Category Archives: humor

Maybe The Blog Post Should Have Stayed Absent

Posted on June 30, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday was a true Blogger’s Sick Day.  I even called in sick to work, which I rarely do.  It was a migraine.  You know, one of those headaches where the only thing you can do is Have a Headache. It makes for a long, singularly unproductive day.

Now it is Friday morning, I am sipping coffee, and feeling tremuluosly happy NOT to have a headache.  Who knew the absence of something could feel so good?  Oh wait, I knew it, from previous migraine-free days.

Steve had a Get Out of Jail Free Card.

I threw in a picture to pep things up.  Here is my late husband Steven outside the 1834 Jail on Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners,  which regular readers know is one of my favorite places to walk or run by.

One of my all-time favorite couples.

Since I am apparently doing a Throwback Thursday Post,  here is a shot from July 2017 of our friends Jim and Phyllis at Gerber’s 1933 Tavern.  Phyllis sadly passed away in 2021.  I will never be done missing her, either.  One must treasure the memories.

And here’s all four of us.

What a weird post this is turning into.  I begin being happy my headache is gone and move on to being sad Steve and Phyllis are gone. There is a lesson or profound point in there somewhere, but I have had insufficient coffee to articulate it.  I guess I’ll bill this as a Non-Sequitur Thursday Post and drive on.  I hope to see you all later when I attempt a Lame Post Friday post.

 

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Wednesday Once Again

Posted on June 29, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was pretty sure I would go to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort for music and food tonight, but I pretended to myself that I was debating.  At last I agreed with myself that if I did the dishes I could go to Fratello’s as a reward.  Judge me if you choose for neglecting the dishes (never mind how long it has been);  I have to take my motivations where I find them.

The real lure to Fratello’s was that Mark Nanni was playing.  He is the virtuoso who plays keyboard, guitar, and accordion.  Another listener once dubbed him Billy Bad-Ass (I may have mentioned that in another blog post).  It is certainly the truth.

He is da man!

 

Nanni puts a bluesy-jazzy sound on many of the tunes he plays.  I greatly enjoyed it.

Here’s the thing:  while I listened and enjoyed my food,  I was taking notes on the music and my interactions with other patrons.  Right now,  I do not have the motivmotivation or mental wherewithal to include these things in the blog post. Is that not typical for a Wednesday?  I find the energy to do something blogworthy but lack enough energy to make it a blog.

Go figure.  However, I see I am over 200 words. Perfectly fine for a Wuss-out Wednesday Post.  Happy Mid-week, everyone!

 

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What Kind of Tuesday?

Posted on June 28, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was thinking it would not be a bad time for this blog to go All Boilermaker All The Time.  The race is less than two weeks away (too lazy and brain dead to count the days).  I ran nine days in a row, ending Sunday, did not run yesterday, then ran today.  I thought I might try for a Running Commentary Post.

For the past two weeks I have had Two Mile Tuesday.  It seemed reasonable to do that again today.  However, for some reason I was TIRED.  I know, Tired Tuesday is not unusual for me.  But I did not sleep badly last night.  I worked a reasonable amount of hard at work today.  I guess I’ll blame the humidity, although that felt worse yesterday than today.

The struggle is real.

In any case, I left work questioning my ability to make it a Two Mile Tuesday.  How about Twenty Minute Tuesday, I thought, while a little voice in my head voted for Two Minute Tuesday.  After I got home, I thought, I don’t have to get right ready and run.  I can sit down for a few minutes.  Big mistake.

However, I did get myself off the couch and into running clothes. It doesn’t have to be long, I told myself.  It doesn’t have to be fast (as if it ever is!).  It just has to be.  After putting some laundry in the washer, I set out.

I thought after a day off, my body might feel a little better about things, but the first part of the run sure was thunky.  Luckily I know how to persevere.  I changed my mind about where and how far to run several times.  Just make it a mile, I thought.  We’ll turn at the library (I was headed down Main Street).  Then I ran past the library to Park.  A mile isn’t really very far.  Maybe a 20 minute run.

