Category Archives: blogging

To Tree Or Not To Tree

Posted on December 7, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I know in headlines you’re not supposed to capitalize “or” or “to” or little, unimportant words like that (although think how oddly that headline would read without them), but I thought “To Tree or Not to Tree” looked funny, too. What’s a blogger to do?

It is kind of an important point, because the headline is pretty much all I have today.

Wow, I just sat here staring at the screen for a good three or four minutes (felt like hours). This could be the shortest post yet!

I did try to write something under this title on a break at work today. Usually I can get at least a paragraph or two out of my silly dithering. I wrote something about waxing philosophical about Christmas trees. Then I got bogged down between saving the half-baked philosophy for Lame Post Friday and wanting to make a play on words about waxing things.

I said to hell with this, wrote another page on my novel, and thought I would trust to writing on the fly. It’s worked before.

First Steven and I had to do some Christmas shopping. I have mentioned that he works at a certain big box store which needs no publicity from Mohawk Valley Girl. Well, he qualified for a sweet 20 percent off voucher, good today or tomorrow only, for one shopping trip. We filled a cart! And don’t think that didn’t entail a lot of dithering!

Shopping on a Thursday night in December. What the hell was I thinking? As I threaded my way around people and carts, saying, “Pardon me, excuse me, pardon me,” this chick who worked there barged by me saying “EXCUSE ME!” in a loud voice, as if I was the one standing in the middle of the aisle holding things up!

Other than that little annoyance, though, it was pretty fun. Most people were at least polite if not good-natured about it. At one point, as I was hustling back to toiletries while Steven completed looking for groceries, I got the giggles. It happens to me in bad weather, sometimes it happens to me in crowds. I seem to remember it happened at the Boilermaker more than once.

And what has this to do with “To Tree or Not to Tree,” you may ask. I bet you think I’m going to explain, “Shut up.” But no, I will answer: NOTHING! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

And just like that, a new feature is born for Mohawk Valley Girl: Non Sequitur Thursday. Hope you enjoyed it.

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I Suppose It Actually Is Friday

Posted on November 24, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

Really, Wednesday was my Friday this week, but I didn’t post lame then, so I thought, “Hey! I can have Lame Post Friday today!”

As soon as I wrote that, I felt sure that some pedantic person out there is saying, “Stop with the ‘my Friday,’ ‘Not Really Friday’ already! Wednesday is Wednesday! Friday is Friday! And nobody wants to read your lame posts anyways!”

OK, it’s not some generic pedantic person out there, it is one of the many critics in my head. The fact is I don’t have a damn thing to write about and I want to make this post so I can get on to the sitting on the couch watching cheesy movies portion of my day. Well, that’s not really true. I have a few subjects, but the fact is I have not written about them.

“So write about them now!” says the little voice in my head that thinks everything is just so easy. The bastard.

Sometimes the act of writing begets more writing. You get just one sentence or phrase or even word down on the paper and others follow. Some days, not so much. You get one word. Gritting your teeth, you make it a phrase. Straining to keep your fingers from the backspace button, you make it a sentence. Then the little voice in your head says, “Nobody wants to read that crap!”

And that’s where I’m at now. Seriously, I just erased three sentences before leaving “And that’s where I’m at now.”

Earlier I went up the attic and found our Christmas CDs. Before that I was at Hannaford, where I purchased some Bigelow Oolong Tea, of which I am sipping a cup. It tastes so good, I wish I could write a whole blog post just on that. Mostly I wish I could just sit and sip it and enjoy the GRP Christmas Collection which is currently playing.

And really, why not (stand by for a foray into a Middle-aged Musing)? It is the Friday of my four day weekend. Yesterday was a holiday. I worked hard all last week and weekend. I am now going to relax.

And tomorrow I will write a better blog post for your delectation. I hope.

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But It Really IS Wrist to Forehead Sunday!

Posted on November 19, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I know I signed off yesterday promising Mohawk Valley adventures for the foreseeable future. I even had a few yesterday. And today I am EXHAUSTED!

I guess not really. I guess “exhausted” would mean there is nothing left. No brain to think of a word to say. No energy to lift a pen or push a keyboard. Exhausted.

