May 7th, 2012
The fact that I grew up traveling has gone a long way to creating in me a nostalgia for staying in hotels. I realize that for many people who travel solely for work- related purposes that may seem like a fairly absurd statement. But for me, staying over night in a hotel was part of an adventure. I’m sure that the level of one’s enjoyment of hotels is due solely to the purpose he or she has in traveling, but it’s almost always been a positive experience for me.
It’s always amusing to me to hear people discuss their requirements of a hotel. It must have this or that, it had better not be lacking in this amenity or that one… We all have different levels of expectations. I’m generally fairly easy to please. A cool, clean room, comfortable bed and working TV with Fox News and ESPN will generally keep me content. Throw in a good continental breakfast, and I may even stay another night.
On a recent trip to Dallas, (which was purely recreational mind you), I introduced my son the fun of staying in a hotel. We’ve stayed in them before, but he’s only four so his memories of previous trips are foggy at best. On this outing I chose to stay in a Comfort Inn. Admittedly a simple establishment, but it came complete with a pool and all the amenities I’ve listed above, along with quite a few I didn’t. Now I realize this was Dallas, but I should reinforce the fact that Tyler also has a Comfort Inn which is arguably more upscale than the one I visited. Enough so that it should surely be able to meet the requirements of patrons whose needs are more… sophisticated than mine are. The Comfort Inn and Suits in Tyler is located on South Broadway and has all the amenities one would expect, including an indoor pool, hot tube, fitness center and more. It’s generally on the more high- end side of the chain but prices are still reasonable. Tyler has what seems to me a surprising number of places to stay, but the Comfort is among the nicer choices. To read more or to make reservations read about them online or contact their office at (903) 534-0999.
Tags: Amenities, Amenity, Amp, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Continental, Continental Breakfast, Espn, Fitness Center, Fox News, Fun, Hotels, Indoor Pool, Memories, Nic, Nostalgia, Patrons, South Broadway, Suits, Tyler Texas, Working Tv
Posted in Tyler Businesses | No Comments »
September 3rd, 2010
Early yesterday morning shortly after the sun came up I rolled over and flipped on a certain sports television network. As I lay in a flu- induced fog I listened to one of the most frustrating and (in my opinion juvenile) discussions I have heard in any news venue in a while. The topic at hand was whether or not Bret Favre had benefited from a racial biased in the sports media, that minority athletes would not have, had they behaved in the same manner! Really?! Is this how far we’ve descended?! As a teacher this sounds a lot like arguments I’ve heard from students who compare their offences and punishments to those of other students. Well let’s look at Brett Favre’s record.
Has Brett ever gone to prison? No, at least not recently anyway? Has Brett ever been in trouble for smuggling a gun into a night- club? No? Has Brett been known to hang around the women’s rooms of clubs and hotels? No? Has Brett ever participated in a sport where one animal was trained to tear apart another for the amusement of his guests? No? Does Brett throw himself week- long lavish birthday parties, and generally behave like he’s bi-polar? Not usually? Has Brett started to believe a little too much in his own legend? Yeah, probably. Does Brett need to hang it up before his legacy is ruined buy his indecisiveness? Again yes.
So now we ask ourselves how many of the above offences are annoying, and how many are actually offensive. The fact is I wish Brett would retire as much as anyone, but to suggest that he hasn’t taken enough of a beating over his behavior in the press is crazy. There is no racial component here. What must the media do, beat up all the harder on Brett because he happens to be a white guy? At what point can we as a society stop worrying about the racial context to every news story? Anytime a person (of any race) finds that they are either in trouble or losing an argument, they look for the opportunity to drop the “R” word. Why can’t we each be responsible for own individual indiscretions and short- comings? How about we hold Brett accountable for Brett’s short comings, and Big Ben for Big Ben’s and Michael Vick for Michael Vick’s and so forth and so on. The sooner we as a society stop interpreting every comment and event through the lens of race the better off we will be.
