h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*buries head in lilac arrangement and inhales*

I'd have to say that jasmine and white lilac are probably tied, though gardenia's wonderful as well, and I'm not one that usually notices smells. That said, I was more than a bit annoyed when I forgot that I'd had Faith's window open the other evening (weather's been weird here--it was 80 in Crescent City, in May! If it reaches 80 in August, it's amazing...) Y'see, the folks downstairs have a Prop. 215 card (Proposition 215 was the one that, a few years ago, legalized medical marijuana in California, although it's still illegal, federally...) and evidently they had their windows open, too, as Tom commented that he was getting a buzz working out next to the open dining room window. Anyway, when I took Faith to bed that night, her room absolutely reeked It's taken 2 days of airing and a bit of air freshener, but at least it no longer smells like we've got a 3.5-year-old pot smoker...

Now, there was an actual reason I'd decided to post here before I ran into the flowers in the backlog...

Oh, yes...

Some of you may remeber that, a couple rounds of clean cups ago, I announced that the owners of the apartments we live in were going to be doing major renovations (basically changing just about everything but walls and appliances, and maybe plumbing fixtures...) but that they were supplying boxes, storage, temporary housing, and movers. We were first told this early last autumn. Well, the notice of when we're relocating finally came--we've got a little over a month to pack up. All well and good, but that was when they'd estimated all this would be finished, for all the aprtments Of course, they did start on the interiors a couple months later than planned, though we have gotten new windows, siding, heaters, and light fixtures/switches (and a fan in the bathroom finally!)

I am good... or so the quizmaster thinks.

Healing vibes to Librarian Pear -- please let us know how she's doing, David.

"The foot is better. I'm hoping the swelling doesn't hang on for ages like last time. "

Hyp, when you put the foot up, do you try to put it higher than your head (lay down with the pillow under the foot, not your head?) I realize the cause isn't the same, but it helps when my ankles get really bad.

"It's raining again this morning. Over 7 inches in the last 12 days. My back yard is turning into a swamp."

That's going to make your gardening plans a tad iffy -- unless you've acquired a small flatboat?

Glad to hear Molly's back; maybe she was on a jaunt with her possum boyfriend...

I am good.

I'm angelic. What the heck? Innocent fools, serves them right for not asking about bad language (am listening to news on radio and am surrounded by blue cloud of sweariness) or general attitude of weary loathing towards fellow commuters.

I was trying to work out what my favourite flower was, based on scent alone. I decided in the end that it wasn't jasmine after all, as I remember hot nights in Italy when I felt rather as if the jasmine was trying to convert me into a plant myself via osmosis, it was so strong. I adore violets, but most wild violets aren't really scented. I adore lilac, mock orange, honeysuckle, but actually, my true love is, after all, the rose. Which makes me feel slightly cheesy, because the rose is Britain's Official Favourite Flower. Mind you, unscented and merely decorative varieties make me cross, as do tea roses. I like old-fashioned shaggy collapsy ones that smell of heaven, or dog-roses.

The other thing about the statue thing is that the Russians are just not very inclined to see themselves as the Baddy. This is partly because most of them also see themselves as having been comprehensively screwed by the Soviet System and don't see why they should take the blame for its evils and all that.

I'll tell you what I find interesting about Estonia, is the exact parallel between it and (northen) Ireland with the indiginous catholic inhabitants and imposed protestant population. Before the Troubles really kicked off (except that in this case the 'catholics' have got the upper hand).

So you're right about the reason there are so many Russians in Estonia, but I'd imagine a fair number of those are people who were born there and are therefore Estonian even if ethnicaly Russian. Of course, they probably don't see themselves as Estonian first and foremost, but nevertheless. The whole requirement to speak Estonian sounds reasonable too, but again, it's the sort of imposition that other countries make in immigrants and aliens rather than citizens and countrymen.

Anyway, I worry that a section of the population is being cut out and marginalised as a form of revenge rather than as a serious attempt to integrate and harmonise. It's not about what's right - it's no more than what the Russian led Soviets did to everywhere else, after all - it's about what will be most beneficial in the long term.

Right. That ends the political discussion for the day.

And I'm twisted.

I am angelic

Angelic. The world would be a better place if there were more people like me in it. Yeah. I'd be better inclined to believe that if the quiz author could spell vegetarian. Pity.

Freesias and stock for me. I adore jasmine and honeysuckle too, and roses but the scent of freesias especially has a direct link to my grandmother whom I still miss though she passed on 14 years ago. She grew them in her garden and didn't allow anyone to pick them. Definitely the one that tugs my heart. They grew on the tomb of Christ, apparently... how she knew, I never thought to ask (hmm). Other than that, my favourite plant has to be the passion fruit. Gorgeously weird flowers, expansive coverage of ugly neighbouring outbuildings and truly delicious juice from the fruits. A most Useful Plant.

Feeling a bit peculiar today. I am not sure why, just at odds with my world and all within it. I growled at my teenaged son on his way to a day of exams today. I'll surely be going to hell for that.

Thinking of all you poorly ones, LibraianPear, be well, Hyp's foot, be well. Amy's flat, be complete soon. Z's gibbering, be still. Canada, be non-European and pacifist.

W

Stuck in Neutral. Oh well I'll just sit here and ponder my navel or something, anything, sigh.

On politics in Estonia. I don't actually think that non-estonians are cut out and marginalised in Estonia. Even the recent event seem to be orchestrated from Moscow. Once again - this is not a nationality issue. It was not Russians only looting and rioting, it was not Estonians only who liked the idea of having the remains of people buried next to the monument removed to a graveyard.
"sort of imposition that other countries make in immigrants and aliens rather than citizens and countrymen" - well, not many countries have people who have lived there as 'better people' for 40-50 years and still don't speak the local language. You can live your life in Estonia without speaking the language. You can even vote at the local elections but you can't have the citizenship.
And one more thing about the language - we have *only* 1 (one) million of native speakers, no wonder we worry about any other language taking over. That's not only about Russian, these days English is a threat as well. So there.
Most of Estonians have no problems with Russians as such but we may admit that we have a problem with Russia. There's a difference. And in that Estonia is not really anything special, not the only one.

Apparently I'm angelic

My favourite flower smell is honeysuckle, I don't have one at the minute. I might have to get one for me garden.

Scented blooms! I completely agree with those who love jasmine, it lifts the spirit on spring nights. I also love lilacs, they were all over the place where I grew up, along with lilies of the valley.

David, I'm glad to hear that Librarian Pear is out of the hospital; I hope it was nothing lasting.

The park fire is almost out now; the Observatory is fine, and the Zoo is fine -- which is a huge relief, I had no idea how they could even have evacuated the animals. However, Dante's Point was destroyed (it's a garden on a peak up behind the Observatory, with a lovely 360 degree view of most of Los Angeles), and the bird sanctuary didn't make it, either. I'm very bummed about that -- there was a small grove of redwoods which predated the park by about 50 years; I'm hoping the trees can recover. Also, many animals have lost their homes; people have been seeing coyotes, deer, rabbits, bobcats, snakes, and squirrels all over the neighborhoods around there. Mostly the coyotes, and the deer -- as they're very noticable during the day!

[p] Roses and Honeysuckle.

Gee, I am good

I'm good as well.

I'm evil, apparently.

Only 'apprently' Mr D