GEAR | LaCrosse Hixon Rain Boots

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LaCrosse Rubber Mills Company was started in LaCrosse, Wisconsin in 1897 as a rubber horseshoe factory. Soon they went on to produce rain coats and the first iterations of rubber overshoes using steam powered sewing machines. During World War II, the family owned company provided rubber jungle shoes for the troops fighting in the Pacific and arctic rubber topped boots for the troops in Europe. In short, they know their rubber boots. This season the 100+ year-old company has released a heritage rubber boot based on one of their 1973 designs called the Hixon rain boot ($120). Their collection video is pretty great too.

UNIFORM | Gitman Bros. Oxford

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Photo of Hannah Lea in Gitman via The Midwestyle.

I don't know how I missed this, but a few seasons ago Gitman Brothers (also known as Gitman Vintage), a heritage label out of Ashland, Pennslyvania, started (re)making oxfords for women. Apparently Gitman historically made shirts for women, but are now re-issuing Cambridge Oxfords shirts ($165) with the same fabrics they use for men under their Sisters Collection, just altering the sizes and fit slightly. Right now they're available in red, white and blue—and if it wasn't clear from their current color assortment, they're made in the U.S. of A.

Q&A | Caroline Ventura

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Photos by Jamie Beck.

Caroline Ventura is the creative force behind the jewelry label Brvtvs, which is, in all honestly one of my favorites. She is often inspired by her love of menswear tailoring, and mixes masculine and feminine touches to create jewelry that is restrained and delicate, straightforward yet innovative. Each Brvtvs piece is handmade in Ventura's studio in New York, using reclaimed materials whenever available. Check it out here.

If not in NYC, I would live in...Rome. I love how the ancient and the modern coexist all in one place.

My dream holiday would be to...spend a month in Peru. No plans, just wandering.

My current obsessions are...

Food: Vegetables. Cannot get enough.

Music: The Clash. All day, every day.

Fashion: Vintage men's Levi's 517s. They have the perfect rise and make your legs look a mile long.

Retail Stores: Acne, The J. Crew Men's Shop, and I love a good thrift.

I channel my childhood self when I...draw. All my drawings are pretty simple and childlike, I never grew out of making geometric shapes on paper, even when I'm just doodling.

The fictional character I most relate to is...Scout Finch. Not afraid to speak her mind, but it usually gets her into trouble.

If I had to be outdoors all day I would...be running around somewhere grassy or on a blanket with a good book.

My favorite quality in a man is...a sharp wit and a gentle touch.

My favorite quality in a woman is...the same as the men. I love people who can crack a joke but who can also be real and genuine when you need them to be.

I'm terrified of...mimes, clowns, that guy from the Halloween movies. Basically anything with a white painted face or mask.

My dream car is a...BMW 1600 cabriolet.

My cocktail of choice is...a Pimm's in the summer, something with whiskey in the winter.

My celebrity crush is...Gregory Peck. A timeless gentleman.

My beauty product of choice is...deMamiel and Olio Lusso facial oils.

My friends and I like to...eat together. A lot. There's never too many laughs to be shared over a meal.

If I could go back in time for one decade it would be...to the Roman Empire when Caesar ruled. Just to experience it for a day.

As a teenager I was totally into...tattoos, soccer balls, and boys who rode skateboards.

I tend to splurge on...meals. And tailoring, always nice to have a good tailor.

Making things with my hands, not being afraid to get dirty, and not taking myself too seriously...is what makes me have Tomboy Style.

UNIFORM | Gryphon x Tomboy Style collab

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If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you may have already caught a few sneak peeks of my collaboration with Gryphon New York on The Tomboy Jacket ($655) for their Spring 2013 collection. It was announced today on Style.com and will be available for pre-order starting Monday. The jacket is half equestrian blazer and half field jacket and is made of a water repellant metal cotton twill and has Japanese-inspired indigo dye detailing under the sleeves, the collar and on the outer pocket flaps. I was thinking both of Joanne Woodward and WWII correspondent Margaret Bourke-White for inspiration; and of course if it was going to bear the name Tomboy Style, it had to be functional and stylish. I can't stop wearing mine. If you're interested in buying one, they'll be available for pre-order on Monday at Les Nouvelles, I'll be giving out a 15% discount code then too! Thanks to Aimee Cho at Gryphon for being such a rad collaborator!

