Story Nine: Taking Action

A few days after the fiasco at American Splendor, Gabriella (the only one who isn't grounded) tracks down Doctor Eaton at the Medical Center.  

Marcus: I know it's very frustrating, but my lawyer tells me nothing can be done.  They stop just short of the legal definition of libel and slander.  

Gabriella: Aren't you worried about losing patients if they believe the awful things Keep Barbieville Virtuous has been saying?  

Marcus: Of course I am, but there isn't much I can do about them.  Everything they say is true, they just twist it around. Besides, Gabriella, this is adult business and you're not an adult yet.  You shouldn't worry about it.

Gabriella: They're bullies, Doctor Eaton.  My dad says we should stand up to bullies.

Midna: Excuse me, I overheard that and I gotta agree with the kid.  A lot of my customers at the diner believe them, or at least wonder if there might be some truth to it.  

Marcus: I know that.  My wife is up in arms over it, but my lawyer...

Midna: There are other ways to deal with it.  We all just need to get our heads together and figure something out.  

Marcus: Shall we run a public service announcements to refute them?  (Marcus throws his hands up in disgust and leaves.)

Midna:  You're Joe Montez's daughter, aren't you? Gabby?

Gabriella: I hate that nickname.  

Midna:  OK, then, Gabriella.  I can make some phone calls about this, but the main person I need to talk to doesn't have a signal where she is.  Can you go out to the amusement park and track down Pocahontas?  They'll give you a non-rider stamp so you don't have to pay admission.

Gabriella: Sure.  What do you want me to tell her? 

Gabriella finds Pocahontas out in the park, checking on the new coaster.  

Gabriella:  Are you keeping the giant eyeball?

Pocahontas: We'll have to move it away from the ride, but yeah.  People love to get their pictures with it.  Enjoying your day here? 

Gabriella: Actually, Midna Sunburst sent me - she wants you to call her as soon as you get a signal.  It's about Keeping Barbieville Virtuous.

Pocahontas:  Good Lord.  What are they saying now?  

Later that week

John: Since I agreed to using my day care center, I'm pulling rank and calling the meeting to order.  We all know the things KBV are saying about us.  The question is, what do we do about it?  Do we have options?  

Esmeralda: My husband's lawyer claims we can't do anything about it.  KBV is very careful not to actually break any laws.  Everything is innuendo.  It's not much more than a really well-organized gossip campaign.

John: We may not have legal recourse, but maybe we can come up with something.  The implications they're making about me could drive me out of business.  

Esmeralda: I'm surprised they aren't saying the same about Pike.  He knocked up his high school sweetheart, too.

John: Candy's parents didn't press charges. Besides, they're busy attacking his second wife.    

Pike: Speaking of Candy, I think the reason they've left her alone is because she's a journalist.  We know these attacks aren't political - they've gone after both Rose-Grace and Mr. Spiner, here.  

John: Any chances we could get Candy involved?

Pike: (laughs) What makes you think she isn't?  

John: The problem with rebutting KBV is this... (thinks for a minute)  Take Rose-Grace's situation, for example.  She can prove she was married before having any of her kids.  She can prove her husband died.  But then the entire world is going to have access to sensitive information that puts her and her family at risk.

Midna: We can fight back in other ways, though.  Pocahontas and I have decided to offer discounts to people who bring in KBV's flyers.  We can at least minimize the circulation that way.  Maybe talk to the people bringing them in about it, even.  Explain the whole truth.

Sulu:  That's a good idea.  I'll do that at the greenhouse as well. 

Pike: Easy for you to say.  You're your own boss!  

Sulu: Hey, you're doing your part.  Got the ex doing detective work.

The meeting breaks up soon after.  John stops Pocahontas on her way out.  

John: Would you like to get a cup of coffee or something?

Pocahontas: You think we're just going to take up where we left off because she's gone?

John: Don't be like that.  I was young and stupid.

Pocahontas: Yes, you were.  (Brushes past him as she exits.)

John: Damn.  

Story Eight: Who is KBV?

Late summer afternoon in Barbieville.  Nikki and Taylor just returned from school shopping with their friends and brought home a stack of Keep Barbieville Virtuous literature.

Taylor:  I am so sick of the lies these people are spreading.  Not just about Mom, either, they've attacked Mr. Spiner.  I wish we could do something about it.

