Author Archives: mohawkvalleygirl

Dirty Work in the Works

Posted on August 25, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I might be working Saturday so obviously Friday is Just Not the Same. Therefore, I will post lame tomorrow. Today is more in the nature of Preview of Coming Attractions (lame enough, you say? I explain, “Shut up”).

(Note for regular readers to ignore: Usually Friday is Lame Post Friday, where I post random observations and half-baked philosophy. I hate saying it every week, but I don’t want to confuse new readers, if any.)

My husband Steven, as you may already know, loves the theatre and is very talented at many aspects of it (I don’t just say it because I’m his wife). I started to say he is a noted thespian, but that sounded too hoity-toity, artsier than thou (although I liked that Saturday Night Live sketch about the Master Thespian. “I’m ACTING!”).

Where was I? Ah yes, praising my husband. He has acted in several Ilion Little Theatre productions and gotten praise from audiences, directors and fellow cast members. He has been wanting to direct, which he did in college and other community theatres. He’s a good director.

All this by way of introducing Ilion Little Theatre’s 2012 Fall Production, Dirty Work at the Crossroads.

Dirty Work is a gay ’90s melodrama. That’s 1890s, not 1990s, which featured a different kind of gay. Steven thinks I’m silly to worry that people will get the two confused. I think some people don’t know what a melodrama is.

A melodrama has a definite hero, heroine and villain, and the audience is encouraged to cheer and boo accordingly. I suppose there is a fear in these post-ironic times that audiences will go the other way, but I hope not.

The villain should be a truly evil, mustache-twirling bad guy; the hero brave, true and handsome; the heroine… well, I personally might be a little disappointed in the heroine, because I think she just needs to be beautiful, good and get rescued. I haven’t read the play yet, so I don’t know for sure. Maybe this heroine has a little more on the ball. I can hope.

Melodramas usually feature exaggerated characterizations and emotions, and wild, exciting plots. These are the plays where the heroine gets tied to the railroad tracks. I’m told that doesn’t happen in this play, although I quite thought it did, since the set features railroad tracks. Oh dear, I hope I haven’t given away a major plot point (or lack thereof). I’d better check with Steven before I post this.

Auditions for Dirty Work at the Crossroads are set for Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 5 and 6, at Ilion Little Theatre, The Stables, Remington Avenue, Ilion, NY. Production dates are October 19, 20, 21, 25, 26 and 27. For more information you can go to their website at http://www.illionlittletheater.org or you can Like their Facebook page. You can also stay tuned to Mohawk Valley Girl, as I intend to post updates. I also plan to audition. Do you suppose my husband will give me a part?

Leave a comment

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

I Might Be Super

Posted on August 24, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

Some time ago Steven saw a Facebook posting about a Superhero Sprint to be sponsored by Herkimer Now. He immediately recognized it as something that would interest me. It appealed to me on several levels.

In the first place, I’ve been meaning to sign up for more runs, to keep my legs moving if for no other reason (there are other reasons). In the second place, Herkimer Now, as I understand it, is a grassroots organization working to revitalize downtown Herkimer. That is definitely a worthy goal to support. If any other reason is needed… Superhero? Dress in costume? I am so there!

So I signed up right away and began pondering who I would be and what I would wear. I rejected out of hand any known heroes or villains. For one thing, I have no faith in my ability to render a convincing costume that is supposed to look a certain way. More importantly, for a person like me, it is much more fun to make something up.

I thought back to an old nickname of mine, seldom used but never forgotten, and decided to be a villainess: The Evil Woman CinCin.

I feel I should make a side note here. In general I try not to use gender divisions as in villain/villainess, hero/heroine, actor/actress (and here’s an interesting side side note: the word villainess isn’t even in my dictionary). As they say, we don’t call women doctors doctresses. (As another side side note, I believe I’ve used the term “waitress” in this blog, and I’m sorry about that. It’s a hard habit to break.) In the case of the Evil Woman CinCin, however, villainess seems to be the way to go.

I decided my superpowers would be an unerring knowledge of grammar and an extensive vocabulary. I would tell people I was didactic in the extreme, and if they asked what that meant I would tell them it means the same thing as pedantic. Bwah ha ha ha ha! I have a dictionary and I’m not afraid to use it! Oh, if only I would use my powers for good!

