Author Archives: mohawkvalleygirl

Run in the Sun (and Clouds)

Posted on April 22, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

The saying is, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.”  In that case, I should have experienced six different weather phenomena on my 30 minute run.  I did not quite make that, but I did see some changes that may enliven today’s Running Commentary.

 

I was determined to run today.  As it poured rain all morning, I reminded myself I could run in place on the mini-tramp.  When the rain stopped around lunchtime, I congratulated myself.  When cold wind blew through the windows all afternoon, I reminded myself that I have run in temperatures down in the 20s.  Stepping out of the building at 3:30 p.m. (or shortly thereafter, in the interests of strict accuracy), I realized that some excellent running weather had magically appeared.  Cool but not cold, breezy but not too windy, sun with some clouds.  I could rock this.

 

After making one stop on the way home and digging out some running gear (could NOT find the glasses I’ve been wearing to run in), I hit the road at 4:09 (I always make a mental note, in case the CHRONO function on my watch fails me).  The sun had come out full force.  How delightful.  Perhaps I should have worn sunglasses after all.

 

I turned right on German Street, so the sun was behind me.  I thought if I could cross German at Main Street, I would run out that hill.  Traffic was too thick, but that was OK with me by that time.  Two blocks into the run, I knew I was not up for any hills.  How long would I run?  I had done 31 minutes in Liverpool on Saturday.  I am supposed to be up to 32 or 35 by now (I forget which).  Still, after working all day, even a 20 minute run is good.  No doubt I would do more than 20.

 

I ran to the end of German and around the HARC building, which used to be a factory, I think.  I noted rows of new windows.  I love to see an old building being renovated and put to good use.

 

My legs were not the least bit happy with me.  Oh, they were moving slowly.  It would probably be a good idea if I began running every day.  In my defense, I did take walks on the day I did not run.  In my detriment, they were walks with Tabby, who stops and sniffs a lot.  I made up my mind I would persevere.  Perhaps I would catch a second wind.

 

Before I caught a second wind, the actual wind picked up.  The sun felt warm and the wind felt cold.  It was weird.  But at least the wind was not so strong I had to strain against it.  At one point, though, I realized I was leaning forward and sticking my chin out.  What was that all about?  Leading with my chin?  Do you think you’re going to get done with the run any sooner this way, I chided myself.  I tried to correct my posture.

 

I was striving to run as smoothly as possible, which is what I usually do.  A friend in the army once told me I looked like I was speed-walking when I ran.  She tried to run that way too.  She said she would say to herself, “Do the Quackenbush.”  I was flattered.

 

After a while my knees began to twinge a little.  They have been bothering me lately, which is a new thing.  My back, which was bugging me at work today, has always been a problem.  Yes, I know, running can exacerbate knee and back problems.  However, so can being overweight.  Running helps me lose weight.  I’m sure everything will feel better soon.

 

I ended up running for 30 minutes (I believe I mentioned that in the first paragraph).  The sun was behind some clouds as I finished.  When I got Tabby’s leash for our cool-down walk, I considered grabbing a sweatshirt as well.  I decided against it, because I had worked up a sweat.  Ah, lovely sweat.  Sweat out the toxins, sweat out the bad mood.  Then take a hot shower and wash off the sweat.  Life is good when you run.

 

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Another Meandering Post

Posted on April 21, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last week I tried to write a post ahead, in case it was not easy to write a post during Fabulous Wine Tasting Weekend.   I ended up not using what I wrote, because I thought it needed to be edited and polished (I think I wrote a blog post about it).  Looking at it again, I feel it will work find for a Mental Meanderings Monday.  Here it is:

 

I ran Wednesday and thought to do a running commentary.  My inner monologue as I ran seemed interesting enough, to me anyways.

 

Of course the operative thing to do is to sit right down soon after the run and write the thing (YES, I shower first!  I said SOON after! Sheesh!)  That is my usual method, composing at the computer.  Today, however  (this was written Thursday), I am sitting in the break area at work before my shift starts, scribbling in a spiral notebook with a stolen pen (well, not exactly stolen; somebody left it sitting on a table.  Let’s call it purloined, which has the charm of alliteration).

 

I go on about this minutae, because I am fascinated by the mechanics of writing.  I think a lot of people are. Hence, the plethora of books about writing.  Of course, they don’t always tell me what I really want to know. When do you write?  Where do you write?  Pen, pencil or keyboard?  How long is a writing session?  And my biggest question:  How in a busy life do you carve out time to write and stick to it?

