Tag Archives: depression

It Snow Joke that I’m Tired

I did not make my Tired Tuesday post yesterday, because I was, you guessed it, tired.  I actually did less Tuesday than I did on Monday.  Monday I cleared my driveway twice.  By “cleared my driveway” I mean I took off the top layer of fluffy stuff and cleared the plow pile-up as best I could.  Also I did a shovel-width on my front walk, in consideration of pedestrians, who usually end up walking in the road anyways, but I can’t help that.

For anybody not in the area, I just mention in passing that the Mohawk Valley has been pummeled with snow and ice since… I was about to say Saturday, but it got bad before Saturday.  Things were also bad on Thursday, because my rehearsal was cancelled (regular readers may remember I am in a play at Ilion Little Theatre), but I can’t remember other than that.  Listen to me whine.  I’m in a house with power, sipping hot tea while my furnace works away, and I don’t have to go to work.  Let’s count our blessings, shall we?

This was in March 2017, but you get the picture.

I throw in a picture to pep things up.  My deck actually looks different now, because I did not put the things on it away in the fall.  In my defense, my life fall apart in 2023 and I have not yet picked up all the pieces.  The ones I do pick up, I keep dropping.   I do not mean this as more whining; only, I try to cut myself a break sometimes instead of beating myself up, which has ever been my habit.

On the other hand, some might argue I deserve, maybe not a beating, but perhaps a stern talking to sometimes.  For example, Monday and yesterday I toiled mightily trying to get the ice off my front steps, at least for a wide enough space for me and the mailman to get up and down safely.  In my head I kept saying, “2005, Cindy.  You’ve had since 2005!”  2005 was when we moved in and had the porch roof replaced.  Steven and I are (were) big porch sitters.  The roof fellow did not put the gutter back.  I felt sure we could do it.  Perhaps we could have.  Perhaps I still can.  These thoughts did me no good as I managed to clear some for the ice.

I was relieved there was no mail on Monday.  Tuesday when I heard the mailman, I stuck my head out the door, quickly remembered I was in slippers and the porch was covered in snow, craned my neck around the door and asked were the steps OK and assured the mailman I tried, I tried!  He said I did great and it was a losing battle.  I thought that was very nice of him, because I really had not cleared all that wide a space, and his feet are bigger than mine.

Somebody got some fun out of the snow!

I close with a jolly picture, to give us cheerful thoughts.  It has not been warm enough for snowman building, and the wind chill has been prohibitive, but weather changes eventually.  If I manage to build a snowman, I will certainly write a blog post about it.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

Will Making a Blog Post Help?

I am just going to admit it:  my depression is reaching epic proportions, and I must try to do more to combat it.  I took a walk of a full mile yesterday.  Exercise is a potent and often under-used anti-depressant.  I try to walk every day and have been managing to take at least short walks.  One can find other things to help (one being me, as usual).  I have read that doing virtually anything can relieve depression, and I have found that sometimes that works.  Not always, but often.

Tuesday has been a problematic day for me this month.

This by means of introduction to another Tired Tuesday post.  Writing has often worked as an anti-depressant for me.  Yesterday I finished a letter to a friend and walked with it to the post office (part of my mile).  By the end of the walk, I was feeling not too bad.  Oh dear, as I type this I begin fear today’s post qualifies for Truman Capote’s snide remark, “That’s not writing, that’s typing.”  Then again, I can’t worry about dead critics.

Random picture to make the post more interesting.

Once again I throw in a picture to pep up the post.  It is Vincent Price in House of Wax, rather a fun old horror movie.  I wonder if there is a stage version of it.  Or at least a play about a wax museum where the figures come alive and terrorize the other actors and the audience.  Perhaps I should write one.  That  would have to be more than mere typing.

In any case, I am over 250 words.  After missing two days (why do I feel the need to call attention to my failings?), I say OK.  I am off to do more to combat my depression!

