Category Archives: personal

I’ll Tell Myself I Was Tired

Posted on January 18, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to another Tired Tuesday Post.

I often feel like an idiot.

I am feeling rather brain dead today.  My main ambition right now is to make my Tuesday blog post on Tuesday with a minimum of whining.  But no promises.

My brain is fried like a pan of onions!

I was searching my Media Library for a picture of The Brain from the Planet Arous, which I usually use to illustrate my own lack of brain.  I was having no luck when I ran across the above.  That’s it! I thought.  My brain is fried!

My writing has been sporadic at best lately.  I progress on an interactive mystery (not murder, more about that in future posts) in fits and starts.  I tell myself any progress us still progress.  I wrote my article for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  I feel I should have done a better job.  Thus I give myself mixed messages.

You know, something just struck me about the things I tell myself.  I encourage myself over the unfinished stuff.  Then I beat myself up over the finished project. No wonder I have such a problem finishing anything!

One may argue that the carrot-and-stick nature of my self-talk is not a bad thing.  Get the first draft out, this line of thinking goes.  Then be merciless in revision.  That is all very well, but I did revise the article! Once I have submitted a thing and it is beyond my ability to change, can I stop with the criticism?  It is something to consider.

So this is my Tired Tuesday Post.  I shall hit Publish and strive to refrain from telling myself it should have been better.  I only hope I did not whine too much.

 

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I Decide on Monsters

Posted on January 17, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I think I can just about manage a Monstrous Monday Post.  I must have used that sentence before,  because my predictive text thingy was way ahead of me.  As I composed it in my head while I waited for my Tablet to catch up with me, I followed it with the observation that “manage a Monstrous Monday ” was alliterative, and that made me feel better already.  As I pecked it in (one letter at a time with the stylus, I need hardly add, since I already mentioned the Tablet), I felt that “just about” and “Post” detracted from the alliteration, so I stopped feeling better.

What a ridiculous paragraph!  I am getting all bogged down!  Quick, throw in a monster to pep things up!

I should have used him last, to wrap things up.

He is not a particularly peppy fellow, at least in that shot.  But he is a monster I have not used recently, and I felt I should pick something.  I am dreadfully indecisive and must constantly fight with myself to make and stick with choices.

This guy looks a little more energetic.

My husband Steven and I just watched this movie yesterday.  I just loves me a Hammer horror movie.

Look out, monsters!

Before my indecisiveness conquered me completely, I chose this picture of Peter Cushing.  He was not in Dracula Has Risen from the Grave.  I missed him, although I enjoyed Christopher Lee, as always.

I see I am approaching 250 words.  That is surely enough nonsense from me for one blog post (and I will call you Shirley if I decide to) (then again, I am known to be indecisive).  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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I Did Not Take the Pictures as I Ran

Posted on January 16, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday (Saturday) when I went for my run, I purposefully ran by a few places I have pictures of in my Media Library, thinking I could include them in my Saturday Running Commentary Post.  Then I wrote the post late, in a hurry, and did not bother with pictures.  In my defense, I was anxious to get out for Sunday’s run before I talked myself out of it.

As I ran today (Sunday) (I guess you could have figured that much out), I also ran by a few places I have pictures of.  So I thought I might do a Sunday Running Commentary Post and use a few pictures.

A handsome building, and beautiful inside.

Both days I ran by the Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast.  It is handily located on German Street.

I did not pause to read it today either.

The informational plaque on the walkway over what used to be a hydraulic canal appeared to be coated with ice.  I did not examine it closely.  Yes, I run slowly, but not that slow.

I did not step on the colored spots either, but I do not rule out doing so in the future.

I continued down the path, thinking I might also run by my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  Then I saw something that changed my mind: a Do Not Enter sign.  Regular readers know how I love to Enter where it says not to.

I suppose they mean vehicular traffic, not slow running middle aged females.

It was not a bad run, and I enjoyed a full ten minute cool down walk.  I am planning in my head which days to run on in the coming week.  I also hope to continue my daily walks.  Physical fitness,  here I come!

 

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Running Away from a Headache

Posted on January 15, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I started running again yesterday (Saturday) and had high hopes of making a Saturday Running Commentary Post.  Then I neglected to make a post at all (why do I have this compulsion to call attention to my shortfalls?).  I think I can make such a post now.

The reason I stopped running was my bad bout with the flu.  I started walking again, and that went pretty well.  I set Saturday as my run again date.  And almost put it off for another day.  I waited too long, got too hungry,  and had to eat.  So I had to at least put it off another hour.  Additionally,  I woke up with a headache that was getting progressively worse.  I tried lying down with this heat-up herbal face mask my mom gave me.  It did not help, although it felt kind of nice for a while.

By this time the hour had passed, so I figured I might as well run. Since it was the first run after a break, I only asked 15 minutes of myself.  I put in a load of laundry, so I could multi-task (regular readers know it is about the only multi-task I do).

