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Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

February 9th, 2011

Cystic Fibrosis FoundationCystic Fibrosis is a life-threatening disease that starts at birth. The child can get it if both parents are carriers of defective CF gene. Mucus builds up in the lungs and organs or a person with Cystic Fibrosis and this causes their organs and lungs to shut down and many people have to get transplants; but even transplants will not heal Cystic Fibrosis because Cystic Fibrosis dwells in the cells. Over 30,000 children and adults in the United States alone has been diagnosed with CF. There is no known cure for Cystic Fibrosis for the time being. There are many diets, therapies, and hospital care that can help with people live with this disease. Many people have passed away very young due to this disease. A young girl who grew up in Tyler just recently passed away after having a lung transplant that her body rejected. She was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a toddler, and had to live a large amount of her life in hospitals and clinics. She was only 23 when she passed away. She lived with Cystic Fibrosis and knew the dangers and reality of the disease but she celebrated and made the most of the life that she was given to live.

Cystic Fibrosis is closer than we know. There are many things we can do to help with the research of Cystic Fibrosis. In 1955 The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was founded. At that time children with CF were not expected to live longer than a few years old. The study of this disease has come a long way but they still have not found a cure and many people are passing away due to this disease. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports scientists and doctors that are searching for a cure. They run on support and donations. There have been many different businesses in Tyler that has raised money for this foundation. McAlister’s Deli, Double Dave’s Pizza, and many other places have had events to raise money to support the search of CF. the CF foundation has an annual walk at different locations in East Texas. The next event coming to East Texas is at the new BJ’s restaurant. They are opening their doors to many different invited guests to eat from their special complimentary menu, but ask that everyone that eats there gives a donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

These events are a great way to reach out to our community and the many people that are suffering or have lost loved one due to this disease. You can be a part of something great! If you want to know more about the foundation, the disease, or want to know how to donate to the cause you can get more information at www.cff.org.

Chuck E Cheese Birthday

January 31st, 2011

Chuck E Cheese Tyler TexasA room of a dozen three year old children is stressful in the first place but when you put a dozen three year old children in an extremely loud and crowded restaurant and throw a giant mouse, bad pizza, and a few video games in the middle of the chaos, you get a Chuck E. Cheese birthday. I do not know what I was thinking when I had my little girl’s birthday there. I was not sure where I was going to do the party until due to Tyler unreliable January weather. When we decided to have the party indoors we called the restaurant and tried to get the package deal and reserve a table for the party. They said that they can not allow us to reserve a table so close to the party time, but they said to just come in and try to find an open table. We tried to come into the restaurant after the lunch rush but it was still really crowded. I wanted Chuck E. Cheese to come out and sing to my little girl for her birthday but they said that he will not come out and sing happy birthday unless we bought a cake. I did not want to pay a lot of money for a cake with bad icing piled on top of the cake. I thought it was pretty ridiculous that they would not go sing to a toddler.

I really recommend not having a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese if you can not reserve the package deals. If you do reserve the package deals, be prepared to have an extremely loud party that you can not hear yourself think no less have any conversation with any of your guests. The waiter and waitresses come out and sing to about six or seven kids at the same time. You might end up sharing a table with another kid’s birthday party. The chaos is too much to handle. After your kids have danced with Chuck E. Cheese and ran around the table a few times, you can let them loose through the restaurant and allow them play video games to their heart content. The video game area can be so crowded, when I bring my children there I feel like I am watching them like a hawk. The rule of Chuck E. Cheese is that you are suppose to get your hand stamped when you walk through the door, the stamp on your hand is suppose to match the stamp on the hand of all the children that came with you. Last time I went there I walked in and they did not stamp my hand and my daughter did. When I walked out they asked to see my hand and I just said that I did not get my hand stamped and he just let us out. I was glad that I was able to leave with my child but I was thinking in the bad of my mind if they would of checked stamps if my kids were walking out with someone else.

It is true that children love this restaurant. It is like a gambling hall for kids. They spend the twenty five cent token to win three tickets that are worth a penny each. At the end of the day parents spend fifty dollars on tokens so that their kids can bring home a two dollar toy. Kids do not see the fact that they are getting ripped off. They have fun playing the games and running away from their overwhelmed parents. I really do not like Chuck E. Cheese and will never again throw a birthday party there. It was days before I got rid of the pounding headache. It s fine to eat there during the week and allow your children to get their energy out, and have a fun day; but going during the busy weekends it is not really worth it.

Los Gueros Taqueria in Tyler My New Favorite

June 14th, 2010

image1366044308.jpgI have been eating lunch lately at Los Gueros Taqueria in Tyler.

I must say it is much better than the greesy stuff El Lugar has started selling at their new locations.

Los Gueros is over by the original Bruno’s Pizza location.

This place is packed at lunch time.

Not much of a secret anymore!

