Tag Archives: not writing

Another Late Post, More Artwork

Posted on October 6, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was about to start this post, “I jumped out of bed all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed,” which would not have been entirely inappropriate since I also write fiction.  I pondered whether I had dragged, heaved, coaxed, or wallowed myself out of bed, eventually concluding that this was not really the point.  The point is: it is Tuesday morning and I am doing Monday’s blog post.  My late posting habit continues.  Quick, throw in a picture to pep things up!

I try a different perspective

I remembered after I took this one that I do not know how to turn a picture 90 degrees.  I lead with this one because I feel it is symbolic of how my life sometimes feels like it is turning sideways.  Does anybody remember the independent films Sideways with Paul Giamotti and Thomas Haden Church?  It was hilarious, and wine was prominently featured.  I should watch it again  to see if it could teach me any life lessons.

The classics hold up.

I segue from my messed up life back to the Herkimer High School seniors’ artwork.  I was a little surprised to see Snoopy, but I guess Peanuts has never really gone away.  Batman, of course, is continually being reinvented.

Peace, among other things.

It is very nice to see the Peace sign still prominently featured.  And I guess that is a good note to end on.  The real reason I dragged myself out of bed (picked a verb!) was to finish my article on the Herkimer Town Board for the Daily Sentinel.  Then I hope to meet friends for a late breakfast or early lunch (I was not clear on which) Pellettieri Joe’s in Utica (yes, I know, I could call it Brunch, but I feel that is something you have on a Sunday. I don’t really know about these things).  I guess I can call this a writing warm-up.  Thank you for participating.

 

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The Seniors Are At It Again

Posted on October 5, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well I am back to my old bad habits of posting early(ish) the next morning for the previous day’s post.  I had such good intentions yesterday (Sunday).  I sat down to make a poopy Wrist to Forehead Sunday post when I thought of taking a walk to pep myself up and make a Pedestrian Post.  Then I remembered the Herkimer High School senior had once again painted their parking spaces.  I could take pictures of that!  I set out in high spirits.

Maybe I’ll come back and take better pictures., especially of that one-eyed blob.

It felt so good to walk. This was a great idea!  Then I thought I should walk for two miles.  For one reason, my sister Cheryl wants to go see some trolls in Tupper Lake (cue jokes about dating prospects in Tupper Lake), and it is about a two mile walk.  I should be sure I can walk two miles.

A little better view of these two.

I went to the high school first, which my Garmin told me was about a third of a mile.  I tried to get pictures of all the painted spaces, but there was a car parked in one.  Also, as I tried to get more than one space in a shot, I don’t think I did justice to them.

Well, one does what one can after all.

My two mile goal had not sounded so bad, but my hip started hurting after one.  Oh dear.  It was such a difference from when I started out and it felt so good!  I decided to just go home.  But that little voice in my head kept nagging at me to go two miles.  As I got closer to home, I kept looking at my Garmin and pondering.  I went around an extra block.  And then I walked past my house.  I made it for two miles!  Yay me!

And then I felt too tired to make a blog post about it.  So I read a book, fooled around on Facebook, did a couple of puzzles in a puzzle book… And put off my blog post till just now.  On the brighter side, I am over 350 words and the post is more than just me whining about not making a post.  Additionally, I have several more pictures to share.  Will I make my Monday blog post on Monday?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my day.

 

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Am I a Blogger or a Mouse?

Posted on October 1, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Looking through my phone in hopes of doing a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday blog post, I realized I never used the pictures taken at the Elks Lodge the day a few of us wore our Minnie Mouse ears.  Bonnie, the friend who bestowed the ears upon us, had brought some snacks, and Jack made ice cream drinks.  A number of members showed up for the ice cream drinks without the ears, although Bonnie did bring an older pair of ears she happened to have, in case anybody wanted to wear them.

I thought I looked cute.

I had just purchased the polka-dot skirt at a thrift store that afternoon.  The shirt I had purchased for the second performance of A Revolutionary Murder, my most recent murder mystery.  The socks, shoes, pearls, and purse were already part of my wardrobe.  I guess it’s the theatre geek in me that loves to get dressed up at any excuse.

I think we all looked cute.

And here are me, Michele, and Bonnie, the three Minnies of the day.  We enjoyed the drinks and the company.

Even Minnie likes to put her feet up.

I told everybody I was going to be Maxie Mouse, Minnie’s more fabulous cousin for Halloween, but that means I have to find a really flashy outfit to go with my ears.  Oh, you think I probably already have some glitter in my closet?  It could be!

At any rate, this must do for my Wednesday blog post.  This morning I wrote my article about the informational meeting I attended in Herkimer last night, so I have performed some writerly chores today.  However, I must get back to work on the next murder mystery.  And there is that novel I told people I was going to write.  I’d better stop mousing around and have at it!

