Tag Archives: blogging

Better at Running than Blogging

Posted on November 18, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I normally write my running commentary posts soon after the run, so it is fresh in my mind.  However, sometimes it gets to be 5 p.m. on a Saturday night, I don’t have much else to write about (OK, maybe a few things, but there are reasons I do not want to write about those), so I am going to attempt a post about this morning’s run.

Regular readers may remember that I have my eye on the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls on December 8.  Every day during this past week, when I thought I ought to go running, I also thought, “I don’t want to run! I don’t want to run the Reindeer Run 5K!  I want to sit! I want to sit home and knit!  That is what middle aged ladies are supposed to do: sit and knit!”  I managed to run on Wednesday despite my own misgivings, and I wondered if I would run today.  I surprised myself and not only did, but it was not a bad run.

I could hear drops on my back porch roof but could not tell if it was rain or just dripping.  I took a chance.  It was not rain.  Score!  I wore my road guard vest.  For one reason, it was still dark out.  For another, we got snow and I knew many sidewalks were not shoveled or plowed.  I was glad I did, because I ran most of my run on roads.  Left side facing traffic, of course.

You know how earlier I mentioned my tiredness during the week?  How I said, “I can’t run!  I don’t want to run!”  And I did not run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday?  Well, right now, my brain is saying, “I can’t write a blog post!  I don’t want to write a blog post!”  So everything I remember about this morning’s run is probably not going to make it into this post.

But, as I said, it was not a bad run.  The temperature was not that cold and the wind was only sporadic.  I ran a few hills, including the one by Valley Health and a few minor upslopes in the residential area behind (what I usually refer to as The Suburbs).  I stopped and petted one very cute dog.  I ran for 37 minutes, which is how long I ran last Sunday, the last time I increased my run time.  That is about how long it takes me to run a 5K, give or take a few.

So I feel pretty good about that.  I still have not made my final decision about the Reindeer Run. I’ll keep you posted.

 

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Lionel Barrymore on Lame Post Friday

Posted on November 17, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Which is the devil and which is the doll?

I pause in our viewing of Devil Doll (1936) starring Lionel Barrymore for this week’s Lame Post Friday.  I LOVE Lionel Barrymore!  This movie is sad as well as creepy, but that adds to its charm.  I have seen the movie before and DVR’d from TCM again, because I thought Steven would like it.  Perhaps I will do one of my movie write-ups on it eventually.

In the meantime, I have a lame post to make.  As a slight break in the lame,  I will give a brief shout-out to one of our favorite local eateries, Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Herkimer, NY.  We sent out for wings, Bosco sticks, and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies.  The wings were what they call Sicilian:  medium sauce plus garlic butter and bleu cheese.  We had never tried them before. YUM!  Bosco sticks we have had before: fat bread sticks filled with mozzarella.  Another YUM!  The cookies had LOTS of chocolate in them.  TRIPLE YUM!  I can feel myself getting fatter as it digests.  I’ll try to eat salad tomorrow.

Full disclosure: I have not howled in a long time.

For now, I am anxious to get back to enjoying my Friday night.  Crochet, a movie, my husband, and a glass of wine.  I may be old and boring, but I like it. Happy Beginning of the Weekend, everybody!

 

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Even Foolish Blog Posts Count

Posted on November 16, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I still have the tiara. I may wear it next Thursday.

I thought I would start with a Throw-back Thursday picture then segue into the non-sequitur portion on Non-Sequitur Thursday.  I feel this is a double throw-back, since I am impersonating a speakeasy habitue from the 1920’s, Ruby Van Renssalaer by name.  No, I was not around in the 1920’s, do some math for heavens’ sake! (You know who you are.)  Ruby Van Rensssalaer was a character in Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, which LiFT presented at The Overlook Mansion in Little Falls, NY.  Some of the characters also appeared at the Ritz and Ragtime fundraiser for the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica, which is when this picture was taken.

