Still Haven’t Found the Stone

Posted on May 20, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Ah coffee, that magic elixir that makes things possible.  Not all things, but many.  For example, making a Late Lame Post Friday post.  Sorry about that.

It is not a defense, but I did spend over a half hour doing strenuous yard work when I was too tired to do so.  I am tired most of the time these days.  Perhaps I need to eat more fruits and vegetables.

This was probably the best year.

This is not the current state of my rhododendron.  This was May 2017.  Perhaps it will bloom late this year.  I can only hope.  Anyways, I just wanted to throw in a picture to pep things up.

I actually felt sort of pleased with myself for getting something done out there.  It has been a couple years since I really concerned myself with the back yard, and it shows.

My session was not without a little Cindy-generated humor though.  At one point, toward the end of my session, I was carrying a bag of non-yard-waste garbage (long story) out to my garbage bin and felt a painful stone in my sneaker.  Three times I took that sneaker off, shook it, felt in it, checked my sock, and found no stone.  Three times I put my sneaker back on and felt that stone.  Finally I gave up and stomped out to the trash bin one sock foot, one sneaker foot.

That was when I decided to call it quits.  But where were my hack saw and clippers (yes, some of the growth was bad enough to require a hack saw)?  Ah, there was the hack saw, but the clippers were not to be found.  I stomped around the last area I was clipping, still one sock foot, one sneaker foot, at least five times.  No clippers.  I even grabbed a rake and spread out last year’s leaves, in case it had gotten buried.  Damn!

I had the clippers here!  I was never over there.  Or there.  It took some time to convince myself to give up.  After all, I argued, the clippers were old and quite rusty.  I could buy new clippers. I said that to myself many times as I continued to look. At last I convinced myself.

And found the clippers on the steps to my deck, next to my water bottle of water.

Sometime I make myself laugh.

 

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What Were We Talking About?

Posted on May 19, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am sitting here playing with the predictive text thingy and typing things in and backspacing them out.  I have had a headache all day, but it was not bad enough to make me leave work, so I have that going for me.  I even managed to mow my lawn, after spending over 45 minutes on the phone trying to get a bill straightened out.  Never mind which bill; that company doesn’t need a plug from me.

Where was I?  Nowhere I suppose unless it is in the midst of a Non-Sequitur Thursday Post.  How about some non-sequitur pictures, since I don’t have much in the word department.

You had me at Vincent Price.

My late, dearly missed husband, Steven, gave me the Vincent Price Pumpkin Spice Coffee for either a birthday or anniversary present.  The caption is something I had said to him some years ago.  He was reading to me all about a movie on TCM.  He read the cast, the director, that it was based on an Edgar Allen Poe story, etc. etc.  I interrupted him with, “You had me at Vincent Price.”  I have probably told that story before.

“I’m a man.”

This is the final scene in Some Like It Hot, one of the funniest movies ever made.  Oh dear, this makes a kind of a movie theme.  That is not very non-sequitur-ish of me, is it?

I say, no matter.  I am over 200 words.  I can always bill this as a Blogger’s Sick Day instead.

One more random shot, just for good measure.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

 

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Yet More Music

Posted on May 18, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Are posts about music at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY getting a bit tiresome?  I hope not, because here comes one more.

I had made up my mind not to go out for a while.  Stay home, I told myself.  Be frugal of money and calories.  On Wednesday I was regretting that decision.  I mentioned my dilemma to a co-worker.

“I think you should do what you enjoy,” she said.

When I talked to my mother on the phone, she echoed the sentiment.  I had in fact already decided to do so.  After all, I got home from work, I put in laundry, went on a two mile run, and did the dishes.  I could reward myself and not dirty any more dishes.

It turned out to be a great reward, because Phil Arcuri was playing.

He is so fun!

I have said this many times, but it bears repeating: I love watching Phil play because he is clearly having such a good time.  I sang along with all the songs I knew and chair danced when I wasn’t eating.  It was great.

Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-8484.  They have music other nights than Wednesday.  Check it out!

 

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Not Too Tired for Columbo

Posted on May 17, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Time for another Tired Tuesday Post.  Only I am having trouble concentrating on it, because I am playing an episode of Columbo which I have never seen.  Hmm… wasn’t that the case on another recent post?  Oh dear.

I meant to go running today so could have done a Running Commentary Post, but it was deadline for Mohawk Valley Living magazine, and as usual I did not have my act together with an early submission.  Perhaps next month.

I’m just happy it isn’t Monday!

