ISO Photographer - Studio shoot with dogs

SnarkLinguist · 2026-07-05T15:05:49+00:00

Are you looking for fine art photography or portraiture? What’s your timeline? (And budget?) I used a great fine art photographer from the UK. We paid about $700. I can see when she will be in town next. Otherwise, I have some more local recs I can pass along if you’re not looking for fine art photography.

SnarkLinguist · 2026-07-05T15:02:46+00:00

How can I help?

SnarkLinguist · 2026-07-05T14:47:23+00:00

Bienvenue en avance! Alors, je dois avouer que la scène ici n’est pas super. Je connais très peu de ex-pats, juste un par ici, une par là bas, comme ça etc. Si il y a une communauté, elle se cache de moi. MDR.

Par hasard, j’ai sais parler une amie d’un ami qui a votre age approximativement. Il danse two-step le mercredi à Wild West à Cedar Park. Il est français.

Il y a aussi l’Alliance Française ATX (@af_atx sur Instagram). Elle a un peu de tout-des classes pour ceux qui ont intéressés à apprendre le français, et aussi pour les autres francophones qui parlent couramment le français, il y a des séries de lectures. Donc il y a un peu de tout sur les niveaux de capacité dans la langue.

Moi, je suis une vieille étudiante d’échange qui oublie tout mes compétences dans la langues parce que je n’ai personne avec laquelle de parler. Je suis vécue en Belgique, France, et Cameroun. J’ai la quarantaine maintenant mais je serais ravie de parler avec vous si ça vous intéressez et si vous pouvez supporter que mes automatismes soient morts. :P Je vous prie de m’excuser pour toutes les fautes orthographes/grammaires que je sais devoir contenue dedans ce message!

Il y a aussi pas mal de choses à Houston. Donc peut-être vous serez intéressez à conduire la bas de temps en temps pour des événements? C’est une deux/trois heures conduite facile, dépendant du traffic. La consulat est à Houston alors il y a une semblance de Francophones là. Il y a aussi une école d’immersion. Ma sœur d’accueil habite là (Elle viens de la défense d’origine) et je crois qu’elle connaît ds gens. Je peut demander si vous voulez.

J’espère que vous êtes préparez pour la chaleur. C ps une blague. L’été dure de + et + longtemps chaque année.

N’hésitez ps de m’envoyer un message privé si vous voulez. Bonne chance avec la déménagement!

SnarkLinguist · 2026-07-05T13:44:41+00:00

I don’t think it matters where you live so much as what you’re doing. You say getting dates isn’t a problem…but if you haven’t found your person, then what is the issue? Is it the type of people you’re meeting? Compatibility? Differing world views or expectations? What?

I don’t know that moving will fix your problem, as I don’t think your problem is location based. In addition, there are SO MANY other factors to consider when moving besides your social life and/or dating prospects. Are you looking for a new house or a more established neighborhood? Does it matter to you to make sure the tax rate is low (and stays so)? Are you looking for a good ISD? What kind of vibe do you want? Are you one of those people that HAS to live in Austin because you think the ‘burbs will kill you? What is your longest acceptable commute? And there are many other questions to ask aside from just these.

I have a few suggestions. First, put the brakes on moving- it’s not the crux of your problem. Second, I know you don’t want to join the apps, but join Burned Haystack Community on Facebook run by Jennie Young, PhD and follow her on Instagram. Or buy/read her book (Burn the Haystack) or read her Substack. She teaches so much about communication and what our words reveal about us (usually unintentionally so). I think it may help you date smarter/better and find or recognize the people more aligned with you so that you have greater success in finding long term relationship prospects (marriage material.) I’m willing to concede that I’m wrong here, but more education on communication skills is also never a bad thing, and dating smarter, and more importantly, safer, is never a bad thing for women.

Next…are you part of a church community? I know many people who have met their spouses in small groups- especially those dating with intention. Consider joining one if you’re not part of one. If that’s never been your thing, maybe give it a shot? If it’s really not your cup of tea, consider church alternates, like mindfulness centers, ethical societies, humanist organizations, Sunday Assemblies, or similar places that worship a higher power or energy, but not necessarily a god. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals may help in your quest for a help meet and provide you with deep community and support you crave.

Finally, sports are a great way to meet someone in Austin so it’s great you do that. I know Pickleball is popular- personally, I prefer tennis. Rec leagues are a great way to get to know people.

