Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Texas

Happy Feet slippers around Austin?

sentient — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:21:42 -0800

Where can I buy Happy Feet slippers in or near Austin, TX? Alternatively, where can I buy other fun/novelty slippers for kids in or near Austin? Hoping to luck out on this one. Is anyone aware of where Happy Feet slippers are for sale in Texas, ideally within an hour by car of Austin, TX?

The slippers look like cartoonish oversized sneakers, and I've seen them in other states in mall kiosks.

The website doesn't list locations, although an article [pdf] about the company says that there are 190 locations in forty states.

I tried the 800 number and got voicemail (large volume of holiday calls, etc.), and I emailed them to ask. No response so far. The website's "Live Chat" feature is offline as of this post.

Has anyone seen them? Any tips? I'd like to get them today!

As a backup, what places in Austin definitely sell fun/novelty slippers in big kid sizes? (Animals, paws/claws, giant-and-fluffy, look like other stuff, that kind of thing.) Thanks!

Weird Dallas get-away for NYE?

unknowncommand — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:17:52 -0800

What's a unique/interesting/weird New Year's Eve place/event that is 3 hours driving or 2 hours flying from Dallas, TX?

Couples / marriage therapy in Round Rock / North Austin, TX?

Alias Unknown — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:15:35 -0800

Need to find a therapist for my husband and I in the area. Preferably not affiliated with any religious organization. Need to make the appointment soon. Wanted to go to CAMHC, but they're booked up until January. Recommendations?

Austin for the weekend

a.steele — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:08:44 -0800

Fun in Austin, TX for a young couple with 2 days to spend, one of which is Black Friday? We are in our mid-twenties. We like comics and toys, art, science, and books . Seafood's the only meat I eat but he's down with everything. We're staying at the Stephen Austin Intercontinental downtown and would love to find places in walking distance, but we will have a car if we need to drive somewhere. Good coffee near the hotel is a must for me. Help us find other fun, interesting, non-touristy places. Or tourist attractions really worth seeing. I've seen previous askme threads on quirky Austin things, but most of them were asked during warmer months. We're going to be there next Friday and Saturday, so we also wanted to know if there's anything fun going on that weekend or anyplace to avoid on black Friday.

We're driving from Ft. Worth (which we're also unfamiliar with) so we're open to anything fun or delicious between those two places, too.

Thanks in advance!

Good Prepaid Cellphone for Austin, Tx?

Sentus — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:10:58 -0800

Hey there, I hate dealing with credit cards, signing contracts. Need a good simple and reliable Prepaid cell phone. Hope you folks are having a great weekend...

I am thinking about finally getting a prepaid cellphone.
It's going to be mainly for business purposes. Going to use it in moderation.

A few questions:
1. Voice mail. I need it to have a reliable voice mail service. To be able to customize it with my voice.
2. What happens If I brake it, lose it, it gets stolen? Would I be able somehow to get the same number again?
3. Google Voice - Is any body uses that? Could it work for me?
4. Good/Bad experiences with providers in the area?
5. Other ideas?

Thank you in advance and have a great day,

Legal name change in TX not relating to marriage/divorce

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:04:55 -0800

How can I legally change my last name in Texas without it being due to marriage or divorce? My father just passed away. I am his daughter, his only child. I am married and took my husband's last name. Now that my dad is gone, I want to carry on his name by hyphenating my last name with maiden-married. Some places on the internet says I can just fill out some forms, others say I need to hire an attorney. Anyone out there change their name in Texas without it being due to a marriage/divorce and did you have to hire an attorney? Thank you.

Best places to become an LPC in Texas?

D+ — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:19:58 -0800

I'd like to become a licensed professional counselor in Texas. How do I figure out what the best schools are? My bachelor's degree is in English, not psychology or a related field, so this is a bit of a change of field and I could use some pointers. For LMFT licensure, I can at least find a list of COAMFTE accredited programs here, but I haven't found a starting point like that for LPC training.

Where does that list exist? What other resources are there for filtering through graduate counseling programs? Do you have a personal recommendation?

Thanks!

Houton Help for Hapless Habitant

bumpkin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:09:07 -0800

Going to Houston for a three week training course. Evenings and weekends off. Help this pasty Canadian be able to rave about it upon my return... This recent AskMe not only removed the dread (three weeks... on a corporate training course... in a hotel... in Texas...) but actually got me kinda pumped for it.

