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My Latest "Might As Well" or Half Inch Itis 2.0

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 1:32 pm
by Pdxfashionpioneer
One of the innumerable issues my ex- had with me was her inability to understand why it took me longer to complete DIY projects than similar jobs done by professionals. Somehow it never penetrated her XX chromosomal brain that there is always the issue of proficiency; someone who does a task every day of their working life will inevitably do it quicker than someone who does such things only occasionally.

I think the real chromosomal difference in understanding wrapped around the wisdom of the concept of "might as well." All of you home repairmen know what I mean, "While I am up on top of this ladder/ have the tools out/ etc. I might as well fix this other problem that I've just noticed/ been meaning to get around to/ whatever," which saves Mobilization Time and Effort so a larger percentage of that work clothes time goes to actually working rather than preparing to work.

Isn't that how all of us with both X- and Y- chromosomes operate?

Anyway, awhile ago, while treating a large scale wart on one of my fingers, a ridge formed on one of my nails. When I tried to even out the ridge, the nail shattered and wouldn't grow back properly. I came to the conclusion that the only hope for that finger and nail was to have a fake nail put on top of it for not only aesthetic purposes, but also to protect the nail from further damage as it grew out. I also knew that the cheap, drugstore, glue-on variety wasn't going to do the job, so I was going to have to go to a nail salon.

Even for me, that was a distant bridge. By the time I decided to bite that bullet I had realized, no one's going to put on just one nail, I was going to have to go for all ten. In addition, I had back-to-back charity events, so I had all the reason in the world to dress up. When the manicurist asked if I would like to have my nails polished I said, 'Sure!' figuring that while I'm trying to look my best for the events, I might as well have shiny, bright red nails! When the expected job interviews got scheduled the following week I'd just use some nail polish remover and I would be good to go!

Cultural digression for the benefit of our friends across the Pond: Here in the states anymore, nearly all of the manicurists are South East Asians. Who invariably have thick accents and usually don't have a strong command of American English. (No, even more so than all of you in the UK.) So I didn't understanding that by "polish" they meant SHELLAC! Naturally when it came time to prepare for my interviews I found that the nail polish remover didn't even touch the stuff! I've had cars with less durable finishes! In desperation I pulled out that ultimate do all tool, my utility knife and started scraping!

In time, I removed all of that coating that would have done Ferrari proud and used the nail polish remover for mopping up operations.

In due course, about two weeks, it was time for a "fill." That is, an application of nail acrylic to fill in the noticeable gap between the artificial nail and the cuticle. "Did I want polish?" Because the weekend was upon us, "Yes!" but the removable stuff I had brought along not the impenetrable shellac. Because you never know when a job interview might pop up!

So far, so good. However, by the next time I needed a fill I had jury duty coming up so I had put the job hunt on hold. In addition, for the first time in my life, my nails were beginning to show some length. I've always bitten my nails and have never been able to quit for long. Until now. I don't think a great white shark could bite these acrylic babies! So, the inevitable question, "How long do you want the nails? And what shape?" After a momentary hesitation, I thought, "I might as well let them grow out, get them shaped and go for another coat of polish!"

After a grueling, two-week trial, it was mid-December and well into the Holiday Season so the fills included even more shaping and polishing! Maybe I should have taken a picture of the final result, because all good things must come to an end. Today I was due for another fill, the holidays are behind us so with no further excuses, it was time to get serious about the job hunt again and get the nails back to reason.

Even though their shorter and their natural colors, my nails still look great and when I drum them, they still deliver that great tattoo! so all's well.

Oh, I'll et some of you are wondering about the shattered nail. Through the clear coat and acrylic overlay, it looks like it's growing out nicely and about half of the broken off area has grown out to the current tip of nail. In a month or so I can say "Mission Accomplished!" Then I'll have decide whether or not to maintain the acrylics or go natural.

So, who else has a good, relevant "Might as well" story?

Re: My Latest "Might As Well" or Half Inch Itis 2.0

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 5:45 pm
by pelmut
Shellac is soluble in alcohol but it can be a bit slower to dissolve than ordinary nail varnish in acetone.

Re: My Latest "Might As Well" or Half Inch Itis 2.0

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:24 pm
by beachlion
I can relate to your troubles regarding DIY-projects in the house. My ex-partner of Italian descent (Palermo, Sicily) was also bitching about my speed on projects. On TV she saw a crew doing a complete remodeling of a house in an hour (minus time for the commercials) and it took me so much longer. In the end I learned to stop arguing about it and just go on with the job. I told her I would lose time and focus if I would start discussing technical things about the job at hand she would not understand in the end. I few times I offered her the hammer but she refused. It also ended the argument. ;) But she was always proud to show to friends what I made.

My wife has a better understanding. Her former husband was not into DIY and the disaster areas I found in the house when I first visited her are proof of it. I'm still not where I want to be but I'm afraid I'm getting too old to do those big projects. As long as the house stays up, I'm OK with that. And everybody have to admit the house is in a much better shape now.

