The big spenders were always the Republicans. The difference is that they spend on themselves.

My only child is now residing in the DFW area and loving it. I know you are 'from' there and not there now --- but as he moved from NYC in January to there, the weather is one of his favorite things so far. Will see what he thinks of the wild weather as it unfolds this spring and summer.

In July and August, it can be a little warm unless you're a desert lizard. The last few years, we've had 30 day stretches of over 100° F. I'm always there for part of it, but I usually spend 3-4 weeks on the outer tip of Cape Cod--MUCH easier to take. We have some great beaches here in Europe, of course, but they are usually too expensive, too crowded or too polluted (often some combination of the three). The easy-going, uncomplicated feel of the outer Cape is much more my idea of relaxation.

As for "not there now," you are so right. I'm currently freezing my ass off in Germany, but I have to run back down to northeastern Spain tomorrow, so I get to escape for the day--and speak one of my favorite languages (Catalan).