Tag Archives: herkimer county historical society

We’ll Pretend It’s Still Friday

Posted on December 30, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

OK, so I did not make my Lame Post Friday post on Friday.  Judge me if you are so inclined.  In the interests of sharing good news, I am ten-finger typing on my new Chromebook, which seems suspiciously like a laptop to me, lounged on my couch (the computer kind of jiggles as I type, but I cannot say it is precariously balanced on one leg) and drinking coffee. Oh thank God for coffee!  I won the Chromebook at the Basket Raffle at Lights, Camera, Murder, the murder mystery we put on to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  It was in a basket donated by Herkimer College, which had some other really great stuff in it:  a couple of notebooks (the spiral-bound paper kind, which I love), two t-shirts, a travel mug and two water bottles, plus a few more goodies.  So thank you, Herkimer College and Herkimer County Historical Society.

So already this is a pretty cheerful post.  Let me continue the cheeriness if I can by sharing a picture or two.  I turn to my Media Library.

We all know I am on the Naughty list.

I accidentally clicked on this picture but thought, oh well, it is seasonal.  It was also taken at a fun community event sponsored by Herkimer BPA. They plan many other events in the coming year, which I hope Mohawk Valley Girl will be able to attend (preview of coming attractions).

I love these cheesy flicks!

This was the first picture that caught my eye, but the other had already been clicked on.  I will probably have a quiet New Year’s Eve at home, watching movies, possibly of the cheesy horror variety, which regular readers know I love.  I have written about a few of them in this space, but those posts do not tend to get a lot of blogger love.  Still, they are fun to write and I do not rule out writing more of them.

Oh, this is swell!  I was all happy about this new Chromebook, but now I cannot get it to scroll down to where I Save Draft or even where I can see my word count! I know, first world problems.  Then again, I live in the so-called first world, what other problems am I supposed to have?

Ah!  I got it to scroll!  Regular readers know what a triumph and relief that is for me, who is so technologically inept.  And I am over 400 words.  Wow!  And this computer underlined “am over” and suggested “have over.”  Well, I guess I am what I write.  And there is some half-baked philosophy for you.  This is a Lame Post Friday post after all.

 

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I’m Still Here!

Posted on December 13, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear, it has been ten days since I last posted.  How embarrassing.  I have a few (very few) good Mohawk Valley Adventures to write about, but I feel I should first make an apology if not an explanation of not being here for my lovely readers, which I hope I still have.

May be a doodle of 1 person and text that says 'Please do not accept friend equests from my husband. ...He's been hacked. Mrs. ROXALANA DRUSE,'

These crack me up.

I throw in a picture which has very little to do with anything, but I saw it on Facebook this morning (yes, I peeked at Facebook before logging on to WordPress, judge me if you want to be that way), and it made me smile.  My lawyer assured me he is still working on the appeal.  Longtime readers may remember that I had the honor to play Roxalana Druse in Roxy, the fact-based play about the local murder presented by Herkimer County Historical Society at Ilion Little Theatre.  I wrote several blog posts about it.  In addition to giving me a laugh, I guess it helps me to remember past triumphs.  I trust I shall not continue in the wallowy rut in which I have become mired (what an image!) (and autocorrect seems to think “wallowy” is not a word, but as usual in these cases, it is exactly what I mean).

Regarding the wallowy rut:  I try, I really do try to do things other than sit around and feel sad, try to sleep, or read books (reading books is great, but it doesn’t clean the house, do the dishes, or make blog posts).  At first the insidious voice in my head said, “I can’t!”  I could sometimes overcome it with a gentle, “Just try”  or “Just do one thing,”  occasionally even specifying an actual thing.  Then the voice switched to, “I don’t care!”  That is more difficult to overcome, but I have had some minor success with, “Do it anyways,” or striving to ignore the voice.

I throw in a Christmasy picture to liven things up (I was sure Christmasy was a word!).

What a dull, self-involved post.  I will play the widow card once again.  This is my first Christmas without my beloved Steve.  I remind myself that it is going to be hard, don’t be surprised by that, just try to do a few things to make the season merry for somebody at least.  I guess I have gone over these thoughts before, but I must repeat them constantly to myself so inevitably impose them upon others as well.

And I see I am over 400 words.  I hope to make a real Mohawk Valley Girl post later today or tomorrow.  I thank everybody who is still reading.

 

 

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All Lights, Camera, Murder! All The Time?

