Murder on Monday

Posted on June 27, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Don’t get your hopes up;  I haven’t murdered anybody.  However, I have Agatha Christie on the mind today.  Why not muse about murder on Mental Meanderings Monday?  Yes, sometimes I just can’t help myself with the alliteration.  Well, here is a title with no alliteration: Death on the Nile.  It is one of my favorite movies.

I could only find a picture of the book. Sorry.

The movie is really a very good adaptation.  The book has a lot more characters and complications.  It is a little too much for me to compare/contrast right now.

OK, I guess it’s time for me to admit, this is another foolish post.  I can’t help it.  I’m tired, I have a headache, it was a difficult weekend.  No matter.  I shall post what I can and drive on.  I’ve been on the Agatha Christie Facebook page looking for pictures to share.  I fear I have not had much luck.

It was originally published under the title of 10 Little [something politically incorrect].

This is another movie adaptation which takes liberties.  I have seen a few versions of this, as well as acting in on on the Ilion Little Theatre stage.  I like it.

Now I must find one more picture to share, because I like to include three.  Hmmm….

Diana Rigg, Maggie Smith and Denis Quilley.

Pay dirt!  Here is a divine photo from Evil Under the Sun, another very good adaptation.  I will write another post discussing what makes a good adaptation and why I like these.  Today, I’m afraid it is beyond me.  I think I’ll go watch a couple of movies.

 

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Not a Pretty Post on Wrist to Forehead Sunday

Posted on June 25, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is Wrist to Forehead Sunday, indeed.  Although, I must admit, my quality of life is improving as I see these words appearing on my laptop screen:  black on white, readable, yes.

I am sitting on the concrete in front of the Martha Canfield Library.  I have been maneuvering myself around trying to get where the sun will not render my screen unreadable.  Oh, how I long for the comforts of home!  Just kidding.  This is not a bad place to be at all.  It is neither too warm nor too cold to be out of doors, and knowing that I am in such close proximity to many books does my heart good.  Yes, the doors are locked so that I do not have actual access to said books.  I just like knowing that they are there.

As you may have guessed this is another one of my Posts For The Sake of Making a Post posts, which is kind of the same thing as a Why I Can’t Make a Post post, but I just now came up with a different way of saying it.  In fact, I am not going to tell you why I can’t make a post today.  I’m not even going to apologize for not making a good post.  However, I will offer this consolation prize:  I might use my Tablet to take a few pictures of Vermont, so a post in the near future might be pretty.  No promises, but I’ll do my best.

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

 

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Another Post in Haste

Posted on June 24, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Or posthaste, if you like to use old fashioned words (and I do).  I don’t know if I will have time to make a real post later, so I’m going to write a few words now.  Who knows, if I have a chance to get on the internet later, I may post again.  It isn’t likely, though, knowing me (and I do).

So this will make three silly posts in a row (some would use other adjectives; feel free to embellish), after three “real” posts in a row.  Will this be a pattern?  Nah, I’ll just continue to go with the flow, as always.  Oh, this is simply dreadful.  I begin writing a post, because I want to get it done NOW, and I don’t have a damn thing to say.  How embarrassing!  I would even say mortifying!  Or humiliating!  And I don’t even have a thesaurus handy.

Speaking of thesaurus and words, does anybody know the word that means offended but is stronger?  You know, like “mortified” is stronger than “embarrassed.”  I was trying to think of it the other day and came up blank.  The next day I came up with “outraged,” but that wasn’t quite right either, because you can become outraged at a true injustice not only a perceived slight (incidentally, the thing I was more than offended about was not perceived, it was a slight).  I thought of “mortified,” too, but, as mentioned earlier, that is more embarrassed than offended.  I think I may have thought of another one as well, but that one escapes me.  Hey, I’ve only had one cup of coffee this morning.

Ooh, look at that; I’m over 250 words.  Goody! So what do you think: intro, foolish paragraph, paragraph that might (or might not, I admit) amuse.  I’ll call that a post.  Now I’ll hasten on to the other crap I have to get done.  Happy Saturday, everyone!

 

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A Post to Remember (or Not, Whatever)

Posted on June 24, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

 

Is this the sequel or the prequel to I Dismember Mama?

