Tag Archives: Little Falls NY

Pre-Reindeer Lame

Posted on December 8, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh, is this ever Lame Post Friday!  I got nuthin’ in spades!  I’ve been hurrying around trying to get ready for the Reindeer Run 5K tomorrow.  I have to worry about my running outfit AND my outfit for after the race, when we are enjoying Christmas in Little Falls.  I should have made a list. Do other people suffer this anguish for a simple 5K?  It doesn’t matter if they do or not.  I do, and, as the saying goes, I gotta be me.

Right now, me is somebody who is not capable of making a decent blog post.  This is terrible!  This is the worst it’s ever been!  What shall I do?  Quick, post a picture and say something about that.

A jolly and silly elf.

This is me dressed for last year’s Reindeer Run.  I plan on wearing the same shirt, leggings, and shoes, but different accessories.  I hope to post a picture tomorrow.

Looking very happy pre-race.

And this is me, another runner, and the fabulous Moose on the Loose.  The Moose ran with me for the last bit of the race, when I began to whine that I started my sprint too soon and I wasn’t going to make it.  She assured me I would too make it, and I did.

I expect I will make it this year too.  I probably won’t be very fast, and I don’t promise not to whine. Ooh, there was a Freudian typo:  I first put “wine” instead of “whine.”  In fact, I have not had any wine all week, in preparation for the race.  I promised myself a nice glass of dry red later.  Aaaahhhh.  Suddenly I am feeling better about the whole thing.  Happy Friday, everyone.

 

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Reindeer Running Commentary

Posted on December 7, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

My choices today are another attempt at a Running Commentary or to write about socks.  I don’t see why I should not make the blog All Reindeer Run All The Time.  For one thing, there is not that much more time before the run. It is Saturday, the day after tomorrow.  I can save my sock tirade for another day (but if I make it on a Thursday I can still call it “Non-Sequitur Socks,” which is the title I thought of at work today).

What a surprise, I did not want to run by the end of the day.  My body is still not used to getting up at 3 a.m. and working for 10 hours.  Additionally, I was on my feet all day (except for breaks, of course; we are not barbarians around here, we get breaks).  Of course I had all kinds of good excuses:  I could rest up, I fully intended to run tomorrow, it’s only a 5K after all.  What finally decided me to run was that as I drove home I noticed the sidewalks were bare.  I had to take advantage of that.

Once again, I threw a load of laundry into the washer before I set out.  For one reason, I wanted my silver long-sleeved running shirt for Saturday.  I have a whole outfit planned.  I’ll have to get Steven or someone to take my picture.  I finally got myself out the door and set out.  I felt really good about myself that I had decided to run.

Brr, cold, but it’s been worse.  There wasn’t too much wind, so that was a good thing.  I headed down German Street in the opposite direction of the one I took Tuesday.  I thought briefly of crossing the street at Main and running up the pretty good hill that is there.  Nope, too much traffic at the four-way stop.  I turned towards downtown.  Hey, this run didn’t feel too bad.  Maybe I could go for a long run.

I went by Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners.  There was a Christmas tree in the window of Suiter House, home of the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I have to get over to their gift shop and do some Christmas shopping.  I went down Main till I got to Park Avenue, then I ran by the post office and on to Meyer Park.  I made a mental note to take a walk or drive by the park at night, to see the pavilion and tree all lit up.

By this time, I was getting tired.  Hey, body, what’s going on?  I thought we liked running!  Maybe I could catch a second wind.  As I kept running, it soon became evident that I would not.  Oh no!  I had run less than 20 minutes so far.  I can’t run a 5K in 20 minutes!  What was I going to do?  Then I said to myself, “You will not have just worked a 10 hour day.  You will have gotten a good night’s rest and had a light, healthy breakfast.”  I am also planning a nice pasta dinner Friday night, so I will be all carbed up, as the saying goes (I’m not sure exactly what the saying is, but I believe it includes the phrase, “carbed up”).

I ended up running for 25 minutes and walked my usual 10 minute cool-down.  I confess to feeling better about myself before I ran that after, but you’ll have that.  Full disclosure:  I’ve felt better about blog posts than I feel about this one.  Once again, you’ll have that.

 

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Warming Up for the Reindeer Run

Posted on December 5, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Could I be getting old?  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!!  In fact, I can now rub two nickels together (meaning I am 55, if that was too obscure), but that is hardly the point.  The point is, it seems that when I go running after work with the intention of making a Running Commentary post, I become too tired to actually write said post.  Then again, yesterday I was too tired to make a decent post without benefit of running.  Now I am getting bogged down when my intention was merely to write an introductory paragraph.  I did mention I am tired, did I not?

