Category Archives: personal

Sometimes a Stylus is Not Good Enough

Posted on July 3, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Tired Tuesday follows Monstrous Monday,  regular readers know that.  Do I have a good reason to be tired?   Let us not dwell on these judgemental questions. Just a warning, my posts for the foreseeable future might be pretty bad.

YES, this is yet another post about not being able to write a blog post.  I think at least some other bloggers must like to read these posts, because it makes them feel better about their own writing.   I don’t know of any other blogger who whines about their inability to write as much as I do.  On the other hand,  I must confess, I do not read all that many blogs. I’ve fallen way behind on reading even the ones I particularly like.  My bad.

My problem today is that I have a serious blog post knocking around in my head, and I just can’t seem to put pen to paper about it.  And, yes, I feel I must put pen to paper, not stylus to Tablet as I am doing now.

OK, time to be honest with myself.  I have not been putting pen to paper nearly often enough lately.  The solution,  you need hardly tell me (and I know some of you were just about to tell me), is obvious.  Put the stylus down and pick up the pen.  Well, I will do that as soon as I stick a few categories and tags on this piece of nonsense and hit Publish.  After all, there is no point in falling another blog post behind.

 

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Some Semblance of Monstrous Monday

Posted on July 2, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yes it is a Monstrous Monday post.  Has it been a Monstrous Monday,  you may ask. I don’t have to answer these questions,  I just have to make a blog post.  So here it is.

This is not me, but you may forgiven for thinking so.

I actually have a few things I can make a blog post about.  However,  my brain has flown, I cannot blog (I will never get over thinking this is a silly verb).

I feel this quote is apropos.

I append this quote as a reason why I am posting nonsense.  At least this is some semblance of writing.

Yes, brain is what I do not have.

As I often do, I include a picture of The Brain from the Planet Arous, as an added reminder that I in fact have no brain whatsoever at my disposal.  You’ll have that.  At least, I’ll have that.

My favorite! At least one of my favorites.

Full disclosure: I want to make this post so I can watch Dateline on OWN.  After all, Monday is Dateline day.  Regular readers know how much I love true crime.

Not the sexiest bedroom scene in cine.

I close, as I often do, with a picture of Nosferatu.  Who doesn’t love a vampire on Monstrous Monday?

 

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Planning Theatre Fun

Posted on July 1, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was up to some theatre shenanigans,  or I guess some pre-theatre shenanigans while patronizing a local business this afternoon, so I thought, “This has blog post written all over it! ”  Accordingly, I took a couple of pictures.

The always delightful Phyllis and Jim.

My friends Phyllis, Jim and Kim met at the End Zone Pub and Grub in Herkimer,  NY to discuss the possibility of Jim directing a play with Ilion Little Theatre this fall.  I read the play under consideration this morning, and I gave it my stamp of approval.

I think Kim should be one of the leading ladies.

We had a delightful time, hanging out and chatting.  I asked the bartender for a picture,  for blogging purposes.

The bartenders name is Jenn.

Of course I had to get a picture of my three friends.  Kim once played Jim’s trophy wife in a murder mystery,  and they never got a divorce.

Yes, Jim is quite the ladies’ man.

After I took that shot, I asked Jenn to photobomb.  Does it still count as a photobomb if you ask someone to do it?  I hope so.

You can see how much fun we’re having.

I’ll have more information about the play once plans are finalized, dates are set, etc.  In the meantime,  I wouldn’t mind a few more planning sessions at the End Zone Pub and Grub!

 

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I Feel Like a Winner

Posted on June 29, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I haven’t done a Saturday Running Commentary post in a while (yes, I’m too lazy to go back and check; that run wore me out!).  Additionally,  today’s was a run I don’t mind revisiting, at least briefly (yes yes, my Running Commentary posts often run long, but they don’t always) (did you see what I did there? “run long”? Well, I liked it).

Yesterday’s run equalled my last longest time, so I thought I might do a shorter run today, then increase by the recommended ten percent tomorrow.  I could decide as I went.  I carried a bottle of water with me, reminding myself not to drink too much too fast.  Then I reflected that the run ought to be a long one, since I was bringing water.  You see how I talk myself into these things.

I decided to run up the hill by Valley Health then on into the residential area I call the Suburbs.  There are some pretty good hills in that area, and I can easily go by the spring to refill my water bottle on my way back home.

Tiny sips, I reminded myself, and not too often.  This would be fine.  Soon I had made it up the hill by Valley Health. That did not feel so fine.  I called a greeting to two ladies going to work (I surmised by their scrubs).  They waved and one said, “Get that work-out done!” in an encouraging tone of voice.

