Category Archives: personal

Dithering on the Run

I had previously made a note to myself to don’t go five days without running. This being Lame Post Friday, I could go into some half-baked philosophy about setting high goals and not being up to ideals. Maybe later in the post.

I knew it would be a good idea to go running on Thursday after work, even though I had an Ilion Little Theatre Board Meeting (did I mention I’m their new secretary?) and several things to get done before that (note the use of “would be a good idea;” some of you may perhaps remember my half-baked philosophy about “should” and “ought to”). However, as my afternoon at work progressed, the heat and humidity increased. Oh dear. What have I learned about running when the weather is good, because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring? Many of us do not always act on lessons learned. I further philosophized half-bakedly that there really wasn’t that much difference between five days and six days, was there?

When I got home, I parked across the street, two doors down, since I had to leave again later. As I walked to the house, I thought, “This isn’t bad. I can rock this.” By the time I was suited up and out the door, the sun had come back out. As I started running, the humidity kicked back in.

Well, I didn’t have to go for a long run, and I didn’t have to go for a fast run, and I certainly did not have to attempt any hills. I shuffled along and lived with it. I’ve run in worse. Anyways, I told myself, it might be hot for the DARE 5K and the Superhero Sprint, both of which are in August.

A lady going into the bank said to me, “It’s too hot for that!”

“I know,” I answered. “But I didn’t run earlier in the week when it was cooler!”

As I continued down Main Street, I pondered my evening’s obligations. My library books were due. I had finished all but one. I had thought to return them on the way to my meeting, possibly renewing the one I hadn’t finished online (I’m slowly getting the hang of this online library thing). But would I leave the house in time? Maybe I should walk to the library with Tabby to return the books. I could be my cool down walk. Hmmm. Walking with four hardcover books. Tabby can’t go in the library anyways. I should drive. Was it too hot to take Tabby in the truck? What about my cool down walk? What time did the library close? As I ran by the library, I ran up to the door and looked. Five o’clock. If I put my books in the night depository after that time, wouldn’t that be like returning them a day late? I couldn’t risk it!

After the third or fourth calculation of “If I run for X minutes, then cool down, grab the books drive to the library, walk in all sweaty and gross…” I finally thought, “Stupid! Just renew all the books online. You don’t have to keep the ones you’ve read for two more weeks. You can return them at any time.”

I felt much better about everything after I had come to that decision. I made sure I got online and hit “renew” before 5 p.m., just to be on the safe side.

My run was not long, but I felt it was long enough to count. As I returned home I counted, “Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.” I hadn’t gone five days without running! I had only gone four! I was vindicated on all fronts, except, you know, doing the math.

Well, looking over what I have written, I believe this is a worthy addition to my Lame Friday Post collection. No random observations, but plenty of half-baked philosophy and with all my dithering about library books, I would say definitely lame. Happy Friday, everyone!

Steven’s Yummy Reward

It’s been a while since I plugged a local business. At least, I haven’t gone back and looked. I may do that before I type this in, but as I write this (in my notebook while at work)(on a break, of course)(oh, and a spiral-bound paper notebook, not a confusingly named computer) Where was I? Mid-sentence, but now I’ve lost track of the thought, so let’s get on with my post about Salvatore’s.

Wednesday Steven did some major yard work and deserved a reward, and I wanted a blog post, so I suggested we go out for dinner. I asked Steven where he would like to go for his reward. He wanted me to decide. Some reward: not to have to decide. Finally we settled on Salvatore’s in Herkimer.

Salvatore’s is one of our favorite places to order delivery from. They are prompt and friendly, and the food is delicious. But sometimes I like to go someplace, sit down and have somebody bring me food. And know that they will do the dishes afterward. Of course this was Steven’s reward, not mine, but Steven likes those things, too.

When we arrived at Salvatore’s, some people were sitting at one of the outdoor tables. We opted to go into the dining room. The decor is lovely. I especially admired a wall hanging that was kind of a sculpture of a vase of flowers, with metal and glass. One wall was a mural of Italian countryside. At least, it looked Italian to me.

