Late Wrist, a Little Luck

So I let Sunday slip by without making a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post, and I realized I did not mention one of my activities from Slacker Saturday.  I volunteered for Herkimer Elks Lodge’s Casino Night.  Admittedly, there was not much I could do.  I can’t deal Black Jack, and somebody else was spinning the wheel.  I took over the chip table when the lady manning it went to get something to eat, and I got drinks for people at the Black Jack table.  I lamented that I did not have my Playboy Bunny outfit, but I think everybody was pretty much OK with that.

I gambled some $10 away on the wheel, winning and losing a chip or two at a time and not quitting while I was ahead.  It was fun, and I considered it a donation to the Lodge.

 

I am so maligned.

I just spent a bit of time searching my Media Library for a picture of the Elks Lodge, since I thought a picture would pep things up.  One might call that dilly dallying, but it surely does not constitute lolly gagging (which I always thought was one word when my mother used to accuse me of it) (and I will call you Shirley if I decide to).  Anyways, back to the blog post.

Sunday I did attend the HALO Luck Paws Auction, and won a basket.  I did not stay for the drawings but got a phone call later informing me of my luck.

I see I am over 250 words.  Score!  Will I make a Monstrous Monday post later?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my day.

 

Late Slacker Saturday, but Shout-Out for the Cats!

This will be a late Slacker Saturday post and no promises about a Sunday blog post.  I am on my second cup of coffee, which should help matters, but as the late great Fats Waller said, One never knows, do one?

Drink coffee, write. Only two of my goals for today.

I thought I would throw in a coffee cup as an illustration.  I purchased this one at Athenix Books and Brews, just to throw in another shout-out to one of my favorite local businesses.  I got the ghostie pen holder there too (should it be “ghosty” or “ghostie”?  My computer thinks both are wrong.  I suppose I could say “ghostly,” but I think my little guy is too cute for that) (But I digress).

Yesterday I did a few things and reminded myself to make a blog post, even if it was a Slacker Saturday post.  Alas, I did not get to it.  I wrote my weekly post cards and walked them to the post office (that makes it sound like they walked along with me, perhaps on little post card leashes) (why did auto-correct capitalize “Little”?).  A little later (left it lowercase that time) I went to a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor (another shout-out!), then brought an afghan to Mohawk American Legion, where I donated it to the HALO Lucky Paws Auction for Sunday (today!).

HALO (and here we come to the real shout-out of the post) is the Helping Animals Live Organization.  This is the 17th Lucky Paws Auction.  I have attended many in years past and won great stuff.  They get tons of great donations: baskets for any interest, gift cards from area businesses, and an afghan from me!  It takes place today, Sunday March 8 at the Mohawk American Legion, 45 West Main St., Mohawk, NY, with viewing beginning at 11 a.m. and drawings beginning at 2 p.m.  If any local readers read this in time, I encourage you to attend!

 

That Came Out Of Lame Field

Have I got time to make a Lame Post Friday post before I leave the house?  I will be perfectly honest:  I got nuthin’.  No brains, no ideas, just a vague headache and the feeling that I am about to do something wrong.  Or I have just done something wrong.  Or I forgot to do something.  Do other bloggers have these problems?  Perhaps there are other ways of dealing with them than whining about it in a silly blog post.

I sure don’t have my ducks in a row! And one of them’s a frog!

I threw in a silly picture to lighten up the mood.  I have been trying to make some progress in cleaning my house.  Then I can do fun things like put my ducks in different arrangements.  I hope to make better progress as I go.  It might be worth a blog post, but I shudder at the thought of posting “before” pictures.

“And another thing!”

I branch off into theatre with a picture of a rehearsal of a murder mystery we did last year.  I am polishing a script for the next one.  The three people pictured are in the cast.

This was longer ago, but it was a fun one!

I add one more murder mystery picture for your entertainment.  I see I am over 200 words.  I guess I haven’t said much, but it is Lame Post Friday after all.  I hope you are all having a lovely day.

 

Short Shout-Out

I went to the Home Town Diner in Mohawk, NY, this morning, where I enjoyed breakfast with friends.  I was amused as I drove towards the diner when I saw a dog sticking his head out of the sunroof of a car.  I would have liked to get a picture of that, but I was driving.  I probably would not have been quick enough if I had been riding or walking anyways.  But it gave me a good laugh.   I paused on my way in to take a picture of the sign.

I went there for lunch once.

