Category Archives: personal

Making Do with a Walk

Posted on December 16, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

Once again I did not go running this Saturday. I’ll have a big, exciting blog post when I start running again, so that is something to look forward to (for me, anyways). In the meantime, today I will write about a walk I took this morning with Tabby, my schnoodle (regular readers know I have a schnoodle named Tabby, but I thought I’d mention her for anybody just tuning in. Plus, I like using the word schnoodle).

Steven and I were up early this morning, because he had to work at 6:30. Well, at least I got to sleep in till four. I must be thankful for what I can get. I didn’t waste the wakefulness, either. I left the house when Steven did, all fired up to finish my Christmas shopping before the crowds arrived.

I didn’t do so good. What a time of year to be stricken with indecision! I’ve been saying that for the rest of the day. You see, I can’t even decide on something else to say.

All this is just background, of course. I was partially successful and wondered what else I could usefully get done before my eye doctor appointment at 10:45. Then I remembered I had yet to deposit a check into my mad money account at First Source Federal Credit Union in Herkimer (see, I get to plug a local business, too).

First I had to search frantically for a hat. What in the world did I do with my toque? And what happened to all the other knitted hats I used to have? This one looks dorky, that one looks dorky, oh, here’s a good one. Does anybody else have these problems? I got Tabby into her harness and we set out.

Still no snow in Herkimer, NY. Not even any rain, although yesterday my bunions definitely predicted precipitation. Well, sometimes my bunions are in advance of the event. Not even too cold, but I was glad I had found my hat.

Lots of Christmas decorations to look at. I saw several blow up Santas not deflated, as well as a couple sad looking ones. In the daylight, I especially like to see the large Christmas balls hanging from porches. I saw some swaying in the breeze, although I wasn’t bothered much by the wind. Perhaps it was the Ghost of Christmas Past or somebody (just a spooky thought to brighten my day).

Tabby was not best pleased with the directions I was walking in, but I convinced her to accompany me. She was happy enough once we got to the bank. She loves that bank. The teller gave her a treat, which I believe she was expecting.

After I had transacted my business, Tabby delayed our departure long enough to greet another patron. She jumped right up on him to be petted.

“Well, hello,” he said. “How are you? Nice to meet you!”

“She always knows nice people when she sees them,” I said. Actually, I think Tabby thinks everybody is nice and wants to pet her. Luckily, many people do.

We walked home by a different route so we could see more decorations. I envied all the hard plastic light up snowmen, in particular one who seemed to be giving me a knowing grin.

I’d like to share with you some of my Christmas shopping adventures, but it would be problematic. There would be a lot of “I got a … for …” because some people on my Christmas list read my blog. Sometimes even the place I shopped would be a giveaway. So for now, we’ll have to make do with a walk to the bank. Happy Saturday, everybody.

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In My Defense, Here’s a Song

Posted on December 15, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did not write my Friday Lame Post while at work today. What a surprise. I’ve had good luck with writing off the cuff before, I even had a few ideas banging around in my head (they bounce off the thick skull).

And here I am, with nothing coming off my cuffs (I have four of them, too, two per arm since I’m wearing a turtleneck and a sweatshirt). Why, oh why did I not write during my lunch?

I seem to recall trying that writing thing of having a designated writing time. Even if you just sit there staring at the blank page, this method goes, you sit there just in case. And sometimes something happens. My designated time was my lunch half hour at work. I seemed to get some stuff written, except on my husband’s days off. Then I would call him and talk. I think it’s important to talk to your husband.

Today, however, my little rebellious streak made itself felt.

“I don’t follow common wisdom!” my rebellious streak said. “They say don’t weigh yourself every day: I weigh myself every day! And I’m losing weight! They say just sit there even if you’re not writing. I’m not going to just sit there! So there!”

So I read this really good book. In my defense, the book is letters and diaries written around the time I’ve set the novel I’m working on. So you could categorize it as research. Or you can just shake your finger at me and say, “Next time you’ll know better: write during your designated time!”

That is so easy to say to somebody else. It’s even easy to say to myself when I am not actually doing it. It is extremely easy to sit here and resolve: from now on I will write during my lunch half hour at work (except on Steven’s days off). Doesn’t do me a whole lot of good as I’m sitting here churning out yet another really dull post.

