Tag Archives: weather

May Day Run?

Posted on May 2, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I unexpectedly ran today.  I had my work-out clothes in a bag in my vehicle, thinking to go to the YMCA in Mohawk for my usual arms and abs followed by elliptical.  Then I stepped out of work into the warm air and thought, “I can’t waste this!”  It was nice and cloudy too, just the way I like it.  I left the workout clothes in my vehicle for another day, got dressed in a running outfit — shorts and short sleeves, woohoo! — and set out.  Full disclosure:  the outfit in my bag would have been fine for running, but I figured this way I already have the bag packed for next time.

Oh, the bare sidewalks! Oh the breeze that did NOT torment my sinuses!  Well, yes, the warmer temperature does make my spring allergies immediately kick in (it’s either placebo effect or really, really fast pollens), but that is not the same as the pain brought on by a bitter wind.  I got set to enjoy myself.

Of course I did not.  I have not been running in weeks (too lazy to check my running journal and see exactly how long) (well, that fits: too lazy to run, too lazy to check).  I have taken walks and gone to the YMCA, but not as consistently as intended or recommended.  In fact, I haven’t done anything since Friday.  In my defense, oh never mind my defense, explanations are tiresome.  But my body was not happy with me right away.

I grimly told myself that this was the difference between a smooth elliptical machine and pounding on the pavement.   Just endure, I thought.  One must get through runs like this to get to the good ones.  I have not run up the hill to Herkimer College in a long, long time.  I want to get back there one day!  Today, obviously, was not that day.  I decided 15 minutes would be OK, although I would try for 20.  Twenty minutes seemed good for the first run in a long, long time.

I thought about how I have been going for long walks on some of the days I do not go to the YMCA.  Walking, I thought longingly.  How pleasant would that be?  I would go further and longer!  Why wasn’t I walking?  I had really missed a bet this time!  But I kept running, at least the middle-aged shuffle I call a run.  I reminded myself that this was the pace I can keep up for just about as long as I decide to.

By the end of the run, I was picturing a calendar and counting in my head if I ran 20 minutes, then added 10 percent every week, how soon would I be ready to run a 5K?  What if I ran 22 minutes?   I left out a week and got confused.  Then I wondered when I might find a 5K in the area that I wanted to run.  I also wondered if I would be able to get a blog post out of this run.  I could call it May Day Run.  Isn’t May Day what ships call when they are about to sink?  Appropriate for the way I was running!

I made it for 23 minutes.  Perhaps I could have gone further, but there was no point in killing myself (oh, YOU can probably see a point to it!) (you know who you are).  As it was I was damn tired.  My cool-down walk was more pleasant than the run, but I was ready to stop that by the end, too.  I stood on the deck to do my stretches and noticed some daffodils in my yard.  Yay, daffodils!  I had been hoping all day to see some May flowers.

 

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Spring Into Wuss-Out Wednesday

Posted on April 19, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Let’s see if I can finish my Wuss-out Wednesday post before my ride to rehearsal gets here.  Rehearsal is for Spring Into Murder, the interactive murder mystery dinner theatre at Morning Star Methodist Church in Ilion, NY on Saturday, April 28.  I’ll try to get a number for tickets, in case any local readers are interested.  In the meantime, I thought I would write about spring.

WHAT SPRING????  you may well ask.  I ask it too.  My thermostat said it was 41 degrees out this afternoon.  I am in desperate need of exercise, so I went for a walk.  I love to walk and thought I might be able to write a decent Pedestrian Post about it, but I’m afraid it was a depressing walk.  Everything was brown and crappy-looking.  We are over half-way through April, for heavens’ sake.  Would a few flowers, maybe some green spouts, buds on the trees be too much to ask for?  Apparently so.  Additionally, I have some things on my mind which I will not bore you with (Freudian typo:  I started to put “now bore you with,” which tells me it is boring of me to mention them at all, so sorry).

