Category Archives: personal

Another Non-Sequitur Lame Post Friday

This feels like a really late Lame Post Friday post, because Thursday felt like Friday, and yesterday felt like Saturday, so today should kind of feel like Sunday.  It is in fact early Saturday morning (I consult my watch and my Chromebook to confirm). Only I am not sure that it feels like anything as I got very little sleep last night.  But let us not dwell on my myriad problems and my tendency to whine about them; let us attempt some semblance of a blog post.

Well isn’t red a Christmas color?

OK, about that picture.  As I typed the first paragraph, my headache rolled back in.  I thought to throw in a Christmas illustration but the headache got more obtrusive as I searched my Media Library so I clicked almost at random, hit Save, and went elsewhere on my Chromebook till the weird feeling subsided (I should type up a few paragraphs describing the sensations of this headache, not for blogging purposes but to inflict on my neurologist). I typed and sent a couple of emails.  It is funny how you can do some kinds of writing sometimes.  Ooh, that is a bit of half-baked philosophy, is it not?  This IS a Lame Post Friday post!

Yesterday I took a real trip to Little Falls, NY with my sister Cheryl, and I took a number of pictures at our various stops.  Later on I stopped by the Wine Tasting Room at Raindrops on Roses Bed and Breakfast in Herkimer for a chat with the delightful proprietors.  I continued to a delicious dinner at Salvatore’s.  In between bouts of headache, it was quite the enjoyable day, and I hope to make more detailed posts about the places I stopped.

I quite forgot where I was going with this blog post, but I see I am approaching 300 words.  I say that is not bad, and I am hungry for my breakfast.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

I Guess I Was a Non-Sequitur

I meant to make my Thursday blog post on Thursday.  In fact, I went out in hopes of finding something to blog about.  It did not work out so well.  You see, I had this weird headache and I could not seem to quite do anything.  Don’t tell my mother; I don’t want her to worry.  Oh dear, she might read this post.  Never mind; I’ll think of something good to tell her.

Anyways, the headache was as much light-headedness as pain, and it kind of came and went, so during one of the times it went, I ventured out of the house.  I had an idea to check out a new store in Ilion, BB Music Center at 141 Central Ave., then have lunch at the new Jessie’s Grill at 200 Otsego St. (that cool wedge-shaped building). Unfortunately I found out Jessie’s was not to open till later, so I decided to go to Little Falls.

I hadn’t been here in a while.

I had not realized how cold it was till I walked from my car to the Little falls Antique Center at Canal Place. It was nice to look at all the beautiful wares again. Ooh I was loving the vintage jazz they were playing!  But these were not the Christmas presents I was thinking of purchasing for my loved ones.  Still, I know some of my siblings would love to accompany me there for another shopping trip one day.  I thought it might be a good idea to have lunch before going on.  For one reason, my headache was starting to come back.

Unfortunately I could not make up my mind to go into any of the eateries at Canal Place.  Perhaps I could find something on Main Street that would work.  Accordingly, I drove there and parked.  Ooh, there was Chickweed Boutique.  I love that place.  But… food.  I locked my car and started down the street.  I had parked close to one end of Main so I had a good ways to walk, and a few good eating places to walk by and choose from.

The wind had died down a little, so with my shawl, hat and gloves, I was not too cold at all.  It felt good to walk.  I walked by several places and ended up turning right and continuing to walk up a hill.  My headache was feeling much better.  There are not enough hills to walk up in Herkimer.  I was enjoying this.  I walked up the hill till there was no outlet then turned around and walked back to Main Street.

I decided to walk back up to my car and go home.  I had not consulted my watch when I parked, but I thought I had been walking for at least 20 minutes.  As I turned up Main Street, I wondered what if I ran into somebody I knew and they asked what I was doing.  I would have to say something like, “Well I don’t really know,” or, “It’s kind of hard to explain.”  I am a little sorry I did not run into anybody.

