In My Defense, It’s a Bad Headache

Posted on November 8, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went for a run earlier today, thinking I could make a Running Commentary post.  It beats a Tired Tuesday post, so I thought.  Well, I’m not too tired to write a post, but I have another blankety-blank headache!  What’s that all about? I haven’t done anything to give myself a headache!  It’s no fair.

So here I am whining about my tiresome ills instead of entertaining my readers.

That was when I paused and went to Facebook (my usual dodge during these blogging woes), where I posted that my head hurt and I couldn’t write.  A Facebook friend encouraged me to continue writing my blog post about having a headache.  To be sure, I have had worse headaches.  For one thing, I am sitting upright typing.  The headache has not made my nauseous (I just tried about twelve spellings of “nauseous” before happening on the right one; where’s my damn dictionary, anyways?).

Continuing to count my blessings, I see it is almost time for Steven to get home from work.  We need to go vote.  After my shower, I put on a cute outfit (although perhaps I flatter myself).

Ooh, I hear him now.

I stopped typing and went to vote.  It is one’s democratic duty.  And it did not take long.  No lines, no waiting.  I love small town living.  Once we got home I warmed up and ate some sausage soup, so I am feeling better about everything.  So this is my Tired Tuesday post.  Run, headache, vote.  Oh, and I did a load of laundry.  I’ll get my act together yet!  I hope to see you all on Wuss-out Wednesday, when Mohawk Valley Girl will be surprised and pleased to have made it half-way through the week.

 

 

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Monday Meander

Posted on November 7, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I got home from work and wrote my weekly postcards that I usually do on Saturday (don’t judge).  Steven graciously agreed to walk to the post office with me.  One reason I wanted to walk was to go through Meyers Park and check out the historical marker that said a graveyard was moved to put a park there.

I have noticed that marker before, notably while running.  I flash on Poltergeist when I see it.  Spoiler alert!  Stop reading here if you have not seen Poltergeist.  When we finally find out the source of all the haunting, we learn that it is because the unscrupulous real estate developer moved a graveyard but only moved the gravestones, not the bodies.  As I run through Meyers Park, I irresistibly hear Craig T. Nelson screaming, “You son of a bitch, you DIDN’T MOVE THE BODIES!!!”  Imagine my chagrin when we caught part of Poltergeist on TCM on Halloween and I discovered that that is not the actual line.  But he does call the guy a son of a bitch, so I am not completely full of beans.

Where was I?  Oh it is a Monday Mental Meanderings.  We took a walk, we got some food, I want to sit here and crochet and watch television.  I see that my husband Steven is looking at the movies.  I’d better get off the computer before he picks out something I do not want to see. Happy Monday, everyone.

 

 

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A Little Murder to Finish my Weekend

Posted on November 6, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Ah, Wrist to Forehead Sunday, a day when I get even more lame than Lame Post Friday and wuss out even more than Wuss-out Wednesday.  All I want to do today is sit on my couch, crochet, and watch television.  That is pretty much what I have been doing in, with small breaks to wash dishes, make popcorn, fix dinner, and do a couple more marginally useful things.  I can never get anything done on a Sunday.

When Steven got home from work, I informed him that I did not want to take down Halloween decorations, as he had suggested we do.  I said we should leave them up for one more day and watch Halloween movies.  Steven is the nice sort of husband who agrees to such things.  We watched The Old Dark House, which I had DVR’d from TCM.

I mostly remember Tom Poston from “Newhart.”

We also have the original Old Dark House with Boris Karloff on the DVR.  Still, I thought a William Castle-Hammer production was worth a watch.  But what to watch next is the question?  I’ve seen two Hammer Dracula movies starring Christopher Lee this weekend. I have one more yet on my DVR.

Gotta love that Christopher Lee.

While I think about it, I am looking at my usual Sunday entertainment, Snapped on Oxygen.  It’s so relaxing.  I put it on while I made the popcorn, “For background music.”

I have not reached my breaking point.

I do love a true crime show.  Maybe I should look for a Dateline or 20/20.  Something cheerful to round out my weekend.  Happy Sunday, everyone.

