Category Archives: personal

Happy Wednesday Run

Posted on June 28, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’ve gotten a little obsessed with running lately.  It could be because my writing has not been going so well, especially this blog.  I say that because I have been sitting here for at least twenty minutes, alternately staring at the blank screen and typing in/backspacing out partial sentences. (In fact, I am sternly forbidding myself from backspacing out what I just wrote, because, dammit, I want to make a blog post!)

All this by way of saying, here is another Running Commentary post, even though I just did one two days ago, and I do not even have the excuse of an upcoming race (no Boilermaker 15K for me this year!).  I did not run yesterday, because my knees hurt and I had this weird pain in one hip joint.  It was a really bad pain when I bent certain ways.  I came home and took a warm bath in epsom salts which helped.  I also took some ibuprofen before bed, so my legs were better today.  I really wanted to run while I was at work (run away from work?  Not a bad idea…).  I even thought I might go running in the rain, which was predicted.

It was raining as I left work.  When I got home, I said, “I’m not running in the rain!  I’m having a glass of wine!”  Don’t judge me.  Anyways, I only drank half the wine and decided to go running in the rain.  It seemed to have died down a little; maybe it would stop.  Steven said it was very energetic of me, but after all, I did not intend to run very fast.

And right away, the run was not too bad, although the rain did not stop.  My knees twinged a little, but I’m used to that by now.  I dodged around puddles and ignored the water spots that soon covered my glasses.  Eventually I tried to find a dry spot on my shirt to wipe off my glasses.  I had to do this several times.  I was impressed that I could find a spot, but I guess my handle-bar hips created a shield while I ran into the rain.  Or something like that.

It was not till well into the run that my feet started to go “squish” in my sneakers.  Then I stopped worrying about dodging around the puddles.  I was just so delighted that my legs felt fine and my breathing was not problem.  How weird was that!  My Monday run was terrible!  I didn’t run at all on Tuesday!  I can’t worry about why these things happen; I just enjoy them when they do.

I ended up running for 35 minutes, the time of my longest run so far (this latest spate of running).  As I walked my cool-down, the rain started to get on my nerves.  I was sopping wet, of course.  No matter. I ran. It was a good run.  And now I have typed in a blog post.  Is it a good blog post?  I can’t worry about these things!  Happy Wednesday, everyone.

 

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Tired Tuesday with Monsters

Posted on June 27, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I tried for a real post today, or at least not a completely foolish one, but I sat here typing and backspacing out.  So I wrote the following, and I’m going to call it a Tired Tuesday post.  Sorry, folks. I’ll try not to Wuss-out on Wednesday.

“What do you mean you can’t write a blog post today?”

When all else fails, look for pictures from old monster movies.  I guess the above is more a horror flick than a monster movie, but you now I adore alliteration (see what I did there?).  The above picture is from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), a pretty trippy silent movie.  I think I need to watch it again soon.  It might be problematic, though, because in general, I only watch silent movies while running in place on the mini-tramp.  If I try to knit or crochet, I can’t keep my eyes on the screen, which is kind of essential when there is no dialog.

“Now THAT’S a centerfold!”

Here’s two monsters, one on the cover, one looking at the magazine, and the word “MONSTERS” on the magazine!  A perfect picture for a monster post.  If only this was a Monday, my alliterative cup would overflow.

He’s a charming fellow.

As I looked through my Media Library, I saw The Brain that Wouldn’t Die (1962).  Only I didn’t want a picture of Jan in a pan; I wanted the monster.  I found the above on Dracula’s House of Halloween, one of my favorite Facebook pages.

The best thing to do on a foolish post is to keep it short.  I just passed 250 words and shared three pictures.  Let’s call it a day.

 

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Not a Good Run, Not a Good Post, Happy Monday

Posted on June 26, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I was Back when it came to running.  During today’s run, it seemed, not so much.  However, if I don’t do a Monday Running Commentary, I got nuthin’.  So here goes.

All day, I thought about how good it would feel to run.  My longest run, on Sunday, was 35 minutes, and I went up the hill to Herkimer College the front way.  For the uninitiated, that is a pretty good hill.  How I felt after that run is unimportant.  The point was, I did it.  I figured a run on level ground would be no problem.  I wouldn’t have to go a full 35 minutes.  Of course, it would be nice to.  Maybe I could.  This was going to be great.

After work, I nearly talked myself out of it.  I felt tired. I felt down.  I thought about just sitting on the couch and chilling, as I often do on a Monday.  My plan, when I was so sure I was going to run, had been to drink a glass of iced tea (I made a pitcher for the party on Saturday, but nobody drank any) first.  A little caffeine before a work-out can help you burn more calories, or so I have read (in a magazine, not on the internet, so it might be true).  I drank the iced tea and checked my email.  Nothing exciting, as usual.