Gabriella:  A lot of the people who own businesses in this town are getting it.  Even Kida.  You'd think they'd at least have a little respect for the dead, but no...  My parents said they've never been happier to be poor.  

Nikki: We need, like, CSI people to examine the paper or something.  But Mom won't make the cops investigate.  She says...

Claudia:  I have an idea!  Taylor, hand me one of those pamphlets.

Claudia:  We're in luck!  There's a watermark.  And not just any watermark - my brother works at this print shop.  I bet he can tell us something.

Taylor: Won't he get in trouble?

Claudia: He won't tell us anything secret.  He needs the job too bad. 

Taylor: Grab our shoes, Nikki.  We're going for a walk.

Ben:  I've never seen anything from this group come through here.  

Claudia:  But it has the American Splendor watermark.  Are you sure? 

Ben:  Yeah, that's our watermark.  The order must have come in on my day off or something.  Let me get my boss, she'll know.  

Violet: We aren't giving out confidential information on our customers.  Especially not to a pack of teeny-boppers.

Taylor: But the things they are saying about...  

Violet: I just fill the orders and cash the checks.  If anyone wants to know what you're asking, they need a court order.  

Once the girls leave, Violet takes Ben aside.  

Violet:  Do you make a habit of telling Claudia who comes in here?

Ben: I might mention if someone she knows comes in, but I don't tell her who has what printed.  And she's never even shown an interest before.  I don't know what that was about. 

Violet: You need to control your sister.  She should not be sticking her nose into adult matters.

Ben: She's just trying to help her friends.

Violet: She's going to help you to the Unemployment Office if she keeps it up. 

Ben: I'll talk to her.  

After scolding Ben, Violet slips into the back room and makes a telephone call.

Rose-Grace: (pulling over to the side of the road) What are you girls up to?  

Taylor: Just taking a walk.  

Rose-Grace:  You should have brought the dogs.  

Nikki: If you give us a ride home, I volunteer to do the dishes for a week.  (The other girls scoff.)  What?  My feet hurt!  I've been on them pretty much all day!  

Claudia:  You're on them all day every day.

Nikki: Yeah, on nice soft grass.  Not pavement and concrete.

The girls pile into the car and they head back to the Pike house. 

The next day, stacks of this flyer are found around town.  

Doll Mobility

I picked up this fellow while running errands.  He's a World Peacekeeper Navy Seal, just like Brent.  Why are the Navy Seals the only ones without painted-on gloves?  I decided he's Four's father and gave him the same name as his book/movie counterpart.  Don't worry, though, he's lots nicer than the other Marcus Eaton.  He don't beat on Four - or the other sons I gave him.

He had an injury that's beyond my capabilities and inclination, but I can deal with that.

With the help of My Froggy Stuff!  I bastardized her pattern to work with my at-hand materials.  It ain't purty, but it will do the job until I can find an affordable alternative to cardboard and contact paper.  Froggy is so talented - or patient - or both.  Hers actually rolls and everything! 

WARNING NUDE HEADLESS TEEN DOLLS

I found an articulated  body for Nikki, but when I stripped them down for the head swap I realized this body is a bit more (ahem) developed than Nikki's big sister.  I also thought the painted-on formal gloves weren't in keeping with the tomboyish Nikki.  So... Taylor joined the party.  She's more of a girly girl than her kid sister.  She likes those fancy gloves.

Taylor got the Descendants body, Nikki got Taylor's, and poor old Uma just got decapitated. The only Barbieville citizens now that can't bend their knees are Courtney, Kevin, and Ricky.   Well, and the teeny tots.

Taylor and Nikki all dressed up.  I wonder where they're going?  

Story Seven: Meet The Candidates

Barbieville Museum, a month after the interrupted Mayoral Debate

Brent:  The first matter we'd like to address is the Keep Barbieville Virtuous campaign.  Both Mayor Pike and I have seen the materials being released by this group and we've agreed, after this date, to ignore the questions brought up.  They are based, at best, in ignorance.  

Rose-Grace: I was prepared to come in here with a stack of documentation.  (laughs)  It wasn't planned - the museum happened to set up our podium here - but it's rather ironic that I'm standing in front of JFK.  I wonder what Keep Barbieville Virtuous makes of him.