We both ordered chicken wrap sandwiches with pasta salad, bacon ranch for Steven, Caesar for me. They were quite yummy and plenty big enough to take leftovers home. The price was reasonable, too. We tipped our server more than 20%, because we thought she was worth more than 20% would have been.

It seems Salvatore’s does a larger take out than dine in business. Not many people were enjoying the dining room, but we saw folks coming in to pick up orders and heard the phone ring frequently. Perhaps it depends on the night.

I highly recommend Salvatore’s, for delivery, take out or dine in (at least, we’ve never done take out, but it would be odd for that not to be as good). It’s a good reward, if you’ve been working in the yard. They are located at 650 1/2 W. German in Herkimer, NY, phone 315-866-2600. If you “Like” them on Facebook, you will be enticed nightly with a listing of their specials.

As a final note: I did look back, and I have been plugging a local business about once per week. So I have at least maintained my average. Phew!

In My Defense, It Was a Big Stick

As the relief from the oppressive heat continues, Steven and I were able to enjoy a walk through Herkimer with our beloved schnoodle, Tabby.

I feel I should offer an apology or justification for making yet another pedestrian post. But explanations are so tiresome. Let’s just get on with the post.

It was a little warmer by 6:30, when we set out, than it had been at 3:30, when I left work. The sun was warm, the breeze was gone. However, it was pleasant in the shade and not very humid.

Some kids across the street were playing with the hose. The girl holding it seemed to have a very take charge attitude as she lined the other kids up opposite. I don’t know what the game was but apparently it was taking too long, because the littlest boy started yelling, “COME ON!!!” (Yes, he yelled it with three exclamations points.) I knew how he felt. Maybe not about being squirted with the hose, but in general. Actually, when I was a kid I was never that nuts about being squirted with the hose. It always seemed to me such a poor substitute for swimming. Oh, I never passed up an opportunity. Hey, it was water and I was a kid.

We walked down Main street and passed an old, historic-looking building that was for sale.

“I wish somebody would buy that cool place and open a fancy restaurant,” I said.

“A classic movie theatre,” Steven suggested.

Tabby was more interested in sniffing a nearby telephone pole. We walked and dreamed on.

We passed my favorite Historic Four corners.

“I just saw a picture of the 1834 Jail and the Court House in the book I’m reading,” I said. Murder in the Adirondacks: An American Tragedy Revisited by Craig Brandon (North Country Books, Utica, NY, 1986). Good book.

Further on, Tabby wanted to cross Main Street, but we talked her out of it and went through Meyers Park instead. We walked by some boys who were playing rough with a ball and a stick. The object was not to hit the ball with the stick, apparently, but each other with either object. We walked on. We were almost a block away when we thought we heard one of the kids crying. My mother would say, “Fool around some more!” Some readers might think we were remiss for not going back and making sure everyone was all right, but to be honest, I was afraid one of the bigger boys would hit me with the stick.

It was an uneventful walk, but we enjoyed it (except, you know, for the crying kid and being scared of the stick). Perhaps we can indulge in less pedestrian Mohawk Valley adventures as the week wears on. Stay tuned.

Weather or Not This Constitutes an Adventure…

At last my bunions have been vindicated. For weeks they have been saying rain and all we’ve gotten has been humidity. As they say, be careful what you wish for.

I wrote yesterday about some heat lightning we had experienced. That afternoon a nice rain watered my plants. It was not until after I went to bed (I go to bed early, for maximum beauty rest) that the storm started.

I never heard such thunder! Some of it didn’t even sound like thunder. It sounded louder and meaner. Well, for all I know, it wasn’t all thunder. Maybe some monster trucks with muffler problems happened to be driving by. Or maybe they were actual monsters. I have a vivid imagination when I wake up in the middle of the night.

I could be wrong, but I believe it was prior to midnight when we lost power. I knew we lost power because the fan went off and I said, “Crap!” I went to the bathroom and, sure enough, no power. No night light in the bathroom. No LED coming from the computer room. No glow from Steven’s clock. I wasn’t too worried about the loss of the clock, because my alarm is battery operated. Also, I have my watch alarm, and my watch has Indiglo.

