Tag Archives: coffee

What Is the Matter with Me?

Posted on August 14, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

This is so embarrassing.  It seems about once, sometimes twice a week, I write a blog post apologizing about not making daily blog posts and promising to do better.  Obviously I do not.  I could offer all manner of excuses and explanations, but excuses are often lame (and it is not Lame Post Friday, alas!) and I always say explanations are tiresome.

All that said, it feels pretty good to be ten-finger typing on my Chromebook, putting down some words, any words.  Why do I no longer do this every day? Why am I asking that again when I JUST SAID that explanations are tiresome?

Looks delightfully evil, yes?

I threw in a picture to jolt myself out of self-incrimination and more tiresomeness.  I have not used this coffee mug in a while, but I have enjoyed my morning coffee, as I do most mornings.  Full disclosure:  Sunday I drank tea, because my stomach was upset.  That tasted pretty good too.

Random picture to denote passage of time while I get more coffee.

The above picture is the Capitol Theatre in Rome, NY, a delightful old movie palace, from back when the term “palace” truly applied.  It is, perhaps, symbolic of my life.  I feel I need to make some changes, begin a new chapter.  Somebody somewhere said there are no second acts in real life, but does anybody really believe that?  I don’t even remember who said it.

Must go here soon.

The theatre picture is also relevant, because I have at least one theatrical project I need to get going on, namely a murder mystery I am writing to be presented for the benefit of Herkimer Historical Society.  This third picture is a local business I may visit soon, Rose Quartz Stand on Mohawk Street in Herkimer, NY (do I have to keep putting NY?).  I want to purchase some iron pyrite for use as a prop in the murder mystery.  Does that pique your interest?  I hope so, as I will no doubt be sharing more about the mystery as I go along.

That is, if I manage to make more blog posts.  I have neglected a few good Mohawk Valley adventures I had recently and hope to remedy the omission (preview of coming attractions).  In the meantime, I thank any readers who are still tuned in, and welcome (dare I hope?) any new ones.

 

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Late Monsters, Love Coffee

Posted on July 23, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

A late post is better than no post at all.  This week I am either back to late posts or no posts and I choose late posts.  Hello and welcome to a Monstrous Monday post made early Tuesday morning.

Random monster to denote passage of time while I go get coffee.

Everything is less monstrous with coffee.  Coffee drinkers will agree; non-coffee drinkers may substitute the beverage, comfort, or wake-up aid of their choice.  I am feeling a bit monstrous this morning for no particular reason.  At least, there may be reasons, but it would be dull to get into them.  Could I be getting old?  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!

At least I am not toothless. Yet.

Yesterday I heard music wafting up from Meyers Park, where the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown was taking place, just to give a shout-out to a local attraction.  The Chowdown is the food truck event that runs Mondays in Meyers Park in Herkimer, NY.  They have some great musical entertainment.  I did not walk down yesterday, though.  I may stay home all week.  Judge me if you are so inclined.

He is watching you.

However, I do plan to go for walks this week.  I went for one yesterday morning.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, because I am feeling tired and lazy), it is raining this morning.  I hope it will not be too hot or raining this afternoon when I get home from work. If I do walk, there is a good chance I will walk by my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  One of the corners is the 1834 Jail, seen in the picture above.  I feel free to include it in Monstrous Monday because of the cut-out of Chester Gillette, a real life monster.  He only committed one murder in his short life, but if he had gotten away with it, I’m thinking he would have done away with other inconveniently pregnant girlfriends.

Ooh, look, I am over 300 words.  Score!  Let’s see if I can do my Tired Tuesday post later on ON Tuesday.  I am pretty sure I will be tired, but thank you for tuning in.

 

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Tired Is As Tired Does

Posted on July 10, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

One way I can tell I am getting older is that physical ailments, my own and others’ but of course mostly my own, become of increasing importance.  As I puttered around, getting ready to make my Tired Tuesday post (early Wednesday morning, judge me if you are so inclined), I was narrating in my head about the headaches I have had during the night lately that sometimes go away in the morning but not today…

How dull! Quick, throw in a picture to pep things up!

Now I am just a witch.

