Plants are the Strangest People: Extension

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Extension

I need a little more time, I think, before I come back. Don't know how long it'll be, and I hesitate to give myself any new deadlines for fear I won't be able to keep them. I'll explain eventually.

27 comments:

CelticRose said...: Hope you're feeling better soon.; November 27, 2011 at 5:28 AM
Deb Brown Norridgewock, ME said...: Hi, I'm Deb from Maine. I happened across your blog by accident when trying to identify a plant in Google Images. I must say I enjoy both the eductional info as well as the humor. I loved your blog on Dieffenbachia picta. I have one that is nearly 10 years old. Never once considered it to be anything but a well behaved houseguest. Keep up the excellent work. I will be returning again. Best regards a Maine horticulturist. Deb B; November 27, 2011 at 5:42 AM
Nic said...: Feel better soon! You deserve to take all the time off that you need.; November 27, 2011 at 8:00 AM
Anonymous said...: Take all the time you need!
:); November 27, 2011 at 9:02 AM
Mae said...: Don't give yourself a deadline. I always try to set deadlines to make people happy, but I always set them slightly shorter than I know in my head it will take. Then I ALWAYS go over that deadline, I feel like a failure, and everyone else is unhappy. So don't add to your stress by setting something with built in guilt. You know we'll all still love your blog when you can make it back. And you know if you make it a chore and not something that you do just purely for fun, it will start to loose quality and then we'll really be disappointed. (I've seen waaaay too many therapist...); November 27, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Paul said...: Take the time you need. ;); November 27, 2011 at 1:11 PM
houseplantguru said...: Hope all is well, and look forward to your return!; November 27, 2011 at 2:51 PM
mr_subjunctive said...: All:

Nothing's wrong particularly. There's no good way to explain briefly, but it's about equal parts vacation from the blog, vacation from the internet in general, existential crisis, and wanting time to play Sims 2 but not being able to play and blog at the same time.

Obviously some of these are more serious than others, but I don't think any of it counts as something being wrong, or me feeling unwell: I think it mostly just adds up to a case of mild burnout.

I'm positive the break will be permanent, and I'm not necessarily anticipating any changes in what or how often I post once I'm back, though that's not a settled question. (I'm trying to avoid thinking about the blog at the moment, honestly.) But I will be back at some point, if only to explain.; November 27, 2011 at 8:45 PM
Bom said...: You do whatever it is that you want to do. When you feel it is the right time to start blogging again, we'll be around. Playing Sims is as good a reason as any. my wife would agree with you on that. :-D; November 28, 2011 at 5:23 AM
insideout said...: Take a break by all means, but don't leave us permanently! I love your blog and read it everyday, it's my favorite blog! (I feel like you're breaking up with me. lol. Was it something I said? Did I not say enough? Did you not like my plant votes? lol)

If you want help with the research for plant profiles or anything at all I'm here to help! My email is (remove the "*" )

c*h*ri*sto*pher**abdo*@*gma*il.*com; November 28, 2011 at 7:38 AM
Derek said...: Mister S, I think we're all hoping that "I'm positive the break will be permanent" was a mis-type on your part. But either way, have an awesome vacation. We'll be here when you come back.; November 28, 2011 at 12:27 PM
CelticRose said...: Everybody needs a little time off. It's okay to go play Sims, lose yourself in a good book, watch a Star Trek marathon, or whatever floats your boat. Also, it's the holidays, and everybody's posting a little less right now -- it's to be expected.

I do hope this isn't a permanent break, but you have to do what's right for you. That said, you'll be sorely missed if you decide to end the blog.

Take care and enjoy your break.; November 28, 2011 at 2:48 PM
mr_subjunctive said...: Derek / All:

Gah. Yes, "positive the break will be permanent" is a typo. I'm positive that it won't be permanent. I thought I'd been pretty careful about proofreading that, too. *sigh*; November 29, 2011 at 5:56 AM
Anna de la Cruz (from Toronto! said...: Just proves that you really DO need the break! :-) Compared to the other gardening blogs I follow, you are actually the only one who posts DAILY, and they all have substance, too. Can't wait to see you back here but no pressure.; November 29, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Anonymous said...: Hi. I've been lurking and reading your blog for about the last year and a half, in windy, dreich Scotland. I have a lot of houseplants myself (including a triumphal maranta leuconeura, currently my pride and joy) and I really enjoy your blog. I hope things are OK with you, and that you come back to us soon. Best wishes to you.; November 30, 2011 at 4:23 PM
Anonymous said...: Mr. S., put me out of my misery, I can't stand the suspense. You're working on your book, right? Please be working on a book, I'll pre-order 5 copies. Half the hard part is done already, you've got so many great blog posts to choose from. It could be sort of autobiographical (your Grandma's plants, your first plant. Work in some of the garden center stories - that stuff is priceless! The plant profiles, of course, those are the meat and potatoes, with your photographs and LOL Spaths. Write about the experience of writing a blog! Ever read John Scalzi's 'Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded'? I did - and it was pretty good. But you're way funnier and a much better writer.

No pressure, honest. I just really like the way you write, and as a book/plant nerd, it would be awesome to have your stuff in print, safe on my shelf forever. The 'net is so ephemeral, eh?

Jenny
Jenny; December 2, 2011 at 3:01 PM
mr_subjunctive said...: Jenny:

It's more like the opposite of what you said.; December 3, 2011 at 4:57 AM
mr_subjunctive said...: (Except for the internet-is-ephemeral part.); December 3, 2011 at 4:59 AM
Anonymous said...: I'll keep checking back. Thanks for the advice that saved my anemic Xmas cactus :); December 4, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Anonymous said...: I love you Mr. Subjunctive.

If I could have an internet marriage with you, where we would IM each other every day, email all the time, share weekly, share funny youtube videos, and frolic in the internet mis-informational universe, I totally would.

How can I lure you back into writing something for your blog?

It's so good.

Can I flatter you into writing a lil' somethin'?

I guess not, after all, someone already assumed you were writing a book and told you he/she would buy it.

I would buy it too.

I'd send you creepy letters like the one weirdo in "The Bodyguard".

I'll do it. Just you wait.

Don't wait too long though because I'm kind of lazy about mailing things so it might take a while, if you want to send me a mildly resentful email that would be completely acceptable if I'm more than a few days late in sending you cool varieties of plants/stalker emails.

Anyway, the point of all this was to show you that I spend a lot of time thinking about you and your blog, and hoping I can some way show you how much it means to me and how nice it is to have a fellow guy be really interested in plants and all the details involved in growing them well. :); December 6, 2011 at 6:47 PM
Anonymous said...: Looks like Mr. S would like us all to respect his privacy as he processes whatever he needs to work through. So let's leave him be....that being said, I hope the love and care you're receiving virtually aides you in your endeavor, Mr. S.
-Erin; December 7, 2011 at 8:39 AM
Kenneth Moore said...: Mr. S--I miss you. But also I've been crazy busy. So. I hope we both come back soon!; December 7, 2011 at 7:44 PM
RMR said...: Miss you!
RMR; December 8, 2011 at 7:19 AM
Anonymous said...: Checking back, from hurricane-battered Scotland... I hope you're well, and I hope you & yours have a nice xmas and Hogmanay. All the best.; December 10, 2011 at 5:08 PM
bomomo said...: I miss you, too.; December 12, 2011 at 7:55 PM
nycguy said...: Mr. S---Hope you're OK. Thanks for the wonderful posts.; December 15, 2011 at 6:25 AM
sunless optimist said...: missing you! Thanks for being such a comfort when I was going through a hard time.; December 17, 2011 at 4:35 PM