Tag Archives: murder mystery

Did Someone Say Beer?

Posted on October 26, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I feel a Non-Sequitur Thursday post brewing in (what’s left of) my brain, but first: a sad (to me, anyways) note:  A Trivial Murder has been postponed till spring, date to be determined.  I had all my lines learned and was working on everybody else’s (it is helpful to know the whole script, so you can help out if the actors get off track) (but that’s a whole other blog post) (then again, why should I worry about getting sidetracked on Non-Sequitur Thursday?).

Where was I?  Ah yes, nowhere.  As usual at these times, I will look for a picture to post.

“Doh! Wrong holiday!”

What could be more non-sequitur than Santa Claus in a Halloween shirt? (That could be a rhetorical question, but if anybody has an answer, feel free to comment below.)  This picture is from last October, but Santa is wearing that shirt now.  Alas, I cannot wear it myself any more, because I have worn it out.  It is riddled with itty bitty holes.  We have not decorated much for our favorite holiday this year.  Perhaps tomorrow or Saturday I will take pictures of what there is (besides Santa) and make a blog post about it.  I’m too lazy to do it now.  Additionally, I have to run soon to a rehearsal for the Haunted Historic Four Corners Tour I mentioned in yesterday’s post.

I need another picture.

Whodunnit? We’ll never tell!

Since I’m feeling a little sad about A Trivial Murder, I’ll share the picture of last October’s A G.R.A.V.E. Murder.  That was a fun one.

“Where have you been all my life, tall, dark and gruesome?”

Just to add one more photo, and to remind myself that it is so Thursday (I’ve had a four day week so get a little confused), I close with this.  Who doesn’t love Frankenstein’s monster with a mermaid? (That one was definitely a rhetorical question.)  I wonder if I have any beer in the fridge…

 

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Monday Monster Musings

Posted on October 16, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I should have known what kind of a day I was going to have when I cut my grapefruit in half and forgot to cut on the equator.  I haven’t done that since my sister showed me after she learned it in Home Economics!  (So I already knew it when I took Home Economics two years later; sometimes it’s not so bad being a little sister.)  So I did learn something today:  it is possible to eat an incorrectly cut grapefruit with a spoon.

I know, other people had other things happen to them — their own fault or otherwise — that were far more uncomfortable, inconvenient, or worse.  But I was struck by my own ineptness and wanted to mention it.

Could this be the reason I mis-cut my grapefruit?

I thought I would add a picture to pep things up and found this little cutie in my Media Library (I tried searching for something new, but had no luck and less patience).  So here we have a Monstrous Monday post.

It is also a Post-Rehearsal Post, because I have recently returned from a rehearsal of A Trivial Murder, the interactive dinner theatre we are putting on to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society (perhaps you read my other blog posts bout it).

Our host doesn’t look like this, but he has a more winning smile.

That is the cover photo on the Facebook event of the mystery.  Murder is pretty monstrous, right?

I hardly ever share this monster, but it is almost Halloween.

Here is another monster who is supposedly human. (Spoiler alert: I’m about to talk about endings of Halloween movies!).  I say supposedly, because I saw Halloween II, where he walked out of a flaming room in flames himself and flopped down on the floor, continuing to burn.  I could buy that he got shot and walked away after the first Halloween; maybe they missed all vital organs and it only looked like a lot of blood.  Those flames would be really hard to live through.  I did not see another Halloween movie till Halloween H2O, and I don’t remember how they dispatched Michael Myers in that one (although I saw it just now when I Googled Halloween H2O to see how to spell “Michael Myers”) (and I still think it’s funny that he has the same name as the guy from Wayne’s World).

So this is my Monday post.  Sufficiently monstrous, I trust.  I hope to see you all on Tuesday, when I hope not to be too Tired.

