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I posted this in the Day-to-Day - LEO Contact section but thought some of the folks who are going through (or who have been through) the waiting game recently would enjoy it as another "Pseudo Wally Walk" experience report.

Had and interesting experience at lunch today. I have only had my CHL a few days and didn't carry for the first time until this past Monday. Today my office partner and fried went to Chick-fil-a in The Woodlands and I had to walk past a table of three Texas Highway Patrol officers. We got our lunch and walked past them again to a table right next to theirs. I ended up sitting so that my "carry hip" was exposed to all three officers, two relatively young guys and one who was obviously a seasoned veteran. Over the course of lunch we actually talked to the officers about their guns and the ammo they are currently using as well as carried on our own discussions regarding CHL and guns in general. Clearly they could hear our conversation so they knew I had a CHL but no mention was made that I was carrying since neither of my lunch guests knew that I was. We finished our lunch ahead of the officers so I had to get up and walk past them a third time. I guess this experience was good, particularly coming so early in the carry process, as it is clear that my carry method either was noticed by trained LEO's or was sufficient that it didn't cause any issues.

For the record, I was carrying a HK USP 40 Compact in a Galco Skyops IWB holster, wearing blue jeans and a short sleeve button down shirt tucked in to the waist. I am certain that the next time the anxiety level from wondering if my gun is "noticeable" will be substantially reduced.

Well boys and girls, after a few wasted days waiting for my new holster to arrive, I got to do my pseudo-Wally Walking today. Didn't make it to Wally World as that just wasn't in the cards but did carry around the office today from about noon until quitting time. After that, my wife and I made a trip to Kroger for numerous items and covered the entire store including items low and high on the shelves. My wife still doesn't know I am carrying and I guess neither does anyone else so the process was a success.

My "walk" was in blue jeans with a casual short-sleeved button down shirt covering a new Galco Skyops holster made to fit my H&K USP 40 Compact. The holster works fine but I don't think it will be my ultimate choice as the Crossbread Super Tuck and CompTac Minotaur MTAC look really appealing and likely more comfortable. The Galco will do for now however and isn't uncomfortable, just not as comfortable as I think the others would be with the leather backing.

Sorry this isn't more exciting as there are no pictures and no gaudy Hawaiian shirts to discuss....LOL

redlin67 wrote:You got that right, now is just checking the mailbox everyday.

Hi there, I have been aware from the computer a few days. Congrats on moving to manufacturing. Your wait should be almost over and then you can go for you Wally Walk.

redlin67 wrote:I posted this in April, but I am so happy I am putting it here also since I started in the March room.

(Got this news just now. "The license is being printed. You should receive it within 1-2 weeks." Rene is such a nice guy, I take back anything negative I said about him.
)

Congratulations! At least you can now take a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief knowing it has been approved and the worrying about approval time can be spent on the being anxious for arrival time.

heeler wrote:Great!!
Now just remember to NEVER let it lapse other wise you will have to go through all this agony all over again.

No chance of that at my house.

Postage machine dated 05-05-2010, Post Office marks dated 05-05-2010, Delivered 148 miles away 05-10-2010 but it is still PLASTIC!


Now for the editorial, if the Federal Government runs the Postal Service this well, I bet we will really love ☭bamacare!

[/quote]Congrats! I think that just leaves knb (plastic should be there today, right?) and redlin. Come on y'all! Let's close out March on a high note![/quote]

Here is hoping for today, if not, I think I may have to check with DPS and see if they have any tracking ability. There is no reason for it not to be here by now given the last few Mailed/Receipt combinations unless it is lost somewhere. Will keep you all posted after I can get home and check the mailbox this evening.

Still no joy! Status went to Mailed on 05-04-10 and no plastic in the mail today on 05-08-10.

HighHandicap wrote:No plastic today, but I wasn't really expecting it since it just mailed yesterday.

