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Post by Ambrienne on Feb 3, 2021 22:07:51 GMT -5
The Mentalist series was one of the small amount of DVDs that I kept when I moved into the condo (along with Monk, Get Smart, and a few movies 10th Kingdom included). I'll probably rewatch it again sometime this year when I need a reminder of how to laugh even when you've been through terrible times. I never saw the book you're referring to. I did enjoy the extras where they were talking about the behind the scenes prepping for his actor to learn how to be a mentalist, though. I think I recall them saying he was a bit too good at learning how to be Jane, yes? ;D I will say this... That gem show episode. I doubt the series creators/writers have ever even been to one. I have. Multiple times. Unless they're run entirely differently out in the land of 'too many movie stars to count', they should have known better. But then, that would have require more props, more chaos, more, well... everything. Especially energy. And, you know, gems. I've got a freaking heavy amethyst (whether it's a stalactite or mite section is anyone's guess as it is no longer attached to a cave) that I got from one of those along with other various examples of rough like citrine, more amethyst, white quartz, etc. I even have one that, seriously, looks like a little white, multi-level tower as is even though I can tell that barely any polishing has been done to it at all. There's something to be said for getting to enjoy the natural beauty of things and not just the cut and shaped ones. Not that I necessarily hate man-made stuff either. Have you ever seen a black rainbow? Neither had I until I saw this piece of man-made silica carbide at an Earthbound store once. Yumaght think I'm crazy, but I had to have it.
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Post by DarkKnight on Feb 4, 2021 12:27:36 GMT -5
Man, I can't imagine holding one of those in the Palma my hand. It must have been quite the Erie feeling.
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Post by Solana on Feb 4, 2021 17:42:52 GMT -5
Ambrienne, is it a Fargo-ne conclusion that 'Burn Notice' was also kept? I've not been to a gem show (yet) but I did have fun at a shop at RenFaire. One of my favorite pieces is rough emerald still in its bedrock. I also love my larimar tear, moonstone, and polished aquamarine. (Water gems, surprise, surprise. ) I don't have anything that large, but yours sound absolutely lovely! I did do some research on gems for writing Eziban's role in 'Storms of Rebirth', as they're the Guardian of Earth's favorite toys. Although not just stones- I also have a piece of fossilized coral from Morocco and an ammonite fossil, and I'm kicking myself for forgetting to grab a piece of fossilized bamboo.
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Post by Ambrienne on Feb 4, 2021 19:28:49 GMT -5
Alas, Burn Notice did not make it. Neither did St. Lucia's Pendant (don't ask what happened) or the display sword I got for my 19th birthday from Medieval Times. Want to know what happened to the sword? I kept it sheathed in a long cardboard tube that I think used to be used for tapestry rolls in a fabric store or something. While some people were helping me move furniture (both stuff to be kept and stuff that would be sold), it got knocked over a few times. The last time, the hilt literally came apart. That was kind of disappointing. So I tossed the pieces in the trash and tried not to think about it anymore. I've mostly succeeded with that other than the occasional internal sigh/eyeroll combo where you think things like, 'Really? That just happened? Yep, it did.' ...Mostly I was surprised how much fun it was tossing things in a dumpster and watching them break apart on impact.
Yeah, I 'might' have had some issues with certain things that had been kept around for no discernable purpose, like, ever. I won't say I have zero clutter in my new domicile, but what little there is? I'm waiting for a day when I can be sure that throwing some piece of documentation out won't come back to bite me later. Like when the freaking hospital decided to issue 3 refund checks to 'the estate of' literally days after I'd closed the estate account right at the end of the year. Thankfully, my bank was understanding.
You know what finally does have a place in my home? That gigantic fan I got years ago. It's now hanging on a wall to one side of my dining/living room area. Also on one wall is a picture of my father than I'd never seen before I'd unearthed it while cleaning up. He was 'predictably' posed with one of his accordions. The not so predictable part? He must've still been in the army at the time, because I'd never seen him with a haircut like that before.
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Post by Solana on Feb 5, 2021 8:56:42 GMT -5
Giant fan? I do love fans and have a nice collection. (Still need a bladed fan, though.)
My mom bought a giant one in Chinatown in San Francisco some time ago. It wasn't easy Togo around Chinatown on foot while carrying a box with a more than three foot long fan all day. But it is lovely hanging on the wall. I've picked up a straw fan in Jamaica ("Jamaican air conditioning"), a nice thick cloth one in Bali, a beautiful purple and peacock feather one from RenFaire, and embroidered silk fans. Oh, and my fanveils for dancing, of course.
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Post by Ambrienne on Feb 8, 2021 14:51:06 GMT -5
I, too, have a straw fan. I inherited it from a grandma. I've got to admit that it's very effective in the breeze moving department due to its wide spade-like shape. I've also got a black handled, silk screen print fan that has the image of a woman in a pink and red printed kimono on it. Also, two folding fans, one that's completely wooden with a burned design on it and the other is a mixture of wood and cloth with pink, green, and blue flowers on it. Both the folding fans are pretty good at holding a scent, so I spray them with fragrance mist or perfume on occasion to make keeping cool a little more special. ...Not that I need to do that right now. I feel like making a joke about sticking my head in the fridge or freezer to get warm. Guess the winter season's not going to give up until it's satisfied with the level of our Missouri.
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Post by DarkKnight on Feb 8, 2021 15:06:58 GMT -5
The things I miss out on growing up in Florida. I'm in Maryland these days, and I'm still amazed I've acclimated to winter weather (somewhat). I'm not layering up as much as I used to in order Dakota work...y'know, back when I actually went to an office...