*** You can now pre-order the Tomboy Jacket at Les Nouvelles and get a 15% discount when you use the code TOM15 ***

GEAR | Bag 'n' Noun Muffin Bags

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I'm loving the Japanese bag maker Bag 'n' Noun, an extension from the clothing label Noun, especially these nylon weekend bags called the Muffin Bag #210 ($168) and the smaller Nylon Mini Muffin Bag #210 ($144), both newly being carried at Steven Alan along with two others. The bags were designed to be fun, well-made, and simple—and according to the designer, Osaka-based Takeshi Ozawa, he was inspired by minimalist European workwear.

Finalists for the Cider Press Review Editor's Prize

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For the inaugural Cider Press Review Editor's Prize, eight finalists were selected in August from the hundreds of manuscripts submitted. Here is the list, alphabetically, and I'm pleased that my manuscript My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass was included:

     After Jay
     The Green Cup
     My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass
     On the Desire to Levitate
     Planetary Nights
     The Principle of Flickering
     Significant Others
     Snow White, When No One Was Looking


I'm grateful, too, that my manuscript has been a finalist in several other book contests during the three years that I've circulated it. During that time it has also been a semifinalist for The Washington Prize (Word Works) and the Elixir Press Antivenom Poetry Award, as well as a finalist for these:

     The National Poetry Series
     Prairie Schooner Prize in Poetry
     Robert Dana-Anhinga Prize for Poetry
     Cider Press Book Award

Circulating a manuscript is hard work, and I want to thank these presses/contests for their encouragement along the way.

Cider Press Review Editor's Prize

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I'm pleased to announce--no, actually I'm ecstatic--that my manuscript "My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass" will be published by Cider Press Review after winning their inaugural Editor's Prize. The day that Ruth Foley, managing editor of the press, called me with the news I was speechless, stunned with joy. And I'm still celebrating.

Congratulations, too, to the runner-up and honorable mentions:

      Runner-Up:
           Snow White, When No One Was Looking, Donna Prinzmetal

      Honorable Mentions:
           The Green Cup, V. P. Loggins
           The Principle of Flickering, Laura Donnelly
           Planetary Nights, Jeanne J. LeVasseur

My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass will be released in the fall of 2013.

I've followed the recent history of the press and admire so much the work that they're doing, the authors that they are publishing. I had the pleasure of hearing Landon Godfrey, author of Second-Skin Rhinestone-Spangled Nude Souffle Choffon Gown, read last fall; I've enjoyed reading Liz Robbins's Play Button; and I fell for the poetry of Joseph Fasano, author of Fugue for Other Hands, when he won the Rattle Poetry Prize a few years ago. Landon, Liz, and Joseph are all past winners of the Cider Press Book Award.

If you're not familiar with this press, please do check it out:

Cider Press Review website

Poems published by Poemeleon

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Poemeleon: A Journal of Poetry
has just posted its newest issue called The Epistolary Issue, and I'm pleased to have two poems in it: "Dear Heavy Traffic" and "Dear Yellow Speed Bump." There are thirty-five poets whose epistolary poems are published in this issue:
Scott Beal Deborah Bogen Allen BradenRobin ChapmanLaura ChalarWilliam CordeiroBarbara Lydecker CraneAnthony FrameLucia GallowayLené GaryKaren Greenbaum-MayaMaryanne HannanDolores HaydenLowell JaegerKathleen KirkEllen KombiyilW.F. LantryKathleen LynchLeigh MackelveyFrances Ruhlen McConnelRichard MerelmanSusan Laughter MeyersAnn E. MichaelLeah MooneyRobbi NesterShelley PuhakGreg RappleyeSusan RookeMaurya SimonJulie StuckeyJennifer TamayoJudith TerziKarrie WaaralaKaren J. WeyantEllen Wright Congratulations to these poets and to the editors: Cati Porter, Ren Powell, Maureen Alsop, Tom C. Hunley, Judy Kronenfeld, Charlotte Davidson, and Lalanii Grant.

