Monday, April 12, 2010

Ticks and Ant bites

I probably have one of the fewest jobs in the museum world where you have to worry about ticks or ants.

Last time we went to Fernland (it was an awful long time ago, guessing maybe late January) the weather had been really rainy and wet beforehand. So we were talking that when we get back we should check ourselves for ticks. After we got back and got off work I went home and took a shower. Check everywhere very thoroughly. (You can never be too safe!) But even if I had gotten one, I would have known what to do. I didn't get one though, YAY!

Enter high school and thank you mom. I got a tick twice one summer. I was working out in our back yard for about an hour. Went in side to shower and there was the little bugger on my leg. Called my mom and here is what you are supposed to do: 1f there is a chance it hasn't been attached long. You just need to push it out using your thumb nail from the opposite direction it came in very slowly. Best to do this after you have been in a shower a while so your skin is moist and soft. Head and body should come out attached. Then clean the area and put Neosporin on it straight away. Keep it clean.

However, if it has been in there longer than a few hours you'll have to do this. Some people say attacking it with a pair of heated tweezers does the trick. Though there is a chance that the head won't come out with the body. The best thing to do is to smother the tick and area it is attached with Vaseline and then put a band aid over it. The Vaseline will suffocate the tick and it will back out on it's own. That's where the band aid comes in to capture it so it doesn't come off and roam around your house. Then clean the area and put Neosporin on it straight away. Keep it clean.

Now for the ant bite part. I was working in the garden today with Mike and David. Weeding the rows to get ready to plant some tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumber. Well I didn't realize it but in one of the rows, right where I had decided to place a tomato plant was a tiny ant home, wasn't even a hill really. Didn't realize it until I felt a sting on my hand and presto, there the sucker was. Actually there were 3 on my hand. Started to itch really bad. Backed away and luckily was done planting the tomato plant. Only in this job would I have to watch out for that. LOL

Time to inspect the damage. Come in after we are done, thoroughly wash my hands and scrub the dirt off. Turns out the little buggers got me 5 times on my right hand. Rubbed some Benadryl anti itch cream on my hands and so far, knock on wood, my hand isn't that bad. Though on two bites I can almost start to see the blister that happens after ant bites.....

Thursday, February 11, 2010

The last couple of Mondays

Oh boy, it's been forever since I actually worked on a Monday. The past four Mondays I was paid to work but this week was the first Monday that I was actually in the office doing office/ tour/ pre-tour-set-up things. It felt very strange, and made for a very bad case of the MONDAYS.

The first Monday I'm talking about was Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Since it was a Holiday and I'm salary I got Holiday pay. So that was nice especially since I had to work the Saturday before.

Then the next Monday was the TAMEC Workshop at the Bob Bullock Museum in Austin that Mike, Helen and I drove up for. That was a long day 3 hours there and back and I wasn't even the one who drove!

Last Monday was the SETMA Winter Conference in Houston at the National Buffalo Soldiers Museum. It was a really neat speaker they had. Talking about intertwining technology and museums, getting your museum on facebook, twitter and other social networks. Very informative. I think I liked it the best because I got to drive the 12 passenger van down there. I love driving talk vehicles, I feel more powerful and safer in them. Plus they are just fun to drive :) For lunch Casey found a dinner that was featured in 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' of Food Network right down the street from the Museum. The burgers were amazing. I'm going to have to ask my mom if she ever ate at Lankford's Grocery while she lived in Houston. We got there a bit after 1 and had the talk not run late we probably would have had to stand in line to wait to get a table. Plus the field trip was fun.

On the way back we talked about how we should make that an everyday thing... well more like once a month or even once every two months. Rent a van from the university, drive to a museum, get a chance to look around, see how it's laid out, get ideas, share ideas, and the staff can have an outing together. Think we might talk about that more for the summer months since starting next week, we are booked SOLID with school tours until the end of May.

