Not Lame Hair

Posted on March 8, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

In lieu of my usual Friday Lame Post, I would like to give a brief shout-out to the Hot Spot Salon and Spa in Herkimer, NY. I just got a really cool haircut there.

The cut was important, because Steven and I have an event to attend on Saturday, March 8 (um, that’s tomorrow). It is the HPD/MPD SRT Tasting Event from 6 to 10 p.m. at Francesca’s Banquet Hall in Ilion. Proceeds will be split between the Herkimer/Mohawk Special Response Team and K9 Ape Memorial. K9 Ape, you may recall, was killed last March during the shootings which shook Mohawk and Herkimer.

The evening promises to be fun, with several wineries, a brewery and a distillery offering tastings. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. Some of the members of the Special Response Team involved in last March’s terrible events will attend.

So naturally I want to look my best. I’ve been agonizing over what to wear, but I knew my hair would be OK if I could get an appointment at the Hot Spot. I was lucky enough to get in with Claire right after work on Friday.

Clair remembered what she did with my hair last time, which I liked. I told her she could go even shorter on top this time. I do like my hair short. While she clipped, we talked about the tasting event. It turns out Clair and Amy both plan to attend.

“What are you wearing?” I asked. She was undecided, so we discussed options.

My hair turned out fabulous. While I was paying for it, I chatted up Amy on what she was going to wear. We are all excited about the different wineries who plan to be there.

“I’ve been to some of them,” I said. Amy has been wine tasting in the Finger Lakes, too, so we talked about some of our favorites.

“My sisters, cousin and Mom are going again on April 5,” I said. “I was undecided on if I was going with them, but now…”

“You’re going,” Amy said.

So I had a fun time, and I got a good cut. The Hot Spot is located at 121 Albany St. in Herkimer, 315-866-9113. Their website is www.hotspotsalonandspa.com.

If you’re all interested in going to the tasting event, contact the Mohawk or Herkimer police departments. But if you do, better hurry. Last I heard, they were selling out.

Leave a comment

Posted in Community Events, hairstyles, humor, local business, personal and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Just Saying

Posted on March 7, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

Earlier today I wrote the title of a blog post. Then I drew a line under it and wrote a paragraph of a different blog post. Then I turned the page and wrote pretty much an entire other blog post.

And here I am, typing off the cuff. Yes, I am taking another Blogger’s Sick Day. I have had a dreadful headache for most of the day. I know, other people have debilitating headaches and manage to write decent blog posts, or at least not to complain to all and sundry about them. Well, you may have noticed previously, in most cases, I am not other people.

The sad thing is that last Friday I had a much worse headache and actually managed a not bad blog post. Or do I flatter myself? Probably. In my defense, I had that post already written and had merely to copy it.

Ah, my astute reader asks, what about the entire other blog post you mentioned in paragraph one? Can’t you just type that one in? Somehow, I just don’t feel I can. You see, I wrote about how I MIGHT run the Boilermaker. Only, you see, I wrote the post, but I did not come home and run. How hypocritical is that? A whole post about running the Boilermaker from a person who did NOT run? I can’t do it.

I did take my dog Tabby for a walk. As I walked, I reflected on a saying I made up earlier in the week:

Standing burns more calories than sitting, walking burns more calories than standing, running burns more calories than walking, and walking your dog is just always a good thing to do.

I will now try to come up with a silly headline and wish you all a pleasant Non-Sequitur Thursday.

Leave a comment

Posted in blogging, humor, Non Sequitur Thursday, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Steve’s Birthday Dinner

Posted on March 6, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

As part of Steven’s Birthday Weekend, we enjoyed dinner out at PK’s Pub in Herkimer, NY. I’ve given PK’s shout-outs before, but I always like to give another, because it is always a good time and a great meal.

We arrived shortly after 4:30. Pete escorted us to the room with the fireplace. We chose a table by the window. I debated what kind of wine to order, because I wasn’t sure yet what I wanted for food. Then again, I am not that knowledgeable about food and wine pairings. I don’t think my palate is sophisticated enough to notice a less than ideal combination. I finally settled on Cabernet Sauvignon. Steven had Merlot.

For food I got Chicken Riggies while Steven chose Chicken Marsala. Yes, we both had red wine with chicken. Wasn’t that bold of us? I said I don’t know much about wine and food, but I know the most basic rule of white wine with chicken, red wine with beef. Perhaps real oenophiles are horrified (I don’t even know how to pronounce oenophile), but I thought it tasted pretty good.