The beauty part was I noticed CVS Pharmacy before I got to my car and remembered I needed some supplements I have been taking for my migraines.  Alas that I forgot I also meant to purchase some hair gel.  I did amuse myself at CVS.  While waiting at the Pharmacy to pay for the B2 (I do not know why that should be a controlled substance) I saw myself on a television overhead, and it kept saying “recording.”  It made me nervous, but I reminded myself I was not buying poison.  It took a few minutes as the clerk needed to look up the price, so I thought to turn the image of me to good use by adjusting my headband.  When the clerk returned to complete the transaction, I told her the recording could be my alibi if I was accused of murder.  Do you suppose I watch too much Dateline?

I was a little annoyed with myself for not paying for the magnesium (oh dear is it a HIPAA violation that I told you both supplements I am on?) at the same time as the riboflavin (that’s another word for B2) when I couldn’t find anything else to buy (remember, I forgot about needing the hair gel).  Then I had a pleasant conversation with a man waiting to pay and with the clerk, so I felt happy about that.

Holy crap, I have blathered on for over 750 words about what was, so I thought, a rather uneventful interlude. If anybody has read till the end, thank you!  I hope you had a lovely Thursday and have a wonderful Friday.

 

A Shout-out and a Snowman

I thought I could manage a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday Post.  I have a couple of seasonal photos, including a shout-out to a local business.

There’s no place like Yetty’s for the holidays!

Yetty’s Pizza and Pasta is one of my favorite places to stop for a snack, lunch, or dinner.  On a recent visit there, I admired their latest decoration, painted by the owner and chef.  I must do a full post about Yetty’s soon.  That will be a good excuse to treat myself to dinner there again.

I’m sure he or she has melted now.

I got a picture of this snowman on a walk I took on the first of December.  I am not sure if those are teddy bear ears or frog eyes on the head, but I like it.  Most of the snow is gone now, with the rain that has been pounding down all day.  Oh well, at least I don’t have to shovel rain.  I would probably be too lazy to make a snowman anyways.

The sad thing is that I only have two photos to waste not.  Then again, a short blog post is better than no blog post at all.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

Yetty’s  Pizza and Pasta is located at  109 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-4201.

 

Walking by Chester

Feeling rather dull and unmotivated this morning, I thought I would take a walk to try to pep myself up.  I have long felt that exercise is the magic elixir that can help make many things better.  Anyways, it got me off the couch and gave me a little material for a Pedestrian Post this morning.

The weather has warmed up a little, and rain seems to be getting rid of the snow.  I knew I was right not to bother shoveling my driveway!  Little did I know it was still raining when I set out.  No matter. As I like to say, I ain’t sugar; I won’t melt (wouldn’t THAT be a great weight lost plan!).  I used my phone to Map My Walk, mostly because I couldn’t find my Garmin, but also because I thought I might see some things to take pictures of.  The walk would pep me up, the pictures would pep up my post, a win-win situation!

Unfortunately, it seemed too gloomy for pictures.  Maybe I could walk by things I have pictures of in my Media Library, such as Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners.  Since I was also mapping my walk, I wanted to turn at as many corners as possible, to make an interesting shape.  I post the shape on Facebook, and my Facebook friends say what it looks like.  It is most amusing.  So I turned town Prospect Street, then decided to walk around the closed bank, in defiance of the arrow painted on the driveway.  There was no “Do Not Enter” sign (regular readers know I love to enter where those are posted), but a sign warned of video surveillance.  They could take my picture; I didn’t care.

I changed my mind when I saw a few people behind the bank, talking about something.  I did not want to intrude so walked across the adjoining parking lot to come out near the 1834 Jail.  Yes, I could walk by Chester Gilette, as I have often done!  I soon saw that I would have to take another picture, though, because Chester was being almost crowded out of the window by a Christmas tree.

Even murderers celebrate Christmas, it seems.

I had no other photo ops but continued my walk for some 33 minutes.  I must say the pep did not last very long, but I suppose you’ll have that.  At least I walked, and at least I made a blog post.  Will I get anything else useful done today?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my Tuesday.

