Tag Archives: blogging

Local Monsters!

Here is a Monstrous Monday post with a twist:  I took a few pictures of Halloween decorations in my neighborhood.  I hope they came out nicely.  I did not check them before starting the post.  We can be surprised together!

My porch from a rakish angle.

My inspiration for taking pictures was that my husband Steven had added a few pieces to the decorating we did on Saturday.  Unfortunately,  Frankentree blocks me from getting a good straight-on shot.

Here’s the other side.

As long as I was taking pictures, I went one street over to the next street, where one house has an awesome display.  Once again, I had to take a couple of shots.

My favorite is the skeleton and his dog.

The big skull is pretty awesome, too.

I took a couple pictures  of other houses, but these are the best of what I took today.  Perhaps I could try again at other times of day.  In the meantime,  I am under 200 words, my usual minimum for a blog post.  I know what: I’ll look for a picture of one of pur past porches.

Look how much smaller Frankentree is!

This is from October 2016.  The light-up ghost is in the upstairs window this year.  I’ll have to get a picture of it later, because I am in my slippers now.  Additionally,  I am over 200 words. Score!  I hope your Monday was monstrous or marvelous, according to your taste. And I hope to see you all (figuratively speaking, of course) on Tired Tuesday.

 

Late Sunday Post About Not Writing

Did I declare last week that making Sunday’s post early Monday morning was going to be a thing now?  I actually meant to make a post last night, but my Tablet wouldn’t get online and I felt too tired and lazy to sit upright at the laptop.  I went to bed early rather than fall asleep on the couch.  Then I spent a good portion of the night lying awake trying to sleep.  I have always suffered from insomnia, so this was not surprising. I spent some of my waking hours wondering what I could write a blog post about at this early hour (4 a.m. to me, no matter what my WordPress timestamp says).  I came to the conclusion that I could not and would not make a post, that I have come to the end of my rope and my road as a blogger, who was I kidding anyways, and other discouraging thoughts that might occur to one at 1:47 in the morning (yes, I looked at the clock).

So here I am, once again writing about not writing.  In my more optimistic moments I thought I just need a new approach.  Something to stimulate my creative brain cells, if I have any left (you see, even my more optimistic moments have their downside).  The problem with new approaches is that you can’t just have them, you have do follow them.  I can type every day, “From now on I’m going to…”  We all know, that is not all I have to do.

It’s like diets.  Almost any diet can help you lose weight, leaving aside the question of whether it is healthy or not.  But you have to actually do what the diet tells you to.  And if it is the kind of diet you go off, there is the question of keeping the weight off.   Well, I could draw this comparison out, showing exactly how it relates to writing, but then I would be writing about writing, not about not writing.  Additionally, I am over 300 words, and I have to get on with my usual morning routine. Happy SunMonday everyone.

 

Lots of Stuff on Scattered Saturday

Ah yes, I must make a blog post today. I think I can manage a Scattered Saturday post.

We slept in till a little after six.  Full disclosure: I spent a good deal of early morning time wishing I could sleep, but I got in a couple of REM cycles.

I ate some breakfast and did a load of laundry before I went for a short run.  On the run I got inspired to decorate our porch by looking at other folks porches. However, before doing anything to my own porch, I went to a rummage sale at Mohawk Reformed Church.

After helping my husband, Steve, hang lights and get our witch and ghost set up (we want to put out further decorations,  but this was enough for day one), I went to the New 2 You Consignment Store in Ilion, NY.  I found a fabulous dress for our upcoming murder mystery.

After I got home, we were both hungry so went to Salvatore’s in Herkimer for lunch.  Then it was on to Heelpath Brewing Company at the Frankfort Marina,  then to the End Zone Pub and Grub in Herkimer.

We came home after that and are watching television.  Once I finish this I can knit. I do love to knit and watch television.  My only question is: true crime or old movie?  A little suspense adds interest to my evening.

 

I Plan to be Fabulous

One thing I re-learn constantly is Don’t Make Plans.   They never work out.  I could offer countless examples.  No wait, I can’t.   If I offer examples you can probably count them. Once again I indulge in hyperbole.

Tonight we had rehearsal for Fabulous and Fatal,  the murder mystery we are presenting as a fundraiser for the Herkimer County Historical Society on Oct. 18.  We brought costumes and props, so I PLANNED to take pictures for this blog post.  Did I take any picture?  Of course not!

