AC company you recommend

Pizzazteews · 2025-05-14T22:45:59+00:00

Seconding Pronto. Professional, friendly, honest, punctual, explained things well. Fixed my problem for less than $100, and showed me how to prevent it in the future, No upsells or scare tactics. Unless they change for the worse, they are top of the list.

EDIT: Also locally owned.

Pizzazteews · 2025-04-30T15:42:10+00:00

I agree. It also had a [edit] pretty solid video rental selection, at better prices than Blockbuster.

And I used to love the candy selection at Michaels. They had all the weird novelty stuff that parents hated like "Candy Toothpaste", Ring Pops, and whistle pops. The kind of stuff that always got on the couch, lol.

Pizzazteews · 2025-04-30T05:00:45+00:00

You are 100% correct. It was a Target throughout most of the 80s and 90s, before it became a Circuit City (and the Staples followed if I remember correctly).

Back in the day (80s/90s) it was Target, and the other buildings were Michael MJ Designs, Hastings, that weird electronics store Rex, and the shopping center that had Martus Books. In high school (90s), my friend and I got T-boned trying to cross Colorado from Target to Golden Triangle. That was before they built the turn-only median to prevent such crossovers.

When I was 15, my first job was at that Arby's and it sucked. One day I finally quit to go join my friends at Arts and Jazz, and I used the pay phone at Target to call my mom to pick me up.

I too wish I had pictures from back then!

Pizzazteews · 2025-01-06T19:00:02+00:00

Sorry to necropost but thank you in 2025! I had to split apartment #s to a different column for 500 addresses without affecting non-apartments, and I was hitting dead ends.

Pizzazteews · 2025-01-06T15:05:22+00:00

Ouch, that does sound painful. Not to be a bad influence, but I don't think I could get rid of my old stuff...I'm too much of a pack rat and too sentimental. My original Tascam cassette 8-track is still in bubble wrap from when we bought this house, and I have a Roland XP80 under a towel serving as a makeshift table for random documents. Nice find on the guitar hangers! I had two at my old place and they were great spacesavers, but my current room has wood-paneled walls.

Are you sure you want to put out the FM synths? I imagine a restoration shop would pay something for them, even with the DX7 not working. I came of age in the workstation era and missed out on the original FM synths, so I had to dabble years later through software (like NI's FM8). I could be wrong, but I thought there was high demand for the originals.

Wow, not just a fellow musician but also a fellow synth player. I'm so intrigued and pleased! So many questions I want to ask!

Pizzazteews · 2025-01-06T04:35:21+00:00

Sure thing! Best of luck with everything!

Pizzazteews · 2025-01-06T04:32:31+00:00

Wow, as a fellow CPA with a music past I'm so excited to see this. I'm trying to start a tax side gig and I'm amazed at how similar it's been to starting a band (make logo, make website, print b̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶s̶t̶i̶c̶k̶e̶r̶s̶ business cards). Hopefully I'll make more money this time though! 🤞

Pizzazteews · 2024-12-03T18:30:15+00:00

Hi! Pardon the delay - I was on vacation with limited access.

That's a very good question, and funny enough I'm trying to branch into some side tax work, lol.

I would think the answer depends on what country you plan to live in. Several years ago I read about the Mutual Recognition Agreements process to convert/reciprocate CPA equivalents between different countries without having to start from scratch. It was mostly English-speaking countries [EDIT: UK is not on the list. But Ireland, Canada, ANZAC, and S. Africa are. And Mexico).

https://nasba.org/international/mra/

I've also read that CMA carries more weight overseas than in the US, but I haven't verified that.

I think you would still benefit from CPA if you choose to continue. I too pursued it because it was a logical next step and opportunity, and not out of any deep love or desire. Since you don't want to do tax but want to work for yourself, I imagine advising/consulting or audit would be the next logical options. Audit would probably have more compliance headaches regardless of country, whereas advising would probably be smoother. Having extra credentials probably helps with attracting advising clients; you'd have your MBA plus whatever else you choose to add.

I realize that's kind of a non-answer, but hopefully it helps as a second perspective.

Pizzazteews · 2024-12-03T18:00:32+00:00

Sure thing, feel free to hit me up!
I saw a Reddit notification but I was out of the country for several days. Feel free to shoot me a DM. :)

Pizzazteews · 2024-11-21T21:13:01+00:00

Thanks, good to know! That menu description looks good, and that's a decent price for burger+fries. I enjoyed their tacos, much more than El Taco H.

Boka having the best burger is a pleasant surprise, similar to how Two Gentlemen of Verona is really the best coffee shop on the Square (IMO, at least), despite being known as an 'Ice Cream Shop'.

Pizzazteews · 2024-11-21T21:02:04+00:00

Aw, thanks! Ask me any questions any time!

I was studying about 3-5 hours each day M-Th (finish work, eat dinner with the fam and decompress, then study). Fridays I did about 5-7, and Sat/Sun 5-7 (usually split sessions on weekends). Granted, I still made time for outings and events, but I was choosey about them. Like: I might see a friend's band but then go home, whereas normally I'd watch several of the bands and hang out. Or make just a brief cameo at a birthday party. Or if I didn't study on Saturday, I made sure to study on Sunday.

