Category Archives: personal

No Ambition, But a Couple of Shout-Outs

My only ambition right now is to NOT be making my Thursday blog post on Friday morning.  I can just hear one of you say, “So your ambition is to make your blog post now.”  However, that is not strictly accurate.  Let us not quibble over semantics.  Let us see what kind of a blog post I can make with this very low amount of ambition.

Give that skeleton a cup of coffee!

I threw in a picture to pep things up.  It is from October 2016, the month I started putting pictures in the blog (I have been blogging since 2011) (Wow! Has it been that long?).  It is from the So Sweet Candy Shoppe, originally called the So Sweet Candy Cafe, at 531 Varick St. in Utica, NY.  I have not been there in a while.  I must make my way to Utica one day soon (preview of coming attractions).

My favorite shirt!

Continuing the theme of throwback, and shout-out to local businesses, here is a shot from December 2016:  Original Herkimer Cheese, 2745 State Route 51 in Ilion, NY.  I bought that shirt and wear it a lot.  I need to go to the outlet soon and get some Chutter: cheese that spreads like butter.

Ooh, look, I got myself over 200 words. Score! Let’s see if tomorrow I can make my Lame Post Friday post on Friday.  No promises.

 

Yet Another Late Post About Good Music

Once you make one late post, it is so easy to make another!  Is that what they refer to as a “slippery slope” (whoever “they” is)?  Oh well, I am often late with my Wednesday posts, due to coming home lazy after a good meal and great music at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY.  Never mind, here is my almost weekly shout-out to one of my favorite places.

He is so talented!

I saw on Facebook that Mark Nanni would be performing.  He is so fun to watch, because he plays keyboard, guitar and accordion.  The other reason I wanted to go out was to order a salad, so I would have leftovers to bring for my lunch Thursday and Friday.  Lately if I eat anything but salad for lunch, I get so bloated.  Sorry, didn’t mean to over-share (even though that is what I usually do).

My husband, Steve, and I mostly wanted to hear some good local music to cheer ourselves up, and Nanni did not disappoint.  We did not get to hear him play the accordion last night, but the keyboard and guitar (sometimes both during the same song) were excellent.  We applauded loudly.

Back home, just like last week, we watched a DVR’d episode of Reasonable Doubt.  I can’t seem to live without my true crime fix.

Just to have another illustration.

Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-8484.  You can Like them on Facebook to find out what musician they will feature next.

 

Can You Picture Me Taking a Walk?

I was too tired yesterday to make even a Tired Tuesday post.  I did, in fact, type in one sentence:  “I am SO TIRED!!!”  I did not save it so do not know why I feel compelled to re-type it in and share it now, but that’s me for you.  I went for a walk this morning but am not sure it will make a good Pedestrian Post, due to my inability to take good pictures.  However, I shall try.

I turned on the dining room light to put on my sneakers and left it on, because I was wondering how well our ghoul, Elliott Ghoul, looked from the street.  Elliott Ghoul is one of the Halloween decorations we keep up year round.  I like to keep his sound on too, but Steven turned it off, because Elliott kept waking him up when he takes a nap on the couch.  Outside, I observed that Elliott does show to passersby, although he can be blocked by Frankentree.

He looks even more spooky when he’s all blurry!

I tried to take a picture from the sidewalk.  First I zoomed in, which I can sometimes do.  Other times, I think I am zooming but instead I change it to selfie mode.  I hate it when that happens!

You can see one of Frankentree’s branches on the left.

I zoomed back out to show part of the porch, then started on my walk.  I usually walk the same way in the morning:  to the spring on Lou Amber Drive.  It is good for me, because I carry a bottle of water and drink it while I walk to the spring, then I re-fill it and continue to sip. It makes for more hydration than I usually get first thing in the morning.

The only exciting thing that happened on this morning’s walk was when I encountered a skunk on Church Street, as I headed home with my spring water.  Yikes!  I was luckily a couple of houses away when I saw what was clearly NOT a cat or bunny.  I quickly crossed the street then wondered if I dared keep walking in that direction, which was still toward the animal.  I took a few hesitant steps.  He (or she) turned and walked up a lawn towards a house.  Phew!  I did not take a picture.

However, on a walk last month, I took a picture of the full moon that I will now share.  It was not a fully successful picture, which is one reason I have not shared it thus far.  I had a thought of using it in a Pedestrian Post with the title, “No Moon Shot,”  but I could not get my act together to the extent of writing said post (what a surprise: me not have my act together!  Say it ain’t so!).

I guess it isn’t so bad. Or do I flatter myself?

Pedestrian Posts with Pictures are clearly more successful when I take my walks in full daylight.  I will attempt another of those in the future. For now the important thing is, I have made a blog post.  At least, it is important to me.  Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

Nosferatu CAN Help Me Now!

