Well, I got my driver's license yesterday. Still pretty grumpy about that.
I tried to get it over lunch but the guy said there was a 3 hour wait, so I picked up the forms I needed and came back after work (he said that their slowest time is right before they close at 5). I showed up at 4:20 PM and still had to wait over an hour. I was pretty upset by that. At that point they should have paid me or waived their stupid licensing fee.
At least the lady at the counter was nice. When she saw my old license she mentioned she was going to California for the holidays and remarked how much she was looking forward to it.
They confiscate your old driver's license and give you a piece of paper that says they have it now. Kind of depressing. I don't know why they don't just hole-punch and return it like other states do.
So. I guess in two weeks I'll receive it in the mail, although with my luck it will get lost or whatever. I've been having kind of spotty service with the USPS here, although the mail carrier seems nice whenever I see him.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
The Car, The Dog, and The Law
I am not having a good track record with the po-lice today.
First of all I get pulled over for speeding on my way to my 2nd work site today. OK, yes, I was speeding, but so was pretty much everyone else. Going the speed limit on that road would force you to be going at least 10-15 mph slower than the flow of traffic. At least he wasn't a huge jerk about my not having a TX driver's license yet, and didn't cite me for that. He did give me a citation for the speeding though, which I suspect is going to cost me.
Secondly, I was taking a walk with the dog this afternoon, when some dude wearing civilian clothes in the complex courtyard flashes his badge at me and asks how long I had been out walking my dog and if I heard a gunshot recently. Why Officer, I have been out here for around 20 minutes and no, I did not hear a gun shot recently. "Well I did and I already called for back up" he says as he storms off.
Walking away, I realize I did hear something that could have vaguely been mistaken for a gunshot: some dude was beating a couch cushion into dust-less submission on his balcony. It didn't sound like a gun shot to me at the time even though it made both me and the dog look around. I have heard gun shots in the neighborhood before and this didn't sound like it. Hmm.
Do I go back and point out to this cop with an attitude/power-trip/disadvantaged-height-complex that he just may have mis-heard what he thought was a gun shot?
No. No I do not. I've had more than my yearly dose of talking to the police, and I really don't want to talk to them no more.
Why You Should Never Talk To The Police
First of all I get pulled over for speeding on my way to my 2nd work site today. OK, yes, I was speeding, but so was pretty much everyone else. Going the speed limit on that road would force you to be going at least 10-15 mph slower than the flow of traffic. At least he wasn't a huge jerk about my not having a TX driver's license yet, and didn't cite me for that. He did give me a citation for the speeding though, which I suspect is going to cost me.
Secondly, I was taking a walk with the dog this afternoon, when some dude wearing civilian clothes in the complex courtyard flashes his badge at me and asks how long I had been out walking my dog and if I heard a gunshot recently. Why Officer, I have been out here for around 20 minutes and no, I did not hear a gun shot recently. "Well I did and I already called for back up" he says as he storms off.
Walking away, I realize I did hear something that could have vaguely been mistaken for a gunshot: some dude was beating a couch cushion into dust-less submission on his balcony. It didn't sound like a gun shot to me at the time even though it made both me and the dog look around. I have heard gun shots in the neighborhood before and this didn't sound like it. Hmm.
Do I go back and point out to this cop with an attitude/power-trip/disadvantaged-height-complex that he just may have mis-heard what he thought was a gun shot?
No. No I do not. I've had more than my yearly dose of talking to the police, and I really don't want to talk to them no more.
Why You Should Never Talk To The Police
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Detour Review: Sushi Sake
Who would have thought there would be a good sushi restaurant in this land-locked town?
Anyway, I've been to this place twice, and the food is fantastic. It's very Japanese without being kitschish. The greeters, waitresses and chefs are friendly and accommodating. I chatted up the sushi chef at the bar once, and watched him put together two matching Nama-chirashi boxes. Absolutely beautiful!
I recommend getting the Spanish Mackerel sashimi. They bring it out tossed in a light dressing; after you gobble that up they will ask if you want the rest of it (the skeleton, fins, and remaining meat on the fish, which until this point is a garnish) deep fat fried - say yes. It's fantastic, and about as Japanese as you can get.
One new thing I tried here was sea urchin sushi. Its fatty butteryness is a new favorite.
I've heard from several other people that this is the best sushi restaurant in town, so I'm glad I didn't have to look far and wide for my sushi fix. They have tempura, teriyaki, and other standard Japanese fare if you don't like raw fish.
Sushi-Sake Japanese Restaurant
2150 N Collins Blvd
Richardson, TX 75080
(972) 470-0722
Anyway, I've been to this place twice, and the food is fantastic. It's very Japanese without being kitschish. The greeters, waitresses and chefs are friendly and accommodating. I chatted up the sushi chef at the bar once, and watched him put together two matching Nama-chirashi boxes. Absolutely beautiful!
I recommend getting the Spanish Mackerel sashimi. They bring it out tossed in a light dressing; after you gobble that up they will ask if you want the rest of it (the skeleton, fins, and remaining meat on the fish, which until this point is a garnish) deep fat fried - say yes. It's fantastic, and about as Japanese as you can get.
One new thing I tried here was sea urchin sushi. Its fatty butteryness is a new favorite.
