Tag Archives: herkimer ny

Running Away From Depression?

I got on the Tablet thinking I was going to make a whiny Tired Tuesday Post but thought I might try instead for a little Running Commentary.  I took a couple of walks yesterday and decided today to just go ahead and run.  I thought, I don’t have to run far, I don’t have to run fast, but I am registered for the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY this summer.  I need to train for that.  Additionally,  exercise is a well-known and seldom used anti-depressant.  It might help.

I went first thing in the morning.  Well, second thing.  I had coffee first.  It was not too cold for February.  I put on leggings, long sleeves, a warm headband, and gloves.  This would be fine.

And it wasn’t too bad.  I told myself 20 minutes would be great but 15 would be enough.  I further told myself not to worry if I did a 15-minute mile.  Or even slower.  The important thing was just to go.

I find graveyards fascinating.

As I often do when I think I might make a Running Commentary Post, I ran by places I know I have pictures of in my Media Library.  Of course I love to walk and run by Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners regardless.  I am especially fond of the old gravestones surrounding Herkimer Reformed Church.  I crossed Main Street and continued on my way.

A handsome building.

Eventually I made my way by the former Baptist Church and future home of Herkimer Business and Professional Association.

I have not sent any post cards recently.

Soon I was going by the post office.

I actually passed this structure on the other side.

When I first started running in the village, I made it a rule to always run through Meyers Park.  Sometimes I run around it, as I did today.

I ended up running for 22 minutes, making a mile in under 14 minutes, so I felt fairly pleased with myself.  Alas, the anti-depressant effect was short-lived.  Perhaps if I continue to run on a regular basis and for longer periods of time it would help.  In the meantime, I guess I will just feel that way until I do not feel that way any more.

 

It’s the Best I Can Do on Tired Tuesday

It occurred to me that it might be interesting to some readers if I share my journey through grief.  It might help me to write about it.  Or this might be nothing more than a rationalization to continue blogging.  Then again, for me, anything that will keep me writing, I will use.

This by means of an introduction to a Tired Tuesday Post.  I did not sleep so well last night.  Regular readers know I suffer from chronic insomnia, but last night I had the added problem of an intense cough.  It was quite distressing.  I did get a little sleep, though, so don’t mind me.

I thought it might be good to get out of the house.  I have, in fact, left the house almost every day.  I went to the funeral home, Mohawk Valley Funerals and Cremations in Little Falls.  On my way home from there, I stopped by Ann Street Liquors for some brandy for a hot toddy (a beautiful thing for a cold).  I went grocery shopping, to the bank, and to the drug store.  And I went running twice.  This was all over the course of Saturday through Tuesday.

Most recently I met my friend Kim for lunch at Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Herkimer.  We both had calzones and a glass of wine.  Yum!  And we took home leftovers.  Next we stopped at a big box store which needs no plug from Mohawk Valley Girl.  We had a fun time shopping for various needs and wants.

Hmm… This is kind of a dull post.  However, I am going to hit Publish and, as usual, hope for the post.  I crave my readers’ indulgence on Tired Tuesday.

And a Tired one at that!

 

Monday Memories

I think I will try for Monday Memories instead of my usual Monstrous Monday Post.  I feel it will be a good idea for me to make a blog post, and the easiest way to do that is with the help of my Media Library.

That was one of his favorite sweatshirts.

Regular readers know I am mourning the loss of my husband, Steve, so naturally I feel inclined to share memories of him.  This is from October 2016 at Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit, NY.

“The bathtub?”

Have I shared this picture recently?  It is from the Ilion Little Theatre production of Harvey in 2011.  I think I have, but it is one of my favorite pictures.  Steven referred to it as our big scene.  I don’t have a picture of the part where I almost fainted into his arms.

He looks so cute and intellectual.

This was outside the library in Arlington, VT.  Back then our laptop was really a laptop.

Good times with a good friend.

