Category Archives: personal

What Excuse Shall I Use This Time?

Posted on March 25, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I guess late blog posts are just going to be a thing with me. And here is another discouraging thing: I seem to be losing my knack for ten-fingered typing. SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!!!

I thought this week was going to be so great, blogwise. I was going to take the various things I did on Scattered Saturday and write full blog posts about each. I have done this in the past with great success. This week, not so much. So do one now, a logical voice in my head tells me (ooh! ooh! a voice in my head that is not putting me down! This is amazing!). Well, now I am on my laptop, and my pictures are all on my Tablet. I cannot overcome such obstacles before coffee.

So here I am, hoping to babble on for a few paragraphs and be sufficiently entertaining to call it a blog post. What, I must ask once again, is my problem? I can write every day. Some weeks I do write every day. I love to write! Sometimes it is easy. Sometimes not so much. Guess which kind of time I am having today.

The best thing to do with a foolish post like this is to keep it short. We’ll call this a check-in with my readers. Yes, I am still calling myself a daily blogger. As always, I will try for a better blog post next time. Also as always, no promises.

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I Thunked, But I Ran

Posted on March 24, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I would make a Running Commentary Post in lieu of my usual Tired Tuesday. For one reason, I was determined to run. All last week I came home feeling too tired and frustrated, mostly frustrated. Intellectually, I knew if I ran I would feel better. Physically, I could not accept the knowledge.

So I ran. Do I feel better than if I had not? I suppose I do.

The run did not start out feeling good. Oh what a difference eight hours of work make! I thunked along like the overweight middle-aged lump that I am. My autocorrect does not think “thunked” is a word, but there I must differ.

At least it was a beautiful warm day. That caused a few problems, as I had to avoid pedestrians, bicyclists, and others. I tried to stay mindful of social distancing.

One other runner passed me, toward the end of my run. I could hear footsteps approaching me from behind, moving a lot faster than I was. This young kid passed me, loping along like a gazelle. He turned to give me a friendly grin and wave as he passed, which I was happy to return.

I did not run very far, and I never run very fast. But I was glad I ran. I’m only sorry that this is not much of a blog post. As I run, I narrate in my head. It usually sounds pretty good to me at the time, but when I get to the Tablet and start posting, I can’t quite make the translation.

No matter. I ran, I posted (or rather, I will have posted, for the more didactic among you) (you know who you are). Sometimes we must be content with the process.

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I Need a Little Nosferatu

Posted on March 23, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello, and welcome to another Monstrous Monday Post. I am feeling marginally less tired than I felt last Monday. However, I am still tired and a little down, and I want a few creepy crawlies to cheer myself up. If only I knew how to easily maneuver my Media Library to find my pictures of Nosteratu! I hate to find them anew on the internet and have them in the Media Library twice.

It’s no use. I can only scroll, and it moves more and more slowly. I got as far back as July 2020 and no Nosferatu. Damn!

He’s scary!

I went to Facebook and found a new (to my blog) picture of my favorite.

OK, one more.

Look how comfortable he looks! I should go upstairs and lie down. But first I must finish my blog post. I think one more monster picture ought to do it.

Not so scary.

This is an alligator (or maybe a crocodile) (depending on if I will see him later or in a while) made with a chain saw. My sister Vicki got him for me from Knoeble’s, an amusement park near where she lives in Pennsylvania. Quite a different kind of monster from Nosferatu but I find him equally cheering.

Also cheering is noticing I am over 200 words. Regular readers know I call that respectable. Happy Monday, everyone.

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I’m Still a Daily Blogger!

Posted on March 22, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is that moment on a Sunday when I realize I have not made a blog post and fear I have not the mental capacity to do so. I am inclined to swoon onto a handy chaise lounge (which, of course, I do not have), dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead, and moan, “I can’t go on!” Pronounced “cahn’t” of course.

I have actually been having a pretty nice day. I had a good run. We went out to breakfast. I did a load of laundry. We watched a couple of movies. I fixed a tasty dinner. I talked to my sister Cheryl on the phone. We sat on the front porch and sipped wine.

