Tag Archives: husband Steven

I Need Halloween Monsters!

Posted on October 15, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to another late Monstrous Monday post.  It is the season for monsters, after all.  I have not been in a particular Halloweeny mood recently, which is too bad, because it is my favorite season.  Yesterday I was struck with yet another bout of Don’t Wanna Do Nuthin’.  I kept bestirring myself to At Least Do One Thing, with varying degrees of success.  Here is the result of one fairly successful foray:

My mantle.

I was happy to find the lights to hang.  They were in a bag on the knob of the door to my attic, where they have been since I took them down from the porch, an embarrassingly long time after Halloween (then again, they only went up Halloween Day; feel free to judge me).  I don’t know if you can see Santa Claus in the background.  He stays there all year round.  I always think he looks like he is saying, “Good grief!”  In this case it is probably because he is wondering why it took me till nearly halfway through the month to get a single Halloween decoration up (although in general, I think it is because that long piece of paper he is holding is the Naughty List).

The well dressed skeleton.

I looked for a picture of the mantle decorated by my late, dearly missed husband Steve but could not find one.  He had a flair for decorating.  Here is the Halloween outfit he put together for Bonita, our skeleton.  She has been embracing nudity lately, but perhaps I will help her into some seasonal duds before too long.  Bonaparte, her small, admiring friend, you may have noticed on the mantle, sitting in a mug from Adirondack Railroad.  I think he is irresistibly cute.

The Ghost of Christmas Past? or Present?

I close with another decoration of my own:  our other Santa Claus dressed as a ghost.  I purchased that Santa the first year we lived in this house, 2005, walking home from the store with him tucked under my arm and feeling rather pleased with myself.  My mother gave us the other Santa one Christmas, having purchased him at an antique store in Pennsylvania when she was visiting my sister Vicki.

I guess this post has not been particularly monstrous, unless you dislike reading about personal reminiscences and the other drivel that comes out of my typing fingers.  Sometimes one can only type what comes out.  However, if you’ll stay tuned, I hope to have other Mohawk Valley Adventures later this week.

 

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Will I Live Up to Halloweens Past?

Posted on October 4, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to another late Throwback Thursday post.  Thursday was a kind of a wasted day for me, although it had a few useful moments, a few fun moments; who is the arbiter of saying whether a day is wasted or not anyways? Not me.  But I veer into half-baked philosophy, more suited to Lame Post Friday, a post often made early Saturday morning.  And I wonder why I am in a time warp most of the time.

I throw in a photo before going to get coffee.

I thought a throwback to Octobers past might be fun, and a change from my usual theatre throwbacks (autocorrect does not approve of that spelling of “theatre” but I like it).  That is my late, beloved husband Steven at Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit, NY, one of my favorite Halloween places.  I would like to go there soon, but I really need to clean my house more before adding Halloween decorations, which I inevitably will.

Looks like a fun party!

Speaking of Halloween decorations, here is an arrangement Steven made on our buffet in 2017.  Right now the buffet still has most of his nutcracker collection.  Oh dear.

Isn’t he cute?

To end on a cheerful note, here is the sweet little vampire Steve gave me (it came in a coffee cup), sitting in a delightful pot sent me by my friend Marsha.  The orange is a t-shirt I didn’t like much anyways (advertising something I don’t even like any more, but that’s a long, dull story).

This is all encouragement for myself to get this house in better shape today and put out some Halloween decorations.  That would make a good blog post.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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Slacker, then Shout-out

Posted on September 28, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

It’s that awkward moment when you realize this is your best chance to get your Saturday post on Saturday, yet you can think of nothing to write about nor have you any of your adventure books handy.  Adventure Books (yes, I like it better when I capitalize both.  I believe I have never used the phrase in the blog) are the cute little blank books I buy when I see them cheap.  I sometimes start to use them for a specific purpose, which usually peters out, and often end up carrying one or another with me when I go adventuring.  I realize I should use one, fill it, then move on to the next, but anybody who expects such organizational miracles from me is doomed to disappointment.

