Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[Western]

46*, Overcast and had a couple drops of light rain. Maybe that will build up before it gets to Jim and Bird.

 

[Bird]

46*, Overcast and had a couple drops of light rain. Maybe that will build up before it gets to Jim and Bird.

I took our little mutt to the park, a little over a mile from home, this morning about 7:45 a.m., had just a few sprinkles just before we got there, so we stayed fairly close to the truck. Sure enough, after about 15 minutes, it got a little heavier, so we headed for home, had the use the windshield wipers a little bit, got home and the precipitation stopped; barely got the pavement wet.

 

[Western]

Bird, at this point I have a couple of 100ths I would guess, just enough to wet the surface on the deck. Looks like a bit better possibility is headed my way though:thumbsup:

 

[jinman]

Don't go taking out flood insurance. These rain totals can be measured in bottle-cap rain gauges.

 

[Western]

Don't go taking out flood insurance. These rain totals can be measured in bottle-cap rain gauges.

HEY JIMMY!!!:laughing: Good to see ya sailor! My wife asked me yesterday how your Chem was going, so I read her your other post. She said that sounded great from her experiance:thumbsup:

And who in the world would ever use a bottle cap for a rain gauge?:confused3::anyone::stirthepot:

 

[bindian]

I took our little mutt to the park, a little over a mile from home, this morning about 7:45 a.m., had just a few sprinkles just before we got there, so we stayed fairly close to the truck. Sure enough, after about 15 minutes, it got a little heavier, so we headed for home, had the use the windshield wipers a little bit, got home and the precipitation stopped; barely got the pavement wet.

Bird,
Is your mutt, named Mutt, or is he just a mutt?:confused2::confused3:
hugs, Brandi

 

[jinman]

Since I brought up flood insurance, I'll continue with a rant about premiums. In 2012, my homeowner's premium was $1940. Last year, it went up to $2490 and this year the notice said $2750. HOLY COW! At that rate my insurance will be more than my mortgage payment by the time my loan is paid off. I got in touch with my independent agent and told them I wanted requotes from every company they represented.

They explained to me that Texas rates have gone thru the roof, particularly because of wind and hail damage in recent years. I told them that my roof is 26ga metal/steel and I thought that was supposed to provide a discount.

To make a shorter story, the quoutes came in yesterday and I am changing companies. I previously had The Hartford on both my cars and house. The car premiums have always been competitive, but the homeowner policy is outrageous. My agent said that Hartford did not want to write coverage for unincorporated areas served only by a VFD. Their in-town rates have not changed and are very competitive, but they really don't want to write coverage for people like me. It turns out that Germania Insurance is the much better choice. For me, that lowered the rate back to $1750 per year for the identical coverage and deductibles except I have a cosmetic damage clause for my roof. That says if the roof is dented by hail, but does not leak, then there is no loss. I'm okay with that.

So, I saved myself about $800 per year by asking for my agent to get new quotes. I'm really happy with that. It's amazing the differences in rates and coverages between known companies. I was quoted Allstate also, but it was the same for auto and they didn't want my homeowner policy.

Oh yes, having the new steel siding installed will give me yet another discount with Germania. :thumbsup:

 

[Bird]

Bird,
Is your mutt, named Mutt, or is he just a mutt?:confused2::confused3:
hugs, Brandi

Brandi, actually SHE is an 8 year old Chihuahua; the only dog I've ever known that's never learned to growl or snarl, loves all humans, just looking for new friends and attention. If you hurt her, she'll try to get away, but she will not fight or bite.

Here's a picture of her when we first got her. No one put her up on my shoulder; that's just where she'd climb to, to nap. And the second picture is more recent, after she became overweight like me.

 

[Bird]

Jim, I have AAA insurance; both homeowners and auto. I occasionally check with others, but haven't found anyone to beat their rates yet.

 

[Lou66]

Jim I have mine with Hartford,, My home owner runs about 1700 year.. with another 400 for flood,, that they say I don't need.. but living on the gulf coast,, I will pay just for peace of mind.. have vehicles (3) thru Hartford also.. they run about 600 year for full covers,, 250 deducible,, My land and equipment is thru farmers.. it is around 400 year.. with 500 deducible.. Lou

 

[Western]

Brandi, actually SHE is an 8 year old Chihuahua; the only dog I've ever known that's never learned to growl or snarl, loves all humans, just looking for new friends and attention. If you hurt her, she'll try to get away, but she will not fight or bite.

Very unusual for that breed.

Jim, shopping around can sure pay off, I switch after almost 25 years from Texas farm Bureau to Amica (auto) and saved almost 2k with 3x's the coverage! BTW How did the siding turn out!

 

[Lou66]

I was just informed,, 600 dollars a year for car/truck/car is 680 dollars every 6 months.. Lou

 

[Bird]

Jim I have mine with Hartford,, My home owner runs about 1700 year.. with another 400 for flood,, that they say I don't need.. but living on the gulf coast,, I will pay just for peace of mind.. have vehicles (3) thru Hartford also.. they run about 600 year for full covers,, 250 deducible,, My land and equipment is thru farmers.. it is around 400 year.. with 500 deducible.. Lou

It's hard to compare rates without knowing the value that the insurance covers. I probably have a cheaper house than you guys, but my homeowners last year was $1,236 and I, too, pay for flood insurance that I supposedly don't need. Mine cost $332 last year.

 

[jinman]

I was just informed,, 600 dollars a year for car/truck/car is 680 dollars every 60months.. Lou

Lou, if you live in town, Hartford is hard to beat. Where I live, they put me in the highest group because we have no municipal fire department or water.

 

[CowboyRon]

Ron--But it's worth the trip for the Corny Dog, alone.

Charlie

Everything is good over there.
Did you notice the midway was opened for business last summer?

Sent from my HTC One Max using TractorByNet

 

[Bird]

Everything is good over there.
Did you notice the midway was opened for business last summer?

Sent from my HTC One Max using TractorByNet

Yeah, they tried running the Midway in the summer, but just didn't have enough business to continue.

 

[txdon]

WATCH: Daring rescue as firefighters pluck construction worker from 5-alarm fire in residential building under construction in Houston* - NY Daily News

Dramatic fire rescue in Houston yesterday.

I spoke with a couple of firefighters this weekend. The Mayor had already started to brownout (close temporary) some fire stations because of lack of Firefighters. I do not know if there was a brownout yesterday. Houston's economics is doing good but the Firefighters and Mayor are in a battle.

 

[Western]

Redbuds are redbudding

 

[jinman]

Yeah, they tried running the Midway in the summer, but just didn't have enough business to continue.

Bird, it seemed to me that they didn't market Fair Park Midway very well. Maybe they had no advertising budget and just thought word-of-mouth would pull them through. I think if you are competing with 6-Flags and the water parks, you'd better have good marketing and offer all kinds of special deals, maybe even give special rates on Dart and package deals as family plans. As Brandi pointed out, Fair Park ain't the safest place to send your kids for the day. The park needs to be spotlessly clean and free of drugs to attract families with money to spend. I just don't think people had confidence in the park's security and safety.

 

[Bird]

NWS shows the Denton airport got .05" of rain and the radar makes it appear that it's all over for this area, so I went out and poured about 0.13" out of my gauge.

I've got a 9 o'clock appointment to go sleep at the hospital tonight. Doctor's been suggesting one of the sleep studies for at least a couple of years now. I guess we both suspect I have sleep apnea, but maybe not. And what I've read about all the treatment options has been enough to discourage me from even being tested before. I guess it ought to be interesting at least.