Category Archives: Throwback Thursday

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.

 

OK, So It’s Not Really Thursday

Was I too tired or too lazy to make my Thursday blog post on Thursday?  It does not matter, but here I am early but not early enough Friday morning, typing frantically, trying to make some semblance of a post while I can.  Full disclosure:  I would have plenty of time if I did not just have to arrive at work early enough to work on an anacrostic puzzle.  Never mind that, let us try for a Throwback Thursday post.

Santa is a voyeur!

I may watch King Kong right along here, only without the Santa hat.  I have always considered it a New Year’s Eve movie, just because we happened to watch it one year on New Year’s Eve.

I don’t suppose that is sheet music to a Christmas carol.

Actually, Nosferatu looks a little like Ebenezer Scrooge, although that is not the Christmas Carol I was referencing in the caption.  I guess I have veered into Midweek Monsters, making this a kind of a Non-Sequitur Thursday Post.  You see how flexible I am.

The ONLY Grinch for me! I will die on this hill.

I did not watch any Christmas movies or specials this year, and the only one I missed was Boris Karloff as the Grinch.

Ooh, this brings me to over 200 words, and I still have enough time to fill in a couple of clues on that puzzle.  I hope to see you later when I make my Lame Post Friday post.  How much later is an amount to be determined.

 

Mohawk Valley Memories

So I posted yesterday morning but not this morning.  By the way, I said it had been ten days since I posted, but I was mistaken.  You see, I thought it was the 15th.  Imagine my amazement when I got to work and discovered it was only the 13th.  But I knew all along it was only Wednesday, so I did not suffer the chagrin on realizing it was not Friday.

An all-time favorite meme.

I said I was going to post about Mohawk Valley Adventures.  However, I am fighting fatigue as well as my recalcitrant Tablet (I don’t think I have ever used the word “recalcitrant ” in a sentence before).  Perhaps a Throwback Thursday Post would be OK.

A great place to go!

Here is an adventure from December 2017.  My late beloved husband Steve and our friend Margaret Rienzo, proprietress of the So Sweet Candy Shoppe in Utica, NY.  I was there more recently with my sisters Cheryl and Diane.

I loves me some nutcrackers!

Here are some Christmas decorations in Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort.  The picture is from 2021, but I saw the nutcrackers there again just the other night.

It’s the good stuff!

For my last photo, I switch it up with a Preview of Coming Attractions.  This was from a tasting of Dikin Dirt Distillery at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer.  Now where did I put my tasting notes?

 

I Start Lame and Go From There

Perhaps posting every other day will be a thing for a while.  No promises.  However, I managed to find my way to the dining-room-table-top and, well, here I am.

I just paused to get some coffee.  Surely that will help (after all, somebody’s name might be Shirley).

Not the cup I am using, but I wanted to add an illustration.

In my favor today:  it is Lame Post Friday.  Although I have made a habit lately of making my Lame Post Friday post early Saturday morning and my Throwback Thursday post early Friday morning, I feel fairly certain today’s will be somewhat of a lame post.  Then again, a couple of Throwback pictures might pep things up.

A favorite scene.

From spring of 2019, a scene from Morning’s at Seven at Ilion Little Theatre, with my dear friend Jim.  That play is a great theatre memory.

Oh yeah, Christmas is coming.

I was casting about, looking for other theatre memories but found this shot of my late, dearly missed husband, Steve, and a newscaster from WKTV whose name escapes me, stuffing the bus with toys for poor kids for Christmas 2019.  I must purchase something with which to stuff the bus this year.  Or perhaps I could win something at 4Pet’s Sake Food Pantry’s basket raffle on Saturday (preview of coming attractions).  I donated an afghan to the event.

May be an image of text that says 'BASKET RAFFLE 4PetSake Mohawk Legion 43W.MainSt, 43 W. Main Mohawk Food Pantry Inc. Benefits 4PetSake Food Pantry Saturday December, 2nd from 12-4 PM'

I plan to be there!

So now we have veered into Non-Sequitur territory, and I am over 200 words.  I adjourn for more coffee and wish you all a pleasant Friday.

 

All Lights, Camera, Murder! All The Time?

Full disclosure:  I would not have made a blog post this morning, but my attempt to walk was foiled by rain.  Yes, I know, some people like to walk in the rain.  I personally do not mind it but did not want to either change my clothes or show up for work in a sodden state, although in a general sense I am not especially fastidious (I just wanted to use the word “fastidious” in a sentence. How often to you get to do that?).

