Category Archives: personal

What’s In a Lame?

Posted on March 10, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Get it?  Like “What’s in a name?”  I came up with the title after I wrote the following:

No, this is not my date for Friday night.

I didn’t have any bright ideas for this week’s Friday Lame Post, but when I was on Facebook, somebody on one of my monster movie pages shared this picture of Max Schreck as Nosferatu.  I immediately downloaded it, and you know my motto (one of them, anyways): waste not, want not.

Incidentally, every time I mention Max Schreck, I have to look up the spelling of his name.  I feel certain I am getting it mixed up with a certain green ogre voiced by Mike Myers (another name I must look up).

“What do you mean, you’ve never seen the movie?”

Shrek.  That is how the ogre spells it.  And it’s Myers not Meyers, Mike not Michael.  I guess Michael Meyers is the bad guy from the Halloween movies.  Full disclosure:  I have never seen any of the Shrek movies, and it comes as no small disappointment to me to find out it is spelled differently from Max Schreck.  I’ve heard the Shrek movies are full of pop culture references.  I think a reference to an iconic silent horror movie would have been nice.  Perhaps they did mean it as a reference but changed the spelling.  If I was a real cinema writer, I would research these things (and once again, we come to the ugly truth about me).

“No, I was not a regular on Saturday Night Live.”

I just looked up Halloween, the movie, and found that Michael Myers spells his name the same way Mike Myers did.  I’m glad we got that cleared up.

 

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A Monster and a Mermaid on Non-Sequitur Thursday

Posted on March 9, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am in a blogging slump, as you may have noticed.  I managed a real post yesterday, but all I want to do today is share monster pictures and type nonsense.

Actually, that is not quite true.  What I REALLY want to do is  sit on my couch, crochet an afghan, and watch 20/20 on OWN.  Maybe drink a little wine.  Hang out with my husband.  Vegetate.  But I am determined to continue this silly blog as long as possible.  There may come a day when I no longer write a daily blog, but THIS!   IS!   NOT!  THAT!   DAY!

As you can see, I feel strongly about it.

Me, waiting for inspiration to strike.

Obviously, this is not me.  I will never stay on the South Beach Diet long enough to reach this level of skinniness.  But you understand my metaphor:  waiting for inspiration is a long, dry wait.  I don’t really wait for inspiration to strike, anyways, so don’t start in on the lectures about Just Write, Don’t Wait for Mood, and other truisms of writing advice.  And yes, I KNOW that part of the word “truism” is “true.”  Things often become a cliche for a reason, etc., etc.

Incidentally, the above picture is from the Old Barn Marketplace on Route 5 in Little Falls.  I was there last fall and took that picture.

Where was I?  Ah yes, trying to come up with a blog post for Non-Sequitur Thursday, so I can stay in the blogging game for yet another day.  I did say something about monster pictures…

“Where did you come from, Tall, Dark and Gruesome?”

Ah, here is a monster and a mermaid (that might be a good title), and a mention of what day it is.  Thirsty Thursday, huh?  I did say something about wine earlier.  And I am up to 300 words.  I call that respectable.  I hope to see you all on Lame Post Friday.

 

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I Could Use a Cup of Coffee Now

Posted on March 8, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been meaning to write blog posts about a couple of places I visited over the weekend (remember, it was Steven’s Fabulous Four Day Birthday Weekend).  Instead I have been tired and not writing much at all.  However, today I will try to get back on track with a well deserved shout-out to Moose River Coffee in Ilion.

We had originally planned to go to Moose River Coffee Friday morning but ended up hunkered down waiting out the winter storm.  I really love that Moose River Coffee, though, so I was happy we went on Saturday. For another reason, I knew they sometimes have bagels and if they don’t, they have sandwiches on Heidelberg Bread.  Yum!  As it happened, they had Everything Bagels, my favorite!  I got mine with cream cheese, while Steven got butter on his.

We found a table to sit down with our coffee and bagels, but we could have lounged on the comfy couch.  One table had a “Reserved” sign on it.  I watched with interest as a group of young people (at least, they were younger than me; I guess that’s an ever widening range) sat at it and began a game of Jenga.  I think it is pretty awesome for a coffee house to promote community like that.  Next to the comfy couch is a bookcase with books and a couple other games, so people are apparently always welcome to linger.

In fact, linger is what I like to do at a coffee house.  In this case, Steven and I did not, because we had other adventures to pursue.  However, I hope to return soon alone with my notebook.  I have a lot more writing to do.

