Category Archives: personal

Block? Blank? Or Lack of Brain?

Here is a change from the type-it-in-backspace-it-out disease.  I have the type-it-in-and-save-it-for-possible-use-later disease.  I guess that means I have a healthy ego where my own prose is concerned.  Or perhaps it is just an extension of my general reluctance to throw almost anything away.  But let us stay out of the deep dark recesses of my psyche.

I typed that previous paragraph, neither backspaced it out nor saved it for later, and I have been hit by a huge bout of Writer’s Blank.  That is when the blank screen (or page as the case may be) in front of me is matched by the blank space where my brain used to be.  I suffer from Blank moreso that the controversial Writer’s Block, although I perhaps should just call it Lack of Writer’s Brain.

I need a medium fake poo.

I was looking for a picture of The Brain from the Planet Arous, my usual illustration for when I am feeling brainless, but I think the plastic poo will do, because I do feel pretty crappy when I can’t make a decent blog post.

There’s the brain I need!

Now I can bill this post as a Monstrous Monday.  Once again I crave my readers’ indulgence for another foolish post.  I have a few excuses for my late lack of blogworthiness.  However, as I often say, explanations are tiresome.  Perhaps I could find just one more monster picture in my Media Library, to end on a cheerful note.

Who could be un-cheered by Nosferatu?

Here is my favorite guy, Nosferatu, from the eponymous 1922 silent movie.  And with that, I lapse into silence myself, until the next blog post.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

Cap Lame for Emphasis

Hello and welcome to another Late Lame Post Friday post.  I am hoping to have a few Mohawk Valley Adventures today but wonder if the weather will cooperate. As if the winter storm thinks to itself, “I’ll pass over the Mohawk Valley; Cindy wants to do some stuff.”

That is kind of a funny habit most people have, of endowing the weather with a personality (stand by for some of that half-baked philosophy I like to share on Lame Post Friday).  As in, “The sun is trying to peek out.”  Do we picture a little sun ducking and weaving around the clouds, like a basketball player trying to get clear for a shot?  For heavens’ sake, the sun is light years away from the clouds and IMMENSELY bigger.  But it makes my head hurt to think about these things and I already have a little bit of a headache (not a bad one and no, I did NOT tie one on last night! I had one glass of wine. Sheesh!)

While typing the last paragraph (with ten fingers on my Chromebook), I realized, I do not have a caps lock button.  There is a magnifying glass on the button where caps lock should be.  A bunch of icons pop up when I push it.  On my Tablet I can hit the caps button twice for caps lock. That doesn’t work here.  I just kept my little finger on the shift button to type IMMENSELY, in case you were interested.  I know, first world problems.  Additionally, some would say I did not need caps lock for emphasis, I could have used italics, as I am well able to do.

Sometimes I miss them.

One thing I like about this Chromebook: no autocorrect.  It underlines stuff it doesn’t like but does not, for example, change “hell” into “he’ll.”  It underlined “autocorrect,” by the way.  When it is a grammar thing, it underlines it in a different color and gives a suggestion when I put the cursor there.  For example, it underlined “caps lock” and suggested  “caps that lock.”  That gave me a little chuckle.  I gotta get my laughs wherever I can.

In the meantime, I am over 350 words.  That is more than enough for this nonsense, which I admit I have rather enjoyed.  Have a nice Saturday.

 

Like the Plague

So I did not make my Thursday blog post on Thursday.  Never mind why; explanations are tiresome.  I had meant to write it “about” something, you know, a Mohawk Valley Adventure or some such, but you know what they say about good intentions.  Something about some road to somewhere being paved with them.  I really should avoid cliches, but sometimes they are oh so tempting (as Oscar Wilde once had a character in a play say, I can resist anything except temptation!).

Where was I?  Nowhere I guess, except perhaps leading into a Throwback Thursday post, and another opportunity to work with my Media Library on this new computer (scrolling issues aside, I do love to ten finger type while lounged on the couch).

I don’ think they have taken the lights down yet this year. Must check.