The loss of the fan, however, was soon felt to be a major detriment. You might think that all a fan does is blow around the hot air, but it seems to me the air must cool off as it moves or something, because the bedroom went from comfortable to sweltering in a very short time. Oh dear. I only had a limited amount of time to sleep. That, of course, is a deadly thought for an insomniac. As soon as you start thinking about the fact that you are not asleep, it becomes clear that you will NEVER SLEEP AGAIN.

Of course that is not really true, and I knew it was not true, so I relaxed as best I could and tried to think cool thoughts. I could hear Tabby panting. Poor doggy. First the thunder, now the heat. Later, when I realized I was thinking about a dream I just had, I knew I had been asleep. Phew!

By 3:30, my usual wake up time, power had not been magically restored. I woke up Steven and told him we were without power. We own one flashlight which, fortunately had batteries and even more fortunately was right next to my side of the bed (sometimes I read with it when I can’t sleep and don’t want to disturb Steven).

I got dressed in the dark, thinking, “This is what blind people do all the time,” and also about the joke, “Did you get dressed in the dark?” that you say to somebody who has made an unfortunate wardrobe choice.

I volunteered to go in search of coffee. Most of the street lights on Bellinger were out, so that was a little weird. All the lights were on at Fastrac, but they were not overrun with early risers in search of caffeine. Well, I guess a quarter to four is pretty early rising.

The clerk told me Wal-Mart was closed and the cops were out patrolling the streets. I wondered if I had been supposed to stay home. You know, “No unnecessary travel.” Then again, how would I know that with no TV or radio? That reminded me to turn on the truck radio. Nothing but music. It’s only in the movies where they turn on the radio and immediately hear the weather report or the breaking news story that’s a major plot point.

Steven wanted to turn off the flashlight to save the batteries and I did not want to sit in the pitch dark, so we had our coffee on the front porch. Even without the streetlights there was more light outside, and the temperature was definitely more pleasant.

I felt I had had an adventuresome morning. I don’t know how many readers will consider it blogworthy, but it was the most exciting thing to happen to me recently. So, unless something major happens before I get home, type this in and hit “Publish, this has been your Mohawk Valley Girl story for the day.

Luau, Limbo and Loving It!

Last night (Saturday), Steven and I attended the H.A.L.O. Chicken Barbeque and Luau Party at the Polish Home in Herkimer, NY. Today I am too tired to write a proper blog post about it!

H.A.L.O., which I have written about before, is Helping Animals Live Organization, a non-profit, no kill cat shelter based in Little Falls. I can’t possibly adopt a cat due to allergies, but I support their fundraisers whenever possible.

I had been looking forward to the Luau Party all week. For one thing, I knew there would be dancing and I love to dance. My only regret was that I could not find a grass skirt. I did find a large flower for my hair and some colorful leis. I also found a seashell necklace I’ve had for a while. We put on matching Hawaiian shirts and felt ready for the evening.

The chicken dinner part was quite tasty, but it was when the dancing started that the fun really began. Music was provided by Dave Silvers of Bug Country. He played a mix of country tunes and oldies, very danceable stuff. Steven did not want to be the first couple on the dance floor, but I talked him into it. As soon as we started boogeying down, though, he was as into it as I was.

I even won a limbo contest. True, there were only two contestants. But still, a win’s a win. I said that I bend over backwards for H.A.L.O.

We stayed till the very end and even helped put away the chairs and tables. Our reward was a cake left over from the dessert table.

“We take the cake!” I said.

We really had the best time. We met some nice people and supported a good cause. For more information about H.A.L.O., you can find them on Facebook.

Now that I’ve written this and read it to Steven, he says it is so a proper blog post. Phew!

I Try to Get Back on Track

It’s really not unusual to crash and burn after a run like the Boilermaker. In fact, I wrote it in my datebook: Sunday, run the Boilermaker; Monday, crash; Tuesday, burn. I was only half joking.

It seemed I had escaped that fate when I ran Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday the following week. And then it all fell apart. I woke up Sunday and said, “To hell with it! I run every Sunday of my life, this is my last day of vacation, I’m going to hang with my husband till he goes to work!” It was a very pleasant Sunday.

