I just had one to the worst dining experiences I’ve had in Tyler Texas, and no it wasn’t at either Traditions or Sweet Sues. In fact the venue may surprise readers who happened to miss the title of this review. But before I discuss that let me say this. FM music radio is a dying medium that, as far as I’m concerned can’t go away fast enough.

This afternoon following our Church service, my family and I were invited to lunch at Brookshire’s Fresh. We figured, sure the Cowboys don’t play until three thirty, the Rangers seven thirty, why not? So we met our friends, picked the food we wanted for my wife, my son and I, and set about warming it all up in the microwaves provided. Now I really don’t like this sort of self- service buffet style anyway but generally, the food at Fresh is pretty good so I figured I’d deal with it.

When I got out to the patio I could already see the makings of the disaster that would be our lunch. The radio station, 102 “The Blaze” was doing some kind of on location appearance. They had an awning erected emblazoned with the station’s logo and call letters, and a speaker thundering the most abrasive and inappropriate “music” I can think of for the scene and the occasion. Here we were hoping to sit outside on a breezy veranda and engage in light conversation with friends after church. Instead we had to shout at each other just to make ourselves heard. And it got worse when my seven year old son and his friend of around the same age began to pick obscenities out of the music.

Things went downhill from there. My son didn’t like the food, (which was honestly as much his problem as anyone else’s), but it becomes impossible for me to deal with due to the loud and pounding “music,” the obtrusive nature of which is frankly adding to the tension. And the station reps are loitering around completely oblivious to the disruption for which they are responsible! After about a half hour we decided to strike the colors. It just wasn’t working and we were having a terrible time.

Looking back I feel like I wasted almost forty dollars on lunch [at Fresh]. I wish I could get both my time and money back. And I’m more than a little disappointed in Brookshire’s Fresh for inviting “The Blaze” in to do an on location at a supposedly family friendly spot. As an individual, I’m not easily offended, but I should emphasize the presence of numerous families with young children [at Fresh] being exposed to sexually explicit lyrics thundering away courtesy of the Blaze Radio.

It’s going to be a while before I return to Brookshire’s Fresh. The lack of ambiance coupled with having to heat up my own meal makes for more of a hassle than a great dining experience.

Matt Damon has been in many big hits and some might say his latest work is out of this world.

Damon’s stars in the “The Martian” as an astronaut named Mark Watney whose crew lands on Mars, and due to a violent storm, leaves without him.  With very limited supplies and his crew having left for Earth, Whatney must use his life skills and knowledge to survive as the only man on the planet.

His crew and his colleagues back home on Earth think he’s dead until receiving an unexpected message informing them of survival. Plans are made to go and save Watney but the mission to do so is going to be risky and take a long time. He must find a way to survive until their arrival and try to grow enough food to keep him alive.

Other starring in this film are Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels and others.

New York Times wrote of the film, “Ridley Scott is a brilliant assembler of casts, and he knows how to organize groups so they seem naturally fit, and can bob and weave in unison with his roving cameras.”

Wall Street Journal says, “Knowing the premise – Lost in Space crossed with Robinson Crusoe in lower gravity[ won’t prepare you for the remarkable and complexity of this sci-fi extravaganza.”

The Martian is playing in theaters now.

This will be an unusual piece for Tyler TX Directory. Why? Because we usually write about local businesses and today I’m writing about the largest of businesses local and out of state, the government, in particular the Social Security Administration. In fact as I type this I am sitting in their Tyler office trying for something like the fourth time to change the name on my adopted son’s social security account. (For readers following at home I’ve been here for about five minutes or so). I figured if I had to be sitting here wasting my time, perhaps I could make up for it by profiting on my experience. So, the last time I was here I took time off work, arranged transportation home from school for my son, gathered my paperwork and waited about twenty minutes to see someone. I waited while another “patron” carried on a loud and incomprehensible conversation with a loved one over the phone one row in front of me only to be told at the first window that I needed to go to another window… after returning to my seat for an additional twenty minutes.

When I’m finally called I present my paperwork. I have my son’s birth certificate, I have his insurance cards, his old social security card, a notarized letter from our attorney on the completion his adoption, (complete with the Seal of the state of Texas by the way), I even have his zoo pass! After looking all these over the mor… uh woman at the window says merely “I need another form of ID please.” Really?! “What kind of ID do you expect a seven year old to have?!” I ask. “I guess I have his passport,” I tell her dumfounded. “That will be fine” she tells me. “But it’s not here,” I reply. “I brought all of this!” “The passport will be fine,” she replies robotically. I leave after muttering something sarcastic.
And by the way, I have now been here about twenty five minutes.

Anyway, after waiting about two weeks to try again, I worked out a time to return. When I pull into the parking lot I’m instantly concerned by how few cars are parked outside. Turns out, it’s Wednesday of course! They close at noon on Wednesday… Doesn’t everyone?! Am I the only one who has to come to work on Wednesday afternoons or is it just a government thing? So now here I am again, on a Thursday afternoon waiting around the Tyler Social Security office for more than a half hour so far…
Oh wait! No never mind. They just called a number close to mine. Of course I could barely hear it due to a baby wailing. Oh good another number, actually getting close now maybe! –Break— So after about forty five minutes my number was called. I was ushered through a maze of cubicles. I started by laying out every shred of identification I had with me. The lady again asked for documentation I didn’t have, and I explained why it shouldn’t matter and that I had brought additional identification to this visit. After about ten minutes of asking questions and explaining her job to the agent, she finally updated my son’s information. Of course I’ll have to wait about two weeks or so for the new card. At least I don’t need to set foot in that office for the foreseeable future.

It’s easy to get that “I knew that band before it was famous” mentality with athletes while living in East Texas. The other day I was watching college football and saw Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes from Whitehouse connect with another East Texan, Reginald Davis, for a touchdown.

I covered both those in high school and it’s great to see them represent East Texas by playing for a major program like Tech. As of right now, Mahomes is 102-of-161 for 1,421 yards, 11 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Meanwhile, Davis has caught 13 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns, including long 73-yarder from the fellow East Texan.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders almost knocked off the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs. TCU scored on a tipped pass on its last possession, leaving Mahomes and company one last shot. Unfortunately for the Red Raiders and for folks hoping the local East Texans would pull off a win, Texas Tech fell short.

Regardless, they made their presence known against the horns and they’ll continue to do so throughout the year, and we as East Texans can admire what they’re doing and can remember that the two talented athletes got their start playing this great game right here in East Texas.