Tag Archives: writing

My Decorations Are Late, Too

Posted on December 17, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I guess 7:30 on a Sunday morning is early for some people, so I will count this as my Saturday post, although WordPress will not credit me for a four day streak.  How the mighty have fallen!  I used to never miss days.  I think I was in my 40s or 50s back then (wow, I have been blogging for a long time!).

Only I’m not that skinny.

I decided to throw in a picture to pep things up, as I often do, and that was when my Tablet started behaving badly. Now I am on my dining-room-table-top ten-finger typing.  Now I still have not much to say but can say it faster.

Yesterday (Saturday) was a lovely day.  I got my Christmas lights hung.  By that I mean that I switched out a string of pumpkins for a string of multi-colored lights and Witchy for Santa Claus.  Traditionally I leave Santa and Witchy out all year, dressing them for the holidays with which they are not usually associated.  This past Halloween, however, as I was putting up lights on the actual day, I took Santa off the porch and put him in my living room.  Look at me, going all conventional in my old age.  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!  I had a little trouble with the colored lights:  they had worked in my house when I tested them a few weeks ago, but they declined to light up after I had gotten them hung.  Luckily I had another string of colored lights.  Now I have no colored lights on my mantle, but these things happen and we must deal with them.  Anyway, I will try to get some pictures of my porch later today for a future blog post (preview of coming attractions).

He looks a little ghostly, no?

Here is my porch on another year, when I was a little closer to having my act together, and my husband was able to participate in the light-hanging.

I see I am over 300 words, not bad for a late, insubstantial post.  As always, I will strive to do better, but I feel that almost any post is better than no post at all.  Do you agree?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

 

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I’m Still Here!

Posted on December 13, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear, it has been ten days since I last posted.  How embarrassing.  I have a few (very few) good Mohawk Valley Adventures to write about, but I feel I should first make an apology if not an explanation of not being here for my lovely readers, which I hope I still have.

May be a doodle of 1 person and text that says 'Please do not accept friend equests from my husband. ...He's been hacked. Mrs. ROXALANA DRUSE,'

These crack me up.

I throw in a picture which has very little to do with anything, but I saw it on Facebook this morning (yes, I peeked at Facebook before logging on to WordPress, judge me if you want to be that way), and it made me smile.  My lawyer assured me he is still working on the appeal.  Longtime readers may remember that I had the honor to play Roxalana Druse in Roxy, the fact-based play about the local murder presented by Herkimer County Historical Society at Ilion Little Theatre.  I wrote several blog posts about it.  In addition to giving me a laugh, I guess it helps me to remember past triumphs.  I trust I shall not continue in the wallowy rut in which I have become mired (what an image!) (and autocorrect seems to think “wallowy” is not a word, but as usual in these cases, it is exactly what I mean).

Regarding the wallowy rut:  I try, I really do try to do things other than sit around and feel sad, try to sleep, or read books (reading books is great, but it doesn’t clean the house, do the dishes, or make blog posts).  At first the insidious voice in my head said, “I can’t!”  I could sometimes overcome it with a gentle, “Just try”  or “Just do one thing,”  occasionally even specifying an actual thing.  Then the voice switched to, “I don’t care!”  That is more difficult to overcome, but I have had some minor success with, “Do it anyways,” or striving to ignore the voice.

I throw in a Christmasy picture to liven things up (I was sure Christmasy was a word!).

What a dull, self-involved post.  I will play the widow card once again.  This is my first Christmas without my beloved Steve.  I remind myself that it is going to be hard, don’t be surprised by that, just try to do a few things to make the season merry for somebody at least.  I guess I have gone over these thoughts before, but I must repeat them constantly to myself so inevitably impose them upon others as well.

And I see I am over 400 words.  I hope to make a real Mohawk Valley Girl post later today or tomorrow.  I thank everybody who is still reading.

 

 

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Monsters (and Bloggers) Need Love

Posted on November 29, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

One might just as well admit that it is easier not to make a blog post than to make one (one being me).  I could go on at length about how my depression makes it difficult to do
ANYTHING, beginning with getting out of bed in the morning, and how blogging is a form of communicating and I am in a decidedly non-communicative state, but these are half-baked philosophies (I deal in no other kind) better suited for Lame Post Friday.  How about some Mid-Week Monsters instead, and apologies for not posting on Tired Tuesday (I was in fact very tired, but explanations are even more tiresome; let us get on with the blog).

