WalMart Confusion

August 2nd, 2010

When I walk into Tyler’s Wal-Mart, on the corner of the Loop and highway 64, I am greeted by a group of strange men just hanging out by the entrance. I get sick of these groups of guys that shout at woman to get their numbers. I can not believe girls would actually give these guys their numbers.

As I walk through the dirty store that always seems like the floor is sticky, I get run into a bunch of little kids running through the store with no parents in sight. I get frustrated and walk down to get a tube of toothpaste. As I grab a tube of tooth paste, a shirt is stuffed behind it. I go to get a few groceries and grab something to eat at the Deli.

Some woman sell barbeque chicken chunks with flies flying all around. Some chicken falls on the greasy dirty counter and they just grabbed it up and threw it back in the container with all the other food. I was really grossed out and decided not to eat there. There is a McDonalds connected to this Wal-Mart. I don’t think I would ever eat there.

It always looks really dirty and really greasy. This Wal-Mart is known to be very dangerous and be very careful if you go there, especially at night, when really strange people can not find a better place to hang out at 11:00 at night.

It seems like some of the most stuck up people drive around the Wal-Mart off of Broadway. I always get cut off while walking into the store. One time a car was waiting for me to load my bags of groceries into the car put my two babies into the car seats and buckle them in and put my cart away, just so they could get my spot.

I was trying to hurry to be nice and they kept honking and when I looked up at the driver I noticed that they were signaling for me to hurry up. Excuse me? They should just go find another place. Oh, and by the way, please do not park in the pregnancy parking unless you are pregnant.

So I hate going there because of all the rude people that shop there. But there isn’t any other Wal-Mart that is so convenient. I can just go right across the street to Target, or stay in the same parking lot and enjoy a great burger at Whataburger. The store inside is a lot cleaner than the Wal-Mart I formally talked of, but it always is so crowded.

Every time I go to check out it seems like they have about twenty lanes and maybe five are open. So there will be at least ten people in front of you with their baskets over flowing with stuff. So Wal-Mart, open a few more check-outs, will you?

My very favorite Wal-Mart in Tyler is the newest one on Troop Highway. It is the furthest for me but I think it is worth the drive. It is the largest Wal-Mart in Tyler and always the most orderly. The food always seems so much cleaner and even the people are nicer. The parking lot is larger so people can find their own parking space and don’t have to be so rude to park.

They have great furniture for babies. It is easy to register here because everything so organized compared to the other ones. The people are nicer because they don’t feel cramped into and over crowded store with rude strangers. The greeter is even nicer. Which I think greeters are so funny. What a great job. They are called “greeters” but honestly, how often do they really greet you. Its like security. Security from all those strange pathetic people that shop lift. But that is off the point I am trying to make.

Troop Wal-Mart greeters actually tell people hello. But I don’t think they deal with as much shop lifting as the Wal-Mart off of highway 64. There is always police there. So if you need to go to Wal-Mart go to Troop, even if it is out of the way. They always seem to have more lanes open so it takes a lot less time to come in and get out.

I’m not the biggest fan of Wal-Mart, not like I use to be. But it is the one stop for all your needs and the prices are amazing. I can ever leave the store with out first checking out the five dollar movie rack, or the three dollar sales in the baby clothes section. Wal-Mart has a policy that they will not be under sold, so you are sure to find what you need or want at a great price.

You will find everything for every room in your house and for your car. If you need a new bed spread or a new rug, if you need new furniture or television, you will always find it at Wal-Mart. Keep your eyes open for the seasonal selection at great prices and when it starts to becomes out of season look for amazing sales.

Have fun shopping with your kids in their toys section, I always have to take a walk down the pink aisle just to see what is new and what is on sale. So shop Wal-Mart to find off-brand and brand names at a great price, “always”.

Tags: Babies, Barbeque Chicken, Broadway, car seats, Cart, Chicken Chunks, Confusion, Flies, Girls, Groceries, Little Kids, mcdonalds, Parents, Pregnancy, Rude People, Strange Men, Tooth Paste, Toothpaste, Tyler Texas Wal-Mart, Tyler Texas Walmart, Tyler TX Walmart, wal-mart, Walmart
Posted in Shopping Centers | No Comments »

Fushigi Ball, Is it Amazing or What!?

July 24th, 2010

The Fushigi Ball infomercial actually is very controversial among the hard core contact juggling artists that do this on the street, sidewalks, subway, etc.

They feel as though an infomercial guru and large manufacturing plant in China is attempting to rebrand their art form known as “contact juggling” to “Fushigi”.

They also believe that they are hoping for these commercials to create the new Hackie Sack phenomenon among emo and wolf pack teenagers in highschool.

This fad would than spread throughout the world as Fushugi instead of it’s proper name, “contact juggling”.

