Between Muslim extremists bearing meat cleavers, tornadoes obliterating elementary schools, and the bone chilling sociopath that is Jodi Arias….I needed some comic relief. English major WIN.
With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,
Sloane
Comic relief
22 May 2013 Leave a Comment
in Etc., Humor, Winning Tags: Tornados, Meat Cleavers, Muslim Extremists, Elementary Schools, Sociopath, Jodi Arias, English
F5
21 May 2013 Leave a Comment
in Nature, The South, USA Tags: Disaster, Emergency, Moore, Oklahoma, Severe Weather, Tornado Alley, Tornadoes, Weather
Growing up in the south exposed me to tornadoes– and the danger, wonder, panic, reverence, and fear that accompanies them. Though Tennessee is not considered a part of Tornado Alley, I expect our family to huddle in the downstairs bathroom at least once a year as the sirens are blaring. As I type this we’re under warnings for both severe thunderstorms and flash floods. Hearing of the utter devastation in Moore, Oklahoma breaks my heart. Text ‘redcross’ to 90999 to donate $10 to relief efforts through the Red Cross….please help if you are able. I ask you all to send thoughts and prayers to Oklahoma. Let those affected find comfort and healing as they rebuild, literally and figuratively. These before and after photos take my breath.
“As dawn breaks, storm clouds roll in over a destroyed neighborhood the day after a tornado hit in Moore” (EPA/ED ZURGA /LANDOV)
If you find yourself faced with a tornado warning TAKE SHELTER. Identify the safe room in your home– a space towards the center in the basement or lowest level of your house, avoid windows and doors, and place as many doorways as possible between your safe r00m and the outdoors. Know the safest places to be wherever you are. Create a disaster kit and a family emergency plan. Perform a yearly drill. You can never be too prepared.
Every family should have an disaster kit and safety With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,
Sloane
Are You There God? It’s me, Sloane.
19 May 2013 Leave a Comment
in Etc. Tags: Powerball, Lottery
With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,
Sloane
Say a Little Prayer
18 May 2013 Leave a Comment
in Love
It’s no secret that I have a massive crush on the boy. The quickest way to taint something potentially brilliant is to slap a label on it–so I’ll refrain from my inherent urge to define, categorize, and control all aspects of my life. This is what true happiness as an adult is like. When I’m not bouncing from cloud to cloud while soaking up sun beams I’ll devote an entry to the more serious aspects of my feelings. Suffice it to say he’s a great guy. My parents like him and the approval would be universal if I chose to reveal his identity. 
Because of him I appreciate ridiculously corny images on Pinterest…..
…present him with delectable culinary creations…
…cuddle profusely and hold his hand in public…
….and relate to epic scenes in movies where the characters spontaneously burst into Dionne Warwick songs. Bonus points if the movie involves a protagonist with a gay best friend!
Thank you for existing, boy. If this all ends tomorrow I’m a better woman because of it.
With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,
Sloane
Ants
18 May 2013 Leave a Comment
in Etc., The South Tags: Ants, Borax, Home Remedies
It’s truly the beginning of summer in the south when the ants go marching in– as in throughout your home. Few are spared. Cleanliness and tidiness prove irrelevant. Once a colony sets up shop they call several hundred of their best friends only to multiply like….ants?
Fear not: I guarantee my potion will exterminate all 439, 567, 034, 592, 103 of those pesky ants.
1 cup sugar
3 cups warm water
3 tablespoons borax [I used 20 Mule Team]
Mix sugar and borax. Slowly stir in warm water. Voila, there’s your potion.
The quantity of this recipe gives you more than enough to take back your home and share some with a friend, so seal it in an airtight jar. Pour solution into tops of plastic milk jugs or two liter soda bottles and place throughout infected areas. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS. Ingesting this can be fatal to any human or animal involved. Let the ants sip on the sugary delight and take it back to the colony. They’ll disperse it and– BAM!– colony eliminated. You’re welcome.
With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,
Sloane
Sleepovers, gardens, secrets, curses…and the Presidency
16 May 2013 2 Comments
in Ambition, Authors, Childhood, Hutchison, Quotes, Words of Wisdom, Writing
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” ~ Benjamin Franklin
One of my favorite Hutchison memories involves the yearly book created by Lower School (grades 1-5) students. Every girl wrote and illustrated her own hardbound book each spring. While our teachers offered proofreading and general guidance, we had complete autonomy in terms of the artistic and written content. I think I speak for all of our classmates when I say this was one of the best times of the year. Not only did we have a blast– but it taught us the importance of creativity– and showed us that our ideas, expressions, and contributions outside of the academic realm were worthy and valuable. Every elementary aged child should have this as a part of their curriculum.
The Big Sleepover (1993)
“I don’t care who you are. When you sit down to write the first page of your screenplay, in your head, you’re also writing your Oscar acceptance speech.” ~ Nora Ephron
Composed in Ms. Isom’s first grade class, this is my debut novel. To the best of my recollection I had several sleepovers of epic proportions that year, so I’m sure that served as my source of inspiration. Write about what you know, eh? In my book I had a slumber party where I ate pizza and ice cream and then got into our non-existent outdoor hot tub with Huxley, Parker, Lisa, and Dorothy.
The English Garden (1994)
“When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people, not characters. A character is a caricatures.” ~ Ernest Hemingway
If you think what I did in Ms. Ketner’s class merely involves perennials, you are sorely mistaken. There’s a sinister twist. Are you intrigued yet?
