Thursday, July 31, 2008

Short Sleepy Stories

When I’m constantly thinking it's Friday and not Thursday, that’s not good. I’m so busy from sunrise to sunset lately that I don’t know when I’ll ever come by to visit y’all! Please forgive me?

Today I sat on an interview panel for a vacant management position at work. The college interviews candidates marathon style - back-to-back appointments during a five-hour stretch. We had a bathroom break. Just one. I’m spent.

It reminds me of the last time I participated on one. We needed to hire a director and one of the candidates looked fantastic on paper and in person he was even better. He mesmerized us throughout the interview and we were hands-down loving him. Until…I don’t remember how or why, dogs came into the conversation. He proudly announced, “I can do without dogs.” With the same passion and enthusiasm he exuded during his visit, he went on to say he hated dogs. For what reason? Unknown. Well, after a few glances at each other around the table, we knew right away he’d receive his walking papers. In less than a minute, he blew it.


There are more hummingbirds arriving daily. They're making my head spin! May I inflict a few more hummingbird photos on you tonight? I have a backlog of great ones but here are two…




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Last July, during the driest summer on record, I found a sickly butterfly bush for $5.00. It was about two-feet round, had one solitary bloom, and maybe a dozen pale green leaves. I’m so glad I nursed that bush back to life.


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A young black rat snake napped in a corner of the front porch. Chloe didn’t see it but Bella squealed with excitement.

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It slithered along the storm door...

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Thirty minutes until bedtime (yawn). Can’t wait… If you are still with me and haven't dozed off, good night.

26 comments:

Sherry at the Zoo said...

You lucky thing you....butterflies, hummingbirds, snakes and dogs. Life is perfect. I'm with you by the way...I don't trust anyone that doesn't like dogs. I just don't get it...what's not to like?

Robin's Nesting Place said...

The hummingbird picture is amazing! Your butterfly bush looks like mine. I think if I ever saw a snake on my front porch I'd be house bound for the rest of my life.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

The job candidate might have seemed perfect but only an idiot would shoot himself in the foot by voicing such an opinion a an interview.

Sorry, I don't want a snake looking in my door.

Your hummer and flower pix put us all to shame. Pretty-pretty!

God-night May-May!

NCmountainwoman said...

What a bargain that butterfly bush turned out to be. Lovely shots.

You know what? I think the hummingbirds know that you need them right now after the horrid times you've had recently. Keep bringing us the great shots of them.

beckie said...

Please bore me some more with those hummer pictures! And those butterflys are wonderful. They appreciate you loving care of the bush. Snakes(again!) you know how I hate snakes-you won't dismis me from an interview will you?:) Doesn't your college do a lot with trained police dogs? he must have been all blow and no go. Glad you showed him the door. Hope you can get some rest one of these days.

Debbie said...

The not liking dogs would do it for me also...how can anyone not like dogs!?

Mary, your photos are just stunning. Love them all.

We don't have great success here in the northeast with butterfly bush, but I have one small one that has survived.

JeanMac said...

Great post, sleep tight:)

Cheryl said...

Beautiful Mary.....love the butterfly and hummingbird, sheer delight.....

When people say to me they do like animals or children.....I am immediately suspicious.....sleep well.....

Lisa at Greenbow said...

This is not a bore Mary. Love those hummer pictures and that upside down butterfly is great. I even like the snake picture. He was looking for some good ole bugs, snails or maybe even a mouse. It is good to see that the hummers survived the snakes in the area. They are notorious for eating baby birds.

NatureWoman said...

I do one to three interviews a day, and it's amazing how one little thing someone says can blow the entire interview for them.
I love your nature photos!! I'm surprised you got so close to the snake.

possumlady said...

Forget Snakes on a Plane. SNAKES ON A FRONT PORCH!!! Actually he/she is a beauty.

My good friend and neighbor tried to set me up with a good friend of her husband's a few years ago. After a nice dinner we started talking about animals and he said he never understood the appeal of having a dog and actually said he hated cats! Well, I gave a look to my neighbor that said "this 'interview' is over!" Hah! My neighbor later apologized and said "I had no idea he felt that way about animals!"

Cute, cute hummer.

thailandchani said...

I could have lived with "I can do without dogs". Everyone has his or her preference but to say "I hate dogs"? That doesn't show a very kind spirit.

~*

Anonymous said...

Isn't it funny how truly arbitrary hiring is? I once offered a beauty editor job to someone because I loved the pink and orange cashmere sweater she wore to her interview. Sure, she had a fine book of clips and all, but so did a few other candidates. What they didn't have, however, was the guts to wear pink and orange together and make it work. In the end, she took a job at a different magazine, but if only she knew how important that sweater was to getting the offer!

Jayne said...

You've got the hummer photos down Mary! Beautiful! Love your flutterby bush and all it's visitors. Like Lynne, I can do without the other visitor. :c)

Anonymous said...

Mary, Mary. I'm loving your butterfly shots since I have so few and they never sit still long enough for a photo! Thankyou for filling in that need!

Q said...

Dear Mary,
Silly man!! I bet he does not like birds or bugs either.
Wonderful butterfly pictures and always I love your Hummingbirds.
Hope you have some relaxing time this weekend.
Sherry

Mary C said...

Beautiful butterflies, Mary. I'm envious, because we get so few and they never are still long enough to get a picture of them. Have a great weekend! And kiss your licker sisters for me. ;o)

Donna said...

Love your photos, Mary. The hummingbird photo is unbelievable! Love the butterflys too.

As far as the guy that doesn't like dogs, well, I just can't even imagine! I think that tells you alot about a person.

Ruth said...

The butterflies are beautifully captured as is the hummingbird. But that snake...I have to lift my feet off the floor right now!

RuthieJ said...

I wonder if he hated birds too? Good thing you won't have to see him again, isn't it Mare!
Your hummer pictures are awesome and do you see those zebra swallowtails every day? I'm about ready to book a flight to North Carolina just to see them myself!

Corey said...

I'm coming over to your house to capture one of those Zebra Swallowtails for my specimen box!

Oh grrrrr, darned Google Maps doesn't know where "Mary's View" is.

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Your young hummer is a sweetie!
You must be sitting at the table with him, having a dinner date?
Gosh, that's a clear shot.

I would say your hummer summer certainly makes up for this spring's feeder troubles.

Kerri Farley said...

Your hummers and butterflies are beautiful!

The snake: Yikes!

Wendy said...

Yuk! I can do without snakes!! Loved your hummers, especially that first pic. He actually looked angry!
Hope you can get some down time. Nobody should have to work that hard in summer.
Hugs.

dguzman said...

Hey, Mary--is that a piece of a rattlesnake's rattle in that one snake closeup? Do you see what I'm looking at?

Mary said...

Aww I wish i was surrounded by such lovely nature.