oh damn. I should have known, my perspective on time has gone awry. Thanks for the replys.
it goes something like this...
plant seed <- wretched wait until leaves appear
Leaves appear <- yippee
Nothing happens seemingly forever <- another wretched wait
Plant explodes with growth <- yippee
Switch to 12/12
Another long stretch of nothing <- yet another wretched wait
The excitement of sexing <-you miss this excitement if you are growing clones
Buds appear <- yippee
The longest wait ever - worse than being a kid on christmas eve and it last for months!!!
Finally harvest day arrives - then you start manicuring - what a drag that is and then you have to dry it (another wait) and then cure it (another wait)!!!
eventually you do get to smoke it and you know what? It is so worth it that you can't wait to start another crop!