 

Regarding the last question, my growing suspicion is that a lot of writers don’t know exactly how they do it, and I make bold to suggest that a lot of them have the niggling guilty feeling that they are not doing it enough.  Most of them end with a huffy statement along the lines of, “If it’s important to you, you’ll do it.”

 

Yes, that’s all very well.  I find it more helpful to hear concrete suggestions such as, “Get up an hour earlier” and “Write on your lunch break.”  Some people intone “Time management” as if it is a magic elixir you can buy in a bottle that makes more hours appear in a day.  We all know it’s not that easy, and I appreciate the writer that acknowledges that fact.

 

Let’s look at the other advice about writing.  Many writing books say things like, “Find what works for you.”  Obviously.  In fact, I’d almost put that under the “Well, duh” category, except that there are some things the writing books say you ABSOLUTELY MUST DO.  There are always people who like to dictate as well as some techniques that work so well for so many people they take on the aura of a truism.

 

To take a non-writerly example: when you diet, only step on the scale once a week.  The idea  behind this is that you save yourself stressing over the one and two pound fluctuations that will happen to the best of us.  Most people are quite content to follow this advice and find that it works for them.  I personally step on the scale every day.  Those little one-pound gains you’re not supposed to stress over?  I take them as reminders to stay on the straight and narrow.  The one pound losses you also should not take too seriously?  Encouragement, which I need in spades.

 

So, yes, we must find and follow what works for us.  For example,  I find that it works for me to write a blog post every day, however silly it may turn out to be.  Ah, but an important part of that sentence is “I find.”  We must FIND OUT what works for us.  In that quest, I like to read other writers’ advice.  I do not always take the advice.  I hope nobody is offended.

 

And now I feel my mind has meandered enough.  Happy Monday, everybody.

 

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Well, Of Course It’s Wrist to Forehead Sunday

Posted on April 20, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Surely nobody thought I was going to have a really good post on the last day of Fabulous Wine Tasting Weekend (and I’ll call you Shirley if I feel like it).  I am back home, feeling relaxed and happy yet thoroughly unable to write.  I know from experience that is deceiving. I can write something.  It just might not be any good.

 

Some female members of my family met at my sister’s house in Liverpool,NY, and from there we drove to the Finger Lakes, where we stopped at various wineries.  It was a great deal of fun.  The weather was perfect, the scenery divine and the company top notch.  I took lots of notes.  I may write a few posts about my favorite wineries (preview of coming attractions).

 

Steven and Tabby met us in Liverpool Saturday evening.  This morning, after a lovely walk around my sister’s neighborhood (she went too, so I did not get lost) (see yesterday’s post), we drove back to Herkimer.  Tabby is sacked out.  One of my favorite TV shows, Snapped, is on all day.  Soon I shall begin making a pizza which will feature green, red, yellow and orange peppers.  Yum (may write a blog post about that) (more preview of coming attractions).

 

Amidst all this activity, relaxation and enjoyment, I just can’t write a real post.  Hence, despite my feelings  of contentment, my wrist is on my forehead.  I hope you are all having a lovely Sunday yourselves.

 

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I Run the A B C’s

Posted on April 18, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Would you believe, a running commentary on Fabulous Wine Tasting Weekend?  I was going to let myself off the hook and train extra hard next week, but in fact I ran and I’m going to write about it.

 

I am at my sister’s house in Liverpool, NY, whence we will drive to the Finger Lakes for said wine.  I packed running clothes, under the theory that it was better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them.  As a matter of fact, I forgot to pack a second pair of running shorts, so running tomorrow morning may not happen, but I’ll leave that concern for the future.

 

I woke up at 12:30 this morning with a dreadful headache.  Damn!  I managed to go back to sleep, but I was quite wakeful around 5:30 and wondered if I might sweat out the headache with a run.  I figured a run would be a good idea even if it did not help the headache, so while the rest of the household slept, I set out.

 

My sister lives in a development, all residential, no sidewalks but not much traffic.  Like many of these places, the street arrangement seems to be inspired by a plate of spaghetti, all curves and no real idea what street leads where.  I was not too worried, though, because I remembered what my other sister had observed:  the street names are in alphabetical order.

 

The sun was up but not very high.  The air felt cool and fresh.  Maybe a little too cool.  I soon pulled my headband over my ears.  I could not do anything for my hands, though, except feel them get progressively colder and stiffer.  No matter.  I  would not have to do anything requiring fine motor skills till after a hot shower.

