Category Archives: personal

I Missed the Drama!

Posted on September 20, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last night Steven and I attended the monthly dinner meeting of Ilion Little Theatre Club. It was the first meeting of the 2014-15 season. Through one cause or another we missed all the dinner meetings last season, although we made it to all the plays. It was so nice to be back in the theatre again, reconnecting with our theatre friends.

Rehearsals were going on for the first production, Noises Off. We did not audition for that one but may audition for something later in the season. I’ve missed being onstage. Also, being in a play usually gives me any number of blog posts.

A new season always brings new projects and goals. One of the most exciting things I heard last night was the upcoming Save Our Tower campaign. Ilion Little Theatre, as I’ve mentioned in previous posts, is in The Stables on Remington Avenue in Ilion, NY. It used to be the Remington family’s stables. It is a beautiful historic brick building. Like many historic buildings, it is in need of repair.

One of the most pressing problems is a crack in the tower. The Board of Directors has talked to a couple of masons about repair or, better yet, restoration. It’s a complicated process and it don’t come cheap. A number of ideas were mentioned, including forming a Fundraising Committee.

I hope to follow this matter, participate in some of the fundraising (I can’t beg for donations, but I could, for example, wash a car at a car wash), and of course write blog posts about it. In the meantime, I’m just happy to be back at the theatre and with a great group of people.

For more information on Ilion Little Theatre Club, you can visit their website at www.ilionlittletheatre.org and you can Like their Facebook page.

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Where Are You, Juan Valdez?

Posted on September 19, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am a dingbat. Not just a dingbat. A ding. Bat. A dingy bat. The dingiest bat. The dingiest AND the battiest. Not your ordinary, run of the mill, common or garden dingbat.

I wanted to do a good post today, since yesterday’s was pretty bad (still, it got four likes; perhaps I should not disparage the tastes of my readers) (four of them, anyways). I was unable to write one at work. I had time when I got home, but I had a lot of stuff to do. Steven and I were to attend a dinner meeting of the Ilion Little Theatre. I had a dog to walk, chip dip to make, a shower to take and an outfit to figure out. I was swamped.

I got all my stuff done before turning on the computer. I still had time to write the post. And I was JUST TOO TIRED!!! I thought to myself, “I can’t do it. I just can’t do it.” I was pretty sure there would be decaf coffee at the meeting. I couldn’t dare drink the caffeinated stuff after 6 p.m. or I’d be up all night. But decaf still has a little bit of caffeine plus placebo effect. I would come home from the meeting and write a GREAT blog post.

Why do I even think these things MIGHT happen? I’m never good for ANYTHING after 8 o’clock at night! And now it’s after nine. I want to go to bed. Whatever will I do about my blog post? I know, it’s Non-Sequitur Thursday. Just think up a silly title and hit publish.

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Foggy Wednesday

Posted on September 18, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

I apologize for having a Wuss-out Wednesday after my rather silly post on Monday. Um, and Sunday. Oh, I’m not going back and looking at how many lame posts I’ve had recently; the fact is today I haven’t written anything yet and I don’t have much to write about.

I drove through a lovely thick fog on my way to work today and thought I would write about that. We’ve had a lot of fog recently. I like fog. It is usually thicker in Ilion (where I work) than it is in Herkimer (where I live). This morning as I went out to my vehicle, I saw that the fog was pretty thick in Herkimer. I thought, “Awesome! It’ll be really thick in Ilion.”

Steven and I got lost in the fog on Higby Road once, but that is a big hill out in the country. I felt it was doubtful that I would get lost on my eight-minute commute to work. I drove at a careful speed (slower, but not too slow), looking around. The irony was not lost on me that I was enjoying looking at what I was not able to see. I took extra care as I went out German Street by the cemetery. I’ve often seen deer in that area. I would not care to hit a deer.

It was not too hard to see even once I got to Ilion. Walking from my vehicle to my place of employment, I continued to enjoy looking around, where I usually see buildings but this morning could only see streetlights.

Then I was at work, the sun came up, and the fog was over. I thought, “Huh. That wasn’t such a much.” So I didn’t write a blog post about it. And now I just did.

Sufficiently wussy, I trust.

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Adventures in Mohawk

Posted on September 17, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last Saturday as we drove out of Herkimer, NY on the way to the Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival, I pointed out Mohawk Station Bar and Grill, and Mohawk Antiques Mall. When we left the festival one sister suggested we get some lunch at the Station then browse the Antiques Mall. I thought it was an excellent suggestion.

