Tag Archives: friends Phyllis and Jim

Phyllis Would Probably Laugh

So… what was I saying Monday about not liking the pressure of making a post early the next morning as opposed to on time?  Well, here I am shortly after 4:30 Wednesday morning, making the post I was too tired to make on Tired Tuesday. I am still tired, and I overslept by 20 minutes.  I dreamed about my late, dearly missed friend, Phyllis, during the oversleep.  I was just thinking yesterday how I dream about my late husband all the time but had never dreamed about Phyllis.  If dead loved ones come to visit you in dreams as some say they do (my schnoodle, Tabby, does it all the time), why would Phyllis not drop in?

A wonderful memory.

Here are Phyllis and I (I am on the left), toasting friendship at Gerber’s 1933 Tavern in Utica, NY.  We were there with our husbands for lunch.  Some of my best memories are getting together with Phyllis and Jim.  They were also members of Ilion Little Theatre.  Jim shone onstage while Phyllis helped out offstage, often acting as prompter. She and I had some good times backstage during Dirty Work at the Crossroads.  At one point during the show (in an added attraction suggested by Jim), Jim was onstage singing, “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”  When he got  to “I’ve a Yankee Doodle sweetheart,” a young actress backstage (she was playing my daughter), would make a grand gesture toward Phyllis.  Phyllis would get a huge smile on her face, acknowledging that it was her.

One of my all-time favorite couples.

And here are Phyllis and JIm, when we met for lunch another time.  It was during COVID, when restaurants were allowed to open with restrictions.  Once again, a wonderful time was had by all.

Look at that, I am over 250 words.  I had no idea what I was going to write about, either last night or this morning.  I guess Phyllis showed up in my dreams to give me a little inspiration.  My late, much loved Aunt Carlyn would say, “This is how God works.”

 

Merely Monday Memories

Feeling in a sentimental, not to say maudlin mood, I thought to make a Monday Memories Post.  For one reason, a fun picture showed up on my Facebook On This Day.

I am the one in green.

This was Much Ado About Nothing,  presented by LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company at the Utica Zoo in 2016.  The picture was shared by my late, dearly missed friend Phyllis.  I think I have a really good picture of her somewhere.

Cheers to friendship!

Here we are the following summer at Gerber’s 1933 Tavern in Utica, NY.  I must make my way back there again.

Three fine gentlemen.

Here are my late, beloved husband Steven, Phyllis’ husband Jim, and our bartender Larry.  Fun times!

I was just wearing those pants yesterday.

Here is one more shot of Much Ado at the Zoo, as we called it in the publicity.  I also played Friar Francis but, alas, have no pictures. Or do I?

 

There I am, not front but center!

This one is also courtesy of Phyllis via Facebook.

Just a note regarding my opening paragraph:  regular readers will understand my quandary.  With my great love for alliteration, it was a little difficult for me to say I was not maudlin.  But maudlin is really not a great way to be.  So we’ll just say Monday Memories and leave it at that.

 

Tired But Patriotic, I Hope

Tired Tuesday on the Fourth of July.

That is all that comes to my mind to type in.  I did not want to make another late post so took my Tablet up to bed with me, trusting that words would follow.  And here I am, one finger typing because I neglected to bring up a stylus and am too lazy to go back downstairs and get one.

I did mention yesterday that I have not given up whining.

That year I had not given up wine.

Here is a picture from July 2021, of the wine I was bringing to a celebration with my friends Phyllis and Jim.  See?  Red, white, and blue.  I can get seasonal on occasion.  Earlier today I ate red, white, and blue with strawberries, blueberries, and Cool Whip.  Yum!

My neighbors seem to be getting into the holiday spirit with firecrackers.  They did so last night as well (at least, it may have been different neighbors; I did not investigate the matter).  They did not keep it up all night, so that was all right.

Brewer, patriot…

I just looked through all the July pictures in my Media Library, and this was the only other patriotic picture I could find.  I had neglected to purchase any Sam Adams beer for the holiday so made do with iced coffee in a Sam Adams glass.  I had a tradition of drinking Sam Adams beer on the Fourth of July for a number of years.  That was before I became such a wine aficionado (I always thought that word should have two f’s you know, like affection).

Ooh, look, I am over 250 words!  Not bad for a Tired Tuesday Post.  Happy Independence Day, everyone!

 

Maybe The Blog Post Should Have Stayed Absent

Yesterday was a true Blogger’s Sick Day.  I even called in sick to work, which I rarely do.  It was a migraine.  You know, one of those headaches where the only thing you can do is Have a Headache. It makes for a long, singularly unproductive day.