I've heard from several other people that this is the best sushi restaurant in town, so I'm glad I didn't have to look far and wide for my sushi fix. They have tempura, teriyaki, and other standard Japanese fare if you don't like raw fish.
Sushi-Sake Japanese Restaurant
2150 N Collins Blvd
Richardson, TX 75080
(972) 470-0722
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Driver's License Application
Yes, I know I said this was a 3-step process. I've been busy, and as I'm not wild about being in Texas I'm kind of in denial about getting my driver's license here.
Anyway, I glanced at the website today. It looks like I'll need:
Passport
Social Security Card (crap, where did I put that?)
Texas car registration, proof of insurance
Driver's License Fee of $25 (they say you can pay with a credit card although I'd just bring cash - I've heard that they can be particular about personal checks also)
If you have a valid out-of-state license you bring your current license in (I think they take it from you, which is another reason why I'm reluctant to bring it in) and then all you need to do is pass a vision exam. No written or driving exam required.
Then just fill out the form and present all that to a DPS office. Yeah. I'm gonna get right on that. :(
Anyway, I glanced at the website today. It looks like I'll need:
Passport
Social Security Card (crap, where did I put that?)
Texas car registration, proof of insurance
Driver's License Fee of $25 (they say you can pay with a credit card although I'd just bring cash - I've heard that they can be particular about personal checks also)
If you have a valid out-of-state license you bring your current license in (I think they take it from you, which is another reason why I'm reluctant to bring it in) and then all you need to do is pass a vision exam. No written or driving exam required.
Then just fill out the form and present all that to a DPS office. Yeah. I'm gonna get right on that. :(
Monday, September 26, 2011
What is Up With That?
I guess the newness of living in a new place as eroded and become the despondency of finding oneself in a place where one truly doesn't fit in. I pretty much dislike most aspects of life here, from the crappy drivers to the yokel attitude that's pervasive here (even on the radio). I was pretty disappointed with the concert hall as well. Even with most things being "bigger in Texas", the symphony concert hall isn't big enough for the whole orchestra; the piano is squeezed into one of the "entrance areas" next to the stage.
Anyway, the latest of the things I've gotten grumpy about is the obstinate medical receptionists wanting all your info before you even show up at the office. (And then of course you get to fill out all those forms again!) I was trying to schedule my annual check-up today (which I'm actually late for, but I digress). My health insurance company has stayed the same but I know the numbers aren't quite the same. Anyway, after getting all this information from me (SSN and everything!), I tell the woman that I have the old card with the numbers on it, but haven't received the new card yet and I can bring a printout with the new numbers on it when I come in for the appointment. Apparently that wasn't good enough for her, because she goes into a rant about how they need all that information before I show up for the appointment (I didn't have access to the right computer system to get the updated group number for her). Huh? When I went to the eye doctor recently they were able to make a phone call and get the information they needed. I got so frustrated I just told her since she wasn't going to work with me I could go see someone else and to have a nice day.
I mean how difficult do they have to make it? How hard is it to just get the insurance information when I come in for the appointment? She didn't even recognize my Fortune 500 employer when she asked me who I worked for.
Ugh!
Anyway, the latest of the things I've gotten grumpy about is the obstinate medical receptionists wanting all your info before you even show up at the office. (And then of course you get to fill out all those forms again!) I was trying to schedule my annual check-up today (which I'm actually late for, but I digress). My health insurance company has stayed the same but I know the numbers aren't quite the same. Anyway, after getting all this information from me (SSN and everything!), I tell the woman that I have the old card with the numbers on it, but haven't received the new card yet and I can bring a printout with the new numbers on it when I come in for the appointment. Apparently that wasn't good enough for her, because she goes into a rant about how they need all that information before I show up for the appointment (I didn't have access to the right computer system to get the updated group number for her). Huh? When I went to the eye doctor recently they were able to make a phone call and get the information they needed. I got so frustrated I just told her since she wasn't going to work with me I could go see someone else and to have a nice day.
I mean how difficult do they have to make it? How hard is it to just get the insurance information when I come in for the appointment? She didn't even recognize my Fortune 500 employer when she asked me who I worked for.
Ugh!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Homesick
I get homesick every now and then. But when I went to visit home last weekend it didn't feel like home anymore. I guess you can never go back.
Some days are better than others. Today was not one of those days. I don't know if it's the heat that's making me so short tempered, but I really cannot stand the arrogant, self-absorbed jerks who drive like maniacs around here. I theorize the difference between the Dallas self-absorbed jerk and the Los Angeles self-absorbed jerk is that the Angeleno knows how big his/her car is (usually) and the Dallasite (not sure what residents of Dallas call themselves, but Dallasite is kind of like parasite) thinks his/her gigantic SUV is half the size it is.
Between that and the people who think that the economy is Obama's fault or that a Smart car isn't "smart" because they had a 1980-whatever Honda civic that could get 40 mpg make me feel like this entire city is filled with ignorant, arrogant, mouth breathing goons.
I'm irritated that you have to have three (3!!!) huge stickers on your windshield to have your car considered registered/toll tagged. No wonder the drivers here can't drive; they can't even see out the window.
I'm tired of never fitting in no matter where I go. At least I felt comfortable in LA.
Even the airport doesn't give me a break. DFW Airport is what happens when you realize the nightmare that is an Escher drawing in concrete. Good luck trying to escape.
