Category Archives: personal

But Truman Capote Didn’t Shovel the Driveway

I did venture from my house on Tuesday but did not take any pictures.  Today I have further adventures in mind, but I spent a certain amount of time shoveling my driveway and did take a couple pictures, so I will do a Pre-Adventure Snow Shoveling post.  I guess that is not a regular feature for Mohawk Valley Girl but I beg you will bear with me.

Monday, of course, was the terrible day of shoveling, with the snow all the way up to my bumper.  The bottom of the bumper, but still.  I am just a  crazy old lady with very few muscles.  I shoveled in two parts Monday.  Today I hoped to accomplish it in one.  Really, there was a lot less snow and most of it was at the bottom of the driveway where the plow had pushed it (I know they do not do these things on purpose).  I huffed and puffed and got it done, lamenting that the road is becoming narrower and narrower as the snow banks pile up.

White on white makes it a little hard to see.

The sidewalk plow had gone by at some point, but more snow had fallen, so I attempted to make a shovel’s width, which I consider the Reasonable Man Standard (an insurance guy taught me that expression).  I wanted to take a picture of what a lousy job I did on the driveway, but I was not sure it really showed.

I ponder my experience.

I took a selfie for entertainment purposes.  Also because my Melfi’s hat gives a shout-out to a local business.  Melfi’s shoes in Mohawk, NY is where I used to get my work shoes, when I used to work.  Now I am one of those people who Just Don’t Want to Work.  You can be polite and say I am retired.  I know I am lazy.

Apparently I was not too lazy to make a blog post of over 300 words (oh yeah, like sitting here typing is such an effort) (as Truman Capote once said, that’s not writing, that’s typing).  Now I must rouse myself further and try for a Mohawk Valley adventure.  We’ll see how I do.

 

After the Snow, Adventures?

I had meant to make a post yesterday (Monday) about my adventures in snow shoveling (yes, I did try to PUSH the snow when possible, don’t judge me), but I neglected to take before or after pictures, and then, well, time got away from me.  I managed to NOT give myself a heart attack.  Note to self:  do not watch Reels on Facebook that explain with illustrations just how easy it is for a woman of my age to do that.

Where was I?  Ah yes, on Tuesday morning, hoping to make some semblance of a blog post.  Quick, throw in a picture to pep things up.

Random snow shot from a couple of years ago.

Most things have been shut down around here since Sunday.  I think they are back open today, so it would be a good idea if I got out and gave a local business some, you know, business.  I can’t keep the local economy going all by myself, but I can spend a few dollars here and there and give some local places a shout out.

Maybe I could buy myself a Valentine.

This is a decoration from Home Town Diner on Main Street in Mohawk, NY.  I’ve already eaten breakfast, but I will be hungry for lunch before I know it.  I could also stop by To Niche Their Own in Herkimer.  I don’t think I have ever taken decent pictures there nor given them a proper shout-out, but I did purchase some excellent Christmas presents there last month.

Will I make it to Little Falls?

And there is my new favorite bookstore, Athenix Books and Brews.  There are a number of good places in Little Falls: Venture Fourth, Chickweed Boutique, the Mustard Seed… I’m sure to leave somebody out.  Oh dear.

So now I have cheered myself up to the tune of 300 words of blog post and plans.  I hope everybody has their parking lot plowed out by now!

 

The Evil Pork Loin

I thought of that title when I purchased a pork loin at the local grocery store for $6.66.  I mentioned to a worker who was stocking the meat case that I did not know how to cook a pork loin.  Then I saw instructions on the package.

“I am hooked up,” I declared.

I could not resist the price.

When Saturday was predicted to be one of the coldest days, I thought it would be an excellent day to run the oven.  That would be my Saturday blog post!

Of course it wasn’t.  I cooked with wine and went to bed early, having enjoyed a couple delicious slices of pork loin. It is now Sunday, and I am thinking that my cooking a pork loin, even an evil one, is hardly a blogworthy activity.  So now I am having a Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  It seems everyplace is closed in anticipation of the terrible storm we are supposed to be getting.  What can I do but sit home, watch Columbo, and eat leftover pork loin?

Not the Columbo I am watching, but a good one!

While searching my Media Library for a picture of Columbo, I came across some pictures of Prescription: Murder, the play I was in last year at Ilion Little Theatre. It was a great experience.  I need to audition for another play.  And organize another murder mystery.

