Tyler TX Facebook

Follow Donny on Twitter

Username:
Password:
  Remember Me   Forgot password?  Register
0-9  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

Find or Refer a Contractor in Tyler

KVNE for Christmas

December 13th, 2012

kvneI spend a lot of time in my car; at least two hours a day. I try to fill the time by listening to podcasts, audiobooks and occasionally music. I generally see music radio as a dying medium. Only occasionally will I tune in to hear what is essentially someone else’s playlist.

For instance, when my son wants to listen to something and I’m tired of the same old tracks over and over again, I will occasionally turn to KVNE, the local Christian radio station. With the exception of a song that sounds like it could have been sung by the likes of Paula Abdul, circa 1990, I can at least trust the music will not contain anything objectionable.

By the way, I don’t know the name of the aforementioned song, or why it’s such a favorite of the morning crew, but it’s a terrible song! All sarcasm aside though, KVNE has been a staple of the Christian community in Tyler since I was a child. I’ve never been a big listener, not so much because I object to their message or ministry, but mostly because I’ve never been a huge fan of contemporary Christian music.

I do like the fact that the station is involved in a lot of charitable causes in our area. I do have to admit however, that over the last couple of weeks, I have actually enjoyed the station’s Christmas music. Every year over Advent, they play only (or mostly), Christmas music.

I prefer the more traditional songs and carols but I think the station has done a fairly nice job perpetuating the Holiday Spirit. If you’ve not already become tired of seasonal music, or you’re looking for a little Christmas cheer, you might be surprised to find yourself enjoying 89.5.

Popeye’s Chicken in Tyler… Again!

December 11th, 2012

popeyesI should start off this article by acknowledging that I may in fact, be a latecomer to this subject, but there are a couple of businesses just opened in Tyler to whom I thought I’d offer some free publicity. For the last couple of months my son has watched the development of what he calls Popeye’s “Bacon.” (I’m not entirely sure why he calls it bacon rather than chicken, but he does).

Anyway I promised him that when it was complete and open for business we’d give it a try. For weeks I put it off for a couple of reasons, namely I didn’t want to spend my sparse income eating out, but also because I didn’t want to spend an entire evening waiting in line. And that’s not much of an exaggeration folks. The line was literally around the restaurant and down the street.

Well, as the public anticipation has finally subsided a bit, I finally ventured out this past weekend and fulfilled my promise to my son. Even at this late date the new franchise was far from slow. We were probably four cars back in the drive through. I was actually surprised by how quickly the line moved considering the newness of the facility and the trainees.

Now, obviously I’ve been to Popeye’s Chicken before so I knew what to expect. I ordered two po- boy sandwich combos, one mild chicken (for my son), and a fried shrimp for myself.  Both were delicious. Tyler has tried Cajun food before, in a number of different incarnations, and for some reason none has really lasted. I realize that Popeye’s is, at best Cajun food for novices, but I’m hoping that serving it alongside something as popular as chicken may help it stick around a bit longer.

I also have to respect the management’s decision to strike out and try another chicken restaurant in a market with a lot of competition, and a terrible economy.  I wish you all the luck in the world Popeye’s on the west loop in Tyler! May our burgeoning relationship be long and prosperous for both of us!

In Memory of Summer Break 2012

August 18th, 2012

Summer Break 2012, May – August 2012, Memorial services to be held by teachers and students daily, for the next nine months all around East Texas. Summer came and left us (as she usually does), abruptly this year. Knowing her has been a rich and rewarding experience. She played hard to get through June, allowing us the rain and cool moisture we had missed the preceding year. As such, we mostly stayed indoors reading (and enjoying our lower energy bills), as well as attending events like Vacation Bible School. In July we she began coming around a bit more but remained somewhat standoff-ish, so we busied ourselves with visiting the Tyler Zoo, or other area outdoor venues, like Lindsey Field or Rose Rudman. Still, we knew she couldn’t stay away indefinitely.

By August, as if sensing that her time was short, her visits became longer, and more intense. We felt her warmth in the stands at the Ball Park, and at the pool. We even tried to put a little distance between us by ducking into local museums, and movie theaters. At the end of the day, we watched the Summer Olympic Games on TV and enjoyed our time with her, all the while, wishing the bliss wouldn’t end so suddenly. But of course it did. The time has come for us all to return to the classroom, some as teachers, some as students, but all with vivid recollections of Summer 2012. Goodbye Vacation. I look forward to meeting your predecessor in 2013.

The Summer Break is survived by the coming of Autumn, the fall football season, post- season Baseball, including the Ranger, (make the sign of the cross here), and the coming of cooler weather. The end of the Spring, Winter and the 2011 School year preceded her in passing.  

Goodwill Superstore, A Good Selection

July 30th, 2012

I have, from time to time, shopped at second hand clothing stores, particularly as a young man. On those occasions, I have sometimes been plagued by the absurd notion that I’ll be headed to an important job interview or annual review, only to have someone whisper in my ear that the suit I’m wearing used to belong to the boss. Improbable as that scenario is, the Good Will Superstore on Tyler’s loop 323 has a lot of men’s business clothes.

I have a friend from the corporate world that has several nearly grown sons. Whenever the need arises for formal wear, they check in at the Goodwill Superstore first. Sometimes they find what they want and sometimes they don’t but they swear by the store. I wrote on this location a couple years ago and my experience was sketchy. (To read the original article, click on the following link: http://www.tylertxdirectory.com/27/the-good-will-superstore/ .) The store was particularly disorganized and the merchandise was evidently coming slowly, because the selection was really poor.

My last couple visits have been quite different though. They’ve been well stocked with quality former and semi-formal business wear at a fraction of the cost of a retail store. I came away with several items for which I paid about fifteen dollars. At the average retail store I would have paid around forty-five or fifty dollars. When I was younger I shopped at Goodwill for off beat, slightly out of place garb to express my individuality. Now when I stop in the second hand store, it’s to save a little money on clothes for work.

My mentality has certainly changed; hopefully my taste in clothes has too. For readers who have kids who are good sports, I suggest stopping there prior to searching their regular favs. I realize the idea may be a hard sell, but they may be surprised.

Discovery Science Place in Tyler… Finally

July 24th, 2012

After much reading, writing and discussion, I finally took my son to Discovery Science Place in Tyler. The stop largely exceeded my expectations. Discovery has a climbing wall, an extensive network of caves, a large ship, which focuses on geography, and numerous science stations, which allow visitors to view rudimentary scientific principles in action. My favorite station allows youngsters to find and excavate dinosaur bones. Another wing of the museum shows young visitors models of local businesses and community institutions. Kids can visit the bank, grocery store doctor’s office or an eatery. They can also learn about the legal system while putting their friends and family members on trial.   This summer’s special event is “Predators, the Exhibit.” The traveling exhibit is brought to Tyler thanks to the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, Arkansas. It lets visitors get up close and personal with some of our planet’s most adept hunters. Discovery Science Place has also been holding its Camp Discovery program, which as I understand it, is kind of like a science version of Vacation Bible School. The program started back in June and continues until August 11th, so there’s still a little time for those interested to get involved.   Discovery Science Place is a really fun new stop for our area. Obviously it has some growing to do yet. I don’t think its ready to be the draw for outsiders that local favs like The Caldwell Zoo, or the Brookshire’s Museum are. But given a little time and development, it could be. It has certainly created a buzz among parents in our town. Lately, seems I’m always being asked “Have you taken him to Discovery Science yet?” Regardless, the kids will love this museum, and they may even learn a little something along the way.