Driving in Houston

DRIVING IN HOUSTON

Everyday driving in Houston gets worse. More traffic, more accidents. Too many people for infrastructure of roads. TXDot is always several years behind in road building area. The have never planned ahead and thus ending up costing about 10 times as much to build to catch up. Possibly the biggest mistake in Houston was not going ahead with the rail lines for the Metro system. Several years ago they had to chance to vote on this but due greatly to the influence of big oil it was voted down. Big Oil in Texas is king and what they want they get. In this case it would have saved maybe a million gallons of gas per day in the greater Houston area.

Now Houston is paying for it. Just a few years ago the Katy freeway was widened. Traffic wasn't to bad for a couple of years but now it is a daily nightmare! Part of the problem is that they installed a toll road instead of the rail system in the middle. When you look at the way the Katy area is growing it won't be long before this freeway will become the biggest parking lot in Texas. Commutes for many people will double making life all the more miserable. I fear the day when Texans become so irritated that they will start shooting at each on the highway. It is already a problem with many people driving as if they don't really care about anybody else or even their own life. Possibly the biggest problem is that many Houstonions can be classified as Brain Dead as soon as they get behind the wheel. I have had many people do things in front of me that I swear there is no functional brain in the person driving. This maybe due to many different causes.

Remember the evacuations for Hurricane Ike a few years ago. Things have become so much worse I don't want to imagine another evacuation in a year or two. It is very possible that half the people would not be able to get out just because the highways cannot handle it. Then again many of the poor and working class live in the areas of Houston that would have the difficulty getting out. Because of this our Governor and TXDot really are not to worried. Long as the rich which live on the north side and others areas get out. This is just the way things work in Texas.

TEXAS Hotter than Hell!

Yes Texas is Hotter than Hell in the summer!Most places in Texas are still so damm hot during the first of September that myself and many others are tired and cranky because of the heat. This summer has been another extra hot one. The sad thing about most of Texas is that there is no place close to really get out of the heat. This is true for the poor and the working class. The rich well many of them just fly off to the mountains when then want or they take vacations in other parts of the world where the summers are alot nicer.

I was raised up north. Yes I enjoy the winters but the heat of the summers bothers me more each year. Here in the central Texas area the public parks that are nice are so limited. On a holiday they are so crowded with people that can afford to go anywhere else that you don't even want to set foot near them. Much of this problem comes for developers and politicians in Texas who have never had much interest in those who are not of the wealthy class. Look at the Canyon Lake area. A large development paid for by tax payers money, but most of the area is dedicated to private property and clubs. Areas available to the public are small and limited. The other problem is the population of the area of south central Texas is growing so fast that it makes the problem much worse.

Last year I had the chance to escape to Alaska for a couple of weeks in early August. This helped me cope with the heat of Texas. Other years I escape to southern Mexico in the mountains for a week or two and this is a wonderful relief. Due to a change of employment this year I have been stuck in the Hotter than Hell Texas all summer. One thing to look forward to is not retiring in Texas. There are many other issue that make this a difficult state for many people to retire in.

You often see bumper stickers that say "I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as soon as I could." Texas slowly grinds you down and may start with with what you think is a good job but many people who come here work for poor wages (far less than what other parts of the country pay) and no medical insurance. Texas has the highest percentage and number of people without medical insurance and our Governor and his friends will make certain that will not change. For a lot of people who come and work here they will find that after a few years they are still to broke to leave or move anywhere else. With this you have become a prisoner of the state of Texas and its very wealthy who control how everything is run in the state. Remember the big business owners in Texas need you to stay here and work for lower wages. How else can they make their extra millions of dollars each year!

The number one virtue in the United States is GREED!

Remember everything is BIGGER in TEXAS

Got the run around at Bluebonnet Motors in New Braunfels

Went shopping for a car today.

