Category Archives: Throwback Thursday

Where Have I Been? Where May I Go?

With apologies for missing my Wednesday blog post, I attempt another Throwback Thursday.  I have done a few things this morning, not many of course:  took a mile and a half walk, met friends for breakfast, talked to my parents, met with a contractor (long story, not very interesting)… OK, I have not done much.  I have a hair and toenail appointment this afternoon and a murder mystery rehearsal this evening (preview of coming attractions).  I certainly hope I remember to take a couple of pictures at rehearsal for a Post-Rehearsal Post.

Now what did I do with that little silver purse?

This is a picture of my bestie Kim and me at a Prohibition Party at Gerber’s 1933 Tavern in Utica, NY.  I actually have some better 1920s outfits now, and I am always hoping to add more. Note to self:  make the next murder mystery a 1920s theme.  I thought I would throw back to businesses previously visited, but of course I cannot get away from my theatrical (not to say drama queen) nature.

Cheers to a Cute Little Blonde!

Here is a local business I need to return to soon, Heelpath Brewing in Frankfort.  The Cute Little Blonde mentioned in the caption refers to the wine Kim is drinking, from Rustic Ridge Winery in Burlington Flats.  That would be more of a drive for me to visit, but it is a delightful place.

The bunnies were still there last week!

Now here is a place I have been recently and intend to return to today: Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY.  I go for their weekly tastings, for a naughty sip and some pleasant conversation.  I must see what they are tasting today.

I have cheered myself up, thinking of these places I have been to and can go to again.  I miss my Kim, who has moved halfway across the country, but perhaps she will return for a visit sometime.  In the meantime, there is no reason I cannot enjoy some Mohawk Valley Adventures with other friends or even on my own.

 

Murder Remembered

Alas, I have once again fallen down on the job as a daily blogger by failing to make even a Wuss-out Wednesday post.  A quick check of my phone tells me a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday is also ineligible.  As I sit here on my couch feeling rather tired, I fear a Throwback Thursday is my best bet.  For one reason, I am pondering the latest murder mystery and throwing back to past triumphs may inspire me.

You knew I would include a picture of Steven if possible.

This was indeed a fun one, Fabulous and Fatal in the fall of 2019.  My late, dearly missed husband Steven made quite the hit as Ophelia Upp, a member of Drag Queens Along the Mohawk.  I played the glamorous Roxanne Rolls.

Nothing suspicious about him!

And here is my friend Tucker as Renwick Spaulding, a great lover of all things insect in Donate to Murder.  He was pretty awesome.  I feel proud of myself for writing these murder mysteries, but really, it is the actors who make the stories come to life.  Which may seem like a funny thing to say about a murder mystery.

How could somebody that fabulous kill anybody?

Here is a less than candid shot of one of our suspects for Shooting at the Grange, which we performed at Salisbury Grange in the spring in 2023.  It was a pretty fun script in a nice setting.

I don’t know that I feel particularly inspired now to work on the mystery we are rehearsing tonight, but at least I have my blog post done.  I hope you’ll stay tuned for future Mohawk Valley Adventures.

 

What Would Truman Capote Do?

I had the intention to combine my Throwback Thursday and Lame Post Friday posts and thus pretend I am caught up, but of course it is a little Non-Sequitur to be posting on the wrong day, and I do have a feature of Non-Sequitur Thursday.  Then again, it is kind of a sequence to do Monday’s post on Tuesday, Tuesday’s post on Wednesday, etc.  What’s a blogger to do?

As long as I can wear a tiara, I’m good.

I was looking for a more appropriate picture, but then I thought, Why?  Did I not say Non-Sequitur Thursday?  Or Throwback Thursday, although this is only throwing back to a year ago, when I appeared in Four Old Broads on the High Seas with Players of Utica.  The blue hat in the background is another actor trying to photo-bomb.   I feel bad that she did not succeed.  I started to write a similar play.  I mean a silly comedy about a few older ladies.  I must put in more work on that.

There’s the photo bomb!

OK, now my two pictures are sequential, so perhaps Non-Sequitur Thursday is out of the question.  I don’t care. It is my blog and I will do what I like.

In a preview of coming attractions, I may go to a fish fry tonight, and I may go to a couple of my favorite fun local businesses during the day.  I may also do something to celebrate Friday the 13th, which always sounds like a holiday to me.  I could walk under a ladder or go into a theatre and mention MacBeth (that is a theatre superstition you may or may not be familiar with:  real theatre geeks must always refer to it as, “The Scottish Play.”

