Youth Baseball: YMCA - A great place to start

So my wife has wanted to get the kids into sports for a long time now, but it can be quite cost prohibitive, and time consuming. This is especially true when you just want to try it out, have some fun, and see if you even like it.

Where to turn?

We found an answer at the YMCA:

YMCA SportsThe YMCA Youth Sports philosophy is to allow kids to participate in a noncompetitive program with an emphasis on fun, development of character, and fair play.  

The season is short (time commitment solved), the cost is low ($55-$70 for several months play). My youngest has started first with baseball, he joined team 13, got a team color of Orange. Each team was assigned names after real league teams, so we were the Astros (who are actually doing quite well this year).

So how have they been doing? Well... I just keep thinking of the Sandlot kids. But they are having fun, and I think my youngest (and a few others) have a real knack for this kind of thing.

My oldest starts flag football in a few weeks... so more driving and practices are to come.

This has been a great experience, especially for someone like myself who isn't a big sports fan.

If you are looking for a place to have your kids play just for fun, or to get started cheap and easy, the YMCA might be your place!

Darrell

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Priceline (Internet Travel Service)

Priceline (Internet Travel Service)

Can be written at:

Executive Services
Priceline.com LLC
800 Connecticut Ave.
Norwalk, CT 06854

Welll... I dedicated to myself that I would give the good the bad and the other. Let me tell you about Priceline. First of all, I have a general principal I have found to be overwhelmingly true. The more a company spends on advertising, the worse they customer service must be. If the only place I've heard of you is commercials... it's because my friends haven't used you and raved about you. This one is no exception. Sorry William Shatner, this company is a bust.

My mom comes into town. She is leaving tomorrow for Chicago, and she booked a hotel there through Priceline.

The price of the hotel is the same as it would have been if she booked it through the hotel directly ( she uses this hotel often). Plans changed, she decided to not stay in Chicago, but drive directly down to Pontiac, IL instead.

She called well over 24 hours in advance (usual industry standard) to cancel the hotel reservation. She was informed that the reservation was booked through a web provider so they couldn't cancel it, she'd have to call them. But they couldn't even see which web provider booked it.

She went through emails and found out it was Priceline. She called them to get told that they had a no cancellation policy, and they would be charging a $100 cancellation fee. Escalated twice, still same answer.

• That will be disputed with the Credit Card Company. 
• This entire family will never use Priceline to book anything.
• I found the Yelp entry for Priceline (74 reviews with a ONE star rating... that's bad averages). 

Recommendation: 

DO NOT use Priceline. In fact, do not book anything through any of these services. Develop a relationship with a favorite (hotel, airline, etc) and build that relationship and points with them.


Darrell

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Reunion Tower - Dallas TX

Reunion Tower Entrance ?

New Flash - If your last ride is at 8:30, you close at 8:30. Not 9:00.

UPDATE: They responded to me by email, and agreed that they would change their hours issue.

 

Reunion Tower - Dallas Texas

 

300 Reunion Blvd. EastDallas, TX 75207

The entrance is actually inside the Hyatt Regency Hotel lobby. There is self parking, and a 2-5 minute walk around and up to the entrance (depending on your able bodied walking style).

My Yelp Review: HERE

 Wiki:

Reunion Tower is a 561 ft (171 m) observation tower and one of the most recognizable landmarks in Dallas, Texas. Located at 300 Reunion Blvd. in the Reunion district of downtown Dallas, the tower is part of the Hyatt Regency Hotel complex, and is the 15th tallest building in Dallas. A free-standing structure until the construction of an addition to the Hyatt Regency Dallas in 1998, the tower was designed by the architectural firm Welton Becket & Associates.

Overview

All the brochures and mobile look ups say that it closes at nine. We know from previous tower experiences that there's not much to see. You go up, look for a while and head down. 30 minutes is good enough.