The last mentioned activity was, I think, the most delightful. I have been longing for porch sitting weather since it first became too cold to do so. We discussed movies, among other things, as we sat. How nice it is to have a husband with whom one can converse.

I guess this isn’t much of a blog post. On the other hand, as long as I hit Publish, it will do, and I will not have to be frantically typing at five tomorrow morning. Oh the trials and tribulations of the daily blogger! But regular readers know, that is what I like to be.

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Everything But the Blog Post!

Posted on March 21, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had a real Scattered Saturday yesterday. I went for an early run, starting in the dark and ending in the light. I love to do that. After writing my weekly postcards and puttering around for a bit, I did a little grocery shopping at the Little Falls Food Co-op.

Just a couple of the many items available.

I did not need popcorn but took the picture to remind myself where I can get more. When I got back home I actually spent a little time cleaning the house. Not all that long; I’m not a maniac, after all. By then it had warmed up considerably, so Steven and I took a walk.

Note the red ribbon.

I asked Steve to pose in front of Frankentree for perspective. I put that red ribbon and yellow tulips there back in March, when people were decorating their houses to cheer up passersby during the quarantine. The ribbon was just over my eye level at the time. Our tree is a monster!

Next Steven and I went to Gems Along the Mohawk, so I could buy a few postcards. Then we were feeling a bit peckish, so we drove to Cacciatore’s on Barringer Road in Ilion (where the Moose Lodge used to be). We had a delicious pizza and made some new friends.

Steven suggested I take a picture. They graciously agreed.

We took a different way home and got a little lost. It made for a nice drive over country roads, though, and we ended up in Frankfort. Since we drove right by Heelpath Brewing, we thought we’d just stop in for a glass of Rustic Ridge Winery wine.

One day I want to come with friends and sit at this table.

When we got home, we hung out and watched a DVR’d episode of Svengoolie. And I completely forgot to make a blog post. How silly of me. But if I make another one later today, I will be all caught up. Will I do that? A little suspense adds interest to my day.

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What Would Joan Crawford Do?

Posted on March 19, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

Today I must take a Bloggers Sick Day, and by Blogger’s Sick Day, of course I mean I will blather on for at least a couple of paragraphs. I had a migraine. It came to me in the night: I dreamed I had a bad headache. THAT’S the dream that comes true! Sheesh!

I wanted to call in sick to work, but there were a few matters I felt I had to deal with. Additionally, you never can tell with my headaches. Sometimes I feel better as I go.

Alas, that was not the case today. I got a few of my things taken care of. A couple kind of evaporated of their own accord. I was in the middle of a task when I gave up.

“This is just not working out for me,” I told my co-workers. I went home to lie down in a darkened room.

Sleep helped. A neutral dinner of a potato, egg and cheese mixture settled my stomach. These really bad headaches rarely last more than a day, so I have that going for me.

And I see I am approaching 200 words. Score! If only I could think of a punchy headline, I could call this a Non-Sequitur Thursday. Am I recovered enough from my headache to think? You be the judge.

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Stop Whining and Way Back!

Posted on March 18, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here I am, having a true Wuss-out Wednesday. I had thought I might go for a run or walk after work, either of which might have been good to write about. But I wussed out. I almost wussed out of making a blog post at all, but here I am, pecking away at the Tablet (as opposed to the ten-fingered typing I enjoyed this morning).

Here’s a day I didn’t wuss out!

I searched my husband Steven’s Facebook page for a picture to make this a Way Back Wednesday Post instead. Additionally, I thought I might find one with green, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. This was an article I wrote about The Miner’s Table in Herkimer for Mohawk Valley Living magazine. I finished and emailed an article to them last night (one reason I was so tired I made my Tuesday post this morning).

A handsome couple, or do I flatter us?

Here is another photo courtesy Steven, also with a little green. This is us in May 2012, after a performance of Dirty Work at the Crossroads, a play Steven directed at Ilion Little Theatre. I played a small but pivotal role.

I guess this isn’t too bad of a blog post for Wuss-Out Wednesday. I started out pretty whiny, but I feel I recovered somewhat. And I shared a couple of pictures. I’m going to call it a win. Happy Wednesday, everyone!

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Why Not Monsters?

