I was sitting here feeling relieved, because I just emailed out this month’s submissions to Mohawk Valley Living magazine. Oh, was that an effort! I am plagued by sinus headaches or something (I am no hand at self-diagnosis). All I want to do is go to bed.
I saved this a while ago. Actually, I think what I want most is to pour myself into bed. I think I will institute a new feature: Misbegotten Monday. It is for when things are even worse than Wuss-Out Wednesday.
Much earlier today, I took a walk. My intention was to get a few exterior shots of Colonial Bed and Breakfast for an article I hope to submit to Mohawk Valley Living magazine. I continued to walk and take pictures, because I thought, Hey! Pedestrian Post! Additionally, I have not been running, and I need the exercise.
After snapping away, I continued along German Street to Main. On Main Street, I took a couple of pictures of buildings that always catch my eye.
Steven always wanted to buy it and make it into a classic movie house.
I continued down Main to my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners. I thought perhaps I already had plenty of pictures of the area, yet I took a few more.
I turned down Church Street to Prospect and got a shot of the synagogue, Temple Beth Joseph.
Heading down to Park Avenue, I photographed our post office, which I love, and the church across the street.
It was really too cold for a walk, and I was tired of taking my gloves off to take pictures. As I turned towards Meyers Park, I thought I would just go straight home. Then I saw General Herkimer wearing his winter scarf and could not resist taking just one more picture.
I guess you can’t see him really well, but I do love the trees against the grey sky.
I was pleased with myself for taking the walk. I want to get back into running more often, though. I have not gone since last Sunday. Yikes! But it is the start of another week. Another chance to improve! I will be sure to make a blog post about it if I do.
I was wondering whether to address the three days I missed recently, a rather unbecoming performance for one who aims to be a daily blogger. One school of thought goes, least said, soonest mended. This is, of course, a school of thought I rarely follow. When have I ever said the least? I always talk too much!
Additionally, I have several times proved that even when sick, I can usually manage a word or two. They are usually whiny words about how I cannot possibly make a blog post that day, but let us not dwell on such unflattering reflections. However, it seems to prove that I CHOOSE whether or not to post.
Therefore, it seems I cannot excuse my non blogging days by saying, “I couldn’t post, I was sick!” Apparently I could have posted. I CHOSE not to. I say, that is perfectly fine with me. I CHOSE not to post, because I felt ill and chose to take care of myself.
There is a school of thought that says we writers must write no matter what. If we take a day off due to ill health or whatever reason, we are not real writers.
Who makes up these rules? Who arbitrates that we must follow? I do not know. In any case, I am over 200 words. As regular readers know, I call that respectable. That is by my rules for me. I would be interested to hear comments about what others think about my (and other) rules, as well as what rules they follow for themselves.
I began my Valentine’s Day weekend by shopping at a new place for a gift for my husband Steven: Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast in Herkimer, NY.
One does not usually think about a bed and breakfast as a shopping destination, but I saw on Facebook that Grand Colonial was opening their gift shop to the public on Friday and Saturday just for the occasion. I was naturally delighted to check it out, especially as they said they carried locally sourced items. Additionally, I am seeking a topic for an article for Mohawk Valley Living magazine. A local B&B might fit the bill.
The first thing I saw when I walked in the door was the nicest dog! I barely remembered to shut the door before I went over to let him. His name is Brick, and he loves people.
Linda Costanza and Michael Martin, two of the owners, could not have been nicer. When I told them I wanted to write about their place, they showed me around and answered all my questions. I took a lot of pictures. If I can’t write the article, I can definitely get another blog post or two out of it.
I also accomplished my intention of purchasing a present for my husband.
They said they could offer testers of the Berkman 1802 products, but such things could not be left just out these days, due to COVID. Sadly, COVID has wrought havoc on their business. Problems continue as, for example, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown goes virtual for their annual inductions. Obviously, these kinds of precautions are necessary during a pandemic, but I feel we are justified in saying, this really sucks (pardon my French).
I think it was pretty smart of the folks at Grand Colonial to use Valentine’s Day to call attention to themselves and bring in a little gift shop business. I asked if the shop was open to the public at other times. Linda said anybody interested could give them a call and they would be glad to open.
“Ooh, private shopping by appointment,” I said. That would actually be a perfect way to shop during COVID times.
For anybody who wants to stop in for Valentine’s Day, the Grand Colonial will be open tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are located at 112 W. German St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-982-5004. You can visit their website at https://grand-colonial.com/. You can also Like them on Facebook.
I am taking a Blogger’s Sick Day. I don’t know if this is a sinus infection or what. I know it isn’t COVID, because I just had a rapid test on Friday. I’m pretty sure it is just my sinuses playing their usual tricks.