I kept scrolling down my Media Library till I got to a different mug from the last one I shared.  I hope.  Once again, this is not the mug I am currently using.  I am currently using my mug from Dikin Durt Distillery of Herkimer, NY, just to give a shout-out to a local business.  Note to self: see if I have a shot of this mug in the Media Library and if I do not, put one in.  For years now I have been thinking of making an index of my Media Library.  I could save it on a document that I could just pop up whenever I want to use a particular photo.  How do the other bloggers do it?

Well, that was annoying.  There I was, typing away on my Chromebook, and I accidentally hit something that signed me out of the whole thing!  Not just out of WordPress, but out of Chromebook, and I cannot remember my password.  What a dope I am.

However,  I see I am over 250 words (oh, I am on my Tablet, pecking in one letter at a time with the stylus, by the way).  Regular readers know I find that respectable (my predictive text thingy suggested “rude and selfish”!  When did I ever type that?).

And now I am over 300 words.  Woohoo!  Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

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Late, Lame, at Least It’s a Post!

Posted on July 6, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I guess I had a couple more blogger’s sick days in which I did not even have the wherewithal to post a few whiny words about how I couldn’t make a blog post.  Ooh, here’s a Freudian typo:  I first put “shiny words.”  I guess I want to feel that my talent as a writer always shines through.  It is my one talent, after all.  Or do I flatter myself?  Never mind, on with my Lame Post Friday post, made early-ish Saturday morning.

That magic elixir, coffee.

I am on my second cup of coffee.  I am enjoying it quite a bit.  I went without if for two days, substituting tea for my morning cuppa (I believe I mentioned it the last time I made a blog post).  I love tea, but coffee is what gets me going in the morning.  Not that I am actually going right now, but I am blogging, so we’ll call that a win, however lame this post may turn out to be (I am thinking very, but I am also my worst critic) (that earlier line about my writing talent notwithstanding).

Only a dream?

It took me a long time to find a second picture to liven up the post.  This is from 2017, a really good year for my container garden.  I was determined to have one this year, but, alas, not determined enough.  Perhaps I can get out and at least do a few things in the yard this morning.  Unfortunately, it is supposed to rain (my bunions and the weather forecast said so).  I think I even heard a few drops earlier.  I suppose I could do a certain amount in the rain, then take a very soapy shower, hoping not to track too much mud between the door and the bathroom.  It might be a good idea to eat breakfast first.

 

These plants don’t seem to have any problem growing.

I wanted to add one more picture.  Regular readers may remember that this was meant to serve as inspiration for the murder mystery I must finish.  That will be a good thing to work on if it pours rain later.  Such plans!  Such ambition!  Will I accomplish anything?  The uncertainty will add interest to my Saturday.

 

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A Whiningly Late Tired Tuesday Post

Posted on July 3, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am taking Tuesday as a Blogger’s Sick Day.  I got home from work last night, managed to do a couple chores, then succumbed to a bad head.  I don’t know what else to call it.  It is more light-headedness than pain, and a neurologist once told me it was a form of migraine.  Oh dear, and here I am whining about it.  Anyways, I felt unable to do anything much so went to bed early.  This morning (Wednesday, early), I am feeling equally as bad with an upset stomach for good measure.  I am sipping tea instead of my usual coffee.  It is quite tasty and may settle my stomach (to add an un-whiny comment).

Pretend there is tea in the mug.

I like to add an illustration when possible.  I am not drinking out of that mug currently, but it is the first one I came to in my Media Library.  In fact, it is kind of what my stomach feels like now.  Maybe not that bad, luckily.  I certainly must go to work today and Friday.  If I do not, my employer will not pay me for July 4th. It is a good policy, really, or a lot of people who had not foresightedly asked for those days off might be tempted to call in.

And here’s an interesting grammar point.  My Chromebook does not like the word “foresightedly.”  I do not see why I cannot make an adverb by adding “-ly” to any handy adjective.  Some writers eschew adverbs and rail dementedly at their use in any and all situations (you see what I did there?).  I personally need all the help I can get and will avail myself  of any words I like, even if I have to make them up.

Look, at that, a whole paragraph about my psycho grammar, not whining about my stomach or head.  On that note, I thank you for tuning in, and sign off with hopes for a more productive Wednesday.

