The 180gal Family Project

[lcstorc]

We're gettin quite a group of women here on RS! We just have to stick together and things will be fine.

[nikkipigtails]

Thanks, mucci. The hardest part of staying home is finding excuses to leave. One can only handle so much of home at a time. Olivia is too young for play dates and she's not in school yet, so other than the grocery store and going for a walk, I'm stuck here.

Barb: we do need to stick together. I think when a man sees even a moderately attractive woman, it's difficult for him to get past that and even consider that she may have half a brain. I'm not saying that I'm gorgeous or anything but I've had a problem with that ever since I started working. I got a job at a law firm at 19 as their receptionist and runner and within 2 months I was a secretary for a senior partner. I got the job because he's a dirty old man and he wanted something pretty to look at, but I kept the job for 3 years, while going to school full time, because of my intelligence. But I spent most of my time convincing people that I knew what the hell I was talking about. Of course, it doesn't help that I've always looked younger than my age and on the phone I sound like a pre-pubecent kid. It sucked the life out of me.

[boozeman]

there is a higher percentage of women here on RS than on any other reef forum I have visited.... I think thats very cool

[nikkipigtails]

Originally Posted by boozeman

there is a higher percentage of women here on RS than on any other reef forum I have visited.... I think thats very cool

You're right, there are more women here than a lot of other forums. The only women I see in fish stores are dragged there by their boyfriends/husbands. LOL...they're the ones looking at the fish saying "oooo, that's pretty." I drag my husband to the fish store and he's the one saying "oooo, that's pretty." I've got to give him props though, he's trying to learn. I just have more time to read and do research than he does.

[BarbMazz]

Originally Posted by nikkipigtails

You're right, there are more women here than a lot of other forums. The only women I see in fish stores are dragged there by their boyfriends/husbands. LOL...they're the ones looking at the fish saying "oooo, that's pretty." I drag my husband to the fish store and he's the one saying "oooo, that's pretty." I've got to give him props though, he's trying to learn. I just have more time to read and do research than he does.

The more women here is one reason I like it so well, the other is that the majority of people here are flat-out smart and it shows. And they can put a sentence together coherently.

Sorry for the hijack, nikki, it IS an important part of your thread though, don't you think?

Reefing is HARD; it's hard to do, and it's hard to understand.. a lot of it anyway! And here you are, a new mom and doing this diy stuff. It's really a good chronicle because of that. It is showing what you're made of.

[tbittner]

This conversation really surprises me. Every LFS around here seems to be dominated by women employees/managers. The one main LFS (Marine Scene) where I went to learn everything is now run by a woman and she knows a LOT about what we are attempting to do. I mean, she can glance at any coral and give you the Latin and common name for it. She teaches everyone about the right way to keep a reef system. If you ask her about a fish or a coral, she asks what else you have and she tells you whether it will work or not.

When I first came here to RS, Lynn was the one answering a lot of my MANY, MANY, MANY questions and I obtained a LOT of respect for her opinion and in most cases, she backed up what the lady at the LFS was saying (yes, I was looking for second opinions at times). I don't consider this hobby to be gender specific. I've seen some plumbing jobs that blew me away and they were put together by women.

But then again, I grew up on a Dairy farm and there wasn't a mentalitiy of "That's mens work, and that is womens work." Everyone worked equally as hard as everyone else, regardless of gender. Everyone pitched in when a job needed to be done. So yeah, my mom could beat the crap out of me every bit as good as dad could if I needed it.

[Dentoid]

Nikki, you just keep doing your thing because the knowledge and sense of accomplishment will be more rewarding and important in the long run. It may just be a matter of your geographical location. Like Terry said, in the greater Washington, DC area women are highly regarded for their knowledge and reef keeping know-how.

[thelastmucci]

job well done Nikki...and sorry to Hijack..but guys lets here it for the ladies....OOHRAH

[Craig Manoukian]

Great job to all the ladies here on RS. Roses among many thorns for sure.

[nikkipigtails]

Lowes is officially on my ****list. I finally got the energy to start putting the baffles in the sump today. Imagine my surprise when I go to put one in and it's 1/4" too small. That means that I have an 1/8" on each side to fill in with silicone. I tested the other baffles and they are all either 1/4" or 1/2" too small. I was baffled (ha ha ha) as to why they were too short. I pulled out the cut list I made and triple checked my measurements. I even drew a picture of the plexiglass for the guy showing him the way I wanted him to cut it. Too bad I'm breastfeeding...I need a stiff drink right about now.

[nikkipigtails]

Originally Posted by tbittner

This conversation really surprises me. Every LFS around here seems to be dominated by women employees/managers. The one main LFS (Marine Scene) where I went to learn everything is now run by a woman and she knows a LOT about what we are attempting to do. I mean, she can glance at any coral and give you the Latin and common name for it. She teaches everyone about the right way to keep a reef system. If you ask her about a fish or a coral, she asks what else you have and she tells you whether it will work or not.

When I first came here to RS, Lynn was the one answering a lot of my MANY, MANY, MANY questions and I obtained a LOT of respect for her opinion and in most cases, she backed up what the lady at the LFS was saying (yes, I was looking for second opinions at times). I don't consider this hobby to be gender specific. I've seen some plumbing jobs that blew me away and they were put together by women.

But then again, I grew up on a Dairy farm and there wasn't a mentalitiy of "That's mens work, and that is womens work." Everyone worked equally as hard as everyone else, regardless of gender. Everyone pitched in when a job needed to be done. So yeah, my mom could beat the crap out of me every bit as good as dad could if I needed it.

I'm not saying that reefing is entirely male dominated everywhere. I'm just saying that it is male dominated in my area...the "south" where certain jobs and hobbies are considered too "manly" for women.

[Doot77]

Originally Posted by nikkipigtails

Lowes is officially on my ****list. I finally got the energy to start putting the baffles in the sump today. Imagine my surprise when I go to put one in and it's 1/4" too small. That means that I have an 1/8" on each side to fill in with silicone. I tested the other baffles and they are all either 1/4" or 1/2" too small. I was baffled (ha ha ha) as to why they were too short. I pulled out the cut list I made and triple checked my measurements. I even drew a picture of the plexiglass for the guy showing him the way I wanted him to cut it. Too bad I'm breastfeeding...I need a stiff drink right about now.

Sorry about the setback Nikki, I recall Lowes cutting some mini blinds to short for me one time also. Me I always use the "measure twice cut once" method.

[Craig Manoukian]

Originally Posted by nikkipigtails

I'm not saying that reefing is entirely male dominated everywhere. I'm just saying that it is male dominated in my area...the "south" where certain jobs and hobbies are considered too "manly" for women.

No offense taken, and we appreciate all the mommy reefers too!

[BarbMazz]

Very frustrating, Nikki! I bet you wish they'd just let you at the machine to do the cutting yourself. I'm sure they'll redo it for you.. but another trip.. time wasted. Yucky!

And, yeah, I'm sure the Man Reefing thing is geographical. There's very little reefing around here, and what there is, is man dominated. The times John and I are at a store the talk is always directed at him. He'll point to me and say "talk to her, I don't know anything about this stuff". But the attitude is there with the LFS staff.

Nothing like here on RS, which is like Reefing HEAVEN! Man World here on RS is fantabulous! (well, except for on that Man Thread you've got going, but i guess you're allowed )

[Craig Manoukian]

Originally Posted by BarbMazz

Nothing like here on RS, which is like Reefing HEAVEN! Man World here on RS is fantabulous! (well, except for on that Man Thread you've got going, but i guess you're allowed )

On behalf of all the reeftesterones, thanks for the kind words Barb.