Texas!!!

shotgunner11

shotgunner11

Joined
Dec 17, 2005
Messages
7,809
Well, I made it. After 2 16hr days in the car with three kids, two cats and my dog, Mrs. Shotgunner and I now live in Spring, Texas. What a long strange trip it's been.

We had a two night layover just outside of Chatanooga Tn. in Ga. We rented a great little log cabin in the mountains to relax instead of driving two days straight. It was nice.

I haven't mentioned it before because I'm a private kind of guy but we moved here to help my mother out. My father has cancer and only has a few weeks left. He's taking it fairly well but he has a massive tumor in his brain and he's in and out of it, makes it kind of tough to hold a conversation.

Life is crazy right now, especially for my wife. She left her entire family back in Jersey and is stuck here with my crazy family but she's taking it like a champ.

I'm excited to live in a new area and see new things but it's kinda scary. I need a new job with decent bennies for the kids and need to learn everything about a new climate and area.

My new RC-4 was waiting for me when I got here, awsome knife, hasn't left my belt in the last 2 days and Knivesshipfree had it to my new house in 2 flipping days, I mean, I ordered it monday morning at 1am and it was at my new house before I got here wed., how's that for quick shipping. Amazing.

So, how can I acclimate myself to the heat. I'm about 260lbs. 6ft. and I'm hurting out there. Any tips besides drop 40 pounds?

Also, what do I need to watch out for besides the fire ants? Anything poisonous? Rattlers? Brown recluse? Ninjas?

Thanks for the tips in advance.
 
Welcome to Texas! Sorry to hear about the reason, but kudos for helping your mother out...my prayers go out for your family and your father.

Acclimation just takes time...you'll get use to it soon enough; stay hydrated and do most of the hard work early in the morning or late in the evening.

Fire ants...well, I stepped in a some in our camping trip the past 4 days...I still have the bite marks:grumpy: Yes, avoid them, but as long as you're not standing in their home, they don't bug you much.

Other than that, it's just the heat, lightning, tornados, hurricanes and floods you need to watch out for:D I know some forumites live in your neck of the woods and know some nice areas just north of you.

ROCK6
 
God bless you and yours...good luck with the JOB with Bennies in Tejas....I didnt have any luck. But, I am in the trades...I suppose hi-tech might be different. Love the food and gun laws though...great food and people. Gene
 
Welcome Shotgunner. Just hang in there on the acclimation. As was mentioned, try to do the strenuous stuff early and late. But do get out in the midday heat some, just don't stay out too long at first. Come in and cool off. Drink cool drinks. Long about late September or early October go enjoy the Sam Houston National forest just north of you up around Huntsville. Lots of nice country up there including some areas you can get lost in. If you do day hikes this time of year, gear the heck up for water, more than you think you need. Carry a way to get more (filter, iodine, etc.) Try the old freeze your waterbottle when it is half full then top it off with tapwater trick. Take a second bottle totally frozen. Wrap 'em in a bandana or dishtowel to catch the condensation. Use the towel to wipe the sweat off your noggin.

Best wishes to your family in dealing with your dad's illness. Its tough caring for ill and aging parents and tough to lose them.

Be careful. Good luck with the job hunt.

I lived in Houston 5 years. Its mighty big, but there are lots of good people.
 
Welcome to Spring. The heat/humidity isn't so bad. I was in Europe for about a month and actually missed the nice Houston heat. I think the best way to get used to the weather here would just be to spend time outside. Staying in the shade, fluids and a bandana wouldn't hurt either.

I don't think there is anything to be afraid of around here. The most dangerous thing would be drag racing teenagers and seniors citizens in full size sedans.
 
Welcome to Texas. I moved here 2 years ago, after living my whole life previously in Chicago, IL. Talk about a change for the better!
 
Hey man.. welcome to Texas! The ONLY state to kick another COUNTRY'S ass!

Sorry to hear about your dad, but it's a good thing you have a fantastic woman who understands the situation and stands by you. :thumbup: You are a lucky man.

I believe you will find that, despite the mass-media's prognostication, there is no "economic-downturn" down here. Texas is BOOMING! There are lots of jobs. You may find the wages a bit lower than NJ, but our cost of living is much cheaper due to the refusal of the Texans to allow the government to screw us. No state income tax.


EDIT TO ADD: Do not forget to take advantage of your Constitutional right to Keep and Bear Arms while you are here. http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/chlsindex.htm.
 
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Welcome to Texas, shotgunner! My prayers are with you and your family at this time. You're in a beautiful state, my friend! Some of the guys have already mentioned the areas to the north of you. To the west, the Hill Country, Inks Lake, Pedernales Falls State Park, and Colorado Bend are not that far away...especially in Texas terms! That's one thing you'll have to get used to after being in the NE...distances in Texas are seen, well, a little differently! 25 miles is just around the corner, and a 3-hour trip somewhere is considered "normal!"

Ron
 
Welcome to the Lone Star and, since no one else said it, Howdy! Anyway, sorry to hear about your dad man, I'll keep your family in my prayers.

I second Ron53, but don't forget Lake Somerville. I am from Tomball which is about a 20 minute drive due west of Spring on 2920. Head on thru all the way to highway 290 and take a right. Follow the highway thru Brenham and you'll see signs for it. Some pretty nice state parks. Also, it's worth the money to get a State Parks Pass http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/parkinfo/passes/parkpass/

They are good for one calendar year and exempt you from any state park entry fees which usually range up to about $8 IIRC.

