Tag Archives: weather

I Run and Blog on the Same Day!

Posted on August 25, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I would attempt a Running Commentary Post in lieu of the threatened Wuss-out Wednesday.  For one reason,  I ran.  As regular readers know,  what I do is called running only by the most generous definition of the term.  Then again, generosity is an admirable quality, most of the time.

I was a little later getting started than my usual after-work runs, because my husband, Steve, and I had to drop my car off to be inspected (luckily for me, they are not inspecting it for lack of clutter, but I digress).  However, I did not talk myself out of it but put on running gear and set out.

And right away could not make up my mind of where to go.  I started to turn right onto German Street but saw a group of pedestrians ahead so turned around and headed left.  This set me up for my old faithful weekday run:  down German to Caroline Street,  then across Park Avenue (ooh!) to Margaret, up Margaret back to German, down Henry, and eventually back home.

When I got to Caroline, I changed things up by crossing the street and continuing on German.  I don’t usually do that, because it tends to be a busy intersection.  I don’t imagine anybody would hit me, but I like to give myself every advantage.

It was not bad weather for a run, but I found it much more pleasant in the shade. After hooking around German Street near the high school, I chose which streets and which side of the street based on where the shade was. I had it in my head to run for 20 minutes.  I am up to 33 on my weekend runs but have only managed 17 during the week.  You see, I am building myself back up slowly and gently.

I managed 20 minutes without too much trouble, which makes me feel encouraged about future runs.  I might be ready for a 5K by September, if one comes my way. Dare I dream of the Utica Boilermaker 15K in 2023?  It’s a possibility!

In the meantime,  I am over 300 words and am making my Wednesday blog post ON Wednesday!  I feel inordinately pleased with myself.

 

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I Didnt Miss My Saturday Run

Posted on August 7, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

You have to have the crap runs to get to the good ones.  That is what I tell myself, at any rate.  Well, it stands to reason.  If I stopped running just because it didn’t feel terrific, I would not run very far very often.  Sometimes it feels better as I go.  Sometimes it feels better by the third or fourth day in a row.  Sometimes it feels really, really good when I am taking my cool down walk.

Where was I going with this?  Ah yes, trying to make my Saturday Running Commentary Post on Sunday morning.  I got lazy as the day went on yesterday and did not make my blog post.  It was remiss of me.  In my defense, I ran, did some laundry, cleaned parts of my house, and walked for about an hour, all in the sweltering heat and humidity. Oh, stop playing that miniature violin! I wasn’t whining, I was trying to make myself feel better for not posting!  It didn’t work.

But I digress.  The point is, I am running again, after two months off (at least I walked, and felt pretty good about that, but I think we’ve been over this). I ran last Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday, then yesterday and today. I walked Monday before work.  I am still waiting for it to feel terrific, but I have had moments of it feeling not too bad.  Sometimes you have to take what you can get.

On the weekday runs, after work, I haven’t asked more than 15 minutes of myself.  I met the goal Tuesday and exceeded it Friday (not by much, but still).  For the weekends, I thought to start with 20 minutes and exceeded that, too.  I went a little further this weekend than last, so I am reasonably content with my progress.

Are there any community runs in my future?  I hope so but have as yet not looked too far ahead.  At least this gives me something else to blog about.  Ooh, look: I AM over 300 words, and it wasn’t about Love’s Labour’s Lost!  As always, thank you for tuning in.

 

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Not Monsters, Mosey!

Posted on July 26, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Despite all the adventures alluded to yesterday, I content myself today with a mere Pedestrian Post.  For one reason, I took a few pictures when I walked on Sunday.  For another reason, I thought of that alliterative title as an answer to any readers expecting my usual Monstrous Monday Post.  In fact, I set a fairly brisk pace, since I was walking for exercise. But you know how I love alliteration.

I did not avail myself of the seat.

The first thing that caught my eye as I left the house was this comfy-looking couch, sadly abandoned.  Why can’t people donate these things?  Perhaps there was something wrong with it that I could not perceive.

