1st Of All!

[HellRaiser]

I want to know how many of you LOVE the insane growth around here, thats rueining the enviorment, making the communte more,and more INSANE. Why? I have 10000s of reasons WHY I cant WAIT to leave Hou- I mean Hell-ston.

1, is the crime. 2 is the crowds. 3 is all the ripping of the trees to build more JUNK that will be a empty, vacant building, and more trees to be ripped up to build more crap, and make the roads that they wait until the last minute to upgrade to be congested until people like me are red in the face from siting in UN-NECCESARY traffic.

How many of you are northerners? Ill bet quite a BIT. Newcomers that havent been here more that 5 years. Well wait until you have lived here like me for 35. You will get sick of it REAL fast.

I just want to say, im sick of seeing the country like in quiet Cypress rapidly disapear and turning into crazy, HORN HONKING, LAND TRASHING, progress pushing, MAD MONEY making CRAP!!!

I tell you, I wish the state would come in and enforce a solution to ease congestion, and overcrowding and envoirment easing... ((ZONING LAWS!!)) Quit opening up these businesses and having them go vacant. Limit the amount of building, widen streets before they BUILD!!! I can understand that people have to make a living from this, but in the process, it drives natives like me insane. Oh wait, im fixing to move!! Cant wait. Yall can have this "Houston is such a swell place." LIFE!!!

[Talbot]

Have fun in your new location!

[Guest danax]

I want to know how many of you LOVE the insane growth around here, thats rueining the enviorment, making the communte more,and more INSANE. Why? I have 10000s of reasons WHY I cant WAIT to leave Hou- I mean Hell-ston.

1, is the crime. 2 is the crowds. 3 is all the ripping of the trees to build more JUNK that will be a empty, vacant building, and more trees to be ripped up to build more crap, and make the roads that they wait until the last minute to upgrade to be congested until people like me are red in the face from siting in UN-NECCESARY traffic.

[HellRaiser]

Im sorry for my abruptness, I understand that these people have to make a living also. But if they would just DO more preperations and planning out at what its going to do in the long run as far as traffic and tree-trashing (these people here dont like it either http://treesforhouston.org/ ), Id be more mellow about it. It really raises my anixety level, and gets me a clusterphobic situation. My dad owned a television and applance store off of Hilcroft for 14 years, the bldg was already 10 years old when he bought it, but he went oout of busniess due to rival compition. Well for the newbie business ownwers, may the force be with them

[hokieone]

Here's my take on it. I also grew up in Houston, went to high school, then left for college and swore I would never look back. Initially loved the east coast, proximity to other cities, urban settings, cool things i had never seen before. Then after the novelty wore off, I started to realize how much it actually was overrated.

DC = Overrated, highly political, psudeo urban/ intelligent environment, that actually will soon/ already have more sprawl than Houston, with a 300% higher cost of living, not as good restaurants and obnoxious city.

Philly - fun city, more urban than Houston, great history, ess costly than DC, filthy to all ends, city tax, state income tax, car tax, commonwealth government, a school system that had to be privatized, no end to the mess. Less diversity again. Bad sports city unless you like batteries in the head.

NYC - all in all, the city I loved the most. If I could afford it, would move in a flash. The thing people think of when it comes to urban settings, great restaurants, great vibe, beautiful women. Dirty, but just such an energy. Still, couldn't afford it.

Baltimore - a disaster of a city. What a joke. The inner harbor was so overrated, basically Kemah in downtown, except not as good. Would you go to Kemah everyday if it was dt? probably not, its a great tourist thing, I think we could use it here, but imagine it not being fun and you have Baltimore.

The traffic is just as bad in most cities too.

However,if you have never left, I would leave too. Its hard to ever see a good side if you never leave. I always saw everything bad, and a lot still is not that great (no mountains, no vegetation), but honestly, those people take it for granted. I'm happy to be back, but probably would hate it if I never left.

