Tag Archives: not writing

What Would Truman Capote Do?

Posted on March 13, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had the intention to combine my Throwback Thursday and Lame Post Friday posts and thus pretend I am caught up, but of course it is a little Non-Sequitur to be posting on the wrong day, and I do have a feature of Non-Sequitur Thursday.  Then again, it is kind of a sequence to do Monday’s post on Tuesday, Tuesday’s post on Wednesday, etc.  What’s a blogger to do?

As long as I can wear a tiara, I’m good.

I was looking for a more appropriate picture, but then I thought, Why?  Did I not say Non-Sequitur Thursday?  Or Throwback Thursday, although this is only throwing back to a year ago, when I appeared in Four Old Broads on the High Seas with Players of Utica.  The blue hat in the background is another actor trying to photo-bomb.   I feel bad that she did not succeed.  I started to write a similar play.  I mean a silly comedy about a few older ladies.  I must put in more work on that.

There’s the photo bomb!

OK, now my two pictures are sequential, so perhaps Non-Sequitur Thursday is out of the question.  I don’t care. It is my blog and I will do what I like.

In a preview of coming attractions, I may go to a fish fry tonight, and I may go to a couple of my favorite fun local businesses during the day.  I may also do something to celebrate Friday the 13th, which always sounds like a holiday to me.  I could walk under a ladder or go into a theatre and mention MacBeth (that is a theatre superstition you may or may not be familiar with:  real theatre geeks must always refer to it as, “The Scottish Play.”

To explain the headline:  Truman Capote once said about some work or other, “That’s not writing, that’s typing.”

 

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Late Wrist, a Little Luck

Posted on March 9, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I let Sunday slip by without making a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post, and I realized I did not mention one of my activities from Slacker Saturday.  I volunteered for Herkimer Elks Lodge’s Casino Night.  Admittedly, there was not much I could do.  I can’t deal Black Jack, and somebody else was spinning the wheel.  I took over the chip table when the lady manning it went to get something to eat, and I got drinks for people at the Black Jack table.  I lamented that I did not have my Playboy Bunny outfit, but I think everybody was pretty much OK with that.

I gambled some $10 away on the wheel, winning and losing a chip or two at a time and not quitting while I was ahead.  It was fun, and I considered it a donation to the Lodge.

 

I am so maligned.

I just spent a bit of time searching my Media Library for a picture of the Elks Lodge, since I thought a picture would pep things up.  One might call that dilly dallying, but it surely does not constitute lolly gagging (which I always thought was one word when my mother used to accuse me of it) (and I will call you Shirley if I decide to).  Anyways, back to the blog post.

Sunday I did attend the HALO Luck Paws Auction, and won a basket.  I did not stay for the drawings but got a phone call later informing me of my luck.

I see I am over 250 words.  Score!  Will I make a Monstrous Monday post later?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my day.

 

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Late Slacker Saturday, but Shout-Out for the Cats!

Posted on March 8, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

This will be a late Slacker Saturday post and no promises about a Sunday blog post.  I am on my second cup of coffee, which should help matters, but as the late great Fats Waller said, One never knows, do one?

Drink coffee, write. Only two of my goals for today.

I thought I would throw in a coffee cup as an illustration.  I purchased this one at Athenix Books and Brews, just to throw in another shout-out to one of my favorite local businesses.  I got the ghostie pen holder there too (should it be “ghosty” or “ghostie”?  My computer thinks both are wrong.  I suppose I could say “ghostly,” but I think my little guy is too cute for that) (But I digress).

Yesterday I did a few things and reminded myself to make a blog post, even if it was a Slacker Saturday post.  Alas, I did not get to it.  I wrote my weekly post cards and walked them to the post office (that makes it sound like they walked along with me, perhaps on little post card leashes) (why did auto-correct capitalize “Little”?).  A little later (left it lowercase that time) I went to a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor (another shout-out!), then brought an afghan to Mohawk American Legion, where I donated it to the HALO Lucky Paws Auction for Sunday (today!).

HALO (and here we come to the real shout-out of the post) is the Helping Animals Live Organization.  This is the 17th Lucky Paws Auction.  I have attended many in years past and won great stuff.  They get tons of great donations: baskets for any interest, gift cards from area businesses, and an afghan from me!  It takes place today, Sunday March 8 at the Mohawk American Legion, 45 West Main St., Mohawk, NY, with viewing beginning at 11 a.m. and drawings beginning at 2 p.m.  If any local readers read this in time, I encourage you to attend!

 

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A Little Help with Self Help

Posted on February 13, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

On a recent visit to Athenix Books and Brews (the Brews are coming soon!), I saw a book I had read before and liked, Atomic Habits by James Clear.  It is about making small changes to have a large impact on your life.  It was recommended to me by one of my VA doctors, and I found it had a lot of helpful advice.  I decided I would like a copy of my very own.