If this was Lame Post Friday, I cold go off into some half-baked philosophy about How We Exaggerate. I’m EXHAUSTED! I’m STARVING! I’m DYING! Some of us go through life in a perpetual wrist to forehead state. I’m trying to confine it to Sunday but, I admit, with indifferent success.

I really had a pretty fun day yesterday. After work, I took my dog for a very pleasant walk. I got a pedicure, and I went shopping in New Hartford with a friend. Then I came home and fixed supper for my husband. Wow! What a woman! (Just kidding. Nobody needs to post lengthy comments on how much MORE stuff THEY did.) (Unless you feel strongly about it; I don’t mind reading lengthy comments.)

Where was I? I don’t really remember, because, as sometimes happens, the act of writing has refreshed me. Or maybe it was the cheese, grapes and apple I’m eating (I’m on a break at work). In any case, I’m feeling better now. I would say the wrist is off my forehead, but you all know it was not really there to begin with (so difficult to eat cheese, grapes and apple with one hand while writing).

And here is where I kind of laugh at myself as a blogger. When I get home, I intend to type the preceding bit of self-therapy into the computer and call it a post. Is this a great hobby or what?

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But It’s Not Really Friday!

Posted on November 17, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I don’t like to do Lame Post Friday when I have to work on Saturday. Lame Post Friday is my fun, relaxed post which I make in anticipation of the weekend. For those of you just tuning in, it usually involves random observations and half-baked philosophy.

BUT I don’t think Friday is really a Friday when somebody (me) has foolishly agreed to work BOTH weekend days. What was I thinking? Oh, I know what I was thinking: I was thinking make some more money and let the manager think I’m a team player, that’s what I was thinking. Let’s just leave that alone, shall we?

I’ve been having a fairly stressful week. Today, as I was feeling bad about the most recent stupid mistake I just made (never mind what it was; take my work for it, it was STUPID), the phrase occurred to me, “It’s not the end of the world.”

What a useless thing to say! I wanted to answer myself, “OF COURSE it’s not the end of the blankety-blank world! If it was the end of the blankety-blank world, I wouldn’t worry about it! NOTHING matters at the end of the blankety-blank world! This sucks BECAUSE it’s not the end of the blankety-blank world!”

Then I thought, “This might be some good half-baked philosophy for Lame Post Friday. Too bad it’s not really a Friday and I don’t intend to do a Lame Post.” I actually don’t know what I thought I was going to write about, but I entered my day determined not to write a Friday Lame Post.

As I worked, I continued to half-bakedly philosophize about things people say to make you feel better and how ridiculous some of them are. I pondered: are these people sincerely trying to make you feel better or are they just spouting platitudes to make themselves feel superior? A little of both? I reached no definitive conclusion, but did not worry too much about that, because, as I said, it’s not Lame Post Friday.

And then I realize, it’s after 6 p.m. I have to get to bed at a reasonable hour. I’d like a glass of wine. I can’t think of another damn thing to do than to write some kind of Lame Post.

So here you have it. Almost 400 words of Lame It’s Not Really Friday Post. I have, in fact, a good blog post to write for tomorrow, and I hope to do at least a couple more blogworthy things. Stay tuned, I may be less lame in the near future. Happy Friday.

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Irony in the Life of a Blogger

Posted on November 15, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

So there I was, sitting in front of my computer with no blog post written, no topic in mind, and Firefox was taking its sweet time coming up. Welcome to Wuss Out Wednesday!

I have, in addition to limited brain cells, limited time in which to tax them. I have a special board meeting of the board of Directors of Ilion Little Theatre at six. I had to work out, which I did. I had to eat supper, which Steven nicely cooked. I had to shower, which I also did (I’m sure that comes as a relief to many).

Yesterday’s blog post was kind of dull. I even apologized for the dullness when I posted the link to Facebook. My sister tactfully suggested that it was perhaps a full life, so I had no time to think of things creative. I said no, it was dull. Well, there was that play I was in last weekend, otherwise I would have had time to watch more cheesy horror movies to write about.

The irony is not lost on me. Just to be sure, I will spell it out: My blog would be better if I spent more time at home, sitting on my couch. Because I was out in the Mohawk Valley participating in creative endeavors, my blog is boring.

