Tag Archives: murder mystery

Oh Crap! Who Shall I Kill?

Posted on August 22, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I posted Tuesday for Monday then neglected to post Tuesday and Wednesday.  It is now Thursday morning and I believe I am rapidly losing what is left of my mind.  For one reason, I started to type in “neglected” but started out “deg”  then stared at it wondering why it looked wrong.  Coffee, please kick in soon.

Oh crap, I can’t find the picture I am looking for.

I was searching for a coffee mug other than the Halloween one I have been showing lately, specifically the one I am actually using from Dyn’s Cider Mill (brief shout-out to a local business) (come to think of it, I must go there soon).  I know I have one but it proved elusive. I decided plastic poop would do.

As I struggle with blogging and most other things in my life (not whining, just observing; I know we all struggle), I sometimes get a few things done.  One thing was to set an actual date of the murder mystery I am writing to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  October 12.  Why I had it in my head they wanted the first weekend in November, I do not know.  However, I had an inspiration for a better victim and plot (a little easier to write, too), so I am going great guns.  Additionally, I have emailed several potential actors.

Now who would kill a beautiful lady like this?

Unfortunately only one actor has emailed me back, but I expect to hear from the others as I go along.  In the meantime, I hope to finish the script this weekend.  It is so fun to write when things just clip along, as they sometimes do.

In the meantime, I hope to return to my previous daily habit of making blog posts.  I thank everybody for tuning in.

 

 

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What Is the Matter with Me?

Posted on August 14, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

This is so embarrassing.  It seems about once, sometimes twice a week, I write a blog post apologizing about not making daily blog posts and promising to do better.  Obviously I do not.  I could offer all manner of excuses and explanations, but excuses are often lame (and it is not Lame Post Friday, alas!) and I always say explanations are tiresome.

All that said, it feels pretty good to be ten-finger typing on my Chromebook, putting down some words, any words.  Why do I no longer do this every day? Why am I asking that again when I JUST SAID that explanations are tiresome?

Looks delightfully evil, yes?

I threw in a picture to jolt myself out of self-incrimination and more tiresomeness.  I have not used this coffee mug in a while, but I have enjoyed my morning coffee, as I do most mornings.  Full disclosure:  Sunday I drank tea, because my stomach was upset.  That tasted pretty good too.

Random picture to denote passage of time while I get more coffee.

The above picture is the Capitol Theatre in Rome, NY, a delightful old movie palace, from back when the term “palace” truly applied.  It is, perhaps, symbolic of my life.  I feel I need to make some changes, begin a new chapter.  Somebody somewhere said there are no second acts in real life, but does anybody really believe that?  I don’t even remember who said it.

Must go here soon.

The theatre picture is also relevant, because I have at least one theatrical project I need to get going on, namely a murder mystery I am writing to be presented for the benefit of Herkimer Historical Society.  This third picture is a local business I may visit soon, Rose Quartz Stand on Mohawk Street in Herkimer, NY (do I have to keep putting NY?).  I want to purchase some iron pyrite for use as a prop in the murder mystery.  Does that pique your interest?  I hope so, as I will no doubt be sharing more about the mystery as I go along.

That is, if I manage to make more blog posts.  I have neglected a few good Mohawk Valley adventures I had recently and hope to remedy the omission (preview of coming attractions).  In the meantime, I thank any readers who are still tuned in, and welcome (dare I hope?) any new ones.

 

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Late, Lame, at Least It’s a Post!

Posted on July 6, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I guess I had a couple more blogger’s sick days in which I did not even have the wherewithal to post a few whiny words about how I couldn’t make a blog post.  Ooh, here’s a Freudian typo:  I first put “shiny words.”  I guess I want to feel that my talent as a writer always shines through.  It is my one talent, after all.  Or do I flatter myself?  Never mind, on with my Lame Post Friday post, made early-ish Saturday morning.

That magic elixir, coffee.

I am on my second cup of coffee.  I am enjoying it quite a bit.  I went without if for two days, substituting tea for my morning cuppa (I believe I mentioned it the last time I made a blog post).  I love tea, but coffee is what gets me going in the morning.  Not that I am actually going right now, but I am blogging, so we’ll call that a win, however lame this post may turn out to be (I am thinking very, but I am also my worst critic) (that earlier line about my writing talent notwithstanding).

Only a dream?

It took me a long time to find a second picture to liven up the post.  This is from 2017, a really good year for my container garden.  I was determined to have one this year, but, alas, not determined enough.  Perhaps I can get out and at least do a few things in the yard this morning.  Unfortunately, it is supposed to rain (my bunions and the weather forecast said so).  I think I even heard a few drops earlier.  I suppose I could do a certain amount in the rain, then take a very soapy shower, hoping not to track too much mud between the door and the bathroom.  It might be a good idea to eat breakfast first.

 

These plants don’t seem to have any problem growing.

I wanted to add one more picture.  Regular readers may remember that this was meant to serve as inspiration for the murder mystery I must finish.  That will be a good thing to work on if it pours rain later.  Such plans!  Such ambition!  Will I accomplish anything?  The uncertainty will add interest to my Saturday.