Who knew it would be so brutally hot Monday and Tuesday? Um, I guess we all knew since it had been extremely hot the whole previous week and it was all over the weather reports, which I did in fact see. Wednesday we had some relief, enough to go for a nice walk with Tabby (I wrote a blog post about it; we heard Fritz’s Polka Band). Thursday we had a wine tasting. Friday I was determined to run.

Of course I tried to talk myself out of it. I had taken five days off, how big of a difference would it make if it were six? It really wasn’t much cooler. Steven and I had evening plans; maybe it would be better to take the dog for a long walk. Et cetera (my computer is underlining that, but the dictionary says it is correct).

Well, I went for the run. I debated in my head for three or four blocks about running hills. None at all? Valley Health? Up to Herkimer County Community College (HCCC)? I finally decided on the Unknown Park. It’s a minor hill into the park, then I could run down the forest path and come out on the back road to HCCC. If I felt really ambitious I could go on up that hill. I didn’t seriously expect myself to do any such thing.

I could hear bagpipes and had no idea where they were coming from. It was the oddest thing how the sound echoed. I thought it was down Henry Street. Then I thought it was coming from a house on German Street. The sound faded then got louder. I turned into the park and could hear it loud and clear.

Soon I saw a car parked off to the side, on a path I’ve never gone on, because it’s not really much of a path. I looked over and thought I saw a person standing near some trees. Had that person driven all the way out here to practice? I thought about running closer to check it out, but I didn’t knew who it was or why they were there. You often hear bagpipes at funerals (lovely, mournful sound). Suppose there were people I couldn’t see having some sort of a memorial service? Or if it was the lone player, playing a solitary tribute. I ran on.

Eventually I came to where you run across a little footbridge into a picnic area and onto the forest path. Eek! There was a critter on the footbridge! I couldn’t tell if it was a woodchuck or a beaver or what. I didn’t get much closer. I turned around and ran the other way. I don’t mess with wildlife.

As I ran away, I wondered if I should mention in the blog that I turned tail and ran at the sight of a woodchuck. I’m not afraid of a woodchuck, but I realize that as soon as I say that, many people are going to disbelieve me. In fact, anyone who is right now giving me the “you’re full of shit” look, wipe that look right off your face! I hate that look! I don’t think there is anything wrong with giving a wild animal a wide berth. I believe they prefer it that way. Anyways, you don’t know if it might be rabid or have babies nearby, which can make the gentlest animal turn fierce.

I don’t know why I’m sitting here defending myself anyways. I saw the animal, I turned around. Point and laugh if you must.

The bagpiper was still playing when I ran by. She played Taps and Happy Birthday, so I think that means she was rehearsing. I think it was a girl. I didn’t want to stare.

It was a short run, but at least I did it. Note to self: don’t take five days off again.

Wine for Ilion Days

I’m missing a lot of the Ilion Days events — most notably tonight’s delightfully named Doodah Parade — but Steven and I did make it to a wine tasting at Ilion Wine and Spirits Thursday night.

I started with the Tanto Trabbiano d’Abruzzo 2010 from Italy. It reached my ultimate accolade of “yummy.” The hand-out said it was “floral, fresh and very well balanced.” I’m not sure about the floral — I almost never taste the notes of whatever, either — but I found it refreshing.

I continued on whites with the Indaba Sauvignon Blanc 2010, France. It was yummy, too; I usually like Sauvignon Blanc. I liked the d’Abruzzo a little better, though.

The last white I tasted was the Sauvion Vouvray 2010, France. I got a little silly (who, me?) declaring, “Vouvray! It’s fun to say!” Nobody seemed to mind. The Vouvray was a little sweeter than I like, but other people at the tasting were highly recommending it to each other.

I skipped the last two whites they were offering, because they were definitely on the sweet side. I nibbled some of their munchies, which Steven had already raided (he only comes to these things for the food) before moving on to the reds. Crackers with two kinds of cheese spread (one with horseradish. Yum!) and that divine warm dip with cheddar, onion and mayonnaise, which they have had at the last few tastings.

I started my red sampling with Vina Borgia 2010, Spain. I asked if it was any relation to Lucretia Borgia, but of course I was still being silly. Those Borgias were Italian. The hand-out promised “light peppery notes,” which I think I tasted. I marked that one “yummy” too.