To explain the headline:  Truman Capote once said about some work or other, “That’s not writing, that’s typing.”

 

More Memories, This Time Theatre

I want to do a Throwback Thursday Post today, specifically a Theatre Throwback Thursday Post, because I realized that with the pictures I shared of my late, dearly missed husband Steve, I did not share any of our joint theatrical endeavors.  Theatre was something we both loved and loved to do together.  Steven was a great actor and director.  We helped start the Seaway Valley Footlighters in Massena, NY back in the 1990s.  About that time we started the company Murder for Hire, which did interactive murder mysteries at area restaurants and clubs. We didn’t make a lot of money, but we had a great deal of fun.

After a dry spell (long story,not very interesting), we relocated to Herkimer and found Ilion Little Theatre in the 2000s.  A little later, I started again writing murder mysteries, which I now only do for free and to benefit not for profits.  Well, this is turning into a long story.  Quick, throw in a picture.  I hope I can find something in my Media Library.

It was our “big scene,” as Steven called it.

Here we are in Harvey in, I believe 2012.  Steve is Dr. Cbumley, I am Veda.  It is one of my favorite theatre memories, and this is one of my favorite pictures of the two of us.

I set him straight in this scene.

This is our scene from Splitting Issues, which was a series of sketches about relationships.  There was a large cast and, I think, three directors.   I went with Steven to auditions, not intending to audition myself.  However, I agreed to read with him.  We read this scene, and I was later told that when the directors discussed who should play which part, all were agreed that Steve and I had to do this sketch.  It was very flattering, and it I think we did a pretty good job.

A suspicious bunch, indeed!

I close with a picture from a murder mystery, Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, which LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company performed at the Overlook when it was a bed and breakfast.  I do love a 1920s theme, and have been trying to write another one ever since.

Steven kind of participated in Prescription: Murder, the play I was in last year about this time (perhaps you read a few of my blog posts about it).  I loaned his wedding ring to a fellow cast member.  I think Steve would have liked that.  Anyways I liked it.  I hope to make some more theatre memories soon (preview of coming attractions).  In the meantime, I guess I got kind of long-winded (for my blog posts), but you’ll have that.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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.

 

Prescription: Blog Post

I was going to do a Way-back Wednesday post about Prescription: Murder, the play I was in last year (was it only last year?) at Ilion Little Theatre, because I was watching the TV version with Peter Falk as Columbo on Roku TV.  Unfortunately, I got caught up in  watching further episodes of Columbo (love Murder by the Book with Jack Cassidy) and got too tired.  That is all right though; I can do a Throwback Thursday post now!

Columbo clears up one little point for his report.

I wanted to use the shot with my dead feet sticking out from behind the chaise, but I have several good pictures to share and I use the feet one often.

I totally wanted those shoes.

Our murderer was different from Gene Barry in the TV movie (it was a TV movie that became the basis for the Columbo TV series).  Barry is cold and arrogant.  Our Dr. Fleming was warmer.   Our Joan Hudson (Katherine Justice in the movie), the doctor’s lover and accomplice, was more innocent and endearing.

A staged shot taken backstage (a backstaged shot?).

I liked our Burt Gordon, the district attorney and close personal friend of the murderer, better than the one played by William Windom.  I was sorry ours only had one scene, but he made the most of it.  While being genuinely concerned for his friend, he still managed to make a lot of what he said sound like a political speech.

Rehearsal shot.

Our receptionist gave a more nuanced performance than the receptionist in the movie.  You knew how she felt about every character she encountered.

There were things I liked better in the movie, most notably the ending, but I had such a good time in the play.  I thought my fellow actors were all wonderful in their roles, and the director and assistant director were top notch.  I can’t wait to be in another play at Ilion Little Theatre!

 

Blog of Christmas Past

How convenient that Christmas falls on a Thursday, so I can do a Throwback Thursday Post.  All I need do is consult my Media Library.

A great place for Christmas goodies!

Of course I must include my late, dearly missed husband Steven.  Holidays are difficult when you have lost somebody so important to you and with whom you have shared so much.  But I must keep my spirits up.  My family and friends help a great deal.  Anyways, this is the So Sweet Candy Shoppe, which used to be on Varick Street but has relocated to a nice spot in Clinton.  Check it out; it’s a great place to shop any time of year.

