Category Archives: personal

A Little Tired of Yard Work

Posted on August 21, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

My original plan was to go running and make a Running Commentary post.  However, I decided to spend some time on the lawn instead. This means a lot of walking back and forth behind my non-power mower or standing in one place while I push said mower over the same patch several times. I actually did a combination of the two.

So I think I deserve to make a Tired Tuesday post.  Also, I walked around the yard just now and took a couple pictures, so I also have some illustrations for your entertainment.

I had a hard time getting a good angle.

While I was mowing, I noticed a couple of Black-Eyed Susans some distance away from the main patch.  Perhaps I should have taken a wider shot as well, to show how far away they are. Unfortunately,  I am too tired and lazy to go back out into the hot sunshine.  I am currently lounged in the shade on the deck, with my feet up.  Remember, it is Tired Tuesday.

While I was in the lawn, I checked on the plant with little yellow flowers I included on Sunday’s post.  It seems that something has eaten it!

I guess critters gotta eat too.

Here is the before shot.

I also noticed a tiny wild strawberry and took a picture of it, too.

No, .I did not eat it.

I need to do quite a bit more yard work, but that will be for another day. I also need to go running.  And stop procrastinating.  So much to think about on a Tired Tuesday!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Tired Tuesday and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Can We Blame the Weather?

Posted on August 20, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yes, I did it again.  I missed making my blog post and I am up at four, hunt and pecking with the stylus.  I should maybe get on the laptop, which has been behaving itself lately, but by now I am used to my little Tablet, and anyways, this is not going to be a very long post.

My brain is not functioning up to par lately.  I can hardly write a word.  I sit down with pen and paper, I jot a few words, I stop.  What the hell, me?

One problem I’ve been having lately is the hot, humid weather.  Some people thrive under these conditions.  All I can say is how nice for you.  My place of employment is not airconditioned.  I am subject to heat injuries (YES, that’s a thing!  I got them in the army, and the army does not go in for made up illnesses). My best defense is to stay hydrated and not overdo.

The best thing I got written was a jotted note: SS is slutty.  Some time after I wrote it, I thought I had better be sure nobody saw it, in case they did not realize it was fiction. Naturally the next thing I did was to show it to someone.  She immediately referred me to a co-worker whose initials were SS.  Well, I knew she was S, but I didn’t know she was SS.  I showed her the note, and we all had a good laugh.

Oh, look, I am bearing down on 250 words.  My ambition now is to make today’s post TODAY.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Back Yard Blues — I Mean Yellows

Posted on August 19, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

See how many blooms!

After two failed attempts at making today’s blog post, I went out to my backyard and took some pictures.  I had been meaning to do a Rose of Sharon update, because it is getting more flowers. There is not a whole lot else going on in my yard, but one does what one can.

Another angle.

And a further view.

The last shot shows how big the plant is so far.  I imagine it will get bigger yet in the coming years.

I looked around to see what else I could shoot. The Black-Eyed Susans did not look a whole lot different from when I last photographed them, but I don’t think I have gotten a picture of the Queen Anne’s Lace that is growing amongst them.

I really must weed this bed.

I have already taken numerous pictures of the Brown-Eyed Susans,  but they are just so cute, and so much more plentiful than last year,  I couldn’t resist taking more.  At least I tried to get a different angle.

Butterflies like them too.

I’m standing on the deck looking down on them.

I limited myself to three, which was not easy.

Looking around the lawn, I checked behind the garage, where things sometimes get out of hand.  I once performed heroics getting rid of two pricker trees, and I have to keep an eye that they don’t grow back.  Tonight I noticed a plant with little yellow flowers.

It does not appear to have thorns.

I’ll have to try to get a better shot of it.  However, right now it is clouding up,  and I am hearing some rumbles of thunder.   Additionally,  I am approaching 300 words.  That is quite respectable for a Sunday post. Thank you for visiting, and I hope to see you all on Monstrous Monday.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Who me? Buy Wine?

Posted on August 18, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I often go to tastings at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer and rarely make blog posts about them.  It is a little silly of me, because I usually take notes.  Sometimes I even take a picture of the person pouring.  Today, I thought I would make a post about tastings we have attended the past two days.

Friday I made sure our friend Kim came with us, as I saw there were sweet wines to be tasted.  Kim is an excellent wine tasting partner for me, because she likes sweet wines while I like dry ones.  One of us is sure to be happy!

Friday was a tasting of Bolla Wines.  We began with a Prosecca, which is a sweet sparkling wine.  We all agreed it would be delightful in a mimosa.  Next came a sparkling Pinot Grigio.  I was especially interested in this, as I love sparkling wines (otherwise known as champagne,  by the way).  I liked it but was not in love with it.

