1. You must learn to pronounce the city name. It is "Am-a-rilla"

2. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Amarillo has its own version of traffic rules....the truck with the loudest exhaust goes next at a 4-way stop. The truck with the biggest tires goes after that (Note:Blue haired ladies driving anything have right of way anytime.)

3. To find anything in Amarillo, it is required that you know where the "Old Sears Building" is... which the Alpha and Omega is. The beginning and the end.

4. Highways names always start with the nearest Panhandle town. (Borger highway, Pampa highway, Claude Highway)

5. You must know that the "E-Way", "Canyon E-Way" "Canyon Drive", "I-27" and “Hwy 60”, are the same road.

5. Construction is a permanent fixture in Amarillo. The barrels are moved around in the middle of the night to make the next day's driving a bit more exciting.

6. The turn lane is really just an extra driving lane. Whoever has the bigger SUV has the right of way.

7. Watch very carefully for road hazards such as deer, skunks, dogs, barrels, cones, cows, horses, pot holes, cats, pieces of other cars, opossum, truck tires, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, and crows or vultures feeding on any of these items.

8. If someone actually has their turn signal on, wave them to the shoulder immediately to let them know it has been "accidentally activated".

9. The minimum acceptable speed on the "Canyon E-Way (see above) is 85 mph. Anything less is considered downright sissy. This is Texas's version of NASCAR.

10. Never honk at anyone. Ever!! Seriously!

11. If you are in the left lane and only going 70 in a 55 zone... you are considered a road hazard, and will be "flipped off" accordingly.

12. Ground clearance of at least 12 inches is recommended for city driving.

13. If it's 100 degrees, Thanksgiving must be next weekend.

14. If it's 10 degrees and sleeting/snowing, Fun Fest is going on.

15. If its raining, its Fair week.

That says it all. Except maybe that horses and horse-drawn conveyances are also road hazards to look for.

Lek,

Growing up in Clarendon, you are not one to talk. There, riding a horse is actual transportation.

I know, 'cause I've done it.

You knew it was spring when kids started driving carts pulled by mules. And that was in the 90s. Most of my TAMU friends were from out of state/east coast or Houston and when they'd see people riding up to the Outpost on horseback, they'd flip. Culture shock.

I remember in Clarendon a guy used to drive his tractor to school. That was before you would get kicked out of shcool for having dead dove and a shotgun in the back of your truck. What year did you graduate from Clarendon? I left in 1992 but went back to practice there for a short while after vet school.

i graduated in '00. you know my dad. he worked for the vet clinic before venturing out on his own. i was a year behind lindsay in school.

I am guessing that your first name is fairly common, but has a very interesting way of being spelled. True?

Is you father still practicing in Clarendon? I really enjoyed being around him. We traded a little legal work for some vet work one time. He came over to the house and spayed a shorthair that I had. We did it in the yard on the tailgate of his suburban. It was a great experience.

He is definitely one of a kind. Tell him I said hello. And I am glad to see that you made it to Aggieland.

My first name is actually pretty uncommon - my younger brother's is common. He's probably who you're thinking of. He didn't go to TAMU - he went to Alabama. My dad did a number of surgeries on the tailgate of that ratty old suburban and later a pickup. He doesn't practice anymore; well, some occasional horse work. They're actually not in Clarendon anymore at all. The relocated last summer.

[This message has been edited by Lekner XII (edited 3/27/2007 2:40p).]

What is he doing? And where is he?

[This message has been edited by Lekner XII (edited 3/28/2007 9:33a).]

Send me a message.

wmka89 at yahoo dot com

I remember spaying a cat with your dad. Remember when that one cat got away in your house. That was before I moved back up to Clarendon. I have not talked with your dad in a while. I don't know if you have heard but my father's cancer has returned. We have been going through chemotherapy for the last two months. Not real promising but his attitude is still good. Tell your parents I said hi.

BLW, I had heard about your dad. Lindsay keeps me semi-updated. He's tough and attitude makes such a huge difference. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.