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Keep Writing, Me!

Posted on September 11, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Of course I was too tired to make my Tired Tuesday post on Tuesday.  Also, my Chromebook warned me it was low on battery and my Tablet was uncooperative. That is no excuse; I could have stayed on the Chromebook while it was plugged in, in fact I told myself that.  I was too tired to listen.  Do you suppose I have long Covid?  Do you suppose that is just another lame excuse (see, that’s me wishing for Lame Post Friday).

This was taken for one of those blog posts I haven’t made yet.

I threw in a picture to cut the whining short.  It sort of worked.  Anyways, this is part of Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners: the two buildings that comprise Herkimer County Historical Society.  The writing I am stalling while typing in this nonsense (I am kidding myself that this is a warm-up) is the rest of the script for Curtains for Frangelica, the interactive murder mystery I am writing to benefit the society.

Frangelica Inferno, fans of my murder mysteries may recall, is an former porn star in search of legitimate fame.  Along the way she killed local playwright Jack Sherman and has been accused of others.  The character is played by my friend and adventure partner Kim Darling.  Since Kim has left the area, I decided to kill her off.  That’ll teach her!

So I have gone from Tired Tuesday to Preview of Coming Attractions.  Back to the script!

 

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Sunday Blog Posts Are Not an Adventure; They’re Murder!

Posted on September 9, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sorry, sports fans, but all I can manage today is a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I don’t know why I call my readers “sports fans” when this is not a sports blog, although I think my readers are good sports about my missing posts and doing foolish posts instead of writing about Mohawk Valley Adventures, as promised.  At least, maybe I didn’t promise exactly;  I try not to make promises.  Anyways, tonight I feel ready to swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead, onto a handily placed chaise lounge (I add the description for the benefit of anybody just tuning in).

Preview of Coming Attractions, maybe.

Here is a picture I took last Thursday of my great niece and nephew, Evie and Sheppy at the ARC Park in Herkimer, NY.  Their grandmother, my sister Cheryl, invited me to join them.  We had a lovely time, and I took a number of pictures for blogging purposes. They were very nice about posing.

Right now I am, big surprise (to regular readers), watching Columbo.  However, I had an interesting reason (or do I flatter myself?) for picking this episode.  I saw the actress who plays the murderess last night and today as I was watching the movie Mr. Brooks (I started it last night but was too tired to finish it).  Alas that I do not know the actress’ name.  Do you suppose I could find it online?  Regular readers know I am no hand at that.

Random picture to denote passage of time while I look.

Lindsay Crouse!  When I saw her in Mr. Brooks, playing Demi Moore’s boss, it took me a minute to recognize her, because she had a different hairdo and was playing quite a different character.  She was a very sexy murderess in Columbo.  For anybody not familiar with Columbo, I did not need to add a Spoiler Alert before telling you who the murderer was.  That was the plot of almost every Columbo:  you see the murder committed and wonder how Lt. Columbo is going to figure it out and prove it.  If you are not familiar with Columbo, I highly recommend it.

I do have a happy Sunday with Columbo.

Incidentally, Mr. Brooks is also a movie where you do not have to guess who the murderer is.  I love the movie, but I fear it is not for all tastes.  Having said all that, I see I am over 400 words.  That’s a lot of words for somebody who didn’t think she could make a blog post at all.  Once again, I have to ask, what the hell, me?

 

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Is It Too Lame for a Friday Blog Post?

Posted on September 7, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Full disclosure:  As I begin to type a Lame Post Friday post in order to continue my streak of blogging daily (only two posts in a row, but one must start somewhere), I have been drinking and typing.  I walked to Cliff’s, a local convenience store, to get some money from the ATM and purchase a lottery ticket; Mega Millions, which has reached enormous proportions.  I know I have very little chance of winning. However, if I do not purchase a ticket, I have zero chance of winning.  Anyways, the walk down was healthy, and I needed more cash.