I think the hard thing about being in "mailed" status is that there is no longer any reason to check the DPS website. Too bad they couldn't update with mail status, "License left Austin postal sorting facility on 5/7/10"... I guess that's not very likely though. ;)

I just wish if they are going to say mailed that meant it was in the mail, not in an area where the mail gets processed. There is no way it takes several days for mail to get from Austin to Houston so there has to be a process they don't explain that slows things down. I guess all we can do is be patient.

Well, unfortunately I can't help today. Still no plastic even though it said Mailed on the 4th. Clearly there is a process since I got a package fron Utah today that was sent on the 4th. Maybe tomorrow?

HighHandicap wrote:To complete our discussion on "mailed", the response I got from DPS was that my license was issued on 5/6/10 and I should allow time for delivery... there was no indication of what "issued" or "mailed" means. I'm going to be an optimist and assume that both mean that it was actually put in the mail yesterday or today. Yes, I know that being an assuming optimist is a recipe for disaster. As I was frequently reminded in the Army, hope is not a strategy!

** Edited to correct the date from April to May. D'Oh!

Sounds like a good plan. With a little bit of luck I will find mine in the mailbox today and can give you an update on what it means to go from Manufacturing to Mailed to Plastic in the new world that is DPS CHL.

HighHandicap wrote:

knb wrote:

HighHandicap wrote:WOOHOO!! I'm also now in the "Mailed" status!! Since I live in Pflugerville (on the North border of Austin) maybe I'll get my license today or tomorrow! I hope it's today because I'm wearing my Wally Walk Aloha shirt and my CrossBreed SuperTuck (no pistol, of course). I'm hoping that the license was actually mailed yesterday or Wednesday and it took the system a day or two to update to mailed status.

You can guarantee I'll be stalking that mailbox this afternoon and this weekend!

Hate to be a party pooper but don't hold your breath. Mine went to Mailed on Tuesday and as of yesterday it wasn't in the mailbox. Austin to Houston shouldn't be more than a day either. I have a feeling that going to "Mailed" means it has been created and sent to a group to package and mail but not necessarily "in the mailbox" like we would like to interpret it.

Always bringing me down!

I emailed our helpful friend Rene at DPS to find out if "Mailed" means mailed or something else. If nothing else, I'm sure it will be here early next week. At least I don't feel like the last one picked for the dodgeball team any more. I'm pretty sure I'll be heading down to Katy in June. I'll be sure to touch base with y'all before I head down there so we can all get together for a drink.

I hated to say it but if you are like me I am better off managing my expectations. I try and be positive about everything but when it comes to the government I tend to adopt the philosophy that it is better to be a surprised pessimist than a disappointed optimist. With any luck we will both have plastic by Monday at the latest.

I agree, we must have all been on the same day of receipt by DPS (03-29) and had varied results. My wife's was dated the same as mine and she got her plastic last Saturday. Go figure.

HighHandicap wrote:WOOHOO!! I'm also now in the "Mailed" status!! Since I live in Pflugerville (on the North border of Austin) maybe I'll get my license today or tomorrow! I hope it's today because I'm wearing my Wally Walk Aloha shirt and my CrossBreed SuperTuck (no pistol, of course). I'm hoping that the license was actually mailed yesterday or Wednesday and it took the system a day or two to update to mailed status.

You can guarantee I'll be stalking that mailbox this afternoon and this weekend!

Hate to be a party pooper but don't hold your breath. Mine went to Mailed on Tuesday and as of yesterday it wasn't in the mailbox. Austin to Houston shouldn't be more than a day either. I have a feeling that going to "Mailed" means it has been created and sent to a group to package and mail but not necessarily "in the mailbox" like we would like to interpret it.

Well Teamless, it won't be any consolation to you, but my plastic didn't show today. I figured today was the earliest given a supposed mailing date of 05-04-10 since it should only be one day from Austin to Houston but it didn't show up. Of course, the signal that was "Mailed" may only mean the Tech put it in box for the mail crew to take the next step. Maybe tomorrow will be the day, will keep you posted.