Where was I?  Ah yes, making a blog post.  I think I will begin with a plug of our latest murder mystery, Lights, Camera, Murder! to be presented Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Herkimer Elks Lodge for the benefit for the Herkimer County Historical Society.

May be an image of text that says 'HERKIMER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND CYNTHIA QUACKENBUSH PRESENTS LIGHTS.... CAMERA... MURDER!! CAN YOU SOLVE THE MURDER BEFORE MURDERER IS REVEALED? SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11th Elks Club 112 Mary St. Herkimer, NY Doors Open at 5:30pm Dinner at 6pm Basket Raffles & 50/50 Raffle Dinner catered by PK Pubs Tickets $40.00 per person Tickets are available at The Herkimer County Historical Society 406 North Main St, Herkimer 315-866-6413'

Wow, that turned out big!

I am a little embarrassed they put my name up there in big letters.  I think I should give my little murder group a name like “Q Mysteries” or “Murder for Non-Profit” for such situations.  We have rehearsal tonight.  Perhaps I can get a few pictures for blogging purposes.  In the meantime, why don’t I finish out this post as a Throwback Thursday (or late Way-Back Wednesday) and share a few shots from previous mysteries.

She is always fabulous.

Here is my friend Kim in Fabulous and Fatal in 2019.  She is in the new one, and I expect she will be equally as fabulous.  It is always good to have a tall, gorgeous blonde in the cast.

He is fine, too.   I need to get the other one in a murder mystery sometime!

This is not from a murder mystery but from Love’s Labour’s Lost presented by LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company in 2022.  That is local author C.T. Avis, who is cast as Jarod, the screenwriter of the movie in Lights, Camera, Murder!  He asked if he was being typecast as a writer.  I said that actually I gave him the role on the strength of his portrayal of the lovelorn Don Armado (he was in love with Jacquenetta, played by me, I add modestly.  It was so flattering!)

I will try to show a couple more cast members after tonight’s rehearsal.  I don’t promise any hints about the plot, though.  I want any local readers who decide to attend to be surprised.

 

Late for Throwback Thursday or Wayback Wednesday

Wednesday was a real Blogger’s Sick Day.  I had one of those migraines where the only thing I could do was lie around and have a headache.  For Thursday I have no excuse, unless it was my ongoing struggles with depression.  You would think I would be used to it by  now, and being a fairly high-functioning depressant (or do I flatter myself?) still be able to get things done.  At least more things.  I did do a couple of things but hesitate to list them because (1) there weren’t that many and (2) they were late.

Never mind all that, it is early Friday morning, and I need coffee.

A little blurry, but cool mug, yes?

I paused before getting coffee to take a picture of the mug I am using.  It was Steven’s mug (my late dearly missed husband, I add for anybody just tuning in), so I celebrate a memory as I sip.  I am, of course, using Halloween mugs this month.  I have too many coffee mugs in general, but NOT too many Halloween mugs!

They were a delightful couple.

I share the picture of Bridezilla and her consort, because I dreamed about her last night.  In my dream, I was telling somebody about the costume, and, as happens sometimes in dreams, we were watching it as I was telling it.  Only then she looked all different and was in a different costume, as also happens in dreams.  Don’t tell Dr. Freud on me!

He was looking good!

Bridezilla and the above picture were at a Halloween party at the Herkimer VFW in 2021.  We had a great time.  Another attendee told us me and Steve were the best couple.  How sweet!

She was the Woman of Many Hats.

Our friend Tracy was visiting at the time.  She dressed as herself:  a Woman Who Wears Many Hats, because she does, if you see what I mean.  Nobody took a picture of me.  I was just a common or garden ghoul.

One more scary picture couldn’t hurt, might help.

So I guess this is a Wayback Wednesday or a Throwback Thursday post.  We’ll see if I can be on time for Lame Post Friday, but no promises.

 

October Memories

I guess it’s another Late Post Week (when you put it in caps it looks like more of a thing) as I sit here Friday morning making a Throwback Thursday Post.

I love it!

I go back to 2016 and one of the first pictures I ever shared in this blog.  It is from Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit, so I can give a shout-out to one of my favorite local businesses.  I don’t think they had this particular display when I was there last year, but there was still plenty to look at and enjoy.