 

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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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Not the Hole Story

Posted on June 27, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sooo… by making my Tuesday blog post on time, I broke my streak, because I did not post anything yesterday, Wednesday.  I can’t get too exercised over it, though, because by my rules for me, this will count as my Wuss-out Wednesday post, and my streak will only be broken if I fail to post anything for Thursday, whether I post it today or early Friday morning (ooh, yes, tomorrow is Friday) (with apologies to all those who work Saturday).

What could this be?

This may look like a random photo for Waste Not Want Not Wednesday, but it is much more than that, at least in my twisted mind.  It is a well outside the Herkimer County Historical Society.  They dug in this well for artifacts some years ago and found some interesting things.  Now, as you see it is overgrown.  But could it have future relevance and interest?  At least fictionally, it could!

I took this picture after walking to the Society to purchase some post cards (regular readers know I like to send post cards to people).  I thought it would inspire me.  You see, I began writing a murder mystery for the Historical Society centering around this very hole in the ground (ooh, I just thought of a good title for this post!).  Full disclosure:  I began to write it last year for our fall show but felt it was too complicated a plot for my brain at the time.  I wrote Lights, Camera, Murder! instead, which I think worked out pretty well.  More recently I came across the notes for the other and was surprised by how much I had written on it.  I said, “Heeyyyy!”  or some such expression.

Many accept the rule that writing about not writing is still writing.  I will add that writing about what one is going to write is also still writing.  Now I just have to write it.

(That last sentence would have made a good title too.)

 

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I Like LiFT

Posted on June 14, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Another day, another late blog post, and I am tired.  This is getting to be a theme with me.  I guess I need to get more exercise and eat more vegetables.  Anyways, it is early Friday morning and I am going to try for a late Throwback Thursday post.  I can only hope the coffee kicks in as I scroll my Media Library.

It was a dramatic moment.

My favorite kind of throwback is theatre throwback.  This is from Much Ado About Nothing, the first Shakespeare play I was in with LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company.  They have once again not done summer Shakespeare for a couple of years. Perhaps I can help get something going for 2025.

I always hang out with suspicious-looking people.

Here is another project with LiFT, Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, an interactive movie mystery set in a 1920’s speakeasy.  I was Ruby, and that may or may not have been coffee I was drinking earlier.

I miss rehearsals!

Here is a rehearsal shot from The Tempest, another LiFT production.

This was a fun one.

I had to search for this one.  It is Donate to Murder, a murder mystery LiFT put on to benefit Herkimer Elks back in 2018.  As we rehearse there for other mysteries, I have talked to the Elks about doing another, but we haven’t nailed down any particulars.  I hear Little Falls Elks would like a murder mystery.  I do like doing murder mysteries.

As I type this, I am on a temporary hiatus from theatre.  I need to finish writing one for Herkimer County Historical Society.  I also need to get my house clean, get my bills paid,  finish the yard and deck work my Mom and sister got such a good start on, answer a couple of letters, oh, and return an overdue library book.  I have left a couple of things out, but I see I am over 300 words.  At least I have made Thursday’s blog post!

 

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At Least I Made a Blog Post

Posted on May 20, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I allow an episode of Columbo to play while I make my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.

I had my coffee earlier.

I like Columbo every day of the week, not just Sunday, but Sunday seems like an especially good day for him.  I have seen this episode enough times that I can let it play while I post.  I have had a kind of a wrist to forehead day.  I did not actually swoon (I have not a suitable chaise lounge for it anyways, as regular readers may recall), but I had a kind of dramatic bout of I Can’t Do Anything.  That, of course, plagues me regularly, the result of my depression or my innate laziness, but it is often worse on a Sunday.  I usually try to embrace the uselessness, just relax and enjoy the day.

I watched a cheesy horror movie, Manos: The Hands of Fate, a really foolish movie.  I had not meant to watch it, but it was on a DVD with three other movies, and I could not find the remote that allows me to arrow down to another choice.  I later found it right in front of me.  I used to accuse my husband Steve of hiding my things.  He would hide them in one of three insidious places:  Right Where I Left Them, Where They Belonged, or Out in Plain Sight. He would give an evil laugh and admit everything.  After I started the second movie on the DVD (also not the one I wanted to watch), I paused it to call my parents.  While talking to them, I talked myself into trying to mow my lawn. one of the chores I had felt utterly incapable of doing.

What can I say?  I fought the lawn and the lawn won.

From another year. The lawn won then, too.

EEEEE!  That was one of the more brutal murders on Columbo, and I looked up just in time to see it.  I’m always sad when I like the victim.  Sometimes the victim is a fool who tries to blackmail the murderer (in fact, the second victim usually is).  I sit there saying, “Are you ASKING them to murder you?”  When I write my murder mysteries, I usually make the victim a sonofabitch, hated by all.  For one reason, it gives everybody a motive.