Some days are better than others. Today was not one of those days. I don't know if it's the heat that's making me so short tempered, but I really cannot stand the arrogant, self-absorbed jerks who drive like maniacs around here. I theorize the difference between the Dallas self-absorbed jerk and the Los Angeles self-absorbed jerk is that the Angeleno knows how big his/her car is (usually) and the Dallasite (not sure what residents of Dallas call themselves, but Dallasite is kind of like parasite) thinks his/her gigantic SUV is half the size it is.
Between that and the people who think that the economy is Obama's fault or that a Smart car isn't "smart" because they had a 1980-whatever Honda civic that could get 40 mpg make me feel like this entire city is filled with ignorant, arrogant, mouth breathing goons.
I'm irritated that you have to have three (3!!!) huge stickers on your windshield to have your car considered registered/toll tagged. No wonder the drivers here can't drive; they can't even see out the window.
I'm tired of never fitting in no matter where I go. At least I felt comfortable in LA.
Even the airport doesn't give me a break. DFW Airport is what happens when you realize the nightmare that is an Escher drawing in concrete. Good luck trying to escape.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Car Registration
As complicated as it's made out to be online, car registration was relatively painless.
You need three things when you go to the tax office (I went to the one in Richardson, which was blissfully unbusy on a Friday afternoon):
1 - Inspection Certificate from your car inspection
2 - Car title or car registration from your former state
3 - A walletful of cash (I think my total came out to be $185 or so - they do accept checks, but only from local banks).
There are two forms to fill out which are relatively simple (name, address, car VIN, etc.) and that's about it. I think I was in and out of there in less than 20 minutes.
New Resident Information
County Tax Office Locator
So I now have Texas license plates and two stickers on my car.
You need three things when you go to the tax office (I went to the one in Richardson, which was blissfully unbusy on a Friday afternoon):
1 - Inspection Certificate from your car inspection
2 - Car title or car registration from your former state
3 - A walletful of cash (I think my total came out to be $185 or so - they do accept checks, but only from local banks).
There are two forms to fill out which are relatively simple (name, address, car VIN, etc.) and that's about it. I think I was in and out of there in less than 20 minutes.
New Resident Information
County Tax Office Locator
So I now have Texas license plates and two stickers on my car.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
North Haven Gardens
I've really been keen on starting up my herb and flower garden again, and I'm really happy to say that I've found a very nice nursery that would help me do so. Home Depot had no herbs to speak of when I stopped by there, and the very helpful associate in the Garden Center recommended I do research online to find out "what grows well in the fall in Texas".
To my delight, North Haven Gardens had most of the herbs I wanted and more (the only herbs they didn't have were Spring herbs like parsley and cilantro). I walked out with two kinds of mint (spearmint and peppermint), a trailing rosemary, Provence lavender, a "hot 'n' spicy" oregano, English thyme, and Genovese basil. I'm pretty sure Home Depot carry only have the thyme and possibly one of the mints when they have them in stock.
North Haven also has little bay leaf trees, one of which I'm currently plotting to acquire.
Did I mention how helpful and accommodating the staff was? I think I must have had three or four people ask me if they could help me out, and when I had a question that one of them couldn't answer, she sent the garden specialist my way.
For those who are interested, they also have lots of organic soils, fertilizers, bug sprays, et. al.
Once I find my little point-and-shoot camera I'll post photos. I can't wait until next Spring for strawberry plants!
North Haven Gardens
7700 Northhaven Rd.
Dallas, TX
(214) 363-5316
To my delight, North Haven Gardens had most of the herbs I wanted and more (the only herbs they didn't have were Spring herbs like parsley and cilantro). I walked out with two kinds of mint (spearmint and peppermint), a trailing rosemary, Provence lavender, a "hot 'n' spicy" oregano, English thyme, and Genovese basil. I'm pretty sure Home Depot carry only have the thyme and possibly one of the mints when they have them in stock.
North Haven also has little bay leaf trees, one of which I'm currently plotting to acquire.
Did I mention how helpful and accommodating the staff was? I think I must have had three or four people ask me if they could help me out, and when I had a question that one of them couldn't answer, she sent the garden specialist my way.
For those who are interested, they also have lots of organic soils, fertilizers, bug sprays, et. al.
Once I find my little point-and-shoot camera I'll post photos. I can't wait until next Spring for strawberry plants!
North Haven Gardens
7700 Northhaven Rd.
Dallas, TX
(214) 363-5316
Apartment Woes
I must have pulled the short straw when I moved here, because it seems like every day has a new pain-in-the-butt issue for me to deal with.
My new washer and dryer arrived on Saturday evening, and they are really nice (GE Energy-Efficient top-loader washer and the matching electric dryer - the space was too shallow for front-loading machines). I just wish they could have arrived during their delivery window. I was told that my appliances would be delivered between 3PM and 7PM. They must have been running on PDT, because I didn't see anyone until 9PM. At least it wasn't the deliverymen's fault; apparently the scheduler had put two routes together that day. But still, if I could write a review on Yelp, I think I would give the experience 3 stars, and 2 of those were with how nice and apologetic the deliverymen were. To boot, the valve on the hot water tap is leaking, so until my apartment maintenance can fix it, I'm confined to cold water laundry only. But the washer and dryer are nice and super quiet.
