Category Archives: personal

That Street with the M

Posted on December 13, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a Sunday Running Commentary?  For one reason, I can get it posted now and then get on with my Sunday, during which I should be getting a LOT of things done.  Oh dear, I’m feeling wrist-to-foreheady already.  Never mind, just get on with the post.

I didn’t run yesterday or Friday, so I really wanted to run today.  Mostly, of course, I wanted to stay in bed, but Steven was getting up so I thought I might as well get out there.  It was 49 degrees according to my thermostat, a perfectly good temperature for shorts and t-shirt.  I wore an ARMY t-shirt with a reflective doo-dah on the back, because the sun was not all the way up.  Safety first for Mohawk Valley Girl.  I mostly stay on the sidewalk anyways.

As I set out I thought briefly about running up the hill to Herkimer College (which I prefer to call HCCC) (pronounced H Triple C).  It is a big, impressive hill I like to run up at least once a week when I am in shape for it.  I do not believe I am currently in shape for it,  but maybe I could get into shape for it by doing it.  It would be nice to post on Facebook that I ran up the hill to HCCC.

I thought that I would like to do it before the end of 2015.  That gave me a little leeway, didn’t it?  I didn’t have to do it today, did I?  My problem was how long I’ve been running lately.  My longest time since I’ve been running again is 31 minutes.  I try to increase by a mere 10 percent each week.  That only put me to 34 minutes this week.  Could I get up that hill and back down in 34 minutes?  Perhaps, but only if I turned around and came back the way I came.  I like to run back down the back way.

Having talked myself out of that route, I decided to do my other Sunday run, up the hill by Valley Health, then to the high school, over a little bridge, then down and up streets till I got home.  I had done this run last week one day but not gone up and down the streets, because it would take too long.  Now I was running for a longer time. I could rock this.

The first street you come to after crossing the little bridge by the high school really seems more like a parking lot next to some athletic fields.  However, it is a real street called Frederick Street.  I took special note of the street sign this time.  Now I could run up Graham, down…  oh crap, what was the name of that street?

How dumb of a brain fart was this?  I run these streets ALL THE TIME!  I walk them, I drive them, for heaven’s sake, I live in this town!  The street begins with an M. I knew it began with an M.  I thought it was Marion.  Why did “Marion” all of a sudden not sound right?  I knew it wasn’t Mary, that was somewhere else.  Of course it wasn’t Margaret, Margaret was between Caroline and Henry.

So I had to go all the way down Frederick and up Graham before I could confirm that it was indeed Marion Street.  At the rate I run, that is a long time to feel stupid for not remembering the name of a street you’ve been running and walking on for over ten years.  On the other hand, I thought, I could put it in my blog post.  That would even give me a title.

Another good thing, pondering about the name of the street took my mind off how tired I felt while running. Full disclosure:  I drank red wine and stayed up late watching Christmas movies Saturday night.  In my defense, I was having a lovely evening with my husband.  And I did not let it keep me from running on Sunday.  Oh dear, I just remembered that last Sunday I was lamenting drinking wine and staying up late watching Christmas movies.  Is this what I’m going to do on the weekends now?

Well, what if it is?  I daresay many people drink wine, watch Christmas movies and go running the next morning.  I don’t suppose many of them forget the names of streets they are perfectly familiar with, but you know me, I just have to be different.

In any case, I ended up running 36 minutes, increasing my time more than the recommended 10 percent, but I don’t imagine it did me any harm.  I’ll go for the hill up to HCCC next Sunday, maybe even sooner if I get ambitious.

 

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I Didn’t Miss the Bus!

Posted on December 13, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had an adventure-filled day, but instead of my usual Scattered Saturday, I am going to tell you of one small thing we did.  It was a charitable endeavor, so that may seem like I’m being all, “Look how great I am!”  but I hope you all know that is not the case.  And if you think it is, oh well, that says more about you than about me (what it says I shall save for the half-baked philosophy portion of some future Lame Post Friday).

Where was I?

