Tag Archives: not writing

Is It Halloween Yet?

Posted on August 31, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just can’t get around it:  I have had a rash of really foolish posts, and I am about to make another.  I stared at a blank sheet of paper for a while on break at work today.  I just could not write down a word, not even a whiny word about how I could not write down a word.  In fact, right now I am by main force preventing myself from backspacing out the foolishness I have typed in thus far.  I have rehearsal for The Tempest at six.  I have to post and go.

I already wrote about The Tempest at the Herkimer Elks Lodge this Friday (perhaps you read my blog post about it).  I just yesterday posted pictures from monster movies.  I can’t do that again, can I?  Or can I?  Regular readers know, I like to make Halloween last all year.  In fact, it is almost time to begin celebrating Halloween anyways.  We can begin the day after Labor Day, right?

Isn’t she sweet?

Not from a monster movie, but a Halloween picture of my own.  We got this lovely lady at Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit last fall.  We LOVE Pumpkin Junction (I wrote an article about them for Mohawk Valley Living magazine).

Decorations by Steve.

Here is the front view of our house last October.  I wonder what Steven will come up with for this year.

And here is the decorator himself.

This is a shot of Steve at Pumpkin Junction.

So I guess this is my Wuss-out Wednesday post.  A few pictures from last year and a wish for Halloween.  Now it’s off to rehearsal for me.  Happy Wednesday, everyone!

 

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Speedy Saturday Post

Posted on August 20, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

My plan right now is to post something really really fast, so we can get on to the movie-watching portion of the evening.  I cannot do a true Scattered Saturday, because I have not done a whole hell of a lot today. I wrote some post cards and took a very uneventful walk to the post office to mail them.  Then I waited around till it was time to go to the Utica Zoo for this afternoon’s performance of The Tempest with LiFT Theatre Company.

The performance was fun and went pretty well.  I think the audience liked us.  The Utica Zoo is a fun place to be.  I only wish I had gotten there a little earlier, so I could have gone into the gift shop and purchased some post cards.  I do like to have a variety of post cards.

After the performance, my friend Kim and I drove back to Herkimer, where we went to a brief wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquors.  Then I went home, where my dearest husband Steven was, and we got some dinner at PK’s Pub.  Yes, I could write blog posts about the wine tasting or the dinner, or, for that matter, the performance of The Tempest or this morning’s walk to the post office (yes, I know, I said it was uneventful, when has that ever stopped me?).  So many posts, so little time.

I am now over 200 words.  I call that respectable.  Maybe not  a good post, but respectable. Happy Saturday, everyone, and I hope to see you all on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

 

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I Didn’t Act and Type

Posted on August 6, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

So yesterday before our play, I just felt I could not write a post.  I thought to myself, “That’s OK.  Sometimes on a Saturday, I drink and type.  Today I’ll act and type!”  That was my plan, and it was a good one (it has been a saying of mine since army basic training: “That’s my plan and I think it’s a good one.”).  Except I didn’t come right home after the play.  I went to a lady’s house.  I drank wine.  I knew I wasn’t driving, and that was good, because I put the seat back and slept part of the way home.  That may have been awkward had I been driving.

The show went wonderfully.  That is, The Tempest by LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company, in Caroga Lake, for those just tuning in or who forgot. I love acting, and I love community theatre.  This play has a delightful cast.  I like to hug the entire cast before a performance.  That gets awkward when there are people in the cast I don’t like.  Today I got pre-show and post-show hugs.  I can get very huggy.

Anyways, I went straight to bed when I finally got home.  I would still be asleep if it was up to me.  However, my husband has to be up.  He gets up early with me all week; I guess I can get up semi-early with him on the weekend.  As a added bonus, I can type in a kind of a blog post to make up for my miss on Saturday (that’s not writing, that’s typing, as Truman Capote once said).  Additionally, I did not have Lame Post Friday this week, which I almost always do.  So we an call this a Really REALLY Lame Post Saturday.  I hope to see you all later today on what is sure to be Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

 

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A Metaphor on Mental Meanderings Monday

Posted on August 1, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

As regular readers know, I have been having trouble writing lately.  This morning before work, I opened my notebook (for those just tuning in, the spiral-bound paper kind) and penned the following:

Once again I draw a metaphor between writing and running.  One one reason, I have not been doing enough of either.  In many respects it is a sound comparison.  Both can be difficult.  Both are wonderful when going well, painful when not.  You have to get through the painful parts to get to the good parts.

The most important aspect of either is:  You have to do it. You can’t just sit and think about it, although some thought is necessary.  It does not count just to by the best running shoes, socks and bras, nor yet a fine new notebook and perfect pen.  You can’t just stretch, and you can’t just make notes and outlines (I personally have never successfully worked form nor even completed an outline, although I am a prodigious note-maker).

I don’t know how much further I can go with this, but at least it got my pen moving.