I've noticed a few creepy crawlies here, but nothing major. Last night when I pulled down and inspected my bedding, I saw at least 5 or 6 little tiny bugs. I don't know if they were bed bugs or carpet beetles, but let's say they were ugly things that left dark poo spots on my sheets. So I pull everything off of the bed, wash it in cold water (remember, I can't wash it in warm or hot water yet), and dry it. I vacuum the bed (but probably not well enough). I didn't get to sleep until around 3AM this morning. I've put in a maintenance request; they spray every week on Tuesdays, so hopefully someone will come around today. But this really was the icing on the crap cake. I'm ready for all the frustrating obstacles to stop. It's not making me a stronger person, or a more tolerant person, or any of those other things that trials and tribulations are supposed to make people. They're just making me angry. And I don't think anyone wants to see me angry. My hair turns into snakes and my eyes glow red. It's not pretty.
My new washer and dryer arrived on Saturday evening, and they are really nice (GE Energy-Efficient top-loader washer and the matching electric dryer - the space was too shallow for front-loading machines). I just wish they could have arrived during their delivery window. I was told that my appliances would be delivered between 3PM and 7PM. They must have been running on PDT, because I didn't see anyone until 9PM. At least it wasn't the deliverymen's fault; apparently the scheduler had put two routes together that day. But still, if I could write a review on Yelp, I think I would give the experience 3 stars, and 2 of those were with how nice and apologetic the deliverymen were. To boot, the valve on the hot water tap is leaking, so until my apartment maintenance can fix it, I'm confined to cold water laundry only. But the washer and dryer are nice and super quiet.
I've noticed a few creepy crawlies here, but nothing major. Last night when I pulled down and inspected my bedding, I saw at least 5 or 6 little tiny bugs. I don't know if they were bed bugs or carpet beetles, but let's say they were ugly things that left dark poo spots on my sheets. So I pull everything off of the bed, wash it in cold water (remember, I can't wash it in warm or hot water yet), and dry it. I vacuum the bed (but probably not well enough). I didn't get to sleep until around 3AM this morning. I've put in a maintenance request; they spray every week on Tuesdays, so hopefully someone will come around today. But this really was the icing on the crap cake. I'm ready for all the frustrating obstacles to stop. It's not making me a stronger person, or a more tolerant person, or any of those other things that trials and tribulations are supposed to make people. They're just making me angry. And I don't think anyone wants to see me angry. My hair turns into snakes and my eyes glow red. It's not pretty.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Car Inspection
OK, today is a rough day (I'm having a lot of those lately).
I got my car inspected today, which seemed painless enough, except the place I went to had a really pushy mechanic who coerced me into buying a $100 car battery that I didn't need, then proceeded to try to convince me to get an oil change (I declined) and then a dude in the lobby tried to get me to buy windshield repair from him (for a barely visible chip in the windshield). That whole experience left me drained and cranky. But I have the paperwork for step 2, so I just have to make sure I don't misplace or lose any of that. I'm also sporting a new sticker on the windshield.
Just so you all know, the place I went to was Kwik Kar (a Jiffy Lube kind of place) on Greenville Ave. just south of the 635. Don't go there.
Go to this place instead (all this guy does is inspections, and it sounds like he won't try to rip you off either):
Quix State Inspection
I got my car inspected today, which seemed painless enough, except the place I went to had a really pushy mechanic who coerced me into buying a $100 car battery that I didn't need, then proceeded to try to convince me to get an oil change (I declined) and then a dude in the lobby tried to get me to buy windshield repair from him (for a barely visible chip in the windshield). That whole experience left me drained and cranky. But I have the paperwork for step 2, so I just have to make sure I don't misplace or lose any of that. I'm also sporting a new sticker on the windshield.
Just so you all know, the place I went to was Kwik Kar (a Jiffy Lube kind of place) on Greenville Ave. just south of the 635. Don't go there.
Go to this place instead (all this guy does is inspections, and it sounds like he won't try to rip you off either):
Quix State Inspection
Monday, August 15, 2011
Car Registration, Driver's License, et. al.
Getting your car registered and your new Texas driver's license, per Texas law (I believe it's 30 days to get your car registered, 90 days to get your driver's license) is really a pain in the butt. Worse than finding an electricity provider. Why it needs to be this complicated is beyond me.
This whole process can be done in 3 (or 4 steps, if you want to have tolls auto-deducted). Here is an overview; I'll post updates as I go through the "process".
1. Get your car inspected.
2. Register and license your car.
3. Get your driver's license (at a totally different office!).
4. Get your Texas Tag set up.
This whole process can be done in 3 (or 4 steps, if you want to have tolls auto-deducted). Here is an overview; I'll post updates as I go through the "process".
1. Get your car inspected.
2. Register and license your car.
3. Get your driver's license (at a totally different office!).
4. Get your Texas Tag set up.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Surreal is 99 Ranch Market in Plano
Have you ever been to 99 Ranch Market? It's a Taiwanese chain of grocery stores that is the pinnacle of what Asian grocery shopping can be (unless you go really wild and actually head to Taiwan to buy your groceries from the street markets there).