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Post by Solana on Feb 8, 2021 17:09:03 GMT -5
Yeah, this week Jack Frost isn't just Nippon at our noses, he's biting them right off. I drive to work at ten to five in the morning, and yesterday it was negative fifteen degrees. If anyone comes to visit me, it should be in the summer. Those fans sound really pretty, Ambrienne. I forgot about the burned wood ones. I actually use the Balinese one for when my mom is treating warts and needs the gel on it to dry before putting socks on. It dries it pretty quickly. The new bookstore had the AC go out a lot, so I started bringing handheld fans to work until our boss brought in a floor fan up to the registers until it got fixed.
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Post by Ambrienne on Feb 15, 2021 12:34:23 GMT -5
...And it just seems to get colder and colder. Today, I am very pleased that I don't have to leave the house (even to get the mail). No one says they're dreaming of a white Valentine's Day, but that's what it was. Of course, there was more of the same overnight. I could just Bablylon about it, but that would be too much of a not so good thing.
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Post by Solana on Feb 15, 2021 17:18:47 GMT -5
It was about negative thirteen on the drive in this morning at about five in the morning, and I felt like a Phoenix reborn when it was above zero on the drive home. Sometimes when it's really cold, I'll wear my orchid earrings or plumeria hair ornament from the Atlantis just to make a point. (Of course, all my beachy accessories are for year-round.) I've also been going through a lot more tea, and even the sugar-free powdered apple cider mix. It's not the same, but it's a pretty good substitute.
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Post by Ambrienne on Feb 17, 2021 22:51:23 GMT -5
Going through a lot of tea, huh? ...I may have been mainlining zero calorie ginseng tea for the past, oh, several months. At least until my local grocery store ran out of it. Honest, I didn't single handedly drain their supply. I'm sure somebody else got a few gallons here and there. ::coughs:: Now, I'm making do with coating the bottom of a 48 oz cup with cinnamon powder and just filling it with water and a couple of squirts of key lime juice. Because, sadly, it tastes better than said grocery store's normal tea. I haven't even had a soda for almost a year now, and with weather like this, I'm glad I don't have to balance any 12 packs anymore when trying to walk around. That would be... most unwise, to put it mildly.
It might amuse you that my own rebellion against the weather is to wear shorts when I know I don't have to leave the house before the afternoon (or at all) and have been sticking with sandals or bare feet when I'm back home as well. I realize it's not Normal to be staring out the window at a big pile of snow (at least it's pure white and not icky looking) while dressed in a t-shirt/shorts and no shoes, but that just makes it more fun. I've also gone out of my way to wear spring-like/floral colors a few times lately, too.
At least, when I'm outdoors, my cape's been getting a lot of use. Except on Sundays lately. Ever since my father died, I've been over at the pastor's house for lunch after church. And in the past couple of months, they got a new puppy. She's an Australian Shepherd/Beagle/can't remember what else mix and is a real sweetheart, but she likes to chew things. And she sheds. So, now I'm wearing a normal winter coat I've had in my closet for years when I go over there.
Sadly, the puppy seems to think my coat is a bite suit. I don't know why. I also don't know why she tried to eat my hair clippings the last time the pastor's wife cut it for me, either. I didn't think the shower gel smelled 'that' good. Sure, it's a Bath and Body Works scent, but still.
(P.S. Sorry for the lame Normal pun. My brain's been really goofy all yesterday and today, while better, was not all that inspiring.)
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Post by DarkKnight on Feb 18, 2021 7:31:52 GMT -5
I wish I could be Reston on snowy days. It seems like there's always something to do, though - work, chores...
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Post by Solana on Feb 18, 2021 17:22:34 GMT -5
If you want, Yukon let me know what you like and I could send you tea. My tea collection is going to rival my book collection at this rate. (Gazes at bookshelves in view, and thinks of the others.) Ah, maybe not. Also let me know if you have a strainer or would prefer tea bags.
Snow days are pretty nonexistent as we're considered essential staff. However, I knew that when choosing to go into animals. Today was learning about pigs and bunnies, and I got to practice safely moving a pig from one pen to another. They, too, like to nibble and bite scrubs and shoes. But the pig, Peanut Butter, was far more interested in the Snickerdoodle flavored popcorn in my hand and followed me willingly for her treat. So I gave her some scratches and told her she was a good pig, while her neighbor Jam was snorting and wondering why she wasn't getting the pets and treats. When my coworker took his turn, I went to Jam's cage and let her sniff my hands and I told her she was also a very good pig. The sound they make while eating popcorn is adorable.
Tuesday was sheep and hamsters. Sheep are easy to move- open your arms wide and slowly walk, and they'll flee you in a herd. I also learned that it's important to watch ALL the sheep, not just the ones you're moving. One shot past my side to join the rest of its friends, but I stayed on my feet.
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Post by DarkKnight on Feb 24, 2021 11:17:37 GMT -5
I hear ya on space. I'm borderline running out of room for my own stuff too.
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Post by Solana on Feb 24, 2021 17:14:31 GMT -5
Yeah, I might need an extra bedroom in a townhouse for a library/guest room. And some bookshelves in a living room. And my lovely BBC coffee table books on a coffee table. Who knows when you might wanna read up on coral reefs or the Arctic winter? Maybe a special shelf for autographed books, like Brotherhood of the Black Flag. Of course, if anyone tells me, "You Tokyo time buying one!", they won't get to stay there.
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