I got my favorite breakfast sandwich, this time on an English muffin with sausage, egg, and cheese.  I debated for a while between ham and sausage. I’m a little surprised at myself I did not compromise on bacon.  No matter.  There will be other breakfasts.

The omelets my friends got looked good, with different options for fillings.  I considered sausage gravy and biscuits but habit won.

I guess this has not been much of a blog post, but at least I can give a shout-out to a local business.  I wonder where else I can go in making my small contribution to the local economy.

Home Town Diner is located at 150 W. Main St., Mohawk, NY.

 

Wandering Wednesday

I have not been having so many Mohawk Valley Adventures lately, and I fear today was not so much better.  But I did leave my house and go to a few places.  The first place I went was the Herkimer Elks Lodge, a regular stop of mine. However, I had to mail a couple of cards to a couple of aunts, so I left the lodge for a while.  When I returned, I realized I needed to make further wanderings.

It was a delightfully warm day, at least for the season, so I was happy to walk.  Unfortunately, the sidewalks were not always as nice as one could hope.  I did my best, and walked in the road where necessary, to the disappointment of the vehicular traffic.

Not such a good path.

After leaving the Elks I walked towards Cliff’s Market, where my bank has an ATM.  On the way I stopped at To Niche Their Own, one of my favorite little stores.  I purchased an artificial rose, to match one I obtained previously and is currently on my mantel.

It looks like my skeleton Bonaparte is holding it

I plan to purchase more of those flowers and have a bouquet, and maybe give some away.  I carried my flower with me to the Herkimer VFW, where I enjoyed a glass of Chardonnay and some conversation with fellow veterans.  Then I went to the ATM and took a long (or so it seemed to me) walk to Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant, where I got a turkey sub.  Yum!

I’m afraid I did not take too many pictures of my different Mohawk Valley Adventures today.  At least I have made a blog post.  I hope to have another adventure or two tomorrow.  As always, I hope you will tune in.

 

Not Such a Terrible Tuesday

So I missed posting on Monday.  I was not going to call attention to it but just make a Tuesday post (today is Tuesday to me, although I know my WordPress timestamp sometimes disagrees), but…

And then I realized there is not anything I can say that will not sound like whining or a really lame excuse.  I can’t use a lame excuse when it is not Lame Post Friday!  Have I been doing anything blogworthy lately?  You be the judge.

I went for a run yesterday, hoping to do a Monday Running Commentary.  It was not as long a run as my last one but not too bad.  It was cold, but I did not want to waste the bare pavement, of which there was some.  The highlight was petting a nice dog I have petted before.  He is a big shaggy one.  I wish I had a picture.   I also went the wrong way up a One Way street, as regular readers know I like to do.  I don’t suppose I can find the picture of the Do Not Enter sign.

Obviously not me running.

I could not find the sign but found this picture of Steve dancing to the Posers back in 2021, when he had gotten back from a stint in the nursing home.  We had a joyous time.  I will just mention that it would have been Steve’s 71st birthday today, which could explain my melancholy.  And yet I am so happy and grateful to have had him in my life.

This morning I did not go running, but I did venture outside in hopes of seeing the blood moon, blood being right up my alley.  I got to the end of the street, where I usually can see the moon early in the morning, before I realized the sky was completely overcast.  Silly me!  The sign at the church down the road said it was 3 degrees out.  Yikes!  However, as I walked back home, I saw the nice shaggy dog I had petted before.

“There’s that nice dog I petted before!” I said.  His person nicely stopped so I could pet him again.

So that is my Tuesday post.  Running, memories, no blood moon, petted a dog.  Really I have not been having a bad couple of days.

 

Wrist Before Walk

I fight through another case of I Just Can’t Even in hopes of at least making a Wrist to Forehead Sunday blog post.  I had thought I would go running this morning and write about yesterday’s and today’s run.  However, when I looked out the window I saw it had snowed overnight.  I don’t mind running in the snow; it takes more effort so is a better work-out.  This year, unfortunately, there is a lot of ice under the snow.  I’ve seen it; I’ve slipped on it.  I stayed inside.

I wasn’t wearing these leggings, but you get the idea.

I had great ambitions for the day.  I was going to go shopping and buy things that I could use to complete projects.  OK, that was the big ambition.  Cleaning the house did not enter into it, but it should have.  Then again, who cares what ambitions I may have had when I ran into a huge block of I Just Can’t Even around 9 a.m. (I got up at six).

Only I’m not that skinny, and I can’t do that with my hair.