Also rated “yummy” was Snap Dragon Pinot Noir 2010, California. I almost always like Pinot Noir. The other two reds were all right, but I was not loving them.

I don’t always try the “Other Offerings” but decided to take a chance. They were Sips Sparkling Cocktails: Cucumber Mojito and Pineapple Mandarin Tropitini flavors. I know some girls who love this kind of thing. I had never had a Mojito before. Who knew they had mint? I know, probably everybody but me. The Tropitini tasted very orangey to me. Both were bubbly. I’m sure they would be good to serve at a party.

When Steven and I returned to the main part of the store so I could make my purchases, I was delighted to note that all my favorites were quite reasonably priced. We also purchased raffle tickets for an artist-painted Adirondack chair.

I enjoyed the wine tasting very much. As the weekend wears on, perhaps I can take advantage of other Ilion Days events. For a complete listing I can log onto iliondoodah.com.

Fritz at the Folts

Last night I thought I was in for the evening. Aaah! Then I looked at the paper and saw that Fritz’s Polka Band was playing at the Folts Home in Herkimer. I couldn’t miss Fritz’s Polka Band! I love those guys!

I first heard FPB at the Folts Home Summer Concert Series last July. I’ve been Facebook friends with Fritz ever since. I briefly enjoyed their sound recently while I was running the Boilermaker.

Steven and I had already done some minor running around and were about to enjoy a late supper, but it was still prior to seven. I had felt bad earlier in the week because it had been too hot to take our schnoodle Tabby for an evening stroll. I suggested, therefore, that we walk Tabby to the Folts Home and listen for a bit.

It was still warm out but not nearly as oppressive as it had been. After discouraging Tabby from stopping to sniff every damn tree, lamppost and street sign (we let her sniff some; we’re not monsters), we came within earshot of the Folts Home. Right away we heard the rhythm of a polka. Yay!

We had not carried lawn chairs with us and at first we were content to stand on the lawn and listen. Tabby wanted to go check out all the people sitting and listening. I’m sure she would have found somebody who wanted to pet a cute doggy, but I did not want to disrupt the concert.

After a while the sun came out, so I looked around for a friendly patch of shade. We saw some park benches way off to the side so made for those. We could hear perfectly well but could not see a thing. After a while we switched benches. We still couldn’t see the band but could watch some of the audience enjoying the show. I was only sorry nobody was dancing.

We listened to a couple of polkas and a couple of waltzes. Then some bugs starting buzzing around our heads, and Tabby got restless, so we continued our walk. I was glad I got to hear one of my favorite groups at least briefly. It made kind of a celebration for the hot spell being temporarily over.

I’m Me-elting!

Said, of course, in a Wicked Witch of the West voice (cue the jokes about how I don’t properly pronounce my Bs).

This post is masquerading as a Mid-week Middle-aged Musings, but I’m afraid it is just an excuse to complain about how hot I am. How boring is that going to be? Probably pretty damn, as I wrote the preceding and can’t think of one other thing to say.

Last night I tried to fix a warm weather dinner. I had some fake crab meat so made some cocktail sauce to go with it — heavy on the horseradish. I love horseradish. That didn’t look like much, so I decided to make a salad.

First I chopped up a zucchini. Actually, I think you could call it dicing, because the pieces were fairly small. How small makes a dice? Smaller than the size of the dice you shoot craps with (not that I ever shot craps, but I was in a production of Guys & Dolls in high school). Maybe I’ll remember to look it up before I post this.

(NOTE: Steven’s dictionary only says small cubes, not how small. I am far too lazy to walk downstairs and check with Joy of Cooking. Let’s just assume it was diced.)

Where was I? Oh yes, taking a long time to chop — uh, dice the zucchini. Then I chopped an avocado and a couple of tomatoes. Finely diced some red onion (not a whole red onion; red onions are BIG) (I’m quite sure these were small enough to count as diced) and added a jar of artichoke hearts with marinade. I saw that there was plenty enough marinade to count as dressing so I stopped there.

