Author Archives: mohawkvalleygirl

Where’s Charleton Heston When You Need Him?

Posted on August 15, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

Our second horror feature Saturday night was The Mad Monster (1942), again starring George Zucco (um, for anyone just tuning in, this is a continuation of yesterday’s post).

This time out, Zucco plays a scientist who is all evil. He has a nice wolf in a little tiny cage. If that’s not evil! I hated that part of the movie. The wolf looked just like a dog. The evil doctor also has a big guy strapped to a bed, but I always feel less sorry for people than for animals.

Before anything too dramatic happened, Evil Doctor starts arguing with some guys that just magically appear around the table. That part confused Steven, who had left the room briefly to get ice cream. Apparently the guys were other scientists who had kicked Evil Doctor out of the club for being mad. Regular readers will guess that I readily understood this part of it, seeing as I spent part of Lame Post Friday explaining about how I have imaginary conversations in my head with various critics. This was a graphic depiction of that phenomenon.

Having mentally disposed of his enemies and promising to dispose of them more literally later on, Mad Scientist (isn’t that a better name than Evil Doctor?) proceeds to turn the big guy into a werewolf. I thought he looked more like something out of Planet of the Apes. Where’s Charleton Heston when you need him?

As the movie progresses we learn that the big guy is Mad Scientist’s gardener and apparently was not clear on all the job duties when he accepted the post. He’s half-witted (these movies abound in half-wits) and, if I’m not mistaken, has a crush on Mad Scientist’s daughter. The daughter believes her father is a brilliant scientist who has been maligned. She sent her boyfriend, who just happens to be a nosy reporter, away, apparently at Dad’s request. She is loyal buy lonely.

I confess I was not following things very well once the murders started. Second feature slump? Or a dull movie, despite the “marvelously theatrical” George Zucco “effortlessly stealing the show” (see previous post for quote sources). To be honest with you (as I usually am) I don’t quite remember how it ended. I seem to think that Mad Scientist got his comeuppance and his beautiful daughter ended up in her young man’s arms. Isn’t it funny that I can’t remember how the werewolf died, as I’m pretty sure he did. At least there were no spurious claims of beauty killing the beast, like in King Kong (the 1933 version, of course; I don’t remember how the remake ended).

I may have liked the movie better if I had been able to catch all the dialogue. For that we can blame my old television (purchased sometime in the last century) or, more likely, the cheap DVD (ten bucks for fifty movies, what do I expect?). However, as a second feature, it was enjoyable enough. As a blog post, I hope it entertained.

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We Can’t All Be Bela Lugosi

Posted on August 14, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

Saturday night I continued my quest for cheesy horror with a double feature starring George Zucco. I had never heard of him, but the DVD box describes him as “marvelously theatrical,” and Leonard Maltin says he “effortlessly steals the show” in our second feature (Leonard Maltin’s 2011 Movie Guide, Signet, 2010). Who am I to argue with Leonard Maltin?

I don’t know that I need to give my usual spoiler alert, because I’m not sure I followed either movie with any accuracy. Our copies were so bad most of the dialog was difficult to understand, especially since we had two fans running. I do love a horror movie on a hot summer night.

In Dead Men Walk (1943), Zucca plays a dual role of a good twin and a bad twin, both doctors (actors just love to play dual roles and/or writers and directors just love identical twins; I may have to write a whole blog post on the phenomenon). The evil twin is dead as the movie begins, but that’s OK, because, as the they tell us in the title, dead men walk. There is a creepy prologue of a disembodied head double exposured over flame telling us… I’m not sure what. That was some of the dialogue I missed.

As the movie progresses, we learn that the good twin killed the evil twin. I personally could have used a little more information on this plot point. Good twin says it was self-defense. Evil twin says it was an ill-fated attempt to save the daughter/niece (that is, daughter of evil, niece of good).

Oh, and let’s talk about that niece for a minute. Of course, there is usually a beautiful young woman in these things, most often in deadly peril at some point. She must be sweet and vulnerable. Any additional personality is strictly optional. Come to think of it, that can be true for movie males, too, only without the sweet and vulnerable parts. The niece is mainly concerned with her young man, also a doctor. She seems completely unaware of her father’s nefarious activities and, I must point out, not particularly grief-stricken at his passing, although that may have been the fault of the lousy print. I mean, I didn’t hear everything she said. What I did hear, they didn’t give her the snappiest dialogue. I sure wish this movie had had an intrepid girl reporter, but that’s beside the point.