After writing that much, I turned back a few pages and wrote a few more notes on the murder mystery I am writing for a fundraiser for the Herkimer County Historical Society (preview of coming attractions).  I know I said you can’t just write notes, but notes are a very important part of murder mysteries.  They are not just notes I write from.  They are notes I give the actors to help them build their characters and aid them in the improvised sections of the performance.  Just to give you a little peek into how these murder mysteries are put together.

I guess I don’t know if my little comparison between running and writing has any value to any other writers nor yet holds any interest for any readers.  However, it worked pretty well as a pep talk for myself, and I’m going to call it good enough for a Monday Mental Meanderings.  This blog is just about to go All Tempest All The Time, and right now, I have to get ready for rehearsal.  I hope to see you all on Tired Tuesday.

 

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Post Race Post

Posted on July 10, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was going to title this “To Dress or to Blog?”  but I did not want to invite unkind comments about how nobody wants to see me naked.  Also, it would not be clear that this is yet another post about the Boilermaker.  Which I just ran.  Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha! (That was a triumphant laugh, by the way.)

So this is not going to be a great post.  I ran. It was not easy for an overweight woman of my age who, as it turns out, perhaps did not train enough.  However, I finished without resorting to walking.  Full disclosure:  towards the end, my run could not catch up with some of the walkers.  I will write more about the run later.  For now my purpose is merely to publish something, so I can get on with celebrating my triumph as soon as Steven gets home from work.

For anyone just tuning in, the Utica Boilermaker is the best 15K race in the nation, possibly in the world.  It seems as if the entire City of Utica as well as the surrounding area turns out to run, volunteer or cheer folks on.  Runners come from all over the world, including elite runners from places like Kenya as well as those who run for fun and fitness from places like Syracuse and Rochester.  I believe folks come from farther afield, but I did not encounter any of those today.

My challenge now is to find a cute outfit to put on such that Steven will realize that the best way to celebrate is to take me out somewhere nice.  Or I could just sit here in my bathrobe, which I put on after a delicious shower, and he will probably make me a grilled cheese sammich.  I do like grilled cheese.  It is good to have options.  Tune in tomorrow, on Mental Meanderings Monday, which I will either tell you what I wore or describe in greater detail my triumphant Boilermaker run.  Happy Sunday, everyone.

 

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Or Words to That Effect

Posted on June 29, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I believe I have already used the title, “Crap, I Have to Make a Blog Post!”  I don’t have time to check.  I don’t have time to do much of anything except to type frantically and hope to get at at least 200 words before my ride to rehearsal gets here.

In my defense…  I have no defense (used that as a title, too).   I worked ten hours then went running.  OK, I didn’t do anything else useful.  No writing on breaks at work.  I studied my lines for The Tempest (the rehearsal I’ll be going to), but I can’t say I know them.  I don’t think I can even pretend I know them, and I like to think I’m a pretty good actor.

Be all that as it may (and I suppose it may), I seem to have stopped typing frantically.  Now I am typing slowly.  Then I stopped.  Oh, how dreadful.

I started a new novel recently.  Today is the first day I have not written anything on it. However, it is only 5:22 p.m. according to my laptop (17:22 according to my wrist watch).  I have time.  Shall I tell you anything about the novel?  NO!!!  If I tell you about it, I may not write it.  As it is, I may have already said too much.

And I have just gone over 200 words.  Maybe they were 200 stupid words.  I’m not a genius, I’m just a silly blogger (that is a paraphrase of a line from the movie Soapdish.  Sally Fields says, “I had my reasons.  Maybe they were stupid reasons. Hell, I’m not a genius, I’m just a working actress!”) (the quote might not be exact).

I think my ride is here.   We’ll call today’s bit of nonsense a Wuss-out Wednesday post.

 

 

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Murder on Monday

Posted on June 27, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Don’t get your hopes up;  I haven’t murdered anybody.  However, I have Agatha Christie on the mind today.  Why not muse about murder on Mental Meanderings Monday?  Yes, sometimes I just can’t help myself with the alliteration.  Well, here is a title with no alliteration: Death on the Nile.  It is one of my favorite movies.

I could only find a picture of the book. Sorry.

The movie is really a very good adaptation.  The book has a lot more characters and complications.  It is a little too much for me to compare/contrast right now.

OK, I guess it’s time for me to admit, this is another foolish post.  I can’t help it.  I’m tired, I have a headache, it was a difficult weekend.  No matter.  I shall post what I can and drive on.  I’ve been on the Agatha Christie Facebook page looking for pictures to share.  I fear I have not had much luck.

It was originally published under the title of 10 Little [something politically incorrect].

This is another movie adaptation which takes liberties.  I have seen a few versions of this, as well as acting in on on the Ilion Little Theatre stage.  I like it.

Now I must find one more picture to share, because I like to include three.  Hmmm….

Diana Rigg, Maggie Smith and Denis Quilley.