Isn’t he handsome?

Here is my late, dearly missed husband Steve that same year.  We used to have all kinds of Mohawk Valley Adventures together.

I’ve shared this suspicious bunch before.

Another kind of October adventure was our presentation of A G.R.A.V.E. Murder to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I must do some more work on Lights, Camera, Murder! the next murder mystery, coming up Nov. 11 (preview of coming attractions).

Must work on my front porch!

And here is  my front porch, with past Halloween decorations.  So far this year, I don’t even have lights.  I hang my head in shame.

To complete the post, and the shout-out of the first two pictures, I will add that Pumpkin Junction is located at 2188 Roberts Rd., Sauquoit. They are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m, daily through Oct. 31.  Check it out!

 

Late, Dramatic Throwback Thursday

Is a late blog post better than no blog post at all? Discuss amongst yourselves while I get a cup of coffee.

And not that skinny.

My tiredness continues.  It would be more dramatic, and part of me feels more accurate, to say exhaustion.  Who, me, dramatic? SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!

I was with this bunch last night.

Of course, as regular readers know, drama is my life.  Part of it, at any rate.  Last night we had our pick-up rehearsal for The Man in the Bowler Hat, the play I am in at Ilion Little Theatre (ILT).  As I mentioned before, it is part of An Evening of Timeless Comedy, three one-act plays of significance in ILT’s history.  They are celebrating 100 years this season.

It was a Wrist to Forehead moment.

I thought I would add a picture from another ILT production, thus making this a Throwback Thursday Post as well.  This is from Dirty Work at the Crossroads,  which was directed by my late beloved husband Steve.  I am the one in blue, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead.  The other lady is Julianne Allen, a stalwart ILT member who has also sadly passed away.

On that sad note, I see I am over 200 words.  I have time for more coffee!  An Evening of Timeless Comedy continues this weekend, Sept. 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday Sept. 24 at 2 p.m.  For more information visit the Ilion Little Theatre Club Facebook page or website, http://www.ilionlittletheatre.org

 

Post Headache Post

In my last post I said something about my blog posts suffering, but for the last few days, I have been suffering.  My seasonal allergies have kicked in big time with the result that I am lighted-headed and/or headachey, and breathing is not the easiest.  I apologize for whining about it; I only wanted to explain why I missed posting on Wednesday and Thursday.

I made it through work both days and through rehearsal on Wednesday, so there’s that.  Last night we did not have rehearsal, so I had a long sleep.  Oh, the sheer relief of waking up without a headache!  I hope that state continues.  In the meantime, perhaps I can manage some semblance of a blog post.

Clearly I am not buying what he is selling.

Throwback Thursday or Wayback Wednesday on Friday morning, that’s the ticket.  This is my late, beloved husband Steve and me in Harvey at Ilion Little Theatre back in 2012.  What a fun show that was!

My most comfortable costume.

Here we are again in Splitting Issues in 2015.  Or was it ’16?  Anyways, it was the 2015-16 season.  I sit in that same chair in the current play I am in.  I love community theatre.

This gets me to 200 words, so I say, “Phew!” And I just hit something that made my screen ENORMOUS!  Oh dear.  I had better hit Publish before I really screw things up!

Who Got Rubbed Out?

Hello, and welcome to another Throwback Thursday Post.  What will I throw back to this week?  No doubt something I have thrown back to before, but you’ll have that.

Would you trust her?

This is my friend Laura as the vampish Zelda Helsinki in Rubbed Out at Ruby’s,  one of my favorite murder mysteries.  I think I need to do another 1920’s one.  The clothes are so fun!

They all look like murderers to me!

Here is the whole cast, including my late, dearly missed husband Steve (in the back, third from the right) (oh, I guess he’s third from the left, too).  They were all great people to work with.

They might be holding me up, but you can’t prove that at this late date.

I might as well make it a Ruby trifecta.  Here I am, in red, between two Kims.

The chalk outline looks like he’s dancing.

It seems I do not have a whole lot to say, so I put in another cast photo.

Wait a minute! She wasn’t in the cast!

This is the picture I had meant to open with, because I have spent the last few days sweltering, as have many people.  I think my brain got steamed, which could explain my inability to think of much to say.  However, I see I am over 200 words.  Score!  Stay hydrated, everyone!