At wine tastings, the pourers are often surprised and delighted when I start taking tasting notes.  Taking random notes is also comforting when I am out alone or bored waiting someplace.  I try never to leave without a notebook or at least an adventure book.

OK, so I guess this post started as a Slacker Saturday then went to babbling on about my writing habits.  I’d better throw in a picture to make things look good.

A fun memory!

Here is an adventure I definitely took notes about:  a ride on Richfield Springs Scenic Railway.  This, of course, is my late lovely husband Steve.  So now I have also given a shout-out to an area attraction.  I wonder if I can link to their website so readers can check them out.

Looks like it worked!

 

 

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Pop Fly to Lame Field!

Posted on September 28, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been sitting here trying to think of something to type for a blog post.  A baseball game is on the television.  I don’t follow sports, but I do enjoy to see a game.  Live is more fun, but sometimes television will do.

“OOOPER DOOPER!”

I turned to my Media Library for inspiration and found this picture from Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, one of my all-time favorite movies.  Earlier today I had “Puttin’ on the Ritz” playing in my head, especially the version shown in this movie.  I considered posting as my Facebook status, “OOOPER DOOPER!”  but forgot till just now.  Anyways, I have not spent much time on Facebook today.

An excellent theatre memory.

Another memory that popped into my head today was Splitting Issues, which was presented by Ilion Little Theatre in 2015 (I think). It is a series of short scenes having to do with relationships between the sexes.  I was not going to audition but went with Steve, my late dearly missed husband, who did want to audition.  I read a scene with him, just for fun, and, well, these things happen in community theatre.  We had a great time with our little scene.

 

 

I just realized my headline is about baseball, but I barely mentioned the game in the first paragraph.  I do not think I have any baseball pictures in my Media Library.  Oh dear.

Also blog posts.

Oh well, it is Lame Post Friday.  Will I have a better blog post on Saturday?  No promises, but I hope you’ll tune in.

 

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Late Shout-Out to Phil

Posted on August 18, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have done it again:  posted then missed several days.  How can I make it up to my readers (if any remain)?  One thing I could do is tell you about a recent Mohawk Valley Adventure.

One of my favorites!

Last Saturday I walked down to Meyers Park in Herkimer, NY for the Elks Club Car Show.  I love old cars, but my primary reason for stopping by at that time was that Phil Arcuri would be playing music.  Regular readers know he is one of my favorite local musicians.  I have seen him many times at different venues and enjoyed him very much. He always has such a good time when he plays.  I love his big smile.  His daughters come up and  sang the Baby Shark Song.  I am not really familiar with that song, although I know it was very popular among a certain segment of the population.  When they were singing about Grandpa Shark and Grandma Shark, I wished they had a verse about Aunt Cindy Shark.  Of course, I am not their Aunt Cindy, but couldn’t we stretch a point?

It is pure joy when he plays.

Of course he noticed me, standing as I was right in front of the pavilion and dancing to every tune.  He added my name to “Under the Boardwalk,” singing
“under the blanket with my Cynthia…”  I remember one time at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort,  he sang the song that way and added that we would let Steve (my husband, for anyone just tuning int)  get in on it, too.

I had had a headache earlier that day, and after standing (and dancing) around in the sun it started to come back. After chatting for a little time with Phil, I took my leave.

I feel bad that it has taken me this long to write even this brief shout-out to such a good musician.  I encourage everybody to hear him play if possible; he plays at several area venues.  The area is so blessed to have such talented musicians!

 

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Where Did I Put My Brain?

Posted on July 22, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here I am back again at Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  One would think I could make a good post at this point, but I must ask, which one is that?  I mean, which one would think that, not which good post can I make, I feel obligated to elucidate.  My Mohawk Valley Adventures are in the increasingly distant past, and I feel not capable of writing about them.

My brain? Not likely.

