Gem & Mineral Show (and some more memes)
Four of us wandered off to the Gem and Mineral Show today out west of the interstate (what's becoming our typical haunt for the show). We all ended up having a great time, which made me ecstatic; I wasn't sure how a couple of the people were going to dob but apparently, they got along just fine. Woo! I even managed to not spend more than my self-authorized spending limit! (Granted, that includes food and parking...and the show isn't over yet. But still, that's not bad for me.)
So, on to the swag! Instead of buying a ton of little things this year, I got one big thing and a few smaller things. My "one big thing" was a 1.1 kg piece of quartz that I got at a slightly reduced price (the guy accidentally told me the wrong price). It just screamed "I'm perfect for display!" so I had to get it. (Plus, believe it or not, "massive chunk o' quartz" was on my "must get" list this year.) It has several large, clear points sticking out in almost a fan-like shape. Yeah, it's pretty. Just goes to show that nothin' beats the "Ooooooh, shiny!" impulse.
My cheap swag included a striated piece of hematite (the "kidney ore" variety) and one of those little dyed agate wind chimes (a deep teal color)...so now I can annoy my neighbors too! (Not sure I really want to put it outside, though. I don't want any of the agate slices to fall off and break.)
In the mid-price range was something I never really thought I'd get: an ivory-carved dragon. Usually ivory is super-expensive, so I usually limit myself to incessant drooling when looking at carvings. Just my luck, the guy had a handful of dragons listed as 75% off. He was one of our first stops, so I just looked and drooled and didn't get anything. Well, when we came back through, the dragon I'd been eyeballing was gone. *sniff* Still, I got a different one that I really like, so no harm done. He had some absolutely stunning statues, but those were way out of my price range (and not on sale). The craftmanship was truly amazing, though. The sheer amount of detail was mind-boggling, especially with the tiny hatching dragons he showed me, which were no more than a half-inch long.
Alas, a nice-sized chunk o' aquamarine was also on my list, but I didn't end up getting any. I did find the aquamarine guys, but most of their stuff was wholesale (grr), so I would've had to spend way too much on a small piece. I would've loved one of the big chunks they had in the buckets, but nooooo.... Mrf.
Sadly, we did see a few faked fossils, but I guess that's part of knowing what you're seeing. I discovered that those Mosasaur jaws are actually fake jaws with real teeth in them (I suspected it ever since I first saw them, but I didn't know for sure). I got one of those for Dad last year, but I don't feel too terribly bad. It makes for a nice display...and at least the teeth are real. Those are the most important part anyway.
Oh, and I saw the biggest vein of amethyst I've ever seen in my life. It was one of those giant columns lined with amethyst, and it had to have been seven feet tall. And it weighed a metric ton. O.o We also saw the biggest single quartz crystal I've ever seen in my life. It was probably almost six feet tall and a good four to five feet wide.
The others had their heads set on fossils and meteorites, so they got their fill of those (as well as some vanadanite). They found some good deals on the meteorites, too.
All in all, a good (albeit still spent too much) day. ;-]
---
You Are 45% Left Brained, 55% Right Brained
The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.
Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.
If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.
Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.
The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.
Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.
If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.
Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.
Are You Right or Left Brained?
You Are Incredibly Logical
Move over Spock - you're the new master of logic
You think rationally, clearly, and quickly.
A seasoned problem solver, your mind is like a computer!
How Logical Are You?
(This one's just funny.)
You Have a Phlegmatic Temperament
Mild mannered and laid back, you take life at a slow pace.
You are very consistent - both in emotions and actions.
You tend to absorb set backs easily. You are cool and collected.
It is difficult to offend you. You can remain composed and unemotional.
You are a great friend and lover. You don't demand much of others.
While you are quiet, you have a subtle wit that your friends know well.
At your worst, you are lazy and unwilling to work at anything.
You often get stuck in a rut, without aspirations or dreams.
You can get too dependent on others, setting yourself up for abandonment.
