Tag Archives: walking

Sometimes Pictures Make the Post

I thought I could manage a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post, although it is no longer Wednesday.  Why must I continue to draw attention to the fact that I never post on time these days?  Oh who knows why I do anything (oh, YOU probably think you do) (you know who you are)?

They are very photogenic.

I open with a picture of my parents at my niece’s recent wedding.  I took a few pictures but have not shared on Facebook or anything.  I wanted to share this one first, because when I post this blog on Facebook, this picture will show, and my Facebook friends all love to see pictures of my parents.  They really are delightful people; anybody who does not love them is just wrong.

As usual, it looked better in person.

Here is an October-looking tree I enjoyed while walking to the post office to mail a letter.  Regular readers know I love snail mail communications.  I need to take a walk in the next day or two to see all the color.  I have enjoyed it while I ran the past two days but did not want to stop and take a picture.

Rocking out!

Monday I went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY to hear Justin Smithson and Tiger Acoustic Rock & Roll (that was the only name I could find for the guy on the right).

A different angle.

I danced while I took the pictures, and they, too were rocking the sounds, so the pictures may be blurry.

 

At Least I’m Not Starving to Death!

“Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!”  Thus said Auntie Mame, and Rosalind Russell took it as her slogan after playing the part.  If you don’t know who Auntie Mame is, read the book, see the movie, ask somebody.  Or not.  I think the quote stands on its own.  I thought of it this morning, when I lamented once again that I have too much on my plate.  It made me feel better about everything.  I just overdid it on the Buffet of Life.  I always eat too much at buffets, and I know I am not alone in that.

All this by way of introduction to a late Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post, which I came dangerously close to skipping altogether.

That is what is known in the business as a Sweet Ride.

I only have two photos to waste not.  I took them on a walk to I forget where, I forget when, but I do so love classic cars.  My father or brother could instantly tell you make, model, and year, but I can only admire.

A little too shadowed, alas.

One gift I have which helps get me through the day is my ability to admire.  As I am driving to work or walking through a parking lot or doing any number of necessary chores, if I see something beautiful, I notice and admire it.  At least I try to.  No doubt I miss some things.  However, at least I did not miss making my Wednesday blog post, albeit late. I wonder if anybody would have missed me had I skipped it (just a little fishing for compliments there, please forgive me).

 

It’s Late! It’s Lame! It’s a Blog!

Have I used that headline before?  I somehow think I have but as usual am too lazy to go back and check (as if saving this sentence and clicking “all posts”  and typing… oh wait a minute, it is a lot of trouble).  I thought of “It’s Late! It’s Lame! It’s a Blog Post!” as I was making my way downstairs this morning.  Then as I was switching out my Tablet (easier Facebook scrolling) for my Chromebook, I remembered Underdog:  “It’s a bird!”  “It’s a plane!”  “It’s a frog!”  “A frog?”  “Not bird nor plane nor even frog, it’s just little old me (CRASH!)… Underdog.”

A picture of Underdog would be really great right now, but I still haven’t figured out how to download pictures onto the Chromebook.

The headline is pretty much all I have going for me this morning.  Yesterday (the real Friday), I felt marginally better than Thursday and got myself through work.  I actually did improve during the day and took a nice longish walk after work.  Walking is often a good idea.

A place I often walk or run to or by.

Regarding the weekend ahead, I do not know what I will do.  I made a list of things to get done while I was at work (it was during a moment of down time) (in case one of my bosses reads this blog) (which is really unlikely, now that I think about it).  I think the list is still in my work pants pocket.  One thing I did not do was mow the lawn on Friday.  If my bunions were correct and it rains today, I will be unfortunate.

“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”

I often put that caption on that photo, because my sister Diane told me it was funny.  I add it to end on a note of humor, and to depict my current level of difficulty in getting things done.  But I persevere.  I fear this is a rather dull blog post, even for a Late Lame Post Friday post.  Perhaps I could find one more silly picture.

It’s still summer till tomorrow!

How about Bonita in her summer outfit, with her friend Bonaparte?  My late, dearly missed husband Steve, dressed her.  He purposely left the tag showing on the headband, because he was going for a Minnie Pearl thing.  Younger readers may not appreciate the reference, but us older folks are pickin’ and grinnin’!