Posted on October 26, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Full disclosure:  I would not have made a blog post this morning, but my attempt to walk was foiled by rain.  Yes, I know, some people like to walk in the rain.  I personally do not mind it but did not want to either change my clothes or show up for work in a sodden state, although in a general sense I am not especially fastidious (I just wanted to use the word “fastidious” in a sentence. How often to you get to do that?).

Where was I?  Ah yes, making a blog post.  I think I will begin with a plug of our latest murder mystery, Lights, Camera, Murder! to be presented Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Herkimer Elks Lodge for the benefit for the Herkimer County Historical Society.

May be an image of text that says 'HERKIMER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND CYNTHIA QUACKENBUSH PRESENTS LIGHTS.... CAMERA... MURDER!! CAN YOU SOLVE THE MURDER BEFORE MURDERER IS REVEALED? SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11th Elks Club 112 Mary St. Herkimer, NY Doors Open at 5:30pm Dinner at 6pm Basket Raffles & 50/50 Raffle Dinner catered by PK Pubs Tickets $40.00 per person Tickets are available at The Herkimer County Historical Society 406 North Main St, Herkimer 315-866-6413'

Wow, that turned out big!

I am a little embarrassed they put my name up there in big letters.  I think I should give my little murder group a name like “Q Mysteries” or “Murder for Non-Profit” for such situations.  We have rehearsal tonight.  Perhaps I can get a few pictures for blogging purposes.  In the meantime, why don’t I finish out this post as a Throwback Thursday (or late Way-Back Wednesday) and share a few shots from previous mysteries.

She is always fabulous.

Here is my friend Kim in Fabulous and Fatal in 2019.  She is in the new one, and I expect she will be equally as fabulous.  It is always good to have a tall, gorgeous blonde in the cast.

He is fine, too.   I need to get the other one in a murder mystery sometime!

This is not from a murder mystery but from Love’s Labour’s Lost presented by LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company in 2022.  That is local author C.T. Avis, who is cast as Jarod, the screenwriter of the movie in Lights, Camera, Murder!  He asked if he was being typecast as a writer.  I said that actually I gave him the role on the strength of his portrayal of the lovelorn Don Armado (he was in love with Jacquenetta, played by me, I add modestly.  It was so flattering!)

I will try to show a couple more cast members after tonight’s rehearsal.  I don’t promise any hints about the plot, though.  I want any local readers who decide to attend to be surprised.

 

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A Long(ish) Post for a Blogger’s Sick Day

Posted on October 25, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

So it has been a couple more Blogger’s Sick Days for me. Today will likely be another one,  because I am on my Tablet, which continues to play funky computer games with me, like not letting me add a title.  Could it be, once again, that bane of my existence, operator error?  Sometimes I am my own worst enemy, which is good news for anybody who wants to do me dirt but is too lazy: I got you covered.

Well, that was a longish paragraph of nonsense.  I wonder if I can throw in a picture to pep things up.

Apparently not.

I usually enter, as readers of my Running Commentary posts know.

My Tablet allowed me to put in a picture, but when I tried to add a caption, the picture disappeared to be replaced by a link!  I do not want my dear readers to have to click on a link to see my pictures.  That is way too much trouble.  Anyways, I am sitting up now at my dining-room-table-top, on my second cup of coffee, and determined to finish this blog post.  Or at least hopeful of that end.

That is not the picture I tried to add last night, but I feel it is symbolic of my Tablet’s efforts to stop me from blogging.  It lets me enter, but not title or illustrate.  However, there are few road signs that read “Do Not Title” or “Do Not Illustrate,” as you probably know or at least suspect.

Aaaahhh! Coffee!

This happens to be the cup I am using.  I really ought to get a clearer picture of it.

Last night we had another rehearsal for Lights, Camera, Murder!  the murder mystery we are presenting for the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I was feeling discouraged as two of my actresses were down will illness (Actor’s Sick Day).  We have limited days when everybody is free to rehearse.  However, I felt better as soon as I walked into Herkimer Elks Lodge.  A members said, “It’s one of the actors!” Of course I told them a few things about the mystery, hoping they will decide to attend.

I was further encouraged by the actors who were able to attend.  They are doing very well with their parts.  Additionally, they complimented me on my script.  One actor, who has worked with me several times before, said that my scripts were always good.  Maybe he was just buttering me up, but I always enjoy a compliment.  Then again, why should I insult his intentions by saying he had an ulterior motive for giving me a compliment? I was about to speculate that he may have been just being nice, but why am I looking so deeply into these thigs?  Just take the compliment, Cindy!

