Category Archives: personal

More About My Toes

Posted on November 21, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I mentioned in passing a couple of times that I had gotten a pedicure. I thought I’d say a little more about it today.

I’d been wanting to get one for a while now. My last pedicure was self-administered and it did not turn out so well to begin with. By last week the polish was chipped and grown out in a disgraceful fashion, and I was getting an uncomfortable ingrown toenail.

For anyone who is about to scream, “TMI!” Oh, just be quiet. You must know I hate that expression, and why shouldn’t I talk about my toes? This is a personal blog, after all. If you don’t like it, just don’t read me. (Then again, maybe nobody was about to scream anything and I should just get over myself.)

Where was I? Ah yes, calling the Hot Spot Salon and Spa for an appointment. I worked till eleven on Saturday. Claire had an opening at 12:30. As soon as I had made the appointment, I started second guessing myself (what a surprise).

“Shouldn’t I go running rather than get a pedicure?” I asked some co-workers.

“Go for a short run first,” one of them suggested. “The pedicure will feel really good then.”

This was good advice, but I was worried I would not have time to put on running clothes, run, go for cooldown walk with Tabby, shower, find thong sandals (they are not flip flops; flip flops are shower shoes), get to the Hot Spot. However, I felt I did have time to change shoes, take Tabby for a nice walk, shower, find sandals, get to the Hot Spot. Hmm… It doesn’t sound like so much less when I write it, but it felt a lot more relaxed at the time.

I was glad I got the pedicure. I picked a lovely shade of deep orange, a real harvest color. I was so pleased with it, I wore sandals for the rest of the day. And I went for a run on Sunday, so everybody can be happy.

The Hot Spot Salon and Spa is located at 121 E. Albany St., Herkimer, NY 13350, phone 315-866-9113. They are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Peppermint Oil and More

Posted on November 20, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

One of my stops while shopping Saturday was a place I had never been before but had always meant to visit, Peter’s Cornucopia in the New Hartford Shopping Center.

I had most recently heard about Peter’s during the last play I was in. One cast member gave another peppermint oil to help clear sinuses suffering from a bad cold. She said she had purchased it at Peter’s Cornucopia and that it was good for many things.

While I was getting my pedicure on Saturday the topics of peppermint oil and Peter’s Cornucopia came up (I forget which was mentioned first). Clair, who was working on my feet, said that somebody had given her peppermint oil to help an upset, nervous stomach.

Therefore, when my friend Phyllis mentioned stopping at Peter’s, I was delighted.

Phyllis enjoys Peter’s for their wide selection of gluten free products. I spent a good deal of time browsing the herbal and homeopathic remedies before finding the peppermint oil (I suppose I could have asked somebody, but it was more fun to look).

I did not see all Peter’s has to offer, but I did notice free-range organic turkeys, Three Village Cheese and some very fancy chocolates which I virtuously resisted. I said I must bring Steven next time.

“Does he like organic stuff?”

“He just likes unusual stores like this.”

According to their business card, Peter’s Cornucopia offers natural and gourmet foods, a juice/coffee bar and cafe, fruit and nut trays, vitamins and herbal supplements, and gourmet gift baskets. Steven will definitely like to check out the cafe, and I will take a closer look at the gourmet foods.

Peter’s is located at 38 New Hartford Shopping Center, New Hartford, NY 13413, telephone 315-724-4998, fax 315-724-1975. Hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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But It Really IS Wrist to Forehead Sunday!

Posted on November 19, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I know I signed off yesterday promising Mohawk Valley adventures for the foreseeable future. I even had a few yesterday. And today I am EXHAUSTED!

I guess not really. I guess “exhausted” would mean there is nothing left. No brain to think of a word to say. No energy to lift a pen or push a keyboard. Exhausted.

If this was Lame Post Friday, I cold go off into some half-baked philosophy about How We Exaggerate. I’m EXHAUSTED! I’m STARVING! I’m DYING! Some of us go through life in a perpetual wrist to forehead state. I’m trying to confine it to Sunday but, I admit, with indifferent success.

