Tag Archives: sister Cheryl

Kafka Was Right!

Oh dear.  I am sitting at my Chromebook feeling entirely empty.  Lucky for me it is Lame Post Friday.  Is it Friday?  I get a little confused at my age.

Is there an answer even yet?

I looked for a picture in my Media Library to pep things up.  Here is a headline from Aug. 1, 2018, when I used to subscribe to the Utica OD (that stands for Observer-Dispatch, not overdose).  I took a picture, because I found it punny.  I like puns.

Sometimes I am piddle puttering.

This is a plaque my sister Cheryl gave me.  Some time later, a friend shared that saying to my Facebook page, saying it made her think of me.  I confess I have been lolly gagging when it comes to making this blog post.  And now that I am making it, I fear it is not such a much.

Bad writing is still writing, right, Mr. Kafka?

And here is a thought about that:  I have often said that any blog post is better than no blog post at all.  I guess that is another one of My Rules For Me, like my rule of Any Writing Counts.  I have been writing letters, post cards, and journal entries lately.  Will I segue over to more worthy endeavors?  Oh, who can say what is a worthy endeavor anyways?  People like to get letters and post cards.

Sez you!

Regular readers know that when I am out walking or running, I love to enter where it says Do Not Enter.  Thus, to the inner critic who says, “Don’t publish this silly post,” I say, “Hah!”

 

Monday Tribute to Mom

Alas, I broke my streak by not posting yesterday!  In my defense, I was celebrating Mother’s Day AND my Mother’s 85th Birthday with family.  It was a delightful day, but I did not take any pictures.  I think I have at least one of my mother in my Media Library, though.

One of everybody’s favorite couples.

Here are my Mom and Dad at Asteroga Ale House in Herkimer, NY.  We were gathered for a yummy meal with good company. just to give a quick shout-out to a local business.

A mother/daughter pair.

And here is my niece Kimberly with my sister Cheryl, who were present at the time as well as at yesterday’s gathering.

A grandma and her grandson!

Cheryl is also a grandmother.  Here she is with her grandson Sheppy on the Adirondack Railroad, on a trip when they invited me to join them.  I am trying to get them to go on the Richfield Springs Scenic Railway with me sometime.

Another lovely picture.

Speaking of grandparents, here are my Mom and Dad with Jenna, another of Cheryl’s daughters.  This was taken at my sister Diane’s house in Liverpool.  Diane was there yesterday, too.

At Christmas and all year long, we love Mom!

I close with a Christmas tribute to Mom.  My mother did this and did  not even realize it spelled “Mom” till Cheryl accused her of signing her work.  Mom changed it, but we made her change it back and like her to put it up every year.

So a belated Happy Mothers Day to all Moms, including pet moms, step-moms, and those that just love somebody with a mother’s love.  And to be up to date, happy Monday.

 

This Post is Not in the Zone

I thought I was getting better but it suddenly seems not so much.  Oh dear. I started to write a post about New York Power Authority (NYPA) Energy Zone, an interactive kind of museum located outside the Utica Zoo, and my brain suddenly would not cooperate.  I had visited it before the cold defeated me, and got a few fun pictures.

I forget what they were learning here.

The kids had badges they swiped at the various stations, where they learned different things about electricity and power.

I thought the tunnel was cool.

I suppose I learned a few things myself, but I didn’t have a badge so couldn’t actually do any of the interactive things.  I’m sure I would have picked the wrong choices every time anyways.

Another tunnel view.

I said I wanted one of those tunnels in my house, but I don’t know where I would put it.  Maybe in the back yard.

Me and Cheryl  on the team.

Of course if there is a place where you can put your face  in a hole and take a picture, we are going to do it.  I KNOW the caption is not grammatically correct, but that is the order we are in, and “I and Cheryl” sounds silly.

Evie and Dan on the team!

 

 

Evie, Dan and Sheppy.

Sheppy pretending to climb the tower.

Evie modeling stylish headgear.

Well, with the help of pictures, I guess I have managed to make a blog post after all.  If only I had a little more energy myself, my life would be perfect.  Perhaps I could get the Zone to send me some.

For more information on NYPA Energy Zone, you can visit their website at https://www.nypa.gov/communities/visitors-centers/ny-energy-zone

 

I Manage to Make a Post

Yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday) are Blogger’s Sick Days.  I have a terrible cold, not as terrible as it could be, but it sure isn’t making me happy.  So right now I am making a little placeholder post, then I will make some tea or something.  I wonder if I could bestir myself as far as a pot of chicken soup.

What a difference a year makes!

This is a picture from last February.  It was a very warm day, and my sister Cheryl and her grandkids, Sheppy and Evie, and I went to the playground.  I feel the picture is appropriate because of how one’s head spins when one has a cold.  Also, it is a fun picture.

Random snow picture.

This is from February 2021.  There was less snow.  I need to get out and take a few pictures of what I have been struggling with lately.  However, I have gotten my car unstuck.  Multiple times.  So I have that going for me.

Me drinking tea?