Pay dirt!  Here is a divine photo from Evil Under the Sun, another very good adaptation.  I will write another post discussing what makes a good adaptation and why I like these.  Today, I’m afraid it is beyond me.  I think I’ll go watch a couple of movies.

 

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Another Post in Haste

Posted on June 24, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Or posthaste, if you like to use old fashioned words (and I do).  I don’t know if I will have time to make a real post later, so I’m going to write a few words now.  Who knows, if I have a chance to get on the internet later, I may post again.  It isn’t likely, though, knowing me (and I do).

So this will make three silly posts in a row (some would use other adjectives; feel free to embellish), after three “real” posts in a row.  Will this be a pattern?  Nah, I’ll just continue to go with the flow, as always.  Oh, this is simply dreadful.  I begin writing a post, because I want to get it done NOW, and I don’t have a damn thing to say.  How embarrassing!  I would even say mortifying!  Or humiliating!  And I don’t even have a thesaurus handy.

Speaking of thesaurus and words, does anybody know the word that means offended but is stronger?  You know, like “mortified” is stronger than “embarrassed.”  I was trying to think of it the other day and came up blank.  The next day I came up with “outraged,” but that wasn’t quite right either, because you can become outraged at a true injustice not only a perceived slight (incidentally, the thing I was more than offended about was not perceived, it was a slight).  I thought of “mortified,” too, but, as mentioned earlier, that is more embarrassed than offended.  I think I may have thought of another one as well, but that one escapes me.  Hey, I’ve only had one cup of coffee this morning.

Ooh, look at that; I’m over 250 words.  Goody! So what do you think: intro, foolish paragraph, paragraph that might (or might not, I admit) amuse.  I’ll call that a post.  Now I’ll hasten on to the other crap I have to get done.  Happy Saturday, everyone!

 

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When in Distress, Vampires Often Help

Posted on June 16, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Earlier today, a friend at work gave me some icy-hot (it was Equate brand) to rub on my knees.  It seemed to help.  I have spent most of the rest of the day wishing I had something similar to rub on my attitude.  It’s not even Bad Attituesday!

It is, in fact, one of those days when I disprove one of my own rules: that writing begets more writing.  I just finished and emailed out two articles for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  Shouldn’t I be all raring to go and write my blog post now?  It turns out, not so much.  I was just futzing around Facebook, looking for pictures, because that always seems to be a good fallback post.  Of course nothing appeals.  Maybe I should look again.

When in doubt, look for monsters.  Here are a couple of pictures from Mark of the Vampire.  I found them on a page I Like called Murder, Madness and the Macabre, Our Favorite Nightmares.

Bela and friend.

I gotta get me a dress with sleeves like that.

I’ve seen Mark of the Vampire a couple of times.  I can’t believe I don’t have it on one of my horror collections.  Maybe my husband will buy it for me for my birthday (he usually reads this blog, teehee).

I’ll throw in another picture of Bela Lugosi to round things out (you know how I like to include three photos).  Here he is from Dracula in 1931.

“I bid you welcome.”

He was fine, yes.  I haven’t seen an old horror movie in a long time.  Perhaps that is the ice-hot for my attitude I seek.  At any rate, it couldn’t hurt.  We’ll call today a Non-Sequitur Thursday post (although the title I have in mind is more of a sequitur) and drive on. Thank you for tuning in, and I hope to see you all on Lame Post Friday.

 

 

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The Blog’s Gone to Pot

Posted on June 7, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I took some pictures of what I have so far for a container garden, hoping I could make up in pictures what I lack in words.  Seriously, my brain is dead and writing is just not happening for me.  Well, I’m not going to whine about it (although it is somewhat distressing) (no, no, NOT whine).  Instead, here are some pictures:

I guess you can’t see the flowers very well, but aren’t they pretty?

I had three pots with the design, but one broke last year.  Now that I look at this arrangement, it does not look as symmetrical as I had hoped.  Size-wise it’s good, but I don’t like the two decorated and one plain.  I’ll have to work on it.

Oh dear, you can see the icky garage and crappy window in the background.

I had never seen black Johnny Jump-ups, and I like the way they look with the orange marigolds.

An overhead shot, for a different view.

I liked the combination so much, I did two pots of it.

Ooh, I like what’s in the background of this one.

I tried to have “the thrill, the fill and the spill” in this one, but I think the “spill” looks a little unhealthy.  Perhaps they will pick up as time goes on.

Fresh pesto, you will be MINE!

Basil is the only herb I have so far, but as you see I have a nice amount.  Ooh, I LOVE fresh basil!

I would also like to get some dill and cilantro, as well as a few more pots of flowers.  Unfortunately, the malaise that has been causing my writing to atrophy seems to be infecting the rest of my life as well.  Then again, I see I have managed over 250 words on a blog post I thought I couldn’t write.  Maybe there’s hope for me after all.

 

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