Then I got ready, threw a load of laundry in the washer, and went running.  “I couldn’t talk myself out of it,” I told Steven.  I still had high hopes it would be great.

Let’s just say, it was not.  My legs felt leaden.  My lungs did not want to breathe properly.  I felt like a big, stupid lump.  Of course I kept going.  Once I wrestle myself into two sports bras (PLEASE do NOT say, “TMI”), I run for at least a little while.  I did not think I would make 35 minutes, or even 32, which was the previous longest time.  Well, at least I could keep going for 20 minutes.  Maybe 25.  Then with my cool-down walk, I would be moving for 35 minutes.  That is the length of time I’ve read you should exercise daily to combat tension headaches.  Also, I need to burn calories.

I can’t give you a blow by blow of “I turned here, I looked at my watch, I said hello to the guy on the porch,” etc.  For one reason, I’m getting a headache.  So much for that 35 minutes of exercise theory! Yes, I did run for 25 minutes, plus a 10 minute cool-down walk.  I felt grimly satisfied that I ran at all.  I feel similarly about this blog post.  It ain’t such a much, but I’m going to hit Publish.  I hope to see you all on Tired Tuesday, or whatever kind of Tuesday it turns out to be.

 

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And My Feet Are Cold

Posted on June 25, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that headline, because it is true.  I thought, I could put on slippers, or just go with it.  I am feeling lazy, as you might guess by the relative lateness of my blog post (if you even noticed that) (come to think of it, regular readers already know me as fairly lazy; don’t judge) (or should I say, I hope you are too lazy to judge me).

I just paused, wanting to make a few parenthetical comments but fearing to overdo it, and caught the end of Remember the Titans, which Steven was watching and I was paying cursory attention to.  I had to pause further to bawl my eyes out.  I read somewhere that they played a little loose with some facts in order to make an uplifting movie about race relations, but I do not at all care.  It is historical fiction, and it tells a wonderful story.

I thought to pep things up with a picture.

Steven has been watching his favorite movies a lot lately.  Earlier we enjoyed Mary Poppins.  I loves me some Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke!  Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!  Full disclosure:  I do not know how to spell that word; I googled it.

It’s a Jolly Holiday with Mary!

Steven wanted to follow Remember the Titans with something fun so is about to watch Chicago.  That makes three movies with really great soundtracks.  At least Chicago won’t make me cry.  Yes, I cried during Mary Poppins.  Again, I hope you are too lazy to judge me.

Now that I have finished my post, I wonder what it really is.  I feel Wrist to Forehead Sunday is appropriate, what with all the tears shed.  Then again, given the headline, maybe I should call it Non-Sequitur Sunday.  The agony of indecision tilts the scale toward Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  This you can judge me on.

And All That Jazz!

 

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Several Shout-outs on a Scattered Saturday

Posted on June 24, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Once again I pause in my gyrations to make a Scattered Saturday post.  Steven and I are waiting for some people to come over tonight.  It is a Thanks for the Mayhem party for people who participated in our murder mysteries in the past couple of years.  Oh dear, I hope I did not neglect to invite somebody who reads my blog.  I do not have the most reliable memory, and I have done quite a few murder mysteries.  Anyways, I have to have another party, because a lot of people can’t make it tonight.

I began my morning earlier than expected on a Saturday, but that was OK, because I had gone to bed earlier with a stomach ache on Friday (perhaps you read my blog post about it).  My stomach felt better, so I had some coffee and listened to the rain fall.  I do not usually go running in the rain.  And right after the rain, there a lot of puddles I do not necessarily enjoy running through.  However, when the rain stopped, I ran anyways and just did not worry about the puddles.  I wore an older pair of running shoes.

Back home, I wrote a few post cards.  I was delighted to have some new ones to send.  My Mom and Dad went on a bus trip with their church and picked me up a bunch.  I rarely travel myself, but I am fortunate to have family and friends that do.  By now it was raining again, making a walk to the post office ineligible.  That was all right, though, because Steven and I had several errands to run.

After a stop by the post office, we went to Cash for Cans on South Washington Street in Herkimer, NY (where we live, in case you didn’t know) and redeemed a LOT of cans and bottles.  Then we went to AmeriCU Credit Union to deposit a check (we like credit unions), then to Hannaford for groceries and party munchies.  Back home, we cleaned industriously, although my coffee table is still quite the mess.  Steven nicely said we would call it a Work in Progress and it could be a topic of conversation. I do like to entertain my guests.