 

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Not Quite the Run I Planned

Posted on November 4, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

YES!  Saturday Running Commentary is BACK!  I ran this morning and less than an hour later, I am sitting down to write my blog post about it!

I had actually planned  better blog post.  I am still unsure of my plans for the day, so I thought I  would think about what I was going to do while I ran, then I could write about the run and my plans.  Well, I thought about my run while I was running, probably because I kept changing my plans about where and even how long I was going to run.  So I am going to tell you about that.

My thermostat said it was 38 degrees out, well within my parameters for leggings and long sleeves.   A long-sleeved running shirt was handy, because I had worn it under my sweatshirt when greeting the trick-or-treaters on Tuesday.  It took a little longer to find leggings and winter running socks.  I guess I could have done without winter socks, but the leggings I found are a little short and I did not want that little half-inch of bare leg between sock and legging.  It’s the little things.

At last I was off.  Ooh, it felt cold.  And I felt a little self-conscious in my form-fitting shirt and leggings.  I usually run in very large t-shirts.  Indeed, most of my long-sleeved t-shirts are on the baggy side as well.  But one must not let these things keep one from pursuing fitness.  I kept running.  My main concern was that the cold would give me a sinus headache, as it sometimes does.  I made up my mind that if it started to I would have a short run.  I have things to do today (even if I have not planned it out yet); I can’t be down with a headache.

I ran toward Valley Health, my go-to hill when I am building myself up.  From there, I could run to the high school and over the little footbridge.  That is often my Sunday run, but it would do for a Saturday.  As I approached the hill, I could see something was going on at the school: a school bus and several cars were right where I planned to run.  I revised my plans.  I thought the sight of my lumpy body outlined in such detail by my outfit, which was not even all that warm, might traumatize high school students.   I decided to run into the residential area behind Valley Health and make my way back to German Street via Lou Ambers Drive or Maple Grove.

As I approached Lou Ambers, I thought I would go to Maple Grove, where there were sidewalks to run on.  Then as I got toward Maple Grove, I saw that it went uphill to the next street over.  A little uphill would be a good thing.  Beyond that was the back way up to Herkimer College.  I was not up to running to Herkimer College.  Then I noticed the “Do Not Enter” sign.  I felt I just had to run by a “Do Not Enter” sign.  I thought I would only run to the path that goes into Brookfield Park (previously known as The Unknown Park in this space).   This put more uphill in my run.

The path into the park added more uphill.  As I ran, I hoped I could actually get into the park.  The path leads to a picnic area, which is separated from the rest of the park by a little footbridge over the brook.   The bridge and brook are surrounded by a chain link fence.  Sometimes the bridge is blocked.  If the bridge was blocked, I would have to turn around and run back the way I came.  I did not want to do that.  I was tired of running and wanted to go home.  I made up my mind that if the bridge was blocked, I would just climb over it.

I could not tell until I was right at the bridge whether or not it was blocked.  In that length of time I was able to picture myself ripping my leggings on the fence, falling into the brook, spraining my ankle, and having to drag myself out of the brook to limp home.  Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to just run longer than I intended.  The bridge was unblocked, so that was good.

By now I realized I MIGHT make it home in 30 minutes, the length of last Sunday’s run.  Then again, it might end up being 33 minutes, the intended length of tomorrow’s run.  I felt pretty good either way. My legs and body had warmed up nicely and I felt I could continue running with no problem.  This was all right!  I ended up running by my house to the end of the street and coming back for a 33 minute run.  Yes!

As I walked my cool-down, I felt pretty damn good about myself.  If I keep this up, I will be in great shape for the Reindeer Run 5K!  Now to get on to planning the rest of my Saturday…

 

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I Love a Large Lizard

Posted on November 4, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Two of my favorite things: birthdays and monsters!

I was checking Facebook prior to making this week’s Friday Lame Post, and what did I see but Happy Birthday, Godzilla!  For all my love of movie monsters, I have not written about that many Godzilla movies.  There was one, and I’m afraid I was not in love with that movie.  Still, a monster, a birthday, Lame Post Friday, I’m going with it.