To liven things up, I will end with a Christmas song I wrote about my dog, Tabby. Tabby likes to hear me sing; she wags her tail when I do. Sing this to the tune of “Holly Jolly Christmas.” You can insert your own dog’s name if you like.

Have a Happy Tabby Christmas
She’s the best dog of the year
She’s so sweet,
Give her a treat
And scratch behind her ear.

Have a Happy Tabby Christmas
And when you walk down the street,
Let her sniff,
She’ll take a whiff
And pet the dogs you’ll meet.

Oh Ho, Tabby’s so
Cute and sweet and nice!
She’ll wag her tail for you (so)
Rub her belly twice!

Have a Happy Tabby Christmas
And in case you didn’t hear
Oh, dag nab it Have a Happy Tabby Christmas this year!

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I Mean, It’s Like, You Know?

Posted on December 14, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was unable to write a blog post while at work today, because I was suffering from a screaming sinus headache.

Um, I did not actually scream. My place of employment is pretty loud at the best of times, so it is entirely possible that if I had screamed no one would have noticed. If they did notice, hearing protection is readily available. Good thing; my screams are piercing.

Where was I? Ah yes, nowhere. Partway through the day, in between waves of pain and wondering what in the world I was going to write about, I remembered: Non Sequitur Thursday. All I had to do was write a few random comments and done! On to the wine drinking portion of the evening!

I even thought of using “Non Sequitur Thursday” as the headline, but then I thought it would be a little too post-ironic. I mean, think about it: if you say you are about to say a non sequitur, then you say one, doesn’t that make it a sequitur? And is sequitur one of those lost positives you hear about (you know, like ept)?

I could actually make this Stream of Consciousness Thursday, by seguing into a whole blurb on lost positives (with a slight detour into how come my computer wants me to spell it “segueing” when the dictionary clearly prints “-uing”?). I really, really, want to say it: you know, how people can be inept, but you never hear about them being ept?

My computer, by the way, is also underlining ept, and all I can think of is the pregnancy test. Not something I need to think about at my age!

This is a singularly silly post, and I know I’ve had some silly ones. And I realized I was using “you know” entirely too much (I actually deleted a couple), so that gave me my headline. This was an expression I used to use quite a bit in my younger days. It was my statement on how people often talked without saying anything. A self portrait? You be the judge.

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Musings on Magoo

Posted on December 13, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I know I said yesterday that I would plan a better blog post for today, but nobody really got their hopes up, did they? I hope a Midweek Middle-aged Musing will suffice.

The other day Steven and I watched one of our all time favorite Christmas specials: Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol. Like many children in the ’60s (no, not in THEIR 60s, in the years following 1960. Sheesh!), it was our first introduction to the Charles Dickens classic.

The old Mr. Magoo cartoons have fallen into bad repute these days. Some people say they do not find it amusing to make fun of someone’s disability, in this case nearsightedness. This is, of course, a worthy sentiment. If I recall the original cartoons, the joke was that Mr. Magoo was completely oblivious to the fact that he could not see and to all the trouble it got him into. Everything always worked out for him in the end.

That doesn’t make it right to make fun of him, the argument continues. Perhaps not, but consider this: Many vision problems are easily correctable with a pair of glasses, and many people are too cheap, vain or stubborn to provide themselves with glasses. I think cheapness, vanity and stubbornness are OK to make fun of.

Ebenezer Scrooge falls into the cheap category.

“Could I need spectacles?” he asks himself. Then, realizing spectacles cost money: “Must be this gruel. Sour, sour!”

Later the Ghost of Christmas Present: “So you’re the man who’s too tight with a penny to buy himself a pair of spectacles!”

So you see.

If you don’t buy my rationalization, just remind yourself: Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol was made in 1962. We know better now. Use it as a teachable moment and enjoy the show. We did.

And don’t be too cheap to buy yourself a pair of glasses if you need them.

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Pedestrian Plan

Posted on December 12, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I spent all day at work trying to psyche myself up to run. For one thing, I needed a blog post. Then my back started to hurt. Then I thought of my dog, Tabby, who likes to go for a walk, and I felt guilty. True, she walks my cool down with me, but that is only ten minutes.

