Tag Archives: running

Not Too Lame to Walk

Posted on April 4, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, I made it to Lame Post Friday and, yes, I am feeling lame.  I’m still waste-not-want-notting with a few pictures I took on a recent walk.  I’m sure I mentioned that I try to walk almost every day.  I actually went for a run this morning, and it was pretty great.  I was thinking of doing a Running Commentary post, but the day kind of got away from me.  Let us see what I can come up with before heading to Valley Wine and Liquor for a wine tasting and perhaps to Herkimer Elks Lodge for Fish Fry (preview of coming attractions).

Look how many purple flowers!

I still have not found out what these little purple flowers are called, but I love them.  When I find out, I will get some seeds and scatter them all over my yard.  I love looking around for growth as I walk.  As I type this, I am a little sorry I do not intend to walk to the liquid store (as a four-year-old niece once called it).  However, I plan to purchase some wine, and those bottle get heavy!

I love fire fighters!

This is a new sign in front of the fire station.  I do not always walk by  the station, so I am not sure how long it has been there.

Can you read it?

This is the dedication plaque on the rear of the sign.  I did not pause to read it at the time; I just took the picture.

And just like that, I am over 250 words.  Score!  On to the rest of my Friday!  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Actually, I am a Slacker and Scatter-Brained

Posted on March 29, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

It’s not a Slacker Saturday, and it is not a Scattered Saturday, unless you count that I am very scatter brained as usual.  But it is a Saturday and I must make a blog post before I completely lose track of the day.

I went for a run earlier, thinking to make a Saturday Running Commentary.  It was not an eventful run or even a very long run. I was recruiting my energies, you see, because the Elk of the Year Dinner is tonight at Herkimer Elks Lodge.  I did not attend last year’s dinner, but this year’s honoree is one of my particular Elk friends.  Additionally, it is an early night: cocktails at three, dinner at four.  I am kind of an early bird in my old age.

I will probably enjoy at least one glass of wine.

I looked through my Media Library for a picture of the Elks Lodge, feeling I could ill afford the time, and finally settled on this one taken at the lodge.  The bracelet was by One Of A Kind Designs Handcrafted Jewelry by Debora Bruce, just to give a local artist a shout-out.

In addition to figuring out my outfit (as if anybody will notice what I wear) and trying in vain to do something with my hair (I will settle for that coveted “looks like I did it on purpose” look), I must go pick up my car which was getting an oil change and inspection.  It is a mere ten minute walk to do so, but I have not yet heard from the mechanic so do not yet know if my poor little car has even passed inspection.  Also, I have to mail my Saturday post cards.  I think the mail actually leaves the post office at three, not two as I had previously thought, so I have time.

This is turning into really a flustered post, and the more I type, the more flustered I become.  I shall sign off and look for a decent pair of pantyhose.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

Once again, I do not have my ducks in a row!

I add a silly picture, just to cheer myself up.  It worked!

 

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I Didn’t Waste My Walks

Posted on March 25, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had a kind of a Terrible Tuesday, which is not one of my features, but now I am all set for a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post.  For anybody who didn’t know, this is when I share previously unused pictures from my cell phone.

Spring IS coming!

I saw these snowdrops on my cool-down walk after my run on (going to the calendar to check) Yikes! Friday!  How have I not been running since Friday?  Why the hell am I thinking?  Obviously I am not thinking (that is pretty much always the answer to “What were you thinking?”).  But I digress.

The picture did not turn out as well as I had hoped.

I paused to take a picture of a birds nest in a tree on Mohawk Street in Herkimer, NY (where I live) during a longish walk I took on Saturday.  So I have been getting some exercise if not running.  Incidentally, I took two longish walks in the pouring rain on Sunday (it was not raining when I left the house), which quite wore me out.  Apparently I am less resilient in my old age than I was in my younger days.  Alas!

Apparently not the road less traveled.