A great group of people!

I close with a shot of the cast with the director and assistant director.  I would love to work with any or all of these people again.  So I end my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post on a positive note, perhaps a Preview of Coming Attractions.

Have you eaten any pork loin lately?

 

Cloudy with a Chance of Lame

I have the most horrendous case of I Just Can’t Even!  I feel it is not terminal:  I did manage to take a shower and find something to wear, even putting on earrings.  Earlier today I wrote a story about a Frankfort Town Board Meeting and emailed it to my editor at Sentinel Media.  OK, that’s all I did.  But can I also do a Lame Post Friday blog post?  We shall see.

Bette mourns my dead hopes and dreams.

I wanted to throw in a picture to pep things up.  Here is the goddess Bette Davis in Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte. It is an excellent movie of the so-called Hagsploitation genre.  Or do I mean Psycho-Biddy?  I believe both terms are acceptable. I am old enough to be a psycho biddy myself. Watch out, world!

Is he pointing at me?

A little back-lit, but here is the statue of General Herkimer in Myers Park in Herkimer, NY.  I walk by this park on a regular basis.  However, I do not know if I will do so in the near future.  It is supposed to be extremely cold over the next couple of days.  I felt rather ill after my long walk on Thursday.  Oh, these colds hang on and on at my age.  No wonder there are so many psycho biddies out there!

How I might look if I had a wood burning stove.

I end with another psycho-biddy, our beloved Joan Crawford in StraitJacket.  I fear my headline is not necessarily reflective of this post, but let me reassure you.  My head is feeling quite cloudy, and I am, without a doubt, lame.

 

Couldn’t Hurt, Might Help

I thought I was feeling better, but it turns out not so much.  I don’t like to go days and days without making a blog post, so I will attempt a Throwback Thursday.  Or maybe a Non-Sequitur Thursday.  No, that’s no good; I can never think of a good headline for those.

Snow, snow, snow.

I have left the house in the last two days, taking walks through the snow but not pausing for pictures.  I really felt I had spent too many days lounging around doing nothing and thought a couple short walks would help.  I guess they kind of sort of did.

It really was a dramatic moment.

I veer into theatre throwback with a shot from 2019.  I may be getting involved in some new theatre shenanigans soon.  I received an email about auditions for Ilion Little Theatre’s next production, Good-bye. Charlie.  Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 16th and 17th at the theatre at 6:30 p.m.  I probably have a meeting to cover on Monday, but I can probably make it on Tuesday.  I like to be in a play.

If only I don’t get snowed in!

I have not had this much snow in my driveway for a long time.  I can only hope for the best for the rest of the winter.  At least I have gotten over 200 words of a blog post for today.  I apologize if I seem less articulate than usual.  I feel sure another couple of good nights’ sleep will put me to rights.

 

Still Feeling Monstrous.

I am still feeling pretty monstrous (I use the adjective purely to fit in with Monstrous Monday) yet feel I must begin to creep back into the land of the living.  I did not post for the last two days, because I felt it was too many posts about how rotten I felt.  Today I will try for a transitionary post (what? transitionary isn’t a word?  Where’s my dictionary?) (Yes! transitionary IS SO a word!  what the hell, Chromebook? Why are you underlining it?).

Oh dear.

The fact is I am sitting here with a vague headache and not many thoughts in my head.  Yesterday I thought as how I had done nothing but lie around for four days I ought to try to exert myself a little.  Accordingly, I stood up at the sink for a while and did some dishes.  Not all of the dishes, but you can’t have everything.  Later on, I  mustered up enough oomph to go out and shovel the driveway.  There was not a lot of snow, and I did a lousy job, but I felt I had accomplished something.

Not much snow, not much driveway.

This is a picture from a whole different year, but I wanted to add an illustration.

Today my main concern is to make it to the Herkimer Town Board meeting, which I must cover for Sentinel Media.  I do not know what else I ought to demand of myself.  Like I said, creep slowly back to the land of the living.

Creeping back to life among the living?

I thought I’d throw in one monster.  I was looking for The Blob, which I certainly feel like, but I find The Tingler will have to do.

 

Lame Road to Recovery

I think I am on the mend, but I certainly am not up to any blogworthy activities.  Lucky for me it is Lame Post Friday.

The long road to recovery?