Re: My Latest "Might As Well" or Half Inch Itis 2.0

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:08 pm
by Bikerkilt
I have been working on a remodel of the kitchen and living room, I started this April of 17 with taking out part of the outside wall and and a large chunk of the floor and replacing it. I have put in new cabinets and counter tops, a stove vent and counter sunk the frig into the wall. We live in a trailer so as I get some drywall done my OH removes the strips between the off the drywall so the I have a never ending job of drywall puttying to do. I have the floor to do yet as soon as we agree on what we are going to put down and more dry wall putty to put on. I like tools and this gave me a reason to buy more, you need the right tool for the job at hand. I'm also putting a new metal skirting around the outside and i'ts about one third done. The cow are calling time to set another bale for them to eat.

Re: My Latest "Might As Well" or Half Inch Itis 2.0

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2019 12:18 am
by crfriend
Pdxfashionpioneer wrote:In addition, for the first time in my life, my nails were beginning to show some length. I've always bitten my nails and have never been able to quit for long. Until now. I don't think a great white shark could bite these acrylic babies! So, the inevitable question, "How long do you want the nails?
I've been an inveterate nail-biter since I can remember, and there's an hilarious invocation of the Law of Unintended Consequences involved, and in spite of attempting to stop have never been able to. I'll be interested to learn what the outcome of your experiment will be.

Given my druthers, I suppose I'd like my nails to extend just a little bit beyond my fingertips -- just enough to possibly make a light tapping sound on keyboards or desks, but not so long as to be impractical (or too pointy!). However, as they are, they're within a millimetre or so of where they'd be outright painful if I bit them any shorter or broke one.

Please do say at some point whether your "bad habit" has been extinguished by the use of armour.

Re: My Latest "Might As Well" or Half Inch Itis 2.0

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2019 4:09 am
by Pdxfashionpioneer
I hoped my post would flush out other stories about how we flirted with appearance practices borrowed from the distaff half of humanity and wound up head over heels …

No matter, we got some great DIY stories.

Carl, I will definitely keep the forum up to date on my further adventures with my nails. However, as one nail-biter to another, sorry to disappoint, but I doubt wearing acrylics will break me of my nail- biting, just prevent me from doing it. With some syndromes the best one can do is treat the symptoms.

That said, they'll cut your acrylics to whatever length you like and if you start off with clear shellac for a mere $40 (adjust for local economic conditions) you'll have the desired result within an hour!

Re: My Latest "Might As Well" or Half Inch Itis 2.0

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2019 6:23 am
by moonshadow
My entire house is one big half finished DIY project, much of it left over from the previous occupants. Baseboards missing, floors half sanded, cracking tiles apparently laid over two layers of linoleum, oh yes, there are plenty of project in the backlog.

Currently the major project is the half finished kitchen cabinets. Currently awaiting on sufficient funding for a table saw to rip the needed board to replace the rotten segment under the sink.

I normally have about five to ten projects going on at any given time.

Re: My Latest "Might As Well" or Half Inch Itis 2.0

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2019 6:30 am
by Caultron
moonshadow wrote:...I normally have about five to ten projects going on at any given time.
Same ones as last year? Cuz that's how it is for me.

Re: My Latest "Might As Well" or Half Inch Itis 2.0

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2019 11:10 am
by skirtyscot
crfriend wrote: I've been an inveterate nail-biter since I can remember, and there's an hilarious invocation of the Law of Unintended Consequences involved, and in spite of attempting to stop have never been able to. I'll be interested to learn what the outcome of your experiment will be.
I bit mine for years and years, despite being told to stop when I was a boy, and trying when I was older. Usually I found that the mental effort of consciously not biting was enough to distract me from what I was meant to be doing, so it wasn't worth it. But a few years ago I stopped without trying. I've no idea how. I'd bite one and notice that all the others were quite long. Then one day they were all long enough to need cutting. :D

Re: My Latest "Might As Well" or Half Inch Itis 2.0

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2019 3:43 pm
by crfriend
Pdxfashionpioneer wrote:II will definitely keep the forum up to date on my further adventures with my nails. However, as one nail-biter to another, sorry to disappoint, but I doubt wearing acrylics will break me of my nail- biting, just prevent me from doing it. With some syndromes the best one can do is treat the symptoms.
That's what I figured. My parents did everything they could to make me stop -- and never were able to -- and it's been a bad habit I've had for going on for nearly 60 years (I turn 58 next week). At one point in time, my father took the step of coating my nails with Tabasco sauce (a moderately hot petter sauce in the US for those overseas), and here's where the Law of Unintended Consequences comes in: I still bite my nails, and I greatly enjoy spicy food.
That said, they'll cut your acrylics to whatever length you like and if you start off with clear shellac for a mere $40 (adjust for local economic conditions) you'll have the desired result within an hour!
I may contemplate that. However, if I opt for it, it's definitely going to get noticed as everyone around knows I bite 'em and I've had folks pick flat things up from flat surfaces for me unbidden because they know I can't get a fingernail under it.

As far as DIY stories go, I'm sure that there's a shed-load out there; it's a target-rich environment as we've probably all tried and have the scars (be they physical or psychological) to show for it. I'm renting now and not having to do (or pay for) all sorts of stuff around an ageing house. What I get into these days is mostly quick-fixes and general troubleshooting which makes my landlady happy. A few weeks ago my garage-door had a rather loud failure to it which I repaired once I found all the parts, made a similar correction to an entirely similar flaw that was getting set to let go on its other side, and checked the garage-doors on the main level to see if the issue would impact those as well (it didn't), and I was thanked for the concern and the fix on mine.