Tag Archives: writing

I Blow it at Blogging and Shoveling

Posted on February 10, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Once again I went the weekend without making any blog posts.  Alas!  I did some writing of post cards and letters both Saturday and Sunday.  I sometimes wonder if that is not my real writing mission, because people seem to enjoy hearing from me, despite my often atrocious handwriting.  I feel any small comfort or pleasure we can give another person is worth the effort.

Different neighbor, same favor, greatly appreciated!

Speaking of giving to others, I have the best neighbors.  Yesterday I woke up to more snow than I have seen at once this winter.  I have been pushing off the top fluffy layer as it falls, so out I went, feeling I would be up to the task.  I may have been, but a fellow across the street was snowblowing his mother’s driveway, and he came over and did mine!  The above picture is from last year, when a different neighbor came to my rescue, because I did not take a picture yesterday.  People are wonderful!

My Chromebook is underlining “snowblowing,” which I find odd, because what else would you call it?  However, it reminds me of a question I had when I went to post on Facebook about my good fortune.  Should I say he snowblew?  Snowblowed?  Both are underlined.  I believe my Mom usually says, “Dad got out and snowblowed.”  A Facebook friend who is a college English professor posited, “Snowblought.”  Another completely sidestepped the issue with, “Provided snow removal.”  These are the things that occupy my mind.

I say there are worse things to dwell upon.  Earlier today I got to thinking about a character in a book who I suddenly felt so sorry for.  There are days when I just feel bad over every sad thing that ever happened.  It is not very productive.  So I will continue my snowblowing meditations (please tell me why my computer does not consider “snowblowing” a word, when “snowblow” is certainly a verb) (oh dear, my Chromebook just underlined “snowblow”).

 

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Will Making a Blog Post Help?

Posted on January 28, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am just going to admit it:  my depression is reaching epic proportions, and I must try to do more to combat it.  I took a walk of a full mile yesterday.  Exercise is a potent and often under-used anti-depressant.  I try to walk every day and have been managing to take at least short walks.  One can find other things to help (one being me, as usual).  I have read that doing virtually anything can relieve depression, and I have found that sometimes that works.  Not always, but often.

Tuesday has been a problematic day for me this month.

This by means of introduction to another Tired Tuesday post.  Writing has often worked as an anti-depressant for me.  Yesterday I finished a letter to a friend and walked with it to the post office (part of my mile).  By the end of the walk, I was feeling not too bad.  Oh dear, as I type this I begin fear today’s post qualifies for Truman Capote’s snide remark, “That’s not writing, that’s typing.”  Then again, I can’t worry about dead critics.

Random picture to make the post more interesting.

Once again I throw in a picture to pep up the post.  It is Vincent Price in House of Wax, rather a fun old horror movie.  I wonder if there is a stage version of it.  Or at least a play about a wax museum where the figures come alive and terrorize the other actors and the audience.  Perhaps I should write one.  That  would have to be more than mere typing.

In any case, I am over 250 words.  After missing two days (why do I feel the need to call attention to my failings?), I say OK.  I am off to do more to combat my depression!

 

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Blogger’s Snow Day?

Posted on January 6, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Why am I so tired so early in the evening?  That is a rhetorical question; I do not really need any speculation or suggestions.  What I need is to make a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post, since once again I have gone a few days blogless.  What the hell, me?

I have not walked up this hill lately.

This is a random picture of snow from my Media Library.  The Mohawk Valley has been experiencing a Snow Event since Friday.  I have not taken any pictures of said snow, but it looks remarkably similar to other times it has snowed around here.  Herkimer has not been as hard hit as other places, but we have gotten plenty, and I have done my share of shoveling.  I have also taken some effortful walks, plowing through marginally plowed spaces and being careful of underlying ice.  Perhaps that is why I am so tired.  It is winter, and my body feels it should be hibernating.

My car has looked like this three days in a row.

Here is a shot from last January, but it shows about what I have been dealing with.  However, I have been shoveling busily and not letting the snow pile up.  For one reason, warmer weather is not predicted.  If I wanted to wait it out, I would have a while.

The winding road ahead.

This is another picture from last year, included for the symbolism. I do not see a straight path ahead of me, perhaps because my current goals are too ambiguous.  I suppose January is a good time to work on that.  Then again, any time is a good time to set goals and make a plan.

