highways - and you treat them as such. Calling I-45 'The 45' would be like calling Dr. Seuss merely Mister. It's just not respectful.

5. In Arizona, it is accepted to comment on the weather - even when it hasn't changed in two months. During the 115 degree summers, the first thing you say to someone you see is 'Whooo - it sure is hot outside!'. In Texas, we know its hot outside. We're not stupid. It was hot yesterday, and its been hot since Mid-May. In Houston, we knew it was humid. There was no need to say it. Especially since yesterday and the three weeks before that were all humid, too. You only need to comment on weather that has changed. And it just doesn't change that often in Phoenix.