Moose River Coffee is located at 70 Otsego St., Ilion, NY, phone number 315-895-0490.

 

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I Did Not Plan to be Tired

Posted on March 7, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Regular readers know that I am almost always tired on Tuesday, hence the Tired Tuesday post.  Today was even worse, because being the first day back at work after a four day break, it was also my Monday.  I feel guilty complaining about it.  I am sure many will judge me:  you had four days off, you bum!  What have you got to be tired about?  Well, I am definitely too tired to have THAT argument in my head again.

My day was brightened somewhat this morning when I realized it was, in fact, Tuesday, meaning I only have a four day week.  I enjoyed my four day week last week.  Perhaps I could do the same this week.  One thing I was resolved on:  I was going to handwrite a blog post during breaks so that I could go to the library after work and make my blog post on a real computer, not my Tablet.  Additionally, I could easily check all my emails (I have a few different accounts), at least one of which I had to answer.  Oh, and Facebook message a cast member of Secrets at Suiter House.  Just to show you what a full plate I had.

Naturally, things did not go as I planned.  They never do; I’m not even sure why I bother to make plans, but never mind that now.  First, I was too tired to write anything.  Then I got a message from my husband, Steven, that the laptop was ready for pick up TODAY, not Friday as scheduled.  It obviously behooved me to call and change my pick-up appointment to today, and to drive to New Hartford (NY, not CT), and get the laptop.  Then I could skip the library.  Although, now that I think about it:  the library is closer, and I could have gotten out more books.  I like books.

Of course it took longer than expected to accomplish this, and traffic is often a problem in that area.  However, I mustered what patience I could, and now I am sitting on my couch, typing my blog post into the laptop. I checked my email, answered what I needed to, sent the message I wanted to, and even looked at Facebook for a bit (don’t judge me).

I’m thinking this is a foolish post, even for a Tired Tuesday.  There are a lot more interesting things I could write about than my stupid computer problems.  If only I wasn’t so tired!  Let that be a lesson to me —  oh wait, this is a lesson I have told myself many times and I haven’t learned it yet:  Have blog posts written in advance, so in case of just such an emergency, I will have only to hit Publish.  Waaaait a minute!  That sounds suspiciously like Plan Ahead.  What did I say earlier about making plans?

 

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A Vampire Bit My Computer

Posted on March 6, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

We’re having computer issues this week, so I am posting from my Tablet.  That is, one stinking letter at a time.   I had thought to make this a Wordless Week,  only right now I can’t think of anything handy to take a picture of.   Maybe my Media Library can once again come to my rescue.

He’s not singing Here comes The Sun.

I just used this picture, but we are currently watching the sequel, Scream, Blackula, Scream.  I confess, it’s pretty dull, which is why I started on the blog post.

 

I seem to have developed a taste for vampires.

I might as well make it a vampire post.  You know I have plenty of monster pictures in the Library.  Some feel Christopher Lee is the quintessential Dracula.  I am more of a classicist myself.

Vat do you mean you put Lee in ahead of me?

You knew I had Bela Lugosi in here somewhere, and regular readers are no doubt waiting breathlessly for…

Your favorite and mine. Well, mine, anyways.

I try to get my blog posts up to 200 words.  Well, at least I got close.  Right now I’ve got to rescue Steven from this movie, which he seems not to be enjoying much.  Happy Monday, everyone.

Ooh, 200 words, yes!

 

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Wrist to Forehead Sunday: Oscar Edition

Posted on March 5, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Like I know anything about the Oscars.  My husband, Steven, has always been a big Oscar fan and is quite knowledgeable about The Academy.  As regular readers know, I am more enamored of old cheesy horror movies.  Oh, I like some Oscar movies.  In fact, of recent movies, I certainly like Oscar movies better than huge, effects-heavy actioners or superhero movies, or asinine comedies replete with toilet humor.  I can’t say I’m a snob, given my love of William Castle and Roger Corman.  Let’s say my tastes are.. not mainstream.

All that said, when we had a chance to see all or most of the main Oscar nominees, we did.  Ever since we returned to the Mohawk Valley, however, it has not been so easy.  Sometimes it just seems such an effort to get to the area cinemas, even when they show the films we want to see.  Munson Williams shows movies, but even getting to Utica can be problematic, especially given Steven’s work hours.

