So, I am getting ready to move to Red TX from Blue IL

[Can o Beans]

Level with me - how much suffering am I in for? (Moving to Ft W if it makes a difference...)

Can

[Spinzonner]

1. Do you have your affairs in order

Remember, everyone there carries.

[Can o Beans]

3. And somehow I don't think you mean...

carries communicable diseases, when you say that.

Well, I figured that much - I just hope my neo-con wife doesn't try to make me buy a gun.

[Liberty Belle]

2. I have relatives in Ft. Worth.

Unfortunately they're all Republicans. Nice people, not bigots or crazies, just God-fearing church-goers. Maybe someday they'll see the light if enough good blue staters move in and educate them.

My aunt and uncle are Democrats. They live in a small town near Fort Worth. Actually, they can't stand Bush because of how he ruined the Texas educational system and polluted the air. So not all of Texas is blindly red.

Just stay away from swimming holes in summer (snakes) and use bugspray for the chiggers!

[Can o Beans]

4. Well...

I will do my best to facilitate that education!

And...um...snakes? Egad.

[Liberty Belle]

5. All 4 of the poisonous species found in the US.

Rattlesnakes, coral snakes, water moccasions and cotton mouths, if I'm remembering them right. Also scorpions.

Texans are a tough breed. My grandma used to dispatch the snakes around her place by hacking them up with a hoe and, when one turned up in her kitchen sink, dousing it with scalding water and bleach.

On the plus side, you get fireflies. As kids we loved to catch 'em in jars, then let 'em go and light up the night.

[Can o Beans]

6. WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!

Snakes can "show up" in your SINK?!?!?!?

I am reconsidering this promotion.

[Liberty Belle]

11. They were nesting under her house, actually.

One crawled up the pipes. That's in a rural area, though. If you're in the big city, you shouldn't have that problem.

[anarchy1999]

74. Are you sure this is a "promotion"?

Maybe "demotion", leading to downsizing, leading to "unemployment".

[Spinzonner]

7. There are 5

You forgot the Bushes

[Liberty Belle]

12. Oooh, good one!

I should've thought of that, especially since I compared Karl Rove to a giant swamp rat last night, in a thread discussing his recent purchase of a house in Florida.

[anarchy1999]

73. Oh, and don't forget the spiders.

Black widows and even more frightening, the "Brown Recluse".

[crispini]

21. I had to pick up on this comment...

re: blue staters "educating" the red staters. Plllleeeeease, don't take that tactic, at least consciously. The genuine Texans resent the hell out of it.

Honestly, I think that it's all the jackasses moving in from up North that have done a lot to ruin this state. The suburbs are full of Republican transplants. :puke:

We *used* to be Democratic, you know, not all that long ago. The older redneck types are, as often as not, union men...

edited for clarity

[Can o Beans]

23. That's clearly not my philosophy...

I was just trying to respond to liberty's request. It's not about BSers educating RSers - it's about Blue people educating Red people.

[crispini]

26. Right on!

:thumbsup:

[ROC]

36. That is not really differenr.

[Gato Moteado]

64. gotta disagree with you on that one.....

i live in austin. here, the transpalnts are mainly dems. a lot of the native austinites are as well.

the old rednecks you speak of...the rural crackers driving pickup trucks and such are repubs to the bone. they might have been dems back when the south was full of dixiecrats, and it might have taken a lot of them a while to figure out things switched, but believe me when i say texans are hardcore repukes. union men or not, time and again we've seen these undereducated morons vote against their own economic interests.

[anarchy1999]

72. Agreed, 100%!

Still need your help if you are willing for Amy Goodman event.

[fudge stripe cookays]

60. And don't forget the fire ants!

Nasty little fuckers. Be careful when you do any work outside. They look normal, but build these big honkin mounds.

When they bite, it feels like your entire bite area is "on fire." It takes an act of God to pull em off since they have very strong pincers.

