Asteroga, End Zone… Why Not on a Sunday?

This will be a fast Sunday Post,  largely because I have been having an enjoyable Sunday and do not feel inclined to further exersions.  Earlier this afternoon,  I met my friend Kim at Asteroga Ale House for drinks and food.

Why not have a toast on a Sunday?

Naturally I asked Kim to take a picture of me.

Kind of a cheese eating grin, isn’t it?

She thought I looked delightful.  Who am I to disagree?  I wanted a shot of the bartender.  I was quite impressed by her acumen, making sure people were seated to enjoy their respective games of interest.  She insisted I get a picture of her working, not a fun picture with a smile.

She was working hard today.

Kim and I had a fun time drinking Chardonnay and Reislimg, and eating calimari.  We went on to the End Zone Pub and Grub, where I foolishly did not take any pictures.  Perhaps I should return there for more illustrations.

In the meantime,  I hope this will count as my Wrist to Forehead Sunday Post.  I do feel inclined to swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead, because I have no further words to add.  No matter.  If something dramatic is happening nearby,  perhaps I will hear about it before my next blog post.  If not, at least I can enjoy the frisson of virtue from being above the fray.  I hope none of you will judge me for being in the prior group.

 

A Slice of My Life

Well, what’s wrong with another late post?  These things happen.  And it’s not as if I have a lot of things to say.  But maybe I can come up with a few.

A slice of my life.

Ah, coffee, the magic elixir which makes all things possible. Since I have developed a prejudice against making posts with no pictures, I offer this.  I purposefully selected a local mug for the purpose.  Herkimer Home, of General Herkimer who heroically died from wounds sustained in the Battle of Oriskany, is in Little Falls, NY.  It is a wonderful historic site I hope to visit again.

The lantern was purchased by my husband, ostensibly for use in Dirty Work at the Crossroads, the play he directed at Ilion Little Theatre, but actually because he thought it looked cool.  I later used it in Much Ado About Nothing with LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company.

I’m the mean-looking one on the left.

Here I am in Much Ado.  You can just barely see the lantern by the wall on the right.  My partner and I took these evildoers into custody.  I famously ran back to grab the lantern while my evildoer stared at me in disbelief.  I threatened him with the pitchfork as I ran back to him.  It was one of my all-time favorite pieces of stage business.

Under the lantern (going back to the first picture) are scripts I have been reading in hopes of future theatrical endeavors, along with a book I think my Dad might like.

These are my thoughts as I sip coffee and wait for my Sunday to start.  I hope all of you had grand Saturday.

 

Throwback to Halloweens Past

Just hanging out!

For this week’s Throwback Thursday Post,  I return to October 2016 at Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit, NY.  It is a wonderful place to purchase pumpkins and other Halloween stuff.  I love Halloween.

Isn’t she sweet?

This is a Halloween decoration we got at Pumpkin Junction.  I am hoping to decorate for Halloween as soon as this weekend, but no promises.

I wonder if I can find all this stuff.

Fast forward to October 2017.  This is our dining room table from that time.  At this point, I imagine some of you are thinking you should point out that we are currently in September not October (you know who you are).

Looks Halloween-y enough to me!

Here is a picture from September 2017, so there!  I, personally, believe we should celebrate Halloween all year long.

Who me? Drink wine?

Here is a bit of Halloween I enjoy year round.  This was also purchased at Pumpkin Junction.  I must find out how soon they open this year.

One of my all time favorite pictures.

Regular readers may remember Bonita, our skeleton who hangs out with us all year.  I periodically change her accessories.  She is due for some new ones.  Maybe a vampire cape…

You may guess from this that I am ready for the Halloween season to begin.  I should buy a pumpkin!  That will rate another blog post.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

W is for Wuss-out

Sorry, kids, it’s going to be a Wuss-out Wednesday Post.  I got my articles submitted to Mohawk Valley Living magazine and I seem to be done.  But I cannot be entirely done, because I will make some semblance of a blog post.

I have not murdered a weed in a while.

I just scrolled through my Media Library looking for something beginning with a W.  I made my Weed Murderer using a recipe I Googled.  The main ingredient was white vinegar, which I am currently unable to find in a gallon jug.  Hence, the unmurdered weeds in the cracks in my sidewalk and driveway.

Cheers to you, too!

For another W, here is my friend Kim with a glass of wine.  It is Sweet Little Blonde from Rustic Ridge Winery in Burlington Flats, NY.  She is drinking it at Heelpath Brewing Company in Frankfort.  Just to sneak in a little local.

Today was actually not as hot as expected.

How about the Wicked Witch of the West for a plethora of W’s?  This Look For The W’s game is fun!