From Cliff’s I walked to Yetty’s, where I enjoyed a glass of Chardonnay and wrote a little more on my murder mystery (Preview of Coming Attractions).  I looked at a a menu, but nothing particularly tempted me.  I had eaten something before I left home, I add to comfort those who perhaps thought I was drinking on an empty stomach.

Random picture to denote passage of time.

 

And that was as far as I got last night when my Chromebook cut out on me.  I had no idea I had let the battery get that low.  Shows how much I pay attention.

Anyways, from Yetty’s I went to End Zone, where a couple of friends and the bartender, who is also a friend, and I speculated on what we would do if we won large amounts of money.  My best hope is that I win something, maybe a hundred bucks:  enough to do something fun with but nothing life-changing.  Life will change in any case, and there is your half-baked philosophy for the post.

I see I am approaching 300 words, which I feel is adequate not to say respectable (my usual adjective) for a Lame Post Friday post, even a late one.  I have no Mohawk Valley Adventures planned for today but hope to write a blog post about the ones I have not yet blogged about (I would say Preview of Coming Attractions, but these posts are beginning to seem more along the lines of Promises, Promises).

 

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With a Little Help from Columbo

Posted on August 19, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I think all I can manage right now is a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  It has been a kind of Scattered Sunday in which I have accidentally gotten a few things done:  a little yard work, a little kitchen cleaning, a little grocery shopping… and a few more chores.  Now I am sitting on my couch, Chromebook on lap, kind of sort of watching, you guessed it, another episode of Columbo on DVD.  Sundays used to be for Snapped, now they are for Columbo.  In the future they may be for something else.

I did just drink some coffee.

Today I told my mother about the Columbo method of cleaning:  I clean for a certain length of time, then I say, “One more thing!”  Sometimes I say it a few times.  I get more done that way.

I paused in typing to watch the end of the episode, when Columbo brings the killer to justice.  I’ll tell you what, I will strive never to commit a crime, because I would hate to be arrested.  They cuff you with your hands behind your back.  With my sinuses?  My nose would be running in an instant (it always runs the most when my hands are full and/or I don’t have a handkerchief).  It would be disgusting.

Now I see I have gone over 200 words with this nonsense.  Perhaps I could get a little more cleaning done, using the Columbo method, of course.

 

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Late Shout-Out to Phil

Posted on August 18, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have done it again:  posted then missed several days.  How can I make it up to my readers (if any remain)?  One thing I could do is tell you about a recent Mohawk Valley Adventure.

One of my favorites!

Last Saturday I walked down to Meyers Park in Herkimer, NY for the Elks Club Car Show.  I love old cars, but my primary reason for stopping by at that time was that Phil Arcuri would be playing music.  Regular readers know he is one of my favorite local musicians.  I have seen him many times at different venues and enjoyed him very much. He always has such a good time when he plays.  I love his big smile.  His daughters come up and  sang the Baby Shark Song.  I am not really familiar with that song, although I know it was very popular among a certain segment of the population.  When they were singing about Grandpa Shark and Grandma Shark, I wished they had a verse about Aunt Cindy Shark.  Of course, I am not their Aunt Cindy, but couldn’t we stretch a point?

It is pure joy when he plays.

Of course he noticed me, standing as I was right in front of the pavilion and dancing to every tune.  He added my name to “Under the Boardwalk,” singing
“under the blanket with my Cynthia…”  I remember one time at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort,  he sang the song that way and added that we would let Steve (my husband, for anyone just tuning int)  get in on it, too.

I had had a headache earlier that day, and after standing (and dancing) around in the sun it started to come back. After chatting for a little time with Phil, I took my leave.

I feel bad that it has taken me this long to write even this brief shout-out to such a good musician.  I encourage everybody to hear him play if possible; he plays at several area venues.  The area is so blessed to have such talented musicians!

 

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Cheers to the Luna Moth!

Posted on July 25, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had two authentic Mohawk Valley adventures last night with the result that I was too tired to blog about either one.  This morning I feel pressed for time, so I will put those on hold (which I hear receptionists should not do to a bomb threat), and try for a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post.

