Tag Archives: blogging

Do Not Forgo the Memory

Regular readers (if I still have any) (I hope I do!) know that I rarely forgo Lame Post Friday.

OK, this is usually something I would confine to a parenthetical comment, but this being Lame Post Friday, I will give it its its own paragraph. “Forego” with an “e” means to go before, to precede.  “Forgo” means to give up or go without. I learned that just now,  when my computer told me both spellings were correct (well, not in so many words, but it did not underline or autocorrect either version). I pulled out my dictionary and looked it up.

And now you know how old school (which sounds somewhat better than just “old”) I am:  I use an actual dictionary.  It is a large red book: Random House Webster’s College Dictionary (New York, 1991).  It was given to me many years ago as a Christmas present from some friends who knew I wanted to be a writer.

Ooh look, I just related this post back to Christmas.  But now I am thinking about the friends who gave me the dictionary, a couple we were very friendly with when we lived up north, in the Potsdam and Norwood, NY area.  We pretty much lost touch with them when they left the area, although we exchanged Christmas cards and eventually re-connected with the wife on Facebook.  Sadly, she died from cancer a few years ago.

This has gotten rather melancholy for a Friday Lame Post, but I think it is important to remember friends.  So, a lexicographical note and a memory.  Sounds like a Friday post to me.

 

Merry Day After Christmas

Ho ho ho!

I thought I would share a few images of Christmas, to help those of us who are working through post-Christmas letdowns.  Some prefer to go cold turkey (or just eat cold turkey leftover from Christmas dinner) (sorry, couldn’t resist).  I’m going with slow withdrawal this year.

The Santa pictured above has been in my parents’ house since before I was born.  My husband, Steven, has threatened to steal it for as long as he’s been seeing me.  No luck so far, but we have amassed our own collection of old fashioned Santa’s.

Mrs. Santa seems to be a woman after my own heart.

Here are our guys.  This photo is from December 2016, so I guess this is a Throwback Thursday post now.

Pretty!

Here is my parents’ Christmas tree all lit up on Christmas Eve.  I love looking at their tree and seeing the ornaments through the years: the old glass ones we’ve always had, ones that we made in school (Oh, Mom, you didn’t keep THAT one!), ones we’ve given them…

The ingenious decorator!

Mom made this arrangement of garland, balls and wreath, and did not think too much about it till my sister Cheryl said, “Oh, you just had to sign your work!”  After that, it did seem pretty obvious that it spells “MOM.”  Mom would have changed the window, but we insisted she keep it that way.  Why shouldn’t she take credit for a house well decorated?

We don’t take our decorations down till at least New Year’s.  I suppose the cold turkey contingent mentioned earlier has theirs down already.  Oh well, to each his own, as the old lady said when she kissed the cow!

 

Merry Christmas Anyways

I wonder if anybody has noticed that I have not posted since Sunday.  I have no valid excuse.  I have a few lame ones but I am loathe to share them, largely because my mother reads this blog and I don’t want her to worry.  Ooh, too late now, unless I delete this paragraph.

I can’t do that.  I haven’t posted for three days; I can’t get the type-it-in-backspace-it-out disease now.

However, it seems I can possibly get the hit-Save-but-don’t-Publish-it disease.  I confess to having a few atrophied partial posts floating in my Drafts.  Every so often I pull one out and try to finish it.  No luck so far.

So basically, what I am offering today is Yet Another Post About Being Unable To Make A Decent Blog Post.  Could that possibly be worth a three day wait?  You tell me.

The main reason I have not been able to post is my ongoing struggles with depression.  I dislike mentioning it, because I do not want to be whining, especially as I feel my problems are far less than what others deal with.  Incidentally,  the latter reflection makes me feel even worse.  What an ungrateful wretch am I!

However, perhaps other readers also suffer from depression, and they might like to feel that they are not alone.  They may even get a frisson of superiority if they are dealing with their problems with greater aplomb than I can muster.  Remember: no life is wasted, because one can always stand as a bad example.

In summary:  I have not been posting lately, because I have felt paralyzed by my depression.  However, it is nothing for anybody to worry about, should anybody feel so inclined.  This will probably just morph over into a common or garden post-Christmas letdown. I have survived those before.

On the brighter side (see, I can usually find one of those), once I hit Publish,  I have finally made a blog post.  Phew!  I was getting worried that not posting was going to become a habit.

