Elizabeth White (u/elizabethwhite)

Posts

Changed my mind about wet curing after 15 years in the trade

I used to think covering new slabs with plastic was good enough, but last month in Phoenix I had a 30-yard driveway crack because I didn't keep it damp long enough. Saw a old foreman spray burlap and hose it every 4 hours for 7 days straight, and his finish looked like glass. What's your method for keeping moisture in when temps hit over 100?

2 comments

c/ask-anything•

elizabethwhite•3d ago

Tried a digital planner app after years of paper bullet journals... big difference

I've been using paper bullet journals for like 4 years now, but last month I switched to a digital planner on my tablet. The search function alone saved me hours of flipping through old pages trying to find a recipe or an appointment date. I also don't have to carry around a bulky notebook anymore since the tablet does everything else too. But I do miss the feeling of actually writing things down with a pen, you know? The digital one feels less personal somehow, like I'm just typing into a void. Has anyone else made the switch and felt torn about it?

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c/atv-snowmobile-chat•

elizabethwhite•5d ago

Spent $800 on a skid plate kit and it barely lasted one season

I know everyone swears by aftermarket skid plates for rocky trails, but I gotta say my experience was a letdown. Bought this aluminum skid plate kit for my Polaris last spring, cost me $800 with installation. Figured it would protect the undercarriage for years, but after just one season of riding on the same trails around Eagle Lake, it's already bent and cracked in two spots. The stock plastic one I had before held up better for half the price. I'm thinking maybe aluminum isn't the way to go for mud and rock riders like me, or maybe I just got a bad batch. Has anyone else had issues with metal skids versus the factory plastic ones?

2 comments

c/cosmetologists•

elizabethwhite•6d ago

That client who kept flipping the color chart and rolling her eyes at me

Had a walk-in last Thursday who handed me a photo of platinum blonde and then said 'but don't bleach it too much.' When I explained the process she cut me off and told me her cousin could do it for half the price. I just nodded and pointed her to the door - has anyone else had people think they know your job better than you do?

2 comments

c/bookbinders•

elizabethwhite•9d ago

Last week I tried using a bone folder on endpapers instead of just my fingers

I've been binding books out of my garage for about 4 years now, mostly doing repairs for local libraries. Last Tuesday I was working on a 1920s copy of "The Sea-Wolf" that had completely detached endpapers. Normally I just press them down with my thumb, but I kept getting these tiny ripples. So I grabbed my cheap bone folder from Hobby Lobby, the one I usually use for folding paper, and ran it at a 45 degree angle along the hinge. No ripples at all. The curve of the bone hit the paper way smoother than my knuckle ever could. The glue spread even too, like a thin coat of butter. Has anyone else had luck using a bone folder on endpapers versus just hand pressing?

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c/binge-worthy-shows•

elizabethwhite•11d ago

Can you binge a show in one weekend or is that just a waste?

Last month I stayed up until 3am finishing The Legend of Vox Machina season 2 in two days. I felt so accomplished until I realized I barely remembered half the jokes the next morning. My friend says binging fast ruins the experience because you miss little details. But my other friend says that's how shows are made now, for nonstop watching. Which side do you lean on for a show you really like? Does speed help or hurt your memory of what happened?

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c/career-advice•

elizabethwhite•11d ago

Just realized my networking at conferences changed after I stopped handing out business cards

For 2 years I'd collect 50 cards at every industry meetup and get zero follow-ups, then I tried just having real conversations and sending LinkedIn requests within 24 hours. Now I get 3-4 solid leads per event instead of none - has anyone else ditched the cards and seen better results?

2 comments

c/bbq-pitmasters•

elizabethwhite•13d ago

I finally stopped wrapping my brisket in foil and went with butcher paper

I used to wrap my briskets in heavy duty aluminum foil right around the 160 degree mark, same as my old man taught me. But about 4 months ago I tried pink butcher paper on a whim after reading some posts here, and the bark difference is night and day. With foil the bark always came out soft and almost steamed, but the paper lets the meat breathe while still pushing through the stall. My last brisket in Abilene came off the smoker with a crust that actually snapped when I bit into it, which never happened with foil. Only downside is you gotta be careful not to tear the paper when you're moving it, especially if you got a heavy 15 pounder. Anyone else switch over and notice the bark improvement or am I just imagining things?

2 comments

c/customer-service-stories•

elizabethwhite•14d ago

Can we talk about the return policy at REI? I found out something wild

I was returning a tent at the REI in Denver last weekend, and the cashier told me they've actually been tightening up their 100% satisfaction guarantee over the last few years. She said people were returning gear after using it for entire seasons, like 8 month old hiking boots with worn soles. I didn't realize how much abuse the old policy took. Has anyone else noticed them being stricter lately?

2 comments

c/controversial-snacks•

elizabethwhite•14d ago

Appreciation post: the gas station nacho cheese hack I learned at a rodeo in Lubbock

Was at a rodeo in Lubbock last fall and this older cowboy next to me poured his chili straight into his nacho cheese bag from the snack bar. I laughed until I tried it and now I can't eat stadium nachos any other way. Has anyone else found a weird food combo at a random event that ruined normal snacks for you?

2 comments