Either way, its your life, but I-10, I-59, and I-45 are all excellent highways out of Texas.

[kzseattle]

Im sorry for my abruptness, I understand that these people have to make a living also. But if they would just DO more preperations and planning out at what its going to do in the long run as far as traffic and tree-trashing (these people here dont like it either http://treesforhouston.org/

[HellRaiser]

I love this town.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You can have it. Im ready for a change by moving on.

[Guest danax]

You can have it. Im ready for a change by moving on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have a brother that lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mtns. After spending about a week there, hearing nothing but the sound of the river at night, when I came back, it took awhile to de-sensitize myself again. The city noises and people pollution seemed very jarring, and it really is, we just get used to it.

Good luck.

[pineda]

Hellraiser-

What part of Houston do you live in now?

[DJ V Lawrence]

You can have it. Im ready for a change by moving on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

HellRaiser needs Dr. Phil. Kinda curious as to why you decided to snap on my community like that. Houston's Rick James, you Charlie Murphy. You REALLY don't think Houston has any trees after living here for 35 years?We can ALWAYS do better with the environment, and yeah, I think we have a serious air issue in Houston, but where have you been with the progress that Houston's neighborhoods and city have made with the ADDITION of trees and landscaping improvements around town. You've NEVER seen a postcard of Downtown Houston; on how Downtown looks like an island of skyscrapers in an ocean of trees, dude?

You wanna move to a city that's not progressing, huh? I must say, dude, you lived in the WRRROOONNNGG city for a LLLLOOOONNNNGGGG time. By the way, I know you're aware that there's PLENTY of places in SW Texas that isn't city life man, you know that. And by the way, so many people are moving into Houston (and the Cypress-area) for one reason: H-TOWN ROCKS!! 27, can I get a witness?!

Oye, best wishes to wherever you go, and I hope you find a nice quiet, non-progressing one post-office, one police-officer, one fire-hydrant town to make your life happier than it has been for the past 35 years. I'm sorry that you think Houston is the only city in the world worth dissing and that we're the only citizens in the world that's trying to improve ourselves to your disadvantage, yo. Booyakasha!!!!!

[brijonmang]

HAHA I love the rick james/charlie murphy comment. But yeah...hellraiser...probably not the best place to come out firing against the city we all know and love.

[kzseattle]

I have a brother that lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mtns. After spending about a week there, hearing nothing but the sound of the river at night, when I came back, it took awhile to de-sensitize myself again. The city noises and people pollution seemed very jarring, and it really is, we just get used to it.

Good luck.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You know, I have noticed that you would find someone in any city who hates that city. Those who live in big cities are tired of noise/traffic etc and want to move to a small town in the middle of nowhere. Those who live in a small town in the middle of nowhere are tired of laid back/stagnant/rural ambiance and want to move to a big city in the middle of everything.

One would think that one wouldnt find anyone in a city like Seattle, that is admired so much, who has a few complaints. Well, someone got so frustrated that he has created a site (www.seattlesucks.com) to complain about its issues such as traffic, sprawl etc.

So, hellraiser, good luck in finding a place that everone likes!

[dalparadise]

I want to know how many of you LOVE the insane growth around here, thats rueining the enviorment, making the communte more,and more INSANE. Why? I have 10000s of reasons WHY I cant WAIT to leave Hou- I mean Hell-ston.

1, is the crime. 2 is the crowds. 3 is all the ripping of the trees to build more JUNK that will be a empty, vacant building, and more trees to be ripped up to build more crap, and make the roads that they wait until the last minute to upgrade to be congested until people like me are red in the face from siting in UN-NECCESARY traffic. 

How many of you are northerners? Ill bet quite a BIT. Newcomers that havent been here more that 5 years. Well wait until you have lived here like me for 35. You will get sick of it REAL fast.

I just want to say, im sick of seeing the country like in quiet Cypress rapidly disapear and turning into crazy, HORN HONKING, LAND TRASHING, progress pushing, MAD MONEY making CRAP!!!