A year or two ago I won some Matchbox cars at a Chinese auction to benefit something or other (it may have been 4 Pets Sake, because I think it was at Mohawk Antiques Mall). It was a nice stocking full of little cars.  I used the stocking for somebody else’s Christmas present and pondered what to do with the cars.  Both Steven and I thought it would be a good idea to donate them to one of the groups gathering toys for needy children.

Do you suppose we could find a collection box that was still there when we remembered to bring the cars?  Of course not!  We would notice in the paper where they were doing Stuff the Bus in some parking lot or other, make ourselves a note, then either completely forget about it or have something else come up.

Today when we set out for our various destinations, Steven mentioned that Stuff the Bus was supposed to be at K-Mart.  Since we were headed toward Little Falls, we went that way out of town so as to go right by it.  We remembered to put the cars in our vehicle.   First there was a little discussion as to whether we should leave them in the Halloween bag we had put them in when we took them out of the stocking we won them in.   I wanted to keep the Halloween bag (it was the cloth re-usable kind), so Steven found a nice thick Stewart’s bag (is that uninteresting detail or the sort of minutia that adds color to the story?  No matter, I’m leaving it in).

We slowed down as we approached K-Mart.  No bus was present.  I saw a white panel van (the kind they tell you to avoid in parking lots on a dark night).  I felt sure the stuffable bus would have a big sign or something.  We drove on.

As we left Little Falls, going down 5S this time, Steven suggested we take the South Washington Bridge and look at K-Mart again.  I pulled right into the parking lot, because somebody was right behind us.  There was a school bus, all decorated and Christmasy!  Yay!

The parking lot was crowded, as parking lots are apt to be this time of year, but we did not mind taking a short walk.  A nice lady in a Santa hat took our Stewart’s bag.

“We’ve been holding these cars for two years,” I told her.  “And I keep missing the bus!”

“No, don’t miss the bus!” another lady said.  We all laughed, just like on a TV show.

As we walked away Steven said it did his heart good.  I have some other things around my house I need to give away, most notably some scarves I’ve knitted that are piling up. I must become more proactive in seeking out opportunities to do so.

Merry Christmas and Happy Saturday,  everybody!

 

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Is Lame Post Friday Really a Thing?

Posted on December 12, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Points to ponder:

Why is it a “spork” and not a “foon”?

Why is it “workaholic” and not “workic”?  After all, an alcoholic is addicted to alcohol.  Nobody is addicted to workahol. Workahol is not even a thing and if it is a thing, it is only because some smart ass made it up to prove didactic types like me wrong.

Hmmm…. the only other points I have are serious ones and I am just not up to making any serious points today.  Still,when one does a post like this, one likes to give three examples (one being me).

Oh, here’s one:  Why do people say, “It goes without saying” and then go right ahead and say it?  Sometimes when there is a lull in the conversation I say, “It goes without saying” and let it hang.

I wonder if this is 200 words.  I’m writing it in a spiral notebook while on break at work and I am disinclined to count the words myself.  Hmm… not up to making serious points, disinclined to count words, hoping I’m done with the post already… It must be Lame Post Friday!

But you already knew that.

Anyways, I am now sitting at my acer typing, and it is not quite 200 words.  Additionally, I am a little afraid I have made some of these ponderable points before.  And apparently “ponderable” is not even a word.  Let us ponder that linguistic tidbit for a while.

Happy Friday, everyone.

 

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In Fact, Almost 300 Words

Posted on December 11, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, this isn’t too bad after all.  I had a silly post on Monday, a Running Commentary on Tuesday, and a shout-out to a local business on Wednesday.  I can get away with a Non-Sequitur Thursday post today.  Oh who am I kidding?  I post as much foolishness as I write and rarely worry about getting away with anything.  I type, people read.  It is most convenient.  At least, I hope people read.

I went running again today but for once did not narrate in my head as I ran.  I had a headache all day with nausea in the afternoon and almost talked myself out of running.  The nausea had passed by the end of the day, and I can usually run with a headache.  I whined to a couple of co-workers that I didn’t want to go running.  Then one fellow expressed great admiration for my running.

