Throw in a Vampire and Hope for the Best

I really thought I might go running this morning and make a Running Commentary post.  However, it seemed a little cold.  Additionally, I encountered some ice under the snow as I ran yesterday and was afraid there was more.  I went to the Mohawk YMCA and did a 30-minute stint on the elliptical.  I even upped the resistance from when I was there last Saturday, so there’s that.

While there, I had a nice conversation with a couple of ladies who had just finished their work-out.  I offered a friendly “good morning” to everybody who showed up afterward (there were not many).  I felt pretty good about myself for working out, and I did enjoy some sweat.

Later that morning, I walked to the post office to buy some stamps and put a few bills and New Year’s cards in the mail (the New Year’s cards were for people who sent us Christmas cards that we had not sent cards to).  I took the long way home, to make it a half hour walk.  So that makes an hour of exercise for me.  Can health and weight loss be far?  Probably, but let’s not talk about all the sweets and treats I have been consuming.

That is about all I have been doing today.  No Mohawk Valley Adventures.  No profound or amusing remarks about my post-Christmas let-down.  Yes, once again, I got nuthin’.  So let’s make it a Non-Sequitur Thursday.  I’ll slap on a kicky headline and attach a picture of Nosferatu.  When in doubt, do not discount the vampire!  Happy Thursday, everyone!

“Who, me? Pep up a blog post?”

 

Blame It On Post-Christmas Let-Down

One of the all time great posters.

Well how can I make a decent blog post when I am in the throes of a post-Christmas letdown?  I guess the let-down has not really reached full strength, but it’s getting there.  Oh well, you’ll have these things, especially when you love Christmas as much as I do.  It should surprise no one that I am not up to discussing the philosophical ramifications of “cry because it’s over or smile because it happened.”

Right now we are enjoying one of our go-to silly movies, Murder by Death (1976).  Earlier we were watching Forensic Files.  I do love a true crime documentary, but I was reaching manic levels of sick-of-it regarding a song that was playing during a promo of upcoming attractions that played during every commercial break (good song, not even a bad version of it, but you can have too much of a good thing).

Earlier yet, I went Mohawk Valley adventuring with my sister Cheryl.  We went to Fort Plain Antiques and Salvage, and Mohawk Antique Mall.  I brought my Tablet with me but only took one picture.  Still, I could write a blog post giving a proper plug to these two fun shopping destinations.  Speaking of “could write a blog post,” I went running this morning.  Yay, me.  I really need to sit down and write a Running Commentary soon after one of these runs.

I am thinking, however, that right now I am over 200 words and I am going to call this a Wuss-out Wednesday.  What do you want a day after a major holiday?  Miracles, I suppose.  Well, we can always hope for what tomorrow may bring.  Happy Day After Christmas, everyone!

 

I’m Not Tired of Santa Claus

I felt free to have a Monstrous Monday on Christmas Eve, so nobody need be surprised that I am having a Tired Tuesday on Christmas Day.  Hey, being merry can take a toll on an old broad like me!  At least I will try to refrain from whining about my oncoming post-Christmas letdown.  But no promises.

I had meant to take some pictures of my mother’s lovely Christmas decorations, which would have livened things up a bit.  Oh well, I fell down on the job. How about instead I visit Christmas Past and see what kind of photos I have in my Media Library.

Just popping in to say, “Merry Christmas!”

Here is one of my favorite decorations from 2016.  The fireplace screen was given to us by my parents the previous year (I think).  The Santa Claus, which is in fact only a partial one, was found by the ladies at Herkimer County Historical Society, after he blew from his rightful home during a wind storm.  They posted his picture on Facebook, but when the owner was not found, gave the Santa to the good home they knew Steven and I would provide.

Two very nice people wishing each other merry.

This is my dear husband Steven and our friend Margaret, who owns the So Sweet Candy Cafe in Utica.  We did not make it there before Christmas but I hope to pay them a visit in the next few days.  For one reason, my sister Cheryl brought some of Margaret’s treats to my parents, and I have two words for you:  Sugar. Plums.  I thought I had had them before and liked them, but I hadn’t tasted anything yet.  Go to the So Sweet and buy some!  And if they’re all gone by the time I get there, it serves me right!  I’ll be more beforehand next Christmas!

Hmmm…. it seems like Steven got me more presents in previous years.

I end with a Cavalcade of Claus, just in inject a bit of alliteration (I’m almost never too tired to alliterate).  We got these Santa’s at different times, and we love them all.  I also do not rule out acquiring more versions of the man in the red suit.  But that is for Christmas Yet to Come.

 

Not a Famous Monstrous Monday

His expression is not as festive as his attire.