When I got home, I thought I saw a tiny flash of yellow in my back yard.  Was it… could it be… it WAS!  A crocus!  I rejoiced. Then I got my Tablet and took a picture:

Note the brown grass. Tsk, tsk.

Then I took a better picture:

It does my heart good.

I went out front, to see if there were any more crocuses.  There were not, but I saw some green stuff that might eventually be tulips and lilies of the valley.

I think this is the tulip.

I think these are lilies of the valley.

As you can also see, I have some yard work to do.  There are lots of last year’s leaves still to be raked, and some garbage to be picked up.  It isn’t my garbage; it blew there in one of the recent wind storms.  At least nobody came along and dropped a house on me.

While I was out front, I took a picture of what the sidewalk plow did to us, and to almost everybody else in the village.  I had wanted a “before” picture of that, so when I fix it I can see what a good job I did (or not, let’s be honest).

You know, I think those are new cracks in the sidewalk as well. Damn!

Look at me, I’m over 400 words!  I think that’s fine for a Wuss-out Wednesday!  Now I’d better get ready for rehearsal.  There is nothing like a little murder to perk things up midway through the week.

 

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Weather or Not I’m Lame

Posted on March 17, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Did you know that Tuesday is the first day of spring?

I particularly like the bare trees.

This is the view from my front porch.  I stepped out with my Tablet to capture a graphic demonstration of why I forgot that it is almost spring.

I’ve seen bigger snowbanks, but still.

Here is a view in the other direction.  My only pleasure is to see the bare sidewalks.  I have not been running lately and want to start again.  Perhaps tomorrow.

I love my tree.

This is not the best shot of this tree, I see now.  I thought as I took it that it might be better to move off the porch, perhaps even across the street.  However, I was in my slippers.  Hey, I bestirred myself to get off the couch.  I only have so much oomph on Lame Post Friday.  Or any other day.

Earlier this afternoon, my friend Kim and I went to a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor.  We were not best pleased with the cold temperature, and even less so when it started snowing.

“Who ordered this?” she demanded.  I denied responsibility.  At least the wine tasting was good.  Perhaps I can write more about it in another post.

For right now, though, it is Lame Post Friday, and the best I can do is share these pictures and gripe about the weather.  You would think I would be in a better mood, if you thought about me at all, which I do not seriously expect.  Actually, that last sentence gave me a chuckle, which improved my mood.  Finishing my blog post improves the mood even further.  I hope to see you all again on Scattered Saturday, even if it does snow.

 

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Second Snow Day — With Pictures

Posted on March 4, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

We could rock this.

I really have enough to do another Scattered Saturday post, but I took some pictures this morning so thought to have another Blogger’s Snow Day.  Here is an update of the picture I used with yesterday’s post.  As you can plainly see, there is less now than we got with the Nor’easter of 2016.  Additionally, our delightful next door neighbor used his snowblower to clean out the end of our driveway last night.  We only had to deal with the snow that had fallen since.  We have nice neighbors.

Can you even see the Rose of Sharon?

Here is our backyard, as seen from the deck.  The Rhododendron is completely obscured by the evergreen.  The Rose of Sharon, if you can see it, is quite oppressed.

As you can see, a quite rockable amount.

Here is the end of our driveway; as you can see, our neighbor helped a lot.  When I saw this before Steven and I began to shovel, I declared to him, “We can rock this!”

Not so good for the mailman. The paper deliverer, luckily, has quite a long throw.

As you can see, our front steps needed a bit of work.  We did OK enough to get mail today.

It’s looking a little sad, I must say.

Here is the tree in front of our house. I don’t know if you can really appreciate its oddness underneath all the snow. When people are coming over for the first time, I always tell them to look for the house with the funny-looking tree in front.

An attempt at a picturesque tree.

I tried to get a couple of pictures of the neighborhood trees.  I love how they look with the snow on the branches, especially against a grey sky, which we had today.

I walked down the street to get this one; it is even better in person.

