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Max, the new guy at Work

I know it's not always good etiquette to blog about co-workers, but I'm almost certain this particular guy can't even read.  His name is Max and I met him for the first time at work this morning.  He thinks he is God's gift to the workforce and already has all the women giddy over his appearance.  In fact, they've been going around all day trying to find any excuse to catch a glimpse of him in his office (where he's been napping the majority of the morning.)  I did manage however, to get this snapshot of him in the breakroom later in the afternoon:

 
Hehe, I do believe I'm getting to like Max, too.   Cute, eh? 

So as it turns out, Max isn't an evil-self-centered-slacker co worker.  He's a widdle-iddy-biddy-puppy co-worker who belongs to my manager.  His adorable, fuzzy face just better not eat my plants at work or he's dead meat.   Oh, which reminds me:

 
Here are the three new NOID African violets from Garden Exchange that I bought during my lunch break today. There were a whole bunch of them sitting somewhat unceremoniously on top a cardboard box off to the side of the nursery entrance.  This one's my favorite:

 
I still haven't figured out if working downtown so close to the garden center is a blessing or a curse, but I'm leaning toward, blessing. Happy dance!

Special Assembly Day

This weekend was our "Take Refuge In Jehovah" Special Assembly Day.  With 2,041 in attendance, 29 baptized (including someone very special), a member of the GB visiting, and the rush/stress of caring for translation for the first time, the program seemed to fly by.   But then, we got to enjoy our houseguests for a few extra days, and here is where my confession begins:

You know all that buttery, sugary talk in my last post about  getting  down on all fours and eagerly scrubbing the tub in preparation for Javier's visit?  Well.... it didn't quite end up happening that way.  But in an attempt to redeem myself, let me just say that my shower stall wasn't exactly filthy to begin with...just a few mildew spots here and there that were bothering me.  Notice, the operative word here is "were". 

I started off pretty enthusiastic in a little corner with an old toothbrush and a brillo pad, but it was kinda hard to see what I was doing because of the low light level in the shower stall.   Then, midway though accidently inhaling the fumes of some cleaning agent in a pretty pink container, I thought:

If my eyes can't see the mildew (and we're talking with my brand new contacts on), then no one else is going to notice it either.  Especially with jet lag,  shampoo in their eyes and all that steam.

So I put the cleaning agent in the pink container back under the sink, washed my hands, and flopped out on the couch to watch some good quality TV with a bag of potato chips and some dip.

So Javier, Claudia, Maria, Jovany and Vanessa got a shower stall that was clean...but not spotless.    I just hope no one licked the tiles.

PS: Welcome aboard, Lambert! I'm proud of you.

 Video of Lambert's baptism on Monday.  Background vocals are by my friend Lucio in Italy.

  PHOTO SET HERE 

Sharing Some Happiness on a Rainy Day

We plant people are earthy, hard working, physically active, rugged indivuduals with dirt under our nails.  But contrary to what people may think based on my callused hands, sun weathered skin and my lithe yet muscular build, I'm also a wimp.  ("lithe, yet muscular build"  Haw,haw, haw, snort, snort!)

Said wimpyness indicates that although I take great pleasure in spending part of a rainy day with my little green friends, I want to do it curled up in front of a fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa...not outside in the rain with a shovel and rubber boots.

It's not that I totally dislike a rainy day or two during the week, but being stuck inside day after day in the darkness and gloom takes its toll.  Happily, my indoor plants seem clueless as far as the weather's concerned and are cheerily putting out new buds and growths.  That means that despite the ugliness outside, I'm still able to  have a nice (i.e. dry and comfy) commune with nature inside, so hooray for me.

I won't bore all you non-plant people with full-sized photos, but you can click on any of the thumbnails to em-biggen them if you're interested... and deep down inside, you just know you are.  So go ahead and Click.  And be Happy, happy, happy.

           

New growths on Sansevieria cylindrica, xMoonshine and Golden Hahnii

              
A few of my Saintpaulias are in bloom  
 

 My grow-light setup at the office which allows me to grow stuff at work although my side of the room has no windows.  There are 32 plants on my desk...and counting!  The boss turns the light on every morning before I arrive, and all the Drug Reps love the setup.
  

More happy news!  Javier and Claudia are coming for a visit this week and we'll get a chance to hang out during and after the Special Assembly Day.  This of course, it's a good excuse to do some seasonal cleaning and go to WalMart for some new sheets, cleaning supplies, toilet paper and a Kalanchoe thyrsiflora.  You never know when a Kalanchoe will come in handy with guests around.  

   
Kalanchoe thyrsiflora 'Fantastic' (clickable)

I'll admit it doesn't look like that big of a deal now, but if you Google it, you'll find photos of how a full grown plant looks and boy is it purdy.   And HUUUGE!  And colorful!   And only $3.  That's way less than a set of sheets.

To justify it's purchase as a Javier-And-Claudia-Related-Expense, Mr. Fantastic will probably end up adorning the guest room.  I'd much rather prefer it in my own room but it's okay since Javier and Claudia are very dear to us.  In fact, I am planning to go down on all fours and scrub the grout in the guest bathroom with a toothbrush later on tonight after I finish studying my Watchtower for Sunday.  Just for them.  Because as you know, us plant people are hard-working folk.

That is all.