I add this picture purely for the sake of having three illustrations.  It is a battered street in Ilion, which I photographed as a possible accompaniment to my article for Sentinel Media about the Ilion Village Board of Trustees Meeting on Monday.  This and several other roads will soon have work done on them, as was discussed in the meeting.

One might say that the road picture is symbolic of my life:  not a smooth path, but it just might take me somewhere.  Also, a bare road will be an encouragement for me to get back to running.  I believe I mentioned that I am registered for the Boilermaker 15K in Utica in July.

 

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It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like a Lame Post

Posted on March 14, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday afternoon winter returned to the Mohawk Valley.  I enjoyed bare roads and sidewalks in the morning, when I went for a run and turned in bottles and cans (that have been rattling around in my trunk for some weeks now, but never mind that).  I was beguiled into wearing a pair of the little canvas sneakers that I love.  My feet start to sweat after a while in running shoes.

Not good winter shoes.

In case you are wondering why I am not wearing full length pants or leggings, it is because I had a disagreement with gravity and the sidewalk while I ran, because I was trying to make a silly joke with a pedestrian.  These were more comfortable for my skinned knee.  When I went to leave the house to go to Herkimer Elks Lodge for Fish Fry, it was raining.  I went back into the house for a raincoat but was too lazy to change my shoes.  It started to snow before I got to the end of the block.

Of course it did not look like this right away.

At the Lodge, many were lamenting the snow, and I made myself very unpopular by singing, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” and observing that the snow on the trees was pretty.  “Pretty depressing,” one fellow said.

At least the fish fry was good, I carried my leftovers home carefully.  The roads were not slippery, so I counted my blessings.

In case anybody wants to follow in my footsteps.

Once I got home, I took the pictures I have just shared, starting with this one of Frankentree, who is more tree than Franken these days.

No porch sitting last night!

So here is my late Lame Post Friday post.  I almost lamed myself during my run but was not too lame to walk to and from fish fry.  Local readers take note:  Fish Fry continues at the Herkimer Elks Lodge Fridays through Easter.  Come on down!

 

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Pre-Breakfast Post

Posted on March 12, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I wussed out on Wednesday, not making my post till Thursday morning.  I’m thinking nobody is surprised, least of all me.  Now I am typing in haste (ten-finger typing, which is my usual thing these days), because I am meeting my Elks friends at Ann Street Deli in Little Falls, NY for breakfast.  I am hungry!  And I could use some coffee or tea.

Great for breakfast and lunch!

I easily found this picture in my Media Library.  I took it the last time we had breakfast there.  Note the crappy lump of snow in front.  The snow that is left looks crappy and dirty, and I for one am hoping no more falls to whiten it up.  However, Mother Nature rarely takes any of our hopes under advisement.

Yesterday was supposed to be the last warm day for a while, so I took advantage of the bare roads and sidewalks for a run.  I actually managed to stay on the sidewalks for most of the time, which is what I prefer to do.  You can’t count on cars slowing down.  Later on, when I took a walk, it was raining.  I had to walk down State Street, or Route 5 as it is more commonly known.  The sidewalks were muddy, and cars zoomed through the puddles, splashing wherever it landed.  Humph.  Just my little complaint of the day.  Don’t mind me.

My plans for today are to clean my house and perhaps do a Throwback Thursday blog post.  I need to write the conclusion for my murder mystery, which begins rehearsals Sunday (preview of coming attractions).  But I feel pleased I have done a blog post today of over 250 words.  250 entertaining words?  My dear readers are the judge of that.

 

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Late Monsters, But It’s a Post

Posted on March 10, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

It looks like I am entering another time of late posts and not very exciting posts.  I’ll be honest: my depression is getting me down.  BUT… there are things I can and will do about it.  I will get exercise every day and strive to NOT sit on the couch and do nothing (a favored activity for many depressed individuals).  I took a nice run yesterday so could have made a Running Commentary post, but for some reason did not.

Here’s a cheerful fellow.

