National Day of …….

It’s a What?

It’s National Clerihew Day. Don’t feel bad, I had no idea what it was either. Edmund Clerihew Bentley (July 10, 1875 – March 30, 1956) created his first whimsical, four-line biographical poem when he was just 16. He became a well-known English novelist and humorist. I am still wondering why they used his middle name for the day. As with most poetry, the Clerihew is defined by a set of rules. It must contain four lines, rhyming couplets of AA/BB, a person’s name in the first line, and say something about that person.

The National Day of Calendar urged me to try to write one myself. I came up with the following:

On this day Susan Sleggs

Is about to go to the list called Craig’s

To find someone to write her query letter

For they could probably do it better

Forgive me, the poem is supposed to be humorous. I don’t do humor very well, I’m not wired that way. Now drama, I can do drama. I digress. As the poem says, I have not been able to write a good query letter. I know the format and I’ve read countless examples. I can’t seem to put 6 1/2 years of a family saga story into a few sentences. There is just too much to tell. I’ve tried lists of high points, I’ve taken a class, I’ve complained to friends, and fellow writers alike. No matter what I write, it falls flat. The last advice I read said to write the letter when you are excited and upbeat about your work. How can I get to that feeling when I’m on number 300 try to get the letter to sound exciting. It isn’t happening.

Way back when, I wanted something very badly. I did everything I knew how to do and still couldn’t attain my desire. Then circumstances changed and I learned what I had wanted wouldn’t have been good for me at all. The lesson I learned was there is always a reason for delay. One might never know what it is, but if you believe in a higher power, you accept it and move on. Perhaps the timing for me to send a query letter to the right agent,for that long novel sitting in a pile on my desk, just isn’t right. (Please don’t tell me to self-publish. I’m not in favor of it.) And just maybe, if I can’t write the query, it’s because my writing isn’t worthy of being published. Don’t despair. I’m not ready to give up just yet. Seems if I can write a Clerihew on a moments notice, a letter should be a piece of cake.

07/10/2017 0

Tis The Season

It’s National Strawberry Sundae Day. In western New York state, we are at the peak of strawberry season. I like to drive by the fields and see the people crouched down to pick their own strawberries. The plants grow very close to the ground so picking them can be as painful as it is rewarding. I admit, we don’t pick our own anymore.

Growing up my family preferred strawberry shortcake. My mother would make a fresh buttermilk biscuit the size of a round cake pan. Once it was cool enough to handle she would flop it into one of her hands, then carefully slice it in half crosswise. The bottom half would go on a large plate. She would slather it with butter then cover it with fresh smashed strawberries. Next she would turn the top of the biscuit upside down on the bottom layer so it too could absorb a layer of butter, then more strawberries would be poured on top of that. We always let it sit while making fresh whipped cream to top it with. The result was a gooey, yummy dessert, only enjoyed when there were fresh strawberries.

Currently my husband and I have a local farm we like to go to. They have a dessert stand and you can get either a strawberry sundae or shortcake. On a summer evening, there is nothing like berries on cold refreshing ice cream. They also have some goats in a pen near the stand, so we take the grandchildren and enjoy watching them pet and feed the goats. Goats also love strawberries but are happy with the long grass we can pick in a nearby ditch.

All too often these National Days have something to do with food, and I like food. I don’t usually think of a strawberry sundae at breakfast time, but I am today. I think Saturday will be a mandatory let’s go get a strawberry sundae event.

07/07/2017 2

White or Dark Meat

It’s National Fried Chicken Day. Who doesn’t like fried chicken? I always thought this dish was a southern “invention” but according to the National Day of Calendar, it was introduced to the southern part of the U. S. by Scottish immigrants. I sure would have gotten that question wrong were I playing Jeopardy.

I have to admit I have never made fresh, coat it yourself, fried chicken. I guess it’s because I’ve never been around someone that knew how to do it the right way and come out with a juicy inside, crisp outside, piece of cooked meat. I have used some Shake-n-Bake in my day, but found it too salty for my taste. About once a year I get a hankering for Kentucky Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes, cole slaw and a roll. Once a year is enough because the amount of salt in the coating outweighs the taste of the chicken.

When I was a kid, my mother believed in fresh food, but occasionally she would let me have a Swanson TV dinner. I always picked the fried chicken. There’s just something about picking up a chicken leg to eat that satisfies the primal. Of course a napkin at hand was a necessity.

These days I do eat a fair amount of deep fried chicken in the form of Buffalo Wings. They originated in Buffalo, NY. Every once in a while the group I am with will have a good laugh about being expected to eat the chicken wing when we were young. It was considered the least important part of the chicken back then. Now, it is fried, slathered in hot sauce and people order them on purpose, ten or twelve at a time. In fact, I have some leftovers in the fridge from the last time we went out. I guess they will be my lunch today.