The Mohawk Station used to be an actual train station and still looks like one. We all admired the decor as the waitress led us to a table big enough to accommodate our party of nine. We enjoyed sandwiches, salads, soup and pasta, respectively. There was plenty to pick from. Perhaps I should bring Steven there for dinner one night soon.

After lunch we drove across the street rather than walk, because it’s kind of a busy street. Also, we didn’t know how long we’d be at the Antiques Mall and didn’t want to take up the restaurant’s parking.

It is easy to spend a lot of time at Mohawk Antiques Mall. Three rooms downstairs and a long room upstairs house many dealers and a wide variety of goods. I’ve been there several times, but there is always something different to see (it seems silly to say “something new” about an antiques mall).

My favorite thing this time was an old library card catalog filled with post cards. It was wonderful! The card catalog by itself was a nostalgic item for me as I remembered the days when I could research a topic with some success (the Internet still mystifies me). Somebody went to the trouble of alphabetizing the post cards which filled the drawers.

The others in my group enjoyed the antiques mall as much as I did, so I was happy I had mentioned it. I told them about some of the special events held there as fundraisers for 4PetsSake, the food pantry for pets. We’ll probably return for some of those. Maybe I can write blog posts about them.

The Mohawk Station Bar and Grill is located at 95 E. Main St., Mohawk, NY. For more information call 315-219-5223 or visit their website at www.TheMohawkStation.com. The Mohawk Antiques Mall is at 100 E. Main St., phone numbers 315-219-5044 or 315-866-1209. Their website is www.mohawkantiquesmall.com. Both businesses are also on Facebook.

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Bad Plan

Posted on September 16, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

I meant, I really truly MEANT to write something good while I was at work today. Instead I worked on my novel, although (full disclosure) what I wrote was not that good and does not seem likely to lead to anything better. And I talked to my husband on lunch (again, full disclosure).

Oh dear, I can hear the unkind hypothetical readers that live in my head tsk-tsking and shaking their superior fingers at me (isn’t that how you spell tsk-tsking? My computer seems to think it’s wrong). Real writers plan ahead, they are saying. Real writers come home and actually write a blog post, not string together silly words about why they did not. Real writers do not take a half hour to type the first two paragraphs because they are distracted by a Friends re-run.

In my defense, I’ve never seen this episode. I missed a lot the last season.

OK, the episode is over. Back to the hypothetical readers that haunt me. Do you suppose they have a point? Could I be a more successful blogger with a little more planning? Yet, I just heard a quote that seems apropos: If you want to make God laugh, make plans. After all, yesterday I planned to write a better blog post today.

Those hypothetical readers are now arguing that unforeseen circumstances did not keep me from fulfilling my plans. I just didn’t do what I had planned to do. Well, so it still didn’t do me any good to make plans, did it, hypothetical readers? They do not feel I have refuted their argument.

Well, I can’t sit here all night arguing on the computer with hypothetical readers. And I fear my actual readers (if any) will not feel like sitting here reading it. I’m going to go make some plans about my post for Tired Tuesday.

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Wrist to Country Road

Posted on September 15, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had meant to write about my continued adventures on Saturday, but I’m too tired. What a surprise on Wrist to Forehead Sunday. The fact is I ran around all day doing fun stuff with my family. I can’t run around all day on both weekend days. It’s not that I’m to old for this stuff (although I am older than I was yesterday). I was only ever good for one weekend day, even in my young(er) and (more) foolish days.

One thing I did today that I found pretty cool was to ride out Higby Road out of Frankfort to Sauquoit. Steven and I got lost on that road one terrible night long ago, but that was in a severe fog in the dark. Today it was bright afternoon sunshine. My sister was driving. My niece sat in the back seat.

First I had to direct her to Higby Road. We drove through Frankfort. I like being a tour guide. I pointed out the Marina and the road to the Prayer Garden. When we reached the light at the end of Railroad Street, I told my sister to turn in the opposite the Knight Spot, where I will take them for a meal or ice cream on another visit. I was also proud to point out the Balloon Farm Bed and Breakfast. We took due note of the Herkimer County Fairgrounds then drove on out Higby.

I love the scenery of a country road. Old barns, fields of corn, farmhouses and more. As the road goes uphill, there are places where you can look out and see for miles. My sister was able to appreciate the sights while still driving in a safe manner. It was helpful, too, because we had a couple of turns to get to our destination. When we headed back to Herkimer, she remembered certain landmarks and knew we were headed in the right direction.

When I returned from a fun drive, a fun event and a fun drive home, Steven and I took Tabby for a walk. So now I’m even more tired. So I can’t write a decent blog post is what I’m saying. But I see that I’ve managed over 300 words nonetheless. I hope to see you all for Middle-aged Musings Monday.

