Tyler Colins's Blog, page 71
July 8, 2017
Inspiration Comes in All Shapes & Forms
There are days when it seems like nothing good ever happens: politicians are grousing, people are passing the buck, road rage is all the rage, and various levels of insanity prevail. Then, you hear a lovely little story—a heartwarming 90-second piece on the news—about someone who’s doing wonderful things. And hope and faith, once again, abound.
Morgan’s Inspiration Island, part of Morgan’s Wonderland (theme park), has recently opened in San Antonio, Texas. Anyone with a special need gets in free.
If that’s not awesome enough, the “park of inclusion” has wheelchair-accessible rides, a seven-story lighthouse, and Rainbow Reef, a water-play area. If guests are sensitive to the cold, the water can be warmed. Battery-powered wheelchairs can be swapped for “PneuChairs” and to help parents/caregivers remain worry-free, a wristband safety system is in place.
The inspiration for Morgan’s Wonderland? Morgan, founder Gordon Hartman’s special-needs daughter. When he saw that other children were wary re interacting with her, he got an idea to create a place where people of all shapes and forms—and needs—could interact.
“Our vision is to establish a special place where smiles and laughter lead to wonderful memories with family members, friends and caregivers. We want Morgan’s Wonderland to be a place where the common element of play creates an atmosphere of inclusion for those with and without disabilities, encouraging everyone to gain a greater understanding of one another.”
For more information and background about this amazing place, please check out their site:
http://www.morganswonderland.com/inspirationisland
July 3, 2017
To Best Friends - May They Be with Us Forever
Recently, the Today show featured a fantastic news piece on “Best Friends Animal Society”. (There are a few, in fact, but this one featured the “BFAS” in Soho, New York.)
The plan, to paraphrase the site, is to spread the word about the shelter and its efforts to lead the country to no-kill by 2025. (Gotta love that, too.)
As an animal lover, I love that they have a no-kill policy. As an animal lover, I hate that 5500 cats/dogs are euthanized every day.
Best Friends have been around for five years, according to the site. Animals are “housed in a playful, gallery-style setting designed to encourage interaction and help convey the challenges facing our country’s pet population”. The glass-faced “cages” are so much more appealing than those ugly, cold, metal ones we know all too [sadly] well.
The devotion and attention these four-legged fuzzies receive is awesome—kudos (in copious amounts) to all those that make this haven happen!
Please check them out at http://bestfriends.org to see how you can help.
June 23, 2017
No One's Perfect
Every now and then, there’s a song that sticks like Gorilla Glue®. We hear it eating breakfast, walking to work, cleaning, in our sleep and dreams.
“Human” by Ragn’n’ Bone Man (Rory Charles Graham) has wrapped itself the old gray matter of late. It reminds me that, yes, I am only human.
So when I’m beating myself up, thinking God doesn’t care, or I’m criticizing others, I remind myself that I’m far from perfect, God does love all his children, including me, and that I’m no better than others, so who am I to judge?
I'm only human
I make mistakes
I'm only human
That's all it takes
To put the blame on me
Don't put the blame on me
No one’s perfect (and that’s not necessarily a bad thing).
June 18, 2017
Not Feelin’ the Love Anymore
I must confess, now that I have a Wordpress blog—which, laughingly, I am still attempting to iron out—I’m not so keen on this one.
It’s probably because:
a) I like the fact I can so easily manipulate my WP blog compared to than this one (never mind the amazing and helpful WP “Happiness Engineer” I have, Kristin S), and
b) it’s focused.
My WP blog is all about writing/blogging (and the Triple Threat Investigation Agency series) while this one is, well, kinda all over the map. But then, that was the intent when I started: to post about everything and anything.
Maybe it’s also that no one reads this blog . . . well, no one save my wonderful friend, Joan (thank you, hon).
But as I sit here and type, I'm thinking, hey, maybe that's not a bad thing. Given that I'd intended to post personal thoughts, perceptions, and things that catch my fancy, it's rather like an on-line diary. It demonstrates how I’ve developed over the years.
So, maybe I am feelin’ some love for this ol’ blog after all. It’s brought me to my current destination . . . and you know . . . I do believe I'm feeling A-OK about that.
June 10, 2017
Warm & Fuzzy Feelings
(from CBS News)
Who doesn’t like a heartwarming news story? Gratefully, there have been many of late. One that sticks out, however, is the one about 11-year-old Preston Sharp.
Upon visiting his grandfather’s grave in a Redding cemetery, Preston noticed that not every veteran had a flag.
Not only did it sadden him, it got to him—big time. His mother advised that if he was going to complain, he should do something about it. And so he did.
Not only did Preston request donations to purchase flags and flowers for all the veterans in his grandfather’s cemetery, he took on odd jobs.
Our committed, enterprising young man didn’t stop there, however; he ensured that vets in one cemetery after the next received the same honor.
According to CBS News, two years after he started his mission, he’s decorated 23,000 graves. It appears he’s not stopping anytime soon.
God bless you Preston Sharp.
June 4, 2017
Logs, Rods & Poles
Joyce Meyer, for those not in the know, is a Christian author, speaker, and motivator. She’s been described as charismatic, among other things, and this she is, among other things.