Wow! The controversy has me dumbfounded as I would have never imagined there was a pist off “contact juggler” out there crying fowl.

Has anyone in Tyler seen the Fushigi Ball on TV? There is an ad spot on kids TV channels showing this amazing ball.

They say things like “Gravity Defying” and other amazing language.

All it is is a metal ball incased in a transparent bouncy ball type inclosure.

There are several adults and kids on the commercial moving these balls around on their arms and hands and exclaiming how amazing they are.

What the commercial doesn’t tell you is that these people are all skilled “contact jugglers”. I don’t think I could roll a basketball down my arm very well and definitely not a rubber bouncy ball with some metal in it.

The balls seem to have a little bit of a gyroscope type of movement.

Is this ball worth $19.99? Heck no! I don’t think the infomercial is going to make any money although when they use the infomercial to launch their product in local Walmart’s as well as our very own Tyler Walmart I think they will make some serious money on this.

For whatever reason people love new and different ball creations. I gave personally been the recipient of those balls that have goo and smaller balls inside them with netting on the outside.

I have broken a couple of them in the process of playing with them. I think I only paid 99 cents for these balls. I don’t think I would have paid $19.99 for the experience of squishiness.

Would I pay 19.99 for the therapeutic feeling of defying gravity on my hands and arms? I would not but I might pay 99 cents for it if I saw it on the “as seen on TV” section at Walmart in Tyler.

These infomercial guru’s may very well create a whole new hackey sack type of phenomenon and we will see these things everywhere.

Tyler TX teachers will be taking them up in class along with hackey sacks, yo yo’s and the all new glow in the dark Fushigi Balls.

You can learn more about the ridiculous Fushigi Ball at www.fushigiball.com

Tags: 99 Cents, Art Form, Balls, Bouncy Ball, Contact Juggling, Controversy, Defying Gravity, Fad, Gravity, Guru, Hackie Sack, Hard Core, Heck, Infomercial, Juggler, Jugglers, Kids Tv, Little Bit, Manufacturing Plant, Metal Ball, Metal Balls, Pist Off, Recipient, Serious Money, Sidewalks, Subway, Transparent, Tv Channels, Tv Section, Walmart, Wolf Pack
Posted in Fun | 2 Comments »

Chilis in Lindale Texas

April 22nd, 2010

Chilis
3210 S Main St
Lindale
Tx 75771
903 882 3227

For those that don’t know – Chilis is an American and once-upon-a-time vaguely Mexican restaurant with a bar. They have burgers, Tex-mex , chicken, ribs, the odd salad (not as healthy an option as you might think) steaks, plus monstrous desserts and margaritas.

I am a fairly easy-to-please foodie but Chilis in Lindale is quite frankly, horrible. I have simply NO idea why American families would subject themselves to this extremely high calorie, often pre-cooked, junk. I can only assume that with so many locations nationwide, that there is some comfort in eating somewhere familiar. Or perhaps the bar makes it popular (not many of those in Lindale). Maybe it is because at Chili’s the prices are reasonable for a family of four or for those sharing a meal. Maybe it’s just because it’s near Walmart and the I20 and the coloring on the menu keeps the children quiet. There must be reasons, because it can’t be the food!

The place itself is dark and smoky. The bar is always busy and loud and the large amount of smokers mean that the smoke penetrates everywhere. Chilis in Lindale is also very busy. Consequently, service is poor, the servers are overworked and if you go there in the evening, expect a poor meal from the overwhelmed kitchen staff too.

We had cheese and brocoli soup to start which was more like a thick cheese sauce than soup, and crispy onions with ranch. These seemed very fatty so I looked up the nutritional information afterwards and found to my horror – that this appetizer contained more calories than a woman my size should have for the whole day!

We also ate chicken crispers (dry and nasty) fajitas (more greasy than you could imagine) and the kids shared grilled cheese and corn dogs. Vegetable options were available but poorly cooked and unappetizing. From my observation of the steaks going to other tables, I would say, don’t waste your money. I did like the idea of the sweet shots – small sized desserts but don’t be tempted by a brownie sundae, they are around 1300 calories too! The choice of Margaritas is pretty large but they are quite expensive. Beer comes in frosted mugs which is good on a hot day.

All in all, Chili’s is a poor choice for a meal out. I would seriously say – for your healths sake and for your mood, don’t do it! Try Posados across the road for TexMex or the Cracker Barrel for country fare.

I’m sure that somewhere in the US the Chili’s Grill must have a good reputation – but not Lindale Chili’s! There is also a Chilis in Tyler on the West SW loop. Perhaps that one is better!