In the meantime, I have blathered on for over 250 words.  I guess this is under the heading of At Least I Made A Blog Post.  As always, I shall try for something better tomorrow, and I thank you for tuning in.

 

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We Interrupt this Christmas Celebration for a Blog Post

Posted on December 26, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been off WordPress since, I believe, Christmas Eve Eve (of COURSE I am too lazy to go back and check).  I just typed in some 600 words about my parents’ house, coffee, tea, and the 21st century.  It needs editing.  I must say it is rather a joy to be composing at the keyboard.  I have not even had a pen and paper in front of me in a number of days.  I do not recommend fasting from writing.  It feels good to get back at it, but I believe it would have felt better never to have stopped.

Here’s a festive lady!

No, I have not been away from the blog due to excessive consumption of wine, although those who know me may be forgiven for thinking so.  I merely wanted to put in a Christmasy picture, and this is one I have not yet used. It is Lisa from Adirondack Winery pouring for a tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY recently.  I walked down specifically to see her.  She is there on a regular basis, and we have become friends.  I told her all my Christmas-related drama, and she told me some fun stories of her day job (she works in the school system).  I had to take a picture of her seasonal outfit.

Still jingling all the way!

These slippers, a gift from my late husband Steven, made another appearance, as did the fun socks.  I am Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time, as the song goes (I love that song).  This is, as you may have guessed, another placeholder post, to keep my hand (fingers, really) in as a blogger (keep my finger in the blogger pie?  Mmmm…. pie!).  I need to begin my celebration of Boxing Day, or the Feast of Stephen, or perhaps Second Christmas (you know, like Second Breakfast).  More blog posts to follow!  Eventually.

 

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Make Tea and a Blog Post and Call Me in the Morning

Posted on December 10, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

It seems I last posted early Thursday morning.  It is now mid-afternoon on Monday, and I could use a cup of coffee.  Or something.

Pause while I acquire a caffeinated beverage.

I made tea, but I found the Dyn’s Cider Mill mug.  I thought I could just about manage a Monstrous Monday post and perhaps get into some better blog posts as the week wears on.  I am feeling exceptionally useless lately.  I suppose the solution to that is to do something useful as say, “There!  What about that!”  Well, I did a load of laundry earlier and tried to clean out a tote in which I had thrown a ridiculous collection of things.  Perhaps tea and a blog post will revive me.

Some chicks don’t dig skinny guys.

Here is a shot from House on Haunted Hill, which I re-watched recently. It is a perennial favorite.  I refer, of course, to the original, produced by William Castle and starring Vincent Price.

“Hang a shining star upon the highest bought!”

I thought I would throw in a more seasonal monster with the Abominable Snowman, affectionately known as Bumbles, from Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  I though he had lost all his teeth by the time he wanted to put the star on top of the tree.  Just another continuity gaffe.

OK, he can call me a ho.

And another seasonal monster.  I need to find a Santa hat to put on Elliott Ghoul, who stands in my dining room window.  I put one on the Ghost that acts as a living room light.

Perhaps over the next few days I will complete my meager Christmas decorations and take some pictures for the blog.  I know some regular readers are interested to see Bonita’s Yuletide garb.

 

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Maybe I Should Write About Monsters

Posted on November 26, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yes, it is a Monstrous Monday post, and I am mostly happy that I am making it on Monday.  I had thought to do a Running Commentary post, and narrated in my head during most of my run this morning.  Then I neglected to make the post until now, Monday evening.  Judge me if you want to be that way.

Poor guy. What if his nose itches?

The first monster picture I found in my Media Library was this shot of Frankenstein’s Monster.  I say “Frankenstein’s Monster” for purists who don’t like to shorten it to just “Frankenstein.”  But if Dr. Frankenstein was his father, wouldn’t the Monster’s name be Frankenstein too?  We could argue this for days, but I am no hand at argument.

Are you calling me a monster?

Thanks a lot, Franz, for the compliment!  In fact, I am writing, if you can count a Monstrous Monday blog post.  I suppose Truman Capote would say, “That’s not writing, that’s typing.”  I did write some notes on a novel earlier, and did some reading on what might turn out to be a play.  Also I wrote a letter.  I like to write snail mail letters.

I’ve been called worse.

To conclude:  there are various kinds of monsters.  Some are created by mad scientists out of spare body parts.  Some we create ourselves by not fulfilling our destiny.  Ooh, didn’t that sound profound?  I should save such half-baked philosophy for Lame Post Friday.  Or is that more of a Monday Middle-aged Musing? Discuss amongst yourselves.