The Secret Of House 205 (1995)
“Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, then for a few close friends, and then for money.” ~ Moliere
Hail To The Chief (1996)
“Easy reading is damn hard writing.” ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne
You should already know that the ‘chief’ referred to in this context is yours truly and I thank Ms. Drummel for indulging me. Apparently most people missed the memo that we’ve already had our first female president– me– and our first minor president as well as I was only ten when I ascended the democratically elected throne of this great nation.
Nila’s Curse (1997)
“There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.” ~ W. Somerset Maugham
….because your teenage babysitter whisking your children off to the Middle East is a very real possibility. The charges don’t seem too unhappy though so I guess America wasn’t working out for them. Those over-educated, under-stimulated, and privileged youth…so ungrateful! I wonder if Ms. Koehn noticed my camel was missing a few legs.
With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,
Sloane
Stay
15 May 2013 Leave a Comment
in Favorites, Love, Lyrics, Music, YouTube
There is someone in Memphis. <3
“Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can’t live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay
Funny you’re the broken one but I’m the only one who needed saving….“
With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,
Sloane
Good morning, Dublin!
14 May 2013 Leave a Comment
in College, Da Real Homiez, Friends, Kids, University of Memphis
Upon hearing yesterday’s knock on the door my first thought was to ignore the unexpected company– no witnesses for Jehovah at this house. But alas, I did not. So glad to see one of my closest friends from college, Anne! We sat in my backyard and waited to observe the mating habits of white-tailed deer.
We’ve come a long way from green beer!
With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,
Sloane
Rest in Peace, Rick
13 May 2013 Leave a Comment
in * R. i. P. *, Atascadero, Death, Friends
“He who doesn’t fear death dies only once.” ~ Giovanni Falcone
Today I received the devastating news of Rick’s passing. A dear friend of mine from Atascadero, we met under the most unusual circumstances, but I’ll never forget my first impression. The times we spent together with little group were filled with so much laughter. I never thought I’d shed so many tears over somebody who made me so happy. Rick was a true gentleman with a heart of gold.
I took this at Terry’s in January. Rick acted bashful and said it had been years since anybody took his picture. He asked why I wanted to capture this image and I told him that I wanted to be able to put in my scrapbook to show my Memphis friends their 805 counterparts who got me through the worst time in my life. When he saw the picture he loved it and asked me to print a copy for his son, which I did. In retrospect, I felt compelled to take this picture, and I am so glad I did. That night he told us that we were amongst his best friends and he was so glad to know us.
Montana de Oro
Rick always said that Montana de Oro was the most beautiful place on earth and he wanted to take my friend and me before I went back to Tennessee. I’m so sorry we never got the chance to go. Trying to focus on the positive is exceedingly difficult right now, but I cannot help but smile when I think of our gift exchange. We’d give each other little trinkets whenever we saw each other. Despite constant crying as I write this entry I’m laughing as I recall my last ‘swag’ from Rick: a bottle of delicious wine from Paso Robles, a giant pink bathrobe– because it was the only article of women’s clothing available at the end of a garage sale– and he wanted to be sure he got me something, and [upon hearing me complain about my rough feet] a Ped-Egg….that formerly belonged to his sister. God love him.
I wholeheartedly believe that your soul leaves your body the second your heart stops beating. His soul flew into the heavens immediately and that comforts me. The earthly shell is no more, but nobody deserves that….
With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,
Sloane
Marvelous Monday morning
13 May 2013 Leave a Comment
in Blogs, Cocktails With Hemingway, Coffee, Fitness, Food, Highest Self, Neshoba, Spirituality, Unitarian Universalists
Despite the fact that I can usually bounce out of bed bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to conquer my day, I am not immune to occasionally feeling sluggish on Mondays. Today definitely was not one of those Mondays. I woke up peacefully sans alarm clock at 5am and started week 4 of my Couch Potato to 5K program. Then I ate a bowl of sugar free oatmeal with a hearty heaping of flax seeds and a glass of 1% milk. No, I have not lost my mind and I’m not dieting. But I feel so much better when I eat clean and healthy, so if I’m not at a restaurant or cooking for a special occasion, that’s what I plan to do.
Was there time for yoga and a virtual church service before the pitter patter of young feet? There was! Would you believe me if I said I did all of this without a single drop of coffee? I kid you not….the pot that pumps the caffeinated lifeblood into our veins met its tragic demise yesterday. Between my mother and me I give it another hour at most before we’re speeding to Target to make a purchase for the most essential home furnishing other than the bathtub.
Methinks I’m running on natural energy– unbridled passion and enthusiasm!!– because I renewed Cocktails With Hemingway for another year last night.
Thank you to Ginny at Capelli for my fabulous hair.
Endless thanks to my friend, Julia, who shared with me the Church of the Larger Fellowship. It’s a Unitarian Universalist congregation without walls– meaning it’s all online. Live services occur at 8pm ET on Sundays and 9am ET and 1:30pm ET on Mondays. Beyond the website offers a wealth of information and opportunities to participate. What an incredible supplement to my ‘in person’ spiritual community at Neshoba. Even if you do not identify as a UU [or have no idea what that is]… I encourage you watch this afternoon’s service if you are able or check out some of the previous ones if you are not. Consider it a way to enhance your current beliefs without detracting from any particular religion. I assure you there is no crusade to promote our UU agenda found here either.
With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,
Sloane
