Ready for the Run? Or Just Lame?

Posted on December 9, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, I’m all carbed up for tomorrow’s Reindeer Run 5K, part of Christmas in Little Falls.  I confess to feeling a little nervous about the whole thing.  I’m not even sure of my outfit.  Regular readers know how I obsess over what I’m going to wear, with the final results far from reflecting the efforts involved.  At least I found my “Dashing” t-shirt.  It is a large reg t-shirt with a penguin and the word “Dashing.”  Steven gave it to me for birthday one year when we lived in Georgia (he often gives me Christmas for my birthday).  I think it is a perfect t-shirt for a Christmas run.  Get it?  “Dashing through the snow…”

I have a green long-sleeved running shirt to wear under the t-shirt.  Actually, it’s kind of teal, but I think it is green enough for a Christmas run (which is not the same thing as when the light turns yellow as I reach it and I say, “Ah, it’s green enough”).  I think silver leggings.  Again, they are not really silver, kind of black shot with silver.  OK, they’re grey.  I’m going to call them silver.  I hope I can find a pair of my winter running socks in the clean laundry (no, I have do not fold all my laundry promptly, sue me!).

I carbed up with angle hair pasta with basil pesto, topped with onions, rainbow peppers, and mushrooms, which I roasted in pesto.  I perhaps started them a little too soon, with the result that some of the onions were a little crispy.  I put the onions in first, while I cleaned and sliced the peppers, then I put the peppers in.  I didn’t put the mushrooms in till the last twenty minutes or so. I put grated cheese on mine.  It was a pretty good supper.

So how is this for my Lame Friday Post?  A little about the race, a little bit of cooking.  It will have to do.  Perhaps tomorrow I will have things to report about Christmas in Little Falls.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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I Can See the Grinch

Posted on December 8, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

My sister Cheryl gave me the boxes.  Steven gave me the bear.

When in doubt, lead with a cute bear.  My husband, Steven, did some more indoor decorating today, so I took a few pictures to dress up my blog post, in the perhaps forlorn hope of disguising the fact that I have very little to say these days.  As I sit here typing, I see a number of things I could also have photographed, so I may use the same dodge tomorrow.  Then again, tomorrow is Lame Post Friday, so there will be nothing to apologize for.

The gang’s all here!

This is, in fact, not all of the holiday stuffed toys we have.  The two lounging on the floor in front of the box are recent acquisitions.  Steven won them in a claw machine.  He often has good luck with those machines. Also note the reindeer antlers.  I may wear a pair of those for the Reindeer Run 5K on Saturday.  I won’t run fast, but I’ll look cute!

Regular readers may remember the Santas on the stairs from a previous post.

This is kind of a busy and wide view.  Now that I look at it, I see I should have turned on the stairs’ light and moved my sneakers from the floor.  Then again, sometimes these random mistakes are part of my charm.  Or do I flatter myself?

Everybody loves Santa!

My sister Cheryl gave me the Santa Claus.  We normally put him in the dining room, but I suggested we put him in front of the fireplace this year.  Steven added the crowd of stuffed toys today.  I think it is a delightful arrangement.

She escaped from the Island of Misfit Toys!

This is a close-up of part of our mantel, because  Steven specifically requested a picture of “the doll from Rudolf that doesn’t have anything wrong with her.”  I forgot where we got her, or why we only have her and none of the other figures from Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer.   No matter.  She looks happy now, and it’s Christmas time.  And I am approaching 350 words.  Woo-hoo!  That is quite respectable for a Non-Sequitur Thursday.  If only I could think of a catchy headline, my life would be perfect.

 

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Running But Not Writing

Posted on December 7, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

We are just a few days away from the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls, NY!  I ran yesterday, did not run today, will run tomorrow, and either take a long walk or a short run on Friday.  Today I went to the Christmas in Little Falls website and made a note of when and where the race begins.  Yes, I was not clear on these things when I signed up.  I suppose I must have noticed it when I filled out the form, but I neglected to make a note of it (what a surprise, me not organized! Say it ain’t so!).

A lot more stuff is going on in Little Falls on Saturday besides the run.  I have not decided yet what, if any, other events I will attend.  Right now I am more concerned with making sure I have some good sports bras clean.  And deciding whether I should wear reindeer antlers or a Santa hat when I run.  Either one might fly off when I sprint it out at the end.   I guess my sprint is not all that fast compared to other runners, but I do pick up the pace a little.