Next we tasted the Pinot Grigion (not sparkling).  I liked it better.   The Chianti I liked best of all.  Full disclosure: for years I was resistant to trying Chianti,  because of that line in Silence of the Lambs.  I enjoyed this Chianti quite a bit and purchased a bottle.

It was a fun tasting!

Here is Danielle, who was pouring,  with Kim and Steven. Danielle mentioned she would be back on Saturday with 19 Crimes.  Kim was busy, but Steven and I LOVE 19 Crimes.

Accordingly, we returned this afternoon and sipped a taste of illegality.  I mentioned how I especially love 19 Crimes because of my abiding interest in murder.  Our first taste was of the new to us Sauvignon Block.  Please note the play  on words: blanc/block, as in cell block.  Get it?

I liked it a lot.  Notes of citrus but not too grapefruity.  The other wines we had already tasted:  Hard Chard (tangy), Red Blend (the original and my favorite), Uprising (aged in Bourbon barrels), and Cabernet Sauvignon. Of course I tasted them again; how else could I decide what to buy today?

We finally decided in the Uprising,  which Steven had particularly liked.   We will probably  purchase the other kinds at another time.  I love Crime!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Operator Error on Lame Post Friday

Posted on August 17, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

So it seems I could not even make a Friday Lame Post yesterday.  In my defense, I was stretched out on the couch, trying to hold perfectly still, unable to do anything but have an upset stomach.  In my defense, I managed to function all day at work with an upset stomach and a headache.  In my detriment, when my stomach and head felt better after work, I proceeded to eat good food without reference as to whether it might be upsetting to a tender tummy.

I really did not think I was going too rich.  I avoided the usual suspects: deep-fried, pepperoni, sausage…  I did not even think I was overeating, but apparently I was.  Yes, as with most of my ills, the problem was Operator Error ( my predictive text thingy even guess “Error” as soon as I typed “Operator”).

So here I sit prior to six on a Saturday morning, mostly delighted I do not have to work today and partly suspicious of what my coffee will do to my stomach.  The latter is of no particular concern, however, because coffee is obviously necessary, whatever the consequences.

I threatened on Thursday to make a blog post about what a big baby I am (a Big Fat Baby Brat, according to Steven, but that is a different story). Instead, I have made yet another post wherein I proved I am a big baby.  No matter.  As usual, I shall hit Publish and hope for the best.

By the way, I think the coffee IS doing me dirt.  Damn.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Lame Post Friday, personal and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

I Ran, Can I Complain?

Posted on August 16, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

It has been a while since I made a Running Commentary post.  This afternoon I ran for the first time in three day.  I have not missed three days in a row for a while.  It was one thing I have felt pleased with myself about recently, that I have been running regularly. Well, when you don’t have to go to work in the morning,  it is easier to run.

I knew it would be more difficult to talk myself into running after work.  I did not even attempt it on Monday.  Tuesday and Wednesday I tried and failed.  Today, I was determined not to lose the progress I have made.

Afternoon running is more difficult for me than morning running.  For one reason, I work on my feet all day.  In addition to being tired, I have that little devil that sits on one shoulder whispering, “You got plenty of exercise today!  Just look at all the walking you did at work!” I resolutely ignored that bastard.

My other problem is that it is hot and sunny in the afternoon.  Some people LOVE hot weather.  I am not one of them.  Today I resolutely ignored myself and got going shortly after work.

And I did not enjoy it.  I appreciated the occasional breeze or patch of shade.  I tried not to mind the sweat dripping down my face, although it did sting when it got in my eyes.  Ouch!  I tried to blot them with my sleeves,  which helped a little.

It was not a long run, but I did it.  Sometimes my stubbornness is my most useful quality.  As I ran up my street at the end of my run, I waved at some neighbors on their porch.  One lady yelled at me that it was too hot for running.

“You are SO RIGHT!” I answered.

I have run in hotter, muggier weather, and I will undoubtedly do so again.  I may write blog posts about it. I do not promise not to complain, but I may write a Lame Post Friday post about what a big baby I am.

 

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, running, running commentary and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Sharon and Susan on Wuss-out Wednesday

Posted on August 15, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a lawn update in lieu of my usual Wuss-out Wednesday post.  For one reason, I just walked around and took a few pictures with my Tablet. Pictures always dress up a post.

A little backlit, but you can see the bloom.

