Parenting is not easy

CRS writes on June 24:

Gardening Question for my mom!
My basil plant REFUSES to cooperate! After consulting Kaka, I have been firmly telling the plant to not flower by pinching off the buds whenever they appear. Unfortunately, it is not complying and continues to produce buds. Anything else i can do to promote leaf growth instead of flowers?

Naughty, naughty basil. That's annoying. Our basil which came in a 3 inch pot now takes up about half a bushel basket. Is your pot big enough and your soil healthy? Keep harvesting where there are buds, take the bud and a couple leaves down from there. If that is more basil than you need for cooking and eating, cut some 6 inch (or more) stems and put them in water. They'll be so busy trying to make roots, they'll forget to flower. And keep talking to them, you must be patient but firm. Just like any other sort of parenting, 90% of the job is saving them from themselves. One tries to direct one's wards into healthy pursuits, in this case making edible leaves instead of flowers.

I'm O.K., You're a Psychopath

I generally loathe what I read in the New York Times, (fret not, I read the NY Post to balance my data input) but I do ADORE The NY Times Book Review. There are two downsides to this: It's a dangerous combo to have a Kindle and read the Book Review if you are at all into IGF. And it makes me lustful for a large wood paneled library with one of those rolling ladders so you can reach the top shelves and perhaps a butler to  keep things tidy and serve tea (lately comfrey tea.) 

 

Today's highlights: I started in the back and was greeted with an article entitled "I'm O.K., You're a Psychopath." AHA, I exclaimed, just as I always thought......I won't go into it beyond to say the gist is if you are evil, you won't read any of the featured books because you don't care that you are an empathy lacking beast who probably drives irresponsibly on the Parkway. (Words are so great. I almost wrote "drives recklessly," a bad thing, which was too close a relative to "driving wrecklessly," a good thing.)

 

How about this? (Am I allowed to quote verbatim?) : A Jane Austen Education How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship and the Things That Really Matter by William Deresiewicz. "From Austen's books, Deresiewicz gleaned lessons for becoming a useful adult." Now this TRULY was an -- AHA, just as I always thought moment. I must get my hands on this. I wonder if Drew would like it downloaded on the Kindle for father's day? Afterall, this is the man who gave me a Kindle for my birthday and immediately  downloaded Bass Fishing on the Eastern Seaboard.

 

 I could have used this book about 30 years ago: Go The ____ to Sleep.

The Week in Review

Since I have no submitted questions to answer, I am going to ask my own about current events:

Bill Clinton is, reportedly, "appalled" at Anthony Weiner's behavior. Wow. I can't think of a thing to say about that except: Wow. The good news for Weiner is Charles Rangel is publicly coming to his defense.
Does anyone else think it may be time to reset the national moral compass? Anyone?

Can someone explain to me who Kim Kardashian is? Wait, never mind.

How many times is too many times to watch the 6 hour production of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth? especially segment 5? I'm wondering what would be considered excessive though I am pretty sure I have exceeded whatever number that might be.

Thanks, Deven

Daughter Deven writes, in part, in one of her articles in Elephant Journal: 

: 

"My Tai Chi says a chronic knee injury is due to a argument between your hips and ankles. We would never accuse a bridge blown up as a casualty of a war, a "bad bridge"-- so the same perspective can be applied to the knee, shoulder, back, whichever part of the body ails you, especially if it is a joint......"

Now, my injury isn't chronic, it was very acute. Said knee was standing there one second, happy as a clam, minding its own business when, blammo, it was hit broadside by 60 pounds of  Wonder Dog hurtling happily through space. The crackling, popping noise it made was gut wrenching. There was more numbness than pain and a sinking feeling in my stomach and head. "Oh no, oh no, this didn't just happen. Please let's turn back the clock 3 seconds"

Deven says:

"Magic?We can switch from a position of blame to one of curiosity and compassion.  Many of my AcroYoga colleagues refer to a place of injury,  or dis-ease as "magical" because that place holds so much potential: an opportunity to listen deeply to the whispering discomforts of the body; to repattern that which is not working; to learn from within how to be more compassionate, nurturing and kind to our bodies first and foremost."

So she got me thinking. Maybe this situation IS sort of magical. I have had to slow my life down by about 70% (pretty amazing considering the slow, methodical place I was coming from.) I have the gift of time. I have discovered a new discipline in myself. I am thoroughly dedicated to therapy and proper exercise, doing everything assigned and more. But most importantly, I am actively, completely grateful for all the healthy parts of my body, for all the things I can do.