 

The Skull in the Snow

Alas, I failed to post yesterday.  Today is Lame Post Friday, which I think I can manage.  I sometimes have to ask myself, “What the hell, me?”  However, I really do not intend this blog as a means of therapy, where I air all my mental and physical ailments and hope by talking, talking, talking about them to find solutions.  I fear sometimes it becomes such a means, posting as I usually do off the cuff.  Never mind all that.  What I have to offer today as means of entertainment are a few silly pictures.

I did not clean my deck off.  Oh dear, is that my finger on the bottom?

We got some more snow last night.  Not a vast amount, but I thought it was just as well to push off the top layer.  In any case, I had to brush off my car if I wanted to go to the grocery store, which I did.  As it turned out, it was not a deep layer and it was quite fluffy.  My chore was not onerous.  As I was putting my shovel away behind the house, I noticed a skull in the snow on the deck.  It amused me so much, I went and got my phone to take a picture.

It’s funny that skulls often look kind of cheerful.

I walked up onto the deck to take a closer shot.  I suppose I should have shoveled the snow off the deck, but I can only do so much.  Perhaps in the weeks to come I can make a greater effort.

Now he looks like he’s resting peacefully.

I took one more shot, because I liked the angle.  I’m afraid this isn’t much of a post, but it will have to do for Lame Post Friday.

 

Historical Society to the Rescue!

Fine daily blogger I am.  I missed three days.  At first I put “several” but then I counted.  Three is more like a few. I don’t make the rules.

I think Santa likes me anyways. He’s not a big reader of blogs, so I hear.

I threw in a photo right away.  This is Santa Claus, who was at the Herkimer County Historical Society last Saturday.  They were also selling cookies.  Yum!  I was in a perfectly dreadful mood and had been for some days.  I did not know what to do, but I wanted to support the Society, so I walked over.  The volunteers gave me a warm welcome (they know me from the murder mysteries) and invited me to hang out with them for as long as I wanted to.  Of course I did and had a wonderful time.

I wish the picture was a little clearer.

The Suiter House was beautifully decorated.  Of course I took a few pictures.

I don’t know who the lady in the portrait is.

We talked about Christmas villages, and how they tend to grow, sometimes out of control.  I thought the one on their mantle was just right.

No, I did not sit on his lap!

I did not tell Santa what I wanted for Christmas, because quite frankly, I have been bad all year and do not expect any presents, although I know Santa is something of a pushover, so I might in fact get something (that is not a run-on sentence, although I suppose a period might not have come amiss).

I felt very Christmasy and happy after my visit to the historical society.  I hope to volunteer there in the new year, to a greater extent than putting on the murder mystery.  That would probably make for some good blog posts.

The Herkimer County Historical Society is located at 400 and 406 Main St., Herkimer, NY.  You can visit their website at www.herkimercountyhistory.org

 

Make Tea and a Blog Post and Call Me in the Morning

It seems I last posted early Thursday morning.  It is now mid-afternoon on Monday, and I could use a cup of coffee.  Or something.

Pause while I acquire a caffeinated beverage.

I made tea, but I found the Dyn’s Cider Mill mug.  I thought I could just about manage a Monstrous Monday post and perhaps get into some better blog posts as the week wears on.  I am feeling exceptionally useless lately.  I suppose the solution to that is to do something useful as say, “There!  What about that!”  Well, I did a load of laundry earlier and tried to clean out a tote in which I had thrown a ridiculous collection of things.  Perhaps tea and a blog post will revive me.

Some chicks don’t dig skinny guys.

Here is a shot from House on Haunted Hill, which I re-watched recently. It is a perennial favorite.  I refer, of course, to the original, produced by William Castle and starring Vincent Price.

“Hang a shining star upon the highest bought!”

I thought I would throw in a more seasonal monster with the Abominable Snowman, affectionately known as Bumbles, from Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  I though he had lost all his teeth by the time he wanted to put the star on top of the tree.  Just another continuity gaffe.

OK, he can call me a ho.

