Tag Archives: blogging

Never Drink and Type Be Damned!

Posted on August 2, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am sitting on my deck with my husband Steven, sipping wine and swapping stories with our dear friends Phyllis and Jim. We went to a wine tasting at a Valley Wine and Spirits in Herkimer and then dinner at Copper Moose Alehouse in Little Falls. We had a couple of glasses of wine with dinner.

A blog post must be made. I always make a blog post. To be sure, I could have made a blog post earlier today. I was home. I was even on the computer. I did not feel like making a blog post.

Full disclosure: I do not particularly feel like making a blog post now. I feel like continuing to sit and sip. And listen to silly jokes from my friends.

Oh dear, now they are talking about political posts on Facebook. I like to stay off politics. Too much hate. I don’t have a problem with people disagreeing with me or with each other. I do have a problem with people making hurtful, hateful, nasty personal attacks on people who do not agree with them. Do you suppose people will hate on me for expressing such an opinion? Oh I hate for people to hate on me.

OK, this is what happens when I have the rule of posting every day and I do not make my post early on my day off. Please be amused by me. Please continue to read when I manage to post before I have had any wine. Thank you.

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Lame Old Woman

Posted on August 1, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello, everybody, and welcome to Lame Post Friday, the day I do a silly post and do not apologize for it (that’s my new description for today. I like it).

It really is a Friday for me, because I am not working Saturday. Woohoo! Overtime is nice, but I like time even better, if you see what I mean. I didn’t even have any overtime today, which meant I could sleep in to a leisurely 5 a.m. I felt like a new woman!

Now that it is after work, I am feeling like the same old woman as usual. Well, these things happen, especially at my age (middle). I do not despair of thinking of something to say.

I was going to mention that I have some Mohawk Valley adventures planned for tomorrow. However, I am uncomfortably aware that I have not yet blogged about last weekend’s adventures, nor yet a few adventures I had prior to that. I use the silly verb “blogged” instead of “written,” because I have in fact written about some of them. The paragraphs reside in my notebook (the paper, spiral-bound kind) (do they even still make a computer called a notebook?), awaiting further work.

Wait a minute, I did blog about one adventure. OK, you pedantic sorts (and I know some of my friends are; hell, I’m something of a pedant myself), I wrote a blog post about it. That was yesterday’s post about eating a hamburger at Jerry’s Place in Hartwick. I wish I had another hamburger to eat tonight. Oh well, one can’t have everything.

One virtue I insist upon for my silly posts is that they be brief. This post is over 250 words. I call that respectable. Happy Friday, everyone.

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This is Not What I Wrote on Break at Work

Posted on July 30, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh this is dreadful. I was so determined NOT to have a Wuss-out Wednesday. I brought all my notes and fliers from the weekend’s adventures to work with me. When it was break time I opened my notebook and started writing!

Well, first I couldn’t settle on a lead. That shouldn’t matter, I told myself. Just write something, anything. You can always edit later. I wrote a sentence. Crossed it out. Wrote another sentence. Crossed it out. Consulted my notes. Realized I had left at least one flier at home. Sat with my pen poised over the notebook till the buzzer rang and I had to go back to work.

During a ten minute break, by the way, I had worked on, I think, three potential blog posts and one article for Mohawk Valley Living magazine. If anyone is gearing up to lecture me on focus, just give it a rest. I gotta be me.

Back at work, I pondered my dilemma. I picked one topic I thought I could get written. I considered the different things I could write about it. I went to lunch, opened my notebook, picked up my pen, and started writing.

I got almost a whole page done. Aaahh. I didn’t hate it. I barely crossed anything out. I was following my notes and adding insights and observations. I could so write! This was going to be just fine, a perfectly acceptable blog post.

And then the whole thing just kind of petered out. I was maybe a quarter of the way through my notes. I reminded myself that I did not have to use ALL my notes. But how many notes should I use? Had I used the notes I’d used so far to best advantage? Was this really anything anybody would want to read?

I know, this is inner critic carping that one must tune out while in the throes of composition. The problem is, the bitch had a point. What I had written may indeed have been perfectly acceptable, but I could do better. It was almost the end of lunch time anyways. I could fix everything later.

Who knew I would be so tired after work? Oh, I know YOU probably did (you know who you are). For heaven’s sake, three ten-hour days, two rehearsals, not a lot of sleep, swelteringly hot, humid weather. AND NO, I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE HEAT, I AM MERELY POINTING OUT THE FACT THAT IT MAKES ME TIRED!!! Jeezum.

On the brighter side, some readers enjoy posts about the writing process. I myself often enjoy reading what other bloggers have to say on the subject. On the even brighter side, I still have the stuff I wrote today. I can look it over and edit, add, polish etc, tomorrow. And I don’t have rehearsal tonight. I can go to bed early.