This is, in fact, not me, but I feel that old and wicked.  It is the villainess from The Atomic Brain.  Her evil plan is to transplant her brain into a young and beautiful body.  You know, I don’t think that’s tea she’s drinking.  I bet it’s bourbon.  Maybe single malt scotch.  I’ll have to watch that movie again and see if they say.  Hmmm… cheesy old horror movie might be just right for my current state of mind.

In any case, I am over 250 words, which I find more than respectable for a placeholder post.  It also has elements of Throwback Thursday and Non-Sequitur Thursday.  Who says I can’t multi-task?  Oh yeah, I said it.  Silly me.

 

“Snowman” and a Shout-Out

Here’s a cheerful fellow.

As I sit here at my Chromebook, feeling utterly incapable of making a blog post, I remembered that I had added some pictures to my Media Library that I had not used yet.  I put one in the post, hoping to get myself started.  This snowman (boxman?) was at the UPS Store at Canal Place in Little Falls, NY.  I know, the UPS Store is hardly the sort of distinctive local business I like to highlight in this blog.  However, that homemade snowman won my heart.

Although, now that I look at him, I wonder if corporate didn’t send out the mittens, buttons, etc, for the employees to cut out and use to make the snowman.  Is there just such a snowman at UPS Stores nationwide? Oh well, it is still cute.

This was as far as I got on Thursday with making a blog post.  Now it is Friday afternoon and I thought, “Oh yeah, I didn’t make a blog post yesterday.”  How dreadful of me.  Let’s go back to those pictures I added to my Media Library.

Ooh, pretty!

 

This was at Little Falls Diamond Company, which I visited last Friday with my sister Cheryl.  It is just the sort of distinctive local business I love.

More beautiful stones!

I was just remembering I wanted to visit a distinctive local shop in Herkimer today, so I kind of need to get off the computer and into the shower so I can get there.  Well, at least I gave one shout-out.  I’ll see what else I can do when I get back home.

Little Falls Diamond Company is located at 411 Canal Place, Little Falls, NY, phone number 315-823-0454.

 

Once Again, The Best Lame Plans…

I really, truly meant to make my Lame Post Friday post on Friday.  They say something about the best laid plans, but my plans are almost never best laid, so never mind that.  It is early Saturday morning, earlier than I have been getting up, so that is something different.  I always say I don’t like getting up, but I like being up.

And now I have the Type It In Backspace It Out Disease!  I even backspaced out “type-it-in-backspace-it-out disease,” because I decided to capitalize instead of hyphenate.  Which is better?  Please feel free to comment or just discuss amongst yourselves if you prefer.

Weren’t we beautiful?

I threw in a picture to pep things up, one I have shared and will continue to share.  It is the cast of Fabulous and Fatal, a murder mystery we presented in 2019 to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  It would be a good idea if I started writing more murder mysteries, ahead of the time when I actually have to start rehearsals.

Another kind of fabulous.

In searching for another picture to help along the post, I found this one from October 2020.  For once I was not too lazy to go back and look.  It is from a post I made about a walk in Russell Park I took with my sister Cheryl and her daughter Jenna.  That is Cheryl, posing on a bridge for a photo op.  I should give Cheryl a call and see if she is up for another such walk.

This is what I’m talking about!

I see I am over 250 words, so I close with another fall photo.  I don’t think this is as good a year for color as others (this pic is from 2022), but I am enjoying what I see.  I hope to take a walk or run later and see more.

 

I Dilly Dallied My Weekend Away

Hello and welcome to another Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I had meant to post on something of more interest but am strangely disinclined to do so.  I know, I know, one must be pitiless in the matter of mood in writing.  That is part of a quote by somebody.  I forget who, but he said it a long time ago. I just imagine it is still true.

Who, me? Procrastinate making a blog post?

This is a plaque my sister Cheryl gave me.  Everybody seems to think it is so me.  The fact is, most of the time I am piddle puttering.  But we’ll leave that for now. I really just wanted to put in a picture to pep up the post.  I hope it worked.

“What do you mean, tomorrow’s Monday?”

I gave up looking for the picture I had in mind and add this one of William Castle, looking flabbergasted.  I actually had to keep reminding myself last night that today was going to be Sunday.  Then when I took a nap earlier, I reminded myself that it was still Sunday, Monday isn’t till I sleep again.  I hope I will sleep again, but one cannot worry about these things when a nap is clearly indicated.

I do love my murder mysteries!

I wanted to end with a cheery photo and at last settled on this one from Donate to Murder.  I hope to remember to take pictures at Tuesday’s rehearsal for Curtains for Frangelica (preview of coming attractions).  In the meantime, I will try to come up with a better blog post for Monday.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

Up Early to be Late, uh, I Mean Lame

I really meant to make my Lame Post Friday post on Friday.  I even logged onto WordPress and hit Add New Post (Classic Editor, to be exact).  I couldn’t even type something in and backspace it out.  Now it is Saturday morning, early for some but a reasonable time for me (six-ish) (see, I don’t always have to be exact), and I am sipping my first cup of coffee with gratitude.

I wonder where that little vampire is.