I should also say that I’m not suggesting that the press has been too hard on number four either. I don’t think he’s treated his teammates or fans well the last few years. Frankly, I’m tired of the Brett Favre saga. And I’m not just saying that because he’s white.
Tags: Birthday Parties, Bret Favre, Brett Favre, Flu, Fog, Football Race Bias, Hotels, Indecisiveness, Legacy, Morning Sun, News Story, Night Club, Punishments, Racial Bias, Racial Sports Bias, Sport, Sports Media, Sports Network, Sports Television, Television Network, Texas Racial Bias, Venue, Yesterday Morning
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January 24th, 2010
Residence Inn by Marriott is located at 3303 Troup Highway, Tyler, Texas. This location is within easy distance of several good eating places and there is a Bank of America across the street if you are in need of cash during your stay. The hotel is in town but when you go in your room for the night, it is amazing just how quite it is inside.
A few years ago, our family had an occasion to use this Tyler hotel. There were two couples to stay in the suite. It had an upstairs with a queen bed and bathroom …then the bottom floor had a fold down bed, bathroom, living room and a fully stocked kitchen with dishes, silverware, glasses and cooking utensils. We were able to keep the costs down…by cooking ordinary meals and still getting to vacation. The price, when compared to other hotels in Tyler, was agreeable with our pocketbook.
The rooms were very clean and nice sized to add others to the eating experience. We had 5 other people join us for a meal and everyone was comfortable while we ate and visited.
If you are looking to stay in a hotel, and there is a need to have a place to keep food and fix inexpensive meals for your party…consider the Residence Inn by Marriott. I know you will be pleased with your experience.
Tags: Bank Of America, Bottom Floor, Cooking Utensils, Dishes, Fold Down Bed, Glasses, Good Eating Places, Hotels, Hotels in Tyler, Inexpensive Meals, Living Room, Marriott, Marriott Inn, Marriott Residence, Pocketbook, Queen Bed, Residence Inn, Residence Inn By Marriott, Troup Highway, Two Couples, Tyler Texas, Upstairs
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January 19th, 2010
There is a rose garden in Tyler, TX that has been a part of the history of this cities making. Since 1952 this municipal rose garden as served as a tourist attraction that brings in most of the business Tyler has gotten over the years, excluding oil.
Tyler Texas Rose Garden
Each year there is a festival, a queen crowned, duchesses chosen and tourists from far and wide bringing with them the business this town prepares for every year. Hotels are sold out, the roads are clogged and the restaurants are full every evening. What a paradise for money making and beauty seeking.
But here is my concern. Why is the garden so special? Roses are pretty, I like them, but I’ve seen prettier ones. I’ve walked through the garden and I’m not impressed. It’s not even the roses that are the problem. Its the landscape. If my artistic eye serves me right I think the design could be more appealing than we’re letting it. The fountains are typical and 60’s. The lay out doesn’t say anything new and there are no surprises. Maybe if I looked from a bird’s eye view there would be something intended to be eye-catching… but I’m not a bird and neither is anyone else paying money to see it.
Where is the vibrant life of color and excitement a garden is supposed to engulf me with? My favorite gardens draw me in, invite me to look close, and adventure my way through. But this makes me feel like I’m still in the office and have not escaped. Does anyone know what I’m talking about? 
If this legend of the Rose Garden is to continue then can we re-focus? I’m not ungrateful to the people who designed and made the garden and tradition to begin with, but I think its time to either move on or make over.
Tags: Artistic Eye, Excitement, Eye View, Fountains, Garden Roses, Hotels, Landscape, Money, Municipal Rose Garden, No Surprises, People, Queen, Restaurants, The Tyler Rose Garden, Tourist Attraction, Tourists, Tradition, Tyler Rose Garden, tyler roses, Tyler Texas, Tyler TX, Vibrant Life
Posted in Attractions | 1 Comment »
December 15th, 2009
As you drive through Tyler you see the growth and improvements. But if you drive through the north side of Tyler you see a complete different flavor of our growing city. You drive down the highway and see hotels falling apart and if you drive pass just at the right time you might see half-dressed people shouting at your car. I don’t know why the city of Tyler does not clean up these hotels. I feel like this is a big issue in our city. Not only do the ugly buildings bring down the beauty of the city and the value but also attracts drug trafficking. I know that these run down hotels are hotspots for “questionable” guests.