I hope you are all having a stellar mid-week.

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Midsummer Monday

Posted on July 28, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I began the week determined to write my blog posts in advance. I would not spend the week composing nonsense at the keyboard, mostly about how I just can’t write a real blog post. I was going to Write Real Blog Posts.

So far, not so good.

In my defense, quite a full weekend, ten hour day today, rehearsal tonight (you know, for the play I’m in?). Oh, and temperatures in the 80s (92 in Little Falls, which is not that far away). I do not work in an air conditioned building. When I did work in an air conditioned building, I wore sandals skirts with no pantyhose. Now I wear steel-toed work shoes and BDU pants. I say this with pride, not complaint. I am bad ass.

Unfortunately, “bad ass” does not necessarily translate into “able to write awesome blog posts.”

I tried, I really did. Actually, what I first tried to write was an article for Mohawk Valley Living magazine. I thought perhaps I could publish a shortened version for the blog. It did not go well. I tried to work on my novel. I wrote one sentence on a scene I had previously written. That effectively brought the scene to an end. I started another scene. Then I couldn’t remember if one character did or did not believe in ghosts.

How could I forget such a thing? How long have I been living with these characters? What kind of a writer am I? I was too traumatized to write anything else. I looked over my lines for the play then helped a co-worker with a crossword puzzle.

Now I must finish getting ready for rehearsal. For anyone just tuning in, it is for Roxy, at Ilion Little Theatre. I play Roxy. And I just realized something: yesterday was Severed Head Sunday. Today I am going to rehearsal for a play in which I CHOP MY HUSBAND’S HEAD OFF! Oh how delightful to have something in common with Joan Crawford!

So what if I can’t always write an awesome blog post? I’m still bad ass.

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And I’m Missing the Cheesiest Movie!

Posted on June 29, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yeah, it’s Wrist to Forehead Sunday. I was afraid it would be. You see, I started early and had really the best day. We went to a winery for an art show with music. It was awesome. I hope to write a real blog post about it in the coming days, but I just can’t seem to do it right now.

Still, I must write something. I like to post every day, whether it’s any good or not. I guess I go through spurts where it’s not very good for several days in a row. The problem is, it seems one can either be a writer or have a life. But what a Catch 22 that is! If you have life, you don’t have any time to write. If you don’t have a life, you don’t have anything to write about.

Oh, well, I guess that last sentence is not really true. Apart from this blog, I write fiction. You can write fiction without having a life, unless it is thinly disguised autobiographical fiction. I do not write thinly disguised autobiographical stuff; I make things up. So I could indeed sit home with no friends and no life and write that sort of fiction.

Perhaps I’ll try that one day. Only not tomorrow, because I am meeting a friend to do some fundraising stuff for Team Uncle Leo for the Sitrin Run/Walk to benefit veteran programs. And I must get ready for the Boilermaker 15K in two weeks. Oh, and I’m in a play at Ilion Little Theatre.

Stay tuned, when this blog will begin to offer tips on how one can have a life and find time to write. As soon as I figure it out.

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In My Defense, It Was a LONG Run!

Posted on June 28, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had thought to do a Saturday Running Commentary. Actually, I had been going to do a Friday Running Commentary, but after my run and before I got to the blog, my dearest husband, Steven, came home and suggested we go to PK’s Pub for dinner. We’ll blame yesterday’s silliness on that.

This morning I decided not to run, because I had a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it. I actually did not plan on starting any of it before nine, when I would drop Steven off at work, but I thought I could have coffee with him and plan my course of action. Full disclosure: I did not exactly do that, but I did drink some Gator Ade and cure my headache (YES, I had another Saturday headache! It’s almost enough to make a girl prefer Mondays!) (but not quite).

One thing I had been going to do was Coffee and Conversation with a Cop, which I thought was the last Saturday of the month. However, when I drove by the church that hosts the program, the sign was not out front. Rats. Well, I thought, this will give me time to run. It wouldn’t have to be a long run. Maybe even a run with no hills. But definitely a shorter run, I reasoned, mentally calculating how much I had to get done.

As you may have guessed, it was not a short run. It was an hour and a half. Then a ten-minute cool-down walk. Then stretching, then a shower… and I definitely had to eat something. I probably should have drunk some more Gator Ade, but one doesn’t have time for everything. I did drink a big glass of milk. Lots of protein in milk.

Obviously I had no time to get to the computer and type. It is really too bad, because both runs were significant. I felt pretty bad ass both days, and I would like to write a post detailing my triumphs. By now, however, I have meandered all over the keyboard writing nonsense. Not even very amusing nonsense at that.