I throw in a picture because I ran dry of words.  I actually still have quite a bit of a headache.  The reason I feel I am on the mend is that I have been able to sleep, at least a little.  I apologize about going on and on about my health.  I try not to be so tiresome.

A more squiggly path.

I think my brain is becoming even more squiggly.  Tomorrow I might try a walk outdoors if the weather is not too bad.  For one reason I have to mail my usual Saturday morning postcards.  I hope I can think of something more cheerful to write than, “I feel so sick!”

A regular stop for me.

I have not taken a walk since Tuesday.  That is unusual for me; I try to walk or run almost every day, although I have not been running much since the snow fell.   Actually it is the ice that bothers me more than the snow.  However, one advantage of being ill is that once I get better, I will be so sick of not moving, I will probably be delighted to go out and take a run.  It will at least make for a better blog post!

 

Still Ill on Throwback Thursday

Well friends, it is another Blogger’s Sick Day, but I think I can manage a Throwback Thursday post.  I spent most of the day trying unsuccessfully to sleep.  Perhaps I will be better enough tomorrow to get some exercise, which I would think would help me sleep.

He was so cute and sweet!

This is from January 2017, our second dog, Spunky. That basket was not meant to be a bed for him but a container for my crochet projects.  However, he went right over and made himself at home.  How could I deny him?  I am thinking about getting a dog, for company and for a reason to go for more walks.  We shall see.

 

My reason for attempting a blog post.

My brain truly does not want to write today.  I attempted something earlier and managed a page of nonsense.  By my rules for me, Any Writing Counts.

A fun theatre memory.

Since it is Throwback Thursday, I share a picture from rehearsals for Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, the murder mystery LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company, did at the Overlook Mansion, back when it was a Bed and Breakfast and Destination for weddings and other things.  It was a 1920’s setting, and I am dying to do another set in that period.  I started to write one that I hoped to do at Salisbury Grange.  I could work more on it.  When my brain feels a little bit better.

In the meantime, I am over 200 words.  Score!  Maybe some more hot tea with lemon and honey would help.

 

Not Well on Wednesday

It is a Blogger’s Sick Day.  One reason I am making the post is that it makes me sit up and drink water.  I spent most of the day in bed, trying to sleep, so have become dehydrated. I must say this cool water tastes wonderful.

No, no! Only water today! Maybe a little tea.

I thought I should throw in a picture to pep things up.  It was really an inconvenient day to get sick.  I was supposed to meet some friends for lunch, and tonight is the Elks Club meeting.  I have missed the last few meetings and meant to go.

Tea in my new mug. And maybe try a little more writing.

One thing I did this morning was heat up the neck pillow my sister Cheryl gave me for Christmas.  It is from Irish Dreams Cookies: Cookies, Accessories, Apparel.  They are based in Waterville, just to give a should-out to an area business.

The problem with being sick is that pretty much all you can do is sit around and feel sick.  How boring!  And how boring to blog about it!  I guess I’ll call this a Wuss-Out Wednesday and drive on.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

Scattered Tuesday?

I just went adventuring with my mother and my sisters Cheryl and Diane.  Did I take any pictures?  Um, ‘fraid not, but perhaps my Media Library can help.

Our first stop was Athenix Books and Brews (only books so far) in Little Falls, NY.  They are going to carry some of Diane’s books.  Yes, she is a published author, and I must up my writing game.

A regular stop for me now!

Mom, Cheryl and I browsed around while Diane talked with the owner.  I found a book by Fannie Flagg, one of my favorite authors.  Cheryl and I were looking at the shirts when she pointed out me one with a ghost.  It was 50% off.  How could I resist?  She took a picture of me holding it before I decided to buy it; maybe I can get it from her for blogging purposes.

After that stop we pondered where else to go.  So many shops are not open on Tuesday!  When we drove back to Herkimer, looking for lunch, we saw Mohawk Valley Community Market.  How did I not think of that?  It is a great place to shop!  We spent a goodly amount of time browsing.

I have one of those bags!

Renewed and Rescued is the anchor store of the Market, the people that started it all.

At last we went to lunch.  Many places are not open for lunch on Tuesday, but one my favorites, Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant is!

There was snow on the ground today.

We had a delicious lunch.  I’m still full!  And after all those adventures, I have plenty of time left to do something useful around the house.  As soon as I read some of that Fannie Flagg book.