Bad Brother’s funeral is disrupted by a crazy old lady (no, not me) saying it is a desecration to have such an evil one in the church. She’s been nuts ever since her granddaughter was brutally murdered. Any guesses who was responsible? Well, you’re going to have to guess, because we never find out anything else about that subplot. I was grateful I heard that much.

Soon Big Brother returns, making all kinds of threats. Not surprisingly, only Good Brother gets to see him. I suppose with more budget they could have made a trippy movie where you find out at the end they are BOTH THE SAME PERSON. No such subtlety for this flick, which was really fine with me, because those trippy ones make my head hurt.

Bad Brother is a kind of a vampire. He intends to turn his daughter into one, too, but apparently this takes a lot of bites. At night she has mysterious dreams. By day she appears to be wasting away from an unknown disease. At one point her young man insists she be given a blood transfusion. She at once is better, which clues in nobody but the audience that vampires are at work. Oh, and crazy old lady, who brings her a crucifix, which helps. I’ll never understand why people in vampire movies don’t set up a perimeter of crucifixes all around the house and sleep well at night.

Zucca does a pretty good job playing two parts. I did remark at one point, thought, that it was the most professorial-looking vampire I had ever seen. That was just a cute remark, though, because he managed to be scary as well. And, after all, we can’t all be Bela Lugosi.

Things get interesting when the excitable townspeople begin to believe that Good Brother is in fact the murderer. It gets scary as events reach their dramatic conclusion. I shan’t tell you what that is, because I don’t warn you against watching this movie. In fact, if you do watch it, perhaps you could clue me in on a few of the plot points I missed due to my bad sound system. Did the niece know of her father’s evil nature? What all did that disembodied head say during the introduction? What was Bad Brother’s henchman’s name?

As usual, my review is becoming longer than the silly movie. This one runs 65 minutes, giving us plenty of time for our second feature, which I will talk about tomorrow. Stay tuned.

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Not Gold, Despite Coffee

Posted on August 13, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was thinking it would be all right to go All DARE 5K All The Time for the next week or so. I’ve used that All (whatever) All The Time a few times now, but it is a misnomer. It’s really just A Lot Of Posts About (whatever). I may have already made the observation as well. Oh, what do you want from me on a Sunday?

When Steven and I first got out of bed shortly after six this morning, I said maybe I’d wait till nine, when he went to work, to run. It would be better practice for the DARE run, since that starts at nine. Then I thought better of that decision and got on my running gear.

Steven had not heard me say I would so go running and had already poured me a cup of coffee. That was OK. I would drink coffee and then run. Many athletes like a little caffeine before a work out. I’ve even been advised to do so in a couple women’s magazines. Actually, the women’s magazines usually recommend green tea. Green tea tends to have a better reputation than coffee. Well, I like that too, but today I drank coffee.

One reason I wanted to run early was that all during the week my best time to run will be 4 p.m. I’ll get plenty of practice running in the heat. The other reason was that I wanted to run out a street that has no sidewalks and I hoped to run during the time of least possible traffic.

This was Main Street. The street has a Dead End sign on it, but a pedestrian can run or walk through (I run). I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, but I have not run that way in a while. I hoped it would be the same. After all, if they want to make it a permanent dead end, they may entirely block it off. They hadn’t yet, though, so up I went.

The upward trend continues for quite a while. That was why I wanted to run that way. I think it is steeper and I know it is longer than the hill on the DARE run. I thought, if I can do this, I’m gold.

Of course I’m not gold. I’m not gold plated. I don’t know that I even have a cheap coat of gold spray paint. How’s that for drawing out a metaphor? At any rate, I did the best I could. After all, as I repeatedly tell myself, there is no shame in running slow. The staring at my feet trick wasn’t working well, so I looked around at houses. That worked a little better, since this isn’t a way I run very often. I always like to look at something new.