I really had a pretty fun day yesterday. After work, I took my dog for a very pleasant walk. I got a pedicure, and I went shopping in New Hartford with a friend. Then I came home and fixed supper for my husband. Wow! What a woman! (Just kidding. Nobody needs to post lengthy comments on how much MORE stuff THEY did.) (Unless you feel strongly about it; I don’t mind reading lengthy comments.)

Where was I? I don’t really remember, because, as sometimes happens, the act of writing has refreshed me. Or maybe it was the cheese, grapes and apple I’m eating (I’m on a break at work). In any case, I’m feeling better now. I would say the wrist is off my forehead, but you all know it was not really there to begin with (so difficult to eat cheese, grapes and apple with one hand while writing).

And here is where I kind of laugh at myself as a blogger. When I get home, I intend to type the preceding bit of self-therapy into the computer and call it a post. Is this a great hobby or what?

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Yummy and New Yorky Wines

Posted on November 18, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have a new way of attending wine tastings on a Friday. I work out at Curves with my friends Phyllis and Kelly, then we go to the wine tasting in our sweaty workout clothes. Friday we went to one at Vintage Spirits in Herkimer, NY.

Bronson was already pouring the wines when we got there. This time he was assisted by a lovely young woman with long blonde hair. I later found out this was Alyssa, a representative of Empire Merchants North, one of the distributors Vintage Spirits deals with.

When I pulled out my little zebra striped book to take notes in, somebody said, “Ooh, she’s a professional.” I kind of tarnished that reputation when I pronounced the first wine “yummy,” and I completely obliterated it when I described another as “New Yorky.” As they say, I gotta be me.

The first yummy wine was The Skinny Vine Mini Moscato. Alyssa told us it was only 95 calories a glass. It was semi-sweet. I thought it would be a good middle-of-the-road wine for a gathering.

The New Yorky wine was Red Tail Ridge Chardonnay, from a Seneca Lake winery. Bronson described it as “lightly oaked,” kind of midway between a California chardonnay (aged in oak) and a French chardonnay (aged in stainless). I sometimes get a little oenophile-ish over chardonnays. It’s not my favorite wine, but I seem to know more about it. I taste a lot of differences between the different aging processes, so it is more interesting to me to taste than, say a pinot noir or cabernet sauvignon that I’m pretty sure I’m going to like.

Phyllis pronounced the Milbrandt Vineyards Riesling, from Washington State, refreshing. We all liked the Mumm Napa Brut Prestige.

Two pinot noirs were offered, Red Tail Ridge and Chateau St. Jean. Both were very good; the Chateau St. Jean was more smooth. That was my favorite wine of the day.

I also liked the Four Vines Petite Syrah, but decided to purchase the Chateau St. Jean. That was one of the ones distributed by Alyssa’s company. I asked her if I could mention her in my blog post. She said I could if I had nice things to say.

“In real life, I can say cutting things about some people,” I said. “But in my blog, I like to keep it positive.” I hastened to add that there was nothing negative to say about her or her company anyways. She was very friendly and helpful, even pouring samples of wines that her company did not distribute.

Another lady at the wine tasting (another regular, like me) vouched for my blog being positive.

“You read my blog?” I was quite delighted.

The wine tasting was a great deal of fun. Phyllis, Kelly and I may go on more wine tasting adventures. Stay tuned.

Vintage Spirits is located at 246 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY. Phone number 315-866-6800.

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Not a Bored Meeting

Posted on November 16, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I usually don’t write about my Ilion Little Theatre meetings, either Board of Director or monthly dinner. One reason is that I’m not sure if the people involved would like to be mentioned in a blog post. I mean, it’s one thing to stand up on stage in a play or even work backstage. In those cases, your name gets put in the program or even in the newspaper (spelled right or wrong). It’s already public. Meetings might be considered… less so.

By now some of my nosier readers may be sitting up by their monitors, wondering if they are going to be made privy to what goes on behind closed doors. Unfortunately, I do not plan to write anything that exciting, but I hope to come up with something at least mildly entertaining.