Well, why not have a Monstrous Monday on Christmas Eve?  For one reason, I don’t have much else.  I went running this morning, intending to do a Running Commentary.  Steven and I had breakfast at Heidelberg Cafe in Herkimer, NY prior to picking up rolls for tomorrow’s Christmas feast, so I could have done a shout-out to a local business.  Well, sometimes these things do not work out.  Right now I want to get back to celebrating Christmas Eve with my loved ones, so I will attempt to come up with something mildly entertaining at least.

What could be more Monstrous Christmas Eve than Boris Karloff reading “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”?

Here is another Frankenstein/Christmas mash-up: the most famous portrayer of the former reading a classic tale about the latter.  But adding the macabre to Christmas is by no means original to me.  There is even a line in a Christmas song, “There’ll be scary ghost stories…”

Who doesn’t love a ghost at Christmas?

We watched two different versions of A Christmas Carol yesterday and might have watched  a third if I hadn’t pooped out (I only mentioned one in my blog post; do you suppose I should go back and edit?).  It is perhaps the most famous Christmas ghost story.

And now I see that I am over 200 words.  Regular readers know I call that respectable, especially for my more foolish posts.  Happy Christmas Eve and Monstrous Monday, everyone!

 

A Cinematic Pause in Christmas Preparations

I had hoped to do a Sunday Running Commentary, even went for a run this morning, but then I spent some time with Christmas mixing and fixing, then some time having a couple of drinks and relaxing, watching Christmas movies, so now I’m here ready to do a Sunday Cinema as usual (was that a run-on sentence?  I don’t care if it is and I am too lazy to check in any case).  At least we watched some seasonal movies, so there’s that.

Isn’t it romantic?

My main thing was, I did not feel like crying, so no It’s a Wonderful Life, no Homecoming, and not just any Christmas Carol.  When Steven suggested Christmas in Connecticut, I thought that sounded perfect.  Just a sweet love story involving people pretending to be something they’re not (that’s not giving away any important plot points, it’s part of the set-up).

After that I suggested the fun version of A Christmas Carol with Reginald Owen as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Jacob Marley reminded me a little bit of the butler in And Then There Were None, but Steven told it was Leo G. Carroll, who used to be in The Man From Uncle.

After that one, I was wishing we had a Christmas murder mystery, when I remembered, just before Steven suggested, Hercule Poiroit’s Christmas, an episode of the Poirot television series starting David Suchet.  I had read the book this was based on many times before seeing the movie.  I have a number of problems with the adaptation, but it’s a fun watch, and, David Suchet, there could be no possible objection.

Yet another excellent Poirot.

Poirot is an fun character for an actor to portray (or so I would think, having never had the opportunity to play him), and Suchet does an excellent job.  I have also enjoyed Albert Finney’s and Peter Ustinov’s interpretation of the part.  I need to check out Kenneth Branaugh’s Poirot, but that’s a whole other blog post.

In the meantime, it’s Christmas Eve Eve.  I need to get back to my tv-watching, crocheting portion of the evening.  For one thing, I need to recruit my energies for tomorrow.  Happy Sunday, everyone.

 

Seasonal Scattered Saturday

I pause in my Christmas gyrations to make this week’s Scattered Saturday post. Full Disclosure:  I sat down to make this post earlier and just did not want to do it.  I felt down, I felt stupid, I felt completely disinclined to make a blog post just for the sake of making a blog post.  Remembering that doing something, anything often helps (if you can get yourself to do it), I did the dishes (there were not that many) and started another batch of Chex Party Mix (although I used the store brand version of Chex cereal) (I guess that is another Full Disclosure).  I have one, maybe two more goodies to make (however, I have found that it does not pay to get too ambitious), then I can start packaging and wrapping.

The packaging is often the most fun.  My husband Steven likes to put a present in a present, so we pick up various size tins and decorative boxes whenever we see them for a good price.  For another reason, I am a terrible wrapper, completely unable to fold the corners in anywhere close to a neat fashion.  However, I am thinking I will wrap the presents for my great nephew and niece, who are four and one.  I think they will like to tear the paper.

I had been hoping for a return of Saturday Running Commentary today, but the early weather report warned of possible icy roads early on, when I would have liked to go.  I am clumsy enough on my feet without adding slippery into the mix.  Additionally, I wanted to run to Hannaford for just a couple more things.  I felt like an independent, take-charge kind of woman when I went to Hannaford shortly after they opened, thus beating the crowd (although I kept walking into people; I did mention I was clumsy, did I not?), then drove to the Mohawk YMCA, arriving shortly after they opened.  Half an hour on the elliptical made me feel even better about myself.

Steven got a little ambitious himself, scoring a same-day appointment appointment at the Hot Shot Salon and Spa in Herkimer to have his beard and hair trimmed.  I admired his handsomeness before starting my first batch of Party Mix.