Now it is Friday morning, I am sipping coffee, and feeling tremuluosly happy NOT to have a headache.  Who knew the absence of something could feel so good?  Oh wait, I knew it, from previous migraine-free days.

Steve had a Get Out of Jail Free Card.

I threw in a picture to pep things up.  Here is my late husband Steven outside the 1834 Jail on Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners,  which regular readers know is one of my favorite places to walk or run by.

One of my all-time favorite couples.

Since I am apparently doing a Throwback Thursday Post,  here is a shot from July 2017 of our friends Jim and Phyllis at Gerber’s 1933 Tavern.  Phyllis sadly passed away in 2021.  I will never be done missing her, either.  One must treasure the memories.

And here’s all four of us.

What a weird post this is turning into.  I begin being happy my headache is gone and move on to being sad Steve and Phyllis are gone. There is a lesson or profound point in there somewhere, but I have had insufficient coffee to articulate it.  I guess I’ll bill this as a Non-Sequitur Thursday Post and drive on.  I hope to see you all later when I attempt a Lame Post Friday post.

 

More Memories

I said posts were going to be sporadic, but I did mean to make a few.  This morning I noticed that a Facebook friend had commented (I almost always share my posts to Facebook) that she enjoyed seeing the memories and would like to see more.  For anyone just tuning in, I lost my husband, Steve, recently.  I draw great comfort from my memories.

Which one is the silliest?

One of Steve’s great legacies is his humor.  My best memories are of the laughs we shared.  The above was taken at the HALO Hoedown, a fundraiser for the cat rescue operation based in Little Falls, NY.

Cheers!

Steve was also a great partner in my Mohawk Valley Adventures.  Here we are at Woodland Farm Brewery in Marcy.

A fun bunch, indeed.

There he is, in the back with me.  This is a pre-show ussie from Leading Ladies, the show I directed at Ilion Little Theatre.  Steve was such a good actor.  He was a pleasure to work with.

Handsome men!

One more memory:  a memorable lunch at Gerber’s 1933 Tavern in Utica, with our dear friends Phyllis and Jim.  Phyllis left us in 2021 and I will never be done missing her.

Here’s all four of us.

I know there will be more good times with friends and family.  Right now I just have to feel sad until I start to feel a different way.  Thank you for letting me share.

 

Wussed Out and Not Very Way Back

Yikes, look at the time!  As usual, I wussed out on Wednesday and did not make my blog post till now, early Thursday morning.  But not as early as I usually make my blog posts.  Never mind why; explanations are tiresome.  I feel I must confess, moreover, that I do not have my usual excuse for not posting yesterday.  We did not indulge in our usual treat of music and food at Fratello’s in Frankfort, NY.  I was just tired.

One reason I was tired was that I went on a run.  I ran faster than I usually do, especially on a week day.  This, of course, is not nearly as fast as others run, but one does what one can.  Still, since I had just about talked myself out of running at all, I thought I done good.  Unfortunately, it was not a particularly memorable run, making a Running Commentary Post ineligible.

How about a Way-Back Wednesday post instead?  I wonder if I can find something old in my computer downloads, just as something different from my Media Library.

Aren’t they cute?

Here is an oldish picture of our dear friends, Phyllis and Jim, dressed for Halloween.   We lost Phyllis in 2021, and I miss her dearly.   I treasure my memories.

Another great memory.

Here are Phyllis and Jim plus Steve, at Salvatore’s Pizzeria in Herkimer, NY.  Three of my favorite people at one of my favorite places!

So I guess it is not a very far back Wednesday.  A Little Ways Back Wednesday?  However, it does me good to remember my lovely friend Phyllis.  We’ll have to get together with Jim again soon (preview of coming attractions).

In the meantime, I have gotten myself up to nearly 300 words.  Score! If I also have time to eat breakfast, it will not be a bad Thursday morning for me.

 

A 4th of July-ish Post

I am looking at the Snapped 4th of July Marathon on Oxygen and wishing I had some red, white and blue monsters to share, because, you know, Monstrous Monday. I have done nothing blogworthy today, although I suppose I could write about the two mile walk I took this morning. No endorphins were forthcoming.

I spent some time cleaning my house, with a few noticeable results, did a load of laundry, made a salad for the week’s lunches, fixed tomorrow’s lunch. I don’t know why I list all this, except that I find I have pathetically little to say.

A great memory.