I think that’s FUNNY! I’m going to stop having such an interesting life tomorrow. Well, Friday at the latest (tomorrow in fact I have the dinner meeting of Ilion Little Theatre as a whole: good food, a little wine, great company, oh yeah, I’ll start being boring again Friday). In the meantime, feel free to point and laugh (as some of you frequently do) (you know who you are).

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Wrist to Aching Forehead

Posted on November 12, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I checked. A mere three days ago I did a lame post about Why I Can’t Write a Post Today. It’s really too soon for another. Then again, it is Wrist to Forehead Sunday. And I have a headache. I want to write this post and not have it hanging over me for the rest of my day.

I don’t actually have a wrist to my forehead. For one thing, I don’t like to type with only one hand. I learned the two-hands-don’t-look-at-them method back in high school and I still find it fun and a little fascinating. Sometimes I just love to feel my fingers going to the right letters in rapid succession.

I really love writing a blog. It makes me write every day, and I love to write. And it is extremely easy to write. I don’t have to worry about what might this character do next, have I included enough clues but hidden them cleverly enough, is this what the teacher really wanted in answer to the essay question (oh yeah, like I ever worried about that one!)?

Some might say it is lazy, self-indulgent and not real writing (whatever that is). I say, oh, be quiet, it’s fun! You don’t have to read it. (Actually, I think it is the critic in my head who said it and she in fact does have to read it, because she is in my head and I’m reading it. I may have voices in my head, but I am not completely disassociative.)

Now I am being silly (say it ain’t so!). I intend to post this then go begin a marathon of watching old movies I can write blog posts about. When Steven comes home we may have a Mohawk Valley adventure that I can also write a blog post about. If only my headache goes away.

Let’s just chalk up today to another Blogger’s Sick Day. As usual, I will try again tomorrow. Thanks for reading!

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In My Defense… I Have No Defense

Posted on November 9, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was totally going to have a Wuss Out Wednesday yesterday. Then I recklessly told everyone at Curves that I was going to write about voting. True, none of those women read my blog and so would not know if I reneged. Still, it seemed a perfectly good blog topic with an expiration date. I went for it.

So now here I am on Thursday with no name for a stupid post (too late for Middle-aged Musings Monday, too early for Lame Post Friday) and no post other than the one I have written many times before (but with variations, or do I flatter myself?) about Why I Can’t Write a Blog Post Today.

I have the Overtime Blues at work. On the brighter side, this leads to the Payday Greens, which in turn helps Financial Condition Red. Just to use a little colorful language, which they say goes over well in the blogosphere.

With the Overtime Blues comes not much time and being too tired for Mohawk Valley adventures. Last night I attended a meeting of the Board of Directors for Ilion Little Theatre. Not so blogworthy. Tonight I have a pick-up rehearsal for Strike Story, followed on Friday and Saturday by performances of same. Blogworthy, but I’ve written about it before. What else can I say? Perhaps I will think of something for tomorrow, so my Friday post will not be lame.

I could blather on… who am I kidding? No I can’t. I am out of words about having no words. But I am over 250 words, which I consider sufficient to call it a post. I have to go find some black pantyhose for my play. Hope to see you Friday.

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In My Defense, I’m in a Play

Posted on October 25, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

This is a Mid-Week Middle-Aged Musing. At least, that’s what I’m calling it. In fact, once again, I got nuthin’.

Part of the problem is that I am in another play at Ilion Little Theatre. You see, after Dirty Work at the Crossroads got postponed, our little group needed another play for our fall production. After much discussion (to put it mildly), we decided to host another group’s play.

Angela Harris, a Mohawk Valley native, has written a readers’ theatre piece about the Little Falls textile strike of 1912, entitled Strike Story. It was presented in the Black Box Theatre at Canal Place in Little Falls recently (I may have mentioned in a blog post that Steven and I attempted to attend but it was sold out). One of our members went to see it, liked it and thought it would work just fine on our stage. The Little Falls group was amenable, and so it was arranged.

Unfortunately, not all participants could make all the production dates that were set. This is where I come in. I was suggested for one of the parts. I felt so flattered, how could I say no? I somehow had the impression it was a small part. Thinking back, I don’t know where I got that impression, because it is not the case. It is kind of a large part. Oh dear.

All this by way of saying, I have been studying my part on breaks at work, not writing blog posts. I made it OK yesterday by running after work and writing about that. Today after work I had to do something else (which may make tomorrow’s blog post), and somehow it got to be after 6:30 and I have neither fixed supper nor made my blog post.

