Tag Archives: community events

More Doodah Dithering

No, I could not think of another “d” word for my alliterative title.  Anyways, this is a fine Non-Sequitur Thursday post when my headline reflects what the post is actually about.  I’d better throw in a picture of a monster.

I’m glad I don’t have to fit him for a pair of glasses.

I was going to go for Nosferatu, since he is my favorite, but then I saw this fellow looking just about as flustered as I feel.  He is from The Brain that Wouldn’t Die.  For the uninitiated, he does not posses the titular brain. In fact, we never see him till near the end of the flick, an excellent technique in a monster movie.

Now I’ve gotten right off the subject of the Doodah Parade, but just to bring you up to date:  I decided not to participate after all.  My lame excuses (how embarrassing to be lame before Lame Post Friday!):  I don’t have time to get a costume together, I’ve gone back on overtime so 10-hour day on Friday and possible early shift Saturday, I have a doctor appointment Friday afternoon which may last inconveniently late.

Of course as soon as I messaged my friend Kim, who is in charge of our float, begging off, I began to feel guilty and regretful.  After my shower, I tried on the fancy dress I thought might make a good costume.  It’s a little tight but would do in a pinch. I started thinking of other possibilities.

I cast a spell on you!

This, regular readers (if any) may recall, was my Wizard for the March of Dimes costume.  It’s awfully dark colored.  I wonder how hot it would be.

I am NOT saying, “To be or not to be.”

I’m the one on the left, in the yellow tights.  That would be a cool-looking but hot-feeling costume. Anyways, I don’t have all the parts in my possession, as some were borrowed from the LiFT collection.

Do you suppose he’s watching a parade?

I threw in the picture of Nosferatu just to mix things up a little.  I think monsters make a blog post fun.

I’m third from the right, in blue and maroon.

One final thought: I wore this ensemble for a murder mystery.  I think the blue throw is striking.  I could wear it with shorter pants in the hot weather.

So I’m thinking IF my doctor appointment gets done in time, and IF I’m not too tired from getting up at 3 a.m. and working in the heat, MAYBE I will get home, shower fast, put on something costumey, and join the parade.  But no promises.

 

Can Hercule Poirot Solve My Doodah Dilemma?

It is Wednesday, isn’t it?  It’s that day when you want to be happy that there is only one more day between you and Friday (if you are fortunate enough to have weekends off, which I do and I am grateful for) (don’t hate me if you don’t), only you’re not, because you just realized you ARE going to do a theatre thing on Friday that you thought you were not going to do, so you only have one day to get a costume together.

Yes, it’s always drama with me.  It’s not even a real theatre-y thing I have to do: merely, Ilion Little Theatre is marching in the Doodah Parade as part of Ilion Days on Friday, July 20.  I don’t even have to march: my friend Kim said I could ride in the truck.  I don’t even have to wear a costume.  I could wear my t-shirt from Roxy, a play I was in a few years ago (perhaps you read some of my blog posts about it).  However, I am the sort of person that when I CAN wear a costume, I DO.

What to wear, what to wear, what to wear?  Something bold enough to show up as a costume from the truck, but something light enough to not kill me in 88-degree weather.  Maybe a hat.  Maybe an umbrella.  I’d like to wear my tiara, but I don’t have a fancy dress.  I have one day to get to a thrift store!  How do I get myself into these things!

In the meantime, I just spent some two hours sitting crocheting and watching Murder on the Orient Express (1974) with my husband, Steven.  I can’t even begin to tell you how delighted I was that I could work on an afghan in comfort, in between hot flashes, even if I had to have the fan on me to do it.  At least I can pep up my Wuss-out Wednesday post with a picture.

Hercule Poirot tells them what’s what.

This was the first star-studded Agatha Christie romp Steven and I enjoyed together, back in the 1990’s.  He had seen it in the theatre when it came out in 1974.  We need to see the newer Kenneth Branagh version.  Perhaps I’ll write a blog post about it when we do, although I usually write about older movies, preferably the cheesy sort.

In the meantime, I see I am close to 400 words.  That’s respectable for a blog post, especially on Wuss-out Wednesday.  Anyways, now that the movie is over, I have to get back to having my panic attack over what I’m going to wear to the Doodah Parade.

 

I Scatter It Good!

It is the moment of my Saturday when I pause in my gyrations for a Scattered Saturday post before returning to the bra off, sweats on, wine drinking, TV-watching, husband hanging out with portion of my evening.  And I have scattered it pretty good today!

