Random crap with Uno.

[Unorthodox]

挺好 素材库

Talia's school making us get chines inputs and swap between modes...

[Unorthodox]

So...busy day Friday, but not a lot to show for it. 

I got to the stone supply and got a budget together for the stones.  The good news is it's all the same price, just by weight, with discounts if I buy a whole pallet. 

(over 6' tall on these) 


Small ones for near the house. 


They told me I should check the Salt Lake site for a better selection, but they won't deliver or hold inventory, so I've got to make arrangements before I go buying. 

[Unorthodox]

So my boy and I hit the stone yard in Salt Lake. 

And while we found the perfect basalt columns...



They were all drilled for fountains, and the supplier is no longer in business.  My exploration of them separately has yielded I'd need to order an entire shipping container and then try to sell off the spares, and I just don't have the business to do that. 

Going over the other items and services, there were some intriguing possibilities from the sandstone that come off all together too smooth





To the possibility of simply cut pieces. 



But, we've ultimately decided to stick with the quartzite slabs pictured above for color.  They are going to get with the quarry and see if there are some more squared slabs (that normally get broken down to boulders because no one wants pillars) available.  Once we hear back from them, I'll be making a decision on which way to go, be it heading back to the more local yard or ordering from the quarry. 

Neat light, possible future pathway lighting:

[Unorthodox]

Work has become an eclectic mix of folks waiting for my decisions on a project (slight story on how that come to be, but I can't share yet), and folks who won't listen to a word I say on another. 

[E_T]

Isn't that almost always the case...

[Unorthodox]

Go Blumhouse. 

 

[Unorthodox]

I don't dare jinx anything, as it won't go into effect til April, but I'm told it's all approved: Another grade promotion, one which enables the possibility of subordinates, and is a rather significant step both in $ and prestige.   

I can do without the latter. 

I now have "1.5 heads" who don't technically report to me but I'm to task them.  (4 people total, each part time charging to my project)  Mostly data entry stuff and an intern to help with the grunt work I normally do alone. 

They also roped me into a contract discussion with the customer, which went hilariously well to all who mattered.  I'm not exactly what folks expect in such a situation, and it tends to shock a lot of people.  "The Bull Dog" is my current nickname around the company due to such things.  I don't particularly have strong feelings about it either way. 

[Unorthodox]

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuPivVjnfNo4mb3Oog_frZg

[Geo]

They also roped me into a contract discussion with the customer, which went hilariously well to all who mattered.  I'm not exactly what folks expect in such a situation, and it tends to shock a lot of people.  "The Bull Dog" is my current nickname around the company due to such things.  I don't particularly have strong feelings about it either way.

Congrats on the... promotion... ?

You just wait 'til they start calling you 'the wrestler'.

[Unorthodox]

Well.  It begins.  Since we're not getting any snow...

We've decided to resurrect the Altar of Greed for our fire pit. 

With stone sizes, I was able to mark out a more or less final circle.  Pit and chair for size reference. 



hEt likes the second one for the 'floor'.



I should have gotten a 'before' pic to show how shocking this cleanup is:





Pile of refuse all mashed down. 

[Unorthodox]

On the aquarium front:

New wood on the right, the stuff on the left used to be the same color.  I'm having to take that new stuff out and clean it every few days as it's leeching some stuff still as the water slowly soaks all the way in.  The plants attempting to attach to the older wood are giving me issues, but that's supposedly normal for them, I don't know as I've never been able to try plants before.  I was surprised that the big looking plant I bought was just a bunch of one leaf cuttings tied together on that one. 

You can see one of the pictus cats in the background on the left, there's 4 of them. 

Original plan was for the next fish purchase to be next weekend, but not sure, I'll see how everything looks, might wait 2 more weeks. 



http://www.anunorthodoxhalloween.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/2018-buildup/34ABEA69-5212-4869-B8EB-FF869D523559.jpeg

[Unorthodox]

Final rock selections. 



I especially like how they have just a touch of reflectivity in them, will catch the firelight very well. 



The bigger ones range 6'-7', the smaller pallet 4'-5'. 

If all goes well, I'm considering throwing a little mini party to celebrate completion, potentially Ostara, or perhaps more fitting to do a Walpurgisnacht celebration. 

[Geo]

It's funny how they're covered with that metal mesh. It's not like it would make any difference if something was to happen during transport.

[Unorthodox]

Pretty sure that's a DOT regulation. 

I haven't been privy to transporting ROCKS in particular, but BIG HEAVY stuff.  Since it's palletized, you have to show an attempt at restraining all sides, even if it's completely pointless. 

[Unorthodox]

Mixed feelings:

As a general rule, I hate Valentines day as a parent.  It ends up a load of parent homework to make sure the kids have valentines and boxes for school. 

So, when the school sent home a note saying they were going to do a 50's lipsync party for their valentines day festivities, it was just one more thing to be annoyed about. 

However, I respond to "Costume Contest" about like Robin Hood does to "Archery Contest".

We'll skip over the various girl drama Talia had to put up with and focus on the end result.  I'm genuinely disappointed I won't be able to see her up with her group, but they are all wearing poodle skirts.  While everyone else in the group is borrowing from grandparents...I get to play the Grinch.  If I can't find one, I'll make one instead. 

If the last dress I made featured the worst seam in the world, this one has # 2 and 3 worst.  But they are well hidden.  I know one stitch, and it's medieval and not really pretty.  That's kinda the point. 

What's a pattern? and How hard can it be?  I somehow really messed up the waist measurement (I'm still confused how) but had planned for that eventuality and added an elastic waistband.  Fit check with costume shirt:



Perhaps the worlds worst poodle, cut out freehand.