Tags: American Families, Appetizer, Burgers, Cheese Sauce, Chicken Ribs, Chili S, Chilis, chilis in lindale texas, Corn Dogs, Fajitas, Foodie, Grilled Cheese, Kitchen Staff, Lindale Texas, Lindale Tx, Nutritional Information, Smokers, Steaks, Sweet Shots, Tex Mex, Walmart
Posted in American Food | No Comments »

Lake Country Airways Internet in Lindale Texas

April 16th, 2010

Lake Country Airways offers a great service for rural broadband internet for Mineola, Lindale, Grand Saline and maybe other places in this area. If you are outside the cable link area and can’t get DSL then this really is an option for you. It is better than satellite (which we found, is expensive and not reliable in different weather conditions) and of course, it is MUCH better than dial up.

The key thing to be eligible for internet access with Lake Country Airways is your physical location. You must have line of sight to one of their towers. If you live on a hill, then you are probably fine – otherwise you will need to have access to an internet tower high enough to reach over the trees and hills. If you are not sure, they can check this for you. We did not have line of sight at our home and had to pay for them to build us a 40 foot metal tower in our backyard. It is visible but not unsightly. I was impressed at their speed and skill in getting the tower up and a little nervous watching them merrily climb up and down the tower to set us up with internet!

Lake Country Airways requires no monthly contract. The set up costs are around $300. Different internet speeds are available depending on what you want to pay. We have 1Mbps which usually costs $50 a month and is plenty fast enough for family internet use – including Skype and downloading large files like TV programs from the internet.

We have had internet service from LCA for nearly two years and have found it very reliable. The speed is consistently fast which is refreshing after our previous experience of enduring satellite connection up and downs. Since our original set up, we have had no issues that required a visit, but when we have called them on the phone their customer service seems to be efficient and polite.

Lake Country Airways is located in Mineola opposite Walmart and they can be contacted on 903 316 9586.

Tags: 1mbps, Broadband Internet, Cable Link, Family Internet, Grand Saline, Highspeed Internet Service in Lindale Texas, Internet Access, Internet Service, Internet Speeds, Internet Use, Lca, Lindale Texas, Lindale Texas Internet, Lindale TX Wireless Internet, Line Of Sight, Metal Tower, Mineola, Physical Location, Satellite Connection, Trees, Tv Programs, Walmart, Weather Conditions
Posted in Internet | No Comments »

Cato’s Clothing Store in Tyler Texas and Lindale

February 25th, 2010

CATO

Cato Fashion

3222 S. Main Street
Suite 130
Lindale
TX 75771
903 882 7071

Also Highway 64 West Tyler and 3101 Shiloh Road Tyler.

Cato is a woman’s clothes, accessories and shoe shop. Often Catos are located near a Walmart for utter convenience and the items stocked are priced very reasonably to match!

As you walk in the door of Cato there are 2 distinct sides to the shop – on the left is the plus sizes and shoes and on the right is the regular ladies sizes (misses) and the girls clothes – size 7 and up.

The new season’s casual styles line the walls. They carry most sizes in these items and will have items held back at another Cato store for you to collect in your own time, if they don’t. On the racks down the center of the store are the smarter outfits and dresses and to the far side are clearance rails. This is where you can find a real bargain. Most are marked down once or twice depending on how long that item of clothing has been in-store.

My impression of Cato is that they do follow fashion trends although they may be a few months behind the fashion stores in the Mall. They are not afraid of color or bold patterns but carry some neutral colors too. Cato tries to meet your need for both casual and smart outfits. They have plenty of what I call ‘East Texas church tops’ to dress up a pair of pants and I love their cropped jeans with matching belts.

Cato sells a limited amount of low cost sportswear, lingerie and sleepwear too. The shoes are really good value and they sell large sizes and wider shoes too. They have a selection of scarves, belts and other accessories and I have found them to be much cheaper and of similar quality to those purchased at JCPenney.

The shop assistants are friendly and helpful. When you come to check out be warned though – Cato has a nice display of silver jewelry and watches on the counter and if you’re like me, you will be tempted to splurge a little more than you intended. They also sell some bath and body products and some replica perfumes, which though inexpensive, fail to convince.

I have had impeccable customer service from Cato and have had no trouble in exchanging items that were not right or bought on impulse.

You will find clothes bought at Cato are better quality, nicer designs and more upmarket in general than Walmart but the prices are very similar. If you like to look good and have new clothes which don’t cost the earth, it’s certainly worth browsing there every couple of months or so.

Tags: Bold Patterns, Cato Clothing, Cato Fashion, Cato Store, Clothing, Clothing Store, Distinct Sides, East Texas, Far Side, Fashion Stores, Fashion Trends, Girls Clothes, Jcpenney, Neutral Colors, Own Time, Shiloh Road, Shoe Shop, Silver Jewelry, Tyler Texas, Walmart, West Tyler
Posted in Clothing | No Comments »

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