I did not leave the house till shortly after 10 a.m., when Steven headed out to work. I went to a rummage sale at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Ilion, NY.  It was $1 for three bags day.  Woo-hoo!  I only got two bags worth of stuff but felt I had gotten way more than $1 worth of goods.  Back home, I wrote one more post card (I had written four earlier) and walked to the post office.  I took the long way home, making for a half hour walk.  Remember, if you are too busy to exercise, you are too busy!

After contacting my friend, Kim, via Facebook, and making plans for her to come over, I spent almost a half hour frantically cleaning my living room and bathroom.  There is nothing like somebody coming over to motivate one for housework.  Did I make much progress?  Well, let’s just say that, luckily, Kim is not one to judge.  It was about 12:30 when she came over, which we deemed a good time for a mimosa.  For one reason, I had a bottle of Prosecco which I purchased yesterday when we went to the tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor.

Our first stop was at an estate sale I had noticed while on my walk.  The main thing I like about estate sales is walking through somebody’s house.  This was a really nice house!  Other than that, I find a lot of the stuff is priced higher than I want to spend and some of it is downright depressing.  For example, family photos.  Didn’t these people leave behind any family or friends who would want these pictures?  Perhaps I am over sensitive about these things.

Next we headed to Ilion to search for costumes for Spring Into Murder (you know, the murder mystery we are doing next Saturday at Morning Star Methodist Church in Ilion?  Perhaps I will write a blog post about it tomorrow).  First Kim pointed out a shirt she said would be perfect for me for any time.  After trying it on, I had to agree.  She found a gown we liked for her character for the mystery, then I found a shirt I liked for mine (I already have the purple pants).  Then it was on to New 2 Your Consignments, where we almost always have good luck.  And there were the perfect shoes for my character!  I also found a black tux shirt with rhinestones that I totally fell in love with.  Kim found  bunch of stuff as well.

By now we had worked up quite an appetite so went next door to Franco’s Pizza.  I had never been there before.  What a cool place!  Good food and retro ’50’s decor!  I’ll have to write a full blog post about it.  I even took some leftovers home which will be great for my lunch on Monday. Back home, we had another mimosa before Kim headed out.  What a great day!  I even had time for a nap before I had to start supper for Steven.

I have some great plans for tomorrow, too, including rehearsal for Spring Into Murder and Adventures in Housecleaning.  No, the second one is not another play, it is me cleaning my house. I thought if I put it in all caps I could generate a little enthusiasm in myself. I’ll report if it worked when I make my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I hope your  weekend is turning out as fun as mine.

 

That Elusive Fabulous Outfit

I think I mentioned that part of my Scattered Saturday yesterday was spent searching for a fabulous outfit to wear as Philomena Billingsford, wealthy philanthropist, in Secrets at Suiter House, the murder mystery soon to be presented as a fundraiser for the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I was unsuccessful, but I have time. What I have less time for, though, is to come up with something to wear TODAY!

We are going to an event as soon as Steven gets home from work.  I am getting a little worried, though, because our friend, Kim, who was supposed to drive, has not gotten back to me.  Of course it is no problem to drive or even walk there ourselves, but these things are far more fun with a friend.  As soon as I figure out what to wear.

The event in question is St. Anthony Crusader’s Annual Wine Tasting.  Hobby and professional wine makers offer samples of their wares, which will also be adjudicated by professional judges.  It runs from 1 to 3:30 p.m. today at the Herkimer, NY, VFW, I add in case I hit Publish and anybody reads this in time to go.  It should be a lot of fun; it has been in past years.

Cost is $10.  There are also prizes and raffles.  We did not win anything last year, but I won a beautiful necklace and earrings donated by Weisser’s Jewelers one year.  Ooh, maybe that should make up part of my fabulous outfit.

Anyways, this is my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  After all, what could be more swoon-worthy than having nothing to wear to a fun event coming up in — just over an hour!  Yikes!  Gotta go!

 

Blame the Wine, Not the Fish

What could be lamer than making my Friday Lame Post on Saturday morning?  Sorry, folks.  I’m going to blame the full pours of wine at the Ilion Elks Lodge.  Steven and I went there for Fish Fry.  We went into the bar to get a glass of white wine to go with it.  The nice bartender filled those glasses to the brim!  And we had two apiece.  I came home and fell asleep on the couch.  In my defense… no, there is no defense.  I drank wine and fell asleep. I might as well cop to it.

We enjoyed a really delicious fish dinner.  I had broiled haddock with rice and Steven had broiled scallops with french fries. Both dinners came with cole slaw.  I wanted a baked potato, but they were out.  I told Steven that meant we must eat there on a subsequent Friday.   I guess I could just bake my own potato at home, but what fun is that?  For one reason, I can’t broil any fish to go with it.  I’ve never used the broiler in my oven.  I don’t even know if it works (ooh, that could be a future blog post: cooking on the broiler).