Mark Smith-Soto has won this year's James Applewhite Poetry Prize

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Congratulations to Mark Smith-Soto, winner of the 2012 James Applewhite Poetry Prize for his poem "Last Retreat to Topsail Beach." The winning poem and those of the finalists will be published in the North Carolina Literary Review (NCLR). Mark's poem was selected by poet James Applewhite from the work of six finalists chosen by NCLR Poetry Editor Jeffrey Franklin. Almost fifty poets submitted to the competition.

Here are the finalists:

• 2nd place: Laurence G. Avery’s poem “Only Yonaguska”
• Honorable mention: Grace Cloris Ocasio’s “Little Girlfriend”
• Other finalists:
• Richard Betz’s “Picking Blackberries on Yellow Mountain Road” 
• Samantha Lee Deal’s “North Carolina, This Will Be The Last Poem”
• Susan Laughter Meyers’s “Banding Hummingbirds” and “Beggar’s-Lice”

NCLR has further details at its website.

What I'm Loving Now

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I LOVE the knitted coffee cozies I am seeing all over Etsy right now! Not only are they so cute, but they are great for the environment instead of the cardboard holders and will keep your coffee or tea warmer longer. I really like this one shop Natalya's Studio. 


 She makes these adorable cozies in several colors.

She also has patterns you can purchase to make your own. So maybe it is time for me to get the old knitting needles out and make one for myself.  Check out her shop for knitted cowls also.. I have really wanted one, but it hasn't been that cold here in the South the last two Winters. Hopefully it will be this year so I can buy, or make one for myself.


Have a wonderful day!





Linda

SCENE | California Surplus Mart

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My local Army/Navy Surplus store, California Surplus Mart on the corner of Vine and Santa Monica in Los Angeles, is one of my all-time favorite places to shop. It all sort of started a few years ago with my friend Heather, whose friend Billy discovered how chic a $40 nylon helmet bag could be. This set off something of a micro fashion craze among friends. I bought a few of them and get asked about them all of the time—usually by sales associates in department stores or people in retail that can't put their finger on what label is inside my bag. There is no label.
If you're not in Los Angeles or your local surplus store doesn't carry helmet bags, you can get them online here for $21. They're great carry-on bags, laptop cases, work bags, you name it. But beyond their now-legendary supply of helmet bags, the California Surplus Mart always has something super rad.
Like these pants, which I did not take home with me. But I did grab a few chowdah mugs, some neon pink twine, a bandana, a camera bag (not pictured) and some rope for tying down the trunk of my car at flea markets—all for not a lot of lettuce.

GEAR | NATO watch strap

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Nylon watch bands have always interested me, they're an affordable and easy way of changing a watch's personality for a season or a vacation or, just an outfit. NATO bands, the standard watchstrap issued by the British Ministry of Defense, have the extra "keeper" strap to doubly secure the watch to the wrist. The official British military spec strap comes in only one color (Admiralty Grey) and one width (20mm), but of course they come in all sorts of unofficial varieties.

NATO bands have been covered by fashion outlets for years and years, often noting that James Bond wore one with a Rolex Submariner, but he wore a ZULU (no extra keeper strap). I didn't know this but Bond is also often incorrectly cited as wearing a black and grey band, when now with the advent of HD TVs, we know 007 was actually wearing this color scheme.

This week I've been seeing NATO bands everywhere. I combed through them at the Army/Navy Surplus Store, then pawed at the incredible collection of NATO bands at Los Angeles' posh vintage watch dealer, Wanna Buy A Watch on Melrose. They're also available at J.Crew ($20) among several other online sources, and just yesterday I saw the A.P.C. double NATO band men's bracelet ($50)—a purists absolute nightmare. But back to James Bond for a second. I was intrigued to find out that the only woman ever thought to have worn a men's watch in a James Bond movie was Pussy Galore in Goldfinger. More than that, one Rolex historian believes that there may not even be a photo of any woman wearing a 40mm Men's Rolex Sports watch that pre-dates Pussy's 1964 character. So the trend of women wearing men's watches just may have started with (or gained steam) from Goldfinger. Her watch? A Rolex GMT Reference 6542 (commissioned in 1955 by PanAm to help pilots keep track of multiple timezones), a real pilots watch, a watch many collectors today even call the Pussy Galore Rolex. And it looks like maybe she's got a NATO band on in that photo. That must be what Bond was getting at when he said, "You're a women of many parts, Pussy."
   