Finally I reached a compromise: If it was nasty weather (which Tabby does not like to walk in), I would run. If not, I would see if my husband, Steven, would like to go for a walk with me and Tabby, which, of course, is one of Tabby’s favorite things to do.

I outlined my plan to a co-worker. I’m always telling people my plans. It increases the likelihood of my following through on them.

“That’s my plan,” I finished.

“And you’re sticking to it,” she added.

“I will try to stick to it,” I admitted. “If I come home and Steven has a pot of coffee and says, ‘Do you want a cup of coffee, honey?’ I’m having coffee.”

She thought this was a good plan too. And that is what I ended up doing. First I had coffee. Then we went for a walk.

I left on my army pants, which I wear to work, but changed into a long-sleeved shirt. Then I put on one of my Christmas sweatshirts, black with cardinals on holly branches with snow falling. An insulated sweatshirt and my toque (rhymes with “spook”) completed my ensemble.

I take so much time telling about my plan to walk and what I wore, because it was a pretty uneventful walk. The vague snowflakes that had been falling had stopped, and there was very little breeze. It was just about to get dark, my favorite time of day.

We admired many Christmas decorations, pointing out to each other all the lights on porches and trees visible through windows. I especially like different colored lights, but white or monochromatic can be nice, too. I restrained Steven from stealing any hard plastic light up snowmen we saw, but we did envy them.

I counted three houses in one block with candles in the windows, one of Steven’s favorite looks, then amended it to four, although the fourth only had a candle in one window.

By the time we got home it was almost dark. I pointed out how Halloweeny the bare trees looked against the grey sky. I like to mix up the holidays a little.

At this point, I am a little embarrassed, because this is a pretty dull post, even for me. However, it is Christmas time. We’re all busy. Maybe most people were even too busy to read this far. Perhaps it would have made a better post if I had let Steven steal the snowman. Questions to ponder.

I’ll try to plan a better post for tomorrow.

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Fun at the Bazaar

Posted on December 10, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sunday morning, Steven and I had an authentic Mohawk Valley adventure: we went to a Christmas Bazaar at the Church of Sts. Anthony and Joseph, South Main Street, Herkimer, NY.

The bazaar was in the church hall across the street from the church itself. We managed to find a good place to park, which was not easy since people were going to church about then. It was not very crowded at the bazaar, but I was sure as soon as church let out it would be.

We right away put in for a raffle of a wonderful looking plate of cookies as well as the 50/50. I left Steven writing his name on the 50/50 tickets (of course we did 10 for $5) while I looked at the other tables. In a very short time I returned to him and informed him I had solved his problem of what else to get his sisters for Christmas (I can write that with impunity here, because his sisters do not read my blog).

Before we shopped, though, we got some Pizza Fritta and coffee. Pizza Fritta, or fried dough, is one of the staple treats of the Mohawk Valley. It was one of my favorite things to get at the Festival at St. John’s Church in Rome when I was growing up, or at any of the many area firemen’s field days.

What I had seen for his sisters were some beautiful handmade ornaments. Two different kinds of reindeer made with clothespins, reindeer sewn from felt with cinnamon stick antlers, and two different snowmen, one made from a light bulb. I was a little leery of mailing a light bulb, but the lady at the table said, “Oh, just put it in bubble wrap. It’ll be fine.”

Another table had a Chinese Auction, which of course Steven and I love. We took our time making up our minds what to put our tickets on for that. I’d love to win the Waterfront Grille gift certificate, but the lady at the 50/50 table said she had put in at least five tickets for that.

It was exactly the kind of fun community thing I like to attend. And you may notice I got through my entire Sunday post with my wrist nowhere near my forehead.

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Running Around Commentary

Posted on December 9, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that title yesterday, when I was not sure if I would go running today (Saturday), but intended to drive to New Hartford for seasonal purposes.

As I contemplated actually writing this post, however, I ran into a slight problem. I obviously can’t write about what I bought, because some of my giftees occasionally read my blog. I knew that going in. But then, being kind of a paranoid person, I started to think that if I wrote about where I went certain people might figure out what I bought. Some people are clever you know, and I am not that unpredictable.

