Tag Archives: writing

I Lame a Glass to You

Posted on July 18, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

So the same day I make a late post about not writing (see previous post), I also make a lame post.  In my defense, it is Lame Post Friday, my day of random observations and half-baked philosophy.  Never mind why such a post is necessary.  Explanations are so tiresome.

Likewise blog posts.

This is the illustration I wanted to put with my previous post but did not want to take the time to look for it.  I just now scrolled up and down my Media Library and finally found it.   Perhaps the time would have been better spent working on this post, but I cannot worry about that now.

This is what I’m talkin’ about!

This is not my current view, but it might be soon.  Hey, it’s Friday, and I am blessed to be in a Monday through Friday job.  I know many are not so blessed, and I thank you for your hard work.  I have been there.  No doubt many currently work harder than I did when I was there, but you’ll have that.

A toast to all who work harder than I do!

So my random observation is that many people work harder than I do.  My half-baked philosophy is that you’ll have that.  Sufficiently lame, I believe.  Happy Friday, everyone.

 

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A Day Without Writing Is Not a Good Day

Posted on July 17, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am up to my old tricks again, missing posts.  What is it with me, do I want to write or not?  The answer is yes, of course I do, I love to write.  Why, then, do I not do it more often every day?  I do write at least something almost every day. I work on a letter (yes, I handwrite and snail mail letters and postcards; you should too, it’s fun), I make a note in the TV Journal, I work a little on the current novel or murder mystery,  I MAKE MY BLOG POST.  As I said, almost every day.

The reason I started this blog (9 years ago, is that possible?), it was to get myself to definitely write every day.  I thought it might segue into other writing, and I guess it has, but not enough.  Next question: Is there ever enough?  Discuss among yourselves.  Please comment with any conclusions (is that too needy, asking for comments?  Oh, well).

In the next four weeks I will have more time to write, because I have been furloughed from work again.  Previous furloughs have been less successful for me, but that is obviously my fault.  Equally obviously, it is up to me to do better this time.  Will I do better?  I make bold to say, YES, I WILL!!!

I put the three exclamation points to encourage myself.  I will make a plan, set a schedule, and write a few blog posts sharing my successes, if any (you see, a little pessimism must sneak in) .

So this is my Wuss-out Wednesday Post, published early Thursday morning: a pep talk to myself.  Thank you for bearing with me.

 

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A Disjointed Post Is Better Than None At All

Posted on July 15, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh what a difference a day makes!  Yesterday I was so ambitious!  I came home from work, mowed the front lawn, did the dishes, mended a pair of work pants, made my lunch, did a good blog post (or do I flatter myself?), and even had time to lounge on the deck with my husband.

Today I was thwarted in my plan to go running by a sudden thunderstorm.  I did a load of laundry and started to run in place on the mini-tramp (cue unkind remarks about how I personally am a large tramp).  This did not work out for me either, because my back started hurting fiercely.  At least the laundry is done (although still in the drier, this is the bad day, remember?).

So I guess this is a Tired Tuesday Post.  But at least it can be a Tired Tuesday With Monsters!  Where’s that Nosferatu?

“You were looking for me?”

Is Tuesday too early for Mid-week Monsters?  I cannot debate the matter now.  The fact is, my brain seems to be rotting into a putrid mass.  I can’t write.  I can’t even think.  Oh dear, it seems I am still capable of whining.  Quick, add another monster!

“I’m hungry!”

A monster of the natural variety.  We watched JAWS around the Fourth of July, which is an excellent time for it.

THIS is what my brain feels like!

A co-worker and I were talking about Steve McQueen today.  He was mentioning all the famous movies McQueen was in, but I confessed to having a soft spot for The Blob.

I do go off on tangents once I add monsters.  However, I am over 250 words.  I am going to call it OK and try again tomorrow.  Happy Tuesday, everyone!

 

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No Sweat: It’s Lame Post Friday!

Posted on July 11, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

And yet, I am gaining weight. Go figure.

I will try not to spend this entire post whining about the heat and humidity, but no promises.  Sharing the above picture reminded me of a high school friend who used to quote Shakespeare referring to her midsection: “Oh that this too, too solid flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself to dew.”  Is there a problem with spending an entire post lamenting my weight gain worries?

The beauty part is that today is Lame Post Friday,  so I am going to call whatever I come up with OK, as long as it runs to 200 words.  Maybe another picture would pep things up.

I think they are pretty.

I have been watering my Johnny Jump-ups and my container garden almost every day.  The forecast keeps promising rain and even thunder storms, but they seem to bypass me.  I keep thinking I should take an updated picture but have not done it yet.  And no, I can’t run out and do it now, because it is dark out.