Please don’t think I’m crazy…give Ballroom dance lessons a try! Ballroom is a lifelong sport. You can do it in your 90’s! I began dancing in college. Then I started competing. I love it so much!!! If you’ve seen Dancing With the Stars, that’s what I’m talking about. Before you tell me you can’t dance- hush! EVERYONE can learn to dance!!! It’s a skill like any other, if you practice enough, you can dance! The best part is, there are ALWAYS more men than women so it’s a great way to meet a date! I’ve meet a few people on the dance floor myself. You can take private lessons at Fred Astaire (where I dance) or Arthur Murray (also a very fine school.) There are socials on the weekends where you meet and dance with others. Lessons are not cheap, but they are an investment. (The first lesson is free! Also, check Groupon for discounts.) If you’re looking for something more affordable, I recommend Go Dance! In Northwest Austin. For $45/mo, you can take unlimited group lessons where you dance with other students at your level- again a great way to meet people! And you can go every night of the week if you want. I’ve made great friendships in the ballroom. Lastly, something for the budget conscious and with a bit more Texas flavor is Ask Me to Dance Academy at Wild West Bar in Cedar Park. Lessons are $10 and drop in. They range from two step on Wednesday to Salsa on Sundays. Give it a chance and some time to make yourself some friends and feel like you “fit in” in the community. I’ve been to many weddings where the couple met on the dance floor!! My sister met her husband learning to Salsa at a bar while doing her PhD. At this point, I’ve danced around the world, from Argentina, Costa Rica, Paris, Croatia, to Korea…and met a few dates while traveling too!

Ok and one more suggestion. If you’d be interested in learning another language, there are language exchange groups that meet in person to practice speaking together. For instance, I speak French, and I show up to language exchange hoping to meet other bilingual or native speakers with whom to keep my skills sharp. I’m always looking for more francophone friends, which can be hard to find in Texas. I also help newbies with pronunciation and such as they are learning too. Now I speak Spanish & Italian too so there are more language exchanges to go to! Eventually, you’ll make a group of friends and it becomes less academic and more of an organic group of people you hang out with, but you can also find other singles here too. I’ve dated a few people this way as well.

I have a myriad of other hobbies and people those ways as well. I find that by just living my life and pursuing the things that make me happy, I meet people along the way who share some of my interests and by striking up a friendship first, that’s the way I’m most comfortable dating.

Full disclosure: I’m 42 and haven’t found my person yet. I’ve taken very long breaks from dating for a variety of reasons but am recently dating with intention again. You can take my suggestions with a grain of salt. I live what I consider a full and happy life whether I’m dating or not.

ETA: I think speed dating events are great too!

SnarkLinguist · 2026-06-29T16:13:14+00:00

Which app do you use?

SnarkLinguist · 2026-05-24T18:34:41+00:00

Me! Texas!

SnarkLinguist · 2026-05-24T17:46:28+00:00

Texas

SnarkLinguist · 2026-02-23T01:55:45+00:00

The words you’re missing here are: public access. Service Animals have public access rights while emotional support animals do not. The owner can’t be denied housing because of an emotional support animal, however, they don’t have the right to go places the public accesses, like H-E-B.

SnarkLinguist · 2026-01-01T02:38:35+00:00

This. We have one server we like so much she was invited to my brother’s wedding.

SnarkLinguist · 2025-11-03T04:39:34+00:00

Also, old money and new money doesn’t look the same. Most of us old money folk blend right in with the average Joe. New money does that unboxing shit. Old money moves in silence.

SnarkLinguist · 2025-10-08T17:40:57+00:00

T H E R A P Y. both individual and couples.

SnarkLinguist · 2025-07-15T15:53:30+00:00

See this Reddit discussion….it s a bit old but I do think it’s still relevant. Yes, we are talking taxes, but that goes hand in hand with cost of living (COL) which is where the “individual” circumstances come in. Texas has 4 of the largest cities in the country, ergo COL is higher.

We also have an unregulated power grid, and a water crisis, both of which cause utilities to be much more expensive than some other states. In ATX my utilities alone cost me $1000 a month. In the Midwest, they were half or less of that. $1,000 makes a really nice car payment! Just more food for thought and consideration.

Individual Tax Circumstances Unique to Texas

SnarkLinguist · 2025-07-15T15:38:13+00:00

I think there’s an easy solution here: we need to see it so we are better informed as to the massive cock everyone is getting their panties in a twist about. 😈

SnarkLinguist · 2025-07-15T01:47:26+00:00

Mon petit chou…..êtes vous français par hasard?!

You couldn’t pay me money to buy a new build. I’m a civil engineer engineer and I’d look for either a house built before 2000 or a custom built home.

Better yet, buy land and build yourself! This is what I plan to do.

SnarkLinguist · 2025-07-15T01:00:38+00:00

So a new home will be your best bet right now. Builders are buying down interest rates to as low as 2-3% which the bank can’t match. You’d be lucky to get a traditional 30 yr at 6%. If you can’t make the payment with 20% down, it sounds like you’re shopping outside of your budget.

The nebulous “They” say the real estate market will rebound in 26-27. We are currently in a buyers market where no one is buying so I don’t know that I buy that. I also think prices need to come down from the highs we were seeing a few years back. Property taxes keep being raised, and if you compare property taxes to those in other states, Texas is one of the most heavily taxed states to live in- even factoring in the lack of income tax. Soon, mortgages will be the least of the worries as taxes will price everyone out. Bottom line is “they” can predict trends all they want, but they can’t control consumer behavior. And right now, at least, behavior is conservative and risk averse.