I decided my dog, Tabby, could accompany me. Of course she can’t be a villain or even a villainess. She’s too sweet. She’ll be the superhero whose arch nemesis I am. By day she is Tabitha, mild-mannered schnoodle. But when there is evil to fight she is… The Tabbiest! Her superpowers are extreme cuteness, unfailing friendliness and lots and lots of love (I think a lot of dogs share these superpowers). Oh, and the ability to forgive, another enviable canine trait.

I figure by the second book in the series, Tabby has reformed The Evil Woman CinCin and I become her hapless sidekick.

Having come up with this elaborate backstory, I’ve done nothing else about coming up with a costume. I figure I’ll go up to my attic and find a cape amongst my Halloween stuff. I’m not nuts about the idea of wearing a black cape on a sunny summer afternoon, but maybe one is reversible and I can put the red side out. And, yes, I saw The Incredibles (good movie); I know all about why supers should not wear capes. I don’t care. It’ll be a great visual, even if I don’t run very fast. Besides the cape… well, I’ve still got two days to come up with something.

And now, being me, I begin to second guess myself. Do I really think I am going to look any other way than doofy no matter what I come up with? When, you may well ask, have I ever had a problem with looking doofy? Then, too, I will be attending this even with only my dog for company. Won’t everybody else be there with friends and family? Will anybody speak to me or will I be lonely as well as doofy?

My fear of inadequacy increased when Herkimer Now posted on Facebook a picture of a member with rather impressive looking Wolverine claws. It wasn’t just that this guy is obviously going to have a way better costume than me. It’s that I’m not quite sure who Wolverine is (didn’t Hugh Jackman play him in a movie?). I realize I am not the least bit current with superhero lore. The last time I read comic books regularly was the early ’90s, when a friend who collected used to loan me his Justice Leagues. He also loaned me some Sandman, but I think that is more what you would call a graphic novel. Or are they all graphic novels now? You see how I have not kept up.

I don’t even watch superhero movies. The last one I saw Steven rented a couple years ago and I HATED it. (I shan’t tell you what it was, because I’m afraid of getting death threats from rabid fans.)

The one aspect of the whole thing I am not worried about is the run itself, even though I have not run a step since the DARE 5K. The Superhero Sprint, according to advance publicity, is not very long and the object is to to go very fast (unless, I suppose, that is your superpower). The object — stand by for me to start worrying again — is to be in COSTUME!

Looking back at the persona I’ve come up with, I gotta admit: pretty nerdy. And not a little cerebral. Will people get it? Or will I just look kind of dumb? You know, I had even thought about carrying a dictionary. That could get heavy. And I’d probably drop it on my foot.

What’s a Mohawk Valley Girl to do?

I sought reassurance on the Herkimer Now Facebook page. I posted asking how many people had signed up and admitting to being a little intimidated by that Wolverine guy (I got all cute about it and referred to him as the guy with the funky manicure). No response so far.

I will probably come up with some semblance of a costume and show up. Why not? Main Street in Herkimer is less than ten minutes from my house. If I get overheated or embarrassed, I can just walk home. And if I don’t get overheated or embarrassed, I’ll probably have a pretty good time.

The Superhero Sprint is from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, August 25, Main Street, Herkimer, NY, with registration in front of the Courthouse. Registration is $2, to benefit Herkimer Now.

2 Comments

Posted in Community Events, Herkimer, humor, personal. Bookmark the permalink.

Star-Studded Something

Posted on August 23, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last Sunday Steven and I took a break from cheesy horror movies and our usual Sunday crime shows with a star studded Agatha Christie which had not previously come our way: Evil Under the Sun (1982). TCM showed the movie Saturday afternoon. I set the DVR to tape it for our subsequent enjoyment.

I had read Evil Under the Sun and thought I kind of sort of remembered the solution. That hardly mattered. For one thing, if Dame Christie had adapted the story herself she may have changed the ending, as she did in at least two of her stage adaptations. I don’t think she adapted any of the movies, but I believe Hollywood has been known to make changes as well (No! Hollywood make changes? Say it ain’t so!).

I love a star-studded Agatha Christie movie. We have two on DVD: Murder on the Orient Express (1974) and Death on the Nile (1978). We also have my personal favorite, Witness for the Prosecution (1957), which, although its cast boasts at least four well-known actors is for some reason not a Star-Studded Agatha Christie.