We parked just before 8:30 pm in the self parking ($6). We walked up the entrance with a lady putting up the ropes. I said: "Excuse me? It says you close at 9:00 pm." She said, "We're closed." No smile. Walked off. No explanation. Nothing that we could see explained why we were standing there at 8:45 pm, staring at ropes and a sign that says they close at 9:00 pm. 

A few minutes later, as I'm still staring... looking for a written reason they are closed early... another couple walks up. Also very displeased. 

No one in the guest shop or concierge at Hyatt offered an explanation either. We did buy a few things from the souvenir shop. My Mom and Niece were in from California, and we bought some very Texasy things. 

Eventually a kind concierge (sorry I forgot his name) and Eva from parking let us out without having to pay for parking (due to the experience). 

Cost

Unknown. Couldn't understand the offerings, and no one to ask. 

Kids

I'm sure they would have enjoyed it?

Final Thoughts

I spent nine years in restaurants, including Marriott and Ruth's Chris. I have a thing for great experiences, and I don't mind paying for them. I also happen to believe in truth in advertising. If you are open until nine, that means you seat guests up until nine, and allow ordering up to 30-45 minutes after nine. 

When I got home I found an explanation on their website. The last elevator ride is 30 minutes before closing. Which means that they close at 8:30 pm NOT 9:00 pm. The sign is false, and I doubt I will bother to come back. I've lived in Fort Worth 5 years and it's taken me this long to bother. I guess if they offer me a free ride, in exchange for a new review... I might bother. But I won't take this one down. Just add a new review to add to it. 

What a simple mistake... 1990's customer service model. Bye. 

Tweets:

Hey @ReunionTower there is another couple standing here now . They said your website says 10p. Your attendant was rude about it too.

— Darrell Wolfe (@DarrellWolfe) June 17, 2015

Hey @ReunionTower not 9p yet!! pic.twitter.com/R4EAts06nX

— Darrell Wolfe (@DarrellWolfe) June 17, 2015

. @ReunionTower this is going on @Yelp and http://t.co/tG6mz9GVGv.

— Darrell Wolfe (@DarrellWolfe) June 17, 2015

Hey @ReunionTower!! We showed up at 8:45p and she told us you're closed. Your sign says open until 9p. I want my $6 parrking back!!!

— Darrell Wolfe (@DarrellWolfe) June 17, 2015

**

Darrell

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Mai Thai (Haslet, TX) | A little hole in the wall Thai Food place you HAVE to try!

 

Mai Thai (Menu HERE)

 

201 FM 156 N Haslet, TX

I'm always looking for good Thai Food. This was one I missed for too long, and I'm glad I finally came!

If you are in downtown Haslet, with the train tracks to your back, city hall to your left and Mr. Jims to your right… This place is tucked away just next to Mr. Jims. It was a restaurant built into an old house. Easily miss-able, I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.

Yelp: HERE

Urban Spoon: HERE

 

 

Overview

I’ve lived in Sendera Ranch (Haslet) since this place opened (2010), and I half noticed it, but didn’t give it a second thought. Which is silly, because I enjoy Thai Food. The parking is on the side and back.

Then I met Linda at the Q.T. gas station, we started chatting about the area. She told me this was one of her favorite restaurants. I was like really? That little place? I didn’t know it was still open. She told me I HAD to go.

I walk up the front path into a seating room with a handful of tables. As I open the door I am wafted with the familiar smells of Thai Curry… I feel at home before I’d taken my first step.

I was greeted by a friendly young lady, who was quite knowledgeable about this business and food. She was also VERY well trained in customer service skills

“Since this is your first time here, let me tell you about our menu”.

That’s something more people don’t think to say.

They used to be called Mai Thai Sushi. They stopped serving Sushi (not enough demand), but they still serve amazing Thai Food. Unfortunately for them, the whited out “Sushi” on the sign does even less, from a Marketing perspective, to build brand trust. It also adds to the feeling that they’re closed.

I have a feeling if they got a Marketing person to come give them a facelift and image re-rebrand (mostly to the building) they would get MUCH more traffic, and the demand for Sushi would be back. It probably wouldn’t take much, a new door, clean up the landscaping, new sign. A few visual cues as to where to park and where to enter.

