Radiant

We got the first rain since the reactors melted down in Japan. Weather systems being what they are -- global, persistent, and efficient vectors -- I took that rather seriously: scrubbed the deck to reduce absorption capacity, reconstructed the cockpit cover to keep the rain off, shoved fuel and spare cushions into the hard storage area, cleaned up belowdecks so I could stand being indoors for a couple days. Also stocked up on miso and tasty seaweed treats, to protect my thyroid -- damn, they're good.

In the absence of a Geiger counter... One of the really fun things about radiation is that -- like fiberglass dust -- we have no good way of assessing our exposure until it's much too late to change it. As a nurse and as a DIY boat-owner, I figure it's reasonable to protect myself as best I can, then hope for the best.

Tech note on seaweed/thyroid remark: the natural iodine in seaweed and miso loads up your thyroid gland's iodine receptors. This leaves no room for radioactive iodine -- carried in rainwater, for instance -- to glom onto you. It's exactly the same mechanism as the benign iodine in radiation pills. The dosage is more precise with the pills, but the taste of the seaweed treats is rather better.

Radiation and sudomotor silliness

My hands and feet have been getting very swollen. My hands puff up on the phone or computer especially; with a bit of training, I bet I could learn to feel just how many rads are coming off of which hotspot, just by the icky feeling and instant puffiness. (Puffiness is driven by a neuro-vaso-muscular response called the "sudomotor response." Also drives sweating.)

I left the computer off & unplugged for 24 hours. Left the phone at home while I was out today. Hands: hardly puffy at all, until now -- they're inflating as I touchscreen this entry. Mood: ooooh, grouchygrouchygrouchy. And such a headache...!

Think I'd better back off on the radiation. I do not need that kind of physical or mental alteration. I do need the tech, but I can manage it better.

I knew my hands inflated near my devices, but the confirmation that they don't inflate normally was a relief.