Lots of bunnies around here.

This bunny hopped away while I was fumbling with my phone, but I managed to get a shot when he paused.  I like bunnies.

It feels steeper when you are on it.

This hill is short but fairly steep.  I do like to go up hills, although you can get too much of a good thing.  When I got to the end of the street, I impulsively turned right and went up to Herkimer College the back way. I felt pretty proud of myself for doing it.  It was not so easy to get a picture, since there are curves, but I tried.

I think this was more than halfway up.

Going down Lou Ambers Drive was a snap.  Ah, when gravity is my friend!  When I paused at the spring to refill my water bottle, I took a closer shot than the other one I shared.

I thought you might like to see the stones.

I did not take a walk this morning, due to a thunder storm.  Quite frankly, I enjoyed sleeping in.  Tomorrow, however, I hope to be back out on the sidewalks again.  Will I write another Pedestrian Post or cover one of last weekend’s adventures?   A little uncertainty adds interest to my day.  In either case, I hope you will tune in.

 

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Use this later

Posted on July 22, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Alas, I am back to my bad habit of making a late blog post.  In fact, I am skeptical of my ability to make a post now.  We are having a heat wave, and I do not like it!  I went for my walk, which I missed yesterday, and it is quite muggy out.  The birds were not singing.  They weren’t singing Tuesday either, and I do not remember Monday.  Oh dear, I am getting all bogged down in my petty complaints and whining when I set out to plug a local business and musician.  Get your act together, Cindy!

That is what I typed in this morning.  Then I got my act together at least enough to make a post about Phil Arcuri at Fratello’s.  However, mindful of the phrase Waste Not Want Not, I saved the whiny paragraph, labeling it “Use this later.”  I think I will keep that as my heading and bill this as a Non-Sequitur Thursday post.

It is a fairly silly post, too, because the first thing I say is I am posting late, and here I am, fanatically pecking at the Tablet with my stylus hoping to make my Thursday post on Thursday.  But when have I ever worried about making a silly post?

I thought I looked pretty.

I looked in my Media Library for a silly picture and found this.  I believe I was dressed for a murder mystery.  I must play with the curling iron again sometime.

 

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Cool Music on a Hot Night

Posted on July 21, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday I noticed that Phil Arcuri was playing at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY.  While waiting to punch out after work, I called my husband, Steve.  The answering machine picked up.

“Hi, honey, I just wanted to put this in your mind before I get home…”

“Get your ass in the shower, we’re going out!”  my work friend Rick shouted behind me.  Steve picked up the phone at that point.  He had not heard Rick’s interjection, so I filled him in on that.  The current heat wave has drained up both of energy (yes, I KNOW other parts of the country have it worse, at least we have fans, we are just big babies, oh, shut up), but we decided it would be nice to go sit somewhere air conditioned, eat some good food and hear some music from one of our favorites.

Oh no, my computer is doing the thing where I add the picture and it does not let me type anything below it.  When I try to the cursor jumps back up here.  Well I don’t have time to futz with it now.  I’ll just leave the picture at the end of the post.  It is not a current picture anyways.  I did not bring my Tablet, because I forgot to charge it.  I took one picture with my phone, which I immediately shared on Facebook, in case any local friends might like to hurry out and join us, but right now my phone is charging.  This is all by the way.  Let’s get back to the post.

Steve and I agree that nobody seems to have more joy in music and living than Phil Arcuri.  It is always a pleasure to hear him play.  Additionally, he includes the setting and audience in his songs.  In “Margaritaville,” he said his “brand new tattoo” is “a Fratello’s cutie,” and in one chorus it was “all Geno’s fault.”  Geno is a member of Fratello’s excellent staff.

Speaking of staff, we had a new bartender, Savannah.  She was new to Fratello’s, too.  I asked her what the Cali sauce was like in the Cali Chicken, available as a sandwich or wrap.  She said it was barbecue and spicy, but not too spicy.  I decided to try it, as a wrap, only with grilled instead of fried chicken.  Geno once suggested that substitution to me, when I wanted the chicken wing salad but hesitated, because deep fried does not always agree with me (although I confess I love it).  It was a delicious sandwich.  Steven contented himself with a salad.