Well, that veers into half-baked philosophy, the prerogative of Lame Post Friday.  With that minor faux pas, I sign off, perhaps just adding one more picture for good measure.

I remember taking this picture in 2020.

I am enjoying the fall colors!

 

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It’s Been Murder on my Blog!

Posted on October 20, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I guess this has been a Blogger’s Sick Week.  I have been plagued by terrible headaches.  I try so hard not to whine but sometimes find embarrassing little whimpery noises coming out of my mouth.  Luckily nobody else has heard them.  Even more fortunately, my bosses at work believe me when I tell them I have a migraine and need to go home.

Oh dear, what a boring post this is turning out to be!  I don’t suppose it matters, though.  I am on my Tablet which still won’t let me put in a headline.  I will try to finish this in the morning, when I will feel more like sitting up at the dining-room-table-top.

This was taken at the Inspire Moore Winery.

I put in a picture to represent the passage of time.  It is now early Friday morning and I am at my dining-room-table-top, ten-finger typing and waiting for the coffee to perk.  I think it finished perking while I searched for an appropriate picture.

Ah yes, coffee always helps.  When I write letters to my sister Diane, she likes it if I give her a blow by blow of where I am and what I am doing while I write.  I tend to use the same technique with my blog.  Is a blog like a letter to anybody who chances to click on it?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

I may wear the same dress in our upcoming production.

I was going to share the posed picture of the cast of Fabulous and Fatal, which I have shared many times, but opted for an action shot instead.  This was the murder mystery we presented to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society in 2019.  I use the picture because last night I was at the first rehearsal for Lights, Camera, Murder!  the murder mystery which will benefit the Historical Society on Saturday, Nov. 11.  Yes, it is close.  We put these things together quickly.

So there you have it:  an apology for my absence and a Preview of Coming Attractions.  Am I back to daily blogging?  I hope so.  And I hope people will continue to tune in.

 

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Technical Difficulties on Tired Tuesday

Posted on August 16, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yestersay was a common or garden Tired Tuesday (still the tiny letters on my Tablet and no predictive text or autocorrect; what’s that about?). I pulled a muscle at work, but it was not one of my blogposting muscles. Well, peripherally I guess it was, but really I have no good excuse.

So, what, is this post going to be entirely me whining about not making a post yesterday? SAY IT AIN’T SO! Now my predictive text would have given me the whole phrase after I had typed in “SA”, a great savings in time. Additionally, I just noticed that in the previous parahraph, “autocorrect” came out “autocortec.” Autocorrect would have caught that and fixed it. Ironic, yes? Or do I set the bar too low?

OK, so I guess it’s a post of me whining about technical difficulties. Quick, throw in a picture (once again, my predictive text thingy would have helpfully chimed in with “to pep things up”).

Once again, I am unable to add a caption, but this is the magnificent cast of Fabulous and Fatal, a murder mystery we presented in 2019 to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society, a wonderful memory.

Come to think about it, I have to get moving on another murder mystery for them. So I begin with a whine and end with a preview of coming attractions. It will have to do for a late Tired Tuesday post.

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Memories of Murder

Posted on March 3, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a Throwback Thursday Post?  I make it a question, because I am not sure I will be able to actually make the post.  I make it to work these days.  Beyond that,  no promises.

We’ve seen this suspicious bunch before.

I wanted to throw back to murder mysteries, because I was working on another one today.  The above picture is from A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, which we presented a few years ago to benefit Herkimer County Historical Society.  It was a very fun show.

Another shot from that show.

I realized the first picture did not include our friend Jim, who had a pivotal role in the show.  I guess all the roles were pivotal; I just like to use that word to describe acting roles.

A dramatic moment.

Here is a rehearsal shot from another murder mystery, whose title escapes me.  How embarrassing! Then again, I can’t remember everything.

Don’t we all look pretty?

I remember the title of this one: Fabulous and Fatal.  It will always be one of my favorite scripts.

It was a work in progress.

This is a shot from a read-through for Donate to Murder, which also benefited Herkimer County Historical Society.  Eventually.  This picture was taken in March 2020, right before the COVID shit hit the fan.  The show was postponed and had a different cast when it was finally performed.

Regular readers will notice my late husband, Steve, in a few of these pictures.  I so loved working with him. Treasured memories.  I hope it made for a good blog post.