One more picture:  a great time at the Waterfront Grille in Herkimer, NY, with our good friend Tracy.  So I have shared memories of my husband and plugged a couple of local businesses.   One does what one can.

 

Once Again, I Indulge in Lame Post Friday

Here is something different:  I am making my Lame Post Friday post on Friday.  At least, I hope so.  I am feeling fairly wordless and brainless, even for a Lame Post Friday.  I guess some would argue that I am almost always brainless (you know who you are), but am I ever wordless? I think not.

I take a deep breath to try.

Can I manage a howl this Friday?  Better not.  It might scare the neighbors.

I did a couple of Friday-ish things earlier.  I went to a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY, and to Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant, also in Herkimer, for dinner.  I hope to write blog posts about those in the near future.  So I guess I can consider this post a Preview of Coming Attractions.

I’ll have a fabulous glass of wine, please.

Since I am indulging in a glass of wine, which many find appropriate on a Friday,  I searched my Media Library for a picture of same.  This is the glass presented to me by the cast of Leading Ladies,  the play I directed at Ilion Little Theatre.  All those corks do not represent tonight’s indulgence, by the way.

I see I am over 200 words without having said very much.  On the brighter side, I feel I have refrained from whining.  Oh dear, did that just ruin it?  Never mind, me, just have a little more wine.

 

I Go a Different Way

Lately I have just a terrible time making decisions.  I think I spoke of this problem last Monday.  Today I sit here with my Tablet (pecking in one letter at a time with the stylus, of course), feeling quite paralyzed between two possibilities.  One choice, of course, is my usual Monstrous Monday.  The other is a Pedestrian Post about my walks to and from work today.

I work in Herkimer, NY now, where I live.  It is easy walking distance, but I normally drive for a few reasons, although one might argue that they are actually rationalizations (I know some of you were just taking a breath and opening your mouths to do so) (you know who you are).  That could be a whole other blog post.

Today, however, or rather last night, winter returned to the Mohawk Valley in the form of snow.  A lot of it.  I went out early, thinking to shovel out the end of my driveway at least.  The snow was not up to my bumper, after all.  Where was my shovel?  Oh yes, right where I left it, leaned against the porch stairs, covered with snow.  I was brushing snow off said steps with the outdoor push broom when I said, Oh, to hell with this, I’m walking to work!

I went back inside to get my things. My husband, Steven, expressed some dismay at my choice, but I felt it was safer.  After all, a woman my age could get a heart attack shoveling snow.  If I slipped on ice walking, I was more likely to get a mere bruise, not incur the costly car repair if I spun out while driving.  Additionally, I had not gone for my usual morning walk; I needed the exercise.

I did slip on the ice, as I reached the bottom of the stairs.  I almost landed on my butt.  Of greater concern, I spilled a little coffee.  Yes, I carried my usual thermal mug.  I sip a little in the morning and heat up the remainder in the afternoon.  Now I had a little less for both purposes and had gotten my glove wet!  Sometimes it is not easy being me.

As I walked, I greeted other pedestrians and people shoveling their driveways.  I told a couple of the shovelers that I was walking to avoid their chore.  I did not greet one person brushing off her car, because she seemed to be having a heated argument with someone on the porch.

“Where do you want me to put the snow?” she demanded, then offered a vulgar suggestion (I would just imagine not much snow would fit there) (also, it may not have melted, because I understand it is where the sun don’t shine).

I made it to work without mishap and only a couple of little slithers.  The worst of it was my feet got wet, because I was not sensible enough to put on boots.  My walk home was a little better, as the snow had stopped and the plows continued to do their work.  It was one way to get my exercise!

And I see it was one way to make a blog post.  Isn’t that funny?  I started to write a sentence or two about the Pedestrian Post I might have written (yes, I intended to make another post aboit not making a real blog post).  Then I went a different way.  Kind of like I went to work a different way this morning.  See what I did there?

 

Look at Me, Having a Scattered Saturday!

