November 9
“If we get the Donald Trump we heard in the acceptance speech, I think we might be ok.”
1975
It has to be 75 degrees out - an amazing, July-like day. Sometimes I get things done, sometimes I don’t.Yesterday I sewed a cover for the bolster, finished a blouse, got more done on my skirt, and sketched out an idea for a jumper. So actually I did quite a bit. Maybe I should try making lists; I’m never sure what I’m supposed to do each day. Then, at bedtime, I think, “oh shit, I forgot to do that! Or That! Or That!” And then lie awake. Also, I need exercise. Here it is a beautiful day, and I am thinking of driving to the library, while my bike sits on the front porch, feeling lonely.
I would only occasionally make a good mother. Maybe that’s why the idea only occurs to me occasionally. Ah, life. Really, I should have been a bear. This fall weather makes me want to crawl in and hibernate. Snork!
Saw “Woman Under the Influence” last week, finally. Well done, but horribly depressing. Reminded me of how fucked up I was when Mom had her nervous breakdown. Jesus Christ! How many other people go through that, and can never talk to anyone, like I couldn’t? It was a big secret, but I needed someone to talk to then. Request denied. Hide it, as if something dirty ad happened.
Could I achieve more if I were less insecure? Or do I achieve what I do because of my insecurity?
Enough! I will get up, brush my teeth, put on something less hot (still wearing jeans) and go to campus on my bicycle.
Note: I drove later, at night.
1977
I am starting to get more involved in the class I am teaching. Found myself planning next semester in my mind. The organic chemistry exam was tough; I doubt if I aced it, but I did ok. Then K and I talked to Dr. Yeh about our textile science project, which is LATE as hell. Seems it will never get done. But I do feel better in that course now. I’ll never do that kind of research, but now I can read and understand it.
Mom is a very depressing person.
1978
Bigger Questions, still: what exactly is my problem for my dissertation? Could I just study the cartoons, or should I go further and compare methods of researching costume? The problem is how to do costume research without a collection. What else is possible? How reliable are other sources, such as magazines and newspapers?
Perhaps, for now, I should stick to the cartoons. But should I try to make some kind of comparison, perhaps with a collection? Maybe I should limit to 1885-1900, instead of 1885-1910. I can see that doing 25 years would be a Big Drag.
Do I need to use statistics?
Could I use a computer?
How would the rest of my committee react?
1997
I am about to go out on errands, and I am relishing my time at the library and the grocery store in advance. I may even go to Sports Authority and get 8 lb weights. It has been gray, rainy and chilly for three days now, and I long for either the sun or warm, dry toes. So I guess it’s time to switch to my winter socks.
The dogs are sleepy and cuddly. The world is curling up for the winter. Nice.
1998
I am feeling restless and energized these chilly mornings, when I am not inclined to snooze a few extra minutes. And the house is tumbling around my head!
2010
Closing my eyes/ I still see autumn leaves/ rattling in the chilly wind.
2012
Right after Hurricane Sandy, I got a query from the Huffington Post about the relationship between climate change and fashion. It was exactly the same kind of query that got me started on this blog eons ago.
Here is the longer email reply I sent the writer:
These are really complex questions, considering that "textiles" include materials ranging from agricultural products to petroleum products to recycled materials, and their production and transformation into clothing takes place all over the world. Fibers such as cotton and linen require land, water and a hospitable climate to grow. Similarly, wool and other animal fibers depend on the same resources as meat production. The man-made fibers, ranging from petroleum-based materials such as polyester and acrylic to regenerated cellulose and protein materials (rayon, lyocell, PLA) each have their own production processes and requirements. If you expand the sustainability question to include not only climate change but other environmental factors, such as pollution, the issue gets even stickier.
The short answer is that climate change will impact plant fibers in the same way as the food supply. It isn't just a matter of higher temperatures; the real impact is in the higher likelihood of drought and catastrophic, crop-destroying weather. We may also see greater threats from pests and plant diseases. For petroleum-based fibers, the availability and cost of crude oil is an obvious factor. Recycled and regenerated fibers show promise, but not all are truly sustainable. For example, both lyocell and rayon are regenerated cellulose fibers, but the rayon process is much dirtier -- and that includes rayon made from bamboo, which is often promoted as sustainable because of the way the plant is grown.
