Category Archives: humor

I Take a Taste

Posted on July 20, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I started out my weekend the way I always used to, by stopping in at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY for a tasting.  I no longer make it every weekend, but this past Friday, it was Hazlitt Winery.  I had to support a New York State Winery!

I have been to Hazlitt a number of times, most memorably in (I think) 2003 when my late, beloved husband Steve and I went on our first wine tasting tour in the Finger Lakes.  Wow, that was a long time ago!  I have learned a little bit about wine since then.  Not a lot, of course; my ultimate accolade is still “Yummy.”  One thing I have learned is that you might as well take a taste, because you never know.

I make friends at these tastings!

The gentleman pouring was Connor Hennessy (one of the all time great names).  I have met him before and perhaps included him in the blog (too lazy to go back and check).  I started with White Stag, a sweet table wine. I found it tasty.  I am not a fan of sweet wines, but I do enjoy a taste now and then.  If somebody was serving this at a dinner party, I might take a small glass.

I went on to try the Peach Mango and Strawberry Watermelon.  Yum!  I liked the Peach Mango best.  It was sweet but not too sweet.  We discussed how it would be good on a hot day, perhaps over ice or in a wine slushy.  I know wine slushies are very popular these days, although I have never had one.

I finished up on the Red and White Sangria.  The Red was the sweetest of the day, but I did not think the White was too sweet (it was sweet, it just wasn’t too sweet).  I still prefer a drier wine, but I may pick up one of these when I am entertaining and want a variety of tastes available.

It was an enjoyable interlude.  I enjoyed chatting with Connor and hope to see him again.  Valley Wine and Liquor holds tastings almost every weekend. You can check out the schedule at http://shopvalleywine.com.

 

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Happy Lame Weekend!

Posted on July 19, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was just about to do something useful when I remembered, I never made my Lame Post Friday blog post!  OK, I probably wasn’t really about to do anything particularly useful.  Who is the arbiter of what is useful anyways?  Not me! (Ooh, I just flashed on when I was a kid, and you all yelled, “Not It!” then argued about who actually said it last and had to be It) (And how about, “Last one there’s a rotten egg, first one has to eat it!”)

So much for my parenthetical stroll down Memory Lane.  Save it for Throwback Thursday, me!  Quick, throw in a picture, because I obviously do not have much of substance to say.

See me in the back, looking like the Statue of Liberty? That was not my intention.

Here is a picture from July 2019, when I participated in the DooDah Parade in Ilion, NY with Ilion Little Theatre (ILT).  ILT did not participate in this year’s DooDah Parade, which was last night, but I was there covering the event for Sentinel Media. That is one reason I did not make my blog post yesterday.  I may make a whole blog post about that (Preview of Coming Attractions), but right now my phone is across the room charging, so I can’t transfer pictures to WordPress (First World Problems).

Who me? Drink wine?

This is a completely unrelated picture.  I include it  because it’s Saturday.  I may, in fact, have a glass of wine.  I hope you will feel free to indulge in whatever you may like and have a wonderful weekend.

 

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Who Doesn’t Love a Post Rehearsal Post?

Posted on July 18, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last night I got home from rehearsal very tired, poured myself a martini (gin, dirty, four olives, if you want the visual) and thought to do a Post-Rehearsal Post.  I even transferred three pictures from my old smart phone (which I previously explained is my character’s prop) for the purpose.  Alas, to no avail.  I was just too tired.  But here I am Friday morning, determined to remedy the omission.  Once again, the play I am in is Four Old Broads on the High Seas at Players of Utica.

Tah-dah!

This is three of the four Broads boarding the ship (I am, as you may remember, the fourth).  I have some other shots that would be good if only I knew how to crop a photo.

Is it me or are the shadows on my chin little weird?

I never have been able to take a decent selfie.  This is me and the Captain, after I have pointed out to him that I am a “real beauty queen.”  Yes, that is my own personal tiara.  I take this selfie every night, but it rarely turns out usable.

Who doesn’t love Dolly?

Who doesn’t love a porter in drag?  Steven/Miss Tequila Mockingbird is one of the most delightful characters in the play.  Really, the whole cast is delightful to work with, as is the crew.  I am having a marvelous time; it is well worth being tired!

Once again, Four Old Broads on the High Seas will be presented at Players of Utica, 1108 State St., Utica, NY, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 25 through 27, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.  For more information call 315-7247624.

 

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A Run-on Blog Post?

Posted on July 17, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sunday I started a blog post about running but got bogged down and discouraged.  I sensibly saved the draft and share it now, with some editing and additions.