 

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Wednesdays are Murder

Posted on October 11, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Shall we blame this on menopausal brain fog, seasonal allergies, or, well, me?  The fact is, after Monstrous Monday and Tired Tuesday, today is Wuss-out Wednesday.  But perhaps I can give another plug to A Trivial Murder, the interactive dinner theatre to benefit Herkimer County Historical Society.  I just got back from another rehearsal.  I need to learn my lines.

The setting is a special taping of “Who Knows Herkimer History?” that popular game show, with our new host, Gary “Herk” Henderson.  The previous host, Jack German, died under mysterious circumstances, but let us not allow such gloomy thoughts to intrude. Tonight is also exciting, because of our returning champion, Ned Frances, who has been winning for an unprecedentedly long time.  Will someone cut off his winning streak?  Will our glamorous Prize Girl, Scarlett Scarsdale, be awarding cash and prizes to a new champion?  According to producer Evelyn Moore, our resident historian, Dr. D. Devonshire, has promised some tough questions.  All the excitement will be recorded by Bernie Woods, writer for Game Show Gambit magazine.  Things will be started soon by our announcer, Rod Toddman.

How does that sound for program notes? I think I’ll email it to the historical society and see what they think.  In the meantime, local readers might like to make reservations for the show:  Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, 6 to 8 p.m. at Ilion Moose Lodge, 302 Barringer Rd., Ilion, NY, doors open at 5 p.m. $25 per person for turkey dinner and the show.  For reservations, contact the society at 315-866-6413.  For more information, consult the Facebook event.

 

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Was it a Killer First Draft?

Posted on October 3, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Words to live by!

Of course, the first draft I just finished should have been done a week ago, but we cannot always live up to the ideals we set for ourselves.  The important thing is, I wrote it, I typed it into the laptop, I printed it out, I will edit and polish it, I will email it to the cast.  Then it’s on to rehearsals and performance, but right now I’m writing about writing.

Well, maybe a little about rehearsal and performing.  The draft I finished was for A Trivial Murder, the interactive dinner theatre we are presenting as a fundraiser for Herkimer County Historical Society.  The performance will be Saturday, Nov. 3, 6 p.m. at the Ilion Moose Lodge.  For further information, you can reference the Facebook event.

I feel a little self-conscious admitting in public like this that I am just finishing the script.  We are a month away from performance!  Well, murder mysteries don’t take as much rehearsal as a full-blown play.  Up north, where we had a company called Murder For Hire, we used to put them together in three rehearsals:  Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and go on Saturday!  I was younger and more energetic in those days.  Now I feel more secure with a little more time.

However, I am feeling increasingly good about this show.  After a few glitches, I got a really wonderful cast.  I think everybody will fit their part fine and fill it out with little touches I didn’t even think of when I wrote the lines.  That is why writing scripts is more exciting than writing novels.

Writing a novel, incidentally, is my next project.  Why don’t I have a novel published yet?  I am almost 55.  I was about to say, time to get off my butt, but in fact it is time to sit on my butt in front of a notebook or keyboard and get going.  I’ll write a few blog posts about it along the way.

 

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In the Mood for Monsters

Posted on October 2, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

“Ya wanna see my bug collection?”

I need a little Tucker to cheer me up.  This is my friend Tucker in our recent murder mystery, Donate to Murder.  He was very funny.  I hit “New Post” wanting to make this a Monday Moan post, but it’s just a mood and there is no reason to inflict it on my readers (although I know I do sometimes).  So I thought a Monstrous Monday was in order.  When I went to my Media Library (you say “Media Library” in a pretentious tone of voice), this little gem caught my eye. I do feel a little cheerier.  I wonder what other monsters I can find to pep up my post.

Mmmmm… garlic.

I thought I’d throw in a little garlic first, in case I include any vampires.  This is from the Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival in Little Falls, NY, last September.  Good times, good garlic.

“Curses! I forgot my sunscreen!”

It is ironic that the sign says “NO SMOKING” when Blackula is smoking hot.  I may have made that observation before, but even the best of us repeat themselves sometimes.

