Dress Green

Let's talk about soap.

I have bad skin. Terrible skin. My mom has a lovely peaches and cream complexion. My dad had bad skin. Ruddy, rough, blemish-prone skin. Unfortunately, I inherited my dad's skin.

Growing up I tried all kinds of things. I tried all the various forms of zit cream*, cheap soaps, department store skin treatment, and pretty much everything. Nothing really worked until I found Dress Green a few years ago. Lauren, the woman behind Dress Green, used to live in town but has since moved to Detroit. I heard about her  in my knitting group when someone told me she made grapefruit-scented lotion, and I am a sucker for scented anything.

I visited her store and found out she also made soaps. Because my skins is terrible and fairly sensitive, I was wary of trying someone new, but she has a charcoal-based soap that was supposed to help blemish-prone skin. What the hell, I thought, I'd give it a shot.

And you know what? It's awesome. Seriously awesome. Her Clarifying Activated Charcoal Soap is the best facial soap I have ever used. It is the only thing that has kept my skin clear. And it is the only thing that hasn't dried the hell out of my skin in the process. I have some of her moisturizer, too, but I rarely use it as I have found I usually don't need it. And just recently I tried her Green Science Face Mask (and when she says it smells like the sea, it smells like the sea). In addition to these two things, I am also an avid user of her shave bars. They moisturize and are so much nicer than shaving creams and lotions.

Other things of hers I have tried: Her lip balm (it melts if you carry it in your pocket, so I don't really use it), her perfume sticks (pink grapefruit, of course) and her body butters and creams.

Lauren is pretty awesome. Her products are great: all-natural, vegan, and totally not expensive but would be worth every penny if they were. I can't say enough good things about her and her products. So, if you're looking for facial soap, perfume, lotion, or just some gifts, check her out over at Etsy.



And by the way, this was not a "sponsored" post, I just really like her products and wanted all four of my readers to know about her.

Plates

So.... I moved. There's a long boring story related to this move, the length of time it has been in the works (two months), and constant delays related to construction--not construction in my new place, but in an adjacent place. However I don't feel like telling that story.

I want to talk about plates.

Whenever I move I get rid of craploads of stuff. I got rid of the avocado green chair that had been my grandmothers. She probably bought it in 1975. My grandma would sit in it, her feet up on a footstool with a top she had embroidered. When my grandpa was ill, shortly before he died, he'd sit in that chair. My mom had it for years and she gave it to me after I graduated from college when I needed furniture. And while there was some emotional attachment, the chair, while still comfy, had seen better days. And by now it was pretty much a cat bed. It was time for it to go, and go it went.

I got rid of a lot of things, but the things that were hardest to get rid of? Plates. But these weren't just any plates. These were the plates purchased when I moved into my very first apartment in college. I moved out of the dorms towards the end of my freshman year in the spring of 1989. I went home for a week at the end of the school year, and Mom took me to Target to buy me shit I'd need: Pots, pans, flatware, and dishes.

Of that trip to Target, the only two things I remember Mom buying were a set of cast iron pans and my dishes. I loved the dishes. They were of the time: Black with white specks. They were more expensive than other dishes, but they had style. And while there were cheaper alternatives, I had (and continue to have) one rule when it comes to dishes: No Corelle or Corelle-like dishes.

Up until last week, I still had those Target-purchased dishes. Years ago I started buying Fiesta Ware and my plan was to get rid of the black-and-white-speckled dishes when I had complete dinner service set Fiesta Ware. But you know what? I have no clue what makes a complete dinner set: Four dinner settings? Eight? Ten? Twelve? As I was getting ready to pack my kitchen, I realized I had eight full sets of Fiesta and since it is just me, there is absolutely no reason to keep my black-and-white-speckled plates. Hell, eight settings of Fiesta Ware is probably more than I will ever need.

And that thought kind of hurt. I mean I felt my stomach tighten. It was time, but my plates! They were mine. They were so '80s. They were still good! And what if I host a dinner party? And.... And... Oh hell, it's just me. And I am never going to host a dinner party, because I don't like hosting dinner parties. I don't need twelve place settings. I packed up my Fiesta and used the black-and-white-speckled plates for the last few days before I moved. It was oddly nostalgic. And I considered many times not getting rid of them, but the days before I moved, I put them in a box and dropped them off at Goodwill. I actually felt a little sad.

One of the last times I used my black-and-white-speckled plates.