I see I am approaching 400 words.  That’s pretty good for a nothing post.  Will the coming week bring posts of more substance?  We shall see.  I certainly hope you will tune in to find out.

 

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In the Mood for Monsters?

Posted on April 30, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl
In the Mood for Monsters?

Hello and welcome to another Monstrous Monday post.  I can’t say my Monday has been thoroughly monstrous, but I am feeling… well, never mind how I am feeling.  It is tiresome to always listen to someone whine about their feelings.  Anyways, I may very well feel differently after I encounter a few of my favorite monsters.

An evocative shot, yes?

Here is one from my favorite Nosferatu, the 1922 silent film.  They made more use of shadows in the older movies.  I think it is scary.  I like it.

Which is the bad guy?

In the interests of using a picture I haven’t used many times already (yes, I am still going to my Media Library for Monstrous Monday; haven’t learned how to get new pictures on the Chromebook yet), I show this one, which I do not remember using before and have no idea what movie it is from.  It looks like an alien and a fish monster.  Do any of you recognize it? If so, please comment and tell me.

A more homegrown monster.

Tired of looking for more movie monsters, I offer this show of my own Bonita, wearing a doggy devil mask I picked up at a rummage sale.  It is hard to see, but she is holding the bouquet of black tulips my friend Jerry made for a murder mystery.  He presented them to me after the performance, and they have been part of my Halloween decor ever since.

And that brings me over 200 words.  Score!  I thank my monsters, and I thank my readers for tuning in once again.

 

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No Rainbows, No Husband, But It’s Sunday

Posted on April 29, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here I am making, or at least attempting to make a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  Full disclosure:  I have had a few drinks. The first was in the nature of Hair of the Dog, since I indulged yesterday (judge me if you will; I had a murder mystery!).  The following were because the first tasted so good.  Oh dear.  It sounds as if I could use to go to one of the them there 12-step meetings. Never mind.  Tonight I will merely try to get a blog post done.

Oh dear (I say it again), this is terrible. I wanted to download a picture of the murder mystery we presented to benefit the Salisbury Grange yesterday, and I can’t seem to do it.
What’s that all about, Chromebook?  I was hoping to share the pictures as a valid excuse for me to not have a decent post today.  Oh well, my excuses are not always valid at the best of times, so let me get on with the post.

Not today, alas!

Since I could not find what I wanted in my Media Library I at last settled for this shot taken from my porch in September 2022.  I spent some time sitting on m porch today with my friend Kim.  The headache was somewhat in abeyance, and I wanted some companionship.   We got some rain but, alas, no rainbow.  Still, it was nice to sit out on the porch with my friend.

We were having a fine time!

I wanted one more picture to end with and found this one of Steven, my late, dearly missed husband, busting a move at the Mohawk American Legion to the tuns of The Posers, our favorite local band.

I see I am over 250 words.  Score!  I hope you all had a delightful weekend and look forward, as I do, to a lovely upcoming week.

 

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Run Before Murder

Posted on April 27, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Remember Saturday Running Commentary?  I would get up on a Saturday morning, go for a run, then write a blog post about it.  I have recently re-started running AGAIN, and I would like to do a Saturday Running Commentary post.  For one reason, if I do not make my blog post this morning, there is every chance I will not get to it later.  I do not want to break my streak!  Um, that is, my streak of blogging. I have never actually been streaking; sorry if that gave you an unfortunate mental image.

When I woke up this morning, I thought I would not run.  I must recruit my energies for Deadly Night Life, the murder mystery being presented at Salisbury Grange this afternoon.  However, after drinking some coffee and contemplating my day, I decided to go.  It could be a short run.  It will never be a fast run.  I could do this.

I thought I would run the way I walked to the Elk Lodge on Thursday.  It was an indirect route, amounting to about a half a mile.  Then I could keep going till it was a mile.  At least I would go a mile.  Maybe more.  Maybe 20 minutes.  No pressure.  Up to German Street and turn right.  I went as far as the path over what used to be a hydraulic canal, one of my favorite places to walk or run.

The spots are a little faded now.

I did not “Step, “March,” “Tiptoe,” etc. as advised by the printing at each painting.  I may do so if I ever walk the path with my great niece and nephew.  I continued to go through the County Office Building parking lot, so I could defy a couple of Do Not Enter signs.  Regular readers know how I love to do that.

Running past the Elks Lodge (which I cannot find a photo of in my Media Library, nor can I find a Do Not Enter sign), I saw a lady walking a cute dog.  I called good morning and asked if I could pet her dog.  The poocher was certainly eager to be petted.  The lady said it was a good reason to take a little break from a jog.

“It encourages me to keep going,” I told her.  We wished each other a nice day and moved on.  It is always a good run when I get to pet a dog.

I continued past my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners, going close to the 1834 Jail, so Chester Gilette could look out the window at me.

I thank whoever put him in the window!

I ended up running for 20 minutes.  I can’t tell you how much over a mile it was, because my Garmin is across the room from me, and I am recruiting my energies.  I have a murder mystery today, you know!

 

 

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