Photos: Diagram via Keep the Time; watch bands via Sartorially Inclined; above two photos and text citations via Jake's Rolex World.

Q&A | Rachel Loren

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Meet Rachel Loren, one of the creative forces behind Loren Stewart, an L.A.-based jeweler‚ just recently picked up by Barneys. I've been wearing Loren Stewart earrings uninterrupted for at least three years, so I jumped at the chance to visit her studio in Mount Washington this morning.

I was expecting a great space, but I was totally blown away by her studio in a yurt. Need a yurt. Need a yurt. Need a yurt!

Her home, called "The Terraces" was built in 1910 for the then Governor of New Mexico as a summer house. A century later she shares the property with four chickens, three kids, her husband, and her brother Sammy—who directed this crazy-good video showcasing the latest from Loren Stewart. I took some shots of the jewelry today, but this video really captures it much better than my camera.

Rachel was kind enough to also oblige with a Q&A:

If not in Los Angeles, I would live in...Tahoe or Boulder.

My dream holiday would be to...take my family to a remote island, somewhere like Fiji and live in a “bures” (those cute little cabins) along the real “Blue Lagoon.”

My current obsessions are...

Food: Korean BBQ at The Corner Place in K-town,  their signature dish is Dong Chi Mi Gook Soo, a cold noodle soup that is deliciously refreshing.

Music: The Notorious B.I.G. and Beastie Boys—I don’t feel as lame driving a mini van when it’s cranking.

Retail Stores: To me, Barneys New York has always been the holy grail of luxury fashion, so to have my line there is pretty exciting. It’s amazing to see the display at Barneys Co-Op, or to look online and see my pieces next to so many brands that I admire. On the other end of the spectrum, I’m also still into thrift shopping, especially when I go home to Kansas; it’s gratifying to discover an old treasure. 

Fashion: High tops (new pair are black Jordans), t-shirts (the older the better), and I’m into boots – motorcycle, cowboy, Isabel Marant dickers. They must be tough, cute, and comfortable.

I channel my childhood self when I...eat Doritos, Pringles and Little Debbies. They are so bad, but so good.

The fictional character I most relate to is...Shoshana in Girls, I was a late bloomer in some ways.

If I had to be outdoors all day I would...have a water fight with my kids and lay in the sun reading fashion magazines.

My favorite quality in a man is...sensitivity.

My favorite quality in a woman is...sincerity.

I'm terrified of...being in an earthquake and losing my glasses and not being able to see. I have some five pairs in various places around the house (thank goodness for Warby Parker). And something bad happening to my kids, like being lost or kidnapped. Makes me sick to think about it!

My dream car is a...1970s buttercup yellow Mercedes convertible.

My cocktail of choice is...La Crème Pinot Noir, or any specialty cocktail at Comme Ça.

My celebrity crush is...Bret from Flight of the Conchords.

My beauty product of choice is...Vitamin E oil, it’s so multi-functional, I use it as moisturizer, lip gloss, hair smoother, eye shimmer, it has endless potential, especially when options are limited.

My friends and I like to...go glamping at El Capitan, try new restaurants, and chill out in a hot tub.

If I could go back in time for one decade it would be...The Roaring 20s. It would be exciting to live through dramatic political change as a woman, and also the “garçonne” flapper style is undeniably cool.

As a teenager I was totally into...re-constructing clothes, re-arranging my room, and sneaking out my window anytime I could get away with it.

I tend to splurge on...cheese and olives at the Silverlake Cheese Store.

The fact that I take baths but will wear the same dirty outfit, am an “urban farmer” with chickens, and have a general low-maintenance approach to life...is what makes me have Tomboy Style. 
 

