Rambled Opinions and General Snarkiness: Surfing In with Joss Kendrick, A Double Handful of Moddie Mix-and-Match, and Notes on the 2019 Discourse

Surfing In: It's Joss Kendrick!

Meet Joss Kendrick, 2020's New Girl of the Year! She Surfs! She Cheers! She Can't Always Hear! And oh, how I am buzzing to really tell you why she's my new darling in so many ways this soon into her release. 

We will not discuss my lack of actual review, talk, or new shit posts in 2019.

*gets glared at and someone points to the two--two!--posts I did in 2019*

Okay, okay we will! I'm sorry!

In the past year I didn't cover anything. Not Blaire, not the death of BeForever and Rise of the Historicals Again, not the Moddy Shit, nothing. Between the all new house and the all new other shit on my plate, I let the blog fall aside. I've been packing! Unpacking! Putting up trees! Putting up book cases! Putting books on them! Not having enough book room! Painting rooms! Washing raw wool and processing it and spinning it into things! Working on novels! Spinning yarns in both senses of the word! (I wouldn't be the queer you know and love if I wasn't doing both things.)

...And in all that, not blogging. And now here we are, in 2020, with a whole new Girl of the Year, and I haven't even covered the last one. Entire Mix and Match sets have risen and fallen in the time since I last gave a "new shit" post.

I will make it up to you, my beloved audience.

First, let's talk about what I've missed talking about that can be summed up in paragraphs and expanded on later.

Then, about the new shit.


2019: All The News That's Fit To Blog

What's happened in the last twelve months on the AG Front news wise? Well, well,  well...

 It's All In Her Wonk-Filled Eyes: 

After copious complaints from everyone--some justified, some not--AG has gone back to an older style of eyes. Dolls could be sent in to have their eyeballs popped out and replaced with new ones, so you didn't have to live with inferior peeper. You had until December 31st to get this done for free. Now you'll have to live with your choices in eyes. Or pay, maybe, I guess. I sent Blaire Fifi in as soon as she was purchased, but everyone else is staying the way they are. Including Luciana.

Maybe now that annoying Bring Back the Kwality account on IG can quietly tumble into a bayou.

BeForever Is Dead, Long Live The Historical Characters:

In October 2019, AG publicly removed all the BeForever branding from the Historical Characters. Kit and Josefina have joined the Cube Life with Addy, Samantha, and Felicity--wait, Felicity? We're not sure. Is she there? Is she not? She's in the catalogs but not in the stores. And what of Molly? What of Molly?! Who knows? Anyways. Now every character has their own adorable logo that emphasizes the year and their name, and their books have the illustrations back! Addy, Kit, and Josefina will get theirs in a few months, but Ellie, DeeDee, Nanea, Julie, Becca, and Kaya already got theirs, which meant all new pics for the first three!

Speaking of those books.

We seem to be missing some things...1

The new books have pictures. And whole chunks of books and story missing.

Guys gays and enby pals, welcome to the Abridged Historical Books. Barnes and Noble was having a yoink one yeet one free sale on AG books right before the switchover and had the new abridged AG books, so Neth got them all and did a few comparisons since I have all the prior volumes. And what changed? 

Well, hope you like illustrations more than all of Maryellen's holiday story. Or Rebecca's. Or Julie's story about helping eagles. Or Kaya's story with Lone Dog other than maybe a chapter. These books said abridged and they mean it. Stories are missing, chopped, remixed, and screwed like a 90s mix tape.

AG answered the demand for illustrations to come back by monkey pawing y'all. Picture's worth a thousand words and I'd say about that many got cut per volume. If you're a person who doesn't already have the books in some prior form, first of all what are you doing with your AG book life, get them old books. And second, you're going to be a sad panda. I suspect we're going to have a new set of readers in the future who won't understand major plot things (for example, there is no conflict of Speaking Rain being anywhere but back with her tribe forever). 

Y'all asked for illustrations back, you should have said you wanted to keep all the words too. You know genies are assholes. Next time specify your wishes into the universe. I'm chill but others won't be.

