thanks for all of your kind words guys. i'm still just sick about it, but slowly getting over the trauma. this particular plant has sent out two gorgeous leads this year. one of them is a pseudobulb now and the other isn't far away. strangely enough, it was the younger of the leads that put out the spike. it was my understanding that the older pseudobulb would typically be the first to spike. i have high hopes. but i will never again groom my orchids at midnight. a well lit enviornment is now a requirement. ba humbug.
cat