UNIFORM | Jill Aiko Yee + ITtERATIONS Workwear

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I popped in to see Jill Yee at her downtown L.A. studio today, something I had been meaning to do for, oh, only about six months. Her studio is adorable and tiny, but she utilizes the space so efficiently that you soon forget how small it is. Jill has two current labels: ITtERATIONS Workwear, a utilitarian line with a fashionable edge that is dedicated and inspired by women in the workplace. And then there's the more sophisticated Jill Aiko Yee label, a more feminine, sensual, bold, silky aesthetic. Clothes for when the workday is done. Totally makes sense, right? 
Jill's been in the fashion world for several years, but actually started out as a professional dancer after leaving her hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She blends her life story quite well within her work. Her ITtERATIONS Workwear line takes direct cues from her childhood growing up in an industrial city where she remembers seeing signs at bars for "3rd shift happy hour" that started at 7 a.m. Her dance background also dictates her signature free-flowing fits of shirts, pants and dresses—which is prominent in both her lines. It seems she's always aware of and striving to allow women to be as mobile and comfortable as possible without sacrificing style. Jill is an avid bicyclist (doesn't own a car in L.A.!) who says, "If I can't get on my bike wearing it, I don't design it." I can definitely get on board with that mantra.

If you're in L.A. you can shop by appointment at her studio (do it!) or catch her on Sunday at the Abbot Kinney Festival. If you're not in Los Angeles, check out her online store.

GIVEAWAY | Trident General Store hats

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Trident General Store, a brand known for their Southern California beach t-shirts with an undeniably East Coast aesthetic, is one of my favorite under-the-radar companies. A lot of us out in L.A. are transplants from the East or Midwest, and to be frank, it's easy to get frustrated looking for a simple SoCal beach t-shirt that isn't, well, totally cheesy. Thank goodness Trident General Store hit the scene a few years ago with their finely-tuned yet simple supply of t-shirts and hats (and one pretty fancy diamond necklace) that reminds me of an oversand vehicle permit sticker on an old Jeep on the shores of Nantucket.

One of the three partners, Jill Burnham, told me she has plans to expand up and down the coast of California with more beach tees, and wouldn't you know it, they're going to Nantucket too where I'm sure they'll be welcomed with open arms. 

To enter the hat giveaway: Tell us what your favorite beach is in the comment section below. I will announce the eight winners Tuesday evening. Good luck!

Congratulations to the eight winners, chosen at random:

1. Catherine who said Crystal Cove.
2. Danielle19 who said the beaches of Nantucket.
3. SBGirl who said RAT!
4. Karen who said Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur (one of my favorites too!).
5. Korey who said El Matador.
6. StefanieVPB who said Anna Marie Island, FL.
7. Allie who said Goleta Beach.
8. MamaValveeta03 who said Pitch Plains in Montauk.

Please email me: lizziegarrett(at)gmail(dot)com with your shipping address and I'll send you your hat!

SciFund y'all!

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In anticipation of the impending SciFund launch at midnight tonight, I am preparing to kindly badger all of my family/friends/colleagues with requests to check out my project (found here) and spread the word.
In the meantime, I am welcoming any questions about my project that I will answer here and link to the SciFund page.
While waiting, here are some pretty pictures of amphibians:







 Check out my flickr page for more photos I've taken in the field!  

SciFund - Day 1 Success

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The first day of the 2012 SciFund Challenge is almost at an end, and it sure was exciting! I've gotten a lot of positive feedback on Facebook and I've already reached 15% of my goal ($225)!
Initially, I've been pleasantly surprised at the diversity of my first six contributors. The feeling that I've maintained lasting relationships with folks from near and far is just as rewarding as the financial support. It really is.

So, a big thank you to my supporters from SciFund day 1!

Specifically, thanks go out to:

Dr. H. Lisle Gibbs, my major advisor, and appropriately, my first donator. 

Dr. Emily Taylor, snake biologist extraordinaire from Cal Poly. Read Emily's blog about everything snake-y

Nate Berggoetz, my former hockey teammate and mutual lover of Michael McDonald. Nate's $25 will allow me to continue takin' it to the streets ("it" being "science").

Shannon Evers, my colleague and former Ball State Cardinal. If you are lucky enough to be anywhere near Hawaii this May, take in Shannon's M.S. thesis talk on May 11th, entitled "Effects of increased load on locomotion in the brown anole, Anolis sagrei".

Dr. David Hayes, my biogeography professor from Eastern Kentucky University and with whom I've played many hours of 4-square. Here is a recent picture of Dave in his office:



AND

Allison "Chewie" Treadway another former Ball State Cardinal who is currently wandering Western Illinois searching for small mammals, I think. I wonder how cute she thinks they are after spending two years studying them?

That is it for today. I hope everyone looks forward to their rewards and hearing more about what your hard-earned dollars are funding: cool science! 