Full disclosure:  I did not research whether or not this is actually but big guy’s birthday.  I just downloaded the meme and ran with it.  I quickly searched for more pictures and came up with a few.

Stars: they’re just like us! They take the subway!

I gotta love a monster that utilizes public transportation.  It’s so much more down to earth than, say taking a limo.  I personally never take a limo.  At least, I suppose I might take a limo for a very special occasion, for example, me being able to afford a limo.  I imagine it is the same for Godzilla.  It is pretty much expected for stars to take a limo to movie premieres and such.

Like John Barrymore: “the famous profeel.”

Here is a more glamorous shot.  I’m sure stars like their fans to see them at their best.  As do many of us.

“Thanks for the birthday wishes, everybody!”

I shall close with a nice smiling shot.  I quickly went to another tab and typed “godzilla’s birthday” into the space where you put in the url.  I discovered that on Nov. 3, 1954, Gojira was first screened in Japan, making this, indeed, Godzilla’s birthday.  Happy Birthday, big guy!

 

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Post Halloween Run

Posted on November 3, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Note to self:  Do not take three days off running again.  I have made this note to myself before.  Come to think of it, sometimes the note says a greater number of days, so at least I kept it to three this time.  Oh well, shit happens and we do not always do the right thing, fitness-wise or otherwise.  Judge me if you are so inclined.

This by way of introduction to today’s Running Commentary post.  I guess the Turkey Trot 5K is back off the table, for the main reason that I can’t readily find one nearby.  However, I can easily find the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls, NY in December.  I wanted to do that last year but did not have my act together (long story, not very interesting).   That will give me a couple more weeks to build up.  As Fredrick Frankenstein said in Young Frankenstein:  IT! COULD! WORK!

So I felt determined to run today, even if it was raining, which it was when I left work.  It stopped by the time I got home, so I had that going for me.  After putting on my running clothes, I put a load of laundry in the washer, the other un-put-off-able chore of the day, and got going.  It had started sprinkling again, but I’m not sugar; I won’t melt.  My legs felt quite unhappy, but I ignored them.

I dodged around puddles and a few pedestrians, pondering how long I was going to run.  On these mid-week runs, I only require 20 minutes of myself, although I usually run at least a little further.  I ran along German Street and turned down Main, looking for houses that still had Halloween decorations.  I saw a ghoul looking out the door of an enclosed front porch and felt comforted.  A few Jack-o-Lanterns rotting from the inside out leered at me.  I admired a couple extra large ones with smaller ones in their mouths.

I ran a large rectangle and ended up back on German Street.  I heard sirens and saw flashing lights turn on my street.  Yikes!  I was certain I had not left anything on in my house to cause a fire.  I ran by my street to go around another block, just to add a few steps to the run.  I peeked down the street as I passed and saw the police and an ambulance outside the apartment building at the end of the street.   That was another reason to go another block: so as not to run too close and bother the first responders.

My legs had been feeling better but by the end of the run, they were tired again.  You’ll have that at the end of the day, especially at my age.  My run ended up being 27 minutes, three minutes less than I did on Sunday, the same length I was doing last week.  This is good.  I can run 30 on Saturday, up it by 10 percent to 33 on Sunday and stay on track.  I hope I can find my “Dashing” t-shirt for the Reindeer Run (get it?  Dashing through the snow…).

 

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I’d Rather Share Monster Pictures

Posted on November 2, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Can you bear one more post about NaNoWriMo?  If not, well, just look at the pictures.

“NOOOOOO! I’ve only written 25 words!!!!”

This is what I would probably look like if I attempted to write a 50,000 word novel during the 30 days of November : wild-eyed, running down the highway, and having a perfectly dreadful hair day.  I am taking it for granted (I try to never assume) that my readers all know that NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, and participants attempt to write an entire novel in that length of time.  One of my nieces did it once and finished, but I don’t know that she ever polished up her novel and tried to get it published.

