More Texas observations

When I go just about anywhere but California, I think people are friendlier. When I come back, it like "What's your problem?" Maybe it's because I'm on vacation when I'm in those other places and I'm more laid back myself. Nah, it's California.

We have our moments with the litter. I think there is a bill in the next session of the Texas Lege (legislature) that all WalMart plastic bags have to be green from now on so they make West Texas look more verdant with all the bags stuck in mesquite bushes.

You might be experiencing travel on Central Expressway (US 75). Scientists have determined that the sun will burn out in 5 billion years. That means the road contractor will have to finish construction of Central in the dark.

Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Dallas has its own version of traffic rules...."Hold on and pray". There is no such thing as a dangerous high-speed chase in Dallas. We all drive like that.

All directions start with, "Get on Beltline". . . which has no beginning and no end.

The morning rush hour is from 6 to 10. The evening rush hour is from 3 to 7. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning.

If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended, cussed out and possibly shot.

When you are the first one on the starting line, count to five when the light turns green before going to avoid crashing into all the drivers running the red light in cross-traffic.

All unexplained sights are explained by the phrase, "Oh, we're in Fort Worth."

If someone actually has their turn signal on, it is probably a factory defect. Car horns are actually "Road Rage" indicators.

All old ladies with blue hair in Mercedes have the right of way. PERIOD.

Inwood Road, Plano Road, NW Highway, East Grand, Garland Road, Marsh Lane, Josey Lane, 15th Street, Preston Road. . . all mysteriously change names as you cross intersections (these are only a FEW examples). The perfect example is what is MOSTLY known as Plano Road. On the South end it is known as Lake Highlands Drive, cross Northwest Highway and it becomes Plano Road, go about 8 miles and it is briefly Greenville Ave, Ave. K, and Highway 5. It ends in Sherman, TX.

If asking directions in Irving or SE Dallas, you must have knowledge of Spanish.

If in central Richardson or on Harry Hines, Mandarin Chinese will be your best bet.

If you stop to ask directions on Gaston or Live Oak, you better be armed.

A trip across town (east to west) will take a minimum of four hours, although many north/south freeways have unposted minimum speeds of 75. The minimum acceptable speed on the Dallas North Toll Road is 85. Anything less is considered downright sissy.

It is possible to be driving WEST in the NORTH-bound lane of EAST NORTHWEST Highway. Don't let this confuse you.

The North Dallas Tollway is our daily version of NASCAR. It also ends in Sherman.

LBJ Freeway is called "The Death Trap" for two reasons: "death" and "trap".

If it's 100 degrees, Thanksgiving must be next weekend. If it's 10 degrees and sleeting/snowing, the Fort Worth Stock Show is going on. If it's rained 6 inches in the last hour, and it is Spring, the Byron Nelson Golf Classic is in the second round. If it is Fall, the Texas State Fair is going on.

If you go to the Fair, pay the $5.00 to park INSIDE Fair Park. Parking elsewhere could cost up to $2500 for damages, towing fees, parking tickets, etc.

If some guy with a flag tries to get you to park in his 'yard', run over him.

All amusement parks, stadiums, arenas, race tracks, airports, etc., are conveniently located as far away from EVERYTHING as possible so as to allow for ample parking on grassy areas.

Good luck, god bless, and I hope you've gotten your concealed handgun license already.

" Toll freeways suck."

Try to get somewhere via the "G" Loop (LBJ/635) and I bet you change your mind about that. If you do, get a toll tag , It will save you almost 50%.

Paul,

w/ the possible exception of "Litter seems to be non existant." i would say you're pretty much spot on and so is Andy on most of his DFW explanations.

i recall heading home from a few days around Raton, NM and enjoying the NM scenery when i hit some town on the border w/ TX (Texico i think) and it looked like i had entered hell on earth. while i love my state and breathe a sigh of relief when i cross the border heading home, IMHO it looks like a dumping ground compared to the places that i visit outside of it.

anyway, have fun w/ the surveying. today i found a survey/patent retracement corner set in 1892 by J. J. Goodfellow the Tarrant County Surveyor at the time. it wasn't as good as sex, but ...... it was good none the less. 🙂

Frank

Cool find Frank. Whereabouts?

Andy,

between Mansfield and Retta and north of Retta-Mansfield Road. the survey lines run n30w & n60e if you catch my drift. this is the e (called se) cor of the G. Guadalupe Survey, Abst. 615 in the nw line of the J. Bridgeman Survey, Abst. 186. Goodfellow called for a "planted stone" w/ some witnesses that are no longer present. it was about 15"-18" deep. approx 1' sw was a 3/4" irf w/ a conc w/ brass cap TESCO mon approx 2' se of the 3/4"irf. approx 5' ne of the TESCO mon is a 1/2" capped irf of a fellow practitioner whose work i have learned not to trust at all.

it was an approx 4" X 4" squared stone w/ another stone touching on the sw side and the charred bottom of what appears to be a fence post about halfway between Goodfellow's mon and the 3/4" irf. we took some pics. i'll try to get some posted assuming we did the pics correctly and can get the transfer to work.

I've talked to Paul and couple of times since he arrived in town. He's a real nice guy and will do just fine here.

This makes me think of John January. He used to post on the old board and was based in McKinney.

They name some of their grocery stores "Party".
I don't get it, but I stock up on fajita meat every trip to Houston, Tx and I get it at Fiesta.

Wow, that sounds like Arizona, too. Except for the litter.