Tag Archives: herkimer county historical society

Murder, Wine, Just Another Scattered Saturday

I shall attempt a Scattered Saturday post,  but no promises. I am still tired and shaken after what turned out to be a wonderful theatre experience with Fabulous and Fatal, our murder mystery at the Travel Lodge in Little Falls to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.

Quite frankly, I expected to wake up hung over.  However, I did not, and remembering how much I actually drank, that is not surprising. I nursed my Cabernet Sauvignon, because I was performing.  Incidentally,  the performance went awesomely.  I will write more about it when I have some pictures to share.

This morning I went for a run.  Later we had some breakfast at Mona’s in Mohawk.  Later yet we went to a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer.  Yum!  Then it was a quick trip to the Marina in Frankfort, NY and a drink or two at Heelpath Brewing Company.  Untamed Red by Rustic Ridge Winery in Burlington Flats.  Yum!

Now we are home, having arrived at the bra off, sweats on, wine drinking, movie watching portion of the day.  What Halloween movies will we watch?  I may list them tomorrow, having a Saturday and Sunday Cinema post.  As always,  no promises,  but I hope you will all stay tuned.

 

 

Wrist to Forehead Friday

The show must go on!  Said in a dramatic voice with gestures, of course.  I had thought I was going to make a routine Lame Post Friday post before hurrying off to Fabulous and Fatal, our murder mystery (I believe I’ve mentioned it once or twice).  Well, just now one of my actors called in sick.

OH CRAP!!!

That’s all right, though. The important thing is that the audience does not suffer.  We must still be fabulous.  We must still be fatal.  We have a couple of desperate pleas for understudies out, and I am looking over the script thinking, “I can say this one, and Helen Damnation can say this one…”

In the meantime, I still have not yet assembled Ophelia Upp’s costume nor gotten Roxanne Rolls’ jewelry together.  I’m thinking my blue topaz from Weisser’s Jewelers and possibly some rhinestones…  yes, I am easily distracted.

And flustered.  In fact, I am too flustered now to make it to 200 words.  I’ll update you on how things turn out later.

 

What Would Peter Cushing Do?

I’m thinking all I can manage right now is a Non-Sequitur Thursday post.  We had our final rehearsal for Fabulous and Fatal,  the murder mystery we are presenting to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society tomorrow night.  Yikes! Then Steve and I had some dinner at Salvatore’s in Herkimer.  Now we are home, looking at 20/20 on OWN, and feeling a little sorry we did not tune in earlier sooner,  since it is a case we also saw covered on Snapped.

OK, I just scrolled all the way through my Media Library twice looking for a graphic of 20/20.  How do I not have such a graphic? No matter, I suppose.  Only, a blog post pops more with illustration. I wonder if I can find something else.

No, I can’t.

“Then what am I doing here?”

I realized anything could work on Non-Sequitur Thursday,  so I hit on this shot of Christopher Lee as The Mummy.  He looks rather sad.  I don’t remember seeing this movie, but cannot be sure I haven’t seen it.

“I want my mummy!”

I guess he does not necessarily want his mummy, but I thought it would be a funny caption.  There is a window nearby out of which Michael Meyers looks.  I must get a picture of it.

“Haven’t I been in another blog post like this?”

Regular readers will not be surprised that I close with Nosferatu.  I say anything goes on Non-Sequitur Thursday.  If only I can think of a catchy title…

 

I Plan to be Fabulous

One thing I re-learn constantly is Don’t Make Plans.   They never work out.  I could offer countless examples.  No wait, I can’t.   If I offer examples you can probably count them. Once again I indulge in hyperbole.

Tonight we had rehearsal for Fabulous and Fatal,  the murder mystery we are presenting as a fundraiser for the Herkimer County Historical Society on Oct. 18.  We brought costumes and props, so I PLANNED to take pictures for this blog post.  Did I take any picture?  Of course not!

In my defense, nobody was completely in costume. A couple of actors tried on a few pieces, but there was no real photo op.  Alas.  However, we discussed complete costumes,  and I believe we will all be, yes, fabulous.

In hopes of making this a better blog post,  I will include a couple of pictures of props that previously appeared in this space.

I may not wear pearls, but my lips might be this red.