As you may have guessed, I am opting NOT to participate.  I tried once, back in the late ’00’s, scribbling frantically in a spiral notebook while at work.  It was fun for a few days, but then we got busy and my boss and co-workers seemed to think I should be waiting on customers (I had a different job then, working with the public, YIKES! No wonder I am so obsessed with movie monsters; they are so much more relaxing than customers).

Where was I? Ah yes, writing about not writing.

Still, relaxing with a beer after writing frantically all day, that I could get into.

I do want to write more, and to finish a novel as well as several other projects.  In that case, why not give NaNoWriMo a try?  They have a website that offers encouragement and accountability.  That is what a lot of us writers need: accountability.  And a deadline.  Maybe that is why I finish so few novels:  no deadline.  That’s something to think about.  Also, what a feeling of accomplishment I would have!  Oh dear, am I talking myself into this?

“Who, me? Write a novel in November?”

I don’t know if you believe in Freudian slips, but almost every time I’ve gone to type “NaNoWriMo,”  I’ve typed “NoNoWriMo.”  I think my fingers are trying to tell me something.  In any case, I just don’t feel that I want to participate in this thing.  I do not want to register at their website, update my word count, and past my entire novel to them so I can be declared a winner.  It’s just not me.

However, I’ll just put this out there:  I am going to write more.  I have been doing a little more each day, and I intend to increase my efforts and output.  I will let you know how I do.  I’ll write a blog post about it!  In the meantime, this is my Wuss-out Wednesday post.  Or perhaps we could call it a Mid-week Middle-aged Musings.  Either way, I think I’ll close with another monster picture.  Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Raise your hands, everybody who thinks Cindy ought to write more!

 

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It’s Halloween!!!!!

Posted on November 1, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

According to my WordPress dashboard, it is actually Nov. 1, but here on my couch, it is still Oct. 31.  Trick or treating in Herkimer begins in just 24 minutes, that is officially. I fully expect early birds as well as late comers.  For heavens’ sake, who doesn’t like free candy?  Oh, I know, YOU probably don’t.  Fine, all the more for the rest of us.

Um, I don’t expect to get any free candy.  Steven and I will be handing out free candy to kids in costume.  I am looking forward to seeing the costumes.  If only yesterday’s sick headache hadn’t come back, my life would be perfect.  Don’t worry; I’ll wear gloves to hand out the candy, which is wrapped.  I won’t share my germs around.  And if I do give someone my cold, they can’t say I never gave ’em nuthin’.

Steven put this on Facebook earlier with the comment, “I’m waiting!”

This is actually a shot of our front porch last year, but it looks remarkably similar this year.  Next year I want to get some grave stones and a spooky-looking fence for the front yard.  Maybe a pair of glowing eyeballs for the tree, which it pretty monstrous all on its own, I think.

My challenge tonight is to not eat the candy while I’m passing it out.  Well, not eat too much of it.  Oh, how I love Halloween!  I think I will continue my celebration through Thanksgiving at least.  For one reason, I still have plenty of monster movies saved on my DVR.  Maybe I’ll watch a few this weekend and write blog posts about them. Happy Halloween, everyone!

 

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Another Blogger’s Sick Day

Posted on October 31, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just can’t do it.  I can’t let today be the day I don’t make a post.  Oh, I know, there have been a few days I’ve missed, due to computer problems or, well, falling asleep.  I made my post for those days as early as possible the next morning.  I thought briefly of doing that today, but, well, here I am, here is the laptop, my fingers are not broken, I have  internet connection, and I am awake.

Full disclosure:  I don’t want to be.  I think I am coming down with a cold or something.  I’m tired, I have a sick headache, I feel inclined to do nothing but whine.  My dear husband, Steven, suggested I take today off.  It was a kind, loving suggestion.  But I just feel if I take one day off, I will take all the days off, and then I will not be a blogger any more.  I suppose that would not be such a great loss to the blogosphere.  There are plenty of bloggers out there, many of them better than I am in different ways.