I ran yesterday , hoping to make a Running Commentary post before I went ahead with the rest of my day, but the day crowded in and, well, here I am Sunday morning.  However, it is quite appropriate for me to blog about running as today is Boilermaker Sunday in Utica, NY, a big deal around here and elsewhere.  In case you didn’t know, it is a premier 15K which a great portion of the community turns out to support.  I have run it in the past (perhaps you read some of my blog posts about it).  This morning I have been looking at Facebook posts from the Boilermaker and WKTV News and thinking, “Damn, I could be there.”  But so it is any year I do not run the Boilermaker.

In point of fact, as I ran this morning I was happy I had not signed up to run the Boilermaker 15K (I always specify 15K, because there is also a 5K in which I have absolutely no desire to participate).  It is EXTREMELY humid out!  I could hardly breathe!  Additionally, my legs were doing their best impression of overcooked elbow macaroni (which some find delicious in baked macaroni and cheese, but is not so good to run on) (maybe a run-on sentence) (but I digress).

Why do they always look less steep in pictures?

This is one of the hills I ran up Saturday.  I went on to run up to Herkimer College the back way.  It is less steep than the front way but longer.  I surprised myself by making it.  However, it was fairly painful, so I made up my mind that I would not run the Falling Leaves 14K Road Race in Utica in September, which features a lot of hills.  I have always wanted to run it, and it seemed within reach this year.  And then suddenly it didn’t.  What the hell, me?

Running, a drill sergeant in Army basic training taught me, is largely a matter of distracting yourself from how much it sucks.   One of the things I do to distract myself is to figure in my head how long I will be running each week if I increase my time by ten percent (recommended by many running experts).  And I figure how long it might take me to run 5K, 14K, or 15K or whatever.  Sometimes I go backwards from the date of the run to now.  Suddenly my figuring seemed hopelessly optimistic.

As Saturday wore on, I thought perhaps I had been hasty in my decision.  After all, the registration price for Falling Leaves did not go up till midnight Sunday.  If I had a great run Sunday, I would reconsider.  I suppose it will come as a surprise to no one that Sunday’s run was no great.  Never mind.  There are 5Ks that are within my grasp!

Like this one!

Looking to the future:  I ran into a friend who did run the Boilermaker 15K, and we made plans to run it together next year!  At least, we will start together and try to meet up again at the end.  He runs much faster than I do.  Further blog posts as events warrant.

 

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The Old Broad Is Still On Stage!

Posted on July 16, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

This blog may become All Four Old Broads All The Time for the next week and a half.  Six more rehearsals remain for Four Old Broads on the High Seas, the play I am in at Players of Utica. If you readmy previous blog posts about it, you may recall that my character takes a lot of pictures during the course of the play, using a flash (it is a recurring joke in the script that people keep squinting).  I use an old smart phone (much smarter than I am, I fear) and am able to use some of said pictures here.

Three out of four Broads surveyed said this is a fun play!

Unfortunately, most of the pictures do not come out all that well.  Additionally, a lot of the ones that do come out are remarkably similar. However, I find them fun and intend to use them.

Check out my crown and sash!

Oh dear, we are completely blocking the third character in the shot!  You can only see her blue hat.  Never mind; I will get other pictures of her later.

From when we were still on book.

I do not have any scenes with these two characters but took this shot during  an early rehearsal.  Now I am backstage all through the show, worrying about costume changes.  Wait till you get a load of me in my Playboy Bunny outfit!

Four Old Broads on the High Seas will be presented at Players of Utica, 1108 State St., Utica, NY, Friday July 25 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday July 26 and 27 at 2 p.m.  All seats are $15.  For more information call 315-724-7624.

 

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Ghoulish Memories on Monstrous Monday

Posted on July 14, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had a problematic weekend, and the upcoming week doesn’t look much better.  And here I sit drinking hot coffee to make matters worse.

“Follow me! To the Graveyard!”

I quick threw in a picture to lighten things up. “Follow me!  To the Graveyard!” followed by an evil laugh is one of the things my Elliott Ghoul likes to say.  My late, dearly missed husband Steve and I picked up Elliott at a garage sale many years ago.  We used to put him in the attic November through September, then Steve used to at least turn him off when it wasn’t the season.  I leave him on year round, just for the sake of hearing a voice other than my own once in a while.

Where was I?  I just spent a ridiculous amount of time looking for a picture of Elliot Ghoul in my Media Library.  He stands in my dining room window, for the amusement of any passers-by who might notice.  He went off once behind me while I was on a video appointment with a VA doctor on the dining-room-table-top (long-time readers may remember it used to be a laptop).  The doctor asked what it was.

“Oh, that’s just my ghoul,” I was happy to explain.

And there’s my late sweetie-pie.

I add a picture of my late husband at a Halloween party, because it seems to fit the mood of today’s post.  I have 400 words of another post saved.  I started it yesterday, realized I did not know where I was going with it but knew it ought to go somewhere.  Will I finish it today?  Or ever?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my Monday.

