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Sue Spitulnik

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Sue Spitulnik

I am a retired grandmother that grew up in western New York State, left for 25 years, and am now back in the area. I happily live with my husband and two cats. I am pro-military, writing, food, family, and quilting. I am con-exercise, insulting commercials, and lack of common sense. I have met some great friends through this website.

Planning Ahead

The sale of life insurance in the U.S. began in the late 1760s. On May 2, 1759, the charter was recorded for the Corporation for Relief of Poor and Distressed Widows and Children of Presbyterian Ministers. Episcopalian priests created a comparable relief fund in 1769. Between 1787 and 1837 more than two dozen life insurance companies were started, but fewer than half a dozen survived.

Life insurance can do some pretty amazing things for people. It can buy loved ones time to grieve. It can pay off debts and loans, providing surviving family members with the chance to move on with a clean slate. It can keep families in their homes and pre-fund a child’s college education. It can keep a family business in the family. It can provide a stream of income for a family to live on for a period of time. [courtesy National Day of Calendar]

I am in that age group where my friends are starting to lose their spouses, and some are just dealing with losing their parents. Life insurance is mentioned often with the main question being, “Do you have any?” Too often, I hear, “Well, we bought some years ago, but couldn’t continue to keep paying for it.” From my friends that are already widows and widowers who didn’t have an active life insurance policy, let me tell you, that is the wrong answer.

The younger you are when you take out life insurance, not expensive term life, but whole life, the less your payments will be. I suggest you look at that payment as important as the electric bill. In the future, you will be glad you did. Even a small insurance policy is better than none. With funerals now costing over $5000.00 in the U. S. just that bill could be enough to stagger the finances and cause a person to stumble into the “new normal”.

My friends who have become single because of a death who have been able to stay in their homes without financial worries are happier than those who found themselves suddenly in an apartment. Of course I realize age and health of the surviving spouse (or children) also plays a role in where they live.

Please be kind to yourself and plan ahead for financial freedom for your surviving family members by buying life insurance early.

 

 

 

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Freedom Isn’t Free

Every May 1 Americans honor the sacrifices of the combat wounded, ill and dying service members on Silver Star Service Banner Day. The history of the service banner dates back to 1917 or 1918, following the suggestions of Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defenses.  The use of Blue and Gold Star Service Banners was formally adopted into the United States Code and made official, leaving the Silver Star Service Flag overlooked.  A new Silver Star Service Flag and Banner were designed and were quickly accepted widely used throughout the United States. The United States House of Representatives passed H Res. 855, a stand-alone resolution on April 21, 2010, making the SSFOA Silver Star Service Banner official and making May 1 Silver Star Service Banner Day. {Courtesy National Day of Calendar}

I’m glad the U. S. as a whole has come to the conclusion that our service members should be recognized and thanked, whether we agree with the conflict they have been involved in or not. Why we are involved in a conflict is an argument to be taken up with our government. When a new military member raises their hand and says they will serve, they are expected to take orders and follow them without question. It isn’t their choice where they go or if they want to do what is expected of them. It is a sacrifice from the very beginning, family days no longer exist, and staying close to home is a rarity.

When a service member returns from assignment, or finishes their enlistment, they often come home with visible and invisible scars. It’s easy to recognize a facial scar, or missing limb. It’s not easy to recognize what they are now calling “brain trauma”. That refers to the emotional wounds from being involved in combat; what they had to do to survive, or what they saw happen right next to them. War is ugly, sometimes expectations in a non-war zone are just as ugly.

I share this in case you don’t have any personal connection to someone who has served in our military, in an attempt to educate. Our service members deserve recognition and that is what the Silver Star Service Banner Day is all about.

 

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Fighting Evil

It’s National Superhero Day. I love to see little kids, and even big ones, emulate or dress up as their favorite super hero. I think it’s a healthy thing to want to be strong and have the desire to fight evil. Superheroes can be positive role models for children in that they show the improbable is possible. I say, let the children believe they can, and they will grow up with a desire to do so.

Now, we not only have superheroes, but also transformers, ninja turtles, and video game heroes I’ve never heard of. It seems there is one thing in common among all these heroes, and that is a cool costume. I have to smile when I see a mother in the store and her child is dressed in a superhero costume. I wonder if it’s the color that they like, or if it is the TV show or movie they have seen and they want to “feel the power” by dressing up as their favorite.

My grandson went through a prolonged Spider-Man phase. Everything was Spider-Man: sheets, sneakers, coat, shirts, and hat. I sort of miss that because now he is becoming more aware of the real world and how it isn’t always nice out there. But, he has found some real superheroes to emulate and respect. He is into his second year of Karate lessons and has gained self-esteem, manners, and an interest in doing things to the best of his ability. His black-belt instructors, called sensei, are teaching him those things. And one of them, Mike, is often wearing  a Batman t-shirt under his ghee (karate uniform).