What Temperment Are You?
Go me! *laughs*
You Failed 8th Grade US History
Sorry, you only got 5/8 correct!
Could You Pass 8th Grade History?
Feelin' like
tired.
So, on to the swag! Instead of buying a ton of little things this year, I got one big thing and a few smaller things. My "one big thing" was a 1.1 kg piece of quartz that I got at a slightly reduced price (the guy accidentally told me the wrong price). It just screamed "I'm perfect for display!" so I had to get it. (Plus, believe it or not, "massive chunk o' quartz" was on my "must get" list this year.) It has several large, clear points sticking out in almost a fan-like shape. Yeah, it's pretty. Just goes to show that nothin' beats the "Ooooooh, shiny!" impulse.
My cheap swag included a striated piece of hematite (the "kidney ore" variety) and one of those little dyed agate wind chimes (a deep teal color)...so now I can annoy my neighbors too! (Not sure I really want to put it outside, though. I don't want any of the agate slices to fall off and break.)
In the mid-price range was something I never really thought I'd get: an ivory-carved dragon. Usually ivory is super-expensive, so I usually limit myself to incessant drooling when looking at carvings. Just my luck, the guy had a handful of dragons listed as 75% off. He was one of our first stops, so I just looked and drooled and didn't get anything. Well, when we came back through, the dragon I'd been eyeballing was gone. *sniff* Still, I got a different one that I really like, so no harm done. He had some absolutely stunning statues, but those were way out of my price range (and not on sale). The craftmanship was truly amazing, though. The sheer amount of detail was mind-boggling, especially with the tiny hatching dragons he showed me, which were no more than a half-inch long.
Alas, a nice-sized chunk o' aquamarine was also on my list, but I didn't end up getting any. I did find the aquamarine guys, but most of their stuff was wholesale (grr), so I would've had to spend way too much on a small piece. I would've loved one of the big chunks they had in the buckets, but nooooo.... Mrf.
Sadly, we did see a few faked fossils, but I guess that's part of knowing what you're seeing. I discovered that those Mosasaur jaws are actually fake jaws with real teeth in them (I suspected it ever since I first saw them, but I didn't know for sure). I got one of those for Dad last year, but I don't feel too terribly bad. It makes for a nice display...and at least the teeth are real. Those are the most important part anyway.
Oh, and I saw the biggest vein of amethyst I've ever seen in my life. It was one of those giant columns lined with amethyst, and it had to have been seven feet tall. And it weighed a metric ton. O.o We also saw the biggest single quartz crystal I've ever seen in my life. It was probably almost six feet tall and a good four to five feet wide.
The others had their heads set on fossils and meteorites, so they got their fill of those (as well as some vanadanite). They found some good deals on the meteorites, too.
All in all, a good (albeit still spent too much) day. ;-]
---
You Are 45% Left Brained, 55% Right Brained
The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.
Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.
If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.
Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.
The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.
Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.
If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.
Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.
Are You Right or Left Brained?
You Are Incredibly Logical
Move over Spock - you're the new master of logic
You think rationally, clearly, and quickly.
A seasoned problem solver, your mind is like a computer!
How Logical Are You?
(This one's just funny.)
You Have a Phlegmatic Temperament
Mild mannered and laid back, you take life at a slow pace.
You are very consistent - both in emotions and actions.
You tend to absorb set backs easily. You are cool and collected.
It is difficult to offend you. You can remain composed and unemotional.
You are a great friend and lover. You don't demand much of others.
While you are quiet, you have a subtle wit that your friends know well.
At your worst, you are lazy and unwilling to work at anything.
You often get stuck in a rut, without aspirations or dreams.
You can get too dependent on others, setting yourself up for abandonment.
What Temperment Are You?
Go me! *laughs*
You Failed 8th Grade US History
Sorry, you only got 5/8 correct!
Could You Pass 8th Grade History?
Feelin' like
tired.