Why 89 is one of the worst numbers….a tangent rant
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I know this is sort of random, but hear me out. The other day I was making dinner; I was rinsing some spinach and found a 3 leaf clover. I thought “Wow, that’s pretty weird.” And truth be told, it was quite a lovely specimen, I truly wish I had photographed it before it shriveled-up on my counter. Anyhow, I then thought “Hmm…this has got to be at least worth some luck. I know it’s only a 3 leaf clover, but come on, thats a rare thing to find in your salad.” The more I pontificated on the subject the more I realized that finding a 3 leaf clover in your salad is kind of like receiving the “89″ of luck. It’s not quite the traditional and accepted standard of luck, but its knocking on Luck’s door.
All of this reminded me of a college art class I took, DESIGN I. This class was focused on studying the fundamental concepts in art. Composition, Color Theory, Replication, blah, blah, blah, etc. This class was a lab class taught by a TA (teachers assistant). Ours happened to be some chick in her early 20′s, complete with hippie wardrobe and nose ring. None of this was a problem; the problem was that this chick graded with an interesting rubric which included: (1) How much do you suck up to her (2) How often do you compliment her disjointed outfits (3) If you were male (or who knows, maybe female too), how often did you flirt with her, etc. Since I was unwilling to do any of these things, the woman seemed to give me an “89″ on almost all of my projects. An 89!!!!!
Here is the problem with an 89. It is a B+ and a step ahead of all the other “B” grades, an outcast if you will. And yet, it is just barely not an “A”, just enough to estrange it from all other “A” grades. So not only is it one of the worst numbers, it is also the loneliest. Back to the matter at hand; yes, I did make B’s and even a few C’s in college, but never in an Art related subject. I knew what I was doing and I was good; every project I turned in to this infernal woman was worth AT LEAST and “A.” Hmph! I always found her grading infuriating and frustrating. I would rather have had a true “A” or an “85″….but not an “89,” which was simply saying “you’re not A material, but your close.” I am sure she felt she was really an inspiration to us, and pushing us to the ‘next level’ and all. Whatever. I would rather have it ‘all or nothing;’ not a silly grade that sashays between a B and A.
The thing taking over my backyard……muahaha
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The photo doesn’t do it justice, but this plant is MASSIVE. A 2 year old Vitex, a spring-time gift from my parents. Normally, I am the resident pruner/landscape-artist. But due to our recent parenthood, I have not been taking care of any of the plants. My goal with the Vitex was to trim it like a tree (my parents’ is grown in this style and is gorgeous). Last year this plant was tiny and easy to manage. Now, every time I go outside, I am amazed at how large and unruly it has become.
It attracts a lot of insects and birds, which is great. Although I am much more partial to the Monarch butterflies than the HUGE bumble bees that look like they could bench press me. One evening I was gazing at this monstrous plant and thought I saw 2 large bugs, until I inspected closer and realized it was two humming-birds, how cool is that?! I know I must be getting older when I am posting about backyard plants and marveling at birds. Sorry, nothing fast or furious about this post.
I do well with plants that thrive on neglect, just ask my lovely aloe plants. Or the corn plant in my living room that the cat has sampled many times. But don’t ask the poor poor Basil that was growing outside.
My plan on taming the Vitex is to wait until fall/winter, when all the leaves have fallen off. When I can safely prune, without the company of steroid-swigging bees. If you need a good yard-plant that will flourish without attention and attract interesting bugs/birds, look no further than the Vitex.
Hello world!
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This is my very first blog. I never thought I would have one, and I am not quite sure what to do with it. Will it be about life, about fashion (to follow my namesake), or will it be random (much like myself)? Who knows, I am still trying to figure out this software!
As an off-again-on-again artist, I think the scariest thing is an empty canvas. There are limitless possibilities and you have to decide where to start. So, I will consider this my non-committal stake in the ground!