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Back from the Garlic Festival

Posted on September 14, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

This time I have a good reason not to have Saturday Running Commentary. I was recruiting my energies for the Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival in Little Falls, NY. Several family members planned to accompany me. It was going to be great!

And it was great. Just the weather was lousy. It poured rain. It was cold. I wore the wrong jacket, by the way. We found a parking space a good distance away from the festivities but were lucky enough to catch the shuttle. I don’t mind a walk, but with the rain pouring down and the shuttle right there waiting for us, I was happy to take the bus.

As we got to the festival I was excited by the smell of garlic. I was also impressed by the size of the crowd. Many of them had umbrellas (another accoutrement I had stupidly forgotten) and/or their hoods up, but all were eagerly walking around enjoying the vendors and the music.

I tried several samples of different mustards, dips, cheeses and, of course, garlic. I did not get a chance to chat with the vendors because it was so crowded. Next year I hope to get there earlier. After walking all around we went into Stone Mill, got a warm beverage from Ole Sal’s Creamery, and browsed the antiques.

After stopping at a few vendors we had missed and a quick stop at Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts, some of us made our way down to the Piccolo Cafe where a beverage distributor out of Utica (I stupidly did not make a note of who, but I will find out and report back) was offering a craft beer tasting. Then it was off to Mohawk, NY for further adventures.

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SCORE!

Posted on September 13, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here I am on Lame Post Friday. I started to write something earlier, heavy on the half-baked philosophy. Didn’t finish it. I took my dog, Tabby, for a walk. I thought, this’ll be great; I’ll make lots of random observations. Not so much. And that’s supposed to be my Friday Lame Post: random observations and half-baked philosophy. So why is it that lately my Friday posts are merely lame?

Ooh, that sounds like a philosophical question (half-baked, of course). Maybe I’m back in business. Let us consider that question. In the first place, what makes a lame post? Perhaps my posts are in reality not so lame. It’s a judgement call after all. Why am I being so hard on myself anyways? Is it such a disaster if I do make a lame post or two (or ten or all of them, I KNOW, you don’t have to point that out)?

To answer those last two questions in reverse order: no, it is not a disaster, and because it is what I do. Well, today I am going to do something different. I am NOT going to give myself a hard time. I am making a nothing post and that is all there is to it.

I was about to say I’m not even going to worry if it is under 200 words, but I see I am over that, so SCORE!

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Gearing up for Garlic

Posted on September 12, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

For the benefit of local readers (if any), I thought I’d do a quick Preview of Coming Attraction (singular; it’s going to be a short post). The Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival will take place in Little Falls, NY, this Saturday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. I plan to be there.

Garlic is one of my favorite flavors (right up there with chocolate and a little ahead of deep-fried). I like herbs, too, but that’s kind of a wider category. The festival features plenty of both as well as other vendors, food, music and more. The event happens at Canal Place, in front of Stone Mill and the Little Falls Antique Center. Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts is nearby.

I’ve attended the festival several times. One sister tries to travel from Liverpool, NY every year for it, and family and friends from closer by often join me, too. Family, friends, garlic, what’s not to like?

I’m have often been amazed at the number of garlic farmers the area is blessed with, and I am kind of fascinated by the variety of kinds of garlic available. I always learn something new, try something new, and thoroughly enjoy myself.

For more information on the festival, you can visit their Facebook page: Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival.

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Writing About Something Else

Posted on September 11, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

It seems this blog is degenerating into a post about running, a post about not being able to write a post. Sometimes two or three posts about not being able to write a post, sometimes a post about walking my dog thrown in. Do I even have Mohawk Valley adventures any more?

Sometimes I do. Sometimes I write about them. Sometimes I feel unable to do so (have adventures or write about them). Sometimes I go for long periods of time without having blogworthy adventures. Then I write about something else.

Today, for the record, is Wuss-out Wednesday. I had, in fact, an authentic Mohawk Valley adventure this afternoon. My husband, dog and I went for a walk on the Herkimer County Community College Nature Trail. I definitely plan to write about that. What, right now? I’m tired! It’s Wuss-out Wednesday! What do you people want from me?

The operative thing to do, I think, is to become more organized, plan ahead what I am going to do and write about, perhaps schedule actual writing time. Stop flying by the seat of my pants (that’s an odd expression. How does one actually fly by the seat of one’s pants? Can somebody draw me a picture of that?).

Hmmm…. sounds like a good plan (the organization, not the seat of the pants thing), but can I do it? It is quite different from my usual way of doing things. Would it not, for example, entail an entire change of character? These sound like questions of half-baked philosophy, suitable for Lame Post Friday. I hope to find better things to write about between now and then.

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