And in a day or so, you have a nice hard little pus pocket where they stung ya.

Keep lots of Amdro on hand, and GoJo hand cleaner (if they still make it) works well on the topical pain.

FSC, once found a nest with the weed eater in tall grass, legs still scarred as a result

[Longhorn]

61. There's an ointment called "Tender's After Bite"

that works well on scorpion stings. I bet it works on fire ant bites, too, though I've never had any around when I got bit.

[muse]

8. I will level with you.

You will have to learn how to smile and be polite in situations ALL THE TIME with people who say some truly outrageous things. All of the whacked out things you read here that people say and believe - you will hear that in Ft. Worth - from just "regular" people that you will know. Be prepared. With the state being so red, the right wingers feel that they can get away with saying anything they want in mixed company. They don't feel the need to be polite. They assume everyone thinks the same way they do. You will hear things at work, from your neighbors, at church - wherever - that will make you want to lay into people, but often it will just be better to go on about your business until the opportunity to state your views is a little more appropriate. I'm just warning you.

On the other hand, we need you here!!! You will find some like minded people who are all stirred up and actively working to change things. The time is ripe for folks like you to meet up and get involved. Dems are crawling out from under their rocks and getting more vocal and more noticed. We are going to make change happen, but it will take all of us and it will take a little while.

[Can o Beans]

9. Muse, I really appreciate this...

And I will be honest, I am going to struggle. I am not your average, laid-back docile thinking man's dem - I am a Deaniac and believe that the only way to stomp out ignorane is to never give them an inch.

So, thanks for the warning, and I will mentally prepare myself. And oh yes, I will be getting involved. I have a "Patrick Henry" mentality about my beliefs, and will be doing whatever it takes to elevate the quality of life in Tarrant Co.

Can

[ashling]

10. There are actually quite a few Dean folks down here

Democracyfest is being held in June in Austin

... and I have had bullsnakes in the house ... the rattlesnakes stay outside.
:)

[Liberty Belle]

13. Bring lots and lots of voting fraud flyers with you...

Pass them out or just leave them in public places. Start a newsletter for those of like mind.

You might take heart from posts elsewere in DU tonight indicating that a lot of voting fraud occurred in Texas, too. It's not quite as red as Bush would like us to think.

[crispini]

20. Well, for what it's worth, I live here (Dallas) and I don't

take the tack that muse describes.

I am *always* extremely polite, (that part is true) but I never miss an opportunity for aa discussion. I have, however, lived in the south for YEARS. Down here a "heated discussion" is much more restrained, calm, and looks more like a polite disagreement.

I have found that the Socratic technique of pretending to be more ignorant than I actually am, and asking "stupid" questions, works brilliantly.

I guess what I'm saying is, I'm quite out about my politics -- even wore a Kerry button to my corporate job in the run up to the election. And, in my opinion, because of the way I handle it, I don't feel like I've gotten a lot of fallout. Although I do have a reputation as somewhat of a liberal eccentric. Fine by me. All of my REALLY good friends are Democrats anyway. There are a lot of 'em!

edited for clarity

[Can o Beans]

24. you and I are going to get along

And I like the use of Socratic dog-leading as well. Though I tend to phrase it as, (for example) "so what you are saying, ma'am, is that you think a fetus is more important than a child that's already born. Am I hearing you correctly?"

[crispini]

28. Hee hee hee. Exactly right.

And say ma'am and sir a lot too. :evilgrin: You catch more flies with honey....

[muse]

40. You are a role model, crispini!

I have, on occasion, been brilliant enough to launch into a Socratic technique. I need to strive to be more purposeful about that. I thought I was being EXTREMELY brave by putting the Kerry bumper sticker on my vehicle and driving that thing up to my conservative non-profit workplace where our donors and board of directors are VERY conservative and republican. I thought my liberal democratic boss was going to have a coronary because someone would be offended, but he is having to live with it yet, because it is still on the dang vehicle!!