I heard a loud bark and saw a large dog in a backyard. No fence. No chain that I could see. Well, perhaps his person was right there at the back door and had just let Fido out for a business meeting. Probably Fido would stay in the back taking care of business. He came out front and barked. I told him he was a good dog and I was just leaving. He was either well trained, had invisible fencing or was just not that into chasing a middle-aged runner, because he stayed in his lawn and merely barked.

The effect of this was now I was not inclined to turn around and run back the way I came, which I had assured myself I could do if the run seemed like it was too far to keep going uphill. I looked at my watch. I hadn’t been running that long. Anyways, the hill had settled into a mild upslope. I could rock this. I could see that the end of the road was steeper. That was OK, too, I told myself. I was training for the DARE run. I needed hills.

I saw something on the road ahead that may have been a leaf with the sun hitting it, may have been shiny garbage or may have been an extra small road kill. I hate seeing road kill. I look the other way. But first I have to keep looking at it to make sure it’s road kill. After all, how silly would I feel if I suddenly realized I was averting my eyes in horror over a few leaves? Then again, who would know? Oh yeah, you guys. Tell me again why I decided to write this blog?

I was going pretty good by the time I reached the end of the road, which was now Highland, not Main. I’m not clear on when it changes. I’ll have to run it again and check. I turned onto Steuben, and it was downhill all the way. I got back to German Street much farther from my house than Main Street. That was good. I needed to keep running so the 5K wouldn’t seem too long to me.

Was that my friend Nicky with his person up ahead? I wasn’t sure, but I picked up the pace to see if I could catch up. I love to stop running briefly to pet a cute dog. They were on the other side of the street, but traffic wasn’t bad. If it was them I could easily cross. Nicky’s lady thinks it’s cool when I cross the street specifically to pet Nicky. Before I got to them, they crossed back so Nicky’s lady could talk to a lady with two shih-tzus (I think they’re shih-tzus). I got to pet all three dogs. I found out the shih-tzus were named Chunk and Chelsea.

It was really a good run, in spite of not being gold on the hill. I suppose gravity will always have its say. I’m not sure if the coffee helped or not, but it certainly tasted good, and I always like to have a cuppa with my hubby. We’ll definitely celebrate over some java after I run the DARE 5K. It’s less than a week away!

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I DAREd Myself

Posted on August 12, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I mentioned yesterday how I ran up to Herkimer County Community College (HCCC) the front way, because it is part of the DARE 5K to be held next week. Of course, regular readers (Hi, Aunt Mary!) know that is a run I try to do regularly, just to be tough. Well, I think we all know I’m not as tough as I think I am.

This morning (Saturday) I set out to run the infamous hill again. This time I ran around the block and down Church Street instead of German Street to get to HCCC. The way blocks are set up in Herkimer, this made a slightly longer run before the hill, and a little closer to what I will experience next weekend on the actual run.

It was a lovely morning for a run, cool, breezy, not too humid. I was in fine fettle. As I reached the bottom of the hill I exchanged greetings with a lady who seemed to be waiting for a ride at the end of a driveway. I like these little moments of sociability.

Yesterday at work, when I was still dithering about the run, I had said to a co-worker, “It’s no shame to run a 5K slowly.” He agreed, having previously pointed out that I was not racing, was I? (I am not.) I hope it is no shame to run a practice run slowly either. Oh, I was shuffling. I wanted to stare at my feet, a runner’s trick so you don’t notice the steep, long hill so much. Then I remembered some deer I had seen on that route two weeks ago so looked up and over into the woods. No forest creatures to take my mind off my ills.

I ran this hill regularly when I was training for the Boilermaker so I could laugh at the hills on that run. I didn’t really laugh at the hills that day, although I got a bit of a chuckle out of the silly jokes other runners and I were making. Today I did not feel the least bit inclined to laughter. Just make it around the corner, I told myself. So what, I answered, it just keeps going up after that! Oh, shut up and run.

Of course I reached the top eventually. I’ve never yet given up on that or any other hill, so I’ve got that going for me. Yesterday I had a terrible stitch in my side at that point. When this happens I usually put my arms over my head, stretch and breath deeply as best as I can while still maintaining somewhat of a run. This is not the same thing as putting fists in the air while somebody sings the chorus of “We Are the Champions,” but it is a reminiscent move and I try to take comfort in that. Today it was not necessary. I don’t think the college students are back, so nobody was likely to look our their window and see a crazy old lady running by. I hope.