So my tiredness from Tired Tuesday continues.  Likewise my extreme reluctance to write.  I don’t know what it is, but I can’t seem to make myself put pen to paper and move it.  Now that I have written that, I think I would like to put that to the test.  It is all very well to keep typing in a blog post, but I do not feel that I am writing.  For one reason, this is kind of a lousy blog post.  Well, I’ll just call it Wuss-out Wednesday and drive on.  I’ll let you know on Thursday if I have any luck with the pen.

 

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The Ghost of Christmas Post?

Posted on December 6, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

“I wear the chain I forged in life!”

I like ghosts as much as I like monsters, so A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite Christmas stories.   My husband Steven and I have 14 versions of it, on DVD and VHS.  I just now counted, and it is possible I missed a couple.  It is also possible we will discover another version to add to the collection.  Steven shared the above photo on Facebook today; alas, we do not own that comic book.

As you may have guessed, this is a Tired Tuesday post.  I tried for a Running Commentary and a Mohawk Valley adventure, but I have the type it in, backspace it out disease. I confess,  I almost gave up.  Then I remembered this picture, and it seems to be helping.  I am over 100 words and still typing.

“Glo-o-o-o-o-oo-o-o-o-o-oo-o-o-o-o-oo-ria!”

I don’t think these are actually characters in the book, but don’t they look Dickensian?  I was once writing a stage version of A Christmas Carol, and I had a group of carolers narrate the story.  I wonder if I could get Ilion Little Theatre or LiFT to put it on, if I finished it.  Well, probably if I started it again and finished it, because I rather doubt I could find what I started.  It was in the 1990’s.

“God bless us, every one!”

I used this picture in a recent post, but I thought it fit in with today’s theme.    I see I am over 200 words, so I will call this a post.  Ooh, I’m tired.  I hope to see you all on Wednesday, when I will strive not to Wuss Out.

 

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The Grinch Stole My Weekend!

Posted on December 5, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Monster, you are not alone.

I thought I would do a Middle-aged Musings Monday with Monsters. I like monsters.  And I think many can identify with the sentiment expressed by Frankenstein’s Monster (I capitalize it, because I feel he is a friend).  I suppose there is no point in harping on the fact that it is Monday and we don’t like Mondays, so I shall merely express the thought and move on.

“Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot…”

Here is one of my all-time favorite pictures of a couple of my all-time favorite guys:  The Grinch and Boris Karloff.  I thought it was the best thing in the WORLD when I heard, at a fairly young age, that Boris Karloff was the Grinch.  I had never seen Frankenstein, but I knew quite a bit about it.  Now that I am a true fan of the movie, of old-time horror movies in general, and of Boris Karloff, I relish seeing our DVD of that classic cartoon.

I guess I have expressed all these sentiments before.  We just watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas the other day, and came across that photo on Facebook.  I knew I would use it in a blog post.  I’m only sorry it is not a better blog post, but, as I often say, you’ll have that.

The title just now occurred to me, and I rather like it.  Full disclosure:  Nobody stole my weekend.  I had a weekend, I enjoyed it, it passed as time passes, I await the next one.  However, one is not best served by spending five days of the week merely anticipating two.  I will find useful things to do and accomplish during my week.  I will write blog posts about them.  Happy Monday, everyone.

Oh, I just realized, I said “Middle-aged Musings with Monsters.”  I suppose you could count The Grinch, and that makes two.  Still, I’ll feel better if I include one more.

“I still don’t know why they wanted me to be in this blog post.”

I bet you thought I was going to go with Nosferatu.  Maybe we’ll see him on Tuesday.

 

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If Only I Had a Flair for Blog Posts!

Posted on December 4, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I pause in my Sunday activities for a Wrist to Forehead blog post.   I am a little down, I confess it.  One feels one ought to be in high spirits at all times during the Christmas season, but that is not realistic.  So I’ll just ride out the downslope until I feel up again.  In the meantime, I do like to make a blog post every day (downslope is not a word?  I’ll be damned!).