I surely would have used this had I posted yesterday, and I might call you Shirley.

I had the delightful experience this morning of thinking it was Tuesday but realizing it was Wednesday, so I feel free to use this picture.  I could feel a little sad it is not Friday, but what is wrong with Wednesday? All days need a little love.

“You need room-darkening shades, by the way.”

Monsters need a little love, too.  That is all Nosferatu is looking for here.  Love, and a little nutrition.  Even vampires need to eat!

Only my hairdo is not as good.

This is my current profile picture on Facebook.  It is a pretty good description of me, by the way.

I’m sure he meant it as a compliment.

Speaking of looking for love in all the wrong places…  I’m sure Drs. Frankenstein and Praetorious (don’t know if that’s spelled right; too lazy to look it up) thought these two were ideally suited.  That is what makes me suspicious of dating services.  How do they know who is and is not compatible?

I see I am approaching 300 words.  I call that respectable, as regular readers (if I still have any) know.  Yes, my little blog is looking for love, just like these monsters.  They say you have to give it to get it, and I do love my readers.  Happy Wednesday, everybody.

 

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I Bought the Book!

Posted on November 27, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday I made my way to Ilion Little Theatre, where local author Dave Dellecese was having a Story Time and Signing for his new book, Lucy and the Ghost Take the Stage.  Two of my favorite things: theatre and ghosts!  And a book I think my grandniece, Evie, might like for a Christmas present (I feel free to put it here, because I am fairly certain she does not read my blog).

The author with his book.

Dave Dellecese has been a good friend ever since I joined Ilion Little Theatre. He is an excellent actor and director as well as a talented writer. I am so impressed with his prolific output!  I really must up my writing game.

I had to take the above picture twice, since in the first shot I inadvertently got Char, president of the club, in the background.  When I said I had gotten her blurry in the background, another lady said, “That’s the ghost!”

I did not stay to hear the reading or even eat a cookie, because I was not feeling well.  Nothing contagious; I just have not been eating in the most healthy fashion, especially on Sunday. In my defense… OK, I have no defense.

You can follow Dave Dellecese on Facebook or at https://davedellecese.com/.

 

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Walking Back to the Blog

Posted on November 21, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have not posted in two weeks (I did the math: 14 days, then I looked at a calendar).  It just got easier and easier NOT to post!  And here is a philosophical question (whose answer will be half-baked, no doubt) suitable for a future Lame Post Friday post (if I can manage to keep posting that long):  why are good habits so hard to get back to and bad habits so easy?  I can go a week or two without eating chocolate (I can’t tell you the last time I actually did that, but I’m sure I can), then one little bite and I’m all, “YUM!  Why did I ever stop this?”

Full disclosure:  right now as I ten-finger type on my dining-room-table-top, I am a bit,  “This is awesome!  Why did I ever stop this?”  Yet I cannot guarantee I will be here tomorrow morning at this time doing the same thing.  But, as I said, these questions are for Lame Post Friday.

The current state of my blog.

As I often do at these times,  I throw in a picture to pep things up.  On Sunday (today is Tuesday, but the way; I mention it because my WordPress timestamp does not always jive) I took a walk with my camera, taking a few pictures, thinking to make a Pedestrian Post.  These rotting pumpkins caught my eye. I thought it was a brave smile, such as I feel myself giving these days (my teeth are in about as good shape).  At least this one has not started molding on the inside.  I once saw a really scary one with its mouth wide open to a black interior.  Alas that I had no phone or tablet with me at the time.

A nice place. I should join.

My walk continued and eventually I went past the Herkimer Elks Lodge, the site of my recent theatrical triumph (I feel I do not flatter myself as I give most of the credit to my fellow actors), Lights, Camera, Murder!  Imagine my chagrin when I discovered there were several other murder mysteries with the same title.  These things happen, I suppose, and I have heard you cannot copyright a title.

Why isn’t he in his cell? Is it a jail break?

Because I am still (let’s face it: almost always) in Halloween mode, I took a shot of the ghost of Chester Gillette peeking out of the 1824 Jail.  I guess it is not technically a ghost, but I think it has a nicely creepy air to it.

I see I am over 400 words.  That is long for one of my posts!  I hope I can get back into daily blogging. I may even waste a post detailing why I was away for so long, but as I often note, explanations are tiresome.  I sincerely thank you for tuning in.

