What cool things have you added this spring?

I hear you, Julie. I'd love to go on the 'Who wants to be a millionaire' show. Random trivia pops out all the time. Sometimes I don't even know where it comes from. The contestants never listen to me though. ^_^

Though for me to teach him the Latin names, I'd have to look them up first. some I know, but not most.

My daughter and I got through all the testing and into the lottery pool once for a mother/daughter Who Wants To Be A Millionaire show. Between the two of us...I know all the things you learn by doing and she knew all the things I'd forgotten from school.

It would have been a scream!


Ginger

P.S. The snow is all gone now and it just looks like the west side of the mountains here right now (wet) so I might go plant somel more....

Laurie just posted over on neofarmers greenhouse thread.

A 'Laurie' sighting! I got a dmail from her. She is preparing for a garden open. This is, of course, England and a historic home, so it's quite a bit of preparation and she has her hands full. She says hello to all and will be back on more fully after that is over. I expect photos!

Sofer, being a vet you already have ample opportunity to store long words in your head. I have to create these opportunities myself and the garden is the best way I know. I would not be telling the truth if I said I always remember them. I do not. But since I have so many 'estrogen moments' day to day, it wouldn't matter if the name were the common name or the Latin name. I would not be able to pull it up in the moment. Women of a certain age everywhere will understand me when I say that I have to let the name stand in my brain just outside my area of awareness, pay no attention to it whatever, and then it will pop into my head at an inopportune time during a conversation. Then, in order to not forget it again, I must burst out with it immediately, causing great confusion for the person I'm talking to. People I know well can reference back to the conversation we were having say, an hour before and make the connection, but new people tend to back away slowly and carefully. Frankly, I do not know why I retain such information anyway. I never retained it when I was younger. I must be referencing a previous life.

Rarejem, I think probably the reason I can grow these 'exotic' things is because they require a bit of effort. I am of the 'over tending' sort so plants that don't need my help just consider me controlling and go away. Plants that need special soil, special watering,, drainage, etc. love me.
Actually, I think you've hit the nail on the head with the amount of sun. I should know by now that anything that says 'shade' on the tag actually means 'sun' up here in the grey PNW. Maybe I'll move mine forward in the garden a bit.

Jan, your comment about teaching your grandson made me laugh. Little kids have brains like sponges and they don't have any reason to think one word is harder than another. When my son was 3 he could say the scientific names of over 100 dinosaurs. He probably couldn't do that now. It was so adorable! We had a big encyclopedia of dinosaurs and it was his favorite book.

Pixy, LOL on the 'bursting forth' conversations. My mom and I can finish each other's sentences, but my poor DH, he just wonders what is going on. Sometimes he just looks at me - waiting for the next word, cuz I can't think of what I want to say. He tries to finish , but it's usually not the direction I was going. :)

I WISH my brain was a sponge. Little kids are amazing!!

Now that's sad. LOL! When our extended family gets together we sometimes used to play Pictionary. I say 'used to' because all the men in the family finally got fed up with losing. My sisters and I can kick ##$$% in pictionary. One of us will begin to draw, just making a mark on the paper, and the others will immediately guess what it is before the men even have time to put pencil to paper. Really, it just seems like it's not a fair competition!

Pix you are so right on pictionary. I think women visualize and remember in pictures where as men in the surrounding events of that moment. Also we rarely picture a word rather recall it in a special circumstance. I think you could explain the need to vocalize of latin during conversations as a form of Turrets syndrome. LOL

LOL - Steve...

Pix - I believe that area is referred to as the porte cochere: the "word carport".
Most words pass through; some need to rest there, while your brain is marinating the idea.
Fascinating. Always best to let the word break free, without any pesky explanations about remembering. Keeps folks on their toes: facilitates mental alertness (in others).

The latin names are useful when researching, too.