Anyway…

My wife and I put in an order for our two favorites, threw in a random one, and the MUST HAVE Coconut Mango Rice. I forgot to grab the Thai Iced Tea on my way out with my To-Go order. Ooops. Sorry Honey.

When I got it home, we sat and opened everything. Turned on the latest Blacklist, and enjoyed the best Thai I’ve had in a long time. There was so much Curry Sauce left over, that I mixed some of it in my Tuna and made a Red Curry Tuna Sandwich for lunch the next day.

It’s nice to know that there is another Thai place in Texas worth going to. I WILL be back.

 

Cost

Pad Thai (Chicken, Beef, Pork or Combo) $8.95

Thai rice noodles stir-fried w/ eggs, bean sprouts, onions, flavored with lime and crunchy peanuts.

Gaeng Dang (Red Curry) $9.95

Coconut milk with bamboo slices, bell peppers, and basil leaves.

Pineapple Curry Fried Rice $8.95

Choice of meat, stir fried w/ onions, carrots and cashews, tomatoes yellow and green onion. Seasoned with Thai yellow curry tossed with pineapple. 

 

Coconut Rice Mango $4.95

Total around $37.00 (ish) after tax. That's not an eat every day price, but it's roughly on par with more Thai places, and each entre is a LOT of food.  

 

 

Kids

I suppose it depends on your kids.

Currently, our kids won’t try Thai Food… but I suspect my youngest will (he enjoyed it when he was younger). If you are going to dine in, you may want to check out their menu so see if it’s going to meet your kids needs before you go (or get them food before).

 

 

Tips to enjoy it better...

It may look closed when you drive up. They could use a little updating to the façade to make it more inviting. But it’s worth parking on the side or in the back and walking in.

All entrees come without spice (for the weak of palate) and you can add spice to your liking to any dish. (Level 1-5). We went with a 2 to be safe, and this was just about right for us, it had heat, but not too much.

They also do delivery within five miles. So, if you live in Sendera Ranch or Haslet, the PARTY IS ON!

 

 

Final Thoughts

Sometimes you just have to try new places, even if they are a little off the beaten path. The “hole in the wall” types are often some of the best food! This one is no exception.

Life In Fort Worth By Darrell Wolfe

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How To Register Your Car And Get Your Drivers License after moving to Fort Worth/Dallas Texas

Automotive

What you need to know about moving to and driving around Fort Worth - Dallas Texas. 

I came from California myself. So I was surprised to learn that you register you car in a different office from the one you will visit to get your drivers license. The following information will cover some of the basics on what you need to know. I suggest you check out their websites for more information.

Actually... there's three offices, two buildings? The DPS handles Licenses (but mixes into autos sometimes). The DMV handles the start of auto registration by giving you the forms online, but the County Tax Assessors Office is where you physically go to complete the auto registration.

AAA: And for those moving from California; The Texas Automobile Automobile Association (AAA) does not currently have a contract with the state government to offer services for auto registration or license renewal but they do still offer roadside assistance, travel, and AAA insurance in Texas. The Texas AAA has it's own website as well. 

Alternate Renewal Sites; You can often accomplish renewals of auto registration at local grocery stores such as Tom Thumb . Auto Registration renewal can also be done online at the TXDMV website.

Clear as Mud? Me too! So here's my best attempt to explain:

• Drivers Licenses are provided by Texas Dept of Public Safety (DPS)

• Auto Registration is provided by Texas Dept of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

• County Tax Assessors Office (Complete Car Registration)

Drivers License

If you move to Texas you have 90 days to get a Texas Drivers License. During that time, you may continue to drive on the current license, but you must get switched over. 

The TxDPS website states that "New Texas residents can legally drive with a valid, unexpired driver license from another U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canadian province, or qualifying country for up to 90 days after moving to Texas."