That took me a bit to find in my Media Library, but it is the coffee mug I am currently using.  And the coffee is giving me a hot flash. Ugh.  Somebody told me the hot flashes would go away eventually, and then I would always be cold.  I won’t mind that; I love wearing big old sweatshirts and I haven’t been able to in years.  At least, I can put them on, but taking them off and putting them on again with my fluctuating body temperatures is annoying.  They get stuck on my earrings and mess up my hair, which is rarely any great shakes to begin with.

They love to climb!

This shot is actually from a February visit to the park with my great-niece and -nephew, Evie and Sheppy (perhaps you read my blog post about it).  I include it because I hope to be getting together with them and my sister Cheryl later today.  If I can get my shit done in time (preview of coming attractions) (getting together with Sheppy and Evie, not the shit I have to do).

Evie didn’t realize I am dizzy enough to begin with.

I include this picture just because I like it.

 

At the ARC Park

This is why I never know what day it is.  Wednesday I made my Tired Tuesday post, now on Thursday I am about to make my Wednesday post.  Wuss Out or Waste Not Want Not is the question.  You could argue that it was Wuss Out Wednesday in any case, but I am no hand at argument (and I am so tired right now I forgot how to spell “argument”).

Is that Friday peeking around the horizon at me?

I knew this picture would turn out dark but hoped for the best. Then the kids refused to climb up the other side and repeat the pose with the sun on the other side. The kids, of course, are my great-nephew and -niece, Sheppy and Evie.  We were at the ARC Park in Herkimer, NY.  I had walked up to join Sheppy, Evie and their grandmother, my sister Cheryl.

The rear view of them climbing down.

It was a great deal of fun.

Sheppy and my nemesis.

This wormy-looking thing goes up and down as you walk across it, if you are heavy enough.  Sheppy is light so navigated it handily. I, of course, being rather a tub of lard, sink down at the designated places.  Sheppy was standing at the end when I walked along it and went down.  He went up and I said, “Eee!”  However, he kept his stance.  When I got to the end, I expected it to go down, but it did not. Then I fell off.  I love that spongy ground!  It keeps women my age from breaking a hip (I actually like to think I have a few more years before I have to worry about hip-breaking).

Evie likes to pose.

I followed the kids around, climbing on most of the stuff they did.  I did not, unfortunately, make it to the top of this tower.  Maybe next time.

Another climbing shot.

Cheryl sat like a lady while I followed the kids around like the silly-head I am.  I especially enjoyed the swings.  Great abdominal exercise, I ought to go there every day!  I pushed Evie on the swing.  Later another little girl asked me to push her.  Her mother came over and asked her if she had asked me nicely and said please.  I assured her she did.  However, I encouraged the little girl, and Evie for that matter, to pump.  I worry I will push too hard while the child being pushed always wants to go higher.

So I have gotten over 400 words.  Not too bad for a Wuss Out Wednesday.  Tune in later, when I hope to make a Pre- or Post-Rehearsal Post (preview of coming attractions).

 

A Lot of Help from my Family

A long time ago, my father did the laundry, and my mother marveled that she had been visited by the Laundry Fairy.

“The Laundry Prince,” Dad corrected her in a dignified tone of voice.

Well, the Porch Prince and two Lawn and Deck Princesses visited my house yesterday while I was at work, performing miracles for which I am very grateful.  And a little ashamed, because I feel as a homeowner I ought to be taking care of these things myself.  However, we all need help sometimes, and I am so blessed to have a family that helps me.  After all, I often quote the song,  “I get by with a little help from my friends.”  My family are my best friends!

I do not have before pictures of the porch, but it was in sorry shape.  It was concrete that had been eaten away by erosion, largely because Steve and I never replaced the gutter which the guy took off when he repaired the porch roof after we had just moved in.  One of those things we always meant to get to but really only remembered about when it rained.  I really wanted a wooden porch, and Dad had an idea to use the concrete steps as a base for building one.  My Dad can build or fix anything!

He is amazing!

My sister Cheryl, one of the Lawn and Deck Princesses, sent me pictures.  That was when I realized she was going to do something about Frankentree.  I knew she wanted to, using the chain saw she had recently purchased (and not being one to perpetuate the Mohawk Valley Chainsaw Massacre) (I add for the amusement of my horror-movie loving readers), but I had rather thought she would pick a day when I would be there to help.  She texted, “Too late!”

Who knew it could look like that?

I may have a a before picture of Frankentree.  I guess I will have to give him a new name, since he looks all of a piece now.

This is from 2020.

The tree had only gotten more out of control, with a lot of the lower branches dying off.  The lawn, also, has gotten out of control, largely because I have allowed the daisies and other invaders to grow unchecked.  Mom and Cheryl cleaned out all under and around the tree, as you can see.  They left the daisies, because some blooms remained, but I will be cutting them back soon.  Cheryl suggested that I dig them up and replant them closer to the porch.

My back deck, too, has needed some work.  It was covered with leaves from the tree which gives it so much shade.  My two Princesses performed miracles there, too.

I may actually get to deck sit this year!

My three benefactors were waiting for me when I returned from work.  They showed me everything they had done and offered suggestions for what I should do next.  If only I could think of some way to properly thank them!  They already have plenty of afghans.  Any suggestions?