I first throw back only a year to Janurary 2023 and a shot of the pavilion in Meyers Park in Herkimer, NY.  I walk by or through this park many times and enjoy how the seasons change its appearance.  I believe there is a similar amount of snow there now, as we have had snow then rain.  The rain is dreary, but it clears away some snow so I don’t have to shovel, so I count my blessings.

Look how cute he is!

Now I go back to January 2017 (my Media Library began in November 2016) and a shot of Spunky.  That basket was given to me by my sister Cheryl to put yarn in, but Spunky took one look and claimed it for his bed.  I naturally gave him his way.  One side is still caved down where he used to climb into it.  I think I still have the crumby sneaker I forgot to remove before taking the picture.  This is one reason why I am not a professional photographer.

Scary!

Here is a throw back a bit further, 1963’s The Bird, directed by the late, great Alfred Hitchcock.  The picture was in my Media Library in January 2018.  I mentioned the movie in a Facebook On This Day post, mentioning that Steven (my late, great husband) and I were watching it.  I always thought it strange that there seemed to be no cats in Bodega Bay, where the movie takes place (I add for the benefit of those who have not seen the movie), especially since Annie Hayward clearly should have had a few.  Annie (I also add for the benefit of etc) moved to some dumb little burg with nothing going on just to be near a guy who didn’t want to date her any more.  “That friendship means a hell of a lot to me.”  Yeah, right!  You were hoping he’d change his mind!  But I digress.  Before I finish digressing, though, in the interests of Judge Not, I will confess that I may have done something similar, probably based on mixed signals which I would have interpreted in the best possible light for me.  Many years ago when I was young and stupid(er).  There I go, continuing to digress.

Holy cow, my digressions have gotten me over 500 words!  My blogs never run that long!  Oh well, I guess sometimes.  Is exaggeration (which you have told me 1,000 times not to do) as bad as cliches? Points to ponder.

 

Monsters from my Media Library

How about a Mid-Week Monsters post?  For one reason, I can get a little more practice in navigating my Media Library on this new computer.  For another reason, well, I like monsters.

“You want to do WHAT?”

This was the first monster I came to, a nice wolfman (I don’t know why my computer is underlining it; isn’t that how you spell “wolfman”?).  He looks a little surprised.  I’m a little surprised myself, posting three days in a row not early in the morning. Has it been three days?  Of course I am too lazy to go back and check.

Accused by his wife of being “the only ghoul here.”

Here is my guy Vincent Price in House on Haunted Hill.  I just watched that again the other night.  Sweet!  I loves me some William Castle.

“A little more claw here!”

And here is the great Castle himself, directing one of his cast.  Actually I am not sure if this is actually a picture of him directing or a publicity shot, but I like it.

I think he is nice!

And here is a little cuteness to round out the post.  The awesome pot was sent to me by my good friend Marsha.  The vampire was given to me by my late, dearly missed husband, Steve.  The orange is a t-shirt I didn’t really like anyways (it was advertising for a place I used to work; I folded it so no logo showed).

Some of my Facebook groups are already counting down the days to Halloween.  I have other deadlines to worry about.  In the meantime, I see I am over 250 words. Score!  I must try for some more Mohawk Valley Adventures to blog about, if only the weather will cooperate.  As always, thank you for tuning in.

 

Ah, Winter!

I mentioned that winter had come to the Mohawk Valley (too lazy to go back and see what I actually said, but I am quite certain I mentioned it).  I had an adventurous drive home this evening.  It could have been worse, of course, and I do not mean to complain.  It was snowing but not yet blowing.  According to this morning’s weather report, the snow will change to rain, and damaging winds are possible.  However, the report said winds would start around 1 p.m., and that did not happen at least where I was.  I personally am hoping the rain clears away some of the snow so I do not have to shovel my driveway in the morning.

Sunday I shoveled my driveway for the first time this winter.  Of course I counted my blessings that January marked my first snow shovel.  I can’t say that made it fun, but one does what one can.

You see, it could have been MUCH deeper.

I remembered to take a “before” picture.  Full disclosure: I only shoveled behind the car, not the whole driveway.  I can only do so much.  I also cleared the sidewalk in front of the house about a shovel’s-width.  I figure that meets the Reasonable Man Standard, which an insurance man once told me about.