Snort and lol!! Good thing I'm not drinking coffee at the moment.
You know, Steve, you bring up a good point, tangential though it may be. I should learn to curse in Latin. That would be way cool. Then I could hold forth with a long string of satisfying words with attitude and no one would know the difference.
Regarding the Pictionary game, I think it has less to do with remembering in pictures and more to do with mind reading. I remember the last time we played my brother in law threw down his pencil and walked off for a minute. He is not prone to temper tantrums and is a mature adult. He just could not believe we were not cheating. I guess it could be pretty hard when one member of your opponent's team draws a half circle and another member shouts out 'circus clown!' and is correct immediately. That would look rather suspicious. I think scientists may have hit on a possible explanation for this recently when they discovered that when people work together on a project or a goal, their brainwaves synchronize with one another. Maybe my sisters and I were completely cooperating where as the 'boys' in the fam were competing with one another in a subtle way, even though on the same team. Thought provoking!

I will now adopt the phrase 'porte cochere'. It is brilliant. I love it. I like the idea of keeping others on their toes. Good for their little grey cells as well. Must be one way I show my love for them!!

I concur with the comment regarding research. Must have Latin names for this activity.

Well 'I' didn't want to say that girls cheat. He was quite astute to realize that so quickly and surprised as a man he would want to win. LOLOLOLOL

So, let me get this straight, Steve: If girls use their abilities, they are cheating?? Oh wait! We MUST be cheating! Otherwise the men would be winning! Now I get it! ROFLOL!!!

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!

My Dad always felt that he was on a different planet when he an Mom and I were somewhere together. Mom and I can speak in half sentences (or less) and totally know what we are talking about...while poor Dad was still hanging at the first unfinished sentence trying to figure out where we went from there. Pixy, you talk about losing the word that your are looking for in mid sentence...it's nice at that time to be talking to someone who can't get the word either but just know's where you were going!

Katye, I want to adopt 'porte cochere' as well! I agree that it is terribly brillant! Just one thing...can you spell it phonetically for me? I am thinking that my country girl pronunciation of "porty cocherry" is probably not quite right! :)

Anyone who is interested in the first annual PNW Roundup, please see my new thread and give us some help if you can!

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/984391/

Thanks!!!

Julie

Julie - port co-share' with the emphasis on share. that's as close as I can get to the french pronunciation.

Words are wonderfully useful items, and as women, we have this uncanny ability to use them in a very thorough manner. I think that's grand.
No one finishes my thoughts for me, but I am living with 2 males! They both get that glazed, clueless look when my words are parked. And I am thought of as near genius when I can finish their sentences...it's a female thing, I think. Women just know how to motorize verbage...

"Porty cocherry'?? ROFLOL!!!
Ah, women. The mystery, n'est pas? We bleed, and yet we live. We bring forth young from our bodies in a magical, mystical way. We finish each other's sentences and line drawings. We know the phone is going to ring seconds before it does. We feed young from our own bodies. We know which clothes to put in the dryer and which to hang to dry, regardless of what the tag says. We know by looking at children if they are feverish or not. We are magical creatures, indeed. Men are right to be troubled by us!
After 27 years of marriage, my dh and I have that kind of communication whereby he will start a question and I will answer it before he has even asked it, then he cracks up. It goes like this: Him: "Do you....." Me: "It's in the garage in the first white cabinet in the basket marked 'sanding and refinishing." Him: "How do you do that you mysterious creature?"
We look alike, too.
Kayte, it sounds like you have many opportunites to feel like a genius!

^_^ That pretty much says it all! It's great to be us!

OK, so I DID mention that I was not good at languages, right?.....

I have been practicing port co-share' in my head all day so I think I might actually have it now :) !

Pixy, That was very eloquently put. Will have to keep that in my "sayings I like" book! When you think about it that way, it's small wonder that so many women were persecuted as witches in the dark ages.......right to be troubled indeed.

WORDS WOMEN USE AND WHAT MEN NEED TO KNOW. I cannot take credit for this - someone sent it to me long ago.