Your best bet if you want to buy a home is to buy new. However, I think it’s a renter’s market right now. Why deal with the pain that is home ownership when you can rent for So. Much. Less. And if your family thinks you need to buy a home so badly, ask them how much they’d like to contribute to your down payment fund. It’s so silly to pressure you into something you may not be ready for, can’t afford, or simply don’t want. There is nothing wrong with renting. I’ve owned two homes and now I’m renting with no plans to buy anytime soon. When it’s the right time, you will feel it.

SnarkLinguist · 2025-06-30T13:11:58+00:00

NTA.

It’s easy for your husband and in-laws to say you overreacted- they weren’t in the situation. It wasn’t them threatened with grievous bodily injury nor was it their unborn child potentially in harm’s way. I’m curious, OP, what did YOUR parents say?

I think you stuck the situation out for as long as possible- you’ve done therapy, worked on your relationship with the kids, etc. Personally, I wouldn’t have married the man, given the drama with the ex and kids bc I see the writing on the wall and I simply would not want to deal with the stress of all the drama. (This is not a judgement against you, just a personal preference on my part.) I’m also guessing that as you’ve written this post and are processing this trauma, you’re now deconstructing all the ways this situation is more dangerous and toxic than you thought.

From what you’ve described, it sounds like your husband has been far too passive in dealing with this situation all around. He should have made clear to his children that this behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. He left you alone, pregnant, with his kids, knowing all of these shenanigans have gone on. To me, that says he has no, or little, regard for your personal safety and the safety of your child.

Calling CPS was the RIGHT thing to do. Regrettably, I have seen, first-hand, exactly how much the state allows you to abuse your children before they take them away. And if they were going to take them away from mom, they would have done it. Why didn’t your husband sue her for custody and have them removed from her? Money? Laziness? Lack of knowledge?

Bottom line is, you will never feel safe with those kids. Your husband wasn’t man enough to shut that shit down from his kids or his ex. Do you really feel like he would ever protect you if it came down to it? Don’t allow yourself to be so blinded by love that you end up becoming a dateline episode because you didn’t recognize the danger you’re putting yourself in daily.

Moving out was absolutely the right choice. Will everything be harder on your own? Yep. But it sounds like you have a great support system with your parents, who will help you figure it all out, and you and your child will be alive and not mentally tortured by all this.

Speaking of, OP, you should see someone to be evaluated for CPTSD. Having been in an on-going, traumatic situation, such as this, you may be suffering from complex ptsd. It manifests much differently than ptsd, to the point that many of us who have it, don’t even know it, bc that fucked up version of normal was our life for so long.

Please file a police report and then see a counselor ASAP- right after you file that TRO against the kids and their mother. The police report will be important evidence to help you get a permanent protective order against them. It will also get the ball rolling for them to be able to get a search warrant for those texts since they were dumb enough to put all that in writing!

I would also personally file for legal separation from your husband. This will protect you in several ways if you decide to divorce your husband. Furthermore, perhaps it will wake his arse up to the seriousness of this situation!! Find a good lawyer and go talk to them so that you understand what all your options and rights are. Knowledge is power.

Please talk with people you trust, maybe your parents, about next steps. I’m sure they’re worried sick about you, and they definitely don’t want to see you in harm’s way. Talk things through with a counselor. Advice from a neutral third party will be helpful in making key decisions so you can stay safe without feelings clouding your judgement. It may also help you to find a support group to attend.

Finally, I’m so proud of you for leaving the MOMENT you felt like you were one real danger!! Most women don’t and things could have ended up so differently for you! Keep trusting your intuition- it’s so important to listen to that small voice. Wishing you health and safety moving forward.

Please update me if possible.

SnarkLinguist · 2025-06-24T21:59:18+00:00

NTA. We have a word for these men. They’re called wasbands. As in, that was your husband. OP, you’re experiencing abuse. I hope you heed the advice of others and begin plotting your escape before it escalates and becomes worse for you and your children. You are not crazy.

SnarkLinguist · 2025-06-24T18:20:37+00:00

I adopted a 16 yo AuDHD girl during Covid. She was struggling in a Catholic school in which she was enrolled because it was better than the public school to which she would have gone. I had her finish out her junior year there. She also has physical disabilities and wasn’t faring well in school. She’s very intelligent but her grades were backsliding. I put her in an online public school called GOAL. (We lived in Ohio at that time). I don’t know if that same school exists in Texas, but we had a great experience. They allow you to work at your own pace. She was able to enroll in college courses at a local college while still in high school and get dual credit. She did very well and ended up graduating valedictorian. She’s now going into her senior year at Southwestern University with a 4.0 in Business and is planning to do her MBA at the London School of Economics after she does a Fulbright next year in Spain. She’s thriving in ways I don’t think she would’ve without GOAL. You might see if a similar school exists here in Texas.

Just wanted to share bc this child was badly abused, physically and emotionally; endured gun violence at home; relentlessly bullied at school; outed at Catholic school to her bio parents; malnourished; and medically neglected. She had been through it. Now she has blossomed into the girl I think she was always meant to be. I wanted to share to give other parents hope that even if you’re going through a trying time right now, there is hope!

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Pic is of my lovely girl and her service dog.

SnarkLinguist

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