Wow, Bob, I used to live in College Station. I was born in Bartlesville, OK and my parents moved to the Bryan/College Station area when I was 1ish. We lived there until I was almost 7. I have some good memories of that place, but they're all kind of blurred (as childhood memories often are.) I don't know my way around the town, but if you ever run into a church called Parkway Baptist, it should be next to a park. That park is right across the street from my old house. I used to play there all the time.
Posts: 4753 | Registered: May 2002
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quote:It's a neat little place (2700 square feet, actually).
You know it's Texas if they consider that little. I think my house would be considered a tool shed there. I'm glad you found a place Bob. College Station sounds very much like Gainesville (college town, population, etc.) and I would move back in a sec if I could get a decent job there.
Storm, you'll now have to come with Joe and I to jai-alai so I won't be the only one there who doesn't know what's going on. I usually depend on Bob for that.
Posts: 4625 | Registered: Jul 2002
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Well,then I'm happy for you. Sorry if I made an unwarranted assumption, but though your post on the divorce wasn't all 'man, life is over', I didn't get that you were happy about it, either.
I'm glad you're doing something that's going to make you happy. Texas is a great place, you're a great guy, and I'm very pleased that things are turning up. It's nice to have adventures in foreign lands. Posts: 13123 | Registered: Feb 2002
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May I point out as a native Californian that We were also a Republic, if for a shorter time. Another one of Texas' superiority myths bites the dust...
And then there's always Hawaii that has a history that can ground TX into the dust. Oh wait, there isn't any annoying TX dust in Hawaii...
Also I'm a Sooner, so I naturally can't root for any Aggies.
no need to apologize or worry. I didn't want the divorce by any means. I would've been happy to leave things just as they were. I was even used to the idea of being married to someone who didn't think she "loved me." It didn't matter because I knew she did love me.
But, you know, if you love someone and they aren't happy, it hurts. And if you become the cause or at least the focal point of that hurt, then it is best to just give in to their decision to split up. The alternative is to try to force a cure (real or imagined).
There's plenty to be sad and bitter about. But really, my life is darned good. I'm blessed in so many ways and Aura and I will be friends for a long long time, even if we can't be roommates any more.
It happens.
We don't have children or a lot of possessions to worry over. So, it's just a situation to be dealt with and move along.
We split up once before so this is also less of a shock to the system than it was the first time around.
And I'm really enjoying Texas. I never thought I would, really. It's a very pleasant surprise.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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Bob, there would be a lot less hate and resentment and anger in the world if everyone else thought like you. Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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Yeah, but the divorce rate would be higher too. I refuse to give in to hate, though. And that's my ultimate reason for agreeing to the divorce -- because if I forced the issue, we would end up fighting and hating each other. And what good purpose would that serve?
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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I didn't really mean the divorce part, but rather the part that when you realize you're the reason a person you love is unhappy, you do something about it.
Unfortunately, in your case that included divorce, in many other cases it might not. My point is - you recognized it, and you cared, and you hold no major grudges or resentment. That's what is so great about your handling of this situation.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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That HawaiiWithTheMoreHistory and the CaliforniaAlsoARepublic thing doesn't really affect Texas pride at all - you jest at scars that never felt a wound. Those states are simply wacky to actually count.
The AlaskaIsBigger thing does hurt occasionally. *wince*
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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The OKLAHOMAHASBEATENALLYOURFOOTBALLTEAMSTHISYEAR occasionally stings too I'm sure. Especially when we kick TX's butt and you guys have to fly the Oklhoma state flag over your capital for a week... oh the shame.
(Note: I realize A&M beat us last year much to our chagrin, but we beat every other TX team)
I guess Bob will now be able to tell us qualitatively whether football is bigger in Florida or Texas.
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Bob, I'm about 30-45 minutes from anywhere you need to be in Kansas City, I'm pretty sure. Just in case and all. I'd be a sucky tour guide, as we all know I don't know anything about the town I live in, much less one half an hour away, and you know, I'm a bit nuts and there is my husband and son that you would have to deal with, but I do occasionally cook, so there is that. Posts: 9871 | Registered: Aug 2001
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quote:you guys have to fly the Oklhoma state flag over your capital for a week
Really? That's hilarious! What a great custom - if you're gonna care, you might as well care in style. I didn't go to college in Texas, so I think I missed out on the accompanying insanity.
College football might be close, but I don't think anything can compare to high school football here.
Sorry, Texas and I don't get along. The only time my luggage was lost by an airline--Texas. Most car trouble--traveling through Texas. Most boring trip I took with my parents--traveling through Texas. Most annoying pro-football fans--Texas Cowboys. Most annoying relatives (distant)-- moved to Texas and became most annoying pro-football fans.
I shouldn't complain, any state that convinces a large segment of their politicians to flee to another state must be doing something right.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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Ophelia...earliest would be the week of September 22nd. That's assuming everything goes smoothly and the appraisal comes in on time.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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Bob, in a house that old, make sure the plumbing is thoroughly inspected, including all the water lines located under the crawl space (if there is one.)