Look at me, making my Saturday blog post on Saturday.  And I think I can do a Scattered Saturday Post.  I have not done one of those in a long time.  For one reason, I have not done enough to scatter around at all on recent Saturdays.  Let us see how well I can do today.

I slept in a little this morning and made my Lame Post Friday post when I got up.  After coffee, I went running.  I thought of doing a Saturday Running Commentary Post, noting my caution about ice under the snow and speculating on my thoughts of running the Boilermaker 15K in Utica this summer.

After doing the dishes (judge me if you are so inclined), showering, and calling my mother, I wrote a very few post cards. Regular readers know I write some every week.  I only covered my regulars this Saturday.  I went to the post office, where I ascertained that my post cards needed first class stamps not post card stamps, and purchased some of each.

After the post office I went to Ilion, NY, to the new premises of Melfe’s Shoes.  Imagine my chagrin when I found out they no longer do repairs!  However, I was able to purchase a new pair of running shoes.  Boilermaker 15K, here I come!

They have upped their clothing game!

Returning home,  I attempted to do something useful, with no notable success, and found out my friend Kim, my usual partner for Mohawk Valley Adventures, had a debilitating headache.  After some debate, I decided to go out for some lunch on my own.  Well, why not?

I went to the Tin Cup Tavern in Little Falls (actually I would call it between Herkimer and Little Falls,  but nobody asked me).  I had a delightful time and a delicious sandwich.  I asked the bartender,  Jenna, if I could take her picture for my blog post.

She graciously agreed.

On the way home, I stopped at Valley Wine and Liquor for a bottle of Great Western Brut, a flute of  which I am sipping as I type this (actually peck this in one letter at a time with the stylus).  My husband, Steve, and I have watched a couple movies.

It has been an enjoyable Saturday so far.  And I am feeling inordinately pleased with myself that I made my Saturday blog post on Saturday.  I think this calls for another glass of Brut.

 

I Did Not Take the Pictures as I Ran

Yesterday (Saturday) when I went for my run, I purposefully ran by a few places I have pictures of in my Media Library, thinking I could include them in my Saturday Running Commentary Post.  Then I wrote the post late, in a hurry, and did not bother with pictures.  In my defense, I was anxious to get out for Sunday’s run before I talked myself out of it.

As I ran today (Sunday) (I guess you could have figured that much out), I also ran by a few places I have pictures of.  So I thought I might do a Sunday Running Commentary Post and use a few pictures.

A handsome building, and beautiful inside.

Both days I ran by the Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast.  It is handily located on German Street.

I did not pause to read it today either.

The informational plaque on the walkway over what used to be a hydraulic canal appeared to be coated with ice.  I did not examine it closely.  Yes, I run slowly, but not that slow.

I did not step on the colored spots either, but I do not rule out doing so in the future.

I continued down the path, thinking I might also run by my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  Then I saw something that changed my mind: a Do Not Enter sign.  Regular readers know how I love to Enter where it says not to.

I suppose they mean vehicular traffic, not slow running middle aged females.

It was not a bad run, and I enjoyed a full ten minute cool down walk.  I am planning in my head which days to run on in the coming week.  I also hope to continue my daily walks.  Physical fitness,  here I come!

 

Public Pedestrian Post with Pics

I don’t go into work till noon on Thursdays, so I waited till the sun was up to take my walk.  I decided to take advantage of the light and bring my cell phone so I could make a Pedestrian Post with pictures.  Full disclosure:  I am not making the post on my phone as I walk but merely took the pictures.  I am now at my house, ten-finger typing on my dining-room-table-top (must get a new laptop one of these days).

The weather was cold and gloomy, with snow off and on.  It was off as I started but had stuck on the sidewalk, so I walked with caution and did not set as brisk a pace as I might have on bare pavement.  I admit I do not always set a particularly brisk pace no matter the walking surface, but today I felt I had an excuse.  I had a payment on a bill to put in the mail, so I was also walking with a purpose.  I headed towards the post office.