All of my dearest long time friends are Republican - the ones from childhood. I am actively seeking new, close friendships with like minded Dems! When I find them, I don't let them loose (poor things).

[Can o Beans]

41. Yeah? Well I married a Neo-Con

Top that Crispy!! :)

[anarchy1999]

75. I'm afraid Crispini can't top that one. Why did you? Were you

confused? Or just really smitten with beauty and "brains", or economic viability?

You'll find lots of friends in the DFW Metro area. Keep a light heart. Let us know when you get here.

[Can o Beans]

85. All of the above.

I married the devils brew of Jackie O's style, Diane Lane's looks, and Ann Coulter's politics. Which luckily, according to a house rule, are suppressed most of the time.

[crispini]

43. LOL. "Role model"

Well, I also have a reputation as a something of an oddball among my friends and co-workers. It's kind of my temperament... I'm not about to let anyone bully me. The reputation doesn't bother me in the slightest, and doesn't seem to have hurt my career much, actually. :shrug:

I always say, a true maverick doesn't care much about the opinions of the herd. :evilgrin:

[anarchy1999]

76. Beautiful, I knew you were not a lemming the day I met you with FSC

with the Bolanos brothers. I know I can count on you not to be running off any cliff soon, right?

[Bouncy Ball]

53. Why do they get away with not being polite but you think you have to?

I'm a life long Texan and a liberal and I don't act polite anymore. If they bring it up and start spewing off, of course I'm going to open my mouth.

[muse]

54. I'm not going to stoop to their level.

Just because they have abandoned civility doesn't mean I have to. Seriously. Throwing politics in people's faces in "mixed company" when you are unsure of where people stand - especially when you are being inflammatory - is just plain rude and immature. It happens all the time in situations that I am in. I'm not going to bring myself down to that level. I have my dignity and I have standards. I'll get at the issues in clear, concise ways that show my compassion for people - the reason I am a democrat - but I am not going to start slinging mud with ignorant, uncouth people who should know better.

[Bouncy Ball]

55. Who said you had to sling mud?

I don't. But you mean to tell me if a republican started spouting off stuff you KNOW is untrue, you'd just sit there and say nothing?

[muse]

59. This is not a fun internet argument.

Sorry, I'm done. I thought I expressed my views quite well. Perhaps not.

I respect the way you handle yourself in the situations that this thread is talking about.

[anarchy1999]

78. Maybe you don't know Bouncy and maybe you are not a "fun

internet" arguing type person. Most of us do not come here to argue. Sorry, so sorry, can't bring myself to give you a welcome. Good luck, "muse".

[BlueCollar]

14. Fort Worth is a good choice

all things being equal. We actually have a small but dedicated group of progressives in this town...:-)

Welcome to Fort Worth...we need the help.

[GOPisEvil]

15. Move to Lon Burnam's district if you can.

Lon's a good guy.

Ft. Worth has a great arts community. Nice museums! :thumbsup:

[Can o Beans]

17. Where is Lon's district?

And does he need a rabid, Deaniac style lib with too much time on his hands to help out around the house?

[GOPisEvil]

18. Here you go! Lon's homepage!

http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist90/burnam.htm

There's a link to a map.

[Can o Beans]

22. Lon and I are going to get along...

we are swapping e-mails...

[anarchy1999]

79. ABSOLUTELY! You will be welcomed with open Arms!

N/T

On edit: Not the house he occupies, but many other places!

[anarchy1999]

77. Lon and his brothers rock. Lon is Head of www.dallaspeacecenter.org

His brother runs peace group and works lots with Dems in Tarrant and Denton County. Lon is the best, so is his brother in Denton and the other brother that lives in Colorado. I think he goes by "Balloon Bob" or something like that.

They are all the best.

on edit:

I forgot, Lon is leading the charge against Tom DELAY!

