Thursday, May 4, 2006

Hats Off To You!

So many of you who follow this journal on a regular basis have written to me asking questions about the hat I’m pictured wearing in the “About Me” section on the upper left hand side of this page.  I’ve decided to delay for a post or two showing more pictures of my Florida vacation.  Don’t worry, there are more great pictures to show and I will be sharing them here, just not yet.

 

Every spring, my thoughts turn towards my summer wardrobe for my job on the docks.  I like to wear the loose fitting Columbia Fishing Shirts with the netted inserts on the left and right side of the back.  They are durable, comfortable, and the netted inserts allow for greater air circulation and help keep me cool.  I order a full week’s worth of new ones each spring.

 

My chief concern each year, though, is my hat.  I am out in the direct sunlight so much I really have to have just the right hat to protect me from the UV rays and to give my eyes the proper shading.  This requires a hat with a wide brim which, under normal circumstances, might be very hot to wear.  That’s where the mesh top comes into play.

 

I found a hat six years ago which has become my trademark on the docks where I work.  I have clients of the marina who bump into me all the time at the store who do not recognize me because I am not wearing my trademark hat.  The hat is made by Dorfman Pacific and I purchase a new one each year.

 

What may be interesting, though, is how I prep the hat before I put it into service each year.  I treat it with a fabric guard and waterproofing solution.

 

A couple of years ago I was able to get hold of a couple of Styrofoam wig forms that are used to store a wig when the wig is not in use.  These are excellent to place the hat on while waiting for the hat to dry after treatment.

 

 

 

First you saturate the hat totally with the treatment, after which it must be put in direct sunlight to dry.  The hat must be totally dry and then you repeat the treatment and drying process.  Do this a third time and your hat is guaranteed to be waterproof and to be able to endure the abuse of a full summer season and still look good and repel water in a hard rain.  This year I used a product by 303 named fabric guard.  I used this same product last year and was pleased with the results.  This is a picture of this year’s hat with the product.

 

 

Okay, okay!  Absolutely nobody wrote and asked me about my hat.  I just wanted to tell you anyway!

 

On a different note, I was running around the marina the other day and looked up and saw sun rays beaming down from the center of a huge cloud mass.  I grabbed my camera and took two shots of it.  The close-up one seems dramatic to me and I wanted you all to see it.

 

 

 

That’s about all for this time.  Except that I will probably be working seven days a week for a couple of weeks.  My New assistant at work broke his ankle on one of his days off this week and who knows how long it will be before he can hobble around the marina.  I’ll have to work straight through until the rest of my summer help gets out of school.  See y’all next time!  Stay safe and well!

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

You know Sam, I think it makes you look very "Indiana Jones"   don't forget your sunscreen.    Anne

Anonymous said...

i follow your journal, and i'm glad i do. i'm now working on the water as an Ordinary Seaman, on board a ferry boat where i live.

Brad

Anonymous said...

Love the Hat!
and the clouds are great.
Kate~

Anonymous said...

Bien Bon Champou!

Anonymous said...

LOL love the hat thanks for the walk thru of the yearly prep.  Sorry 'bout your assitant, hopefully it won't be long
d

Anonymous said...

I love your hat and I wish I had one. I like how you told us all about it. I think you have a great job. I love the water. I was raised on the Tn. River. The pictures in your journal are really nice and the clouds in this entry are very nice.

Anonymous said...

Hat care 101 - you crack me up......in a good way :-)   -Kelly  www.pixiedustnme.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I was really born in the wrong century because I adore men in hats :)  Yours reminds me of the one Harrison Ford wore in the Indiana Jones trilogy!  Hats are so sexy to me... Not that I'm hitting on you or anything, I respect you and Paulette very much and the sancticty of marriage... just wanted to make it clear... LOL!

Whether it be Fedoras, Stetsons, Homburgs, or even Porkpies...a hat makes a man look distinguished, no matter when its worn ;)

Great entry!  I'll forgive the ficticious comments.. It was well worth it.

Guess we'll all be waiting patiently for the rest of the trip pictures...

Hope you don't work too hard without your Assistant!  Maybe Mother Nature will cooperate and bring rain.. just not too much :)

See you then...

Cat

Anonymous said...

Here is to a good season of hat wearing! <G>
Tess

Anonymous said...

I was reading some old stuff the other day and thinking about you. Have a good season. Love the hat.
Marti

Anonymous said...

I guess we are just a family of hat people!  Grandhezzie wouldn't step off the porch without one.  And remember Grandmother's collection.  I always carry a hat box on vacation to protect all of our family's hats.

Love you, Lynn

Anonymous said...