As I ran through Meyers Park, I thought I probably could make it two miles.  Of course, I knew from previous runs that each block is not nearly the percentage of a mile you might expect it to be.  I continued to persevere.

I hit two miles around 26 minutes.  By this time I was wondering if two miles was nearly enough with the Boilermaker 15K looming so closely.  So I went a little further.  By running past my house three times (the neighbors, if they pay me any attention at all, must think I’m a crazy old lady) (my blog readers have known that for a while), I ran for a full 30 minutes.

Of course now I am even more tired than I thought I was, but I have a good reason to be.  And a longer blog post than my usual.  If you have read the whole thing, I thank you for staying tuned.

 

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In the Midst of a Monday Malaise

Posted on June 27, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I ran for nine days in a row and did not run today.  I feel a little bad about that, especially since the rain that threatened never materialized.  I could have at least mowed the lawn.

Don’t mind me, I am in the midst of a Monday Malaise.  Isn’t that a nicely alliterative phrase?  Hey, that rhymed.  Perhaps I am not as brain dead as I had feared.

Who, me? Get dramatic over Monday?

Here is another image stolen from Dracula’s House of Halloween.  I wanted a change from Frankenstein’s monster saying, “No like Monday!”

Most of my day has not been particularly monstrous, but as the evening progresses I am slipping down a depressive slope.  I suppose it is nothing to worry about; we all have our ups and downs.  However, this particular down is making me SO disinclined to do any of the things I ought to be doing.

Such as making a non-whiny blog post.

Well this is the way it is.  Whatever we may have accomplished (in my case not much, but never mind that), we continue to fret over what we have left undone.  Oh, I know:  you probably checked off every item on your to-do list and even got a jump on tomorrow’s (you know who you are).

I forgot where I was going with this.  However, I see I am over 200 words.  Enough of this nonsense!  Perhaps I could find a good monster to close with.

“I still don’t know why she wanted me to be in this blog post.”

 

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Just Time for a Wrist to Forehead Sunday Post

Posted on June 26, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am up later on a Sunday than I usually am, because I like to go to bed early on a Sunday, but I thought I might just make a Wrist to Forehead Sunday Post before turning in.

One reason I am up later is that I met two long-time friends (tactless to say old friends, but we ain’t none of us very young) for dinner at Carmella’s in New Hartford, NY.  Carmella’s was doing such a booming business, I hardly think they need a plug from Mohawk Valley Girl, but there it is nonetheless.

They are the best!

I had a great meal and a great time visiting with two friends who I met through my late, dearly missed husband Steve.

It was in fact, the second night in a row for me dining out.  Last night my bestie, Kim, and I had a great meal at Yetty’s in Herkimer.  I declared the bartender, Piel, my new favorite person.  He graciously agreed to a photograph.

Isn’t he the cutest?

I gotta say, I love being older, because I can enjoy these young people and say so without their thinking I am coming on to them.  I can just be everybody’s Aunt Cindy.

Oh goody, that is over 200 words. Sufficient for a Wrist to Forehead Sunday Post.  Time to worry about going to work tomorrow.  Or not.  That is, not worry.  I plan to go to work.

Back off, Creature! I have a few more hours left!

 

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Sit Down Saturday?

Posted on June 24, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am having a moment.  Not a bad moment, but kind of a blah moment.  It is in fact a rather strong bout of Don’t Wanna Do Nuthin’.  So I thought to myself, well at least you can do a blog post (did not feel inclined to call myself Shirley today).

I woke up about 3:30 this morning with a bad headache.  No, I did not tie one on last night, so stop tsk-tsking at me (you know who you are).  I am out of acetaminophen but thought maybe more sleep would help with the result that I got up at six, which regular readers know is sleeping in for me.