We were delighted recently when our Rose of Sharon finally bloomed.  A few more blossoms have appeared.  Next year I must clear all around the base of it and mulch, like my mother and father did (note to self: get a picture of Mom and Dad’s Rose of Sharon).

I took two views.

I looked at the Black-Eyed Susans but did not think I could get a shot much better than what I had  previously.   I am ashamed to admit it, but the patch is quite overgrown with weeds.  However, the Brown-Eyed Susans,  which I did not plant but just magically appeared,  are growing great guns.  I took two pictures of them

Our deck may need a little maintenance as well.

I love how much they have spread!

I walked out front, but there are no flowers.  I thought I might as well take another shot of what our friend Eva dubbed Frankentree.

 

I stood closer than I have for previous pictures, but it is getting bigger.

I personally would like to have a tree that blooms pink or white in the early spring,  but that is for the future.  You know, the distant, misty future, when I work harder on my lawn and possibly make better blog posts.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

OK, Me, WRITE!

Posted on August 14, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Tired Tuesday follows Monstrous Monday, and we know Cindy is back to work.  Um, I am making this post AFTER work.  I work when I am AT work.  I don’t know why I insist on putting that.  It is extremely unlikely that anybody in management reads my blog, and all my friends are more likely to say, “Yeah right, you work?”

Today was a hot, sticky day.  The word “soupy” springs to mind.  In fact, my husband Steven suggested soup for supper, but I declined.  We had sandwiches.  And that is my stream of consciousness paragraph for the day.

I really thought I would be able to write more once I got back to work (while on BREAK!  We’ve already gone over this, for heaven’s sake!). My job is simple, repetitive and fairly mindless.  While doing my job, I think about what I am going to write.  Then as soon as it is break time, I write!  It’s great!  However, as I have mentioned in many blog posts,  it does not always work.

I remind myself that I have only been back at work for two days.  And my work does involve standing on my feet most of the day and, you know, working. The best thing to do, I tell myself, is to not get discouraged but to try again tomorrow.   Additionally,  I end the conversation with myself before I start counting up how long I have been trying again tomorrow.  Never mind about the past!

What a pep talk.  I may even put down the Tablet and pick up my notebook (the spiral kind with paper; we’ve gone over that, too).

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, writing and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Boris Karloff, Can You Help Me Now?

Posted on August 13, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I think we all knew today was going to be Monstrous Monday.  At least, anybody who gives any thought to my silly blog knew it.  Anybody who did not think about it is probably not surprised. No matter.  On with the monsters!

Not exactly a monster movie…

This is from Bedlam, starring the marvelous Boris Karloff.  It is only a monster movie in a people-are-the-worst-monsters sort of way.  It is really an excellent flick.  I highly recommend it.

There’s the Karloff we know and love!

OK, here is a real monster,  two in fact. Bride of Frankenstein is billed as “The Monster Takes a Mate,” but it isn’t really much of a love story.

Who doesn’t love Una O’Connor?

Here is another shot from the same picture, just because I love Una O’Connor.  The other person in the picture is of the monstrous variety, Ernest Thesiger as Dr. Pretorius.

I once had a ‘do like that.

Here is a better view of the lovely Elsa Lanchester.  I love her especially in the introductory scene, as Mary Shelley.  “She is an angel!”

“You were looking for me?”

And here is one more of Karloff looking more like Karloff.  I don’t know what movie it is from.  I had thought Arsenic and Old Lace, but he was not in the movie.  Perhaps it was a publicity shot from the Broadway show.

At last I am over 200 words!  Happy Monday,  everyone!

 

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Monstrous Monday, personal, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Why Do I Do These Things?

Posted on August 12, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, I’ve done it again.  I’ve let another day pass without making a blog post, so here I am at 4 a.m. trying to post something, anything, so I am not another day behind.  I am the more urgently typing (one letter at a time with the stylus,  by the way) because this morning I return to work.

I have not talked about it much, because this is not a work blog, but I have been on furlough from my place of employment since June.  I will be very happy to be back at work and gainfully employed.  Even more happy will I be to once again have an excuse for not meeting my writing, running, weight loss, and house cleaning goals.

Yes, for the past few days I have been sadly admitting to myself that I pretty much wasted my time off.  I have no excuse. I comfort myself with the thought that no life is wasted, because it can always stand as a bad example.

So here I am, a bad example for all.  Will I spend the rest of my life profiting from the bad example I have been thus far?  Perhaps.  I must have some coffee and ponder the thought (yes, I have made this entire post before coffee. Does it show?)

 

4 Comments

Posted in commentary, humor, personal and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
Newer Posts →