One of my stops in particular would be an obvious giveaway. Naturally, that is the most fun place. An adventure getting there, an authentic Mohawk Valley cool place to go, AND I told the ladies working there that I was totally going to do a blog post about them! Well, it will have to wait till after the holiday. Or until I can’t resist giving … the … early (in fact, I may have said too much already).

Where was I? Ah yes, headed to New Hartford, getting an early start to beat some of the crowds. Long time readers may remember that I used to work in New Hartford. I will never get over being happy about my WAY shorter commute to Ilion. Every time I drive to New Hartford I feel happy all over again. In fact, yesterday when I was telling a friend at work I intended to drive into New Hartford, I felt happy about it.

Really, it’s not a bad drive for a Saturday adventure. I went by Route 5S, which has some lovely views (although I kept my eyes on the road enough to avoid an accident). It was a gloomy, rainy day, but I still enjoyed it.

Going through Utica is fun, too. I love Utica. The architecture of some of the older buildings is beautiful. I also have a kind of a fascination with the old, decrepit-looking factories. The grey gloomy day enhanced this.

I noted a mere two hundred seventy something days till the Boilermaker as I passed the Runner’s Hall of Fame. I do not intend to run in 2013, but I may find occasion to write about it again.

On into Yorkville, I think. Utica has a bunch of little towns around it: Yorkville, Washington Mills, Whitesboro, New York Mills, New Hartford. Some astute reader may call me out on this and tell me a couple of those are really nowhere near Utica, but I’m sure I saw them on green signs somewhere.

I passed a consignment shop with the tag line “For Attic Addicts,” whose name completely escapes me. How embarrassing. Holland Farms put wreaths on the cows on their sign out front. Mmmmm, half-moon cookies. Perhaps I would stop on the way back. Voss, closed for the season. No hot dogs today! Harbor Freight Tools, one of my Dad’s favorite places to shop. Symeon’s Greek Restaurant. Mmmm, if I was still around at lunch time…

And, of course, a bunch more businesses I haven’t mentioned. Plus the places I stopped at, which I will give a shout out to AFTER Christmas. If the people I bought for like the presents I got for them there. No reason to think they won’t.

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Desperate Times Call for Lame Measures

Posted on December 8, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

If ever I was in need of Lame Post Friday, today is the day.

For those of you just tuning in (I know I say this almost every week, but I believe I do occasionally have new readers), Lame Post Friday is the day I let myself off the hook with random observations and half-baked philosophy. It’s actually reprehensible of me, because I let myself off the hook on many occasions: Middle-aged Musings Monday, Wrist to Forehead Sunday, Non Sequitur Thursday (although I’ve only had one of those so far). Even Running Commentary Saturday is a little, dare I say, lame.

In my defense, I don’t always use these handy little hide-behinds. If I have something to write about, I write about it. In my further defense, I sometimes get a lot of “likes” on these silly posts.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if I’m going to post every day, some of the posts are going to be lame. One might argue (you know, that one that’s always ready to argue. I hate that one): so don’t post every day! Wait till you have something to say! I think I’ve had that argument in this space before. So sorry to repeat myself.

It is pouring rain out (random observation #1). This is sad news for me and for the blog, because I was going to go to a tree lighting in Weller Park in Mohawk tonight. It would have made a great post tomorrow (or do I flatter myself?)! Hmm, guess it’s time for some half-baked philosophy about how it’s OK, because…

I got nuthin’. This is it folks: a short post, one random observation. I’ll do one thing. I’ll save this as a draft and post it after I eat. Maybe something will occur to me while I dine.

NOTE: Nothing occurred to me. But I did have some Heidleberg Bread, baked right here in Herkimer, NY from local ingredients. My Mohawk Valley Girl cred survives.

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To Tree Or Not To Tree

Posted on December 7, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I know in headlines you’re not supposed to capitalize “or” or “to” or little, unimportant words like that (although think how oddly that headline would read without them), but I thought “To Tree or Not to Tree” looked funny, too. What’s a blogger to do?

It is kind of an important point, because the headline is pretty much all I have today.

Wow, I just sat here staring at the screen for a good three or four minutes (felt like hours). This could be the shortest post yet!