Her “Daily Devotional” posts/messages are inspirational and provide much [beneficial] food for thought.
“The Log in My Eye”, posted May 31 2017, made me laugh. I was reading about me.
I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if I shared.
You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye.
—Matthew 7:5
Loving people unconditionally is the greatest gift we can give them (and ourselves). I have learned that one of the secrets to my own personal peace is to let people be who God made them to be, rather than try to make people be who I would like them to be. I do my best to enjoy their strengths and be merciful toward their weaknesses because I have plenty of my own. I don’t need to try to take the speck out of someone else’s eye while I have a telephone pole in my own.
Make a decision not to look at—or for—flaws. We all have them! But you don’t have to focus on them.
I’d bet dollars to donuts I have a mast in mine! I try not to judge or control or gossip for the most part. But I readily confess: a small handful of people do annoy me (!) and, consequently, I may not always prove most Christian.
Joyce says it well: we all have flaws, so why focus on others’? Surely we can be less judgmental and more accepting? I imagine if we were, this world would be a pretty calm if not peaceful place.
Let’s embrace one another’s unique individuality. 
May 31, 2017
The Talented and Prolific Mr. Edward Teddy Payne
Hailing from Stratford Ontario, Teddy Payne has a number followers and not just on Facebook. People adore him. How can they not? 
This British gent is quite the character (stated only in the most positive way, my friend). In addition to being funny, bright, and totally charming, he’s a walking compendium of history.
Memoirs, novels, short stories and poetry are some of the many things he’s penned. Illustrations abound, too. . . . Writing and drawing: having just one of these talents is enviable, but both?!
The list of accomplishments is lengthy, so here is a small one that might whet the appetite:
The Apricot Blooms in the Desert (memoir)
The Streets of Odeon (memoir)
When the Devil Drives (novel)
The Man who Loved Women (short stories)
Teddy Payne’s Stratford
The Swans of Stratford
Paraphernalia for a Saturday Afternoon
Here’s to you, Teddy. May we enjoy many, many more years of you and your opuses.
May 30, 2017
Here are the last details of my book tour (it’s all part ...
Here are the last details of my book tour (it’s all part of my blogging process and writing development). I netted some great reviews and wanted to share.
The Connecticut Corpse Caper is the first book in the new Triple Threat Mystery series by Tyler Colins. It’s a good, solid start to the series.
~Valerie’s Musings
Author Tyler Colins inserts a lot of humor and more than one body into this tale, and her style of writing makes for a fast read.
~Lisa Ks Book Reviews
The opening chapter of this book proved to be quite the hook with its description of the Moone estate, it immediately pulled me in.
~I Read What You Write
For fans of mystery dinners and black and white movies about spending nights in haunted houses, this tribute to well known detective noir is a great escape read.
~Laura’s Interests
A lack of confidence is something I’ve had more years than I care to admit, but these reviews have provided a (much-needed) boost. Thank you!
I hope I won’t disappoint as I (and the Triple Threat Investigation Agency gals) continue on this exciting, fun-filled—and enlightening—quest. 
May 29, 2017
A Heartfelt Thank-You for the Book Tour !!
What an amazing book tour for “The Connecticut Corpse Caper” and myself. This, I owe to an amazing woman, blogger Lori Caswell (“Ecape with Dollycas into a Good Book”). What she does to coordinate these tours and promote writers is unbelievable—it’s evident she puts heart and soul into every tour.
Writers like myself owe the following fantastic blogs and their dedicated bloggers a huge, heartfelt thank you!
Blogger Nicole Reviews - http://bloggernicole.com
StoreyBook Reviews - http://storeybookreviews.com
Books, Dreams, Life - http://booksdreamslife0829.blogspot.com
The Pulp and Mystery Shelf - http://mysteryshelf.com
Celtic Lady's Reviews - https://celticladysreviews.blogspot.com
A Blue Million Books - http://abluemillionbooks.blogspot.com
Valerie’s Musings- https://valeriesmusings76.wordpress.com
Lisa K’s Book Reviews - http://lisasbookthoughts.blogspot.com
I Read What You Write - https://ireadwhatyouwrite.wordpress.com
Fantastic Feathers - http://www.fantasticfeathers.in
Laura’s Interests - http://dogsmomvisits.blogspot.com
Lori’s Reading Corner - http://www.lorisreadingcorner.com
Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book - http://www.escapewithdollycas.com
Cozy up with Kathy - https://cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.com
May 28, 2017
Cozy Up with a Cozy Blog . . . aptly called . . . “Cozy up with Kathy”
One more mystery: finding info on another blogger, namely Kathy of "Cozy up with Kathy". <LOL> Nancy Drew would not be proud.
What you’ll find on her fun blog are truly cozy moments—book tours and interviews, and giveaways.
Kathy also goes by the name “Katreader” and there’s a list of her blogs with links. A couple are ones she contributes to. “Katreader’s Rat’s Nest” doesn’t appear to have been updated since 2016, but it’s dedicated to pets. There are some bittersweet, touching posts. Here’s to fellow animal lovers . . . and one kind soul who appears to give much to our four-legged friends. ♥ Thank you, Kathy-Katreader. 
https://cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.com
