Mexican food here vs actual Mexico -- am I wrong?
Just got back from a week in Mexico City. The food was unbelievable. Came home and went to my usual Tex-Mex spot and it hit different. Not bad, just... different. Tex-Mex is its own thing.
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5Mesquite
Recent Incidents
Community Pulse
See allRoad construction has been going on for 3 years and nothing changed
There's a stretch of highway near me that has been under construction since before the pandemic. Orange barrels. Lane closures. Reduced speed limits. For THREE YEARS.
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5Catalytic converter theft: which cars are most targeted?
Neighbor's catalytic converter got cut off his truck overnight. Second one on our street in a month. Takes less than 90 seconds with a battery saw apparently.
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5Mexican food here vs actual Mexico -- am I wrong?
Just got back from a week in Mexico City. The food was unbelievable. Came home and went to my usual Tex-Mex spot and it hit different. Not bad, just... different. Tex-Mex is its own thing.
119
5Road construction has been going on for 3 years and nothing changed
There's a stretch of highway near me that has been under construction since before the pandemic. Orange barrels. Lane closures. Reduced speed limits. For THREE YEARS.
15
5Catalytic converter theft: which cars are most targeted?
Neighbor's catalytic converter got cut off his truck overnight. Second one on our street in a month. Takes less than 90 seconds with a battery saw apparently.
92
5Remote work in Texas -- anyone else never going back to office?
I've been fully remote for 2 years. My company just announced a "hybrid" return — 3 days in office. Which means I now need to commute 45 minutes each way, pay for gas, buy lunch, and wear pants.
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5Is Buc-ee's actually good or just a tourist trap?
Every time I stop at Buc-ee's I spend $60 on stuff I don't need. The beef jerky wall is mesmerizing. The bathrooms are immaculate. The brisket sandwich is solid.
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6Teachers in Texas -- how are y'all surviving on that salary?
Genuine question, no disrespect intended. I looked up the average teacher salary in Texas. It's around $57K.
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6How do adults actually make friends in a new city?
Moved here 8 months ago for work. Know my coworkers and that's about it. I'm in my early 30s. No kids. Don't go to church. I've tried Bumble BFF. It's weird. I've gone to a few Meetup events.
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6EV charging situation here is actually improving
Got an EV last year and was worried about charging infrastructure. Honestly it's gotten way better around here even in the last 12 months.
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5What's a local restaurant that's been around forever and still slaps?
Every city has those spots that have been open for 20-30+ years. No rebranding, no Instagram presence, same menu since the Reagan administration. And somehow they're still packed every weekend.
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5I genuinely don't understand how people survive summer here
This is my first full summer in Texas. It's been over 100 degrees for 12 straight days. My car steering wheel could brand cattle. I burned my hand on the seatbelt buckle.
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5Is Texas getting too expensive or are we just not keeping up?
Groceries are up. Rent is up. Insurance is up. Gas somehow went down and then right back up. I make more than I did 3 years ago and I feel like I have less money.
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6Rent went up $400 and they didn't fix a single thing
Lease renewal came in. $400 more per month. Same unit. Same busted dishwasher I reported 6 months ago. Same stain on the ceiling from the upstairs leak they "fixed" twice.
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5What's one thing you wish you knew before moving to Texas?
Been here about a year now. There were things I expected — the heat, the big trucks, the BBQ obsession. All true.
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5Best Texas road trip you've ever taken?
Looking to plan something for a long weekend. Done the usual stuff close to home but want to go further out.
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6Best affordable areas that aren't sketchy?
Looking for a new apartment or maybe renting a house. Budget is around $1,200-1,400 for a 1BR or small 2BR. I know that's tight. I'm not expecting luxury.
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5HEB vs Kroger vs Walmart: where do you actually shop?
I know HEB is the correct answer on the internet. But I want to know what people actually do week to week. I end up at Kroger because it's closest to me.
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5Just got laid off. Tech industry is brutal right now.
Got the email Wednesday morning. My entire team — 14 people — eliminated. 2 years at the company. Good performance reviews. Didn't matter. This is the second round of layoffs in 8 months.
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5Texas drivers... let's talk about it
I've driven in a lot of states. Texas is on another level. Nobody uses turn signals. Everybody tailgates. Pickup trucks doing 90 in the right lane.
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6Whataburger is overrated and I'm tired of pretending
Before y'all come for me — I've eaten there plenty of times. It's fine. The patty melt is good. The honey butter chicken biscuit is legitimately great. But the regular burgers? Mid. The fries?
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6Property tax protest -- did anyone actually get theirs lowered?
First time protesting my property tax appraisal this year. The county raised my value by $35K which makes zero sense because nothing about my house or neighborhood has changed.
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6Parks and outdoor spots that are actually worth going to?
I've been here a while but I feel like I've only scratched the surface of outdoor stuff to do. I default to the same two parks every weekend and I'm getting bored.
18
5Best gym that isn't Planet Fitness?
Planet Fitness is fine for what it is but I've outgrown it. No squat racks, no deadlift platforms, the lunk alarm is embarrassing, and the gym is packed from 5-8pm every weekday.
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5ERCOT is going to get someone killed one of these summers
Every summer the same thing happens. Heat wave rolls in. ERCOT issues a conservation alert. They ask everyone to set thermostats to 78+ and avoid running major appliances during peak hours.
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5What Texas stereotype is actually 100% true?
I've been here long enough to know which stereotypes are BS and which ones are dead on. The big trucks one? Absolutely real. Every third vehicle on the highway is an F-150 or bigger.
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6Interview red flags from Texas employers
I've been job hunting for a few months and the number of sketchy interviews I've had is wild. Compiling a list so others know what to watch for.
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6Moved here from the northeast and this culture shock is real
Three months in. Some observations from someone still adjusting. - Everyone drives everywhere. I asked a coworker if they wanted to walk to the restaurant across the street.
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