I rehearsed with this glass in my hand.  Full disclosure: I had wine in it.  I may very well have wine in it next Friday as well.  Judge me if you are so inclined.

There may be moustaches involved, but bow ties are not planned.

This is the other side of that glass.  I love this glass.  It was a gift to me from the cast of Leading Ladies,  the play I directed at Ilion Little Theatre in — goodness, was it 2016?

I see I am over 200 words.  Regular readers know I consider that respectable for a blog post.

Fabulous and Fatal will be presented Friday Oct. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Travel Lodge in Little Falls, NY.  Tickets are $30 for dinner and show, available at Herkimer County Historical Society,  315-866-6413.

 

Scattered Saturday In Progress

If I don’t make my blog post now, I will probably miss today.  But what to write a blog post about, that is the question. I actually have a few possibilities, but none currently move me.  Oh, I know, I know: one must not wait for “inspiration” nor yet write what one “feels like” writing.  Well, this blog is my own personal hobby for my own entertainment and enlightenment…

Oh, that feels like a terribly selfish thing to say.  I hope nobody stopped reading in a huff.  Of course I also write for the entertainment of others; otherwise why publish on the internet for all to see?  OK, let’s try to entertain.

I went for a run this morning.  It was chilly but not too bad.  My favorite part was seeing people’s Halloween decorations.  Back home I wrote a few post cards. I waited till nine to take them to the post office, so I could continue on to a rummage sale at Christ Episcopal Church in Herkimer, NY (where I live).

Later on I left the house again.  I stopped at Hot Spot Salon and Spa to drop off a flier for Fabulous and Fatal,  the murder mystery to benefit Herkimer County Historical Society.  I was at the Hot Spot last night getting a haircut and pedicure.  I’m quite beautiful now, or do I flatter myself?

Later on, my husband, Steve, and I went with our friend Kim to taste wine at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer. Yum!

In a short while, I have to get ready for Ritz and Ragtime at Rutger Park in Utica, the fundraiser I mentioned yesterday.  Incidentally, I am sipping Pumpkin Spice coffee from Utica Roasting as I type this.

I hope to take some pictures later of the fundraiser.  I hope I won’t have too much of a Wrist to Forehead Sunday to make a post.

 

Lame Post-Rehearsal Post

Ooh, look at me, making my Friday Lame Post on Lame Post Friday.  Not that I have a lot to say.  Steve and I just got back from a rehearsal for Fabulous and Fatal, the murder mystery we are presenting as a fundraiser for the Herkimer County Historical Society on Oct. 18.  We have a really good cast!

Alas, I did not take pictures at rehearsal.  At least,  maybe it is not so bad, since we were not in costume, or even making lots of dramatic poses.  Perhaps I will have better photo ops at future rehearsals.  I mean, I know we will be more dramatic and perhaps be in costume.  I hope to successfully wield my Tablet at such a time.

In the meantime,  perhaps I could find pictures of previous mysteries in my Media Library.

A little bit of fabulous.

This is the first murder mystery we did for the society, Who Shot JS?  The fabulous woman in the foreground is in our current production,  as are a few of the folks in the background.

Now here’s a suspicious looking bunch!

Here is the cast of A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, one of my favorite titles and productions.

Fabulous and Fatal  will be presented at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 at the Travel Lodge in Little Falls, 20 Albany St., Little Falls, NY.  Tickets are $30.  For more information,  contact the historical society at 315- 866-6413.

 

Mid-Week Monsters after Murder

I thought of that headline just now, before composing the post.  I was hard at work on my murder mystery, Fabulous and Fatal,  which will be presented on Friday, Oct. 18, to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society. I can’t help thinking I ought still to be working on it,  but these things are sometimes difficult.  Additionally,  blog posts must be made (because they are not there) (see what I did there?).

Who will win?

This was the first monster picture I encountered in my Media Library.  It is symbolic of my struggles with myself, my better nature of Keep Writing vs my worser nature of I’d Rather Read, as well as my creative nature vs my inner critic (which is one reason I would rather read; we’ve talked about my inner critic, the disdainful bitch).

I’ve had worse first dates.

And this picture is symbolic of how easy it can be to get carried away, by any number of things.  For example, one can get carried away with self criticism or with searching for the perfect word.  This is a good way to end up with no blog post at all. Since I end up with at least some semblance of a blog post most of the time, I guess I do not get too carried away with self criticism.