I did try to write something under this title on a break at work today. Usually I can get at least a paragraph or two out of my silly dithering. I wrote something about waxing philosophical about Christmas trees. Then I got bogged down between saving the half-baked philosophy for Lame Post Friday and wanting to make a play on words about waxing things.

I said to hell with this, wrote another page on my novel, and thought I would trust to writing on the fly. It’s worked before.

First Steven and I had to do some Christmas shopping. I have mentioned that he works at a certain big box store which needs no publicity from Mohawk Valley Girl. Well, he qualified for a sweet 20 percent off voucher, good today or tomorrow only, for one shopping trip. We filled a cart! And don’t think that didn’t entail a lot of dithering!

Shopping on a Thursday night in December. What the hell was I thinking? As I threaded my way around people and carts, saying, “Pardon me, excuse me, pardon me,” this chick who worked there barged by me saying “EXCUSE ME!” in a loud voice, as if I was the one standing in the middle of the aisle holding things up!

Other than that little annoyance, though, it was pretty fun. Most people were at least polite if not good-natured about it. At one point, as I was hustling back to toiletries while Steven completed looking for groceries, I got the giggles. It happens to me in bad weather, sometimes it happens to me in crowds. I seem to remember it happened at the Boilermaker more than once.

And what has this to do with “To Tree or Not to Tree,” you may ask. I bet you think I’m going to explain, “Shut up.” But no, I will answer: NOTHING! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

And just like that, a new feature is born for Mohawk Valley Girl: Non Sequitur Thursday. Hope you enjoyed it.

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A Visit to Downtown Herkimer

Posted on December 6, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just gave Hummel’s Office Plus in Herkimer, NY a shout out last week, but I had occasion to go there last night (Tuesday), so I dare to mention them again.

Once again in my capacity as secretary for Ilion Little Theatre I was assigned to send a card, a sympathy card in this case. I really hesitate to mention somebody else’s bereavement in this space, although I believe I have done it once before (in a post about purchasing a sympathy card at Hummels’). It feels… intrusive, for want of a better word (I sat here crossing out words for a good three or four minutes before I came up with that one).

Oh, I hate picking out sympathy cards. I can never find the right one. I finally settled on the one that felt the least wrong.

Some comic relief was provided by one of the sales associates. She was wearing the silliest elf hat I have seen in a long time. It stuck straight up before curling to a point a good eight or ten inches over her head. Large pointy ears stuck out of the side. I told them they must take a picture to post on Facebook. They assured me it had already been done. I hope to return to Hummel’s soon and purchase just such a hat for myself.

I went downstairs where Steven and Tabby were waiting. After a joyous reunion with Tabby (I had been gone almost ten minutes), I addressed the card. I had foresightedly brought the address, a stamp and a pen. Then I couldn’t find the pen, but the downstairs clerk helpfully loaned me one of theirs.

Herkimer’s Post Office is in the same block as Hummel’s. Perfect! We could walk Tabby around the block and put the card (along with a couple of other cards I needed to send) right in the mail.

We walked by the Belly Up Pub, and I spoke longingly of their appetizer menu. Of course I’m off deep fried food for the foreseeable future (South Beach Diet), but I can dream. We speculated on Tabby’s possible reception in such a business, but we did not test the theory.

The post office was not closed yet, so we were able to walk right inside to mail our things. Tabby looked hopefully at people waiting in line. One lady said she was cute, but nobody offered to pet her.

We continued around the block. Burrito Jones still isn’t open. A wireless phone company is (Sorry I didn’t make note of which one it was. T Mobile?). A couple of closed businesses. Bummer. Somebody put two smallish blow up snowmen in one empty storefront. Nice. Pete’s Tavern. Well, if we didn’t take Tabby into Belly Up we probably shouldn’t take her into Pete’s.

After we turned back onto Albany Street we noted that Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner was closed for the night. Too bad. I could have gone for a Patty Platter. But, again, not a good place for Tabby. Some folks were still working in Castle Law Firm.

And then we were back to our own car and could happily go home. I don’t know if you’d call this much of a Mohawk Valley adventure, but we enjoyed it, so I thought it might be worth a post.

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