Tag Archives: hot and humid

Sometimes I Do Run Backwards

It really has not been all that hot and humid lately.  I mean, no heat advisories that I heard of, and it was only in the 80s, not the 90s.  Why, then do I feel so sluggish and that my brain has been steamed?  Why, oh why, am I making another blog post about it?  This cannot be interesting!  Quick, throw in a picture to pep things up.

Anybody remember when I did that?

I participated in this race back in 2017 but not again thereafter.  I do not know why not.  However, I saw a post about it on Facebook the other day and said, “I’m doing it this year!”  Of course I forgot to write down the date or any other information about it.  However, I think I have time to find these things out.  And I am still in 5K shape from the Pride Stride 5K in June.  The beauty part is, this should be good for several blog posts.

Can you tell it’s uphill?

I think this is the back way to Herkimer College (previously known as HCCC).  I recently ran up the front way for the first time in a while.  I have not run up the back way recently but I suppose it would be a good idea to.  I feel I do not run enough hills.

On the brighter side, using the two pictures from the past entitles me to bill this as a Throwback Thursday.  Once again, I will try for a better blog post tomorrow, and I thank you for tuning in.

 

Not Too Hot to Blog, Apparently

Regular readers know I am not a fan of hot, humid weather.  In fact, I can be quite the big fat baby brat about it.  I had a pretty bratty day today.  I pause in wiping away the sweat to attempt to make some semblance of a blog post.

“But it’s a dry heat!”

This is not me, or even close to me.  For one reason, I have not been on the South Beach Diet long enough.  More importantly, the Mohawk Valley does not enjoy dry heat.  I cannot say I enjoyed dry heat even when I experienced it, but I know some folks swear by it. To each his own, as the old lady said when she kissed the cow.

Well, maybe it isn’t this hot out. But I am looking forward to Halloween.

I am in a bit of a quandary right now.  I did not go running this morning (judge me if you want to be that way) so thought to walk to the post office this afternoon, to mail a few post cards.  Additionally, I want to purchase some stamps since I hear the price is going up again soon.  Then I thought I would walk to the Herkimer Elks Lodge, where they have Comfort Food dinners on the first Monday of the month.  Tonight it is a grilled burger.  I thought I would get it to go, bring it home, then go to the Herkimer Town Board meeting, which I have to cover for Sentinel Media.  A nice little amount of walking, so I thought.

First, however, I had to put out my trash and recyclables.  No problem, that.  I put away the green waste containers that were emptied this morning (perhaps you read my blog post about filling them), then brought out the other totes and filled them accordingly.  That’s two trips up and down my not very long driveway and two trips back into and out of the house.  This is not strenuous activity, even for a woman of my age and weight.

Explain to me, then, why the sweat was pouring off my body by the time I finished!  What the hell, me?  What the hell, Mother Nature?

I know, you are sitting there hoping that I will quit my bitching soon.  I did mention being a big fat baby brat, did I not?  No matter.  I see I am approaching 400 words.  I find that fine for a Monday, and I can only hope that some readers found me entertaining.

 

It Was a Melting Migraine

I thought I might have a real Wuss-out Wednesday post or maybe a Blogger’s Sick Day, as I spent the day with something of a migraine.  I hasten to add that my migraines are not as bad as what some people suffer, and I appreciate that.  I even made it through rehearsal tonight for the play I haven’t told you about yet (preview of coming attractions).  Now I am at home, still waiting for it to feel cooler inside (it was almost comfortable on my front porch, but I can hardly sleep out there), and wondering if I can get away with a Mid-Week Monsters post (here’s a Freudian typo:  I said Mid-Weed Monsters, as if I paused to make a blog post in the midst of doing lawn and garden work.  Wouldn’t that be ambitious of me?).

I know just how she feels.

Here’s the picture I was looking for yesterday!  It is appropriate on so many levels.  I am complaining about the heat, a wicked witch is a monster, and many people feel that I myself am a witch (they sometimes spell it with a b).

This may be true of a lot of us.

This speaks to my good intentions of doing a better blog post today than yesterday.  Once again I move that ambition on to tomorrow.  On the brighter side, at least I have posted for another day.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

Is It a Hot Blog Post?

It probably comes as no surprise that I am doing a Tired Tuesday post, especially to local readers who are also experiencing the heat wave currently visiting the Mohawk Valley.  Perhaps some are surprised that I am making the post on Tuesday rather than early Wednesday morning.  As for anybody who feels I am being a big baby to be melting in the heat, either because they LOVE hot weather or because other places have MUCH hotter weather, I can only suggest you find another blog to read (you know who you are).  There are many available.  Of course you are welcome to continue reading this one, but a baby I am and a baby I will remain.  A big fat baby brat.