Back on track with the Monday topic. That meant that when this Monday rolled around. It was really hard, REALLY HARD to get back into the swing of things with work. It wasn't just that the weather was overcast and it was the day right after Super Bowl. It was that we hadn't been in the office on a Monday since JANUARY 11th!

Maybe next Monday will be a little bit easier. We'll have to wait and see since I'm working this Saturday too... There could be people coming in or their couldn't. The weather is predicted to be partly cloudy, that could bring people outside or it could make them want to stay in doors. I know I had trouble getting out of bed this morning with a 100% chance of precipitation, that has basically held true for most of the day.

P.S. I can never remember if days of the week are capitalized or not so I am just going to capitalize them :)

Thursday, February 4, 2010

I work in a Special Place :)

Today I found out I work in a special place, not just a great place but an extremely cool place. Sam Houston Museum is the BIG Splash, bull's eye, and has every bell and whistle imaginable.

I have been looking over the policies of the museum at the advice of some of my co-workers. I decided that I would read the policies so I could: a) have a better clue what was going on, b) get ideas and examples since I might be asked to do some of this stuff in the near future, c) put on my resume I already have some ideas and have looked at and given input (I'll get to that in a second), d) write down anything I have a question about or confused or want more information on while I am reading so that e) I could ask Sandy and Mac about it to get it cleared up and show that I am interested and trying to learn while I'm not even registered for classes.

It was a success. I understand more about gifts to the museum, collection procedures- since I was reading the collections policy-, accession and deaccessioning artifacts, loans, storage, preservation, documentation, appraisal, inventory and so on. And to top it all off, I had a great conversation with Sandy we kept digression but I learned LOADS!!! Like at the La Salle (The Belle Shipwrick) excavation, SHE WAS THERE when the only human remains was found. It gets better, it was discovered under a huge coil of rope she was in charge of retrieving, documenting and preserving. AND it was found October 31, Halloween Night. I mean WOW how cool is that. Turns out the man was French. They called the French government to let them decided what they wanted to do. They did DNA tests and found he was from France and even traced him to Fort La Salle, AND found some of his descendants in Louisiana. AND then he is buried at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, where only big wigs are buried like the who's who of who. Sandy said there was a big ceremony and she was invited to go with an ENGRAVED invitation. I mean WOW, just WOW.

I also learned things need to be documented. If they aren't then years down the road no one will know the importance of an artifact, who it belonged to, where it came from, etc. We went down into on the back basement rooms of the Museum. I thought we were going to the vault. Nope, we went to another room that houses all of the stuff that was given to the museum in the 1920-40's that no one has documented, don't know where it came from, who gifted it to the museum, and no one knows what to do with the stuff. Hence why documenting things is important. There were shelves of old cast iron dutch ovens, tools, shoes, Eskimo shoes, deotypes, pocket watch, quilts, clothing, linens, books, paintings. I could have spent HOURS down there looking at everything.

(We really only went down there to look at artifacts surveyed from the Sam Houston buildings on the grounds between the mid 1970s to mid 1980s. I didn't know that, that had been done. There was broken glass, nails, animal bones like from ribs, buttons, marbles, broken porcelain and crockery, a pistol and my favorite a golden locket that said 'Mamma'. Simple yet elegant. Who knows how long it had been down underneath the Woodland Home, but someone owned that, cherished it, loved it and here I am looking at it years down the road. Of course I thought about my mom when I saw that. All of those things packed away in archaeological bags in archival acid free boxes. Inventoried and all. Done by and intern 2 years ago. I COULD TOTALLY DO THAT!!!! Now the reason the museum has that is because those artifacts were found on state property. Therefore they belong to the state. Sam Houston Memorial Museum was one of the first, if not the first, museum to be a certified repository for state artifacts. Yeah there's a ton of paperwork involved with have state artifacts and you have to be able to show you have artifacts when there are random checks done. But still SO COOL. We even have state artifacts from TDCJ's prison surveys of the Walls unit, Ferguson, and so on.)

