Author Archives: mohawkvalleygirl

Recovering from Murder

Posted on April 1, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I decided today would be my recovery day from the weekend of putting on shows. That is, as regular readers know. Prescription: Murder at Ilion Little Theatre (perhaps you have read a few of my blog posts about it).  I confess to feeling very tired.  This morning my legs felt leaden, as if they could not possibly take a step.  This afternoon I tried to make them take a step or two.  First I ventured into my backyard and was rewarded by the sight of a few crocuses.

Yay, spring!

Of course I took a few pictures.

Pretty!

I wondered if I was being a little silly taking pictures of all the blooms.  I mean, after all, everybody knows what a crocus looks like; people share all kinds of pictures of them.

Yellow, too!

But I felt it was a good idea nonetheless.

Ooh, one more crocus!

I took a nice walk after taking these pictures.  I saw a few other flowers as I walked but since I already had other pictures I did not pause to photograph.  For one reason, that made me walk a little further without pause.

So this is my Monday blog post.  Should I be happy it was not Monstrous?  Discuss amongst y0urselves.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Blog Now, Panic Later

Posted on March 30, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear, can I make a pre-show post before I have to finish getting ready to go to the matinee of  Prescription: Murder, the play I am in at Ilion LIttle Theatre?  Naturally I must make a big deal of things on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  I just took a two-mile walk, towards the end of which I figured out a few things about my character’s motivation, background, and relationship with her (murderous) husband.  I suppose real actors might argue that I should have settled all these things during the rehearsal process, but I am always adding things, filling in blank spaces, refining, etc.  I like to think it is the writer in me.

In any case, I have a few minutes before I have to start bustling around, saying, “One more thing!” like Columbo, and I have a few more backstage pictures to share.

He is telling Columbo the facts of life as he sees them.

This is a guy from the district attorney’s office who happens to be close friends of my (stage) husband (that character’s wife is my character’s bestie, but she is only mentioned).  The guy in the raincoat is, obviously Columbo.

I think the guy on the right looks evil.

The man in the hat has a small but pivotal role; the other one is the murderer himself.

We couldn’t have done it without him!

This is the assistant director and stage manager, Mason, obviously an extremely important person.

I will try to get a few more backstage shots today.  In the meantime, I need to start running around my house saying, “I know I’ve forgotten something!”  I sure hope it isn’t my lines!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in community theatre, humor, personal, Wrist to Forehead Sunday and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

A Dull Post, A Few Pics

Posted on March 30, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I managed to take a few pictures backstage during opening night of Prescription: Murder at Ilion Little Theatre.  For anyone just tuning in, that is a play I am in.  I have written a few blog posts about it.  Full disclosure:  I am feeling quite brain dead at the moment, which is bad news since I have another performance in a very few hours.  However, blog posts must be made, at least my blog posts by me, according to my rules for me, so I will share a few pictures and say a few things.

Would you kill this woman?

I took a selfie with hair and make-up.  Both were done for me by a wonderfully talented woman.  She did all the women’s and one man’s hair.

And this is the one my husband murders me for!

This picture doesn’t show her hair as well as I had hoped.  Perhaps I can get another picture tonight.  Also she has a better costume in Act II.

Also does not do justice to the hair, alas!

And here is the other female character.  I love the dress.  She has two other costumes, but this is the best.  Perhaps I can get a picture of one of her other dresses tonight, as well as a better shot of the hair.

I’m afraid this is rather a dull post, so I am going to bill it at a Slacker Saturday.  I’d better look over my lines again.  Perhaps a cup of coffee would be a good idea, before I go off to try to break another leg.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Slacker Saturday and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Once Again, I Hope to Break a Lame

Posted on March 29, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was going to further interrupt my bout of All Prescription: Murder All The Time for a Lame Post Friday post, but I fear it will be a Blogger’s Sick Day as well.  What a headache I am getting all of a sudden!  On the brighter side, it is more lightheadedness than pain.  Let us by all means count our blessings.  A nap did not help.  Perhaps some coffee?

Picture to denote passage of time while I put on a little coffee.

I have only gone over my lines once so far today.  That does not seem like enough.  Oh dear.

Picture to denote passage of time while I look over my lines one more time.

I just looked over my lines again, but I am not sure it did me any good.  However, it seems the coffee is ready.  I did not put a picture to denote passage of time while I got a cup (I think it is funny when I do that, but perhaps I flatter myself).  The picture is me at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer at one of their tastings. The pourer often has to take a picture to show their boss that they are so pouring samples.  I always let them take mine, cheese-eating grin and all (only I don’t say cheese) (see what I did there?).

I just wore that skirt yesterday. The slippers are worn out.

The coffee is steadying my nerves as well as helping my headache.  Or perhaps it is getting the blog post done that helps.  However, I am still a bundle of nerves, seeing as tonight is opening night for Prescription: Murder, the play I am in at Ilion Little Theatre (ILT) (perhaps you read some of my blog posts about it).  I encourage myself with a rehearsal shot from one of my stage triumphs, The Busy Body, which ILT put on some years ago. You may think I am flattering myself by saying “stage triumph,” but everybody said I was very successful in the part.

