Not a Bad Run, Not a Great Post

Posted on November 8, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’ve been running again, perhaps not as often as I’d like to, but I try not to judge myself.  I went running today and thought I would make a Wednesday Running Commentary post.  Unfortunately, I finished my run a good two hours ago and I don’t remember a damn thing about it.

Oh, that’s not true.  I’m sure I remember something, even on Wuss-out Wednesday.  I ran both Saturday and Sunday, then skipped Monday and Tuesday, so I knew it would be a really, really good idea to run today.  Additionally, I had to do laundry, and it is just so handy to put a load in the washer, run, then put it in the drier before I get in the shower.  I only hoped I would not talk myself out of it.

And I did not.  I arrived home in a dreadful mood, however.  Steven asked me how I was, and I said, “I’ve been better.”  Maybe a run would improve my disposition.  It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, even warm enough for shorts and short sleeves.  I put a sweatshirt next to my water bottle for my cool-down walk and set out.

Right away I was not too happy about it.  My work situation has changed recently and I am spending much more of the day on my feet.  My legs get tired!  However, I reminded myself that running can help me lose weight and the less weight I have to hold up, the better my body will feel.  I comforted myself with the thought that the run did not have to be a long one.  I turned so the bright sun was behind me and ran on.

It really was not too bad of a run.  I didn’t feel great, but I didn’t hate every step, either.  The breeze picked up, making the air colder, but I did not regret my ensemble.  I managed to make it for 25 minutes, which I thought was pretty good.  All I require of myself on these weekday runs is 20 minutes.  I am over a half hour on my weekend runs, so things look good for the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls in December.  I’ll write more about that as it gets closer.

I was happy to put the sweatshirt on for my cool-down walk.  I was pretty damn tired and hungry when I got back home, and I felt so ill-used when I remembered I had to put the laundry in the drier before I took my shower.  However, I did it, so I have clean socks and handkerchiefs for tomorrow.  Score!

 

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We Voted!

Posted on November 7, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, that photo didn’t turn out as well as I thought it would.

So we voted, and my dear husband Steven insisted we take a selfie to commemorate the event.  In fact, we vote in most elections, presidential and otherwise.  Just as an aside, boy do I look old in that picture!

After we voted, we rewarded ourselves with dinner at PK’s Pub in Herkimer, NY (where we live).  It was quite the yummy dinner. I got the Blackened Chicken Salad, which was a good choice for me, because now I have some salad to bring to work for my lunch tomorrow.  Steven had a bowl of clam chowder, because he preferred something light.  I also had two glasses of Chardonnay.  They kind of went to my head (don’t judge)  (oh, hell, judge if you want to; I don’t care).

I posted the above picture on Facebook right after I put it here.  It has gotten seven Likes already.  Regular readers know I am kind of a Like junkie.  I guess we’re all happy about a lot of people voting. However, Mohawk Valley Girl tries to stay off politics and religion.  On the other hand, it is becoming increasingly difficult to stay off politics.  I believe that is a topic for another post.  For now, suffice it to say, I voted.  I hope you did, too.

 

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No New Leaf on Monstrous Monday

Posted on November 6, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Monday is perhaps not the best day to turn over a new leaf.  Oh dear, a little voice in my head is saying, “Well, there is never a good day, you just have to do it.”  What an annoying little voice.  Are others tormented by such voices?  I know, the voices in your head probably say the voices in my head are full of beans.  Only they don’t say “beans.”

Nobody does, Monster, nobody does.

I think the idea of making all kinds of improvements on Monday is just an excuse for indulging in all kinds of excesses on Sunday.  That being the case, I supposed I should have misbehaved a little more on Sunday, but too late now.

So I guess it is pretty obvious that I really, truly got nothin’ today.  But being Monstrous Monday, perhaps I can throw in a couple pictures of creepy creatures and get away with it once again.

Full disclosure: I’m not sure if this is Bela Lugosi or Martin Landau playing Bela Lugosi.

Here is a human being as a monster, arguably the worst kind of monster, although I am no hand at argument.

 

But how can I escape my destiny?

Can I have a Monstrous Monday without Nosferatu?  Why would I want to?  Don’t you just hate it when somebody answers a question with another question?

 

Despite what rumors you may have heard, this is not actual footage of my first date with Steven.

Nobody has called me a monster lately.  I wonder if I have been doing something wrong.

So this is my silly Monstrous Monday post for the week.  Not my only silly post, no doubt, but the only Monstrous Monday.  I hope to get back to having Mohawk Valley adventures and making real blog posts.  We’ll see how Tuesday is for a new leaf.

 

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And Then There Was Laura on a Hot Tin Roof

Posted on November 5, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that title when we were mapping out our movie viewing for the day, and Steven insisted that I use it.  I started out just wanting to watch an Agatha Christie adaptation.  I picked And Then There Were None (1945) because it is black and white and I have been really into black and white movies lately.

