I: would any grade of scotchbrite work? i don't know what kinds i'm going to
: find in the local grocery stores, but i'll try the paintstores too and see
: if maybe they have more selection

We use the Coarse Scotchbrite pads - you can get them anywhere they have household cleaning supplies. Used with soap and hot water, they should clean off any contamination and/or blush and leave a slightly roughened surface - just rinse really well, again with hot water.

: thanks for the tip on rolling it on. what kind of roller should i use?

We use a roller that's specifically designed for resin work - don't have a sleeve cover handy right now, but I can track down the name tomorrow and post it. It's basically a roller sleeve with very short very stiff bristles - works really well, especially when working with FG cloth or tape. Cost about $4.00 each here, but I cut each to make two short rollers (use a hacksaw). A call to your local fiberglass supplies retailer should locate 'em - if not, drop me an 'e', and I'll get the manufacturer's info for you.
Re cleaning - we clean wet epoxy resin from tools using citrus-based hand cleaners like Fast Orange - just slather it on, rub, and wipe off with a clean rag. I like to rinse with hot water, too, to get any cleaner residue off. We don't bother trying to clean rollers - they can be kept in acetone, but I really hate the stuff - far too toxic and flammable for my liking.
If the roller will be used again with a day or so, I've had good luck with simply wrapping it well in plastic while still on the handle, and putting it in the freezer. If not, we just chuck it out - we might use five or six cut rollers per boat, so it's no big deal.