In any case, I have rattled on for over 300 words.  I had better make sure I have done everything I need to do to get ready for tonight.  I’m sure it will be fun.

 

3 Comments

Posted in humor, Lame Post Friday, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Memories of Theatre Husbands

Posted on March 28, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

What a terrible time I am having getting anything done this week.  And how unbecoming of me to whine about it.  I’ll stop whining and try to make a Throwback Thursday post.  As I mentioned yesterday, I did not have rehearsal tonight (for Prescription: Murder at Ilion Little Theatre, for anybody just tuning in) so was able to cover a meeting of the Frankfort Town Board.  I still have to write my story about it, but I thought making the blog post first might be a good idea.

He thinks he’s tough now, but…

This is a rehearsal shot from Roxy, which Ilion Little Theatre (ILT) presented in 2015.  That’s me as Roxalana Druse, on the left.  The brute with the ax is my husband.  I kill him later in the scene.  I do not have good luck with stage husbands. There was one in And Then There Were None in 2011 who wasn’t too bad.  Neither of us killed the other, but we also did not survive till curtain call.  I can’t find a picture of that one, unfortunately.  I had a better time with husbands in real life.

There’s the best husband!

Here is my late, wonderful husband, Steve.  He had a few parts in Roxy, and was very good in all of them.

We were an exceptionally cute couple.

And here are Steve and I together after A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, which we put on to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society in 2017.  I always thought it was so great that both Steve and I loved theatre. The couple that does plays together, stays together!

 

2 Comments

Posted in humor, personal, Throwback Thursday and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Last Rehearsal, YIKES!

Posted on March 27, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

And it’s another Post-Rehearsal Post during this week of All Prescription: Murder All The Time here at Mohawk Valley Girl.  For anybody just tuning in, Prescription: Murder is the play I am in at Ilion Little Theatre (ILT).  I had meant to take pictures of my fellow actors in costume tonight but, alas, neglected to.  I will try to get some pictures on Friday, opening night.  Yikes, that’s SOON!

We have no rehearsal tomorrow.  It is an ILT tradition to be dark the night before opening.  In this case, it is good news for me, because there is a Frankfort Town Board meeting tomorrow night I need to cover for Sentinel Media Company (I believe I mentioned my side hustle of writing for them) (full disclosure:  I don’t have a main hustle any more) (but this is not a work blog, so never mind).

Where was I?  Ah yes, the play.  I still have a couple of rehearsal shots I haven’t shared.

You can tell which is Columbo by the raincoat.

I think I have mentioned that the play later became the first episode of Columbo, which regular readers know is a series I adore.  I have seen the episode several times, and I must say, I prefer the TV movie to the stage play.  However, I am having a great deal of fun with the play, and my fellow actors are doing a wonderful job.

Yeah, he SHOULD feel bad!

I hope my readers realize I do not need to include a spoiler alert as I point out my murderer, because that is the point of Columbo:  the audience sees what looks like a perfect murder, but Lt. Columbo brings the murderer to justice nonetheless.

For more information about Prescription: Murder,  you can visit ILT’s website, www.ilionlittletheatre.org, or their Facebook page,

 

2 Comments

Posted in community theatre, humor, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Good Rehearsal, Glass of Wine, Tired Blog Post

Posted on March 26, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

As I was getting ready to leave rehearsal tonight, a fellow actor said, “Something tells me Cindy is going to go home and have a nice glass of wine.”  I thought that would be an excellent idea, and perhaps motivate me to make a post-rehearsal post, since I let the pre-rehearsal part of the day escape me.  As regular readers know, rehearsal was for Prescription: Murder, at Ilion Little Theatre, and this blog is for the present time All Prescription: Murder All The Time.

He hasn’t gotten to the one more thing yet.

I do not have any pictures from tonight’s rehearsal, but I found some I haven’t used yet from other rehearsals.  We are in dress rehearsals now, so I will try to get some pictures tomorrow so you can see the costumes and hair.  We have a very talented lady helping us out with hair.

I totally want a pair of shoes like that.

You can see my hand under the couch in this shot.  I’m dead.  I keep telling people I am going to have a glass of wine backstage to sip after I’m done with my two dramatic scenes.  Will I follow through?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my week.

I’m afraid I do not have a whole lot to say other than I am enjoying being onstage quite a bit, and I think the production will be a good one.  I guess I’ll just call this a Tired Tuesday post and drive on.

Prescription: Murder will be presented at Ilion Little Theatre March 28, 29, 30, and April 4, 5, and 6, with curtain at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, at The Stables, 13 Remington Ave., Ilion, NY.  For more information you can visit their website at www.ilionlittletheatre.org.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, post rehearsal post, Tired Tuesday and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Pre-Rehearsal Mental Meanderings

Posted on March 25, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I begin again as a daily blogger.  Today will be a Monday Mental Meanderings. For one reason, I am too old to do Middle-aged Musings.  It’s funny how fast you move from middle-aged to old.  Oh well, as my sister Diane says, Time is relative, not our relative.

