J's Place

Tag: travel

  • Always stop at the water station.

    Ahhhhhhh. The Aid Station.

    Will they have Water? Gatorade? Beer? What is waiting for us in the magnificent mirage ahead?

    At the local Brewery here in Midland. We have two, just for reference. The third, unfortunately, was lost to the land of failed service establishments. As one highfalutin beer snob, who is a very good friend, referred to it: The Sanford and Son’s Brewery. Eccentric Brewing served it’s time here.

    On the Island of Misfit Toys. I imagine them there now.

    I actually preferred their limited selection of complex full bodied beers. Can my brewer contact please check me on that description?

    I am curious if there is a correlation between ADD and a full moon. Let me know if any of you also see a significant shift, you know who you are. ;)

    As of today, Midland has two craft beer taverns.

    Tall City Brewing Company. Industrious, the big Mama Jamma. Open air concept with a massive patio. The Waystone. No TV’s, board games, decent trivia and where I imagine Gandalf would hang out.

    For the majority of Early Spring- Late Fall, TCBC, with Midland Run Crew, hosts Thursday Night Beer Runs. We have 1,2 and 3 mile options.

    I love the Midland Run Crew family.

    I cherish the friendships I have developed and continue to build since coming on board in 2015.

    I love the support we have for each other.

    I love the camaraderie.

    Phrases and expressions that we speak of include new goals, drool worthy gear, the newest gadgets and healthy gaits. If you don’t run. You don’t understand. No judgement.

    We are family. :)

    I met Cruz Murillo in Midland Run Crew! I asked his permission to mention him.

    Among many others; I really like running with Cruz.

    He is fast.

    He keeps me fast.

    He allows me to jabber on and on. Being able to carry on a conversation while running is considered a success by the way.

    He listens and acknowledges that he has never heard the story I am telling. I am 100% aware I have mentioned it at least once. I am genuinely appreciative for that kind of friendship.

    We had an early long run a few weeks back. For the 8th time I asked Cruz what his goal was for the Energy City Half Marathon. Did you know Midland has a qualifying course :) WE DO!

    There is a Half option, Kids Fun Run, 5K and 10K.

    This year’s date has yet to be posted. It is usually late October. https://www.energycityrace.com/

    The Weather is NEVER predictable. One year the wind was miserable and the cold, it cut like a knife. The next year, it was slightly overcast and humid but the PERFECT temp. I have done so many I have lost count. But in the end, the weather never seems to matter.

    I digress. Cruz was talking about his goal. He stated, “One thing I am going to do differently is stop at the water station.”

    I smiled. YES! ALWAYS stop at the water station.

    About 7-8 years ago I was reading a Runner’s World Magazine.
    I do not subscribe to that publication anymore. I find it far too politically influenced, as so many periodicals are now. A shame really.

    One of the spreads was about a very successful distance runner. The answer he gave, when asked what the best piece of running advice was:

    “Always stop at the water/aide station.”

    I never forgot those words.

    If you properly stop and hydrate, you will loose some seconds off your time. 10 max, for a couple of minutes.

    That significant choice will effect the ease in which you became empowered. You will feel elevated and your run will become effortless. OK, maybe not THAT enchanting but you get the point.

    The perceived stolen time will come back to you ten fold.

    Yes, even in a 5K!

    So, I stop. Every time. Trust me. It works.

    After stopping at 800 water stations in my running career the precious hydration pause took on a different meaning. So many occurrences bring a different meaning these days.

    In order to perform well at anything, we have to dedicate time to it. Our skin,bones, muscles, blood, brain and nervous system, MUST be taken care of.

    When we push our body to the limit physically, we need water, nourishment and the occasional massage.

    When we drive our vessel to the limit mentally, we require sleep, quiet and space to recover. We owe it to ourselves to reflect and rebound from what ails us.

    We must choose to help ourselves. To better ourselves. To look within. Look around. Focus on what really makes us happy and healthy. Stop worrying about how “fast” we are going when we aren’t even sure where that point is.

    “Rushin Rushin till lifes no fun.” – Alabama “I’m in a Hurry(And Don’t Know Why.)”

    The world spins fast enough, it doesn’t need you to help.

    See that water station? It is coming up fast. Slow down. Stop. Take a long drink.Take a deep breath. Start again.

    Look at that. The world is still spinning.

    Peace- J.

  • Really Local. Really good. Really Rileys.

    One of the top questions asked in the Permian Basin: “So, are you from here?” Me? No, but I call this dusty place home. Landing here in March of 2013 I told myself I would give it a year. Three days before accepting a job offer to manage a franchise in Midland, I asked God to show me ANY signs NOT to move 5 hours away. I kept my eyes wide open. Nothing appeared.

