Category Archives: personal

The Name of the Lame

I thought I would attempt a Lame Post Friday post. I am feeling fairly lame today. For most of the day, my legs had that macaroni feeling. My brain, of course, is almost always of questionable usefulness. But one must persevere.

I thought the blog post I wrote this morning was not too bad. Or do I flatter myself? It doesn’t matter if I do. Flattery isn’t the worst thing you can do. Where was I going with this?

On Lame Post Friday I traditionally indulge in random observations and half-baked philosophy. I have actually observed very little today. I drove up through Ilion Gorge to work this morning, but I was listening to music and daydreaming. I paid enough attention to stay on the road, that’s all. I had an interesting drive through quite heavy rain, returning home from visiting my husband Steven at the nursing home.

I mentioned that my husband is currently in a nursing home, didn’t I? It is supposed to be merely a temporary stay. It would be a HIPAA violation to say more (have I the correct acronym?).

Well, this post certainly lives up to its name of Lame (YES, I mean “its” not “it’s”. “Its” is like “his” or “hers”; “it’s” only properly means “it is”). You’ll have that, at least with me in my blog. It matters not. I am over 200 words. I hope you will all tune in tomorrow, when I once again try for a better blog post.

They Play Again!

I have been enjoying a lot of good local music at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort. Last Friday (Holy Cow, that was a week ago and I haven’t written about it yet!) I went there specifically to hear the Playin’ Again Band.

I first heard them two weeks before, when I impulsively joined my sister Cheryl, her daughter Kimberly, and Kimberly’s boyfriend Matt for pizza and beer (perhaps you read my blog post about it) (Which I would link to, but I can’t remember it’s title). Cheryl found out the band was playing again (see what I did there?) July 2. I made a mental note.

These guys are great!

Matt couldn’t make it, but Kimi, Cheryl and I sat at the bar and enjoyed good food and music. They both had fish fry. Huge pieces of fish! I have to get that next time. I ordered a more modest clam basket, substituting a salad for fries. Yum!

Ah, a sign!

When we heard these guys before, we did not know the name. Cheryl cleverly found out and let me know after the fact. This time they had a lovely sign.

Another wide view.

When I went in the other room to get the pictures, I danced my way in and out as usual. A table with three couples sitting at seemed to enjoy watching me. A short time later, they all got up to dance to a romantic tune.

It was another enjoyable evening. Thanks, Fratello’s!

Block, Blank, Blob? It’s Tired Tuesday!

Alas, I am having a Tired Tuesday. Many of my days are tired, but today it is at least alliterative. I take my happiness where I find it.

Wow, this is really bad. I just pecked in the above paragraph (one letter at a time with the stylus, feeling happy that I found my stylus again) (speaking of taking my happiness, etc.), then sat here staring at the otherwise blank screen. Earlier today, I opened my notebook (the paper, spiral-bound kind, of course), picked up my pen, and, yes, stared at the blankness.

I’ve said it before: I don’t usually get Writer’s Block, I get Writer’s Blank. I know, I know, the solution is to just write something, anything. Well, that’s what I’m doing, isn’t it? And I gotta say, I am not pleased with what I am writing. Maybe the blank was better (ooh, a little more alliteration!).

How about Writer’s Blob instead?

When in doubt, throw in a picture of a monster and hope for the best. I do feel rather blobbish when I am not writing. It is one of those vicious cycles: I don’t write because I feel blobbish, and I feel blobbish when I do not write. That being the case, I would expect to feel at least marginally less blobbish now.

But blobbish or not, I am over 200 words. I’ll try for a better blog post tomorrow.

Monster Movies, Murder and Mayhem on Monday

I felt very fortunate to have today off, but I must confess I did not make very good use of the day. I got the lawn mowed and made some small progress cleaning up some of the overgrowth on the perimeter. I purchased dirt for my container garden but have not used it yet. Baby steps.

And I watched a couple movies.

Jackie Coogan? No way!

This poster showed up on one of my monster pages on Facebook, and I was like, “Oh, yeah, I’ve seen that!” I had it in one of my cheesy DVD collections (The Best of the Worst), so I popped it in. I had an idea I might do a write-up on it for the blog. Not today, though.

The movie is actually in color.

The Terror was on the same disc as Mesa of Lost Women, so I watched that next. I have written about The Terror more than once. It is a favorite of mine. Love that Roger Corman! Um, he produced and directed. The above picture, of course, shows Jack Nicholson and Boris Karloff.

I started to watch another movie but turned it off to make my blog post. I have some true crime television playing in the background. I just loves me some murder and mayhem. Ooh, just look at all the Ms (or should it be M’s?)! There’s my alliterative headline!

Happy 4th of July!

Is it too late to make my Fourth of July Wrist to Forehead Sunday Post? I don’t care if it is. I didn’t do a whole lot to mark the holiday. Usually I try to get some Samuel Adams beer but neglected to stop by Beer Belly Bob’s (just to slip in a plug for a local business). I drank some iced coffee from my Sam Adams glass instead.

Refreshing and patriotic!