I don’t think it really shows how hard I worked.

I did not take an “after” picture of the sidewalk.  Why do I feel that I shoveled a whole lot more than the pictures show?  At any rate, it took me almost 40 minutes, which I think is a pretty good work-out.  I would prefer not to have many of such work-outs this season, but obviously I have no control over that.

I ponder my experience.

I took a selfie before I went inside, thinking to use it in the blog.  In addition to the work-out of shoveling, I took a walk.  The snow is certainly pretty, and walking in it takes more effort than walking on bare sidewalk, so no doubt it burns a few more calories.  Look at me, looking at the bright side.

Instead of another snow picture.

As I have typed this post, I have been listening to the wind pick up.  I hope nobody comes along and drops a house on me.  That happened to a sister of mine once, and then the person who did it stole her shoes!  I loved those red shoes!  But that’s another story.

 

A Little Spring in my Step?

As the anniversary of my husband Steven’s death approaches (Feb. 3), I have been feeling low.  Of course there are many reasons to feel low these days, and other people have greater problems and stresses than mine.  I am not starting this post to complain but to mention a delightful thing that happened to cheer me up.

At Steve’s funeral last February, only one person sent flowers.  Jenn, a good friend from our days doing community theatre in Massena, NY, and her family sent hyacinth bulbs.  They did not grow and bloom till after the funeral, but I certainly enjoyed the sight and scent of them on my kitchen counter.  I meant to plant the bulbs in my yard, where I hoped they would spread their joy every year hereafter, but, well, with one thing and another, it was not a good year for yards and gardens.  The pot with the bulbs continued to sit in my kitchen, moving from the counter to the floor when I needed the space.

Imagine my surprise when I noticed a little green beginning to poke its way out.  Not daring to get my hopes up, I watered it and waited.  They grew!  They bloomed!  They got a little top heavy and bowed over, so I tried to prop them up with glasses.

I should have cleared away the clutter in the background. I never think of these things.

Oh dear, that picture looks blurrier than it looked on my phone.  I should have used the Tablet.  Of course the clearest picture in the world would not share the lovely scent.  Spring time!  It gives me hope.

Not huge, but lovely.

I went in for a close-up of some of the blooms.  I know sometimes hyacinths have greater bunches of flowers, and perhaps these will too, eventually. In the meantime, they are certainly making a bright spot in a gloomy January.

 

 

My Blogging Aspirations Continue

Here is one problem I have with going back to being a daily blogger:  lately I do not do enough blog-worthy things.  When I occasionally do something, I neglect to blog about it.  For example, last Wednesday I went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY with my friend Kathy and enjoyed the music of Max Scialdone along with some good food.  I not only did not write a blog post about it, I did not take any pictures for future blogging purposes.  I did not even take the usual picture with my phone which I immediately post on Facebook and invite others to come out.

Christmas decorations were still up.

I looked in my Media Library for a picture of Max Scialdone but was unsuccessful.  However, I was able to find this picture of Fratello’s.  Those same nutcrackers were there last Wednesday. I will just mention that I am still learning how to navigate my Media Library on this Chromebook.  It is quite a learning curve for me.  But what a joy to ten-finger type while lounged on my couch.

Frankentree is bigger these days.

This is a shot from 2018.  I wanted one of snow, because winter has returned to the Mohawk Valley with a winter storm (I guess; I don’t know from meteorological designations) yesterday evening.  I will need to do some shoveling today.  I hope I can find my shovel.  I wonder how interesting I can make a blog post about my old creaky body trying to clear my driveway and sidewalk.  I imagine it will be at least as interesting as me whining about how I am not blogging and have little to blog about anyways.  As always, I hope you will stay tuned.

I’ll Have to Work on the Pun

I don’t know if I should acquiesce in being not daily blogger (sporadic blogger?  thrice weekly blogger? non blogger?) or get used to most of my posts beginning with an apology for missing days.  It is a conundrum.  I think.

