The Dirty Life

The very first friend in which I made after moving to the sticks just six years ago is Andrea. She highly recommended the book: The Dirty Life: A Memoir of Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball and said that I would likely relate to it.

Taking three classes, two of which were literature-based, I didn't have much time for pleasure reading this past term so it was tabled until at least mid-December. A family member was between books so I lent The Dirty Life to them and soon learned that they were moved by the piece and admitted to devouring it in just a few sessions.

Since I am officially on winter break, I have carte blanche to stay up late and read whatever my heart desires. Last night, I finished the book and all I can say is: holy cats! What a terrific read. And yes, I certainly related to the book.

One of the gorgeous and highly annoying things about Mark's personality is that, once he bites into an idea, he'll worry it to death, exploring every possibility, expanding it to the point of absurdity and then shrinking it back down, molding it around different premises, and bending logic, when necessary, to cram it into a given situation. No matter what he is doing or saying or thinking, the idea is perking away in the background of his formidable brain, details accruing. Bits of it will surface, iceberglike, in a burst of chatter, but the bulk of it remains hidden until whole thing appears at once, fully formed and fiercely defended (p. 57 - 58).

My dirty life: plowing with a 1937 JD this
past August

Kimball apparently described me to a T.  (insert sheepish grin)

Publishers Weekly said the following about The Dirty Life: 

Kimball chucked life as a Manhattan journalist to start a cooperative farm in upstate New York with a self-taught New Paltz farmer she had interviewed for a story and later married. The Harvard-educated author, in her 30s, and Mark, also college educated and resolved to "live outside of the river of consumption," eventually found an arable 500-acre farm on Lake Champlain, first to lease then to buy. In this poignant, candid chronicle by season, Kimball writes how she and Mark infused new life into Essex Farm, and lost their hearts to it. By dint of hard work and smart planning--using draft horses rather than tractors to plow the five acres of vegetables, and raising dairy cows, and cattle, pigs, and hens for slaughter--they eventually produced a cooperative on the CSA model, in which members were able to buy a fully rounded diet. To create a self-sustaining farm was enormously ambitious, and neighbors, while well-meaning, expected them to fail. However, the couple, relying on Mark's belief in a "magic circle" of good luck, exhausted their savings and set to work. Once June hit, there was the 100-day growing season and an overabundance of vegetables to eat, and no end to the dirty, hard, fiercely satisfying tasks, winningly depicted by Kimball.  

I loved the write-up by NPR: 'The Dirty Life': From City Girl to Hog Butcher

My dirty life: picking rocks this past summer

My Thoughts:
If non-fiction is your cup of tea and you enjoy reading memoirs, I highly suggest this book -- particularly if you are interested in the "country life." Even if non-fiction isn't your ideal read, I found this book to be very entertaining. It made me laugh, sigh, and even get misty-eyed.

Want the book?
ISBN: 9781416551607; OCLC: 555638400; WorldCat: The Dirty Life; MeL: The Dirty Life

(Thank you for recommending such an enjoyable read, Andrea!)

30 Years and 30 Libraries: Scheduling

Today, I scheduled tours with EIGHT libraries for a total of nine! So excited!

And...my custom shirts are done. (Thank you to Andy Thompson for the designs and to Amanda at Stoliker's for getting them ready!)

Name Calling

I was called an overachiever by a friend today .

And, I must admit: it felt good.

30 Years and 30 Libraries

By Andy Thompson, Graphic Designer

Unlike many of my friends, I am downright geeked about my 30th birthday. Since it is right around the corner, for the past several weeks I have been pondering classy ways to mark the milestone.

My conclusion: a campaign of library tours in which I will call 30 Years and 30 Libraries. In the month of December, I plan on getting behind the scenes in 30 libraries and blogging about my adventures. I think I might even have a few custom t-shirts to wear on my various tours!

Of course, only appropriate for a bibliophile, my wishlist includes The New York Times Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children (3rd edition) by Eden Ross Lipson, True Stories of Censorship Battles in America's Libraries edited by Valerie Nye and Kathy Barco, The Black Belt Librarian: Real World Safety & Security by Warren Graham, and Broken Pieces: A Library Life, 1941 - 1978 by Michael Gorman. Bwhahaha!

Sookie Stackhouse

On Saturday, I made a brief appearance, as Sookie Stackhouse (the protagonist in the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris / HBO's True Blood) at Delta Alpha's Halloween party. My costume included a blonde wig, Merlotte's t-shirt, Merlotte's apron, serving tray, a bottle of TruBlood, and two vampire bites (neck and wrist).

Out of Commission

On Monday morning, I was experiencing quite a bit of pain and decided that I couldn't sleep it off. Long story short, I ended up driving myself to the emergency room (a big deal, if you truly know me and my aversion to hospitals). 

