[TheForge] Re: Femininity, clothing, and dealing with heat- was Re: [TheForge] Watch Rob kill me

[Demon Buddha]

Phlip wrote:
> 
> Yes, Andy, I am very much a woman ;-) My proper name is Philippa. I'm
> neither gay nor particularly butch (not that sexual preference has much to
> do with essential femininity), although I'm certainly not fluffy effeminate.
> I get along very well with most men, because many of my interests are in
> traditionally masculine areas, including smithing, and other than asking for
> help with lifting things as a result of back and knee injuries, I generally
> do for myself.

	I happen to be a lesbian, and as I've said before, it's 	
	tough being a male lesbian.
> 
> And, while I'm certainly no beauty queen, I do not lack for interesting,
> intelligent male companionship- ask John Husvar, who knows me well.

	Well, depends on how you're measuring.  There's a lot more to
	a person's beauty than the outward appearances.  I've met
	drop dead gorgeous women I would not let clean my manure soiled
	boots for the utter lack of character they displayed.  I have
	also enjoyed the most charming company with women who, by
	certain stunted and wholly immature standards, were "no beauty
	queen".  I would not trade such for the former because after
	the )(*$ &)&*^ $$()*# BUI#HR &#^ is over, you often have to 
	talk to each other... that or dress rapidly and go running out
	the door, which then brings into question the smarts behind
	being there in the first place. :)

	Now that I know John's been holding out on me...

> Only
> time I dislike being female is for a few days each month, and I think you'll
> find most women agree with me on that ;-)
	
	I don't think I could deal with the childbirth thing, either.
> 
> And I really don't see that it matters- I wasn't planning to ask you to
> dance ;-)

	Story of my life.
> 
> Back to the clothing- Yes, as I said, I stick with natural fibers around the
> forge- not only because I'm allergic to the synthetics, but because I
> dislike materials which are likely to melt and stick to me as they burn.

	When I was 14 I napalmed something of the plastic persuation.
	A glob of molten, burning plastic and napalm alighted on palm
	of my right hand.  It was a most singularly memorable exercise
	in wide-eyed dancing to the indescribable pain or searing flesh.
	I would not like to have a polyester pant leg melted to my
	real leg.

> On
> hot days, I cut back to a halter top and cut-offs. A halter top is not
> particularly modesty, although I forge in public enough areas that it's a
> consideration, but rather because breasts, even small ones, tend to project
> into the way when I'm trying to do things, and they're much more convenient
> bound out of the way.

	We don't mind.  No, really...
> 
> When Duke Andrew was teaching me, he made me wear boots, until I had some
> scale fall down one, and got a good burn. Certainly skin is vulnerable to
> burning, but if it's uncovered, it is far less subject to having fire
> trapped against it, and any burns are in the "ouch, damn it" catagory. Yes,
> it's a risk, but much less so than you'd think- I seldom deal with the
> molten metal you get when you do certain types of welding, so skin is
> sufficiently protective. I also usually smith bare handed- dipping the
> non-working end of a piece in a slack bucket keeps it cool enough to handle,
> and tongs or occasionally channel locks work just fine for shorter pieces.

	At this point I have so many scars from scale burns, I barely
	notice when a piece glues itself to me.  Just had it happen
	last night, in fact.  Ho hum... I guess I must be slowly
	becoming an actual blacksmith.  A couple weeks ago a drop
	of molten something hit my hand, I watched and smelled as the
	smoke arose, and thought, "wow, I smell really good", so I
	took a taste, and believe it or not, it was very tasty; like
	barbeque Andy or something.  Never noticed that before.
> 
> I would strongly reccomend against loafers or any short shoe while on the
> forge0 wearing jeans over your boot tops prevents scale from falling into
> them, but if you've got an open shoe top out there, scale will jump for it
> ;-)

	I wear loafers.  My feet are burned to (*)$(*.  I keep forgetting
	my boots, so I get what I deserve.
> 
> One thing I've noticed, since two of my hobbys are so involved with fire
> (cooking and smithing) is that my hands are much more resistant to heat.

	Absolutely so.

> I'm
> not heavily callused, but I can deal with, and not be burned by, heats that
> tend to have other folks yelling for first aid cream, or ice or cold water.

	I, on the other hand, am very calloused at the moment, which is a
	mixed blessing.  It's good protection against cuts and burns, but
	with some things it feels as if I'm sensing through a veil, which
	of course I am.

> I'm really beginning to think that it's as much a mental attitude towards
> dealing with fire and hot stuff, as it is any toughening of the flesh. That
> might be, in part, why smithing without clothing against much of my skin
> isn't really a problem. What do you guys think?

	I think there is a very definite mental factor.  One gets
	used to being around the hot stuff and if you think it is
	all OK, then it is.  If youo've never done such work before,
	then standing in front of a blazing forge is probably  some
	big deal.  I got used to forging outside, in the sun in
	Phoenix when it was 115 degrees outside.  Lesson I learned
	fast was to drink enormous amounts of water and to replace
	electrolytes.  Nice thing about it was I didn't get very wet 
	and soggy from sweat because it evaporated so rapidly.  I
	would get so focused on my work, the heat ceased to be that
	big a bother.