What is pebbled leather? Is it better than regular leather in any way?
Pebble refers to the grain/texture,on the surface of the leather. It is not necessarily better or worse than any other leather finish, it's just a different look. What makes a leather more expensive/desirable is the type of skin the leather is and how the texture/grain came about on the skin. For example, if the leather is a lower grade (less expensive split verses a full grain premium skin), and the pebble is embossed/printed on the leather, the skin will be cheaper and doesn't look as good as a full grain skin that is tumbled during processing to create the pebble effect. See image below with some of the more popular leather textures.
How do you condition/hydrate very dry leather (so dry that it's stiff)?
Clean it first with warm water on a sponge (ring it out) then apply some Murphy's Oil Soap to the warm watered sponge. Let it dry a bit - you shouldn’t get it that wet anyway. Liberally apply Neats Foot Oil. Then put the leather in a plastic bag overnight. Next day rub it really well with a soft rag and re-apply more Neats Foot Oil. Back into the plastic bag. Repeat until it’s supply and nicely conditioned. Stay away from products that try to tell you they have a *one step* process/conditioner. They’re horrible for leather. Take the time to do it right and you’ll never regret it. Good Luck!
Can i wear gloves to an interview?
Wearing gloves during an interview these days would make you look very old-fashioned; it's the sort of thing women would do in the early 1960's. I don't know if I have hyperhydrosis, but my hands do sweat, especially if I am nervous or under stress. I'd keep a paper towel in your pocket and unobtrusively wipe your palm off inside the pocket and then shake hands. I was also told that holding your hands under cold running water before going into the interview can help. You should also try to take some calming breaths, just in case part of the problem is nerves. In any case, people who do job interviews probably shake hands with many people who have sweaty palms. It's an accepted and known part of the job. Unless your hands are just dripping all the time, it's not likely to be a problem. Definitely, do not start explaining your diagnosis. That's a turn-off to interviewers, and it's frankly none of their business.
Any good tips to clean up some old ice skates?
To clean the leather sides up, use some leather conditioner on a damp cloth. It'll take the dirt and even scuff marks right off. It will condition the leather and leave it shiny and soft at the same time. If they're not leather, this will still clean them up. Remove the laces and soak them in a bowl with warm water and dish detergent. Scrub them with a brush to get the grime off. Then rinse and dry. They will make your skates look so much better even if this is all you do! Then, I would have the blades touched up at your local rink, or at a professional blade sharpener, if there is one near you. That way, this'll take any rust off and clean up any burrs or nicks on the blade edge as well as fix any bad sharpening job it had before you got to them. Not to mention give it a sharpening in case they were also dull too!