Posted on March 17, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yes, I am making another late post. It is Wednesday morning, and this is my Tired Tuesday Post. In my defense, I was tired! Oh, well, I guess I almost always am tired. I didn’t say it was a good excuse. Never mind that. Let’s get on with the post. Just to set the scene, I am ten-fingered typing on my ailing laptop. I really must improve my computer situation.

Well, I just discovered my Media Library is no easier to maneuver through on the laptop than it is on the Tablet. I wonder if there are any fun downloads on the laptop I could share. A picture or two so peps up a post.

Looks like the gang’s all here!

How fun is this one! My husband Steven must have downloaded it. He finds the best stuff. I know, it is no longer Monstrous Monday nor yet time for Mid-Week Monsters, but as you may have guessed, I do not have much today.

Artistic and romantic, no?

Here is another Steven must have recently downloaded. Unless I have computer ghosts or some unknown person has been breaking into my house for the sole purpose of downloading monster pictures on my laptop. One must consider all possibilities.

I must consider the possibility that I am running out of steam as a daily blogger. SAY IT AIN’T SO!!! I have been trying to have fewer of these foolish posts but without notable success. Full disclosure: they are kind of fun to write.

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Monsters, Wine, or Whine?

Posted on March 16, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here I am, ready to make my Monstrous Monday Post. Will I be able to navigate my Media Library and find monster pictures to share? Will I be able to find new monster pictures? A little suspense adds interest to my post.

Here’s one of my favorites.

This was from my Media Library, shared as recently as March 1. First I looked at some of the free photos offered by WordPress. I found one I liked, but when I went to share it, I saw it had a caption telling who took the picture. I wasn’t clear on whether or not I was obligated to include this information so opted not to use the photo.

Who is this guy?

I liked the look of this one. A scary creature, an action shot, this peps up the post. I wish it would pep me up. I am so tired and wordless! I had a pretty crappy day. Of course most of my woes can be explained with the words Operator Error. So I must not complain.

Wait a minute! This isn’t a monster!

In fact, I have not had any wine this evening. I am sipping seltzer with lemon out of a wine glass, and that is almost as good. Additionally, I am not a fan of giving up. As the quote from the movie Galaxy Quest goes, “Never give up! Never surrender!”

However, perhaps the meme means to give it up for tonight, or to give up worrying about it. This calls for more philosophy than I am up for on a Monday. On the brighter side, I am over 250 words. I call that respectable. I’m going to shut up and hit Publish, before I really start to whine.

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Sunday Run

Posted on March 15, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went for a run this morning — one of my few useful acts of the day — so I thought I might attempt a Running Commentary Post in lieu of my usual Wrist to Forehead Sunday. Full disclosure: I pretty much feel like swooning, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead, onto a handy chaise lounge. Note to self: obtain a chaise lounge for just such an emergency.

Where was I? Ah yes, about to write about my run. The lovely spring-like weather did not last. However, I am no stranger to running in the cold. I got ready and off I went.

Saturday when I ran, I headed toward Valley Health and ran that hill. Today I turned towards Main Street. Mind you, I was disinclined to run either hills or for very long. But I convinced myself to just go.

I made it up part of the Main Street hill just beyond the Road Closed sign. I have mentioned before how I believe these signs refer to vehicular traffic and not middle-aged ladies shuffling along with various amounts of huffing and puffing.

Soon I was heading back down Steuben Road and stuck to the relatively flat village roads for the rest of the run.

My only question was how long the run was going to be. Saturday’s run was 37 minutes. On Saturday I could not at first remember if I had gone 30 or 33 minutes last week. Note to self: find Running Journal and get back to writing in it. Then I remembered I had gone 34, slightly more than the recommended 10 percent increase. Hence, 37 minutes on Saturday.

After some minutes of wondering, it was soon clear I would do 37 minutes again today. I spent a lot of the run looking at my Garmin and counting how many minutes were left. I make bargains with myself of how long I will wait before looking, then I look anyways.

In other words, it was not the best, most entertaining run. Nor, I fear, is this the most entertaining blog post. I suppose you’ll have that. On the other hand, it is Sunday night. Monday looms menacingly. I hope will not be too monstrous.

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