 

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It’s Never Too Lame!

Posted on June 8, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Once again I make my Lame Post Friday blog post on Saturday morning.  I thought about making it last night, but bed seemed like such a good place to be.  It’s been a difficult week, although it has had its good points.  Nothing is all good or all bad, I hope.  At least, I hope nothing is all bad.  All good, I would like to try and see.  There is some half-baked philosophy for you.  We are used to finding the silver lining in bad times, or at least it is a good idea to do so.  Do we ever look for the fly in the ointment in good times?  Are there any other hoary expressions I can throw in?  Really, me, “silver lining”?  “fly in the ointment”?  Have some more coffee.

Ah ha ha! Coffee can be evil!

I throw in a random picture while I go get another cup of coffee.  I do not want to speculate on whether coffee is or can be, in fact, evil.  I put the caption because I believe that coffee mug looks malevolent.

Since this is my second cup of coffee,  one might think I had just rolled out of bed, but that is not the case.  I got up prior to six and went for a run.  The problem with running before coffee is that sometimes I forget to make coffee.  I had my recovery beverage of chocolate milk (it’s science!), made myself an egg sammich for breakfast…  oh yes, coffee. Ahhh… coffee.

I got rained on during my run, off and on.  Now it seems mostly on, so I am sorry about the local events going on today, for example, Little Falls Pride 2024 and Dolgeville Violet Festival. I had been thinking of running the Pride Stride 5K in Little Falls.  There used to be a 5K associated with the Violet Festival, too, but I don’t know if there still is.  How uninformed of me.  Anyways, I am not in 5K shape at this time.  I am in shape, though, because round and puffy is still a shape, you know.

I don’t think these two are in 5K shape either.

Here are Bonita and Bonaparte to wish you a happy Saturday.  I will never be as skinny as Bonita.  Puffy little Bonaparte is more my speed (almost literally).  I suppose I am not as cute, although my husband, Steven used to think so.

 

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Where Did I Put My Panache?

Posted on May 23, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Another early morning late post.  I made myself take a walk before posting, in hopes I would be inspired or at least less grumpy.  The beauty part of that was, my coffee finished brewing while I walked.  I am mostly cheered right now because I realized I could accurately say “my coffee brewed” instead of “my coffee dripped.”  So while I am still not perky, at least I am not a drip.  Enough of that brew-ha-ha (see what I did there?).  On with the post.

I will never be this skinny.

Apparently I am not caffeinated enough, because I put that picture then went blank.  This is largely in an effort not to complain about my ongoing physical and mental ills, which I am sure are not that bad, especially in comparison with what others deal with with panache.  I need to get some of that there panache.

Regarding the upcoming three day weekend (and please allow me to be delighted about it; I spent years working holidays), I have plans with my family so will not be able to indulge in any Mohawk Valley Adventures.  Regarding that parenthetical comment, yes, I know, first responders (why is my Chromebook underlining that?), healthcare workers, and other important people work holidays.  I was never that important, but we are not talking about me. Oh wait, yes we are.  It is my blog.

A tribute to those fallen.

I put in a picture appropriate to Memorial Day, before I got bogged down in even more silliness.  This is Herkimer County Veterans Memorial Park, on the Herkimer College campus.  On past Memorial Days and Veterans Days, I have run to this park in tribute.  Sometimes I run by there just because it is a challenging run to go up College Hill and on across the campus.  I am not in shape for that run yet.

Ooh look, I am over 300 words.  I guess I will bill this as a Wuss-out Wednesday and drive on.  I will see if I can come up with something better than a Non-Sequitur Thursday post later (and by “later” of course I mean either later today or early tomorrow morning), but no promises.

 

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But for Some, Coffee IS Happiness

Posted on April 19, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

On the brighter side, I have not made an early morning blog post in a while, have I?  As usual, I am too lazy to go back and check.  Yesterday was a true blogger’s sick day, made hideous by a migraine.  I left work and sought my bed only to find sleep elusive and pain pervasive.  Eventually it went away, leaving me a limp, fairly brainless rag.  Perfect conditions for a Non-Sequitur Thursday post made on Friday morning.  Ooh, that’s right, it is Friday.  We like Friday.

