Tag Archives: blogging

Yes, I’m Just Starting Christmas Shopping

Posted on December 21, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did not have to go to work today (don’t hate), so Steven and I headed to Little Falls for some local shopping at a few fun, distinctive places.  I know I said I was not going to talk about where I shopped and what I bought who, but, well, I took a few pictures and I need a blog post today.  Anyways, maybe I didn’t buy anything.  Oh, OK, I bought a few things, but they might have all been for me.  I call myself Cindy Claus this time of year, but I am always the Evil Woman CinCin.  No matter.  On with the blog post.

I saw on Facebook (a veritable font of information if you have Liked the right pages) that there was a Cookie Crumb Trail at Canal Place, one of the main shopping destinations in Little Falls (the other one is Main Street).  Participating merchants were offering cookies, so one was encouraged to go from store to store.  We started at Rochette, which now shares its space with Huckleberry Letterpress Co.  Lots of great gift ideas!

I told the lady behind the counter that we were following the Cookie Crumb Trail and I hoped to take a picture at each stop for my blog post.  She nicely offered us a cookie and hoped to see the blog post (oh dear, I will share this to Rochette’s Facebook page, but maybe the post isn’t very good. I always worry about these things).  I decided to take my picture of a pair of ice skates covered with glitter hanging behind the counter.  I saw a number of old ice skates for sale in the various antiques vendors’ spaces, so that is an idea I can steal (plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery).

She said they leave behind a trail of glitter but it is worth it.

Next we went to Ole Sal’s Cafe and Creamery and through the different vendors in that area.  I took my picture of some local art on the wall.

I don’t know how well you can see it, but my favorite is the mirror with the Overlook Mansion painted on it.

When we went to the building next door, I could not get a picture, because my Tablet went into Selfie mode and I could not get it back.  When we got to PrimaDonna’s Boutique, the nice lady there helped me.  I happily took a picture of some pillows I liked, although there is a LOT in that boutique I admired.

A soft pillow can bring one a lot of joy.

After that we drove to Main Street, the other shopping destination in Little Falls, to Paca Gardens.  I love walking around that place and touching the merchandise.  So soft!  Of course I had to take a picture of some cuddly alpacas.

Aren’t they sweet?

There are other places to stop in Little Falls, as well as a few places in Ilion and Hekimer I had thought to hit for Christmas shopping.  I guess I’d better charge up my Tablet and head out again tomorrow!

 

2 Comments

Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

You Can Forget this Blog Post

Posted on December 19, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’ll never forget the time that…

Sometimes those words are followed by a delightful memory of fun times with family and friends, or a time somebody did something impressive, or any number of other good things.  Sometimes not so much.  Sometimes what we’ll never forget is the time that somebody did or said something that was mean and uncalled for.  Worse yet, sometimes it’s something I did myself and I still feel bad about.  Full disclosure:  most of my unpleasant “never forgets” are bad things done by others.  Oh, I’ve done plenty of things I’m ashamed of, but they don’t seem to pop into my mind as frequently. When you get right down to it, I am pretty much a stinker.  But I digress.

Here’s the thing that occurred to me this morning, sometimes it is a good idea to forget these things we’ll never forget.  What good does it do us to remember?  I often still feel the same hurt or regret, only the chances of making things right are extremely remote.  Oh, I suppose being a fiction writer, I could attempt to extract some petty revenge by fictionalizing my adversaries.  I personally have never had great success with that.  Of course, I have not so far had great success as a fiction writer at all, but let’s not probe that sore spot.  For one reason, I do not want to be saying at some future date, “I’ll never forget the time I was make a blog post and all somebody wanted to talk about was my lack of success as a fiction writer.

You may have noticed that I am not giving any examples of things I’ll “never forget.”  That is because I am attempting to follow my new idea of forgetting these things.  At least I will strive not to dwell on them.  I’ll let you know how that works out for me.

