Speaking of trash, my last post reminded me to point out a few great City of Houston resources. If you're not sure when your heavy trash day is, you can search by zip code to get your neighborhood info: 
 

http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/schedule.html

The city also has four sites where Houston residents can drop off junk, waste and recyclables for free instead of going to a dump or waiting a month for your heavy trash day. I did it a couple of months ago and it was very easy.

The neighborhood depositories are open 7 days a week, from 9AM to 6PM, except on holidays. You must have your driver's license and a copy of a property tax or utility bill to verify residency. There are some rules, so check out the site in advance. You can drop off tires, tree limbs, appliances, building materials and other household items up to four times a month. It gets very busy on weekends, so plan accordingly. 
    

http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/disposal.html

I'm never too busy for your referrals!