Actually not yet, but I am on my way there, I hope.

In fact, I have not yet had my first cup of coffee, but I think the maker is done making its noises.  Ah, yes that first hot sip…

Random picture for you to enjoy while I sip.

That picture caught my eye because of the yellow flower, but now I see it also includes one of the fingerless gloves I purchased from Herkimer Handknits last summer at Brookwood Market. (what, “fingerless” and “Brookwood” are not words?  My Chromebook underlined them in red.  Also “Herkimer Handknits.  What’s that all about?).  The picture was taken at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort.  So now I have given small shout-outs to three local businesses.  Brookwood Market has not opened yet for the summer, but Fratello’s is, of course, year round, and you can find Herkimer Handknits on Facebook.

Where was I?  Nowhere in particular, I suppose, but did I not say this was a Non-Sequitur Thursday post? And I am over 250 words.  Score!  Back to my hot beverage, and I hope you found this at least mildly entertaining.

I comfort myself with the thought.

Even coffee cannot make everyone happy.  It can be a difficult world, but I feel it is worth the effort.

 

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In Your Easter Bonnet, With All The Frills Upon It…

Posted on March 28, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am a well-known slob.  Since Steven’s death (and even before) it has taken on ungodly proportions.  I share this as an explanation or maybe just an introduction to the picture I took this morning to share in a blog post.

This is the sort of thing I often see in my house.

When I try to get one coffee filter out of the package, two or three often stick together.  I just leave them all outside of the package, knowing I will use them and feeling that it is too much trouble to do otherwise (many things in my life these days feel like too much trouble; that is because of my depression, and I generally strive to do them anyways).  Last night I noticed that the extra filters had landed on this goblet  It is a plastic goblet, suitable for use on the porch or deck.  The flute next to it is plastic as well.  We have had one or two porch-sitting days this spring.

I thought it looked cute, like a bride or a lady wearing an Easter bonnet (seasonal!).  I thought the champagne flute gave the tableau a festive air.  The surrounding spices, coffee tin and what-not, I suppose only clutter up the image, but I must be honest in what I depict.  One could argue that I was too lazy to clean things up.  However, I go with my former reasoning.  I figure, I liked the image because the filter accidentally fell as if the goblet was wearing it.  It would add a layer of artificiality if I were to purposely clean up the surrounding area.  It may be a rationalization, but I like it (thus rationalizing my rationalization).

I see I am approaching 300 words.  Score!  When I first noticed the goblet and filter, I did not take a picture but merely enjoyed it.  It was not till I awoke this morning that I realized it would be an excellent illustration for a Non-Sequitur Thursday Post.

 

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Waste Not Want Not

Posted on March 25, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl
Waste Not Want Not

I thought of that title before writing the post, so I hope the post lives up to it, because, as regular readers know, I often have a problem coming up with titles.  Just to set the stage, it is early Monday morning.  I am ten-finger typing on my Chromebook and finding that coffee is not always the miracle I was hoping for.  Never mind that.  On with the post!

I often take pictures on my Tablet thinking to use them in a blog post then never write the blog post.  A couple of them made their way into my Media Library.  In the spirit of waste not want not (a favorite saying of mine and one I try to live by) (one reason I never throw anything away) (which explains my messy house) (oh dear, getting bogged down in parenthetical comments.  Stop it, me!)  I thought to use them in a post.

Taken on one of my artsy days.

I am truly sorry I never wrote the blog post about this event.  It was an art opening at Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts in Little Falls, NY.  The woman is Yulia Levkovich, artist of the picture titled “After Annigoni.”  The man is Matt Trombley, a friend of the artist and of me. He is a theatre friend; we did Shakespeare together.

It kind of makes me dizzy looking at it.

This is actually not one I took with the intention of using it in a blog post.  In fact, I did not take it on purpose but must have accidentally hit the button while I was taking “after” pictures of Saturday’s shoveling adventure.

I have other unused pictures on my Tablet.  Perhaps I will move them to my Media Library for another Waste Not Want Not post.  And just like that, I have come up with another category for Mohawk Valley Girl. It is a good category for early Monday morning while I am waiting for the coffee to kick in.

 

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