I have a new office, which is very exciting for me, but it is quite bare. I want to make it a little bit less like a jail cell, so I was thinking I'd get some plants.
However.
I have a black thumb, I kill everything, and I just don't think I'm up to the heartache of trying to keep a chlorophyll menagerie alive. Where can I get some fake ones? Bushy, preferably. There is about three feet between the top of the cabinets on one wall and the ceiling, and it is either fake plants or that TARDIS playset.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I get mine at home improvement stores, like Lowe's or Home Depot. Craft stores like Michael's sometimes have nice selections too.
Congrats on the new office! That's always exciting. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Thanks! It is kind of exciting, except I'm so afraid I'm going to screw up that I haven't slept through the night in four days.
Home Depot it is, then. I think I know where one is.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Ikea sometimes has these for good prices as well.
Posted by Lisa (Member # 8384) on :
My first thought was a fake florist, but Home Despot is probably a better idea.
Posted by The Genuine (Member # 11446) on :
I don't know about plants, but I have an embalmed alligator head and one of these in my office.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I am going to have a signed print in my office that my dad gave me for Christmas. Plus a wacky clock, and possibly a map of ancient Rome. And my Hamlet poster. In fact, the Hamlet poster will probably be first.
Posted by The Genuine (Member # 11446) on :
It doesn't look quite like the one I liked to but is very similar.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Maybe you can buy fake plants at the same place where you buy "air guitars."
Sorry, guess that wasn't too helpful. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I am personally torn between making my office habitable and remaining cool and unknowable at work. I really prefer to make as little as possible of my personal life discernable at work, but I am a bit stumped as to how to make this place look less like a prison cell without being revealing.
Hence the fake plants.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
"Home Despot." Good one, Lisa. Makes me think of my ex-wife.
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
You might consider a real aloe vera plant. They can generally be had for around $5, they filter toxins out of the air, and they're a desert plant, so if you only water them once a month, they do fine.
Posted by The Genuine (Member # 11446) on :
quote:Originally posted by katharina: I am personally torn between making my office habitable and remaining cool and unknowable at work. I really prefer to make as little as possible of my personal life discernable at work, but I am a bit stumped as to how to make this place look less like a prison cell without being revealing.
Hence the fake plants.
I like having candy etc. in my office because it draws people in.
That helps prevents those awkward situations where in the restroom someone you know is talking to someone you don't know (because you know everyone).
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sterling: You might consider a real aloe vera plant. They can generally be had for around $5, they filter toxins out of the air, and they're a desert plant, so if you only water them once a month, they do fine.
Based on my experiences, if you only water them every six months, they still do fine. Dragon trees are also very drought tolerant, and there's a similar plant that has a short, bulbous trunk instead of a long, thin one, that is even better. The bulb part soaks up water that the plant uses to live off of for a very long time. I think I may have left mine without water for as long as a year, once. The base got a bit shriveled, but it plumped right back up after a thorough watering.
Not that I'm trying to dissuade you from fake plants, but if you would like to a have a few living ones as well, dragon trees are exceptionally hard to kill through neglect.
--Mel
Posted by Lostinspace (Member # 11633) on :
Garden Ridge has a good selection on the low down too!
Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
The dracaena plant (looks like bamboo, often seen in Chinese homes) does fine in a vase as long as you remember to water it every now and then when you can't see anymore water in the vase. I haven't managed to kill mine yet, and I kill everything plant-like. You can get them at Ikea for like $2 a stalk.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I killed an Aloe plant once.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Just to watch it die.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by Noemon: Just to watch it die.
There aren't any aloe plants in Reno!
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I love aloe vera. I used it as a kid right off my mom's plants for bad sunburns and cuts.
Imagine my surprise when I moved to FL and found they grew larger than my hand. The only ones I had ever seen were small ones in pots up north. They get HUGE if they have room to grow. Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
You will find everything you need here. Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:I really prefer to make as little as possible of my personal life discernable at work
Why is that?
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I have found that craft stores have VERY nice fake plants compared to the home improvment stores.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
I totally just read this thread title as "where do I buy fake pants?"
