Sweet weight,
in celebration of the woman I am
and of the soul of the woman I am
and of the central creature and its delight
I sing for you. I dare to live.
Hello, spirit. Hello, cup.
Fasten, cover. Cover that does contain.
Hello to the soil of the fields.
Welcome, roots.
Howdy pardners! It’s your old pal Izzy T here, excited to celebrate March, the month that ushers in Spring. I’m also jazzed to celebrate a day dedicated to honoring one of my favorite creations: women! On Sunday the 8th, International Women’s Day, we shine a spotlight on, direct our gaze toward, and thank our lucky stars for the most vital gender with the splendor! No shade to men—I was raised by a single man, for heaven’s sake. Having spent so much of my life in the presence of my (kind, nurturing, inspirational, and hilarious) father, I’ve always craved lady time. When I was thinking about my feelings about women and being a woman, the excerpt above from the poem, “In Celebration of My Uterus,” by Anne Sexton kept popping into the old noggin. I’m fully aware that not all women have uteri. We come in many different shapes, innards, and outards, but I think that the poem encapsulates the quintessence of us: the sometimes heaviness of being, the innate and vital groundedness, and the creative tenacity that it requires to navigate the world. International Women’s Day was conceived in 1909 by Theresa Malkiel, the head of the Socialist Party of America’s Women’s National Committee. IWD is now recognized as an official holiday in over 20 countries, asking all people to commit to “feminism that is intersectional, anti-racist, and trans-inclusive.” So on March 8th, hug, high-five, and do your best Arsenio “woof woof woof” for the women in your life—and around the world for that matter. Now lemme give you some cleaning inspo!
How do I remove period blood stains from my clothes?
(originally printed in the October 2020 issue)
Ah, yes… menstruating. It’s fun for so many reasons, not the least of which is dealing with blood stains on your clothing. It’s especially annoying when this blood gets on a beautiful costume. It’s time to stand up and fight against these stains! First off, treat the stain as soon as possible. Rinse under cold water while gently rubbing the fabric together. Cold water can get a lot of the stain out. Don’t use hot water, though, as it will “cook” the stain into the fabric. As you know, these blood “events” often happen at the worst times. With that said, you can use any soap that you have on hand at the time, depending on the fabric, to wash the garment. I often wash my underclothes while I’m in the bathtub with bath soap. If the blood is dried into light fabric, try soaking it in hydrogen peroxide first. For darker fabrics, you can crush up aspirin and mix it with water to make a paste. Smooth the paste over the stain and let it sit overnight before rinsing the garment with water in the morning. Let’ er hang dry.
How do I remove lipstick from my silk shirt?
Oh! Femme or just New Orleanian? Anyway, I hate when I smear lipstick on my clothing. I rarely wear makeup, so if I get it on my clothing when I happen to paint my face with it, it’s an extra big bummer. Because lipstick contains sticky oil and wax, and silk is delicate and porous, these two beauties shouldn’t hang out together. The oily wax will be clingy and totally overwhelm the sensitive, sexy silk. First, blot the stain using a white rag to remove any excess lipstick off of the garment. Use as little pressure as possible as you blot. We’re trying to remove the stain, not smear and grind the pigment deeper into the fabric. Next, grab a cotton ball and squirt some makeup remover (micellar water) and dab the cotton ball in a very light brushing motion. Rinse the shirt and let it air dry. If the stain is being a stubborn a-hole, sprinkle some baby powder over it for a few hours in order to absorb the oily makeup. After the hour, shake it off, then repeat.
How do I make a relaxing air freshener for my home?
Nice question! I actually started making products such as these when COVID first reared its devastating head in 2020. Add a cup of white vinegar (my bff) and two cups of water to a bowl. Sprinkle two tablespoons of baking soda into the bowl. Add about 20 drops of citrus essential oil and 20 drops of rose essential oil to the mixture. Now use a whisk to mix it all together. Pour the liquid into your bottle of choice and spray away the stanky vibes and odors. Fun fact: I once cleaned the apartment in which Woody Harrelson was staying while shooting a movie in town. As if blowing a kiss to everyone’s favorite pot-smoking, naked-snowboarding actor, I sprayed this concoction into each room of the place before leaving.
Got cleaning questions? Email isabel@antigravitymagazine.com
illustrations by Ben Claassen III