I did not think I would post lame today.  I thought I would make a Running Commentary, because I was determined to run, a long run, a hard run, a run to get ready for the Boilermaker!  And I did run a long(ish), difficult run.  So there.  But now I’m feeling tired and discouraged and I just want to make a silly post and get on with my weekend.  At first I thought, “Well, I can’t do the picture thing two days in a row.”  Then I remembered there were a couple of pictures I downloaded yesterday but didn’t use.  Such as the above.  I’m not sure if that is an actual movie or not.  If I was a real blogger, I would look such a thing up on some website that I really ought to know about.  And here we come to the ugly truth about me.

Now there’s a shady tree!

Isn’t this a stylish pic?  I love the tree with the big eye and the zombies in the background.  The woman reminds me a little bit of Andrew Wyeth’s “Christina’s World,”  of which we have a print on the wall.  It is  different angle but a very similar position.  Now that I am sitting here looking at our print the differences become more glaring.  Oh dear, now the right thing to do is to find a picture of “Christina’s World” to share.

I should have just taken a picture of Steven’s print on our wall. Silly me.

While searching for this, I found many take-offs, homages and parodies of the shot, as well as a few pictures of the actual house.  I found it very interesting.  I’ll have to look for a biography of Andrew Wyeth to read.

Another movie for me to seek out. So much cheese, so little time.

I shall end with another picture from the B-Movie Mania Facebook page.  They were having a two-fer Tuesday earlier this week.  I find that rather delicious.  However, today is Friday, the day I post lame.  I hope everyone is having a delightful evening.

 

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Where’s My Head At?

Posted on June 23, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

OK, so I had three real Mohawk Valley posts this week.  You didn’t think that was going to continue, did you?  I didn’t.  Anyways, today I’m tired and hungry and haven’t gotten all my stuff done yet (not whining, just giving you the picture).  I just went through a couple of pages on Facebook looking for fun pictures I could share.  The pictures may seem unrelated and my commentary disjointed, but, hey, it’s Non-Sequitur Thursday.  Just go with it!

I went first to a page I recently Liked (actually, more than Like, I LOVE) B-Movie Mania.   While scrolling down, seeing all kinds of cool stuff, I noticed the poster to one a great cheesy movie I saw years before I ever wrote about them or even blogged about anything, The Thing with Two Heads.

I always thought it should be called The Guy with Two Heads.

If I ever come across that movie in cable or find it on DVD, I’ll write a blog post about it.  It’s fun!

In my search for more fun pictures, I discovered a new (to me) Facebook page called the  Trash Cinema Collective.  Ooh, do they have a lot of fun stuff!  Where to begin?

It’s one of those movie posters that looks like it could be the cover to a pulp fiction paperback from the ’50’s.

Ah, if only I had see this movie when I was young and straitlaced.  I might have gotten some tips on how to be more popular with the boys.

Another instruction manual from which I may have benefited.

I finish with an actual pulp fiction paperback cover.  I once had a catalog of a company that sold post cards of these covers.  I sent away for some and eventually sent them all to folks who appreciated them. How I wish I still had the catalog and could order more!  Hey, I wonder if they are online?  Is everybody online?  Once again, I show my internet ignorance.

On the brighter side, I see that I am over 300 words.  I call that respectable for a Non-Sequitur Thursday.

 

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Last Cup Till Fall

Posted on June 22, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I forgot to write about Coffee with a Cop!  I’ve written about the program before. It takes place on the first Saturday of the month.  A police officer or officers who are on duty but not busy meet with any interested community members. We have coffee and treats, and we talk.  The meetings take place at various locations, such as churches or the library.  On Saturday, June 6, we met at Trinity Lutheran Church, 443 Henry St., Herkimer, with Officer Tiffany Hill and Herkimer Police Chief Michael Jory.

The idea of the meetings is to foster a better relationship between the police and the community. Discussions often cover a variety of topics.  Officer Hill talked about Community Policing, getting to know the people she protects.  Recently she had attended a parade and danced with kids in Meyers Park.  She was at a local school one lunch time and ended up signing autographs (nobody at the meeting was bold enough to ask for one).

She also told us about a foot pursuit where she ran across State Street and caught the guy.  Apparently somebody had leaned out of their apartment window to record it and posted the video on YouTube.  Some of those present had seen it. Oh, I missed a bet.  I should have found it and posted a link.  It was an exciting story.

“My job is so boring,” I grumbled.  Please note:  I don’t really mind; I can live with a little boredom.

We talked a bit about Main Street’s bad reputation, which I feel is not entirely deserved.  As with many such things, there is some truth and some exaggeration involved.  I said I would stubbornly continue to walk and run on Main Street when I felt like it.  Nobody seemed to think this was a bad idea.