 

Is It Too Lame for a Friday Blog Post?

Full disclosure:  As I begin to type a Lame Post Friday post in order to continue my streak of blogging daily (only two posts in a row, but one must start somewhere), I have been drinking and typing.  I walked to Cliff’s, a local convenience store, to get some money from the ATM and purchase a lottery ticket; Mega Millions, which has reached enormous proportions.  I know I have very little chance of winning. However, if I do not purchase a ticket, I have zero chance of winning.  Anyways, the walk down was healthy, and I needed more cash.

From Cliff’s I walked to Yetty’s, where I enjoyed a glass of Chardonnay and wrote a little more on my murder mystery (Preview of Coming Attractions).  I looked at a a menu, but nothing particularly tempted me.  I had eaten something before I left home, I add to comfort those who perhaps thought I was drinking on an empty stomach.

Random picture to denote passage of time.

 

And that was as far as I got last night when my Chromebook cut out on me.  I had no idea I had let the battery get that low.  Shows how much I pay attention.

Anyways, from Yetty’s I went to End Zone, where a couple of friends and the bartender, who is also a friend, and I speculated on what we would do if we won large amounts of money.  My best hope is that I win something, maybe a hundred bucks:  enough to do something fun with but nothing life-changing.  Life will change in any case, and there is your half-baked philosophy for the post.

I see I am approaching 300 words, which I feel is adequate not to say respectable (my usual adjective) for a Lame Post Friday post, even a late one.  I have no Mohawk Valley Adventures planned for today but hope to write a blog post about the ones I have not yet blogged about (I would say Preview of Coming Attractions, but these posts are beginning to seem more along the lines of Promises, Promises).

 

Off a Long Pier

Yes, I have missed an entire week of blog posts.  In my defense, I have no defense.  Right now I am fighting yesterday’s migraine (these things rarely last more than a day, so I feel quite ill-used) and wondering if neglecting my morning’s walk to make a blog post is really the right thing to do.  My fingers, happily dancing across the keyboard, say it is.  That voice in my head that continually badgers me probably says not, but I can’t really hear it this morning.

A few days ago I was feeling less than adequate but wanted to take a walk.  It was the weekend so a long walk was eligible.  I said to myself, “Take a long walk.”  And a voice in my head said, “Off a short pier.”  The voice did not have a mean or snarky tone, though.  It was kind of like Drew Barrymore at the beginning of E.T., when she was repeating what her older brother said, “A deformed kid.”  A quiet, cute little voice.  Remember little Drew Barrymore in E.T.?  Another Barrymore to love (regular readers know I adore Lionel Barrymore and am quite the fan of John and Ethel).

I love that guy!

Here is Lionel Barrymore in Devil Doll.  I don’t have a picture of any of the other Barrymores.

But here is a Freudian typo I almost made:  Marrybore instead of Barrymore.  Like you were going to marry somebody boring.  I may use that in a murder mystery sometime.  I often make up silly names, like Jeribilt for a set designer (just a hint of my upcoming murder mystery).

I see I am over 250 words.  Score!  I think I will bill this as a Non-Sequitur Thursday and hope it is the beginning of a new era of daily blogging for your host, Mohawk Valley Girl.

PS.  I was inspired to continue the blog by a comment on a previous post.  I have the best readers!

And I still have time for a short walk.

 

 

Late Monsters, Love Coffee

A late post is better than no post at all.  This week I am either back to late posts or no posts and I choose late posts.  Hello and welcome to a Monstrous Monday post made early Tuesday morning.

Random monster to denote passage of time while I go get coffee.

Everything is less monstrous with coffee.  Coffee drinkers will agree; non-coffee drinkers may substitute the beverage, comfort, or wake-up aid of their choice.  I am feeling a bit monstrous this morning for no particular reason.  At least, there may be reasons, but it would be dull to get into them.  Could I be getting old?  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!

At least I am not toothless. Yet.