Anyway, in Los Angeles (and Las Vegas), they are all filled with narrow aisles, lots of Asian people, fresh (as in, with the heads still on, and sometimes still swimming) fish in the back, and Mandopop music blaring on the P.A. system in between the daily specials announcements in both English, Mandarin, and sometimes Cantonese. Did I mention the checkout lines are always at least 3 customers deep (the entire bank of them)?
This place was virtually empty on the Friday afternoon I stopped in to check the place out. Combined with the Texas-wide aisles, it was downright weird! But they do have a wide selection of the foodstuffs, food, and other things I would find in Los Angeles, for about the same price as I would expect to find for most items. So I won't have to make strange substitutions to my favorite recipes, like Chow Mei Fun and Beef Noodles.
However, the strangest, most surreal thing I save for last. Instead of Mandopop playing on the P.A. system, it was country music! (Not Texas country music, which I've heard is its own genre)
99 Ranch Market
131 Spring Creek Parkway
Plano, TX 75023
972-943-8999
Anyway, in Los Angeles (and Las Vegas), they are all filled with narrow aisles, lots of Asian people, fresh (as in, with the heads still on, and sometimes still swimming) fish in the back, and Mandopop music blaring on the P.A. system in between the daily specials announcements in both English, Mandarin, and sometimes Cantonese. Did I mention the checkout lines are always at least 3 customers deep (the entire bank of them)?
This place was virtually empty on the Friday afternoon I stopped in to check the place out. Combined with the Texas-wide aisles, it was downright weird! But they do have a wide selection of the foodstuffs, food, and other things I would find in Los Angeles, for about the same price as I would expect to find for most items. So I won't have to make strange substitutions to my favorite recipes, like Chow Mei Fun and Beef Noodles.
However, the strangest, most surreal thing I save for last. Instead of Mandopop playing on the P.A. system, it was country music! (Not Texas country music, which I've heard is its own genre)
99 Ranch Market
131 Spring Creek Parkway
Plano, TX 75023
972-943-8999
Detour Review: La Me
Dallas has bahn mi. I think I might be OK here. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but eventually.
Bahn mi was one of those treats I would get for myself whenever I was out in Alhambra (which was rarely), and for whatever reason I always missed the Nom Nom truck whenever it was near my office during lunchtime. But it was totally worth it. BBQ pork, shredded carrots, sliced jalapenos, radish pickles and cilantro all wrapped up in a crispy french baguette made with rice & wheat flour. Inexpensive deliciousness at its best. The sort of thing I would crave for months before I would convince myself I really needed to drive an hour to have.
How lucky is it that I can have bahn mi whenever I want now that I'm in Dallas and have found a great little restaurant not too far from the new office? Sweet! Not to mention the people who work there are incredibly sweet and the bahn mi is delicious. They even add cucumber in their bahn mi for an extra little crunch.
Delicious. :)
La Me
9780 Walnut (keep going East on Walnut when the GPS tells you to stop)
Richardson, TX 75243
(972)-669-8515
Bahn mi was one of those treats I would get for myself whenever I was out in Alhambra (which was rarely), and for whatever reason I always missed the Nom Nom truck whenever it was near my office during lunchtime. But it was totally worth it. BBQ pork, shredded carrots, sliced jalapenos, radish pickles and cilantro all wrapped up in a crispy french baguette made with rice & wheat flour. Inexpensive deliciousness at its best. The sort of thing I would crave for months before I would convince myself I really needed to drive an hour to have.
How lucky is it that I can have bahn mi whenever I want now that I'm in Dallas and have found a great little restaurant not too far from the new office? Sweet! Not to mention the people who work there are incredibly sweet and the bahn mi is delicious. They even add cucumber in their bahn mi for an extra little crunch.
Delicious. :)
La Me
9780 Walnut (keep going East on Walnut when the GPS tells you to stop)
Richardson, TX 75243
(972)-669-8515
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Detour Review: The Pearl Cup
One of the things I enjoyed quite a bit when I was living in Los Angeles was a really good cup of coffee from an independent coffee shop. So I was curious what Dallas had to offer and I'm happy to say that I found a great little cafe called The Pearl Cup on Henderson. They had lots of fresh-baked goodies which I didn't try, but you can tell the biscotti are homemade by the way the chocolate is dolloped on one side. I had their Signature Pearl Latte, which was most delicious. If you order it to stay it will be served with latte art! (I'm not sure what it would be like to go, but I can't imagine latte art in a paper cup)
The Henderson location is right next to a little gift shop called "We are 1976", which I can recommend perusing, if only to look at the funny designs on the children's bento boxes.
The Pearl Cup
1900 Henderson Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 824-9500
The Henderson location is right next to a little gift shop called "We are 1976", which I can recommend perusing, if only to look at the funny designs on the children's bento boxes.
The Pearl Cup
1900 Henderson Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 824-9500
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Texas Electricity Provider Decision
In Los Angeles, there was only one electricity provider (SoCal Edison), unless you had your own solar panels or wind turbines.
In Dallas, there are many, many electricity providers, and it's very intimidating to try and figure it all out. Even people who live here seem confused and intimidated by it all. The best answer I can get from most people I've asked is, "I don't know, I use Power Company X". I'm moving into my apartment next week, and wanted to get the whole electricity thing figured out beforehand so that I would actually have electricity in my apartment when I moved in.