Later on, I went to Ilion with my friend Kim, to visit the New 2 You Consignments.  We mostly went to visit our friend Robbi, the proprietress.  We also got to see her lovely daughter, Megan.  Megan is ultra-talented and is studying musical theatre in New York.  Kim and I worked on a couple of shows with her when she was still local.  We looked around at the merchandise, but the only thing I bought was a pair of Christmas socks.  I love Christmas socks, and I do not have enough of them.  I know, this is the time of year I should be purchasing things for other people, but, hey, Christmas socks.  There could be no possible objection.

Before leaving Ilion, we stopped by Ilion Wine and Spirits, where I picked up a bottle of my favorite champagne, Great Western Extra Dry, made in New York State.  Wine purists will point out that technically it is not champagne if it is not made in a specific part of France, but I do not care at all.  Call it whatever you like, I like to drink it!

Making Chex Party Mix is a relaxing activity, because once it is in the oven you have 45 minutes to wait, needing only to stir it every 15.  That part is sometimes a little stressful for me when I start to think I did not set the timer this time after stirring.  Then I go to check, thinking I will set the timer for less than 15 if I have indeed forgotten.  Then I have not forgotten, and much more time has passed than I realized, so it is good I remembered to set it.  But other than that, a perfectly relaxing treat to make, and so tasty.

So this is my Scattered Saturday post.  Only two more days till Christmas!  Yikes!  Well, I will be ready or I won’t.  My family will not mind if I am not. They will not even be surprised.  They have known me for a while.

 

Another Pre-Holiday Post

My pre-holiday weekend continued today with a few indoor chores and a couple of outside stops.  Full disclosure:  I was going to have a Lame Post Friday, even though technically Wednesday was my Friday this week, and I make no promises about how lame this post will be.  Then again, do I ever?

It was pouring rain this morning, so I did not go running.  I know, some people run no matter what the weather, but I sometimes let myself off the hook.  Later on I went for a walk, which was nice.  It is much easier to dodge around the puddles and not get sopping wet from the thighs down if one moves at a slower pace.  So at least I got some exercise.

Before my walk, I got out to a couple of non-local non-distinctive stores, hoping to beat the crowds.  I guess I did to some extent, although I kept getting in people’s way.  They were all very nice about it, which I chalked up to the time of year, although I have observed that many people in this area are nice at all points in the year.  At home I did a load of laundry and made a couple of Christmas treats  Further full disclosure:  many indoor chores remain to be accomplished.

Later on, Steven and I went to the Herkimer County Historical Society, one of our favorite places, for further Christmas shopping.  From there we drove down Main Street and parked in a handy space to go to three cool places:  Rose Quartz Stand, the European Deli, and Click’s Cakes.  I’ll have to write better blog posts about all four of those places (preview of coming attractions).  Then we drove to Asteroga Ale House, because we were hungry and wanted food.

After re-fueling we went to Valley Wine and Liquor for a wine tasting.  I do like to try new things. After that, we were ready for the bra off (me) sweats on (both of us), TV watching portion of the evening. We are looking at an obscure offering called Stalking Santa  (2006).   We found it when one of the local movie rental places went out of business (oh how I miss movie rental places!).  I highly recommend it.

I guess this blog is about to become All Christmas All The Time, but is that such a bad thing?  If so, comment, please, and let’s have a discussion. In the meantime, Happy Friday.

 

 

Yes, I’m Just Starting Christmas Shopping

I did not have to go to work today (don’t hate), so Steven and I headed to Little Falls for some local shopping at a few fun, distinctive places.  I know I said I was not going to talk about where I shopped and what I bought who, but, well, I took a few pictures and I need a blog post today.  Anyways, maybe I didn’t buy anything.  Oh, OK, I bought a few things, but they might have all been for me.  I call myself Cindy Claus this time of year, but I am always the Evil Woman CinCin.  No matter.  On with the blog post.

I saw on Facebook (a veritable font of information if you have Liked the right pages) that there was a Cookie Crumb Trail at Canal Place, one of the main shopping destinations in Little Falls (the other one is Main Street).  Participating merchants were offering cookies, so one was encouraged to go from store to store.  We started at Rochette, which now shares its space with Huckleberry Letterpress Co.  Lots of great gift ideas!

I told the lady behind the counter that we were following the Cookie Crumb Trail and I hoped to take a picture at each stop for my blog post.  She nicely offered us a cookie and hoped to see the blog post (oh dear, I will share this to Rochette’s Facebook page, but maybe the post isn’t very good. I always worry about these things).  I decided to take my picture of a pair of ice skates covered with glitter hanging behind the counter.  I saw a number of old ice skates for sale in the various antiques vendors’ spaces, so that is an idea I can steal (plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery).

