It's another busy week and I'm not in the mood for blogging (it seems so 1992), but this draft was burning a hole in my post cache:
The other night, in my evening painting class, I had a moment of my real life meeting up with my internet life, which in many areas, has also become my real life...
A semi-retired gentleman who is taking my class mentioned that he had attended a boring lecture the other day. I happened to know that a certain blogger was in the area giving a talk, although I doubted it was boring... still, I had to ask.
Me: "So, was it about blah, blah, blah??"
Him: "No... it was about feral cat colonies, but I did have a colleague who attended the talk you mentioned. How did you know about it??"
Me: "A friend of mine was giving one of the talks."
Him: "Really?? Does he know so and so??"
Me: "I'm not sure, I'll text him."
Me: "Yes, he does. He had dinner with him."
Him: "Wow! Now how do you know this person again?"
Me: "He's a friend."
Him: "I know... you said that, but how do you know him? Where did you meet?"
This is the point I dread in almost any conversation I have where I KNOW someone in REAL LIFE, but then have to explain that I met them online... and somehow, it takes a turn for creepy.
I told the gentleman in my class that this person and I belonged to the same creative blogging group... a group that was set up so people could share writing, art, thoughts, etc, in an area outside of work. I didn't tell him that meeting most of these people was totally random. I made it sound like there was some rhyme or reason to it...
It seemed to appease him. Or he sensed that maybe it was better not to ask anymore. Sensing he sensed this, I told him that my ENTIRE family(including dogs) had socialized with this person and some of his kids. That seemed to make it better.
I then thought of times when I've had to explain something else that's been going on in my life... a project I've been working on with someone... someone I never thought I'd have any interaction with, but am so thankful I do. The few times it has come up in conversation, and this person's name comes up, I get the inevitable question... "How did you meet this person?? What brought you together??"
I then get to decide of I tell the truth, that I met this person as a cupcake, or do I tell them, we met through friends... :) Personally, I like the first answer.
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I'm more interested in flowers you hate.
Fess up!
I had to think about it. It would certainly be a shorter list than those I love... and I know there are certain flowers that are not my faves, but hate... hate's a strong word. I tried to think of flowers that caused a bad visceral reaction... while I'm impatient with impatiens, I don't hate them, I just wish they weren't so overused.
I then thought of hollyhocks, but I actually like them, it's their scent I hate. It smells like sickly sweet urine at times... I had often heard that they were used around outhouses. I thought perhaps this was so you could blame the stank on the fleurs, but why not go with something that might actually be pleasant to smell?? I then found out it had nothing to do with the sensory aspect of the outhouse, but was rather so delicate women would not have to ask something as shocking as "Where's the outhouse, I have to pee!?!?" Instead they could ask where the hollyhocks were. Mmm-hmmm...
Then I thought, there are some flowers I'd love, but the colors turn me off. While they can be pretty, I often think an old English garden needs a big blast of some color other than pastel pink, purple and blue... but big, bold colors need enough sun, which the English seem to be lacking, so I'll cut them some slack. I love pastel pink, purple and blue, but not if that's all there is. Give me a little contrasting yellow in there! Give me some complimentary colors! I love to plant pots with complimentary colors. I love, love, love yellowy greens with garnet reds. I love yellows with purple. If only there were a true blue color to go with some of the fabulous oranges. I also have one crazy bright blue pot that I fill with what I call Smartie colors...
I also confess to sometimes planting scary pots... I went through a big caladium, scary vine stage the past couple of years. Add some equally spooky coleus and I'm there. All I needed was some ancient horned toad poking out of them!!!
But back to flowers I might hate... I also prefer single to doubles... plain to fancy. Don't trick out the flower to the point that it looks like a pom pom! Give me that subtle and beautiful row of gentle petals... Don't fringe the end of the tulip! Don't make my zinnia look like a dahlia! If I want a dahlia, I'll plant one! A dahlia is great as a dahlia, but not if it's really a zinnia. It's ok to make the zinnia look like a Brach's peppermint disc though... that's kind of fun. :) Tricking out with colors is ok.
So there's your answer... kind of... I'm sure I'll be watching this summer though, watching for the flower that makes me growl and hiss... that makes me wonder why on earth anyone would choose it!! But most of all, I'll be looking at the fleurs with nothing but luv...
Any other questions?