Sleepovers, gardens, secrets, curses…and the Presidency

16 May 2013 2 Comments

by Cocktails With Hemingway 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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

MBC2

06 Mar 2013 2 Comments

by Cocktails With Hemingway in * R. i. P. *, Adam Sontag, Admiration, Authors, Books, Films, Quotes, Sylvia Plath, Uncategorized, Words of Wisdom

• March Blog Challenge •
Day 2: Favorite Quotes

20130306-231303.jpg

“The Edge…there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.”
~ Hunter S. Thompson

“I live life like the captain of a sinking ship.”
~ Atmosphere

“There is nothing in the world like a persuasive speech to fuddle the mental apparatus and upset the convictions and debauch the emotions of an audience not practiced in the tricks and delusions of oratory.” -Mark Twain

“So avoid using the word ‘very’ because it’s lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don’t use very sad, use morose. Language was invented for one reason, boys – to woo women – and, in that endeavor, laziness will not do. It also won’t do in your essays.”
~ Dead Poets Society

20130306-233940.jpg

Facebook sure has come in handy with the blog challenge. Taken from the favorite quotes section on my profile:

“You are neurotic and depressed it doesn’t mean that you are sad.”
~ Everclear

“There’s a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.”
~ Oscar Levant

“They say you only live once; but if you live like I do, once is enough!!”
~ Frank Sinatra

20130306-233124.jpg

“Happiness amongst intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.”
~ Ernest Hemingway

20130306-231711.jpg

“Janie, today I quit my job. and then I told my boss to go eff himself, and then I blackmailed him for almost sixty thousand dollars. Pass the asparagus.” ~ Lester Burnham (American Beauty)

“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.” ~ Buddha

“Out of the ash
I rise with my red hair
and I eat men like air.”
- Sylvia Plath

20130306-232053.jpg

:: Les femmes qui lisent sont dangereuses. ::

R. i. P.
* Adam Sontag *
4/25/84 – 7/7/03
Thank you for showing me true love. <3
"The dead govern the living" – Auguste Comte

20130306-234736.jpg

With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,
Sloane

Bring on 2013

31 Dec 2012 Leave a Comment

by Cocktails With Hemingway in Blogs, Quotes, Words of Wisdom

Happy new year!

Good riddance, 2012. I present thirteen quotes for ’13. Who needs resolutions?

20121231-200621.jpg

1) “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

2) “A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues.” ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

3) “Keep away from those who try to belittle your own ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you believe that you too can be great.” ~ Mark Twain

4) “He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.” ~ Lao Tzu

5) “A woman is like a tea bag– yo u can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

6) ” I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter.” ~ Winston Churchill

7) “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed group of individuals can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

8) “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” ~ Oscar Wilde

9) It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” ~ Maya Angelou

10) “Motherhood is a choice you make everyday, to put someone else’s happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you’re not sure what the right thing is…and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong.” ~ Donna Ball

11) “I don’t think it’s possible to have a sense of tragedy without having a sense of humor.” ~ Christopher Hitchens

12) “A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world.” ~ Albert Camus

13) “On the contrary, your Honor. I was doing my best to conceal it.” ~ Mae West
[upon being asked by a judge if she was trying to show contempt for the court during a trial for indecency]

With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,
Sloane

Paging Dr. Reed

15 Jan 2012 1 Comment

by Cocktails With Hemingway in Adam, Pregnancy, Quotes, Three F's, Unitarian Universalists, Wanda

I had a kit just like this when I was a little girl. =)

Something so very special happened today.  <3 

All in due time it will be discussed here….

 

Yesterday morning I went to McCarthy Wholesale to sign papers for my new vehicle!  Although I highly doubt that I know enough people in this area to make any difference with my recommendations, I cannot say enough good things about this place.  Everybody in SLO County looking to purchase a high quality pre-owned vehicle should come to McCarthy.  They’ve been voted #1 Used Car Dealer six years in a row by the New Times [the equivalent to the Memphis Flyer] so their presence in the community is well established.  Everyone on staff was friendly, knowledgeable, professional, and made the process of purchasing a car go off without a hitch.  And they’ll work with you on financing too!  I cannot thank them enough for helping me.

After careful consideration I have named my Ford Explorer…Wanda.  The two of us got hopelessly lost this morning and I loved every moment of it.  ‘Investigating’ winding two lane roads that are off the grid is not something I can afford to do again but it was a fun adventure.  Consider me an expert in every back road east of the 101 from Paso to San Luis Obispo.  How nice it was to be behind the wheel again.  Most importantly, for the first time ever, the title is in my name.  I OWN you, Wanda.  You will drain my financial resources but I still adore and appreciate you.

Oh Adam.  My sweet boy.  Half my heart aches so terribly yet I can’t even discuss it.  Without the Three F’s [Faith, Family, Friends]….10 days.

Quote of the Day:  “Dang Germans.  They’re just trying to get back at us for making them sign that thing in France.” – Mr. Taylor [ [Jamie's dad as he struggled with the repairs on her VW]]

With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,

Sloane

Welcome 2012!

01 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment

by Cocktails With Hemingway in Changes, Quotes, Words of Wisdom

“This is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body.” ~ Walt Whitman

It's 2012!

My friend’s husband posted these words from Walt Whitman yesterday and I cannot imagine a more fitting way to ring in the new year.  Originally I planned to use this post to explore the concept of those pesky resolutions….but after discovering the blog I’d written about the same category last year, revisiting those failed endeavors would only make me gloomy, and that’s simply no way to enjoy the first day of my fresh start. 

Never again will I make a new year’s resolution.  Quite frankly, I don’t think you should either.  It’s time to throw the traditional numerical list format [at least that was how I always created mine] out the window.  There’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve yourself and make positive changes, but don’t hold yourself to such stringent standards.  Extrapolate the general message from a specific thought.  Instead of “I will use the elliptical for 45 minutes three times a week” try something along the lines of “I will be more physically active.”  You get the idea.

With that being said I’m still considering my ‘resolutions.’  I’ll keep you posted.  How’s the first day of everyone’s 2012 thus far?

With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,

Sloane