So I begin to ask myself, why am I still posting every day?  I started this blog in May of 2011 with the intention of posting every day for one year.  I don’t know what I thought was going to happen after a year, but it seemed a good goal to set for myself.  Now six years and a couple of months later, I am still at it.  Sometimes I feel a little proud of myself for that.  Then I think of all the foolish posts I’ve made along the way (YES, I realize this is one of them! Sheesh!), and I wonder.

However, when one is coming down with a miserable cold, it is not the best time to question one’s life choices.  One is likely to feel the only good choice would be to crawl into bed, pull up the covers, and cry.  Well, at least I won’t do the last one.  For one reason, it dehydrates one to cry, and it is important to stay hydrated, especially when ailing.  I am sure some readers will feel I might just as well have taken tonight off (you know who you are). No matter.  I am counting this as my Monday Mental Meanderings, and I am going to make myself some hot tea.  Thank you for tuning in.

 

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Who Me? Run a 5K?

Posted on October 29, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a Sunday Running Commentary to avoid a Wrist to Forehead Sunday later on.  At least, I will avoid a post about one.  As a worker at Monday through Friday employment (most of the time), although I appreciate Friday, I confess to some amount of angst on Sunday.  As I like to say in a philosophical tone of voice, you’ll have that.

I did not run yesterday and thought I might not run today.  For one reason, lots of rain is predicted, and Steven informed me it had already started by 5:30 when he got up to pee (we slept in to an almost unheard of 7 a.m.!).  I grumped downstairs for a cup of coffee on stiff knees and feet (yes, I’m old), feeling contented at the thought of my husband having the day off, too.  After coffee, I was hungry, but Steven wanted to do the dishes before fixing breakfast.  As I was contemplating having a piece of toast to hold me over, I realized it was not currently raining.

“You do the dishes while I go for a short run,” I suggested.  I noted that it was 53 degrees out, so I felt secure that my sinuses would not become irritated (often a concern for me).  I brushed my teeth, washed my face, got into running gear, and got myself going.

I crossed German Street and ran up the steeper side (it is kind of a slanted street), heading for the hill by Valley Health.  As I ran, I thought I would lead my Running Commentary post with the reflection that I was NOT going to run in any kind of 5K on Thanksgiving Day, as I had threatened to do in a recent running post.  To keep on schedule for that, I would have to run for 30 minutes.  I wasn’t going to run for 30 minutes!  I had just taken three days off of running (go ahead and judge me if you like)!  I was probably going to run for 20 minutes and have done.  Maybe 20 plus a few.  At least I was going to do the hill.

It sure took a long time to get to the hill.  This was more of a plod than a run.  Never mind, at least I was doing it.  Maybe my body would feel better as I went.  Only that did not seem likely at the time.  The hill was not fun, but I managed it without having a VCD attack (that is Vocal Chord Dysfunction, a breathing problem I have).  Once I got down the hill, I felt a little better about things.  I could rock this run.  Well, maybe not rock, but at least continue.  Twenty minutes?  Maybe 25.  27, same as I did last weekend.  Oh, just keep running.

I ran up and down a couple of streets, keeping an eye on the time passing and wondering how long I would go.  My legs didn’t feel too bad, but my breathing wasn’t so great.  I concentrated on taking deep, slow breaths, holding each breath in for a second or two before exhaling.  I took note of people’s Halloween decorations, to keep myself in a cheerful frame of mind.  Lots of ghouls, nice.  A few pumpkins.  Oh, one house that had a magnificent display last year was bare.  I think it is a rental property, which would explain things.

My run ended up lasting for 30 minutes.  When I was around 13 minutes I wondered if I would; when I hit 16 minutes it seemed likely, and when I got to 18 I was sure. At the bottom of my street, I saw I was at 27 minutes and picked up the pace, so I would not go over 30 minutes. It felt pretty good running a little faster.  I thought I should do this more often.  Perhaps I will.  And the Turkey Trot 5K?  Still on the table, I guess.

I felt happy as I walked my cool-down around the block.  Now I feel ready to sit my butt on the couch, crochet and watch Halloween movies, yes!  I hope to see you all on Mental Meanderings Monday.  Or perhaps I will have a Monster Movie Monday, just to mix things up a little.   Tune in tomorrow and see!

 

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