I did not eat all my entree, because I was saving room for dessert. That worked out pretty well, because I was able to heat up the leftovers as part of our dinner on Tuesday, when I was tired.

Desserts are always a highlight at PKs. I got chocolate chip cheesecake. I completely cannot remember what Steven’s dessert was called. I know, if I was a real blogger, I would have made a note of it at the time. Let’s not open that can of worms. It was a kind of cream pie with chocolate and nuts and other stuff. I know it was yummy, because he nicely gave me a bite.

PK’s Pub is located at 221 King St. in Herkimer, phone (315) 866-3494. They are open Tues. to Fri. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sat. 4:30 to 9 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday. You can Like them on Facebook. I did.

Leave a comment

Posted in dining, humor, personal, Restaurants and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

No Wonder I’m Tired

Posted on March 5, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

For this week’s Tired Tuesday entry, I will give a brief summary of some of Steven’s and my movements last Saturday. Regular readers will recall that this was Steven’s Birthday Weekend. He and I took three days off to celebrate. I went back to work today. It should surprise no one that I am tired.

Our first stop Saturday morning was a certain big box store which shall here remain nameless, because I don’t think they need a plug from Mohawk Valley Girl. Of course I prefer to shop at a distinctive local retailer, but alas, the Mohawk Valley does not boast one that sells the kind of yarn I like.

After purchasing our yarn and bread (we are nothing if not eclectic), we went to breakfast, which formed the subject of yesterday’s post (perhaps you read it). From there we went to the post office. I wanted to mail some postcards I had written and purchase some postcard stamps for future postcards. While there, we noticed a couple of fliers for future events.

After that, we wanted to visit the Herkimer Community Museum, but we were too early. However, the museum is handily located next to Basloe Library, so we moseyed over there. In the library, we enjoyed looking at a display of old pictures of Herkimer. What a bustling Main Street our village used to have. Perhaps one day it will bustle again. I will certainly write about it here when it does. Of course I also found a couple of books to check out, one of which I had finished by Monday.

The museum still was not open, so we went home to regroup before continuing our Birthday Weekend adventures.

NOTE: Looking back at that headline, I perceive that some readers may still wonder why I am tired. I mean, store, breakfast, post office, library. Run of the mill errands. However, I am too tired to think of a more appropriate headline, so I’ll let it stand. Please join me on Wednesday, when I will strive not to wuss out.

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Tired Tuesday and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Big Smiles and Full Stomachs

Posted on March 4, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

One thing Steven and I had been especially looking forward to on our weekend off together was going out to breakfast. We used to have breakfast out together all the time, but when our work schedules changed, it became a thing of the past. We set out Saturday morning with big smiles and empty stomachs.

We went to Liz’s Diner on Main Street in Mohawk, the previous home of the Mohawk Diner. Donna and Liz greeted us as we walked in the door. We remarked on how happy we were to be there.

Donna brought us coffee. We admired the chicken-themed decor as we perused the menu on the wall. They offered some tempting specials, but I just wanted scrambled eggs and toast. Steven got eggs over medium with bacon and toast. However, it was toast from Heidelberg bread. Yum! I got Italian while Steven had peasant.

As we ate, we were amused by the interactions of Liz, Donna and the regulars sitting at the counter. Two men with long beards were especially amusing. After they left, Donna told us she called them ZZ Top. I thought that was very appropriate. I like ZZ Top.

We liked our breakfast, too. It was a great start to our weekend. Liz’s is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., serving breakfast and lunch. I noticed the lunch menu on the wall. Some of the selections looked pretty tasty. I may have to go back, even if I can’t bring Steven.

Leave a comment

Posted in breakfast, diner, humor, local business, personal and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

No Brain for the Oscars

Posted on March 3, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

I believe I mentioned yesterday that I have had a few Mohawk Valley adventures I intend to write about. I hope nobody was looking forward to that too eagerly, because today is Wrist to Forehead Sunday. I’m sitting at my computer, typing this off the top of my head and it is not going to be very long.