I ran further into the Suburbs than I have on my shorter runs.  Here was a hill!  As I recalled, it was a long hill.  Just keep going, I told myself. I resisted the urge to turn left and not go all the way up the hill.  Then I saw that I was no nearly as close to the top as I thought I was. Oh no!

There was the right-hand turn which was where I would come out if I kept going straight.  The road goes down then up.  So  I could turn right and go down, then up, then down,  or I could go straight and go up, then down, then up.  I turned right.  I felt I HAD to go downhill at least for a bit.

Bad move, I realized.  This made for a lot longer distance going up.  The snarky voice in my head suggested I take a life lesson about choosing short-term gratification and ending up with longer-term effort.  Then I told the snarky voice to shut up.  It is a win/win situation, I decided.  Either I enjoy an easier run or I enjoy the benefits of a more difficult run.  Additionally,  I intend to run in this area all summer.  I have plenty of chances to run the other way.

Keeping an eye on the time, I ran toward the spring.  I finished the bottle just as I got to it.  By virtue of going a little ways past my house, I increased my run time by 10 percent.  Now THAT is a win/win situation.  Or do I only win once?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

 

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Blogger Error

Posted on June 29, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

In my defense, I was having a delightful evening watching old horror movies and Dateline with my husband. In my indictment, I knew damn well I had a blog post to make.  I even logged on and was about to make one earlier.  I had gone for a long run and thought to do a Running Commentary post.  Then I felt disinclined to revisit the run verbally.

We had a nice Mohawk Valley Adventure, lunch at Asteroga Ale House with two friends from out of town.  That would have made a fine blog post.  What the hell, me? (I know that expression amuses some readers, as it does me.)

Yesterday my sister Vicki posted a Facebook meme that said, “My entire life can be summed up in the sentence, ‘Well, that didn’t go as planned. ‘ ”  I commented that mine was “Operator Error.”

So we’re going to call this another blogger error, a late, lame post, or whatever else you like.  I will try to post again later in the day,  so I will remain two posts behind instead of slipping on to three.

Here’s a question, although not a philosophical one (regular readers know I sometimes enjoy half-baked philosophy on Lame Post Friday), does anybody remember if I really am two posts behind or am I remembering incorrectly?   Do you suppose I will ever be all the way caught up?  I can only hope.

 

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My Expected Non-Sequitur Thursday Post

Posted on June 28, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did say this was going to be Non-Sequitur Thursday,  didn’t I?  I tried to get a few things done, but nothing leaps to the foreground as a bloggable adventure,  so I am just going to blather on for 200 or so words.  That usually works out for me.

I did not go running this morning but spent an hour working on my yard.  Remember what I said about I fought the lawn and the lawn won?   Happened again.  But at least I got some good exercise and a vase of daisies for the telephone table (yes I still have a land line, I thought you knew I was old).

Flower arranging is not my forte.

I went ahead and took the picture with all my mess, because I thought some people might like to feel better about their own less than pristine houses.  Oh, I know, either your house is pristine or else you are so secure you don’t need my help to feel good about yourself  (the imaginary readers I talk to in my head certainly are a smug lot, aren’t they? ).

As long as I was taking pictures I thought I’d get a shot of the new sandals I mentioned yesterday.  Once again, I did not scruple to include a little mess in the background.

Hmm.. my legs are not as sexy as I thought they were.

Realizing it was not supposed to rain this evening, I put in a load of laundry, so I could hang it on the clothesline.  How I love the smell of things hung out on the line!  While the clothes washed,  I brought up and cleaned off the metal parts of our deck chairs (The cushions are upstairs in the library).  I SO want to sit out on the deck!

After walking to the post office to mail a letter I wrote yesterday (more exercise!), I took a nap, because I had a headache.  The nap didn’t help much, but the iced coffee I drank afterwards did.  After taking the laundry off the line (I folded it at the same time), I went to Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer for a bottle of wine.  While there, I sampled two vodkas and some tequila (no, not enough to impair me for the drive home!  Sheesh!).

It is another warm night, as is to be expected this time of year.  I am hot flashing, as is to be expected at my time of life.  This blog post is over 400 words, which I did not expect on a Non-Sequitur Thursday.   Score!

 

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Not a Blog Post to Please Everyone

Posted on June 27, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Wuss-out Wednesday follows Tired Tuesday as the summer follows the fall.  It was a nice summer day today, although it was hotter and more humid than I prefer.  Oh well, you can’t have everything, and Mother Nature can’t please everyone.  On with some semblance of a blog post.

