Tag Archives: weather

I Did Not Wuss Out Of My Run

Posted on October 6, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

I knew it would be a good idea to run today.  I had neither run nor walked for two days.  Accordingly,  I spent part of my day at work telling myself I would run.  I pictured myself putting on running clothes and getting out there.  I planned how I would put in a load of laundry while I ran (pretty much the extent of my ability to multi-task).  I told myself it would make a good blog post.  What I specifically tried NOT to do was tell myself that I needed to run, or that I ought to run, or should run.  Thus I use these little semantic tricks to back into doing what is good for me.

Some readers are now waiting for me to explain how I succeeded in talking myself out of running (you know who you are).  My back hurt, I could run tomorrow, there was no 5K looming to get myself into shape for, etc.  Well, I did not succeed in that but rather went for a run and am now hoping to get some semblance of a blog post out of it.

It was a beautiful fall day, sunny and warm, but not too warm.  I got my laundry in.  I set out.  Where to run?  Which direction to take?  I decided to take German Street to Main and go by my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  For one reason, I could probably find a picture of that to illustrate my post.

Found one!

Ah, here is the 1834 Jail.  I love that place!  I ran by it and on down to Basloe Library (yes, autocorrect,  it is BASLOE Library, not the Be slow Library; what the hell kind of library is the Be slow Library, for heavens sake?) (and I did mean hell not he’ll!).  The library’s sign was missing (Basloe or Be slow).  I wondered what that was all about.

My body was not best pleased to be running, but I managed to keep it up for 20 minutes.  I saw some fun Halloween decorations along the way and petted a sweet puppy on my cool down walk.  I managed to get my load of laundry into the drier (and the non-drier items hung up elsewhere), but unfortunately that was the extent of my ambition.  The laundry is still in the drier, and this will have to do for my blog post.  I think it is OK for a Wuss-out Wednesday.

 

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Where Would I Have Walked?

Posted on August 31, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought that instead of making a Tired Tuesday post, I would take a nice walk, take some pictures, and do a Pedestrian, such as I have not done in a while.  Unfortunately, it started raining just as I was about to start my walk.  It has not stopped yet.  There is every chance I will take a walk in the morning, but it will still be dark, making pictures ineligible (I’ve tried).  Perhaps I could share a few pictures from previous walks and talk about where I would like to walk to next time.

Graveyards are always interesting.

Here is a picture from August 2020, taken at my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  It is Herkimer Reformed Church.  I am fascinated by the graveyard.  Old gravestones are always so evocative.  Many of my walks and runs do take me by the Historic Four Corners.

I love a grey sky!

Here is my own neighborhood in August 2021, on an evening similar to tonight.  This picture, of course, was taken before the storm.  If I had gone for my walk earlier, I might have taken such a picture today.  However, it is a useless exercise to pine for what might have been.

I think it is looking a little worse these days.

This picture is from August 2018.  I often walk or run on Washington Street and see this former school.  I am always so sad to see a building go to waste.  Wouldn’t it be nice if somebody bought it and made it into something fun, like an arts center or antique mall?  I have neither the wherewithal nor the business expertise for such a project.  I don’t even know if the building is in good enough shape for any use, but it is fun to speculate.

Pretty!

I close with a picture from my own backyard in August 2018.  The Black-Eyed Susans are still there, although there are some other uninvited  plants growing there as well.  Perhaps I can get a picture of them tomorrow.  I would also like to cut a few to put in a vase in my house.

In the meantime, I am over 300 words and hope my readers have been at least mildly entertained.  I hope to go for a real blogging walk soon.

 

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Will Monday Conquer Me?

Posted on August 30, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Not literally, unfortunately.

As August grinds to a close, I observe two kinds of people:  The ones that lament the end of summer, and the ones that just can’t wait to go on to fall.  Guess which category I fall into.

Actually, as I get older I strive to avoid wishing for that which patently cannot be.  It is August.  It will remain August for the allotted number of days.  And the temperature will be what it chooses, based on barometric pressure or other meteorological conditions which I do not understand; my personal preferences will not affect it in the slightest degree (see what I did there?).

All this by way of introduction to a Monstrous Monday blog post in which I will strive not to whine about how over-heated I am.  No promises.

It is really not as sexy as the poster implies.

Saturday afternoon when my husband,  Steven fell asleep on the love seat, I seized the opportunity to put in a cheesy horror movie.  I picked this one up on VHS at a rummage sale, so its cheesy bonafides were assured. I had seen it before but do not remember doing a blog post on it.  I miss those write-ups I used to do on cheesy movies.  They were fun to write, although they did not usually get a lot of blogger love.  Regular readers know what a Like junkie I am.

Not an actual depiction of wage slaves going to work on Monday.

I close with an image of what it sometimes feels like trying to function on a Monday.  Oh hell, I get that feeling on and off all week!  Please don’t tell my boss.  I do try to fight it.

Regarding this foolish blog post, I see I am approaching 300 words. I call that respectable.  I hope you will all join me again tomorrow for what may or may not be a Tired Tuesday Post.

 

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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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