Weekends are my days for long, challenging runs.  I had neglected to put on coffee last night so I decided to run first.  I ignored my usual weekend running plans and made up my mind to a short run.  Thirty minutes tops.  Maybe even twenty.  Or fifteen in a pinch.

It turned out to be in a pinch,  I ran for just over a mile in a little over 15 minutes (once again too lazy to get the Garmin and check.  I drank my chocolate milk recovery beverage but never got the oomph to fix breakfast till a couple of hours later.  Sorry, body.

I forgot where I was going with all this.  Lame Post Saturday?  No matter.  It is over 200 words, and my Saturday Post is done on Saturday (no matter what my WordPress timestamp may say).  If only I had a peppy picture to close with.  Maybe a monster.

You go, girl!

I stole this from Dracula’s House of Halloween, one of my favorite Facebook pages.   I did drink all the coffee, but sadly there is no longer anybody in my house to strangle me over it.  On that melancholy note,  Happy Saturday,  everyone.

 

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Lame, Lame, Go Away

Posted on June 24, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

The title might have been more apropos if it had rained a little more today.  I was counting on a big old thunderstorm to give me an excuse not to run.  Then I felt so tired, I just decided not to.  Six days in a row, with yesterday’s being three miles,  I argued with myself, surely that is enough (sometimes I call myself Shirley when I am arguing).  Additionally, this was my own challenge to me, to see how many days in a row I could run.  Wouldn’t this just mean I could run six days in a row?

As it turns out, I can run seven days in a row.

There I was, lounged on the couch, still in my dirty work clothes, too tired to even take my bra off, never mind taking a shower, however good it might make me feel.  I couldn’t believe how tired I felt!  Eventually I stood up and made it upstairs.

“I can’t do anything,” I said.  “But if I could do just one thing, maybe I could take a shower.”  Just take a shower, I repeated to myself.  Just take a shower.

After some contemplation, I followed my original plan, which was to throw in a load of laundry and go running while it washed.  For one reason, all my spandex running shorts were dirty, as well as all my favorite weekend clothes.  I put on a pair of just regular shorts and a t-shirt, and somehow made it out the door.

Just a little overgrown.

I felt the  post could use a picture.  This stretch of sidewalk is on the block I live on.  I usually run on the other side of the street, to avoid the pricker bushes.

Today’s run was rough.  I huffed. I puffed. I thunked along.  I made it for twenty minutes, which kind of surprised me.  I had thought, just run one mile, which I have been doing in 13 or 14 minutes.  Just run for 15 minutes.  20 minutes?  Oh no, I couldn’t.

My first mile was 13 minutes and change.  I couldn’t possibly keep going for another seven minutes! Then it was only six minutes.  I could make it six minutes.  Couldn’t I?

So I ended up running for 20 minutes, about a mile and a half (too lazy to go get my Garmin and find the exact number).   I walked a shorter cool down than usual but gratefully drank my full chocolate milk recovery beverage. The shower felt oh so good.

And this blog post is running oh so long.  How inappropriate for Lame Post Friday.  I guess I’m better at running my mouth than running my body.

I like it too, lame posts and all.

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What a Run!

Posted on June 23, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Spoiler alert:  I did it!

Last Thursday I opted for Thirty-Minute Thursday instead of Three Mile Thursday, following Two-Mile Tuesday.  Well, this week I have challenged myself to see how many days in a row I could run.  I am up to six!  I did two miles on Tuesday, less on Wednesday, and was undecided how far or long to run today.  When you are on a streak, it is permissible to have some short run days.

So I set out thinking Thirty-Minute Thursday, giving myself permission to run less.  However, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I had taken a half hour walk in the morning before work.  Today I overslept (still made it to work on time, if you were worried) so thought a longer run would be better.  Three-Mile Thursday?  Could I do it?