Around 11:30 we went to Route 51 Beer Belly Bob’s Discount Beverage Center in Ilion, to taste and purchase beer.  Brown’s Brewing Company of Troy, NY was there.  We had a great time and bought some yummy beer.  I want to do a whole blog post about it. I also plan to return to Beer Belly Bob’s when Brown’s is back sometime.  Oh, as well as returning when I run out of the beer I bought.  Beer Belly Bob’s is where I get my beer!

Since we also drink wine, we made a quick stop at Ilion Wine and Spirits for a bottle of Barefoot Pinot Noir.  I had a craving for some Barefoot Pinot Noir.  I will be delighted to open it in a few hours (oh, do I have to wait a few hours?  Maybe I can start sipping a little early).

Wow, I did a lot.  I haven’t even talked about the fixing, mixing, and chopping I have done so far.  I will just mention that I enjoyed a cup of iced coffee flavored with just a touch of Mohawk Valley Fire Moonshine from DikinDurt Distillery of Herkimer.  Just to give another shout-out.

So I think this has been a pretty good Scattered Saturday post (or do I flatter myself?).  Now I’ve got to get back to finishing my fixings. I do love to entertain.  Happy Saturday, everyone.

 

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The More You Complain, the Lamer the Blog Post

Posted on June 23, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Now my stomach is giving me grief!  I just sat here, staring at the blank “Add New Post” screen, thinking, I CAN’T have three blogger’s sick days in a row!  But apparently I can.  For one reason, I do not want to do two posts tomorrow.  I have a busy day planned.  Yes, wine is involved, judge me if you life, I do not at all care.

I had one of the best dinners I have had in a while at my Mom and Dad’s house.  I think I ate a little too much.  Or something else might be going on.  My stomach has, in fact, been giving me grief off and on all week.  I just haven’t complained about it in this space, because, quite frankly, I have been complaining about everything else and just had not gotten to it. My older sister, Victoria, told me that the more you complain, the longer God lets you live.

How hard can it be to make a post on Lame Post Friday anyways?  A couple of random observations, some half-baked philosophy, and hit publish.  My random observation is:  I have not been writing enough, but I have been obsessed with doing puzzles.  Pencil puzzles, like crosswords, cryptograms, etc.  My half-baked philosophy is that I probably like the puzzles because they occupy my mind and keep me from thinking about things.  Who wants to spend time thinking about things?  Not me!

Oh, my stomach is really, really upset.  I need to stretch out, and I cannot type lying down.  Suddenly this seems like Wrist to Forehead Friday:  I will swoon onto my couch (I don’t have a chaise lounge) in a manner most dramatic, and hope to be better in time to make a Scattered Saturday post.

 

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Non-Sequitur Theatrical Throwbacks

Posted on June 22, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

It often happens that I take a blogger’s sick day with a foolish post only to feel worse the next day.  Seriously, I have had a headache (sinus? migraine? tension?  who knows!) since this morning.  It was not bad enough to necessitate my leaving work, so I had that going for me.  I got home and managed to get one chore done, now I need to make my blog post before doing a couple of other things I really, really want to have done.

What a boring lead paragraph!  You would not think I was an experienced daily blogger, would you?  Then again, how do I know what anybody else thinks? I shall not pursue this train of thought, however, because I fear it would lead to half-baked philosophy, which is the purview of Lame Post Friday.  This is Non-Sequitur Thursday, no matter what the time stamp says (sometimes these things are dated a day off, and I am not technologically savvy enough to fix it).

Well, I need to post something, headache or no, so I think I will go for a Throw-back Thursday theme by posting a couple of pictures from my Media Library.

To be, or not to… Oh, wait, wrong play.

When I was looking for photos the other day, I saw the pictures from the LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company, production of The Tempest last summer.  Alas, I fear that will be no Shakespeare play this summer, but I hope for great things next year.  The above is a full cast shot from the Utica Zoo, a great venue where we had one performance.  We performed in several different places.

Another great theatre memory!

Since this is Non-Sequitur as well as Throw-back Thursday, I jump to spring of 2016 and Leading Ladies at Ilion Little Theatre.  I’m not in this picture, because I directed, but my husband, Steven, is the handsome if uptight-looking guy in the suit jacket, far left.

I just can’t believe what he’s telling me to say.

OK, one of me and Steven.  This is spring of — eeek 2012!  We were Dr. Chumley and Veda in Harvey at Ilion Little Theatre.  This was what Steven referred to as “our big scene.”  I am on the phone with Elwood P. Dowd, and Dr. Chumley just told me to tell Elwood that Harvey is in the bathtub.  I can’t believe he dared say the word “bathtub” to me after what I went through that morning!  That will may sense to anybody who knows the play, or who has seen the movie.

Well, that did not turn out to be too bad a post.  Or do I flatter myself? No matter.  I posted something, and now I can lie down and wait for my headache to go away.  Happy Thursday, everybody.