I tell you, I wish the state would come in and enforce a solution to ease congestion, and overcrowding and envoirment easing... ((ZONING LAWS!!)) Quit opening up these businesses and having them go vacant. Limit the amount of building, widen streets before they BUILD!!! I can understand that people have to make a living from this, but in the process, it drives natives like me insane. Oh wait, im fixing to move!! Cant wait. Yall can have this "Houston is such a swell place." LIFE!!! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He does have a point. Houston is lack. Most lack city in Texas.

[H-Town Man]

Here's my take on it.  I also grew up in Houston, went to high school, then left for college and swore I would never look back.  Initially loved the east coast, proximity to other cities, urban settings, cool things i had never seen before.  Then after the novelty wore off, I started to realize how much it actually was overrated. 

DC = Overrated, highly political, psudeo urban/ intelligent environment, that actually will soon/ already have more sprawl than Houston, with a 300% higher cost of living, not as good restaurants and obnoxious city.

Philly - fun city, more urban than Houston, great history, ess costly than DC, filthy to all ends, city tax, state income tax, car tax, commonwealth government, a school system that had to be privatized, no end to the mess.  Less diversity again.  Bad sports city unless you like batteries in the head.

NYC - all in all, the city I loved the most.  If I could afford it, would move in a flash.  The thing people think of when it comes to urban settings, great restaurants, great vibe, beautiful women.  Dirty, but just such an energy.  Still, couldn't afford it. 

Baltimore - a disaster of a city.  What a joke.  The inner harbor was so overrated, basically Kemah in downtown, except not as good.  Would you go to Kemah everyday if it was dt?  probably not, its a great tourist thing, I think we could use it here, but imagine it not being fun and you have Baltimore. 

The traffic is just as bad in most cities too.

However,if you have never left, I would leave too.  Its hard to ever see a good side if you never leave.  I always saw everything bad, and a lot still is not that great (no mountains, no vegetation), but honestly, those people take it for granted.  I'm happy to be back, but probably would hate it if I never left.

Either way, its your life, but I-10, I-59, and I-45 are all excellent highways out of Texas.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree. I never appreciated Houston until I went and lived in Chicago, and even though Chicago beats Houston in just about all the "officially recognized" categories for urban/sophisticated types, I missed Houston every day I was there. Now that I'm back, I don't miss Chicago, although I do enjoy visiting every now and again.

The thing about Houston is, it's so easy to live here. As long as you can get over the things you don't have - lakes and mountains and all - life here is really a breeze. Money makes itself. Nothing costs anything. People are friendly and generally unworried about social class. It's easy to get around, and easy to park your car. Don't tell me about traffic; I was a courier here after college, and I still think it's easy to get around. It is impossible to become stressed out in this town - if you are, you're doing something wrong.

[DJ V Lawrence]

He does have a point. Houston is lack. Most lack city in Texas.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What did the 5 fingers say to the face?

[Guest Mr. X]

Dallas is lacker.

11 reasons not to live or even go there.

1. Middle of nowhere.

2. Not even close to a coastline.

3. Bland, tacky, unorganized downtown skyline.

4. The captial of sprawl.

5. Superficial and flakey.

6. Totally pointless tourism.

7. Nothing fun to do except get on the internet and bash Houston.

8. The people have ugly faces and body odor.

9. Remarkably ordinary

10. Nothing there of any interest that can't be found in any and every other town in America.

11. The exact opposite of paradise.

Those who live in glass cities shouldn't throw stones.

[jookyhc]

www.houstonitsworthit.com

[tierwestah]

I want to know how many of you LOVE the insane growth around here, thats rueining the enviorment, making the communte more,and more INSANE. Why? I have 10000s of reasons WHY I cant WAIT to leave Hou- I mean Hell-ston.

