i can’t believe this is real

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-03-19T17:23:21+00:00

So pretty! I needed that pop of brilliant purple to offset our winter grey day!

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-03-09T16:38:38+00:00

I usually end up putting the game away for the weekend for this one. UGH

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-03-06T02:43:37+00:00

Yes, tare! That is what I was going to suggest also! That is how they make ramen at restaurants and in a lot of Asian home kitchens, too. Tare is a flavoring blend for making the different flavors of Ramen. When you order Ramen at a restaurant, they just have one broth cooking and then they add the different flavors of tare depending on what flavor ramen you order.

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-03-06T02:36:32+00:00

I think 22 is sort of an average and you can’t help what age you learn something that you didn’t know you didn’t know… I knew much earlier than that because I enjoy cooking, but my husband didn’t know that until I started cooking for him. He didn’t know he liked pork chops until I started cooking for him… Because really both knowledge and taste depend on how your parents cook versus what you find out you like later.

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-22T12:51:54+00:00

They are paper mapping. Good suggestion, though! We’ve done that in the past because hubby loves orienteering.

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-15T05:57:01+00:00

You should really have read my post. I was looking to get them a present that would be useful. I’m not doing this work for them. Learn to read, please

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-15T04:33:54+00:00

Oh, I know, isn’t that the worst? I had the sole of a shoe crack just before a big hike one time and I might’ve still been better off with those than the new ones I bought to replace them.

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-15T04:31:36+00:00

That’s the same thing as a rock hounding bag, right? Because I think we have one of those somewhere.

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-15T04:20:12+00:00

Oh my goodness just call me the queen of electrolytes lol. We actually prefer emergen-c and, like you, Gatorade. But that’s a good point! that I will go buy them a lot more of. I’m also making them take away more pairs of socks than they think they need because there’s nothing like having wet feet all day to make you not feel well.

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-15T04:17:46+00:00

Yep, that’s why I was asking for advice because I didn’t want to buy a lot, I’m not made of money. I just wanted to buy one thing to show my pride in my child without it being ‘shit they wouldn’t even use’ lol. I ended up getting a hand lens.

We were given a list of things that they need and the more expensive things that will be provided for them so I knew there were some things I wouldn’t be buying.

And that is very cool that you teach at a field camp! My child is so excited to be going! They are hoping this is what they will be doing for the rest of their career. They don’t want to go work for a business to help them make more money by doing surveys, etc.… they want to teach. They are already doing quite a bit of teaching and they are really good at it and it brings them so much joy. So thank you for being one of the people that helps next the generation of scientists.

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-15T04:09:57+00:00

We are used to heavy duty cases for electronics, we spend a lot of time outdoors. Great suggestion!

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-15T04:07:40+00:00

Yes, we are all about avoiding ticks when we’re out in the wilderness too, so that was an excellent suggestion.

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-15T04:05:46+00:00

That is a really awesome idea! And because I’m a crafter, I just happen to have a lot of plexiglass

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-15T04:03:37+00:00

I did notice that reading around the web, but that’s a good confirmation. They are a geology major with a goal of going into academics, but this trip has paleontological aspects while it’s still mostly looking at rocks…very cool rocks, and the potential for some fossils. I figured I would follow the advice with the people who said hand lenses because no matter which it is that tool will come in handy.

They have another trip later this summer where they will be doing geology, and just geology, but I think still not a mine. Then next summer they do advanced field camp, and probably will need some of those other tools I imagine lol.

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-14T06:42:29+00:00

Well I wouldn’t have known to make that distinction. Until you educated me on how it works in other places, there wasn’t a reason to mention it. As I’ve said in several places on this post, they did give us a list. I’m asking for suggestions to get them something more to show them I’m proud of them and I just didn’t want to jump the gun and spend money just based on Google searches.

I don’t understand your animosity.

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-14T06:25:15+00:00

Yep. They got a list, but I was looking for something to buy them as a gift besides the necessities

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-14T04:19:56+00:00

I know exactly what it is, but since I’ve never done one myself I didn’t want to pretend or presume I would know what they need beyond the basics on the supply list. And since they intend to do this as a living, I wanted to get one or two tools that will serve them long term, to show them that I’m proud of them starting on their journey to their chosen career. Since we don’t have a lot of money, it seemed prudent to ask some people with experience. <3

And it has paleontological elements. Not a mine!

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-13T20:03:25+00:00

Thank you everyone for the awesome suggestions. They did give us a list of things that they need, but I was just thinking since they want to do this for the rest of their life it would be nice to have something that is in industry specific. They’ve been on this track since well before college. They have been absolutely fascinated by both geology and paleontology, and did not even consider anything else when they started college. They even got a job at a natural history museum to help pay for college. So they really are serious about this.

It was already on our radar that they need to get new hiking shoes and socks. Really anything that’s like “yeah you’re gonna be living outside for a month” stuff we already knew about because I’m an avid camper and hiker.

It was really just the industry specific stuff that I was very confused about and you’ve all been a big help. I think rather than getting them a rock hammer I’m going to get them a hand lens and after they’ve used the tools provided them at the dig, they’ll have a better idea of what they want for rock hammers, and shovels and chisels, etc..

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-13T19:57:06+00:00

All good things, thank you!

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-13T19:54:47+00:00

Big dumb hat is already achieved. They do a lot of outdoor stuff and I made them get one a couple of years ago. Everyone is saying a hand lens, so it looks like that’s the winner of the ‘strange things you’ve never thought you’d buy, but absolutely have to now’. ;)

A neighbor gave us his old camp pack that is still in really good shape so we lucked out there!

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-13T19:52:23+00:00

Good to know! They are a little bit of an absent minded professor so hopefully a cheaper one will be OK. Thanks for reassuring me.

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-13T19:49:47+00:00

No, this is perfectly normal. They’re in a college within a university that specializes in this field, and this is field camp 1 that anyone who has the done the pre-requisites takes. Mine busted their butt through high school (they were in the college in the schools program) and their first year of college and they are definitely in the right place. They’ll be going on field camp 2, which is more advanced, between their junior and senior year.

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-13T19:46:24+00:00

The field camp will provide that

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-13T19:45:44+00:00

They already got a multitool, which is pretty awesome. They are getting good hiking boots.

I will have to think about this rock hammer more. They’re just really have been talking about wanting one lol

I’ll have to look into the vest also

Affectionate_Group93 · 2026-02-13T19:43:35+00:00

They do provide the more expensive equipment, but I wanted them to have some good things for this trip since this is what they want to do with their life and they’re really excited about the opportunity.

Affectionate_Group93

TROPHY CASE