[Can o Beans]

86. Those last two words get me REAL fired up

careful. ;)

[anarchy1999]

87. I hope you mean "fired up" in a positive way, you aren't a DeLay

supporter are you? If you are not then stick with Lon, he is leading the charge. Heck, we've even contributed to the effort with $'s. If you want to help it will be welcomed and then some.

[Can o Beans]

88. I mean it as in

"I'd like to set DeLay on fire."

:)

I'll be in Lon's pocket if this is one of his pet issues.

[anarchy1999]

89. It is a big one. Contact him, he'll welcome you and glad you are coming.

Ft. Worth was a wise choice. I've just been in Dallas too long.

[Can o Beans]

16. Well then...

Hope is on the way!

See you in August...

Can

[Frogtutor]

19. There are more of us here in Ft. Worth than I previously realized...

I was born here, and I wouldn't live anywhere else! Fort Worth is a wonderful city. Having said that, I must confess I was quite appalled when I found out that Tarrant County had the second highest margin of Bush voters in the country. (70%, second only to Orange County, CA). On the other hand, most of our residents are very nice people; I think many are confused about the political parties and buffaloed by the Republican "values" propaganda.

Since coming to DU, I've found there are quite a few of us Dems in Tarrant County, and people like yellowdogintexas can tell you more about organized groups.

Welcome! We need you!

P.S. Let us know if you need any info about Ft. Worth concerning neighborhoods, school districts, etc.

[Can o Beans]

25. Hey Frogtutor...

Judging by your DU handle, I think we are about to become co-workers this summer...

We're thinking now that we are moving into the North Crowley area, but I will keep you posted and ask questions later!

[Frogtutor]

27. Wow, what an amazing pair of coincidences!

Well, I'm a TCU grad, not an employee. I have an elementary ed degree and teaching certificate, but I tutor kids on-line from home. I graduated in '02 when I was 35, but I didn't start college until I was 28! I don't know anything about working there, but I loved it as a student in the education department; I absolutely loved my professors. Another DU'er has told me several professors go to her church, which is liberal United Methodist.

AND--you're not going to believe this--I live in North Crowley!! Well, technically, I live in unincorporated Tarrant County, between Fort Worth and Crowley, but we're in Crowley ISD, and use Crowley postal services. We're right down the street from North Crowley High School.

Sorry, probably WAY more info than you needed or wanted! Feel free to PM me if you don't want to share so publicly...

It really is a small world, huh?

:hi:

[Can o Beans]

29. If you live where I think you do

you're gonna be able to smell my barbeque.

Hulen + Risinger, west 1/2, south 1 block.

[Frogtutor]

30. Sounds like you'll be in Summercreek?

Near Dallas Park Elementary? We're in Carson Ranch Estates, which is a bit further south and east of Hulen and Risinger, off of West Cleburne. But it's really close!

[Can o Beans]

31. yep and yep

You'll have to try my wife rib rub recipe!

(Though beware, she's a neo-con of the first order).

[Frogtutor]

32. That's incredible...

Um, I feel kinda stupid asking this, but, what's a "neo-con"?

Do ya'll have kids?

[Can o Beans]

33. Neo-con =

Neo-conservative, i.e., uber-conservative Bush worshipper. He could set our dog on fire with kerosene and she'd oooooh and aaaaaah about what a nice man he is and how safe America is from evil puppies.

No kids yet, one beagle, but I know she has intentions...!

[Frogtutor]

34. Oh! Say it isn't so!

You know, after posting my question I kind of figured out it might mean that...you're going to have to work on her!

:)

[Can o Beans]

35. well I need all the help I can get

so when we get there please feel free to meet us and join in her conversion effort...

I will send you our contect info when we get there...

[BlueCollar]

37. BTW

There are some pretty decent real "football" teams here in FW and over in the Arlington league. Let me know your preferences and I'll hook you up if you want to play some amateur ball. Also PM if you wish to find out more.

[Can o Beans]

38. thanks...

