u/son_of_yacketycat

"I FEEL LIKE I'M TAKING CRAZY PILLS!"

There are an inordinate number of people roaming the internet who will confidently announce that "Davis Mills is better than Stroud" and include - in the same sentence - "I've been watching the Texans since 2023, you don't know what you're talking about."

Fellow Texans fans who are not bandwagons: at what point can we meet in the middle and say "Mills was a pretty good backup for his 3-win max last year" and "Holy shit I never wanna see that guy as the permanent starter again"?

Man, I moved here at the tail end of David fucking Carr. I don't need a 14-year-old Florida transplant in Pearland in the middle of his perm trying to gaslight me on the hell I remember deep in my soul.

Sorry, y'all, had to get that out my chest

(Hopefully this fits the rules, found no indication it wouldn't.) A few years ago on a post about Houston food, someone commented on it being less diverse than other cities - not in a negative way at all, just responding to a comment I'd made that I felt Houston offered more representation of different cultures in restaurants than any city other than NYC.

I feel like most people believe we're only Tex-Mex, Vietnamese, Korean, Indian, Cajun/Creole, etc, and I'm hoping to create a big list that disproves that idea for the benefit of both locals and visitors, and also for my own personal big-back pursuits, lol.

What are some of your favorites? It's a little late for me to remember them all tonight, but in my 20 years here I've enjoyed some really good Middle Eastern (many different variations from different countries), Puerto Rican, Oaxacan, West African, Ethiopian, Polish (RIP Polonia), Turkish, Jamaican, and other cuisines at Houston restaurants. I haven't found too many European joints other than Italian and French, and I'd love a lead on a good pierogi.

I'll add my own list after I compile it when I have time tomorrow. My hope is that folks will enjoy sharing some of the great spots that make us a pretty special place to eat.

(And no, I'm not affiliated with the Chron lol)

Senior Copywriter/Editor with 25+ years of experience in oil and gas, TMC medical, energy journalism, arts and entertainment journalism (Chron, you looking?), and tech writing.

My best skill is translating high-level, complex words into B2C marketing nonsense like I did for a few jobs here.

I also have graphic design experience, UI/UX design and testing, and every bit of the creative side you're looking for that is NOT AI slop. My shitty graphic design, if absolutely necessary, will be 30,000% better than that garbage.

Here's the rub, though!

My work brain operates exceptionally well, but my visceral body does not. I can't commute in Houston traffic without having the Giant Panic Attack that makes me a danger on the highway. Vertigo and panic are a hell of a combination. I will be killer as a marketing writer for your Stafford construction company, though. I know you're Gen X.

I was let go from my last contract position for being queer, so there's that. You've gotta accept that. It won't factor in until it does.

STAY AS FAR IN THE CLOSET AS POSSIBLE IF YOU WANT A JOB At the risk of doxxing myself, I'll say that I'm passionate enough about Houston that I once ran for public office, and did pretty well.

I just want steady, well-paid work. I'll accept low pay, but due to physical limitations, some jobs are out.

I'm considered a messaging expert in many fields by 25+ years of former colleagues. But this job market is hell, and I'd like to get out of a miserable career wasted on corporate marketing that turned to AI garbage.

Houston has been my home for 20 years, and this is the first it's ever ceased to feel like home. I've provided a lifetime of writing and editing skills toward oil and gas/energy, nonprofits, medical, insurance, and arts & entertainment journalism (I'd apply to the Chron, but I'm certain they don't want me. I'm too old).

I've never left a company anything but better than I found it. In 2014, I negotiated an extra two weeks on my contract solely so I could finish a project. That company liked me enough to do that for me, after I survived three rounds of layoffs as a contractor. They have not been doing well, but I'm grateful to them.

I've been through multiple layoffs. It's Houston.

Well, this is way too long of a post, but you really can't get anything off your chest unless it's on Reddit. Let me go ahead and say these things, to address the hate in advance:

1. Severe vertigo prevents me from driving on Houston highways. My lack of highway commute makes us both safe! And my expertise does not require me to come into the office.

2. Yes, I've already applied for service jobs, but they're full and I'm physically disabled anyway and also 50 with Cushing's Disease. Look it up, super fun.

3. AI copy and design is trash. Nobody likes it! Please spend even $50 on quality work. Hit me up.

4. I have a great home office/studio where I'm a writer/editor/occasional filmmaker. I know it's illegal to say this, but I don't have a spouse or kids to distract me.

Been wanting to go to a practice for years and this was my only chance. Was taking my buddy to cheer him up for his birthday. Got here before 4 and everything. That was a waste. :( Does anyone have two spare tickets for Monday the 10th or Tuesday the 18th?

Edit: SCRATCH THIS - WE'RE IN

Kinda wanted to see how the rest of it shook out. :(

I would do crimes for an Acropolis pizza and a basket of those breadsticks that were like no other. Anybody know where the chef went after it closed? Or know anybody who worked there so I can try my hand at recreating it?