Oh, don’t accuse me of whining. I suppose I am whining, but I don’t mean to be. After all, one does not whine on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  One swoons, in a dramatic fashion, the back of one’s wrist against one’s forehead, because life has become too much to be borne.  Alas!  Alack the day! You call that whining?  I call that an honest, if slightly exaggerated, response to the trauma of life.

So, on the brighter side, I get to stay up and watch the Oscars, because I have tomorrow off.  Normally I go to bed early on Sunday, to recruit my energies for the week ahead.  Additionally, I have taken two short naps today.  I feel in fine, TV-viewing fettle.  On the dimmer side, I have not seen any of the moves nominated, and I don’t even know most of the stars, especially since we let our subscription to Entertainment Weekly lapse (we found ourselves increasingly less entertained by it).

Back on the brighter side, I hear Steven washing the dishes, so I don’t have to do it.  That’s pretty nice of him on his Fabulous Four-Day Birthday Weekend.  That’s more on the brighter side than on the dimmer.  Maybe I should peel my wrist off my forehead and get back to enjoying my Sunday.  In the meantime, how about an Oscar nomination for that swoon?

 

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Second Snow Day — With Pictures

Posted on March 4, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

We could rock this.

I really have enough to do another Scattered Saturday post, but I took some pictures this morning so thought to have another Blogger’s Snow Day.  Here is an update of the picture I used with yesterday’s post.  As you can plainly see, there is less now than we got with the Nor’easter of 2016.  Additionally, our delightful next door neighbor used his snowblower to clean out the end of our driveway last night.  We only had to deal with the snow that had fallen since.  We have nice neighbors.

Can you even see the Rose of Sharon?

Here is our backyard, as seen from the deck.  The Rhododendron is completely obscured by the evergreen.  The Rose of Sharon, if you can see it, is quite oppressed.

As you can see, a quite rockable amount.

Here is the end of our driveway; as you can see, our neighbor helped a lot.  When I saw this before Steven and I began to shovel, I declared to him, “We can rock this!”

Not so good for the mailman. The paper deliverer, luckily, has quite a long throw.

As you can see, our front steps needed a bit of work.  We did OK enough to get mail today.

It’s looking a little sad, I must say.

Here is the tree in front of our house. I don’t know if you can really appreciate its oddness underneath all the snow. When people are coming over for the first time, I always tell them to look for the house with the funny-looking tree in front.

An attempt at a picturesque tree.

I tried to get a couple of pictures of the neighborhood trees.  I love how they look with the snow on the branches, especially against a grey sky, which we had today.

I walked down the street to get this one; it is even better in person.

Just before I went in, I got one more, which I also used as wallpaper for my Tablet.  I have never done that before, but when my Tablet offered me the chance to “use as wallpaper,” I thought I would give it a try.

Well, I wanted to share it here, but apparently I failed to upload it into WordPress earlier, and my Tablet is not cooperating.  I confess to feeling irritated and ill-used.  Additionally, I declared today in the title as another Blogger’s Snow Day.  I will just mention that my laptop is not back to its full capacity: I cannot get my touchpad to work (YES, I googled it, stop telling me to google it!  Sheesh!).  I am going to stop typing, hit Publish, and get back to enjoying my Saturday.  I hope to see you all on Wrist to Forehead Sunday (as I feel certain tomorrow will be).

 

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A Winter Wonderlame

Posted on March 3, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a Blogger’s Snow Day instead of a Blogger’s Sick Day. Winter has returned to the Mohawk Valley, and it has come back with a vengeance!  There was no chance for Mohawk Valley adventures today; all were advised to stay at home if possible.  Additionally, Steven and I have been having computer problems.  Let me tell you, “google it” is not always advice that yields results.  I’m just saying.

Be that as it may, we are now one day into Steven’s Fabulous Four Day Birthday Weekend.  In addition to computer problems, our DVD/VCR player seems to be on the fritz.  Or perhaps it has died, just to be optimistic about these things.  At least we have cable back.  It took a brief vacation when we lost power earlier, also briefly, thank God!  So we were able to watch Blackula earlier.  I had DVR’d it from TCM last October.  I may get a full post out of the viewing.  We shall see in future days.

The sign says “NO SMOKING,” but I think Blackula is smokin’ hot.

Right now, what a surprise, we are watching Snapped.  I do love murder and mayhem.  In the meantime, the snow keeps falling.  I went out and tried to shovel this morning.  I met with some success, but you couldn’t tell as the snow kept falling.  More recently we heard our neighbor out snowblowing the end of our driveway.  What a great guy!  I’ll have to bake cookies and bring some over.

The abominable snow vehicles!

