lookatthat
Cave Dweller 
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360 
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Post by lookatthat on May 26, 2017 14:46:00 GMT -5
I thought it might be fun to start a thread about conversations we've had with people who may, or may not, understand our rock/fossil interest.
With my father, (who is very aware of my rock/fossil obsession) on decision to purchase a tumbler:
Me: I bought something special today! Dad: Is it a giant sloth? |
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zekesman
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 637 
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Post by zekesman on May 26, 2017 15:13:00 GMT -5
Last time I moved, Friend, are you taking all of these 5 gallon buckets of rock? Me, of course. Vic
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rebeccaink
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2017
Posts: 190
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Post by rebeccaink on May 26, 2017 17:51:20 GMT -5
A lady at the flea market is always making a smug comment like 'I see you're still bringing those rocks'. I just 😃 and say yes I am and watch as she sells nothing and I sell several 'rocks'. She definitely doesn't get it. Side note though my customers love my lack of knowledge- they love to fill me in after they make their purchases. I didn't know I was selling hidden garnets so cheap!
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Post by morerockspleaz on May 26, 2017 18:49:46 GMT -5
People say What are you going to do with all those rocks?
I just say I am going to hoard them and tumble them and grind them.
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
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Post by lookatthat on May 26, 2017 22:00:58 GMT -5
A lady at the flea market is always making a smug comment like 'I see you're still bringing those rocks'. I just 😃 and say yes I am and watch as she sells nothing and I sell several 'rocks'. She definitely doesn't get it. Side note though my customers love my lack of knowledge- they love to fill me in after they make their purchases. I didn't know I was selling hidden garnets so cheap! Sometimes I travel with my geode-cracker sell whole geodes and crack them for customers. Some thought it was great. Others were like, "You're doing what?" I told them I was selling defective rocks. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2017 19:01:20 GMT -5
I thought it might be fun to start a thread about conversations we've had with people who may, or may not, understand our rock/fossil interest.
With my father, (who is very aware of my rock/fossil obsession) on decision to purchase a tumbler:
Me: I bought something special today! Dad: Is it a giant sloth? No but it's a little one! That thing will take forever! Lol Sorry. Couldn't resist. |
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Post by fernwood on May 27, 2017 19:05:24 GMT -5
From someone who appreciates "rocks with character", but did not think there was much in Wisconsin: You are finding coral in your fields? How the heck did that happen?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2017 19:07:48 GMT -5
When jeannie and I went to Utah, on the way home, we made a pitstop and while she was inside I was stretching my muscles in the long drive. Kid sweeping up in the parking lot sees my truck full of boulders says "oh man! You must be some sort of geologist or something. What are you doing? Studying petroleum?" To which I said "yes" He said "are those samples?" "Yes" "Whattaya gonna do with them?" "Grind them up, extract the gasoline and use it on my next trip." He bought it. To which he replied "Oh man! That's awesome!! I knew you were up to something cool like that." |
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jeannie
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 266
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Post by jeannie on May 27, 2017 19:30:01 GMT -5
This is a new hobby for me. My daughter in New York was explaining to her friend that her mom makes cabochons.
Her friend asked, "What is a cabochon?"
My daughter tried to explain that I collect rocks, sometimes myself, out in the desert, and sometimes I buy them at shows. She explained, and then she cuts them and forms them into shapes and polishes them to make pendants.
Her friend said, "So she plays with rocks?"
And my daughter replied, "Yes! She plays with rocks!"
They laughed and laughed. 😏
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,494
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Post by Sabre52 on May 27, 2017 19:44:58 GMT -5
I'm sure you've all heard this so many times you're sick of it. "Whatcha doin this weekend Mel?" "I think I'll go to the rock show in Frederickburg." Reply, "Cool! What band's playing?"
Then of course I explain it and their response is. " You mean they have shows to sell rocks?" And of course since we are rocky as Hell round these parts, they always add, " Heck you can have all the dang rocks ya want from my place for free."
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
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Post by Fossilman on May 27, 2017 20:52:07 GMT -5
When Tammy and I moved from ND to Oregon,we rented the biggest U Haul trk and trailer...