Steven and I did some decorating on the interior of our house today.  It would be nice if I took some pictures, but I am currently unaware of the whereabouts of my tablet, and I never did learn how to use that digital camera.  Steven did most of the decorating.  He has a flare for it.  Or do I mean a flair? I don’t know where my dictionary is either.  Ooh, I just laid eyes on it when I typed that; it is right in front of me. Wait a minute. I mean flair.  I’m glad we got that cleared up.

Where was I? Ah yes, having Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  I am trying to recruit my energies, because we want to attend the 4th Annual Christmas in Meyers Park this evening.  It is easy walking distance from our house.  I’m hoping to leave a little early and take the long way down, so we can admire lights on people’s houses around the neighborhood.  I have been making mental notes of where they are when I go on my runs.

So I owe my readers a blog post about Rome Historical Society, one with pictures of our Christmas decorations, and perhaps one about Christmas in Meyers Park.  All these possibilities and here I sit typing my usual nonsense. If that isn’t a reason to swoon onto the chaise with my wrist to my forehead,  I don’t know what is!

 

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Facebook Fun on Scattered Saturday

Posted on December 3, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

As late afternoon darkened into evening, I posted the following on Facebook:

     So I went running, wrote and mailed post cards, drove into Rome, purchased more post cards and walked around the exhibits, which should make a nice blog post. I went to my parents’ house and helped decorate the Christmas tree. I put laundry in the washer and while it washed, I worked on organizing my yarn and craft stuff. Now the laundry is in the drier and if the yarn and stuff is not organized, at least it I did not leave it spread across the dining room table but put it away neatly. Steven is not due home for an hour and 45 minutes. Do you suppose it is wine o’clock? Do you suppose anybody read this entire post? If you did you would know that the secret word is diorama. If you read this whole post, comment, using the secret word in a sentence.

I just now realized I did not say where I purchased my post cards. It was Rome Historical Society, a truly wonderful place.  I hope to write a full blog post about it subsequently.

     Obviously I was making the post up as I went along, and uppermost in my mind was the question of if it could legitimately be considered wine o’clock.  As I typed, I realized how verbose I was being, but I did not want to leave anything out.  After all, I was justifying my wine.  One does not merely celebrate wine o’clock.  One earns the right.  Oh, I know, you can drink wine at almost any time, earned or not. Today I wanted to feel I had earned it.  I threw in the secret word so people could feel they had been rewarded for reading a long post.  I don’t finish all long posts myself; I certainly do not expect all my Facebook friends to do so.
     Nobody had commented by the time I got off Facebook.  During this time I had tried and failed to make a blog post but decided wine o’clock it would be.  I poured myself a glass of wine and looked for a crime show on television.  Steven gets a little tired of murder and mayhem, as he calls it, but I can’t get enough.  I finally settled on an episode of Snapped On Demand.  I knitted more on a prayer shawl while I watched, which helped me slow down my sipping, always a good idea when it is over an hour before my husband is due home.
     When I got back on Facebook, I found a number of Likes and comments on my post.  I was quite delighted with the response.  The best was, “Every diorama deserves wine.”  However all were worthy responses, and any responders who are reading this post, I thank you for participating (responder is not a word?  What the hell, computer?  What about first responders?).
     So this is my Scattered Saturday post.  It quite amused me to write it.  I can only hope it amused others as well.  I hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

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Late and Lame, but Here’s a Lizard

Posted on December 2, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that title while I was logging into WordPress.  I figured I couldn’t just call it  “Late and Lame,” because I’ve used that title before.  Then I remembered I have some Godzilla pictures in my Media Library. Godzilla on a Friday, there could be no possible objection.

“Hello there, blog readers!”

Steven and I just got back from Ilion Little Theatre’s production of The Christmas Spirit.  I must write a whole blog post about it, but I am far too tired to do that now.   Anyways, I have to figure out what I want to say.  Godzilla is no help to me there.

“What do you mean no help? I’m a real helpful guy, give me a chance!”

I tried to write a real blog post earlier.  It did not go well.  Then again, it is Lame Post Friday.  How can I do a real post then?  I like to do silly things on Friday.  Random observations and half-baked philosophy.  I think saying that Godzilla is no help is one or the other.

When in doubt, throw in another picture.

In case I don’t write a real post about the play, it is The Christmas Spirit at Ilion Little Theatre, Dec 3, 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m., and Dec, 4 and 10 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are available at Eventbrite.