I am 35 now so it has to be a bit slower now, but I was a premier and college player in the glory days so I can appreciate the game at whatever level (my personal success would just fluctuate).

I am mostly a ref now, from NCAA-I down to u6.

Let's talk about the FW league when I get there. And can you tell me where is the location that mens and kids games are often played so I can look for the fields on mapquest?

Thanks in advance..

CoB

[BlueCollar]

52. Here's a link

http://www.fwadultsoccer.com/

PM me if you want a verbal breakdown on the state of the game here in Fort Worth. Looking forward to meeting up with you when you get here.

[Catherine Vincent]

39. Texas welcomes you!

Just stay liberal, my friend.

[Can o Beans]

42. Cat, I wouldn't worry about TX changing me

I'd worry about me trying my darndest to change Texas. I am going to work to make a Dem carry TX in my life time!

But that's another thread.

[lavenderdiva]

44. Welcome to Texas, Can o Beans!

I live in Houston, and am a transplant from New Orleans. Similar situation: my husband loves Bush. HOWEVER, and this may give you hope, I worked and worked on him, and he actually voted for Kerry this time around! I was very proud of him! The others posts are pretty accurate about the political climate down here. Just be nice, and try to get them thinking, in a polite way. But you will notice that they will just spout their beliefs, assuming that you are right-wing as well. Pick and choose your battles, I say. Like another poster here, I was kinda reluctant to put any Kerry posters or stickers out, because I feared this tremendous backlash. I live in a very Republican part of town. Yet I must say I was quite delighted to see oh-so many like-minded people coming out from under their rocks during the past election! It was refreshing. We have been growing in strength, and our voice is becoming louder, and your help will be greatly appreciated once you get here!

Get ready for the humidity. Also, when we moved into our home, which had sat unoccupied for over a year, and is built around a center atrium, I did find a large snake in my kitchen one evening. My husband was out of town, and the dogs were barking like crazy, and the snake was heading straight for my dogs! I went to the garage and grabbed a shovel and chopped its head off! My mother and grandmother (both from West Texas) would have been proud!! They both did it all the time. Haven't seen anything like that snake since (they do travel in pairs though! ). Just get used to a lot of roaches. Be sure to bring a shovel or garden hoe!!! :hi:

[Can o Beans]

47. This is great feedback...

and I know what you mean about rocks. In my part of IL there is a conservative majority, but the Kerry signs popped up like mushrooms in October.

And I can take the heat and humidity - I think...or to put it another way, I'd rather take 103 in the summer than -24 in the winter...

I am gonna struggle with the "right-wing default" for a while, but I am not one to stay too quiet and I will make them think...

Have a great spring and I hope we meet this fall!

Can

[Frogtutor]

45. About snakes and other wildlife in our area of town...

When we moved to north Crowley 4 years ago, this area was still very rural. The housing construction has just exploded since then, but we still have a few "wild" areas around us. Don't be surprised to hear coyotes yipping at dusk...it's really kind of cool. Also, you'll see lots of bunnies, hawks, owls, mice, rats, and MAYBE an occasional snake. The lots in our neighborhood are 1 acre or more, and my husband has a "barn" (more like a workshop, really). He spotted a rather large snake out there once. We decided it was a Bull Snake, or Texas Rat Snake, which, obviously, eats rats and mice. So that's always a good thing! He's even had an owl set up residence in his barn.

Even though I'm guilty, too, all this development out here makes me sad. I'm afraid we're going to lose our little bit of Texas prairie ecosystem before long.

[Can o Beans]

46. Diva, Frog, thanks for the welcome...

But you all are getting me really freaked out about these snakes.

Seriously.

I have a beagle puppy that I am obsessed with and I really don't want her getting chewed on by a snake.

Say something to make me feel better.

NOW!!!!!