She said they leave behind a trail of glitter but it is worth it.

Next we went to Ole Sal’s Cafe and Creamery and through the different vendors in that area.  I took my picture of some local art on the wall.

I don’t know how well you can see it, but my favorite is the mirror with the Overlook Mansion painted on it.

When we went to the building next door, I could not get a picture, because my Tablet went into Selfie mode and I could not get it back.  When we got to PrimaDonna’s Boutique, the nice lady there helped me.  I happily took a picture of some pillows I liked, although there is a LOT in that boutique I admired.

A soft pillow can bring one a lot of joy.

After that we drove to Main Street, the other shopping destination in Little Falls, to Paca Gardens.  I love walking around that place and touching the merchandise.  So soft!  Of course I had to take a picture of some cuddly alpacas.

Aren’t they sweet?

There are other places to stop in Little Falls, as well as a few places in Ilion and Hekimer I had thought to hit for Christmas shopping.  I guess I’d better charge up my Tablet and head out again tomorrow!

 

Wuss-out Winesday

Mohawk Valley Girl does not usually plug chain restaurants, preferring the distinctive, locally owned places (although she does talk about herself in the third person, don’t judge), but sometimes the chain place is a fun place to be on a Wednesday night.

But first, a housekeeping note, this is a kind of a Wuss-out Wednesday, because we were supposed to go to Karaoke at Asteroga Ale House in Herkimer tonight (um, in about three and a half hours, but I rather doubt we will change our minds at this point).  I messaged the people we were supposed to go with. One has to work, one has lost his voice, the third was totally into it and asked (showing a flattering knowledge of my blog): what is this, Wuss-out Wednesday?  We agreed to try again next Wednesday (and it will make a good blot post, I hope).

In the meantime, Steven and I needed to eat, and he had not taken anything out of the freezer.  He was willing to go anyplace I suggested, but I suddenly remembered: Winesday at Applebee’s!  The last time we went there (on a Wednesday to get half-price bottles of wine, not just to Applebee’s) was 2015 (we met with friends to discuss casting for Leading Ladies, the play I directed for Ilion Little Theatre)  (good God, has it been that long since I directed?).  I called to make sure the promotion was still in effect.  When the lady answered the phone mentioning “Wine Down Wednesday,” I rejoiced.

The other good thing about Applebee’s for my blogging purposes, is that they do embrace local connections. The walls are decorated with pictures of local sports teams and events.  So I feel it is Mohawk Valley Girl-ish enough to recommend Applebee’s in Herkimer, NY, as a good place to eat.

We had a bottle of LBD (Little Black Dress) Pinot Noir and an order of Neighborhood Nachos.  Yum on both counts.

And this is my blog post.  As a side note: tonight is my Friday, because I am off from now until January 2, 2019.  Woohoo!  Lots of Mohawk Valley Adventures to follow!  Or maybe I will just sit home watching true crime television shows or Christmas movies on DVD or video (yes, we’re old school).  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

You Can Forget this Blog Post

I’ll never forget the time that…

Sometimes those words are followed by a delightful memory of fun times with family and friends, or a time somebody did something impressive, or any number of other good things.  Sometimes not so much.  Sometimes what we’ll never forget is the time that somebody did or said something that was mean and uncalled for.  Worse yet, sometimes it’s something I did myself and I still feel bad about.  Full disclosure:  most of my unpleasant “never forgets” are bad things done by others.  Oh, I’ve done plenty of things I’m ashamed of, but they don’t seem to pop into my mind as frequently. When you get right down to it, I am pretty much a stinker.  But I digress.

Here’s the thing that occurred to me this morning, sometimes it is a good idea to forget these things we’ll never forget.  What good does it do us to remember?  I often still feel the same hurt or regret, only the chances of making things right are extremely remote.  Oh, I suppose being a fiction writer, I could attempt to extract some petty revenge by fictionalizing my adversaries.  I personally have never had great success with that.  Of course, I have not so far had great success as a fiction writer at all, but let’s not probe that sore spot.  For one reason, I do not want to be saying at some future date, “I’ll never forget the time I was make a blog post and all somebody wanted to talk about was my lack of success as a fiction writer.

You may have noticed that I am not giving any examples of things I’ll “never forget.”  That is because I am attempting to follow my new idea of forgetting these things.  At least I will strive not to dwell on them.  I’ll let you know how that works out for me.

In the meantime, this will have to do for today’s blog post.  There is probably a much better essay to be written on the subject.  In fact, it probably has already been written.  Why should I think I am the first person to come up with these things?  No matter.  Some things bear repeating.  Happy Tuesday, everyone.