I was sporting my School of Library and Information Science t-shirt and my Geek the Library buttons proudly displayed on my purse.

A CT scan and a few hours later, I was told that I had a kidney stone and a gallbladder full of stones. After I had my IV pain medication and anti-nausea goodies, I was attempting to do reading for LIS 7560 -- The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Not very successfully as I felt like my head was packed full of cotton.

Yesterday afternoon, I had a specialist read the CT scan and found that I have two more kidney stones that will be making an appearance relatively soon. More tests and a x-ray have been ordered.

Not quite sure about the gallbladder yet. The priority seems to be the kidney stones. I am getting quite uncomfortable and growing impatient. I want it burned or cut out. Stat.

Even better: an appointment with Carlisle Cullen. I could handle being a vegetarian vampire.

Needless to say, I am in a world of hurt and will be laying low for awhile...

I'd like to thank my family, friends, and professors (at Wayne State University) for the kind words and support. Being proactive with my studies and coursework has truly paid off this week...

Unpainted Fence Post

Since books and archive materials do not judge, I have decided to no longer wear make-up when working at the museum. In the words of a former colleague, "But JC, without make-up, you look like an unpainted fence post." In this context, I do not care... (and when have I ever cared?)

Rationale: Wearing make-up usually makes my eyes and nose itch which, in turn, I end up attempting to scratch while wearing the cotton preservation gloves (worn to help protect the materials from dirt and oil). If I am touching my make-up-covered face, it really defeats the purpose of wearing gloves. Follow my thought process? Archivists, please note that I have caught myself before actually touching my face with the gloves.

Conclusion: No more make-up on museum days.
Photo by Birchfield Studios 2011

Another History Lesson

Blast from the Past: (left to right) me, Sarah, and Alexis

Growing up as technically an only child, I always longed for a sibling or two. In fact, in elementary school, when my best friend, Alexis, received news that she was going to be a big sister, I admit to being jealous. My parents certainly recall the day in which I marched home from school and demanded a baby brother or sister of my own. If I recall, correctly, I think I even asked Santa Claus for a sibling...

When I first started dating my better half, RB, in 2002, I was tickled pink when I found out that he had two younger siblings. Throughout our undergraduate years together, I enjoyed hearing stories about them and the crazy things they would do. Of course, it was always rich when they turned the tables and shared stories about RB: his gross seat in the old van, his notebook full of locations to various antique tractors, family road trips, fighting over toys, sledding off the barn roof, the clothespin on the nose story, and, of course, his famous "farm." Oh the stories!

Aaron Lee Brown

If you know anything about the Brown clan, they are diehard Mopar fans -- Aaron included. And if you know anything about the Collins clan, we are diehard General Motors fans. I recall a time in which I drove to the Thumb to visit RB and his family. When it came time for me to head home, I walked out the back door to find my little blue Sonoma missing. Because I drove a GM-product, Aaron did not want my vehicle in the driveway amongst the Mopar-products...so he moved it out to the neighboring field. Not only would he move my truck, but when I started it, the station would be switched to country and the volume VERY loud. And in the summer, he would turn my heat on full blast.

My revenge: When he was passed out, I painted his toenails a nice shade of fuchsia. (Love you, Aaron!)

My first Christmas sharing gifts with the siblings was a riot. Because I always teased Aaron and called him "stinky", I decided it only appropriate to buy him cologne so he would smell better. He unwrapped it and I cracked my joke. Even better was when he handed me a large box with my name on it. I began unwrapping...and unwrapping...and unwrapping. It was a box, inside a box, inside another box, and inside yet another box which finally yielded my gift from him. Definitely a good laugh. 

9.24.2005

In 2005, RB and I fell in love with an old brick farmhouse in Watertown Township. We made an appointment with the realtor for a complete walk-through and, of course, Aaron came with us to check it out. Becoming a home owner was such an exciting experience, yet curiously stressful at the same time (mortgage, home improvement, home improvement loan, etc). I recall Aaron walking through the house throwing ideas left and right, "I like this!" or, "You guys should build a deck off the back porch. It would be perfect for drinking beer." When it came time to make the move, he was the first person to push up his sleeves to help us...as long as we had cold beer in the fridge for him. Preferably Coors Light.

One of the best days in my life is the day that I married RB. I not only married my best friend, but I gained two amazing siblings. Aaron stood up in our September 2005 wedding as RB's best man. It was truly an honor to have Aaron and Marcy in our bridal party. I loved watching RB have photos taken that day with them: the jokes, the laughs, the camaraderie. I loved being included in the family photo. Looking back, that picture would be our last family photo all together.

