After the Houston itinerary was confirmed we got a suggestion from a radio listener to have me transformed into a cowboy. Well, your wish is our command so we met up with the guys of Texas National Outfitters. Alex greeted me and immediately offered me a shot of whiskey. Immediately I thought, "This is my kind of store!" Later, Bill joined us and told me all about the process of custom boot making. I had no idea the process that is involved and even the old equipment they still use to make a boot that fits exactly to your foot.

The showroom has everything to outfit you from head to toe -- literally. Alex said you could walk in the store in sandals and a T-shirt and you can leave a true cowboy or cowgirl. And that was exactly my mission (the cowboy part, not the cowgirl).

As I hurried around the store with Alex who dressed me in several different outfits -- that you will see on the next page -- I heard of the other things that happen at the store. It truly is a community hang out with local performers entertaining you, local artists whose creations are sold in the store and spontaneous visits from celebrities.

I was taken behind the scenes and given the opportunity to see what goes into making a custom boot. Bill mentinoed that it takes about one full day to make a boot with all the preparation and stitching once a customer's feet have been measured. (Fun fact: They say that a person's feet are slightly different sizes.)

So I couldn't spend the afternoon at TNO without getting my feet wet, so to speak. On the next page you will see my transformation from Canadian prairie boy to Texas cowboy.