 

I admired houses as I ran, observing that many of them looked remarkably similar in structure.  That did not bode well for finding my way back if need be, so I began to look for more distinctive features, such as For Sale signs and solar lights.  I kept turning left, on the idea that if I did that I would end up back where I started.  Then I thought I might finish my run too soon, so I made a righthand turn (why is the computer underlining that? Isn’t righthand a word?).

 

And that was where things got a little complicated.

 

It doesn’t matter, I told myself.  Alphabetical order, remember?  I saw a street that began with Q.  My sister’s street begins with G.  This could be a problem.  The next street began with P.  Ah, at least I was headed in the right direction.  This would be fine.  My legs were not complaining too much, my breathing was OK.  I did not feel  as if I had reached the I Can Rock This stage, but I believe I was rocking it.

 

It is interesting to try to remember the alphabet backwards, since we are so used to saying it the other way.  I was narrating in my head and realized I would not remember all the street names I was using.  Then I realized that was OK, because it is perhaps not the best idea to use identifying characteristics, in case somebody wants to stalk my sister (she is the cute one) (we vie for the title of the wittiest) (but I digress).  Perhaps in saying Liverpool and streets in alphabetical order I’ve said too much.  It’s all a lie, stalkers!  I have no sisters!  Ha, the joke’s on you!

 

O, N, M… I had only meant to go for a short run, maybe 20 minutes.  After all, must recruit my energies for the wine tour.  Still, the Boilermaker isn’t getting any further away.  Also,  I had not yet worked up a sweat.  That was no way to sweat out a headache.  Then I was almost to G.  G was next!  Yes!  NO!

 

It was the wrong G!  Oh NO!  Who knew this development had so many streets?  There was no way I was backtracking.  I figured I was close to A by now, and thus the end of this street.  Surely from there I could find the proper street to run down and the proper alphabet to follow.  At last I saw something a recognized:  the back of the shopping center which one drives by before reaching the development.  NOW I knew where I was.  Sort of.

 

A little further down, I saw a building that looked familiar.  Then the sign for a church I knew I had to turn by.  Yes, yes!  I still had streets A through F to get through, but I knew where I was.   This was going to be quite a respectable run.  My headache did not seem much better, but I felt I was definitely progressing towards being in shape for the Boilermaker.

 

After I finished the run, I stayed right on my sister’s street to walk my cool-down, for which I definitely missed Tabby.  I felt triumphant.  I would meet my weight-loss goals!  I would be in shape for the Boilermaker!  My sister thought it was awesome that I had gone running.

 

“And you didn’t get lost,” she said.

 

“Actually, I did,” I admitted.  “I’m going to write my blog post about it.”

 

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I Wouldn’t Call This Polished

Posted on April 18, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

So much for my idea of writing blog posts ahead (it worked for me before, dammit).  I do have a draft saved.  It started out to be a simple running commentary.  Then I found myself embarked upon a whole essay about writing.  I feel it was not contemptible but yet want to edit.  Edit on Lame Post Friday?  NEVER!

 

Well, no, I often edit somewhat, even when composing at the keyboard.  At least I proofread (yes, yes, sometimes I miss a typo, what’s your point?).  But I like Lame Post Friday to be more spontaneous and leisurely , but not polished and fussed over (yes, yes, I know, if it looks fussed over, you’ve fussed too much, will you go find somebody else to bother?).

 

I am not composing this at the keyboard, by the way.  I am handwriting rather messily in a spiral notebook on the table in the break area at work, prior to my shift start.  College ruled paper, ballpoint pen, black ink, if you enjoy that sort of detail.

 

I find that writing before work puts me in a happy mood.  As long as it goes well.  I ought to be in a happy mood anyways, because it is Friday.  Also , today begins another Fabulous Wine Tasting Weekend with some family members.  Good folks, good times, what’s not to like?  No doubt I’ll write a blog post about it.  In the meantime, Happy Friday, everybody!

 

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As the Laundry Turns

Posted on April 17, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

My usual plan when I’m going away for the weekend is to write blog posts ahead.  WordPress even has a handy function whereby I can set the posts to Publish at an appropriate future time.

 

You know what, I can just hear somebody carping now (or is it karping?  Carping looks too much like carpe diem, which is not the same thing):  “I thought the point of the blog was to write every day.  If you write blog posts ahead, you are not writing every day now, are you?”