Just before I went in, I got one more, which I also used as wallpaper for my Tablet.  I have never done that before, but when my Tablet offered me the chance to “use as wallpaper,” I thought I would give it a try.

Well, I wanted to share it here, but apparently I failed to upload it into WordPress earlier, and my Tablet is not cooperating.  I confess to feeling irritated and ill-used.  Additionally, I declared today in the title as another Blogger’s Snow Day.  I will just mention that my laptop is not back to its full capacity: I cannot get my touchpad to work (YES, I googled it, stop telling me to google it!  Sheesh!).  I am going to stop typing, hit Publish, and get back to enjoying my Saturday.  I hope to see you all on Wrist to Forehead Sunday (as I feel certain tomorrow will be).

 

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Two Runs, One Post, It’s Tired Tuesday!

Posted on February 28, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Regular readers will recall that yesterday I was too tired after my run to make a blog post about it.  I went running again today and will attempt to make a Running Commentary post in lieu of my usual Tired Tuesday.  In fact, I am tired after my run but feel somewhat revived after my recovery beverage of chocolate milk.  I think I can manage at least 200 words.  Maybe I can write about both runs.  A double Running Commentary.  That is appropriate for a veteran like me, because in the Army we called running “double time.”  I’ll write it on the double (if anybody just made a rimshot noise, oh just shut up, you know these are the kinds of jokes I make).

For two days now temperatures have been above 40.  Yesterday my thermostat said 46, and today it said 50.  Woohoo!  That is shorts and short-sleeve weather for me.  I got some running clothes on and got out the door, first putting a load of laundry in the washer.  This is how I multi-task.  I did it yesterday, I did it again today.  I am way behind on my laundry.

Both days have really not been as warm as I like.  It is kind of like the entire earth hasn’t warmed itself up yet.  The sun felt warm, but the air felt cold, especially in the shade and/or when the wind blew.  No matter.  I knew I would warm up as I ran.  And if not, I had a sweatshirt waiting for me to wear on my cool-down walk, and the hot shower afterward would feel especially good.  I concentrated on how nice it is to have bare, dry sidewalks.  Except, of course, for certain patches of ice, mud and puddles.  I dodged around them, usually into more mud.  You’ll have that this time of year. I persevered.

I quickly realized I was going to have to persevere over my own body’s complaints as well.  My legs felt stiff and sore.  Yesterday I forgot to stretch out after I ran, probably because I went right down into the basement to put the laundry in the drier.  I’m not really good at multi-tasking.  Well, one thing I know how to do is persevere.  At least at some things.  At least for a little while.

Today’s run was two minutes shorter than Monday’s, 22 and 24 minutes respectively.  Yes, these are short runs.  I have not been running enough lately; I have to build myself up again.  I walked for ten minutes both days.  Yesterday I also skipped my recovery beverage.  You see, the doctor told me I was probably becoming intolerant to dairy.  I am not sure I believe him, since this is also the guy that told me sugar was causing all my headaches.  Don’t get me started on doctors.  Still, I cut way back on sugar and stopped drinking milk, in case I see him again and he asks. However, today I felt so ate up after the run (“ate up” is also an army expression), I said to hell with it, I’m having the chocolate milk.  It tasted good.  I also remembered to stretch.

Ooh, look at me, over 500 words.  That’s pretty good for a Tired Tuesday.  Anyways, I’m glad I went running two days in a row.  And I’m glad I managed to write a blog post about it.

 

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Another Tuesday Trudge

Posted on February 21, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Apparently I am always tired on Tuesday.  Other days as well, but Tuesday offers the charm of alliteration.  I am going to begin living a healthier lifestyle in hopes of having more energy and being less annoying.  Then again, I think energetic me can get pretty annoying as well, if I recall my young and bouncy days.  Well, I can’t worry about such things.

