Happy ending for an orange trees, commercials, moving

[thistlechaser]

One of the big issues with my move was my orange tree. I bought it when it was a little thing, maybe six inches high. I was enthralled with the idea of owning a tree that grows oranges. I have no idea why. But, as I have a garden megastore nearly across the road from me, it was easy enough to get one. That was maybe ten years ago, and the darned thing has grown and grown since then, me repotting it again and again, until it was finally in one of those wooden slat "barrel pots". The tree was maybe four feet tall (and really needed a much bigger pot, but there's no going up from there).

My new place has a patio, but it's a three level building, so two other patios are directly above mine. Much shade, not so good for plants. Plus I really didn't want to lug the tree with me. It was more of a responsibility than anything at this point. "You want water? Again?! I just watered you last week!"

Freecycle to the rescue. Within five minutes of me making the post, EIGHT people responded asking for it! One woman said she would really like it for her school's garden, that the garden needed a tree. It was so perfect I could have cried. The tree needed to be out of a pot, I really wanted a new home for it instead of throwing it out/killing it, and hopefully kids will enjoy it. Happy ending!

I feel silly linking commercials, but some are so good they're worth sharing. Every time one of Target's new back to school commercials comes on, I not only turn towards the TV to watch, I usually dance in my chair as well.

Volcano is my favorite one.
Bike Ride is short even for a commercial, but makes me grin.
Shopping cart is great, but unfortunately I couldn't find a better quality video.

And in more general moving news: I worked physically harder today than I've worked any day probably since the last time I moved. An hour nap perked me right up though! It feels good to be getting rid of trash bags full of stuff -- two bags to the trash so far, one for donation. I need to post my second TV to Freecycle (old, pre-digital unit, but with a converter box and rabbit ears) -- Freecycle is so much easier than lugging things to be donated or thrown out!

I wish I wasn't going back to work tomorrow, I have so much to do I think my head is going to explode. The new place requires so much, everything from a photo of my cat to my last two pay stubs to renters' insurance (I never bothered with that before, they require you have $100,000 worth of it!).

Comments

[kelen.livejournal.com]

Good luck on moving!! :)

It sure is a nice way to purge all that stuff you don't need. We donated so much to Good Will this last move that the staff gaped at us. Was pretty funny.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And yes, I'm enjoying throwing away/making donation piles. I always feel better owning less stuff. :D

[kelen.livejournal.com]

Honestly you just don't need it! Or that's what I found. :) I love living more simply. So much easier to take care of.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Agreed! Fewer things to collect dust!

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

I suspect you were fascinated by orange trees for the same reason as I was when I just visited the West Coast. They don't grow out here where I live, and I couldn't stop staring at them.

The HILTON that I STAYED AT had a LEMON TREE in the BACK COURTYARD where we had DRINKS. It blew my mind.

If I ever lived out there you can bet your ass I would be like I MUST HAVE AN ORANGE TREE. AND A LEMON TREE. AND AN AVOCADO TREE.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I still want a lemon tree, which is silly because I kept hoping my orange tree would die because I had to keep watering it. Of course I didn't want to kill it myself, but if it somehow died overnight of natural causes? FINE AND DANDY!

I'm looking forward to having no plants at my new apartment. Unless I get some new plants. Which I might. I MAKE NO SENSE

[kamalloy.livejournal.com]

The first time I went to Florida, I was absolutely insistent that we go to a citrus orchard so I could see orange trees. I don't really even like eating oranges that much (the pulpy texture makes me gag) but I was all, "Real orange trees! So awesome!"

Also they had orange soft-serve ice cream. That didn't hurt. ;)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Oh, I bet orange ice cream was great! I've never had it, which seems strange. It's a common flavor, I wonder why they don't make it? (Maybe citrus can only be made into sherbert?)

[kamalloy.livejournal.com]

I'd guess it would have to do with freezing juice/pulp and adding dairy to it. You see a lot more citrus sherberts/sorbets, and even the soft-serve was a bit firmer/icier than most soft-serves. Still delicious, though!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Mmm you're making me crave it now! :D

[chichiri.livejournal.com]

Your icon is so cute! Kitty kingyo goldfish fishing! :D

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I have so many icons, that one hasn't gotten enough use!