lastl98
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2007
Posts: 410
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Post by lastl98 on Apr 5, 2007 19:10:09 GMT -5
I mean just what is the draw? I'm so hooked now I don't think I can control myself any longer. I'm constantly looking for rocks to tumble. What the heck happened to me? I used to be normal, (well kinda ) I'm so addicted to this stuff it's getting ridiculous! I usually drift from hobbies/interests a lot but I've found this to be so totally enveloping. It's all so strange & I really still can't put my finger on why? What's the biggest draw of all of this rock hounding, tumbling, creating cabs, wire wrapping, slabbing, polishing, etc. etc... OMG! I'm doing it AGAIN! Last
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yogibear
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2006
Posts: 100
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Post by yogibear on Apr 5, 2007 21:15:52 GMT -5
For me it is the surprise and the job of seeing a plain old dull chunk of rock turn into a thing of beauty.
yogibear
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Apr 6, 2007 10:50:26 GMT -5
HEHEHE If we could answer that question- we could start looking for a cure- like maybe at Woodward ranch- Yea that would be a great place to look for rock...er I mean a cure- yea that's it a cure..... But honestly- for me it is a grounding of sorts- a way for me to forget about the everyday hassle andd stress and just get in touch with the beauty of Mother Nature. Rocks are Spiritual to me- A treasure Hidden for only a few to see and appreciate (I'm convinced that the internet was invented just for us Rockhounds- a way for us to share our passion and beauty). I know it sounds kinda strange- But I can have an aweful day- just be an absolute GROUCH- but only 10 or 15 minutes of Rock Therapy and my whole attitude changes-
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,777
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Post by adrian65 on Apr 6, 2007 11:13:59 GMT -5
The particularity of this hobby is that you don't know precisely the final result. There's always a surprise: "what's inside this rock, how will it look polished?" I say it's a rather innocent addiction. Others like fishing or hunting. Our hobby doesn't claim any life (sorry for hunters and fishers, I respect their hobby but I don't share it). By the contrary, we make the stones we pick more beautiful than before. So, even if you find out the cure, please don't tell it to me ! Adrian
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Post by MrP on Apr 6, 2007 12:04:51 GMT -5
To be walking along, looking down, as if there is another way to walk outside, and see an ordinary ROCK and have to pick it up. Examine it and wonder why did I pick up this particular rock? It may not be obvious as to why, but as you look at it you may see a hint of something. Break or cut it open and sometimes WOW. I guess that is why I do it….MrP
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desertdweller
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2006
Posts: 1,803
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Post by desertdweller on Apr 6, 2007 12:48:18 GMT -5
Just enjoy it last, nothing you can do to change it now. My advice would be to start making room where ever you can, inside or out so you have some place to store your rocks, LOL because before you know it, you'll be in rocks up to your eyeballs. On our way home from the Woodward ranch, Stoner and I were looking for rocks in the gas station's parking lot, actually was on the side of the gas station, what was that word again? Oh yeah, addicted.
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Post by lbowman1 on Apr 6, 2007 20:42:14 GMT -5
I've read about this before. There is no real explanation but lots of theories. All that's known for sure is that beautiful rocks and shiny metal have been treasured by mankind since way before recorded history. Some archeologists even believe that the first processed metals weren't used for making weapons or tools because they were too soft. Instead they were used for making jewelry. Stone beads were drilled and strung way back in the stone age. The Arabic word for blue was named after the area where lapis lazuli was mined not the other way around. The list of how rocks influenced human history goes on and on and on.
Seems we share this love of pretty rocks with countless billions of people that have lived down through history. I think that's pretty cool.
Lori
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Apr 6, 2007 21:57:49 GMT -5
I rather suspect that rock hunting and working with your finds / purchases is an addicting activity for no other reason than it's an escape from the real world we are forced to live in. Rock hunting and Lapidary equipment isn't cheap ,but, compared to 4 or 5 hours with a Shrink, I would say it's rather inexpensive therapy !!!
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Post by krazydiamond on Apr 7, 2007 8:49:07 GMT -5
i think Lori is on to something. maybe somewhere deep in our genetic core there is a need to be close to stone. shaping it, shining it, touching it, admiring it, building with it, collecting it....can't help it.
KD
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Post by lonewolfrockhound on Apr 7, 2007 8:57:31 GMT -5
My rock saw pleasantly drowns out the sound of my boys arguing. It is sheer heaven.
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Post by NM Stone Supply on Apr 7, 2007 8:58:38 GMT -5
Funny, I feel the same way and the rock piles are getting bigger. Not funny. My wife don't feel the same way and is about fed up with all the rocks around the house and yard.