Christopher Lee is the favorite Dracula of many.

I do love a Hammer horror film.

Oh, he is a fine, scary dude!

You knew I was going to include Nosferatu, didn’t you?  I hope nobody minds a vampire-heavy Monstrous Monday.  After I put in the garlic, I felt kind of obligated. This has been, I admit, another foolish post. In my defense, I am working hard on the next mystery, A Trivial Murder.  More information on that will be forthcoming!  Happy Monday, everyone.

 

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Judge If You Want: It’s Wuss-out Wednesday

Posted on September 27, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sorry, folks, it’s Wuss-out Wednesday.  What little writing I managed at work today was on the next murder mystery.  I went to the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Ilion, NY, after work, looking for something I could modify into a 1920’s dress for an upcoming fundraiser.  I thought I could do a post about the shopping or about the fundraiser.  I could even do a post about the problems I am having writing and casting the murder mystery (one effects the other, you know).  I find I can’t.  I need my time sitting on the couch, knitting, and watching television.

Oh dear, it might have sounded better if I said something like, “I need my time for me” or “I need time to rest, relax and renew.”  Well, judge me if you like;) I know some of you will anyways) (you know who you are) (oh, what do I care if people judge me?  Don’t we all judge each other sometimes?) (Oh, I suppose YOU never do!) (again, you know who you are).

Where was I?  Ah yes, posting quickly so I can pick up my knitting needles, not to mention a glass of wine (again, judge if you are so inclined).  The important points about today:  I worked a little on my murder mystery.  I am having problems gathering a cast.  I shopped at the Thrift Store.  I have a fundraiser coming up with a 1920’s theme.  I hope to expand upon all these topics in future blog posts.

I hope your mid-week is going well.

 

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Up Next: Murder Most Trivial

Posted on September 20, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went to work this morning determined to write on breaks and lunch, as well as right before the first buzzer rings.  I usually get to work early.  I used to always write my blog post at that time. Did I do so this morning?  Alas, no.  What the hell happened to me?

However, the news is not all bad.  While I was working, I got a couple of good ideas for my next murder mystery.  I quickly jotted them down when I got a chance.  I was mysteriously unable to write any more, but one does what one can.  Herkimer County Historical Society, beneficiary of the murder mystery, had asked for the premise and title for their Facebook page.  I thought I could manage that much.  This is what I messaged them:

The title of the mystery is “A Trivial Murder.” We’re all here for a taping of the game show, “Who Knows Herkimer History” with our host, Gary “Herk” Henderson. Gary is actually the new host. The original host died under mysterious circumstances, but let us not allow such gloomy thoughts cloud our evening! You should also just ignore those rumors that our returning champion has been given the answers in advance. There’s no scandal here! That journalist is here to do a puff piece, not a muck raking scandal-monger.

Looking over it again, I see where it could be improved.  And improve it, I will!  But not for this blog post.  For one reason, this is Wuss-out Wednesday, and I am only slightly less brain dead than I was yesterday (which I just now realize I should have categorized under “Tired Tuesday”) (another indication of my brain dead condition).  Then again, slightly less is still less.  I bet I’ll have that murder mystery finished in no time!  Can better blog posts be far behind?

 

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Getting Ready to Kill!

Posted on September 16, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Just when I thought I was going to have to make a fast, foolish post before getting ready for our show tonight, I checked my email and found pictures!  My friend Matt  took these pictures at last night’s rehearsal.  Now I can talk some more about Donate to Murder.  This will be great!

Donate to Murder, regular readers may recall, is the murder mystery LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company, is presenting at the Herkimer Elks Lodge tonight.  I really need to be showering and getting ready, but of course blog posts must be made (or else they are not blog posts).  So here are the pictures and a few brief comments by me.

Now when a woman has a flower in her teeth, they say it’s sexy.

This is Renwick Spaulding, a lover of bugs.  When I gave him a rolling cockroach I just happened to have (a relic of another murder mystery), he immediately adopted it as his best friend, Edward.  Now Edward is my favorite character in the play.  Good playwrights are not resistant to script changes.

