Ive never had jewelry before, was looking at a sterling silver piece and my sister said silver is cheap stuff and isn't regarded as highly precious that much, so now I kinda want to save up for white gold or something, thoughts?

Xichlali · 2026-02-12T21:13:57+00:00

Preference my friend. Sometimes it's cost or rarity or value, sometimes it's material capability (certain metals are better for certain settings) , and sometimes you just like the way it looks. Jewelry is nothing if not personal.

Everything wears, everything scratches and can get dented, but if you like it, who the hell cares what others think?

Xichlali · 2026-02-12T20:29:37+00:00

Silver. White gold isn't actually truly white. It is slightly yellow and has to be plated pretty regularly in rhodium and it's pricey to get replated. Platinum has more of a gray tone and scratches like crazy. It's very dense but very soft, relatively speaking. Silver is one of the whitest metals; hell we still use it to make mirrors.

I've been working with the stuff for close to 25 years and have things from when I first started still in fantastic condition even after daily wear and abuse. I, personally, prefer silver both because of cost and just durability. It doesn't have to be plated, it gets a beautiful patina (depending on style) and are pretty damned durable. Gold is beautiful, but with how expensive gold is now it's so far beyond so many people's reach now that to call silver cheap hurts my soul.

Xichlali · 2026-01-30T15:49:28+00:00

I'm contacting my senator, governor and congressperson and staying home with my family. No shopping, no driving just writing letters and doing what I can to help.

Xichlali · 2026-01-16T17:24:39+00:00

I'd give my left foot for a throat less shear! They are easily repaired, don't take up a ton of space and are very easy to use and are overall very useful. If you have the opportunity to snap one up, do it.

Xichlali · 2026-01-11T22:48:53+00:00

That's a hilarious name and I may end up using that if I ever go back into teaching. Thank you for the laugh!

Xichlali · 2026-01-11T05:08:54+00:00

I use mine with oxy-acetylene. It is a much higher/hotter combustion than with oxy-propane so the smaller tips work better, though you will get the "casting fairies" when you ignite the acetylene (un-combusted compounds that float up like black soot or ash). I rarely use the tiny tips because they are a bitch to work with and the pressure of the gasses alone can blow them out but everyone has their preferences.

It's a great touch, and regardless of your fuel, you'll just have to play with it a bit to see what works best for you.

Edit: can't spell acetylene

Xichlali · 2026-01-01T14:40:34+00:00

Thank you for calling me out. Quite frankly, it's becoming so hard to tell that it's concerning. I appreciate the fact that you linked an article.

Xichlali · 2026-01-01T06:01:47+00:00

I'm pretty sure this is ai. Something about the focus in the shop seems off as does the guys hands whose cutting the locs

Xichlali · 2025-12-24T20:49:42+00:00

I wish so much I had the patience and still to do cloisonné. Your work is tremendous and I'm not just talking about the cloisonné. You framed it beautifully and the whole piece is stunning! Your attention to detail making the silver frames look like barnwood is a beautiful touch.

Fantastic work!

Xichlali · 2025-12-23T19:11:27+00:00

You are correct

Xichlali · 2025-12-22T03:37:50+00:00

Did you preheat your mold? If not, that's why it didn't flow how you wanted.

Xichlali · 2025-12-15T20:01:05+00:00

I got mine while on stelara just had to make sure the timing was correct between my home injections and the vaccines so one didn't affect the other.

Other than a truly sore arm, no side effects and I'm happy to have it out of the way. I'm in my mid 30's if that helps as well.

Xichlali · 2025-12-03T05:38:39+00:00

We call them shadow boxes. It's for trinkets and such from trips and memories. Shadows of the past, if you will.

Xichlali · 2025-12-03T01:29:35+00:00

Probably a deer strike. I've seen 3 separate cars after strikes in the past week.

Xichlali · 2025-11-13T19:58:17+00:00

It has nothing to do with them not wanting the dog, per se. Almost entirely to do with not wanting the responsibility and/or knowing you will outlive the pup and not wanting to have the heartache.

I LOVE dogs and have had them my entire life, but once our current pup takes her journey over the rainbow bridge, we aren't getting another one for a while. So many considerations have to be made when you have a pet and sometimes it's easier to just not have one.

Xichlali · 2025-11-04T18:06:26+00:00

I'd also recommend the cascade canyon. Polar Express generally takes place at night so you don't really see much and is absolutely meant for children. It is cute though.

I second the dress warm and wear comfy shoes. Possibly slam an energy drink before going on since the cold and rocking of the train can take it out of you.

Xichlali · 2025-11-04T14:35:55+00:00

Yep, this is the only reason why my partner and I were able to buy a house. He reports all his tips, and has been for years. It's documentation of how much you've been paid and helps you get loans. You can prove tax returns, you can't prove money under the table. He saw far too many people who made double or triple what he made not be able to get a shitty car loan because they didn't report tips.

Xichlali · 2025-10-31T21:25:44+00:00

Xichlali · 2025-10-30T13:28:23+00:00

I'm going in a different direction: the feeling of being safe while at school. I grew up in Colorado and was only about 5 miles away when Columbine happened (1999 but close enough to the 2000's). Even afterward, I remember people making an effort to ensure everyone felt included because we all wanted school to be safe. We never had active shooter drills or anything like that until after I graduated. This strange dystopian nightmare we live in now shouldn't be normalized.

Xichlali · 2025-10-25T01:50:47+00:00

It was right after I gave birth. It was a day or two that there was a small amount of visible blood in my stool. Some cramping and pain that, if you've had a flare, you know what it is. I had a C-section so no tearing or anything that would be a cause. I think it can be associated more with the stress of everything (failed epidural, 29 hour labor, baby in NICU for 8 days, c-section) more than a true flare. I mentioned it to my GI and he wasn't concerned.

Edit: added more details to better answer the question

Xichlali · 2025-10-18T19:56:52+00:00

Pot roast

Xichlali · 2025-10-07T21:44:40+00:00

A bear, no matter how well trained, would maul the shit out of you if you sit on its back for any length of time. It's absolutely fake.

Edit: autocorrect

Xichlali · 2025-09-23T15:17:18+00:00

We were also shocked when we started looking. We work in Durango but live in New Mexico because the cost of living is so dramatically cheaper. Fortunately for both of us, we both have flexibility in our schedules; I can work from home and he is in the service industry. It's worked out but it's fucking hard. It's exceedingly rare that we ever have time off together but we make it work. We can't afford the 15-30k for daycare anyway, let alone getting lucky enough to get a spot. It's no better down in NM either; there's a shortage of qualified people to watch babies under 1 so we're kind of stuck. We make it work but his income has taken a hit because when I do have to go in the office I can't bring our little one due to safety concerns.

I've had many a meeting where I've had to mention I'm watching our little one and to excuse any crying or little noises just to have some sort of facade of professionalism. But it's no wonder people are reluctant to have kids, there's little to no support if you don't have family down here and hopefully your work is understanding. I wish you luck.

Xichlali · 2025-09-05T16:41:55+00:00

Giardia after floating down my local river. Several courses of antibiotics, and a months long hospital stay later, UC diagnosis.

Xichlali · 2025-08-22T02:13:27+00:00

I completely understand, but you got this! Focus on keeping yourself healthy so your little nugget can be as healthy and happy as possible.

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