Tag Archives: writing

A Post with Character?

Posted on May 21, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am getting totally used to this Tablet posting.   Unfortunately,  that is pretty much all I’ve got to say this evening.  The other problem is I don’t know how to download new monster pictures for a Monstrous Monday post.  Shall I go with previously seen creatures, as I have on numerous occasions? Or just go with some Monday Middle-aged Musings?

“Did somebody mention Monstrous Monday?”

You know that given a choice I will almost always go with my beloved Nosferatu.

In Sunday’s post, which I cravenly made earlier today, I mentioned finding a new approach.  Well, when I got to work,  I decided  to write.   I opened my notebook to a fresh page and started a new novel.  Ahem, what actually happened was I said to myself, “OK, let’s start our novel.”  After a minute or two of thinking,  “Oh, crap,” I started making up character names.  I put a few notes next to most of them.

I really don’t think this such a bad start.  After all, it is all about the people,  as far as I’m concerned. I just need to make them more than names and notes.

 

Now here’s a character, if you like.

I try to make my characters more than just pretty (or handsome) faces.  I figured this picture combined the Monstrous Monday theme with my novel update.

No Smoking? But this guy is smoking hot!

Just to end on a monster,  here’s one who is also a great character, Blackula!

As for my blog, this post is over 250 words.  Happy Monday,  folks!

 

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I’m Still Calling it Wrist to Forehead Sunday

Posted on May 20, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Who gets the hiccups peeling carrots?  Not eating them, mind you, PEELING them.  This is another  “What the Hell, me?” moment.

I thought that was a better lead than what played in my head while I was peeling said carrots,  something along the lines of, “It is becoming increasingly clear that I need a new approach.   To blogging, to writing,  to life.”

I’m sitting here making my Sunday post early Monday morning,  on my Tablet,  because, although I greatly prefer typing with all ten fingers, I cannot bear the unreliability of my laptop (good job, predictive text thingy;  it’s fun not to have to type in the whole word sometimes).

Where was I?  Ah yes, a new approach. What could it be?  Sometimes when I want to feel like a whole different person,  I wear lipstick.  That sort of random change can be helpful.  Like any cure (for example working on a hated chore “for just ten minutes” or taking ibuprofen for a headache), it doesn’t always work.

I don’t think I’ll try that one today.  Too obtrusive, especially if I pick bright red,  which is really the best color for the purpose. Somebody at work is likely to say,  “Ooh, you’re wearing lipstick, ”  or, which would be really awkward,  “How come you’re wearing lipstick? ”  My co-workers have come to expect weirdness from me, but there is no point in hitting them over the head with it.

Well, I will have to work this out for myself.  If I get it figured out,  I will no doubt make a blog post about it (once again,  thank you,  predictive text thingy).  By the way,  the hiccups did not last long, and I got the carrots peeled.

 

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Adventures Eventually, Slacker Today

Posted on May 19, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

My computer woes continue, as do my brain malfunctions.   Once again I am typing one letter at a time with the stylus on mt Tablet.  As a matter of fact, I did that with one other post this week, only I didn’t brag about it.  Or is this whining about it?   No matter.  The important thing is that I am making my blog post, so I will remain one post behind and not go back up to two.

My husband Steven and I spent a good portion of the day having Mohawk Valley adventures.   One might think that would make a Scattered Saturday post eligible.   However,  one would be wrong.  I hope to make posts about our various adventures eventually.   I’m just not up to it right now.

Did I say something recently about getting my act together?  It seems to me I did.  Do you suppose that when one is in one’s mid fifties, as indeed I am, that it is too late to hope for such a thing?  Discuss amongst yourselves, or comment below, please.

All this by way of saying today is a Slacker Saturday.  Have I had one of those recently?  Obviously I am too much of a slacker to go back and check.

No matter, as I often say at times like this.  I am over 200 words. Regular readers know I consider that respectable.   Happy Saturday,  all.

 

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My Brain Escapes Me

Posted on May 18, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

“A blog post, you say? What a haunting idea.”

First I sat here trying to start a blog post suitable for Lame Post Friday.   It should not have been too onerous a task.  However,  my brain escapes me.  Ooh, that would make a good title.  It doesn’t incorporate the word “lame,” but you can’t have everything (cue remarks on how my brain implies lame as in “lame brain”).  Then I sought an illustration to spark some words.  I see it worked.

Or am I just stalling making my blog post?

I was looking for another monster picture (although I guess Vincent Price is not exactly a monster, but I’m sure you see what I mean) when this picture caught my eye.  My sister Cheryl gave it to me, saying it sounds like the sort of thing I would say.  Here’s a funny thing: on my Facebook On This Day recently,  I saw a friend had shared that saying to my timeline for the same reason.

Scream! Scream for your life!

Here we go: Vincent Price AND a monster,  specifically The Tingler.  I loves me some William Castle.

Full disclosure: I am not doing much howling myself.