I once drove passed the run down hotel, Siesta Inn, to see a lady standing on the road throwing stuff on the road and yelling at the cars. The American Inn is another trashed out hotel in the north side. When a pizza delivery company cannot deliver pizza somewhere for fear that there delivery boys may get robbed or even killed, than we know that there is a problem. But why is the city not doing anything about it?
Maybe if they cleaned up this town and shut down these hotels that bring down the beauty of our city, than we could also cut down the drug trafficking and bring down the crime rate. Its not a very well-kept secret that there is constantly drug busts at these hotels. So why is it such an unthinkable idea to shut these businesses down? Why cant we clean up the city?
Tags: American Inn, Cars, City Of Tyler, Crime Rate, Delivery Boys, Delivery Company, Drug Busts, Drug Trafficking, Fear, Horror, Hotel Siesta, Hotels, Improvements, Pizza Delivery, Right Time, Siesta Inn, Trashed, Tyler Texas motels, Tyler TX Hotels, Ugly Buildings
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Racial Bias in the Sports Media
September 3rd, 2010Early yesterday morning shortly after the sun came up I rolled over and flipped on a certain sports television network. As I lay in a flu- induced fog I listened to one of the most frustrating and (in my opinion juvenile) discussions I have heard in any news venue in a while. The topic at hand was whether or not Bret Favre had benefited from a racial biased in the sports media, that minority athletes would not have, had they behaved in the same manner! Really?! Is this how far we’ve descended?! As a teacher this sounds a lot like arguments I’ve heard from students who compare their offences and punishments to those of other students. Well let’s look at Brett Favre’s record.
Has Brett ever gone to prison? No, at least not recently anyway? Has Brett ever been in trouble for smuggling a gun into a night- club? No? Has Brett been known to hang around the women’s rooms of clubs and hotels? No? Has Brett ever participated in a sport where one animal was trained to tear apart another for the amusement of his guests? No? Does Brett throw himself week- long lavish birthday parties, and generally behave like he’s bi-polar? Not usually? Has Brett started to believe a little too much in his own legend? Yeah, probably. Does Brett need to hang it up before his legacy is ruined buy his indecisiveness? Again yes.
So now we ask ourselves how many of the above offences are annoying, and how many are actually offensive. The fact is I wish Brett would retire as much as anyone, but to suggest that he hasn’t taken enough of a beating over his behavior in the press is crazy. There is no racial component here. What must the media do, beat up all the harder on Brett because he happens to be a white guy? At what point can we as a society stop worrying about the racial context to every news story? Anytime a person (of any race) finds that they are either in trouble or losing an argument, they look for the opportunity to drop the “R” word. Why can’t we each be responsible for own individual indiscretions and short- comings? How about we hold Brett accountable for Brett’s short comings, and Big Ben for Big Ben’s and Michael Vick for Michael Vick’s and so forth and so on. The sooner we as a society stop interpreting every comment and event through the lens of race the better off we will be.
I should also say that I’m not suggesting that the press has been too hard on number four either. I don’t think he’s treated his teammates or fans well the last few years. Frankly, I’m tired of the Brett Favre saga. And I’m not just saying that because he’s white.
Tags: Birthday Parties, Bret Favre, Brett Favre, Flu, Fog, Football Race Bias, Hotels, Indecisiveness, Legacy, Morning Sun, News Story, Night Club, Punishments, Racial Bias, Racial Sports Bias, Sport, Sports Media, Sports Network, Sports Television, Television Network, Texas Racial Bias, Venue, Yesterday Morning
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