 

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A Mixed Up But Not Monstrous Run

Posted on February 28, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I mixed things up by running, which I rarely do on a Monday, so I thought I would further mix things up by doing a Running Commentary Post instead of my usual Monstrous Monday Post.  I suppose, though, that it is not unusual for me to be mixed up.  Never mind that: on with the post!

One reason I thought to go running was that the roads were pretty much bare, which they have not been and which they are unlikely to remain.  I had previously been toying with the idea of running in place on the mini-tramp, because I wanted to do laundry before taking my shower, one of my few instances of multi-tasking (also, I come home from work too dirty and stinky to want to just sit around before showering).  When I noticed the bare roads as I left work, I said, “Heyyy!”

Picture more snow not on the road but a less wet road.

Of course I thought to run by places I have pictures of in my Media Library.  I believe I used this picture of Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners in my last Running Commentary Post.  As I approached the Corners, my whole body was saying, “Oh, to hell with this!”  Imagine my chagrin to find I had been running for less than three minutes.

There was a little more snow surrounding this building as well.

I ran down several streets with no landmarks before heading toward Washington Street and this handsome building.  I was huffing and puffing and, according to my Garmin, running a bit faster than I have in the recent past.  My body was, as it often does, trying to convince me that a short run would be OK.  I suppose it would, but I have the Boilermaker 15K to train for.  Yes, I have time, but not forever.

This is where I pay my water bill.

 

I hoped to make it for 20 minutes while promising myself I would not beat myself up over 17 or even 15.  I was pleased with myself for doing a mile in just under 13 minutes.  I know, other people do a mile much faster, but I cannot go around comparing myself to others.

Again, picture more snow.

I added a little time to my run by going around Meyers Park the long way.  For one reason, it was left side facing traffic (as it happened, there was no traffic, but one likes to be prepared).  Additionally, I got to enter where it said Do Not Enter.  Regular readers know how I like to do that.

My run was just barely over 20 minutes, a little over a mile and a half.  I felt pretty pleased with myself, especially on a Monday. I want to be more regular about walking and running.  It lifts my mood in several respects, and sometimes it makes a pretty good blog post.  Or do I flatter myself?

 

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Monsters, Murder and Memories at Mid-Week

Posted on February 2, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I can call this a Blogger’s Sick Day or a Blogger’s Stress Day (I think that might be a new one), but I am making yet another post about not making a decent blog post.  Some may find it frustrating that I am sharing no details about my sickness or stress.  Others will be happy to be spared the sordid details.  I always say explanations are tiresome.

Unrelated but amusing photo.

I throw in a picture to pep things up.  I had thought to make this a Mid-Week Monsters Post, so here we are.

The fact is that even when undergoing great personal trauma (accuse me of overdramatizing if you like), I cling to my image of myself as a writer.  I have not traditionally experienced great success in writing about what bothers me.  What often happens is that as I write, I think, “Wow, I am really justified in feeling upset!”  And I get even more upset.  Go figure.

We have always been a lovely couple.

I have experienced greater success in distracting myself from my problems, if not with monsters, then with memories.  The picture shows my husband Steven and I in Fabulous and Fatal, a murder mystery we presented to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.

OK, that got me over 200 words.  I’ll call it a blog post and hope for a better one tomorrow.

 

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Making with the Memories

Posted on January 27, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

If I make a Throwback Thursday Post a day late, that just means I am throwing back by one more day.  Another thing one may judge me on:  I am not going to worry about sharing pictures I have shared before.  For one reason (some may call it a rationalization, but I decline to enter into any such argument), some readers may not have seen the particular pictures I choose or they may enjoy seeing them again.

What a long introduction.  Perhaps I should go back to writing my blog posts in advance and doing a little more editing.  For right now, I’d better make with the pictures.

I’m not taking any of his nonsense.

Here is a throwback to 2012 and the Ilion Little Theatre production of Harvey.  I played Veda.  My husband, Steven, was Dr. Chumley.  How I loved being on stage with my husband!

Again, I was not putting up with his nonsense.

Here we are on stage together again, in Splitting Issues, again at Ilion Little Theatre.  I forget the year and am too lazy to look it up.

I dished out the nonsense in this show.

I was actually looking for a different murder mystery picture, but this is a great theatre memory,  A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, presented at Mohawk American Legion to benefit Herkimer County Historical Society.  That reminds me, I’d better get writing on my upcoming productions.  Off to make more memories!

 

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