Maybe unabridged will come out later. Or maybe we're all boned. 

AG Stores, We're Two Down: 

American Girl closed two AG Place locations--Mall Of America/Minneapolis and Boston/Natick--on March 20th. All the petitions in the world online didn't help and just got your data harvested. Enjoy the spam mails! The general thought is that AG, losing money hand over underwear and eyeballs, let them go. Or the malls just didn't want to renew the leases because whatever reason. 

My store seems to be doing okay. 

Here's the Free Shipping You Wanted, and Dolls Are Cheap and Plentiful
  
American Girl in June started offering standardized free ground shipping on minimum orders of $125 or more. Additional charges continue to apply for rush shipping, shipping outside of the US or Canada, and shipping large items.  

Then they dropped the cost of dolls across the board to $98 by October.

So you're going to have to buy more than dolly and a pair of shoes to get them sent to you no cost. Get her accessories. And then some shoes. 

AG Rewards: It's now by Moneys:

The AG Rewards got a revamp, with the biggest change being that that each tier is reached by dollar amounts spent annually, not points accumulated per year. Y'all were gaming the system too hard, now it's dollars. Each reward level will have its own unique annual reward certificate gift, and Berry level members also will not have points expire as long as the level is maintained.

The 2019 Retrospecticus: Neth Will Cover What She Missed

She's got a chicken!

Regarding the old new shit, here's what I'll do: Every few posts here in January,  I'm going to go over the 2019 things. Blaire, the All New Old Historicals, Moddy Shit--even if it's gone forever and your only hope is eBay or crying on Instagram. Hell, half the stuff missed me by. It was gone faster than Sam's Velvet Underworld Dress. I was too busy picking out carpet and bedroom funiture, visiting my mom and grandma, hanging out with cool people, ending up with two Kirstens² and hanging vertical blinds³ to get everything, and what I got I'll be okay with. Hey, Blaire's still around. Hell, Luciana kind of is.

I got pictures of it all! I just didn't blog. So you can still have my thoughts on everything.

Now, we can get to talking about Joss! 

Air over the cut and let's get this surfing party starty.

Victory Air With Joss in 2020

Before I can even talk about anything in Joss's collection, I need to talk about how I have Joss. Already. And how.

My hands were shaking during this pic.

So. The first day of the year is always the new Girl of the Year Release. There may be some pre-release parties, but by January First she is out there waving and ready to be the center of attention. Girl of the Year used Follow Me. Me and my local buddies in the community go on the first day if we can to hang out, see new stuff, and talk each other into and out of buying stuff.  I looked at the new stuff, buy a few things, take a few pics, get the giveaway item for myself, et cetera.

I don't buy the doll, because I need to wait re: funds, even though she's growing on me quickly. I do stick my name in the giveaway drawing, going as I'm filling the papers out "I never win" and saying "I'll buy Joss proper later after all the others have won her." I fuck up my e-mail on the write-in but eh, like I said, I never win.

This is important.

I come home--I can host people now! and boy howdy do I love to do it--and sit around with my friends and we shoot the shit and squee over the things we got. I miss a call on my cell, it's a local number, but I go "it's probably spam" and let it go to voice mail. If it's important they will leave a message--and sometimes even when it's not, I've heard so many robocalls that start with nihao. We hang until five p.m. before they head out.

After my buddies leave, I check the message, thinking "let's listen to this spam call and delete."

It was not spam.

It was AG Seattle.

"Hello, Neth, This is Lady at AG Seattle calling to say we pulled your name for the Joss Giveaway, but we can't read your email off the winner slip. Call us back to clarify your information so we can get the forms filled out and get Joss to you? Thanks, our number is 425-555-1234."

I nearly dropped my goddamn cell phone. I called back and was like "this is my e-mail but I live close enough to go get her now like I can get there in fifteen minutes can I have her now or is there some convoluted thing I gotta do before you hand me my new gang member?"

No convoluted thing. No shipping needed. Just Joss, brand new, in a box, for me to take home after filling out some papers.

Fam.

FAM.

I won a brand new Joss on the first day, for free, from AG.