Beautiful!

I took this picture at work a couple weeks ago.  Isn’t it awesome?  It is only the second or third time I saw a Luna Moth.  I forgot to share it on Facebook (it was the end of break at the time) so thought it was perfect for a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday.

Full disclosure: He was not drinking at the time.

This is Elvis, a pourer at a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY.  I have sadly not blogged about a tasting there in a while, but I usually mention the blog while I am taking tasting notes.  This time, Elvis said to me, “Do you want to take a picture for the blog?”  I confessed to not having used the previous picture.  Now, if he is pouring at another tasting, I can say I used one of the pictures.

I miss my adventure partner!

Here is my friend Kim on her recent visit to the Mohawk Valley.  We had paused at the Waterfront Grille, also in Herkimer, for a libation and a snack.  I suggested we take the previously obligatory pictures of each other toasting.

I had to stand up, because I was back-lit. No, I wasn’t lit!

My picture also gives a shout-out to Herkimer College, previously (and to some always) known as HCCC or H-Trip-C.

As I approach 300 words, I sign off on another late post.  Full disclosure:  there is every possibility today’s post will be late too.  But how appropriate for a Non-Sequitur Thursday post.

 

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Tired Is As Tired Does

Posted on July 10, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

One way I can tell I am getting older is that physical ailments, my own and others’ but of course mostly my own, become of increasing importance.  As I puttered around, getting ready to make my Tired Tuesday post (early Wednesday morning, judge me if you are so inclined), I was narrating in my head about the headaches I have had during the night lately that sometimes go away in the morning but not today…

How dull! Quick, throw in a picture to pep things up!

Now I am just a witch.

I kept scrolling down my Media Library till I got to a different mug from the last one I shared.  I hope.  Once again, this is not the mug I am currently using.  I am currently using my mug from Dikin Durt Distillery of Herkimer, NY, just to give a shout-out to a local business.  Note to self: see if I have a shot of this mug in the Media Library and if I do not, put one in.  For years now I have been thinking of making an index of my Media Library.  I could save it on a document that I could just pop up whenever I want to use a particular photo.  How do the other bloggers do it?

Well, that was annoying.  There I was, typing away on my Chromebook, and I accidentally hit something that signed me out of the whole thing!  Not just out of WordPress, but out of Chromebook, and I cannot remember my password.  What a dope I am.

However,  I see I am over 250 words (oh, I am on my Tablet, pecking in one letter at a time with the stylus, by the way).  Regular readers know I find that respectable (my predictive text thingy suggested “rude and selfish”!  When did I ever type that?).

And now I am over 300 words.  Woohoo!  Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

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Not the Hole Story

Posted on June 27, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sooo… by making my Tuesday blog post on time, I broke my streak, because I did not post anything yesterday, Wednesday.  I can’t get too exercised over it, though, because by my rules for me, this will count as my Wuss-out Wednesday post, and my streak will only be broken if I fail to post anything for Thursday, whether I post it today or early Friday morning (ooh, yes, tomorrow is Friday) (with apologies to all those who work Saturday).

What could this be?

This may look like a random photo for Waste Not Want Not Wednesday, but it is much more than that, at least in my twisted mind.  It is a well outside the Herkimer County Historical Society.  They dug in this well for artifacts some years ago and found some interesting things.  Now, as you see it is overgrown.  But could it have future relevance and interest?  At least fictionally, it could!

I took this picture after walking to the Society to purchase some post cards (regular readers know I like to send post cards to people).  I thought it would inspire me.  You see, I began writing a murder mystery for the Historical Society centering around this very hole in the ground (ooh, I just thought of a good title for this post!).  Full disclosure:  I began to write it last year for our fall show but felt it was too complicated a plot for my brain at the time.  I wrote Lights, Camera, Murder! instead, which I think worked out pretty well.  More recently I came across the notes for the other and was surprised by how much I had written on it.  I said, “Heeyyyy!”  or some such expression.