It was a hot scene.

I was looking for a non-baby, non-bratty picture to counteract the whining and defensiveness in the first paragraph.  In fact I have been trying to complain less.  I spent most of the day at work telling myself, “We all feel the heat; we all know it is hot.  I do not have to remark on how hot it is.”  A co-worker tried the opposite approach by saying how cold it was.  I had no clever comeback.  My brains, such as they are, were pretty much boiled, broiled, and steamed.

The picture, by the way, is from Love’s Labour’s Lost, as presented by LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company two summers ago (or was it three?  How the time flies!). It was quite warm rehearsing and performing outdoors, especially in costume, but a lot of fun.

Here’s some cold weather, if you like.

My late, dearly missed husband Steve used to say, “You don’t have to shovel humidity.”  That is true.  However, in the winter time it may not snow, and then you will not have to shovel, while in the summertime, the grass is definitely going to grow, and you will have to mow.  Well, I can’t complain about that right now.  My father mowed my back lawn and my sister Cheryl mowed the front.  Did I mention I have a very nice family?

Sometimes it is nice to just lounge around in the heat.

To end on a more positive note, here is me, or part of me, enjoying summer in sandals and painted toenails.  Pedicure is from Hot Spot Salon and Spa in Herkimer, NY, just to give a quick shout-out to a local business.  I have since broken those sandals, alas, but my toes are currently a very similar color.

I see I have rattled on for more than 400 words.  Not bad for a Tired Tuesday.  I wonder what I can come up with for Wuss-out Wednesday.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

Another Pre-Boilermaker Run

I melted again today, although with no discernible difference in my waistline.  However, I did manage to go for a short run and will now attempt a Running Commentary Post.

I had been taking myself all day that it would be a good idea to run, but I was naturally reluctant to do so once I got home.  In my defense, heat and humidity!  I spent the greater portion of the day feeling sweat pour down my body.  Ugh.  But the Boilermaker 15K is a mere three days away.  I must maintain.

First I called my Mom and Dad.  Mom said perhaps I should not run in this weather.  Dad thought I might try it and switch to walking if it was too much.  Since I only contemplated a short run, I decided to try.

And now I will pause to bring up something that always bothers me:  when you say you can’t do something and somebody smugly replies, “Well, not with that attitude.”  I have probably alluded to this before, but I will repeat it.  Almost every failure I have had, and there have been many, some epic, I have gone into with great confidence.  On the other hand, many times I have thought, I probably can’t do this but let me just try.  And I do it, surprising myself as well as my detractors.

It should come as no surprise that I succeeded in my attempt to run today.  I thought, one mile, fifteen minutes, slow pace.  My pace was faster than a 15-minute mile although I made no effort at speed.  As I went, I thought 20 minutes might be good.  Oh well, maybe 17.

I made it for 20 minutes 31 seconds, 1.49 miles.  I suppose I could have made it a full two and a half miles, but I felt pretty pleased with what I did.

Now I have to start worrying about the myriad practical details involved in running the Boilermaker:  getting my packet from the Runner’s Expo, which involves finding said Expo; putting on the right clothes the morning of, eating the proper breakfast, getting to the starting line after deciding the best time to get to the starting line, finding a parking space; and through it all hydrating, hydrating, hydrating.  I haven’t even mentioned getting to bed at a good time, getting to sleep, and waking up on time.  I think there are probably a few things I have forgotten I need to do.  I am not even sure I remember how many days there are between Thursday and Sunday.

 

Boiling or Boilermaker?

Wuss-out Wednesday follows Tired Tuesday, we all know that.  If you didn’t know, you do now.  I’m going to blame the weather.

I think I am!

I took a walk this morning but did not run after work.  I ran yesterday for three miles, thinking it would be my last long run before the Boilermaker 15K.  I hope to walk every day and have one or two short runs in the next three days.  Only three day?  Yikes!

Now is about the time I ask myself why I signed up for this silly race anyways. I should perhaps mention that this has happened to me every time I have run the Boilermaker (can’t remember how many times that is;  I would have to count my Boilermaker glasses).  This year, of course, everything is different.

It seems I had some good reasons when I signed up.  I do not currently remember them.   I registered pretty much the minute registration opened.  A short time later the palliative care nurse called me and said we had to talk.  I know what palliative care is (my sisters had to look it up).  Thus started a very bad time in my life.

So this year my running the 15K feels all tied up in my grief and depression over my husband’s death.  I don’t know that I think something magical is going to happen as I cross the finish line.  I think mostly I feel grateful that the race gave me motivation to keep running.  Exercise has helped me a lot.