Last night (Wednesday) I arrived at The Stables, Remington Avenue, Ilion, NY, only slightly late for the 6 p.m. meeting. One board member could not be there because he had recently had surgery (was that a HIPPA violation to mention that?).

“If he was really dedicated,” I said, “he would have had his wife push him here in a wheelbarrow.”

I don’t know if anybody else remembers, but when Iraq had its first democratic elections, one old woman was pushed for miles and miles in a wheelbarrow just so she could vote. To me, that sets the standard.

“He might be at tomorrow’s dinner meeting,” someone said.

“In a wheelbarrow?” I asked hopefully.

As we continued our meeting, cast members of Rented Christmas kept walking by and going into rehearsal. Soon we heard the sounds of vocal warm-ups: “La la la la LAH la la la laaah!” (It sounds better than it looks.) Our president, who is also in the cast, shared with us a couple of cute stories about the younger cast members.

At the end of the meeting we had to sneak through rehearsal to get tables and chairs to set up for Thursday’s dinner meeting. Some of the cast was lined up across the stage singing Christmas carols. I sang along, but quietly. I have a terrible singing voice.

So I guess the main point of today’s post is to plug Rented Christmas. The singing I heard sounded pretty good. The story is heartwarming and family friendly. I personally look forward to seeing it. Performance dates are December 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30. For more information visit Ilion Little Theatre’s website at www.ilionlittletheatre.org or their Facebook page.

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Irony in the Life of a Blogger

Posted on November 15, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

So there I was, sitting in front of my computer with no blog post written, no topic in mind, and Firefox was taking its sweet time coming up. Welcome to Wuss Out Wednesday!

I have, in addition to limited brain cells, limited time in which to tax them. I have a special board meeting of the board of Directors of Ilion Little Theatre at six. I had to work out, which I did. I had to eat supper, which Steven nicely cooked. I had to shower, which I also did (I’m sure that comes as a relief to many).

Yesterday’s blog post was kind of dull. I even apologized for the dullness when I posted the link to Facebook. My sister tactfully suggested that it was perhaps a full life, so I had no time to think of things creative. I said no, it was dull. Well, there was that play I was in last weekend, otherwise I would have had time to watch more cheesy horror movies to write about.

The irony is not lost on me. Just to be sure, I will spell it out: My blog would be better if I spent more time at home, sitting on my couch. Because I was out in the Mohawk Valley participating in creative endeavors, my blog is boring.

I think that’s FUNNY! I’m going to stop having such an interesting life tomorrow. Well, Friday at the latest (tomorrow in fact I have the dinner meeting of Ilion Little Theatre as a whole: good food, a little wine, great company, oh yeah, I’ll start being boring again Friday). In the meantime, feel free to point and laugh (as some of you frequently do) (you know who you are).

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Well, We Enjoyed It

Posted on November 14, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had intended to come home from work and run, thus providing myself with a blog post and some exercise. Well, apparently today at work I lifted with my back not my legs and something hurts. I’m thinking rest and ibuprofen will put things to rights but did not feel up to anything faster than a walk. Fortunately, I had a dog who was anxious for such a thing and a husband who did not mind accompanying us.

I put on a long sleeved shirt under my sweatshirt and a knitted toque (once again, rhymes with spook) on my head, left on my BDU pants from work but switched out my steel-toed work shoes for sneakers. I like to take a walk in the evening dressed like a crazy old lady. My only regret was that the temperature made the toque better than the actual crazy old lady hat.

It was chilly, a grey, gloomy evening. Just what I like. As we walked, I wondered if I shouldn’t have put on my insulated sweatshirt instead. Steven had sensibly worn a coat. Oh well, too much trouble to turn back. I would suck it up.

Tabby surprised me by walking all the way down Bellinger Street to Meyers Park rather than turning left on Church Street and making for Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners. After she did her business opposite the park, I turned us into the park, so I could throw out the poo in one of the handily located trash cans.