[Frogtutor]

48. LOL; I'm sorry

I certainly didn't mean to freak you out! Your neighborhood has smaller lots, and less open land, so I'm sure it won't be a problem! Besides, I doubt you're going to let your puppy stay out in the wide open yard by herself much until she's old enough to defend herself, right? I have 4 dogs, and one of those has had two litters of puppies; never a problem with anything except one of my other dogs! That one snake we spotted, the dogs were curious, but kept a respectful distance. The snake just wanted to get away from the dogs!

Besides, there are plenty of mice, rats, and rabbits out here for a snake to eat!

We live in a big, open lot, surrounded by other big open lots and open pasture land and we've seen one snake in 4 years...Seriously, don't worry!

[lavenderdiva]

50. Can o Beans...

didn't mean to freak you out about the snakes... I have two parti-cockerspaniels, that are my babies, and would kill for (obviously!ha!) Our home is right on Buffalo Bayou here in Houston, and also has a center atrium that hadn't been attended to in over a year, before we moved in. All that to say, I think our situation was a curious set of circumstances. Our home is in a very developed area, and certainly, I would not think that seeing snakes is typical. The snake was probably looking for water. Don't know the layout in the Fort Worth area, but have visited there a couple of times, and its VERY developed. I lived in Dallas for awhile, and really enjoyed it. Snakes should be VERY low on your list of things to be worried about! Fort Worth/Dallas have a great cultural scene, great schools, wonderful shopping, etc. I think you will enjoy it. The most shocking thing will be the conservatism. But within that sphere, you will find pockets of like-minded people, who are conservative in some ways, but socially progressive. Its refreshing! :hi:

[Frogtutor]

49. Oh, and another thing...

I don't know a single person who carries a handgun. I know lots of rednecks, but I don't know anyone who feels threatened enough to bother with the procedures and expense of becomming licensed to carry a concealed weapon, and you'd have to be plain stupid to carry one without a license.

Just in case though, I avoid getting into road rage incidents, especially since I usually have my child with me.

[johncoby2]

51. Dont get sick. Dont get old. Dont get poor. You will be fine. EOM

[Zen Democrat]

56. Great! Texans needs more Democrats these days.

[yellowdogintexas]

57. OK, welcome in advance to Tarrant County, Texas.

First off, good on you for coming to the south end of the county. Up on the northeast side they are rampantly Republican. My two yellowdog girlfriends ( who are sisters) both live in Colleyville and it is really republican up there

Who are you coming to work for? ( I am nosy, sorry)

Ok, Tarrant County Democrat headquarters is near downtown Fort Worth.
We are having a fund raiser on the 20th: CounterInaugural Depression Soup LIne party.

There are many many Democratic clubs in Fort Worth, just search Tarrant County Democrats on the internet and you will get lots of links.

Don't know if you are interested in finding a church, but I am a member of a very large, philosophically liberal United Methodist Church; within the church I belong to a healthy adult Sunday School class that is pretty much all liberal Democrats...mostly... just throwing that in because I first met many of my most liberal friends there.

The most liberal elected official in Texas is probably Lon Burnam, one of the local legislative reps. I used to live in his district but when we moved got a do nothing Rep. bummer.

I do love living in Fort Worth: the museums, live theatre, parks, zoo, other activities are great. There is a lot to do in this area, and if you wish to go to Dallas, there is even more!!!! Why you can even go swimming in a stream with dinosaur footprints in it about 30 miles south of FW.

Our downtown city is just wonderful, continuing to blossom and develop . It is a lively safe downtown, with movie theatres, live theatre, restaurants..something going on all the time.

When is it you anticipate getting here?

[Can o Beans]

58. Hey, thanks for the greetings

I am also glad we are choosing unincorporated FtW just north of Crowley...sounds like I will have a few sane neighbors!

I am going to be on the faculty at TCU. I don't care if you are nosy.

I would love to make the fund raiser but I will not be moving there until the next academic year begins in August, so you will have to invite me then!