In the afternoon, Kim and I went to visit out dear friends Phyllis and Jim. Our intent was to raise a glass of wine to a recently departed theatre friend. With that and the holiday in mind, I stopped at Ilion Wine and Spirits to get red, white and blue wine.

No, I did not drink all this wine.

We had a very nice time.

We weren’t the only guests.

I hope you all had an enjoyable Independence Day, however you celebrated it, or even if you didn’t celebrate.

A Sick Slacker Saturday?

This going to be a short post about why I am not making a longer one. I went for a long run this morning, thinking I might make a Saturday Running Commentary Post. However, I had plans for later, so a Scattered Saturday Post was also eligible. Then I took a short nap, because the run really took it out of me.

I woke up with one eyeball red and swollen. I did not think too much of it, because I have bad allergies. These things happen. Then I got to thinking: could this be pink eye? That would be bad. Pink eye is contagious.

I googled it, I asked Facebook friends, and I dithered. I thought I should err on the side of caution and neither visit my husband at the nursing home nor get together with friends later. One advantage I had: my insurance cards had just come in the mail, so I could go to Urgent Care if I so decided. At last I decided to stay home alone and await developments. I searched my house and found some benadryl.

As I sat on the couch, crocheting and watching Svengoolie, I periodically peered at the offending eye in a little mirror. Glory Hallelujah, the swelling went down and the red faded! It was allergies after all!

Now I am thinking that I have a hell of an ego. I just spent over 200 words detailing my silly eye problems. Not bad for a blogger’s sick day, actually. Or do I flatter myself?

Waste a Little Time With This Post?

So it is another late Lame Post Friday post. I don’t think it matters much, although people are free, as always, to judge me. Anyways, I kept seeing this article on Facebook saying blogging was dead. I can’t even muster a “SAY IT AIN’T SO!” I almost never do the right thing to begin with. It’s kind of a theme of my life. So I can’t get too exercised over some random article telling me I am wasting my time with my little blog.

Full disclosure: I did not click on the article. I almost never click on these things, even when they are shared by a friend for a specific reason (sorry, friends!). Too often they are slide shows, which take forever to click through, or they are filled with ads, or both. Also, I am too lazy to read long articles on the computer. Sometimes I don’t even read long Facebook comments, even when they are on my own posts (again, sorry friends).

However, I thought I might make a few comments on the idea of the article. Lots of people feel free to opine without gathering all the facts. What other facts do I need in this case? That is not rhetorical; if you feel there are other facts I need, please comment and tell me what.

I do not have a lot of comments to make anyways. I just want to say that, despite my late posts, missing posts, and downright foolish posts, I like to write a blog. I intend to continue to do so. As long as I enjoy it and people enjoy reading it (as I make bold to say some people do), I am not wasting my time. Full stop.

Ooh, shouldn’t the post end with “full stop”? I really don’t do the right thing, do I?

Short Post, Good Wednesday

I KNOW what hump!

To us Monday through Friday schlubs (YES, I am grateful to be one of them; must we go through this every time? Sheesh!), Wednesday has a particular significance. It’s either, “Yay! We’re halfway through!” or, “Rats! We’re only halfway through!”

Recently I have tried giving Wednesday a different meaning by making it my Local Music at Fratello’s night. I believe I mentioned it in yesterday’s post. Today I saw Phil Arcuri, one of my favorite music makers.

Different day, same smile!

The great thing about watching Phil play is that he is having so much fun up there. The man is pure joy, and it is contagious. The above is a picture I took a few weeks ago. I did not get any pictures tonight but enjoyed some good music and a calzone. I took home some leftover calzone and the happy feeling of having an enjoyable evening.

I do not have a whole lot else to say. I think that is OK. For Fratello’s information, arrow back to yesterday’s post. Or search Fratello’s on Facebook. Or wait till the next time I go there to enjoy food and music. It might be soon!

My New Wednesday Thing?

I am thinking of making Wednesdays at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort a regular thing. Last Wednesday I discovered another talented local musician: Gary Johnson.

He was excellent.

I was sitting at my favorite spot at the bar. I ordered a large antipasto salad, so I would have something for lunch for the next couple of days. A gentleman sat a couple seats down from me and ordered a calzone.

“Rome Calzone!” I said, quoting a local commercial. This guy is auditioning to be a spokesman for Rome Pre-Owned and can’t quite get it right. “Oh, sorry,” I said to the gentleman at the bar, hoping he knew the commercial.

“You’re fine,” he said.

Not many people were there when Gary Johnson started playing.

“That’s OK,” he said. “I’ll take quality over quantity!” I felt flattered.

He kept asking what we wanted to hear. Being unfamiliar with his repertoire, I told him to play his favorite. He responded with one of his favorites: “Tiny Dancer.” I love that song!

My view.

I enjoyed the music very much. When I left, I gave him a little wave and called, “Thank you!” I enjoyed my antipasto as well. Good Music, good food, why wouldn’t I make this my usual Wednesday thing?

Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-8484. They are open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday. They don’t only have music on Wednesdays. You can follow their Facebook page to find out more.