 

Tablet, Don’t Fail Me Now!

I guess it’s time for my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I am not actually feeling too angsty, since I do not have to work tomorrow, but do I feel up to making a decent blog post?  That is where the angst comes in.

The thing is, I wanted pictures, but I also want to sit on my comfy couch tapping into my Tablet.  It is not so easy to share the pictures thusly.  So the question now is, do I make the post I was thinking of making only without pictures, or do a totally other post with pictures I can easily get at from here?  Decisions!

Good cheer with beer!

Here is a picture I took at Heelpath Brewing Company at the Frankfort Marina.  I did not get these people’s names, but they were quite willing for me to take their picture. I like to share a nice picture from a local business.

More beer and cheer,

Here is another shot of another visit to Heelpath.  It is a fun place to go.

OK, my Tablet is doing something weird and not letting me share the picture I want to. That brings me right back to Wrist to Forehead Sunday!  And the battery is dying!  Damn!  I guess I’ll just hit Publish and hope for the best, as I have done many times before.  Happy Sunday, everyone!

 

Not Too Adventuresome, But Fun

Look at me, making my Scattered Saturday post before I get too tired and blow it off.  It has not been a particularly noteworthy Saturday, but you’ll have that.  I plan to give a quick overview of my activities thus far, then continue with my enjoyable day.

I went for a short run in 10 degree weather this morning (according to the sign in front of Trinity Lutheran Church).  It was up to 11 when I did my cool-down walk.  The irony was not lost on me.

Once Steven and I had our acts together (relatively speaking; I am not at any time known for being completely together), we ran a few errands.  We made a quick stop at the post office to mail my post cards, then went on to the drug store and super market. No, we are not ready for Christmas; did you think we would be?

At 1:30 I went to the Hot Spot Salon and Spa, where I had an appointment to get a haircut.  Danielle did a wonderful job.  She was a new stylist for me, but I have never had a bad cut there.

After leaving the salon, I picked up Steven, and we went to Valley Wine and Liquor to taste some French wines.  We bought some Beaujolais as well as a couple other bottles.  We are headed to see our friends, Phyllis and Jim tonight. I said we’d bring the wine.  Our friend Kim joined us at Valley and will join us again tonight.  I love getting together with friends!

So not a particularly adventuresome Saturday, but I am liking it.  I hope your Saturday is as fun.

 

Be of Good Beer

Note to self: Do not go to the bowling alley for a beer with the guys after work.  Oh, it was fun, and the bowling alley has a very pleasant bar, but one beer easily turns into three when generous co-workers start buying rounds. It actually could have been four or five, but we passed our last upside down shot glasses over to guys with harder heads.  For feeling like a fatty so much of the time, I am kind of a lightweight when it comes to beer.

So here I am Saturday morning making my Lame Post Friday post.  We’ll, what could be more lame than my excuse for not making a post yesterday?  After all, I have been known to drink and type before.  Unfortunately, I have also been known to drink and fall asleep on the couch, which is what I did last night.

I must make a further note to myself to make my Saturday post sometime in the afternoon.  We have plans with our friends Jim, Phyllis, and Kim.  I can pretty much guarantee the wine will flow.

I guess I am showing myself as quite the lush.  It could be true, but I do not always over-indulge.  But when one is hanging out with friends and having a lot of laughs…  In other words, no promises.

 

Present Company Excluded

So it is that time on a Thursday when I want to make a blog post and go to bed.  Yes, I have an early bedtime.  I get up early and I am old.  Additionally,  I have insomnia, so time spent in bed does not equal time asleep.

Ooh, that brings up something I may have written about here but is often on my mind this time of year.  According to song, Santa Claus is not reasonable in his requirements for the Nice List.   Case in point: “He knows when you’re awake.”

I have always been awake for some portion of the night, from when I was a very small child through now.  I wanted to sleep, but I could not.  Is this a reason for Santa Claus to withhold presents?  I feel this is unfair.

And while we’re on the subject,  “You better not cry.”  Say what?  What if I got hurt?  What if someone was really mean to me (quite a common occurrence in my elementary school)?  Am I to be penalized for expressing my feelings?  Apparently so.

I must say, one of the delights of being older is that I no longer particularly want Christmas presents.  Oh, I am grateful for the ones I get, and I admit to some slight frisson of ill-use if I do not get one from someone I gave a present to (I try so hard not to be a quid pro quo capitalist about these things,  but I am only human).  But in general, I am fine with getting nothing.

