It wasn’t as cold as I thought it was going to be. The temperature was 54 degrees at 6:30 am. Still, I ran with capris and a long sleeve shirt over my tank because it was going to be a slow run.
It was a beautiful morning to be out there, easing into a relaxed gate with no pressure to get in a certain number of miles, run at a certain pace. Just an easy run with my best bud meandering through the disserted golf course, breathing deeply to fill the lungs with fresh, crisp Fall air. It was perfect.
My sore hamstring didn’t get any worse during the course of the run but it also maintained a constant reminder in the form of a “ping”. If it could speak, the hamstring would say “HELLO? I’m STILL here. Don’t push it or Yooouuulllll beeee SOOOOrry!” So I didn’t push it. At the 4 mile point, it wasn’t only my hamstring sending warnings, but both my legs were beginning to ache. Maybe it was a little too soon after the marathon to run but I pushed and managed to get in an easy run of 6.6 miles. Shane didn’t say anything but I think he was happy to run again as well.
A few thoughts came up yesterday and in this past week. The first one, as I was making my coffee at work yesterday, a questioning thought of why I have recently increased my desire for a creamier coffee? I used to barely use a teaspoon in my java but now, I’m up to 1 1/2 tablespoons at least! How times and tastes change!
The second thought which occurred earlier in the week was how very blessed I am. I went over my many blessings then became sad because of the abundance of misfortune and suffering in the world. It made me feel guilty to have so much by way of love, health, and family. All the important things in life. How have you been blessed?
The last thought, and on the lighter side, was how DARNED LONG Friday morning seemed to be! From 8 AM to 12 PM seemed more like 8 hours instead of 4. Hate those days!
ZABROSO Restaurant & Lounge and The Oneida Community Mansion House
The Restaurant: Spanish Latin American Cuisine. Oh, How I LOVE trying new restaurants. Zabroso has an online reservation page. Pretty cool!
Located at the Oneida Community Mansion House at 180 Kenwood Ave in Oneida, NY. Our dinner was…..interesting but not as interesting as what we found after dinner.
We arrived in front of the large brick building with a circular drive and went in through the front door.
There was no restaurant in sight but a lady peeked out from the end of the long hallway
and told us to follow ANOTHER long hallway all the way down.
We passed a library and a sitting room with a small television
before finally arriving at the restaurant.
There was only one other couple dining at that time but by 8 pm, about a quarter of the tables were taken.
We enjoyed the Spanish wines
Dinner was very pricey and ala carte. The presentations we well done.
We were served salad dressing on the side in a flat bowl, no spoon. This was a bit messy to pour over ones salad.
Dinner:
Ted had the Barramundi (Sea Bass)
I had the Halibut.
The halibut was over cooked and had large bones. In fact, one long, thin bone pierced the roof of my mouth and THAT HURT! I stopped eating at that point.
For some reason, the server decided I wouldn’t want the risotto that was suppose to come with my halibut dinner. I said, “oh yeah, I’d like it”. She brought it and …well, she was right. It wasn’t creamy and it tasted of chicken broth – not good for a vegetarian.
The best part of dinner was the company
and of course the coffee wasn’t too bad…
Do we recommend ZabRoso? Well, we didn’t have ALL the entrees so it wouldn’t be fair to judge completely. At this point, I would suggest giving ZabRoso a try because the atmosphere was very pleasant and the left side of the menu, Appetizers, Tapas, Cocas (pizzas) looked good. I will make one out right criticism: The food is over priced for the quality served. If the price was adjusted, ZabRosa just might be a popular establishment.
We do STRONGLY suggest a visit to the Community Mansion House Museum which we stumbled upon by going in through the wrong door.
On our way out from dinner, I asked the lady whom we first saw peeking out of the office and pointing us in the direction of the restaurant, what was the Community House. She proceeded to give us a tour and told us that it has about 30 or so apartments and also overnight rooms.
She took us upstairs and began telling us the history of the house. The communal utopia began in 1848 by a gentleman named John Humphrey Noyes. It functioned for 33 years under his leadership as the most famous communal-living experiments in American history. It was religious in base. Their belief was the possibility of personal and social perfection through selfless behavior. This meant they all shared labor (women and men worked together as equals), love (no one married), and property.
From their insistence on life long learning and vigorous health, the abandonment of ones self for the good of the whole, they developed a work ethic and well of industriousness so deep it flowed into one of the most impressive manufacturing companies of the 20th century.
The company it became after 1881 was Oneida Ltd., achieving world-wide recognition for silverware.
Going back to the communal life and our photo tour….this is part most interesting although probably not as meaningful as the success through manufacturing…
The “interview” room where men and women met in order to determine whether they were the ideal mates for procreation. Yes… “lets create the perfect child”.
If the match was good, e.g. a musician with an artist, the couple would enter one of the rooms off the “interview” room to ….. well, you know…..
Nothing fancy in there. Just do what ya gotta do. Was this a sexy nighty???? Oh wait! It was suppose to be about that.
The baby would stay with the mother until the child was 2 years old, then taken away to be raised by the community. The following was the children’s kitchen. There is a large mitten rack on the left side. Sorry – I cut it out of the pic.
Quite interesting. If you are in the area and want to tour, the best time is at 2pm on a Saturday but the museum is open year round Monday – Saturday 9 am to 4 pm and Sunday 12 – 4 pm.
John H. Noyes
The Community.
It’s amazing what you find in your own back yard. Ted has lived in Utica most of his life and never knew about the Oneida Community Mansion House.
Have you ever heard of these historical “communal-living” houses?
Joanne
Wow! Naughty history! Love. It.
Gotta watch the mileage on the marathon legs. Wouldn’t ever want your ping to become a pop. All bad.
I Flove! the photo of y’all. How super sweet and elegant. You are a very blessed lady indeed. I still feel blessed daily that I could die, come back, and build this body into one with muscles that could carry me in a run since I wasn’t very fit before the accident. And of course I feel blessed to have scored my hubs post-accident too. Life gets sweeter the second time around. Just wouldn’t recommend that route.
I loved hearing some of that history…so much more exciting than what I learned in history class. And you looked so stunning in that photograph…you are one beautiful woman. Thank you for reminding us to count the many blessings we have in our lives. We can get so caught up in the stress or frustrations that we forget to appreciate the beauty around us.
awesome post and love the interesting background here… That halibut sea bass and hearts of palm look like heaven on a plate love them both~
Photos are gorgeous as always, especially the one of you & Ted. We used to enjoy going to the Mansion House on holiday Sundays for brunch … one of THE best around. Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving, etc. I knew the history but never took an official tour, so the “interview room” and the room next door were news to me – WOW! And giving up my child at 2 to be raised by the community … no way, no how. Their way of life certainly was a success of sorts, as it did continue for a great many years with benefit to them and the surrounding community as well.
Thanks for sharing, Joanne!
p.s. Glad to hear you’re listening to your whiny hammy and takin’ it slow … all the best!