Friday night lights

I just woke up from a long afternoon nap. I really hadn't had time to eat or sleep much since Wednesday. It's dark here. The house was quiet except for the 2 male cats' persistent tug-of-war. Terry has gone off to do Terry things after a rainy day of forced servitude to me. Almost every light in the basement that could be on was on, including the theater lights. So, I suppose gaming was involved.

What is so hard about turning lights off? You aren't afraid of the dark when you are 22, mostly. Though sometimes I still am, courtesy of an long standing childhood memory of an Outer Limits radio program story. Gaming- the Sara Jane Chronicles that I just skimmed was about kids who were being snatched by aliens when they got too good at a first person shooter. "The Last Starfighter" was a better telling of the basic story. I wonder if the story line could be changed to include the turning lights on as a plot point.

Somehow energy wastage should be as interesting to the neo-gaia conservationist director/producer types as RPG results. It would add a level of depth to the characterizations so far unseen in Friday night tv.

Well, I'm none with plants and people for the day. Time to enjoy Harriet Vane and Peter Wimsey play with time tables and their strained relationship. I wonder what other people's solutions for interesting Friday nights are. BC is in a Red Carpet club between long flights. I can hear the rain outside. I think another cup of tea would be lovely.

Journals, memories, and expectations

skiff, the cat, just jumped up on my lap. I wish he could keep my feet warm as well as my lap.

Erik F. has encouraged me to blog for a few years, but I have never given it the time. (Skiff just decided that the lap was the place of mutual warmth. I guess feet are too non conductive)

I decided a few nights ago to keep a journal for my summer, because I am spending it in Beijing working on my Chinese skills. I wrote down a few thoughts about my plants and garden design. then I realized that I had set up the same blog last year, just forgot about it. So I moved my new posts to the old blog tonight. Seems my thoughts about this summer are similar enough to last summer to be repetitive or consistent. I am hoping for consistent and even a little intermediate improvement in educational scope.

I am hoping that making these thought dribbles will be the practice I need to make a more interesting/useful blog.

Alocasia, colocasia, taro, astilboides

Big leaves, vascular system patterns that make emphatic claims to your visual attention. What were Victorian gardeners thinking? Why were such overwhelming plants major parts of the plan? Olmstead? A careful insistence on big leaves to manage the scale of the house in the landscape?

I am suspicious that big leaves, in over whelming use are like yellow leaves and variegated ones in other landscapes- very easy to overuse.

These tropical plants can succeed in providing that extra kick in a garden design. I am looking forward to seeing the Victorian garden on the busy street in B'ville, with lots of purples, chenille plant, and one or two alocasia and an astilboides if I can find one. There may be a hidden vantage point from which I can watch people as they sit in their cars. I want to see the moment they turn their heads and notice this very different and hotly colored garden.

Wonder if the actuality will have any of the feel of what is in my head and drawings.

15 May- last frost date for this area

It is 14 May, not 15 May, but the point is that, I just put the sheets I was using for frost protection of my tender plants in the wash. It has been a week since the last really cold day that might have given frost warnings at night. Tomorrow is the last "traditional day of possible frost" in this area. It has been a very cool and cloudy spring. The early flowering trees have had maximal opportunity for bloom time. Everything is late. The leucojum has been in bloom for almost a month. Every time I walk down the hill, I get a kick out of seeing their little white bells dangling in the breeze.

I think I will be getting the annuals/bedding plants in the ground in the next week. Just on time. With Terry's help, I might even get my own garden planted in reasonable time.

On the plate: prep for going to Beijing to work on Mandarin, and finishing my gardens and computer work for the season. The house is in disarray as we renegotiate the books in new locations and new wiring for the HD tv stuff in the main public areas. I wonder if I will be able to get this under control before I leave for Beijing?

As soon as I have time- pics of the plants and mantle that can come apart to change cables. Pretty cool. Can't wait to see the Moravian tile go up around the fireplace.

sore throats and gardens

I've had a sore throat for 3+ weeks. Probably caused by something related to my seasonal allergies and my vaccinations. If it is post nasal drip, why don't I have a stuffy nose? It just keeps dripping.

JE
Polio
Hep A B
Typhoid
Meningitis
Rabies
Tetanus booster ? I have to check

I checked- 15 May I had a Tdap ( only vaccine that really had any reactions. That sight was sore for a few days.)

had a TB test to get a baseline

none of the vaccinations are perfect, but they do help.

I did my annual physical thing, too, so I am up to date on all those lovely checks on over 50 bodies.
Wish I had some time to do abs and stretching. I am going to practice characters while stretching when I get to Beijing.