Yesterday I heard music wafting up from Meyers Park, where the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown was taking place, just to give a shout-out to a local attraction.  The Chowdown is the food truck event that runs Mondays in Meyers Park in Herkimer, NY.  They have some great musical entertainment.  I did not walk down yesterday, though.  I may stay home all week.  Judge me if you are so inclined.

He is watching you.

However, I do plan to go for walks this week.  I went for one yesterday morning.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, because I am feeling tired and lazy), it is raining this morning.  I hope it will not be too hot or raining this afternoon when I get home from work. If I do walk, there is a good chance I will walk by my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  One of the corners is the 1834 Jail, seen in the picture above.  I feel free to include it in Monstrous Monday because of the cut-out of Chester Gillette, a real life monster.  He only committed one murder in his short life, but if he had gotten away with it, I’m thinking he would have done away with other inconveniently pregnant girlfriends.

Ooh, look, I am over 300 words.  Score!  Let’s see if I can do my Tired Tuesday post later on ON Tuesday.  I am pretty sure I will be tired, but thank you for tuning in.

 

Tired But On Time!

At least it is the end of the day Tuesday.

I promised myself I could use this picture if I made my Tired Tuesday post on Tuesday.  Bribery often works with me.  Unfortunately, just because I log onto WordPress and start typing does not mean I have anything to say.  I know, when has that ever stopped me?

I typed that in (I once again quote Truman Capote: “That’s not writing that’s typing”) then could not think of another word to type.  Perhaps I should not have put both the play and dinner in the same blog post for Sunday.  Perhaps I should be having more Mohawk Valley adventures to write (type) about.

They were pretty.

I threw in a picture before I got any more bogged down in “shoulds.”   This is a shot of my Black-Eyed Susans from August 2018.  The patch has since overgrown with weeds and stuff.  Not a yellow bloom to be seen. I plan to cut the whole thing down and start over again.  Not today, of course, but possibly by the weekend.  Then I can have another Lawn Order post.

 

Where will the road lead me?

Another kind of post I have not made lately is a Running Commentary.  For one reason, I have not been running.  I hope to begin again soon.  In the meantime I have been walking every morning.  Perhaps a Pedestrian Post is in order.

For today, however, I am over 200 words.  It will have to do.  Full disclosure:  I have been fighting a vague headache most of the day, and I think it is winning.  However, it is the end of the day.  We shall see what tomorrow will bring.  I hope you will stay tuned.

 

Would Shirley Mind a Slacker Saturday?

AAaaand we’re back to late blog posts.  Yesterday was indeed a Slacker Saturday.  The heat wave is technically over, but my house was not a comfortable place to be.  Additionally, I had a terrible headache.  It came to me during the night, when I tried to fight it with acetaminophen  (I had to look up the spelling, but at least I did not call it acetaphetamine, as I used to).  Surely coffee on rising (I slept later than usual for a Saturday) would help (I call myself Shirley in times of stress).  Then a long walk.  All the while drinking water, because, hydration.

I started with a full bottle of water, then refilled it at the spring.

At last I ate a few crackers, took some Migraine Relief, and laid back down.  It was starting to storm by now, so I told myself to just listen to the thunder (I had stopped calling myself Shirley by then).  When I woke up an hour or so later, my headache was better, but I was dreadfully sick to my stomach.  I did not mention earlier that the nausea had come and gone a couple times during my walk.

Would you believe washing the dishes helped my stomach?  The dishes have been looking at me resentfully for the last few days (don’t judge me) when with one thing and another, I just did not do them (oh, go ahead and judge me).  I thought to myself I would do a few dishes, till the nausea was too much, then sit or lie down for a while, then try a few more dishes.  It was one way of passing the time.  Well, I managed to do all the dishes and felt much better.  A cold shower, and I felt ready to enjoy the rest of my Saturday.

Which I did, without doing anything particularly blogworthy.  But I see I am approaching 300 words with this nonsense.  What will Sunday bring?  A trip to Brookwood Market?  A show at Ilion Little Theatre?  Or just more coffee and delight at NOT having a headache?

I’m already anticipating Monstrous Monday.

 

Don’t Wuss! Walk!

