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The Single Life

Spike? Are you there?

19 years ago

You might just want to save space - this forum obviously isn't working out. I appreciate all your efforts.

Barbara_Tampa

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Comments (12)

Wings2W
19 years ago
Sorry Barbara and all...

I am new and not certain what to expect from this forum.

I know many things we have in common and many others not.

I try to stay busy,24/7, but do take time to read and try to post. Isn't the easiest thing being an introverted newbie.

Any ideas? Perhaps some of the more experienced members could help with the rules of accepted posting.

I'm new. My very loved SO passed 6/03. Am trying to etch out being single once again. I don't do the "social" scene or the internet. Simply thought others on this forum might share a few words of wisdom.

Wing
kayjones
19 years ago
Wing, allow me to extend my deepest sympathies to you - GOD BLESS YOU! I can't know how you must feel, but if I can offer a shoulder or a listening ear, please feel free to contact me.

There is a 'grieving' forum here on gardenweb.com, so I would ask you to give those folks a chance to assist/empathize with you during this difficult time.

Please post here, or contact any one of us here, if we can be of any help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Grieving forum
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I am new to this as well, and what I gathered from the limited research that I've done is to let the orchid continue with its flowering season, and when you see new growth, so in this case cutting one inch above the first node. When it is completely done flowering, cut the spike down at the base to ready it for the following year (or next blooming season). When cutting at the base, it puts all of it energy towards the new blooming season. I hope I understood this correctly, and I'll be checking the thread to see what other members are suggesting.
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I suppose enough folks have seen my posts to know and understand that I am a relative newcomer to gardening and still somewhat naive. Some of you can gather from my posts also, that I dive in with both feet and am trying a lot of things rather quickly, often with failures in abundance. I figure what I just discovered is worth sharing, both here in the California Gardening Forum and in the Plant Propogation Forum. It regards fertilizer spikes and then too, mixed additives. TOO MUCH CAN KILL. It's easy to do with some of the products available. Mixes recommend a teaspoon of mix to about a gallon and applied every 2 weeks. That's easy to follow, but if you get impatient and think that adding it more frequently will help, forget it and just dig your plants up and toss them. Mixtures otherwise won't get you into trouble. It's those spikes. Certainly, there are small spikes that well, likely won't get you into trouble. It's those big old tree spikes that you buy to add fertilizer to a fruit tree in your yard that will make a plant murderer out of you. These things are about 6 inches long and an inch in diameter and though they won't kill a mature tree is placed correctly, they can kill anything the area that is growing close to where you insert it. Be careful folks. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Your plants will not survive a tree spike as they disolve away very quickly in water and super saturate the soil with stuff that small plants will gag on unless it comes in small doses. New seedlings will likely not survive lethal concentrations of plant food released en-mass from a spike.
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Hi Susan. Yes, there is a Spike Luckstone, sortof. That is the name of my Second Life identity, that much you already know...yes I am a real person in real life ("RL" in Second LIfe speak), and the short bio you reprinted is mine and real. Ronf gave a nice if brief description of Second Life. It's not easy to really explain all about Second Life (SL) to someone who has never seen it or been in it. It is an online virtual world, but it is definitely NOT one of those computer video game types of things that most people are familiar with, it is much more than that. It is known as the "game with no object", because there really isn't a goal or object, there's no bad guys to shoot or damsels in distress to rescue, although there are areas made for roleplay where you can do those things if you wish. I discovered SL by accident a little over 3 years ago when I stumbled across this article on Businessweek.com: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_18/b3982001.htm It will tell you a bit about SL. SL may look cartoonish and silly to those who don't understand it or not been in it but the first thing an SL newbie learns is that although we are represented by cartooney-looking avatars, those avatars have real people controlling them with real personalities and feelings. Second Life is very much like this Real Life... except in SL we inhabit bodies made of pixels instead of flesh. Just like a really good book or movie can draw you in so you feel as if you're part of it, SL does the same. You are where your mind is. I've met many wonderful people in SL and have friends all over the world in SL. About the music... there are at least hundreds of clubs, bars, "outdoor" concert venues of all types and description and SL and as many musicians playing at them. The musicians may be anything from one person singing along with karaoke tracks, or accompanying him/herself on guitar or piano, to full bands playing live and streaming it into SL. Real-life band U2 has even done a live concert in Second Life. The google listings you mentioned of me (Spike Luckstone) playing in various real-life cities is a computer search-bot error, and understandably confusing. Weblogs of events in Second Life post event listing of who is playing and when, for their various SL venues. Somehow, search bots (little search programs designed to search and compile listings, in this case for entertainment) see these listings and somehow relate them to their cities. How that happens I couldn't tell you, but it is an error done by the website compiling the listings. No one in SL makes or wants these false and erronious listings, least of all myself, who supposedly am appearing or have played numerous places in real life that I have no intention of travelling to and I have no need or desire for false information or publicity of any kind. As for me, I am a semi-retired professional musician, I have never wanted to be a "star". My desire was to play guitar with good musicians, and play onstage with the "stars", not to be one myself. I did that already and don't need to do it anymore. I quit the road and settled down years ago. Playing in Second Life is nice because I can play whatever song I want, whatever instrument I feel like, can get bookings nearly any time I feel like playing, I have my own club where I can play any time I feel like it. I don't have to lug my equipment anywhere. I walk into my home studio and there is my stuff all ready to play. I can, and have, play a show in my pajamas if I feel like it. Another thing about music in SL, just about any wannabee can play in there... because of this you hear a lot of people who really are not professional-grade, but I'm glad they have a place that they can play and sing and for many of them it fulfills a life dream that they cannot do in real life. There are also some excellent musicians and bands in SL, as good as you'd find anywhere. I hope this clears up some of your questions. If I can answer anything else just ask. I do have a myspace page for my Second Life self at myspace.com/spikeluckstone if you'd like to hear some newer sound clips and it has a little more of my real life bio if you're interested. I do have a better-looking avatar now than I did when those videos were made. By the way, In Second Life, you can be anything or anyone you wish and no one expects your avatar to look exactly like your real life self. Why do that... SL is where you can be your idealized self so why not. :) You can see some screenshots and find more information at secondlife.com if you wish. Take care, "Spike Luckstone"
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Wings2W
19 years ago
Thanks Kay, yes, I know. I spent a great deal of time at a different site with 24/7 chat for a very long time.