Anyways, here is the one musing I can come up with: I am a theatre junkie. I just can’t say no! It doesn’t matter what it is, if it is theatre and somebody asks me to do it, I jump in with both feet. In this case, I am kind of glad I did it. I never did readers’ theatre before, I love local history, and I am inspired that this lady actually wrote a whole script and finished it. I’m going to start writing myself. Only, it seems, not blog posts. Try me again tomorrow, and Happy Wednesday.

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Wrist to Forehead Sunday

Posted on October 22, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

This happens all the time. I promise Mohawk Valley adventures which I fail to deliver. Well, I did threaten to institute Wrist to Forehead Sunday in case of just such an emergency, so here goes.

So let’s see now, Middle-aged Musings Monday which sometimes becomes Mid-week Musings, Lame Post Friday, Running Commentary Saturday which I have not been able to deliver on for a couple of weeks now… Wait, didn’t I have something for Thursday? The Thursday Trudge, I think. Why don’t I just say this is a whole blog about how hard it is to write a blog and have done with?

I did have some Mohawk Valley adventures yesterday that I expect to write about eventually. We had breakfast at Heidelberg Bakery Cafe and visited the Ilion Farmer’s Market as well as Ilion Wine and Spirits. We’ve been watching cheesy movies for a good portion of today. I actually may not have to go lame again till Friday.

We took two walks with Tabby today. She is such a sweet, good dog. Inclined to stop and sniff a little too often, but she doesn’t hold a grudge when we insist she continue the walk before she’s ready to. It’s a cloudy day with a bit of a breeze but not too cold. The trees are becoming bare but you can still see some bright color. And there are ghosts, pumpkins, skeletons and spider webs on many porches. Plenty of entertainment with our exercise.

Did I mention that yesterday Steven and I celebrated 22 years of wedded bliss? Well, we did. He’s a pretty good husband, and I’m… well I can only do my best. Luckily this is not a marriage blog.

I see I am over 200 words of this nonsense. I recently received e-mails telling me I acquired two new subscribers. Why do I always do such a colossally stupid post right after I get new readers? They’re going to unsubscribe from me in a big fat hurry. Then I’ll have a reason to put my wrist to my forehead. Hope to see you Monday.

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Saturday Evening Post

Posted on October 14, 2012 by mohawkvalleygirl

OK, I don’t have anything today except for that (I think) fabulous title, and it took me all day to come up with that.

As regular readers (I sure hope I still have some) know, I am hesitant to start running again, due to recent back problems, so Saturday Running Commentary was out. Fine, I thought, I’ll go for a walk. Tabby will like that.

And at first, she certainly seemed to. But two blocks in, she did her business and clearly indicated she was done walking, she wanted to go home.

I had some library books I had to return. We drove in the truck (no, there weren’t that many books that it needed a truck; I drive a truck). The library wasn’t open yet, so I put the books in the depository while Tabby waited for me in the truck. Nothing blogworthy there.

Back home, I started cleaning my house. That is, of course, startling and incredible news to those who know me. Blogworthy? Well, I did threaten to do a cleaning post, after several cooking posts once. Funny how cooking is so much more fun and creative than cleaning when they often get mentioned together as chores that couples ought to share (just a little half-baked philosophy; I don’t think my Friday Lame Post included any of that).

In desperation, I took a nap. Ever try to sleep when you’re desperate? OK, neither did I. I took a nap because I got up with Steven at 3:30, because he had to be in to work at 6, much like he often gets up with me at 3:30, because my overtime day starts at 5.

I thought, sleep, coffee, then I’ll write the blog post. Uh, and it looks like I did. Wait a minute, I’ve done this post before. “I had to write a post. But first I did this, then I did this, then I did this, then I wrote the post, and here it is.” That hoary fictional cliche, where the writer’s adventure turns out to be the movie or book we’ve just been watching or reading. I believe I even mentioned that cliche. I think it was last Friday’s Lame Post.

Oh well, what the hell, as a wise woman once said (it was my mother). At least this, this, and this that I did was different. Let’s call it a template for when I just can’t come up with anything. At any rate, Steven is home now. I’ll see if I can drag him on a Mohawk Valley adventure so I’ll have something better to blog about.

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