My plan is to run the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls, NY, this Saturday (Dec. 8).  I have been working up to running a greater distance than 5K’s, with some measure of success.  Sunday I ran for 50 minutes, and the longest I’ve taken to run a 5K has been, I think, 38 and change.  Mind you, I believe I can pretty much run a 5K at any time, regardless of what I have been doing, through sheer stubbornness, with which I am well supplied.  It’s a question of how slow I go, how stupid I look, and how terrible I feel afterwards.  OK, I will probably go slow and look stupid in any case, but one can only do so much with what nature has provided.  The point is, I want to enjoy Christmas in Little Falls after the run.  I think I will be good to do that on Saturday.

Sunday, when I ran so long, was an unseasonably warm day.  This Saturday is supposed to be cold: mid-20’s, I believe.  Today was about that, so I thought it would be a good idea to run.  For another reason, I wanted to do some laundry and it is just so handy to throw a load in before I start the run.  During even a 20-minute run, after my cool-down walk, the wash is usually done.  This is pretty much the extent of my ability to multi-task.

I had on leggings and a winter running top.  I added a hat and my reflective vest.  I wanted the reflective vest mostly because it is another layer and has  a handy pocket for a couple of tissues.  However, I knew it would also be a good idea if I decided to run in the road at all.  As it turned out I mostly stayed on the sidewalks, but it is best to be prepared.

Ooh, it felt cold.  I wondered if I should have added a sweatshirt to the ensemble.  No matter.  I would no doubt warm up as I went.  I did, to a point.  The other advantage of my age is that I can pretty much count on getting a hot flash sooner or later.  Usually the hot flash makes me too hot, but at least it is a change in my discomfort.  Additionally, I can laugh at myself for always having something to complain about.

I ran for 25 minutes, which I considered OK.  I felt the important thing was to run at all.  Of course, the other important thing (to me, anyways) is to make a good blog post.  I’m afraid I have not said a whole lot about this run.  I like making the kind of Running Commentary post where I give almost a blow by blow of where I ran and what I saw.  Unfortunately, today’s run was quite uneventful.  Or perhaps I was too cold to notice anything.

As a matter of fact, I still have not warmed up, after a hot shower and a warm dinner.  No matter.  I ran.  I blogged.  I made it through Tuesday.  On with the rest of the week!

 

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Ready to Relax after Scattered Saturday

Posted on December 2, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Even after my tipsy night last night, I managed to have a fairly active Scattered Saturday.  As I am anxious to get on with the sitting on my couch, crocheting and watching television portion of the day (I have already reached the sweats on, bra off stage) (do NOT say TMI!) (you know who you are), I am going to make a fast post and hope to cover a few of the activities in greater detail in future posts (preview of coming attractions).

We slept in till almost 6 a.m., and I confess I had a bit of a headache.  I comforted myself with the thought that I have had worse headaches on less wine and got on with the day.  After a cup of coffee and some Gatorade, I felt ready for my run.  I think I have made up my mind to run the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls next Saturday, and I had not run since Wednesday, so I knew it was a good idea to go.  It was a pretty good run, and I petted two cute dogs along the way.

The rest of the morning was spent in a leisurely fashion, but eventually we bestirred ourselves and got out the door and into Mohawk, NY.  For non-local readers, that is a village right next to Herkimer (where I live).  Regular readers may recall that we went to Mohawk Village Market on Shop Small Saturday.  While there, we entered a drawing for a $25 gift certificate.  Steven won!  We spent the whole amount and then some, and I picked up a Donald Westlake book I have never read in their little library.  Score!

Next we drove to Ilion, which is right next to Mohawk, and went to the Medicine Shoppe to pick up a prescription.  More I cannot tell you, because, you know, HIPAA, but the Ilion Medicine Shoppe is a good place to fill your prescriptions.

After going home to put away our groceries, we got back in the car and drove to Little Falls, about six miles away, in case you didn’t know.  Our goal was the Open House of Joyfuls Vintage Designs, which had moved to a new location, 616 E. Main Street.  I had never been to nor in fact ever heard about this place.  What an awesome little business!  They refurbish and re-purpose vintage items and furniture.  The results are beautiful and show such imagination and creativity.  I will definitely write more about them and include pictures.

We decided to take a stroll down the rest of Main Street.  We admired several businesses along the way but did not stop anywhere till we got to Ed and Bud’s.  There we saw a sign advertising Tom and Jerry’s.  This is, of course, a traditional Christmas drink.  We made a special trip to Ed and Bud’s to have one last December.  We succumbed to the temptation.  Yum!