I am not too interested in church but my wife is, and I get dragged along, so it's good to at least act interested for a while until she gets used to going to one, otherwise I am liable to end up at some Pentecostal hellhole. So, I appreciate your telling me where yours is when we get there. Thanks in advance!

I am going to like Lou B I can tell already. My views aligned most with Howard Dean (of all the Dem candidates) but Lou sounds like a good man and I could become a fan club member...

I have checked out the downtown when I was there for my job interview and I do think it will be a great time...

See you in August?

--Can o Beans (name taken from the Tom Robbins book)

[yellowdogintexas]

62. TCU, terrific. What department? Congratulations!!!!!

I have a few friends on the faculty there, all church friends:

David Grant in Religion dept
Jim Riddlesperger Political Science
Kris Riddlesperger (spouse of Jim) Nursing School
Suzie Lockwood Nursing

retired Speaker of the House of Representatives also teaches a class or two at TCU in the PolSci dept. (he goes to my church too.)

Not trying to name drop, just know that these are good liberal minded people you may run into when you get here


Looking forward to your arrival!

[Can o Beans]

63. Well...

Given that DU can be somewhat inflammatory in the eyes of those of a certain political philosophy, and that I am coming in untenured, I think I will wait until I meet you to tell you my exact assignment. But it is very nice to know that there are likeminded folk in the campus area...

Can

[yellowdogintexas]

66. be sure and get a copy of the Texas Tourism guide book

it is free and full of all the neat things there are to do in Texas; all the good swimmin holes, state parks, lakes, museums, quaint towns,etc. and the big towns too. Available from the Texas Tourism website or at the welcome centers.

[Maestro]

65. Welcome

I'm over in Midlothian represented by Smokey Joe Barton in the House. What an ass! Anyhow, this state will see the light. We have to get Gov. Goodhair out of office first.

[charles_nys]

67. Hello Can..

If you can, move around Austin, I moved to Texas (Round Rock) about 4 years ago and it was really nice but after about a year I had to move up to North Texas and it has been the worst experience of my life. It is hard to make friends here because I am NYer even though I lived in the "sticks" in upstate NY.

This is the hardest place in America to find a job and its one of the most expensive places I ever lived.
(if you are a tradesman of any type it will be extremely hard because the immigrant labor here have undercut all the wages, (which I like to add doesn't give you any savings, you will still pay the most expensive prices for services, only the business benefits from the cheap labor rates)
unless you have a bachelors degree or higher then you may have somewhat of a chance to get a job)

The school system is really messed up too, learning revolves around the TAKS test and it fustrates my 16 year old daughter who doesn't feel like she is learning anything except how to pass the TAKS test.
The schools are also very overcrowded compared to what we are used to.

I would do a City to City comparison from where you are to where you want to move so you can get an idea of how much more you will be paying for basic needs. Because compared to where I lived upstate NY rents and driver's licences are a lot more expensive here as is car insurance and vehicle registration and vehicle repairs.

There are some good points too, not much snow and ice to shovel and scrape and no 30 below windchills for days on end and the food, moreso in Austin, they really really fill up your plate at resturants for the money!
Souper Salad and Double Daves Pizza buffet is great if you have children.
I just wish they would build a Chuy's close to where I am cause I really miss that place and HEB too.
Every apartment complex has a great pool or two and every apartment has a fireplace.
And believe it or not .. the police, they are really nice here.
In Round Rock if you get pulled over 5 additional Police cars will show up and they will all take turns lecturing you, say about running a stop sign or speeding and then they will let you go without a ticket.


Good Luck
Charles

[crispini]

68. Welcome to DU Charles!

And if you're in or near Dallas and you wanna get involved, let me know. There's lots of us nice Dems in Dallas. :) And Ft. Worth, too!

[Can o Beans]

69. I am getting somewhat excited about moving there for 1 reason

It's been almost too easy living in Illinois. It's like swimming downhill, with the current.