 

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This Blog Needs a New Plot

Posted on November 4, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, this is embarrassing.  It seems I have had almost an entire Blogger’s Sick Week.   In my defense, I have been ill with some unnamed, unhappy malady (oh, come on, autocorrect!  “ill” is a word; you don’t have to change it to “I’ll”!).  However, my purpose today is not to get bogged down in my tiresome ailments but to get back to blogging with a Late Lame Post Friday post.

That was as far as I got on my Tablet, curled up comfortably at the end of my couch, pecking in one letter at a time with the stylus.  Now I am ten-finger typing on my dining-room-table-top and kind of missing the predictive text thingy.  Oh well, one can’t have everything after all.  I do have coffee and that will have to suffice me.

Aren’t they cute?

I thought I would throw in a picture to pep things up.  These are some of our fall decorations from November 2017, ones that can count for Thanksgiving as well as Halloween.  The two larger scarecrows are sweethearts, and the little one is the younger brother of the boy scarecrow.  The big boy scarecrow wishes his little brother would go away so the sweethearts can be alone, but the girl scarecrow thinks the little guy is adorable.  See, I make up plots for everything.  I have probably shared that one before and ought to make up another one for these three.  Incidentally, they are not out this year, and I have no idea where they are.  That is the kind of year I am having.

Looking behind to look ahead.

You can accuse me of rushing the season all you like; I will admit the fault.  This is a shot of my late, sadly missed husband, Steve’s nutcracker collection in December 2019.  The collection has grown since then.  The reason I wanted to share a picture of the nutcrackers is that they are still on the buffet and I can look straight at them while I type.  I have thought about packing them away any time since last January, but now it seems more appropriate to let them stay and perhaps be my only Christmas decoration this year.  Um, except for a couple of thing we keep out year round.  Full disclosure:  I do not remember if I put those nutcrackers out in 2022 or an earlier year.  I daresay regular readers will not be surprised.

A toast is always seasonal!

I looked around for a good picture to end with, and this nice shot of Steven caught my eye.  It is one of our many happy times hanging out on the front porch.  In the background, you can see another scarecrow peeking around the post.  I suppose she is spying on the neighbors, but I do not judge her for that.  I love hanging out on the porch, but it might get boring for a scarecrow to be there 24/7.  Full disclosure:  she is there 24/7/365.  She is out there now.  I may make up a new plot for her later.

It is good to be blogging again.

 

 

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It’s Been Murder on my Blog!

Posted on October 20, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I guess this has been a Blogger’s Sick Week.  I have been plagued by terrible headaches.  I try so hard not to whine but sometimes find embarrassing little whimpery noises coming out of my mouth.  Luckily nobody else has heard them.  Even more fortunately, my bosses at work believe me when I tell them I have a migraine and need to go home.

Oh dear, what a boring post this is turning out to be!  I don’t suppose it matters, though.  I am on my Tablet which still won’t let me put in a headline.  I will try to finish this in the morning, when I will feel more like sitting up at the dining-room-table-top.

This was taken at the Inspire Moore Winery.

I put in a picture to represent the passage of time.  It is now early Friday morning and I am at my dining-room-table-top, ten-finger typing and waiting for the coffee to perk.  I think it finished perking while I searched for an appropriate picture.

Ah yes, coffee always helps.  When I write letters to my sister Diane, she likes it if I give her a blow by blow of where I am and what I am doing while I write.  I tend to use the same technique with my blog.  Is a blog like a letter to anybody who chances to click on it?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

I may wear the same dress in our upcoming production.

I was going to share the posed picture of the cast of Fabulous and Fatal, which I have shared many times, but opted for an action shot instead.  This was the murder mystery we presented to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society in 2019.  I use the picture because last night I was at the first rehearsal for Lights, Camera, Murder!  the murder mystery which will benefit the Historical Society on Saturday, Nov. 11.  Yes, it is close.  We put these things together quickly.

So there you have it:  an apology for my absence and a Preview of Coming Attractions.  Am I back to daily blogging?  I hope so.  And I hope people will continue to tune in.

 

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I Hope It’s Not Too Lame

Posted on October 14, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello, and welcome to yet another Late Lame Post Friday Post.  Part of my problem is that my Tablet has not been cooperating, so I must sit up at the dining-room-table-top.  At a certain point of the evening, which seems to come distressingly early these days, I am far too tired and lazy to do so.  Well, one must press on, especially if one is me.