We had not been to Fratello’s for food and music in a while, because I usually have rehearsal for Love’s Labour’s Lost in Little Falls (perhaps you read a few of by blog posts about that).  We were delighted to have the opportunity to go last night.  It made a nice break from hunkering down in front of fans at our house (YES, I am grateful I have fans! Sheesh!)

He always has a great time, and makes sure everybody else does, too!

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Pedestrian Pictures Part 3

Posted on July 20, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

On this morning’s walk, I purposely walked by places I took pictures last Saturday, so I could use the last three in today’s post.  Of course it was dark when I walked today, but pictures don’t turn out so well in the dark.

Sometimes there are flowers.

Walking or running (Oh, WILL I ever run again?), I usually try to see the temperature on the sign in front of Trinity Lutheran Church.  That is how I know I can rock a run down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.  This morning was warmer than 59 degrees.  It was muggy too. I anxiously await a break in humidity.

It feels steeper when you are on it.

This is the infamous Hill By Valley Health.  I capitalize it, because I often refer to it when logging my runs and now walks. It is by no means as formidable as the hill up to Herkimer College (previously known as HCCC), but I found it took some effort to get up it this morning.

I LOVE the spring!

Every morning, I carry a small bottle of water, drink it while I walk, and refill it at the spring.  It is what I used to do one my longer runs, when I was getting up to 50 minutes, or mornings I felt particularly dehydrated.  I feel particularly dehydrated most of the time these days. I don’t know what that’s all about.

It was not a bad walk. Few of my walks are.  Of course, walking is much easier than running, and you don’t always need to shower afterwards.  I will have to start making some more interesting observations, though, if I want to continue making a lot of Pedestrian Posts.  For today, however, I’ll just bill this as a Tired Tuesday and drive on.  Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

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No Power to Post

Posted on April 21, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did not post Monday, because I thought, how can I make a Monstrous Monday Post after sharing Vincent Price on Sunday. Oh, OK, I totally could have, I just didn’t. I thought I would be sure to post on Tuesday. Well, that did not work out.

Between Monday and Tuesday, the Mohawk Valley suffered a last (I hope) winter storm. When we got up Tuesday morning, snow was still falling heavily. The snowplow had been by a couple of times, filling in the end of our driveway, but the road still looked really bad. After much hesitation, I called in to work. Then the power went out.

It turned out trees were down everywhere, power was out in many places, lots of people missed work. Things kind of cleared up later in the day, and I took a walk, carefully skirting the fallen tree leaning on wires.

I suppose I could have overcome the lack of power somehow, but I lacked the ambition to do so. I barely scraped up the ambition to get to work today. However, getting ready by flash- and candlelight added interest to my morning.

When I got to work, I learned I was right to stay home. A co-worker who drives the same road I do told me he tried to come in but was prevented by a fallen tree. Steve called me at lunch time to tell me power had been restored. Phew!

So this is my Wuss-out Wednesday Post: a litany of excuses for not posting on Tuesday. Let’s all hope for something better on Thursday. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

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The Post Is Longer than the Run

Posted on April 2, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

It was not a long run. It is never a fast run. But I am going to call it a run.

I just posted that as my Facebook status and thought it might make a good lead for a Saturday Running Commentary Post. So here I sit, prior to shower (ew!), sipping my recovery beverage (chocolate milk, yum!), blogging (a silly verb, to be sure).

When I said I ought to go for a run, my husband, Steve, said, “If you want to.”

“I don’t want to,” I confessed, but as usual I was glad I did.

It was still dark out, so I wore my reflective vest (road guard vest, we used to call them in the army) that my sister Cheryl gave me for a long-ago birthday (thanks, Cheryl!). Another good thing about the vest is that it has a handy zipper pouch for tissues. My nose runs better than I do, especially on chilly mornings like today.

