KnowYard News

Interesting perspective. I see it differently from the Fort Worth side.

PSA: the May 15 deadline is STRICT. File on May 14 if you have to, but don't miss it. I missed it one year and paid $1,200 more in taxes than I should have. Set a calendar reminder for April 15 to start the process.

Fall sunsets on the lake are the best. October and November — cool enough to be comfortable, clear enough for good color, and the sun angle is low enough to get that golden light for a long time.

the step-drag seems so basic but watch any amateur show and half the fighters are crossing their feet or bringing their feet together. basic fundamentals win fights. the fancy stuff is built on a foundation of boring drills done 10000 times

dutch kickboxing is the most fun to watch because of the aggressive combinations. low kick, hook, cross, low kick combos are devastating and look incredible. if you want to feel like a badass on pads, dutch style is the one

the neck strength from wrestling is the most undertrained and most important physical attribute in combat sports. a strong neck prevents KOs in MMA and prevents neck cranks in BJJ. every martial artist should do wrestling bridges

someone needs to organize a KnowYard DFW MMA watch party. id show up. get a section at a sports bar and rep the community

for ribs specifically: you need minimum 4 weeks off from any contact. ribs heal slow because they move every time you breathe. every time someone puts pressure on them you are resetting the healing clock. i learned this the hard way

at my gym in DFW the nogi classes have literally doubled in attendance in the last year. saturday morning nogi is standing room on the mats. gi wednesday night is like 8 people. the numbers dont lie

i got through my blue belt blues by competing. nothing motivates like having a tournament date on the calendar. it gave me a reason to train with purpose instead of just showing up and going through the motions

This hits different if you've been in DFW for 10+ years.

Rowlett clay soil is no joke. Our 15-year-old home needed $12K in foundation repair. Any new build should have deep piers, not just surface piers. Ask the builder specifically about their foundation engineering for Rowlett soil conditions.

Library summer reading program last year — my daughter read 42 books over the summer and won a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card. It's the only thing that keeps her reading instead of watching YouTube all summer.

Late-morning discounts are real. I got a huge bag of tomatoes for $3 last August at 11:45 because the vendor didn't want to haul them back. Show up late on purpose if you're on a budget.

If your pet isn't microchipped, this is your sign. Rowlett Vet Clinic does it for $45 including registration. Takes 5 minutes. Worth every penny when this happens.

Rowlett absolutely needs a second dog park. One park for 70,000 people is not enough. Bring it up at the next city council meeting — they do take public comments.

Costco generic Zyrtec is the real life hack here. 365 tablets for $14. That's less than 4 cents a day. No reason to buy name brand.

Gas at $1.10 in 1996. Let that sink in. I could fill my truck for $15. Now it's $55. But the house I bought for $95K in 1997 is worth $380K. Inflation is weird.

For anyone looking at duplexes in the Princeton Park area — some are great landlords and well-maintained, some are slumlords. Ask for references from current tenants. Drive by at night to see the real neighborhood vibe.

Flood zone concern is legitimate. My neighbor's house flooded in 2015 after the tornado brought heavy rains. If you're near Rowlett Creek, get the elevation certificate and consider flood insurance even if it's not technically required.

The aging infrastructure point is real. We had to re-pipe our 1997 home last year — $8,000. The original polybutylene pipes were failing. Get a good home inspection and budget for updates on these older homes.

Honest concern: when Sapphire Bay opens, Bayside Dr is going to be a traffic nightmare. There's basically one main road in and out for both the neighborhood and the entertainment district. The city needs to solve this.

Amara Johnson in track — remember that name. She's running times as a sophomore that most seniors can't touch. If she stays healthy, she's going to have her pick of D1 programs.

I've been in Rowlett since 1992. The difference PGBT made is night and day. Before the extension, Rowlett felt like the end of the line. Now it feels connected to everything. The restaurants, the retail, the home values — all PGBT effects.

Been here since 1998. Main Street used to be the center of Rowlett. Then everything shifted to Lakeview Pkwy and 66. Getting people back downtown is the right move but it's going to take time and anchor tenants.

The Toro self-propelled for $200 is a great deal. Those are $400+ new. I will be there. Does it start on the first pull?