One nice thing about having so many companies to choose from is that you can pick a plan that is sourced from renewable energy sources, which I think is nice and modern. I don't ever remember having that option with SoCal Edison when I was a customer of theirs. I ended up picking a 100% Green, 12-month fixed-rate plan through Bounce Energy. They weren't the cheapest but had really good reviews on their customer service and rewards plan.
I was tempted to go with Veteran Energy, but their website had issues (in that I couldn't view any plans for my address).
There are quite a few sites out there which compare all the different electricity provider option, and two in particular helped me make my decision. In the end it wasn't as stressful as it seemed originally.
Power to Choose
Texas Electricity Ratings
In Dallas, there are many, many electricity providers, and it's very intimidating to try and figure it all out. Even people who live here seem confused and intimidated by it all. The best answer I can get from most people I've asked is, "I don't know, I use Power Company X". I'm moving into my apartment next week, and wanted to get the whole electricity thing figured out beforehand so that I would actually have electricity in my apartment when I moved in.
One nice thing about having so many companies to choose from is that you can pick a plan that is sourced from renewable energy sources, which I think is nice and modern. I don't ever remember having that option with SoCal Edison when I was a customer of theirs. I ended up picking a 100% Green, 12-month fixed-rate plan through Bounce Energy. They weren't the cheapest but had really good reviews on their customer service and rewards plan.
I was tempted to go with Veteran Energy, but their website had issues (in that I couldn't view any plans for my address).
There are quite a few sites out there which compare all the different electricity provider option, and two in particular helped me make my decision. In the end it wasn't as stressful as it seemed originally.
Power to Choose
Texas Electricity Ratings
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Driving in Dallas
Driving in Dallas (or all of Texas, for that matter) is truly an exercise in taking your life into your own hands. I've dealt with so much road rage and inattentive drivers that I'm seriously considering just cycling or taking the bus or Dart (Dallas' Metro) everywhere. OK, not *that* serious, but it's a tempting option.
Example 1: Along most of the freeway "feeder" roads around here there is usually a left-only turn lane, and a left-turn lane where you can also go straight (it usually takes you right onto the on ramp for the freeway as well). One afternoon I was stopped at a light on the right-most left-turn lane (the one where you can still go straight on). A huge SUV pulled up to the right of me (in a straight-only lane), and when the light turned green the guy honked at me to get out of his way because he wanted to make a left turn!
Example 2: I was turning right into a parking lot during rush hour. There was a guy in the entrance/exit area of the parking lot, who was oriented to exit the parking lot. Right before I turned he decided he wanted to make an inpromptu U-turn back into the parking lot. I really want to know what his thought process on this was.
I really don't feel like I'm being selfish or arrogant when I drive, but stupid stunts like these cause accidents. And I see stuff like this every time I drive somewhere. Not to mention I get nervous driving around here with my California plates. . . I'm still working out all the details of how I'm supposed to get Texas plates and a Texas driver's license. It's going to be a pain, that much I know.
Example 1: Along most of the freeway "feeder" roads around here there is usually a left-only turn lane, and a left-turn lane where you can also go straight (it usually takes you right onto the on ramp for the freeway as well). One afternoon I was stopped at a light on the right-most left-turn lane (the one where you can still go straight on). A huge SUV pulled up to the right of me (in a straight-only lane), and when the light turned green the guy honked at me to get out of his way because he wanted to make a left turn!
Example 2: I was turning right into a parking lot during rush hour. There was a guy in the entrance/exit area of the parking lot, who was oriented to exit the parking lot. Right before I turned he decided he wanted to make an inpromptu U-turn back into the parking lot. I really want to know what his thought process on this was.
I really don't feel like I'm being selfish or arrogant when I drive, but stupid stunts like these cause accidents. And I see stuff like this every time I drive somewhere. Not to mention I get nervous driving around here with my California plates. . . I'm still working out all the details of how I'm supposed to get Texas plates and a Texas driver's license. It's going to be a pain, that much I know.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Detour Review - Czech Stop
Before I moved to Texas, I asked all my Los Angeles friends if they had any recommendations of things and places I needed to do, see, or experience while I was there. Someone highly recommended the kolaches at Czech Stop Bakery if I ever took a drive down to Waco. I took an excursion down to Austin this weekend and Waco is on the way, so I stopped by Czech Stop for a much-needed break from driving and pastries.
It's a little hard to find if you're coming from the North and are not sure where to turn off. Coming from the South you will see the building as you exit the freeway.
I lucked out and didn't have to wait too long in line, and scored a box of cheddar garlic biscuits, two bottles of water, and a baker's dozen of kolaches for under $20. I've tried both the sweet kolaches and the savory; the savory ones really hit the spot if you need a quick snack (they taste almost homemade) and the sweet ones are perfect for coffee in the morning. The biscuits were a big hit as well.
The ladies running the place were incredible polite and the whole operation is well run. I'm not quite sure if this is really all that it was hyped up to be, but it's perfectly located between Austin and Dallas and the pastries were delicious enough. I do recommend the sweet ones with cream cheese if you're looking for a sweet tooth fix.
Czech Stop & Little Czech Bakery
105 N College Ave
West, TX 76691
(254) 826-5316
It's a little hard to find if you're coming from the North and are not sure where to turn off. Coming from the South you will see the building as you exit the freeway.