Will you be on a sewer system? A lot of old systems were clay pipes, which begin to break down and then tree roots grow through the pipe. Eventually the roots clog up the pipe and your sewer backs up.
This is not an uncommon thing in older houses - we probably see 4 or 5 cases of roots in pipes a week. Of course, I don't know Texas that well, I guess you may not even have the same problems, but I would check out the plumbing and ask if the sewer lines have ever been replaced and how recently.
A replacement sewer is very expensive, we've never done one for less than $2000, and some have been over $10,000.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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How long can a discussion of obnoxious and/or annoying pro football fans go on without someone mentioning either Oakland or Pittsburgh? . . . Uh, not that much longer, I guess.
Posts: 6213 | Registered: May 2001
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Thanks! As it happens, I have the primary inspection taking place today. There are additional ones I've asked for (chimney & electrical). But the structural, plumbing, roof and HVAC are supposed to happen today.
I'll make sure to ask about sewer pipes.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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It's something people don't think about, I mean most folks will think of having the plumbing checked so that every fixture works, but who asks about sewer pipes?
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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The inspections are done. I don't have the reports yet, but there's not much that was at all worrying. Some odd things that the previous owner did with extension cords are now classified as miracles by the local church. Miracles that no-one was hurt. E.g. using speaker wire connectors with 120V AC fixtures. LOL!
But that's easily undone.
No termites. Negligible settling for a slab house that's 40 years old.
The reports will sound dire because they have to cover their butts, but both inspectors said there wasn't anything that had to be fixed right NOW that would cost more than a few bucks.
The HVAC unit will need replacing, but I expected that. We may be able to get the prior owners to pay for it or at least share partial costs based on what the inspection says.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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See? I told you, Bob-and-Texas sounds good.
He, isn't there anybody going to ask for an invitation to his housewarming party? I would love to come. How is Texas in wintertime?
Anyway, invitation or not, I give you a globe to put on your desk as a present. I mean, all wise things come in three. You already have The Light (Lavalamp), The Image of God (Posable Man), so I just thought this was missing.
Posts: 1247 | Registered: Apr 2000
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I sent Bob an e-mail to the address in his profile, but haven't gotten an answer. Bob - will that e-mail address work?
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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Congratulations Bob, your state tax dollars will now go to help fund the most vaunted justice system in the US, and some of the greatest optional pollution standards there are.
In all honesty I can't imagine why anyone would want to move TO Texas. Cheap real-estate and property tax?
Posts: 622 | Registered: Dec 2001
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Texas is turning out to be much better than I expected. I'm going to really like it here.
Regarding the justice system here, I'm beginning to form an opinion that the reason Texans use the death penalty so readily is that they really believe in the social contract. Individual responsibility and freedom is a big deal here. And if you deliberately violate that social contract, you are knowingly setting yourself outside the community. And then you are dead to them.
Crime is not just something to be accommodated at a particular level. Every crime is an attack on the idea that Texans are able to manage their own affairs with mutual respect and without government interference.
So, you become a criminal, you should leave or face the consequences.
This is not some namby-pamby Northern state with lip-service ideas about the nobility of all men. This is a place where adults in the community are expected to know how to behave and by God they better play by the rules everyone knows.
Sort of like having a giant homeowners' association and a state full of nosey neighbors.
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Good news about the house, Bob. Your bank will probably want it anyway, but be sure you have a least a 50 year title search done, with title insurance. Also get a survey if it hasn't been surveyed in oh, 5 years. Many banks are blowing off surveys nowadays and riding on title insurance, but it doesn't protect you completely. I surveyed for 4 years and saw plenty of survey errors, some that cost land owners good money to patch up.
quote:Texans kid around a lot, though. So sometimes it hard to figure out when they are just kidding or when they are dead serious. NOTE TO ALL: Texans NEVER kid about Texas.
You got that right. Never make Texas jokes without a clear line of retreat.
My step-father and step-brothers are Texans, and they are masters at dead-pan humor. I wish I could keep a straight face like them. With your sense of humor, I'm sure you'll fit right in after adjusting.
Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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Makes sense why W is so fanatic about loyalty, doesn't it? There are people who can be trusted, and there are people who can't, and you keep around you the people who can be trusted. Very simple.
No hard feelings, but no vipers stay in camp. It means that you know in whom you may trust. Hard on mistakes, but restitution is possible. What isn't possible is pride in infractions.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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I think Bob should come down to one of the Rice football games this season. Not because of the games, but because I think he would really enjoy our half-time shows. The MOB has a very hatrackian sense of humor. Of course, being in the shows, I'm rather biased.
Actually, all the Dallas-area folks should come to the Rice/SMU game November 15. As our big trip of the season, it should be our best script (although it will have the least impressive props).
Posts: 3801 | Registered: Jan 2000
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