1, is the crime. 2 is the crowds. 3 is all the ripping of the trees to build more JUNK that will be a empty, vacant building, and more trees to be ripped up to build more crap, and make the roads that they wait until the last minute to upgrade to be congested until people like me are red in the face from siting in UN-NECCESARY traffic. 

How many of you are northerners? Ill bet quite a BIT. Newcomers that havent been here more that 5 years. Well wait until you have lived here like me for 35. You will get sick of it REAL fast.

I just want to say, im sick of seeing the country like in quiet Cypress rapidly disapear and turning into crazy, HORN HONKING, LAND TRASHING, progress pushing, MAD MONEY making CRAP!!!

I tell you, I wish the state would come in and enforce a solution to ease congestion, and overcrowding and envoirment easing... ((ZONING LAWS!!)) Quit opening up these businesses and having them go vacant. Limit the amount of building, widen streets before they BUILD!!! I can understand that people have to make a living from this, but in the process, it drives natives like me insane. Oh wait, im fixing to move!! Cant wait. Yall can have this "Houston is such a swell place." LIFE!!! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yo hell raiser. You should go raise some HELL somewhere else, outa here!

[DJ V Lawrence]

Yo hell raiser. You should go raise some HELL somewhere else, outa here!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

JERRY!! JERRY!! JERRY!!!...

[BayouCityGirl]

You can have it. Im ready for a change by moving on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm not a fan of Houston either (I hate driving) and I'm saving my money to go to Toronto.

I have no choice BUT to stay here because my job is here for now.

Too add on to the list of cities:

Los Angeles:

Everybody wants to be somebody out there

Vegas:

Touristy but high traffic and well if gambling your life away is your thing

New Mexico:

Beautiful and quiet but what attractions are really out there?

Midwest:

Hello farmland!

New York:

I have a coworker from Long Island NY and the energy is VERY different up there then it is down here! Unless your accustomed to it it would be VERY hard to fit in.

I want to go to: Toronto, Ontario Canada:

Government regulations is a big minus, everything is expensive out there, taxes are out at the @$$! and I have to have at least $9,000 USD before I move out there ontop of that the oh so fun immigration papers and a work permit.

If you move where do you plan on moving to?

I hate Houston because I have lived here all my life and I'm bored with the city. I'm upset that NO Star Trek conventions TOUCH Houston and we're the "Space City".

Again I hate Houston because I hate driving (Toronto has subways, buses, trains) BUT guess what people in Toronto are having a transit strike and well now people who don't own cars out there are stuck b/c they are so accustomed to riding subways, buses and trains.

Anywhere you go there is going to be its good and bad points.

Good news about Houston:

Its JUST NOW getting filming recognition!

[jmancuso]

i'm moving back up to new york (where i'm originally from) and then on to philly in august.

i don't hate houston; it's been good to me and i got 3 college degrees while i have been here as well as had oppurtunities to travel overseas but the constant gridlocked traffic, lack of a viable mass-transit and the horrid summers have taken their toll on me.

[C2H]

I'm not a fan of Houston either (I hate driving) and I'm saving my money to go to Toronto.

Good news about Houston:

Its JUST NOW getting filming recognition!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You sound so much like Houstongurl from the old Houston Architecture forum. Are you her reincarnated?

[ssullivan]

Interesting topic. After spending the last few days with my new coworkers (who are from all over -- Olympia, WA, central Oregon, Rochester, NY, and Richmond, VA), it's interesting to hear their take on our lovely city. Overwhelmingly, they love Houston! One (Richmond) has never been here but is dying to come see the city and has always considered it almost a "dream" destination. Oregon has a sister here and loves the urban nature of the city and beautiful older neighborhoods inside 610. Rochester loves great dining and shopping and considers this to be a fabulous destination for both. And Olympia thinks it's just a fun place to be.

Then there are the Canadian contractors in my training class. The two from Montreal act like civilization starts to disappear when you cross the Quebec border, and is gone completely when you cross into the US. At lunch the other day Rochester and I were discussing the great Chinese and Vietnemese restaurants here and one of the Montreal people was absolutely shocked to learn there was a Chinatown in the US that's not in New York or San Francisco.

