Search

Sue Spitulnik

Writing, Sewing, Travel, and Thoughts

Open Search
Author

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.

Make it Yourself

It’s National Pack Your Lunch Day. I get up every workday morning the same time as my husband and make a fresh salad for him to take for lunch. I put the homemade dressing on sparingly so it’s only a little soggy by the time he gets to it six hours later. His favorite topping is tunafish. Some of his work-mates have asked if I would make them one….we laugh as we imagine me with a list of each individual’s desires as my own children don’t eat what my husband likes, namely, the hot peppers, radishes, olives, and Asiago cheese. Sometimes, I make two, so there is one for me also.

When I was a kid, I envied my classmates that brought their lunch to school. My mother insisted we eat the hot lunch the school provided, for a fee of course. Now that I think back, most kids brought a sandwich, chips, and maybe some fruit. Back then I thought that was fine. Today I wouldn’t. You would more likely find me with a leftover piece of meat and some cold cooked vegetables, or even a dish of cold spaghetti.

My daughter is a body builder and she runs around with the ever-present snap-top container of chicken, brown rice, and broccoli. It has been cooked with some seasonings added, but she eats it cold, often with her fingers. I’m not impressed with watching the process, but her headaches are gone, she feels good, and she looks even better. I admire her stick-to-itiveness.

A couple of interesting facts from the calendar;   Mickey Mouse was the first licensed character to appear on a lunchbox in 1935.  The 1950 Hopalong Cassidy lunchbox was the first one based on a television show.

I also remember back in grade school the “rich” kids had metal lunch boxes with a thermos included, the “poor” kids carried brown bags.

While I was still working, I often stuck a container of food in my purse. One day it leaked. What a mess. The next day my boss brought me an insulated bag with a cat on it. I am still using it. And now, with the gluten-free days, I am taking my lunch more often than not. Van’s gluten free waffles make a great hamburger bun, with a bit of ketchup and mayo, hold the maple syrup.

What did you say you packed for lunch today?

 

 

2

Rewrite: Again and Again

I’m slowly learning the art of proofreading, or should I say rewriting, and rewriting again. There is a difference between writing something and making sure all the punctuation and spelling is correct, and writing something to show action, grasp the reader, and not use any exclamation points. I had no idea; until I decided to write a fiction novel.

I’ll give you an example. “Millie was mad because her husband was late and dinner was drying out, then the dog peed on the rug!”         OR         “Millie looked at the clock one more time wondering if her husband had been in an accident. She tried adding some more milk to the dried-out casserole, but ended up throwing the mixing spoon into the sink when she spotted the puppy peeing on the rug.”

The first example has no misspelled words and has correct punctuation, but leaves the reader with a ‘who cares’ attitude. The second example shows the reader Millie’s frustration without using the word frustrated. Showing action, not telling, is an art form I am slowly improving at. I spent a portion of my morning reading about the current publishing trend that takes all exclamation points out of text. I’m still having trouble with that one. I learned in school an exclamation point was used instead of a descriptive word, like yelled. The thought now, is if the writing doesn’t tell you someone is yelling, it needs to be rewritten so it does. Again and again.

I’m also learning you can’t depend on just spell-check to keep you from needing to proofread because if you use the correct word, but the wrong spelling, the computer won’t tell you. Depending on the publishing year of Word you have installed on your computer, it will also tell you something is wrong when you know it isn’t, like the spelling of a street name, or a Jewish word.

Writing is a favorite past-time of mine, but it can also be very frustrating. I think I have made something perfectly clear and when six people read the same piece of my work, three of them don’t get my meaning. I guess it’s sort of like a doctor that doesn’t explain things because he knows what he is talking about, but you, as the patient, haven’t got a clue.

I’m always rewriting; writing never seems to be totally done. The good thing is, I learn from others who proofread my work, to be a better proofreader for myself.

 

 

5

Real Maple Syrup

It’s National Pancake Day. IHOP restaurants began National Pancake Day in 2006.  Since that day, they have raised $24 million for charities.  On March 7th, 2017 people from around the country will once again celebrate National Pancake Day at IHOP restaurants and enjoy free pancakes. Guests are asked to consider leaving a donation.

I imagine the lines are long today at IHOP. Anytime anything “free” is involved that’s the way it goes. That’s all right. The gimmick behind this offer is beneficial to a lot of charities, hence a lot of people get help from other people’s donations. That’s a good thing in my mind.

One of the local products of New York state goes very well with pancakes. It’s real Maple Syrup. The maple trees have been tapped for a few weeks now, and there are restaurants that serve pancakes and fresh maple syrup only during the syrup making season. The lines are very long to get a table, but the wait is worth it.

If you’ve never seen, or learned about the process of making fresh maple syrup, I urge you to look it up and share it with the children in your life. It’s fascinating that a liquid drawn from a maple tree, can be cooked down into a super sugary syrup. It’s a long, slow, meticulous process so the syrup doesn’t burn and get ruined. The finished product is a favorite of mine.