Columbus Public Schools Exceptional Science Fair

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When I'm on campus, I'm often tied to a computer or a lab bench. While I love the work that I do, this can often get tedious, and many grad students can describe the malaise that sets in after months of working on a project. Sometimes it is difficult to remember the essence of why you love science in the first place.

To remedy this and provide some service to the community, there is always science outreach that can be done. I really got interested in outreach work with my former advisor at Eastern Kentucky University Dr. Stephen Richter and the EKU division of natural areas. I got to talk to a bunch of kids about wetlands and amphibians for two years, and I hope to make more of those connections at Ohio State. 



One of those potential connections, Beechcroft High School, invited our department to participate in this year's Columbus Public Schools Exceptional Science Fair on April 27th. The Exceptional Science Fair is an opportunity for special needs students to present science projects that they have worked on and meet scientists. I loaded up the car with some live animals and headed there with no idea of what to expect. 

 The participants in the Exceptional Science Fair were an incredible groups of students that were curious, determined, and enthusiastic. I could barely keep up trying to answer their questions!


 For grad students, I can't recommend community outreach highly enough. It is a brilliant way to make science accessible and reignite some of the emotions that are at the core of scientific inquiry.  


Also, I admire the teachers and staff at Beechcroft for hosting this event. They did a great job of keeping everyone involved and excited. 


Here are some additional pictures of Beechcroft High students and other students from the Columbus public schools enjoying salamanders and snakes!

Plenty of thanks to give on SciFund day 3

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SciFund Challenge Day 3 update:

I'm now 32% ($511) on the way to my goal! I've got plenty of folks to thank from the last two days.

Tim Earnest - Tim was my boss during my summer jobs as an undergrad and one of my groomsmen in my wedding. He told me that his oldest daughter wants to name their salamander "Glitter Shine" or "Tim Mannix". Thanks Tim!

Tim Mitchener and Kari Bragg - The first donations to come from family members! Thanks so much Mom and Tim! My Mom was the first to break the $100 barrier, so awesome.

Kyle MacLea - Kyle is a fellow SciFund participant this year and a postdoc at Colorado State University. You can check out Kyle's project here. Kyle studies asexual (just like my salamanders!) crayfish and supporting him will help do some of the first genetic studies of these animals. Check it out!

Stephen Richter - Stephen is my former advisor at Eastern Kentucky University and an all-around great guy who got me some of my first good opportunities in academia. To pay him back, I'm teaching his sons how to play chess.

And last but certainly not least is Ann Fro from South Hadley, Massachusetts. What makes Ann so special? Well, she is the first contributor to my project who I don't know and my project is the first SciFund she has supported. How cool is that? Thanks so much for your generosity Ann!


Thanks again everyone!

Southwest Dreamin'

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Greetings all!

Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) about to say something important.

I haven't posted on this blog for close to a month due to general busyness and time spent traveling. The purpose of my recent traveling has been to make it out to Portal, AZ to help out with the field herpetology class taught at the American Museum of Natural History's Southwest Research Station. This has been my first time west of Yellowstone National Park, and oh boy I have had a fantastic time so far.

My labmate Matt Holding demonstrating how to safely handle venomous snakes for research purposes.

We have students from all over the U.S. from all walks of life here to learn about the Southwest's herptofauna. So far they have traversed some gnarly habitat, caught some incredible creatures, and memorized scientific names like it was their job.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

I've been very fortunate to help out with the course this year not only for the reptiles and amphibians, but also to connect with some great scientists that are here to teach and share their research. Unfortunately (fortunately), I have been very busy and don't have much time to update this blog. For now I will drop some photos for your enjoyment and wonder.

Mountain Patchnose Snake (Salvadora grahamiae) showing off its wonderful rostrum

The threatened Twin Spotted Rattlesnake (Crotalus priceii) only habits talus slopes that promote me falling down a lot.

People think I'm dumb, but my favorite desert herp is the Sonoran Desert Toad (Incilius alvarius)

A juvenile Green Rat Snake (Senticolis triaspis) makes for an extremely photgenetic animal

From here, I'll be heading up to California briefly before flying to Vancouver, Canada for the World Congress of Herpetology. After that , it is back to the (relatively) real world. Being a scientist is fun.

Look for more pictures and (maybe) stories to come!