Many accept the rule that writing about not writing is still writing.  I will add that writing about what one is going to write is also still writing.  Now I just have to write it.

(That last sentence would have made a good title too.)

 

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Wuss then Walk

Posted on May 16, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I wussed out on Wednesday by not making a blog post (except for Tuesday’s, of course).  Big surprise there.  I had hoped to make a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post, although the only picture I had taken but not used was a cute skull in a neighbor’s yard, taken on a cool-down walk after a run.

I do enjoy skulls and skeletons.

This morning, I overslept, not by much but small blocks of time can mean a lot in the morning, so decided to take my walk while my coffee dripped.  I did not take a walk yesterday due to rain.  I hate to miss a day.  I thought, I can walk by the skull and use that picture in a Pedestrian Post with Pictures (here is a Freudian typo:  I first put “Pedestrain,” because sometimes it is a strain to walk).

However, when I left the house, it was foggy.  I wanted to climb a hill to enjoy the sight of the fog so turned toward Valley Health.  It is not a huge hill, but I could get somewhat of a view.  Also, it is good exercise to walk up a hill.  I was using my phone to Map My Walk (the app is actually called Map My Run) but figured I would not have many photo ops in the dark.  My phone does not take good pictures in the dark, as I found when I tried to get a shot of the full moon.  Anyways, I reasoned to myself, how can I take a picture of the fog?  It obscures vision; how can I take a picture of what I can’t see?  I pondered how I could post a white square and pretend it was a picture of the fog by ultimately decided to use a screenshot of the map of my walk.

I walked a mile, but not in somebody else’s shoes.

The map did not come out the shape I had hoped.  I was picturing the body part narrower, like a worm or a snake.  But it was a pretty good walk.  I felt better after I had taken it than before.  I feel better yet now that I have had coffee and made my blog post.  Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

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Run Before Murder

Posted on April 27, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Remember Saturday Running Commentary?  I would get up on a Saturday morning, go for a run, then write a blog post about it.  I have recently re-started running AGAIN, and I would like to do a Saturday Running Commentary post.  For one reason, if I do not make my blog post this morning, there is every chance I will not get to it later.  I do not want to break my streak!  Um, that is, my streak of blogging. I have never actually been streaking; sorry if that gave you an unfortunate mental image.

When I woke up this morning, I thought I would not run.  I must recruit my energies for Deadly Night Life, the murder mystery being presented at Salisbury Grange this afternoon.  However, after drinking some coffee and contemplating my day, I decided to go.  It could be a short run.  It will never be a fast run.  I could do this.

I thought I would run the way I walked to the Elk Lodge on Thursday.  It was an indirect route, amounting to about a half a mile.  Then I could keep going till it was a mile.  At least I would go a mile.  Maybe more.  Maybe 20 minutes.  No pressure.  Up to German Street and turn right.  I went as far as the path over what used to be a hydraulic canal, one of my favorite places to walk or run.

The spots are a little faded now.

I did not “Step, “March,” “Tiptoe,” etc. as advised by the printing at each painting.  I may do so if I ever walk the path with my great niece and nephew.  I continued to go through the County Office Building parking lot, so I could defy a couple of Do Not Enter signs.  Regular readers know how I love to do that.

Running past the Elks Lodge (which I cannot find a photo of in my Media Library, nor can I find a Do Not Enter sign), I saw a lady walking a cute dog.  I called good morning and asked if I could pet her dog.  The poocher was certainly eager to be petted.  The lady said it was a good reason to take a little break from a jog.

“It encourages me to keep going,” I told her.  We wished each other a nice day and moved on.  It is always a good run when I get to pet a dog.

I continued past my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners, going close to the 1834 Jail, so Chester Gilette could look out the window at me.

I thank whoever put him in the window!

I ended up running for 20 minutes.  I can’t tell you how much over a mile it was, because my Garmin is across the room from me, and I am recruiting my energies.  I have a murder mystery today, you know!

 

 

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