Sorry, kids, but I guess we’ll have to call it Wrist to Forehead Saturday or Wuss-out Saturday or Lame Again Saturday… can’t think of anything alliterative, can I? I’ve got it: a Sad Saturday Post. To clarify, I don’t particularly FEEL sad, but I feel that this is a sad post. I’ll see what I can come up with for tomorrow.

Lame Wrist to Forehead Saturday?

Posted on June 7, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am having yet another very bad Saturday, as I am plagued with yet another headache. Yes, I am keeping track of my headaches in a little notebook. When I feel I have gathered enough data, I will return to my doctor (it is actually a nurse practitioner or physician assistant or some such) and say, “Help!” However, my purpose in making a blog post is not to complain (I know, could have fooled you), but to entertain.

I only said “entertain” to rhyme. My purpose in writing a blog is the purely selfish one of wanting to write every day. The fact that some people kind of sort of like reading it is a delightful by-product that feeds my petty ego.

You may have guessed that I am being a little silly today. I feel that after my stressful week, a day of blah-blahing at the keyboard, trying to be funny might be nice. For me anyways. For my readers, of course you are the judge. Since I did not do a Lame Post Friday (although some may have found yesterday’s post, as well as many others, fairly lame, but let’s not go there), I thought Lame Post Saturday would be OK. Then I thought my bad headache and lack of productivity made a Wrist to Forehead post also eligible. Of course now I must strive NOT to have a Wrist to Forehead post tomorrow, but we’ll see how that goes, won’t we?

I tried to get a few things done today. I went for a long run including a pretty good hill this morning. That was nice. At least, parts of it were nice. You know how that goes. My run made me determined to make it to the Sneaker Store in New Hartford, NY, for new running shoes, a mission which I also accomplished (and I might write a blog post about) (preview of coming attractions). After that, my headache felt even worse and I could do no more than come home.

Last week I tried to get things done despite my headache, because I had people coming over in the evening. My headache blessedly left me by the time my guests arrived, and a good time was had by all (perhaps I should have written about that). This week I decided to give myself a break and nurse the damn headache. Migraine Relief, decongestant and two naps later, I feel a little better. A cup of coffee seems to be having a beneficial effect which this morning’s cups lacked.

So life is getting better. It shall improve more when my wonderful husband Steven returns from work. We are still getting used to the large hole left in our hearts and lives by the sad departure of our beloved dog, but we help each other. Sorry to bring up my poor Tabby again, but I’m sure other pet owners understand.

Ah, now I’ve done it. I ended on a down note instead of being entertaining. That puts the wrist back onto the forehead, doesn’t it? Tune in tomorrow, when Mohawk Valley Girl says, “Where the hell should I put my wrist NOW? Don’t answer that!”

Excuse Me, I’m Having a Lame Here

Posted on May 30, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have two days left of Finish That Novel May. Earlier I was toying with the idea of denying I ever said that.

“No, no, what I said was, ‘I MAY Finish That Novel.’ You misheard me.”

The writing took a turn for the better since yesterday. I wrote and wrote. Maybe if I cancelled all my plans for the weekend and wrote non-stop… I think we all know that is not going to happen. For one reason, I have had weekends when I had no plans at all. I have not written non-stop. For another reason, my plans are important and not just for me. I have a life outside of this novel.

And there we have it. Am I allowed to have a life outside of being a writer? I’m sure there are people out there who would say (hear it in that squeaky, nyah-nyah voice we mimic people we hate in): “If writing is important to you, you’ll write.” And then they go on to list all the things THEY have given up to write. Which is nice, if it is the things they HAVE given up and not the things they would have given up if, in fact, they wrote and didn’t just go around telling others how to write.

Oh, OK, other writers do make sacrifices of things they might like to do in order to write. So do I. Sometimes. Perhaps I need to sacrifice a little more. The thing is, I have always been of the opinion that the more you experience, the more material you have to work with. That, and when I was younger, I really wanted to LIVE. I had spent a lot of time sitting at home reading or writing stories. Once I got older, I got out and DID things. I guess I kind of got in the habit of it.

Of course, going out and doing things is good for a writer of a daily blog. But we’re talking about a novel today. On the other hand, we are writing a blog post. A Lame Friday Post. And I declare it done. I am going back to my life. Maybe write a little more on that novel.

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Non-Sequential Chores

Posted on May 29, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sometimes you just have to do something, anything.

I know, this is under the heading of “Well, duh” advice. However, I have had it demonstrated for me three different times today. Four if you count the library. This being Non-Sequitur Thursday, I think it will be appropriate to tell three small but differing stories with a common theme. Think of it like Love Boat or Fantasy Island (if you don’t get the reference, consider that another non sequitur).

