Many great - tested in real life - ideas for what to wear both in and out of the bilge, Janice! I don't yet have a bilge, but if my experience with projects that include ANYTHING (paint, glue, grease, etc.) that can end up on me is an indication I'll need a full blown head-to-toe hazmat suit. In fact, I've adopted something similar to that approach with projects already. There is a wonderful surplus store (https://www.ax-man.com/) in my area where I found a box of disposal Tyvek coveralls (with hood!) for practically nothing. Now, I just throw one of those on before I start a project. Works great for me. :)
Yay you!! "I lost 30-35 pounds in the year since that wonderful Disney trip." What food choices did you adopt for this great outcome? :)
The heat from those suits here in Florida would cause a real sauna effect. Workers have to be Extremely careful not to get heat stroke from wearing them. In the south our concerns differ in that regard.
As for the mess factor, yes. That's totally me too Pam. The degree of disaster is directly proportional to the status of the outfit I'm wearing. Let it be something I hate, nothing. The dang thing will last forever.
You have no idea... so I'll tell you. The DAY BEFORE the boat show I thought it would be a Good Idea to do a bit of spot varnishing. Okay, that's fine. Except when you get it on your fingers it leaves behind a residue that makes it look like you never bother washing. And of course I'm greeted there. How cool was that?!? My first inclination is to put out a filthy appearing hand. Argh. Really, you'd think I would learn. Honestly, only if the folks meeting me had ever varnished they would have zero clue. Sigh.
Truly it was embarrassing... this year I've sworn off varnish in the week preceding any exposure to the publi. I'd like to look at least polished (without donning red nail polish to hide the under side of my nails!) You don't have to guess: I'm wearing dark polish for a few days.
That will give me time to recover, just in time for the Algae project which I am totally not looking forward to. The fellows on Trawler Forum in a thread about fiberglass confirmed what I did not want to know: sanding is a must to get adhesion. Argh.
Of course that makes my temporary fixes of the past few years once again look better and better. I'll do it, and properly too. It's just not something I am looking forward to... plus I have to spend $$ on fiberglass and epoxy.
It seems as if every Good Idea spawns another round of work. What I need most is a trip to McDonald's for one of my parfaits, or a sausage burrito and an iced-by-me coffee.
That's life down here. I love your idea of a hazmat suit. Too right... that's the only way I'd come out of a project without looking a mess. Congratulations on finding a good resource too. Tyvek is interesting material. The houses around here are put together with pressed wood and that stuff, then covered with siding. I hope it all lasts, but the skeptic in me says the homes are going to fall apart in a few years. I suppose stone houses are only for Europe. The old world craftsmen are being replaced by efficiency.
Thanks too for your note Pam. I've really rambled. We simply must get together one day on the waters. I've got a list a mile long to take care of before Seaweed is hauled out for a new bottom job. She needs paint. And I'd like to have a couple jobs done too that require a fiberglass man. Everybody I know who knows how to 'glass is a friend so I don't want to ask how much they'd charge. It's an awful job. The itch!!! You cannot ask a friend to do that for you. Or at least I cannot.
That's life down here. Stay cool, and thanks so much for your note Pam. I really appreciate same. J.
I am actually considering a short piece on the website about the process. What holds me back is that I have seen too many YouTube videos where a fellow who has expertise in one narrow field expounds on another. It truly is annoying beyond all measure.
That's why I have not posted about my success. And too a friend suggested I wait to see if it "sticks" as far as the loss is concerned. So far I'm teetering in the 30-35 down range. The "problem is I want more. I'm aiming for 43 down from my high.
Well, I'm still pondering. I may whip out something because this is real life afloat. It's not all cocktails at sunset. It is the minutia of day-to-day living too. And losing weight for me has been a good thing.
Thanks for your comment Pam. It really tickles me a lot to see the. I appreciate it more than you may realize. J.
Ha! You're right, tyvek coveralls would be be like a sauna in a hot environment; that hasn't been a problem for me so far. That's a good idea about scraping a bar of soap with your fingernails. I'll have to remember that one. I hope you got your treat at MacDs! I suddenly had an urge at 10 PM last night for a MacDonalds hot fudge sundae. Yes, I went and got one. :)
I cannot remember when the last time I had something like that. Last year I got an ice cream cone from McD's a couple of times. The parfaits are a favorite though I can make them at home too using cool whip. Of course yogurt would be better however I seldom buy that. It's gotten really expensive.
I eat oatmeal and almost always have fruit on hand. Not tonight though. I am totally out and almost out of hotdogs for the birds. Two of them will now eat out of my hand. I have to hold the wafers "just so" (on edge between my fingers) and they are really quite gentle. And greedy.
These birds are going to miss me. The mama is sitting on a nest so she gets extra when Grumpy Gus allows it. I'll post pictures of her too soon.
We've had a lot of wildlife around of late. Nevermore (the crow) hasn't been by for a couple days though my Snowy Egret is hanging around. She's loud. She calls, I toss hotdog wafers at her until she hushes, or gets run off by Grumpy Gus.
That's life here.
The soap clue is one I picked up on Pinterest. It works. That site is a lot off fun...
Clothes in the Bilges, et.al.: Nice to have you back doing lots of articles. You have become prolific again. You were missed. M.
It is great to be writing again. I missed y'all. Thank you Sir for your nice note and comment. I appreciate that. J.