I was very confused.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Hmm...partly because my life is very compartmentalized, and partly because I don't have a safety net. For the compartmentalized, I have work world, family world, school world, home world, social world, and church world, and there is remarkably little overlap. I have friends in all places (ideally, anyway), but they usually don't mix and I avoid talking about other worlds when in a particular world - partly because the people aren't interested and partly because, really, those worlds are so different.
The no-safety-net thing comes from me having only myself to rely on, and I need work to be something I can rely on so I can sleep at night. I hate worrying about money, and so my solution is to make enough for my needs and then protect that money-making endeavor from anything that may interfere. This way, I never have to worry and can participate in my other worlds wholeheartedly when I am there.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Aloe Vera is the best overall skin-treatment there is. Take off a leaf and slice it sideways (not all the way through) and turn it pulp-side out, and smear it on sunburns, rashes, anything except deep stab wounds--and even then, after the wound is disinfected and sewn up, Aloe Vera will promote healing better than anything else.
Some commercial gel preparations that say "100% Aloe Vera" may still contain alcohol, which will sting.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Hey, Michaels has a 1/2 off fake plants sale right now. I think I'll do that tonight.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Hmm...partly because my life is very compartmentalized, and partly because I don't have a safety net. For the compartmentalized, I have work world, family world, school world, home world, social world, and church world, and there is remarkably little overlap. I have friends in all places (ideally, anyway), but they usually don't mix and I avoid talking about other worlds when in a particular world - partly because the people aren't interested and partly because, really, those worlds are so different.
Perhaps its just me, but that kind of compartmentalization seems psychologically unhealthy.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
It's just you. Thanks for your long-distance, intrusive, non-educated, unwanted and unneeded diagnosis. Don't worry about it.
Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jhai: The dracaena plant (looks like bamboo, often seen in Chinese homes) does fine in a vase as long as you remember to water it every now and then when you can't see anymore water in the vase. I haven't managed to kill mine yet, and I kill everything plant-like. You can get them at Ikea for like $2 a stalk.
I have one too, from Ikea no less. (Whoo?) I can verify that it indeed seems hardy even near a rather cold window, although I have been warned that it may be sensitive to chlorine (I haven't tried tap water yet).
Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
Ours gets tap water... when I remember to fill it up.
Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :
Mine gets some kind of non-chlorinated water from the water dispenser at work and stored in something similar to these beads link
They last more than a month so it suits my laziness.
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
quote:Originally posted by katharina: It's just you. Thanks for your long-distance, intrusive, non-educated, unwanted and unneeded diagnosis. Don't worry about it.
Well, it's also George Costanza. But please note, I am not worrying about it.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:Originally posted by The Rabbit: Perhaps its just me, but that kind of compartmentalization seems psychologically unhealthy.
Crap. That could have been an interesting discussion, but now that discussion is impossible.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
A discussion of whether or not such compartmentalization is unhealthy, you mean?
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
The title reminds me of a Radiohead song somehow.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
No. A discussion about such compartmentalization.
I find her description bewildering, alien, and fascinating, and would love to try to understand it better.
But since the first comment about it called it sick, I doubt that Kat is interested in opening up about it any more. I know that I wouldn't be.
Posted by Sala (Member # 8980) on :
Hobby Lobby usually has a really nice selection of fake plants that actually look really good. Does Hobby Lobby exist where you live?
Posted by Elmer's Glue (Member # 9313) on :
So, I was in Michaels going down a huge fake plant aisle. I went on this big rant about how stupid they are. It was funny and all, but then I see this lady, pushing a shopping cart overflowing with fake plants, glaring at me. She looked like she was ready to kill me. It was great.
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
quote:Originally posted by Noemon: Just to watch it die.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by katharina: It's just you. Thanks for your long-distance, intrusive, non-educated, unwanted and unneeded diagnosis. Don't worry about it.