She's precious.4

All I have for her is her accessories that I grabbed, the second book, and the Members Only Jacket because I wanted that as a person with a rewards account. I literally had her tumble into my lap and gang on day one. Good things are happening to me! I'm still geeked over her. She is my good luck doll for 2020 and forever. All the huggles. I've already devoured her first book and will go in on her second later.

Welcome to the AGGiRL, Jossi. You'll fit in great.

Now to her shiny things.

She's here, she cheers! She uses aids to hear!

Joss Kendrick, Girl of the Year 2020: Joss--short for Jocelyn--Kendrick is super special not just to me, mind. She's super important for representation needed from AG that hasn't been done before. Yes, she's white, with brown hair and brown eyes--a combination that frankly, we've also never had on a white character of the year, because AG for a while seemed to think putting both on the same character might make the doll unexpectedly ethnic. And she is the second white girl after two years of DoC.

But she stands out and matters, and I certainly have no beef at all with her. Joss is another form of representation we've needed. She's the first Girl of the Year--and first character--with a visible disability.⁵

AG's not slacked in the disability department, mind. They've offered a wheelchair since 1996, arm crutches for a few years now, have a diabetes care set, bald dolls, and hearing aids since 2012 as an add on to any 18" doll.⁶ All optional.

But Joss is the first character to be a named character and be visibly disabled⁷ by default and have it in her stories. She was born deaf in the left ear completely and can hear somewhat with help from a hearing aid in her right. She comes with two hearing aids--one as a backup, they only fit properly on the right ear--and her stories show her life lived with being hard of hearing. Including the macro- and microaggressions in day-to-day life and ways she has adapted to her disability. AG made a new face mold to accommodate her hearing aid--it's sort of a mix of Classic and Josefina, with a change in the ears so she can pop her aid in and out to go surfing.

AG has never done a visibly disabled character before like this. Joss fucking matters, and I'm glad she's  been created like she has. She even got a panel to help bring her true to existence, like Historicals like Addy, Josefina, Kaya, and Melody got. And while you could toss her hearing aids out and say she's not disabled and she's "normal," you'd nine out of ten be a raging cunt to do it. There's no story you could make for Joss that wouldn't be fine to have her have hearing loss included in it⁸--barring somehow wanting to make her a historical, and in that case I'm still side-eyeing your shit.

Let people be disabled. Let disability be represented. Let Joss live.

Joss's Meet Outfit: Joss shows up ready to hang loose for a California summer in a multicolored swimsuit, denim shorts with no pockets but with some fancy embroidery, a ocean wave hoodie with the shimmery rainbow wave decor, and coral plastic flip flops. The shoes are okay. If you hate the shoes get some other ones while you're there. I found a good pair. She also has her hearing aids in a blue case--two, never hurts to have a backup--and a hearing aid brush for cleaning.

Unlike bodysuit bound Nicki thirteen years ago, she has panties as well--the plain basic pink ones all the modern girls have. That's what AG does now. Girls of the Year don't get fancy panties anymore. Everyone since Saige has gotten basic panties with no logo, and they've been the standard pink since Grace. (ETA: with the exception of Lea's neon green, as I was reminded.) They come packed with her hearing aid right under her book. Unpack slowly.

Joss's Accessories: To add to Joss's default look, her accessories include a woven shoulder bag, two bracelets--one braided, one beaded--a key to her older brother's van,⁹ three bucks to buy absolutely nothing but maybe an ice cream, a journal to write things in that already has a few pages paged, a cell phone because that's what the kids have now (with case and very rainbow screen), an ID card to get into cheerleading gym, and super awesome sunglasses that have a gradient look.  There's room in the bag for her hearing aid case too. Not as cheap as the past, but comes with a lot for it.

Now in people sizes!

Kids--and smaller adults--can get the Joss look with the Catch a Wave Top and Woven Tassel Bag. Shorts sold elsewhere.

Books: They're not just to hold the doll in the box.