As I like to do when I am feeling particularly brain dead, I share The Brain from Planet Arous.  It is quite the cheesy movie.  I have a cheesy movie playing now, but I am not paying the last bit of attention to it.  It is The Beast of Yucca Flats, starring Tor Johnson, if you wanted to know.  I may have an illustration of the movie in my Media Library, but I am not at all sure of that and dread more searching.

Ooh, here’s a creepy one!

I looked through a couple of months to see if I could find a picture of a movie I have seen recently or am inclined to see now and came across this shot from Mr. Brooks.  My late, dearly missed husband, Steve, and I went to the theatre in Georgia (where we lived at the time) to see Mr. Brooks when it was first released.  We appreciated it but thought it was not one we would care to pop in on a regular basis.  Fast forward to the early 2010s (I think) when a cousin of mine was selling some of his DVDs.  Steven bought a few, including Mr. Brooks.  I found it was, in fact, one I could enjoy multiple viewings of.  I especially felt this after my husband’s passing.  Make what table-top psychology of that you like.

In the meantime, I have gotten over 300 words. As regular readers know, I find that respectable, especially for a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I shall sign off now and look for the DVD of Mr.Brooks, since The Beast of Yucca Flats ended as I typed.  I hope you are all having a pleasant end to your weekend.

 

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But Not a Metaphorical Blog Post

Posted on July 15, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to another Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  As regular readers know, this is the day I get all dramatic and swoon, the back of one wrist to my forehead.  I shall substitute the living room couch for a chaise lounge.  I really would like a chaise lounge to swoon upon.  Then again, it is a metaphorical swoon most Sundays, so I suppose I could make do with a metaphorical chaise lounge.

One of my all-time favorite scenes.

This is me actually posed with my wrist to my forehead, in a scene from Dirty Work at the Crossroads, directed by my late, much missed husband Steve at Ilion Little Theatre in 2013.  Wow, over ten years ago.  The lady in the scene with me, an ILT stalwart, Julianne Allen, sadly passed away too, some years ago.  Oh dear, all I wanted to do was laugh at myself for dramatically dreading Monday, and I am bringing up sad things.  I do try to keep a positive outlook and treasure good memories.  So there’s that.

This is one way to ensure a really bad Monday.

Full disclosure:  I am not really dreading Monday.  But I am discouraged with myself, because once again I did not get a whole lot done on the weekend.  And I got not much done during the past week.  What the hell, me?  However, yelling at myself does not seem to improve matters.  Where’s that positive outlook I was touting in the last paragraph?

You said it, Captain!

So I try to end on a positive note.  I plan to make more substantial blog posts in the week ahead. I did have a few Mohawk Valley adventures this weekend, complete with pictures (preview of coming attractions).  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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I Remember Roxy

Posted on June 28, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

And it’s another late post, but one can be late on Non-Sequitur Thursday, yes?  Or will it be a Throwback Thursday?  Once again, I resort to my Media Library.

He was so handsome.

I was just thinking about Roxy the other day.  This was a play, beautifully researched and written by Jack Sherman and presented by Herkimer County Historical Society and Ilion Little Theatre in 2015.  Wow, almost ten years ago.  My late beloved husband Steven had several roles.  This is him as Dr. Suiter.  He was such a good actor and had quite a way with a monologue.

He had it coming.

I had the honor to portray Roxalana Druse, who killed her husband with a gun and an ax.  She did not feed his body to the hogs, as legend has it, but tried to burn him up in the stove (the play doesn’t show that part).  She may have had better luck with the hogs, because it was the nasty scent of burning body that first alerted the neighbors that something was wrong.

I thought the poster was cool.

The play had a huge cast of ILT regulars and newcomers.  Things got a little crowded backstage and in the one dressing room, but we all got along, and I made a lot of new friends.  That is the best part of community theatre:  the friends we make.  Come to think about it, that is the best part of life.  Sorry to get a little sentimental, but one might as well say it.

So this is my theatre throwback post.  I often do throw back to theatre memories, because community theatre is a big part of my life.  I need to get back into a play.  And finish writing that murder mystery I mentioned yesterday.  At least I made my Thursday blog post.  A little late, but over 300 words.  Yay me?  I hope so!