I have weekends and evenings to myself. I generally like cities and what they offer: art, food, music, books, cinema, people but am also someone who loves mountain and wind sports and being outside. Basically, I am preconditioned to think of Houston as the epitome of our civilization's imminent collapse and I want to give those a thorough thrashing.

Thanks in advance...

(Also: would be happy to take any Houston MeFite out for a beer...)

Annexation of Texas Video Clip

kylej — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:49:45 -0800

What are some documentaries/movies/video clips that are about the Annexation of Texas? I need around five minutes of video for a presentation on the Annexation of Texas. Online clips would be good, as well as documentaries or movies (that are easily available).

Distilling help

kaseijin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:01:24 -0800

What is involved with starting a distillery? Namely, in Texas. Interested in potentially starting a distillery. I see the TABC license fees, and assume that I would need both a license to produce, and a private warehousing license to store.

What other requirements/costs should I know to expect?

Homestead Exemptions to Property Taxes in TX

gemmy — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:50:08 -0800

What is the definition of the phrase "qualified for" in the TX Property Tax Code (section 11.13(q)(1))? Asking for a friend:

----
Section 11.13(q) of the Texas Property Tax Code (which covers the "Under-55 Surviving Spouse" property tax exemption) reads:

(q) The surviving spouse of an individual who qualifies for an exemption under Subsection (d) for the residence homestead of a person 65 or older is entitled to an exemption for the same property from the same taxing unit in an amount equal to that of the exemption for which the deceased spouse qualified if:

(1) the deceased spouse died in a year in which the deceased spouse qualified for the exemption;
(2) the surviving spouse was 55 or older when the deceased spouse died; and
(3) the property was the residence homestead of the surviving spouse when the deceased spouse died and remains the residence homestead of the surviving spouse.

(the subsection (d) says that "an individual who is disabled or is 65 or older is entitled to an exemption from taxation")

So here's the question:

My father was born in June 1944. He turned 65 in June 2009, and died of cancer in July 2009, but had not yet applied for the "Over-65" property tax exemption. My mother (his spouse of 40+ years) is 63 years old. I had her fill out the paperwork to apply for the "Over-55 Surviving Spouse" exemption, but it was denied, citing the above section of the code (11.13(q)). She called the information line, and they told her that she was ineligible for the exemption because my father had not applied for the "Over 65 exemption" by the time he died. So in my mind, what they're essentially saying is that the word "qualified" does not mean "eligible for," but "actually receiving."

Which interpretation is correct?

Secondary question: Would filing for a retroactive "Over-65" exemption in my (deceased) father's name be an option? Presumably she could then subsequently file for the "Over-55 Surviving Spouse" exemption.

Tertiary question: Can anyone recommend a real estate attorney in the Houston area (South Belt-ish, ideally) who could provide a (free?) consultation on this matter? Seems like it's a simple yes-or-no question on whether she has grounds for an appeal.

Quaternary question: How onerous is the appeals process/hearing? While we all agree that having formal representation at an appeal hearing would be the best-case scenario, that's probably not an option for reasons of cost. We've looked into HVLP, but she's got a 30-day window to file an appeal, and we need to know ASAP whether it's worth pursuing.
----

Thanks!

Where can I get a custom PC built near Austin, Texas?

Eastgate — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:15:38 -0800

Where can I get a custom PC built near Austin, Texas? I've just moved to Austin, Texas. Does anyone know a local PC store who would build a custom PC for me at a good price? I am aware of online services like ibuypower who do this sort of thing, but I wondered if anyone knows of any local stores worth going to (good price and service)? I want to be able to choose which parts I want and have someone build the system for me.

Any good job ideas for quadriplegics?

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:38:30 -0800

I am a 52 year old quadriplegic (C-4,C-5 incomplete) former oil and gas senior executive. Until recently, I've been able to both support my family and afford the post-Cobra health insurance premiums available through our Texas High Risk Pool. I'll will soon be overtaken by the myriad of expenses now beginning to snowball. Does anyone know of any legitimate stay-at-home jobs for people like me? While I can leave home occasionally for meetings, etc., realistically I need to find something (computer-based, in all likelihood) to do from my home. I would like to supplement my income by a minimum of $25,000/year.

Places to see, people to go... wait... is that right?

Nice Guy Mike — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:03:13 -0800

RoadTripFilter (again): D/FW to Southern MD. Anything unmissable inbetween? I'll be moving up to southern Maryland from north Texas in a couple of weeks' time, and I was wondering if the collective had any "must see" places or good (fun and/or scenic) roads they could recommend?