 

Oh, shut up (I explain) (that’s an S.J. Perelman joke).  I’ll still write every day.  I just won’t necessarily write a blog post.  After all, this blog is not the only thing I write.  Besides, SOME readers LIKE to see a post from me every day.  I can’t let them down, can I?  Of course I could, perhaps sometimes I do, but I try not to.

 

I wrote the above when I was sitting in the laundromat Wednesday, wishing to high heaven that somebody had left a magazine lying around.  Once I found a trashy paperback in the laundromat.  That was sweet.  It was somehow a randomly found paperback was a more engrossing read than any number of books I have purchased or selected at the library.

 

No such rescue awaited me on Wednesday.  I sat there with my notebook, attempting to write my novel, a letter, my play, a blog post, ANYTHING.  It was no good.  However, I see that the silliness I did manage is over 200 words.  I call that a blog post, and quite appropriate for Non-Sequitur Thursday.  But whatever will  I do on Lame Post Friday?  Stay tuned, we’ll find out together.

 

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Saturday Adventures

Posted on April 16, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had an afternoon of Mohawk Valley adventures on Saturday with my sister Cheryl.

We drove to Little Falls for an an exhibit opening at Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts. I always feel artsy when I say I’m going to an exhibit opening.  We had parked at the Shops at 25 West, since we also intended to visit there and at the Little Falls Antique Center.

I’ll write more about the exhibit in a later post.  For now I’ll just say. these openings are very popular. At times the crowd made it difficult to really appreciate the art.  We enjoyed what we did see, then looked at The Selective Eye gift shop which Cheryl had not seen before. We spotted a couple of good Christmas presents, but I mustn’t say what in case… that person happens to read this post. I even saw a few things Steven might like to purchase for me.

I plan to return to MVCA when I can take my time and enjoy the exhibit. It’s all very well to feel artsy, but I also like to look at the art.

Next we walked across the street to Little Falls Antique Center at Stone Mill.  We spent some time browsing there at at The Shops at 25 West.  Cheryl was particularly interested in looking at old lanterns. We saw a few but not exactly what she had in mind. I took a particular interest in looking out the windows at the canal. A lot of the winders there have beautiful wide window sills.

“If I had windows like that in my house,” I said, “I”d put cushions on them and sit there with a book.” I suppose I’ll have to move into a converted factory if I want to implement that interior design inspiration.

I was also interested in some of the items available from the Alpaca place. Cheryl knows where they are located. Perhaps we can make a trip there one day soon, for future blogging purposes.

After we left Little Falls we were feeling peckish so we stopped at Crazy Otto’s Empire diner in Herkimer. Cheryl had never eaten there before, so I was happy to introduce her to one of Steven’s a my favorite spots. When she ordered her grilled cheese sandwich the waiter asked if she wanted fries.

“It comes with the best homemade chips,” I told her. She agreed they were good, and she nicely shared them with me. I had conservatively ordered an English muffin, in case my stomach was still bothering me (I know2, the chips were probably not the best thing on a bad stomach; let’s see YOU resist Crazy Otto’s homemade chips!).

We had a really fun afternoon.  It’s always fun to go adventuring with a sister.

 

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For Tabby on Tired Tuesday

Posted on April 15, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sorry, kids, it’s Tired Tuesday. I did work on a blog post today, about Saturday’s adventures, but it needs more work and I have completely petered out. In my defense, I did laundry. Hmm, that doesn’t sound like much of a defense. So don’t forgive me. In the meantime, I offer a Pedestrian Post with thanks to my beloved schnoodle, Tabby.

I neither walked nor ran yesterday, and my legs definitely felt the lack. And my conscience felt the guilt from not walking my dog (although she got a nice long walk with both her peeps Sunday, in addition to walking my cool-down with me after my run). Therefore, after I got the laundry in the house and the non-drier items hanging in various places, I got Tabby into her harness and we were on our way.

It was still nicely warm out, somewhere in the 60s I believe. Many people were out and about. A couple of neighborhood kids said hi to us, and one unknown college-looking kid said hi to Tabby. Tabby led me down Bellinger Street to Meyers Park.

I still haven’t gotten over my delight at all the snow being gone, so I felt contented to be outside in addition to my legs’ enjoyment of the exercise. We saw two young boys playing baseball in the park. At least, one had a glove and ball, the other had a bat. I suppose it was just batting practice, or else they had vivid imaginations (nothing wrong with that!).