Brent: That said, we'd like to move on to your questions.  Everyone here should be aware of our positions on the various issues.  Please stand and wait for us to acknowledge you before speaking.

Esmeralda: I have a couple of things I'd like to comment on.  The first is some people claim that Barbieville's government is racist.  I'm Rom - a gypsy - and this town welcomed me with open arms.  I've had a few problems with individuals, but never with the authorities. (waits while people applaud)  The second is the notion that the mayor will take our property by force so the amusement park can expand.  My husband couldn't come because he was needed at the hospital, but my boys and I are here in support of Mayor Pike.  We're in negotiations with the park now and she has stayed out of it.    

PJ: I beg to differ.  My dental practice nearly closed permanently because the city seized the property I was leasing.  My building was up to code and there was no reason to seize it.

Rose-Grace: Did you receive compensation for relocation?

PJ: Well, yes, but...

Rose-Grace: Am I correct in assuming yours was one of the properties along the Beach Highway?

PJ: Yes, it was.

Rose-Grace: The structures that were up to code, presumably including yours, were in danger from the imminent collapse of the larger buildings surrounding them.  The land owner was given years to take down the hazards and did not do so.  

Brent begins to wonder if he was off-base in running against this woman.  Most of his platform is based on combating Imminent Domain.  But if she acted to protect the citizens of Barbieville, was she wrong to seize the property? 

Pocahontas: My mother was against expanding the park at all.  The very idea that she wanted to do that, or that she'd rope Rose-Grace into it, is an insult to her memory.  In fact, Mom met Rose-Grace when the former mayor tried to take people's land for profit.  Rose-Grace was a high schooler then and worked with Mom to stop the entire north side of town from becoming a multi-lane highway.  Mom could have made a lot of money from that, but she loved this town more.

Midna: My question has nothing to do with any of that.  A lot of my employees are worried about school shootings and police brutality.  What can be done about those issues?  

Rose-Grace: Our children are as safe at school as they are anywhere.  I have faith in the existing security features there. Despite what you might see in the news, school shootings are rare.  Horrific, but rare.  As for the police brutality, any incidents of that sort in my jurisdiction will not be tolerated.

Sulu: I can vouch for that.  I was pulled over for speeding and the cop called me a slant-eyed jackass.  He almost lost his job over it. (laughs) I still had to pay the ticket, though. 

Rose-Grace: Of course you did.  You mistook Main Street for the Autobahn. 

Sulu: Anyway, that was just words.  Pretty sure a cop that got physical would be unemployed real fast.  Maybe even arrested, himself.

There are no further questions from the floor, so the candidates make their closing statements.  Watching the crowd chat as they leave, Brent once again wonders if this campaign was a mistake.  

July Haul, including some DIY

I know it's a bit early for July Haul, but I'm going to be busy until August!  Also, I'm only planning these "Haul" posts for the first six months of the blog - just to give readers an idea of what I use.   Any major finds will still get a post, but not all the little bits.  

Ben's noggin really bothered me - the sheer size of it and the cartoonish features.  Since he only appeared in one story, and that as an extra, I can head swap him pretty easily.  The body does have a slightly rosier skin tone, but it's pretty close.  The combination of  man bun and fingerless gloves gives Ben character.  (Why all the man bun hate, anyway?)  I didn't choose the noggin because he was Asian.  I don't do diversity for its own sake.  But hey! 

Mariko enjoying the new chairs on the deck.  These are actually meant for cell phones.

Cacti, bamboo, and colorful rubber bands.  My hair gets colorful bands, why not theirs?  The various sets for my stories can benefit from a (fake) potted plant or two.  

A daybed made from a "cigar box", electrical tape, and wrapping paper.  

Finnick: I really like your new bed.

Fred: It's too little for you but I got lots of growing room!

Finnick: Comes in handy for keeping those stuffies off the floor, too.

Diner booth made from heavy cardboard, paperboard, contact paper, wrapping paper, and duct tape.

I hope someone is a better cook or waitress than photographer.  Off with their heads!

Ben: Oh, no, not again! 

Dancing Skeletons!

Yard sales are great for finding bargains.  At the same yard sale where I got a Gazelle  (not the animal, the exercise thing) I found a shirt with this pattern.  There was no way the shirt would fit me, but one thing I keep an eye out for is holiday stuff for my dolls.  I figured the sleeves would make tube dresses for my Pocahontas Twins, if nothing else.