As you may have guessed, once again I got nuthin’.  I have tried to do more writing, specifically by writing a couple of letters.  Regular readers may recall my rule of Any Writing Counts.  It would be a good idea if I actually finished said letters and got them in the mail.  Then some people might be happy to get a letter.  I received a letter the other day and I can attest, it’s awesome.

This guy is a walking non-sequitur.

I shake things up by throwing in another picture.  This is my friend, Tucker, in LiFT’s recent murder mystery, Donation to Murder.  I do love my murder mysteries.

I find this picture rather profound.

This is an even more recent photo, from Shattered Angel by Stephen Wagner, presented by the Herkimer County Historical Society at Ilion Little Theatre.  Lots of us love a good historical murder!

Who could blame me for using the ax on him?

Shattered Angel makes me think of Roxy by Jack Sherman, which the Historical Society did in 2015, with yours truly in the title role.

My throwback non-sequitur posts often end up being a stroll down theatrical memory lane.  I do love my community theatre.  And I will work on writing better blog posts.  Happy Thursday, everyone!

 

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Still Not Writing on Witless Wednesday

Posted on November 15, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I should have zoomed in.

I had it in my head to use this picture for a Wordless Wednesday post.  It is a building that caught my eye across the street from Highwheeler Coffee, where Steven and I stopped for a snack on our Scattered Saturday.  Now I wish I had gone a little closer.  No matter. I can always take another picture on another visit to Highwheeler.

In the meantime, I need to make my blog post.  I guess Wordless Wednesday is a non-starter for me, because, well, I like words.  I like to talk, I like to write, and I don’t let the fact that I don’t have anything to say deter me.  So perhaps this is more of a Witless Wednesday.  I definitely qualify for that (you didn’t have to tell me, as I feel sure some of you were gearing up to do) (you know who you are).

I went running earlier, so I could do a Running Commentary post, but I’m really not feeling it.  I’ll be honest: I wasn’t feeling like running.  I felt like sitting and doing nothing, and saying, “Oh, to hell with it,” regarding the Reindeer Run 5K.  I went running anyways, because (1) it may help me reach my weight-loss goals and (2)  I will probably change my mind about the Reindeer Run.

I guess this is kind of a Wuss-out Wednesday, because this is not much of a blog post.  I must confess, I like the word “witless” better.  I think it is time for a new feature Mohawk Valley Girl:  Witless Wednesday.  Thank you for participating.

 

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Trying to Write on Tired Tuesday

Posted on November 14, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

If you tuned in today hoping to read an inspirational post about how miraculously I upped my game today, as I said I was going to do yesterday, I am afraid you will be disappointed.  However, if you were hoping for a foolish Tired Tuesday post, you came to the right place!  In point of fact, I feel I did up my writing game somewhat.  I wrote two articles for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  I’m letting them set before I re-read them and email them out.  However, I did not up my running game, my house cleaning game, or any other game in which I participate.  Well, one thing at a time, one thing at a time.

I do not know why I am so damn tired.  Yes, I worked all day.  I work five days a week, as do many people.  I worked eight hours, again, as do many people.  I am actually hoping to get a little overtime in the near future, so I guess I don’t know what the hell I’m thinking.

You know, looking over what I have written for this blog post so far, I think I had definitely better re-read those articles before I email them out.  They might be TERRIBLE!

Brain, oh brain, where are you now?

 

I thought I’d throw in a picture quick, to distract my readers from the lameness of this post.

A timely reminder for me.

Before writing this foolishness, I enjoyed a post by a blogger I follow, Granny K.  She philosophized about Tuesday, saying it was a sad day.  I feel a little sad myself.  Let’s all try for a better day on Wednesday.

 

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My Date(line) with Keith Morrison

Posted on November 13, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I think he is fine, yes.

This is going to be a fast post so I can get back to watching Dateline with Keith Morrison.  Every Monday I have at least one good moment when I remember it is Dateline day on OWN.  For a few sad weeks I had rehearsal for a murder mystery on Mondays.  Now I am free and feel I should be happier about it than in fact I am.  Then again, life is never perfect.  We must do the best we can with the ingredients at hand.

Apparently woman cannot live by Dateline alone.