And another seasonal monster.  I need to find a Santa hat to put on Elliott Ghoul, who stands in my dining room window.  I put one on the Ghost that acts as a living room light.

Perhaps over the next few days I will complete my meager Christmas decorations and take some pictures for the blog.  I know some regular readers are interested to see Bonita’s Yuletide garb.

 

Post Thanksgiving Tired

And now welcome to a late Tired Tuesday post, or perhaps it will be a Tiresome Tuesday post.  We shall see.  In a previous post I said that other people’s problems are tiresome. What I really meant was MY problems are tiresome, and I try not to burden others with them, with little notable success.  I don’t mind listening to other people’s problems, up to a point.  I even try to refrain from offering advice, again with little notable success.  Advice is even more tiresome to listen to than problems, but few of us can refrain from offering it.

All that said, I go on to tell you that my depression is kicking my butt.  Holidays are especially difficult.  On top of missing my husband with an ache that will never go away, there is the overwhelming feeling of, “It is a Holiday!  You MUST be happy!” Indeed, I was greatly looking forward to Thanksgiving and seeing my family.  And I did enjoy myself.  I rarely feel dreadfully down all day long, so I have that going for me.

My attempt at culinary artistry.

I thought I should throw in a picture to lighten things up.  Yes, I had fun at Thanksgiving.  I love my family.

I forgot where I was going with this post, but I see I am over 200 words.  We’ll just call it another placeholder post, and I will try for something other than a Wuss-out Wednesday post, on time or late.  Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

I Try to Run Away from Depression

I went for a run this morning and thought to do a Running Commentary Post.  Full disclosure:  I was trying to run away from the depression that threatens to overwhelm me. In the immortal words of Young Frankenstein:  It! Could! Work!  (If you do not get the reference, I encourage you to seek out Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein) (I would really like to insert a picture of Gene Wilder, which I know is somewhere in my Media Library, but I do not feel up to searching for it)

I set out before breakfast but after coffee.  My legs were almost immediately shrieking at me, “We didn’t sign up for this!”  I reminded them that they did too sign up for it (at least, I signed them up which is practically the same thing), that they had run for 30 minutes two days ago and walked for longer than that yesterday.  To no avail.  They impersonated overcooked macaroni for the entire run.  However, if nothing else, I know how to persevere.  To an extent.

I couldn’t blame him for taking a good look.

It was soon clear this was not going to be a 30 minute run.  However, I encouraged myself to at least make it a mile.  Maybe even 20 minutes.  All I wanted was to sit down.  I ran through Meyers Park, wondering if I shouldn’t just go home from there.  I have a picture of Meyers Park in my Media Library, I thought.  It will look good in the blog post.  Then I thought I could run past the post office and up to my beloved Herkimer Historical Four Corners.

Oh, my body did not want to! But through persuasion and stubbornness, I kept going.  I thought of cutting through parking lots in back of my four corners, to make a shorter run, but then I thought, No!  Run by the 1834 Jail and let Chester Gilette take a good look!  After some internal debate, Chester won.  I didn’t even cut a small corner and run over the memorial bricks which help finance jail restoration (note to self:  I must sponsor a brick in honor of my late husband, Steve).

So the run was just over 20 minutes, about a mile and a third.  Chester was the only picture I could readily find in my Media Library, so my blog post only has one illustration.  However, I see I am approaching 400 words.  It is much easier to type than to run, but then, I only have two legs but I have ten fingers.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

Trying to Cope with First World Problems

Here I am, still on my Tablet, and YES I an grateful to at least have that.  It is under the heading First World Problems.  I will just go ahead and admit I am in a bad headspace right now.  After some more coffee and making some semblance of a blog post, I will try to do something about it.

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

Another problem with the Tablet (YES, a First World Problem! Sheesh!) is it likes to jump around, making it very difficult to add categories and tags.  Yesterday I gave up on them, but that was just a placeholder post anyways.  Today I am going for a combination Mid-Week Monsters and Tired Tuesday Post, made on Wednesday morning, and not so early either.  I was up late last night.