 

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Is It a Hot Blog Post?

Posted on June 19, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

It probably comes as no surprise that I am doing a Tired Tuesday post, especially to local readers who are also experiencing the heat wave currently visiting the Mohawk Valley.  Perhaps some are surprised that I am making the post on Tuesday rather than early Wednesday morning.  As for anybody who feels I am being a big baby to be melting in the heat, either because they LOVE hot weather or because other places have MUCH hotter weather, I can only suggest you find another blog to read (you know who you are).  There are many available.  Of course you are welcome to continue reading this one, but a baby I am and a baby I will remain.  A big fat baby brat.

It was a hot scene.

I was looking for a non-baby, non-bratty picture to counteract the whining and defensiveness in the first paragraph.  In fact I have been trying to complain less.  I spent most of the day at work telling myself, “We all feel the heat; we all know it is hot.  I do not have to remark on how hot it is.”  A co-worker tried the opposite approach by saying how cold it was.  I had no clever comeback.  My brains, such as they are, were pretty much boiled, broiled, and steamed.

The picture, by the way, is from Love’s Labour’s Lost, as presented by LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company two summers ago (or was it three?  How the time flies!). It was quite warm rehearsing and performing outdoors, especially in costume, but a lot of fun.

Here’s some cold weather, if you like.

My late, dearly missed husband Steve used to say, “You don’t have to shovel humidity.”  That is true.  However, in the winter time it may not snow, and then you will not have to shovel, while in the summertime, the grass is definitely going to grow, and you will have to mow.  Well, I can’t complain about that right now.  My father mowed my back lawn and my sister Cheryl mowed the front.  Did I mention I have a very nice family?

Sometimes it is nice to just lounge around in the heat.

To end on a more positive note, here is me, or part of me, enjoying summer in sandals and painted toenails.  Pedicure is from Hot Spot Salon and Spa in Herkimer, NY, just to give a quick shout-out to a local business.  I have since broken those sandals, alas, but my toes are currently a very similar color.

I see I have rattled on for more than 400 words.  Not bad for a Tired Tuesday.  I wonder what I can come up with for Wuss-out Wednesday.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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More Lawn, Still No Order

Posted on June 3, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did not have a majorly productive weekend, but I did manage to do some yard work today, Sunday.  That gave me a good reason to have a Wrist to Forehead moment, but I shall try not to whine.  Too much, anyways.

When mowing my lawn with the non-power mower, I have left a lot of crap around the edges.  Today I tried to clean up some of that.  One thing I learned, or perhaps was reminded of, is that wild grapevines are quite invasive.  The roots go on forever!  And the vines cling with tenacity to everything handy.  I clipped, I pulled, I hack-sawed.  I added to a growing pile of crap.

One nice thing was becoming a pricker bush slayer again.  You see, some years ago I spent a Sunday taking down a huge pricker bush behind our garage.  When Steven got home from work, he took me out to Miner’s Table at the Herkimer Diamonds Mine.  I wrote about it for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  For the article I took a picture of Steven toasting me.  When the article appeared, the caption of that photo read, “Steven toasts Cindy, pricker bush slayer.”  I may not have that word for word, but close enough.

Evidence of my pricker bush and wild grapevine slaying prowess.

I soon filled a couple of containers for yard waste pick up tomorrow.  I posted on Facebook that I had literally put my blood, sweat, and tears into my yard work.  I do have some bloody-looking scratches on my arms and legs, and I was ready to cry by the time I gave up and went inside.  I have a lot more work to do, but I felt I had made some progress.

I guess it isn’t all that beautiful.

I was thinking I should have taken a “before” picture but it was too late by the time I thought that.  So I took a picture of a section I did not get to.

Something to look forward to.

My father gave me some advice on getting my power mower going, and offered to come over and work on it if I continued to have troubles.  So I may be making more progress on Lawn Order soon.  In the meantime, I have to be pleased with what I was able to get done.  I can only hope it made an entertaining blog post. Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

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