After my run, I decided I would indeed run the DARE 5K. It will probably be fun and make a decent blog post. Plus, I’ve been telling many people I intend to do it. Why should I give them another reason to laugh and point? Registration fee goes up as of Monday, so I thought I would walk to the police station and drop it off. First I had some things I wanted to get done around the house. Tabby and I set out shortly after eleven.

What a stupid time of day for me to pick! It was hot and sunny. I even went back to the house to get my sunglasses. I should have gone back to the house and gotten my air conditioned truck, but Tabby had seemed to excited for the walk, plus I’ve been putting on a few pounds. Surely if I stuck to the shade it would be OK.

It pretty much was, although there was not nearly enough shade for my liking. I was a little worried the cop on duty might not know much about the DARE run, but it was no problem. By the time we were headed back, though, I felt drenched. I was certain I had sweated off all the sunscreen on my face and hoped my crazy old lady hat would offer sufficient protection. Of course, it also made my head sweat. I kept wanting to take it off when the breeze blew, to try to dry off my hair (I really have too much hair). Tabby kept picking the sunniest spots to stop and sniff, and I kept telling her to come on. At last we made it back home, where we both drank some water and I turned on all the fans.

So now I have proven to myself I will be able to run the DARE, and I have registered to run the DARE. And I’ve written a blog post about both. Can I take the rest of the day off?

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Lame Attempts

Posted on August 11, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

So there I was at work, writing a blog post titled “Dithering over the DARE.” I am, of course, a past master of dithering. And then I didn’t like it.

I had intended to go running after work, despite the tremendous humidity, so I thought I might write about that. I even had a title picked out, “Oh, the Humidity.” You know, like that guy said, “Oh, the humanity!” during the Hindenberg disaster. Or is that being flippant about a tragedy? Could be, but I have several times seen and heard “Oh the humanity” used with ironic intent, so I think it is OK. But when I sat down at the computer, nothing.

I thought, “I can’t do ANOTHER post about not having anything to write about.” Then I thought, “Sure I can. It’s Lame Post Friday; I can do whatever I want.”

The reason I could not finish writing the first post is that I felt certain any number of people would tell me to stop being such a whiny baby or to quit rationalizing or some other rude, superior thing the people in my head can always come up with. I tend to spend a lot of time having imaginary conversations with people who criticize everything I do, say or think. In fact, as I write this, I can picture some snotty writer telling me I MUST silence the inner critic or I’ll NEVER be a writer. And somebody else telling me to quit complaining about it.

Huh. I bet neither one of them are published either.

And now I don’t like this post either. You know, I’m just not messing with it today. I’ll say something concrete instead: I was dithering about the DARE 5K because I have not been training as hard as I had intended to. Also, my running partner and cheering section have defected. After work today, I ran up the steep hill that is part of the DARE 5K course, in the steamy humidity. I made it, and the way back down was distinctly pleasant, what with gravity and the breeze picking up.

I think this has been the lamest Friday post yet. I don’t know whether to feel proud or sheepish. I’ll compromise on silly. See you Saturday.

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Yutz Isn’t Even in the Dictionary

Posted on August 10, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I wonder if any faithful readers are waiting to be informed how my tomato salad turned out. If so, I am sorry to disappoint. The tomatoes are still in my refrigerator, the basil and chives are still in their respective gardens, I’m a terrible bum. On the brighter side, I can plug a couple of local businesses by telling you what I did do last night.

My oldest sister’s birthday is Sunday, and I thought I would send her a card. This is an unprecedented and I’m afraid dangerous proceeding for me. You see, I stopped sending out cards to people years ago, because I discovered I could not be consistent. How bad would I look if I remembered to send a card to one sister but not another? There is enough sibling rivalry in my family without adding the competition for Who Cindy Likes Best (then again, do you suppose that is a title my siblings would covet? I fear not).

I used to have the tradition of calling and singing to the birthday boy or girl. That was hard enough to remember. I surprisingly got no complaints about my singing voice. I like Facebook, because they remind you of people’s birthdays. Then you can “write on their wall” (I put it in quotes because it is neither actual writing nor an actual wall). I’ve taken to saying, “Your present is I’m NOT going to sing!”