It seems he has been there for some time.

I thought I should put a time-related picture just then but could not find any clocks in my Media Library.

AAAaaand then I just sat here with nothing to say.

That is as far as I got this morning.  It is now almost four in the afternoon and I have to start thinking about getting to a dress rehearsal for Prescription: Murder, the play I am in at Ilion Little Theatre.  Friday is opening night.  I think I need to study my lines some more.

I think this is my new favorite picture of myself.

That picture was to denote the passage of time while I heated up leftover coffee from this morning.  I read my lines out loud while it heated and then while I drank it.  I have not had as easy a time learning my lines as I usually do.  Do you suppose my brain is getting too old?  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!!!

Now I have blathered on for over 200 words and must deem that all right for a Monday Mental Meanderings post.  I’m afraid for the next week this blog will be All Prescription: Murder All The Time.  Oh dear.  I’d better check again to see that I have all my stuff together (no, not my act!  Regular readers know I NEVER have my act together!).

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Monday Mental Meanderings, personal, pre rehearsal post and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Late Blog Posts Are Apparently an Option

Posted on March 22, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl
     AAAAaaand the late posts continue, as I type in my Lame Post Friday post early(ish) Saturday morning.  I probably shall never feel I am up early again unless it is 5 a.m. or earlier, just so you know.  I open today with a bit of half-baked philosophy.  I was on Facebook yesterday and a friend posted a list of advice.  Most of it was pretty good, but one said to choose to feel happy, being sad should never be an option.  I flashed on drill sergeants saying, “Failure is not an option,” meaning of course that it was a shameful option (ooh, here I go philosophizing again).  Anyways, this is what I commented:
     Except the part about being sad should never be an option. Some things ARE sad, and sometimes we have to allow ourselves to feel sad. You can’t always choose how you feel. That said, you can tell yourself things that might help you feel better, you can choose to have a cheerful attitude, you can accept feeling sad and that might lead you to feel happy sooner. The whole “you can just decide to be happy” idea has caused me no end of grief and sadness, because I felt something was wrong with me when I would try to choose happiness and only end up feeling more depressed. Sorry about the long comment. Perhaps I should put it in a blog post.

How could you choose not to smile at this scene?

     I like to put I a picture after two long(ish) paragraphs.  This fits in with the theme, because it falls under the heading Little Things That Bring You Joy.  Longtime readers know my late dearly missed husband Steve and I liked to dress our skeleton Bonita for the season.  He was really a great one for decorating for various holidays.  I am unfortunately still trying to unbury my house from the mess I let it get into over the last few years (I confess since even before Steven died).  However, sometimes decorating the mess makes me feel a little cheerful.

Bert the Birtday Gorilla wanted to get into the act too.

     I’m afraid Bert looks more Hawaiin than Easter, but I did not want to spend too much time searching my house for decorations, and I felt it was the wrong thing to do to buy more stuff when I am trying to get rid of things (although the dollar store had some cute stuff!).  I felt good about myself that I had been cleaning for a while before I dressed up Bonita and Burt.
     Now I feel good about myself , because I have managed a blog post of over 400 words. Yay!  What will my Saturday bring?  I do not know, but I hope an on-time blog post.

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Lame Post Friday, personal, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Throwing All the Way Back to the 1920s!

Posted on March 21, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, I guess I am back to making late blog posts, because I did not make a post on Thursday, and here I am early(ish) Friday morning, thinking I can get away with a Throwback Thursday post. Or perhaps Non-Sequitur Thursday.  The possibilities are almost endless.

We thought we were hot. OK, KIm was (is) hot.

This was back in 2017, when my friend Kim and I got dolled up and went to a Prohibition Party at Gerber’s 1933 Tavern in Utica.  I saw on Facebook that today they are doing a Meet the Artist with RC Oster tonight.  I actually met RC Oster at Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts once.  I LOVE his artwork!  Will I take a drive to Utica to meet him again?  It’s difficult to say what I will do on any given Friday.

There’s a couple of cheese-eating grins!

Here is me all 1920’d up again at a fundraiser for the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica.  The gentleman, whose name escapes me, is one of the movers and shakers behind the Society, I think.  Hey, this was 2019.  You can’t expect me to remember things perfectly from the last decade.  At least, I guess you could expect me to, but you would be doomed to disappointment.

Another time I thought I was pretty hot.

I guess I had to do it: share this picture of me showing off a little leg.  The setting is another fundraiser for the Landmarks Society, and the costume is the one I wore as Ruby Van Rensselaer in my murder mystery Rubbed Out at Ruby’s.  One of the cast members keeps saying we ought to revive that one.  It might be fun.

I feel this has been an unusual post in that I am in all the pictures that I shared.  I am usually not so vain.  At least, I suppose I am vain, but I don’t have so many pictures of myself that I like.  I am more apt to look at pictures of me and say, “Damn, I’m not nearly as cute as I thought I was.”

In any case, I am over 350 words.  Score! Will I make a Lame Post Friday post later today?  As I said earlier, it is difficult to know what I may do on any given Friday.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Throwback Thursday and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
Newer Posts →