That raises the interesting (to me) question of just what makes a Star-Studded Agatha Christie Extravaganza? Hmm. I guess “extravaganza” is too big a word, but just plain “movie” is too small, and “star-studded Agatha Christie” seems lacking. Leave that for now. Let’s look at “Star Studded.” That implies that there must be something to stud. Something already showy or exotic or glamorous. Evil Under the Sun is set on a tropical island. Death on the Nile takes place in the mysterious Middle East. Murder on the Orient Express happens on a famous luxury train. All three have costumes to die for. My favorite is Angela Lansbury in Nile, but Jacqueline Bisset on Orient is noteworthy, and Maggie Smith in Evil can give them both a run for their money.

So I think that’s a major component of a Star Studded Movie Event (better than extravaganza?). It’s fun just to look at. I think another important component is that most of the stars must at some point be suspects. Witness for the Prosecution is a suspense play as much as a murder mystery. The question isn’t so much whodunnit as how is Charles Laughton going to prove that Tyrone Powers didn’t do it? In my star studded vehicles, almost everybody has a motive and in some cases means and opportunity as well. It is the task of Hercule Poirot to prove that the one who couldn’t possibly have done it in fact did (oh dear, did I give too much away? Well, these movies are enjoyable even when you know whodunnit).

There’s another element many star studded attractions have: Hercule Poirot, Dame Christie’s famous detective. I believe there are a couple of star studders I’m not familiar with featuring her other sleuth, Miss Marple (I’ve read that Christie preferred Miss Marple to M. Poirot, but I love them both). Audiences and readers tend to like a series detective, and producers and publishers really, really like them. But that’s a whole other blog post.

So now I have digressed almost completely away from the movie I started to write about to the tune of about 500 words. And now Steven tells me I left And Then There Were None (1945) off my list of Agatha Christie movies we own. How remiss of me! Now I’ll have to watch that one again, to see if it meets my criteria for a Star Studded Romp (oh, that’s even worse than “extravaganza”! I’ll work on it).

3 Comments

Posted in commentary, entertainment, humor, movies, mystery and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

Marina Meanderings

Posted on August 22, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

Saturday was a beautiful day: sunny, not too warm, low humidity, and Steven got off work early. A perfect day. What to do with it?

Steven was in the mood for a burger, so we decided to check out the Dockside Cafe at Ilion Marina. Naturally we took Tabby.

Ilion, NY, for you out of area readers (Hi, Rachel!), is almost immediately adjacent to Herkimer via State Route 5. The entrance to the marina is right next to the exit. It’s not a large marina, but it is a pleasant place to walk around.

We admired some of the RVs parked in the lot. What a great vacation: park your RV at the marina and sail off in your boat. I’m afraid my getaways are more pedestrian. Drive my truck to the marina and walk around with my husband and my dog. Still, that’s a pretty good thing to do, too. I was happy to be there.

At the window of the Dockside Cafe we ordered cheeseburgers. Steven also got macaroni salad and we both got bottles of water. We brought our water out the the deck and sat down to wait for our food.

It was perfect weather for eating outdoors. We looked out over the water then admired the nautical decor on the deck. I especially liked the carved wooden sailors on the railing. The tablecloths had a lighthouse design. I wondered if they got those locally. I have a couple of sisters and a cousin who would like such a thing for their outdoor living spaces.

After eating (excellent burgers, and the salad was yummy) (yes, I stole some), we walked down the path we hadn’t been on yet. We gave the people fishing a wide berth, in case Tabby picked that moment to start barking and scared the fish. As it happened, she kept quiet. After a while I suggested we drive to Frankfort, another short jaunt down Route 5, and check out their marina.

The stretch of river (or is it a canal? I ought to research these posts a little better) that Frankfort Marina is on is much quieter than in Ilion. A wooden dock lets the fishers get closer to the water. The dock went all the way around to the other side of the water, but we didn’t walk on it. There were a number of people fishing. Tabby had kept quiet in Ilion, but that was no guarantee. Also, you can’t count on strangers being happy to see a cute little dog when they are pursuing a hobby that calls for quiet.

The restaurant here looked a little fancier. At least, it was indoors and there was a stern sign reading, “No Dogs Allowed.” Well, if you don’t want me to bring my dog on the porch, I won’t bring my dog on the porch.