“I don’t know how you run,” he said.

“Slowly and not very often,” I confessed.

“I wish I could run.”  Asthma prevents him.  After that it felt churlish not to run.  Additionally, the weather was unseasonably warm.  I could wear shorts and short sleeves.  Score!

But I didn’t mean to write a running commentary.  I see that in a previous paragraph I also complained about my aches and pains.  I did not mean to do that either.  Oh, I know, that is why they make the backspace and delete buttons.   But then  it would be a much shorter blog post.

Would that be such a bad thing, you may ask.  Possibly not.  My inner critic would agree, but I try not to listen to that bitch.  No matter.  I am well over 200 words, so I’m going to slap on a snappy title and call it a day.  Happy Thursday, everyone.

 

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Another Cool Place to Shop

Posted on December 10, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

One of Steven’s and my stops on Shop Small Saturday (oh dear, was that almost two weeks ago?  How the time flies!) was Fall Hill Bead and Gems.  What a fun place to look around!

Jewelry is one of my magnets, as a friend once observed. I especially like unusual pieces.  At Fall Hill you can not only find unusual pieces: they sell all the materials needed for you to make your own.  I have personally never made my own jewelry but looking at all the different beads available I’m wondering if I ought to give it a try.

As Steven and I walked around admiring, I started thinking about all my family and friends who would love this store:  this one loves jewelry, that one is interested in the healing properties of gemstones, another one makes jewelry.  I mentioned a few of them to Kim Hergert, the proprietor.  She asked which category I was in.

“I like unusual stores,” I said.

“I just like cool stuff,”  Kim said.  I asked if I could quote her, and she graciously gave permission.

We purchased a small gift bag made out of some unusual material and a rough Little Falls diamond.  Kim told us the bag was half silk half paper.

“I don’t know if they feed the silk worms paper pulp and they poop it out or what,” she said.  It was a fun stop.  I intend to return soon, possibly with family or friends to introduce to a really cool place.

Fall Bead and Gems is located at 32 W. Main St., Little Falls, NY, phone number 315-823-0454. You can Like them on Facebook.

 

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Now I’m Tired

Posted on December 9, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I know you’re all waiting for a Tired Tuesday post in which I once again lament my inability to compose a real post.  However, I’m going to switch things up and offer a Running Commentary.  Did I mention that I went running on Wrist to Forehead Sunday?  Well I went running today (Tuesday) as well, and I’m feeling just a little pleased with myself over it.

The lying sacks — uh, I mean the forecasters who are only human and not omniscient after all —  that predict the weather told us last week that it was going to be warmer this week.  Each day the warm temperatures seem to move a day further away, reminding me of the signs you sometimes see in bars that say, “Free beer tomorrow.”   Of course tomorrow never comes.  Well, yesterday I said I would run tomorrow and that’s today and I did, so there.

It was a little colder than I like for running but I didn’t think it would be too bad.  I found leggings and a long-sleeved t-shirt.  I already knew where my toque was, because I had worn it to work.  I felt a little bad-ass going to work this morning in a short-sleeved t-shirt, regular sweatshirt and my toque.  I figure I’ll add the insulated sweatshirt when the temperature drops below 20.

I didn’t even try to talk myself out of running, and I did not employ any delaying tactics either.  It was shortly after four when I set out.  I foresightedly put a bottle of water and a sweatshirt on my back deck for use during my cool-down walk (my computer seems to think that foresightedly is not a word, but I thought it was).  I ran up to German Street and turned right, because I had turned left on Sunday.

Sunday when I ran it was still dark out, with the sun about to come up.  That is one of my favorite times to run.. You start in the dark and finish in the light.  Today the sun had not exactly set but had gone behind the mountains.  It was still light but grey.  Sometime after eight this morning when I left work to drive to an appointment in New Hartford it was almost dark.  I don’t mind a gloomy day.