 

Make Tea and a Blog Post and Call Me in the Morning

It seems I last posted early Thursday morning.  It is now mid-afternoon on Monday, and I could use a cup of coffee.  Or something.

Pause while I acquire a caffeinated beverage.

I made tea, but I found the Dyn’s Cider Mill mug.  I thought I could just about manage a Monstrous Monday post and perhaps get into some better blog posts as the week wears on.  I am feeling exceptionally useless lately.  I suppose the solution to that is to do something useful as say, “There!  What about that!”  Well, I did a load of laundry earlier and tried to clean out a tote in which I had thrown a ridiculous collection of things.  Perhaps tea and a blog post will revive me.

Some chicks don’t dig skinny guys.

Here is a shot from House on Haunted Hill, which I re-watched recently. It is a perennial favorite.  I refer, of course, to the original, produced by William Castle and starring Vincent Price.

“Hang a shining star upon the highest bought!”

I thought I would throw in a more seasonal monster with the Abominable Snowman, affectionately known as Bumbles, from Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  I though he had lost all his teeth by the time he wanted to put the star on top of the tree.  Just another continuity gaffe.

OK, he can call me a ho.

And another seasonal monster.  I need to find a Santa hat to put on Elliott Ghoul, who stands in my dining room window.  I put one on the Ghost that acts as a living room light.

Perhaps over the next few days I will complete my meager Christmas decorations and take some pictures for the blog.  I know some regular readers are interested to see Bonita’s Yuletide garb.

 

No Ghosts, But Christmas Past

The late blog posts continue as I attempt to make Wednesday’s post Thursday morning.  I thought I could do a Wayback Wednesday, maybe a combination Wayback Wednesday/Throwback Thursday.  Perhaps a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past.

Proof that Santa Claus does so visit the naughty ones!

I am not sure where this particular Santa Claus is.  We got him from the Herkimer County Historical Society.  He had blown into their yard one blustery December day, and nobody claimed him.  Our friends at the society thought my husband, Steven and I would give him a good home.  It is in fact only the top half of a Santa, hence our idea to hide him behind the fireplace screen.

Sometimes I decorate myself.

I can’t resist showing this picture of me in a festive outfit.  I still have the shirt; I purchased it from the J.C. Penney catalogue back into he late ’80s (why in the world is catalogue underlined?  I am not looking it up, dammit!)

We’ve added a couple of Santas since.

In case you wondered about the Santas on the stairs in the last shot, here is a picture of them without me blocking the view.   I should clean up my steps and bring some Santas down to cheer myself up.  I have a few Christmas decorations out, amidst the mess I keep trying to clean.  Will things ever look better?  Will my house ever be ready to receive guests?  Will anybody deign to come over if I do get cleaned up?  For the answers to these and other questions of greater or lesser interest, stay tuned to Mohawk Valley Girl!

 

Post Thanksgiving Tired

And now welcome to a late Tired Tuesday post, or perhaps it will be a Tiresome Tuesday post.  We shall see.  In a previous post I said that other people’s problems are tiresome. What I really meant was MY problems are tiresome, and I try not to burden others with them, with little notable success.  I don’t mind listening to other people’s problems, up to a point.  I even try to refrain from offering advice, again with little notable success.  Advice is even more tiresome to listen to than problems, but few of us can refrain from offering it.

All that said, I go on to tell you that my depression is kicking my butt.  Holidays are especially difficult.  On top of missing my husband with an ache that will never go away, there is the overwhelming feeling of, “It is a Holiday!  You MUST be happy!” Indeed, I was greatly looking forward to Thanksgiving and seeing my family.  And I did enjoy myself.  I rarely feel dreadfully down all day long, so I have that going for me.

My attempt at culinary artistry.

I thought I should throw in a picture to lighten things up.  Yes, I had fun at Thanksgiving.  I love my family.