Joss: The books are written by Erin Falligant, who also wrote a couple My Journey Books and Nanea's Mystery. We also have have illustrations back for Girls of the Year too, and they're adorably drawn by Maike Plenzke, a freelance illustrator.. The one on her very first page shows so much dynamism--hell, the cover all its own does that. I love this very semi-realistic style--not too real, not too toon. Like Kailey before her, she is also not in her meet on her cover and in her water gear. 

The plot is a little reminiscent of Mia's plot back in 2007 - can sport girl also do other female-oriented sport? And like and respect it?--but that's fine. As one of the people in my corner of the fandom kindly reminded me that I'm old, Mia was long enough ago that kids who were ten when she was around can vote now. Read the books that come with your dolly. I have read the first book and it's good book.

Surfing in the USA!

Joss's Surf and Swim Set: Joss is a surfer at the start of the book and has been out in the waves since she was six years old. She rides in a rash top, swim bottoms, and a swim top. There's also sandals to walk along the beach in. I have plans to get this soon. Along with...

Joss's Surfboard Set: A girl needs her board to go surfing. Joss's set has a colorful new surfboard with an important signature on it--read the book--board wax to keep the board its best, a camera to mount on the front for sweet trick filming, a towel for drying off, and sunscreen. Everyone's Free to Wear Sunscreen, as the old speech and later spoken word song for the Class of  '97 goes.

How soon will I get those? I dunno, how soon will my ass be back at AG?

Joss's Bulldog with Life Vest: Joss's family has an English bulldog, Murph, who skateboards and also surfs. She comes with a life vest so doggy doesn't sink in the water. I am up and down about bulldogs, but Murph is part of the first story. Maybe. I'll see how I feel.
 
Sea Lion Pup: Joss comes from Cali, where the beaches are known for sea lions. So here we go, a small baby one to add to the collection. I kind of care for sea lions--they're super cool. Just don't go up to them on the beach to try and get a selfie. Animals are not your Instagram friends. They will eat your face and consider it delicious.

Cheer: it's a real sport. Bows and all.

Joss's Cheer Practice Outfit: After Joss wins a bet with her bothersome older brother,¹⁰ she ends up joining the cheerleading team. The basics of what the Shine Athletics team wears is a sports top, a sheer tank over it, leggings, and in the book it's tennis shoes but here she's wearing sandals. WE can get some plain white sneaks later. The headband's not part of the default uniform, but Joss ends up adding it in for important reasons. Again, go read a motherfucking book. I want surf before cheer over here, so this can wait.I do love the lack of pink. Teal is so her color.

Joss's Nfinity Cheer Backpack Set: Let's cover what I think I did when the old cheer set was out: Nfinity is a brand of sports equipment--especially shoes--for athletes, and well known by its symbol. Joss's set not only has the millennial pink bag, but a Huge Ass Bow, socks for that sock-and-sandal look, makeup for performing (it's what performers do, get over yourselves), a "hair styling tool" that is a curling iron, hairbands, bobby pins, and a "teasing comb" that is a rattail comb. If I get her cheer set, I'll get this. If. Surf first.

Joss's Cheer Practice Equipment: If you're gonna cheer, you need stuff to practice on. No trampolines. At least, not yet. What you get is a floor mat, a wedge mat, a stunt stand, a wrap bandage, a water bottle, and an ice pack. This I won't get. I have McSeattle's gymnastic stuff and I can kind of sort of yoink things from there. I'd want something else to be my play around set.

Joss's Cheer Team Jacket: Are you an AG Rewards member? No? Then you don't get the Members Only Jacket! Sign up now! It's just a basic jacket for wearing during cheer sport, but I got it because it's blue and white and super chill. Guess I'll put it on Joss now.

Book Two: Now it's Cheer's Time to Shine!

Joss: Touch the Sky: Blaire has taken us back to two books instead of three. Joss's second book appears to be more on the cheer side of things, rather than the surf. I will get nose into this later on. I have a lot of library books to read before they're due back.

Rah rah u rah go me!

Joss's Cheer Competition Outfit: Cheer isn't about performing on the sidelines for sports anymore; it's for years been its own intense, strong sport. And there are sparkles and shine for it. Joss has a cheer dress, shorts underneath, simple sneakers with the Nfinity logo, and a sparkle hairbow that has shit all to do with that one teen performer I don't like. I'm leaning towards getting this too. But later on.