Running did not seem too difficult at first, even after working a ten hour day (minus the time I was at my appointment, of course) (oh, maybe that was why running wasn’t too difficult, you think?).  I had thought earlier about running up a hill somewhere (there aren’t that many possibilities near where I live), but decided to take it easy.  I further decided that I would not to run too far.  This was strictly a mind-week maintenance run.  Anything over 20 minutes would be OK.  Even exactly 20 minutes would be acceptable.

I turned down Main Street, which I had not meant to do, but cars were turning and it was easier if I turned too.  Main Street is always interesting.  The new place that sells Greek gyros is open.  I’ll have to check that out.  I love gyros, although I believe I pronounce the word incorrectly.  They also offer souvlaki.  That I know how to say.

All the way down Main I went then took a right onto Albany Street.  Was I getting tired?  A little, but not too bad.  I didn’t think would go a lot over 20 but maybe some.  A few minutes.  There was no point in killing myself.  For one thing, I still had to write a blog post about it.

I admired plenty of Christmas decorations as I ran.  Not many lights were on yet, but I saw a lot of greenery and garland.  One window box sported a banner that read, “It’s Time for Christmas.”   And so it is.  I must get cards sent out and start working on presents.   Well, yes, I believe I did say that most of my friends and family are on the naughty list, as of course am I.  That has not kept any of us from receiving presents in previous years.

I ended up running 25 minutes by virtue of going by the house to the corner and back.  I was quite tired of running by then but decided to push myself just a little.  It didn’t kill me.  Apparently it has not even kept me from composing a fairly lengthy post about it, although I know I’m missing a few bon mots I thought of while I was running.  No matter.  If they were any good, they’ll come back to me for use another time.

 

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More Nonsense on a Monday

Posted on December 8, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

So there I was, without a blog post.  This is not an unusual situation for me, as regular readers know (if I still have any after all these lame posts).  Earlier today I thought I remembered something I had written for Mohawk Valley Living magazine which they had not used.  I could post that!

First I thought I had better check if I had posted about that subject before.  Sometimes for Mohawk Valley Living I combine or modify blog posts.  Um, yes, that is what I did this time.  That idea down the drain.

Well, Steven and I had dinner at Sorrento’s in Ilion last night.  Surely another shout-out to a local eatery would be acceptable.  I searched my posts to see how many times I had written about Sorrento’s.  Turns out to be a lot.  That really shouldn’t matter.  I give multiple shout-outs to lots of businesses.

Unfortunately my Writer’s Block or Blank for what have you continues.  Could I overcome my resistance and write it anyways?  Or should I give it up and write about not being able to write?  I searched my posts for ones about not writing.  Holy crap, what a lot of posts!  How embarrassing!  What kind of a writer am I, anyways?  I clicked on one and read it.

You know, it really wasn’t too bad.  And it got a few comments from other bloggers who liked it.  I started thinking about how some bloggers re-post old posts when they don’t have a post for the day.  Why couldn’t I do that?

I don’t know why, but the fact is I can’t.  I can, however, type in almost 300 words of this nonsense, remarkably similar to other nonsensical posts I have published.  I wonder if months from now I will look back at this post and think, “Why, that’s not too bad.”  I have this sinking suspicion I will not.

 

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Wrist to Christmas?

Posted on December 7, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

As I sit here in my living room, Acer on my lap, Angela Lansbury is singing that she Needs a Little Christmas NOW!

Don’t we all?

Oh, I know, not everybody celebrates Christmas and not everybody loves it blah, blah, blah.  I’m just going to be perfectly up front about it: I LOVE Christmas (the whole Christmas season. Oh, please don’t ask why, no one quite knows the reason)  (How many of you can quote large passages of How the Grinch Stole Christmas if not the whole thing?  Oh, I know some of you can and do; it’s not just me).