I said to myself, I will just go ahead and make my Monday blog post. I won’t mention how I missed my Saturday and Sunday posts, and maybe nobody will notice.  And this is why I hate  making plans: my plans always go to hell.  Yes, I know, in this case the problem was Operator Error.  MY WHOLE LIFE IS OPERATOR ERROR!

OK, got that out of my system.  On with a Monstrous Monday Post.

My favorite!

I resort to my Media Library rather than seeking new monster pictures.  I worry about duplication.  Anyways, I have so many monster pictures and I love to re-share them.

Speaking of monsters…

This picture  was right near Nosferatu in my Media Library, and I find it apropos after missing two blog posts.  What is it with me and not writing?  I am much happier when I write. There might be a blog post here about why I do not always do what is patently good for me.  I’ll see if I can write it sometime.

“Did you knock on my door?”

And here is Nosferatu again.  I have not seen that movie in a while.  I do not watch silent movies very often, because it is difficult to follow them while knitting or crocheting.

It seems I have reached 200 words without saying a whole hell of a lot (dear autocorrect: it is almost never he’ll).  Perhaps I should up my daily quota to 250.  Oh, who am I kidding, I never have that much good to say.  But I thank you all for tuning in.

 

Not a Lame Walk, But Maybe Lame Photography

I thought I would try for the Pedestrian Post I missed earlier this week, in lieu of my usual Lame Post Friday post.  Accordingly,  I armed myself with my smarter-than-me phone and set out shortly after supper.  I have done several of these picture walk posts in Herkimer, NY, and knew my adopted hometown would not disappoint.

My first photo op was the Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast at 122 West German Street.  Unfortunately I was across the street and did not get a good shot.  So Herkimer did not disappoint,  but my camera did.  Most likely it was operator error as usual.

This is from my Media Library. I’ll try to get a full view later.

Continuing with my walk, I crossed Main Street and started down the lovely walkway over what used to be a hydraulic canal.  It is a wonderful re-purposed space, which, alas, I also did not get a good picture of.

Also from the Media Library and not the view I wanted.

I took a turn halfway down the path and walked down a sidewalk with few photo ops.  It was then I remembered I had been going to go to Mohawk Community Market on Main Street for the Grand opening on their newly renovated downstairs.  Well, it will still be renovated in days to come.  I’ll get there soon (preview of coming attractions).

Continuing my walk, I noticed the signs on the parking lot to the county office buildings.  Regular readers know that I can rarely resist entering where it says not to.

Oh, sure, THIS picture comes out!

I went out the entrance and the wrong way down Mary Street but did not take pictures of those signs.  Then I was on Main Street, heading towards my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.

You can only really see two of the corners.

I tried, once again unsuccessfully, to get a picture of Suiter House.  By now I am too lazy to search my Media Library for one of those.

I had better luck with the 1834 Jail.

 

I could not resist a shot of the graveyard at Herkimer Reformed Church.

It was a very enjoyable walk.  I may take another one soon, if for no other reason than to get pictures of the things I missed.

 

Luckily, Blog Posts Don’t Have To Be Perfect

Today is a Blogger’s Sick Day.  That is when I spend a few words whining about how terrible I feel and call it a post.  Maybe I could share a few pictures to pep things up, maybe get a little Throwback Thursday into the mix.

A suspicious bunch indeed.

I looked in my Media Library at September 2017 and found this delightful shot.  It is members of LiFT,  Little Falls Theatre Company, at the Ritz and Ragtime fundraiser for the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica.  I wish they would do one of those again.  I have a couple more 1920’s outfits to choose from.

 

More theatre fun!

This was in September 2018, Donate to Murder at the Herkimer Elks Club.  It was an interactive murder mystery which I just happened to write.  I need to start writing again.

Good advice for me.

I need to make this my mantra.  I could hang it on my wall.  Or maybe tattoo it on my forehead, backwards, of course, so I could read it every time I look in the mirror.  Unfortunately,  or perhaps fortunately,  my forehead is not that big.

In the meantime, it seems I have managed to make a blog post in spite of feeling rather ill.  Perhaps it is not a very good blog post, but you’ll have that.  I am going to try for some sleep, and a better blog post tomorrow.  As always, thank you for tuning in.

 

In My Defense, Music!

This is a late Wuss-out Wednesday Post. In my defense, we went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY for food and music, one of our favorite things to do.  In my accusation (I never did figure out a good word for the opposite of “defense” in these situations), when we came home we watched a DVR’d episode of Reasonable Doubt, another of my favorite things.

I have other pictures to share, but this popped up when I hit “Add Media.”

Steven got a Shrimp Basket while I had a Chicken Wing Wrap, only with grilled instead of fried chicken. Yum!  Steven did not recognize the musician and asked his name.  The bartender said, “Jonathan.”  I remembered seeing him before and later looked him up in one of my adventure books (that is my fancy name for blank books or notebooks I carry around with me to make notes), Jonathan Minter.

Very talented guy.

