Although I’ve already read the series below, I’m sharing them because they are really that good!
The Little Liar by Mitch Albom, a thought-provoking novel set during the Holocaust, chronicling the intertwined lives and stories of four individuals with Truth as the narrator.
The AJ Docker Series of 5 books by Gary Gerlacher. Imagine Harry Bosch meets medical nonfiction. Easy to read, intriguing, and can be read in any order. Thank me later.
Parts, the Passenger Seat Princess, yelling at the truck in front of us while we’re merging onto a road where other drivers are merging in the opposite lanes: “It’s a yield sign, not a stop sign!”
Me: “Those people (referencing the ones on the other side) aren’t going to yield.”
Parts: “Well, if you just whip over in front of them, they will!”
Me: ….. -↓
I promptly removed my spare key from her purse. I think her driving privileges should be revoked.
___________________
I ask you –
What asinine advice have you been given?
(The post Back on my… first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
The same week of the awards ceremony, we departed for our annual summer trip to South Padre Island!
I tried to host a staff meeting but only mini showed.
The food –
Finally, I must mention Chilo’s Cheesecakes. Chilo and his beautiful wife, Regina, are bakers. A few years ago, I tried one of his cheesecakes at a restaurant on the island. Someone mentioned you can find all his flavors at their storefront on Port Isabella. Alas, I got busy and never went. This time, I made it a point to stop. Terrible idea.
Six pieces of cheesecake and $50 later, I exited with goodies intact.
The photos aren’t great because I couldn’t wait to sample the cheesecakes. In no particular order, I purchased: Pistachio, Pina Colada, Cookies & Cream, Key Lime Pie, Key Lime Cheesecake, and Lemon Blueberry.
So now I’ll be dreaming of going back to Chilo’s for more cheesecake. Winning!
Final thought: entirely random Have I ever mentioned the time Parts called me and immediately asked me if I remembered the name of the coffee shop I like to go to near my alma mater and I excitedly replied Yes! I thought she was going to bring me coffee! Instead, she said she’d been in an accident and needed me to come. I felt really bad for my initial reaction. Definitely not winning sister award for that debacle.
_________________
I ask you –
What are some of your latest wins?
(The post Winning first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
I promised myself when I graduated, I would take the summer to enjoy things outside of the usual work/home/repeat. But I wasn’t convinced it would be this summer because…what if.
Fortunately, everything worked out as designed.
Girls Trip 2.0 was everything I needed and more. Last year, we re-explored Norfolk/VA Beach, Virginia. This year, we invaded Gulf Shores, Alabama. From the food to the friendship to the sand and sun, Sam and I had the best time. Minus the little snafu where my car got towed at the condo. Whoopsies! Suffice to say our 12 year friendship is standing the test of time. Ask her about the time her car got towed at our apartment in Norfolk.
We ate and drank our way through several days. Although incredibly crowded, Gulf Shores offers something for everyone – adults and children alike.
I would be remiss not to mention our fun neighbors, Thelma and Louise. We really have no idea their actual names because it kept changing. Witness protection, anyone? They had their own stories, problems, lives, and interesting perspectives. People are fun.
We have a few ideas for next year’s trip. Our m.o. tends to involve beaches and water. Already looking forward to it!
The plan is to sort through the dozens of blog draft posts, partially-completed thoughts, and odds and ends within the messy spaces of my mind. Soon.
I’ll do a recap of my favorite races, runs, and generally well-thought-out fitness activities I’ve completed. Soon.
I’ll diligently apply for instructor/academic professor positions to gain a foothold within academia. Soon.Hey, I did this one! Upwards of 10 applications, but I guess whatever it takes.
On the hunt
I believe I’m suffering from an easily-cured but often recurring illness titled if-I-don’t-see-the-ocean-soon-I-might-not-make-it, commonly known as vacation-itis. It seems to hit around this time each year. It’s punctual. Fortunately, in keeping with my original plan to enjoy the first summer post-PhD, I scheduled numerous trips to combat the worst of the symptoms. In June, there was San Diego. Soon, there’s an actual girl’s trip to Gulf Shores. And, then, a week later, is the annual foray to South Padre Island. I have visited more bodies of water this summer than all previous summers combined. I don’t really know if this is true. I’ve spent time at pools, water parks, and large showers. And I’m not done yet!