07/06/2017 0

TMI

This is the day we recognize social media and how it has changed our every day lives. Think about it, depending on your age of course, the time of waiting for news of the birth of a cousin by snail-mail is long gone. We now have instant pictures or videos. I think that’s a good thing and I’m sure every family that is now spread across this nation, or the earth, thinks so too.

On the other hand so many people use social media to bash someone or our government that using it has become a negative instead of a positive. I have to admit, I have unfollowed “friends” who bash others. I have also unfollowed people who post too many details, all negative, about their current relationship or life style. I don’t want to be dragged down by those who won’t take responsibility for their own lives or get help when others have suggested that is what could improve the situation.

My blog is part of social media and I’m sure there are some that look at my titles and think, “Who cares?” That’s all right. My point in writing this was to help myself become a better writer and just maybe inspire some conversation around someone’s dinner table instead of having four heads buried in their phones.

You-Tube is its own being now. You can find anything on You-tube. I do like my favorite genre of music videos. I look up how to do something in my sewing room, and my grandson watches people play and explain video games. There is definitely something for everyone, especially about cooking and travel. My wish is for the people who make the videos to take all the “umm” and “ya know” phrases out of their public speaking. But then again, that’s just my pet peeve.

Social Media is here to stay, unless of course, the power goes out. I think it has made the world a smaller place and I’m not at all sure that is a good thing. See you soon on Facebook!

06/30/2017 0

Print One for Me

It’s National Camera Day. When you live in the hometown of George Eastman you know how important cameras are. From taking snapshots with an actual camera and printing them, to making film for movie studios to use, all things photo related are common subjects on the news, in the paper and around the table. George Eastman, also known as “The Father of Photography,” did not invent the camera, but he did invent many additions that improved the use, ease, and production of it, making it widely available around the world.

Just the other day the DJ’s on my favorite morning radio show were talking about when Fugi Film became available and how a local hid the fact they dared use something other than Kodak film. Kodak was a huge business when I was young. The employees started there right out of high school or college and stayed until they retired. The company was almost a cult in that anyone who worked for them also had most of their family time occupied by activities the company had for them. It was a way of life. Unfortunately technology has changed things. A lot of the buildings are gone, the company is small (in comparison) and often struggling, and the retirees have lost their health care. Sad.

This past Saturday my four-year old granddaughter stood next to me as we looked at pictures of her on my computer. She showed me which ones she liked best and her Mom said, “I haven’t seen these.” Sometimes technology isn’t a good thing. So few people have tangible photos anymore. I think I will get my color printer fired up and print eight pictures a year to make a photo album as a high school graduation gift for each of my grandchildren. I’ll also include pictures of our homes and pets, so in the future they will be able to share their lives with their grandchildren. It will be a way to keep the history of my family alive. And you can bet, I will use Kodak paper to print my photos on, but I will probably take the pictures with my phone. No wonder the day of the home use camera has come and gone.

06/29/2017 1

Too Many Suffer

It’s National PTSD Awareness Day. I had to study the picture to figure out what it was showing me. In case you need help, the background is camouflage, for a military uniform, and there is a tear running from the very healthy looking green eye.

I know a lot of people who suffer from PTSD, not all military. The men and women who have served in war zones and seen the effects of combat on the human body suffer, mostly in silence, trying to make sense of the senseless. Generally it is an invisible problem, so easy for someone else to say, “Well, he/she came home without a scratch.” There might not be any visible wound, but I can guarantee they have emotional ones. Some just deal with it better than others. A friend named Norm had the job of arming war head bombs during the Korean War. He never was in a war zone himself, but to this day he wonders if any of those bombs he loaded, killed anyone. It keeps him awake at night, even after all these years.

Another group who suffer from PTSD are parents who have buried children. The siblings of that child suffer also. I just read an article by Paula Stephens entitled “What I Wish More People Understood About Losing a Child”. She called the death of a child an “out-of-order death”. It’s unnatural. The pain never goes away and the child’s birthday and the day they became an angel are the toughest days of the year for the family. The power of the date is sometimes overwhelming. If you know anyone in this category mention to them the fact you remember something about their child. It helps them to know people haven’t forgotten their baby (no matter the age).

Sometimes even a stressful job can result in PTSD symptoms for those who did the job. Police officers, medical personnel, company heads, and anyone who has dealt with a traumatic situation are in that group. And their spouses and families suffer with them. It is proven that support groups can help people who deal with PTSD, but it is also a fact that too many people don’t look for a group because “they can handle it on their own”. I find that sad. I thinks it’s very helpful for a person to know they aren’t the only one who feels the way they do and they are still normal, maybe with a new definition of normal.

06/27/2017 0

Sue Spitulnik

Writing, Sewing, Travel, and Thoughts

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