I am putting the finishing touches on Secrets at Suiter House, as we begin rehearsals tomorrow.  Perhaps I will write a blog post about it, without giving away any secrets, of course.

Ilion Elks Lodge is located at 8 West St., Ilion NY.  They serve their Fish Fry on Fridays during Lent.  For more information, you can call them at 315-894-1444.

 

Feeling Like a…

Tired Tuesday apparently has nothing on Wuss-out Wednesday.  I just napped on the couch while waiting for my husband, Steven, to get home.  Now I’m ready for bed.  Well, I won’t go to bed; I will make my blog post.  Maybe I should take a walk to wake myself up.  Maybe my husband would walk with me.  Then he could say…

See what I did there?

Full disclosure:  I don’t know anything about this movie.  I the poster on Facebook when I was trying to psyche myself up to make my post and said, “Heeey!”  I’ve talked about zombies in this space before.  However, I am too zombified myself right now to compose a learned essay, comparing and contrasting the historical etc.  But I can post a few pictures and type a little nonsense.  Let’s go with that.

I don’t think I could be the sort of zombie that runs. I’m more of the gruesome lumbering sort.

It’s a little late to plug something that is happening tomorrow, but this is being held in Little Falls, NY, Oct. 19, as part of the Oktoberfest 3rd Thursday celebration.  Perhaps next year I could participate.  I’ll write a blog post about it if I do.   For more information about it, you can visit the Facebook event.

Several events are happening in that Oktoberfest.  As I often say, Little Falls has got it going on.  Full disclosure:  I will probably not participate in any of the events.  However, if you are not reading this too late, and you live close enough and are so inclined, I encourage you to check it out.  They also have a Facebook event.

I guess he’s more of a ghoul than a zombie, but I’m no expert on these things.

I wanted to include three pictures, so I found this one in my Media Library.  I did not remember using it before, but isn’t it cool?  I love Halloween.  Happy Wednesday, everyone.

 

Speaking of Blog Posts

I ponder another post before scooting off to rehearsal for A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, the murder mystery we are doing this Saturday for the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I shall not add more information about that, though, because I believe they are sold out (Yay!).  That morning (Oct. 14, by the way), I am registered to run in the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K.  I bet there are spaces available for that fun event, so come join me if you’re into it.

It is what to do in between the two events that concerns me.  I have so many choices!

Earlier this week, I wrote about The Old Barn Marketplace in Little Falls, a very fun place to browse.  Well, this Saturday they are having a Grand Opening and Fall Festival.  There will be food, music, raffles and more, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Ingham Mills Farm will be onsite with their alpacas.  I love alpacas!  They are so soft and beautiful.

And speaking of Grand Openings, there is also one at Prima Donna’s Boutique, a new business I have yet to write about but mean to soon.  It is a gift shop with jewelry, art, vintage clothing and more.  I stopped in last Saturday and was charmed.  Their Grand Opening starts at 10:30 a.m.  The boutique is located at 411 Canal Place, Little Fall.

And speaking of Canal Place, while I’m in Little Falls, I could stop by Rochette, a curated hive (I got that phrase from their business card) located where The Mustard Seed used to be at 410 Canal Place.  That is another place I need to write more about.  So many blog posts!  So little brain!

So I guess this post is more of a Preview of Coming Attractions than anything else.  However, for Wuss-out Wednesday, we’ll call it a win.

 

Scattered Saturday with No Vampires

Isn’t that an eye-catching title?  I just this minute thought of it, before I even wrote the post. I know, I know, as Truman Capote said, “That’s not writing, that’s typing.”  These days it seems I just sit at my computer, put my fingers on the keyboard and publish whatever spills out.  That is because I am a silly blogger not a Serious Writer.  But that is not what I meant to post about today.  I meant to give a brief overview of my activities for the day, then go back to enjoying my Saturday evening.  So here goes.

My dear husband, Steven, was ill yesterday.  I woke up this morning fearing I was ailing with the same.  Nevertheless, after ingesting some necessary coffee, I went running.  I had it in my head to make a Saturday Running Commentary post.  Remember when that was a thing?  Well, it may be again one weekend, but not today.  I spent most of the run feeling tired and wanting to stop.  However, I persevered. I’ve learned to do that when running, anyways.

Back home I thought I would write a few postcards, as I like to do on a Saturday morning.  I could walk to the post office once the window was open and purchase some postcard stamps, which naturally one runs out of when one make a habit of sending postcards every week, as I do.  Unfortunately, once I sat down with the postcards, I was hit with a wave of dizziness.  That was unpleasant.  I decided to go purchase the stamps when Steven left for work and write the postcards later today or Sunday morning.