***HINT*** When you get the new ID cards, they will ask you to surrender the Drivers License from your old state. Then, a few months later, you going to be shopping for insurance and they'll ask you for your previous ID numbers for the quote... but you can't remember them now. SO, make a high quality photocopy of the old ID cards BEFORE giving them up. Preferably, save those copies to a PDF and store them in the cloud. Then you won't be hassled when getting new insurance. 

1. Residency Requirement. To get a drivers license you must first prove you are now a Texas Resident.

TxDPS Website:
To verify Texas residency, an individual must present two documents from the drop down menu below. Both documents must contain the individual’s name and residential address. One of the documents must verify that the individual has lived in Texas for at least 30 days. This 30 day requirement is waived for individuals who are surrendering a valid, unexpired driver license from another state. 

Any of the following documents will be accepted to verify an individual’s Texas residency. The two documents provided must be issued by different companies or agencies. For example, an individual may not use a water bill and an electricity bill from the same company.

If you want to, you can keep your old ID, but then you have to take the written and driving test all over again. If you turn in your current ID, you can skip that part.

2. Apply for a new Drivers License. 

Check out the TxDPS website for relocators HERE. You'll need to fill our some forms and most likely take a trip to the DPS office to get this done.

3. Expect Delays. 

You may have heard that things are slower paced in the south. Well.... they are. They are also poorly funded and badly organized. So expect your new ID card to take 45 days (or more).

Also, being poorly funded, the local law enforcement relish the opportunity to pull you over every chance they get (Tickets = $).

So make sure to get the new ID WELL BEFORE the 90 days, and keep your paper copy while you wait. Also make sure to follow up on on the status as often as possible. Don't let this one slip your mind.

Car Registration

Unlike the 90 days you get for the drivers license, you have 30 days to register your vehicle in Texas.

TxDMV Website: New To TexasWelcome to the Lone Star State. You have 30 days from the time you move here to register your vehicle in the state. To learn how, follow the steps below. In no time at all, we will be proud to call you a Registered Texan!

1. Inspection: Electronic

Ah... the days when life was simple and all you needed was Smog Tests. Nope. Texas requires Two Steps to get that vehicle to code. The Inspection will include a Smog Test... and a bunch of other stuff...

You'll need to know what County you live in for this part, because requirements are county specific. You can look up your counties specific requirements on the Tx DPS website HERE... and yes, I said DPS. The two sites are mixing content... adding to the confusion.

Make sure to bring a valid ID and proof of insurance when you go to inspection. The good news is that inspection stations are easy to find. Most mechanics and Oil Changing shops provide this service. Jiffy Lube and NTB are two big ones out here. My Favorite has been Kwik Kar HERE.


2. Registration


So now that you have your inspection completed, and it must be done first, you can complete your registration. There will be one (or more) forms to fill out. I suggest pulling them from the website and filling them out on our computer so you can type/print. Handwritten forms leads to misinterpretation and problems.

Tx DMV Website:To do this, you must visit your local county tax-assessor collector office. You will need your insurance card, proof of vehicle inspection (the Vehicle Inspection Report or VI30 form from the inspection station), and proof you own the vehicle, such as the registration or title from your previous state. You can also show a current foreign/military ownership document or foreign evidence of ownership. Visit your local county tax office. You are not required to title your vehicle in Texas, but first-time registrants must fill out and complete Form 130-U. If you do not possess the title because it has a lien, you also must complete Form VTR-272.

3. Visit YOUR County Tax Assessor

In another post I talk about how to find out what County you live in. Here it's time to use that information to find your Tax Office.

Just head to the TxDMV website (HERE) and look on the right hand side column of the page. Look for Find Your Local Office and use the drop down boxes. If you live in the Fort Worth city limits, you are most likely in Tarrant County, that information is HERE. If you are not in Tarrant County, you'll need to go find your Tax Office.