 

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Intrepidly Tripping Through Tuesday

Posted on September 30, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’ve had something of a stressful Tuesday, although that does not have the charm of alliteration.  That is my quite own fault; I am a victim of my own incompetence.  Never mind.  Let me make some semblance of a blog post.

I haven’t used this one in a while.

In fact, I was relieved this morning to wake up and remember that it was Tuesday instead of Monday.  Then I remembered I had yet to write my story about Monday’s Ilion Village Board meeting for the Daily Sentinel.  The meeting had been preceded by a Public Hearing on a proposed moratorium which is rather controversial.  A great number of Ilion residents attended, many of them voicing opinions.  It was a difficult story to write, but I managed it.

The controversy is over use of the former factory, but it is too complicated to cover here, in addition to not being totally fun.

I spent some time driving around Ilion getting pictures to go with the story about the regular board meeting, in which they talked about some abandoned properties they hope to refer to Herkimer County Landbank.  Back home, I attempted a little housework.  Eventually I took a walk.  It was a lovely day for a walk.  I made two stops along the way, to pay my school taxes and deposit a check in the bank (my payment for August stories for the Sentinel, by the way).

Right now I am trying to get my blog post done before I’m off to another meeting to cover for the paper.  This one is an informational meeting about a feasibility study for a road in East Herkimer.  I think it will not be controversial.

I don’t have many good Herkimer pictures in the Media Library.

I really feel like an intrepid girl reporter this week (older readers know what I am talking about: from a 1940s screwball comedy or cheesy horror movie).  I also have a budget hearing in Frankfort to cover on Thursday.  Will I have time for any Mohawk Valley Adventures amidst all this reporting?  Will I have time for more housework?  For the answers to these and other intriguing questions, stay tuned to Mohawk Valley Girl!

 

 

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I Do Love Halloween

Posted on September 24, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I don’t know what my problem is, but it seems I have one.  I was about to forget to make my Thursday blog post.  I think I can manage a Throwback Thursday.  Then I must, I really must at least attempt to do something useful.  I keep telling myself that no life is wasted, because one can always stand as a bad example to others, but that really leave a whole lot of unfilled time in an existence.

This would be a profitable use of my afternoon!

I thowback to October 2016 and a nicely decorated front porch.  Frankentree was not yet out of control.  I am not yet decorated for Halloween, but as it is still September, I shall not beat myself up over that.

I love that scarecrow lady peeking out!

I leap ahead to 2020, which is still a few years ago, and another good decorating year for me.  Will these pictures inspire me to get my Halloween house together?  I can only hope.

I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!

And yet I fear my own lack of oomph.  I am like the half-buried skeleton and the dried up plant in the background.  I never did my container garden this year so do not have any dead plants to decorate with now.  You see how I fail to plan ahead.  However, one cannot change the past; we can only go on from here.  At least I have made a blog post of over 200 words. As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Caffeine Can’t Help Me Now

Posted on September 22, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, here it is, a post without any pictures. I forgot to take any, and Richfield Springs is too far to drive this morning to rectify the omission.  I mean, I could find other things to do in Richfield Springs and make another trip there, but I have to go to Rome for a VA appointment at 10 and wanted to make my blog post before then, blah blah, woof woof, oh, just get on with the post, Cindy.

Have some more coffee, me!

I put in a picture anyways.  In fact, I have had a couple cups of coffee, but I used up all the oomph in that caffeine writing my story about last night’s Herkimer Town Board meeting for the Daily Sentinel.  Full disclosure:  I broke the mug pictured the other day by not paying attention when I thought I was setting it safely on the counter.  It was one of Steve’s favorites!  Only the handle broke, though, so I will glue it back together and display it on a shelf.

That was a distraction.  I was going to write about breakfast/lunch at Cassidy’s Diner at Richfield Springs, NY with my swimming group yesterday.  Some of us had breakfast, some had lunch.  It was quite delicious.  I think the best thing for me to do is to return to Cassidy’s, have another delicious meal, take pictures, and write a blog post exclusively about Cassidy’s.  I shall bill this as a Tired Tuesday post and scurry off to my VA appointment.  I wonder if I can get some advice on how to make the effects of caffeine last longer.

 

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Once Again, Better Lame Than Never

Posted on September 19, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

No, I really did forget to make my Lame Post Friday blog post on Friday.  I thought sure I would make it and be caught up.  Then I forgot.  I think the euphoria engendered by the afternoon cups of coffee I had chased all thoughts of blogging out of my head.  Or I am just old and forgetful.  No, that can’t be, because I have always been forgetful.  Quick, throw in a picture before I get more bogged down in self-recrimination.

Sometimes things do blow up in your face.

This picture ought to remind me I was going to work on my latest murder mystery yesterday.  Instead I did not work on anything, except for a little house cleaning. However, every day is a chance to do better than one did the day before.  Will I do better?  I shall try.