 

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Back to the Theatre for Me!

Posted on November 8, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last night I attended the first meeting of the Ilion Little Theatre (ILT) Production Committee.  The club is trying to get a head start on the 2025-26 season.  I had meant to take a picture of the committee for blogging purposes but foolishly forgot.  Since almost everybody prefers blogs with pictures (or so I have heard), I will at least try to find a picture of the theatre in my Media Library (regular readers know this may take a while).

Now where’s that fourth wall?

Not surprisingly, I can’t find it.  Instead I went with a picture of a production in progress.  I’m not sure what play this was for, but I suspect it was Shattered Angel,  one of the historical dramas ILT put on in cooperation with Herkimer County Historical Society.  Shattered Angel came up in our discussion, as we talked about old plays, new plays, and plays yet to be written. I volunteered to write a couple of the yet to be written ones.

A thoroughly wonderful theatre experience.

I talked about how I would like to direct again but was having trouble finding a script.  I found the script for Leading Ladies, the cast of which is pictured above, by sheerest good luck.  A few directors had submitted proposals of scripts they would like to direct.  One director had submitted three possibilities, which I think is marvelous.  I need to start reading more plays.

I enjoyed the meeting and left feeling inspired to read plays, write plays, and possibly act in a few.  I realize I have not said anything substantive about plans for ILT’s next season.  Well. no solid decisions could be made at this point, and I do not want to get anybody’s hopes up for a production that may not happen.  For more information about or to get involved with Ilion Little Theatre, you can visit their Facebook page or website, ilionlittletheatre.org.

 

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Trying for a Wrist to Forehead Sunday Post

Posted on November 4, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

It has been a few days since I made a blog post.  I almost made one on Thursday after trick or treating.  I got this far:

I hope everybody had, or is still having a happy Halloween.  I greeted trick or treaters, ran out of candy, and handed out spider rings to the last few.  Now I am tired and do not know if I will be able to finish this post before my Tablet runs out of charge.  Or I run out of oomph.

Then my Tablet got a little hinky about adding a picture, so I got a little discouraged.

Random Halloween related picture.

The Tablet is still jumping around like a — oh crap, I am no good at analogy!  Never mind.  All I want to do is make a simple Wrist to Forehead Sunday post, when I shall swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead.  My sister Diane actually has a chaise lounge; she calls it a fainting couch.  Nice!

My computer problems may be under control soon.  Diane is sending me the charging cord for my Chromebook.  I don’t know that I can really blame my computer problems for my blogging shortcomings.  After all, here I am pecking in one letter at a time with the stylus, and I can get on my phone to add the title.  And there is the library for computer use, at least Monday through Saturday.

I was there Saturday but did not get on a computer.

Well this has been another foolish post, but I think we have established that a foolish post is better than no post at all, have we not?  Once again, I will try for a  better blog post tomorrow.

 

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Once Again, The Best Lame Plans…

Posted on October 19, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

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.

 

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Slacker, Sick, and No Longer Saturday

Posted on October 13, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to my late Slacker Saturday post.  It is late morning Sunday; I slept in.  I was having the most fun dreams!  Then I dreamed I was trying to write them out, like a novel that might become a weekly series. But that is not what I meant to write this blog post about.  The fact is, I think I am coming down with something, or else my allergies are reaching dreadful proportions,

Random picture to denote passage of time while I get more coffee.

Last night we had our performance of Curtains for Frangelica, the murder mystery to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  We had a small but fun crowd, and enjoyed a delicious dinner.  In fact, I ate too much, but you’ll have that.  Earlier in the evening, I felt a little icky, but blamed it on my allergies.  I may still blame it on my allergies, although it may be emotional, as I warded off a panic attack at one point with some deep breathing.  Oh dear, how self-dramatizing I am.

Then again, drama is my life!

That is the cast for Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, a murder mystery I often bring up in this blog.  For one reason, I have some great pictures of it.  For another reason, I would like to revive it one day, perhaps with a few modifications, since I probably will not be able to find the original script.

It seems I have skipped around this morning (in the blog, that is; I am not up for that much movement right now), which is not surprising, since my head is doing a little spinning.  I guess I’ll call it a Blogger’s Sick Day and drive on.  Will I manage to make my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post on Sunday?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my day.

 

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