high of 94, up to 86 now, feels like 90.

[rootofnewt]

my typical summer attire has not been donned this year.

part of the reason is i'm trying to see whether or not my UV allergy is back. i have some lesions, but not the huge, seeping ones. i have some mottling, but that might be due to other factors. no joint swelling yet, either.

i've also just not taken the time to unpack my gloves, scarves, etc. My lightweight long-sleeves all wore out last summer and I haven't replaced them.

i carry my parasol on days when my skin or eyes are super sensitive. sometimes i wear a hat.

i've also spent lots of time in the yard and at the beach and really wonder why i should bother. of course, if i were reacting like i did from 1996-2001, i'd be covered in a heartbeat. it was *painful* and very difficult to look at.

there's another very real reason. only those who are muslim or allergic to the sun dress the way i did. and we all know how common UV allergy is, so despite some very telling factors, plenty of folks assumed i was swathed from head to toe for religious/cultural reasons. i was occasionally harassed by racists when i would dress that way. most of the time, folks ignored me--after all, DC is pretty homogenous and has a sizeable muslim population.

a year ago, i didn't care and even stood up to those idiots who were cruel. i'd usually be ready with a biting retort (most effective against teenage boys). i'd sit with muslim women on the metro if a seat was available (and invariably, the only free seat would be next to a woman in a chador). i'd chat with them as they'd be curious about my attire (my hair wasn't always completely covered and i was paler than a skeleton). i always spoke the truth--why shouldn't i? and they were appreciative when i'd sidle up and say hello when they were getting stares or whispers after 9/11.

i wouldn't avoid any of these women today, but i'm not dressing in head-to-toe black, either.

so why am i a chicken now?

well, this whole "informer" idea is one reason. the other is that people can be STUPID and i have no desire to place myself in harm's way right now, especially while living in the boonies, where i have to drive quite a while without seeing homes within sight of the road.

i'm annoyed that our government is making my law-abiding life more difficult simply by creating a culture of paranoia. i'm irritated with folks who can't think for themselves.

i'm also thankful that i'm not sweating under layers of cotton and silk.

i'm going to go shower now. then i'll probably don some shorts and a tshirt before i head into town.

Comments

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

In Australia, there is relatively light cotton jersey that comes with a SPF factor. I've seen t-shirts made of it. I'll poke around a little, see what I can find.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

the aussie stuff all comes in horrendous colors that clash with my wardrobe. and the black is never deeply pigmented and resembles a black-gray.

i've got a zillion links (okay, more like a dozen or two) to sun-protective clothing, if you ever need any. i've been on sunprecautions.com snail mail list for nearly six years. ;) i do have some stuff, but i prefer finding my own.

and i have sources for the fabric itself, but i'm not sure whether i can dye it--can't get an answer out of the companies as to whether that would affect the UV-screening capabilities (part dye, part weave).

[avitania.livejournal.com]

you've probably explored this option, but what about UV protectant solutions for the wash? i know RIT makes an SPF30 to add to the laundry that supposedly lasts a month, but i'm not sure if it's broad spectrum or "hypoallergenic" (which it probably isn't).

if you've got links for UV protectant clothing that doesn't make me look like a reject from a "Crocodile Hunter" show, i'd love to see it. i don't have a UV allergy, but my skin mottles when it tans, and having to worry about which sunblocks are broad spectrum and all that stuff is annoying.

-Nebs :)

nebs! *munch*

[krasota.livejournal.com]

i don't really care for the RIT stuff. after all, the best clothing for sun protection is tightly woven and in dark colors. this isn't so great for heat exhaustion, but lots of my wardrobe (with all the lace excluded) fits into that category (silk, cotton, etc).

and as far as the croc hunter reject stuff. nope, no can help there, unless you want to look like a stepford wife.

pvc is generally opaque. ;) just don't go for the clear stuff.

when i did need sun protection, i wore tank tops under open silk shirts (long-sleeve), gloves, and tights. i carried a parasol. i did wear the face mask made by solumbra for awhile, but it made me too hot.

hats, gloves, parasols. :)

go victorian goth, dear. it's PERFECT for florida. };->

[ismene.livejournal.com]

Well, backing down a bit is probably the smart thing to do right now even if you feel bad about it. It'll keep you safe, which is good.

What are the symptoms of UV allergy on the lower end of the scale? I'm still not sure what these little bumps and red spot on my arms are. My mom says heat rash, but I've gotten them in the spring after being outside, too.

[(Anonymous)]

You might be all right if you chose to swathe yourself in layers of cotton and silk. Remember meeting B last weekend? He says that he hasn't had any problems since 9/11. The only Islam-related incident he's mentioned came last fall, when a woman working at the store across the Mall asked him to translate some grafitti that she thought was Arabic, since she was afraid of it being terrorist-related. (As it turned out, it was gibberish.) Had B had any problems, a few Sunbow friends and I were going to show support dress-wise, but it was not necessary.

I can't vouch for your southern boonies, but I think you'd be all right in town.

As for the culture of paranoia problem, don't EVEN get me started. >:(

--Magi