A reward if I do better?

Returning to my Media Library, this caught my eye.  This baker in Little Falls, NY has wonderful bread and is only open on weekends.  I refrained from purchasing anything from them the Saturday of the Garlic Festival, because I already had some good bread from Hannaford’s in-store bakery in my freezer and did not want to get too far ahead of myself.  That bread is gone now, though, so this could be a Preview of Coming Attractions.

My readers, sitting around waiting for me to finish a novel.

I remind myself that I also need to get my house cleaned and decorated for the upcoming holiday.  Will I have a Halloween party?  Will I finish the murder mystery I am working on?  Will I treat myself to artisan bread and if I do will I have earned it as a reward?  For the answers to these and other questions, tune in next time to Mohawk Valley Girl!

 

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Pretend It’s Still Wednesday

Posted on September 17, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last night I dreamed I neglected to make a Wednesday blog post early Thursday morning or even Thursday afternoon.  I do not know what day or time it was in the dream, but I searched for my computer, composing in my head, “Now I’ve done it, now I have done it.”  As is the way with dreams, I when I found my computer I could not log on properly or find where I wanted to go or anything.  Then I dreamed about something else.

Now it is prior to 6 a.m. (early by almost anybody’s standards) and I am sipping tea (the ubiquitous old lady tummy troubles) and wishing I had taken enough pictures for a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post.  I have gone to a couple of Mohawk Valley businesses but neglected to take pictures then either.  I used to post entirely without pictures but feel strangely loathe to do so now.

Something to feel a little sad about.

Looking in my Media Library for something to use for a Wayback Wednesday, I saw this and said, “Oh yeah, rats!”  A year ago I was preparing for this very race.  An invitation to register for it showed up in my email recently, and I sadly ignored it.  I am walking but not yet running.  I see my primary care physician next week and will ask her about the advisability of ever running again.

Unfortunately, I am not a night owl either.

I change the subject to something more cheerful, showing a present my late, dearly missed husband Steve gave me several years ago.  I need to find that mug.  It is in my cupboard somewhere.  The vampire is packed away with Halloween decorations. I will find him eventually.

I see I am approaching 300 words.  I am going to bill this as a Wuss-out Wednesday and drive on.  I will try for some kind of a Thursday post later today, but no promises.

 

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A Pause in Writing to Blog

Posted on September 15, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

It’s a late post week, I suppose, although it is not too late to turn things around.  Only I can’t look that far ahead.  It is early-ish Tuesday morning (these things depend a great deal on perspective), and I am taking a break from the story I am writing for the Daily Sentinel about last night’s Ilion Village Board meeting.  Sometimes these stories are an interesting challenge, because my editor does not want over 800 words.  I am at 793 right now, so that is OK, only I think my lead is a little, well, leaden.  So I hopped over here to chatter on for a bit and try to wake my brain up.  I am on my second cup of coffee, so that should help.

Where’s Juan Valdez when you need him?

As you may have guessed, this is a Monday Mental Meanderings.  I meandered so far away on Monday, I didn’t make my blog post till Tuesday.  In fact, I did little or nothing of note on Monday.  You’ll have that.  Will I improve things on Tuesday?  We shall see.

Oh, there’s a thought!

As I jumped back to my Media Library for another illustration, I saw this.  It was taken at Saturday Spreads in Frankfort, NY.  Check out the notebook, complete with purple pen!  That is what I must do today: Go someplace and write!  Yes, yes, I know, I ought to be able to stay right here and write.  Well, maybe that will work out this time.  I will try it both ways and report back.

In the meantime, I am over 250 words.  Score!  Back to my journalistic duties.

 

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Late Typing, if Not Writing

Posted on September 14, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’m up to my old tricks, missing blog posts and trying to make up for it the next morning (oh, here’s a Freudian typo: “typing” for “trying,” which of course echoes Truman Capote’s famous line, “That’s not writing, that’s typing.”  I fear it may be true).  I could not even manage a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post yesterday.  I cannot even say why.  My brain said no, and no arguments sufficed to get it to at least try.

Oh deer.

I throw in a picture to pep things up.  I confess to having rather a Wrist to Forehead Sunday but could not tell you why.  Just a mood, I suppose.  I could not do anything but read a book and doom scroll on Facebook.  I like some of the Reels, like We Rate Dogs and Stanzi Potenza.  Every so often I would pick up a puzzle book and do a Cryptogram puzzle or a deck of cards and play solitaire.  Now that I type it out, it does not sound like such a bad Sunday.  What am I complaining about?

Preview of Coming Attractions, I hope!

I cheer myself up with the reflection that fall approaches, and I will soon be noticing colored leaves and Halloween decorations.  Come to think of it, walks usually improve my mood if not my writing.  This is going to be great!  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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