After the park we headed towards Main Street and the downtown area. I looked longingly at Basloe Library as we went by. They are having a book sale. I could use a couple of paperbacks for this weekend, but I do not foresee an opportunity to go there. Of course, I have three or four paperbacks I purchased at Basloe a month or two ago which I have not read yet, but still.

Up to the Historic Four Corners. I must take another walk by the 1834 Jail after dark some night and see if I spot any ghosts. I rather doubt I will; I’m not at all sensitive to that sort of phenomena, but as the great Fats Waller said, one never knows, do one?

A very sweet toddler wanted to pet Tabby. His father told him to ask first then asked me himself when the toddler was too shy. I said sure, Tabby’s a good dog. A lady with a beautiful baby in a stroller joined us as Tabby was being petted. Tabby was immediately interested in the baby.

“She likes baby feet,” I said. We parted friends.

I enjoyed our walk, and I think Tabby did too. I even enjoyed writing about it. Happy Tuesday, everyone.

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Too Many Meanderings

Posted on April 14, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I had some Mohawk Valley adventures on Saturday. I started to write about one of them this morning, and I got bogged down. No matter, I thought. I can dash off an overview of the afternoon the cover each adventure individually as the week progresses. That did not seem to be working out either. After staring into space and questioning my life choices, I remembered: Monday Mental Meanderings. I can just follow my recalcitrant mind around the page a little, hit Publish and call it a day.

In my defense, I was doing some magazine work. I was revising and polishing (or do I flatter myself?) my articles for Mohawk Valley Living magazine, for which the deadline is tomorrow. I got them emailed out, for once forgetting to courtesy copy myself. In my detriment (I guess that’s not the opposite of defense; does anyone have a better suggestion?), I should have gotten those articles done last week and they’re not such brilliant prose at that.

My overall plan is to work more on my writing. Better blog posts, finish that novel. And that play. And the other play. Oh, and at least one interactive murder mystery. And here we come to my problem: I have too many potential projects. My mind won’t seem to settle on any of them. It skitters hither and thither. It — dare I say it? — MEANDERS!

This has become a rather circular post. I can’t seem to write, so I offer a Mental Meanderings Monday. The reason I can’t write is that my mind is meandering. Got that? If so, I shall hit Publish and call it a day.

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Yes, Sweat!

Posted on April 12, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I make bold to offer Running Commentary two days in a row, because this is the first time I’ve run two days in a row since I started running again last month.

I did not get out of the house till after nine. For one reason, since it was supposed to be warm today I figured I might as well wait for a better temperature. It was 42 when I set out, according to my thermostat, three degrees below where I usually dress in shorts and t-shirt. However, I had already put on the shorts and t-shirt. I observed that the sun was high in the sky. This would be fine.

It was fine. It looked like spring. I was running on completely bare, dry sidewalks. There was no snow in sight. Only my hands got cold. That was to be expected.

And my legs were tired. I thought, this is bad. I can’t keep writing blog posts about runs that aren’t fun. Well, apparently I can. I pondered how my readers might feel about it. Some readers might feel better, “Oh, it’s OK that my runs are still difficult; so are Mohawk Valley Girl’s.” Some might feel worse, “There’s no point in running! I guess runs NEVER get better!” I think the worst thing of all would be if they feel bored, “Oh no, not another dull Running Commentary! Just stay home, girl!”

I continued to feel tired as I ran down German Street. I decided to let myself off the hook as far as hills were concerned. Just keep going, I told myself. I ran through the high school parking lot and over the little footbridge. I would go up one street and down another, working my way back home.

I occupied myself with looking in people’s yards for flowers. Some people had nicely cleaned up last years skanky leaves. I must do that. Other people had not, so I felt a little better about that. Then I saw some purple crocuses and felt better yet.

Where, or where were those endorphins? I had been feeling down when I left the house and thought a run would help. Well, one must get through the difficult runs to get to the good ones. I persevered. I was soon rewarded by reaching the coveted “I can rock this” stage. My legs felt good! I could keep this up for a while. It was not a euphoric feeling exactly, but I certainly enjoyed it.

Of course it did not last. However, as I continued to run, it came back. I debated how far I would run. Further than yesterday at least. Perhaps not to the 35 minutes I should have been at by this time. Something in between?

I ended up running for 32 minutes, the length of time I was running before I got sick. As I walked my cool-down with Tabby I felt pretty terrific. I don’t think I have experienced endorphins yet, but I sweated out my bad attitude. That’s a pretty good accomplishment on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

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