Excuse me, you certainly haven't ever given us any other reason to question your emotional stability and psychological health.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
I prefer my work space to be neutral too. I tend to keep my geeky side out of it.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
My workspace doesn't have a lot of stuff in it, but that's mostly because my coworkers throw things at each other often enough that decorative objects are in danger of being broken. My demeanor at work is pretty much exactly the same as it is at home. I don't think that there's anything necessarily unhealthy about compartmentalizing, though. It's something that is so common as to be nearly ubiquitous, I think. Most people present different facets of themselves in different environments. I think that people who *don't* do this are a tiny, tiny minority. I do a lot less of it than is typical, but even I do it to a degree.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
quote:It's something that is so common as to be nearly ubiquitous, I think
I totally agree with this.
Posted by JennaDean (Member # 8816) on :
quote:it is either fake plants or that TARDIS playset.
I'm having a hard time understanding why this would be a difficult choice.
But you can't get a TARDIS playset at Michael's, so....
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head: No. A discussion about such compartmentalization.
I find her description bewildering, alien, and fascinating, and would love to try to understand it better.
But since the first comment about it called it sick, I doubt that Kat is interested in opening up about it any more. I know that I wouldn't be.
I'm sorry if my choice of words made my comment seem overly hostile. In my mind, calling something unhealthy is not equivalent to calling it sick. Eating chocolate for breakfast may be unhealthy but I'd never call it sick.
I myself am a very private person. You may have noticed that I rarely share anything of a personal nature here on Hatrack. There are very few people in my life who I open up to about certain things. Its something I've thought about quite a bit and I suspect that I would be more healthy emotionally if I had more close confidants and was a bit more open but its still not something I feel very comfortable with and that's hard to change.
Despite that, I don't think my life is compartmentalized in the way katharina describes it. I can't think of anything I'd hang in my home that I'd find embarrassing to hang in my office. I do have a variety of social circles that don't overlap much but that isn't necessarily by choice. I'm happy to have someone from church drop by my office or someone from my family meet my church friends and so on. If I met one of my political activist friends while I was with a church group, I'd happily introduce them even though I generally avoid talking politics with my church friends. When I throw a dinner party, I usually invite people from the same social circle but mainly because people tend to feel more comfortable at a gathering where they know other people.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:Originally posted by The Rabbit: I'm sorry if my choice of words made my comment seem overly hostile.
It definitely read to me as an attack, although not nearly as strong as kat's response, or your response to kat's response. I'm glad that it wasn't intended as one, though.
quote:I myself am a very private person. You may have noticed that I rarely share anything of a personal nature here on Hatrack.
I know that this is a bit of a diversion from your point, but you used to do so more frequently than you do now, didn't you? Around 2003, 2004, somewhere in there?
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
I think kat might not be at all unusual in that different areas of her life don't overlap very much. I think it might be quite common, especially for people who are introverted.
I'm not sure I can see any reason to call it unhealthy, based on the information provided. I think deception and secrecy can be unhealthy but I don't think that's what she was saying.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by Noemon:
quote:Originally posted by The Rabbit: I'm sorry if my choice of words made my comment seem overly hostile.
It definitely read to me as an attack, although not nearly as strong as kat's response, or your response to kat's response. I'm glad that it wasn't intended as one, though.
quote:I myself am a very private person. You may have noticed that I rarely share anything of a personal nature here on Hatrack.
I know that this is a bit of a diversion from your point, but you used to do so more frequently than you do now, didn't you? Around 2003, 2004, somewhere in there?
Every now and then I will post something personal when it seems germane to the conversation. Its possible that may have happened more frequently at sometime in the past but I suspect it was just random.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ron Lambert: Aloe Vera is the best overall skin-treatment there is. Take off a leaf and slice it sideways (not all the way through) and turn it pulp-side out, and smear it on sunburns, rashes, anything except deep stab wounds--and even then, after the wound is disinfected and sewn up, Aloe Vera will promote healing better than anything else.
Some commercial gel preparations that say "100% Aloe Vera" may still contain alcohol, which will sting.
yeah, I used it growing up and loved it. It worked really good, but in MI the growing season was so small that everyone I knew just grew it in small pots inside the house.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Rabbit, what on earth is wrong with you? You made a rude, judgmental comment from sheer ignorance based on a quick description. It is so patently inappropriate and offensive I am floored you are defending it.