I went to my Media Library, hoping to find a picture to pep up the post, and found this gem from July 2017. It is me and my late, greatly missed friend Phyllis, at Gerber’s 1933 Tavern in Utica, NY. I guess that makes this a Monday Memories post. Since the chairs are red and there is blue in my garment (not really sure what to call it) and Phyllis’ jeans, it is vaguely 4th of July-ish. I say it’s at least as Independence Day-y as a true crime show about women who kill.

Who, me? Have a breaking point?

I continue to watch Snapped as I write this, and even took a break to cook and eat some hot dogs. Hot dogs are 4th of July-ish.

Bonita’s boyfriend?

To end on a 4th of July monster, here is a picture I took on July 4, 2021, at Phyllis and Jim’s house. I think I have covered all the bases now: monsters, memories, 4th of July, and I am over 250 words. I say not bad for a Monday holiday post.

Two Skeletons and a Glass of Wine

Monday through Friday workers know: sometimes the best you can hope for on a Monday is to Just Get Through It. Workers of other schedules know that feeling applies on other days as well. Oh, I know, I have very little to complain about. Why should I let that stop me? It seems to not slow others down. Never mind, let’s just get on with the blog post.

A handsome couple indeed.

This is our skeleton Bonita with her friend Bonaparte. She is wearing her last summer’s outfit. We have yet to dress her in this summer’s togs (Preview of Coming Attractions), but I am sure she will look equally alluring. At least Bonaparte will look equally as admiring.

He would probably like to meet Bonita.

I took a picture of this handsome fellow last Fourth of July, when my friend Kim and I visited our good friends Phyllis and Jim. Phyllis passed away the following August, and I still feel the shock of grief when I remember she is gone.

Full Disclosure: I already drank the wine.

Having interjected that sad note into my post, I feel free to point out that sometimes, for some of us, a glass of wine is a beautiful thing. I certainly enjoyed many glasses with Phyllis.

So I guess this is my Monstrous Monday Post: a couple of skeletons and a sad note. But I also smile when I remember my friend Phyllis. That makes this a not bad Monday. Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

Winesday for Mohawk Valley Girl

The duck says, have a glass of wine!

Is it really Wednesday?  My week is dragging by so slowly, I was afraid we would be stuck for a few days on Tuesday.  However, I thought I might try something new:  a Winesday Post.  Full disclosure:  I am enjoying a glass.  Judge me if you are so inclined.

See? A nice small glass!

I add a picture of the glass I am using, because it is from a local business, Prospect Falls Winery.  I LOVE Prospect Falls Winery!   I must get there again soon.  As I type that, I realize there are a lot of places I want to go to soon.  I need more Mohawk Valley Adventures!

Two of my favorite people!

These are our friends Phyllis and Jim.  The wine often flows when we get together, at least for Phyllis and me!  It is not just places I want to visit again, it’s people!

Another person, another place!

Here is my friend Kim at Heelpath Brewing Company in Frankfort,  NY, drinking wine from Rustic Ridge Winery in Burlington Flats.

Same place, different wine.

And here I am, along with Jeff, the proprietor.  I am drinking Untamed Red, from Rustic Ridge.  Kim’s is Sweet Little Blond, appropriately enough.

I think Winesday is a pretty good day, and I hope it makes a reasonably entertaining blog post.

 

Maybe Not Balanced, But a Good Lunch

Steven and I just had a delightful lunch with our friends, Phyllis and Jim.  Was wine involved?  Could be!

A truly delightful couple.

We met at Applebee’s in Herkimer, NY.  In general, Mohawk Valley Girl prefers to stick to locally owned businesses.  On the other hand, local people work at Applebee’s.  Why should I not support them?  Oh well, right or wrong thing to do, we met at Applebee’s.

Jim in a mask.

Naturally we wore masks on our way to the table.  I was intrigued by Phyllis and Jim’s masks.  They told me they  were their granddaughters’  artwork and had come from a website called artsonia.com.  I do not put it in as a link, because I have not yet checked it out myself.  That may have something to do with the second or third glass of Cabernet Sauvopignon, but let us not worry about such things now.

Applebee’ s was concerned with social distancing, with some booths blocked off.  This is always good to see.

We did not sit there,.

We talked about the problems of businesses reopening.  Were our facemasks enough to stop the spread of COVID-19?  We can only so the best we can do.  Phyllis observed that if we cannot have time with the people we love, we do not have anything.  I had to agree.

Other bloggers can make these mirror selfies work! Me, not so much.

When we got back home it was still pretty warm.  I put on a shirt Jim had given me.  I felt the snowman motif was appropriate for our current situation.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable lunch.  I agree with Phyllis: we need time with those we love most!  Let us strive to maintain a balance from our own mental health and the physical health of all!