Thing is, those plates were oddly symbolic. The new place I moved into is super nice. I mean crazy nice. It's the first place I've lived that didn't feel like an apartment. It has character. It has hardwood. It's old yet renovated, has a great kitchen, granite counter tops, lots of windows, an awesome view, a private entrance (with enough outdoor space for a small table and a couple of chairs), and it only shares one wall.* I've been pretty mobile most of my life and this is the first place I moved into that feels like a home, not just a place to live. I want to decorate** Simply put: This is a grown up place. And getting rid of my black-and-white-speckled plates was like getting rid of that last thing I was still holding onto from some previous part of my life.

So, goodbye black-and-white-speckled plates. I hope someone else trying to set up their first apartment sees you, thinks you are oddly funky, and purchases you. And to that person, I hope they serve you well.





*I choose to continue to rent because after lots of thinking, I decided that that buying wasn't for me. It requires a commitment I'm not comfortable making, and I really like not being responsible for things when they break. Plus, I love my neighborhood and can't afford to buy anything in my neighborhood. 

**We are encouraged to make our places our own because the more a person feels at home, the less likely they will be to move--meaning less tenant turnover. There are people who have been in this complex for ten years. Not bad for a place a few blocks from a college campus

Being Positive

I have a difficult time being positive. I tend to be naturally pessimistic. I don't know why, I just always have been. I've had this attitude that if I expect the worst, when it doesn't happen, I'll be happy. Someone once told me that was defeatist. I always saw it as realistic.

Anyway, my point: I've been feeling cautiously optimistic lately. And that's saying a lot since last week I had a slight melt down at work. It wasn't truly a melt down but I got frustrated by constantly hitting that wall of resistance that you tend to meet not only in libraries but in higher ed. And then today a faculty member needed some research help and during the process we began to talk about libraries. We discussed our library, other libraries, and libraries in general. We touched on the issues libraries face when it comes to collections, balancing access versus ownership, collaborative space verses collection space, and so on and so forth.

He had all positive things to say. That's really nice to hear since so much of what we hear from faculty is negative. They want to know why we don't have a specific book or journal or some obscure item that only two libraries in the world own. Why aren't we like Harvard/Yale/University of Chicago/University of [insert Big State U name here]? Why? Because we're not Big State U, and we aren't trying to be Big State U. So it's refreshing to have someone wander into the library, ask a few questions, start a conversation, and then tell you why you as an organization are doing things right.

It's so easy to focus on the negative. This has been a busy quarter. I'm in the process of putting together my annual review file for my job, and I can barely wrap my head around what I have done in the last three to six months. I didn't get everything done I wanted to, but I was damn close. Instead of focusing on what I didn't do, I'm trying to be impressed with what I did accomplish. And I kind of am.

About a month ago, a student came looking for me. He was looking for tax resources he thought were in gov docs, and he couldn't find them (they were in reference). Out of the blue he said, "You've really helped me out over the last few years." He made my day.

Librarians don't get thanked by many students, really. It's happened a few times in the last couple of years. One student came to see me the day before he graduated to thank me and tell me he couldn't've done it without me. He gave me a gift certificate to his parents' restaurant. I've never used it because they have little that's vegan. Instead I tacked it to my bulletin board as a reminder of why I do what I do and why I love what I do.

Seen in the Library

Lately I've been taking note of the fashion I see in the library. Our students tend to fall into two categories: über-hipsters or über-hippies. There are a few that fall in the middle. So, I see a lot of skinny jeans, neon plaid, Gunne Sax-inspired clothing, sparkly headbands and ponytails.

Tonight, as I did one of my last Friday night reference shifts, I began to wonder if Facebook and Twitter were around back in the day what the librarians at my school would've said about me and my friends.*

A few thoughts:

• Seen in library: Shaved head, black leather jacket, bad attitude. Hey little girl, chill. We get it. You're "edgy." By the way, the world doesn't hate you. 
• Seen in library: White tshirt, black bra, combat boots. Who does she think she is? Nancy Spungen? Didn't your mother teach you how to dress? 
• Seen in library: Hyperactive boy dressed like Morrisey. Seriously, that's not going to get you laid. Or maybe it will.
• Seen in library: Long hair, Chuck Taylors, drunk. Again. 
• Seen in library: That's some curly, curly hair on a dude who seriously looks like one of the Muppets. 
• Seen in library: That poor guy is a surfer stuck in the midwest. Keep livin' the dream. 
• Seen in library: Amazon girl with a Molly Ringwald obsession. 
• Seen in library: I think I just saw Alice Cooper. Seriously. Alice fucking Cooper. 

