update in the life of Ann

[quietann]

This may be scattered, but...

As part of a story on World Rat Day (which was last Sunday), the rats and I will be featured in the Boston Globe yet again, probably in Saturday's Living Arts section. The interview and photography sessions went pretty well, though the photographer was allergic to the rats -- oops. I have kind of mixed feelings about this, especially since I have said almost nothing about the rats to anyone at work. It's not something that one brings up in a job interview, and I am a bit self-conscious about it (though not when I am actually at home and playing with them!) I have nightmares about being fired for being "weird."

The job is going well, though I need to stay more "engaged" with my work. I had an early 90-day review, which was generally positive. My supervisor is going to try to get permission for me to take my first vacation before the 6-month waiting period is up, so Ben and I can go to England in June. If this works out, I won't be able to take vacation during the Democratic National Convention, and will have to endure the commuting issues contained therein. I also *will* be teaching the Intro Biostats course to Tufts MPH students in the Fall.

My coworker Scott and I are ending up riding on the commuter rail together about half the time. He's a good "seat-mate" in that we can have a brief conversation, but also take advantage of the quiet time to read (him) or do crochet (me) without getting on each other's nerves. And he reads self-help books, which I think is cute. He's cute, too :)

I am *very* happy about there being spring-like weather conditions. I walked comfortably from North Station to work this morning (just over a mile). Did some gardening last night (mostly getting old leaves cleared, pruning the mini-roses, etc.) There will be another invasion of raspberry plants within a week or so, and I have to figure out where to put them (besides the ones that are going to lyonesse and drbitch). If anyone wants a raspberry plant or two, let me know. I will have everything from blacks to purples to fall-bearing reds and yellows, because my assumption that some of the ones I planted last year would not survive the winter is *wrong*!!!

This is enough for now. Comments welcomed of course :)

Comments

[hawkegirl.livejournal.com]

What do the berries need, like light and water wise?

[hawkegirl.livejournal.com]

Let me rephrase that. :>

I would *love* some. If they will work in our yard, wich is shadey, and has a good bit of pine trees (soil ph).

[quietann.livejournal.com]

They won't mind slightly acid soil at all, but really need sun to make good berries. If you have a sunny spot (doesn't need to be big, and doesn't need sun all day), that would work.

happy-happy-bounce-bounce

[hawkegirl.livejournal.com]

Partial sunlight I can do, but not sun all day.

I would definatley love some plants then. Let me know what works best for getting them. :>

raspberries

[candle-light.livejournal.com]

mmm. i'd be quite happy to take some spares off your hands. since we have some wild ones growing on the property border (somewhat decimated this winter by the butt head neighbor), i think our yard could handle them.

Re: raspberries

[quietann.livejournal.com]

Good to know. Right now what I have coming is 5 plants of each of the following:

MAC BLACK -- black raspberry (2 promised to TB, 2 for me)
JEWEL -- black raspberry (2 promised to TB, 2 for me)
ROYALTY -- purple raspberry (2 may go to TB, 2 for me)
POLANA -- red fallbearing raspberry (1 for V, 2 or 3 for me?)
KIWIGOLD -- yellow fallbearing raspberry (2 for V, 2 for me)

The "fallbearing" ones will give 2 crops, a small one in the early summer and a larger one in the fall. They are also the only ones that I know will bear this year (in the fall). I got a couple of handsful of very tasty berries from last year's plants, but found I had to put netting over them to keep birds and chipmunks out...

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

I have nightmares about being fired for being "weird."

Isn't that overblown? Even at Bently, after trying to get the students to be weird, you still quit on them, they didn't fire you. Maintain interface compatibility and do a good job, and nobody is going to care about the rats. (And half the people think they're cute!)

[quietann.livejournal.com]

Agreed... but it just so happens that "Program Project Meeting" (the monthly meeting with the Big Bosses) is on Monday -- right after the article comes out! eep!

[tb]

I too have started basic yard and garden clean-up and am looking forward to raspberries. The count you listed (six plants) looks right to me.