Loaded it all up,than loaded my rocks on the back axle of the trk in buckets... About a 1000 pounds or so..
We get to Oregon and her Nephews (two),help unload the trk at storage...
They moved pretty fast,till they got to the rocks! LOL
A half hour of unloading and stacking buckets..
Finally after it was all done,I could hear one say to the other, "Freakin' rocks!!! "
They asked me why I had so many rocks,told them,some were still in Montana,at my brothers place..
They said," Don't call us to help" and laughed... LOL
They haven't been to my house since!!
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Post by accidentalrockhound on May 29, 2017 1:33:48 GMT -5
Ran into a guy i used to work with when i was about 18, he asked what have i been up to? I said not much just cutting rocks and trying to sell them, he told me be careful i did 8 years for that. To which i had nothing to say?  ?! |
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Post by fernwood on May 29, 2017 7:05:18 GMT -5
Ran into a guy i used to work with when i was about 18, he asked what have i been up to? I said not much just cutting rocks and trying to sell them, he told me be careful i did 8 years for that. To which i had nothing to say? ?! It's all in the interpretation of the word rock, lol. |
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
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Post by lookatthat on May 29, 2017 8:54:13 GMT -5
Ran into a guy i used to work with when i was about 18, he asked what have i been up to? I said not much just cutting rocks and trying to sell them, he told me be careful i did 8 years for that. To which i had nothing to say? ?! Too funny! |
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
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Post by lookatthat on May 29, 2017 9:09:56 GMT -5
So I was in Tennessee at a TVA campground and thought I'd look around for some fossils (naturally). Started talking with two fishermen who had just come in with a boat and eventually got around to what I wanted to ask in the first place -- did they know of any sites around where I might find fossilized shark teeth. (I love fossilized shark teeth!) The guys got funny looks on their faces. "No ma'am, this is all freshwater here, no sharks in Tennessee."
Me: "No, I know there's no sharks around here now, I mean fossilized teeth from a long time ago."
Blank look: "No ma'am, no sharks here. You might find some Indian arrowheads, though."
I came close to saying, "Indian arrowheads? But I don't see any Indians."
I didn't, though. I just thanked them and went on my way. Clearly they were trying to be nice to the crazy Yankee lady who doesn't know that sharks live in the ocean.
The kicker is, the local museum I visited the next afternoon had displays with oodles of nice fossilized shark teeth which had been collected nearby. Of course, by then I didn't have the time to go find any.
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Post by johnjsgems on May 30, 2017 16:52:55 GMT -5
Similar to Mel's story, when I was stationed at Edwards AFB my parents were rock hounds. If they had a field trip nearby I would tag along. When I told my friends my parents were in a rock group and going to be at Red Mountain or Kramer Junction they would either think it really cool that they were in a rock group. Or be sketics and doubt there could be a rock concert out in the desert.
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Post by mohs on Jun 11, 2017 15:24:58 GMT -5
So many stories from on my route back in the good old days here’s one similar to gunners I was explaining my enthusiasm for rocks to couple wise guy security guards A few days later they gave me a baggie full of desert gold (not the good stuff ha ha ) of ½” screened landscape gravel A few weeks later I showed them this  In an elaborate explanation I told them How I smelted the gravel in my furnace and poured & polished the heart Those guys are still wondering how it’s done… m  stly |
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
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Post by lookatthat on Jun 11, 2017 15:37:43 GMT -5
hahaha!
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Post by mohs on Jun 11, 2017 15:41:15 GMT -5
 Another time on my route I went hounding out in the field Well I used an empty bank bag to place a couple rocks in for carrying The idea was to empty the bag at the car Of course I forgot The next day the client had my rocks waiting for me I’m not sure what accounting thought? 
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Post by fantastic5 on Jun 12, 2017 8:34:16 GMT -5
My husband and I were at a friend of ours house working on our daughters car. I wasn't needed so I was wandering around the yard. I spied an unusual piece of gravel in the driveway. A little bit later our friend looks out from under the car and I hear 'does she do that often', my husband looks up to see me on my hands and knees in their driveway gravel filling my pockets. 'More than you can imagine'.
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?!
stly 