I was looking for a picture to pep things up and found Nosferatu, from the eponymous 1922 silent movie.  Regular readers know he is one of my favorites.   I do enjoy a Monstrous Monday post, even when I wait till Tuesday to make it.

Looking ahead into the day and the week, I see a few opportunities for Mohawk Valley Adventures.  The basket I won at the HALO Lucky Paws Auction was from Phoebe’s Florist in Mohawk, NY.  I would like to go there, spend a little money, and make a blog post about it.  Maybe I could buy myself some flowers.  Maybe I can clean up my house a little, so I will be able to see the flowers.

Preview of Coming Attractions?

I may also try to make a Running Commentary post, if any of my runs seem memorable.  The above picture is from October 2020, when I was doing a challenge of exercising for at least 34 minutes for 34 days to call attention to 34 million people with diabetes in the U.S.  The challenge wanted you to post a selfie each day.  I did a few with my monster friends.  Maybe I should do another challenge like that.  Any thoughts?

In any case, I have made another placeholder blog post.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Not Such a Terrible Tuesday

Posted on March 4, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I missed posting on Monday.  I was not going to call attention to it but just make a Tuesday post (today is Tuesday to me, although I know my WordPress timestamp sometimes disagrees), but…

And then I realized there is not anything I can say that will not sound like whining or a really lame excuse.  I can’t use a lame excuse when it is not Lame Post Friday!  Have I been doing anything blogworthy lately?  You be the judge.

I went for a run yesterday, hoping to do a Monday Running Commentary.  It was not as long a run as my last one but not too bad.  It was cold, but I did not want to waste the bare pavement, of which there was some.  The highlight was petting a nice dog I have petted before.  He is a big shaggy one.  I wish I had a picture.   I also went the wrong way up a One Way street, as regular readers know I like to do.  I don’t suppose I can find the picture of the Do Not Enter sign.

Obviously not me running.

I could not find the sign but found this picture of Steve dancing to the Posers back in 2021, when he had gotten back from a stint in the nursing home.  We had a joyous time.  I will just mention that it would have been Steve’s 71st birthday today, which could explain my melancholy.  And yet I am so happy and grateful to have had him in my life.

This morning I did not go running, but I did venture outside in hopes of seeing the blood moon, blood being right up my alley.  I got to the end of the street, where I usually can see the moon early in the morning, before I realized the sky was completely overcast.  Silly me!  The sign at the church down the road said it was 3 degrees out.  Yikes!  However, as I walked back home, I saw the nice shaggy dog I had petted before.

“There’s that nice dog I petted before!” I said.  His person nicely stopped so I could pet him again.

So that is my Tuesday post.  Running, memories, no blood moon, petted a dog.  Really I have not been having a bad couple of days.

 

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Wrist Before Walk

Posted on March 2, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I fight through another case of I Just Can’t Even in hopes of at least making a Wrist to Forehead Sunday blog post.  I had thought I would go running this morning and write about yesterday’s and today’s run.  However, when I looked out the window I saw it had snowed overnight.  I don’t mind running in the snow; it takes more effort so is a better work-out.  This year, unfortunately, there is a lot of ice under the snow.  I’ve seen it; I’ve slipped on it.  I stayed inside.

I wasn’t wearing these leggings, but you get the idea.

I had great ambitions for the day.  I was going to go shopping and buy things that I could use to complete projects.  OK, that was the big ambition.  Cleaning the house did not enter into it, but it should have.  Then again, who cares what ambitions I may have had when I ran into a huge block of I Just Can’t Even around 9 a.m. (I got up at six).

Only I’m not that skinny, and I can’t do that with my hair.

I know there are cures for I Just Can’t Even.  They don’t all work for all people.  “You just have to make yourself,” has never worked for me.  I have experienced some success with “Well, just try.”  Today I tried, “Just put one thing away.”  Actually I put away more than one thing, but not nearly enough.

What I feel like these days.