Earlier today I remembered that tomorrow is Wednesday and felt happy.  I don’t know why it matters to me.  Weekdays aren’t really so bad.  My worst moment is when I have to get out of bed just when I feel I can get some good sleep.  I am sure many people suffer from that phenomenon.  Weekends bring their own problems, but there is no point in complaining.  It is mostly first world problems or else operator error.

Just to throw in a little real life murder.

Just to let you know I am not watching only Columbo (All Columbo All The Time?), the other day I popped in A North Woods Elegy:  Incident at Big Moose Lake, a documentary about the murder of Grace Brown by Chester Gilette. It is a very famous case around here, since the trial took place in Herkimer.

During the trial Gilette was incarcerated at the 1834 Jail. 

I enjoyed the documentary, because it was like the true crime shows I used to watch all the time on cable.  I miss those shows!

“One more thing!”

I thought I should also include a picture of Columbo, since he is mentioned in the headline.

 

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I Get By With A Little Help From My Fiends

Posted on May 16, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that title earlier, when I knew I would be making a Monstrous Monday Post.  I fear this one will be heavy on monsters, light on commentary.  I am not only tired, there is a Columbo episode playing that I have never seen!  Well, it is on DVD, so I could pause or stop it, but I want the background noise.  I don’t have television, remember? Oh, why should I expect people to remember every little thing about me? What an ego!

Where was I?  Ah yes, Monstrous Monday.

“Puttin’ onna Reeeeetz!”

Here is a nice shot from Young Frankenstein.  If you have seen it, you will get the caption.  If you have not seen it, I recommend you do.

I feel a little like screaming myself.

Here is The Screaming Skull, one of my favorites. I guess today’s post does not have a theme.  I’m just vamping.

There’s the problem!

I guess it’s just my usual Monday malaise.  We’ll blame it on that, at any rate.

Ah, there’s my favorite guy!

I did not want to close without including a picture of Nosferatu, of the eponymous 1922 silent movie, still one of the scariest movies ever.

I am just about 200 words.  I guess I’m not too light on commentary after all.  Such as it is.  Happy Monday, folks!

 

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Planning My Pots

Posted on May 15, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Another Sunday and I got nuthin’.  How many blog posts have I started with the confession that I have not much to say?  This is a rhetoric question; I do not intend to go back and check.

Pretty!

I fall back on my usual trick of throwing in a picture to pep things up.  This was from May 2017.  It is raw materials for my container garden on my deck.  I have not had one these last few years, but I hope to have one this year.  I have all kinds of hopes and plans.  All I need now is to muster the oomph to do them.

Even prettier!

Here is a later shot that same year.  I think two of those pots are broken now.   The third one is plastic, so it still ought to be around.

Also that year.

I believe this one filled out some as the season progressed.

I enjoy deciding which colors to put together.

Now that I look at these pictures again, I notice the backgrounds.  The first one has a nicely mown lawn.  That was when Steve used to do the mowing.  In the second, I see a portion of fence with some vine growing on it, so that’s not so bad.  However, the garage in the background of the third cannot be described as anything other than shabby.  Professional photographers notice these things,  and here we come to the ugly truth about me and photography.

And now I see I am over 200 words.  Score!  I hope it turns out to be a preview of coming attractions.  I hope you will stay tuned.

 

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Lame About Me

Posted on May 13, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I got up this morning, having slept in till the for me late hour of six, with two thoughts vying for supremacy in my foggy head:  “Coffee first,  then run,” and “Run first, then coffee.”  Coffee won.  Hello, and welcome to another Late Lame Post Friday post.

I delayed making this post until I had a few sips of that magic elixir that renders almost any morning less hideous.  Thus I indulge in a little hyperbole. Is that an oxymoron?  Since hyperbole is exaggeration for effect, can you, in fact, have only a little hyperbole?   Points to ponder.

One problem with a personal blog: I tend to start all my paragraphs with “I.”  Because it is All About Me (ooh, that just gave me my title).  I have to watch that.

By now I think it is quite clear I have nothing whatever to say and am only rattling on in hopes of reaching 200 words before I run out of coffee.  I’ll throw in a picture to pep things up.

Who, us? Be silly?

This was taken at the H.A.L.O. Hoedown, a fundraiser for the cat rescue group, Helping Animals Live Organization.  It was some years ago and never became an annual thing, much to my disappointment, because I had a blast.