Speaking of dark, I will be glad when we start to get a little more of it.  I’m sure that is an unpopular opinion, but I usually am out of step with the rest of the world (you may have noticed).  Mostly I am looking forward to a later sunrise.  That way, when I go running in the morning, I can begin my run in the dark and end it in the light.  I love that.

Ooh, look, I am over 250 words.  I think I will just close with a picture.  Happy Friday, everyone!

A shot of my neighborhood being rained on, because I hear it starting to rain as I type this.

 

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Just a Little Local

Posted on July 3, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I saw on Facebook that Monday was Shop Small Day or the whole week was Shop Small Week or some such.  You know I never pay attention to these things.  In any case, for Mohawk Valley Girl, EVERY day is Shop Small Day.  Unfortunately,  I cannot shop every day, and I cannot always go small for what I need.  Well, we none of us can live up to our ideal (and if you are sitting there smirking because YOU always do, all I can say is that you probably need some better ideals) (you know who you are).

Where was I?  Ah yes, attempting to shop small.  One of the pages I follow encouraged us to share on Facebook pictures of our purchases.  I went to T&J’s Fruits and Vegetables in Herkimer earlier this week, but those vegetables are already cut up and in a salad.  Maybe I have one tomato left.

I’ll probably put it in an omelet or sammich tomorrow.

I also went to Valley Wine and Liquor,  also in Herkimer.  I am sipping a little wine as I type this.

Of course I use my Halloween glass year round! What did you expect?

To add a little more local, I got that awesome glass from Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit.

Today I drove to Little Falls, NY.  I had seen there was to be a new gift shop opening near The Cafe at Stone Mill.  I went to the Cafe first for a cup of coffee.  I cannot convey how much I have longed to sit in a cafe, sip coffee, and write.  I worked on a letter to my sister.

It is yummy coffee!

I thought about getting ice cream instead, since it was so hot out, but the lower calorie count won.  To tell myself it was not really ice cream but frozen yogurt would be mere quibbling.  Additionally, this is coffee by local roaster Joseph Putrello, and it is excellent coffee.

I already have one of those coffee mugs.

I did not purchase anything in the gift shop but intend to return.  After checking it out, I drove to Burke Park for the weekly Fresh Market.

It’s already on my calendar for next Thursday.

I spent more time at the market, and took more pictures. I hope to write more about it later.  In the meantime, I see I am approaching 400 words.  That seems good to me.  I hope to do more local shopping and buy more stuff soon.  And write blog posts about it.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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Late Post, Good Run

Posted on July 2, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I begin my Thursday with  Running Commentary Post.  For one reason, I never posted on Wednesday, and this way there is an off chance I will make two blog posts today.  Additionally, I got back from my run less than an hour ago.  IT! COULD! WORK! (That was a quote of Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein)

I was ready to get up shortly after five.  Steven was still blissfully asleep, so it was a good day to start with a run.  When I looked out the window at the fog, my mind was made up.  I got ready quietly and off I went.

I have been running for several days in a row.  I really must go back to keeping a Running Journal so I can keep track of these things.  Yesterday I went for a long run up the hill to Herkimer College (previously known as HCCC), so I thought a shorter, easier run would be acceptable.

For most runs, I turn left out of my driveway and head toward German Street.  Today for something different, I turned right, going the way I go when I walk to the post office.  I went through Meyers Park, another familiar route for me.  When we first moved here and I started running again (after several sedentary years and gaining over 30 pounds), I made it a habit to always run through the park.  I went on really short runs in those days, but you have to start somewhere.

After the park, I headed toward Main Street.  I decided to keep going in roughly that direction till I had run for ten minutes then head home.  It would probably take me more than ten minutes to get home, what with following a different route, so that would be a good plan.

The plan worked fine.  I went on a couple of streets I don’t often go on (the village is too small for there to be many I’ve NEVER seen).  I admired several flower beds and envied a few screened porches.  I ran by my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  I ran for 23 minutes.  To put that in perspective,  I ran 40 minutes yesterday,  33 the day before.

I still don’t have a plan for running my Virtual Boilermaker 15K,  but my training seems to be going  well.  I’m feeling pretty good about it.  Now to work on my writing!

 

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Will Running Commentary Return?

Posted on June 30, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I love it when my runs get up to 40 minutes, because about 22, 23 minutes in, my body goes, “Oh, yeaaah!”  This does not happen to me during shorter runs.  Your results may vary.

I have not said much about my plan to run in the Virtual Boilermaker 15K for the simple reason that I do not have a plan.  I don’t know how to make a plan for that sort of thing!  The only virtual run I have done so far was a 5K sponsored by Rock City Runners to benefit the Little Falls Food Pantry (perhaps you read my blog post about it).  I am thinking a 15K will be at least proportionally more complicated, if not moreso (why is my Tablet underlining “moreso”?  That’s a word, isn’t it? ).

