3 Quarters Today

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Nebraska

Day 218/365: Grinders vs. Subs

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American Slang Dialects

I have lived in three distinct areas of the United States, Connecticut, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Each region has a regional dialect and slang for various words. We all know of the nationwide debate between pop, soda, and Coke but there are many other traditions.

I grew up eating “grinders”, pictured above from People’s Choice in East Hartford, but in the Midwest these are called “Submarine” sandwiches, or Subs. The latest made popular by Subway restaurants. In other areas of the country hoagie is the preferred name for a toasted sandwich on a bun.

What’s in a name anyways, what is the history and origin? Garzelli’s restaurant has a theory.

New England "Grinder"
New England “Grinder”

The biggest difference I see is the amount of meat. In Connecticut, the meat comes first and foremost and it’s piled high. At Subway you would never see this much meat.

The definition is as follows:

“A long French or Italian-style bread loaf, filled with meats and cheeses, topped with an assortment of lettuce, peppers, pickles – whatever – with a vinaigrette dressing or mayo.”

American Slang, sub vs. grinder
Turkey Sandwiches are nothing to sneeze at either.

So what do you call it: Grinder, Sub, Hoagie, Poor Boy, Hero? Or maybe something entirely different.

The Slangman Guide to Street Speak 1: The Complete Course in American Slang & IdiomsBuy At AmazonAmerican Slang Dictionary and ThesaurusBuy At AmazonLet’s Talk Turkey: The Stories Behind America’s Favorite ExpressionsBuy At AmazonDirty Sign Language: Everyday Slang fromBuy At Amazon

Differences in the American Language

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Day 213/365: American Legion Baseball

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My son waited all summer for me to get an action shot of him sliding into base during an American Legion Baseball game. I think he’s happy with this. He played four years of Legion ball and it’s been the best sports experience hands down in the Elmwood-Murdock community. That includes school sports and town ball association participation.

American Legion Baseball
Safe at Third!

The seniors on this team remember their freshman year when many were recruited by classmates to play baseball so they could have a team. Many had not played since T-ball or coach pitch. That first year they didn’t win a game, and got “run ruled” too many times to count. But the coaches were fantastic, thanks Duane and Hank, kept their spirits up and taught them to play and support each other as a team.

Coach Quotes for Baseball: A Compilation of Quotes and Quotations for Use by Baseball Coaches at Every Level of PlayOne Shot at Forever: A Small Town, an Unlikely Coach, and a Magical Baseball Season

Every year they have improved, scores started going up on the board and they even began to win a few games. Those players from four years ago have grown, matured and love to play together. My son even put off his Marine boot camp ship date so he could play baseball one last year.

Congratulations David for sticking with the sport, it’s been a privilege to watch you play, I have thoroughly enjoyed my summers at the ball field. I will miss them.

Running for home during summer legion baseball
Coming Home!

American Legion Baseball

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Speaking of American Legion Baseball History it was right compelling for me to take the liberty of putting some of the interesting background of the Legions baseball history here on baseballfarming. The first American Legion Baseball World …

Key dates in American Legion baseball history | PennLive.com

Historic moments in the lengthy history of American League baseball.

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Day 212/365: Nebraska Big Sky Country

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Took me three times as long to get to my sons baseball game the other night because I kept pulling over and taking sunset pictures. The clouds had that “silver lining” effect and the beams of sunlight were just to magnificent to pass up. The barn is one I pass every day between Elmwood and Murdock Nebraska. Just about every time it looks different. How can people say it’s boring scenery in Nebraska?

Nebraksa Big Sky Country
Nebraksa Big Sky Country

I grew up in Connecticut, and the trees line every roadside and curve into the clouds. Only sections of sky peak through. Although I miss the trees and hills the openness of the sky and heavens take my breath away. It’s awe inspiring to watch storms roll in, uninterrupted rainbows and a horizon that stretches thirty miles or more into the distance.

Enjoy our little bit of  “Big Sky” country in Nebraska.

Day 211/365: Nebraska Sunsets, Country Skyscrapers

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Montana might be called “Big Sky” country but Nebraska has a little bit of sky too. We also have skyscrapers. They are grain elevators and water towers. See, they touch the sky. From this vantage point they almost touch the clouds.

Sunset Over the Country High Rises
Sunset Over the Country High Rises

I am very blessed to have scenery like this every day when I commute to work. The town of Murdock (part of the Elmwood-Murdock metropolitan) has a population of approximately 280 people and yet it has home town pride. A lot of people around here are farmers, as you can tell by the grain elevator on the left. However, it is located only thirty minutes from Omaha and more and more people drive to the city to work.

The number of hogs and cattle raised in the area has drastically declined in the past twenty years. The second “skyscraper” you see it the feed mill, which is no longer in operation. I used to work there in the early 1990’s. It was then called Greenwood Farmers Co-op and due to the competitiveness of the agriculture industry more cooperatives in the state merged together to form Midwest Farmers Co-op. I believe the feed mill is further south now in Syracuse.

So do you still think skyscrapers are only in the big city?