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Rose Stadium Full of History, New and Old

July 17th, 2012

So rumor has it Trinity Mother Francis Rose Stadium (or better known as just Rose Stadium) is getting new turf. Really, this may not seem like a big deal to most people but when you stop and think of the some of the big named athletes who played on the old stomping grounds, perhaps the historical significance will start to settle in a little bit.

The stadium holds a capacity of 14,000 fans and serves as home stadium to the John Tyler Lions, Robert E. Lee Red Raiders and the Tyler Junior College Apaches.

Fans have developed fond memories at the stadium, like watching the Red Raiders dominate their way to a state championship in 2004, or the Lions 10 years prior to that. If you go further back, you might remember Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell and his trunk-sized thighs* running over defenses and anybody and everybody in his way. Yeah, it’s safe to say the Tyler Rose left his mark in that stadium in more ways than one, actually probably several hundred ways.

Putting in new turf would also require tearing out the track which is also named after the Heisman Trophy winner and many Tylerites were quick to show their disapproval.

At any rate, as big of an historical figure as Campbell is to the city and the stadium, others have written their names in the history books under the Rose Stadium lights.

Past and present NFL players who played their home games at rose Stadium include Matt Flynn, Aaron Ross, Gary Baxter (hey, he was a good high school player.), Kendall Hunter, Robert Ferguson and more.

Then there are guys who played away games there, guys like Matthew Stafford, Adrian Peterson, Josh McCown, Luke McCown and others.
Regardless of what happens at Rose Stadium; new or old turf, the memories and the history will still be there. Regardless, new grass and soil has come and gone, as have new athletes. Instead of saying goodbye to history, embrace it but also enjoy watching new history be made. Go out to Rose Stadium and let it unfold before your very eyes. That way, as history unfolds, many years from now, you can tell your kids and grand-kids you saw their favorite athlete when he was only in high school.

Just think of how much you’d be kicking yourself if you turned down a chance to see Adrian Peterson in high school.

*Side note: John Madden once said, “From the waste down, Earl Campbell has the biggest legs I have ever seen.” Thanks John.

Tyler Public Library

December 3rd, 2009

Tyler Public Library

Tyler Public Library

Our family loves books. In fact, in ten years of marriage, we have moved 6 times. Every move whether before children or after all four kids had come with all of their accessories, the thing that still took up 40% of our moving boxes was books.

So, in an effort to curb the rising tide of literary treasures and still satisfy our need for new reading experiences, I decided it was time to visit the library where we could fill our basket with golden nuggets, read to our hearts content, and return the next week to say goodbye to the adventures of the week before, and start the whole treasure hunt again.

My first visit to the Tyler Public Library was disappointing. Not only did I receive wan looks from staff and patrons upon my arrival with baby in stroller and two well-behaved younguns in tow, I found it impossible find a quiet nook to read aloud the one adventure my daughter just couldn’t wait until we got home to hear. I felt myself glancing around to see who was irritated by our low whispers, and shuttling them about trying to find a section of mother-approved, age appropriate books. Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of selection at the Tyler Public Library, but it’s harder to find the best of the best in between the Disney movie regurgitations, and the 49th Golden book that should never have been written, as well as some very obscure out-of-print books which are out of print because…? Yes, well you get my point.

I had such fond memories of going to the Library as a child back home in Minnesota, that I quickly decided my deep disappointment was getting harder to mask, and I didn’t want this place to mar my children’s enthusiasm for going to the library. While I simply wanted to make a hasty exit and pretend I hadn’t just talked up the glory of the Library to such false extremes, I thought I must at least make good on my promise of exciting new books to read. I hurried my two girls along to pick a book apiece and then up to the front to check out and get a Tyler library card.

After glancing at my driver’s license, the lady at the counter looked down her nose and declared, “Oh, you don’t live inside city limits,” as though we were illegal aliens attempting to get food stamps. She went on to describe in a most patronizing tone that we could purchase a punch card for five or ten dollars or spend $25 on a six-month membership (I wanted to yell, “NO Way, Jose!” but restrained myself). After a glance at the $5 punch card and some quick mental calculating, I realized that it was good for ten books. $.50 a book meant that every time we came, I’d have to restrict my indiscriminate young girls to one or two books every time while I myself frantically combed through the rubble to find a few gems. At this point I was just ready to get out of this place, and maybe try to redeem the whole library experience with a quick run through the McDonald’s drive through. Consolation fries for everyone.

Now I recognize that if you do live inside the city limits, you don’t have a passel of kids, and you don’t mind reading rehashed Disney stories to your princess, the Tyler Public Library has a lot to offer: read aloud story time, book clubs, and special events to encourage literacy. But I have to confess…I’ve got a punch card with 8 book rentals left on it, and it’s up for grabs because I’m not going back.

Chili’s in Tyler Texas

November 5th, 2009

One of the many restaurant chains that stretches through the U.S. and reaches into our little city is the Chili’s restaurant. No one forgets the “Baby back ribs”; but I am not sure if it is because of the taste or because of the obnoxious little song that stays in your head for months at a time.

You can always find any food that you are craving on the long listed Chili’s menu. You will always be able to find great barbecue, ribs, steak, and chicken. Try one of their great barbecue sauces. Great pasta, Mexican, or burger, have your favorite food here.

But Chili’s is much more to me than the prices, decent foods, or annoying songs. My most fond memories happened at this restaurant. When I walk into the restaurant, memories flood my mind of my first date, or when we ate there right after my husband proposed. My family ate there right before my brother was sent over seas with the military. I was even eating at Chili’s when I went into labor with my oldest child. I used to go to Chili’s every week to hang out with a big group of friends. Most of my most happy and fond memories have something to do with Chili’s.

I have had the best service here, but also I have had the worst service, and not to mention the most odd. It seems like when I am in a smaller group for some reason the service is so much worse than if I am with a bunch of people. One time I went to Chili’s for my dad’s birthday with just a few people. There was probably five of us that day. I remember the restaurant was not very crowded and there seemed to be a lot of people working, you would think that the service would be really great. But of course, we are blessed with the most obnoxious person as a waiter in the city of Tyler. When I told him that we were the celebrating my dad’s birthday, he laughed and walked away shaking his head. I just wanted to embarrass my dad and have to annoying waiters and waitresses yell their own version of “Happy Birthday” through the whole restaurant out of key. I don’t really understand why he wouldn’t believe me or why he made it such a big deal.

If this was the only strange issue I would not have any issues. I would have been happy with the service if my food was how I ordered it or if it came out with in the forty five minutes of ordering. I probably would not be writing about this situation if this was the only time Chili’s slow services disappointed me. But sadly this has happened a few times and I have left upset, but it was nothing compared to the times I have left confused by the extremely strange waiters that I have had.

One time I was eating dinner their with my husband and we had the weirdest person that I have ever met as our waiter. He would repeat our orders so loud you could hear him throughout the restaurant and all through out the parking lot. He would try to make us laugh with corny jokes. He did come to our table a lot but I really did not want him to. That was extremely frustrating and did I mention annoying?

Though I have had very different experiences each time I go there I do really like Chili’s for the food and the prices. You can relax and have a drink in the bar and watch the game. You can not find prices like these anywhere else. So come on by Chili’s and be sure to have an experience, even though it might not be the greatest experience.