spam and cat fur

The days are getting longer. The sun shines occasionally and prompts the two "mature" cats that I share space with to begin dumping massive amounts of fur. Every day they seem to produce enough fur to make another cat. I sweep. I mop. I brush. They sleep and save their energy for producing more fur.

I have limited them to three rooms which was not well received in feline hearts and minds at all. I have deprived them of premium lounging space, a very comfy chair, and some very good afternoon sun. They occasionally try to make a jailbreak, but generally just sulk in the direction of the door.

If you have to ask what spam and cat fur have in common, either you've never kept residence with a cat or you've never had an email address.

I'm headed out to work on the van because:

Forecast: Today, Sunny. Highs in the mid and upper 40s. North winds 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast early this afternoon.

Actual: Temperature 60 °F / 16 °C

never trust a vendor

So after waiting 2 1/2 months for my order of chainmail rings, I greeted the UPS man at the door today. Quick as could be I was unpacking and looking at my new stuff. I had ordered several varieties that I've never used before so I was going through the identify the metal game. Acid etched aluminum, picture metal snow. Bright aluminum, looks like stainless, weighs like aluminum. Blackened stainless, cool lookin' shit but I've heard the black wears off after a while. Anodized aluminum in black and gold, wonder if the anodized bit will chip/flake.

I came down to the end and I had one package of rings left and one thing on the order. I had ordered a pound of stainless 18ga 3/16 rings to complete the half finished bra I've been working on. But just by looking I could tell they weren't 3/16 rings (when you weave a few thousand of the buggers you get used to how small they are). Sure enough, my trusty rule says too big for 3/16 and maybe a tiny bit small for 1/4. Now such a size difference wouldn't be a big deal, hardly noticable from one item to the next, but I've got a half completed bra. It almost certainly will show if they are right side by side. #@!$ me, now what do I do. The shine isn't even the same.

I could use acid etched aluminum. It's the same size (real 3/16) , but a radically different color. I could use blackened stainless, then the size will get lost in the color shift. One way I get shiny silver cups with albino white along the outside, under, and straps. The other way I get shiny silver cups with black along the outside, under, and straps.

It's been so long I can't even remember what I was going to do with half the stuff. I did want to try full persian and dragonscale weaves. I'll have to make up a project for each of those.