So we had a pretty fun Saturday. Lots of Mohawk Valley adventures!  We may sit quietly at home on Sunday.  Then again, there is Christmas in Meyer’s Park on Herkimer and the tree lighting in Weller Park in Mohawk.  Scattered Sunday, anyone?

 

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Running Commentary, One Letter at a Time

Posted on November 29, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, this is just swell.  I can’t get on WordPress on my laptop .  What’s that all about?  So here I sit on my Tablet  typing one letter at a time with the stylus,  occasionally benefiting from the anticipatory thingy.I really do not like posting this way.  Then again,  I meant to make a Running  Commentary post.  For once I am typing as slow as I run.  It! Could! Work!

Once again I did not want to run today.  I also felt that I did NOT want to run the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls Dec 8.  The run is part of the Christmas in Little Falls festivities,  which I similarly felt not in the mood for.  What’s that all about, me?  Finally I said to myself, “Just try.”

I put plastic bags over my socks inside my sneakers,  because it was quite wet and slushy.  As it turned out, I did not run through much wet.  I stayed in the road (left side, facing traffic, which is the right way to do it), which is not my favorite way to run.

Once I got started, my body didn’t feel too bad about moving.  I had promised myself I wouldn’t have to run more than 20 minutes.  Just a short run to keep my feet in (You know, like keeping one’s hand in, only it’s feet, because I’m running), in case I decide to run the Reindeer Run 5K after all.

As you may have guessed,  I am now leaning SLIGHTLY in the direction of running.  I’ll let you know.  And I’ll make a longer blog post, after I get my real keyboard back.  In the meantime , we’ll call this a Wuss-out Wednesday and drive on.

 

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Tuesday Trot

Posted on November 21, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I remember mentioning in an earlier post that I am opting not to run the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day in Little Falls, NY.  I’m thinking I will not run at all on Thanksgiving Day, because the temperature is not supposed to get out of the teens.  I do not rule out going for a walk with some family members and a dog (alas, not mine; I still don’t have a pooch to brighten my days), but that is obviously not the same thing.  I probably will also not run tomorrow, since Steven and I are headed to Rome, NY when I get out of work.  However, I am still thinking I will run the Reindeer Run 5K on Dec. 8.  Therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to run today.

I spent my short drive home from work alternately thinking I would go running and I could not possibly run.  Full disclosure:  I spent a good part of my day at work thinking, “I’ll go running after work,” and “I don’t want to run the Reindeer Run!  I don’t ever want to run again!”  I arrived home feeling tired and ill (dammit, I got a flu shot! I’m not supposed to get sick!).  I decided to check Facebook and try to talk myself into it.  I thought I might.

One reason I thought would help the persuasion is that I thought I might get some response to a post I made on the Reindeer Run event page.  It was a song I had written in honor of the occasion.  I think you can guess the tune:

Dashing through the snow, at the Reindeer Run 5K

Through Little Falls we go, laughing all the way (ha, ha, ha)

Bells on Cindy ring, she is running slow,

But she wears a Santa hat, so she says, “Ho, ho, ho!”

OH!

Reindeer Run, Reindeer Run, Reindeer Run 5K

Oh what fun it is to run and make jokes on the way-ay!

Reindeer Run, Reindeer Run, Reindeer Run 5K

Oh what fun it is to be in Little Falls today!

My fifth grade music teacher told us, “There’s no OH!”  in that “Everybody knows that” voice teachers use to put kids in their place.  Well, forget you, Mr. Perry, I left in the “Oh!”  Ahem, be that as it may, that is my Reindeer Run song.  And, sure enough, the Christmas in Little Falls Facebook page liked the song, shared it, and said they hoped to see me running the Reindeer Run.  How can I disappoint?  I just imagine I would be disappointed myself if I missed it.

So I went for a short run.  It was not bad.  I even had fun for part of it.  I do like to run, and I certainly need the exercise.  I guess this is more a Tired Tuesday post than a Running Commentary, but these things happen.  It’s almost Thanksgiving!  I’m going to my parents’ house tomorrow!  I have things to do besides this blog post, so this will have to do.  Happy Tuesday, everyone.

 

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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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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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Stylus Typing on Wuss-out Wednesday

Posted on October 18, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

It seems as if I just recently took a Blogger’s Sick Day, but I can’t find the last one by scrolling through my posts.  Then again, if I’m not feeling well, how can I trust my scrolling and looking abilities?  Never mind.  I like to be a daily blogger, so I will attempt to make some semblance of a post.

