Alexandra's account about Todd's whiskers reminds me of my childhood with my father who was a forest researcher. I was the only girl, with three brothers, and he often took me along while collecting tree material or pollen for hybridizing. I would often get the resin on my hands because I also liked to climb trees, and one of the best solvents is Xylol, a nasty solvent used in paint stripping. That stuff burns any open wound and also removes any skin oils so my hands would hurt from both the burning and the drying. An alternative cleaner is Boraxo, a granulated soap that came in a can. I don't know if it is still around but it did a decent job. I still would climb a tree but out here in the desert there aren't any suitable for such an activity, they are all armed with thorns of one kind or another and the branches are not placed well for climbing. I need a good northern tree for that. Carol J. Owens Ferret Friends,Inc. Tucson AZ [Posted in FML 6903]