We played in Texas about a year ago at Emo's the famous country and western club in Austin. And I figured well if I'm finally gonna die onstage that's where it's going to be!

For me it is just the total experience - from the time I first started as an assistant coach until I wound up at the University of Texas for 20 years.

I think we were raised in a nice Texas Jewish family where education was the most important thing and close behind that was the arts. It was emphasized and expected that we'd play piano.

It is possible for a kid from east Texas raised in south central LA and Carson who believes in his dreams commits himself to them with his heart to touch them and to have them happen.

Deep down I'm a Texas girl looking for that big romance every girl dreams about. Biologically I look forward to being a cornerstone of a family. I'll be in my glory when I have a child on my knee.

How can you look at the Texas legislature and still believe in intelligent design?

Crucial to understanding federalism in modern day America is the concept of mobility or 'the ability to vote with your feet.' If you don't support the death penalty and citizens packing a pistol - don't come to Texas. If you don't like medicinal marijuana and gay marriage don't move to California.

I was born in Corpus Christi Texas the youngest of four girls including my oldest sister Lisa who has special needs. My mom was a special education teacher and my dad worked on the Army base. We weren't wealthy but we were determined to succeed.

I get around OK with a toolbox. As a kid I picked up skills following my dad through the oil fields of Oklahoma and West Texas. My wife Janine is hard to impress but she does think it's cool when I fix things around the house.

I put on the Hank Williams and the Patsy Cline and the Rosemary Clooney on vinyl - I'm not trying to be some cool indie-rock person I just love the way it sounds - and throw on a T-shirt and jeans. In Texas we practically come out of the womb in jeans.