In the meantime, this will have to do for today’s blog post.  There is probably a much better essay to be written on the subject.  In fact, it probably has already been written.  Why should I think I am the first person to come up with these things?  No matter.  Some things bear repeating.  Happy Tuesday, everyone.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in commentary, humor, personal and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Meandering towards Monstrous Monday

Posted on December 18, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I tried to write a blog post while at work today, but all I seemed to want to write about was how this is a three-day work week and how happy I was about that.  However, I think I touch on that subject every year during Thanksgiving week.  Well, just for something different from Monstrous Monday, I thought I could use this space to ponder my Christmas shopping choices this year.

Um, yes, that means I have not purchased all the Christmas gifts I intend to give this year.  Some years (oh, all right most years), I am a last minute kind of gal.  I MAY have picked up one or two things along the way, but I can’t say anything about those IF they in fact exist.  I don’t know who all reads my blog.  One of the prospective gift recipients may tune in.  Already I’ve said too much.

Now that I think of it, I don’t think I should talk about where I intend to shop either.  People might guess what I’m going to get them. Worse yet, they may guess wrong that it’s something better than what I actually buy.  I would hate to disappoint anybody.  Oh, this gift giving season is fraught with peril!

I think it would be a better idea to wait till AFTER Christmas and tell my readers what I DID buy, after people have unwrapped their things.  Hopefully I will get around to buying them, but let’s not catastrophize, shall we?  In the meantime, I need a blog post TODAY.  Maybe I should have gone with a Monstrous Monday after all.

A festive monster.

You know, I am over 250 words.  I’m going to call this a Monday Mental Meanderings and drive on. Happy Monday, everyone!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Monday Mental Meanderings, personal and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Snapshots from my Weekend

Posted on December 17, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yes, it is a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I am TIRED from dancing my buns off last night to The Posers at Ilion Elks Lodge.  What a fun night!  Unfortunately, the snapshots promised in the headline are not of that (then again, I would probably be pretty embarrassed if I saw pictures of myself dancing).  I did not bring my Tablet with me, because I knew I would be spending a lot of time on the dance floor and did not want to worry about it.  However, earlier that day I had the Tablet with me and took a couple of pictures.

She so pretty.

Here is my friend Kim demonstrating the proper use of a bottle cozy at Route 51 Beer Belly Bob’s Discount Beverage Center, where we attended a fun beer tasting.  Kim suggested also getting a picture of the bartender.

Yes, that is Bob himself.

We just missed a performance by The Happy Haggs Dance Troupe, but we saw the Haggs about to take a  buggy ride.  I told them I wanted to be a Happy Hagg.  It may happen in 2019.

The unposed shot.

After they realized I was trying to get a picture.

 

I also had to get a shot of the beautiful horses.

I am not always good at remembering to take pictures.  For one reason, the Tablet is a little awkward.  Maybe I should get one of them there smart phones.  Then again, any phone can’t be smarter than its user.  That’s where I may run into problems. In the meantime, I am over 250 words.  I call that OK for a Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  I hope to see you all on Monstrous Monday.

 

4 Comments

Posted in humor, personal, Wrist to Forehead Sunday and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Post Before Dancing

Posted on December 16, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I pause in the midst of my adventures for a Scattered Saturday post.  I went for a run this morning, the first run since the Reindeer Run 5K last Saturday (don’t judge me).  It felt pretty good.  I was going to do a Saturday Running Commentary, but I had other things on my mind.  I wrote my post cards, called my Mom and Dad, and Steven got ready to get moving.

First we went to a big box store that needs no plug from Mohawk Valley Girl.  For one reason, it is the only place around here I can get my yarn. Then we went to Cash for Cans Redemption in Herkimer, where we cashed in some cans we have had for longer than we meant to.  With a little bit of cash in our pockets, we went to Ilion to Moose River Coffee for a little breakfast.  Yum!  It is the BEST coffee!

Then we came home and hung out till the afternoon, when we got together with our friend, Kim.  The first stop was Valley Wine and Liquor for a scotch and bourbon tasting.  Kim did not taste, but Steven and I did. We kind of liked a couple of them, but we bought a little wine instead.  For one reason, the Werewolf Chardonnay with glow in the dark label was on sale for $5.99.