I am not actually in distress, as Wrist to Forehead may imply (I’m probably not a beautiful maiden, either, but whatever) (you know, from the fairy tales: beautiful maiden in distress? So much for literary references). I am actually having quite an enjoyable weekend. As I mentioned, it is my husband’s birthday weekend. We both have three days off. We like to have days off together.

So why am I not writing a real post, which might even take less time than trying to come up with excuses why I’m not? I say, that is a good question. I guess the only answer is that my brain is not in gear. It may not even be in my head (it made kind of a hollow sound when I tapped it just now) (just kidding; I didn’t really tap myself on the head, I thought it would be funny to pretend I did).

One reason I need to get this post written is that I have snacks to fix. It is Oscar Day, the movie buff’s equivalent of Superbowl Sunday. I have not seen any of the movies nominated, or in fact, any movie made within the past ten years. Well, at least three, anyways. But you know me, any excuse to fix yummy snacks. I may even write a post on what I fix. But not today. Happy Sunday, everyone.

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Why I Cant Write a Post, Wrist to Forehead Sunday and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Birthday Walk

Posted on March 2, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

I like to start my Saturday with a run or a walk. Unfortunately my difficulties running continue. Barring a run, I like to walk with my schnoodle, Tabby, to the post office and mail postcards to a few people. Accordingly, I wrote five postcards and stamped them.

Then noticed it was eleven degrees out. Yes, I know, at least it was double digits. I can be thankful for small favors and still stay inside. We drove to the post office. By this afternoon, the temperature had risen into the upper twenties. That sounded good to me. Steven graciously agreed to accompany us on our walk.

I should perhaps mention that Steven is usually working on Saturday. This weekend we both have a glorious three days off to celebrate his birthday. Well, to celebrate yet another anniversary of his 29th birthday. So I suppose this was along the lines of a birthday walk (his actual birthday is Monday, in case anybody was wondering).

It was one of those hazy sunny days, where the light scatters and the snow doesn’t help. I was glad of my prescription sunglasses. They are brown polarized, perfect for such a day. I hope nobody thinks I am a spoiled, rich brat that I have polarized prescription sunglasses. I got them several years ago, when I worked in the optical industry. They were free.

(Reminder for next Lame Post Friday: philosophize half-bakedly on why I felt the need to point out that I do not spend infinite dollars on eyewear.)

We walked past Tabby’s beloved Historic Four Corners and down Main Street in Herkimer, NY. Steven stopped into Smoker’s Friendly to purchase lottery tickets. By this time tomorrow, we may be millionaires. That might be worth a blog post. We continued down Main Street.

We once again realize we have not gone to the new pizza place, whose name escapes me. We also noticed that Burrito Jones is now open. All kinds of meals yet to have. Oh, and we smelled something good coming from Brian’s Roast Beef Deli, where we have eaten many times and will no doubt eat again. We also saw that Exclusive Barbershop has a new awning, nicely painted. I need a haircut, but I usually go to the Hot Spot Salon and Spa, where I can also get a pedicure.

It was not too bad walking. The temperatures were not as glorious as last weekend, but at least it didn’t make our faces hurt. The sidewalks were pretty good, except for a few patches of ice which I warned Steven about. Usually my warning Steven comes right before I land on my own butt, but today I avoided such an eventuality.

We had a few other Mohawk Valley adventures today, and plan a couple more before the weekend is over. However, I like Running Commentary or a Pedestrian Post on Saturday. I enjoyed our walk, and I do like writing about them. I hope my dear readers are enjoying their Saturday as much.

2 Comments

Posted in humor, Pedestrain Post, personal, walking and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Going Green for the Purple Dress

Posted on March 1, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’m on a mission for style. I mentioned purchasing tickets for next week’s Wine and Beer Tasting sponsored by the Herkimer and Mohawk Police Departments to benefit K-9 Ape memorial and the Special Response Team officers and team members who responded to the tragic events of March 13-14, 2013. Naturally I am concerned about what to wear.

I have a fabulous purple dress I have never worn. It is my sister’s fault that I have it. We went to Dress Barn almost three years ago (eek! has it been three years?) to get me a good dress for her daughter’s wedding. I had not purchased clothes since my major weight loss, so it was quite fun (I wonder if I wrote a blog post about it? I’ll have to check). I got a little carried away and bought two dresses. I wore one dress once, to the wedding, of course. Both have been hanging in my closet since.

Could it be that I need to get out more?