Checked out and add for a car that I seen on online at Bluebonnet Motors in New Braunfels. The car had just been sold. Looking though their list saw another Ford Focus. Newer and more money but looked like a good deal. Hopped in car with the salesperson to go find it on another lot. Spent over an hour and couldn't find it. Nobody new where it was and where the key was. Salesperson showed me other cars but nothing that was a good buy like the one I had seen on their list. After over 2 hours left and the salesperson said they would find it and call me. Nothing

Fishy. The first car may have been a scam to get people in. I was really interested in buying the 2nd one they showed. Funny how they couldn't find it. Maybe some employed snatched it up for a friend or they realized they may have priced it wrong. Anyway I was upset by being used and wasting time. As soon as I made it clear that I wasn't interested in spending more money or buying something different it was easy to get away.

Funny I thought for awhile they would actually find the car and call me. I was really ready to buy the one they showed me on the screen. Throughout my life I have never purchased a vehicle from a large dealer. Some small dealers and individuals. I have used some small car dealers that have been quite decent. I don't care to walk into a place and after awhile feel as though I am being scammed or in one case Years ago I went into a big used car dealer and said I am looking for a car in low price range. After 20 minutes the salesperson never came back and I left.

It is becoming harder and harder to buy things at a good price without a hassle. Craigslist is useful but there a thousands of fraudulent scams there. You have to be very careful.

Power of the Texas Toll Roads

Texas Toll Roads Scare Me!!! Back in December I got a letter from he Central Texas Toll Road Authority. Thought they were sending me an offer to apply for a toll pass. Big surprise. It was a bill for about $18 dollars. I was very upset because I had never used a toll road in Texas and I am one of the people who are strongly against them. The bill was for about $ 3 in toll fee and another $15 for not paying the first bill.

Called their office to find out what was going on. Mentioned that I had never used the toll road somewhere in the Northwest side of Austin. Never go there and that is about 70 miles from my house. The young man who took my call was courteous and helpful. I told him that I have never used a toll road in Texas and that I am against using them. I asked how did they come up with the information that one of my vehicles had used the toll road. Especially when the license number they had was not from a vehicle but from a U Haul trailer. They only image of a license was that of the rear end of a U Haul vehicle. He asked if I had rented a U Haul and I informed him that not for over 10 years. What happened is that the vehicle pulling the U Haul fit the description of my 2004 Ford Ranger pickup. With that and figuring that the closest owner of a pickup like that was mine they just assumed it was mine and sent me a bill. I informed him that there was no way it was my vehicle and would never use a toll road in Texas unless it was an emergency. He was polite and said that because they didn't have a plate number from the actual vehicle pulling the U Haul they would forgive me this time. Nice but I still had the feeling that they considered me guilty.

Did it every cross their mind that a vehicle pulling a U Haul trailer has about a 90% chance of being from out of state or the area!

Duuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh Nooooooooo!

It is their policy to just pick some vehicle in the area that fits the description and send them a bill. Corrupt, Dishonest and Illegal. But then again they have the power and blessing of the Governor and state DOT to do anything they want. I am glad that I opened the letter out of curiosity if not I may get stopped in the future and guess what they have a warrant out for me and my vehicle. The headaches and problems would be much greater in that situation.

I have this question. Why do the toll roads in Texas cost 3 to 4 times more than the toll roads in Oklahoma and Kansas? A toll road is a toll road, doesn't matter if it is newer. The Spanish company that bought the rights to the new toll road is known for being the most expensive in the world. When they offered Gov Perry the amount of money they did for the rights he was probably so excited that he wet his pants. Think of all the extra money to put in the budget to make him look great. Anyway a recent article stated that the traffic on the new 130 is only 40% of what they had predicted. Wonder why. What would happen if Texas had to buy it back?

da Rat

The Mighty Texas Hunter

For years I have been wanting to write more about the "Mighty Texas Hunter". Having been raised in Montana, lived in Colorado and New Mexico I find it difficult to refrain from laughing every time I hear a Texas Hunter start to speak. One thing for sure a Texan can pile on the BS faster than anybody from another area. To Be Continued...