Taylor

Rachio is the single best smart home purchase I made. DFW water bills in summer are insane. Rachio cut mine by 25% because it skips watering when rain is forecast. Paid for itself in 3 months.

The coffee date take is correct and I wish more people understood it. A first date should be low-stakes and short. If there is chemistry, you will want a second date. If there is not, you lost $6 and 45 minutes instead of $80 and 3 hours.

"Profiles are advertisements, not documentaries" should be printed on the loading screen of every dating app. The number of times someone incredible in person had a mediocre profile is staggering.

DFW is a great city to be single IF you live in the right neighborhood. Uptown, Lower Greenville, Deep Ellum, Bishop Arts, and Knox-Henderson are the social hubs. Everything else is suburbs designed for families. Choose your location carefully.

The abundance problem is real. I went on 12 first dates in 2 months on Hinge in DFW. Met several great people. Could not commit to any of them because there was always another interesting profile. I was the problem. I deleted the apps.

Southwest flights between Texas cities are the MVP of Texas LDRs. $59 one way is less than a nice dinner. I fly to Austin every other Friday afternoon and come back Sunday.

People always say "age is just a number" but they never say it about two people who are the same age. It is only ever used to justify pursuing someone significantly younger. That tells you everything.

The Uptown observation is accurate and uncomfortable. I have watched 45-year-old men target 22-year-old hostesses at bars in Uptown. It is predatory even if both parties are consenting adults. Power dynamics matter.

November Project at Klyde Warren is incredible. Free, 6:30 AM, all fitness levels welcome. The community is the most genuinely positive group of people I have encountered in DFW. And yes, multiple couples have come out of it.

My horror story: went on a Bumble date at a coffee shop in Plano. He showed up in a full suit. At 2 PM. On a Saturday. At a coffee shop. When I asked why, he said "I always dress to impress." He then proceeded to tell me he was "between opportunities" and living with his parents. The suit was doing a LOT of heavy lifting.

Love bombing is the hardest to recognize because it feels GOOD. When someone is showering you with attention and affection, it feels like you finally found the right person. But healthy love builds slowly. Intense instant devotion is almost always a control tactic.

The Monarch rooftop view is incredible but go on a clear night. Dallas skyline on a clear evening from that rooftop is genuinely one of the best urban views in Texas.

Fort Worth Water Gardens as a first date is an absolute cheat code. It is free, it is stunning, and nobody knows about it unless they live in Fort Worth. Every date I have taken there has been impressed.

Tinder in DFW after 30 is rough. I redownloaded it last year and it was 80% people 10 years younger than me and 20% bots. Deleted it after a week.

Hinge is the correct answer for DFW. I met my current partner on Hinge after 6 months of matching with people who actually read my profile and sent thoughtful openers. Never had that experience on Tinder.

Not wrong. The pregnant woman's frustration is understandable but misdirected. A packed train with full priority seats is a systemic problem (DART needs more cars during rush hour), not an individual failing.

Not wrong. The man who said "you look fine to me" is exactly the problem with how society treats invisible disabilities. You cannot diagnose someone by looking at them. He should have offered HIS seat.

Not wrong. "You could have asked nicely enough" is what people say when they had no intention of complying regardless of how you asked. You did ask. They did not care. Cops were the only remaining option.

Not wrong but brace yourself. MLM participants are coached on how to handle "negative people." She has probably been told by her upline that friends who push back are "dream stealers" and she needs to distance herself from them. The cult-like dynamics are real.

Not wrong. You declined politely twice. She kept pushing. The truth was the only option left. Real friends do not let friends lose money in MLMs without at least trying to warn them.

Not wrong. And the manager pre-scheduling you for Jen's shifts without your agreement is a massive red flag. Put it in writing via email to your manager: "I did not agree to cover Jen's shift on [date]. Please confirm my original schedule." Create a paper trail.

Not wrong. You covered her 9 times in 3 months. She covered you ZERO times. That is not teamwork — that is exploitation. The group chat callout was manipulative.

Not wrong but the relationship damage is real. Your sister is hurt. She is wrong to demand an exception, but from her perspective, she feels her kids are being excluded from a family milestone. Consider whether this is worth a potential years-long rift.

Not wrong, but now you need to cover yourself legally. Email the principal a summary of every incident, every communication you sent, every inadequate response, and the fact that the bullying ESCALATED after the school meeting. Create a paper trail. If this continues, file a formal grievance with Keller ISD.

Wrong. She is 67 and lonely. Your kids will remember grandma summers forever. You can handle 3 months of mild inconvenience for a lifetime of family memories. Put headphones on. Lock your office door. Compromise.

Not wrong. Three months was decided without your consent. That alone makes you justified. Marriage is a partnership and major household decisions require both partners. Your wife went behind your back.