Finish That Novel May is not going well. I seem to spend a lot of time looking at what I have and asking, “What is this? Where do I go now? Oh crap!” Well, today at lunch I just started writing a scene. And it was good! It was important! And dramatic! I finished that scene and I wanted to pump my fists in the air and shout, “Yes! THAT was a scene!” I started another scene during the two o’clock break, wrote a little more of it just before going home, and I walked out of that place wanting to sing.

I went to the library and worked on another chore that needs must be done, but feel less triumph over that so shall not count it as proof of today’s opening sentence. However, I was fortunate enough to find a few good books at their ongoing book sale before I left.

At home I was hit with a huge wave of I Can’t Do ANYTHING! I felt down, dumpy and sad. Then about ten or fifteen minutes before Steven was due to arrive home I said to myself, “Just clean till he gets home.” I couldn’t believe how much I got done. Not everything, of course, because my house is kind of a sty. But I felt much better and was able to greet my husband with a big smile.

Till I confessed all the stuff I had not gotten done, then I felt a little sad again. One thing I had been going to do was to make a tossed salad for tomorrow’s lunch, including hard-boiled egg.

“Do you want me to start the eggs for you?” Steven asked. I said OK, because if I couldn’t manage to make the salad I could always eat the eggs for breakfast.

Full disclosure: I forgot to check on the eggs to see when they started boiling. Luckily Steven remembered before the water had boiled away. I made the salad. The eggs were just right.

And that made me feel good enough to tackle the other chore I had been putting off for today: writing my blog post.

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Oh Yeah, And I Wore Blue

Posted on May 26, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am making my post late in the day on Memorial Day (although my page, for reasons best known to itself, says it is tomorrow already). Never mind why-all I did not post earlier. I wrote a post in my head as I went for a run. I will attempt to recreate it now.

I had already intended to run every day of my three day weekend. Then a Facebook friend posted that she and her son were running in honor of fallen soldiers under the auspices of Wear Blue Run to Remember. You sign up on line and commit to a certain distance, one meaningful to you, and they assign you a soldier to run in honor of, if you don’t have someone in mind to run for.

My only problem was that I do not know how far I run. I run for a set length of time. It would be nice to think I was doing at least a ten minute mile, but that is by no means certain. Additionally, I was not sure how hard core my Monday run would be. I have not been running days in a row lately. My body might rebel by the fourth day.

Finally I signed up to run two miles. It was meaningful to me, because I learned to run in the army because of the two-mile run on the PT (Physical Training) test. I felt a little foolish putting such a small distance, especially since my friend and her son were both doing 10 kilometers. However, it seemed important that I actually do the distance I had committed to. I knew I could eke out two miles, even on a very bad day.

My run did not start out auspiciously. I wondered if I was having an every other day thing, because my Sunday run was terrific, my Saturday run was terrible, and I don’t remember my Friday run. But I was running for a soldier. I had to keep going. I made up my mind to run up the hill to Herkimer College. It is an impressive hill to many people. I feel it is good to run an impressive hill when you are running in tribute.

I did not know which soldier I was running for. Wear Blue had not emailed me back. I wondered if I had made a typo when I gave them my email address. I later found out that I had registered too late for them to assign me someone. There were places I could go and pick someone to run for, but I did not do that. I just ran for a soldier.

As I ran, I worried that the soldier I was running for might feel a little cheated, since his runner was running such a short distance and running it very slowly at that. I pictured the soldiers up in heaven, discussing it over a beer (I don’t believe the polka that says, “In Heaven There Is No Beer”).

“Who’s running for you? I got this soldier’s wife who runs marathons. She’s doing 10K.”

“Cool. I got some middle-aged lady, used to be in the army. She’s doing two miles. Oh well, I guess the old ladies like to feel they’re doing something for us.”

“Yeah, better luck next year.”

I made it to the top of the hill and it sure wasn’t easy. Since I was only doing two miles, I had thought I would just go back down the back way. But halfway up the hill I remembered the little Veteran’s Memorial Park up near the athletic fields. I should run to that, I thought, since I am running in tribute. Then I felt so tired I thought I wouldn’t make it. Then I realized that I could not possibly write in a blog post that I had thought about running to the Memorial and decided not to.

“This is how writing a blog helps runners,” I said to myself. I continued, utilizing the determination that had gotten me through Basic Training.

When I got to the Memorial, I stopped the CHRONO on my watch and walked through it. It is a small area with trees and benches. Marble slabs are engraved with the names of Herkimer veterans. Some of the benches and trees have plaques saying who sponsored them. I would like to return to the Memorial and spend a little more time, really pay my respects. Today, however, I soon started my watch again and headed back down Reservoir Road.

Somewhere along the way, I realized the run had stopped sucking. I had not noticed when that happened, but I would hazard a guess that it was about the time I started downhill.

For more information on Wear Blue Run to Remember, you can visit their website at www.wearblueruntoremember.org. They also have a Facebook page.

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