I started out running in the opposite direction from which I usually go, that is, I ran toward Church Street, not German.  I turned onto Church and went towards Valley Health, which regular readers may remember has a pretty decent hill. I was not convinced I would run up it.  Then as I got closer, I saw the sidewalk was shady for the whole hill.  Yes!  It was a very warm, sunny day.

No spoiler alert needed: I entered.

I just spent an inordinate amount of time searching my Media Library for a picture of the hill.  I feel sure I had one.  Perhaps this weekend I will make an index of that library.  Anyways, I wanted to add a picture so opted for this Do Not Enter sign, which of course I defied.  Regular readers know I love to do that.

So I ran a mile.  Then I ran two.  I spent most of those miles calculating how many minutes or what fraction I was from 30 minutes, a favorite distraction technique of mine.  When I got to two miles, I decided to go for three.  I could do it! I would do it!

My body wanted to stop pretty much every step of the way.  I kept looking at my Garmin for how far I had gone and quickly realized how short a block is.  Never mind, keep going.  I treasured the shady spots.  I did not think I could make it.  I flatly refused to go a block beyond my street in case it made my run over three miles.  I ran by my house twice.  I made it to three miles!

And oh did I feel crappy!  Yet proud of myself.  I walked around a block for a full ten-minute cool down.  I gratefully drank my chocolate milk recovery beverage.  I realized sweat was pouring down my face.  Yuck!  Into the shower!

I still feel tired.  And this is a long blog post for me.  No promises about tomorrow’s run or blog post, but as always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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More Phil, Yes!

Posted on June 22, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Every week I say I am not going out, and every week I find a very good reason to change my mind.  This week the reason was that Phil Arcuri would be at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort.  How could I resist?

Phil is so much fun when he plays!  He adds things to many songs.  For example, he mentioned Chicken Riggies at Fratello’s in “Under the Boardwalk.”   But what really cracked me up was, “on a blanket with my Geno.”  Geno is the excellent bartender.

There was some confusion during “Margaritaville” as to whose fault it was.  Phil blamed Geno, Kira, and Brian.  What none of them seemed to know was that everything is my fault on Wednesday.  It has been that way for a number of years.

Great musicians!

At one point, Geno, the bartender, decided he would add to the vocal entertainment.   He was excellent.

I took a couple of pictures.

They tried to get the waitress, Kira, to sing.  She said that although people had told her she had a good voice, she could not.  I said that was where she and I differed.  I could easily get up in front of people,  but nobody ever told me that I had a good voice.

I was very happy I had gone out.

Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St. In Frankfort,  NY.  You can follow their Facebook page for musical entertainment.

 

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Time Warp, Two Miles, and Tired, It’s Tuesday

Posted on June 21, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

My usual Tired Tuesday pic.

I have been in a timewarp all day.  I kept thinking it was later in the week but earlier in the day.  I was delighted to realize it was almost lunch time, not close to the 9:30 break.  I was saddened to remember it was only Tuesday.  Wait a minute, what did I say about finding joy in every day and not living just for the weekend?  Oh yeah.

I realize I was supposed to tell the rest of my Monday activities, but they really do not amount to much.  Basically I grocery shopped, which I did not think I would have the oomph to do.  I was in fact planning in my head what I could bring for lunch in the event that I did not shop.

Still, I felt I did quite a bit for a Monday and did not feel inclined to repeat the effort on Tuesday.  Yet, I managed to put in some effort.  I ran for two miles, even including a couple of hills.  I surprised myself.

It feels steeper when you are actually on it.

This is one of the hills in a picture taken April of 2020.  Why does it look so gentle in the picture?  I feel quite ill-used.

In addition to the run and walking for a half hour this morning, I walked to the VFW in Herkimer, NY (where I live) to vote for mayor.  Before walking home, I stopped in the bar for a glass of Chardonnay.  It was a most pleasant interlude.

On the whole, it was not a bad Tuesday.  Still, I feel tired enough to categorize this blog post as such.  I wonder if I will Wuss Out on Wednesday.  A little suspense adds interest to my week.

 

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