Yet just because somethings are documented, doesn't mean it's safe. Sandy had been called to ask if she wanted to receive the records of the prison museum from a female prison in Texas to have at the Prison Museum. Not necessarily to display but store and just to have. Heck years down the road someone might want to look at that to do some research or right a book. Heck I would. Boxes and boxes of records. Not the recent stuff but from like the late 1800s to the mid 1900s. Pictures, documentation, logs, mainly... their lives, who they were. But someone who will remain names decided against that and had everything shredded. SHREDDED. Those women were real people, they had families, lives, they breathed the same air and drank the same water we do today (since everything on earth is recycled and goes through Mother Nature's cycle). And now those women are lost to history and time. Sandy said she cried for 2 days after finding out what had happened. I teared up when she told me, got the lump in my throat. It got me.

Ok I've really digressed. But back to why the Museum is special. The Museum grounds are a Texas State Park and Historical Landmark. Sam Houston's Law Office, the Woodland Home, and the Steamboat House are Texas Historical Landmarks. (We are about to add two more to the list with Bear Bend and the Guerrant Cabin). The Woodland Home is a NATIONAL Historic Landmark. The Sam Houston Memorial Museum and it's grounds are an accreditation of the Texas Association of Museums. AND is accredited by the American Association of Museums. Of which come to find out, only about 8-9% percent of all museums in the USA are part of. AND we were the first site listed to be a repository for Texas Historical Commission artifacts held in trust to us. Hence why the museum is getting artifacts uncovered by one of our own, Sandy, at the most recent digging excavations of San Jacinto. We will be only place to have those artifacts in the year if it is approved. But heck, WHY SHOULDN'T IT BE!!!! Especially since it will be the 175th anniversary next year of the Battle of San Jacinto, and next year will be the 100th anniversary of March to the Grave and dedication of the Sam Houston Marker in the Oakwood Cemetery. And the WEC is going to be renovated thanks to some grant money. I think it was a Gibbs foundation of money. The Exhibit hall is going to be redone and the gift shop will be moving there to get a more central location on the grounds. Both should be done next year.

All of this in a city with the population of about 35,000, 1 hour north of Houston on Interstate 45 in Southeast Texas. And the greatest part of all, I, me out of about 6 other applications to get a part time job, then the first person approached with the choice of full time, which I graciously took. And I, I was given the opportunity to work here.

WOW, just WOW!

I'm practically speechless about all this since I found all this out only two hours ago. I know speechless is funny since this is a long post but it's mainly for me so I remember. Yet still... WOW!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Long Needed Update

Ok so an update is WAYYYYY over due.

Things concerning me:

Not that I am self absorbed or anything but some major things have taken place.

1. Graduate School applications are done, YAY! That's a major load off my shoulders. Now I can focus on stuff to do at work. The bright side of if I don't get accepted to where I want to go... I have a great job here I love and make enough to pay bills and put a little into savings :)

2. My pink dolled up 1850's style dress is completely done. (Forgot if I had mentioned that already or not...) Haven't really gotten a chance to wear it though since I've mainly be doing the kitchen demo or the toys demo. Can't quite do those in a hoop skirt can I?

3. I have another kitchen dress :) Sadly it does have some pink in it put it will work since my other one just didn't fit me properly and was short sleeved. Yes, I'll be in the kitchen wearing it but still it can be cold in there unless I'm right on top of the fire. Helen was nice enough to sew it all up for me. (I was work frantically working on my applications at the time) Got back from winter break and I just needed to sew a hem and ta-da it's done. Also have a nice dark blue apron that's my size to go along with it. The sleeves, even though not period accurate, have elastic so I can easily push them up when it gets closer to the hotter months.

4. Invested in some dark stockings for the winter months and let me tell you, greatest investment ever! My legs are so much warmer and you can't even tell I'm wearing them so that is good.