Yes, that is my late beloved husband Steve in the picture.  I’ll never be over being sad that he is gone, but I can smile at all the memories.  On that melancholy note (sorry about that; I know this is billed as a “totally fun blog”), I see I am over 250 words.  Score!  Thank you for tuning in.

 

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Make Lunch, Not War!

Posted on May 12, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just got back from Rome, NY, where my family was celebrating my mother’s birthday.  I believe she is 29, same age as my older sister.  OK, I do not really believe that, but I don’t see that it is my business to go blabbing other people’s ages across the internet.  I am just really, really grateful that both my parents are around and in reasonably good health.

After driving to Rome from Ilion (where I work),  having a lovely time with family,  then driving back to Herkimer (where I live), I am tired.  However, I was hoping to make my blog post before I sleep.  I figured I could manage a Non-Sequitur Thursday Post.  Hence, the headline which does not appear to have much to do with the post.

To explain:  I said it to myself this morning.  The coffee had not kicked in yet,  and I was trying to get all my stuff done.  “Make your lunch,” I told myself.  Then I thought of “Make lunch, not war.”  I felt it was so clever, I put off making my lunch long enough to post it as a Facebook status.  I daresay I flatter myself.  Driving home from Mom and Dad’s house, I thought it might be a suitable title for a Non-Sequitur Thursday Post.

Agree?  Disagree?  Please feel free to comment, and as always, thank you for tuning in.

 

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Back Out on Wednesday!

Posted on May 11, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had planned on going to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort this Wednesday since last Friday, when Geno (the bartender) told me Matt Grainger would be playing.  Regular readers may recall that on Friday I went to the Saalty Dawg Saloon hoping to hear him but was too early.  Today I was right on time!

It was actually a little before six when I arrived at Fratello’s.  Music was to start at six.  I saw Matt Grainger in his car.  We smiled and waved at each other, which made me feel pretty good.  I have spoken to him a couple of times; he knows I am a fan.

Walking into Fratello’s,  I encountered another Matt, my niece Kimi’s boyfriend.  Kimi was there too.  I sat on the opposite side of the bar from my usual preference, just to be sociable.

This is from a different visit.

I put in a picture of them from my Media Library, because I did not take any tonight and only one I took of Matt Grainger came put.

Kimi and her Matt were sharing Chicken Riggies.  It looked good, but after much debate with myself I ordered Garlic  Parmesan Wings and Garlic Bread with Mozzarella.  The food was delicious, and the music was excellent.

He is fine, yes.

I took notes in my adventure book about the different songs he played, but I see I am over 200 words and I am tired.  Let me just say that I had a wonderful time and greatly enjoyed Matt Grainger’s music.

I think this is better than a Wuss-out Wednesday Post,  don’t you?

 

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I Ran, I Blogged, I Celebrate?

Posted on May 10, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went for a run earlier so thought I might try a Running Commentary Post.  The Utica Boilermaker 15K is two months from today.  Yikes!  This means I will be doing more Running Commentary Posts as my training intensifies, eventually going All Boilermaker All The Time.

I had it in mind to  run today since I did not run yesterday.  As my bones began to creak more and more throughout the day, I still kept it in mind. A couple of times I did ask, “What the hell, body?  I’m not even 60 yet!”  When I got home I was TIRED.  I said to myself, “Just try.  Just do the best you can.”

So I got into running clothes and started out.  Oh, was I running thunkily!  Stupid autocorrect seems to think “thunkily” is not a word, but I assure you that is how I was running.  However, one thing I have learned is to Just Keep Going.

As I Just Kept Going, I reminded myself that I have often said that I can put up with almost any amount of suck for just about as long as I decide to.  Of course this started me thinking about a few other things that suck in my life these days.  I reminded myself that I could put up with those, too.  I guess I need a lot of reminders.

The highlight of the run was when I stopped to pet a dog.  No, not because I got to stop!  I like to pet dogs! Sheesh! This was about halfway through my run, when I began to think it wasn’t such a bad run and maybe I would make it after all.

Still, I was counting the minutes.  I had decided to run for 22 minutes.  I plan to run 44 minutes this weekend, so I went for half that.  Additionally, 22 is my lucky number.  As I approached my house I wondered if I shouldn’t try for a little longer.  My body said, “No! Don’t!”  I had to run past the house to make it the full 22 minutes, but I made it.

On my cool-down walk I paused to sniff a neighbor’s lilacs.   That was the second highlight of my run.  I was glad I had run, however thunkily.   And I have made my Tuesday blog post on Tuesday.  I have to celebrate every win, however small.

 

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