Tag: family

Dallas Driving: Welcome to Hell

Dallas Bad Drivers
Yes, it really is this bad.

I’ve lived in Dallas, TX for 45 years. Over that time one thing has become crystal clear; there’s something in the air or the water or the ephemeral plasma that transforms this person:

I am so happy to be living and driving in Dallas, TX!

Into this person:

I AM THE VERY MANIFESTATION OF RAGING ANGER IN DALLAS, TX. I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND DEVOUR YOUR SOUL AFTER HITTING YOU WITH MY CAR!

Like I said, maybe it’s the water.

Whatever it is, (thankfully) it doesn’t affect everyone. Lots of people drive safely and actually live up to the Texas slogan “Drive Friendly”.

But some do not.

Some people not only consider all driving laws driving “suggestions”, some obviously consider them challenges to be overcome.

Red light? Can’t\won’t tell the difference between green\yellow\red.

To them all the lights mean scream through the intersection at the highest possible speed with zero regard for anyone.

Stop Sign? That means scream through the intersection at the highest possible speed with zero regard for anyone.

School crossing? That means scream through the intersection at the highest possible speed with zero regard for anyone.

School zone? Obviously one should scream through the intersection at the highest possible speed with zero regard for anyone.

Are you sensing a pattern?

Listing all the different ways these drivers destoy the very idea of safety would take more time than we have in this universe.

But it’s not the water, or the air, or anything like that.

You may have noticed that, in the good old USA we live by one seemingly pervasive concept: The world in yours and you must take it any way you can.

Me first, everyone else who the fuck cares.

Dallas culture is the same, just dialed up to Eleven.

Squared.

Making the horrifically bad choice to drive somewhere, anywhere in Dallas doesn’t just mean risking your life. It means risking the lives of everyone you have ever known.

Don’t know how that works but it’s right there in black and white so it must mean something.

In visiting other big cities in Texas and elsewhere it becomes very clear to someone accustomed to the terror driving in Dallas: These people are different.

San Antonio, TX is a very historic and beautiful place. And the people actually drive as they cared about their own lives and maybe others too.

Same in almost every other Texas city.

The solution:

This is the only one that makes sense to me:

Moving on up, to anywhere drivers aren't psycho.
That strange feeling you’re getting is the odd concept of safety.

Have a nice day.

The Doctor and Me

The Doctor
The Doctor Chillin’

To understand The Doctor, you have to understand Timelords. Timelords are a mysterious alien race with the ability to navigate time and space. They are quasi-immortal in that when a Timelord becomes too old or is mortally injured, they don’t die. They regenerate into a new person. This new person may have a completely different personality but does retain all the memories from their previous incarnation.

When the Doctor regenerated in 2007 the regeneration process produced a surprise: The Doctor didn’t regenerate into a humanoid. He regenerated into a baby chihuahua.

The Doctor peeks at his new world.

Please understand that I knew nothing of this when The Doctor came into our home. All pets are a great gift and he was that. But he also behaved differently than any pet I’d experienced before.

Fearless Doctor

He was completely fearless. At that time we had two cats. One (Molly) was sweet and gentle.

Sweet Molly

One (Electra) was the spawn of hell. Electra ruled the house in no uncertain terms.

Non-sweet Electra

Until the Doctor arrived. The Doctor quickly made friends with Molly. As Electra had no friends, only subjects, she and the doctor came to a (rather violent) understanding. The Doctor came away with a slight injury (that bled a lot) and Electra came away with a fresh respect for Timelords.

The Doctor peeking from under the covers.

After resolving the Electra issue, the Doctor fell into a pattern of behavior that was pretty much like any other dog. He played, ate, slept, peed (A LOT. Somehow if he drank a teaspoon of water it generated a gallon of pee.), and defecated like any other dog.

Being a Timelord, he had a perfect sense of time. He always knew when it was time for food, even if I didn’t.

The Doctor waits patently for his food.

When it was time for food, he would find me (often in the TV room), sit, and stare at me until I fed him.

The Doctor, alone

Time passed, as did Molly and Electra. This left The doctor alone. He seemed happy and content. For awhile.

Lonely Doctor

Soon, he became less active and quieter. He could say so very much with his eyes. Now, there was sadness in those eyes. He could often be found rooting around where Molly and Electra had slept.

It was time for a change, an addition.

Mr. Blue relaxing

Mr. Blue joined our family and The Doctor was no longer lonely.

Really?

He was also not thrilled. He had graduated from being a rambunctious puppy to an adult dog (who is also capable of dimensional reasoning and time travel).

He was not very happy about having a loud, always in motion rat terrier intrude on his space.

Mr Blue and The (reluctant) Doctor in Doctor’s bed.

He was VERY unhappy when Mr. Blue decided to sleep in the Doctor’s bed, while the Doctor was in it.

The Doctor and Mr. Blue in Mr. Blue’s bed

But Mr. Blue was persistent. And soon they became a team. The Doctor had a new companion. His annoyance gave way to acceptance. He was more active and seemed to be his happy self.

The addition had worked. Mr. Blue and The Doctor were the best of friends and all was right with the world.

And then came Jack.

And then there was Jack

There was a momma cat and her kitten roaming the neighborhood. One day the momma cat appeared in the street, dead from an apparent encounter with a car. The kitten was soon scrounging for food and shelter.

Jack sleeping rough

He clearly needed a place to call home and we needed another cat. So we brought Jack into our home.

And soon, (sort of) we were all one big happy family. (sort of)

The team was complete and all was right with the world.

The Doctor says goodbye

But time waits for no one, not even Timelords. Knowing the end was near, The Doctor said his goodbyes, entered his Tardis, and left. He didn’t want us to witness his passing.

And so in November of 2024 The Doctor took his last trip in his Tardis.

Or so we thought.

Hello, old friend.

In December 2025, a new cat began roaming the neighborhood. Except that’s not quite accurate. He wasn’t really roaming as he seemed to exclusively roam around our house and seemed determined to get inside.

Old friends reunited

We weren’t sure why but Mr. Blue recognized him immediately. This was The Doctor, regenerated into a cat, a moderately uncommon cat, an American Bobtail. He was completely at home.

Our friend had returned and our family was again complete.

Welcome home old friend