I plan to take the CHL class within a couple of months...if not locally (Texas City or Friendswood) then I'll take a mini-vacation up to the Dallas Ft. Worth area to do it...or out to Grand Prairie/Valley Mills.
As for Houston, I dislike going up there most of the time due to the traffic (which seems to be slow in spots no matter WHAT time you travel), so I only go when I MUST, such as having an appointment at the VA (DeBakey) Medical Center there.
I've heard that you should expect it to take 6 months to get your plastic.
-- John D.