I should perhaps mention that I was not cooking with wine but with ice water. I must fight dehydration in this weather. Um, to clarify, I drank the ice water while I cooked; I did not add ice water to the salad. To be honest, I almost never add wine to the food even when I do cook with wine. But perhaps that’s a subject for a different blog post.

So I was pretty pleased with my warm weather dinner. The only hot things were the horseradish and Tabasco in the cocktail sauce. And, of course, the cook, but you knew that already (see the second paragraph). It was nice and light, too. Excellent fare for somebody (me) who has to watch her waistline. I have no idea why I was up two more pounds when I stepped on the scale this morning.

But it’s too hot to worry about these things. And for any of you readers who may be gearing up to say something like, “You think YOU’VE got it hot!” or “At least you aren’t getting these terrible storms,” or “The reason you are up two pounds is that…” well, no doubt you are right. It is certainly too hot to argue about it.

Trying to Get Back On Track

After the Boilermaker my main goal was to NOT crash and burn. I guess I can say, so far, so good.

I thought it was perfectly acceptable to take Monday off, but I went for half hour runs Tuesday and Wednesday. Minor hill Tuesday, challenging hill Wednesday. My body didn’t like it so much, but I persevered. Thursday I went hiking in the woods with a friend. Friday I was Too Damn Hot (that’s a song by Cole Porter or somebody). This morning (Saturday) I was determined to not slack off.

I decided to run out Steuben Road, where there is a considerable hill. Must run hills. Steuben isn’t my favorite road to run up, due to lack of sidewalks or wide shoulders, but I figured at six o’clock on a Saturday morning, I would be OK. The first think I noticed was how humid it was. Thick air. To match my thick head. I took deep breaths, telling myself that it was not true that humidity makes it much harder to breathe. It only seems that way. Then it seemed to take a ridiculous amount of time to reach Stueben road. How long is German Street anyways? At last I reached it. Up I went.

Right away I heard a rather loud truck behind me. Seriously, it sounded like a construction vehicle or a dump truck loaded all the way up. I told myself it was OK, though, because it was on the opposite side of the road. He had plenty of room not to hit me. So when the bastard goes by me, it turned out to be a regular pick up truck with a bad muffler or something, and the guy crosses over the center line! Why would you do that? I mean, many nice people coming towards me go over the center line to be further away from me. I always give them the “thank you” wave when they do. Going over the center line in this case brought him closer to me! What was that all about? Well, he wasn’t considerably closer to me. I daresay he didn’t even realize he crossed the center line or was perhaps avoiding something unseen by me on the other side of the road. Still. Some people.

I continued on my upward climb. I reminded myself of mile four (I think) of the Boilermaker. The uphill lasts a long time. The upslope itself is no steeper than anything else I run, less steep than some. But it goes on and on. Note to self: run this road more often if and when training for next year’s Boilermaker.

I looked at my watch. I wasn’t sure how far I wanted to run. I thought a half hour total, like earlier in the week. That might mean I would run up for fifteen minutes and turn around. I didn’t really want to do that. I tried to distract myself by looking at people’s flowers. In urns, on wooden carts, in raised beds made of bricks. I really must do more with my lawn next year. Sweat was dripping off my face. No breeze relieved my pain. At last I looked to my left, across two back yards and saw the road I would be running down as soon as I got to it. It couldn’t be long now.

When I got to Highland Avenue (I think that’s what it’s called), I thought briefly about going on the next road, which I believe comes out at a similar place. Then I remembered encountering an unchained dog on that road. He probably had that invisible fencing, but you never know. I turned onto Highland.

And was immediately barked at by a big dog. He was behind a fence, though, so I thought I was OK. He was big enough to jump over the fence, but not all breeds are inclined or able to jump. I told him I was leaving right away. He was unimpressed. Then I saw a lady on a porch across the street, so I said good morning to her and wondered if she had heard me talking to the dog. Probably.

I was going downhill now, so that seemed better. Looking at my watch I thought I would probably go over my half hour goal, but that was OK too. Somewhere along the way, my legs settled in and I realized it was not a problem to run. It was kind of fun. I ran for 37 minutes but was not inclined to go for another three and make it forty. What kind of miracles of dedication do you want from me anyways?