I was not familiar with most of the tunes he played, but I sure dug the acoustic guitar.  We were also delighted when my niece Kimi and her boyfriend, Matt, showed up.  Fratello’s gets the best clientele!

Cute couple!

Back home, we paused in our true crime viewing to admire a rainbow.  I took a picture which does not do it justice.

I pointed it out to a couple of passersby. I feel the need to share beauty.

It was altogether a very enjoyable evening, with the result that I overslept this morning. A small price to pay.

 

Where Would I Have Walked?

I thought that instead of making a Tired Tuesday post, I would take a nice walk, take some pictures, and do a Pedestrian, such as I have not done in a while.  Unfortunately, it started raining just as I was about to start my walk.  It has not stopped yet.  There is every chance I will take a walk in the morning, but it will still be dark, making pictures ineligible (I’ve tried).  Perhaps I could share a few pictures from previous walks and talk about where I would like to walk to next time.

Graveyards are always interesting.

Here is a picture from August 2020, taken at my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  It is Herkimer Reformed Church.  I am fascinated by the graveyard.  Old gravestones are always so evocative.  Many of my walks and runs do take me by the Historic Four Corners.

I love a grey sky!

Here is my own neighborhood in August 2021, on an evening similar to tonight.  This picture, of course, was taken before the storm.  If I had gone for my walk earlier, I might have taken such a picture today.  However, it is a useless exercise to pine for what might have been.

I think it is looking a little worse these days.

This picture is from August 2018.  I often walk or run on Washington Street and see this former school.  I am always so sad to see a building go to waste.  Wouldn’t it be nice if somebody bought it and made it into something fun, like an arts center or antique mall?  I have neither the wherewithal nor the business expertise for such a project.  I don’t even know if the building is in good enough shape for any use, but it is fun to speculate.

Pretty!

I close with a picture from my own backyard in August 2018.  The Black-Eyed Susans are still there, although there are some other uninvited  plants growing there as well.  Perhaps I can get a picture of them tomorrow.  I would also like to cut a few to put in a vase in my house.

In the meantime, I am over 300 words and hope my readers have been at least mildly entertained.  I hope to go for a real blogging walk soon.

 

Will Monday Conquer Me?

Not literally, unfortunately.

As August grinds to a close, I observe two kinds of people:  The ones that lament the end of summer, and the ones that just can’t wait to go on to fall.  Guess which category I fall into.

Actually, as I get older I strive to avoid wishing for that which patently cannot be.  It is August.  It will remain August for the allotted number of days.  And the temperature will be what it chooses, based on barometric pressure or other meteorological conditions which I do not understand; my personal preferences will not affect it in the slightest degree (see what I did there?).

All this by way of introduction to a Monstrous Monday blog post in which I will strive not to whine about how over-heated I am.  No promises.

It is really not as sexy as the poster implies.

Saturday afternoon when my husband,  Steven fell asleep on the love seat, I seized the opportunity to put in a cheesy horror movie.  I picked this one up on VHS at a rummage sale, so its cheesy bonafides were assured. I had seen it before but do not remember doing a blog post on it.  I miss those write-ups I used to do on cheesy movies.  They were fun to write, although they did not usually get a lot of blogger love.  Regular readers know what a Like junkie I am.

Not an actual depiction of wage slaves going to work on Monday.

I close with an image of what it sometimes feels like trying to function on a Monday.  Oh hell, I get that feeling on and off all week!  Please don’t tell my boss.  I do try to fight it.

Regarding this foolish blog post, I see I am approaching 300 words. I call that respectable.  I hope you will all join me again tomorrow for what may or may not be a Tired Tuesday Post.

 

Columbo, Can You Help Me Now?

I am not having a Wrist to Forehead Sunday today for the simple fact that I am too tired to raise my wrist that high.  Wow, how pathetic is that?  What a big, lazy baby I am!  I mean, how much trouble is it to swoon dramatically?  Too much, apparently.  So I sit on the couch, trying to make some post, any post.

“One more thing.”

As I type (one letter at a time with the stylus), I am looking at an episode of Columbo on DVD.  I love Columbo.

Earlier today I went for a run.  I went grocery shopping, made some things for my week’s lunches, and fixed a tasty dinner for my husband, Steve, and me.  I suppose I could have come up with OK blog posts about any of those activities.  Hmmm… nope.  They just don’t move me.

I know, I know, one must not wait for inspiration nor to be in the mood to write.  We have been over this.  Can I think of anything new to say about it?  How about this:  this blog is my hobby.  I do it because it is fun.  I enjoy it.  Sometimes it is more of an effort than others, but I find that I am usually happy that I have made the effort.  It is like running in that respect:  you have to put up with the crap runs to get to the good ones.

Oh dear, that sounds like some of my blog posts are crap posts.  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!

The point I was going for was that I like to blog about what moves me at the moment.  At the moment, I do not feel particularly moved.  However, I have managed to rattle on for over 250 words.  Steven has started another episode of Columbo.  I would like to watch it.