No, it wasn’t nailed to the door.

 

Nick Bennett, the proprietor, praised my choice.  It turns out he read the book and loved it.  I am not surprised, because that young man definitely has his act together.  He said he loves self help books.  I do, too, but usually I read them and mess up on the follow-through.  Well, we can only do what we can do.

Speaking of not following through, I love to read books about writing.  Another VA doctor had recommended one about not just writing but any creative endeavor, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.  I got it on inter-library loan through midyork.org.  I was partway through it when it came due, but I was able to renew it.  I soon decided this was another book I should have for my very own.  Accordingly, I went to Athenix, and Nick nicely ordered it for me.  Full disclosure:  I also found two books to purchase while I was there.  Can you blame me?

Will they help? One can hope!

I took a picture of the two books for blogging purposes, including the pen-holding ghost and coffee mug I purchased on my first visit to Athenix.  The books in the background were purchased at some used book sale; I read them and am passing them on to my parents, who will perhaps pass them on to my sisters.  We are big readers in my family.

Athenix Books and Brews is located at 624 E. Main St., Little Falls, NY, open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  You can follow him on Facebook to stay updated on when the Brews will be available!

 

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A Train of Ducks?

Posted on February 3, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’m afraid the best I can manage today is a Monday Mental Meanderings.  I am helped in this by something that showed up in my Facebook Memories:

I envy people who have a train of thought, even if it jumps the tracks. My thoughts are on a rickety cart on a muddy path, pulled by an ornery mule who sometimes just sits down and refuses to go (I made that one up myself; I’m rather proud of it).
It’s kind of like the one about ducks in a row, where you say your ducks are scattered about and one of them is possibly a pigeon.  I stole that one.

See? One’s a frog!

I went to the trouble of taking a photo of a few of my ducks so I could throw in a picture to pep things up.  These are the latest in my collection, sent to me by me by my friend Kim.  She sent me the purse, too (that’s what the ducks were in).  I don’t remember where I got the frog;  I grabbed her off the dresser to add a random touch to the photo.

As you see, I do not have much today.  I am trying to make some improvements in my life so I can get more done, but I seem to be quite resistant to change.  Oh well, one does what one can.   The Facebook meme says, if you can’t do the dishes, wash one dish.  If you can’t get your ducks in a row, at least take them out of the purse.  If your train of thought is stuck in a ditch, just don’t kick the mule!

As a side note, some of my ducks were in a row once, courtesy of my sister Diane.  There are several in my bathroom and she lined them up neatly along the bathtub, just so  I would have… you know.  And I did, till I knocked them over getting out of the shower.

 

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But Truman Capote Didn’t Shovel the Driveway

Posted on January 28, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did venture from my house on Tuesday but did not take any pictures.  Today I have further adventures in mind, but I spent a certain amount of time shoveling my driveway and did take a couple pictures, so I will do a Pre-Adventure Snow Shoveling post.  I guess that is not a regular feature for Mohawk Valley Girl but I beg you will bear with me.

Monday, of course, was the terrible day of shoveling, with the snow all the way up to my bumper.  The bottom of the bumper, but still.  I am just a  crazy old lady with very few muscles.  I shoveled in two parts Monday.  Today I hoped to accomplish it in one.  Really, there was a lot less snow and most of it was at the bottom of the driveway where the plow had pushed it (I know they do not do these things on purpose).  I huffed and puffed and got it done, lamenting that the road is becoming narrower and narrower as the snow banks pile up.

White on white makes it a little hard to see.

The sidewalk plow had gone by at some point, but more snow had fallen, so I attempted to make a shovel’s width, which I consider the Reasonable Man Standard (an insurance guy taught me that expression).  I wanted to take a picture of what a lousy job I did on the driveway, but I was not sure it really showed.

I ponder my experience.

I took a selfie for entertainment purposes.  Also because my Melfi’s hat gives a shout-out to a local business.  Melfi’s shoes in Mohawk, NY is where I used to get my work shoes, when I used to work.  Now I am one of those people who Just Don’t Want to Work.  You can be polite and say I am retired.  I know I am lazy.

Apparently I was not too lazy to make a blog post of over 300 words (oh yeah, like sitting here typing is such an effort) (as Truman Capote once said, that’s not writing, that’s typing).  Now I must rouse myself further and try for a Mohawk Valley adventure.  We’ll see how I do.

 

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The Evil Pork Loin

Posted on January 25, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that title when I purchased a pork loin at the local grocery store for $6.66.  I mentioned to a worker who was stocking the meat case that I did not know how to cook a pork loin.  Then I saw instructions on the package.