As part of my healthy plan, I am trying to exercise more.  I went for a long walk today after work.  I would have liked to run, but the puddles were enormous.  It rained all night and into the morning, and was warm enough for snow to melt all day.  There are flood watches all around, but my basement is dry so far, knock wood.  Anyways, I didn’t feel up to splashing through the puddles, especially as I suspected some ice would remain underneath.  I came home and put on my flood boots.

I put my Tablet in a canvas shoulder bag, thinking to take a few pictures, as I neglected to take pictures for a previous Pedestrian Post.  Then as I walked, I didn’t feel like taking any pictures.  I plodded along, wading through puddles, stepping around snow banks, and appreciating patches of dry, bare pavement.  I didn’t look up much, because I was keeping an eye on where I was walking.  Some of those puddles looked deep enough for “turn around, don’t drown,” till you got right up to them.

Since I was walking so slowly, I don’t know how much exercise I really got.  A good, brisk pace would have burned more calories.  Well, one can only do one’s best.  I’m sure some readers are currently saying, “And that’s the best blog post you can do?” (You know who you are.)  I guess it is.  I tried for a real post yesterday. I’ll try again tomorrow.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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Good Walk, Dull Post

Posted on February 16, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Today I decided I would do what I should have done yesterday: put on my flood boots and walk instead of run.  Then I thought I could write a Pedestrian Post.  For one reason, I realized after I hit Publish that I did not even mention the weather yesterday and it was WONDERFUL!  I should have waxed rhapsodic on nature’s Preview of Coming Attractions.  OK, I have never waxed rhapsodic in my life, but I have always wanted to use that phrase in a sentence.

I second-guessed myself a I left work, because the walk to the parking lot was so dry and bare.  If the sidewalks of Herkimer were similar to that, I would feel bad for not running.  Then I thought there would probably be plenty of ice and puddles to walk through.  I was right.

The weather was even a little warmer than yesterday’s mid-40s.  Oh, it felt good.  I really, truly believed that spring is coming and will get here, and that is something that is often hard to believe in the middle of February.  I had on a raincoat and my crazy old lady hat.  I put a knitted headband in my pocked in case my ears got cold.  On the other hand (in fact, in the other pocket), I also carried my prescription sunglasses, in case it got too sunny.  Neither was needed, but I like to be prepared.

Right in front of my house was one of the iciest, puddliest patches.  That happens sometimes when you shovel a narrow path between snow banks, but what else can I do?  We are supposed to keep our sidewalks reasonably clear.  I try to at least do a shovel-width.  I walked slowly and carefully and was happy to get to a snowier patch further on.  I like walking in the snow.  I used to hate it, when I was always walking to get somewhere, sliding back a little for each step forward.  Now I appreciate the extra effort, because it may burn a few more calories.

I did not look around a whole lot at the scenery while I walked, because I had to be careful where I stepped.  I did not bring the Tablet to take pictures, because I felt there was too great a chance of me dropping it in a puddle.  I am quite clumsy.  So I guess that makes this a kind of a boring Pedestrian Post.  Sorry about that.

I walked for 35 minutes and feel pretty good about exercising two days in a row.  I’m going to go for three, and try to make it a daily habit.  I think it is good for me.  Eventually I hope to have more energy, so I can have more Mohawk Valley adventures, and write better blog posts.  I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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Slacker Saturday, But Let’s Have Some Champagne.

Posted on February 11, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, no Saturday Running Commentary, because I didn’t run; no Scattered Saturday, because I didn’t do a whole lot; no Slacker Saturday, because I at least did a little something; no Saturday Supper, because, oh I just don’t feel like retailing that whole thing I put together for our evening meal.  I guess maybe it is a Slacker Saturday, though, at least blog-wise.  Oh, who am I kidding?  I did a little something but it was certainly little enough to make a Slacker Saturday post perfectly eligible.

The weather was supposed to be a whole lot worse than it actually was. It was bad enough to keep me close to home.  I did venture out to do some grocery shopping, but I did not patronize a distinctive local store such as I love to highlight in this space.