One of the houses opposite the park still had pumpkins on the porch, one with a face carved in it. It looked in pretty good shape. Sometimes the jack-o-lanterns get really scary looking after Halloween when icky black stuff starts to grow inside them. Another house had extensive cobwebs on the porch as well as some pumpkin decorations hanging up and colored ghosts on sticks in the yard. I do like to extend the Halloween season (as evidenced by my desire to keep watching cheesy horror movies).

After the park I suggested we walk up Prospect Street. Steven remarked on garbage scattered on a lawn. He said our street looked like that and he wondered if it was some ill-mannered drunk.

“Oh, no, it was a wind storm,” I told him. “I lay there in bed listening to it. It sounded like a freight train (excuse the cliche) in the distance, then when it got closer I could hear the trash cans blowing around.”

Apparently Steven slept through it.

When we got to Church Street, Tabby tried to pull us to her favorite Four Corners, but I said no. We continued up Prospect Street to German, then back home.

It was, as you may have guessed, a rather uneventful walk. We enjoyed it a great deal as Steven and I spent the whole time chatting. I do like to talk to my husband. I’d like to say we were plotting Mohawk Valley adventures for future, better blog posts, but I can’t lie. However, I will do my best to entertain more betterly next time (“more betterly” is the technical term).

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Around the Town with Tabby

Posted on November 11, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I would have like to do a Saturday Running Commentary, but I cravenly decided not to run. I have a show to do and a dog I’ve been neglecting. I decided a pedestrian post was more in order.

It was a beautiful day for a walk (or run, for that matter, but that ship sailed, quit pining), in the 50s, partly cloudy. I felt I didn’t need my knitted toque (rhymes with “spook”) or my crazy old lady hat. My schnoodle Tabby was completely happy to join me (most of you know my dog is a schnoodle; I just like using the word).

A block from the house, the sun came out from behind the clouds and I felt the absence of my crazy old lady hat. I was too far to go back and get it, though, so I sucked it up. I could always cross the street in search of shade.

Tabby seemed to feel the need to sniff every post, tree and sign, as well as several random patches of grass with no attraction visible to the human eye. A couple of times I noticed the attraction was a patch of poo, blending in with dead grass or fallen leaves. I tried to keep her away from those. She doesn’t need to be sticking her nose in other dogs’ poo.

“You know what poo smells like,” I tell her as I pull her away. Then I let her sniff the next harmless-looking choice.

When she pooed herself, I picked it up in a plastic bag. Now I was on the lookout for a trash can. I had taken the precaution of placing an extra poo bag in my sweatshirt pocket, in case I threw out this poo and she pooed again. Such a thing does not happen often, but one likes to be prepared.

Of course we walked by Tabby’s favorite, Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners. Naturally a dog of mine would be a local history buff (she also likes crime shows and jazz music). I don’t know why they moved the trash can that was in front of the 1834 Jail, but that wasn’t the only reason I like to walk that way. We continued down Main Street.

We had to walk around some yellow caution tape in front of Sam’s Grocery and Deli and Sacred Eagle Tattoo. It seems they are painting the storefronts. It certainly looks nice. I complimented the men working. I’m always glad to see people making improvements in our village.

I found a trash can in front of Basloe Library, another of my favorite spots. I remembered the guitar people would be playing. Every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. I would have like to go in to listen, but I wasn’t sure if they like cute little dogs in the library. Anyways, Tabby would have just wanted the musicians to pet her.

On down Main Street, sad to see closed businesses but encouraged by some signs of life. People were working in the store that is to be a Burrito Jones. I like burritos. I noticed a T-Mobile store I hadn’t noticed before. Doors at Pete’s Tavern were open, but Tabby isn’t 21 so we did not go in. Soon I could smell burgers coming from Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner and remembered I was hungry.

Turning the corner we went by Hummel’s Office Plus. They were having an open house, but for once Tabby did not pull me towards the door. She was more interested in sniffing every available lamp post. The beer lights were not yet let for the Belly Up Pub. Then again, it was before noon. I think they open at four. Not that I was looking for a beer (despite the earlier mention of Pete’s Tavern).

We walked for almost a half hour, and my legs were grateful for the exercise. I think Tabby enjoyed it, too, although I did not let her do all the sniffing she desired. And my post is a respectable length, if not as exciting as some. Well, I do my best. At least my dog is happy.