We wandered around between the fishers and the No Dogs Allowed area till my sinus headache started to kick in (see Sunday’s post). We drove home feeling we had taken at least a little advantage of the beautiful day.

Leave a comment

Posted in Frankfort, Ilion, local business, marina, personal. Bookmark the permalink.

DARE to be Different

Posted on August 21, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I always compare the Herkimer, NY DARE 5K favorably to the Utica Boilermaker. It is, perhaps, an unfair comparison. Herkimer is a village, Utica is a city. The Boilermaker is an international event, the DARE 5K is a local fundraiser. Of course I love the Boilermaker. Just look at how many posts I’ve written about it — even last year when I didn’t run it.

But there is no denying the Boilermaker puts on the pressure, and not only because it is three times as long. To pick up my packet I had to drive to Utica two days before the event, threading my way through an intense amount of traffic on my way to a HUGE running expo. At least by driving I would be sure to have my driver’s license with me, because you must show ID and ONLY pick up your own packet (actually, I think this year there was some provision to have somebody else pick up your packet for you, but that didn’t concern me).

Showing up for race day itself is something of an ordeal. I was dropped off, so I had no parking worries. Others were not so fortunate (neither was I, two years ago). 14,000 runners is certainly a lot. We were herded through a field around to the end of the starting line (instead of easily walking there by the most direct route), where the enormous number of porta-potties was yet not enough. And the crowd at the end of the race. Yikes! I just managed to find my way to where I was meeting my ride.

Of course the Utica Boilermaker is a wonderful thing in which to participate. There is even a kind of a fascination in being part of a crowd that large. But crowds are not and will never be one of my favorite things.

Compare all this to the Herkimer DARE 5K, whose starting line is conveniently located about three blocks from my house. I realize they did not do this as a personal favor to me, but I certainly enjoy it.

My schnoodle, Tabby, and I walked down to pick up my number and goody bag the morning of the race, leaving early enough to be one of the lucky first 200 who received a t-shirt. I knew it would be all right for Tabby to walk into the social hall of Christ Episcopal Church, because she has been there before. Last year I picked up my nephew’s stuff, too. It was most convenient.

I brought Tabby back home, because this year I did not have a cheering section to take charge of her while I ran. I walked back down shortly before 8:30, when the Junior Fun Run began. I wandered around, taking in the scene.

Lots of runners were stretching, chatting, drinking water. They all looked more athletic than me. Well, now how could that be, I reasoned with myself. I ran the Boilermaker, for heavens’ sake! Of course, I have slacked off on my training since then. And, let’s be honest, I did not exactly run the Boilermaker. It was more of a middle-aged shuffle.

I don’t know why I have to freak myself out this way before these runs. I know perfectly well that I am going to run slower than most yet faster than a few, and that I will handily run the distance without walking yet give myself a VCD attack by sprinting it out at the end. These things are not unpredictable. Just run your run, I tell myself.

That is also what other runners tell me. I got into a nice conversation with two young ladies before the race. I told them I was going to mention them in my blog, but I don’t imagine they will actively seek it out, which is just as well, because I’m not being nearly as descriptive as I had imagined I would be.

A lady from the Herkimer Telegram was looking for somebody to say something she could use in the paper. I told her we were there because it was fun.

It was fun. And, dare I say, relaxing. The run was on familiar streets, and afterwards I walked myself home with a minimum of fuss. What’s not to like?

Leave a comment

Posted in commentary, DARE 5K, humor, personal, running and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Calling in Sick

Posted on August 20, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

This will be a short post. I feel like crappy crappy crappola. I had this sinus headache, see, so I took some ibuprofen and benadryl. Now I am doped the hell up. The pain is gone, I think. It’s kind of like I’m in a different room from the pain and hope to keep the door closed a while longer.

All I want to do is lie in bed and stare at the ceiling. What I am actually doing is reading Agatha Christie plays. I can pretend that’s doing something useful, because I might find something suitable for Ilion Little Theatre to put on sometime in the future. Of course this is a mostly an excuse. I can tell right away that some of these will never do. And the chances of my wanting to direct one of them is even slimmer. Then again, they say no effort is wasted. Wait a minute, I say that. Perhaps I am right. That sounds like some half-baked philosophy suitable for Lame Post Friday.