 

Random Christmas picture to denote passage of time while I scroll my Media Library indecisively.

This is not going well. I keep looking at different Decembers and not seeing anything that I feel like sharing.  Come on, me!  Grow a brain!

I haven’t a ghost of a chance of making a good blog post today!

I thought at first this was the Ghost of Christmas Past, which would have been SO appropriate for a Throwback Thursday. However, we must make do with Jacob Marley.  I have not seen any Christmas movies in the past few years, largely because Steven was the one who was always popping them in.  For another reason, I disconnected my DVD player when I got a new table for my television and have never hooked it back up.  I only have RokuTV and have not figured out where the free movies are.

Yeah, I’m a ding dong.  But not a rama-lama ding dong.

I close with a Christmas Cowbell, gifted to me by my sister Cheryl back in 2020, just because.  I see I am approaching 300 words.  Score!  Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, Happy Holidays to others, and Happy Thursday just to be all inclusive.

 

Still Ill, but Throwback Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody, and welcome to a Throwback Thursday post.  I am feeling a little better from my ailment of the other day.  Not 100% but on the mend, and I thought I could make a quick post, just to not go to many days without.

Lovely fall colors, yes?

This is a picture from 2016.  It is a bouquet of flowers my dearly missed husband Steven sent me when I was leading lady in the play The BusyBody at Ilion Little Theatre.  Come to think of it, that play happened in the spring.  I don’t know why I shared the picture in November.  I’m sure my husband picked the colors because they are my favorites.

Look how cute they are.

Here are some fall decorations.  I decided the bigger ones were sweethearts and the little one was the guy’s little brother.  Note the straight mouth; he wishes little brother would go away so he can kiss his girlfriend.  However, the girlfriend thinks little brother is cute and his happy he is there.  I have shared that story before, but it is Throwback Thursday after all.

Wow, look at all that stuff!

And here is another picture of when my husband used to decorate.  Perhaps I will see what I can do for Christmas.

I see I have reached 200 words.  That will do, I say.  I hope to be up for Mohawk Valley Adventures soon.  After all, Shop Small Saturday is coming!

 

Sometimes I Do Run Backwards

It really has not been all that hot and humid lately.  I mean, no heat advisories that I heard of, and it was only in the 80s, not the 90s.  Why, then do I feel so sluggish and that my brain has been steamed?  Why, oh why, am I making another blog post about it?  This cannot be interesting!  Quick, throw in a picture to pep things up.

Anybody remember when I did that?

I participated in this race back in 2017 but not again thereafter.  I do not know why not.  However, I saw a post about it on Facebook the other day and said, “I’m doing it this year!”  Of course I forgot to write down the date or any other information about it.  However, I think I have time to find these things out.  And I am still in 5K shape from the Pride Stride 5K in June.  The beauty part is, this should be good for several blog posts.

Can you tell it’s uphill?

I think this is the back way to Herkimer College (previously known as HCCC).  I recently ran up the front way for the first time in a while.  I have not run up the back way recently but I suppose it would be a good idea to.  I feel I do not run enough hills.

On the brighter side, using the two pictures from the past entitles me to bill this as a Throwback Thursday.  Once again, I will try for a better blog post tomorrow, and I thank you for tuning in.

 

Agatha Christie, Can You Help Me Now?

About all I’m up to this evening is a Throwback Thursday post.  Never mind why; explanations are tiresome.  Many of my Throwback Thursdays end up being Theatre Throwbacks, which is not surprising since Drama is my Life (said with a gesture), but I think I will try for something different today.  Let us see what I can find in my Media Library.

Rather a threatening looking book cover, no?

Oh dear, I thought I was throwing back to a favorite book, which this is, but then I realized it is also a treasured theatre memory.  My late husband and I were in the stage version of this mystery at Ilion Little Theatre some years ago.

The movie was different from our play.

This is the movie poster from the DVD I have.  There is at least one other movie version of And Then There Were None that I would also like to have on DVD.  I would also like to direct the play version if Ilion Little Theatre wanted to revive it.  It has been a few years; I wonder if they would.  Perhaps not. They recently presented Mousetrap and plan to do Murder on the Orient Express next spring.

So much for not doing a Theatre Throwback.  On the brighter side, I am over 200 words, and tomorrow is Lame Post Friday.  I hope to see you all then, figuratively speaking.