Where was I?  Ah yes, Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  After my Santa breakfasting, slow driving and furniture moving adventures yesterday, I had a little too much white wine and stayed up a little too late watching television.  In my defense… why am I defending myself to you?  Are you judging me? Well, I would never judge someone for judging me, BUT…

I started my entertainment oriented evening with a movie I had DVR’d from TCM on Boris Karloff day. I adore Boris Karloff.  This movie also had Edmund Gwenn, who of course played Santa Clause on Miracle on 34th Street.  I saw the name in the opening credits but it did not register till I heard the actor talk and said, “Hey, that’s Santa Claus!”  So with Santa and the Grinch in the cast, it was almost like watching a Christmas movie.

Later on, Steven and I watched our DVD of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, so I could really bask in Karloff’s mellifluous tones.    We followed it up with Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol and Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  These Christmas specials bring back so many memories.  Of course we also discuss the song lyrics (after singing along), the dated gender-based messages, and other sorts of observations that theatre-oriented persons such as Steven and I are bound to make.

Right now we are listening to Christmas CDs, of which we have an extensive collection, and debating out moves for the rest of the day.  I personally could get into watching a couple of Christmas movies and going for a walk once the sun sets to enjoy our neighbors’ Christmas lights.  As always, I’ll try to work on a better blog post for tomorrow.  Happy Sunday, everyone.

 

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Ah Yes, the Blog Post

Posted on December 6, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I spent the day knowing that sooner or later I would have to come up with a blog post.  Of course my Writer’s Blank continues.  Did I mention I was suffering from Writer’s Blank?  I guess it’s not exactly blank, since I am, in fact, able to put words on paper (or on screen, as the case may be).   But they aren’t good words (not that I’m the best judge of that) and I don’t like them (of course I am the only judge of that).

Where was I?  Ah yes, trying for a Scattered Saturday post.

I got up early and left my house bound for Marcy then Liverpool.  I picked up my sister Cheryl and we headed to Breakfast with Santa, which was organized by my sister Diane, at Christ the King Church.  She has been in charge of the event for some years now, but this is the first time I have ever been able to attend.

That would make a good blog post, wouldn’t it?  Not exactly in the Mohawk Valley, but a nice community event.  Or the adventure of me driving my sister into Syracuse.  That was pretty brave of her, wasn’t it?  We had an even more adventurous ride home, with part of a couch sticking out of the back of my SUV.

And, yes, the couch is its own adventure, nicely given to me and Steven by my cousin Mary Beth.  Mary Beth, Cheryl and I got it out of Mary’s house and into my vehicle.  Steve and my nephew Dan helped us get it into my house.  Fun times!

Now I am cooking one of what Steven calls my conglomerations (how DO you spell that word?) (got it).  I don’t know how it will turn out as I am not sure what all I will put in it.

You see where I’m going with this, right?

That’s right! Scattered Saturday!  A brief overview of my activities, any one of which I may write about at greater length at some future date and time.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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Lame Laugh on December 4

Posted on December 5, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is the bra off, sweats on, wine drinking,  blog post writing portion of the evening.

And it is Lame Post Friday.

As regular readers may have noticed, I do not always write my blog posts in sweats and no bra (ooh, I just flashed on that Most Interesting Man in the World,  “I don’t always drink beer…”).  Many times I write my posts while on a break at work.  Many times I do not specify how I am dressed when I post.  However, today I do not have a whole lot to post about, so I led with the setting.

Earlier tonight, Steven and I were at a notorious big box store which needs no plug from Mohawk Valley Girl.  I only mention it because it took MUCH longer than reasonably expected.  And I did not expect it to be short and sweet.  However, it was not too heinous, for which I have my Christmas Spirit and sense of humor to thank.  Or perhaps it was the tiny glass of wine I had before shopping (say it ain’t so!).

I am getting a little bit of Christmas Spirit. I have been listening to Christmas music on CD as I drive to and from work (I know, how 20th century of me).  I have been noticing and appreciating Christmas lights on people’s houses.  I have been planning Christmas presents (Naughty status of friends and family notwithstanding).

My sense of humor really kicked in, however, as the check-out line took longer than walking over the whole store for the stuff on our list.  Every cash register was frozen and the lines stretched further than the eye could see.  At long last we were leaving.

“And it’s only December 4th!”  I said.  I laughed all the way to the car.

 

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