So, yes, I am afraid this is yet another post on Why I Can’t Write a Real Post. How many of those have I made recently? How many do you suppose I can get away with? Let’s just look at it this way: I’m calling in sick. Most professions offer sick days of one kind or another. Of course, if this were a real sick day, my post could be one sentence long: I’m sick, I’m not posting. And out.

But now that my fingers are actually typing, they want to keep typing. I have several good topics to expound upon this week. I haven’t fully covered the DARE 5K yet. We went to not one but two area marinas last night. We took a nice walk to a garage sale this morning (before my sinus headache kicked in). Oh, and enjoyed a yummy breakfast at a well-known local establishment. So much for preview of coming attractions.

I see that I am over 300 words, so I think I will sign off now. Thank you for bearing with me. Here’s hoping to have a better post on Monday.

2 Comments

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

So I Ran It

Posted on August 18, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just got back from running the DARE 5K in Herkimer, NY. Oh, it was fun. Oh, it was hard. Oh, this is going to be a lame post.

There. I typed in that much, then I went and ate something and made some coffee. Soon I’ll be feeling better about everything.

A lot went on at the run this morning. I talked to some nice people. I made some silly jokes. I finished on a dead run making all kinds of horrible noises with my breathing. I walked home, cutting through a couple of parking lots to avoid where a young man had been puking on the sidewalk (Ew! Couldn’t he at least have made it to the trash can?).

I didn’t walk at all. You might think that is no big deal on a 5K, but I saw a LOT of people walking and not just on the big hill (that is, the hill up to Herkimer County Community College, which figures in quite a few of my running posts). I passed some of them. Then they passed me later on, when they started running again. My favorite part was when I caught up with three boys and two girls (teenagers). Now, these boys were part of a large group of boys, apparently part of some team or club. They were all wearing the DARE t-shirt. I saw them doing stretches together in the Elks Club parking lot before the run. I was a little intimidated. And here were three of them walking!

“What are you kids doing, letting me catch up with you?” I demanded, sounding a little like a drill sergeant. “Get going!” The boys did. “That’s better!” I approved. A minute or two later the girls started. “That’s what I like to see!” I told them.

“You tell ’em!” one of the girls said, amused. The boys were probably walking in order to flirt with the girls. You go, girls!

I think that’s all I’m going to write for now. I had really meant to do a more chronological account, so perhaps I will get to that tomorrow. For now I will say, I ran and I’m glad I did. Now that I’m having coffee, I’ve reached the “Ah, that was GOOD” stage, that often comes after a run, and you just kind of gloss over or forget those parts of the run where “good” was not the four letter word you had in mind.

Leave a comment

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

Where Are Those Damn Endorphins?

Posted on August 18, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I haven’t done so well with All DARE 5K All The Time. I suppose this was a disappointment to some, a relief to others. It’s been a disappointment to me, because I would have preferred to spend the week obsessing about the silly race rather than worrying over the various crises and catastrophes I’ve been dealing with.

Be that as it may, I went running on Thursday. I had not run Tuesday or Wednesday, which I felt sure was the wrong thing to do, but in this life we cannot do everything. We make our choices and we live with the consequences (just a little half-baked philosophy there; it is Lame Post Friday after all). I thought if I just ran Thursday and Friday I could still pull off the 5K without undue stress. And for anther thing, I was in quite the foul mood and thought I could sweat it out if I beat up my body with a good hard run. I’ve done that before. I think it’s the endorphins.

My beef concoction, which I wrote about in yesterday’s blog, was simmering in the crock pot. My fancy headband of sweat-wicking material was hanging on the wooden rack with my other fine washables. My favorite sports bras were clean. I found an XL t-shirt, because I felt the need for something extra roomy. Mr. Incredible. Perfect! A superhero on my shirt to aspire to. I was off.

It was warm. How many times this summer have I missed the days of moderate temperature only to go running in the sweltering heat? I haven’t counted, but once is enough. On the brighter side, it wasn’t super humid. On the darker side, who notices these things at temperatures in the mid to upper 80s?

My legs were immediately upset with me. Was this the result of taking two days off, of working a ten-hour day, or of the stinking heat? It doesn’t matter, I told myself, because none of these conditions would apply Saturday morning. I would run again Friday. I would get a good night’s sleep. It was extremely unlikely that the temperature would be above eighty degrees at 9:15 a.m. I thought longingly of how good Saturday morning would feel. I tried not to think about how much Thursday afternoon sucked.

