Perpetual construction! This north/south highway will…read morenever, ever be finished. The head of the Texas Department of Transportation recently came out and said that there are no end game plans for highway 35. They're going to just keep tacking on more and more and more lanes! I-35 goes all the way from Laredo to Minneapolis, and even further north into Canada. This section of it through Austin is especially perilous, as the entrance ramps are so tiny through the section where I-35 splits into two levels near University of Texas. You need some get up and go power in your hoopty to get up to speed, if and when the section is up to speed. Otherwise, prepare to sit and wait and wait. I try to avoid I-35 when I can. There's even a new toll road that will help you get around this mess of a highway. Be sure to listen to Pat Green's "Southbound 35" while travelling upon this infamous roadway.

A gleaming Buick with Iowa plates glides up to a dusty service station on the outskirts of…read moreGeorgetown. Two grizzled men in grimy flannel shirts watch from a bench out front. The older man with beady rat-eyes and ears like Mickey Mouse, strums a banjo and chuckles; "Looks like we got another one gonna try The Road" The younger man gazes at the car, now parked. "Maybe we should send him the other way. He don't know no better. He don't understand." "That ain't our problem. And they never listen anyway." The gas pump clicks and stops, and the driver, a smiling middle-aged man in pressed slacks and polo shirt, calls out to the men. "Excuse me, but is this the road to Austin ?" A pause hangs uncomfortably for several long seconds. "Yep. The Road...." Another pause as the older man leans forward: "Big rigs that'll crush you flatter'n Ashley Olsen's rear end without even slowing down. On ramps that you might as well just jump headfirst into a woodchipper. Lawmen just lookin' for trouble. Towed cars held to hitches by duct tape and wishes. Traffic jams that can drain the very soul out of you, leaving a shriveled lifeless husk. Oh, that's The Road to Austin alright." "Oh, that'll work just fine, sir. It can't be that bad. I've got Apple Maps and GPS. You all have a great day." As the Buick pulls away, the older man strums his banjo. "I told you." The younger man nods,"You tried to tell him. Maybe we could have just sent him to Mopac. Maybe this one will make it. He'll be better than the others." "Maybe," said the older man. And he laughed.

A simple thing to do, but Kristen at Longhorn made the entire experience to recharge and tag my…read moreextinguishers efficient and easy. At first when I dropped off, she asked I come back later in the day. But my drive was long, so she offered to do the inspection and service immediately. So kind, very customer oriented and professional! Awesome all around.

Call and discussed recharging my home fire extinguishers. Very professional person when through…read morethe identification of my existing extinguishers and my options. I will continue to use Longhorn Fire and Safety for my home fire protection!

How do you review a police department? I was just driving past... it was not a Do Not Pass Go. Do…read moreNot Collect $200 sort of thing. I'm grateful for the women and men who serve and protect.

My wife was in town on vaction and her rental car was burglarized. Over $1000 dollars worth of…read morestuff was taken (including serialized numbered items) and a vehicle window smashed. PD told her they were not going to dispatch an officer and to file her report online through an AI driven website. When the online system was having glitches she was told it would be 14 days before they would get back to her so she wouldn't be able to file the police report till then. I dont know the laws in Texas but I would believe they would be similar to our state, where the burglary to a vehicle plus the theft valued over $1000 dollars plus the damages to the vehicle would equal 1 misdomeaner and 2 felonies. I too work in law enforcement and this would not fly at my agency, especially involving felonies.

AKA Austin Fire Drill Tower. Originally used by the Austin…read moreFire Dept. as drill practice this sixty-seven foot tower made of brick is registered as an historic place (National Register of Historic Places). If you're like me and seek such places out, this is one not to be missed. I remember seeing it for the first time ten years ago and being in awe of it. Now that I live here, the appreciation of the architecture goes even deeper. I love the view of it when walking the Butler trail. Couple of facts: Built in 1930. In 1978 it was dedicated to James Buford who died in the line of duty six years prior. In 2021 a deliberately set fire at the bottom of the building caused massive damage. It's since been completed restored back to its original elements (2023). It's got a bell tower and you can hear the bells ringing everyday. It's now a memorial to firefighters, EMTs, etc. in Austin. So again, if you're into historical monuments and architecture this is something worth checking out.

Such a beautiful historic tower! Walked past it on our way to Zilker Park…read more As you cross over the bridge where the infamous bats reside here in Downtown Austin, you will come across it!!! Worth a stop to check out!