On May 18, 2006, Aaron checked out. Here is a blurb that was in the newpaper:

Stinky

SANILAC COUNTY, MI — According to a press release from the Sanilac County Sheriff's Office, Aaron Brown, 21, of Snover died on Thursday after being transported to McKenzie Memorial Hospital as a result of an accident while working at Tri-County Equipment. According to the release, deputies from the sheriff's office were dispatched to the hospital at approximately 9:45 a.m. on Thursday in regards to Brown's accidental death. The investigation by the Sanilac County Sheriff's Office revealed that Brown was working on maintaining a brush hog after hours at Tri-County Equipment when he was pinned between the brush hog and the creeper he was on. //

It was RB that found him and rushed him to the hospital in Sandusky. He died shortly after the helicopter landed which would've taken him to Hurley Medical Center in Flint -- which is a level 1 trauma center. 

RB and I miss him everyday. We keep his memory alive by recounting stories and jokes. I am incredibly thankful that I got to meet Aaron and honored to call him my brother.

Author

 becomes

Stereotype

Within 7 - 10 days, I will be fulfilling the stereotype...

Currently reading (Literature to Film Club piece): The Road by Cormac McCarthy

100 Things I Love

1. White birch trees.
2. Owls.
3. Libraries especially academic and public.
4. Archives and archiving.
5. First edition, collector's edition, leatherbound, hardcover, and author-signed books.
6. Studying/learning.
7. David Sedaris (writer/comedian).
8. Private concerts in my truck.
9. Driving with my roof open and windows down.
10. Road trips.
11. Charleston, South Carolina.
12. Cemeteries.
13. J.K. Rowling (writer).
14. Robert Frost (writer).
15. My front porch at 2:30a - 4:00a.
16. Being with my friends.
17. Literary irony.
18. Graduate school (Wayne State School of Library and Information Science).
19. John Irving (writer).
20. Getting the mail and finding a note or card from a friend.
21. Writing.
22. People watching.
23. Large bodies of water and that "deep water" feeling.
24. Going under water: feeling of water/pressure in my ears and opening my eyes.
25. Hardy Dam (Newaygo County).
26. Literature to Film Club at Oakland University.
27. The color green.
28. Laying in blooming alfalfa fields and watching the clouds go by.
29. Effective and efficient communication.
30. The Michigan smoking ban.
31. Autumn and winter.
32. Romps in the woods.
33. Beleek, Wedgwood, and Meissen china.
34. The 1940s.
35. Bonfires.
36. Sharing meals with friends.
37. Independence.
38. Louisa May Alcott (writer).
39. The names: Anson and Josephine.
40. Outdoor concerts.
41. String quartets.
42. Intellectual freedom / censorship topics.
43. The Cranberries and Blue October.
44. My personal story.
45. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
46. Bald Mountain Recreation Area.
47. Ocean jasper.
48. Snow shoeing.
    
49. Grand Haven, Michigan.
50. Learning how to say "no" to people/activities.
51. Uglydolls.
52. Drum kits/sets.
53. Bag pipes and bag pipers.
54. New Orleans-style brass bands.
55. Low-country food.
56. Second Line marches and parades complete with umbrellas.
57. Pointe Aux Barques.
58. Collecting rocks from special/memorable places, e.g. Pointe Aux Barques, Presque Isle, Sutton's Bay.
59. Severus Snape and Fitzwilliam Darcy.
60. The hum of a beehive.
61. Ferns.
62. Oak trees.
63. Monty Python.
64. Water fowl.
65. Severe weather.
66. Playing Clue.
67. Being able to be myself.
68. Inside jokes.
69. Delta Alpha.
70. Etsy.com
71. Fourth of July.
72. Birthdays.
73. Freshly laundered linens.
74. Puns, dry humor, dark humor, and witty remarks.
75. Horse racing.
76. Sun tea.
77. Watching the ocean.
78. Being out on the ocean and seeing jellyfish sparkling in the water/sunlight like floating jewels.
79. Law enforcement.
80. Achieving clarity.
81. Being able to push out everything when I am being Hermionish.
82. Not wearing a watch.
83. Clogs (shoes).
84. Researching World War II topics.
    
85. Harsen's Island.
86. Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
87. My middle name and what it means to me.
88. Private study rooms.
89. Fountains.
90. Making peace.
91. M-136.
92. Moss.
    
93. Hearing others laugh.
94. My undergraduate years at Ferris State University.
95. Brown/sepia ink.
96. The sound of my cats purring.
97. The smell of a saddle and horse sweat.
98. For the most part, my keen sense of smell.
99. Looking people in the eyes
100. Silver.

Change

I am utterly astounded at how much I have changed and grown as a person in the last year. Change for the better...

Without doubt, I know that I am headed in the right direction.

Overtone

I was told today that my love for books gives me a "snobbish overtone."

Then snobbish, I shall be.

Indeed.