I ran up the hill on Main Street. Steep. I almost had a VCD attack as I neared the top (that’s vocal chord dysfunction, a breathing problem I sometimes have). I tried to breath more deeply. I refrained from throwing myself down into some grass on the side of the road and bursting into tears. I promised myself I could cry later, as long as I finished the run.

Going downhill was not the sweet relief it sometimes is, but at least it was doable. Soon I was on German Street again. Sweat started to trickle into my eyes. Wasn’t that wicking headband supposed to help that?

I saw a teenager walking along the sidewalk a short distance ahead of me. He was dressed in black with long pants. Two fashion choices I could never make in this heat. He either had very shaggy hair or was wearing one of those knitted caps you sometimes see these days (that’s how you can tell a teenager: they wear woolen hats in the summer and flip flops in the winter) (and before any younger readers accuse me of indulging in age-based stereotypes — I KNOW not all teenagers are like that and people of any age can make uncomfortable fashion choices).

Where was I? Oh yes, crossing German Street not at the corner to avoid catching up with the teenager. It really had less to do with his woolen hat than my desire to not see how long it would take me to catch up to a pedestrian. Then the bastard crossed the street too. I turned down Lansing.

Where oh where was the shade? It’s August, for heavens’ sake. Shouldn’t the sun be a LITTLE lower in the sky? I daresay it is, if only I had some way of measuring it. My run was becoming increasingly uncomfortable and, even worse, I began to realize it was NOT helping my bad mood dissipate. Where are those damn endorphins when you need them?

I crossed a street to enjoy a little shade. Then changed directions again to avoid a couple of young joggers who seemed to be trotting along with no problems whatever. Of course I was very happy for them, but I didn’t think I could smile and wave, as I like to do with pedestrians or fellow runners.

Well, the run was a means to an end, that end being that the DARE 5K will suck less. The horrible mood left me eventually, as horrible moods do. After I showered and made my blog post, I ate some of my Beef/Eggplant Crock Pot Concoction (I just now decided that is the name of the dish, like it?). It was quite delicious. And Friday’s run did not suck. Stay tuned for my coverage of the DARE 5K!

3 Comments

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

Crock Pot Creativity

Posted on August 17, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I haven’t done a cooking post recently, and I did some cooking last night (Wednesday), so I thought this might be a change of pace.

Wednesday’s dinner was grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches. I thought about doing something to make it more memorable, like adding pesto or using real butter, but I was impatient to eat so I used the traditional, easy method. I did use farm stand tomato, so it was local (and yummy!), but that wasn’t what I meant to write about anyways. I got creative for Thursday’s dinner.

You see, Thursday is two days away from the DARE 5K (you knew I’d get back to talking about that sooner or later, didn’t you?). A guy at the Sneaker Store in New Hartford, NY, told me to eat a steak dinner two days before the Boilermaker and pasta the night before. The Sneaker Store, just to give a quick plug to a local business, is where I purchase my running shoes, because they are so helpful and knowledgeable. In this case, I had stopped in for running socks and advice about the intensity of my workouts the week before the big race.

I don’t know how to cook a steak, but I can throw a London Broil into the crock pot. I figured beef is beef. This would work.

I also happened to have an eggplant, which I know goes good with beef. I chopped the eggplant into bite sized pieces and put them in the bottom of the crock pot, which Steven had helpfully sprayed with no-stick stuff for me. I had some pesto I had made on Sunday, so I drizzled that over the eggplant and stirred.

My pesto is not made according to a real recipe. This time I used a combination of olive and canola oil to which I added fresh basil from my container garden, crushed garlic (which I let breathe for 15 minutes) and fresh grated Parmesan. I whirred everything around in the blender till it looked good. We had it with angel hair and chicken. I always try to make enough pesto for leftovers.

I put the London Broil on top of the eggplant, brushed it with pesto and sprinkled on a little garlic powder for good measure. Then I made a note on our grocery list to buy more garlic powder. Purists are now throwing up their hands in horror that I do not use fresh garlic exclusively. To these people I say, as kindly as possible, get over yourselves.

Then I looked in the cabinet for diced tomatoes or tomato sauce and found I have none. What’s that all about? Well, I don’t get to Aldi’s, that excellent source for canned food, as often as I used to. Also, for a while there I was going a little crazy with the diced tomatoes. They were piling up and I kept neglecting to rotate my stock with the result that some cans expired. By a couple of years. So now I err on the other side and don’t have things when I need them.