Be all that as it may, Steven and I went to Hummel’s Office Plus. I found a card that mentions Margaritas, an important part of my sister’s life. Before making it to the cards we were distracted by the singing Halloween toys and decorations. I tore myself away before pushing all the buttons available. I must return and check them out later. Then again, I have no budget for even more Halloween decorations this year (oh yeah, right, like I’m really organized enough to have an annual budget).

From Hummel’s, we walked across the street to Brian’s Roast Beef Deli. Steven had a deluxe cheeseburger. I tried the Greek antipasto. It was an excellent meal for a very reasonable price.

When we got home I wrote a short note to accompany the card. I subsequently discovered I have two cousins with birthdays on Monday. I wondered if I should expand my card sending ambitions but reached no definite decision. It was not until this morning that I remembered I have a niece with the same birthday as my sister (her aunt). How could I forget such a thing? I’m mortified! What a terrible aunt I am.

Now what will I do? I suppose I could just go one generation at a time: cards for siblings this year, nieces and nephews next. That might fly. Only, I’ve already started mid-year with the siblings. In fact, I’ve missed all the other siblings’ birthdays. I guess I really didn’t think this card project through.

All I can say is, stay tuned to see if I am ostracized from the family for being such a dumb yutz (did you ever notice that “y” and “z” look remarkably similar in cursive handwriting? If not, no doubt it’s because cursive handwriting is no longer taught in public schools, but that is way out of the scope of this blog).

Hummel’s Office Plus is located at 114 W. Albany St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 866-5055. Brian’s Roast Beef Deli is at 122 N. Main St., phone 866-3664.

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Tale of Two Tomatoes

Posted on August 9, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I sat at work realizing I had no topic for today’s blog post. I finally told myself I would just have to go home, do something, then write about it. Then I racked my brain for something to do. Then I thought I would save time later by writing now about what I intend to do.

I have two rather large tomatoes I purchased last week at a local farm stand. I intend to make a salad with them, utilizing, among other things, chives and basil growing in my lawn and container garden respectively.

The farm stand probably rates a blog post all its own. It’s in Herkimer, NY on the corner of German Street and Route 28. Unfortunately, I did not pick up a business card (if they had one) or even ask a name. Which was kind of silly of me, because I stood there and had a nice conversation with the lady, all about vitamin water, Gator Ade and staying hydrated in the heat.

I had meant to purchase one tomato for the specific purpose of putting it on some sandwiches I had abruptly planned for dinner that night, utilizing chicken salad and onion rolls which I obtained at Hannaford Deli and In-Store Bakery, respectively. I saw the farm stand as I was driving home and said, “Ooh!”

The tomatoes were sold in lots of three of four, and they were HUGE! We used one on sandwiches that night, the sandwiches we had Sunday night and the sandwich in my lunch on Tuesday (didn’t think of it on Monday; silly me). They were yummy! I LOVE farm stand tomatoes!

So for tonight’s salad, I will chop up the remaining two huge farm stand tomatoes. I will add a can of black beans (drained, rinsed and drained), which Steven is picking up for me at the store. I will chop some chives from the garden. I may slice a can of black olives, which I believe I have in the pantry. I may thaw some frozen corn and add that, if we have any. Oh, and some feta cheese, if Steven remembers to buy it along with the black beans. I will make dressing in the blender with oil, vinegar, garlic and fresh basil. Maybe some fresh dill as well. And perhaps some other non-fresh spices I usually have on hand.

How does that sound? I have not decided yet if I will make it before or after I type this in, so I may not be able to report results until tomorrow, if at all. I mean, if I have something more compelling to blog about, why bore on about tomatoes? Stay tuned.

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Neither Hide nor Hair of a Bear

Posted on August 8, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I think I’ve written about sitting on my sister-in-law Ruby’s deck before, but I thought I would mention in again, because it was one of the highlights of this past weekend in Vermont.

Ruby’s house is situated at the bottom of a wooded mountain. There is usually plenty of wildlife to observe. This visit, however, the area immediately surrounding the deck was eerily empty during the daytime. The reason was the absence of bird feeders.