County tax assessor-collector offices provide most vehicle title and registration services, including:

• registration renewals (license plates and registration stickers) 
• vehicle title transfers 
• change of address on motor vehicle records 
• non-fee license plates such as Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans 
• license plates disabled parking placards 
• copies of registration receipts 
• temporary registration

I hope that helped unravel the process just a little. We'll talk more in another post about how to do more specific things with your cars once you are here. 


Life In Fort Worth By Darrell Wolfe

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What County do I live in? Texas

So here's the thing. Texas is a BIG place. 

But being from California big didn't bother me. What did surprise me, was just how many counties there are in Texas. It seems like you could just drive down a long road, and about every 30 minutes you'd find yourself in a new county.

In California you can move from one county to the next, and you'd hardly notice the differences. The changes in rules are minor and may never affect you. It's one big state. In Texas the rules and differences can be night and day. You NEED to know what county you live in. So below, take a few moments to find your county. Trust me.... it'll come up.

You can check your county by entering the ZIP code through the US Census website. You can download the county map and other US Census data HERE.

Your county is important; it will make a difference on the taxes you pay, auto registration requirements, and voting locations. Texas has A LOT of counties. It's important you know yours.

Attribution: Geology.Com

Life In Fort Worth By Darrell Wolfe

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03/02/15 | Snow... well... not really snow.

It's Christmas in March!

Since I've been in Fort Worth Texas, I've seen more ice than snow. This is a perfect example.  These tiny ice balls hit you and the ground, and accumulate. From a distance of even a few inches it looks like snow. But touch it, or walk on it, and you will discover... it's not snow.

This ice crunches. It's not fluffy. It's slippy to walk on. It's DANGEROUS to drive on! It's like trying to drive on an ice skating rink.If you hear a warning of freezing rain, or sleet accumulations... plan on not going to work, even if your job is dumb enough to open and ask you to be there. At 7am this morning, there was already one fatality on the I-30.

However, on the other the lighter side, it's really fun to slide in!



Life In Fort Worth By Darrell Wolfe

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Ice Storm Closes the Fort Worth Area

27^°

RealFeel: 8^°

Wintry precip.

Hourly Forecast

Sunrise: 7:05 am	Wind: N 16mph
Sunset: 6:22 pm	Humidity: 84%
UV: 2 (Low)	Pressure: 30.51"

Most school and business are closed today. Go make some CoCo or Mocha and play a board game with your kids today.




Life In Fort Worth By Darrell Wolfe

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Smash Burger @ Las Colinas

SmashBurger Spicy Jalepeno Burger

 

Smash Burger

Las Colinas 

Tel: 214-302-2681

975 West John Carpenter Freeway

Irving, TX 75039

This one is going on my "Best Burgers" list!

Overview

The actual building has a Chipotle feel, in that there are menus up front to look at while you are in line, you walk to one side to the counter and order, then go find your seat. The building itself has the same type of set up and decor.

You don't; however, build your own as in front you. You just order from the menu, they hand you a number, and they'll bring it out when it's ready. Soda selection is basic. Dr. Pepper is a must, and it's there!

The burger was AWESOME! I got he Spicy Jalepeno Baja Burger and SmashFries.

The SmashFries are tossed in OliveOil and Garlic.

The Burger was topped with onions and guacamole, with slices of fresh raw Jalepeno. The bun was a a great sponge texture.

Cost

Burger, Drink, and Fries are A La Carte, (you buy each sperately). For two burgers, one fries, and one drink, it was about $19.00 +/-.

Kids

Kids menu has burger, hot dog, or chicken strips (with fries and drink).

Tips to enjoy it better...

Don't get thrown off... the sign makes you think you are approaching a GameStop (same color and design to the sign). Look twice.

Final Thoughts

This was a good burger. Definitely one I will go back to, and definitely one that will be added to my list!

This review is on Yelp and Urban Spoon




Twitter:

At #SmashBurger! pic.twitter.com/JjZKqi1zLX
— Darrell Wolfe (@DarrellWolfe) February 16, 2015

Life In Fort Worth By Darrell Wolfe

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