Seriously, how could I not bring these guys home?  My favorites are the ones playing Leap Frog.  Backwards, even.  They just look so happy.  We living could learn from them.  

I got out my sewing kit and my handy-dandy pattern (bastardized from My Froggy Stuff) and got to sewing!  I'm no seamstress.  I can make it strong or I can make it attractive.  Sometimes when I watch her DIY videos, I yell at Froggy.  "How do you do that, woman?!  I'd be blind and cross-eyed!"  

The pattern is a tank top.  The hole in the center is the neck.  This way I avoid sleeves and my seams are usually hidden.  Luckily, this material isn't the fraying type, so I didn't need my April Lilly lace trick.  Thanks, Froggy and April, for having ideas I can steal!  

I started with the biggest project.  Rusty has a Halloween shirt, but her britches/skirt supply is lacking.  I basically just wrapped a piece of appropriate size around her, put elastic through the pre-existing hem (bottom of the original shirt), and sewed the back shut.  Since my BOUSs are just for display, no one is likely to see the hideous seam.  

The tube dresses looked horrible.  The cuff at the wrist was the bodice and instead of looking empire waisted, it looked like a maternity dress.  I sacrificed some length, removed the cuffs, and used my pattern.  On these, instead of the sides being sewn, the tops of the shoulders are.  The seams actually turned out okay.  One is also sewn down a side - I did not center the pattern on the "tube" and it ended up lop-sided.  I had to take it in.  It's still full enough to effectively hide the seam, though.  The belts are pony-tail holders.

I vary from the pattern a bit.  The guys are all modeling the standard cut, of various length.  Since my dudes are of varying size, I make them a little large.  Or try to.  My first attempt was skin-tight on Joe and almost reached his belly button!

I was running out of large enough sections to fit the adults.  No problem, I just down-sized the pattern!  Nikki is modeling a square-cut shirt.  Maybe I should call it a smock?  Stacie has a cute little sundress.  Have I mentioned those bent arms really annoy me?  

Tris has a skirt with a wonky waist line - to accommodate larger waistlines on her friends.  

Remember my first attempt?  Tris wears it well.

When Barbie was created, the fashions were extremely detailed.  Home workers hand sewed them.  Perfectly.  Props to them - I spent a few hours, off and on, doing a poor job with little detail, and I'm ready for a hot soak in the tub, some "headache pills", and maybe even some muscle rub.  

My dolls better appreciate this. 

Monster High and Kelly/Chelsea

I've gone on record as not being a fan of the Monster High dolls.  Barbie gets constant flak about her unrealistic proportions, but Monster High dolls look like a lemon balancing on a bamboo skewer.  I did discover that Monster High clothes will fit certain Barbie-line dolls.  The toddlers.  

Before I go any farther. let me clarify - I am aware they are Monsters and therefore maybe emaciated.  It's actually the disproportion between head and body that bothers me.  I bear no ill will toward fans of the line - I even find the concept intriguing and own MH "stuff", but not dolls.

Vivica's maxi dress was meant to be a mini dress.  Jenny is wearing a shirt as a dress.  Kelly's is a mini dress for Monster High, and a maxi dress for these guys.  I realized upon taking this picture that  Kelly's dress needs altered.   (Vivica is a Chelsea and so a bit taller.)

Now, here's the thing - these clothes are a reasonable, if snug, fit on their intended wearers.  They're quite tight on the Barbie toddlers, as if the parents don't have the heart to throw out favorite dresses that are being outgrown.  So the Monster High dolls are actually skinnier than Barbie toddlers!  

Kelly's dress after my alterations.  No toddler cleavage on my watch!  Removed the lower ruffle to make it short enough - the remaining ruffle still gives the shorter tots a Morticia Addams look, but they can just walk carefully.  Like Morticia. 

Anyway, on to my point with this entire rant.  I found Elissabat in a yard sale and  I bought her specifically for her cute dress.  She went into my yard sale bin after a good cleaning and I dressed Vivica in her clothes.  She looked really cute from the front, no alterations needed.

And this happened.  The Monster High body mold has been changed?!  They're even skinner now?!  Seriously?!  I'm so mad even though I'm only out 50 cents.  I'm keeping the bat-shaped cake pops, at least.