Oh, and if your stores don't have the Competition Cheer Outfit and Nfinity Cheer Set from two years ago out anymore, they're still online for a while. Don't know how long, so get on that if you really want them.

arrrrgh doll joints arrrrgh

Joss's Beach Vibes Outfit: Joss has more than sports wear to wear. You can put her in something a little more casual in the Beach Vibes set: hat, halter top, pants, and sandals. I still have very odd feelings about visible doll joints, so this is on the "not yet" pile. I won't be sad if I miss it. I mostly like the pants.

Sweet Shiny Surfy Dreams.

Joss's Shine Bright PJs: Joss also has some sleepy time clothes: a top with a knot to the side that shines bright, leggins with wild patterns, and slippers. Sleeping in leggings is the best. I do it because I toss and turn in anything else. I don't have these yet because again, was not expecting Joss. As it is, next time I'm at the store, hell yeah.

That's what we've got for Joss so far. There is more on the docket, including her big ticket item. Who's ready for some expensive fun?

Modern Mix and Match Moddy Set: The Berry Fresh Collection

More stuff is due next month--including for Joss, Moddies, and Historicals. But the Mix and Match set came out just post Giftmas, and at the rate these sets have been going, they could be gone by March. So better cover this now, unlike the last two I thought I had time on.

Ready for a Farmer's Market Day.

The Berry Fresh Collection: Now our Mix and Match sets have names for the set. What comes in this spring style farmers market set?:

• Berry Fresh Tee 
• Style in Bloom Jean Jacket 
• Freshly Picked Tank 
• Strawberry Shorts 
• Market Day Skirt 
• Colorful Stripes Shoes 
• Market Hat 

Also this includes the Fresh Lemons Market Outfit,  which is a full set together: dress, bag, shoes, and headband.

I love the springy, warm weather look. I really I'm not sure about the skirt, hat, and pink top, but due to some funds I have the rest. I like fruit based clothes. I put the shoes on Joss so she could have some sneakers, and the dress looks super cute on Fifi.

Who was renamed from Blaire.

Who I will cover soon. 

Stop looking at me like that.


Time to get back in the water and offer surfing waves, me. I took last year off for various reasons, but I can make it up to you, my readers who are here even when I'm not. 2020's been good to me less than a week in, and one can only hope that it can get even better.

We're gonna blog, and surf, and talk about things, and look to get things back on course. 

And Vote Blue No Matter Who.

--Neth

¹ That's my handwriting in the old Ellie book. I write in books I own. Fite me.
² See my footnotes on "Moving a Gang: Neth's Fuc'n House And How She and Bae Got the AGGiRL Into It." It's the post right before this one.
³ It wasn't that hard. Bae and I are pretty good at the whole "put things on things in Haus" thing.
⁴ This was after I changed her clothes. Her stories might start in May in California, but it is neither here in the PNW and when I took this picture it was raining. So now she is warm and dry. 
⁵ Not the first explicitly disabled character. That would be Maryellen, who has lung capacity and strength issues, as well as one leg slightly shorter, due to polio when she was seven.
⁶ My Shanna has a hearing aid in her left ear.
⁷ Speaking of which, I had to clarify on the AG Wiki that saying disabled is the correct term. That people who are disabled--including yours truly, among my issues I can't fucking breathe standard--don't want to be called anything but what we want to be called. And that includes disabled, not person with "ability needs" or "special needs". Some people want people-first, some want identity-first, but many people don't want to have the thing dressed up in some cutesy soft language like "special needs" or "handicapable" or other fucking bullshit that doesn't tell the truth. The truth is that Joss is disabled. Don't be ableist, dumbasses.
⁸ Mine has a slight tweak. There's nothing in her story that can't make her half Latina. So her mom is Latina and her name is Jocelyn "Joss" Kendrick Zamora.
⁹ She's getting a van. There's rumors about that van's total cost. I'm all in to talk about that when it gets here.
¹⁰ Read a book.