 

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Waiting for Dateline

Posted on June 21, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I need a little murder and mayhem.

I feel better already.

My first thought today was to take a blogger’s sick day.  I shan’t explain why, because I am not sure I understand my own malaise.  No matter; as I often say, explanations are tiresome.  We’ll have a Wuss-out Wednesday post instead.  And I must post quickly, because Dateline is on in a mere 13 minutes (according to my laptop clock), and I loves me some Dateline.

I wouldn’t mind being there right now, would you?

My personal favorite is Keith Morrison, although my friend Phyllis prefers John Quinones.

Yeah, he’s pretty cool, too.

I mention the difference in opinion merely because I knew I had pictures of both guys, and I must say something, even on Wuss-out Wednesday.

You know, I think it may have been a good idea if I had gone with my first impulse of taking a blogger’s sick day, as my physical symptoms return.  Oy vey, what a day!  I hope for more brain power on Thursday!

 

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I Ran, I Voted, Now I’m Blogging

Posted on June 20, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, that headline pretty much says it all; do we really need the actual post?  Of course we do!  At least, I do.  It turns out to be Tired Tuesday after all, but I will attempt to type a few moderately amusing paragraphs.

I knew all day that I was going to run.  I did not even feel that I had to talk myself into it; I was looking forward to it!  I think I mentioned that running has all of a sudden gotten fun again.  Naturally by the end of the day I had to remind myself that I did NOT need to be talked into running.  After all, I’m not a maniac. I even multi-tasked by putting a load of laundry into wash while I ran.

Alas, the run was not as much fun as I had anticipated.  It was not a bad run. I enjoyed more the parts in the shade, especially when the breeze was blowing.  It was a beautiful sunny day, such as many people adore. I confess to being more fond of a cloudy, gloomy sky.  No matter.  It was neither as hot nor as humid as yesterday, so I contented myself with that.  I did not run as far as I had run on Sunday; I was one minute shy of my next longest time.  It was quite the effort going for that long.  I mean, most of the run was not at all bad, but the longer I ran, the worser I felt (my computer seems to think “worser” is not a word, but it is exactly what I mean to say).  Well, I won’t get into a blow by blow of how I started out unhappy, got a little happier, then got progressively less happy and on down into relative misery (or have I said too much already?), because this is not a real Running Commentary post.

After getting the laundry into the dryer, hanging the non-dryables, taking my shower, drinking my recovery beverage, and checking my email, I reminded Steven that we had to go vote in the local elections.  He nicely fixed dinner first.

Everybody in Herkimer, NY had to go to the VFW to vote.  I felt lucky to find a parking space right in front of the building.  Additionally, there were no lines.  Score!  I was happy that Steven knew what district we are in, because I can never remember.  What cracked me up was that after we filled out our ballots we were to fold them and put them in this plastic tool box with a slit cut in the lid.  I love living in a small village!

Civic duty done, we returned home to vegetate in front of the television.  As soon as I finish this blog post.  I hope to crochet and watch Dateline.  Happy Tuesday, everybody.

 

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Moving Slow on Monstrous Monday

Posted on June 19, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Nobody does! Oh, I suppose YOU do (you know who you are).

I haven’t used this charming gentleman in a while, but he seemed appropriate.  It was a grisly hot day in the Mohawk Valley today.  Really, there were all kinds of warnings on the news about how we should stay hydrated and get our exercising done early in the morning.  I worked too early to run, so I just didn’t bother; judge me if you must.  The sad thing about that is that, quite abruptly, running has gotten fun again.  As I watched the afternoon drag by, I was sorry I was not going to run.  I looked forward to running on Tuesday, when temperatures are supposed to moderate somewhat.

Safety first! Walk, don’t run!

As I was looking through my Media Library for a picture of a monster running (which I don’t think I have anyways), I saw the above, which I believe I have not used recently. It is, of course, from Night of the Living Dead (1968), back in the days when zombies did not run but lumbered threateningly and people for some reason were often unable to get away.  I understand zombies move faster these days.  I have not see a recent zombie movie.  I don’t much like horror movies after the late ’60s.  They got too slashy for me.  There are, of course, exceptions.  Some newer movies are more atmospheric and psychological, and there are a few I like even if they did go through a tanker truck of fake blood.

“Who were you expecting, the Avon Lady?”

Thinking of blood, I close with my favorite blood-sucker, Nosferatu.  I’m calling this a Monstrous Monday post, or did you figure that out already?  Longtime readers may recall that I wilt and become quite useless in the heat.  I am brain dead.  Perhaps I am a zombie.  Today I am the lumbering kind, but tomorrow I hope to run.

 

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