Johnson City – That… Which Matters Most

Thursday Doors: Before and After — The Model Mill Co. Building

This is a Thursday Doors that was 3 years in the making… Someone bought the Model Mill Co. Building and started refurbishing it in 2018, and I had to walk through it taking pictures. Now, most people wouldn’t have the nerve to go on a construction site without permission. But having worked in construction before where I had to go on job sites, and into office buildings all the time to do my job, if you act like you are supposed to be there, very few people will ever question you. Especially if you have a camera and you are taking pictures of the construction (part of my job in construction).

I walked in and kept snapping back in 2018. Funny thing happened. I pointed it in the direction of the construction workers, and they all scrambled to get out of the shot. I wondered: were some of them illegals and convicts on the crew? Hhm? They wanted nothing to do with me, so I made myself at home.

I’ve shared some of those photos below in the Before section, with the new ones in After section. I took the After pictures this past summer. Yes, there are a few doors, but more non-doors, or not-yet doors than doors.

This is part of Dan’s Thursday Doors challenge. Be sure to check out his site, and the sites of others who are playing by looking for links in the comments section.

The Before!

The After

This is a use-to-be door.

The reception area of one of the offices. The receptionist was really nice. Walked in, introduced myself, told her what I wanted to do, and she let me take a few pictures of the office.

Another use-to-be door.

Thursday Doors — Forgotten Doors

I knew I found a goldmine in the world of door photography when I tuned the corner in downtown Johnson City. I had just taken the pictures for Thursday Doors — The Trek Shop. The goldmine doors were in the building along the railroad track and have the look indicating that at some time, the good citizens of Johnson City tried to turn these buildings into storefront property. The dream faded, along with the doors, giving them the character and texture I love in old doors.

This is part of Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge. Check out his doors, and the doors of others as well.

These are the ones I enjoy the most.

Here are a few more…

Monochrome Monday — Views from Founders Park

It’s a nice park. I even got a chance to put my feet in the stream running through it to cool down. But then realized… there was trash in the stream.

Thursday Doors — The Trek Shop

Back when I was younger, and more foolish, I use to cycle for long hours in the Texas sun on the backroads around Wichita Falls, Tx. I loved cycling. There was something about being on the simple machine facing the elements of the the hills, the heat, and the wind. Of the three, the wind was far more of a challenge. The heat you can learn to live with. The hills were a challenge, but the wind? It was a never ending friction, more foe than friend. Most people don’t think about the wind in North Texas. They just think of the heat. But please realize, North Texas is right next to Oklahoma, where the wind comes whipping down the plains, blows into North Texas and drives us all mad. Dear Oklahoma, keep your wind.

So stepping into a Trek shop in Johnson City was a bit nostalgic. I love the smell of the tires, the look of the gears, the colors of the bikes, the dreams on two wheels. I also loved telling my stories of riding in the Hotter ‘N Hell Hundred the few times I did. That was a challenge. It would be neat to buy a new bike, and hit the road. But those days are over.

Enjoy the Trek Shop for Dan’s Thursday Doors.

Date Night at Mid City Grill

While Heidi and I were visiting family in Johnson City, TN, we went on a little date night downtown. She knows how much I love a great hamburger, so she took me to one of JC’s premier burger places, the Mid City Grill. Our burgers were a definite 10 on the burger-o-meter.

Say Eight!

It was not the golf game that I envisioned before I teed off on the first hole at the semi-imaginary prestigious and luxuriously affordable Pine Oaks Golf Club in the historic town of Johnson City, TN. But then again, I often envision games for myself that are clearly outside of my ability. So I set reasonable goals for myself. I figure if I can hit double bogeys on all the holes… but those expectations are really high. (For those who don’t know, a double bogey is two strokes above par).

I was hoping for a 6 on the first hole. But I got an 8. A real 8. I say that because in golf, an 8 is known as a snowman, and it is what golfers put for a score on a really bad hole. They stop counting at 8, so it doesn’t get depressing.

But none of the 8s in the following game are snowmen. They are are all real 8s. After the first four holes, I started to laugh at my two 8s, a 7 and a 9, which average out to an 8. I was beginning to wonder if I could break an 8. And I did. I hit par on a par 3. It was the most amazing hole. My first shot was left of the green. My second shot was on the green about 4 feet away from the hole. My third shot, “in the hole!”

And there was nobody to watch it. Just me.

I quickly went back to shooting my comfortable 8s for the next three holes. I couldn’t stop laughing. No matter how much I tried to relax and let the club do the work, the strokes kept on adding up.

I finally bogeyed the 9th hole for a 5. Then I had to laugh again because my par 3, and bogey 5, averaged… 8.

You can see my score card below.

But there is more to the game. On the front 9, I only 3 putted once. And I 1 putted on the par 3. So my putting average for the front nine holes was 2 putts per hole. That is actually reasonable.

But there is more. See the score card for the back 9.

I actually began to settle down on the back 9. My shots were a lot smoother, and a tad more accurate. I only had 3 8s on the back 9, and four double bogeys, and two triple bogeys. I was better on the back 9 which is unusual given that the back 9 is more difficult and most golfers get worse at the turn. I was happy with my game.

AS for the putting, I had two holes where I 3 putted, the rest were 2 putts.

Now the other great aspect of the game, which has never happened for me: I played with the same ball and tee the entire 18 holes. Yup, my 41 cent Sponge Bob Square Pants golf ball from Academy Sports held true the entire 18 holes.

I actually bought a box of refurbished balls from Academy, and the price came out to about 41 cents a ball. Had I been playing with a $6 Titleist, I would have hit 20 yards farther into the woods… to be lost forever.

All-in-all, a great game of golf for me.

NOTE: Say eight is also a reference to a Brian Regan comedy bit. See here.