This is a picture from last year’s Snowmageddon.  I did not face such depths this morning, but tomorrow morning I might.  That could be worth a blog post.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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To Catch a Blog Post

Posted on March 2, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Non-Sequitur Thursday on a Wednesday, Lame Post Friday on a Thursday, that’s how I roll on a four day week!  All day at work today I kept singing, “It’s my Friday and I’ll cry if I want to!”  a la Leslie Gore.  I have a terrible singing voice, but I do not care at all.  I like to sing.

And so my husband Steven’s fabulous birthday weekend begins.

We do not have great plans for our four-day weekend.  For one reason, dire weather is predicted starting at some point tonight.  Some area schools and non-profits are already closed for tomorrow.  Things were still fairly nice when I got home from work shortly after 3 p.m.  I went for a walk.  Yes, I could make a Pedestrian Post and bag Lame Post Friday, but I feel quite disinclined to do so.

When the blog post seems to be going nowhere, I like to add a picture.

How does their hair stay that nice in a convertible?

Ooh, here is something we probably will not get to do on the Fabulous Birthday Weekend.  Rome Capitol Theatre is showing To Catch a Thief.  The Capitol is a marvelous old style theatre: enormous and ornate.  It was where I saw my first movie years and years ago (never mind how many!).  I feel certain I have written a blog post about it.  We saw Rear Window there a few years ago.  What a thrill!  One of our favorite movies on the big screen in a beautiful setting!  But if the weather is going to be bad, we will probably just hunker down.

However, if any of my readers are in the vicinity of Rome, NY, this weekend, the movie is being shown Friday and Saturday, March 2 and 3, 7 p.m. both nights plus a matinee at 2:30 p.n. on Saturday.  For more information you can visit the Facebook Event.

 

 

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Two Runs, One Post, It’s Tired Tuesday!

Posted on February 28, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Regular readers will recall that yesterday I was too tired after my run to make a blog post about it.  I went running again today and will attempt to make a Running Commentary post in lieu of my usual Tired Tuesday.  In fact, I am tired after my run but feel somewhat revived after my recovery beverage of chocolate milk.  I think I can manage at least 200 words.  Maybe I can write about both runs.  A double Running Commentary.  That is appropriate for a veteran like me, because in the Army we called running “double time.”  I’ll write it on the double (if anybody just made a rimshot noise, oh just shut up, you know these are the kinds of jokes I make).

For two days now temperatures have been above 40.  Yesterday my thermostat said 46, and today it said 50.  Woohoo!  That is shorts and short-sleeve weather for me.  I got some running clothes on and got out the door, first putting a load of laundry in the washer.  This is how I multi-task.  I did it yesterday, I did it again today.  I am way behind on my laundry.

Both days have really not been as warm as I like.  It is kind of like the entire earth hasn’t warmed itself up yet.  The sun felt warm, but the air felt cold, especially in the shade and/or when the wind blew.  No matter.  I knew I would warm up as I ran.  And if not, I had a sweatshirt waiting for me to wear on my cool-down walk, and the hot shower afterward would feel especially good.  I concentrated on how nice it is to have bare, dry sidewalks.  Except, of course, for certain patches of ice, mud and puddles.  I dodged around them, usually into more mud.  You’ll have that this time of year. I persevered.

I quickly realized I was going to have to persevere over my own body’s complaints as well.  My legs felt stiff and sore.  Yesterday I forgot to stretch out after I ran, probably because I went right down into the basement to put the laundry in the drier.  I’m not really good at multi-tasking.  Well, one thing I know how to do is persevere.  At least at some things.  At least for a little while.

Today’s run was two minutes shorter than Monday’s, 22 and 24 minutes respectively.  Yes, these are short runs.  I have not been running enough lately; I have to build myself up again.  I walked for ten minutes both days.  Yesterday I also skipped my recovery beverage.  You see, the doctor told me I was probably becoming intolerant to dairy.  I am not sure I believe him, since this is also the guy that told me sugar was causing all my headaches.  Don’t get me started on doctors.  Still, I cut way back on sugar and stopped drinking milk, in case I see him again and he asks. However, today I felt so ate up after the run (“ate up” is also an army expression), I said to hell with it, I’m having the chocolate milk.  It tasted good.  I also remembered to stretch.

Ooh, look at me, over 500 words.  That’s pretty good for a Tired Tuesday.  Anyways, I’m glad I went running two days in a row.  And I’m glad I managed to write a blog post about it.

 

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