As I went through Meyer’s Park, I noticed they had taken the Christmas lights down from the gazebo.  Regular readers know I love to look at lights when I am walking, so I felt a little sad this morning.  Yes, yes, I know, it is January, Christmas is over, I should get on with my life.  I can still feel a little sad, can’t I?  Sheesh!  Anyways, I took a picture to share the gloomy scene.

I felt the dusting of snow added to the gloomy mood.

I soon made it to the post office and mailed the bill.  Then I crossed the street to take a picture of the post office.

A handsome building.

I continued towards Main Street, which I crossed and went by Municipal Hall. I felt I had a kind of a theme of public spaces going on here, so I took another picture.

This is where I use to go to register for the DARE 5K, when they used to have one.

Close by Municipal Hall is what used to be the Baptist Church but is now owned by the Business and Professional Association of Herkimer. Pre-Covid, there were big plans for the space.  I must reach out to the association and find out the current status of the building.

Another handsome building.

Having three pictures in my phone, I felt I had fulfilled my blogging obligation and concentrated on my walk.  I slid once on an icy patch, which was a little scary (I guess I am easily frightened), but I stayed upright and did not encounter any more ice.  Soon it began to snow like a Christmas card, so I thought I would try for a picture of that.

This is the path over what used to be a hydraulic canal.

I’m afraid I did not capture the snow.  It soon turned to a fine, not very visible snow, and I was soon finished with my walk.

My walk lasted 30 minutes, the longest since I started walking again after my bout of flu.  I felt pretty good about that.  I may try for a run on Saturday, but after my little slip on the ice, it will rather depend on the weather.

 

Elliott Ghoul, Can You Help Me Now?

I guess it was not a massively Monstrous Monday.  Yet I am making a Monstrous Monday Post, because I ain’t got much else.  Also, I want to read the book I just got out of Basloe Library in Herkimer, NY:  The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum (and yes, autocorrect,  I meant “Poisoner’s” not “Prisoner’s”).

Is it just me, or does he look a little jolly?

Here is a shot I have always liked from The Screaming Skull.”  I believe I wrote a blog post about it, but I am too lazy to try to track it down to link back to it.

I should try to get a shot with his eyes bright red.

Here is a non-movie monster, our own Elliott Ghoul.  He says things like, “Follow me… to the graveyard!  Ah ha ha ha ha!”  I appreciate anybody who says, “Ah ha ha ha ha!”  It is what I say when I accomplish a task or find sonething I have been searching for.

Oh crap!  I just accidentally hit Publish!  I hope nobody reads this before I finish it and hit Update.

A closer but more blurry shot.

Elliott stays in our window all year long.  Last year, my husband, Steven turned him off so he stopped saying things.  I was delighted when he turned him back on in October.

I see I am over 200 words.  That is good news for me, because I want to hit Update.  And read that book!

 

 

Foggy Walk

Thursday I took my walk a little later than usual, because that is my late day at work.  The sun was up, but you could barely tell due to the fog.  I took my phone with me, thinking I would try a couple of pictures for a Pedestrian Post.  I emphasize “try,” because how good can a picture look when it is of what you can’t see?

I guess I could see pretty far after all.

I have always loved fog.  It is so mysterious.  There was an infamous episode when my husband, Steve, and I got lost driving in the fog over Higby Road (yes, autocorrect, “Higby” is a word; I did not mean Hit by).  That was PB (pre blog).

Mysterious trees.

I walked along German Street to Valley Health, to walk up that hill.  I took the above picture along the way.  I had hoped for a good shot at the top of the hill but had no luck.  Perhaps if I would have walked up College Hill I could have gotten the shot, but I had neither the time nor the physical wherewithal for such exertions.  Hey, I just started walking again, remember?

Running water always makes a nice picture.

I carefully held my phone in one of the gaps in the chain link fence on the little bridge.  It was a pleasant walk.  I am happy to be getting some exercise again.  And I am hoping people do not mind that I made my Thursday blog post on Friday morning.