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Will I Break a Leg?

Posted on November 10, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

This is NOT Lame Post Friday. I work tomorrow, and when I work Saturday, Friday is just not Friday. OK, all you folks out there who work every Saturday, just don’t start, I have already addressed your concerns in previous non-lame Friday posts (don’t remember exactly what I said, probably something lame).

That said, I don’t have a whole lot to blog about (see yesterday’s post on “In My Defense… I Have No Defense”). Well, maybe one thing. As soon as I type this in (composing at the computer, by the way, not handwriting in a notebook on a break at work) (just to give an accurate picture), I must quickly shower and blow dry my hair in preparation for tonight’s performance of Strike Story at Ilion Little Theatre, Remington Avenue, Ilion, NY.

I know I said yesterday that I already wrote about this, but I thought of a few more things to say. To reiterate, for those of you just tuning in, Ilion Little Theatre, forced to postpone Dirty Work at the Crossroads till May, asked a group from Little Falls to present Strike Story, an original Readers’ Theatre piece written by a Little Falls woman, on our stage as our fall production. They needed a Helen Schloss for the second weekend. Our vice president nominated me. How could I refuse? (Seriously, please tell me how to refuse these things should they arise in the future; I don’t have time to be in a lot of plays).

I’ve been a little stressed. Would I be able to find a black skirt to wear? (yes, by virtue of spending an hour rummaging around in the theatre’s VERY messy costume room, Steven found me one). Would I be any good at the part? (the Little Falls people seem happy enough). Could I work a ten hour day on Friday, do a good show, then get up for more overtime on Saturday? (we’ll find out — stay tuned!).

On the whole, though, I’m pretty happy I did it. I’ve never done Readers’ Theatre. It is much more stylized than any play I’ve been in before, and some of the speeches are pretty long. And we’re all on stage the whole time. It’s fun, and a challenge, to listen attentively and in character, and make subtle little reactions. You never know when an audience member may be looking at you.

What I really like, though, is that my character does NOT like a couple of the other characters. She gets to be pretty sharp at times.

“Can we have more acid on that speech?” the director asked in one rehearsal. Oh yes, I can give you more acid. I bet some of you readers didn’t know I like to be mean (just kidding; I’m sure you all knew) (and I don’t REALLY like to be mean; I’m acting!).

I see I am over 450 words, pretty good for me. Has this post been as lame as a Lame Friday Post? I’ll let my readers be the judge. As for me, I must get in the shower. Otherwise, I may stink up the stage (insert joke about my stinky acting, if you so desire).

For more information on Strike Story, visit www.ilionlittletheatre.org or the Ilion Little Theatre Club Facebook page.

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In My Defense… I Have No Defense

Posted on November 9, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was totally going to have a Wuss Out Wednesday yesterday. Then I recklessly told everyone at Curves that I was going to write about voting. True, none of those women read my blog and so would not know if I reneged. Still, it seemed a perfectly good blog topic with an expiration date. I went for it.

So now here I am on Thursday with no name for a stupid post (too late for Middle-aged Musings Monday, too early for Lame Post Friday) and no post other than the one I have written many times before (but with variations, or do I flatter myself?) about Why I Can’t Write a Blog Post Today.

I have the Overtime Blues at work. On the brighter side, this leads to the Payday Greens, which in turn helps Financial Condition Red. Just to use a little colorful language, which they say goes over well in the blogosphere.

With the Overtime Blues comes not much time and being too tired for Mohawk Valley adventures. Last night I attended a meeting of the Board of Directors for Ilion Little Theatre. Not so blogworthy. Tonight I have a pick-up rehearsal for Strike Story, followed on Friday and Saturday by performances of same. Blogworthy, but I’ve written about it before. What else can I say? Perhaps I will think of something for tomorrow, so my Friday post will not be lame.

I could blather on… who am I kidding? No I can’t. I am out of words about having no words. But I am over 250 words, which I consider sufficient to call it a post. I have to go find some black pantyhose for my play. Hope to see you Friday.

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