Chuck E Cheese in Tyler Texas

February 17th, 2010

CHUCK E CHEESE
736 W SW loop 323
Tyler
75701
903 581 4550

ChuckECheese is a place dedicated for kid’s entertainment. It is located in central Tyler, not far from the mall (and nationally in over 500 locations!)

Even if you have never been there, you will probably recognize the mouse that is the trademark of ChuckECheese. Thanks to clever marketing and sponsorship of programs on PBS, my kids knew ChuckECheese way before we even went there and were begging me to take them.

I went somewhat unwillingly, but am glad I did as the kids had a whale of a time and I had a morning enjoying their enthusiasm and wonder. Luckily, it was a quiet day – I can’t imagine what it would be like on a Saturday morning or in the vacation time.

The main focus is arcade games. Some are modern ‘Sega’ style which encourage skill to play and are highly animated, others are more of a gamble and still others are like fairground games – ball toss etc. There are also ride on machines – for smaller children and a car where you can sit with a plastic ChuckECheese and have a photo taken.

As you enter you are stamped with a ‘magic’ UV number. This is for security so that they can monitor that the right children are leaving with the right adults etc. Then you need to buy tokens for the games and machines. There are deals which include food and drinks or you can just buy the tokens for the amusements. From there on, the fun starts and you are left in a whirlwind as your children take control and run around trying all the various games. Most of the games have a reward system which involves each machine spewing out paper tickets. The more points you score on the game, the more tickets you are given. Don’t lose these tickets – at the end of your playtime, you can trade them in for prizes.

Our kids had a blast at ChuckECheeses. It was quite an expensive morning but when the weather is not good for being outside it is a good option for a special treat. They serve pizza at ChuckECheese and we had a salad and drinks too which were fine – but the quality of the food is certainly not the main attraction.

Finally, a word of caution. Before you trade in your tickets, let your children know that the prizes are just little gimmicks and not to expect too much from just one day of gaming. The big prizes are for people that go there regularly and who are experts at the games. My friend’s toddler had a complete meltdown because the excitement had been so great all morning and she thought she had got so many tickets but when she came to redeem them for a prize she only had enough for a little plastic bracelet or some Tootsie Rolls, and that broke her heart!

Lastly, you can save a lot on the price of tickets by looking for coupons online (Google will find some). There is also a party package available for birthdays which is very popular. ChuckECheese is open every day from 9 am.

Little Caesar’s on 31 and SW Loop 323 in Tyler, TX

February 1st, 2010

Little Caesar’s

510 S Southwest Loop 323
Tyler, TX 75702
(903) 592-7373

This Little Caesar’s pizza restaurant is specifically designated as a Hot & Ready business. This means that they have a few items that are always prepared and still hot as long as they are open. The standard Hot & Ready item is the large pepperoni pizza for less than six dollars. I believe it is five fifty. They also usually have one or two plain cheese pizzas available hot and ready for the same price. The more interesting items they have ready to take are hot wings, which come in different levels of spice, their famous “Crazy Bread” with sauce, and cheesy bread sticks. They are also able to make pizzas with other standard toppings to order and to make tons of pizzas if you call in before or are willing to wait.

This little pizza restaurant probably gets more of my money in the average month than any other food establishment in Tyler. This is because the food is amazing and the price is perfect. I am a bit of a pizza fanatic. I tell people that I could eat pizza every meal for the rest of my life, which wouldn’t be that long on a diet like that, and I am not lying. I love pizza, and when it comes to eating pizza affordably in Tyler I choose this Little Caesar’s. The taste and texture quality are unlike any other pizza place I’ve experienced. I think they do a perfect sauce and crust, but the most impressive thing about this Little Caesar’s pizza is the cheese. They put a huge amount of cheese on each pizza and then cook it perfectly to where there is a slight crisp.

The cool thing is that they offer this for just over five dollars. That is the same price as a single meal at a standard fast food restaurant, and one pizza is enough for my wife and I to eat dinner and usually have leftovers. We also get them for their convenience. Hot & Ready means we don’t have to cook, and we don’t even have to wait. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve had to wait more than five minutes for my food, and that was most often just because there were a few customers in front of me. It’s great for entertaining last minute house guests and family during an impromptu hangout.

It’s worth noting that they also have combo deals where you can grab a previously cooled two liter Pepsi product soda. They even have Pepsi Zero and diet Mountain Dew for all of those healthier pizza eaters out there. They also have combos that include “Crazy Bread” or hot wings. These combos are around ten dollars each and are definitely worth it when you consider the convenience and incredible taste and quality.

The last thing I’d like to note is that this location has some of the sweetest staff of any business in Tyler. They are pretty much all young people who seem happy to work there. Maybe pizza makes everyone else smile like me, or maybe their manager just knows how to pick employees and train them in customer service. I’ve gone so many times, that I’m almost starting to become friends with the cashiers. They may not remember me, but they make me feel so comfortable and valued that I remember them and recommend them to my friends and family. If you need a quick snack or want a break from cooking, swing by Little Caesar’s Hot & Ready on the South West end of Loop 323 where it meets with Highway 31.