Just before Steven left for work, the phone rang.  My friend Kim wanted me to go to the  Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival   in Little Falls.  Me, say no to garlic?  Or a festival in Little Falls? In fact, long time readers may remember that I have attended this festival every year for some time now (I believe I have written a few blog posts about it).  Yes, I felt dizzy.  So what?  Between my allergies and migraines, I rarely feel 100 percent.  If I can force myself to get through work when ill, I can damn well do something fun with a friend under similar conditions.

And it turned out I felt better when out in the fresh air.  Kim stopped by the post office with me, so I did get my stamps.  We had a great time at the Garlic Festival, and I purchased a bundle of garlic stalks, which I hung over the doorway where the vampire hangs (see picture on yesterday’s post for the vampire).  I’m not trying to antagonize the fellow; it was the only nail already stuck in my wall that was the proper height.  Maybe tomorrow I will post a picture, and do a proper blog post on the festival.

Leaving the festival, we went to The Old Barn Marketplace and Little Falls Cafe, at 6626 State Rt. 5.  What a great place!  I will for sure write more about that!

I have not done a whole lot since I got home, but I believe the movie-watching portion of my Saturday has arrived.  I’m thinking a viewing of Dracula is in order.   Having spent a good portion of the day sampling garlic and eventually purchasing a nice bunch, I do not think I will have anything to fear of vampires for a while.  Then again, I did say to the vendor who sold me the garlic that I was going to write a story about a vampire who loved garlic, just so that none of us could feel safe.

Happy Saturday, everybody!

 

It Ain’t Over Till… Well, Friday

I bet you thought I was going to say it ain’t over till I sing.  Indeed, when I sing, it is over.  It is almost like my super power: the ability to clear the room and/or induce snide remarks.  But never mind my waistline and singing abilities:  we’re here to talk about The Tempest!  Did you think All Tempest All The Time was over?  Oh, you poor misguided blog reader, you.  More astute readers will remember we have one more performance, at the Herkimer Elks Lodge this Friday, Sept. 1, with a spaghetti dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Thespians in their natural habitat.

I shared this picture before, but I think it is a good one.  It is our “in character” shot taken after the performance at the Utica Zoo Saturday before last.

Yes, we look pretty, but not nearly as much fun.

We took this picture just before the other one, with us all smiling nicely.  I smiled nicely in both shots, because, well, that’s my character.

Yes, I’m the maniacal-looking one in the yellow tights.

I hesitated to share this one, because I think I look pretty ridiculous, but then, that’s what makes it entertaining, no?  It is the very end of the play.  Everything ends so happily that my character gets a little carried away.  After this performance, the actor who plays Alonso (that’s the guy with is hands clasped, apparently wondering if he should send for the King’s Physician) (they didn’t have the men in the white coats in Shakespeare’s day) said he hoped there were no audience members who kept kosher, because of all the ham onstage.

“Are you referring to me?”  I asked.  “I’m only a little ham.  I’m a Hamlet.”

I was pretty proud of myself for that one.

For more information on The Tempest dinner theatre at the Herkimer Elks Lodge, call 315-866-1439.

 

Post Parade Post

So I waited till after the Doodah Parade to make my blog post and I don’t know why I did, because once again, I got nuthin’.  I didn’t even march in the Doodah Parade!  I rode in the truck.  Nobody else did.  They all marched, approaching onlookers to hand out cards with the Ilion Little  Theatre season printed on, pens stamped “Ilion Little Theatre”, and candy.

They were not allowed to throw the candy, by the way.  Apparently that has gotten out of hand, with children running into the street in an unsafe manner, seeking candy that did not get thrown far enough.  Considering the amount of candy I stepped on marching in last year’s parade, I think this was a good call.

Most of Ilion Little Theatre’s marchers this year were members of Young Actors’ Workshop (YAW).  I must say, I was impressed with the way those kids were handing out pens and cards.  Also, they looked cute.  Some had on YAW t-shirts but others were in costume.  I complimented the ones in costume, because I think that sort of thing ought to be encouraged.

Alas, I did not take any pictures of the parade.  We took a pre-parade photo, which was shared on Facebook.  Oh, I probably ought to try to find that and include in this post, oughtn’t I?

I’m the one underneath the umbrella.

You can’t read my sign, but it read, “Dorothea Doodah.”  That is the character I invented for the costume I finally came up with.  Alas, nobody got a picture of the full costume. But I had a fun time at the parade and now I have to get on with the rest of my weekend.  Happy Friday, everyone.