I doubt that we can attribute specific styles such as cropped pants to climate change, though consumers may be more interested in clothing strategies that help them cope with "unseasonal" weather -- summer weight but springlike clothing for 80-degree days in March, for example. These strategies may include layered clothing or zip-out linings, zip-off sleeves, colors and fabrics that can span seasons. In a weak economy, I can't see consumers expanding their wardrobes. Retailers and manufacturers may be feeling this uncertainly more than consumers; when summer temperatures extend into October, it throws the traditional seasonal retail calendar out of whack.
As for "whether natural vs. synthetic textiles are better for our changing climate", I am assuming you are asking about sustainability, not comfort. The uncomfortable truth is that overconsumption is a major factor in climate change. We buy much more clothing today than we did a generation ago, and too much of it is "fast", disposable fashion. If we define "sustainable fashion" as made of particular fibers but still ready for Goodwill in a few months, we are deluding ourselves.
Rather than predict the future, I'd like to offer my own personal wish list for sustainable fashion.
80% of my wardrobe would consist of basics (underwear, socks, classic skirts, jeans, plain tops) that would form the backdrop and foundation for the 20% of my wardrobe devoted to really special pieces (accessories and festive clothing)
the 80% basic wardrobe would be made by fairly paid workers, using environmentally sound materials and methods
the 20% "special" wardrobe would artisan-made, either by me (in my ample free time) or a fairly-paid craftsperson.
a robust textile products recycling system, including refashioning, second-hand clothing and raw material recycling similar to existing paper, metal and plastic systems.
expansion of clothing rental programs for women -- wedding dresses, formals, high-end maternity wear.
better labeling so consumers could easily identify green, ethical and fair trade products.
2016
I did not plan to be in North Platte during the election; it just fell that way. We had a social event scheduled for the third weekend in October, and my son's birthday is a month later, so here I am in a very red part of a red state. Once I realized the timing, I figured it would make it more interesting.
O-h-h-h-h my.
In the two weeks I have been here, I have seen a Trump/Pence sign here and there, chatted with some Trump supporters, and hung out with members of the local Democratic Party, many of them Bernicrats. Let me say at the beginning that even small town politics can be very complicated, and I would have to be here much, much longer to make any kind of sense out of the picture.
I hung out with the Stalwart Dems for the first three hours of election returns. That's Bob, the transplant from Brooklyn in the glasses and cap waving on the left. And on the right are my new friends Susan and Sean. The gloom descended on the room early on, and people started drifting off after ten. No one in the group expected Nebraska to turn blue, but they were hoping that a ballot measure to retain the ban on the death penalty would pass; it didn't. By close to eleven, I was starting to fade, and took my leave. Luckily, I was by myself when Florida was called. After that, I was caught between my need to know and my urge to curl up in an anxious ball. I slept maybe four hours in all.
Normally, I wake up slowly on a good morning, and this was not a good morning. It was in the 20s outside and I am down to my last pair of warm socks. The friendly local coffee shop seemed less inviting, populated as it must be by cheerful Platters who voted for Trump. (And a few, very quiet folks who didn't.) Here's what it is actually like:
The staff were as cheerful as always. The regulars were all there (not the Dems; they'll be here on Saturday). Yes, they were talking about the election. But here are the snippets I overheard:
“I checked and the sun still came up.”
“I haven't looked at Facebook in a week, and I won't look today. People are so upset.”
“I didn't like either of them.”
”If we get the Donald Trump we heard in the acceptance speech, I think we might be ok.”
“I went to the GOP celebration and it was very low key.”
Not a whole lot of enthusiasm. They know the country is divided, and they don't like that any more than I do. There's a lot that people in blue areas don't know about people in red areas, even in their own states, and vice versa. I think back to the comment I heard last week, "People on the east coast have different values than we do." I am not so sure that is entirely true. Have my values really changed so much? I have a different perspective, formed by education, travel, and my location in a diverse metropolitan area. I don't think my perspective is perfect. And I think I understand theirs better than they understand mine.
In the time remaining: more listening. Much more listening.
2020
To do: call IT re printer
Later: Ha ha ha I fixed the printer MYSELF!
2023
Once more, it’s writing group day. Once more, I got nothin’.
2024
I dreamed about writing last night.