The movie is near and dear to my heart.

I don’t know many of the actors in it, but the movie features one of my favorites: Judith Anderson.  I suggested we next watch Laura (1944) then Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and make it a Judith Anderson film festival.  Then I thought of the above title, and our plans were set.

I don’t know who the actor is. Sorry.

I actually do not remember this scene in the movie, but I thought it was a good picture of Anderson.  I would have loved to play Anderson’s role when Ilion Little Theatre did And Then There Were None (which was before my blogging days).  At that time, a smaller part was better for me, and I did enjoy it.

Anderson with Vincent Price, who is not a creepy sculptor or scientist in this one.

I have always said that the real love story in Laura is between Judith Anderson and Vincent Price: “He’s no good, but he’s what I want.”  If you have never seen the movie, I highly recommend it.

There she is, in the back!

I couldn’t find a good picture of Anderson in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and I got tired of looking.  I think this is the last movie we have with Judith Anderson, so we must move in a different direction if we wish to continue our Cinema Sunday.  I hope my readers (if any) are having an enjoyable day.

 

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A Place in Scattered Saturday

Posted on November 4, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

“No, I don’t know what she should write a blog post about, do you?”

 

We are currently watching A Place in the Sun after our Scattered Saturday gyrations, and it is high time I made my blog post.  Why, oh why, did I not post earlier?  Well, I’ve been busy.  I got up early enough, just prior to 6 a.m.  After some coffee, I went for a run. What a great run! I could have made an awesome Saturday Running Commentary, but that ship sailed away fast.  What can I say?

Later in the morning, we drove to New Hartford, NY, where we ordered new glasses at Eye Q of CNY.  We had gotten out eyes examined a few weeks ago, but I had too bad of a headache that day to decide on glasses.  I was happy we waited, though, because I chose a rather fabulous pair of frames.  Perhaps I will post a picture of the finished product.

Later on we went to an early dinner at Salvatore’s in Herkimer, NY, with some of the folks who were supposed to be part of A Trivial Murder, the interactive murder mystery that was  to have been tonight.  It has been rescheduled to March 23.  I will have more information on that as the date approaches.

So I guess we have not scattered ourselves as widely as on other Saturdays.  No matter.  We are watching a movie.  I have made a blog post. I hope you are all having as pleasant a Saturday evening.

 

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The Sting of Lame Post Friday

Posted on November 3, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear, it is Lame Post Friday and I am, indeed, lame.  Earlier today I went to a Wine Tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor with my friend Kim. Then we went to Asteroga Ale House for “just one” (of course it was two). Now I am sitting at home on my couch while my husband Steven watches The Sting.  I have always loved that movie, although as years pass I am increasingly less enamored of con stories.  Well, that is a discussion for another blog post, when I have had fewer than three glasses of wine.

I wish I had found a better picture of Redford and Newman,

I thought at first this was a picture of a VHS of the movie. That would be appropriate since Steven and I are currently watching a video.  Yes, we still watch some movies on video.  It takes time to replace a movie collection such as ours with the next technology.

I spent a little time looking for better photos but could find nothing down-loadable.  No doubt there are more photos available, but we all know I am not internetally astute.

So what is a blogger to do on Lame Post Friday when one feels one MUST make a post but has only one apropos photo to share. Perhaps share one that is not so apropos?

He’s so fine.

Found another apropos photo!  The divine Paul Newman.  And that is a lovely place to stop for a Friday Lame Post.  I hope to see you all on Saturday.

 

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I Think Candy Would Help

Posted on November 2, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I believe this was in December.

I wanted to do a Throw-Back Thursday, but I can’t seem to settle on any throw-back pictures, so I thought I would throw back to not too long ago and give a shout-out to a local business.  This is my husband, Steven, and our friend, Margaret, proprietor of the So Sweet Candy Cafe in Utica, NY.  It is a lovely little shop with lots of goodies.  I think another trip there is in my near future.

“Oh shame! Oh degradation!”

Since this is also Non-Sequitur Thursday, I do not feel I need to have a theme to my throw-backs.  This is me and our dear, recently departed friend, Julianne Allen, in Dirty Work at the Crossroads Ilion Little Theatre at  in 2013.  My character was having a real wrist to forehead moment.  It is kind of the way I feel when I fear I am making a really foolish blog post (which, as we all know, is often).

I even felt kind of like Superman that day.

Here is another throw back to a mere year ago, the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K.  It is also another wrist to forehead situation, because, alas, I did not run it this year.  I meant to, but I neglected to write it on my calendar and something else came up.  Well, there’s always next year.

 

That reminds me, I need a hair cut.

Also about a year ago, Steven and I visited the Ommengang Brewery in Cooperstown, NY.  Now, there’s a place I need to go again.  Maybe I could write about it for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  It would definitely make a good blog post.  I’m afraid this has not been a particularly good post.  I’ll try to do better tomorrow, but no promises.  After all, it will be Lame Post Friday.