Just thought maybe I could get some idea of what other single people "do" when they're not working 24/7. Being single isn't the easiest thing with the world being geared for couples.

I visit other sites and GW boards. Am looking for a yard to buy with a house attached. Maybe, then, will have more to contribute.

Did fry my monitor this morning. YUK! Wish I had the tenacity to buy a HUGE one. ;). I even thought of checking into having my PC hooked up to my big screen tv but thought that might be a bit much.

Thanks, again, for your thoughts. True, no one knows until they experience it personally. Is the hardest lesson on earth but I know I'm not alone.

Wing
kayjones
19 years ago
I can tell you what I do in my 'spare' time (ya, right)! I grow tropical plants, so tend those, mow my grass, clean my house, look for a second job, play on the computer, working on learning Microsoft Word and how it does all that neat stuff, play with my grandbabies, watch very little tv, kick around in some thrift stores, and if I'm REALLY bored, I will call a friend and visit with her on the phone. I go to bed at 9:30 and get up at 5:30. My days are full enough to please me, with enough time to do what I want, when I want.
bunnyman
19 years ago
What to do with my time is never a problem. From the moment I get up until I go to bed there is one thing after another. I often work 7 days a week so simple chores like cooking and cleaning are a challenge. My home has endless projects to work on. At the moment bookshelves, shutters, a second garage door opener, painting, some tile to grout, and new curtains to hang all are on the to-do list. It takes 16 hours or so to mow my lawn from one end to the other so riding the lawnmower is available whenever it is not raining. Much of the time I just put all the work off and relax in front of my computer or play with my cats. Last night I went out for beers after work and was talked into shooting pool for a couple hours. Then I like my food so there is always something interesting to cook up. Steaks to cakes and all things inbetween... nothing beats home cooking. I have a stack of books about ten foot tall that I've not opened the cover on and 3 or 4 that I'm attempting to read at the same time. The garage and basement both need a project level cleaning and new shelves put up. A wheel bearing on my truck needs a looked at.

Today I slept till noon. Exhausted and sore from work yesterday. By the time I cook some brunch, check my e-mail, look over a new retirement plan for work, and pet my cat for a moment it will be time to head down the road to work. I'll be back home about midnight getting cleaned up and back on the internet while cooking some supper. Can't stand the bars on weekends because of all the cigarette smoke. Port Huron is calling me this weekend for a visit with some friends if I can get out of working.

This forum ain't dead it is just sleeping.

: )
michael
kayjones
19 years ago
ANOTHER interesting Michael - UNBELIEVABLE! You sound as if you have enough to do to occupy several people - but remember: housework makes you ugly, and no play makes you dull, so relax and do nothing when you can, so you won't be ugly and boring! LOL
walksalone
19 years ago
:(((((( Lost kitty to diabetes, only six yrs old. Leaves littermate bro.

Been too sad to post.
Wings2W
19 years ago
Too Funny Kay! How come I'm not georgous??? Huh! Huh!

Well, spent the afternoon with a realtor checking out an OLD HOUSE. A bit scary, being alone, with things that need to be done but the basic house is great. Pocket doors, french doors to the outside wraparound porch, attic room, etc. Of course, NO storage but big closest and the biggest "old" bathroom I've ever seen. I'm meeting him tomorrow at 10:00. Just need a sleepless night.

I think Bunnyman could make a great living just cooking for others! I have to see if I have any leftovers tonight. Actually, we have a cottage biz that does cooking for others. One can buy fresh or frozen and they do quite well.
Is the homemade type one can't get in the stores.

Would really like to haunt the garage sales and thrift shops but I'd be too nervous and have a ton of things already. Maybe will check some things I have on consignment.

I do tend to get paranoid when contemplating spending much $$. Being frugal was a necessity and now is a hobby. :) I certainly would have enough work/projects to keep me busy for a very long time.

Wing
bunnyman
19 years ago
I'm sorry to hear about your kitty WalksAlone. My cats really make the house a home.
ivamae
19 years ago
I've been alone too, since losing my partner 5 years ago. Yes, I can keep busy. There is always housework, meal preparation, grocery shopping etc., but that is not the same. It doesn't take away the loneliness. It is no fun to go on drives and outings by oneself. I miss the closeness etc. so much. I have a dog and I don't know what I would do without him. He is so loyal.
All the best, Wings.
Kathsgrdn
19 years ago
Wings2W, did you buy the house? I'm looking at homes right now..in fact I have to meet with my realtor this morning to look at some more. Not very encouraging at the moment. I found one but it's 50 years old and the kitchen needs remodeled, but they're asking about $10,000 more than it's supposedly worth. But I love it. ) :
Wings2W
19 years ago
No, I didn't. It needed too much for the price/area. Is still listed too. I became suspect of maybe "unseen" things when I realized the refrigerator had been unplugged with food inside. YUK.

I tend to get saturated and retreat. Very busy at work and probably wouldn't appreciate much either right now.

Good luck! You been shopping long? Send me a note. I have a few links you might like.

^w^

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