Both dresses are sleeveless. Early March is probably not the best time of year to go sleeveless in the Mohawk Valley. However, I thought that with a jacket or a shawl, the purple dress just might do for next week’s event.

To that end, I began my search at the Salvation Army, sometimes known as Salvation Armani, in Ilion, NY. I found not one shawl and I stared at many jackets, quite unable to picture any of them with the dress in question.

I have a few other possibilities. In Herkimer, there is the HARC Goodwill store and a consignment store whose name escapes me. There is the New 2 You consignment store in Ilion, if it’s still open, as well as Cornerstone Consignments (I think that’s what it’s called), which I’m pretty sure is still open. Oh, and a consignment store in Frankfort whose name also escapes me. Will I have time to check out all these possibilities?

Side note: I wrote the above paragraph on my lunch break at work, fully intending to find out the names of the unknown consignment stores before typing in and publishing this. However, I was unable to do this due to a dreadful headache which I quite thought would be gone by now. Therefore, in the spirit of Lame Post Friday (which is today), I let the paragraph stand and hope to supply the information in a later post.

In addition to the sources mentioned, I THINK a dear friend of mine MIGHT have a shawl I could borrow. I’ll have to ask.

Retail minded readers may be asking, why don’t I just go to the mall or any number of respectable first-run clothing stores in the area? Well, I’m trying to be frugal. Since the dress (purchased new) has hung in my closet unworn for three years, I’m not sure how many clothing investments it is really practical for me to make. Besides, reduce, reuse, recycle. The dress is purple, but I always like to go green.

Leave a comment

Posted in clothes, consigment stores, humor, personal and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Something Worth Craving

Posted on February 28, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

When I do laundry at the Colonial Laundromat in Ilion, NY, I always notice the Crave Bakeshop next door. Unfortunately, I always seem to be doing laundry at a time when they are closed. Last Tuesday, when Steven and I did laundry together, we made plans to get there early and get our treat first.

It was about quarter to four when we arrived. Luckily, they still had some baked goods left. I chose a chocolate bottomed half-moon cookie. Steven got a sandwich of two chocolate chip cookies with frosting in the middle. We both got coffee.

I think we were their last customers. We managed to get our laundry in the washing machne before eating our cookies, although we started sipping the coffee immediately. The treats were delicious. The coffee was pretty good. The attendant at the laundromat noticed us enjoying our snack and said she didn’t always think to stop over there.

“If I worked here,” I said, “it would be terrible, because I would get in the habit of going over every day for a treat.”

Of course at my age, I cannot eat as many treats as I would like. Oh, OK, I never could. However, I think I will make my way back to Crave for the occasional indulgence. Every once in a while.

Crave is located at 59 Central Ave. in Ilion. Phone number is 315-895-0216. They are open Tues. to Fri. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also Like them on Facebook.

Leave a comment

Posted in bakery, local business, personal and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

World’s Dumbest Questions

Posted on February 27, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

I really hate to have a Wuss-out Wednesday right after a Tired Tuesday, and yet, here I am. I neglected to find out more information about the local business I was at Tuesday so am not inclined to do that post yet. It was too cold and windy to take Tabby for a walk, so yet another Pedestrian Post is out.

I suppose this means I’m always up for a post about Why I Can’t Write a Post Today.

I actually had started writing a whole post in my head while I was at work today. It would have done for a Mid-week Middle-aged Musing. Then when I sat down to put it on paper, I hesitated. For one thing, there seemed to be two or three different points I could make. Not usually a problem and when it is, it seems to me it’s a good problem to have. You can get multiple blog posts out of that problem. So what was my problem? Let’s just blame it on my wussy mood.

In the meantime, I want to finish this post quickly, because my favorite TV show, World’s Dumbest, is on at six. Oh, I can just hear it now: “What’s more important here, writing a decent blog post or watching a stupid TV show?” That is a good question, I’ll admit. I can’t even argue that it is not a stupid TV show. That is part of its charm.

My answer to the question is another question (don’t you just hate it when somebody answers a question with another question?): Why can’t I do both? Ooh, and here’s another question to answer the first question: Are the majority of my blog posts decent, even when I do not have a TV show to watch? And the final question of the post: Do I really want to hear the answer to that last question?

Leave a comment

Posted in blogging, humor, personal, Why I Cant Write a Post, Wuss Out Wednesday and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
Newer Posts →