There are worse things than sitting around feeling like The Blob. I will bestir myself to take a walk this afternoon.  Ooh, here’s a Freudian typo: I first put, “I will bestie myself.”  I will be my own best friend by taking a walk.  After, exercise is the magic elixir that makes many things better.

I love a blue sky and a bare tree!

I end with a cheerful picture of something I will probably see when I take my walk.  Who doesn’t love a blue sky?  Actually, I also enjoy a grey, gloomy sky.  Hey, the more things you like, the more chances for a happy mood. I hope you are having a lovely Sunday.

 

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Thank Goodness It’s Tired Tuesday?

Posted on February 25, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I am making a Tired Tuesday blog post, even though I am making it earlier than I made my Monday blog post, yet I feel even more tired.  But I want to be a daily blogger, so here I go.

An oldie but a goodie.

I do not really care that it is Tuesday instead of Friday.  However, I was looking for a picture to pep things up and saw my favorite Tuesday meme.  In fact, for me Tuesday is a better day than Monday. Most Mondays I have to go to a town or village board meeting in the evening, then write a story about it for Sentinel Media.  Tuesday morning I finish the story and try to find something to take a picture of to go with it.  Once that is done, I have such a feeling of accomplishment.  Then I laugh at myself, because real reporters do much more than one or two stories a week (I have the Frankfort Town Board meeting on Thursday this week).

Random picture of snow.

I went running yesterday, on partially icy roads.  Today I walked, wearing boots and walking on snowy sidewalks.  There was ice under the snow, so I exercised caution.  The sole came off one of my boots, so I may be boot shopping tomorrow (preview of coming attractions?).

So that is my post, for better or worse.  It has been difficult for me to find bloggable activities in the winter weather, but I will try to do better tomorrow.  As always, I hope you will stay tuned.

 

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I Can’t Give You Anything But Lame

Posted on February 21, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am not only having a Lame Post Friday blog post, my entire Friday is lame.  However, it did not start out that way.  It started out with a not too bad run, and I had thought to make a Friday Running Commentary.

The weather people forecast all kinds of bad stuff for today, but it did not seem to have started yet, so I got on my running stuff and got going. I was a little nervous, because the roads looked wet and the temperature was not very much above freezing, according to my thermostat, which often gives a higher temperature than what is actually out there.  But I had not run since Monday.  I may still register for the Boilermaker 15K.  And I am not losing any weight!

Right away I felt some cold raindrops on my face.  Oh swell.  Was it freezing rain, the beginning of the wintry mix we had been promised?  Never mind.  I was out there, I would give it a shot.  I kept to the roads, which had been sanded.  As long as I felt something crunching under my sneakers, I felt all right.  When I turned onto German Street and moved to the side of the road due to traffic, I felt one foot slide.  Oh dear!  But my old lady shuffling pace saved me. I stuck to the side streets after that.

Picture taken during my cool-down walk.

Early on in my run, I felt a kind of time warp as I saw somebody’s Christmas tree at the curb. It didn’t look dried out or anything!  Had these people kept watering it throughout January and most of February?  Sometimes after a run I feel like collapsing on the curb and waiting for somebody to haul me away, but that was not the case today.  The run felt pretty good, and I felt pretty good.

The better day to run would have been yesterday, when the roads were bare.  However, I went over to my sister Cheryl’s, and played in the snow with her two grandkids.  She and her son-in-law were chipping ice out of the gutter.  The snow was the crunchy kind, crusted on top, soft underneath.  It is an effort to walk around in such snow but so fun to make the crunch.  The kids got the idea to make a snow fort using some of the ice-ish layer, you know, the part you crunch through.  I helped them carry chunks of ice.  It must have been good exercise, because I got quite out of breath.

It is hard to see the edifice, because of white on white.

I also helped find a couple of the sticks we decorated it with.  Anyways, running on the sanded ice, crunching though the icy snow, I had two days of exercise.  Will I manage to leave the house tomorrow?  It will depend on what Mother Nature piles on us overnight!

 

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