I guess I have not entirely wussed out today, as I see I am over 250 words.  Perhaps tomorrow I will take one of those shorter runs I mentioned and attempt a Running Commentary Post.  It is All Boilermaker All The Time Week after all.

 

Hate the Heat, Love the Flowers

And yet I am not becoming noticeably smaller.

I am not a fan of summer. Sun worshippers can feel free to hate on me but all I can do is shake my sweaty head, very slowly. Oh, just listen to me whine! I am starting to hate on me myself!

Please ignore the weeds.

One good thing about summer is flowers. We started out ten years ago with one humble Black-eyed Susan, purchased at a sale to benefit Herkimer County Humane Society. Just look at them now!

Another view.

The Brown-eyed Susan’s just magically grew. They have expanded as well. I just can’t bear to cut them back.

Please ignore the hideous deck.
I think they are pretty.

Our Rose of Sharon is not as bloom-filled, much to our disappointment.

I see one flower!

Other Roses of Sharon (Rose of Sharons?) In the neighborhood are more colorful. If it becomes cool enough for a comfortable walk, I will try to get a few pictures for a future post.

In the meantime, I have managed to make a post of, well, not quite 200 words (I keep clicking on the counter up top to check). And it was not too painful (at least for me to write; obviously I cannot speak for any possible readers). Ah, there is 200. Keep cool, everyone!

Going Nowhere on Tired Tuesday

Tired Tuesday follows Monstrous Monday, we all know that. At least, we know it now. I am trying to get back to posting daily, even it it means a lot of foolish, rambling posts. One does what one can.

In my defense, the hot, humid weather weighs me down. I feel I am a large, heavy piece of clothing saturated with warm water. Kind of like my laundry when my washing machine died before going through the spin cycle, only I wash in cold water. I do enjoy a good comparison. Earlier today, I told myself that my face will be coated in sweat for the foreseeable future. Sometimes it is easier to live with something when you acknowledge that it is, instead of wishing it was not, if that makes any sense.

In addition to the weather, I am coping with overtime at work. YES, I am grateful to have a job and grateful for time-and-a-half, so just don’t start with the “Just be happy that” crap. I want to be a lady of leisure! Is that too much to ask? Apparently so.

Where was I going with this? Nowhere, I guess. As always, I will try for a better blog post tomorrow. It will be Wednesday, my day for local music at Fratello’s. I missed last week. This may be something to look forward to. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

I Need a Little Nosferatu

I thought of that title, and, quite frankly, that is all I could think up.  However, many of us are tired on Monday, and I feel a silly post is entirely acceptable.  Additionally, today has been hot and humid.  It wears me out.  Judge me if you are so inclined.

Here’s the man of the hour!

Who doesn’t love a Monstrous Monday Post?  Surely none of my readers (who are also used to being called Shirley on occasion).  I went a whole weekend without seeing any monster movies.  This happens sometimes, of course, but I try not to make a habit of it.

May I cut in?

We almost watched House on Haunted Hill, for which the above is a publicity shot.  I just loves me some Vincent Price.

I would love to have this on my wall!

Since Nosferatu is today’s title monster, I thought I would include another picture.  So atmospheric!  I do not have enough monsters in my house.

Another poster I would be proud to hang in my living room.

Just to show I am not averse to other vampires, here is Bela Lugosi as Dracula.  I like him too.

So this has been another Monday of random pictures and silly remarks.  I leave you with a final monster, and a sentiment with which I am sure many will agree:

Not Scattered, Shout-Out!

I cannot make a Scattered Saturday Post,  because I have not scattered enough.  I took a long run this morning then pretty much sat around and wished it was not so hot and humid.  YES, I am a wimpy whiner, one must put up with these uncomfortable weather situations, blah blah, woof woof.  Hey, at least I managed a long run up a major hill before wimping out.  I suppose that does not count with some of you ( you know who you are).  Hmph!

Where was I?  Ah yes, trying to make a blog post when I have not indulged in many blogable activities.  My friend Kim picked me up in the afternoon, and we went to the End Zone Pub and Grub in Herkimer for a couple of drinks.  It was a lot of fun, as it usually when Kim and I get together.

No, I did not fall off my barstool to take this picture.

I was just scrolling through my Media Library looking for pictures of the End Zone, and I found this shot of the ceiling, complete with a Herkimer jersey.  Some of these older buildings have the best ceilings!

Always stuff to look at!

I enjoy looking at the sports and beer memorabilia on the wall.  There are also several television screens, usually with different games going on.

So I guess my Scattered Saturday Post has turned into a shout out for a local business.  Regular readers may recall that I have given shout-outs to this business in the recent past.  So sorry to repeat myself.  I also apologize for making my Saturday Post early Sunday morning (by my clock, anyways).  I can only hope to do better on Wrist to Forehead Sunday!