 

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Love that Locavore

Posted on December 1, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

How could a store called The Locavore not appeal to Mohawk Valley Girl?  Naturally I love the place!  Steven had a gift certificate he won a the Little Falls Cheese Festival Fundraiser (just to give the Cheese Fest another plug).  He said I could spend it for my birthday present.  Yay!  A couple of weeks ago, I did just that.

The shop is small but full of stuff, and we took our time browsing.  We did not need honey, but I made a mental note that this is a good place to get the local stuff.  I also passed on some of the yummy-looking snack food.  Must watch my calorie intake!  Yes, I’m sure some of them were not too high in calories; I save even more calories by not eating them at all.

We enjoyed a cup of delicious coffee while we shopped.  The owner roasts and grinds his own beans.  Yum!  He offers several fancy coffees as well, hot and iced.  I have enjoyed different hot ones on other occasions, but I have not yet been in the mood for ice when I’ve been there.

I looked a long time at the artisan soaps before selecting The Gardener’s Hand and Calendula & Chamomile Shampoo. Then I found a long-sleeved t-shirt that I loved.  My final choice was a canvas shopping bag with the Locavore logo.

A variety of local foods is also available:  meat, cheese, pickles, eggs, and more.  There is a nice table where you can sit and sip your drink.  An outdoor table is available, weather permitting.  I suppose it may be a while before we can take advantage of that.

The Locavore is located at 159 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY.   You can Like them on Facebook.

 

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Cold Hands, Good Run

Posted on November 30, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I don’t think this blog will go All Reindeer Run All The Time.  I am not running enough to warrant such a thing.  However, I did run today and will attempt to make a Running Commentary post instead of my usual Wuss-out Wednesday.

I had thought it was supposed to still be kind of warm today, and sure enough, when I got home from work my thermostat said it was 45 degrees out.  That is my cut-off for shorts and short sleeves, but it was a bit windy, so I thought I would go for the leggings and long.  Leggings were easy to find (actually they were polyester long johns I like to wear instead of pantyhose), but by the time I found a long sleeved shirt I was hot flashing.  I had worn my t-shirt from the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K (remember that?)  to work today, and that is such a lovely soft cotton, I decided to run in it too.

Thus hybridly attired (what, isn’t “hybridly” a word?  It should be), I set out.  Ooh, that wind was fierce.  I was already regretting the t-shirt, but no matter.  I thought about how good it would feel to put on my sweatshirt for my cool-down walk.  I was thinking I should run a long (for me right now) time, at least 30 minutes.  My last longest run was 36 minutes.  I will increase that to 40 this weekend, which will put me right where I want to be for the 5K.   I hope.

I let myself off the hook for hills, because I hate trying to cross a busy street in the late afternoon.  In fact, traffic was so bad, I turned left instead of right at the end of my street so I would not have to run in front of the cars stopped at the STOP sign.  I made it to Caroline Street before I didn’t want to cross again, but that was OK.  This was one of my go-to runs:  German to Caroline, then down Caroline, up Margaret, down Henry…

My run was enlivened by some Christmas decorations on some houses.  I tried to make a note of where houses were that had lights, in case we go for a walk after dark one night, which I hope we will.  My legs pumped along steadily, not giving me much problem.  My breathing wasn’t too bad.  My hands were turning to stiff icy claws, but what could I do?  I just wouldn’t try to write anything as soon as I got home.  I hoped my hands would be able to turn on the faucets for my shower.  Ah, hot water would be great.  Maybe I would even have hot chocolate instead of cold chocolate milk for my recovery beverage.

By the end of my run, I was feeling quite tired, but I persevered.  I ended up running for 35 minutes instead of 36.  Sorry, folks, I was at my house and I just did not have the mental or physical wherewithal to go past the house again (I had already gone past it once, running down the opposite sidewalk, then to the corner and crossing the street).  It did feel wonderful to put my sweatshirt on.

I think I will be just fine for next Saturday’s 5K.  My only sticky widget, as I just realized, is that I don’t have anybody to meet me at the end of the race and sing “We Are the Champions” while I walk around with my fists in the air.  After a race, I like to walk around with my fists in the air while somebody sings “We Are the Champions.”

 

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