Yesterday I made up my mind that starting today I would up my game:  my writing game, my running game, and my house cleaning game.  Those were the ones I mentioned, but I daresay I have a few more games that could use work.  Do you suppose I upped anything today?  Of course not!  And I am clearly not upping my blogging game. I haven’t even put in any pictures of monsters.  What’s that all about, me?

I could use a haircut myself.

I am completely losing track of this Dateline episode while I type this foolishness  (as Truman Capote famously said, this isn’t writing, it’s typing).  I can only hope my man Keith narrates the next episode. Oh well, I like that Josh Mankiewicz too.

In the meantime, sorry to publish yet another foolish post.  I’ll try to up my game tomorrow.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

PS.  It’s Dennis Murphy.  He’s OK, too.

 

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Ready for the Sweats and the Wine

Posted on November 12, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I can’t have Sunday Cinema; I’ve only watched two movies so far and I’m on to Snapped.  I suppose I could watch a third movie and then post, but I want to get this done.  As  I mentioned yesterday, I have knitting to do.  I also want to get back into my sweats.  Well, that is silly of me; I could put the sweats on and then make the post.  No, make the post now before I talk myself out of it.

Some might advise me to stop being a daily blogger if it is such a chore.  I would argue (if I was any good at argument, which I am not) that some things are worth doing even if they are a chore.  They would no doubt reply (I told you I was no good at argument) that most of my posts are probably not worth the effort.  I advise them to seek out more worthy blogs and to leave me alone.  Yes, I have numerous arguments with imaginary critics.

As you may have guessed, it is Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

Sometimes I feel like this when I try to sleep.

Earlier, before I was ready to swoon on the chaise and was actually having a pretty good day, we watched The Tingler (1959), produced and directed by William Castle and starring Vincent Price.  I LOOOOVE William Castle movies!  I do not have enough of them on DVD.

She has got his number!

After The Tingler, Steven suggested His Girl Friday (1941).  Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant, snappy dialogue, a fast moving script, it was an excellent suggestion.  I missed parts of it while I fixed us something to eat then made my salad for the week’s lunches, but I have seen it many times before and will no doubt watch it again.

After the movie, I wrote some post cards and walked to the post office with them.  I felt quite virtuous doing this, since I had gone for a long (for me) run this morning.  Come December, I will OWN that Reindeer Run 5K.  And by “own” of course I mean shuffle along toward the back of the pack and enjoy myself.

So I am feeling moderately less wrist-to-foreheady since I see I am over 350 words and I don’t feel this is too heinous of a post.  I think I deserve to put on my sweats and maybe have a glass of wine.  Happy Sunday, everyone.

 

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Antiques, Coffee, and a Nice Weekend So Far

Posted on November 11, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is getting to the sad, frustrating part of The Blair Witch Project, our Saturday night viewing choice, and I get on the laptop to make this week’s Scattered Saturday post.  But first, I just have to say, why didn’t they follow the stream? They SAY they are going to follow the stream!  When you are lost in the woods, follow the damn stream!

There, got that out of my system.  On to the blog post.

I had a headache when I woke up, which seems to be a Saturday routine these days. Never mind.  I went for a run anyways.  I have my eye on the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls in December.  I think I’ll be fine.  It was colder today than it has been, but it was not too uncomfortable, except for when the wind blew. I must start running with a scarf I can use to cover my face.

Soon I was ready to embark on our Mohawk Valley adventures for the day.  Earlier this week, I had suggested that when Steven was reading Mohawk Valley Living magazine, he peruse the ads for something I might write about for next month’s issue.  He suggested Fort Plain Antiques and Salvage.  It sounded perfect!  I love antique places.  Additionally, I had never been to Fort Plain.  This would be great!

Yesterday the weather was frightful, but today was bright and sunny.  I did not mind the cooler temperatures.  It was a lovely drive along 5S to Fort Plain, and we soon found the antique place.  While we were there, we mentioned we might look for a good place for lunch.  The lady there suggested Highwheeler Coffee and directed our attention to a display of fliers for area attractions.  I picked up the one for Highwheeler Coffee as well as a few other places I may explore in the future.

