Posts Tagged ‘Jane Thomson’
EDITOR”'S NOTE Regarding “SEARCHING” by Patrick Cabello Hansel
Alley Communications has been honored and pleased to have been able to publish this novel by Patrick Cabello Hansel in The Alley Newspaper, chapter by chapter, each month for nearly three years. It has been a first for The Alley and for any local community paper as far as we know. We have been reminded by Jane Thomson, one of our most avid readers, writers, and active Alley Allies, that many noteworthy writers published novels in a serial format in newspapers or other periodicals. For example Jane points out that Charles Dickens published some of his works through serials in newspapers. He would publish chapters at regular intervals and if they were popular he would publish it as a book. Some writers sought and even depended upon reader comments and suggestions as they developed their novels. Readers are encouraged to send or call with responses to “Searching.” Did you enjoy it? Would you have changed any part? Would you like to see this story continued or another [...]
Food Obsession: Salad Days
by Jane Thomson The dictionary says that “salad days” refers to “A time of youth, innocence and inexperience.” So much for that. The term could also mean the times of year when we like to eat all kinds of salads. Here are three recipes: Sweet Potato Salad 4 pre-cooked, refrigerated, medium sweet potatoes (about 6 to 8 oz each) About 2/3 cup of sliced green onions ¾ cup of diced celery ¼ cup of olive oil (I used less when I made the salad just for myself) Juice of ½ lemon Juice of 1/2 orange 1 Tbsp.of soy sauce ½ tsp. garlic powder ½ tsp. chili powder ½ tsp. seasoning salt (I used Spike and a little salt) ¼ tsp. black pepper (I tend to use a little extra seasoning.) Peel the sweet potatoes (the peels are good eating) and cut the potatoes into bite-size pieces. Thinly slice the green onions, including some of the tender green tops. Dice the celery. Add both to potatoes. In smaller container, mix the juices, oil, soy [...]
“DEAR PARENT, YOUR CHILD IS FAT”
By Jane Thomson Above is the gist of a message that would have been sent home a couple of years ago in a harebrained plan to combat childhood obesity. Now, Michelle Obama is on the problem, and at least, she will do no harm. I was a fat child; it was not fun; and guess what ”“ my parents had noticed without being informed. When I was ten years old, after years of nagging, my mother gave me, as part of my Christmas present, a pocket-sized calorie reference book with a dial on the front to count my daily calories. The timing must have been right, as instead of hurting my feelings, the book intrigued me. I ate a lot of cantaloupe that summer, and Junket (comparable to today”'s instant sugar-free pudding mix made with skim milk). When I went back to school the following fall, I was no longer fat and clumsy, but thin and clumsy. What causes childhood obesity? I will add to the condemnation of junk food and soda advertising - cigarette companies are hardly alone in trying [...]