    At the time I was 27 years old, making a living in Seguin, Texas.

    Let me paint a picture for you. Tall Trees. Rivers. Green Grass. A far cry from mesquite bushes and flat surfaces. Growing up, our Uncle Andy(dad’s fraternity brother,) ran a pipe company and I can account for a couple of trips from Weatherford, where I was born and raised, to the land of big skies and pump jacks.

    If you have kids you may have watched “Inside out.” That is what my memory is like with these Interstate-20 voyages. Grasping a marble from the Fun House scene in the dimly lit pathways of my child brain. Dad worked at a dealership in Fort Worth. He was always able to get demo cars. A fun surprise coming home to a new vehicle we would get to cruise around in for a few weeks at a time.

    On one particular journey to Odessa, he chose a new white two door Acura with leather interior. I can still recall the smell.

    Mom did not go with us on this trip.

    I do not know whether is was that she needed a break or that she didn’t care for the views. I suppose it might have been both. My sister and I argued about who had shot gun. Dad reluctantly allowed us to play our cassette tape “Jaws of the Jurassic,” over and over.

    Listen at your own risk ⬆️

    A Saint, now that I think about it. No way I would allow that audible torture all the way to Sweetwater. We stayed at the Days Inn on Highway 80. In fact, I am 99% positive that is where the Fun Dome is now. On that note, unless your vice is meth and prostitution, I’d probably nix that choice for future travel. I’ll cover that in another post. Not my position on drugs and hookers; choosing to stay at the Fun Dome.

    I could not tell you what happened on that trip but I do recall a quieter ride back East with the Cars and the Traveling Wilbury’s playing while I stared out the window, from the back seat this time, observing the vast expanse of cotton fields.

    That excursion and one more, which involved a velvet portrait of a naked woman on a leopard rug, are the only two trips to Odessa I can pull from the marble jar. I know I had to be under the age of 9. I believe the last trip that involved the vulnerable woman in the painting had to be a significant Birthday for Uncle Andy.

    See rendition below. Uncle Andy, I’ll need follow up clarification on this memory please.

    Fast forward to some eighteen years later.

    I decided to make the journey out West when Seguin showed no reason to stay. West Texas was not as I remembered, well, a little bit, but the skies were far more expansive, the personalities very charming and I could see potential through the occasional haboob.

    I was fortunate to have several locals and non-locals show me around town. I now make it my mission to assist clients and friends, a lot who are new to the Permian, to find the “Best of the Best” in the Tall City and Odessa.

    My world looks a little different now, spectacularly beautiful in so many ways, yet different than I had imagined. However, I have learned through many months of counseling and other avenues of self help, my control only goes so far and pivoting in life is necessary sometimes. This Easter, after an early morning egg hunt, the girls were ecstatic to spend the day with their Grandparents and Cousins.

    Me, I got to spend Sunday afternoon with two extremely good looking brunettes.

    Two beautiful souls who are incredibly worldly.

    From a local perspective they are new to Midland. Each one is open to unique situations and most importantly they both posses sophisticated pallets.

    There was an itch that needed to be scratched and I felt it my calling to introduce them to the best Bloody Mary in the world.

    This pitcher of nourishment can be found at Riley’s Bar and Grill.

    Located at 3421 W. Wall Street, next to an old tire shop and a questionable Motel, this Midland staple gets 4.5 ⭐️’s out of 757 Google reviews. After doing a few minutes of digging, I THINK, Rileys has been in existence since 1991, if anyone can shed more light, please let me know. There is still a jukebox. Dad, I played the Travling Wilbury’s in your honor. You can buy vapes or cigarettes out of a machine. You can order a steak. You can enjoy fried catfish. You can try your hand at pool. The people watching is epic. But the #1 attraction at this local joint, hands down, is the Bloody Mary.

    The bar tender that day was Donna. Her hair was as white and fluffy as the snow we never saw fall this winter. Donna can make a superb Bloody Mary, I imagine she has been making them for eons. When I asked one of my date’s, who is a non local, for their honest feedback, his take was, “True dive bar, hole in the wall, really cool place, wish I had tried some food, Bloody Mary was great and the beer was cold,” maybe he can make that review #758.

    If you have not been to Riley’s, go.

    If you have visited, take the time to enjoy it again.

    You can check an answer off your list when asked by a local if you have experienced Rileys. Added bonus, you can sit outside, soak up some sun and your hair wont smell like cigarettes.

    2013-May.

    Carol Holloway, Boss Babe supreme and one hell of a Woman- Previous Owner of Servpro Of Midland/Odessa.

    Peace- J.