Now probably what you are more interested in, happenings concerning the museum:

1. Mac-Mize River is completed, feni, DONE! And it looks and sounds amazing. I might have to find some pictures and post them, but I'll leave that for a later post. The trustees also made a bridge to replace the old falling apart should have been condemned one and is as sturdy as a rock. They only made a pump house so the river can have a constant flow. The ducks, kiddos, dogs love it! We even had a dedication/ thank you ceremony for the river/ bridge project and a huge thanks went to the trustees. It was so hot while they were working, I'm surprised none of them got heat stroke.

2. The Woodland Home and now the upstairs parlor of the Steamboat House have new doors! The crappy-falling apart- scratched to heck- doors were replaced with ever so elegant - crisp- clean glass doors. Makes cleaning them loads better!

3. Progress is made on getting Bear Bend Cabin from Fernland up here! Yay! I'll give a post about that later. (Hey, it gives me something to write about and creates another post in itself!)

4. Gift Shop is looking 300% percent better. Megan has done a great job getting interesting things in stock, re-stocking, and sprucing the place up. It looks like a real gift shop that belongs in a museum not a room with things pulled out of ancient boxes that are attempted to be sold.

And as a little teaser the education office might be getting another location in the WEC. Not sure If I'll be around for it but it is definitely something to look forward to :)

All for now

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Venting is needed on occasions

Sometimes I think that my being in the Rotunda is worthless. I say things and people don't listen. I would be rich if I had a penny every time any one did any of the following:

  • Start any direction but from the left even after I say how the museum is laid out and that it is in chronological order (I even hand motion and point too).
  • Ask me where the bathrooms are even after I pointed them out when I greeted them.
  • Ask me if there is anything downstairs to look at even after I said there are things downstairs when I greeted them.
  • Come back upstairs even after I say there is an exit door downstairs.
  • Trip going out the front door even after I say watch your step as they leave after they came back upstairs.
  • People come in at 4 or later expecting to be able to look around the museum when there is signage everywhere saying when we close with our hours. And then look at your weird you say you have to close up the building or take their sweet time walking around.
  • People who walk up to the door at 4:30 asking if they can looking around.
  • People who have called to talk to any of the Adminstrative staff or come by to see them. HELLO IT'S A WEEKEND PEOPLE!!!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Creek Update

We have had the trustees working on the creek now for 3 days. They have done an amazing job for just 9 of them. All the pieces of concrete have been moved from the bottom of the creek bed to the sides to reduce the washout. They were able to do it cause it has been dry now for a month or so. It was running 2 days ago but stopped since there was no more rain to feed it.

Peter is slowing trying to figure out what to do about the water situation. The damn idea is still there and in the works. It's just a matter of building it and putting the plans into action. It is going to run on a continuous cycle that peter can use to fill the duck pond and water the grounds with. Saving the museum on the water bill and utilizing the rain when it does grace us with it's presence.

Of course after they have moved all the stuff off to the banks. There has been uncovered glass so guess what I will be doing tomorrow. That's right, cleaning it out. Granted it's better than sitting in an office all day long. I will be getting some fresh air and feel good about helping out the environment. Granted don't think I'm some sort of nature freak but picking up trash is just my little thing to do. Heck if it makes the museum look nicer then why not. That and some times physical labor feels good. It won't be too hard just that it is outside in the heat. Though no booties tomorrow it is just too hot for those and no point since the creek is dry so the old running shoes will work fine.

I was also told today that I am now the proud mother/ guardian of 9 ducklings. have I named them yet? No. probably won't cause nature will take it's course. Not trying to be cruel but that is just how life is. Now to find a way to list that duties as assigned in my CV or resume; wildlife preservation and controlist maybe? LOL

At page 178 of Vol. II. :)