A superhero post wouldn’t be complete without mentioning our military, police forces or firefighters. These people serve their communities and country on a daily basis. They are the strong ones that protect us from evil often putting themselves in harm’s way. We owe them a lot and should respect their uniform. I also think we should include medical staff in the superhero category. Where would we be without modern medicine and the facilitators of it.

The next time you see a superhero, remember who you wanted to be like when you were little and evaluate if you’ve come close. I’m sure you have in some way.

 

 

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Love My Birds

It’s National Audubon Day. Audubon was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter noted for his extensive studies of American birds and his detailed illustrations of the birds in their natural habitats.  Audubon’s greatest work was The Birds of America which is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed.  His work in this book contains more than 700 North American bird species with 435 hand-colored, life-size prints of 497 bird species.

I have an ongoing love affair with back yard birds. I have feeders and water out for them and suet for the woodpeckers, most of the time. I like to watch them and enjoy their unique colors; the red of the cardinal and the blue of the blue-jay. We had company for dinner one day and the question was, “Do I have birds that color where I live?” We chuckled and said, “Of course.”

I know most of the names of my back-yard birds, but I have can never remember if it’s the cat-bird or cow-bird that has the iridescent eggplant colored head. I mentioned those two birds to give you a nudge to go to the library and borrow an Audubon book so you can see the difference. Oh, never mind, look them up on Google.

My house is decorated with birds; figurines and pictures in the family room, pictures in the living room, curtains and matching quilt in the bedroom, shower curtain in the bathroom. Some might think I have gone overboard with the birds, but I like them. I am also a realist, if I buy a bird, it has to be the correct colors and size, or I don’t want it. Just a little anal, but don’t tell anyone.

Sometimes I miss my back-yard birds because they aren’t coming around because we also have a pair of hawks that live in the woods behind our house. When you are out driving, or enjoying a walk, look for birds if you never have. Make a game out of learning their names and thank James Audubon for the wonderful lifelike pictures of them in their natural habitat.

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Text Me

It’s National Telephone Day. The telephone was introduced at the World’s Fair in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 10, 1876. In the crowded Machinery Hall a man’s voice was transmitted from a small horn and carried out through a speaker to the audience. One year later, the White House installed its first phone. The telephone revolution began.

Bell Telephone Company was founded on July 9, 1877, and the first public telephone lines were installed from Boston to Sommerville, Massachusetts the same year.  By the end of the decade, there were nearly 50,000 phones in the United States.  In May of 1967, the 1 millionth telephone was installed. [Courtesy National Day of Calendar]

And now, the landline numbers are dwindling and the cell phone has become the reigning king of communication, game playing, child soother and camera. What is the world coming to? We can even look at each other while we talk. I’m not sure the new technology, especially the game playing, is a good thing. I only say that because we tend to look at our gadgets, rather that the human we are with. Yes, I am guilty.

Recently, due to weather problems, cell phone service was knocked out in the locale my sister lives. Her neighbor had an old rotary phone in the basement that had been her fathers. She took that up and plugged it into the still existing wall plug and voila, they had phone service.  Her grandchildren had never seen a rotary phone so were entranced. They went to school and told their friends. Now it is part of every family gathering to have the privilege of using that phone to call someone. My how times have changed.

I think we take our ability to communicate with each other, no matter how near or far, for granted. It has certainly made the world a smaller place and so much less mysterious. People don’t dream of what it would be like to move west, or sail the ocean because they can watch videos about it on their phone. We don’t check the mail each day in hopes of news from our cousin in another state, we just text them. The telephone has evolved into more than just a form of communication. It’s a hand-held entertainment center with both good and not so good aspects for the human’s daily life.

 

 

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Little Piggies

It’s National Pigs in a Blanket Day. My thoughts went to sausage links wrapped in pancakes that I served repeatedly when I worked at a Denny’s. Then I looked at the picture provided and saw mini-hotdogs wrapped in pastry. My husband likes both items; I don’t care for either one.

I know I have told you in the past that I eat most anything. For whatever reason I have never liked breakfast sausage. I have tried to figure out which spice it is that turns me off, to no avail. Generally nobody knows of my dislike, or comments, because when you go out for breakfast you can always order bacon or ham instead. That works for me.

We often go out to breakfast. I order a vegetable omelet, with artichokes if they have them, and my husband orders sausage patties, eggs over easy and pancakes. He puts the sausage on top of the pancakes, the eggs on top of both, covers it with pepper and maple syrup then breaks the yolks before he starts eating. I don’t mind my food touching, or the flavors blended, but the pepper mixed with the syrup keeps me from stealing bites.

At a party, my husband goes for the mini-hotdogs first, wrapped in pastry or just floating in bar-b-q sauce. I bypass them and go for the chips. Potato chips are one of those things I rarely buy. Too dangerous to have in the house. They disappear very rapidly, then I wonder, just for a second, why I never lose any weight.

I guess the visual attached to some food names depends on where you live and what you like to eat. Did you know that in England, sausages are called bangers? Bangers in a blanket doesn’t sound quite the same. Where ever you live and what ever connotation Pigs in a Blanket has for you, if you like them, I hope you have some soon.

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