So there I was, sitting on my couch feeling utterly exhausted.  I mean not just tired, but entirely used up.  It is a feeling I get a lot lately.  Oh, stop playing that miniature violin (you know who you are)! One thing I do not need is condescension.  My original plan for today was to go running after work.  Unfortunately, I did something to my back and it was quite painful by the end of my work day.  At first I thought I would go ahead and run anyways.  Worst case scenario:  I stopped running and walked.  Then I thought the real worst case scenario is that I wake up tomorrow with an even worse backache, so I told myself don’t be stupid.  Run tomorrow.

Picture to pep things up.

Still, a walk might help a sore back.  It probably would have been a better idea to take said walk right away, before I sat there on the couch feeling like a big lump of I Don’t Care.  It was the thought of taking a couple of pictures on the walk for blogging purposes that got me into my sneakers and out the door.  I can’t break my streak of posting daily, can I?

The first place I walked was into my own backyard, to check on my rhododendron.  I had seen some neighbors’ rhododendrons blooming and hoped mine was doing the same.  It is blooming but is being overshadowed by a pine tree that grows nearby.  A few years ago I cut a bunch of branches off the tree for that very reason.  I felt like much woman, as my sister Vicki would say.  I guess I need to do it again.  I tried to get a picture of what blooms there are, but the sun was in the wrong place, so I couldn’t get the shot.

While I was out back, I could not help but notice how badly I need to mow.  I need, in fact, to do more than mow, but do some major yard work.  I almost opened up my garage and hauled out the mower.  Once again, consideration for my back stopped me.  Even opening the garage is quite the effort, because some spring or other broke after not being in the right place to begin with (I don’t properly understand these things).  I promised myself to try it tomorrow.  Or the next day.  Saturday at the latest.

Out front, I realized I could take a picture of my daisies, once again taking over the yard.  I just can’t bear to cut them back till they stop blooming.  They are so cheerful.  I put the picture of them after the first paragraph, because I did not want to make my readers wait too long for an illustration.  Then I took a picture of the two peonies that managed to bloom.

I love the smell!

My back was still hurting, but I at least walked around the block.  There were not many photo ops, because I do not like taking pictures of people’s yards without their permission (although I have done it on occasion).  I saw a flowering tree in front of one house, and I wondered what it was.  I took a picture, zooming in so you can only see tree, nothing of the house.  That makes it anonymous enough, doesn’t it?

Perhaps one of my readers knows what it is.

I felt somewhat revived after my walk, at least enough to open the Chromebook and make the blog post.  And I believe I have successfully avoided having a Wuss-out Wednesday.

 

Where Did I Put My Panache?

Another early morning late post.  I made myself take a walk before posting, in hopes I would be inspired or at least less grumpy.  The beauty part of that was, my coffee finished brewing while I walked.  I am mostly cheered right now because I realized I could accurately say “my coffee brewed” instead of “my coffee dripped.”  So while I am still not perky, at least I am not a drip.  Enough of that brew-ha-ha (see what I did there?).  On with the post.

I will never be this skinny.

Apparently I am not caffeinated enough, because I put that picture then went blank.  This is largely in an effort not to complain about my ongoing physical and mental ills, which I am sure are not that bad, especially in comparison with what others deal with with panache.  I need to get some of that there panache.

Regarding the upcoming three day weekend (and please allow me to be delighted about it; I spent years working holidays), I have plans with my family so will not be able to indulge in any Mohawk Valley Adventures.  Regarding that parenthetical comment, yes, I know, first responders (why is my Chromebook underlining that?), healthcare workers, and other important people work holidays.  I was never that important, but we are not talking about me. Oh wait, yes we are.  It is my blog.

A tribute to those fallen.

I put in a picture appropriate to Memorial Day, before I got bogged down in even more silliness.  This is Herkimer County Veterans Memorial Park, on the Herkimer College campus.  On past Memorial Days and Veterans Days, I have run to this park in tribute.  Sometimes I run by there just because it is a challenging run to go up College Hill and on across the campus.  I am not in shape for that run yet.

Ooh look, I am over 300 words.  I guess I will bill this as a Wuss-out Wednesday and drive on.  I will see if I can come up with something better than a Non-Sequitur Thursday post later (and by “later” of course I mean either later today or early tomorrow morning), but no promises.