These are all friends from college. I don't think any of them read my blog, but if they do... they totally know which one of these they are. And yes, I'm included. Although I think I could count on one hand the number of times I went into the library my freshman year.

*I should've asked. Last year when I attended a symposium at my alma mater, I showed some of the librarians who was there when I was an undergrad a picture of me when I was a freshman. And at least one said, "Oh my god, I remember you." This was 20+ years ago. I'm not sure whether I should be flattered or frightened.

Four Loko Stories

Anyone who works on a college campus has probably heard of Four Loko. It's the caffeine/alcohol drink that has been banned by many states. At Thanksgiving we were talking about our students (as you do) and the topic of Four Loko came up... and a friend mentioned the site Four Loko Stories.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Major Pharmaceuticals and My Insurance Company:

Thank you.

I'm sure I won't feel this way for long, but right now, you are both my friend. After suffering through some of the worst allergy pain that didn't involve a sinus infection, I went back out to urgent care to get a steroid shot. Several friends at work told me how wonderful steroid shots were and how they worked like magic. So, I found someone to cover my desk hours and high-tailed it back to the clinic. Granted, I'll have to pay for another office visit and all that, but I didn't care.

After talking to the PA again, it was suggested I take a series of oral steroids. There were reasons that made sense at the time but I don't remember what they were. I wanted to know if it would work as fast as the shot, because as I sat there in the exam room, I swear I could feel my face expanding by the second. Plus, it felt like someone had slapped me across both cheekbones. Of course, if I looked in the mirror I just saw a teeny-tiny bit of puffiness that most people didn't notice until I pointed it out to them. The PA assured me it would work just as fast. My next question: Will it make me gain weight? No, she assured me.

By the end of the day the painful pressure was gone. It may be too early to sing the praises of the mix of various drugs I am taking right now, but they alleviated the pain. I still get stuffed up and have what I would call average allergy issues, but I don't feel like I want to claw my face off. Plus, my voice is back. Yay!

And you know what makes it better? When I pick up a prescription and the guy says, "That will be 34 cents." You know how awesome it is to pay for drugs with two quarters and get change back? Pretty fucking awesome. My insurance company is far far far from perfect, but the prescription side of it is A-OK. I should say the inhaler I got yesterday did cost $40, but it will last me until it expires.

On a side note: One reason I am having some pain is that I still have three of my four wisdom teeth. I had one pulled a few years ago because it had a cavity and my dentist told me he wasn't crowning the tooth in front of it until it was pulled. And at that time I could only afford to have one pulled. I'm not sure I can afford to have them all pulled this summer, but I tell you this, Blogosphere, I pledge to have at least two of my wisdom teeth pulled this summer (I say two because the third really isn't a problem right now.) This means I will have to go without a new TV for a while, but this is probably a better investment.

Seen (and heard) on Campus

Human vs Zombies: One group of students wears one color headband, another a different color. They spend a few days or a week or something chasing each other around campus trying to eliminate each other. This afternoon I heard some louder-than-normal commotion under my window followed by "Brrrrraaaaaaiiiiiinnnnnssssssss......" This goes a long way to explain why a student came to the reference desk last year to ask if I believed in zombies. (My response:"Uhhhhhh.")

This morning I passed a student (female) wearing what looked like one of those jerseys with the 3/4-length sleeves that were a different color (blue) from the main part of the shirt (yellow), a skirt that looked like a ballet practice skirt (several layers of that gauzy material, about mid-thigh length) in a different shade of blue, and Birkenstocks. There is a chance she had dance practice or something later that day, but knowing how our students dress... I kind of doubt that.

While helping a student (a senior) do demographic research, we were talking about the age range and definitions of generations. Simply put, I told her, Millennials: Her. Gen X: Me. Boomers: Her parents, maybe. She said, "My mom is 45."

I responded with something like, "Oh my god I am so old!" Because, I told her, her mom is five years older than me and there is no way I am that old. It if just NOT possible.

Jeezus.

Moving. Maybe.

No, I'm not moving.

But I am thinking about moving my blog. I've been checking out WordPress and it has more features and seems a lot more user friendly than Blogger.

But here's the thing, someone already has the name Yankee Librarian over at WordPress. It doesn't look like an active blog, but it's still there. I could get URL just for me and that's pretty cool. But here's the thing: I started this blog with the intention of it being kind if a pop culturey librarian blog, but that never happened. So I am thinking about shutting down this blog (not deleting it, just shutting down comments) and moving over to WordPress under a different name. Same type of content and all, just a new location, and a new name.