Next we went to Ilion to another tasting at Beer Belly Bob’s.  Bob had told us about it when we were there for the tasting last night.  We tasted several beers and a couple of sodas. Fun and tasty!  Then we went to the Municipal Building to see if we could get one of the horse and carriage rides.  They were almost done giving them, and a number of kids were still waiting, so we tactfully retreated.  We walked to the Knights of Columbus, where I had heard there was a Chinese Auction.  The auction was over, but there were a few booths from the craft fair still operating.  We enjoyed looking over some of the goods.

Now we are home, but only for another hour or so.  Then we are headed to the Ilion Elks Lodge to hear The Posers, one of our favorite bands!  I hope to do a LOT of dancing!  I may be too tired to do even a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post tomorrow.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Scattered Saturday and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

My Favorite Lame Post Friday

Posted on December 15, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Lame Post Friday is getting lamer and lamer, I fear.  Perhaps I am coming to the end of my usefulness as a blogger.  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!!!

I have been having a fun evening.  My husband, Steven, and I went with our friend Kim to a beer tasting at Route 51 Beer Belly Bob’s Discount Beverage Center in Ilion. We purchased some beer, of course.  I do not drink as much beer as I used to, but sometimes a beer really hits the spot.

Kim had commitments elsewhere, so Steven and I continued to dinner alone at Salvatore’s in Herkimer.  We had soup and garlic knots.  Yum! Then Steven had a cup of coffee and I inadvisedly had a piece of chocolate spoon cake for dessert.  Oh, was it ever good!  However, it was also very rich and filling.  If I dare to step on the scale tomorrow morning I will no doubt find I have jumped up three or four pounds.

Now we are home, and Steven put in our DVD of Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, one of his (and my) favorites.

Oh, sure, just give away the ending!

Christmas time is all about revisiting old favorites, isn’t it?  When we got to Salvatore’s, we had to sit in the parking lot to hear the ending of “Do They Know It’s Christmas” by Band Aid.  I love that song and had not heard it yet this year.  Inside the restaurant, we enjoyed more favorites:   “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Sleigh Ride,” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,”  as well as another favorite I had not heard yet this year:  Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmas Time.”

Well, talking about that has put me in a sweet, cuddly Christmas mood. I’m going to knit and watch the rest of this Christmas special.  Full disclosure:  next I may watch Dateline.  After all, I still gotta be me. Happy Friday, everyone.

 

2 Comments

Posted in humor, Lame Post Friday, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

An Unhealthy Use of Notebooks?

Posted on December 13, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I’ve been writing since I got home from work.  Actually, first I stomped around the house looking for the notebook I thought my article was in.  When I finally found it, I could not find the article.  You see, when I write in a notebook, I don’t always start on the first page and continue through in an orderly fashion.  I use different sections for different projects.  Then I run out of sections and put different projects in the same sections as the first projects.  Additionally, sometimes I use a notebook for a while, then put it down for a while, then go back to it.  Being of a reduce/reuse/recycle mind, I sometimes go through and write on the backs of pages, which gets thing all mixed up.

As I say, it is not easy being me, but it can be entertaining.

I ended up going through three notebooks, two of which I had to search for, one page at a time and did not find the article I had started writing.  At last, I remembered a fourth notebook.   I knew right where that one was.  It may amuse you to hear that I had left that notebook opened to the unfinished article.  What is it with me?

So I think one article is done, but my second article needs work.  In the meantime, after all the stomping, searching, and flipping, THEN trying to write, I am, once again TIRED!  I think I need to start living a healthier lifestyle.  Less fattening food, more exercise.  Vegetables.  Maybe some meditation.  What other healthy things are we supposed to do?  Oh yes, less screen time.  And here I am on my computer!  Luckily, I am over 250 words.  I call that respectable for a blog post.  Or should I call it healthy?

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Joan Crawford Can’t Help Me Now

Posted on December 12, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

This is going to be Yet Another Post About Not Being Able to Make a Decent Blog Post.  It is not going to be about Why I Can’t Write a Post, though.  If I told you why, I might as well write the post I started to write but stopped writing, because, well, never mind.

I’m a stinky blogger.