I may be as toothless one day.

Since I started out with non-movie monster’s, I continue with some scary neighborhood pumpkins which I have shared before.  I have not gotten a pumpkin yet this year.  Will I make the drive to Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit today, Halloween Eve?  Maybe, but I have much to get done today.  Will I do it all? Unlikely.   Will I do any of it?  One can hope.

In any case, I am over 200 words.  I will see if I can use my phone to add title, categories,  and tags. You see, I don’t just whine about my problems.  Sometimes I try to do something about them.

 

Frankenstein, Can You Help Me Now?

According to my calculations, I remain a post behind while still posting every day.  Quite frankly, I am tired of calculating and tired of beginning each post with an apology for being late.  I suspect it becomes tiresome for my readers too.  So let’s just say, I skipped Saturday’s post, yesterday was Sunday’s post, and today is Monday.  For one reason, about all I am up to right now is a Monstrous Monday Post.

I just spent a goodly amount of time looking for a picture I saw on Facebook this morning only to realize once I found it that I still do not know how to download a picture on my Chromebook.  I am so technologically inept.  I guess it’s back to the Media Library for me.

He looks about as brain dead as I feel.

Who doesn’t love Frankenstein’s monster?  I suppose some terrorized villagers, and little Marie’s parents.  The actress who played little Marie, by the way, loved Boris Karloff, and he was very sweet to her.  I love stories like that.

Yes, I am a monster.

I go in a different direction by including this picture of my shadow I took last October.  I believe I was in a parking lot going towards a Halloween party.  No parties for me this year, I’m afraid.  I am still on the fence about purchasing candy and greeting trick or treaters.

“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”

Here is a graphic depiction of my current mood.  Oh, please, nobody try tough love on me and tell me to quit whining and Do Something.  I KNOW the benefits of activity and realize motivation usually follows action.  I have a whole list in my head of things to do.  I hope to commit it to paper and begin to actually do the things.

Don’t yank my chain!

I end with Frankenstein’s monster.  I am not sure what he is doing in this picture, but let’s pretend he is pulling a chord that will release a floodgate of ambition and motivation for me.  I’ll get to work!  I’ll put up more decorations!  I’ll have Mohawk Valley Adventures!  I’ll write blog posts about them!  Do you believe me, or do you suppose it is all a monstrous lie?

 

Am I Becoming Tiresome?

I sit here trying to make my Tired Tuesday blog post a day late (what else is new?) and I ain’t got much.  I guess I need to get out more. I got out of Herkimer, NY yesterday (where I live) and went as far as Utica.  I wished once again that I knew how to parallel park.  Fortunately, I do not wish that very often.  Then I found a parking lot with plenty of space only a short walk from my destination.  I don’t know why I share all this, except it is pretty much the only thing I did all day.

Today I hope to have a couple of Mohawk Valley Adventures, although it is not on my To Do List.  “Tuesday’s blog post” is on my To Do List, by the way.

Look at them all!

I threw in a picture, because I thought I was being boring.  This is Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit, one of my favorite fall destinations.  I should go there soon and pick up more fall decor.  I could get a pumpkin, which I can later smash and leave in the yard for critters’ enjoyment.  That way I do not have to find a place to put Yet More Stuff in my house.

I am afraid I must admit (then again, being afraid is seasonal, is it not?)  that my depression is kicking my butt these days.  I know one cure, or at least help, is exercise.  I went running yesterday and mean to do that or at least walk today.  Another help is to Just Do Anything.  Seriously, I read it somewhere:  doing almost anything might relieve depression.  It might not, of course, but at least I will have gotten something done.

Lately when I have a conversation with someone, at some point I stop and say, “Talk about myself, talk about myself, talk about myself,” because that is what I seem to be doing.  And here I am doing the same thing in my blog.  Then again, it is a personal blog.  Does that make it OK?  Discuss amongst yourselves.