Normally Ruby stocks three or four bird feeders, which attract a variety of our feathered friends along with an assortment of squirrels and chipmunks. Our dog, Tabby, is especially fond of chasing the squirrels. She’ll chase birds too, in a pinch, but Ruby would prefer she didn’t do that.

Unfortunately, the bird feeders also attract bears. One was even bold enough to come up on the deck and eat some of the cat food that was there. We’ve never seen a bear on any of our visits. I would be scared of a bear. I’ve read several Readers’ Digest Drama in Real Life stories about bear attacks. It is never good for the people involved.

Ruby’s bear has never bothered any people that we know of. After the deck incident, however, she emptied the bird feeders in hopes the bear would go elsewhere. It seems to be working, because we say neither hide nor hair of any bear.

After dark we did enjoy seeing a few foxes. Ruby threw out some cookies to entice them to come a little closer. Soon a fat raccoon appeared. He was not as shy and began hogging all the cookies. Ruby told us he usually does so.

I wanted to encourage the foxes to get some cookies. “Go, foxes,” I said. “Go! Go! Go!” Tabby, who had been nicely staying on the deck with us, thought I mean her and started for the stairs. We quickly called her back.

I’ll say this for dogs: they are very patient with what can only appear to be people’s inconsistency. We encourage her to chase squirrels but not birds or foxes. When we yell, “Go! Go! Go!” we usually mean her. But apparently not always. It turned out I had confused my dog to no purpose, because the raccoon got all the cookies anyways, the fat, greedy thing.

We enjoyed two nights of hanging out on the deck, taking in the scene. When we got ready to head for home on Sunday, I left Ruby some of Tabby’s food for the foxes (like the bear, Tabby preferred to eat the cats’ food). I suppose the raccoon will get it, but perhaps the foxes will at least get a nibble before he shows up. I hope Ruby is ready with the camera in case the bear returns.

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I Finally Get My Act Together

Posted on August 7, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

Nobody really believes that, do they? Well, at least now maybe some people will believe I write fiction.

I was trying to do that thing I talked about last week of having a scheduled writing time and if I can’t seem to write to just sit here for the scheduled time anyways. Guess what I was mostly doing?

Oh, well, right now, obviously I’m writing. If this counts.

I thought maybe I shouldn’t do a Middle-aged Musings Monday because I took two days of Lame Post Friday last week. For another reason, I haven’t many musings to share. I just haven’t been musing much lately. All I can come up with is how when I was 20 I thought I’d have my act together when I was 30, and I think I’ve written about that before. Then again, it seems like three or four times a week I write about how I have nothing to write about, so obviously I’m not shy about repeating myself.

But apropos that, was is so great about having your act together? What does it even mean? In the ’70s there was a saying, “I finally got it all together and I forgot where I put it.” Do you personally know anybody that has their act together? And if so, is that a pleasant person to be around or is he or she just a little bit annoying? How many readers are out there right now with their nose in the air saying, “I have my act together, and I am not the least bit annoying.” Stop reading now! It will only lead to heartache! (Probably mine.)

I don’t really want anyone to stop reading, even if you do have or act together, or think you do.

Not everybody who thinks they have their act together actually does. I once spent a hideous two days with the most annoying soldier in the world (I have not met every soldier in the world and yet I say it with confidence). She said she wanted to meet the male PT (Physical Training) standards, because she didn’t want to be the girl holding up the unit because she couldn’t do everything the boys did. She said it snottier. Something like, “I’m not going to BE that soldier that somebody has to DO something for me.” (Have you ever noticed that when someone feels strongly about something, they don’t say, “I’m not going to do that.” They say, “I’m not going to BE that person.” I’ve done it myself. For some reason, it doesn’t annoy me when I do it.)

She voiced an admirable sentiment, I suppose. On the other hand, I’ve known plenty of female soldiers who made great contributions to their units without being able to do the same number of push-ups as some barrel-chested 19-year-old private.

Then annoying soldier realized she had locked her keys in her car, thus holding up me and two other NCOs as well as inconveniencing at least three or four civilians. I don’t think it ever occurred to her that this was the kind of shoddy lack of attention to detail that could have a highly detrimental effect on her unit.

