Trials and Tribulations of Home Improvement

Alas, the tumultuous trials and tribulations of home improvement projects!! The specific project that I'm currently working on consists of sanding, staining, and painting our staircase railings, which is a considerably involved project in that sanding is always a pain, our railings are extra long and curve around several times in different directions, and I've never stained before, and have never been a huge fan of staining for that matter, although growing up, I remember my mom staining small furniture pieces, shelves, etc, quite often. I digress...

Long story short, the shade of stain that I chose barely made a difference, and...

I STAINED MY HANDS TOGETHER, literally, and as I sit here, slumping in my chair, typing with one crooked sticky "antique walnut" finger, I'm asking myself "What were you thinking, not wearing gloves while using an oil based product??"

I've been a victim of oil-based primers before, and if I'm using "stain" why didn't get the hint that it would obviously stain, and stick, and pick up fuzz from every piece of clothing or towel that I come into direct contact with. God forbid I may need to drive somewhere tomorrow, I may not even be able to touch the doorknob, nevermind yank my hands of the steering wheel...and this dilemma still remains after a hot bath and shower, not to mention an hour long hand washing!! Ahhh!!!!!

Please don't tell my husband - I'll need to hide my hands from him when he returns from his gig late tonight. I'll slyly tuck them in socks, and roll over onto them, while I pretend to sleep. Well, hopefully my experience will help someone who's planning to stain gloveless, and force them to think twice before attempting to do so!!