I thought I would throw in a picture to distract from the lack of substance in this post.  Oh, I am tired.  That makes this a Tired Tuesday post, of course.  The post I started to write was a Tired Tuesday post, too.  I guess I am never too tired to complain about how tired I am.  Then again, most of us can find just enough oomph to complain under almost any circumstances (don’t deny it, it is an almost universal human trait).  There’s a topic for a future blog post:  how much people like to complain; possible subtopic: people who complain about other people complaining.

Who says you can’t get a head?

I decided to break out of that word bog with another picture.  Since I am so tired, I looked for one of somebody in bed.  I found Joan Crawford, trying unsuccessfully to get a good night’s sleep in Strait-Jacket (1964). Most of us feel a whole lot more sane on after a full night’s sleep.  Maybe not completely sane, but more sane.  I allude to nobody in particular, you understand.

I guess she feels strongly about it.

And this is what happens to some of us when we don’t get a good night’s sleep.  Or when we find our husband getting a good night’s sleep with somebody else. Here, of course, I refer to Joan Crawford’s character in the movie.  I’ve never taken an ax to anybody, nor, indeed, had reason to.

This is a singularly foolish post, and I am no slouch at making foolish posts.  I shall stop before I get any sillier.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Tired Tuesday and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

What Weight Loss Goals?

Posted on December 11, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I think it is time I admit to myself that I do not have weight loss goals, I have weight-loss daydreams.  Today at work, someone was selling candy bars for a kid’s sports team.  Obviously it is a good thing to support youth sports, and I am not one to just make a donation when a $2 donation will get me a candy bar.  Of course I took the candy bar!  Did I save it, or at least half of it for my skinny husband?  NO!

I thought, this is OK, because I am going running after work.  Shortly after I thought that, my legs informed me that I was not.  “We are going home and sitting on the couch like sensible people,” my body told me.  I did not have the oomph to argue.  It is Monday, after all.

If this wasn’t bad enough, Steven did not feel like the leftover pasta sauce I had suggested for dinner.  Oh, that is not the bad part.  The bad part is when he made a sensible alternative suggestion, I said, “Wouldn’t you like to send out for wings and antipasto?”  As a matter of fact, sending out for antipasto is not such a bad idea.  For one reason, it means I will have leftover salad for my lunch tomorrow.  For the chicken wings, I make no apology, but merely offer, in my defense, YUM!

Steven called Salvatore’s in Herkimer.  We got wings Siciliano, which are kind of a combination of medium sauce, garlic butter, and bleu cheese.  I repeat, yum.

On the brighter side, instead of a Monstrous Monday, I am giving a shout-out to a local business.  Salvatore’s is located at 650 1/2 W. German St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-2600.  For more intormation, you can visit their website at http://www.salvatores-herkimer.com.

And I can always go running tomorrow.

 

7 Comments

Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

The Kind of Murder I Like on Wrist to Forehead Sunday

Posted on December 10, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  We are watching true crime on television but may morph over to Christmas movies later.  I suppose I could wait till later and do a Sunday Cinema post, but sometimes it is best to get these things done in a timely fashion.

One of my many true loves.

I could really get into some Snapped, which used to be on all day on a Sunday.  Alas, they switched to Homicide for the Holidays, but none of those cases were the kind of murder I like.  I like a personal murder, for a good reason, like greed or revenge or being blackmailed.  I’m not into hearing about families gunned down in their homes or serial killers.  However, to each his own, as the old lady said when she kissed the cow.

Right now we are looking at Murder Made Me Famous:  Angry Betty Broderick (I don’t imagine she is any relation to Matthew, but you never know).  I vaguely remember hearing about Betty Broderick when thing happened back in 1989. I was less obsessed with true crime in those years.  I had just started reading true crime books, but television had not started offering so many shows about it. According to this show, Court TV was a thing, but our cable system did not carry it.

I am content to live in obscurity.

So I guess this is my blog post for the day.  I hope this is not the beginning of another bad blogging week. That would certainly be cause for me to swoon, dramatically posed with the back of on wrist to my forehead.  If only I had a chaise lounge handy!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Wrist to Forehead Sunday and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
Newer Posts →