I lucked out and didn't have to wait too long in line, and scored a box of cheddar garlic biscuits, two bottles of water, and a baker's dozen of kolaches for under $20. I've tried both the sweet kolaches and the savory; the savory ones really hit the spot if you need a quick snack (they taste almost homemade) and the sweet ones are perfect for coffee in the morning. The biscuits were a big hit as well.
The ladies running the place were incredible polite and the whole operation is well run. I'm not quite sure if this is really all that it was hyped up to be, but it's perfectly located between Austin and Dallas and the pastries were delicious enough. I do recommend the sweet ones with cream cheese if you're looking for a sweet tooth fix.
Czech Stop & Little Czech Bakery
105 N College Ave
West, TX 76691
(254) 826-5316
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Movies, Groceries, Living
I'm staying in a "corporate" apartment until my "real" apartment is ready for me to move in. This "corporate" apartment is something between a hotel room and a real apartment. I have a real kitchen, with kitchen stuff, but was without dish detergent and napkins until I actually bought my own. There is a washer and dryer, but I had to get my own clothes detergent and fabric softener. I even had to buy my own toilet paper. Thankfully they include wireless internet and cable TV.
Whoever lived here before I did didn't seem to forward their mail (since May!); I found letters from lawyers, a justice of the peace, the election commission, a collection agency, and a card from the Sheriff's office stating a warrant had been issued. I returned all the mail, but I'm now curious as to what that person's story was. The guy's wife received a couple magazines, including an alumni magazine, and an appointment reminder card for their dentist.
I've sampled a couple grocery stores in the area, although it will be a while before I have an opinion on them all. Albertsons' is about the same as it is anywhere else, although I was impressed with their cheese selection and amused by their special on "crab cheese dip". I went to Central Market today, which is somewhat on the spectrum of Trader Joes and Whole Foods, leaning towards Whole Foods without the snooty attitude and the prices that go with it. I was most excited that they seem to stock a variety of British foodstuffs that I'm fond of there, and they have a most impressive bakery and cheese selection. I will probably visit Tom Thumb and Krogers eventually, but I think Central Market is where I will do most of my grocery shopping.
I've heard lots of people here shop at Wal-Mart, but after escaping a Wal-Mart-only kind of town I refuse to shop there. Thankfully Target will suffice for those things I can't get at Central Market.
I went to see Captain America at the local AMC here, and the experience was somewhat of a disappointment. I guess I got spoiled on Arclight Cinemas in Los Angeles. Luckily I've been told that the Angelika Film Center here in both Dallas and Plano show art and foreign films and is probably more on par with what I'm used to. I'll have to catch a film sometime this week to find out.
I went out to dinner the other night; I sampled the sushi offerings at Sushi Sake. They have some really fantastic spicy tuna, but the albacore I had tasted a little off. I do recommend their Spanish Makerel, get it as sashimi and have the chef deep fry the rest. It's a real treat. At least I can get decent sushi here! I was lamenting the fact that I might not get to have some of my favorite foods as often as I might otherwise.
I'm quite homesick and miss my boyfriend a lot. We were constant companions before I moved and it's hard to not have that camaraderie to fall back on. Skype and the phone are nice, but it's not the same.
I've been going to yoga as often as I can; I found Sunstone Yoga and I can at least say that the sessions are helping me adapt to the Texas heat. After my workout I walk out of the studio into 100-degree weather and feel cold. I still sweat when I'm outside, but at least I don't feel absolutely uncomfortable. In fact, this has been my greatest surprise (and delight) in moving to Dallas: the heat isn't as oppressive as I thought it was going to be. Considering we are in the midst of a heat wave, I take that to be a good thing.
Whoever lived here before I did didn't seem to forward their mail (since May!); I found letters from lawyers, a justice of the peace, the election commission, a collection agency, and a card from the Sheriff's office stating a warrant had been issued. I returned all the mail, but I'm now curious as to what that person's story was. The guy's wife received a couple magazines, including an alumni magazine, and an appointment reminder card for their dentist.
I've sampled a couple grocery stores in the area, although it will be a while before I have an opinion on them all. Albertsons' is about the same as it is anywhere else, although I was impressed with their cheese selection and amused by their special on "crab cheese dip". I went to Central Market today, which is somewhat on the spectrum of Trader Joes and Whole Foods, leaning towards Whole Foods without the snooty attitude and the prices that go with it. I was most excited that they seem to stock a variety of British foodstuffs that I'm fond of there, and they have a most impressive bakery and cheese selection. I will probably visit Tom Thumb and Krogers eventually, but I think Central Market is where I will do most of my grocery shopping.
I've heard lots of people here shop at Wal-Mart, but after escaping a Wal-Mart-only kind of town I refuse to shop there. Thankfully Target will suffice for those things I can't get at Central Market.
I went to see Captain America at the local AMC here, and the experience was somewhat of a disappointment. I guess I got spoiled on Arclight Cinemas in Los Angeles. Luckily I've been told that the Angelika Film Center here in both Dallas and Plano show art and foreign films and is probably more on par with what I'm used to. I'll have to catch a film sometime this week to find out.