I love my adopted hometown of Herkimer, but I know there is room for improvement. I like to think that Coffee with a Cop is a step in the right direction.  The program is taking a break for the summer but will restart in the fall.  I’ll be watching for fliers and scanning the newspapers to see when and where, as I hope others will be, too.

 

 

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That Hit the (Knight) Spot

Posted on June 21, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Tonight my husband Steven suggested we get some dinner at The Knight Spot in Frankfort, NY.  Since I felt I needed a further excuse than, “Good idea!” I said, “I’ll write a blog post about it!”  Score!

I’ve written about The Knight Spot.  It is a coffee shop, restaurant and ice cream parlor with a comfortable family atmosphere.  We’ve been there on many occasions for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon ice cream sundaes (guess which one’s my favorite).   When we decided to go tonight for dinner, my first thought was patty melt and chocolate shake.  Yum!

Then I thought that might not be the best choice for my weight-loss goals.  I looked over the whole menu twice and decided a salad was just not going to cut it for me (although I have enjoyed their antipasto on occasion).  I liked the Tuesday special of two Hoffman hot dogs. Steven suggested we get that and split it.  We both decided to get a macaroni salad on the side.  Ignoring my weight loss goals, I also ordered a small Yuengling draft.  Hey, at least I got a small one!  Steven had coffee.

The food was delicious.  I had asked for provolone cheese and onions on my hot dog and added mustard, while Steven had mustard and relish.  The buns were perfectly toasted.  The macaroni salad was so good, it didn’t even need salt.

We were delighted with our dinner, which was also very reasonably priced.  The Knight Spot is located at 264 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-4054.  You can Like them on Facebook.

 

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Getting a Line on Some Beer

Posted on June 20, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did one traditional Father’s Day thing on Sunday:  I bought my Dad beer.  This gave me the opportunity to go to a new business in Ilion, Route 51 Beer Belly Bob’s Discount Beverage Center.  I think Beer Belly Bob is cool.

One reason I went is, I knew Beer Belly Bob carries Labatt’s Ice, which I know my Dad likes, and I like too.  I know, being Mohawk Valley Girl, as I am, it would have been nice to bring Dad something brewed locally, but I don’t know of anything Dad likes of that nature.  We’ll have to go tasting together sometime and see if we can’t find something.

I found the Labatt’s Ice in the cooler, apparently only available in a 30-pack.  Well, I could help Dad drink it.  I’m helpful that way.  It was a little heavy for me to carry, but this was a Father’s Day present. I persevered.

There was a line at the register. It was not a long one, but seemed so because I was carrying a 30-pack.  I set it on the floor.  Waiting in line also gave me a chance to look at the signs advertising upcoming beer tastings.  They have a very nice tasting room.  Regular readers know I love to taste.   Sam Adams on June 22, Founders Brewing and Ithaca Brewery on June 23, both 5 to 7 p.m.  Yay, I love Sam Adams!  I feel so patriotic when I drink it.

While moving my beer as the line moved, I dropped my car keys and didn’t even notice (and I had NOT had any beer yet!). The lady in line ahead of me nicely picked them up for me.  She asked me if they sold ice.

“I don’t know, ” I said, looking around for a machine.  Then I saw a sign in the window.  It was facing out, but I can read backwards.  “Oh, yes, there’s a sign: ‘We sell ice.'”

As they checked out, I remarked on how much beer the lady and her husband had and said I might follow them home, which is what I often say to people I see carrying beer (full disclosure:  I have never actually followed anybody home).  They said they had some very thirsty people at their house.  When the clerk handed the man the key to the ice machine, he said, “Oh, you’re giving me the keys to the car!”

I said, “Sure, you can take the car, because you haven’t drunk all this beer yet.”

I like to get into conversations with people in check-out lines.  It adds interest to my shopping expeditions.

Beer Belly Bob’s is located at 70 Otsego St., Ilion, NY, phone number 315-895-0936. They are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.  You can Like them on Facebook, which also lists their beer tastings.  See you there!

 

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Why Can’t I Celebrate Father’s Day Like a Normal Blogger?

Posted on June 19, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Let me preface this post by saying that I have a terrific father.  He is fun, he is funny, he gives great advice and he is always there for me.  However, I wanted to make a kind of a different Father’s Day post, perhaps involving pictures, so I thought I would discuss a couple movies in which fathers play a key role.  Spoiler Alert!  I may give away a few salient plot points along the way, so if you have never seen The Wolf Man or Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte, you may like watch them before reading this.