I love hats, yours is a wonderful one!! I discovered Tilley Hats a while back, bought one at Cape Cod last year. People don't seem to wear hats any more. My dad wouldn't leave the house without his!! Love the pic of the sunrays, thanks for sharing it. Jeannette.  

Anonymous said...

Never realised so much went into preparing your hat before you wear it ~ very important to protect yourself from the UV rays especially as you are out in direct sunlight so much ~ laughed at someone not recognizing you without your Trademark hat on ~  The second picture of the cloud formation is awsome ~ sorry about your new assistant breaking his ankle hope he won't be away for too long ~ Ally

Anonymous said...

interesting how much work and sinceriity you put into your hat. But reading what it does for you..it helps you so it only make sense that you do all this prep for your hat. It is like clothing..well it is clothing for the head. oh don't mind my ramble..thanks for the tip..I'd keep it in mind.
have a safe work week,
Gem :-)

Anonymous said...

oh.I forgot to add..the last pic of cloud..I was looking at it real close and it looks like to me: "Between the silver cloud is an opening to Heaven"....am I corny or what?? LOL!
Gem  :-)

Anonymous said...

If you want to get ahead get a hat ,well you certainly went ahead and entertained us with the story of you head gear ,which is very nice ,pleased you take good care of it ,great pics as always ...........Jan xx

Anonymous said...

That is very interesting the way you prep your hats.
I love to see sun rays coming through clouds. Thanks for sharing those pics. Helen

Anonymous said...

I love your hats!

Anonymous said...

Great entry Sam, LOL at the hat story,  I`ve never read a journal entry about how to weather-proof a hat but now I have.  Very interesting it was too!  I love the cloud pics too, especially the second one. :o)

Sandra x

Anonymous said...

That hat looks good on you! Stay safe out there!

Anonymous said...

Whether anyone asked or not -- liked the hat entry!  The pictures at the marina are beautiful and you are correct, the close up is dramatic!

Anonymous said...

Think that would be a wonderful hat for my husband and son to have  when they go to Africa again this year in July. Also---think I noticed those same clouds several days ago! Do you actually wear out that many shirts a year?? Barb

Anonymous said...

Toooooooo funny! You had me fooled until you fessed up and said no one had asked you about your hat! Color me gullible. ::grin:: That hat looks pretty darn good, and it is great that you can treat it with that stuff and have it last a full summer season.

The photos are stunning. Yes, STUNNING. Great shots.

Take care~
Nikki

Anonymous said...

Sam
You know how to make a girl smile! I actually really like your hat and think it's one that my dh would look good in! I'm going to have to see if I can order him one! :)

The pictures are gorgous! I always have that wonderful feeling of "HOPE" when I see the sun shining through the clouds, it's like God's talking directly to me, telling me that even in the storms there's hope!"

God Bless
Christy

Anonymous said...

Sam,
That is one fine looking hat!  Suits you perfectly!
And, those storm clouds look scary!
Love ya,
Connie

Anonymous said...

Remember J. Peterman? He sold some mightly fine hats too. Men look wonderful in hats.

Anonymous said...

Sam, I really enjoyed this entry!  The sunbeams pictures are beautiful!  Whenever I see sunbeams, I think of Heaven's light shining down on us.  Lucky you - with that close-up you got a peek into Heaven!
Dawn

Anonymous said...

Loved this entire entry.  I might not have asked but actually I had wondered about the hat.  

Anonymous said...

Hi ! I've been meaning to ask you. What marina do you work at ??? I have been wondering. Your journal is quite interesting as always........Thanks for being here at J-Land.

Anonymous said...

Dear Sam
great hat Sam! I bet you look stunning in it!:):) and the shirts..I absolutely love breathable fabrics in the summer... they are so much fun!
hugs,nat

Anonymous said...

That would ge a great hat for my husband on the boat anytime.  Nice job telling us how to get it ready!

Anonymous said...

Hey Sam

Very cool to finally find out about the hat... :) Looking forward to seeing some more photos.

Carly

Anonymous said...

Love the cloud pics! And I have always thought the hat was cool...kind of a "Raiders of the lost ark" look you have going for you...

Tracie

Anonymous said...

    Hey, Sam  .... I love the hat, it's so YOU !  I'm glad you are cautious about the sun, because I know firsthand about the damage it can do.  Like you, I love the feeling of being near the water and out  in the sun's rays, but like I learned the hard way this year, you gotta be careful !  Thanks for spreading the word.  Tina

Anonymous said...

ok Mr. Sam
I know you don't need another compliment
hehe
I also like John Lennon's hat
in "A Hard Day's Night" :)