I went out to dinner the other night; I sampled the sushi offerings at Sushi Sake. They have some really fantastic spicy tuna, but the albacore I had tasted a little off. I do recommend their Spanish Makerel, get it as sashimi and have the chef deep fry the rest. It's a real treat. At least I can get decent sushi here! I was lamenting the fact that I might not get to have some of my favorite foods as often as I might otherwise.
I'm quite homesick and miss my boyfriend a lot. We were constant companions before I moved and it's hard to not have that camaraderie to fall back on. Skype and the phone are nice, but it's not the same.
I've been going to yoga as often as I can; I found Sunstone Yoga and I can at least say that the sessions are helping me adapt to the Texas heat. After my workout I walk out of the studio into 100-degree weather and feel cold. I still sweat when I'm outside, but at least I don't feel absolutely uncomfortable. In fact, this has been my greatest surprise (and delight) in moving to Dallas: the heat isn't as oppressive as I thought it was going to be. Considering we are in the midst of a heat wave, I take that to be a good thing.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Virgin America Rocks!
I flew out to Dallas for good this week. I had a one-way ticket on Virgin America, and I have to admit it's an awesome airline. The overhead bins are extra big, even the coach/business class seats are upholstered in leatherette and you can order snacks and beverage service from the personal TV screen in front of you. Not to mention the free wi-fi (which I did not take advantage of).
Even the stewards and stewardesses are extra nice, as well as the people at the ticketing counter. The boarding passes (if you get a "real" one) are the perfect size as well! It's just a very well thought-out, well implemented business. I'll definitely be flying with Virgin America again.
Even the stewards and stewardesses are extra nice, as well as the people at the ticketing counter. The boarding passes (if you get a "real" one) are the perfect size as well! It's just a very well thought-out, well implemented business. I'll definitely be flying with Virgin America again.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Apartment Hunting
I've found apartment hunting in Dallas to be a lot easier than in Los Angeles. Lots of apartment complexes have floor plans available online, and websites with photos. It's very nice to go back and compare after a day of looking at apartment after apartment.
One thing that seems common is that very, very few apartments include any utilities with the rent. Most apartments I've lived in include at least water and trash. I guess I'll chalk this up to the whole Texan Independent Spirit. Another thing that I will attribute to the Texan Independent Spirit is the many, many choices in electricity providers available. Almost no one was able to tell me how much electricity costs for an apartment per month. The universal answer was, "It depends on which electric company you use." Maybe a better question would be, "How many kW/h does this apartment use per month?", but somehow I don't think I'd get a more useful answer.
I've heard a lot of people recommend Reliant and Green Mountain, and the Wikipedia article on Dallas mentions TXU and Cirro, so any one of those four are probably OK. Luckily for me, there are a couple utility-comparison websites out there.
Another thing I find a little strange is this idea of paying for covered parking. Some apartment complexes seem to give you one rate, and then you have to calculate in *all* your utilities, as well as if you wanted a garage or whatever other perk added in. I guess I can see their perspective, if they wanted to offer a detached garage or whatever, but it's almost a disincentive to have a car if you have to pay $100/month just to secure it.
One really nice thing was that apartment complexes in Dallas seem to be more pet/dog friendly than in California. Or maybe that was just my apartment hunter taking my interest in getting a dog seriously. At any rate, some apartments have reasonable pet policies (we accept small dogs up to 40 lbs), others don't ($600 pet deposit, $300 nonrefundable). Most apartments' pet policies include some kind of pet rent, which is fairly reasonable at $10-$20/month.
It's also fairly easy to find apartments which include washer and dryer connections (it's that ol' Texas Independent Spirit again!). I'm really happy about that, as I'm kind of getting sick of going to a laundromat or shared laundry facility to wash my clothes.
One last thing I find interesting is that it seems variable on how much notice you need to give your new landlord when you do eventually move out. Some places are 30-days, but a lot of apartments that I looked at require 60-day notices.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Texas Turns
It's fascinating to me how different just driving can be in different parts of the United States. When I moved to Los Angeles I remember being intimidated by all the fast drivers. Now I've become one of those crazy L.A. drivers! I drive too fast and pass too close. If you do something stupid I honk with great gusto.
In Dallas they have horizontal traffic lights, and they have what's called "Texas Turns". If you miss your exit on a freeway, you can just remain in the left lane and be immediately funneled into the on-ramp to go the other way. It's very convenient for those who are new to the city and are a bit lost (even with Garmin by your side).
When I moved to L.A., I thought that I would stay there, that L.A. would be the place where I put down roots. Now I'm relocating to Dallas for work, and until this week I'd never set foot in the city. This whole unanticipated adventure has just become my little detour, my Texas Turn into I-don't-know-what-comes-next. I'll admit it's not the perfect analogy.
In Dallas they have horizontal traffic lights, and they have what's called "Texas Turns". If you miss your exit on a freeway, you can just remain in the left lane and be immediately funneled into the on-ramp to go the other way. It's very convenient for those who are new to the city and are a bit lost (even with Garmin by your side).
When I moved to L.A., I thought that I would stay there, that L.A. would be the place where I put down roots. Now I'm relocating to Dallas for work, and until this week I'd never set foot in the city. This whole unanticipated adventure has just become my little detour, my Texas Turn into I-don't-know-what-comes-next. I'll admit it's not the perfect analogy.
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