It was cold.  I had on a hat and gloves but wished I also had a scarf.  Then again, it is difficult to situate a scarf so it keeps my face warm but my glasses don’t get fogged.  As usual when I run, I persevered.

And it was not a bad run at all.  The sidewalks were mostly bare, and my body mostly cooperated.  I kept it up for 18 minutes.  I cut my cool down walk short, because one hip was paining me just a little bit.  Regular readers may remember that I spent the month of June walking instead of running due to hip pain (at least I think I mentioned it; of course I am too lazy to go back and check).  Come on, body, don’t start that on me again!

As I ran, I felt inspired to sign up for the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY in July.  As I make this blog post, I feel inspired to run again today.  Quick, me, get out there before you eat breakfast and have to wait an hour!

 

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Comfortably Lame

Posted on January 14, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that title a few weeks ago and wrote it down.  Then this morning (yes, I am making my Lame Post Friday post on Saturday morning, more about that later), I remembered that I had written it down and paged through my notebook (I need hardly say the paper, spiral-bound kind) (are there still computers called notebooks? I am so out of touch) looking for it. I am going to say it is appropriate, because I have become increasingly more comfortable with making a day’s post the following morning (although I will probably never feel really good about it).  In any case, if I do not use it soon, it will moulder away in that notebook, unused and unremembered.

Wow, that was a long paragraph.  I’d better follow it up with a short one.

Regarding the title on the notebook (ooh, how’s that for a title, “The Title in the Notebook”?), I know it is a time-honored practice of writers to always have a notebook where we can write down ideas and little snippets as they occur to us.  For me, this tends to work out better than the notebook by the bed for those middle of the night inspirations.  I personally have never dreamt a usable plot line.  Additionally, rousing myself sufficiently to write something down has a detrimental effect on my always troublesome insomnia.

Oh dear, another long paragraph.  Well, why not?  It got me over 200 words.  I will just add that something else I have become comfortable with is pecking in one letter at a time with the stylus on my Tablet.  I look at past posts and see how I have lamented doing so.  Now it is my usual method, and ten-finger typing is a rare treat.

 

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Public Pedestrian Post with Pics

Posted on January 12, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I don’t go into work till noon on Thursdays, so I waited till the sun was up to take my walk.  I decided to take advantage of the light and bring my cell phone so I could make a Pedestrian Post with pictures.  Full disclosure:  I am not making the post on my phone as I walk but merely took the pictures.  I am now at my house, ten-finger typing on my dining-room-table-top (must get a new laptop one of these days).

The weather was cold and gloomy, with snow off and on.  It was off as I started but had stuck on the sidewalk, so I walked with caution and did not set as brisk a pace as I might have on bare pavement.  I admit I do not always set a particularly brisk pace no matter the walking surface, but today I felt I had an excuse.  I had a payment on a bill to put in the mail, so I was also walking with a purpose.  I headed towards the post office.

As I went through Meyer’s Park, I noticed they had taken the Christmas lights down from the gazebo.  Regular readers know I love to look at lights when I am walking, so I felt a little sad this morning.  Yes, yes, I know, it is January, Christmas is over, I should get on with my life.  I can still feel a little sad, can’t I?  Sheesh!  Anyways, I took a picture to share the gloomy scene.

I felt the dusting of snow added to the gloomy mood.

I soon made it to the post office and mailed the bill.  Then I crossed the street to take a picture of the post office.

A handsome building.

I continued towards Main Street, which I crossed and went by Municipal Hall. I felt I had a kind of a theme of public spaces going on here, so I took another picture.

This is where I use to go to register for the DARE 5K, when they used to have one.

Close by Municipal Hall is what used to be the Baptist Church but is now owned by the Business and Professional Association of Herkimer. Pre-Covid, there were big plans for the space.  I must reach out to the association and find out the current status of the building.

Another handsome building.

Having three pictures in my phone, I felt I had fulfilled my blogging obligation and concentrated on my walk.  I slid once on an icy patch, which was a little scary (I guess I am easily frightened), but I stayed upright and did not encounter any more ice.  Soon it began to snow like a Christmas card, so I thought I would try for a picture of that.

This is the path over what used to be a hydraulic canal.

I’m afraid I did not capture the snow.  It soon turned to a fine, not very visible snow, and I was soon finished with my walk.

My walk lasted 30 minutes, the longest since I started walking again after my bout of flu.  I felt pretty good about that.  I may try for a run on Saturday, but after my little slip on the ice, it will rather depend on the weather.

 

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Wussed on Blog, But Cooked with Wine

Posted on January 12, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Once again I entirely wussed out on Wednesday by not making a post at all (as opposed to making a foolish post and billing it as Wuss-out Wednesday.  Why didn’t I do that?  What the hell, me?) (And for future reference,  autocorrect,  I almost never mean “he’ll”).

