It really does seem to take a long time. I started seeing signs of a spike in December or January. It finally bloomed for me sometime in April. I don't know what was taking up my attention at the time, but I wasn't monitoring my mystacidii too carefully, so it was fun to see it progress from microscopic buds to full on blooming, without worrying. I think that was about the time that I got my new kirkii, and I was busy trying to rearrange things so everyone would fit right. And when I decided to mount my citrata. I wish that would bloom for me, but the spike has blasted about two or three times now. I think it's trying yet again. I don't know. I think I purposely tried not to get too excited, so that it would actually bloom, since citrata kept blasting. I saved up being excited for when it made it to blooming. I was feeling superstitious, I guess. I do wonder why mine bloomed so much earlier than everyone else's... it seems everyone else's is wanting to bloom about now.

SS11 has gone through several stages like that. He's in one now, actually. Our approach has been multipronged: - We remind him that he wants privileges (such as being allowed to go to the store alone) but that privileges come with showing maturity and responsibility. Lying doesn't show those things and makes it hard for us to believe he is ready for the things he would like to do or have. - We've had him write apology letters or write a list of 5 reasons that lying is wrong. None of the reasons can relate to getting caught or being punished. - We've explained to him that we greatly prefer to trust him. It's easier and happier for everyone if we don't have to police his every move. We've presented it like this: "A__, you don't like when we nag you and check on your every move, right? You like when we trust you and give you your own space. Well, when you lie to us about simple things, like brushing your teeth, it shows us that we NEED to be nagging you and checking on your every move. If we could trust that you'd brush your teeth when asked to, we wouldn't have to pester you about and it wouldn't turn into a fight. If there's no fight, then everybody is happier." Then he sees that our actions (nagging him) are a direct result of his actions (lying to us) and is more willing to change his actions. - We issue rewards for completed tasks. If he wants to watch a show that will be end a bit later than his usual bedtime, so we say "If you are ALL ready for bed BEFORE the show starts, then yes, you can stay up late to watch it. So that means you have to have your backpack ready for tomorrow, be showered with your teeth brushed, and in your pajamas. If ANY of those things aren't done by the time the show starts, then no show. Deal?" He knows that we mean it. If he skips something, he won't be watching and it will be his own fault. - This one is underhanded and a bit manipulative. We don't use it regularly. SS is always really worried about what other people think - he doesn't do well in social situations or make friends very easily, which is too bad because he's a nice boy and I've seen that he is a loyal friend. So we've reminded him that people don't like liars. We've said "People don't want to be friends with someone who lies to them. No one wants a friend they can't trust; they want a friend who will be truthful." For this case, we thought a little peer pressure might be a good thing, although it isn't a technique I'd usually advocate. - For personal hygiene issues, we've shown him pictures of gum disease and so on. He also doesn't like to brush his teeth or bathe. We explained that we don't tell him to do these tasks to spite him, but so that he is healthy and well. "Yup, brushing your teeth is a pain in the butt. But we don't make you do it to be mean to you or to think up clever ways to torment you. We make you brush your teeth because it's important for your health. ~Insert explanation of gum disease, complete with photos, here~. Now do you understand why it's important for you to brush your teeth?" We've had to do this roughly once a year since he was about 8. - And, of course, we try to praise and be positive for the things he does when asked and for telling the truth. To be honest, I get a bit frustrated with having to tell an 11yo that he did a good job because he put his dirty clothes in the laundry basket, or praise what a very good choice it was that he told us the truth about something... But he needs it, so I do it. I think it will continue to be an ongoing battle for us, for the same reason you just mentioned. SS doesn't really understand cause and effect or that actions cause reactions.

Well, it got colder than predicted last night at my house, I should have covered more! Luckily all my potted stuff was in the heated greenhouse. I've had my weather station so long, that that particular model is discontinued. I liked it because it was wireless and battery AND solar powered. There are several really good models out there now. For maintenance on mine, all I have to do is change the batteries once a year and while I'm up there I clean out the rain gauge. The hard part really is just the initial setup and getting it connected to your computer. There's software you have to install too, which connects to WUNDERGROUND and you can get that off the WUHU Yahoo groups page. A good place to start looking for a station is ambientweather dot com, once you find what you like you can google the brand and see if you can find it cheaper elsewhere... Kevin

Hi again, P R, A young female intern in the library is a Leafs' fan - so I printed out your table (in colour, yet) for her to give to her Dad. Big news on the radio the other day - Leafs didn't fill the rink for one of their (weekday?) games! One would think that the world had half-way come to an end! How the owners can keep filling the rank .... when their team hasn't won the top prize in almost 50 years ... is almost beyond comprehension! But they're laughing ... all the way to the bank. One of the group of owners, a few years ago, at least, was our teachers' pension plan. ole joyful