1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don’t Do It!
5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misund erstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)
6) That’s Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you’re welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says ‘Thanks a lot’ - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say ‘you’re welcome’ … that will bring on a ‘whatever’).
Whatever: Is a woman’s way of s aying F– YOU!
9) Don’t worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking ‘What’s wrong?’ For the woman’s response refer to # 3.

Judi...Those are great!

Pixy you are so right. And Judi all men know what those really mean. After all we lived the real meaning all of our lives.
Now Pixy you need to know what we men do. We brag, we spend lots of time at home watching tv, we find interest in war, we gather at natures wonders and listen, we wait for our women to talk and respond simply "uh huh", we focus on work for identity, and most important we do not need relationships with others to feel good. After all there is beer to make us feel good. I find that much simpler which we are.

If all men know what those words mean why do they keep making the same mistakes? It has been my experience that few men understand the 'language of women' but I rather like it like it that way.

Men have action that is often correct and are determined that it is a mistake. Mars-Venus you know.

Sofer, that is some truck you have there! I can just see the crotch scratching, spitting, and pis...ing contests now! Oh, I know well what you men do. All the bragging, the stories, the campfire gas-passing, the guns and targets, ... all the 'male mystique'. There's a reason why women encourage their men to go off together and just hang our with one another.. Gets it out of their systems! I did not understand this fully until becoming a mother to a son (who is 17 today) who began making bows and arrows with his own tiny hands at the tender age of 2. Now I live with two 'men', although my dh does none of the above things. I'm sure it is way down deep in his soul somewhere, though, and I try to rise to the occasion whenever I come upon vestiges of it in him.

Lordy, I love men! And I love how soferdig throws that 'mars-venus you know' around like it just explains everything!! Portland, I agree with you that I like it this way. Keep the mystery alive!

Rarejem, you 'get it' completely!

^_^

Pix you are a delight. Let me have your DH for one weekend of beating drums out in the woods and he and you will be completely excited with what comes home!

I learned so much from raising 5 sons. They taught me so much about men. The oldest just turned 40 (quite a shock for me) and the rest are 37, 27, 25, and 23. The two oldest are married with kids and their wives thank me because they are wonderful husbands and fathers. However, and this is the joy of parenthood, they taught me far more that I taught them. I loved the teenage years because you never knew what would happen next. One of the funniest memories I have of them growing up was when I asked one of them what was on their reading list for the summer since school was almost out. He said 'Reading list? What reading list?" and I asked what he would do this summer and he replied very calmly, "Sex, drugs, and rock n' roll - and I'm not sure about the rock n' roll." Well I almost passed out. Today he is a research biologist at Genentech.

Cute barbarian photo Sofer. I prefer men with clean nails and big brains.

What about clean nails big brains and the rustic lumberjack look- sorry I always want it all!

Sofer, if that thing came home to me looking like that, I fear I would send him back into the woods to clean up a bit, no matter how large the brain. However, please reference the photo of my young self with my young man's self. You see, that's why women are glad when the men go out into the woods alone. They then have a little quiet time to themselves and they don't have to deal with all the 'man' stuff going on around them. When the men come home, they will be better behaved and enjoy and appreciate the civilized atmosphere of the home. This includes using the more highly evolved parts of the brain they were given, having clean bodies in every way, and cleaning that goose themselves!
Portland, it is so true that children teach us more than we teach them. I take so much delight in the 'boyness' that is my son, but he does get himself into too many pickles to suit me. I have demanded of him that we have a summer free from serious injury this year. I don't know how you raised so many boys and stayed sane. On the other hand, had I been blessed with more sons, I would have been glad to have them.

Dbower, you CAN have it all! Have you met Soferdig in person? He talks big on this forum because it's his job to represent the macho aspect of manhood. He keeps all the female energy grounded. But he is a total sweetheart, completely in love with his lovely wife, excellent gardener, and caring veterinarian. Plus he does all the man things, too. If there is one in the world, there are more. He probably has clean fingernails, but he'd never admit it.