I was going to have a pretty swell Monstrous Monday Post, too. But I can’t do it. I can’t even whine for 200 words. In fact, I’m still under 100 and I am signing off. As always, I hope for a better blog post tomorrow.
I did go running this morning, and oh was it ever cold! I thought I would make a Sunday Running Commentary Post to make it worth my while.
I have not been running during the week lately, which is very bad of me. I walked to and from work three days this past week, but that is only eleven or twelve minutes each way (yes, I look at my watch and check). Well, one does what one can. I strive always for improvement. Hence, running both weekend days and beginning the week with hope.
My thermostat said the outdoor temperature was 17, which is practically 20, so I hoped for the best. At least I found both mittens. They are really good mittens, which I accidentally stole from my sister Diane some years ago.
As it turned out, my hands were my only warm parts. And they got cold when I took off the mittens to blow my nose, which I obvious had to do a lot. Why oh why, did I have to be running into the wind? Why oh why did the wind have to change direction every time I did?
I had told myself I only had to run for 15 minutes. I ran for 20 on Saturday. There is no harm in doing short runs when I have not been running much. I have plenty of time to build up for this year’s Boilermaker 15K.
The cold was really my only problem. My legs, my back, my breathing all felt fine. I was quite discouraged by the weather, because I could not enjoy the run very much. At least the roads were mostly bare.
I kept it up for 18 minutes, which I felt was pretty good. I see this blog post is approaching 300 words, which also ought to feel pretty good. Unfortunately I fear they have been dull words, but I can’t seem to help that. Maybe the cold froze my brain. On the other hand, I can always count this as a Wrist to Forehead Sunday. I hope to see you all again on Monday.
Let us be perfectly honest about the fact that I am doing my post despite the fact that my computer flatly refuses to put the obvious anticipatory words on my predictive text.
This was the paragraph I typed last night (as Truman Capote famously said, that’s not writing). Then I gave it up as a bad job. Steven and I had been to the 5th anniversary celebration of the End Zone Pub and Grub in Herkimer. Too much to drink? SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!
Actually, it was not so. For one reason, we drove to the pub so kept it under control. However, when we got home, we were so into watching movies and hanging out, my blog post just went by the wayside.
It is going by the wayside again this morning, because I want to go running. Will I make a better blog post later? I can only hope.
I am tired. I have been tired all week. But I must not complain about these things. I want to make a silly blog post.
I am relieved it is Friday. Weeks are funny to me. For four days, I feel Friday will never get here. Then I think, “Wow, that week went fast!” What the hell, me?
I just looked through my Media Library till I found a picture with wine. In fact, I am drinking neither red nor white but rose. Unfortunately, unlike other glasses of wine, it is not making me feel fresh as a nosegay.
I hope to revive myself with a good night’s sleep. I have a lot to get done on Saturday. Perhaps I will write a blog post about it. But no promises.
I’m afraid this is a dull post, but I leave you with a good thought, courtesy Bill and Ted. Here is how tired I am. I first wrote “Ted and Bill.” Then I thought, “That’s not right.” But I felt sure those were their names. I had to do a Facebook search for “excellent adventure.”
At least I have gotten to 200 words. I hope you are having a lovely Friday.
I wonder if I can make a Throwback Thursday Post without repeating myself too much. Then again, Throwback is revisiting the past, so perhaps it does not matter that much.
I know this is a picture I have shared numerous times, but I saw it just now in February 2017 and could not resist. For those of you just tuning in, it is Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, the interactive murder mystery I wrote for LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company.
Scrolling through my Media Library looking for more, I came across the inimitable Laura Powers, in her character of Zelda Helsinki.
Since this is turning out to be a Ruby-themed post, here I am as Ruby VanRensselaer. I had a lot of fun with that role.
These are not characters from Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, but they are from the same era. This picture is from a fundraiser for the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica.
Once again, my Throwback Thursday Post has made me nostalgic for theatre. I’ll be back onstage one day! I hope. Or amongst the tables at dinner theatre. Or hamming it up at a fundraiser. In the meantime, Happy Thursday, folks!
I finally purchased a few postcards last Saturday at Gems Along the Mohawk. This is a wonderful shop that showcases many local businesses and attractions. It is also where you can get tickets for Erie Canal Cruises, when they have them.
Unfortunately, I did not take many pictures. What was that all about, me?
I got this far last night, after attempting and failing to complete a Pedestrian Post for which I even had more pictures. Now I am on break at work, pecking into my phone, without a stylus (and you know I have fat fingers)
Where was I? Ah yes, making a Wuss-Out Wednesday Post on Thursday morning. And this is as far as I can go. Appropriate, no?
Mohawk Valley Girl 