I have some flexibility in routing and timing, and am considering anywhere between 3-6 days on the road.

I'll be driving alone in a pretty reliable car, so fun roads (with those "curve" things in them that you don't find in Texas) and scenic drive suggestions are welcome.

Tell me about the Texas State Guard

flipmiester99 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:39:22 -0800

TexasStateGaurdFilter:Im interested in the Texas state guard. Can you all give me some details other than what on the website, which is really not that informative. Can i be deployed overseas in the TSG? What can i expect? Im in my mid thirties, married and two young kids, and ive always wanted to contribute to my country and state. Just looking for some details..Thanks!

Live in Houston? Who does your taxes?

JPowers — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:16:03 -0800

Live in Houston? Who does your taxes? I'm looking for recommendations for a good personal accountant in Houston, Texas, that can help my brother understand the tax implications of being self-employed. He makes less than $50,000/year, is 24, and basically needs someone to help him understand how much he should set aside each paycheck for federal income and self employment tax, plus anything else he doesn't know about.

The accountant doesn't necessarily have to specialize in this area. And if you have no idea if your accountant deals with the self-employed, please recommend him/her anyway and I'll do the research. I'm basically just trying to avoid using Google to find an accountant here, since I figure personal MeFi recommendations will be much better.

Thanks in advance.

A fun afternoon in Austin, TX

hedonic.muse — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:27:09 -0800

Recommendations on how to spend a afternoon in Austin, TX tomorrow. How to wing a solid "intro to Texas" type mini sampler at the last minute? I have a nearly one full day of layover in AUX, landing at 10:30AM departing at 6PM.

I haven't seen TX, so would like something of a TX (and U Austin) afternoon sampler. Please recommend specific places and things to see and experience, and how (public transit? rental car?) best to accomplish this.

Thanks!

Where to stop on a road trip from Texas to Nevada?

Anonymous — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:33:05 -0800

Road Trip Filter: Two guys driving from Corpus Christi, Tx to Las Vegas, Nv (passing through New Mexico and Arizona). What are some absolute "must see" or "must eat" places along the road? I'm flying out with my friend to help him drive back an amazing car (Porsche GT3). We have about 1500 miles to cover and two days to do it in.

I'm looking for suggestions on great roads to drive (think smooth, wide, traffic-free), awesome places to eat, places we just must see or activities we can't pass up. Bonus points if there are any racetracks on the way we can stop at for some fun :D

Neither of us are really interested in sight seeing. To give you an idea of what we are looking for think partying on 6th st in Austin, eating anywhere Man vs Food has been, or getting to shoot assault rifles at a range (because we can't do that in cali).

Sorry for going with "anonymous" but I'd rather be safe than sorry....don't need the internet knowing who I am AND where I'll be :)

much thanks in advance!

From Austin to Spring, Texas. How to stay sane.

bodywithoutorgans — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:09:39 -0800

After 7 glorious years in Austin, I have been demoted to relocating to Spring, Texas for a job. After a few days of getting the lay of the land, I am very disappointed. How do I stay sane? If distance makes the heart grow fonder, I now realize the dearth of coffee shops, independently owned businesses, ecological consciousness, artists, and general quirkiness in Spring only confirms my love for Austin.

To get a feel for my personality, I am a mid-20s male who enjoys art installations, large libraries, experimental music, and social theory. The brutal compulsion of the economic has forced me to get a "real job" and move to a suburb dominated by god, country, and guns.

So:
1) I know that I am 20 miles north of Downtown Houston. I have taken a look at this thread for suggestions on interesting things in Houston. Can one suggest interesting venues for my personality type in Houston? For example, the Nameless Sound collective is something I could get excited about.

2) Would it be a better idea to commute 20 miles to work from Downtown Houston instead of living in Spring itself?

3) How does one maintain one's individualism in a deeply conformist community? More specifically, how does one make friends in Spring Texas. I've got Metafilter for esoterica and email to keep in touch with my Austin friends but I'm missing the physicality of meatspace.

4) Does Spring have any secret gems that I've overlooked? Or is it Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks all the way down?

Please help Hivemind!

Hot or not?

lukemeister — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:14:07 -0800

What was the hottest official temperature measured in San Antonio, Texas each year since the 1950s? Today San Antonio had its 45th day of 100+ degree weather this year. I remember years in the 1970s when SA had no 100 degree days at all, but a friend doesn't believe it.