 So thank you Deven. Thanks too, to the doctor, the brace manufacturer, the PT crew and....the little engine that could.  Also thank you to Kathryn for the gift of comfrey tea. I am a believer.

Read more by Deven in FindingYoga.blogspot.com

Scout writes:

Good gravy... THIS IS THE FORUM for YOU SophieD!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok - I have a question (but how do you post a question that doesn't go under the commentary of another one? Or am I allowed to open a new topic??)

How does a 58 year old do the homework assigned to children the average age of which is 29 (and so even as a mathematician I know that in this circumstance there is no possibility that there is a cluster below 22 - which MEANS that 58 is REALLY REALLY OLD)? Oh my god - papers due on DAY 3, midterms passed out in week 2, 300 pages to read for Tuesday. ARE THEY KIDDING?? Help!!!

Excellent question(s)
As a Luddite, I really don't know how someone else can post a new topic or question and that's pretty bad considering that is the point of the blog. I'll work on it? Anyone?
As for the homework issue, deep breath. Let's think about all the things that you don't have to worry about as a non-youngster:
 No spending hours wondering who your prom date is going to be (or even who you are going to marry. Yippee, that's all taken care of.)
You don't have to wear a uniform to class.
You don't have to say "like" 70,000 times a day (very time consuming.)
You don't spend 8  hours a day playing "Angry Birds." Please tell me you don't play "Angry Birds." I hate when my friends are into something I don't understand.
Wow, I am having a hard time so shall wander off until inspiration strikes. Now, Scout, get back to work!

Hints for getting a good night's sleep

At 5:12 a.m. C posted that a dry, scratchy throat is keeping her from sleeping every night. This is not good, not good at all. Here is my medical advice. 1) Tidy your room. A clutter-free abode leaves no hiding place for monsters. 2) Catch up on any outstanding correspondence using some paper out of the beautiful stationery wardrobe I assume you have. 3) Make plans to visit your father and mother. Odds are good that they are missing you. That should do it!

NJ drivers

Kathryn asked why ARE there so many bad drivers in NJ? Beats me.

I don't know why, but I have observed that people read the sign

KEEP RIGHT PASS LEFT  and apparently translate it as

BLEH AHUGA ISTA MOOO. Or else they see a private message from the highway department that secretly says "Except you, we don't mean YOU. You go ahead and plop  yourself in the left or middle lane going 2 miles under the speed limit knowing in your righteous heart that you are obeying the speed limit AND saving gas."
And folks would rather die than let the clueless guy from Canada merge right  so as not to miss his exit.

I will say that when CRS and I drove across Illinois and Indiana last fall, we were ASTOUNDED by consistent weird behavior through construction sites. At least half a dozen times we saw signs indicating a lane closed X miles ahead. On the Parkway, that is a signal to prepare for combat. You can either stay in the lane that will remain open and watch in dismay as hundreds of cars race ahead in the lane that will soon close or, with heart pounding, join the crazed mob trying to jump the line. What we witnessed in the midwest, in fairly heavy traffic I might add, was a leisurely and courteous blending of two lanes into one. It required hardly a let up in speed. It was a beautiful thing. And on that trip I never once saw anyone operating a car while also applying makeup, reading the newspaper, nodding off or changing clothes....all of which I've witnessed on the Parkway.

Safe driving tip of the day:
In a traffic circle, he with the least expensive car has the right of way.

Blast off -- Post 1

I am currently on IR nursing a torn MCL which means no golf, no biking, no bobbing around in the ocean for a while. To pass the time I am offering up my services for research help, advice or input on the topic of your choice. Be forwarned: I cannot promise to be kind, politically correct or tell you what I think you want to hear. I do vow to be honest and outspoken. If I offend you, I assure you, I was not trying to offend you in particular. At the least, maybe we can generate some interesting discussions.

Things currently on my mind: gardening, community gardens, Giants football and the looming possible lack thereof this fall, how difficult it feels to be a Buckeye fan these days and wedding anticipation (yay, Kathryn and Joe).

Potential items for discussion include:

Why are there so many bad drivers on the Garden State Parkway?
Why does anyone ever have to say the words "I promise..."?  If words are coming out of your mouth, I would like to be able to assume they are true.
What is the coolest thing that has ever happened at a wedding you attended?