In my defense, nobody was completely in costume. A couple of actors tried on a few pieces, but there was no real photo op.  Alas.  However, we discussed complete costumes,  and I believe we will all be, yes, fabulous.

In hopes of making this a better blog post,  I will include a couple of pictures of props that previously appeared in this space.

I may not wear pearls, but my lips might be this red.

I rehearsed with this glass in my hand.  Full disclosure: I had wine in it.  I may very well have wine in it next Friday as well.  Judge me if you are so inclined.

There may be moustaches involved, but bow ties are not planned.

This is the other side of that glass.  I love this glass.  It was a gift to me from the cast of Leading Ladies,  the play I directed at Ilion Little Theatre in — goodness, was it 2016?

I see I am over 200 words.  Regular readers know I consider that respectable for a blog post.

Fabulous and Fatal will be presented Friday Oct. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Travel Lodge in Little Falls, NY.  Tickets are $30 for dinner and show, available at Herkimer County Historical Society,  315-866-6413.

 

I’m a Monstrous Blogger

OK, so I made Tuesday’s post Wednesday morning then did not make Wednesday’s post either Wednesday evening nor yet Thursday morning.  Does that make this Wednesday’s post or Thursday’s post?  Oh the trials and tribulations of the would-be daily blogger!

I was slow to recover from what was really a minor ailment.  I still don’t feel 100%, but what, I ask, are you going to do?  Or should that be “are ya gonna do?”  No matter,  on with the blog post.

And now here I sit, staring at the blank screen and half listening to Snapped: Killer Couples.  I don’t enjoy this as much as the original Snapped, but sometimes I have to make do with whatever murder and mayhem is available at the time.

Similarly,  sometimes I have to make do with whatever blog post I can produce at the time.  At least I can pep things up with a couple of pictures.  We can call it a Mid-Week Monsters post.

Which is the monster?

Here is Dr. Praetorious in The Bride of Frankenstein.  I apologize for not looking up the actor’s name or even how to spell Praetorious.  Did I mention I am still not feeling well?

Who could be uncheered by Una O’Connor?

I did not have to look up Una O’Connor’s name.  Regarding the caption, “who could be uncheered by” is a quote from Winnie the Pooh.  Either Pooh or Piglet said it regarding a balloon, but I change out the object to fit the situation.  Alert readers may remember me using the expression before.

In his defense, he wasn’t wrong.

I thought I might as well make it three pictures from the same movie.  Maybe if I go to bed early tonight I will feel good enough for a better blog post tomorrow.  But no promises.  After all, it will be Lame Post Friday.

 

The Pictures Are Not Sick

Yesterday was an actual Blogger’s Sick Day. I came home from work early, went straight to bed and pretty much stayed there.  I got up at one point, thinking I would not be able to sleep for more than 12 hours anyways, but no luck.  I couldn’t even read much (OF COURSE I read, who do you think you’re talking to?). I won’t go into gory details except to say that even without sleeping, the best place for me seemed to be in bed lying still.  I hope I’m better now.

But I have not much to write a blog post about and very little brain with which to do it.  I know what: I’ll throw in a couple of pictures and call it a post.

I send myself flowers.

The Susans, Black-eyed and Brown-eyed, are just about over now, but here is a shot I took earlier in the season.  Pretty!  And the Brown-eyed magically appeared with no planting on our part.

Who doesn’t love a big, weird tree?

In continuation with the yard theme and in keeping with the Halloween season, here is Frankentree, so dubbed by our friend Eva.

Who could be uncheered by a smiling vampire?

Since I segued to Halloween with Frankentree, I end with a picture of one of my favorite Halloween decorations.  My dear friend Marsha sent me the pot.  I added the orange (it’s a t-shirt) and vampire.

Ooh, look, over 200 words, and I only whined for the first paragraph.  Score!

 

 

Mediocre Monday

I’m wondering if I shouldn’t become a weekend blogger.  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!  Actually, now that I think about it, I sometimes have a problem making posts on the weekend,  too.  Since I want to continue to be a blogger, I guess I will stick with daily attempts for now.

Obviously not monsters.

I thought instead of a Monstrous Monday post,  I would share a few pictures of Ritz and Ragtime at Rutger Park on Saturday.  I took a lot of pictures but, alas, most of them were too dark,  this was one of the good ones.

