In a Holiday Mood!

How about a Muddled Monday instead of my usual Monstrous one?  For one reason, I am feeling muddled, but kind of pleasantly.  It is a three day week for me (don’t hate on me; I’ve worked plenty of bad hours in my day!).  Additionally, my day at work went by at a fairly good clip instead of dragging minute by minute, as Mondays sometimes do.  After work, I stopped at a couple of stores, taking much longer than I had expected to.  I am so indecisive!

My first stop was at Honey Brook Hobbies in Ilion.  I was looking for a birthday present for my great nephew Sheppie.  He just turned four.  I did not find anything, but I did pick up something that would make an awesome present for any number of people on my Christmas list.

Only one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite Christmas specials!

Well, now that I have published it in my blog, I will just have to keep it for myself.  What is the point of giving a gag gift that is not a surprise?  Anyways, we have some great Grinch-y decorations this will fit right in with, when we get our holiday on around here.

However, Thanksgiving, not Christmas, is the next holiday.  Steven and I are going to my Mom and Dad’s house.  When I got home I was efficient enough to pack in advance.

Well, what do you bring on Thanksgiving weekend?

Now I can just relax till it’s time to go to Rome on Wednesday!

If any local readers are jealous of my Grinch toilet paper, I refer you to Honey Brook Hobbies, 4 E. Main St., Ilion, NY, phone number 315-444-8254.  You can also visit their website at www.honeybrookhobbies.com.  They also have beautiful decorations, yummy baked goods, and more.

 

At Least the Presents are Wrapped

It is almost 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and I have not written my blog post yet. I can hear church bells ringing outside, and the vague headache that has been plaguing me most of the week has returned. On the brighter side, I have done everything I had to get done before picking up my hubby at work at 6:30. Except load the car. And gas up. And make my blog post.

The devil on my shoulder (you know, how in the cartoons the character has a devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other, each trying to convince her of a certain course of action?) is saying, “It’s Wuss-out Wednesday! Why not go all the way and not post ANYTHING?” She knows there is no chance of convincing me of the extreme option, but she tries. The angel (and you thought I didn’t have one) (you know who you are) is saying, “It is Christmas Eve, one of the holiest nights of the year. Is it respectful to wuss out on such a night?”

As they continue to argue, I will just share a little half-baked philosophy that I perhaps ought to hold for Lame Post Friday, but what the heck, it’s a holiday. Does anybody else feel as if Jesus was really born on Christmas Eve? After all, according to the story it was night time when the shepherds watched their flocks and the angel came and told them to follow the star. Then again, according to the song “The First Noel” the star gave such great light that it continued both day and night. Oh, but in the Rankin/Bass Christmas special about “The Little Drummer Boy,” the Three Kings traveled at night so they could follow the star.

Now I’m getting bogged down in argument, mixed up in my sources and, I confess, a little silly. Or a lot. And why not? In another couple of hours I will be with family to celebrate a holiday of joy, peace and goodwill. Have I first wussed out on my blog post? Perhaps so. But Merry Christmas Eve anyways. If you’re celebrating, I hope your celebration is grand.

One last note: I finally came up with that title. Does it seem to you as if Non-Sequitur Thursday came a day early? Discuss amongst yourselves.

Never Give Up, Never Surrender!

I confess to some affection for a silly movie called Galaxy Quest. I won’t write about it today, but I flashed on it during this morning’s run, and I thought this line from it would be a good title for Saturday Running Commentary.

Full disclosure: I ran some hours ago. Usually I like to write my commentary soon after the run and shower (in case any of you thought I was being gross). Today not so much, but I’ll try to remember the highlights.

I was determined to run, since I ate chicken wings at Happy Hour last night and woke up quite fat. I don’t imagine the chicken wings alone are to blame, but they’ll be the handy scapegoat (ooh, I could have called this post, “Good-bye, Chicken Wings”). I first walked Tabby to the post office and went to the grocery store (I bought things to enhance the tossed salad I shall virtuously eat later). Yes, I had plenty of time to talk myself out of it, but I did not.

Sorry to be too personal, but one problem I’ve been having with my running these days is I need to purchase new sports bras. I had a boo-boo due to some chafing. I tried to cover it with a pad, which really needed some adhesive tape, although I figured the pressure of the sports bras (I wear two) would hold it OK. At least it is finally at the temperature where I don’t have to ponder short or long sleeves.

Off I went. And it didn’t feel too good. Once again, I felt that I was running slowly. No gazelle in my head today. That is where “Never give up, never surrender” came in. I didn’t give up.

I pondered Memorial Day. I was wearing my ARMY t-shirt in honor of the weekend. Of course people are all over Facebook telling us how to celebrate: it’s not barbecue day, thank a veteran, don’t thank a living veteran, remember a dead one. Oh, I don’t mean to get controversial and sorry if I offended anyone. But I thought in my head I might be honoring veterans who gave all by maintaining the fitness I learned in the army. I can’t say I learned to persevere in the army, because I knew that going in. But I honed my ability to persevere.

I ran in a different direction from the way I ran on Wednesday. I noticed a porch on a house that wasn’t there before (the porch, not the house), and the absence of a hole that had been in front of another house. These innovations may have been there for weeks, but I just now noticed them. I continue to hone my skills at observation.

I saw some dark purple tulips that I quite envied. We were up to three tulips this year. When we moved in, one yellow tulip bloomed. I keep forgetting to get more bulbs to put down, but I guess this one multiplied on its own. Must work on the yard soon.

When I walked Tabby earlier, I had an eye out for cans and bottles, but didn’t find any. Then I saw a guy carrying an almost full bag of them and guessed he had beaten me to it. He didn’t look very well off, so I guess I’m glad he got the nickels. I did find one can. As I ran, I saw a plastic bottle and briefly considered picking it up. Some people run with a water bottle in hand, so I wouldn’t look too foolish. But I decided against it. I’m carrying too much excess weight as it is.

The run lasted one minute longer than Wednesday’s. To increase my time by the recommended weekly 10 percent would be two minutes. Sunday is my usual increase day, so I think I’m doing OK. I’m glad I ran, although I’m wondering if the post about it is any great shakes. Oh well, with blogging as with running, I will not give up, I will not surrender!

Briefly, About the Bread

I was going to have the nerve to write Yet Another Post About Why I Can’t Write a Post Today. Then I realized I didn’t have anything to say but the first sentence about having some nerve. Instead, I will give yet another shout out to some of the best bread in the world.

I am, as usual, at my mom and dad’s house for the holiday (Easter) (for any wise-ass who just said “Duh!” I put it in case somebody reads the post at a later day and wonders. Sheesh!). My mom always cooks a veritable feast, and it is hard to know what I can contribute. Ever since I moved to Herkimer, NY, it is no problem. I just drive out to the Heidelberg Bakery and get some awesome bread.

I drove out Rt 28 shortly after 7 a.m., when they open on Saturday. I wanted to beat the crowd. I guess I should have beaten the crowd another day, because they were out of my favorite, Sourdough. However, I chose Pumpernickel, 100% Whole Wheat and Multi-Grain (they were having a three-for special) and was happy with that. Then I turned my attention to the baked goodies.

I guess I don’t want to say too much about the baked goodies, though, because Steven and I have already eaten those. In case anybody who is at Mom and Dad’s for dinner reads this, they might be jealous. Then again, anybody who reads this who is not at Mom and Dad’s might be jealous not to have any of Mom’s good dinner. Sorry; I can’t please everybody.

I can, however, keep my post short, because today is Easter. I’m going to enjoy the holiday. I hope you are, too.