You think your mortgage is upside down?
If home is where the heart is, what do the homes in the video below say about their owners likes and dislikes?
I'm a fan of the "skinny" house. What's your favorite?
"The calla lilies are in bloom again ... such a strange flower!"
For those who don't recall Katherine Hepburn's famous line from the 1937 classic "Stage Door", here's a quick refresher.
What isn't refreshing, but is truly strange, is the synchronized blooming of the freakish "flower" whose name in Latin (Amorphophallus titanium) translates into "giant, misshapen phallus." I'll leave readers to further decode the meaning of that last term.
According to the Huffington Post, "The rare tropical plant takes nearly a decade to form its first bloom and, when it does, the odor it releases is comparable to rotting flesh. The blooms also only last for a day or two.
So, it's incredibly strange that corpse flowers from Missouri to Florida are suddenly blooming all at the same time.
Scientists aren't sure why this phenomenon is happening, but the flowers are releasing their deathly smell in Bloomington, Indiana; Sarasota, Florida; Washington, D.C.; St. Louis and New York, according to The Wall Street Journal."
"A few of us are saying, 'Well, wait a minute, how did six or seven happen all at once?'" Marc Hachadourian, director of the Nolen Greenhouses at the New York Botanical Garden, told the paper.
"For perspective, the University of Wisconsin-Madison conducted a study and found only 157 corpse flower blooms between 1889 and 2008."
Intriguing, no? And yet there is nothing captivating (unless one is an insect) about the piquant fragrance of the corpse flower that is also reportedly equated to limburger cheese and human feces. Delightful!
According to Daniel Janzen, a professor of biology at the University of Pennsylvania, the mystery of simultaneous blooming is likely due to the fact that the plants are related, that is they are "cousins" or "siblings." This would put each plant on a similar biological clock wherein they would begin to bloom at the same time – blooms only last 24 to 48 hours – having reached maturity on matching timelines.
At present, however, scientists cannot be certain of the precise origins of each bloomer and so are unable to confirm Janzen's hypothesis. Perhaps some brave souls could study the flower ... in more depth. I'm satisfied with a more distant observation as provided by the following video:
But something tells me that unlike Hepburn's character in "Stage Door" who was eventually welcomed by her fellow actresses despite her privileged background, the corpse flower will always be that one set apart – far apart!
Back to school blues ... anticipation can be worse than the actual event
It's here! August, the last month of summer vacation. Parents rejoice. Many a school child, however, is filled with dread. Not the little ones, usually. Those unaccustomed to the expected routine of daily life are often eager to be considered one of the big people. My own mother had a round of snapshots surrounding my being ushered out the door to kindergarten back in 1969. Me at the front door, me on front path, the side walk, the driveway, walking past the camphor trees and around the corner.
Snap. Snap. Snap.
A woman with eight children – my mother – had good reason to make merry at her liberation ... I mean, accomplishment. Princess Katherine, Duchess of Cambridge, mother to Prince George, Great Britain's future heir, certainly took pride her little man's sendoff. Going so far as to take her own photographs of the happy event.
The little prince looks obligingly delightful, too. Thank goodness! But such is not the case for all schoolchildren. The following list from the American Psychological Association has some solid tips to allay anxiety and make the transition of seasons and that move from sleeping in to the schoolroom just a little easier:
- Practice the first day of school routine: Getting into a sleep routine before the first week of school will aide in easing the shock of waking up early. Organizing things at home – backpack, binder, lunchbox or cafeteria money – will help make the first morning go smoothly. Having healthy, yet kid-friendly lunches will help keep them energized throughout the day. Also, walking through the building and visiting your child's locker and classroom will help ease anxiety of the unknown.
- Get to know your neighbors: If your child is starting a new school, walk around your block and get to know the neighborhood children. Try and set up a play date, or, for an older child, find out where neighborhood kids might go to safely hang out, like the community pool, recreation center or park.
- Talk to your child: Asking your children about their fears or worries about going back to school will help them share their burden. Inquire as to what they liked about their previous school or grade and see how those positives can be incorporated into their new experience.
- Empathize with your children: Change can be difficult, but also exciting. Let your children know that you are aware of what they're going through and that you will be there to help them in the process. Nerves are normal, but highlight that not everything that is different is necessarily bad. It is important to encourage your children to face their fears instead of falling in to the trap of encouraging avoidance.
- Get involved and ask for help: Knowledge of the school and the community will better equip you to understand your child's surroundings and the transition he or she is undergoing. Meeting members of your community and school will foster support for both you and your child. If you feel the stress of the school year is too much for you and your child to handle on your own, seeking expert advice from a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, will help you better manage and cope.