Thursday
(0)I can report a successful semi-transition to my new position in Dallas, Texas, where I am on the legal staff of a large health care system. I am still very much in transition, but once our house sells in Wisconsin things should settle down and allow me to get back to regular blogging.
I had thought I might be able to shed the pseudonym when I landed in a new place. I do not like pseudonyms, but in my former position I was doing political work for clients, a business where where publicly held strong opinions of my own would be both a professional liability and a disservice to my clients. I expect to be doing political work for my new organization, so at this point it seems prudent to keep the pseudonym.
Still, I hope to hook up with the du Toits (and any other Dallas-area Samizdata readers) soon. Just let me get my concealed carry license first.
What are you worried about? They don't seem particularily violent to me...the only benefit I can see from a concealed carry permit relevant to meeting the du Toits would be the ability to chat about the experience of getting one
Posted by Jens at April 22, 2004 04:27 PM
Welcome to Texas! I moved to DFW from Los Angeles six months ago and I'm loving it.
Posted by Karl Gallagher at April 22, 2004 04:31 PM
Welcome to Dallas! Here's a couple of tips for you.
1. The summers here are even hotter than you've heard. In July and August the average high will hover around 95 degrees.
2. Football is the second largest religion after the Baptist faith.
3. The best barbeque in town is served at Sonny Bryan's. Great selection of meats and sides, and a truly wonderful sauce.
4. Don't believe what the say about San Antonio, the best Mexican food in the state is found in Dallas. Try The Blue Goose, Gloria's, or Calle Doce in Oak Cliff.
5. Remember that y'all is standard when referring to the second person plural.
Most of all welcome again, and remember we have no state of city income taxes.
Posted by Jeremy Marshall at April 22, 2004 05:53 PM
Stick to the pseudonym. I don't mind using my real name because it's not going to affect me in my line of work but being a lawyer, I don't think you can afford to risk it.
Posted by Scott Wickstein at April 22, 2004 06:11 PM
The West End is the best part of downtown...that's where Sonny Bryan's is.
Sadly, the best museums are in Fort Worth ("Turner in Venice" at the Kimbell right now...newly renovated Amon Carter Museum is the nation's best for western art...)
Make sure your digs have A-1 air conditioning. It's not so much the high temps that kill you in July and August, it's the fact that it almost never goes below 80 (27C) at night.
Develop a love for swimming. Learn some Spanish. Bienvenidos amigo.
Posted by Theodopoulos Pherecydes at April 22, 2004 07:32 PM
Best Tex-Mex - Houston, without a doubt. But Big D is a great, great city! You'll be happy there.
Posted by Verity at April 22, 2004 08:21 PM
Looking forward to meeting you face-to-face.
If you need help settling in, PLEASE write us.
Posted by Mrs. du Toit at April 22, 2004 08:32 PM
What The Mrs. said.
For new digs, look at Plano. Reasonable prices, very conservative population.
Even though it's close by, avoid the Bullet Trap range in Plano -- they're assholes. I can recommend better (or just see my website).
And you have to be a Texas resident for at least 6 months before applying for your CHL. Get your Texas driver's license ASAP. You'll also get your CHL quicker if you live outside Dallas County (eg. in Plano).
More advice on request, and you and the family have a standing invitation to visit us. We only need a couple of days' notice to hide the bodies, fumigate the kids' rooms, etc.
Welcome to Texas.
Posted by Kim du Toit at April 22, 2004 09:55 PM
Welcome to Texas.
Be sure to stock up on the sunblock, and yea the food is better in Houston, but Dallas isn't bad.
Posted by bil. at April 22, 2004 11:53 PM
And if you're heading down to Houston, send me an email. I think I recently found the best Tex-Mex in town. I'll show you where - on me.
By the way, there is another advantage to your pseudonym, at least for other attorneys: I'll have to consider that they might be you.
Posted by Doug Collins at April 23, 2004 05:34 AM
Welcome! I'm a Dallas homie, displaced to China for now, but will be back in Texas this year. There's all kinds of great food in big D, and interesting neighborhoods (and godawful neighborhoods, which cry out for a CHL). And Fort Worth, their smaller sister city, is a whole different world, and a fine place.
Posted by Sam_s at April 23, 2004 08:06 AM
I forgot. That 80 minimum at night is bunk! Three years ago the summer was so brutal, the low at night was 95 every night for about a month! If your air-conditioner breaks down, don't fool yourself into thinking it can wait. It's a 911 emergency, no kidding.
Posted by Sam_s at April 23, 2004 08:09 AM
Best of luck with the move!
I only realised your name was a pseudonym the other day, "Enemy of the State" was playing on tv in the background and I caught the name.
Posted by Frank McGahon at April 23, 2004 10:50 AM
Welcome to DFW! Plano is okay I guess, but in Arlington we have hills and trees. I've been here since 1980. And sorry Dallasites, even though I worked there for years, the best thing about Dallas, is Ft. Worth. Enjoy!
Posted by Kathy at April 23, 2004 05:53 PM
Welcome to Texas!! I'm in the firearms business here in the DFW metroplex and I can no doubt get you a brother-in-law deal on the concealed carry license course. When you get settled in and ready to take the course, shoot me an email and I'll pas along a some info on the licensing course.
Posted by CHARLIE EKLUND at April 23, 2004 11:01 PM
You definitely want to take CHL class as soon as possible. Thank God we live in Texas. After you get license, check out CHL Protection Plan, "chlpp.com" to get financial protection if you are ever involved in a self defense shooting. Email me for more info.
Posted by Rick Mackey at May 19, 2005 03:02 PM