Be all that as it may, I have been running incrementally longer runs (or do I mean increasingly?  Am I being unnecessarily verbose?  Say it ain’t so!).  I thought it might be nice to make more Running Commentary Posts.  Unfortunately,  I make my best Running Commentaries soon after the run.  Yes, I ran this morning, but I just don’t remember all that much about it.

What does that say about me?  Nothing good, I suppose.  Then again, why should I go out of my way to say good things about me?  Readers will think I have a tremendous ego.  Yet again, I have long maintained that there are worse things than having an ego the size of Manhattan.

Well, that is enough of that circular argument.  But it gives me an idea:  I am going to call this a Monday Mental Meanderings, hit Publish, and drive on.  I hope I can go running again tomorrow.

 

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Shall We Blame My Attitude?

Posted on June 29, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have long maintained that it was useless to try to get anything done on a Sunday.  Once again, I have proven myself right.

Oh, I know all about self-fulfilling prophecies.  And please do not say, “Well, you never will with that attitude.”  For heaven’s sake, by that reasoning everybody can do anything they want if they only want it bad enough.  But let me not digress into these philosophical arguments with imaginary opponents.

I went for a long run this morning up a fairly challenging hill.  My first intent was to go for a slow, leisurely run, maybe even not very long, but I changed my mind as I went.  I told myself I could just run up the hill very slowly. Not that I ever at any time run very fast.

After a shower and breakfast, I made a tossed salad for the week.  I realized once again that my weight loss goals are more like daydreams, so once again I will renew my efforts at healthy eating.  Then I went to T & J’s Fruits and Vegetables for more tomatoes to make a macaroni salad,  which eventually I did.  More calories than the tossed salad, but so yummy and seasonal!

In the afternoon, I went with my friend Kim to the End Zone Pub and Grub.  We drank wine and I ordered the hamburger I had been craving for days.  I had French fries too, especially since Kim wanted to share those.  What was I saying about weight loss daydreams?  Oh well, as they say, tomorrow is another day.

Speaking of daydreams, you may have noticed that at no time did I mention writing.  I tried but failed.  I wrote a few paragraphs in the TV Journal and that was it.  But I mean to persevere.  At least I have managed a 300 word blog post.  An entertaining blog post?  Let’s not ask for miracles, not with my attitude.

 

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Did I Slack?

Posted on June 28, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Earlier this morning, I thought at least I will not have a Slacker Saturday!  Now I am not so sure.

I got up around five and immediately went running.  For one reason, it was supposed to rain.  For another reason… well, I don’t exactly remember the reasoning, bit I told myself to do it and I did it.  After a shower and some breakfast, I went to the grocery store, getting there early enough to miss the usual Saturday morning crowd.

After putting the groceries away, I went outside and once again had at my lawn.  Certain areas along the edges are getting a little put of control.  On the morning’s run, I noticed a fence almost obscured by numerous bushes and trees.  I said, “Yikes!”  So I did a bit with clippers, a hack saw, and my hands in gardening gloves.  Phew!

Not yet done with being useful, I did the dishes and wrote a few post cards.  In between these chores, I peeked at Facebook and called my Mom and Dad.  My final useful act was to drive by the post office and mail my post cards (I elected not to walk, because it was raining).  I could not extend the trip into further useful shopping, because I forgot to bring a mask.

So I have gotten a few things done, but writing an interesting blog post was not one of them.  Alas!  I can only hope to do better on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

 

 

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Oh, Leave Me a Lame!

Posted on June 27, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was torn between that headline and “Oh, Please Lame Me Alone!”  Which do you prefer?  Please tell me in Comments.  I love comments and I very rarely get any.  But how needy of me to say so.  No matter.  Today is Lame Post Friday and I intend to enjoy it.

Of course, I do not strictly rate a Lame Post Friday since I have been off work since Wednesday.  Judge me if you feel so inclined. I cannot worry about these things now.

I am looking at Dateline while trying to type this (one letter at a time with the stylus) (and, as Truman Capote once said, “That’s not writing, that’s typing”).  I was looking at a DVR’d episode of Svengoolie  but messed it up while trying to fast forward through the commercials. Once again, I cannot worry about such things now.

I am actually having a fairly enjoyable Friday.  That could be due to the wine I am imbibing.  Once again, judge me if you are so inclined. We do all tend to judge one another, don’t we?  Oh, I suppose YOU never do (you know who you are).  I say that this is not bad if we use such judgements to improve our own behavior.  Do YOU do so?  I hope I do.  I say, “I don’t want to be that way!”

Do I indeed change my behavior?  I hope I do, at least most of the time.  Then again, we none of us live up to our ideal all the time (and no, you do NOT!).   But one does what one can, even on Lame Post Friday.

 

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