I forgot where I was going with this post, but I see I am over 200 words.  We’ll just call it another placeholder post, and I will try for something other than a Wuss-out Wednesday post, on time or late.  Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

Late But Making with the Monsters

Oh dear, it feels as if it has been days since I make a blog post.  Time is so weird.  Part of me is wondering how it got to be December already while another part feels it has been at least three weeks since Thanksgiving.  However, that is half-baked philosophy more suited to Lame Post Friday than a late Monstrous Monday post.  Let’s make with the monsters, shall we? (We shall!)

Creepy, yes?

I thought I would open with a monster seldom used (is that like the road less traveled?  Discuss amongst yourselves).  I have no idea where I got it; I downloaded it back in 2017.  I would like to make my front lawn look like this, although I do not have a similar amount of space, nor as much cool stuff.

Quite the fashionable skeleton.

I thought I should get a little Christmasy, since it is December, as noted earlier.  This, as regular readers know, is Bonita, our skeleton who likes to dress for the season.  She does not have her Christmas togs on yet this year.  I’ll have to work on it.

Now there’s a Christmas monster!

Boris Karloff is the ONLY Grinch for me; I don’t care how many re-makes they do.  I also like to watch movies where Karloff uses his real voice (as opposed to when he is Frankenstein’s Monster, who is fairly inarticulate).  He says all these creepy things, and I hear in my head, “Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot…”

And now I have babbled on for over 250 words.  Score!  Will I try for a Mohawk Valley Adventure to write about later today or stay home and clean the house?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my morning.

 

I Carry On on Wrist to Forehead Sunday

Hello and welcome to another Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  Never mind why I am ready to swoon, dramatically posted with the back of one wrist to my forehead, on a handy chaise lounge (alas that no such lounge is in fact handy).

Full disclosure:  I keep making typos.  Am I too tired?  Have I had a glass or two of wine?  Never mind why; explanations are tiresome.  Let me see what I can come up with for a blog post.

I can’t handle one more thing. I can’t even handle one thing!

Yes, I am watching Columbo.  I suppose I should expand my viewing, but that will not happen today.  I have to laugh about ‘One more thing.”  At two of my previous work places, I had a habit of going up to people and saying, “And another thing about that!” If they responded, I would admit that there was not another thing about that. If they really called me on it, I would have to admit that there was in fact no that.  I had a lot of silly things at work I would say, just to keep things lively.

The upcoming Monday is ever a problem.

I feel I should not be too worried about Monday.  I have, as it happens, other things to worry about. But I shall not expand on that; other people’s problems are tiresome.

Here’s to Sunday!

For my closing photo, I share my late, dearly missed husband Steven, toasting me on  Sunday some time ago at the Miner’s Table in Herkimer, NY.  I had spend some time conquering an overgrown pricker bush in our yard while he was at work.  When he came home, I suggested we go out and celebrate. He graciously agreed.  Yes, Sundays were better with a nice husband.  However, I must carry on as best I can. I hope I have done so with another blog post.  Thank you for tuning in.

 

Slack Today, Shop Later

Here I am back on my Chromebook , ten finger typing, and hoping to make some sort of a Saturday blog post.  A Scattered Saturday post is out of the question, because I did not scatter much.  I guess a Slacker Saturday post is within the realm of possibility.

Looks pretty relaxed to me.

Here is a picture of me last year at this time. I may or may not have participated in Shop Small Saturday, although I rather think I did.  Alas that I am too lazy to go back and check.  Full disclosure:  I have had a couple of drinks and am feeling a bit tired  right now

In my defense, I have experienced a bit of stress during my Thanksgiving weekend.  Never mind what.

Pretty, yes?

Here is a picture from a Shop Small Saturday in the past.  it is some lovely angels carved from rocks, sold by Rock Quartz Stand in Herkimer, NY.  I have purchased these angels for family and friends, not just at Christmas time.

Where I could have gone.

There are many local places I could have gone for Shop Small Saturday today.  One good one is Mohawk Valley Antiques Mall, at 100 E Main St. Mohawk, NY.  Of course I still have a great deal of December to shop local.  I hope it will be OK if I have not gotten right out on the Friday after Thanksgiving to do so.  I have a feeling it will be OK, especially if I take a blog post of the paces I shop.