Personally, I think plaid is sexy.

My husband, Steven, is also featured as Dudley Turnbull, a lover of dogs but hater of dog poo.  My character, Miss Phoebe Larkspur, cringes when he mentions “poop” instead of saying the dogs “do their business.”  The other lady is Flora Fertenza, a kind of a flower child.

It’s a dramatic moment. Take my word for it.

 

I have a little hostility towards Flora at first.

Yes, one of these people is a murderer.

Here is the whole crew: Phoebe Larkspur, Meryl Barrymore, Flora Fertenza, Harold Greene, Dudley Turnbull, and Renwick Spaulding.

And now I have to jump in the shower.  Crap, I hope I can remember my lines!

 

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Looking for Lame Inspiration

Posted on September 15, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I tried hard to make a “real” post yesterday, because I knew I would be strictly lame today.  Then again, it is Lame Post Friday, and I have been known to post lame even after a whole week of stinkers.  So I will drive on, even though quite frankly, I feel like I got nuthin’.

“Nothing, you say? But you have BLOOD!”

As I often do, I look to Nosferatu for inspiration.  As I typed in the caption, I remembered a quote often repeated and I have no idea who said it: Writing is easy; just sit down and open a vein.  That is probably not even the right quote.  But I get the idea that I am supposed to bleed. Quite frankly, I have almost never found writing to be that painful.  Perhaps that is why I am a silly blogger and not the winner of some prestigious literary award.

I almost put “only a silly blogger,” but I do not feel it is nothing to make a blog post every day, even if many of them are lame.  I can always build on this and write more.  I always intend to.  In the meantime, how about a blog post now.

Since I wrote about Shattered Angel‘s dress rehearsal yesterday, it would be nice if I mentioned Donate to Murder‘s dress rehearsal tonight.  Of course, our murder mystery is by no means as vast an undertaking as Angel, and it lacks Angel‘s historical significance.  However, I expect to entertain a number of people.  We have certainly enjoyed our rehearsals.  If only I had taken some pictures.

Once again, Donate to Murder is to be presented at Herkimer Elks Lodge tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $25 per person and are available at the downstairs bar at the Elks lodge, 124 Mary St., Herkimer NY, or by calling 315-866-1439.

 

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Add Monsters and Stir. I Mean, Hit Publish

Posted on September 13, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about some Mid-Week Monsters?  It’s a new feature, for when I forgo Monstrous Monday.  It is, in fact, another Pre-Rehearsal Post (I guess that could be a category, too), because we are soon to leave for rehearsal for Donate to Murder, the murder mystery dinner theatre LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company, is presenting at Herkimer Elks this Saturday, Sept. 15.  Steven and I are wearing our costumes, although I do not have pantyhose on (I’m certain my character would wear pantyhose).  Also, I could not find my grandmother’s pearls, which I thought would work for my character (full disclosure: they are not real pearls, but they look nice).  Luckily I have TONS of beads, vintage and otherwise.

What a long first paragraph.  I do babble on, don’t I?  I thought this was going to be a monster post.  Let’s see what I can find.

Not the best depiction of Julia Adams, but a pretty cool poster nonetheless.

Look, I can also include a foreign language lesson.  Sometimes I can so multi-task (although most days I barely manage just to task).  Steven and I just watched Creature from the Black Lagoon on Sunday.  Perhaps you read my blog post in which I mentioned it.  And while we’re visiting foreign countries…

I think this one has better artwork, but I like the lettering in the Spanish version.

And look at me, over 200 words on a Wuss-out Wednesday (I guess this post fits multiple categories).  I do like to include three pictures, so I will pull something from my Media Library.

“Love! Exciting and new!”

I never knew the Creature guest starred on The Love Boat. I suppose he is quite an actor. Perhaps I could use him in a murder mystery sometime.

 

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