Last night we watched a movie involving a rather sad father and son story, The Wolf Man with Claude Rains and Lon Chaney Jr., as the father and son, respectively.  Chaney returns home, because his elder brother has died.  There is a nice scene where Chaney and Rains discuss how they don’t talk about their feelings and so are not that close, but that they are going to try to do better in the future.  Then, of course, Chaney gets turned into a werewolf and comes to a bad end, and it is very tragic, in addition to being a scary monster movie.

“Holy crap, I DO look like hell first thing in the morning!”

I can’t find a good shot of Claude Rains, but here is Lon Chaney, Jr., looking stunned and horrified at what he has become.  Bela Lugosi also has a small but pivotal role.

Not as slick as when he played the Count, perhaps, but, still, Bela.

Another movie I watched recently in which the father plays a pivotal role, although not nearly as large a role, is Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte.  In fact, Victor Buono, as Charlotte’s (the incomparable Bette Davis) father, is listed as Guest Star on the DVD cover.  He is an extremely important character, however.  In the opening scene, he orders Charlotte’s married boyfriend to break things off with her.  When the boyfriend is subsequently murdered, the father whisks Charlotte off to Europe, so she is never forced to face charges for a murder she may (or may NOT) have committed.  Dear old Dad is dead for most of the picture, but his shadow looms over the proceedings.  One thing that cannot be denied is that he loved his daughter, and she him.

Clockwise from top left: Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Joseph Cotton, Mary Astor, Victor Buono, and Agnes Moorehead.

And, just for me, here is a shot of Davis, chewing the scenery divinely:

“Don’t you tell me to hush!”

I know, you all thought I was going to talk about Atticus Finch or Spencer Tracy.  I don’t know why you thought that, but never mind.  I will repeat that my own father is an awesome human being, and I wish a Happy Father’s Day to him and all fathers.

 

 

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Sandals with Socks on Slacker Saturday

Posted on June 18, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am having a real Slacker Saturday and I’m not apologizing for it.  I may not even apologize for this lame blog post, but we’ll see how bad it gets before I guarantee that.  I went for a short run this morning, because after yesterday’s long run I discovered a blister on one foot.  Yikes!  When I was in the army, I found that if I glopped petroleum jelly on the blister and kept it covered, it would quietly fade away (the computer seems to think “glopped” is not a word, can you believe such ignorance?).  I glopped the last of my petroleum jelly on this one last night and have been resorting to antibiotic gel this morning.  Right now I have on ankle socks and sandals.  It’s quite a look.

As a side note, in the above paragraph, I first put vaseline, with a lowercase V, because it wasn’t brand name.  I realize Vaseline is one of those lost brand names, like Xerox and Kleenex, that people use generically (although I personally always say “photocopy” and “tissue”).  I switched to “petroleum jelly” in the interests of accuracy, and to have one fewer word judgmentally underlined in red by my computer.  I strive not to care what others think, yet I find all that red unnerving.

Where was I?  Ah yes, Slacker Saturday.  To give you a real picture of the day, I decided to take a picture of my sandals and socks combo, so I grabbed my Tablet.  As soon as I turned it on, however, I was confronted by a picture of our peonies my husband Steven had taken the other day.  Being even less device-savvy than I am, he asked me to get the picture someplace where he could share it to Facebook.  I realized I had not yet done so (although I am usually a better wife than that) (or do I flatter myself?). I know there is an easy way to do this, but being only slightly less device-un-savvy than Steven, I didn’t know it.

Well, there is no point in sharing with you all my gyrations in that endeavor, but eventually I got around to taking my own picture.

Would you say sexy legs, or are these even scarier than some of the monster pictures I share?

Full disclosure:  I had to move a bunch of junk off the end of the couch, or this picture would have been really cluttered.  Of course that might have made it more interesting as well as being a more accurate depiction of How I Live.  But I decided to try to make it a cleaner picture.  I suppose pictures are like potato chips; nobody wants just one.  I had been meaning to take a picture of some smaller irises in my yard anyways, so I stepped outside to do so.

I see it is an accurate depiction of How Little Time I Spend Weeding.

They are a little past peak, so I zoomed in on the best two.

I think they are graceful and elegant (my original thought was to say, “Aren’t they purty?”).

So this has been my day.  I ran.  I put on socks.  I took a nap (didn’t mention that before, did I?).  I made this blog post.  Oh, before making the blog post, I washed the dishes.  Yay me!  I am not completely useless!  Thank you for tuning in, and I hope to see you all on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

 

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