Since I couldn’t think of anything else to say just then, I sought another picture.   Now I am over 200 words.  Happy Lame Friday.

 

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I Am Enjoying 7 Deadly Zins

Posted on May 17, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have observed this phenomenon many times, in fact, almost every month as my deadline for Mohawk Valley Living magazine approaches: I can’t write the article, I can’t write the article, I can’t write the article, I write the article.  Don’t know why it works that way.  Don’t know how to change it.  But there it is.  I spent time at work and after work writing said article.  I got it emailed out.  I hope it is accepted.

Some readers (and you KNOW who you are) are currently rolling their eyes, thinking, “Now she’s going to explain that this is why she is offering a foolish blog post tonight.  AGAIN.”  In my defense, at least it is a different excuse from my usual.  In my detriment, it is the same excuse as last month about this time, and multiple months before that.  All I can say is, judge me if you are so inclined.

As a matter of fact, on part of my lunch and my last break, I did write part of a blog post, a rather lengthy, almost scholarly, yet witty and entertaining…  I am probably flattering myself.  At least I was enjoying writing it.  It was actually a kind of a book report, a summary with comments of a book I read a number of years ago.  I started thinking about it, as I have thought about it off and on during the many years since I read it (some books effect you that way).  It was a book about women that made something of a splash as a statement of the times.  I would love to write a book about women that makes a splash as a statement of our times.  Not that book, or indeed, one like it.  The gist of my musings was what I didn’t like about the book.

But I must not get bogged down in telling you about that, or there will be no point in sharing my commentary if and when I finish it. But I wanted you to know that I AM writing again.  To an extent.  One must start somewhere, after all.  Or re-start, as the case may be.  In any case, I am over 300 words.  I call that respectable for a foolish post.  All I have to do is think of a catchy title and I think I’ve got a decent Non-Sequitur Thursday.  Thank you for tuning in.

 

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I’m Pleased with my Mid-Week Run

Posted on May 16, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

At least I have a good reason to be tired tonight:  I went running.  Although, considering the pace (slow) and distance (short) I managed, perhaps I don’t have a good reason but merely a lame excuse.  What a situation when it is NOT Lame Post Friday!  Never mind.  My plan was to do a Running Commentary post in lieu of the threatened Wuss-out Wednesday.  Let’s see how I do.

I was actually pretty impressed with myself that I automatically went upstairs to put on running clothes and gather laundry (I love to multi-task like that on mid-week runs).  I had had the vague plan to run, of course, since I had not run Monday or Tuesday (rain was my excuse those days).  I knew it would be a pity not to run, since I had run both Saturday and Sunday last.  I really want to get my running mojo back (and my writing mojo, and my house cleaning mojo, and any other number of mojos I have lost, but let us not digress) (and I truly thought “mojo” was a word, but my computer does not).  Where was I?  Ah yes, putting laundry in and getting out to run.

It was the first day this week that felt like May.  At work, we have all been griping about the blankety-blank cold (only we don’t say “blankety-blank”) (in our defense, we work in a factory).  Where was I?  Ah yes, in shorts and short sleeves in the sunshine.  I forgot to put on a headband.  I knew I would not need it to keep my ears warm but thought I might need it to absorb forehead sweat.  Oh well, I would just make the best of it.  I hate to turn around and start a run again.

Right away the run felt terrible.  I’ve had a bit of a sore muscle in one thigh since Sunday, which is to be expected when one has not gone running for a while.  I encouraged myself to persevere.  Just go for 20 minutes, I thought.  Then I thought, my weekend runs had only been 24 minutes.  Maybe 15 minutes would be OK.  No, no, not 15, I argued.  Well, maybe 15, I wheedled.  Just keep going.

So I just kept going.  I admired some tulips and other flowers.  I especially like the wild violets, purple or white.  I even enjoy dandelions, although I am allergic to them.  Personally, I prefer a lawn that is not manicured to purely grass and nothing else.  I like a more natural look.  One nice thing about running around the village (Herkimer, NY, where I live) is that you get to see a wide variety of yards.

I had to really push myself to get the full 20 minutes, but I did it.  Full disclosure:  I also had to push myself to get this blog post written, and I left out a lot of the narration in my head, with which I entertained myself while I ran.  Oh well, there’s no saying my gentle readers would find it as entertaining as I did. However, it kept me going, so I feel pleased with myself.  And I did not entirely wuss out on my blog post.  So I say, Yay, me.  And if anybody wants to shake their head (or their finger or their booty, of course) and say something like, “It takes so little to please some people,” feel free.

 

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Typical Me on Tired Tuesday

Posted on May 15, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I logged on to WordPress thinking I would start this post with, “I’m totally getting used to this Tablet posting.”  Then it took me like five tries to get from All Posts to Add New.  Is that typical me or what?  As a matter of fact, I was thinking that in lieu of my usual Tired Tuesday,  I would tell about a couple more typical me moments I had today.