A good hotel by the new Dallas Cowboys stadium?

cowmix — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:41:14 -0800

Best / cheapest hotel to stay at by the new Dallas Cowboy's stadium? I'm going to be there in three weeks and the prices seem high.. If anyone knows of a hotel with free shuttle service to the airport too, that would be great.

What are my options for insurance?

suncoursing — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:39:18 -0800

What are my options for insurance? I'm starting grad school this fall in Texas, after a few years at a startup. If I were an RA or a TA, I'd automatically be enrolled in the staff insurance plan, but I'm not eligible for that because I'm on a fellowship. I can keep my current insurance through COBRA but, at $600/month, it's a bit expensive. The plan is really nice (no co-pay for a lot of things, $200 annual deductible and maximum out of pocket, no maximum benefit for health or perscriptions, etc.), but it's way beyond anything I need.

The student insurance plan is ~ $160/month, but it has a maximum benefit of $100k. I could handle a plan with a $100k deductible, but $100k maximum benefit means it would only cover relatively minor problems that I could afford without insurance, leaving me with most of the bill for anything catastrophic. Maybe there's something I don't understand about insurance, but this plan seems completely pointless. There's an option to increase the maximum benefit to $500k for an extra fee, but that's still an order of magnitude lower than the maximum benefit for the BCBS plans I've looked at.

BlueCross BlueShield of Texas has various plans ranging from $40/month to $200/month. The $160/month plans look much better than the student insurance plan, and if I'm willing to take a $10k deductible, I can get away with only paying $40/month. If I don't have a pre-existing condition, is there any reason I should prefer group coverage to individual insurance? Are there other insurance providers I should be looking at? I found this list (http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/health/lhiah_lst_incl.html) through a previous post, but since I know absolutely nothing about any of these companies, I might as well go with BCBS if I'm just going to randomly pick a company off that list.

So my options are (roughly in order of preference):
1. BCBS insurance. Only $40/month!
2. Defer my fellowship for a semester, get an RA or a TA, and then pay $300/month to get the staff insurance through COBRA.
3. COBRA. $600/month.
4. ???. Is there something I could do that I don't know about?
5. No insurance
6. Student insurance.

Other than the large deductable, is there any reason I wouldn't want option 1?

Also, do I actually need dental insurance? It seems like insurance only ever covers half the cost anyway, and I doubt anything really horrific will happen if I skip getting a cleaning for a year.

Downtown Houston Views

thack3r — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:34:36 -0800

Awesome views of downtown Houston? I'm looking for recommendations for great views of downtown Houston--the skyline, the city lights, awesome urban-y stuff. Restaurants, hotels, and public spaces are preferred; if it's a bar, it has to be 18-up. I already know about Eleanor Tinsley Park and Discovery Green, and I'm looking for something more... indoors? Air-conditioned? It's not required, but definitely preferred. I'd like to hear all suggestions, though! Thanks in advance!

Arriba Arriba epa epa need ayuda/help

villazapat — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:10:03 -0800

Hi I am going to San Antonio this weekend and wanted some suggestions of where to go and do that's kind of inexpensive but still worth an amazing experience. I am also wild about photography so what are your picks on where I can take fab pics of some stunning parts of the city. Thanks please advise.

Helping the child of an illegal immigrant get right with the law

Anonymous — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:56:50 -0800

I'm in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and I'm trying to help my 15 year old Little Sis get her learner's permit and on the road to a drivers license. We need to order her birth certificate from Texas. However, parental permission is needed, and her undocumented mom doesn't want to send in the required copy of a photo ID. My Little Sis is a US citizen by birth, but doesn't have a copy of her certificate, which she needs for the DMV. We're in another state, and have been looking into getting a copy sent up from Texas. The Vital Statistics site says that for an online application the parent's SSN is required, which rules out that option. We can try ordering by Mail(pdf) which doesn't require a SSN, but does need a photocopy of the parent's photo ID. Her mom somehow has an official photo ID issued by our state. However, the mother doesn't want to provide a copy in fear of being deported. The father really isn't in the picture, and the undocumented issue may be the same with him.

So, how likely is it that INS would go after someone based on a birth certificate request? Is there anything I can do to help them out or reassure the mom?

I know, YANAL or YANML. Thanks in advance.