Cocktails With Hemingway

The joy Tatum brings to our family is indescribable.  We adore our little angel.  Yet even with her in my arms there is still so much heartbreak.  I am determined to spend the rest of my Tennessee time focused on my precious daughter.  During those difficult periods where she’s napping and I’m left alone with my thoughts….it’s time to unleash my tried and true defense mechanisms of mindless distractions and pretending this nightmare is a figment of my imagination.  Neither one of these works, at least not for very long, but a temporary ‘escape’  helps me return to my mission with renewed strength and focus.  With that being said, enjoy the links that piqued my interest recently.

As horrifying as this article is, it doesn’t surprise me in the least.  Young people are the perfect consumers.  Catch them young enough and they’ll be buyers for life.  To hear of ‘cheese addicts’ [and we're not talking about my penchant for the dairy product] and kids ‘overdosing on Strawberry Quick’ makes me ill.  It’s never too early to talk to your children about drugs.

Can you imagine what our society would be like if these were legal items to purchase?

Perhaps it is in poor taste to write about legalizing drugs considering the previous paragraph but I try to group things in a way that makes sense to me.  Citing Portugal’s decision to decriminalize drugs [and the subsequent 50% drop in drug abuse over the course of ten years] as an example, author Richard Rider offers compelling examples as to why drugs should be legalized in the United States.  While this notion is shocking to some people– and I’m certainly not agreeing with him– he does make some valid points that we would be remiss not to consider when formulating an opinion on this issue.

Inhalable caffeine?!  Where can I get some?!  I completely understand the concerns with this product but in my mind all I see is the joy of multiple cups of coffee minus the disgusting taste and frequent trips to the ladies room. 

“Rick Santorum Represents Everything Europeans Find Weird About America” – With such an interesting title I expected a little more substance….though the limited observations presented were interesting.  Classes pertaining to international relations and comparative politics comprised much of my course load as a political science major and I’ve always been enthralled with the various forms of governments in our world.  It’s fascinating to get a glimpse of how other nations view the United States.  Reading foreign news sources regarding U.S. political coverage [especially during an election year] is something I highly recommend if it’s not already a part of your routine.  Don’t be one of those insulated Americans who forgets the rest of the world exists.

Traveling makes you a better writer. I'd like to go here, please.

It’s no secret that Rick Santorum wouldn’t make the cut for scoring an invite to my ideal dinner party.  His beliefs regarding women’s reproductive health never cease to amaze me with their sheer ignorance.  Undergoing an amniocentesis is not “morally wrong”– it’s a potentially life saving test– and it is simply not true that it is used to “recommend abortion.”  Had Sarah Fister Gale not received an amniocentisis, her daughter would have died shortly after birth….yet because she took her doctor’s advice [in response to an anomaly in her blood work] her daughter’s RH- disease did not cause them to bury an infant….and her 11 year old girl is now healthy.  Yes, certain chromosomal disorders and neural tube defect detected from amniocentesis are deemed ‘incompatible’ with life and mothers are given the option to terminate.  But what about those parents who use the results of such a crucial test to give their children the medical attention they need and the best quality of life possible?

There’s a new type of limbless amphibian recently discovered in northeastern India.  So they’re not exactly the cutest things I’ve ever seen but it’s always exciting when science discovers something new!

Though I’ve never felt the need to justify my wanderlust– bonus points for the literary types who understand why writers should travel.  I couldn’t agree more.  While Disneyland may not be the Acropolis in terms of cultural value– it’s the next vacation on the calendar.  Adam and I will take a Mommy and Me trip….and I know that experience will be infinitely more rewarding than any historic landmark.

With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,

Sloane