Tag Archives: blogging

Movie-ing into 2019

Steven and I are once again spending a quiet New Year’s Eve at home.  Sometimes I long to go to a fancy party, dress to the nines, rub elbows with other fancy people, dance, sip champagne and have a balloon drop at midnight.  Then I find myself sitting on my couch in my sweats, crocheting and watching movies, and I say, “This is the bomb!”  Still, a blog post must be written, so while the current movie plays, I shall type a few words in hopes of entertaining somebody besides myself (of course it will entertain me, but I am notoriously un-fussy in that department).

Steven was enjoying the usual Twilight Zone marathon on Sci-Fi channel, but I confess to not being a fan of that show.  I hope that statement does not lose me any readers, but I believe honesty is the best policy.  Anyways, he graciously agreed to watch movies instead and we enjoyed The Wasp Woman (1959), which I had DVR’d off TCM recently.  I loves me some Roger Corman!

Actually, in the movie she has a wasp head and a woman body.

I wrote a blog post about The Wasp Woman once.  I remembered it being fairly entertaining, and it was.  I missed some of the movie because I was cooking, so I asked that next we watch a movie we have seen, so I wouldn’t mind being in and out.  We settled on Ed Wood (1994).  Back when I liked Tim Burton movies.

One of Johnny Depp’s better roles, in my opinion.

Next we went to one of our go-to movies, House on Haunted Hill (1959), the original William Castle film with Vincent Price.  I loves me some William Castle!

It has always seemed to me that you could win a fight with a skeleton, because they don’t have any muscles. Just saying.

Next I found a video I purchased at a rummage sale some time ago, Brain Eaters (1958).  Unfortunately, Steven found that one rather boring and asked that we switch it out.  I suggested Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) with Fay Wray.  I consider that a New Year’s movie because in includes New Year’s Day 1933.

I’d scream, too!

And that brings us up to date.  I am half watching the movie while I type this.  As I am over 350 words, I shall feel free to hit Publish and go back to my crochet. Happy New Year, everybody!

 

Wrist to Forehead But Fun

This may be an unusual Wrist to Forehead Sunday post in that I do not feel particularly wrist-to-foreheady (yes, computer, I know that is not a word, yet I do not believe I shall confuse any of my readers).  The obvious reason for that is that I do not have to go to work tomorrow. Yay, me.  Please don’t hate on me, those of you who do.

Since I do not have to work tomorrow, Steven and I went out to have drinks and appetizers at a local watering hole.  I took my Tablet with me, hoping to take some pictures for blog and other purposes.  Unfortunately the first place we tried has been closing on Sundays as of late.  The second place was too busy and crowded. How’s that for opposites?

Finally we went to Lombardo’s Pizzeria in Ilion, NY, where we had a couple glasses of wine and some food.  It was a fun interlude.  Next we went to Asteroga Ale House in Herkimer, where we had another drink and a pleasant conversation with another couple at the bar. Alas I did not take any pictures.  Here is where I fall far short in comparison with other bloggers. Judge me if you will.

Now we are home for what I like to call the bra off, sweats on, movie watching portion of the day.  Or we may watch an episode or two of Snapped.  In any case, I have kept my post-Christmas letdown at bay for yet another day.  Happy Sunday, everyone!

 

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.