I know there are cures for I Just Can’t Even.  They don’t all work for all people.  “You just have to make yourself,” has never worked for me.  I have experienced some success with “Well, just try.”  Today I tried, “Just put one thing away.”  Actually I put away more than one thing, but not nearly enough.

What I feel like these days.

There are worse things than sitting around feeling like The Blob. I will bestir myself to take a walk this afternoon.  Ooh, here’s a Freudian typo: I first put, “I will bestie myself.”  I will be my own best friend by taking a walk.  After, exercise is the magic elixir that makes many things better.

I love a blue sky and a bare tree!

I end with a cheerful picture of something I will probably see when I take my walk.  Who doesn’t love a blue sky?  Actually, I also enjoy a grey, gloomy sky.  Hey, the more things you like, the more chances for a happy mood. I hope you are having a lovely Sunday.

 

I Venture to Get a T-Shirt

Athenix Books and Brews was not the only stop I made in Little Falls yesterday.  I also strolled down Main Street to Venture Fourth, the new outdoor store.  I am not really an outdoorsy person, no hiking or rock climbing for me.  But I like this store and I like the owners, a husband and wife team.  I had a nice conversation with the husband at Christmas time when I found a couple of small gifts for family members.  When I saw on Facebook they were having a sale on t-shirts, I thought I would have to have one.

Come on in!

I did not have far down Main Street to walk to find my goal. When I walked in, I saw the t-shirts I wanted right away. The shirts were offered by Preserve Our Past, and each purchase directly supported efforts to preserve significant historic buildings and structures in Little Falls.

What a great graphic!

Additionally, the shirt made a play on words!  Little Falls is known as Rock City, there are some great spots for rock climbing, and the place does, in fact, rock.  How could I resist?
Venture Fourth is located at 590 E. Main St., Little Falls, NY, phone number 315-983-8271.  I encourage you to stop by, and to follow them on Facebook.

Another Coffee Adventure!

I thought of this title yesterday, as I was writing my blog post, because I remembered that Athenix Books and Brews in Little Falls, NY, was opening the Brews component on Feb. 26.  I needed to get there soon and make a blog post about it!  I drank tea for my first cuppa at home this morning, then after completing a couple of other chores and errands, I headed to Little Falls.

Lots of choices!

I opted for a regular dark roast coffee with whole milk.  I couldn’t resist also getting an Oreo brownie.  I sat at a tall table wrote a few more lines on my murder mystery (preview of coming attractions)  while I enjoyed my treat.  As I sat there I noticed that it looked as if there were letters on the wood floor.  I could not make out what they were supposed to be until I got up and realized I had been looking at them upside down.  Normally I can read upside down, but I failed this morning.

It says Athenix!

I was very impressed with the craftsmanship.  The whole place looks wonderful to me.  Nick mentioned he had gotten a one star review that called the floors unfinished and not modern.  Another customer and I asserted that we love them.  They have character and add to the ambiance.

Cozy!

I sat at a tall table, but there are also some soft chairs and sofas to lounge on while you enjoy your beverage.  I plan to make this a regular stop.  I will sit at a table or one of the cushy chairs, sip my coffee or tea and write!

Athenix Books and Brews is located at 624 E. Main St., Little Falls, NY.  You can follow them on Facebook.

 

I Get Adventurous with my Coffee

A lot of my Mohawk Valley Adventures involve food.  Well, I like to eat; I may have mentioned that my weight-loss goals are more like daydreams.  Never mind that.  It is also important to me to be sociable. I meet a group of my Elks friends every Thursday for breakfast at various area restaurants and diners.  This morning we went to the Java Shop in Herkimer.

At least you can read “Java.”

Oh dear, I knew I should have tried for a better picture.  In my defense, it was snowing this morning.  I have been to the Java Shop several times and am a great fan of their breakfast sandwiches.  I usually get regular coffee but decided to mix it up this morning with something cold and fancy.  I got a Delgano, which is whipped coffee with milk on the bottom.  SO silly of me not to get a picture of it!  I guess it is an excuse to return to the Java Shop soon.  I also got a breakfast sandwich with ham, egg and cheese on a roll.

Full breakfasts are also available. One friend got an omelet while another got eggs and toast.  The home fries looked delicious.  I noticed the shop does a booming take-out business, especially for the coffees.  There are a lot of options available, for coffee and for food. I greatly enjoyed my breakfast.  I only hope to remember to take more pictures the next time I am there.

The Java Shop by Cucino Berto is located at 402 Mohawk St., Herkimer NY, phone number 315-717-7724.