And if it really strikes you as so strange, perhaps you ought to consider the possibility that I am not delivering the nuances of my interactions in the 50 words or less rather than jumping to the conclusion that I am mentally ill.
And your second comment was really beyond the pale. I don't know if you are socially inept or simply mindblowingly selfish and rude, but either way, your contributions are worthless and unwanted.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by scifibum: I think kat might not be at all unusual in that different areas of her life don't overlap very much. I think it might be quite common, especially for people who are introverted.
I'm not sure I can see any reason to call it unhealthy, based on the information provided. I think deception and secrecy can be unhealthy but I don't think that's what she was saying.
I agree that its not particularly unusual to have social circles or other aspects of your life that don't overlap much. Its not the lack of overlap that I consider unhealthy but I do think it is of concern if people are putting much effort into keeping things separate. For example, if the people you work with aren't interested in science fiction it would be a bit borish to talk alot about SciFi at work, but if you feel you need to hide the SciFi novel you were reading on the bus before you walk through the office door I would consider that unhealthy.
On the other hand, I can think of plenty of completely healthy reasons for wanting to keep ones office decor from being too personal. Offices are offen virtually public areas and it is not at all uncommon for complete strangers to knock on my office door.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Too bad your first instinct was to be rude and attack rather than considering that it is completely normal behavior you yourself share. I can't imagine what possessed you.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by katharina: Rabbit, what on earth is wrong with you? You made a rude, judgmental comment from sheer ignorance based on a quick description. It is so patently inappropriate and offensive I am floored you are defending it.
And if it really strikes you as so strange, perhaps you ought to consider the possibility that I am not delivering the nuances of my interactions in the 50 words or less rather than jumping to the conclusion that I am mentally ill.
And your second comment was really beyond the pale. I don't know if you are socially inept or simply mindblowingly selfish and rude, but either way, your contributions are worthless and unwanted.
Kat, I really did not intend to offend. Please don't be so quick to interpret everything I say as an insult.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Please consider what you are actually saying when you talk to me. There have been too many occasions when I have to assume that what you are saying isn't what you actually mean. And the second comment was definitely an insult. Or, again, if it wasn't, I can't imagine what possessed you to say that to me. You're a stranger, and that kind of remark is inappropriate, not in the least because it is made in ignorance.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by katharina: Too bad your first instinct was to be rude and attack rather than considering that it is completely normal behavior you yourself share. I can't imagine what possessed you.
Kat, Calm down. You are over reacting. You will note that in so far as my behavior overlaps with yours, I find it emotionally unhealthy. it was not intended as an attack on you. If you weren't so quick to presume people were attacking you, I might have more reason to presume you were in good emotional and psychological health.
This will be my last post in this thread because I have learned from experience that you are a) never able to let anything go even when an apology is offered and b) never able to admit when you are in the wrong.
Bye.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Good. I want you to leave. It should have occurred to you that someone who prefers not to share her personal life with strangers doesn't appreciate strangers commenting on it.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
kat, At least I have the good manners not to call people I barely know at midnight on Christmas Eve to apologize for not calling earlier. If you really want to fight. Go ahead. You've given me plenty of ammunition over the years.
Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
quote:Originally posted by katharina: Good. I want you to leave. It should have occurred to you that someone who prefers not to share her personal life with strangers doesn't appreciate strangers commenting on it.
Then why did you offer up that bit about your personal life, if you consider some people on Hatrack strangers? Posted by The Genuine (Member # 11446) on :
I have come to learn that I am an exceedingly "out" fellow. Not as in homosexual, but as in I say what I'm feeling, to an embarrassing degree both on these public fora and in person (although not in court ).
Despite that openness, I definitely compartmentalize. It's a way for me to focus on what I'm doing. If I were thinking about my girlfriend while arguing a motion, I'd probably start gyrating, which isn't the right motion to use in court. And if I thinking about a motion while arguing with my girlfriend, I'd probably … oh, well I always lose those fights anyway so nevermind. Anyway, above and beyond that, I run in disparate circles of friends, so I have to compartmentalize to keep the peace.