There were a few days of moodiness, but I believe I’m on the mend. Especially when I consider how much summer fun is remaining!
_________________
I ask you –
Do you suffer from vacation-itis?
(The post Vacation-itis first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
Because the line was so long, approx 27 people with the average wait time of 52 minutes, I have no photos of the incredible ice cream at An’s Electronics Repair. At this point, An’s has invested in dry cleaning, hat making, and, now, electronics. What a marketing and business genius. The truth is she has the very best ice cream in…anywhere. You should partake at every single location, as I have.
Cookies were the theme of this jaunt to San Diego. Coco and Jules Cookies were my favorite, while Cookie Plug was trying a little too hard. But did I eat the cookies? Well, yes.
Tacos, coffee, and chicken pot pie rounded out the menu. Turns out I’m not a fan of chicken pot pie. I know others who adore it. Just not me.
Tacos El Gordo Breakfast Republic Acento CoffeeThe Chicken Pie Shop
Quite the successful and relaxing trip. I managed 3 runs and 1 workout. I’d gladly pay extra to have San Diego weather year-round. In fact, the first run back in Texas was a glorious disaster. From heat and humidity to stiff muscles and uncertain hydration status, I was a walking risk. Alas, it will return.
__________________________
I ask you –
If you’ve been to San Diego – name your favorite places there! Food, too!
(The post Ohhhhh, San Diego first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
I’m officially in love with cherry limeades, specifically the sugar-free ones I make at home. Incredibly refreshing!
JoJo’s
I’m addicted to JoJo’s chocolates. In fact, I have three large to medium sized plastic containers filled with different options. Not pictured: chocolate covered pretzels.
Parlor Donuts
I believe Parlor Donuts are the United States’ best kept secret. I said it here first. They offer both keto and gluten-free options. No one I know does this! Although the keto version (top photo) is more “cakey”, it was sweet without being overly, weirdly sweet. The bottom two were also incredible. Because I couldn’t not take a bite. And they offer coffee, which is a must with sweet donuts.
Rebel Pistachio
I love the Rebel brand, and each flavor is good. However, Pistachio is the best of the best. So good, in fact, I had it 2 nights in a row. Big deal.
_________________
I ask you –
Of the list above, have you tried any?
What is your favorite donut brand?
Thoughts on keto/lower sugar ice cream.
(The post Favorites first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
Sights and sounds of a road trip through Arkansas, then Tennessee, and the southern part of Kentucky.
I will say this was one of the most fun trips I’ve taken. However, the road trips which stand above them all were the ones to the Texas border cities. Yes, some might balk at the selfishness of my thoughts but I still can’t explain my gratefulness to strangers for sharing their lives and their reality with me, also a stranger, an outsider with a desire to write what they gave me.
We turned a 20+ year retirement event into a 5-day road trip, complete with food, coffee (tons of coffee), and shopping. Participating in a Naval retirement flag detail is a big deal. Quite the honor actually. So, when mini’s dad asked me to be the final part of the detail – delivering the U.S. flag to mini – I had some initial reservations because hello, wild card. But I quickly realized it was a big deal to him and, one day, it will be to her. Upon acceptance, I didn’t fully understand the logistics of said trip and all the little parts which make it a huge event. Not thinking, agreement. When the time came to pack, and travel, and take off from work – I was a little overwhelmed but also really excited to try new coffee shops. I mean, participate.
Without further ado (and in no particular order), some photos and related commentary.
Tacos 4 Life, Benton, Arkansas
I adore Tacos 4 Life. Bold, fun flavors, great ingredients, and a mission to donate a portion of every sale to others in need. A must try!
My hometown…tiny, no stop light, Avery, Texas
I took this photo intending to send it to a high school classmate, but then I forgot until I started writing here. Sorry, Jen. This convenience store has the best chimichangas in all the lands. Indeed.