Oh I was just trying to add to the perfect man list. I already have my brainy lumberjack at home ;) Of course he doesn't seem to like gardening but that's okay...I wouldn't want competition.

Aw Pix what a cute photo! The two of you are adorable, and oh so young!

Oh, it sounds like you already have it all, Dbower! And it's probably best that he doesn't garden. That way you get to make all the decisions on that front.

Yep, Portland, we were definitely cute. We look like brother and sister in that photo. My folks thought Mike looked like Jesus. Since they also thought he walked on water, that was fine.

Sweet picture Pix! The memories of hanging out and dreaming about changing the world, those were the days. Neither one of you look like you smoked Mary Jane before the picture. Good one to save. LOL Oh and thank you for the complement. Yes I defend and enjoy being a man. It is simple to "be" a man but hard to become what the world wants us to be. I say just be yourself and take care of those around you and bring them joy. This is my college day when I was leaving (after 15 minutes of training) for my first skydiving jump. I'm using picasa so hope it works

Maybe this is it. Yes you have to click on the white picture to see it. I am on the ground

This message was edited May 6, 2009 8:42 PM

Pix and Sofer, the pics are SO wonderful!

I love my DH to death, but I fear that, as he works with his hands, I will never have clean nails or unmarred hands holding mine (they were close when we were on our honeymoon 13 years ago, but that was after playing in the ocean for 5 days straight). As it turns out, I am OK with that. I think that a testosterone filled brainy lumberjack type with the soft hearted caring interior that few others will ever see is the perfect man for me. And he cleans up pretty well! :)

The overt male machisimo is the perfect foil for our subtle female mystery. If we were too similar, there would be no mystery to either side and then where would the attraction be?

sofer, I can't see the photos. Where are they?

Nope, we weren't smokers of anything. I'd have to say we pretty much kept our wits about us. At the time of this photo, I was about 21 and Mike 20. He was working on an oil rig in Evanston, Wy and you want your wits about you in a serious way on oil rigs.
I was working at the local Safeway, the worst job I ever had in my life. I HATED it. I finally quit/got fired in the same conversation and remember the store manager, a man who was so small and petty that he couldn't see over the bottom shelf, saying to me, "You just do whatever the hell you want to, don't you?".. I said, 'Yep, I do.' That was the last he saw of me. What a cretin. Even now I think I should have responded , "... and that's a BAD thing??".

Rarejem, you said it well.

Pix you have to click on the photo space and it comes up. I goofed up on Picasa.
RareGem I so agree. Too bad men who are our age learned that that tender was not to be shown. It confused a lot of us who were.

No way! Blonde hair??? Love the glasses. Very John Lennon.

Yes I was blonde my whole life until my doctor put me on thyroid supplements then it grew in dark brown. That picture was taken about 5 minutes before I left. I got caught in an updraft over a hot plowed field and I bet it took over 10 minutes to fall from 3500' and I landed 1/2 mile from everyone else. I was the first one out and the last to land. I felt the lift from the heated field because the chute was big and not made for a small one like me. I did 3 jumps that night. Loved the first few seconds of free fall.

I believe it!

OK.. I added something cool.

WORMS. I GOT WORMS.

I bought a worm composter at the home show last weekend but had no worms for it. I found out the best priced worm guy was in fact over the mountain in Eugene where I work so I decided to wait and get them this week.

Yesterday I went and met him, "Dan The Worm Man", he is a very nice, homey, extremely smart guy who knows his stuff. He also makes really nice worm composting bins for a GREAT price so I decided I needed another one. I got the three bin. It comes with a pound of worms which is really nice as my other one didn't and the worms in Bend were $40 a pound. Dan sells them for $15 a pound.

http://www.danthewormman.com/

I am going to need to eat a lot of veggies to make sure my worms have plenty of food.
Oh darn.

Ginger