It was interesting though to hear multiple people from diverse backgrounds and different parts of the country have such positive things to say about Houston. It does make me wonder how much of our *perceived* negative image is of our own creation. I only encountered one person while in Pennsylvania this last week who had something negative to say about our city, and he was someone who was about as exciting to be around as a pile of dirt. I'm not sure he could be excited by very much in this world anyway.

Yes, this city has it's faults. I'm right up there with 27 when it comes to bugs, heat, and humidity. However, those are by no means universal to Houston, and fortunately we have the air conditioning to deal with our summers. I've been to a lot of places in the northeast that are just as miserable in the summers but don't have lots of AC, so when you go inside it's still warm. Much of the midwest is the same way in the summers.

[C2H]

I'm not a fan of Houston either (I hate driving) and I'm saving my money to go to Toronto.

Good news about Houston:

Its JUST NOW getting filming recognition!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You sound so much like Houstongurl from the old Houston Architectural Forum. Are you her reincarnated?

Oh and Dalparadise, how is Houston the most lack city in Texas? Are you starting not to like Houston anymore? You've been sounding a little negative towards it lately.

[BayouCityGirl]

You sound so much like Houstongurl from the old Houston Architecture forum. Are you her reincarnated?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Same person new name

When the board changed over and we had to change names again or start over.

funny how someone would recognize me! ;P

[jmancuso]

I wish fire departments just let you transfer so I could do the same. Once my wife gets her masters, I know she'll be offered jobs in other cities.

I can't take this heat & the mosquitoes in the summers. I don't mind everything else. My body just isn't good with heat (how ironic considering I'm a firefighter..). And I absolutely "F"-ing hate that buzzing around my ears & the constant slapping & scratching it brings.

Unfortunately fire departments aren't universal. I would have to apply, and get hired as a rookie. I would have to give up all my senority, and I would have to start over paying into a pension. All you white collar types with degrees, be thankful that you can hop from city to city.

"All you white collar types with degrees, be thankful that you can hop from city to city."

ehh...i have a master's degree and i don't think i'm anymore able to city hop than anyone else. in fact, i'm afraid once i get up there, i'm gonna have a hell of a time trying to find a decent gig. i'm not doing what i earned my degrees for here.

as far as mosquitos, they are worse up north and they also have black flies.

[HellRaiser]

I wish fire departments just let you transfer so I could do the same. Once my wife gets her masters, I know she'll be offered jobs in other cities.

I can't take this heat & the mosquitoes in the summers. I don't mind everything else. My body just isn't good with heat (how ironic considering I'm a firefighter..). And I absolutely "F"-ing hate that buzzing around my ears & the constant slapping & scratching it brings.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Im with you on that. I worked for a VFD. Im moving to where I inherited some land in Montana, a place where zoning laws exist, and theyre not build,build,build crazy. Thats another thing to add, I wont miss the heat, and dreaded humidty.

Im just sick of all the worsening 'PUSH AND SHOVE' envoriment. tierwestah, ill bet your a newbie from points elsewhere that has to reply with that kind of comment. Ill be glad to get away from people like him too, who take PRIDE in getting around in rubberneck / horn-honking,accident prone conditions. Pretty soon this place is going to be another China.

And yes, thats another one of Houston's problem, NO mass transit. How many of you peole have taken a tour ALLLLL the way from north of Aldine Westfield Rd. to as far south it goes? Not a pretty place down there, slum central. Certainly not a place to bring up a yuppy family. They need to figure out ways to renovate crap holes like that, instead of building OUT which = more traffic, more congestion, and build once again around closer to the source.