Why? Well, there is what I mentioned above. This blog really doesn't have anything to do with being a librarian. But, also, Sweet Pickles gave me the name Yankee Librarian when I first moved to the South because I was the Yankeeist Yankee he had ever met. It worked when I was down South, but I'm not anymore. It's still a cute name, and I like it, but is it all that relevant now?

So, dear readers (all four of you), I need your opinions. Should I move? Should I change the name? If I do change the name, to what? I'm feeling unoriginal and uninspired and need your creativity.

I Don't Know if I Should Laugh or Cry

Moron with Signs.

I know, I know... It doesn't advance a reasoned discourse, but when people start carrying signs that say "Save the White People," I'm over reasoned discourse.

Surviving

I haven't said much because there hasn't been much to say. I started work; I survived. It has been pretty warm here. By "warm" I mean in the 80s. Now after 95+, 80 might not be that bad, but imagine 80 without any air conditioning. And if there is air conditioning, it is incredibly inadequate.

And then there is the saga of the screen. See, my apartment doesn't have screens on the windows. I thought it was incredibly weird until I walked around the neighborhood and saw that hardly any of the old buildings have screens. I guess bugs aren't much of an issue up here.

So, I ordered a screen. But first I had to measure the screen. and then I had to figure out where to buy the screen. I hit Lowe's thinking that would be the place. The guy in the window section told me they had kits to make screens. Make screens? What? So when I stood there, looking at him like I was an idiot, he didn't say anything. Then I asked him where these so-called kits were.

After wandering around, I found them. I read the instructions. I looked at the screen. I looked even more confused. I needed help, but I didn't really know what to ask other than, "Uhhhh... " and that isn't a question. But I guess I didn't look confused or stupid enough for any of the people to ask me if I needed help. And when I wandered to find someone, I couldn't. I had other issues with this particular Lowe's, and I think others did, too. I saw lots of people pushing the little "help" buttons at various counters and no one helping them.

A few days later I went to a local hardware store. I was hoping if I looked stupid there someone would take pity on me and just make a screen for me. Nope. Same kits. They told me to go to the window place across the street, but that they would charge me an "arm and a leg."

See, this is when I miss the South. If I just put on my best "I'm an idiot" face, I knew whoever was helping me would just do it for me. Part of me hated this because I felt like I was playing into the helpless woman stereotype. Maybe I was, but in my eyes I was just playing the part of an idiot so that I didn't have to put out much effort. Two very different things.

Anyway, I went across the street to the window place. They could have a screen made for me for less than $30. I didn't know that an arm and a leg only ran a person about $28. Well, my screen arrived today. And guess what? It didn't fit. And I mean it didn't fit by less than a quarter of an inch. But that less than a quarter of an inch caused me to break the damn screen frame in the window. But! The window place will fix the broken frame and trim the thing down for next to nothing. Thank god; I was afraid I would have to reorder the whole damn thing.

Other things I have done: Not much other than drive to Seattle. Do you know how weird it is to know I can just drive down to Seattle? I took off Saturday morning thinking it would take forever and that traffic would be horrible. It took less than an hour and a half and traffic was not a problem. And you know what? It is a gorgeous drive. Of course, I took the same route when I drove here, but it was rain and crappy so I couldn't see the bazillion of mountains you see when you drive down there. I suppose at one point the novelty of living around mountains will wear off, but for now, it is damn close to awesome.

RIP George Carlin.

A God who Cursed: Director Kevin Smith Remembers George Carlin. From Newsweek.com.

I have never heard a complete Geroge Carlin album. I have never seen him live. But he is George Carlin. He hosted the first Saturday Night Live. He paved the way for comedians like Richard Pryor. He was George Carlin.

When I was a senior in high school George Carlin was in Cedar Rapids. When my mom and I found out, we planned on going. We didn't; I don't remember why. I remember a friend of my mom's went and he said Carlin was off his game--he was not as good as he had been in the past. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't. I don't know. But there was part of me that wanted to see him just because of who he was regardless of how "on" he was. Or how sober he was.

I also thought it was cool my mom was not only willing to take her 17/18-year old daughter to see George Carlin, but she wanted to see George Carlin.

To Protect my Privacy...

I got an email from the lovely student loan people today. They sent me some important account information, but in order to open it I needed to enter my password. I tried every password I could think of--none worked.