If you’ve a mind to have pancakes today, I suggest you brave the lines at IHOP and donate a bit to help your fellow humans. Thank you.

 

0

It’s National Dress Day. The calendar says to recognize the day by remembering your favorite dresses and the events you wore them for and/or post a picture of you in one.

I’ll give away my age by admitting when I was in school, girls had to wear dresses or skirts. My senior class held a sit-in to have the rules changed so girls could wear pants to school. It certainly makes sense for students to wait for the bus in pants instead of skirts during the winter months, but the sad part is, unless you work in an office, so few ladies wear dresses anymore, we have lost some of our femininity. My husband, in recent years, has made the comment, “Wow, I’d forgotten you had legs.”

I love TV shows and movies that showcase the beautiful clothing once worn; Downton Abbey, Victoria, and My Fair Lady are some examples. I happen to believe women’s clothing styles have evolved backwards. In the old days we should have worn pants and t-shirts because they are easier to take care of. Now days, when we have all the modern tools and techniques, we should be wearing the frills and hoops of the 1800’s. Please don’t throw a tomato at me, I know we wouldn’t be comfortable, but we sure would look good! Now that I think about it; can you imagine trying to drive to the grocery store in a long full skirt. I guess I need to rethink my fantasy.

When I was younger, I loved to get dolled up in a dress and heels. Then the back gave out on me. I have worn nothing but sneakers or flats since 2000. I feel silly in a dress with my ugly shoes. Oh well, better to be comfortable. I also remember, way back in grade-school, waiting years to grow into a dress my older sister had worn. When I finally did, it was so out of style, my class-mates laughed at me, but I didn’t care at the time, it was my sister’s dress and I loved it.

I love to drive by a church in the inner city as the service lets out just to admire the ladies’ outfits. They still know how to dress to praise the Lord. And their hats add something special. I wish I knew where they shopped.

 

 

 

0

Sub/Hoagie/Po-boy

It’s National Cold Cut Day. It’s interesting how the human mind works. I looked at the list of today’s subjects very early, then later, told my husband I wanted a submarine sandwich for supper. In upstate New York that is the name for a foot-long sandwich filled with cold-cuts, lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayonnaise, or oil. Of course other things like pickles, peppers and olives can be added also. And, it might be slathered with mustard too.

Across the U.S. this sandwich has different names. It’s interesting how food names are colloquial, just like slang and how one drinks tea. It proves what a big country the United States is.

When I was a kid I lived across the street from a small grocery store. They sold cold-cuts. It was a treat to have a bologna or hard salami sandwich. My aunt and I liked to have liverwurst with mustard. The liverwurst back then was mushy and spreadable with a knife. When I buy it these days, it always seems to be dry and flavorless. They just don’t make things like they used to.

I miss the old days when kids and adults alike spent time outside, there weren’t so many rules about what food was made out of, it actually spoiled if not eaten in a timely manner and eating over-processed cold-cuts wasn’t such a big no-no. Of course, they weren’t so over-processed back then, and we exercised off the ill effects. And now I’m attempting gluten-free too, so there goes a good bread roll. It might just be the day to throw caution to the wind and have an oily, cold-cut stuffed, extra onion, submarine sandwich. I can already taste it.

 

0

One of the Family

It’s National Pig Day. Have you ever had the opportunity to know a pig personally? They are an intelligent, caring, trainable creature. My daughter has one named Niko, who is one of the family, just like her dog, Sasha.

niko

Sasha is a Boston Terrier and Niko is a pot belly pig. They play together like two dogs, love to have their bellies rubbed and compete for the best spot on the couch. The only real drawback is when Niko jumps on your lap, his hooves leave bruises. Oh, and he doesn’t lick your face, but will steal your snacks if left unattended. Yes, he is litter trained. He doesn’t like strangers and hates to be picked up, sort of like my cat. His “fur” is wiry and his nose feels like wet plastic. He’s a messy eater, but cleans up every last bit he drops in the process. We love to hear him snuffle in his sleep.

I always make time to pet the pig when I visit my daughter’s house. I don’t know how he does it, but I will be petting his back and talking to him, then he drops to his side to have his belly rubbed. He doesn’t move like a dog or cat in order to lie down, he just drops, suddenly, onto his side. It is the funniest thing, then he looks at me as if to ask what I’m waiting for. When I rub his belly, he closes his eyes and takes it all in. I’m sure he is purring on the inside.

National pig day was created to acknowledge all the attributes of swine.  Whether you have one as a family member, eat one, or read about one, pigs are wonderful creatures. One note of caution, a mama pig with piglets can be very dangerous to an intruding human they don’t know.

0

Website Built with WordPress.com.

Up ↑