 

 

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Hallowussout Wenesday

Posted on November 1, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I seem to remember making my first Wuss-out Wednesday post was when Halloween fell on a Wednesday one year (obviously I am too lazy to go back and check; I did say this is Wuss-out Wednesday, did I not?).

I only wish I could get this skinny drinking beer!

We just turned out the porch light, as it is the end of trick or treating in Herkimer tonight.  We had a lot of cute and nice kids show up.  We always love staying outside to greet them.  I just felt a little bad when I would mumble around a mouthful of Milky Way, “I’m not eating candy,” and none of them got the joke.  Still, they appreciated my witch’s hat, and that was something.  I even got a compliment on my black and gold caftan.  I certainly get a lot of wear out of that caftan.

I didn’t wear the jewelry or hold the wand, and I wore long sleeves under it, but this is basically the outfit.

I share a photo from last July, since we did not take any pictures today.  Steven wore the wizard hat I have previously worn with the caftan.

 

He also did not make the same silly grin.

Next time I will try to get a pic of Steven in the wizard hat. In the meantime, it is Halloween, or Hallo-wine as my friend Bruce calls it.  In fact, in my case, we can call it Hallo-whine.  Since I wish to inflict a minimum of whining on my readers, I shall sign off now.  Happy Halloween, everybody!

 

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Purple Potatoes on Tasty Tuesday

Posted on October 31, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I see I did a Tasty Tuesday post last week.  It may become a regular thing, because I intend to do another now.  For one reason: I can’t think of much else (oh why did I have to tell you that?  Sometimes I am too honest for my own good).

Last Sunday I roasted some purple potatoes.  I LOVE purple potatoes!  I got these at Hannaford, but I was introduced to them by T & J’s Fruits and Vegetables of Herkimer, NY, just to slip in a little local flavor (see what I did there?).  I used a 350 degree oven (does that mean I baked them?  I’m not up on my cooking terms) and tossed the potatoes in a casserole dish with oil and spices.  I used garlic powder, minced onion, paprika, basil, oregano, and Salt-Free All-Purpose Seasoning from the So Sweet Candy Cafe in Utica, NY (just to mention another local business).  They were yummy and there was a lot left over.

Tonight, after pouring myself a glass of Pinot Noir, so I could cook with wine, I put about half my leftover potatoes in a frying pan and started them heating.  While they sizzled, I grated some colby-jack cheese, taking frequent breaks to stir the spuds.  Once I had grated enough cheese, I cracked in two eggs and whisked.  There was more cheese than eggs, and it made an interesting kind of a pasty stuff.  I poured it over the potatoes, when I thought the potatoes were pretty much heated through.  I was kind of fascinated, because for the first time after many years of cooking eggs and cheese, I realized:  I was waiting for the eggs to HARDEN and the cheese to SOFTEN.  Paradox is a beautiful thing (I know, that little notion occurred to you years ago) (you know who you are).

It did not take long for the mixture to be done.  It was delicious.  Sometimes I am so pleased with myself as a cook.  I am far from a gourmet, but I likes what I makes!  Happy Tuesday, everyone!

 

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Why am I Smiling on Monstrous Monday?

Posted on October 30, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Can I have a Monstrous Monday after having a Many Monsters Sunday?  I think so, and not just because it is almost Halloween.  I like monsters ALL YEAR LONG!!! And, blogworthy activities-wise, I ain’t got much.  I will just mention that after last Saturday’s Haunted Historic Four Corners and the cancellation this Saturday’s murder mystery, I find myself in the rare and unfamiliar state of Nothing I HAVE To Do.  No commitments.  Nothing I need to work on and get done by a certain date.  (Oh well, my article(s) for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  Let’s not talk about that; just let me savor this!)

My teeth are not this good, but I have a similar smile right now.

I have not idea who this wolfman is.  I went to the Facebook page The Golden Age of Monster Movies and looked through the photos for a happy monster.

This is what I looked like a few weeks ago, when I was still trying to cast the murder mystery.

This, in case you didn’t know, is Elisha Cook, Jr., in House on Haunted Hill (1959).  Full disclosure:  I didn’t remember his name and had to look it up.

Since I do not have to begin writing another murder mystery till 2019 (for Morning Star Methodist Church in Ilion, NY in probably April), I can turn once again to writing novels.  I tried it this morning, but things did not go very well.  I have been jotting notes and inventing characters.  I have a few ideas, so I will persevere.  I will let you know how it goes.

I must bear this thought in mind.

 

I’ll remember this dictum as well.

OK, that was my pep talk to myself.  I will close with another monster, just because.

“Don’t forget about me!”

It was a choice between Michael Myers and Nosferatu.  Jaime Lee Curtis, I love you, but for me, Nosferatu always wins.

 

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