I personally am a writing monster.

After the Witch, W’s got a little scarce in the old Media Library.  However, it seems appropriate to end on Writer.  I will strive henceforth to NOT be the non-writing kind.

 

I Still Call Myself a Blogger

Have I crashed and burned after my second 15K in a week?  I fear ’tis true.  I managed a Monstrous Monday Post two days ago, then went to bed after a couple of attempts last night.  I added the pictures I took Sunday to my Media Library, but once again, words are not forthcoming.

So here I am, early Wednesday morning, making a quick silly post, so I can still call myself a daily blogger.  Oh, I know, people can call themselves anything.  It doesn’t mean other people will believe you.  For example, I tried to change my name to Zsa-zsa back in 1989.  It didn’t catch on.  In the army, people called me Q, eventually Sgt. Q.  In civilian life, not so much.  Oh, and in the mid-80’s, I invited folks to call me Amaretto Vetrone.  Few availed themselves of the invitation.

Well, I guess I’ve taken care of the silly part of the post.

I have been doing some small bits of writing these days.  As I sit here pecking out these words, I think, “Hell yeah, I can write.”  It’s like running, all you have to do is do it, but you have to do it.  If you see what I mean.

 

Too Tired to Tingle

I ran 15K again yesterday, at the mini maker sponsored by Copper City Brewing and Roman Runners.  I proceeded to celebrate my achievement with the result that I did not make a post last night and I am taking a Blogger’s Sick Day today.  I am TIRED! I made it through the day at work. When I got home I put trash and recyclables by the curb.  And I cooked a little supper.

Oh, just listen to me babble!  Quick, put in a monster picture.

I have similar dark circles under my eyes.

I need some rubber chickens in my life.  The above, of course, is Svengoolie, beloved horror host.  I said Blogger’s Sick Day,  but perhaps this will be a Monstrous Monday as well.

Poisonous? Or a sqeezer?

Some people are terrified of snakes.  This one does not look too threatening.  He (or she, I can’t tell) is painted on a walking path near my house.

Who does her hair?

Here is one of my favorites,  Elsa Manchester as The Bride of Frankenstein.   Hubba, hubba!

Now there’s a tight necktie!

I was looking for a picture of a sleepy or sleeping monster, but how about a monster on a sleeping victim?  It is Vincent Price in The Tingler.  And that brings me over 200 words.  Score!  And Happy Monday, all.

PS  I plan to write a post aboit the mini maker, hopefully by tomorrow.

 

Busy Day Before 15K

I had a pretty good Scattered Saturday.  I had to be careful not to overdo it, because I might be running 15K again tomorrow.  I believe I mentioned the mini-maker at Copper City Brewing in Rome, NY Sept. 13.  Even though I ran my official Virtual Boilermaker last Sunday, I am signed up for the run in Rome.  I messaged Copper City and offered to act as a volunteer instead, if they needed another one.  In any case, I will be up early in the morning and off to Rome.

With a possible 15K in mind, I took a short run this morning.  On my cool-down walk, I stopped at a neighbor’s house, where they were setting up a garage sale.  They did not mind me taking a sneak preview.

Before garage saling, however, I had other chores to do.  I put a load of laundry in the wash and wrote a few post cards.  After the laundry was in the drier, I headed to Richfield Springs Community Food Cooperative, where I planned to have a cup of coffee and write.

Note to self: try to get a better picture.

For a picture of the Co-op, this shows a nice view of the opposite side of the street.  After that pleasant interlude, I went back home to Herkimer to consider further options. I went to two neighborhood garage sales, where I made a few fun purchases.  Then I decided to walk to Main Street to the Mohawk Valley Community Market, which includes Renewed and Rescued, and Wakefield Furniture.

Unfortunately,  it was close to their closing time when I got there.  I went across the street to the End Zone Pub and Grub for a beer.  When I was in the army, a drill sergeant said it was a good idea to have one beer the night before a PT test.  YES, I had just one beer!

Now I am home and taking it easy before my big day tomorrow.  I had a bowl of pasta and I am hydrating.  Am I better prepared to run 15K than I was last week at this time?  I don’t know.  However, I had an enjoyable Saturday and I am looking forward to Sunday.

 

I’m Afraid It’s Lame Post Friday

I made it through the week and contemplate the weekend with trepidation.  Is that the right word?  I usually try not to be so cowardly.  But I must be having a craven moment, because I just backspaced those two sentences out.  I restored them with the “edit undo” button.  I must not be afraid to admit when I am feeling scared.