Edition: So this guy came in who owns/ displays/ something to the gun collection here in the Rotunda. He basically just told me I'm not doing my job in so many words. He complained about some kid marking up the display case that the guns and swords are housed in. Saying some Sunday church group or group of kids with a knife are making it up; been happening now for years- same kind of marks; and on and on and on. I was like seriously! I told him I work here and we would hear something going on and nothing has. He can't seem to get it through his brain that some times things just get normal wear and tear- it happens, deal the f with it and move on. If you don't like it being displayed here then take it out. He said that if I ever work on Sundays to keep and eye on it- hello that is my job to keep my eye on the whole place- don't tell me how to do my job and I won't tell you how to do yours; like buy some deodorant. He was basically working on the case and cleaning what was in it the WHOLE TIME I was here. That is basically about almost 8 hours. It shouldn't take you that damn long. You were blocking the restrooms with your shindig and now GET OUT! I can't help but wonder if he only said those things to me cause he thought that I was a volunteer or a student assistant. I work here buddy. This is my job. I do my job. Yeah I know that things cost and damage has been done to that place. What do you want me to do. Come up to someone who has been standing there too long with my water bottle or extra large sharpie and tell them to step back from the case. If you don't like how it is being secured- or to your impression, not being secured- take it out, install security cameras or shut up and go about your business! Rant done.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

It finally rained after almost a month!

Well it finally rained after Huntsville really needed. Peter has been coming to the grounds all hours of everyday to water. They still look great!

Dress update: I have the front and back parts of my bodice sewn together just need to attach them, sew together the sleeves and then attach them to the bodice. Then work on the skirt- and then the spare shirt and sash, then a simple dress and shirt to cook in. Helen says I am doing a great job. I think I am to for only working on it a total of 2 work days. The slowest part is pinning it just right and then the hand stitching. I can't even begin to imagine how long it would have taken to make a dress all by hand. Thank God for sewing machines!

There are supposedly ducklings running around. Haven't seen them yet but will look for them tomorrow.

On Tuesday I helped Sandy mark the numbers on the furniture from Fernland. Some of it looks really great. I then learned about the various cataloging systems that the museum has implemented over the years (3 different ones so far). The most recent is called Past Perfect where you use the year the museum acquired the piece and the number it was taken into the collection. It is really a neat program. I think I have the hang of it with what little time I had with it. All self-explanatory once you know what everything means.

Through looking at that stuff I might have added another project to my list. It will be great though to add to my CV. Taking pictures of the things in the vault or collection that we don't have a picture of to put in the Past Perfect DB and in the hard copy file. Could take me ages and I might not finish it all myself but that would look sooo good.

Still no word about what we are going to do with the Library in Access other than it needs work done to it.

In looking at the Past Perfect I got to look around the vault for a little bit. A woven hair necklace made from Margaret's hair, one of Sam's letters to Margaret, the original engraving of Margaret that the copy of is hanging up in her display cabinet, original jubilee cup engraved 'Father' and some other things. You would be amazed by the amount of things in there that have no reference to Sam or Texas that was given to the museum by travelers through or what professors brought back from their travels. I was given permission to look through it anytime I want! I'm so excited. It is weird the things that Museums get but can't use or display or for lack of a better term get rid of.

Hazard pay. Some times I think I should get it. This morning I had to climb on a ladder almost to the top rung and replace a light bulb. Kind of scary, luckily Casey, the new Curator of Collections and Public Relations/Marketing Manger, was there to hold the ladder- I was doing it for her. Then while opening up the door for the A/C tech to fix the A/C, I had to get wasp spray to kill 2 nests that were hidden by the door to get on top of the Rotunda. Which by the way I have been up there and let me tell you. It's soo cool. The highest point off Sam Houston Avenue!

The museum recently got some hens- by got I mean dropped off by some John Doe. She has been named Ginger and is currently sitting on 14 eggs. Chico finally got a lady friend and they got busy. LOL

I am almost done- 30 pages to go- on the Vol. I of the Sam Houston Correspondence letters. It has been an interesting read if you can get past the I miss you will all my heart; once reunited with you I can never bear to be separated from you ever again; and so on and so forth. It is sweet and cute but after pg 300 of it you almost get tired of it. I have just now gotten to Sam Houston Jr birth and the Houston Family about to move to Raven Hill.