I’m not saying I’m perfect, or even non-annoying. I’ve even locked my keys in the car on occasion. But I don’t brag on how high speed I am, never being a trouble to anyone (although apparently I feel free to brag on how I don’t brag; hey, did I not just say I’m not perfect?).

Maybe that is one definition of having your act together: not being a bother to others. Because you take care of your own shit. Well, let me be the first to point to myself and say, Act Not Together. Not even close. One could argue, however (there’s that argumentative One again), that we are put here to help one another. That sounds like a little half-baked philosophy suitable for Lame Post Friday. I will argue instead that one can strive to have bits and pieces of one’s act together on occasion. My current goal, therefore, is to get it together enough to have a real blog topic for tomorrow’s post. Stay tuned.

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On the Road in Vermont

Posted on August 6, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went running twice this weekend while visiting family in Vermont (note to housebreakers: I’m HOME NOW, so don’t come to my house to break in).

Running in the rural section of Arlington, VT, where I stayed is not as comfortable for me as running in my beloved village of Herkimer, NY. For one thing, there were no sidewalks. There was not even a shoulder. Usually there was a little bit of a grassy edge I could move onto when a car approached. Most cars at least moved over a little, even if they didn’t slow down (a blessed few did both). I ran early in the morning, to avoid as much traffic as possible.

Saturday I ran out Ice Pond Road, which leads to Warm Brook Road. I saw the Ice Pond but not the Warm Brook. That run has the advantage of making a circle, at least for part of it. I still run out the road my sister-in-law’s house is on to Ice Pond Road, then back up that road after Warm Brook Road. But it’s not a complete out and back run. I used to do out and back runs all the time when I was in the army. I don’t know what my problem is with them now.

It is an odd thing (to me anyways, but I’m a New Yorker) that there are so many dead end roads in that area. We have this nice, long East Arlington Road and all along it are all these short little roads that don’t go anywhere but have houses on them. I suppose I could do a Dead End Run like I did on German Street in Herkimer once (I believe I wrote a blog post about it). Maybe next visit.

I did run one dead end on Saturday. It did not have one of those helpful signs saying “Dead End” or “No Outlet.” I had never been on that road. I decided to check it out. Dead end. I was almost at the end when a dog in a backyard started barking at me, so I turned around and ran back out.

Sunday I decided to do an out and back run, because I wanted to head in the other direction and knew I had no non-dead-end roads to turn down. But there was a covered bridge. I thought it would be nice to run over a covered bridge while visiting Vermont.

The bridge has a sign I’ve seen on many covered bridges: “One Dollar Fine for driving faster than a walk on this bridge.” Well, that’s for driving, I thought, not running. Anyways, sadly, my run is not much faster than a walk. Also, there was nobody there to collect a fine. I ran across.

I saw a sign for a private road. I see that a lot in Vermont. The sign looks exactly like a public street sign but says “Pvt” after the name of the road. I wanted to run down the road, knock on the door and say, “It’s your DRIVEWAY! Get over yourself!” I am unlikely to do any such a thing. I’m afraid I would become a victim of Private Road Rage.

I admired some rather magnificent houses as I went by. Some of them looked new and quite expensive. Then I saw one that was more my speed. There were four tractors, a tractor trailer cab and several pick-ups and cars in various states of road-worthiness. The front yard had decorations I enjoyed. A bat hung from a tree, as did a wind chime. A large spider was on a rock leaned against another tree. A leprechaun smiled from under a rock; a deer lounged next to the spider rock. Under a tree at the end of the yard I saw some chickens and a puppy. The biggest chicken was bigger than the puppy. It was a house with character. I admired it again on my way back.

As I got closer to the end of my run, I saw a lump that may have been a sleeping dog. I let it lie, as they say you are supposed to do. Another dog at that house, a gorgeous retriever-looking pooch, barked at me. I was almost back at my sister-in-law’s house by then.

Both runs had a couple of minor hills. Nothing to compare with what I like to run in Herkimer. I didn’t mind that, but by the end of the run I was really missing the spring. I reasoned with myself that the run was not so long as to make it really necessary to have a drink during. I had a bottle waiting for me at the end.

They were not bad runs. The temperature both days was reasonable, but humidity was high. I ended both runs stinky but glad I had run. I’ll be glad to get back to running at home, though.

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