Just another passion flower out on the fence at work. 

Found this passion flower on the fence at work today. I hope everyones' weekend is as beautiful as it is.

Two for the price of one. 

I am over the finger so let's move on..........

Here is the second hydrangea although it appears first. 

Found a couple of pretty nice hydrangeas at work today. They have survived at least 3 years.

The repaired hand as of 5-24-06. 

10 Fingered Update.........

Doc took stiches out today.
Puppet off of hand.
Can resume limited output.
Finger still a little stiff/swollen so will take it easy for now.
Doc approved full physical output by next Monday.
That means 11 days from surgery to full output.
Checkup in 5 weeks.
Have decided to keep hand wrapped at home or might (i.e. will) do something stupid.
All is well at the moment.
Yeah Doc....

The Widom of Youth.........

Little MindEscape stopped by my research house yesterday. She picked out 3 aglaonema plants to take with her along with some cut anthuriums. She admitted how much she liked plants now that she was in her later years.

"Gee dad you are so lucky to work everyday in a world filled with such happy plants" she stated gleefully. "Gosh I guess you are right" I added.

She was right!!! These plants are beautiful and peaceful. However, on a daily basis I tend to see them as objects for more research, a paper, a new cultivar, a host for pests, or something that needs to be trimmed and repotted -- in other words just part of a job.

Today, thanks to MindEscape's wisdom, I have really enjoyed my research greenhouse and all of its happy plants... Gee I am even a happier guy for that. Yeah for the wisdom of youth............

Tomorrow -- Yeah for 10 HAPPY fingers (I hope).

Forget the finger - back to work. We plan on making this Ruellia seedless. That could take a while. Back to finger - stitches out tomorrow. 

Borrowed this photo to show trigger finger. Where were these guys when I needed them. 

Six fingered report......

While at home.
Hand with repaired trigger finger is better.
Can now type with five right and one left hand finger.
Also can do captital letters.
Had to go to work toiday or I was going to blow the stiches working at home.
YEAH.

Back at work.
Finger fine but other pains resurfacing.
In life there is no escape.
But all is well.
Much less physical work here.
Not much mental either now that I think about it.

Stitches out on Wednesday.
Hope the finger works.
I just have to be good at home until then.
Will not do this again unless finger pain much more significant.
Maybe a 10-fingered report in the future.
YEAH.

1 fingered report.........

the first 48 hr since surgery is almost over.......
the first 12 hours were not fun..
however, no pain pills since day one....
pain now essentially gone....
sleep good...
attitude back to normal...
feel good and determined not to blow recovery..
next week at this time will be ripping and tearing again.
hand wrappings still clean...
mosaic mom is an angel and is watching over me...
my friend just sent a good fishing report which is more reason to behave...
i see many things for future projects...
this is a good rest...
use of all limbs cannot be over appreciated......
must rest now as right index finger tip is sore...

Oh Hell with it…………..

‘ am going to have a little surgery on my left ring finger tomorrow to correct what is called ‘trigger finger’. Trigger finger can be very annoying and painful sometimes. Of course ever since I decided to ‘cut' out the problem it has been fine. So on the way to work today I was grumbling about having this stupid surgery and being laid up a week with only one arm just to fix something that at the moment ain’t broke.

So this morning I cleaned up in the shop at home since I will never be able to use it again anyway. Now I am looking at wheelchairs and retirement homes on the internet. This is not good….. First the finger then the mind -- although in this case the mind went well befoe the finger.

Plus the doctor said not to smoke or take aspirin for one week before surgery. Hey, I only puff on a pipe or a couple of cigars a day and do not inhale. But I have tried to be good and follow his directions until now. I have had it…….. He is only going to make a little hole in my finger (that is now fine) and carve it up some -- this is not open heart surgery. So instead of grumbling and stumbling around in my office I am going to the greenhouse to have a cigar.

It could be my last so I plan to enjoy it. Can you believe that my loyal crew at work thinks I am a doom and gloom kind of guy. Well that could be, but at least they won't have to put up with me much longer. Grrrrr............

I hate dating...............

After a short break from my, what has become, more or less a photo blog it is time to roll again. I plan on using more words and less photos. Of course my verbal creativity is in short supply but we will see how it goes. But with all my hidden wisdom maybe I can share a bit now and then.

As of this July 1, I decided to pass up an opportunity at work to make some extra savings money (quite a bit actually) for retirement. The pitfall was that I would be forced to retire in 5 years. Now money is nice, but the freedom to work as long as you choose or retire when you choose is priceless. Besides, here I have a lot of freedom and some research stuff to finish and that could take several years.

But now, suddenly my boss has decided to step down. Oh brother. Rethink position on retirement? No, but God I hate to think of “dating again”; i.e. getting to know a new boss and his ‘mystical’ mission. And then, my worst nightmare, we are going for a national search. The last time we did ended in a disaster.

However, only two requirements for me: 1. stay off the search committee and, 2. stay off the search committee.

Fortunately, that is what happened. So now, bring on the new center director. It soon will be dating time.........

Flowering annuals and tropical foliage plants can make a nice mix.  

Nandina are really drought tolerant. You can even dig and move them now and they will not falter. Quite amazing actually. 

I think it is getting a little dry at work. 

Yepper, make that really, really dry.  

No, I mean really, really, really dry. 

I have about had it with these pothos. They cover the benches, hang from the roof and now are happily crawling on the ground. So today we spent $90 on new clippers. Tomorrow will be spent wearing them out. Oh brother - and to think that you cannot even eat them.  

These are some Chinese loquats that my friend has been enjoying in his homeland of China. They are over 2 inches in diameter. Maybe he will be able to bring me a seed.  

My friend visiting home in China send me this photo of some large sweet loquats. I am getting hungry again.