 

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Enjoying Datelame

Posted on July 12, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I do not know why I said I was going to try for a better blog post yesterday when I knew today was Lame Post Friday.  In point of fact, I did not have a Lame Post Friday Post last Friday. Could I go two weeks without posting Lame on Friday?  Apparently not.

Full disclosure: I am not actually howling.

I have done very little today and did venture to the Elks for a libation this afternoon.  I do enjoy the company of my fellow Elks.  Then I came home and had some supper (I must get more tempting food when I shop again but fear I will eat it all at once and be no better off).  Now I am sitting on my couch, looking at Dateline on ROKU and hoping to make some semblance of a blog post.

I do love my Dateline.

Full disclosure:  I do not know how to watch many things on my ROKU.  People have told me which  channels are free, so perhaps I will eventually expand my viewing habits.  However, regular readers know my love of Dateline and cannot be surprised at my willingness to watch it exclusively.

Not a current picture, but my current attitude.

Will I become more useful on Saturday?  Will I ever make a better blog post?  For the answers to these and other questions of varying interest, please stay tuned to Mohawk Valley Girl.

 

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Sometimes I Do Run Backwards

Posted on July 11, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

It really has not been all that hot and humid lately.  I mean, no heat advisories that I heard of, and it was only in the 80s, not the 90s.  Why, then do I feel so sluggish and that my brain has been steamed?  Why, oh why, am I making another blog post about it?  This cannot be interesting!  Quick, throw in a picture to pep things up.

Anybody remember when I did that?

I participated in this race back in 2017 but not again thereafter.  I do not know why not.  However, I saw a post about it on Facebook the other day and said, “I’m doing it this year!”  Of course I forgot to write down the date or any other information about it.  However, I think I have time to find these things out.  And I am still in 5K shape from the Pride Stride 5K in June.  The beauty part is, this should be good for several blog posts.

Can you tell it’s uphill?

I think this is the back way to Herkimer College (previously known as HCCC).  I recently ran up the front way for the first time in a while.  I have not run up the back way recently but I suppose it would be a good idea to.  I feel I do not run enough hills.

On the brighter side, using the two pictures from the past entitles me to bill this as a Throwback Thursday.  Once again, I will try for a better blog post tomorrow, and I thank you for tuning in.

 

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I Practice Being an Old Broad

Posted on July 10, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to a Post Rehearsal Post.  The rehearsal was for Four Old Broads on the High Seas, the play I am in a Players of Utica (perhaps you read some of my other blog posts about it).  I may have mentioned that my character keeps taking pictures, and that is where I got the shots for today’s blog post.  It is a less than ideal way to get pictures for a post, but one does what one can (one being me).

The other three broads.

This is an early scene.  As you see, two of the women are in partial costume.

Look how happy we are!

This is one of my favorite shots, and it has come out at more than one rehearsal.  This was last night’s rehearsal.

Check out my tiara!

And this was tonight’s rehearsal.  The lady in the blue had looks more like a photo bomber in this one.  I get to wear the tiara through the whole play.  My character recently won the Miss Magnolia Senior Citizen Pageant, and she is very proud of the fact.  I personally enjoy wearing a tiara at almost any excuse.

Four Old Broads on the High Seas will be presented July 25 at 7 p.m., and  July 26 and 27 at 2 p.m. at Players of Utica, 1108 State St., Utica, NY.  Tickets are $15 and are available at www.playersofutica.org/order-tickets.

 

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Alas, Another Tired Tuesday Post

Posted on July 9, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear.  I am as dreadfully overheated as I was yesterday, and I only feel up to a Tired Tuesday blog post.  I don’t have much to blog about anyways; I have done very little with my Tuesday. There was a moment as I was driving towards the grocery store when I felt an impulse to drive someplace more interesting, Little Falls Food Co-op, for example, but I couldn’t quite think what I might buy there.  I had rehearsal for Four Old Broads on the High Seas, but I need to sort through some pictures before I make another post about that (preview of coming attractions).

The Brain I Don’t Have.

I quick threw in a picture to pep things up.  This, of course, is The Brain from Planet Arous.  Looking through my Media Library distracted me from continuing the list of things I was NOT going to make a blog post about.  I once had a college professor get all mad at me because I spent a lot of a paper saying what I wasn’t going to get into about the topic at hand.  I don’t know what he wanted in a two page paper.  Anyways, he still gave me an A.  No wonder I got an exaggerated notion of myself as a writer.

For the record, I no longer have that exaggerated notion.  I am a writer who does not write enough. I keep hoping to change that.  I’ll let you know if I ever succeed.

 

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