So that was my first lame paragraph from this week’s Lame Post Friday post. I am tired, and I am having a bad writing week.  There, I admitted it.  At lunch time at work, as I sat cravenly doing a cryptogram puzzle instead of writing, I said, “I have got to get my act together.”  My co-workers agreed, saying that they had meant to mention that to me.  I can always count on my co-workers.

I don’t think I ever gave him a name.

I wanted to throw in a picture, to pep things up, and this one caught my eye.  He is currently lurking by me garage.  I don’t know where I will put him next.

This is where he used to lurk in the front yard, under Frankentree.

These are appropriate pictures for today, because the one thing I accomplished was to mow the front lawn.  It was in shade for the most part, so that was good.

Mmmmm… coffee…

This is the coffee cup I used this morning.  This would normally be the weekend for the Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival in Little Falls.  Alas!  One more thing to look forward to in 2021, I hope.  Oh dear.  I cannot end on such a sad note.  Can I find a cheerful picture?

Maybe I could look like this if I went on a really strict diet.

Here is a cheerful thought: COVID or not, I can decorate my porch for Halloween!  That will also make a good blog post!  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

Without Hoopla or Help

So I did a thing last Sunday.  I ran 9.31 miles.  Yes, it was my Virtual Boilermaker 15K, and I pretty much backed into it.

I ran for one hour one minute on Saturday.  I had a bad headache, which running seemed to help.  Unfortunately, I started to get nauseous.  Now, I have the idea that I can run pretty much as long as I make up my mind to.  Not so on Saturday.  Quite abruptly, I felt, “No.”  I don’t know if it was from my mind or my body, but I stopped running.  I walked home, wanting nothing more than to stay perfectly still, which I was eventually able to do.

Still, I think an hour is a pretty good run, and I had included a few hills, so I was not entirely dissatisfied with myself.  Sunday I thought I would try for seven miles, however long that took me.  Then I would be in good shape for the Mini-Maker at Copper City Brewing in Rome on Sept. 13.

For a hill, I went out Main Street.  Part of the road is closed to traffic, but they don’t say anything about overweight, middle-aged runners, so I feel free.  It is steep and long-ish, and if I go all the way out Highland, I can come down Steuben Hill.  Sometimes I go up Steuben and down Highland, but I prefer to go up where it is steeper and down the more gradual slope.  Just my preference.

The run was going pretty well.  My first mile was almost 15 minutes, which I was not pleased about, but I told myself not to worry, just keep going.

It was sometime after the second mile that I began to toy with the idea of going for the 15K.  I had a bottle of water in my hand.  I could re-fill it at the spring.  That was almost as good as having water stations. I had not planned my entire route, but I could just keep going till Map My Run told me nine miles.  Then I could keep going till it was 9.3.  I should be able to look at my phone (strapped to my upper arm) enough to ascertain that.  I just couldn’t finish on a sprint, as I like to do.

The phrase occurred to me, “without hoopla or help.”  That’s it, I thought.  Without hoopla or help, I will run my 15K.  It kind of went against the grain, because one of my mottoes of life is “I get by with a little help from my friends.”  In this case, however, I decided to do something by myself, for myself, to prove I could do it.  I was running through some fairly level streets in Herkimer, NY while I thought this.  I tried to keep up my pace yet told myself that it did not matter how long it took me, as long as I went the distance.  Then I started thinking about hills.  I had gone up a big hill.  I did not need to do any more.  Did I?

The fact is, Herkimer is not that large, especially if I did not want to cross Route 5, which I did not.  Additionally, I wanted to be at least an hour into my run before I finished my bottle of water and stopped by the spring.  All things considered, I decided my best bet would be to go up the kick-buttest hill in the residential area behind Valley Health.  I suppose I could have gone up the hill to Herkimer College, but I felt more comfortable in the other area.

It was not too awful getting up that long hill, and I was slowly racking up the miles.  I was just over an hour when I refilled my water.  Now where to run?  I thought of a route that would bring me by my beloved Historic Four Corners.  I’ll do that!  Then I added in a few more turns and streets, because I needed to run longer.  Soon I was wishing I had fully charged my phone, because it started making a noise which I was afraid meant low battery.  Please, phone, please, last for me!   At last I was at nine miles!  I was headed down Prospect Street, almost at Bellinger Avenue (not to be confused with Bellinger Street).  I could enter where it said Do Not Enter!  My favorite!

As I headed up my own street, I twisted my arm enough to see my phone.  Map My Run, don’t fail me now!  It did not.  I stopped running when it said 9.31 miles.  Yay!  I was right across from a neighbor sitting on his front stoop, one I often greet as I run by.

“I just ran my Virtual Boilermaker 15K!” I told him.

“Good for you,” he said.

And I just finished my blog post about it.  Phew!  I guess I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.