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Apr 7, 2007 23:37:01 GMT -5
there is no explanation other than you have ROCKS IN YOUR HEAD there is no cure
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raqy
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2007
Posts: 799
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Post by raqy on Apr 8, 2007 10:09:15 GMT -5
It's actually therapy for me.. I always feel better after grinding a lil rock. My job is stressful and I would rather be home with my rocks.. So please don't let there be a cure.. Raquel
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horsinaround
spending too much on rocks
If you don't lick rocks...you ain't cool
Member since November 2006
Posts: 315
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Post by horsinaround on Apr 8, 2007 12:07:58 GMT -5
OK, here is a prime example of why this is so addicting ... this morning I was in my shop cutting up rocks for my next 4 batches of tumbling material. Most of it was pet wood, jasper, agates and yes even the OKLAHOMA AGATES...I checked them thoroughly and they are small bits and pieces of agates found in a dry river bed in western Oklahoma. At any rate, I was cutting a piece of junky old chert/grayish white flint....inside I found a peach color, Gray / white swirls and turquoise coloring. Now what are the chances of finding a piece of chert with turquoise coloring in it...non the less a piece that was found in the rail road beds close to my house. I clear coated the one piece to add it to my collection of favorite local rocks. so now I am jazzed up about going back to the railroad beds and looking for more of this stuff..not that i don't already have a couple hundred pounds of it already. out of all the ugly ones I found I found a really nice looking one..so now i am on the hunt for me .... but I am not addicted, you can ask my therapist..he says I am doing great and I am "NORMAL" ...yea right.....but I pay him to lie to me...HA HA HA Betty and I often look at the rocks we pick up and wonder how did they form..what caused them to be here where we are looking when there are no apparent signs of anything of this nature anywhere close by. For example, we found pet wood bits and pieces in the dry river and creek beds where we found jasper and the agates pieces. So who knows. all I know is it is a definite way to escape form the real world and let my imagination take over and wonder how these rocks got so pretty and where i can find more of them. Thanks for listening to me ramble Steve
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Post by stoner on Apr 8, 2007 12:31:36 GMT -5
I can't tell you why, I can only confirm that it is very addictive. I used to go out into the woods looking for potential Bonsai trees, now I don't even see the trees! Rocks, everywhere I go, all I see are rocks. There are rocks in every room in my house. I have rocks in my glovebox in my truck. My co-worker brings me rocks he finds. The "New Hippie Workshop", once a well equipped woodworking shop is now getting transformed into a complete lapidary shop which makes it very difficult to do any woodworking projects. But I wouldn't have it any other way!
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Apr 8, 2007 13:45:36 GMT -5
Maybe it's because we all long for some kind of beauty in our lives, no matter who we are. Some of the longer members have seen these pics before. Grandpa Wilbur & his wife Effie (granny) were AVID hounders starting in the 60's. These are just a few pics of their yard. You can dig 3 feet deep in some of their beds & still not hit plain dirt. Everywhere you look in this yard you see beautiful rocks. They loved them too. What's this mountain? Mt. St. Helens. This is my scenery while taking a drive to go look for rocks. What's this big grey rock? & why are there holes in it? Also on the way to St. Helens. I can picture the Gods getting into a dirt clod fight (does anyone else remember dirt clod fights?) & this molten flow of rock caught the clods for us poor humans to see a bazillion years later. How can someone NOT be moved by rocks?
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lastl98
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2007
Posts: 410
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Post by lastl98 on Apr 8, 2007 17:36:33 GMT -5
wow! That's just beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing! Last
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Post by Cher on Apr 8, 2007 18:30:45 GMT -5
I'm not addicted, I just can't help doing it. My daughter in law asks, do you ever see where your going, you're always looking down? I'm like, yeah, when I'm driving. I'm looking for more places to go rock hunting. It was also a very special way to spend time with my daughter, we were both into looking for the elusive Lake Superior Agate. Now ... it's fun, and it's brought me a whole new family.
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Apr 9, 2007 7:13:29 GMT -5
I am not hooked on rocks either. I only have a few piles lying about of which I take a few every now and then to cut smaller and tumble. I am not addicted, beacause tomorrow I will be going to the beach with the club to look for pretty pebbles to take home to tumble. I am not mad about rocks, I just love to have a whole lot more of them . When I haven't been fossicking for a little while I just get that urge...you know....must go get some rocks from the river...prefer petwood and agate, but good rhyolites can come home too.
Aaaah ROCKS
Jack
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jobafunky
starting to shine!
Member since March 2007
Posts: 30
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Post by jobafunky on Apr 9, 2007 14:19:36 GMT -5
Seriously I've given thought to the subject when it comes to video games. And I think the answer applies to both. It's genetic. Why is it fun to play a game where you run around and pick up coins or beat monsters to get their energy globes? The hunter gatherer instinct! We are geared to find whatever we define as treasures and really enjoy it. Be it Rocks, Morels or blue energy orbs. It's a primal urge to search out and find goodies of one kind or another. Originally I'm sure it was food oriented, but in the society we live in today we don't normally have to worry about that as much, so the focus looks for a new target.
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