Welcome to Houston!

This is the first installment of a blog I have been meaning to write for awhile now. I named it "Armadillo by Morning" as nod to the iconic "Amarillo by Morning" which is a pretty cheesy song but hey! Texans relate.

I have been in the Lone Star State for four years now. Some Statistics:

• Houston is the fourth-largest city in the country, and is a minority-majority city, purported to be twenty years ahead of every other city in the country in terms of diversity. 

This may be true. If you miss the foods from your country, chances are if we're talking international, you can find it here. However, if you're looking for Detroit pizza, Philly cheese steak, or locally grown apples, you won't find an adequate substitute here.

• Texas ranks "...50th in percentage of high school graduates among its populace high school graduation rate, first in amount of carbon emissions, first in hazardous waste produced, last in voter turnout, first in percentage of people without health insurance, and second in percentage of uninsured kids." (http://www.texasobserver.org/texas-on-the-brink-we-can-do-better/) 

So, there's that.

The climate throughout the state is different depending on where you are. In the gulf coast region, where we are, you kinda want to stay away between approximately May 15-October 15. Many folks will compare this to winter in the Northern states. While this seems an adequate comparison, while in the north the weather may be warm enough in February to allow daffodils to come up, summer in the Gulf Coast is relentless, and it's common to be 77 degrees and 93% humidity every. single. morning. Makes for not very nice workouts in the AM. Lots of people I've talked to who can, leave in the summer months.

The birds are cool though.

More later!