neadods: (Default)
neadods ([personal profile] neadods) wrote2010-06-04 07:04 am

A profane rant and a tiny leap of joy

THE PROFANE RANT:
It always makes me apeshit when the price of gas goes up beyond the ability of people to, oh, afford to go to a job not near public transport in their reasonable-mileage cars, and someone starts snotting about how "You don't bitch about the price of milk or bottled water and they're even more expensive."

Of course I don't. I don't need the latter at all, and I don't need to buy 10 gallons of the former every week just to go to work.

So when I click a link about "if you use these oil-based products you are partially culpable for the BP spill" and read "sweaters, dresses, clothes" on it and I'm sitting here in second-hand all-cotton clothing, my immediate reaction is "you can back that bullshit down several notches right fucking now, mmmkay?"

Acrylic and polyester clothing are made of oil. That's only one of the reasons why they're not your best choice, another being that they don't breathe and thus will kill you the hell dead if you wear them for long outside in a Southern summer.

On the other hand, second-hand clothing businesses are thriving in this economy, and you can get some really good stuff for prices that match or are lower than the budget "straight from the Third-world sweatshop to you!" chain stores. And the quality is often better because it has *survived* to be sold for a second time. I'm just sayin'.

And that's before I get to the rant about how there's plenty of excellent old wood furniture and not-plastic tools out there.

THE TINY LEAP OF JOY
For once, a home improvement possibility that doesn't cost me lots of extra time and money! Long story short, the smallest sheet of linoleum I could buy for the 3 x 6 pantry was 6 x 9. Rather than spend the time and $$ refinishing (or hiring someone to refinish) the coat closet floor, I'm going to have plenty of leftover lino to put down there as well. And then I won't have to worry about the carpet cleaner leaking onto wood or the vacuum cleaner scuffing up the finish. I doubt I'm even going to glue it down; just use vinyl tape to make sure it doesn't crawl.

Just curious...

[identity profile] ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com 2010-06-04 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
What about the other natural fibers? silk, linen, hemp?
ext_3965: (10 M Running Hand in Hand S&J)

Re: Just curious...

[identity profile] persiflage-1.livejournal.com 2010-06-04 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Can't afford silk or linen - never tried hemp.

Re: Just curious...

[identity profile] ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com 2010-06-04 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
That's where those thrift shops come in DARNED handy! I can usually get a 100% silk shirt there for less than $10, usually around $4 or $5.
ext_3965: (Alesha & James Court Clothes)

Re: Just curious...

[identity profile] persiflage-1.livejournal.com 2010-06-04 06:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Well I don't tend to try buying clothes in secondhand shops because I have trouble finding my size being on the larger side...

Re: Just curious...

[identity profile] ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com 2010-06-04 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I usually have to go through the men's shirts to find things that will fit my broad shoulders... (THANKS , DAD!)
ext_3965: (Animated Martha Donna Hug 4.13)

Re: Just curious...

[identity profile] persiflage-1.livejournal.com 2010-06-04 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I buy men's shirts anyway (it's rare to find all cotton women's blouses here) - but I can't blame my dad for my large chest size! o_O

Re: Just curious...

[identity profile] neadods.livejournal.com 2010-06-04 08:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Ask around; you never know. I don't have a lot of luck at the "regular" thrift stores, but there's one near here that specializes in larger women. Irony - in many places, the clothing's too small for me; in this one, sometimes what I want is too big!

Re: Just curious...

[identity profile] neadods.livejournal.com 2010-06-04 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Technically, Tencel too. And I'm betting corn and soy will figure more; they're just starting to make inroads as knitting yarn.

Re: Just curious...

[identity profile] ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com 2010-06-04 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooh, and I'm seeing more bamboo stuff, too!

Re: Just curious...

[identity profile] neadods.livejournal.com 2010-06-04 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Bamboo is *everywhere*! I've seen clothing, knitting yarn, and flooring. The flooring is a bit tempting; prices are good.

It's an excellent resource; renewable, fast-growing, and grows a lot of places... including around here. King Cotton and King Tobacco may have to share their crowns.

Re: Just curious...

[identity profile] ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com 2010-06-04 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd be quite happy if "King Tobacco" gave his up and became a historical footnote, frankly.

(Oh Carp! I think I just added "frnakly" to my dictionary!)