Anything else you want in that area, I am more than willing to help, I lived around there for 22 years and still go back to visit family once in a while.

PeACE
 
Good luck with the job hunt and congratulations on having such a great wife.
Family is really important and you are making this clear to your mother and to your children.
My father died of cancer a couple of years ago. At that time my sister moved back east to be close by to help out.
Godspeed.
 
An old trick of my Grandfathers was to twist an ice cube up in a bandana and tie it around your neck with the ice on the back of your neck. Surprising how well it works--Welcome to Tx. I was born and raised there and go back often--KV
 
kdstrick said:
...welcome to Texas! The ONLY state to kick another COUNTRY'S ass!
Click to expand...

Damn straight!!! Welcome to The Great State Of Texas! Now that you're here, there's a couple of dates you need to remember:

Texas Independence Day, March 2, 1836
Fall Of The Alamo, March 6, 1836

Not only are these dates held in reverence by most Texans but it's a good excuse to drink beer.

It looks like you've got plenty of good advice on beating the heat but if none of those ideas hit the spot, consider driving 1.5 hours South to Galveston for a dip in the Gulf of Mexico. Or, if you are inclined to wet a line, try HI Island where you can get into some of the biggest redfish in the state, I'm talking 30 pounds and up. And if you REALLY want to get away for a beach vacation, drive 4 or 5 hours South to Padre Island National Seashore (this is NOT South Padre) where you can drive (4x4) along 61 miles of beach before you have to turn around. Great primitive camping and fishing.

And don't forget to visit Austin at some point for the finest food, music and swimming (Barton Springs) this state has to offer.

As always, if you have questions, just ask. Texans LOVE to talk about their state.
 
Welcome to Texas. The can be unbearable at times but you do get used to it after a while. Im 6 ft and 290 so I feel your pain. Ive lived here all my life mostly near Dallas but I did live for 2 years in the Woodlands close to Spring. I also lived for 3 years in Philly so I know where your coming from.

Some basic rules:

Wear a brimmed hat but dont dress like JR Ewing :D

Sunscreen. The higher the better.

Never, under any circumstances go outside in flip flops or bare feet unless
you want to be fire ant bait.

Try to use the word "fixin" and "yall" as much as possible.

Eat Tex-Mex a lot. (probably why Im 6 ft and 290!)

Seriously, glad your here, and Sorry to hear about your father's health problems. Im sure you know this but Houston has some of the finest cancer hospitals in the world. Best of luck to you and yours.
 
Water moccasin, eastern diamond back, coral snake, copperhead. Black widow. Scorpion. Africanized bees. Keep an eye on the kids, mosquitos big enough to carry them away. Along the coast you can find aligators as far east as the guadalupe river. The only way to aclimatize to the weather is to move. I lived in Austin for 27 years. The heat starts in march and won't really let up until November. Run the a/c liberally.
 
Welcome Home! I wish it was under better circumstances though.

I have lived here 22 years(i.e since birth) and the heat still surprises me. Nothing like a few months of cool, then BAM the heat and humidity slaps you in the face. Also, due to the humidity, winters here(at least in N.E. Texas) can be kinda chilly. I was at the Post Office one day and over heard natives from Denver, Boston and Wyoming complaining about the cold. But I wouldn't trade it. I love it here.

I have never really had a problem with poisonous critters. Though I get alot more cement time than dirt time, so I haven't had many chances to run into them. Cept the fire ants...ooooooh boy. Keep your shoes on and watch your step. Nothin like standing around chatting and looking down to see your foot right on top of a small fire ant hill.

I am a Projectionist at a movie theater and I am finally going to school this fall, So I can't really comment on the Job Market.

So kick back, eat some good Tex-Mex and drink a cold Shiner Bock. And if your taste buds fancy some European Cuisine, take a trip over to the Hill Country and enjoy some German and Czech food.
 
The only pests you really need to worry about are water moccasins. All the other snakes pretty much have the 'you do your thing, i'll do mine' mentality. If you don't kick them, step on them, or piss them off, they will leave you be. Cotton mouth OTOH, will attack because they see you. "Killer" bees are exceptionally rare in Texas. I have hiked miles and miles around the state, especially in your area, and they are non-existant. Scorpions are not very common except in some of the western reaches. Gators, just don't swim in anything with 'bayou' in the name, or the channels around Houston and you should be alright. Also...the heat isn't as bad as some are saying it is. Since I started driving, I have never had a/c in a vehicle and have managed to survive just dandy. Just use common sense. Drink alot of water. Other than that, enjoy, and good luck with the job hunt.
 
Well, welcome to TX, but I'm real sorry you have to live so far down south, the climate sucks down there, my honest opinion. You couldn't pay me to live down in that area.

But, maybe you'll get lucky and get to move up a bit further north and get away from the coast. Then you will be able to stop sweating for a while.

Andy
 
kdstrick said:
Beer is mostly water.... so... keep that in mind ;)
Click to expand...

Go out and get yourself a case of good texas beer. I really like Shiner as already mentioned.

When you get tired of the humidity, take a trip to San Antonio and stay along the river walk. The Mariott is a wonderul hotel there if you can afford it. Enjoy the food, hospitality, and don't forget that when someone lifts a finger at you while driving, they are most likely saying "hi"
 
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