Steven found me some tubes of pizza sauce in the freezer. I’ve mentioned this sauce before: it comes with the pizza crust we sometimes buy (and for you purists who are now raising your hands in horror because I don’t make pizza crust from scratch and/or because I’m using the sauce that comes with it, oh, just put your hands down. Who asked you?). I put the tubes in some hot water to thaw and went upstairs to write yesterday’s blog post.

When I returned I squeezed the tomato sauce over the beef and eggplant and put the whole thing in the refrigerator. I have a fancy crock pot (purchased some years ago with money my mom and dad sent me for my birthday. Thanks, Mom and Dad!). The bowl comes out of the heating unit, for ease of cleaning and to put your food in the fridge overnight. A very handy feature.

Steven’s assignment today is to put the crock in the pot (or is it the pot in the crock?) and turn it on low, eight to ten hours before we plan to eat. If that turns out to be before I type this into my computer, I’ll let you know how it turns out.

ADDED NOTE: Haven’t tried the stuff yet, but it smells good and I’m hungry! I hope you’re eating well tonight, too.

Leave a comment

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

I’m Not A-Mused

Posted on August 16, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I avoided a Middle-aged Musings Monday by talking about a cheesy movie. That was fun. I had another movie for Tuesday. Today I got nothin’. Time for mid-week musings? Not so much.

I actually had another movie, a non-cheesy one this time. After finishing Tuesday’s post I had written the first paragraph, just to be pro-active. Today I sat staring at that paragraph with the next sentence ringing in my head and I could. not. make. myself. write. it. What the hell, self? Is that Writer’s Block? It wasn’t Writer’s Blank, my usual malady, when I can’t even think of the next sentence. It’s not that other nameless scourge, where I write something down then erase it (although I feel another bout of that coming on… keep… fingers.. from… backspace…). Oh dear. How dreadfully boring for you, the reader. If you’re even still reading by now.

In my defense, it has been a hairy couple of days. Tuesday I was getting ready to leave work, thinking that I might run, I would make my blog post, I might work on the murder mystery I’m writing, I would probably type up the minutes of the Ilion Little Theatre Board Meeting (I hope no board members read this blog; I ought to have typed them up three weeks ago)… and for some foolish reason, I checked for messages on my cell phone, which I almost never get anyways…

And found out Steven’s sister and her husband were in town from Vermont. Eek! We knew they were THINKING ABOUT visiting, but for some silly reason thought they would let us know before they actually showed up. They were staying at the KOA Kampgrounds (I believe it’s spelled with a K in this case) just out of town but naturally wanted to see the house. They had found Steven at his place of employment. He has no cell. There is no other way to reach him.

I was actually laughing about this. I have that reaction sometimes. When I walk outside and it is raining or snowing, I often laugh. I went home, looked at the mess and stopped laughing. I may have mentioned Wonder Woman Hour, where you clean frantically and quickly. I had Wonder Woman Hour and a Half. I was exhausted! Then Steven came home and said, “Change in plans. We’re going out to their camp.” Oh, sure! On the brighter side, now parts of the house are clean.

I would like to write at greater length about the campgrounds my in-laws stayed at but feel I would like to learn more about the place first. For now suffice it to say we had a nice visit and drove home discussing a quick stop at Arby’s.

And hit a deer.

It was scary! I never hit a deer before. Steven was driving. I didn’t see a thing, I just felt the car jerk and hear a LOUD bang.

“What was that?” In a loud, panicked voice.

“We hit a deer.”

I don’t even want to talk about it. I didn’t even want to write that much, but my fingers now seem to have minds of their own (although minds that seem to be cooperating with each other… OK, bad metaphor).

Anyways, this is why I can’t write a post. The deer ate my homework (ooh, maybe that should have been the title). I’m still shook up and still trying to get done the things I meant to work on when I was instead frantically cleaning and visiting with relatives (two very worthwhile things to do; I’m not repining, only regrouping). I see a light at the end of the tunnel (probably an oncoming train), and hope to have better Mohawk Valley adventures to relate by the end of the week. Thank you for your patience.

3 Comments

Posted in humor, personal. Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
Newer Posts →