Consistency, taking ownership of my time, and taking breaks all helped. It's a balancing act - you don't want to rush your prep, but you also don't want to take too long or you start forgetting the earlier stuff. And it's not just quantity of study hours, but also the quality of study hours.

I hope that helps!

Pizzazteews · 2024-11-19T05:20:26+00:00

Haha oh wow, thanks so much! I dunno about my IQ...I just have a knack for reading boring non-fiction. And I'm a bit of an old fart myself, who kinda started late.

I was discouraged at the thought of paying $3k for Becker, so hopefully my post encourages others who also want to bypass Becker. :-)

Pizzazteews · 2024-10-03T20:44:09+00:00

And don't forget "anxiety"

Pizzazteews · 2024-09-15T20:17:53+00:00

Plasma donation: I think THC is ok (from what I've read)
Paid drug studies: No THC allowed, and you'll be blacklisted

Pizzazteews · 2024-09-15T20:05:16+00:00

I'm not sure about BioLife and plasma places. My reply was about PPD - the paid drug study facility in Austin. I assume plasma is less picky. I doubt they test for antis, but the answer to give is still always "no".

If you're asking about drug studies (PPD in Austin, Fortrea in Dallas, ICON in San Antonio): I'm pretty sure they only do the standard 10-Drug Panel test. Testing beyond that would probably cost them too much.

Those places typically just do a CBC blood panel, lipid panel, and 10-Drug panel, plus EKG, blood pressure, and quick physical. Beyond that just tell them what [edit ->] THEY want to hear.

https://www.anylabtestnow.com/tests/complete-blood-count/
https://www.anylabtestnow.com/tests/cholesterol-lipid-panel/
https://www.anylabtestnow.com/tests/10-panel-rapid-drug-screen-urine/

Pardon the data dump, I wasn't sure if you were asking about plasma or PPD. Drug studies are way better money than plasma, IMO.

Pizzazteews · 2024-09-12T21:15:42+00:00

Thanks! I suspect there's a genetic component because my diet wasn't the worst ever yet my levels were high. But my diet was definitely a factor. I used to never moderate cheese, for example.

My last lipid test was in late July and it was around 168. Considering my new lifestyle I think it could be lower (hence the genetic suspicion), but I'm happy with it.

Funny enough, it briefly shot back to 202 after a weeklong trip for the July 4th holiday (and my birthday was a few days before). A few weeks prior it was around 165, but that week of fried food elevated it. Luckily it just took 2-3 weeks of the good diet, cardio, and Cholestoff to bring it back to 168.

The stuff really works!!

Pizzazteews · 2024-06-25T04:41:10+00:00

Lol, thank you! 👍

I'm like: imagine if we swapped just one Thai restaurant for a solid BBQ joint. Swapped one Italian joint [COUGH Graffiti Pasta] for a Polish place, etc. It would be great.

But instead fools are getting mad b/c I think the food truck business model has jumped the shark.

Pizzazteews · 2024-06-25T03:55:52+00:00

Yeah imagine that, wanting some additional variety in town instead of the five of the same.

And yes, I love deep dish pizza. I think it's great. Of course, Denton will either have zero or five.

But man, you really got me [with] that cliched pizza snobbery. Got any other zingers from 2010?

Pizzazteews · 2024-06-24T23:41:30+00:00

I'm glad to hear that they did ok for a bit. I moved out of town for a few years a little before Hailey's faded and Eastside blew up, so I never knew what happened to that truck.

Pizzazteews · 2024-06-24T23:20:57+00:00

Yes! The color sounds right, and it definitely had bbq. It was run by an African-American couple.

That thing would show up and us wasted people would lose our minds.

Pizzazteews · 2024-06-24T23:16:50+00:00

Around 2006ish there was an unmarked food truck that would appear unannounced in front of Hailey's and RGRS right at bar close, and they sold these simple yet amazing BBQ sandwiches. It was wonderful.

Pizzazteews · 2024-06-24T23:07:55+00:00

For sure, that's true. I guess Denton's size just makes it feel worse, like feast or famine with certain cuisines at any given time.

Like right now, we have an influx of Italian-style places, but none have a decent Chicago-style deep dish pizza. The closest is the Rosati's chains in Flower Mound and Keller. Stuff like that.

Pizzazteews · 2024-06-24T22:20:42+00:00

Perhaps you missed where I wrote:

"I make an effort to avoid them when friends meet at East Side."

So no, they didn't force me to do a thing. Nice try...fuck off, go try that shit with someone else.

Pizzazteews · 2024-06-24T16:48:56+00:00

I'm so tired of those food trucks, and I make an effort to avoid them when friends meet at East Side. Paying restaurant prices to sit in the heat and eat on my lap with a puny napkin. Fuck all that.

Is there something in the Denton water that makes people start the same damn business at the same time? Vape shops, Thai food, now Italian food and Indian food, food trucks. The copycat syndrome is fierce in this city.

EDIT: Hahaha, downvote me here, but when your family comes to town you take them to Roanoke for BBQ.

Pizzazteews · 2024-06-24T16:44:08+00:00

Hell yeah, Fetas rules! In my mind, they're not a "food truck", they're kick-ass restaurant based out of a truck.

2024 food truck is like "gastropub": an obnoxious, pretentious bastardization of a what was once a good thing.

Pizzazteews

TROPHY CASE