Call me sadistic, but I could use a little uphill battle for a while. OTOH, TX may be more to chew on than I wanted to bite off.

[crispini]

70. If you like a fight,

you're coming to the right place. There's a lot of fight in us Texas D's. This is the busiest state forum of all of them on DU for a reason! :)

[anarchy1999]

80. You want an "uphill Battle", you've got one. Welcome to DFW.

Stick with Lon, he'll stear you right. "sadistic", you must be, but glad to have you here. Ft. Worth is the best and you'll do well and make lots of friends.

[anarchy1999]

81. Where in the heck did you come from and where are you living now?

I live dead center in Dallas and I've been here for 30+ years and your description of anywhere is a not believable report from anywhere. Yes, its tougher and rougher in some areas, but you dear, madam/sir, are out of line. A "Chuy's", HEB? Souper Salad and "Double Daves Pizza"? That's all you want for?

Wow!!

Good luck to you, Charles!

[yellowdogintexas]

82. anarchy, I agree. Charles needs to do some exploring, that's

all I gotta say. We don't need no stinkin Chuy's, we got enough Mexican over here in FW to satisfy anyone..take a litte run up to Fort Worth's Northside or down on Hemphill to Little Mexico #2 if you don't believe me.

I don't know about Dallas admittedly but over here, you can eat Mexican every day for two months, not repeat yourself, and have something different in every restaurant. Some are big and fancy, and some are holes in the wall and some are in between.

You know, I seem to remember that Chuy's tried it out up here ..in Arlington and somewhere in Dallas...and they couldn't compete so they closed..there is a reason they left the Metroplex, I guess.

He wants HEB????? There are three Central Markets in the Metroplex, and that is HEB To the MAX

I can show him plenty of good Pizza, and I will gladly take him to the Souper Salad in FW..and if WE still have one, then surely Dallas does too. I also think he must be going to the WRONG places if he is complaining about the portion sizes being bigger in Austin! I always either split food with my daughter or bring home half of my order around here!!!

Now, I enjoy a trip to Austin now and then but not for the things mentioned in that post. I visit other places for the things they have that are really distinctive: like Zilker Park, Hamilton Pool, the lakes, hills, river, ambiance, museums, etc. & yes it is a bluer place. But I will take Fort Worth's traffic ANY DAY over Austin's and we have a museum complex that is fantastic and a world class zoo,plus our great downtown where people actually want to live...

this is turning into a rant so I better stop. But every place that I have lived has had something that I miss about it, and every place that I have lived has had something wonderful about it that I discovered after I arrived there. I love learning about a new city, whether it is for a short visit or a long residency.

[anarchy1999]

84. To tell the truth the above is a lovely rant. Did you know that the zoo

is rated one of the top 10 in the nation? It's a fact. Plus on the museum and art side, can't be beat. The Kimball, Bass Hall, hmmm, just too many to list. And what about that Bar-B-Que place, is it "Angelo's", something like that, close to downtown? And he Fort Worth downtown area is nothing but a treat, it is the way a downtown is supposed to be. Dallas is failing miserably in comparison!

So there is my rant, in support of yours.

[yellowdogintexas]

90. hey, thanks for the boost for our side of 360. I think the FW Zoo

is actually in the top 5 zoos...and Angelo's is a great place. We also have Cousin's, Railhead, and the Tennessee import Red Hot and Blue (my personal favorite, since they serve the kind of barbecue I grew up eating...pig!)

Things are always hoppin in Sundance Square as well as the Stockyards district.

"Tony and Tina's Wedding" is coming to the Bass Hall in February, I am going to try to go.

And this is the Cliburn year too!!!!

[anarchy1999]

71. Ft Worth is much nicer than Dallas. Wish you well.

Lots of good organizations active in your area. You'll be okay. Don't go to Arlington!

[yellowdogintexas]

83. agreed

[Skittles]

91. I made the same move 30 years ago

and I still haven't gotten over it. :o