The temperature wasn’t too bad, although I was glad of my hat and gloves. I ran up to German Street, turned right and headed to Main. I wanted to run down Main Street to check the hours for the can and bottle return place.

A deserted Main Street is a little spooky in the dark. I like that. I continued down to Basloe Library and ran through the little park to the Prospect Street parking lot. I detoured to the library door to check their hours too, although I already knew when they open.

I crossed Prospect so I could enter where it says “Do Not Enter” on the last block of Bellinger Avenue. I like to pretend I’m a rebel, although actually left side facing traffic is the proper way to run. Emerging onto Bellinger Street (yes, there is an avenue and a street, don’t get me started), I turned left and ran to and through Meyers Park. The park is closed from dusk to dawn, so once again I felt like a rebel.

I enjoyed watching the sky as I ran. It was not completely dark when I started and it gradually lightened as I went. As I left the park, it was pale grey with patches and streaks of blue. Was the grey clouds and the blue sky peeking through or vice versa?

My modest goal for the run was 20 minutes, but I wondered if I shouldn’t try to improve myself a little more. After all, I might want to run a 5K or something. Last week I had run for 22 minutes, just over a mile and a half. I decided to not worry about how long I ran (my usual criteria) but to go for 1.75 miles. I made it In 25 minutes. Yay me!

As I walked my cool down, I observed that the grey sky was almost entirely clouds, with most of the lighter blue patches being contours of same. It was kind of fascinating to look at, almost like an Escher picture.

Wow, this blog post is over 500 words! I guess I do run on.

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Was It a Self-Indulgent Run?

Posted on March 30, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I would do a Running Commentary Post. For one reason, I went running. As I freely admit, what I do is called running only by the most generous definition of the term. However, I was out on the sidewalk moving my feet and putting in effort. I feel I deserve some credit at least.

It was a pretty afternoon with bright sunlight and bare pavement. The temperature was less inviting, but I put on leggings, long sleeves, gloves, and a knitted headband. This would be fine. I set out with modest goals and high hopes of meeting them.

I had reckoned without the wind. Where did that come from? And did it have to be right in my face? Apparently it did, because it seemed to change direction almost every time I did. I don’t think I felt it at my back the entire run. I know this is not logical, but how do you explain it? We all know I do not run fast enough to create my own wind resistance.

The best I could do was to keep plodding along as best I could. I decided 15 minutes would be acceptable. It was more than a mile. Stop judging me! I told you in the first paragraph I run slow! My cool down walk was also shorter than usual, eight minutes instead of ten.

As I walked my cool down, I told myself I could feel good about getting out there at all. Then, being me, I questioned whether I was being self-indulgent or at least unambitious. Was I, in essence, giving myself one of those despised Participation Trophies? As I type this in now, I feel these questions are best left for Lame Post Friday, the proper home for half-baked philosophy.

In the meantime, I have made my Tuesday post on Tuesday. At the risk of being self-indulgent, I say, “Yay, me!”

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Weather or Not…

Posted on March 11, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a nice Throwback Thursday Post. I put a period instead of a question mark, because I am going to make the post in any case.

Yikes!

This is a picture from March 2017. It makes me a little sad, because according to forecasts, I may be able to take a similar picture on Saturday. And I don’t want to! I want spring! Oh well, there is no point in whining; we must deal with the weather that comes.

Better rain than snow? Maybe, maybe not.

Here is July 2017, after a rathe boisterous rain storm. I don’t think the picture captures it very well, but I believe there was mud everywhere. I include it to show a different season of troublesome weather.

And then there are flowers.

This is what I want! This is my front yard in May 2017. Our first spring in this house, 2006, we had one lone yellow tulip. Without putting in more bulbs, we have yet been blessed with more tulips. One of these years I will up my bulb game, and then we’ll see some blooms!

I hope to start having Mohawk Valley Adventures again soon and write blog posts about them. However, if we receive a similar amount of snow to the above picture, it might not happen this weekend. I suppose the suspense adds interest to the end of my week.

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