Where was I going with this?  I confess, I do not know.  But I see I am over 250 words, so I hope this is acceptable for a Non-Sequitur Thursday post.  We’ll see what Lame Post Friday will bring.

 

Red Shed Brewery at Beer Belly Bob’s

On a recent Friday evening, Steven and I ventured out to Beer Belly Bob’s in Ilion, NY.  They don’t have tastings every week, so we were happy we saw this one on Facebook.  When we realized it was for an area brewery,  we were delighted. I am happy to recommend Red Shed Brewery of Cherry Valley and Cooperstown.

As we walked in, one of the other people tasting said, “She’ll write an article about you!”  I felt famous.

Red Shed would definitely be a good thing for me to write about for Mohawk Valley Living magazine, but I want to visit one of their tap rooms first.  For now I will content myself with a blog post.  David Olson, the man pouring gave me a card, and I have already visited their Facebook page.  I hope to make a trip to Cooperstown soon!

David Olson, one of the folks responsible for some yummy beer.

The first brew we tried was Jessica’s Red.  It won my ultimate accolade of “yummy.”  We went on to Cloudy Girl, which was very fruity.  I did not like it as much as Jessica’s Red, but thought it would be a good summer drink.  The Smoked Porter was heavy, smoky (of course), and very dark  It was tasty, but I could not drink a lot of it.

Steven, enjoying a taste.

 

Red Shed is only available on draft right now, but we were able to purchase a growler for a very good price.

Jessica’s Red in Beer Belly Bob’s growler.

For more information about Red Shed Brewery, you can go to redshedbrewing.com. or visit their Facebook page.

Route 51 Beer Belly Bob’s Discount Beverage Center is located at 70 Otsego St., Ilion, NY, phone number 315-895-0936.  You can find them on Facebook, too!

 

I Want Monsters for Christmas!

Oh, I am tired!  You can play those miniature violins; I know I am whining with very little excuse for doing so.  What a fat baby!  I am a fat baby, too.  My holiday weight gain is becoming apparent, to me at least.

None of this matters in the least.  I have a blog post to make.  I’m thinking it has been a while since I have indulged in a Monstrous Monday post (as usual I am too lazy to go back and check, but at least we know it has been a week).

Who doesn’t love a Christmas skeleton?

I open with Bonita, our skeleton dressed for the holidays.  Isn’t she pretty?

Green and red ARE the Christmas colors.

I was looking for something else, but Frankenstein’s Monster in a Santa hat caught my eye. So seasonal!

The only Grinch for me!

Also not what I was looking for, but what better Christmas monster than Boris Karloff reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas?

A Halloweeny Christmas decoration or a Christmasy Halloween decoration?

I can’t find the picture I wanted, but there is room for one more Monstrous Monday post before Christmas.   In the meantime,  here is one of our Santa Clauses wearing what used to be my favorite Halloween shirt.  It became too worn out for me to wear, but I think it looks fine on Kris Kringle.  Of course we took it off him after Nov. 1.  That Santa now graces our front porch.

I see I am over 200 words, and I feel too tired to bring this post to a graceful conclusion.  How disgraceful of me. Oh well, tomorrow is another day, when I can make another post.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

Fun Sunday after Run on Saturday

So now it is Sunday, and I am having quite an enjoyable day.  I went running this morning, most unusual behavior for me on the day after I ran a 5K.  I ran neither very fast nor very long, but I enjoyed it.

Later this afternoon, my husband, Steven, and I went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY, for a drink and a snack.  I am hoping to write an article about them for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  We had a fun time and enjoyed our food and Chardonnay.

Now we are sitting at home, bra off (me), sweats on (both of us ), watching It’s a Wonderful Life  (Steven’s idea) and having another glass of Chardonnay.  And I realize the necessity of making a blog post (by my rules, made up by me, applying to me).

Where we had a nice snack.

I guess I don’t have a whole lot else to say.  Maybe a word or two about the early Christmas present I received today from aforementioned husband Steven.

The new view if me at leisure.

Aren’t they awesome?  Steven purchased them for me yesterday at a drug store while I was running the Reindeer Run 5K and gave them to me today.  Isn’t he wonderful?

I always say there is no point at getting anything done on a Sunday. At least I am making some semblance of a blog post. I hope to see you all again on Monstrous Monday!