I went to Hannaford to pick up a few things.

That was when I realized I was not as used to this Tablet posting as I thought I was. I tried logging on to my laptop.   Naturally I did not meet with success. So that makes another typical me moment.  Two, if you count deciding to switch to the laptop and failing to do so as separate moments.

Then again, why am I so struck by these “typical me moments”?  I am, after all, me.  Why would I not behave in a manner typical of myself?  Why should I be surprised when I behave in a manner typical of myself? I suppose I could say it is typical of me to be surprised at such a time.

Now I am thinking,  what’s wrong with a Tired Tuesday post?   It’s Tuesday.  I’m tired.  I hope to see you all on Wuss-out Wednesday.

 

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Mid-Week Monsters to Cheer Me Up

Posted on May 9, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yes, I have the type it in, backspace it out disease.  I am going to combat it with — you guessed right!  — MIDWEEK MONSTERS!!! If monsters can’t cheer me up, nothing can!

Mmmm… I haven’t had shark steak in years.

The warm weather makes me think of summer, so here is one of my favorite summertime monsters:  Bruce, the title baddie in JAWS (1975).  What a fun flick, and a good story on the making of (as seen, for example in True Hollywood Story, which I used to watch all the time back in the early ’00’s).

Ooh, Peter Graves and Beverly Garland! Wait a minute, I don’t know who Beverly Garland is, although the name sounds familiar.

I don’t believe I ever saw this movie, but I find this to be a delightfully cheesy poster.  And, look, it was produced and directed by Roger Corman.  Its cheesy bonafides are confirmed!

Check out the RDA at the top of the poster!

Here is a bloody poster, from a Hammer Horror Flick.  I enjoy these movies, although they are more gory than my usual taste.

A creepy pic, to symbolize my responsibilities creeping up on me.

You just knew I would include a shot of Nosferatu (1922), didn’t you?  Andnow time is getting away from me, so I sign off.  The monsters did cheer me up.  I hope they had a similar effect on you (Freudian typo:  I put “cher” me up.  If I could turn back time!).

 

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Scattered Sunday in Progress

Posted on May 6, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Maybe I should have called this one Typing Frantically Before Closing Afternoon.  My friend Kim will soon pick me up to go to the matinee of Morning’s at Seven at Ilion Little Theatre.  Full disclosure:  We are stopping first at the liquid store to purchase libations for the cast party following the performance. Judge if you would like, but I am SO looking forward to sipping a dry red later on.

It has been a lovely experience, being in a play again.  I must say it has been a wonderful group of people to work with.  But I am tired.  Could I be getting older?  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!!!  Oh, who cares?  If I’m getting older, I’ll take a nap or a vitamin or whatever it takes.  This is how it works, you know.

So I managed to sleep in till almost seven this morning (how appropriate!).  After coffee and a few games of solitaire (with an actual deck of cards, as God intended), I went to the grocery store.  I got a few things: stuff to make a salad for this week’s lunches, vegetables to chop for the cast party (I REFUSE to call them crudites!).  After eating some food and reading some of the paper (I am actually caught up in my newspaper reading and was reading today’s paper!), I decided to go for a walk.

It was a very pleasant walk. I did not bring my Tablet with me and take pictures, though, because I thought two Pedestrian Posts in a row was too much.  When I got home, I took my shower, chopped the vegetables, and mixed up a batch of my famous garlic dip.  And I made what I fear is a rather dull blog post.  Oh well, you’ll have that with a daily blog.  I can’t turn out a winner every time (I KNOW there are those who can, and how unhandsome of you to point that out) (you know who you are).

No matter.  I have made a blog post.  If I make one after the cast party (who, me? Drink and type?  Could be!), I will FINALLY be caught up.  If not, at least I will be only one behind, not two, which I would be, if I did not hit Publish now.  I hope your weekend is progressing as nicely as mine.

 

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Almost Too Tired For Words

Posted on May 2, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am sitting on my couch typing into my Tablet one letter at a time with the stylus (with occasional help from the predictive text thingy).  I am just so tired these days!  Once I am quite finished with this play, I will try to lead a healthier lifestyle.   At least I will get more exercise.   I really think exercise is the magic elixir that will make all things better.

In the meantime, I need to make a blog post now.  Oh, wait, I can go for a Wordless Wednesday !

Can’t resist plugging this again,

I begin with one of the reasons I’m so tired.   SO worth it!  Theatre is my life!

Here’s a fun bunch!

This is a memory and kind of a preview of coming attractions.  Next weekend,  I might be doing a fun fundraising thing with some or all of these folks.  I’ll write more about that later, and hope to have some pictures to share.

I wear those same shoes in Mornings at Seven.

I like to have three pictures,  so here is one of me participating in another fundraiser,  a couple of years ago.   Yes, I show off my legs at almost any opportunity.

So here is my Not Exactly Wordless Wednesday post for the week.  Perhaps I should try to get to bed early.

 

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