Southern Lady Code

Southern Lady Code by Helen Ellis
2019
Weight: 16 oz
Method of Disposal: Lending Library

I have been feeling under the weather since Thursday.  I looked up a Southern way to say that and was reminded that "under the weather" IS a Southern way to say that.  As is, "Sick as a dawg."   One I apparently felt the need to use with animal rescue folk.  There were times when I considered, "On death's door"or "I'd have to feel better to die," but death gets closer each year and no longer seems like something to through out flippantly, though I can tell you I thought a lot about death.  Not, in that I thought I would die, but thinking of those we love and their deaths.  What is the most painful it gets?  Will I have to know?  Will my loved ones?  Do any of us mean anything in the continuum?  There are twenty year olds who die of the flu.  Thirty year olds that wake up next to a deceased spouse.  It is unbearable to dwell on and so we try not to.  I try not to, but for how long?

Anywho, that is enough of that dreariness for now.  I am sure it will return.  Today, I am giving away Southern Lady Code, which I bought at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA (which I love).  I have a love/hate thing for all things Southern, which is really the only way to love the South reasonably, I think.  We have a dark, sad history, but we also have a lot of really strong, amazing people that have overcome, fought peacefully and hard, worked hard, shown bright.  There is a lot to love.  Fried okra, Flannery O'Connor, Angela Davis, Y'all, peaches, waterfalls.  

Helen Ellis and I had a very different experience growing up in the South, but I could see elements in there.  She was from Alabama and ended up in New York.  I was in Georgia and ended up in Georgia.  It did not bring me all the joy I had hoped for, but I know there are many ladies out there (many of them that I went to college with at Agnes Scott) that would find much to laugh about and relate to here.  I hand it off and hope it finds one of them.  

The Homo Handbook

The Homo Handbook: Getting in Touch with Your Inner Homo: A Survival Guide for Lesbians and Gay Men  by Judy Carter
1996
Weight: 1 lb

This is a humor book that I am completely, and I am completely unsure how I came to be the owner of it.  A lot of it makes more sense in the 90's when it was published, but there are still some things that are so applicable it will make you laugh out loud.  Those moments are unexpected but nice.

 I read this book in the perfect way though.  I really do not think there is a better way than my way.  I had just started dating the woman I love, and she was in her first lesbian relationship.  She picked the book off the shelf and got into bed with me.  She might have shown more interest in this book than any other one I have seen her encounter before or sense.  We read it together and laughed and talked about stereotypes and truths and relationships and lesbians.  We actually were able to have a lot of serious conversations while flipping through this decidedly not serious little book, and we had a lot of fun doing it.  Who knew it would be so helpful?
 

Still Angry Little Girls

Still Angry Little Girls  by Lela Lee

2006

Weight: 11 oz

Method of Disposal: Leaving at Joe’s in East Atlanta

 

I could not track down Angry Girls—I wanted to get rid of it when I got rid of the sequel.  It may or may not show up one day.  I am still amazed to realize how many books have already gone missing before I get the chance to write about them.  I was very briefly interested in a woman who introduced me to these books, which seemed funny at the time but does not appeal to me anymore.  Maybe it is something that wears off after multiple reads, maybe the humor does not rub me in the same way anymore, or maybe the sequel is not as funny as the first.  I am not sure.  I am passing it on though.  Hopefully someone will get a few good chuckles.

 

The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste

The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste  by Jane and Michael Stern

1990

Weight: 2.7 lbs

Method of Disposal: Donating to AKF

A hand-me-down from my stepmom and of intrigue to various visitors to my house, The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste has been fun to have around, but is clearly not necessary anymore.  It pokes fun at some pretty embarrassing moments in American pop culture: enormous breasts, Chihuahuas, dinosaur parks, fish sticks, fuzzy dice, taxidermy, wax museums, and spam.  Some things surely did not belong on the list, like roller derby and troll dolls.  Right?!  I hope someone else, preferably someone who witnessed the 80’s, finds this being sold for next to nothing and gets some enjoyment out of it.

McCain Paper Dolls

McCain Paper Dolls  tom Tierney
2008
Weight: 1.6 oz
Method of Disposal: Leaving in a Box in Decatur

Did I mention Obama won?  Did I mention he won again?  Yaaaaaahhhhhhooooo!  This was passed onto me and the only reason I still have it is because I kept thinking it might be fun to play with a paper doll again, turn it into some sort of "art project," or more likely write letters on the back of the dolls.  I have faced the facts.  Never gonna happen.  And it may be suprising when some unsuspecting person stumbles across it after all this time.

OBAMA!

 

I would love to hear from some of you.  What are you doing to help your community?  What does progress look like now?  How can we get the best out of this presidency?  Give me some inspiration to go with my ever increasing urge to fight and move forward!

The Idiot Girls' Action Adventure Club

The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club: True Tales from a Magnificent and Clumsy Life  by Laurie Notaro

2002

Weight:  6.4 oz

Method of Disposal: Donating

A phenomenal person was born on this day years ago.  We celebrated and not in the style of Laurie Notaro, whose stories are more likely to resemble random moments in my life than in Tracy’s (the phenomaenal person).  Regardless of that disparity, I decided to get rid of this book today in the interest of parties, partying, and the overall good times.

I met T four years ago, and I have been amazed ever since then.  There are few people who understand me better than her and there are even fewer people that I could spend so much time with and still enjoy life.  She encourages, inspires, and teaches me.  She is hilarious, redunkulous, and essential.  This is my shout out.  Happy Birthday, Tracy!  Love you!

As for Notaro, if you are interested in reading about drunken adventures and the times when life goes awry—the things most people do not admit—you may be interested in reading this book.  Let me know.  You have until this upcoming Friday to claim this book as your own.  Otherwise, it is off to the donation bin.

Shout Out to Sarah and Hard Laughter

Hard Laughter by Anne Lamott
2000
Weight: 14 oz
Method of Disposal: Donating. I just took this and a box of books to the Decatur Library (GA) for their may sale. If you have any to donate they are collecting until May 21st.




This book was first published in 1979. This is the 15th printing, and I had no idea until just now. To me, this book is being 16. It is meeting Sarah Graham-Adkinson at the Waldenbooks in the mall and later working with her. It is pink hair, reading while walking, riot grrrl, and a red VW Beetle. Sometimes, it was watching Queer as Folk (rented from Hollywood Video) all night long or laughing about the use of “canoodling” in Valley of the Dolls, the movie. It was around the year 2000. I could go on, but I will spare you.

Sarah recommended this book to me and, at the time, it had me hysterical. There were a couple points where I laughed myself into tears. Something about Shiva? I never re-read it, but there were times later when I would try to read favorite parts out loud to someone else, and they just didn’t seem funny anymore. I am not going to revisit it. It is probably still great, but I do not want to risk tainting the memory.

I love you, Sarah!