I just paused to look up “conundrum” (in an old dictionary, you know, the kind that is a book) (in case any of you thought I might be catching up with the 21st century).  One definition is anything that puzzles, so that is OK.  However, the first definition says it is a riddle whose answer involves a pun.  I love puns!  Of course I cannot think of any right off hand, but if I can come up with an answer to my particular conundrum that involves a pun, what a triumph that would be!

He looks sad. Don’t be sad, Vincent!

Once again, I throw in a picture to pep things up.  This is a publicity still from The Tingler, one of my favorite William Castle movies.  It stars Vincent Price, for those of you who do not recognize him in the picture (poor uninformed wretches).  I saw something at work yesterday  (never mind what;  it would take too long to explain) that was shaped like the Tingler, and I thought, ooh!  I began to plan a William Castle Weekend, where I would watch cheesy movies and knit.  I thought I would even make my Lame Post Friday blog post about it.  And then I did not make a Friday blog post.

I knew she would like this dress!  I think she wore it for a murder mystery once.

When in doubt, throw in a beautiful blonde.   This is my bestie, Kim, at Renewed and Rescued in 2019.  This was before Renewed was the anchor store of Mohawk Valley Community Market.  I include this picture, because I may not sit home on my couch today (it is Saturday, by the way) but go out on a few Mohawk Valley Adventures.  Mohawk Valley Community Market may be one stop.

I see I am over 300 words.  So I have, an apology for not posting, a picture from a cheesy horror movie, and a brief shout out to a local business.  I am going to say OK and hit publish.  As always, thank you for tuning in.

Mohawk Valley Community Market is located at 142 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-219-9195.

 

I Say More Wuss-Out Than Wayback

Well, here we go again with me going days in a row without making a blog post.  I do not even know if I will finish this one today.  I have plans to go to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort NY with a friend for food and music.  I can’t even say that is a preview of coming attractions, because how often have I said I was going to make a blog post about something then did not.  I did not make that a question, because I do not expect that anybody will go back and check, least of all me, and I do not welcome guesses.

There is not much snow there currently.

I wanted to put in a picture, to break things up a little.  I accidentally clicked on this one from last January as I was fumbling around in my Media Library (still figuring out this new computer), and said, why not?  It is the path over what used to be a hydraulic canal in Herkimer, a favorite place for me to run or walk. I have not been walking enough lately and not running at all, but I hope to change that soon.  Not right this minute, of course. Right this minute I am blogging.

I do not intend to wear these to walk or run.

To mix things up a little more, I include this shot from 2015, when I was in Busybody at Ilion Little Theatre.  That was a fun show.  That makes this a kind of a Wayback Wednesday, although I had intended more of a Wuss-Out Wednesday.  Oh well, call it what you like.  I am over 250 words, and at least I have made a blog post.  As always, thank you for tuning in.

 

A Little Light in my Life

Now we’ll pretend it’s still Saturday, and I will not apologize for making yet another late post.  Sometimes apologies are appropriate and sometimes they are just tiresome.

I went with my sister Cheryl and her delightful grandchildren, Sheppie and Evie, to drive around the villages and look at Christmas lights.  We began in Frankfort, NY, where there is a lovely display at the Marina.  I pointed out Heelpath Brewing, but we did not go in for a libation.  We got out of the car to get a closer look.

The kids graciously posed for one shot.

This was the best picture I took.  I quickly discovered that my Tablet is not best suited to take pictures at night.

You see what I mean.

I think the kids are in this shot too, but it is hard to tell. In any case, they soon decided it was too cold to get out of the car, and we drove on.

The semi-good shot I got at the Marina.

We drove through Frankfort into Ilion, where I knew a few good places to see some lights.  Alas, I did not get any pictures.  We went on into Mohawk, where we especially admired the street lights, then to Herkimer, where I also knew of a few good displays.

It was a nice little post-Christmas interlude. I confess I have had less of a Post-Christmas Letdown than in previous years, probably because, as regular readers know, this has been a difficult year for me.  I am not whining about this (I hope) but merely making an observation of a small silver lining.  I continue to count my blessings, in which my family ranks high on the list.  Thank you, Cheryl, Sheppie and Evie!