I hope he’s not hungry.

I was going to end with my favorite,  Nosferatu,  but Count Dracula caught my eye.  Bela Lugosi,  there could be no possible objection.

So here we are, 250 or so words.  I call that OK.  Happy Wednesday,  everyone!

 

We Will Be Fabulous!

I may have mentioned our upcoming murder mystery to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.   Well, I am hard at work on it and keep coming up with more ideas. The title is Fabulous and Fatal, and the characters are all drag queens.  Rehearsals will begin soon, and I will share more about the characters and plot (but I will NOT give away all the secrets!).  For today, I took a couple of pictures of props I intend to use.

But there may be wine instead of corks in it.  Or do I mean poison?

I received this hand painted glass as a gift from the cast of Leading Ladies, which I directed at Ilion Little Theatre in 2016.  I thought it would be an excellent thing to use.  Or do I mean a fabulous thing?

Same glass, other side.

Another clue will be a cash box.  At first I had thoughts of purchasing an actual cash box and dressing it up with rhinestones and a hot glue gun.  Then I remembered I have a suitable box already, a gift of the same cast.

It’s a pretty awesome box.

Of course, this box is wood, not metal as I had originally envisioned.  But it is so beautiful,  how can I resist using it?  My only regret is that now I do not have occasion to use my hot glue gun.  Maybe I can come up with a few more props.  Hmm….

Fabulous and Fatal will be presented Friday, October 18th, at 5:30 p.m, at the Travel Lodge in Little Falls,  NY.  Tickets are $30.  For tickets or more information, contact the historical society at 315-866-6413.

 

A Peek at the Past with Cindy and Steve

OK, so my post this morning counted for Wednesday,  and this is my Thursday post,  made on Thursday (despite what my WordPress timestamp might say), so I’ve got that going for me.  I thought I would indulge in a Throwback Thursday,  using pictures from my Media Library.  Hey, I’m making the day’s post on the day; let’s not ask for miracles.

This was a while ago.

Here is a shot I go back to again and again.  It is Steve’s and my wedding day in 1990 (1990? Yikes!).   These days we prefer to drink champagne from a flute.  Live and learn, I guess.  I also prefer the drier stuff these days, although I cherish memories of good times with Asti Spumante.

Yes, I am giving him The Look. 

Maybe I will make this a Steve and Cindy Day.  For one reason,  I love this picture of Steve and me in Harvey at Ilion Little Theatre in 2012.  I’m Veda Louise Simmons; Steven is Dr. Chumley. A great theatre memory.

I should have found a better wig.

I include this one, because it is one I haven’t shared as often.  I am portraying the ghost of Roxalana Druse at the 1834 Jail in Herkimer, NY.  It was a fundraiser for the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I shamefully forget what year.

Steven and I have had some fun times together.  But we will have to take a few more pictures, for blogging purposes, if nothing else.  In the meantime,  I hope you have enjoyed my Throwback Thursday post.

 

 

What Have I Been Writing?

OK, it’s a thing:  apparently I post in the morning now.  Only sometimes I oversleep and don’t have the time I’m used to.  I know, excuses, excuses.  Never mind.  What I have today is the overview of the murder mystery I have been working on to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  They asked for a blurb for their newsletter, so I wrote this yesterday (so I have been writing, I try to comfort myself).  I thought it would work as a blog post as well.

A glamourous group called The Drama Queens is planning to put on a show for the Herkimer County Historical Society.  Unfortunately, they cannot agree on exactly what to perform, and tonight’s event is to pick a project.  Roxanne Rolls wants to do a musical version of the Roxalanna Druse case (although she is a little confused as to the actual facts thereof).  Fran Kleemydear wants to dramatize the murder of Jack Sherman by Frangelica Inferno (more recent history, but still…).  Helen Damnation prefers the idea of a quiz show a la “Who Knows Herkimer County History?”  (sadly cancelled as the result of recent events).  The Queens are led by Princess Dragamiroff, who claims to be an A-One fundraiser (although rumor has it her methods do not bear close scrutiny).  She says she has a wad of cash to finance the show (after all, you have to spend money to make money).  The Princess is late.  No doubt she wants to make an entrance.  We do hope nothing has happened to her.

I will write more later today.