I also ventured out to Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer for a Korbel and Chambord tasting.  That is, Korbel Champagne and Chambord Raspberry Liquor, mixed together.  I also tasted the champagne by itself.  It was Brut, which is dry, which is what I like.  I bought some.  Steven and I may mimose tomorrow.  We already have some orange juice in the fridge.  Or I may just sip it from a flute.  I love sipping champagne from a champagne flute.

We are currently watching Deadly Women, an ID (Investigation Discover) original series, On Demand.  It is sufficiently cheesy to be appropriate for a Slacker Saturday.  I would like to watch a movie next. I wonder if we could find something suitable to write tomorrow’s blog post about.  Time will tell.  In the meantime, I hope you are having a lovely weekend.

 

 

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Wordless Wednesday with Love

Posted on February 8, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I would really like to get back into making more “real” posts (although some of my readers seem to like the foolish ones) (I confess to enjoying them myself).  However, the Mohawk Valley weather conspires against me.  Wow, that makes me sound important:  the weather is purposefully doing things to keep me from having Mohawk Valley adventures.  In fact, the only adventure I was planning today was a run, about which I would write a Running Commentary post.  Instead, I spent 35 minutes shoveling the driveway (yes, I timed it, how else would I know if it could count as today’s exercise?).

Right now I am feeling a little sheepish, because I typed in the headline before beginning the post.  I see that I am not quite as wordless as I thought.  As a matter of fact, I took a further pictures of our Valentine decorations which I thought would make a good blog post.  Steven added a couple of decorations, and I had not noticed.  I will first share the original picture:

Another round of applause for Steven’s decorating prowess, please.

 

Oh, silly me, I neglected to turn on the juke box.

Did you see them?  Well, here are two close-ups:

“Wanna kiss me, duckies?” (that’s a line from a movie)

Perhaps the XOXO should be XXX, since he is next to a shot glass.

We have quite a collection of rubber duckies, acquired at various times.  Perhaps I will do a blog post on them one day.  In the meantime, I say Happy Wednesday!  The snow is supposed to stop soon.

 

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I Felt Super!

Posted on February 4, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Ah ha ha!  (that was a triumphant laugh)  I went running again!  I took two days off, because it was just too cold for me, but this morning it was 30 degrees when we got up, so I said, “Hey!”

I waited a couple of hours first and ate a banana with peanut butter not quite one hour before I actually went.  It was not much above 30 by then, but I thought I could rock it.  I was right.  I ran on the sidewalk instead of the road for the most part, because it was covered with enough snow to give traction.  Sometimes I thought I saw ice underneath the snow, so I exercised caution.  My middle-aged shuffle is good for that.

I had run for a half a block before I realized it was snowing. Snow?  Oh well, I could still rock it (but not rocket, if you see what I mean).  I had on leggings, a long sleeved t-shirt, a hat and gloves.  I wished I had also worn a scarf, especially when the wind picked up.  Then again, running without a scarf, I think, “Oh, if I had a scarf to cover my cold face, how nice that would be!”  Running with a scarf, it’s, “I can’t get this damn scarf to cover my face right and now I’m fogging my glasses!”

As I ran, I thought about the blog post I would write, especially the title.  It is Superbowl Sunday.  Could I work that in?  How about alliteration on Sunday?  Then I looked around at houses, feeling happy when I saw the occasional Christmas decoration still up.  I don’t really get over my post-Christmas let-down till spring.  Sometimes it lasts till it’s time to start thinking about Halloween.  When I wasn’t looking for greenery and wreaths, I was hoping the cold air would not give me a headache.

Regarding that last sentence, it was a forlorn hope. As I type this, I’m afraid I got one and it is getting worse (remember, the more you complain, the longer God lets you live). However, I see that I am over 300 words.  Short for a Running Commentary but long enough for a Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  I shall stop blogging and nurse my headache.  But I ran for 26 minutes, the same as I ran on Thursday, and I felt pretty damn good about it. Happy Sunday, everybody.

 

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