We enjoyed a nice snack at Highwheeler, and noticed a couple of other places we’d like to explore on future trips to Fort Plain.  I’ll write more about Fort Plain Antiques and Salvage and Highwheeler Coffee soon.  In the meantime, it is Saturday night, and I have movie watching and knitting to do.  I hope you are all having a lovely weekend so far.

 

 

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Avoiding Murder and Mayhem on Lame Post Friday

Posted on November 10, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had kind of sort of hoped to not have a Lame Post Friday today, but it seems that is all I am up to.  And I want to do it quickly so I can get back to knitting and watching television.  I got home from work late and started out with Deadly Women on ID, which I find cheesy fun.  I was not paying a good deal of attention, since I was also checking my Facebook and email.

I’d LOVE to add this to my mug collection, even though I have more than too many coffee mugs now.

It turned out Steven was not in the mood for murder and mayhem.  I said, “Go ahead and watch whatever you want.”  He wanted Soapdish.  I said OK, but he sensed I was not that into it.  Finally I suggested Wonderboys, which is one of his favorites as well as mine (full disclosure:  so is Soapdish, but I just wasn’t in the mood tonight).

OK, I just went all over Facebook and even into Google Images and I can’t find a picture of Wonderboys I can download.  That is my computer illiteracy at work.

Pretty awesome pic, isn’t it?

I found one!  I found one!  I searched “Michael Douglas actor” in Facebook and scrolled through 8,536 pictures till I found this one.  I really like Michael Douglas in this movie, because he lets himself be kind of seedy.  I like the movie, too, because it is about writers and writing. I really need to up my own writing game.

For now, however, in keeping with Lame Post Friday, I will instead up my knitting game.  For one reason, I need to get a few prayers shawls ahead, in case somebody needs one.   And after I finish the prayer shawl I’m working on, I need to make a couple of baby afghans.  It will be a marvelous excuse to watch more television. Happy Friday, everyone.

I can only hope Steven will be into more murder and mayhem at some point.

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Not Too Mundane, I Hope

Posted on November 9, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Tasty Thursday does not have the same ring as Tasty Tuesday.  And yet, I just cooked and I don’t have much else to blog about today.  If only I had also concocted a special cocktail to go with dinner, we could have had Thirsty Thursday.

“Buy me a drink, Big Boy?”

Alas, I am sipping a mundane glass of Chardonnay. No matter, dinner was tasty.

We had some ground beef Steven had taken out to thaw two days ago but didn’t feel like cooking.  This morning he suggested he purchase a can of cream of mushroom soup and do something with that.  Now I have lost all cred with real cooks, but I grew up in the 1970’s; a can of cream of mushroom soup was a perfectly respectable ingredient in those days.

I put the ground beef on to cook and poured myself some Chardonnay, so I could cook with wine.  I put Worcestershire sauce on the meat and broke it up as it cooked.  When it was nearly done, I added the soup and a can of mushrooms.  Then it was time for the spices (my favorite part!): minced onion, garlic powder, and No Salt All Purpose Seasoning from the So Sweet Candy Cafe in Utica, NY (just to give the post a little local flair).  I would have added onion powder as well, but our bottle of it was completely solid.  I added it to the grocery list.  I had used the liquid from the mushrooms to get most of the soup out of the can, so the mixture looked a little thin.  I added some grated cheese to thicken it up, using that up too, so that was something else for the grocery list.

We had the stuff over some pasta I had in one of our canisters.  I don’t know what the shape is called, because I had thrown out the box.  They looked kind of like SpaghettiOs (that’s how it’s spelled, computer, I Googled it!).

It was a pretty tasty dinner, although I supposed it was kind of mundane, now that I look at what I wrote.  No matter.  It was dinner.  I cooked it, we ate it, I blogged about it.  I’m going to call that a win for Non-Sequitur Thursday.  I’ll just throw in a random picture, so I’m not too mundane.

I bet you thought I was going to use Nosferatu (you know who you are).

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