So here I sit, ten-finger typing, which seems kind of weird after I had gotten used to pecking in one letter at a time with the stylus.  I still mostly write in cursive, by the way, speaking of things feeling comfortable.  Where was I?  Ah yes, nowhere in particular.  I’d better throw in a picture to pep things up.

The nicest people!

I go for sentiment, with a beautiful picture of my parents and my niece Jenna.  It was the first one to catch my eye as I scrolled down my Media Library.

Schmuck couldn’t have held out one hand to save her!

This was the second picture to catch my eye, a publicity still from Tormented, one of my beloved cheesy horror movies.  I hesitated for a moment between the two pictures before deciding to use both of them.  What does that say about me?  Ah, now we are veering into half-baked philosophy, a staple of the Friday Lame Post.  Two of my great loves:  my family and cheesy horror movies.  If only my family shared my taste in movies, we could have a great cheesy film festival. I would of course serve lots of delicious cheese.  And popcorn, gotta have popcorn.  Maybe a little wine…

Now I am off and planning a party.  This may provide motivation to clean my house, which is beginning to resemble something out of Hoarders.  I’d better have at it, and hope to pause at some point for an on time Saturday blog post.  I do hope you will continue to tune in.

 

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Tired Ten-Fingered Typing, Not On Time

Posted on October 11, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

It was pointed out to me in a comment on yesterday’s post that even coffee cannot make everybody happy.  What a comforting thought.  I suppose I cannot even hope to make as many people happy as coffee does, but let us not argue numbers.  Let us not argue at all.  For one reason, I am no hand at argument; I usually lose and fall prey to the scourge of “I SHOULD have said…”  even years later.  Oh, the people I could annihilate verbally if only I had a time machine!

Now there is an interesting thought:  how many people, if they had a time machine, would use it, not to prevent war, famine, pestilence, etc., but to go back and use all those zingers that occur to us in the middle of the night regarding long ago arguments and insults?  I am not saying I would do so.  If I encountered a time machine (I am WAY not smart enough to invent one), I would stay the hell away from it.  You don’t know what all you would really change, if you could change anything.  Anyways, time travel stories make my head hurt, so let us change the subject.

You may have noticed by now that once again, I got nuthin’.  It is early Wednesday morning and I am on my dining-room-table-top, ten-fingered typing a late Tired Tuesday post.  I do not trust my Tablet any more for blogging purposes.  And I must say ten-fingered typing without autocorrect (talk about scourges!) is a pleasure.  When I mean “hell” I can say “hell”  not “he’ll.”  Nice.

What a selection!

I wanted to throw in a picture to pep things up and at last managed to find, download, and add one I liked.  Regular readers know how technologically inept I am.  And now I see I am over 300 words.  Not too bad for a Late Tired Tuesday post.  Are they entertaining words?  I can only hope.

 

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Late Saturday or On Time Sunday?

Posted on October 9, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had meant to continue my Late Post Weekend by making my Saturday blog post this morning (Sunday), but I had neglected to plug in my Tablet and was too lazy to sit up at the dining-room-table-top.  Additionally, I was trying to overcome a terrible bout of Don’t Wanna Do Nuthin’ complicated by additional symptoms of Not Knowing What I Ought To Do anyways.  Oh dear.  Anyways, now it is Sunday evening, and I am trying to make some semblance of a post at least before it is Monday.

And now my Tablet is acting up again!  It was doing that yesterday morning.  The cursor wouldn’t stay where I put it (for example in the title space) but kept jumping back to the body of the post.  Then the screen kept jumping up and down.  The latter problem hasn’t started yet, but I can’t seem to put in a title.  Yesterday morning I went to the dining-room-table-top to complete the post.  I suppose that is what I must do now.

I know: First World Problems.  It is probably also the perennial bugbear that dogs me:  Operator Error.  But what have I done?

I suppose the best thing I can do is to finish the post on the dining-room-table-top.  Only I am looking at a Columbo episode as I type this (one letter at a time with the stylus, I always feel compelled to add).

I just love him.

Oh well, I suppose one can pause the DVD player.  Once again, First World Problems.  Yes, I KNOW things could be much worse for me and I DO count my blessings!

I am now on the dining-room-table-top and have successfully put in a headline.  Now I will add categories and tags for what I am afraid is yet another post about Why I Can’t Make a Blog Post today.  If I manage to get on the computer tomorrow morning before work, I can count that post as Sunday’s, this post as Saturday’s, and I will be… OK, not exactly caught up, but back to being a daily blogger.  As always,  I thank you for tuning in.

 

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