So... I went to their website, reset my password, and opened the encrypted email. Know what it was? A letter telling me that in order to protect my privacy they were changing my password.

Think about it. I was sent an encrypted letter telling me that my password was changed in order to protect my privacy. But to open the letter I needed to enter may password, the password that had been changed.

Fever Dreams and NyQuil Wishes

Okay, so I NyQuiled up before I went to bed last night. But as I have found out this week, NyQuil seems to give me weird dreams and little sleep.

Last night I dreamt that I was Elisa from Project Runway and the designers' task was to find a way to prop up the pillows so that I was comfortable enough to both sleep and stop coughing. They failed. But in my dream, Elisa really appreciated their effort.

Project Runway: So far, last night was my favorite episode. Behind that, it was the one where they made clothes from old clothes. I liked last night because they could use non-fabric stuff--it made them be more creative. Thing is, I thought they were all pretty good. Rami's was awesome, and I thought Chris' was downright classy. I still strongly dislike Jillian, her voice, and her preppy-ass style. And you know what? I was kind of sorry to see Elisa go. I had grown to like her hippie style. And how many of those ridiculous hats does Ricky have? Jesus.

Today included a trip to the doctor which confirmed what I suspected: I have bronchitis. So, as has become tradition, I am going to Codeine it up, lie on the couch, and watch the America's Next Top Model marathon on VH1.

For the love of all that is Ugg

Why wear Ugg Boots? Seriously. Why? I could go on about how Ugg puts the "ug" in "ugly," but I won't. (Even if it's true.) Here's the thing. it is finally Fall in the south--which means it's "cold" with temps in the 50s. Brrrr.... (Although it was lovely this weekend while my mom was visiting from Iowa, and she was cold. I kept asking her if she was feeling okay--since when has temps in the 60s been cold to someone from Iowa?) Anyway, it gets cold in the south and the girls break out their Ugg Boots. Ohmygodtheyarefuckingugly. I never thought I could hate a piece of clothing--nonetheless a pair of shoes/boots--as much as I hate Ugg Boots. And you know what I hate more? Gray legging with Ugg Boots. It seems to be the one of the only ways college coeds can wear Uggs. But you know what I hate even more? Cotton gym shorts with Ugg Boots. And a fleece hoodie. I wish I'd taken a picture.

Other things. I went to the post office to mail a package. We went through the price song and dance. It will be X amount for overnight and X amount for priority mail. Then she said, "the base for Priority Mail is $4.60, but this will cost $7.50" And I got confused. "OK," I asked, "can I send this this package for $4.60?" "No," she said. "This will cost $7.50. $4.60 is what it would cost to mail something Priority in this envelope." Picture me with a blank stare... followed by, "I'm not sending this in that envelope--I'm sending it in this box. So, it will cost me $7.50 to send this box, but if I wanted to send it in that envelope [and it wouldn't fit], it would cost $4.60?" Her: "Yes." [Note to reference librarians (myself included): this is what it feels like when you try to give someone more information than they want or need.]

I'm still not sure what we talked about. Or if I could've sent the package for less than $7.50. I may have, but I didn't feel like standing through the explanation. Plus, I could feel the eyes of the student behind me drilling into my back. He tried to step in front of me in line. Actually, he tried to walk up to the counter, ignoring the "Line Begins Here" sign the rest of us were standing next to. I told him that he needed to get in line. When he looked at me with that "wha?" stare, I said, "She's next [the girl in front of me in line], I'm after her, and you are after me." So, yeah, I was trying to get out of there.

And I voted today. I wasn't happy with my choices. So much so that I voted I wrote in one candidate. On the topic of politics, I got a flyer in the mail from the Republican candidate for some state office. I don't remember who it was because I was too busy being confused by his tactics. Some things he said about the Democratic candidate: He was a delegate for Gore and Kerry; he was quoted as saying (and I am paraphrasing): A Democrat should believe in the ideals of the Democratic Party. As I was standing next to my mailbox reading this, I kept thinking, "Is this supposed to make me not like the Democratic candidate? Because this is making me like him even more..." Obviously, I was not the person the Republican candidate was trying to reach.

Best Things Heard During Football Games

Patriots-Chargers game (Sunday): Before cutting to commercial they played the beginning of Jane's Addiction's "Been Caught Stealing."

Eagles-Redskins game (Monday Night Football): Announcer: San Francisco and Green Bay are 2-0 and OJ is in jail--it's the mid-90s all over again.

Nice.