I ran this morning, narrating in my head as I went, in hopes of making a Running Commentary post.  It was, quite frankly,  a lousy run.  However,  you’ll have that.  We runners must suffer the lousy runs in order to get to the good ones.

My husband, Steven, and I went shopping and picked up a few things.  Then I went myself to a couple of thrift stores.  I was in search of costume pieces for the Mummers play but I did not have good luck.  I did find a pair of sandals, though, which I needed because one of my favorite pairs broke recently.   I ought to take a picture of them to share, but, well, refer to the first paragraph about this being Wuss-out Wednesday.

In partial explanation of my wuss-out-ness my stomach has been bothering me off and on for most of the day.  I feel quite ill-used about that, because I have neither eaten nor drunk anything I shouldn’t have.  What’s that all about, body?

Now I have blathered on for over 200 words, which regular readers know I consider respectable.  Happy Wednesday,  and I hope to see you all on Non-Sequitur Thursday.

 

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Tree and Typo on Tired Tuesday

Posted on June 26, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is that moment in the evening when I am wishing I made my blog post earlier.  However, that ship sailed, and I do not want to be another post behind. Well, what’s wrong with another Tired Tuesday post,  anyways?  For one thing, I can potentially include a few monster pictures, since I refrained from doing so on Monday.

The tree in the background has been called Frankentree.

This is not exactly a monster,  but it might be a little scary.  It is the remains of some branches I cut off a tree in my backyard.  And if you want to hear something REALLY scary, there is the typo I made when I posted the picture on Facebook.  Earlier I had posted, “I fought the lawn and the lawn won.”  With the above picture, I typed, “Maybe the lawn won,  but I sure taught that tree a thong or two.”

I caused considerable amusement for some and an unfortunate mental image for others.  You can’t please everybody.

Under the heading Waste Not Want Not.

This is the first picture I took of the cans.  I include it here, because, in the true spirit of Tired Tuesday,  I ain’t got much.

Full disclosure:  My heroic tree branch efforts are not the reason for today’s tiredness.  Still, it gave me something to type.  I think I’ll close with a monster picture and call it a post.

You just knew it was going to be Nosferatu, didn’t you?

 

 

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Library Looking Good

Posted on June 25, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went to Basloe Library in Herkimer this morning,  to get on the computer and to check on the status of their renovations.  I brought my Tablet with me to get a few pictures.  Now I am at home on my Tablet, typing in my blog post one letter at a time.  Note to self:  Next time you go to the library, plan ahead, so you can type in your blog post with all ten fingers, as God intended.

Where was I?  Ah yes at the library, admiring the surroundings.

Here’s a cozy looking area.

There were some comfortable chairs in the library before, but the last time I was in there, this space was occupied by the temporary information desk.

I especially like the big windows.

I guess I needed a flash. It is quite a sunny day today.

I like being able to look out a window when I’m writing, which is something I often go to the library to do.  With that in mind, I was really happy to see a couple of well-placed tables.

One of the tables was already in use.

I asked the nice young man if he minded being in the picture for my blog.  I told him to keep doing what he was doing, so it would be like a candid.

I hope to write more about the library renovations,  with more pictures.  In the meantime, this makes a nice change from my usual Monstrous Monday.   And I can share monster pictures later in the week.

 

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Mummers Is The Word

Posted on June 24, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just got back from a Mummers rehearsal.  What is Mummers, you may ask.  Well, it’s a theatre thing, and regular readers know I rarely say no to theatre.  Come to think of it, I may have mentioned our Mummers group before,  because this was not our first rehearsal. I feel sure my readers will forgive me if I repeat myself.

A Mummer performance is a traditional Irish entertainment.   It was described to me as guerrilla theatre.  We just walk into a crowd and go, like a flash mob.  It is a stylized performance,  with rhyming speeches, music, dance, and a sword fight. I  think it’s going to be cool.

Here’s our troop.

We will perform a few times at the Great American Irish Festival in Frankfort,  NY, in July.  Just tonight we agreed to give a preview performance at Little Falls’ Third Thursday.

A candid shot of two performers discussing the show.

We decided on a name for our group: Mummers Along the Mohawk. Isn’t that a perfect group for Mohawk Valley Girl to be a part of?

Another rehearsal shot.

I’ll have more information about Third Thursday and about the Irish Festival.  In the meantime,  I have some lines to learn and a costume to get together. Theatre is my life!

One more group pose, just for good measure.

 

 

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