These guys  were pretty awesome.

Yes, I spent a goodly amount of time chatting with the fellows behind the bar.  Hey, I’m of age and I wasn’t driving!

I didn’t get her name, but what a great outfit!

This was the other one that wasn’t too dark.  I guess I need to get a Tablet with a flash.  Why doesn’t my Tablet have a flash.  Damn!

OK, three pictures but fewer than 200 words.  Dare I call this a post?  I think I do, because I just thought of an alliterative title.  This isn’t a bad post, it’s not a good one, it is merely…

And thus a new category is born.

And I’m over 200 words.  Teehee.

 

Why DON’T I Have a Chaise Lounge?

Yes, it is Wrist to Forehead Sunday,  and once again, I got nothin’.  We had a rehearsal for Fabulous and Fatal, our latest, and perhaps last, murder mystery.  We got some dinner at The Happen Inn in Little Falls.  Now I am home and, quite frankly, looking forward to bedtime.  But I do not want to be making my Sunday post early Monday morning, so here we are.

Some people may ask (and you know who you are), what reason have I to swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead, on a chaise lounge or otherwise (regular readers may remember that I have no chaise lounge)?  I suppose I must confess, very little reason indeed.

I will not reiterate here all the good things in my life.  Nor yet will I make a list of the bad.  Who keeps score of these things anyways?  Oh, I suppose YOU do (once again, you know who you are). One feels the way one feels.  That is all.

I will feel happier once I reach 200 words and hit Publish.  For one reason, Steven is on board with my plan to watch Carnival of Souls, one of my favorite Halloween movies (I like it the rest of the year as well).  I hope to see you all again on Monstrous Monday.

 

Vampires to Ragtime, It’s Lame Post Friday

This is awesome!

Yesterday when I was searching our laptop’s downloads for Throwback Thursday pics, I saw this gem.  I couldn’t see it well, because the pictures are all teeny-tiny till you post them somewhere.  I took a chance and posted this one here, and I was right!  It is cool!  I thought it would be a good beginning to Lame Post Friday.

Ah, but where do I go from here?  Continue with the post or look for more pictures?  It is reasonable to think that Steven has downloaded other cool pictures that are not of him and me.  Then again, do I feel like leafing through all those downloads looking?  (Full disclosure:  I just spent a few minutes looking and said, “To heck with this!”)

I have a busy day planned for tomorrow, although the most exciting thing is  the Ritz and Ragtime at Rutger Park  fundraiser in Utica, NY. I get to dress in 1920’s costume and interact with guests.  I still have a few things to square away with my costume. I wore a different costume for this fundraiser in past years.

I thought I was pretty hot.

I have a different dress and different hair for tomorrow.  This is what I wore two years ago.  I wore something different yet last year, but I did not get a picture of myself.

Mavis, a gangster’s moll, and Jimmy “the Shiv” Schlavinsky.

Here are a couple of friends at last year’s event.  I hope to get another picture of them tomorrow.

I see I am over 200 words, so I am going to call this OK for a Lame Post Friday.  For more information on the Ritz and Ragtime fundraiser, click on the link above.  Maybe I’ll see you there!

 

A Few Wrinkles and No Promises

Check out the hair! Check out the glasses!

I wanted to make a Throw-back Thursday post.  Since I am on the laptop instead of the Tablet (yay ten-fingered typing!), I was able to look through our Downloads (I don’t know how to download stuff on the Tablet; I can only share photos I’ve taken on the Tablet or things previously published in the blog).   I couldn’t find a thing, till I came across this lovely shot of me and Steve in the 1990’s.  Oh dear, it may even have been the late 1980’s.  I don’t want to ask Steve at this point, in case he says, “Oh, don’t put THAT picture in!”

He was and is a handsome dude!

Here’s another oldie of us both.  I don’t know who the cute little boy is.  Goodness gracious, what was I thinking of with that hairdo!  The glasses I just didn’t think at all about, but I remember paying a lot of money for perms back in the day.  Oh well, live and learn.

Here we are looking a little more grown up. No promises about how we act.

Here is a more recent shot, although this may have been a year or two ago.  I like my hair better short, and I don’t mind my face a little wrinkly.

I see I am over 200 words. That makes this an OK post, by my rules for me.  Maybe I could think of an off-the-wall title and this can be a Non-Sequitur Thursday as well.