“I am hooked up,” I declared.

I could not resist the price.

When Saturday was predicted to be one of the coldest days, I thought it would be an excellent day to run the oven.  That would be my Saturday blog post!

Of course it wasn’t.  I cooked with wine and went to bed early, having enjoyed a couple delicious slices of pork loin. It is now Sunday, and I am thinking that my cooking a pork loin, even an evil one, is hardly a blogworthy activity.  So now I am having a Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  It seems everyplace is closed in anticipation of the terrible storm we are supposed to be getting.  What can I do but sit home, watch Columbo, and eat leftover pork loin?

Not the Columbo I am watching, but a good one!

While searching my Media Library for a picture of Columbo, I came across some pictures of Prescription: Murder, the play I was in last year at Ilion Little Theatre. It was a great experience.  I need to audition for another play.  And organize another murder mystery.

A great group of people!

I close with a shot of the cast with the director and assistant director.  I would love to work with any or all of these people again.  So I end my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post on a positive note, perhaps a Preview of Coming Attractions.

Have you eaten any pork loin lately?

 

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Cloudy with a Chance of Lame

Posted on January 24, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have the most horrendous case of I Just Can’t Even!  I feel it is not terminal:  I did manage to take a shower and find something to wear, even putting on earrings.  Earlier today I wrote a story about a Frankfort Town Board Meeting and emailed it to my editor at Sentinel Media.  OK, that’s all I did.  But can I also do a Lame Post Friday blog post?  We shall see.

Bette mourns my dead hopes and dreams.

I wanted to throw in a picture to pep things up.  Here is the goddess Bette Davis in Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte. It is an excellent movie of the so-called Hagsploitation genre.  Or do I mean Psycho-Biddy?  I believe both terms are acceptable. I am old enough to be a psycho biddy myself. Watch out, world!

Is he pointing at me?

A little back-lit, but here is the statue of General Herkimer in Myers Park in Herkimer, NY.  I walk by this park on a regular basis.  However, I do not know if I will do so in the near future.  It is supposed to be extremely cold over the next couple of days.  I felt rather ill after my long walk on Thursday.  Oh, these colds hang on and on at my age.  No wonder there are so many psycho biddies out there!

How I might look if I had a wood burning stove.

I end with another psycho-biddy, our beloved Joan Crawford in StraitJacket.  I fear my headline is not necessarily reflective of this post, but let me reassure you.  My head is feeling quite cloudy, and I am, without a doubt, lame.

 

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Couldn’t Hurt, Might Help

Posted on January 23, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I was feeling better, but it turns out not so much.  I don’t like to go days and days without making a blog post, so I will attempt a Throwback Thursday.  Or maybe a Non-Sequitur Thursday.  No, that’s no good; I can never think of a good headline for those.

Snow, snow, snow.

I have left the house in the last two days, taking walks through the snow but not pausing for pictures.  I really felt I had spent too many days lounging around doing nothing and thought a couple short walks would help.  I guess they kind of sort of did.

It really was a dramatic moment.

I veer into theatre throwback with a shot from 2019.  I may be getting involved in some new theatre shenanigans soon.  I received an email about auditions for Ilion Little Theatre’s next production, Good-bye. Charlie.  Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 16th and 17th at the theatre at 6:30 p.m.  I probably have a meeting to cover on Monday, but I can probably make it on Tuesday.  I like to be in a play.

If only I don’t get snowed in!

I have not had this much snow in my driveway for a long time.  I can only hope for the best for the rest of the winter.  At least I have gotten over 200 words of a blog post for today.  I apologize if I seem less articulate than usual.  I feel sure another couple of good nights’ sleep will put me to rights.

 

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Lame Road to Recovery

Posted on January 17, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I think I am on the mend, but I certainly am not up to any blogworthy activities.  Lucky for me it is Lame Post Friday.

The long road to recovery?

I throw in a picture because I ran dry of words.  I actually still have quite a bit of a headache.  The reason I feel I am on the mend is that I have been able to sleep, at least a little.  I apologize about going on and on about my health.  I try not to be so tiresome.

A more squiggly path.

I think my brain is becoming even more squiggly.  Tomorrow I might try a walk outdoors if the weather is not too bad.  For one reason I have to mail my usual Saturday morning postcards.  I hope I can think of something more cheerful to write than, “I feel so sick!”

A regular stop for me.

I have not taken a walk since Tuesday.  That is unusual for me; I try to walk or run almost every day, although I have not been running much since the snow fell.   Actually it is the ice that bothers me more than the snow.  However, one advantage of being ill is that once I get better, I will be so sick of not moving, I will probably be delighted to go out and take a run.  It will at least make for a better blog post!

 

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