Nefara
I am very attracted to instruments but lack the discipline to practice regularly. After abandoning several, I ended up acquiring an absolutely gorgeous steel tongue drum by serendipity and my favorite thing about it is that it doesn't matter what I hit or do on it, it sounds pretty. It's like a bubble bath for my ears and I can tap on it regardless of whether I've practiced or learned a melody and it's beautiful. Very forgiving, doesn't need tuning, and welcomes me back no matter how long it's been since I touched it. I know the cheap ones might have spoiled a lot of people's opinions of them but a good one sounds magical.
I still get the itch to to start up Alpha Centauri sometimes, which came out in 1999.
Ah you're right, it seems there's modern copycats. Try searching for an "Imperial Ten" Oster model 642. That's the other one I have, and it's an 860 watt blender, solid metal with a glass pitcher and weighs like 8lbs. It's probably not on par with the performance of a Vitamix, but it's also not $400+. For my uses though it has never disappointed, I usually use it for grinding frozen chunks of fruit or berries to make ice cream.
I have found two vintage Oster blenders at yard sales, each for under $10. They are from the 50s and 60s and are solid heavy metal things with glass pitchers. I needed to buy new seals for them and on one I had to replace the little star bolt that the pitcher locks into to turn the blades. Either of them will completely liquify things that my modern cheapo Hamilton Beach would meekly chew at. If you can find one online (ebay maybe) or better yet in person (thrift stores, yard sales), I can definitely attest they are built different.
Edited to add: a search on US ebay for "vintage 60s Oster beehive blender" turned up some results that look like mine between $40-50 plus shipping. It's an excellent machine.
"I don't think she looks good at pickleball at all, but at least she seems like she could hold a racquet"
What if we used something else, aside from how bangable or pretty men think she is, as a way to judge a woman's value for a change?
Politics, jostling for power, elevating herself through her relationship? nah she's got her own passions and things going on. Very refreshing to see that level of dgaf.
Enough.. chocolate... What is that? Ridiculous notion
It should be that Carribean blue shade, but the color can vary in intensity. It might be mottled with lighter white spots. It usually has the distinct water ripple pattern but not always. If it's polished it will have a dense, smooth texture without any graininess, and maybe feel just a touch waxy.
It's pretty unique in color and patterning, so if a web search for larimar turns up pieces that look similar to yours it is, in all likelihood, larimar. It's a rare stone but not at all unreasonable to get a piece the size of a finger joint for under $50 depending on the grade. If a student gave you a piece, that was a nice gift :)
I love larimar. It's a subtype of pectolite unique to the Dominican Republic. Pectolite is usually gray or white but larimar picked up its distinctive blue coloration from the copper deposits and volcanic activity there. It looks like the bottom of a perfectly clean pool or the shallows of the carribean when the sun is shining through the water.
I hate to say it, but computer games. I have been a pc gamer basically my whole life and still love getting lost in a great sim or narrative, but this past year my free time was so limited I had to make a conscious choice about the best use of it. As far as the best value of relaxation, satisfaction and personal fulfillment per hour, sadly games just weren't it. I spent my free time on other hobbies that gave me visible and lasting benefits and got a lot of long and short term goals achieved this year. I feel like I'm finally the person I wanted to be ten years ago... but I miss my games 😫
For those who missed the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pygcgE3a_uY
Don't try to tell me Beyond Earth was a sequel, Stellaris is more of a sequel to SMAC than BE was.
If you looked like anything, you probably only looked like someone who wouldn't stand up for yourself or berate him right back. If you are a woman, you can claim some space by standing straight, shoulders back, and channeling some inner Karen energy.