Where was I?  Ah yes, making a blog post.  One thing I did not wuss out on last night was cooking.  Lately I have been having restaurant leftovers, sometimes going so far as to heat them up, or frozen dinners, or not much at all for supper.  Last night I actually cooked.

I had a green pepper I had picked up last Sunday when I grocery shopped.  I had meant to do something with it then but was too lazy.  It was looking a little peaky, and I am very Waste Not, Want Not, so I chopped it up while it was still edible.  I put it in a frying pan with the last of a bottle of Baco Noir from Adirondack  Winery (just to add a little regional flair).  Yes, so etimes when I cook with wine, I put it in the food.  Full disclosure:  I also poured myself a glass from a box I just happened to have on hand.

I chopped up an onion to add and lamented that I had no fresh garlic.  When the wine had entirely boiled away, I added some oil, making the joke of what if I had mistaken the bottle of Karo syrup for olive oil?  When the pepper and onion were pretty well cooked, I added a can of diced tomatoes and some spices:  granulated garlic, basil, oregano, and parsley.

I had the mixture over ziti with grated parmesan cheese.  Yum!  And I have plenty left over.  Maybe I could use it as pizza sauce…

 

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Not Much Post But Cute Pictures

Posted on January 11, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was too tired on Tuesday to make even a Tired Tuesday Post.  I would only have whined for 200 words, as I have done in the past.  It is now Wednesday morning.  I did not take my daily walk (can you still call it a daily walk when you miss a day once a week?), but I thought I would try to come up with some semblance of a blog post.

One thing I have is a couple of cute pictures I took at FarmHouse Restaurant in Ilion, NY, when I went there for a breakfast that I neglected to make a blog post about.

It looks like the creamer is talking to the cup.

I actually did not put creamer in my coffee, but it was so cute I had to include it in the picture.   I ordered a breakfast sandwich, which I did not take a picture of (I will end a sentence with a preposition if I decide to).  However, when I finished it,  I noticed the frogs on the plate.  My husband, Steve, collects frogs.  I took a picture so he could be jealous.

So cute!

Who knows, maybe the frog plates will entice Steve to join me for breakfast one day!

FarmHouse Restaurant is located at  9 Central Ave, Ilion, NY, phone number 315-895-0770.  They are open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday and Tuesday,  8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, closed Wednesday.   However,  I noticed on Facebook that they would like to expand their hours, based on staffing.

 

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Elliott Ghoul, Can You Help Me Now?

Posted on January 10, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I guess it was not a massively Monstrous Monday.  Yet I am making a Monstrous Monday Post, because I ain’t got much else.  Also, I want to read the book I just got out of Basloe Library in Herkimer, NY:  The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum (and yes, autocorrect,  I meant “Poisoner’s” not “Prisoner’s”).

Is it just me, or does he look a little jolly?

Here is a shot I have always liked from The Screaming Skull.”  I believe I wrote a blog post about it, but I am too lazy to try to track it down to link back to it.

I should try to get a shot with his eyes bright red.

Here is a non-movie monster, our own Elliott Ghoul.  He says things like, “Follow me… to the graveyard!  Ah ha ha ha ha!”  I appreciate anybody who says, “Ah ha ha ha ha!”  It is what I say when I accomplish a task or find sonething I have been searching for.

Oh crap!  I just accidentally hit Publish!  I hope nobody reads this before I finish it and hit Update.

A closer but more blurry shot.

Elliott stays in our window all year long.  Last year, my husband, Steven turned him off so he stopped saying things.  I was delighted when he turned him back on in October.

I see I am over 200 words.  That is good news for me, because I want to hit Update.  And read that book!

 

 

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Wrist to Stomach

Posted on January 9, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

It was going to be such a productive Sunday.  I even made a list of everything I wanted to get done.  I didn’t think I would get everything on the list done, but one’s reach often exceeds one’s grasp.  Now I am remembering a few more things I really ought to have put on the list.   I guess I am not going to get those done either.

I am lounged in my bed with a perfectly dreadful upset stomach.  I think I ate a few too many bad things for my age.  It is too early to go to sleep for the night (although I tried a nap while the upset was at its worst) (here’s hoping the worst has past), so I will try a Wrist to Forehead Sunday Post.

I was having such a fun Sunday, too.  My husband, Steve, and I watched The Raven on Svengoolie, which we DVR’d last night.  I love that movie!

I love Sven, too!

After The Raven, which we did not delete,  we put in Columbo again.  When the DVD player messed up, I remembered I had not gone for a walk this morning.  My stomach was starting to quease (I don’t know if that is actually a verb, but it should be), but I hoped for the best.  Isn’t fresh air and exercise supposed to be healthy?  It turns out not so much.

So that is my sad Sunday story.  At least I got a blog post out of it.  Now please excuse me while I swoon.

 

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