Koffeewithakause (via IG), Bryant, AR
Incredible coffee from a local vendor. I drank me way through the states.
The Parthenon, Central Park area, Nashville, TN
Admittedly I’m not very interested in Roman, Greek, or any type of history, minus select, niche things. Trains. But an opportunity to view and explore the museum inside a gigantic Parthenon replica was a must do on my list. It did not disappoint.
Retirement cookies
And, finally, the retirement ceremony was everything mini’s dad had hoped it would be. It was a short yet emotional homage to his Naval career and I hope mini sees his time away as one which made her stronger and more resilient. The trip was a whirlwind but a necessary respite.
____________________
I ask you –
Of the four I mentioned, have you visited some/all/none?
What were your favorite things to do there?
Tell me how many retirement ceremonies you’ve attended. Countless.
(The post TX – AR – TN – KY first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
Disclaimer. The photo below was originally sent to Parts as we discussed how she’s graduating her final child from high school and is still managing to screw it up. Then, we brainstormed a book about it. And we made fun of nearly everything serious in her life, roast fashion.
But, I really wanted to post the photo with a caption about how I needed to pee while out waking and was worried to find a bush/patch of ground because my butt would be ambushed by mosquitoes.
Which then prompted my thought about how I don’t post those things on social media yet I save them for the blog which does get posted on social media. So basically I just add another step to read the good stuff.
Anyway, we graduated my nephew this past weekend which resulted in a very quick trip to my hometown, complete with the most humid run I’ve encountered in quite some time, a lot of dirty looks from people in my old life, and a hug from my ex’s grandmother with the words “Yes, I remember her, I liked this one”. HaHA. What’s funny is I thought she hated me, but I did spend time with her and listened to her stories. She even invited me to visit her. Seriously, though, some of us have not aged well.
And, on aging, late night and early morning conversations with my aunt and uncle resulted in a conglomerate of topics, such as educators, the education system, federalist papers, and the Constitution. Then, work ethic, Mark Twain, the Roman Empire, and the Bronze Age. What I enjoy most is these are discussions based on our interpretation of what we know, or have heard, and less about what we can research and clarify in the moment. For all we know, we have missed the mark entirely, but it’s those reasons which make it fun, thought provoking, and eye opening.
On that note, this is my final thought: people generally have little fear. But, the fear of being forgotten trumps many.
Throughout my nearly 40 years, (ahem, 39) I’ve had opportunity to explore Texas. From the piney woods of East Texas to the coastal regions of South Texas through the flat lands, prairies, and rolling hills of West Texas (because, yes, somehow all of those exist here), I’m in awe.
Some would say Texas is a huge state that takes 427 days to cross. Some would say Texas is flat, brown, and dead. Some would say Texas is nothing compared to places overseas or even other U.S. states. To this I say – you’re mistaken.
There’s beauty in those rolling hills, where cell service and satellite radio all but disappear. There’s inspiration in the far-flung homes and ranches that provide services and goods to the residents of our nation, and beyond. What you see as brown and dead, I see hard work, generations of people doing what I have no desire to do in working their land and tending livestock, people with families and livelihoods. There’s nothing ugly there.
Have you seen the Rio Grande, water rushing along crevices formed millions of years ago? Have you seen cliffs, running parallel to major highways? Have you looked out over the edge of those roadways and marveled at what was below? Have you experienced a spring of bluebonnets and jonquils? Have you met the people in those small, forgotten towns, the ones who welcome you as family? Have you explored a proper downtown?
What about the incredible food? From pie shops to tacos, Texas’ food scene is unrivaled.
In honor of today’s dissertation defense (which you can find out if I was successful at by following me on Instagram or Facebook), this post is homage to the incredible people and places it took me to and through. Some communities I will most likely never visit again because I have no reason to do so; however, some will forever be in my heart due to the breathtaking stories shared by their inhabitants.
We are not numbers. We are not just constituents. We are human beings. And we all deserve to have our story told with respect, honesty, and genuine love. For the people I met, the people I couldn’t get to, and the immigrants who my work affects, thank you. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.
(The post Waxing Poetic first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
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