Also, I'm sure there's a reason why I am much more productive in the office than at home, and that it has to do with compartmentalization. Porter, I think you are the exception there (among the other ways you are exceptional :-* ).
This forum software really needs to be updated. Like, can't there at least be a read/unread thread feature?
Oh! I guess I'm a forum compartmentalizer too!
Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
There is kind of something that almost works, which is the Jump to new posts link at the top of the page. It's not always good at telling where you were last IME, but it can help sometimes.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I imagine most people have a distinction between their public and private lives. I am also not surprised that Porter doesn't, because he (you) work at home. If you don't have to put on shoes to go to work, then you don't have to worry about the impression you're making with your office decorations.
I am also at a job where everyone I work with is much older and most are male. As much as I'd love a TARDIS playset, I wouldn't actually put it in my office until I'd established a reputation for being awesome and essential. Since I'm trying to build that reputation without distractions, I should probably leave the [insert personal items that reveal my character here] at home.
[ January 09, 2009, 09:09 AM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I'm curious: why do you think the TARDIS playset would hurt your reputation?
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Your question rests on false assumptions and a misread of my post.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:As much as I'd love a TARDIS playset, I wouldn't actually put it in my office until I'd established a reputation for being awesome and essential. Since I'm trying to build that reputation without distractions, I should probably leave the [insert personal items that reveal my character here] at home.
Thanks for sharing. That actually makes sense.
You're right -- my particular work situation is almost the exact opposite. For years, I've been frustrated by the fact that I haven't had enough opportunities to share a little bit of myself with my coworkers.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Fair enough. Why wouldn't you put a TARDIS playset in your office until later?
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
quote:Since I'm trying to build that reputation without distractions
Because I want to build that reputation without distractions.
Four of the people who came by the congratulate me on getting job mentioned money and how it was a big jump and how that must be exciting for me, including my new boss. Twice. That's what happens when everything is public record.
Since I'm already about twenty years younger than everyone else, I want them to file me under "competent and skilled" rather than "young."
Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :
quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: Fair enough. Why wouldn't you put a TARDIS playset in your office until later?
More importantly, where can *I* find a TARDIS playset?
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Oh, I could totally tell you if I were at my old computer. There is an American supplier of all the Doctor Who stuff, but I don't have the link anymore.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Google Bookmarks: so you can have your bookmarks anywhere.
Posted by The Genuine (Member # 11446) on :
Yeah, I agree Rivka. While out of obstinancy I still call myself a Yahoo! man, Google really does put out some useful stuff (first).
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
Amazon has plenty of Doctor Who stuff.
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
quote:Originally posted by The Rabbit: Excuse me, you certainly haven't ever given us any other reason to question your emotional stability and psychological health.
...
quote:Originally posted by katharina: And your second comment was really beyond the pale. I don't know if you are socially inept or simply mindblowingly selfish and rude, but either way, your contributions are worthless and unwanted.
...
This from a discussion about fake plants? Posted by Lostinspace (Member # 11633) on :
quote:Originally posted by MattP:
quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: Fair enough. Why wouldn't you put a TARDIS playset in your office until later?
More importantly, where can *I* find a TARDIS playset?
quote:Originally posted by The Genuine: Yeah, I agree Rivka. While out of obstinancy I still call myself a Yahoo! man, Google really does put out some useful stuff (first).
Yahoo and IE? How is 1997?
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
Nah, that's more like 1999 or 2000. Everyone knows that Netscape Navigator was king before that.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I thought hotmail was 2000, maybe it was 2001.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
I just checked my Hotmail inbox. I have an email in there from February 1999, so I know it's at least that old!
Posted by The Genuine (Member # 11446) on :
How cool would it be to be the person who decided "Hotmail" would be a good name for an email service.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
According to Wikipedia, hotmail was launched in 1996 and sold to Microsoft in 1997.
Yahoo goes back to 1994.
The anti-trust suit against Microsoft for bundling IE with Windows went to court in the spring of 1998.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
The only ones I had ever seen were small ones in pots up north. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
They get HUGE if they have room to grow. ![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
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