And that was where my laptop froze up.  Twice.  So now I’m on my Tablet, typing one letter at a time with the stylus.  As usual, I am fascinated by the anticipatory thing.  But it’s no way to write.

Who doesn’t love a cute, cuddley vampire?

I try to pep things up with a picture.  My dear friend Marsha sent me the pot recently.  My husband,  Steven, gave me the vampire in a coffee mug (I think I used a picture of it a day or two ago).

Here he is!

Today I am not a morning, afternoon, or evening person.  But I have another new Halloween picture to share.

I love a business that decorates!

I took this picture at White Rose Bakery in Little Falls, NY.  I was writing a story for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  I hope they print it.  However, I knew they wouldn’t use this picture,  because the story is for the November issue.

This stylus typing is not for me.  But at least I made some semblance of a post.

 

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To Trot or Not to Trot

Posted on October 13, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Spoiler alert:  I’m probably not going to trot, but I thought of that title while I was running this morning and I like it.  I wondered if I would ever do another Saturday Running Commentary, and it looks like I am about to.

I had actually thought about not running today.  I had an excellent run yesterday (I believe I mentioned it in yesterday’s post) and can certainly run tomorrow.  Additionally, I have been getting brutal headaches on Saturdays (regardless of whether or not I tie one on Friday night) (um, I mean, I never tie one on), and I fear running in cold air makes them worse.  It is cooler this weekend, real fall weather.  I love it, but my sinuses are less than thrilled.  However, I do not allow my sinuses to run my life.  Try not to anyways.

So I decided to run.  My thermostat said it was 47 degrees, two degrees above my usual cut off for shorts and short sleeves.  However, since I am not in really good running shape, I put on leggings and long sleeves.  I was glad I did.  For one reason, as I started out, I realized it was raining.  What was that all about?  I didn’t hear any rain on the tin roof outside my bathroom window!  I felt quite ill-used, but once I’m out there, I usually keep going.  Yesterday when I started out, I realized I had left on my reading glasses instead of switching to my running glasses.  I kept going for a blurry run. I remembered the running glasses today, but once they got rained on, the run was no clearer than yesterday’s.  No matter.  I could see well enough.

I debated running up a hill.  Regular readers may recall that hills are in short supply in Herkimer, NY (where I live).  I was inclined to stay off the incline (just to make a play on words).  But one must run hills to train properly, especially if one wants to run a 5K in Little Falls (which I do).  I was headed towards Main Street.  I could go up a hill there, if only I crossed German at the four-way stop.  I made a bargain with myself: if there were no cars at the intersection, I would cross.  If not, I would immediately turn down Main Street.  For one reason, my glasses were by now spotty enough that I could not reliably see if a driver was waving me across.  There were cars.  I was off the hook (don’t judge me) (oh, go ahead and judge me; I don’t run for anybody but myself).

It was not as enjoyable a run as yesterday, but it wasn’t too bad.  It got better as I went along.  I started out thinking if I only did 20 minutes it would be OK.  My longest run lately has been 28 minutes, and I have been plateaued there for two weeks.  My main goal is to do the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls in December.  I did it last year and it was great fun.  There is a Turkey Trot 5K in Little Falls on Thanksgiving Day.  I could be in 5K shape by then.  Well, not if I stayed plateaued at 28 minutes or, worse yet, went backwards (ooh, running backwards is a good way to get in shape, but I’m not talking about that).

Another reason I probably cannot participate in the Turkey Trot is that I plan to go to Rome to my Mom and Dad’s house for Thanksgiving.  I had planned to go the night before, in case they need help getting the turkey stuffed and in the oven at 6 a.m. or whenever they need to do it.  I can also peel potatoes, something I never do for myself but know how to nevertheless.  Still, I have always wanted to do a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot.  Additionally, this Thanksgiving is my birthday.  I can run 5K on the day I turn 55.  How cool is that?  But would I even be in 5K shape if I only ran 20 to 25 minutes today?  And so I debated as I ran, and that is when I came up with today’s title.

I was on my street, figuring I would at least get to 25 minutes, when I heard a voice behind me:  “I thought I was the only crazy one!”  It was a lady I had encountered on another run.

“I didn’t know it was raining till I set out,” I told her,  “and I said, ‘Oh well, I’ve got the sports bras on!'”

“It’s raining and we’re training!” she said.

Well, that kind of inspired me, and I went around the block and ended up running for 31 minutes, an increase (at least the way I did the math) of the recommended 10 percent.  I felt pretty darn pleased with myself.  If I don’t make it to Little Falls on Thanksgiving Day, I will just have to trot by myself in Rome.

 

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