I could NEVER work a 9 to 5er and live lets say around, yes Cypress, and have to work in downtown, and sit in dreaded un-nessasary crap hole we call traffic. I would make an effort to live by my job. I remember when FM 1960 and 249 or at the time was FM 149 were 2 lane roads. It was also nice when Barker Cypress was nice, quiet 2 lane road..but it happened, the tree trasher ((INVASION!)) Now Its a NASCAR raceway.... It seems each 10 years or less they now need to widen 1960... Because the progress invasion has made everything all((((ROIOIOIOAHHH!!!)))). FM 1960 is a constant risk of a accident waiting to happen. I avoid it at all expense.

Im sorry, been dealing with it too long, as I said, I will NOT miss it. Everytime I get in my car and sit a congested intersecion with my brain baking from the heat "I WILL NOT MISS THIS PLACE, CANT WAIT TO GET OUTTA HERE!" All you proud newbies who are for some reason immuned to it can have this ever increasing MADNESS.

Im not saying this to be mean folks. I congraduate thoes who are moving a step up, because I tend to also. I was in a accident not long ago on 249 in dead stop traffic. Somone pulled out in front of me. I dont know how many other close calls i have come to from there on. Ill be glad to get away from that too.

[jmancuso]

Hellraiser, in the thunder and heat

Hellraiser, rock you back in your seat

Hellraiser, and I

[HellRaiser]

Hellraiser, in the thunder and heat

Hellraiser, rock you back in your seat

Hellraiser, and I

[BayouCityGirl]

you hate it here that much, LEAVE! My gawd, some of us like it here, some of us don't, but you know if you don't like it here, no one is forcing you to stay. You want country living go out to the midwest and enjoy your tree-hugging self.

You are finding EVERYTHING negative to say about Houston and its pathetic. I don't like Houston but I don't hate it either but you know what its my home city and I will defend it.

I guarntee you go somewhere else for a while long enough to hate it and come back here after the city is developed and we'll see what you have to say.

No city is perfect, they ALL have their problems and almost any major city you go to is going to be full of traffic. (wasn't that discussed?)

You want to bring down this city b/c your miserable in it. You know we're not missing much by you hating the city anyway.

I lived here for almost all my life (5 years in El Paso) and I couldn't wait to move back. El Paso was quiet BUT OH SO BORING! You want mosquitos? You try living with scorpions hiding in your clothes, in your house, up your walls, in everywhere you turn. You try living with 100 degree dry heat hot enough to fry a sidewalk, you try the dust storms that blow through, the endless traffic there, manuerving around Mountains, the endless unfairness of people who don't speak spanish can't even get a job there (well unless your billingual, you won't be able to get a job in El Paso. My mom didn't get a job she wanted b/c she couldn't speak spanish) you try the endless illegals crossing from Mexico into El Paso and the American's paying for the welfare of the illegals who DO Have their children over the border OR buying houses here and NOT paying Taxes!

There is an insight to one city that had nothing to do but travel to New Mexico for faires that happened out that way.

"I could NEVER work a 9 to 5er and live lets say around, yes Cypress, and have to work in downtown, and sit in dreaded un-nessasary crap hole we call traffic"

My brother travels downtown to Sugar Land (that's why he bought a Satalite Radio) AND from Sugar Land to the Galleria area working NOT a 9-5er but a more 4 AM-4 PM job and then about a 6 hour job at his other work. Now you want to talk about driving downtown in traffic?

"Im sorry, been dealing with it too long, as I said, I will NOT miss it. Everytime I get in my car and sit a congested intersecion with my brain baking from the heat "I WILL NOT MISS THIS PLACE, CANT WAIT TO GET OUTTA HERE!" All you proud newbies who are for some reason immuned to it can have this ever increasing MADNESS."

Stay away from NY, NJ, Las Vegas, L.A. -there is madness in traffic!

oh and let's see...

not sure what the vermin is like in certain areas but

Las Vegas-Scorpions (dangerous)

L.A./San Diego (Coyotes/Mountain Lions that eat your pets)

So if you are so unhappy WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?

If you are unhappy here, don't let the door hit you on the way out!