Saturday, August 18, 2007

Bugs and Bears

I need to get something out of the way right off the bat. I did not get the job I applied for at the NCA and I am very disappointed. It is having a bit of a cascading effect. I am quite good at ignoring my feelings, so I need to acknowledge my disappointment before it can show up in some unwanted or unintended way.

Now I have to really go out and look for a job, something I have not had to do for the last twenty years. There are a few hurdles I must get through it seems to start a new life on the mainland.














So I garden and I visit gardens again to meet new friends. Xris from Flatbush Gardener and I met up at the Arboretum to start our day together.

These Tiger Swallowtails seems to pause when they sip nectar making for nicer pictures, unlike the black and blue Spicebush Swallowtails which flap non stop and are hard to catch on pixels.












This bug was barely moving. It didn't have to go far to get to the next flower on this Joe Pye relative, another Eupatorium. I did read the label, but I did not retain the species name. Maybe Xris did.














After a nice drive from my place back to Asheville through the back woods we ended up in downtown Hendersonville. The town had pretty much closed for the night and there were bears wandering through town.

You can take a bear out of the woods, but it still looks like they may have the same bathroom habits.















This bear looks like it may have been in a fight. Poor thing has a chunk of hair missing from his shoulder.















Where was this bear when I needed him? I have spent the last week and a half measuring things and without the fancy laser level this bear has.




















Ten to eight.


















Say goodnight to Hendersonville.

It was a very nice downtown. Lots of old buildings with small shops, all closed, on big sidewalks, very pedestrian friendly. I should have taken pictures of some of the many well done large planter boxes. I guess you need to get there before six.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sorry for your disappointment. You will find the right job! Love the bears!

Unknown said...

hey Christopher...I'm sure better things will be commin' round the mountain...send me your e-mail so we can chat....

Christopher C. NC said...

Hi Miss Nalani,

If you still have my going away card....

I am still not on my own computer which has all my e-addresses, but you can reach me at OutsideClyde at gmail dot com.

E-mail me and I can capture your e-address.

Anonymous said...

So apply again, call 'em, make a contact.

Anonymous said...

Or volunteer 1 day a week, get to know them.
It is a University, State job, right? They are notoriously retarded in the hiring process.

Christopher C. NC said...

Layanee, it took me a while to resurface the visual memory, but I saw painted cows while I was in downtown Denver in June of this year. I was just surprised to see painted bears in such a small downtown. It seems to be an art trend that is spreading.

My Dear Anonymous, possibly my sister in G'ville?, I have been into the administration office three times to present myself and say hello and was told to apply again if a new job gets posted. Yes it is a State University job, and I am white and male. I do like the volunteer idea and should look into that. Thanks.

EAL said...

Hi, Christopher, I've been enjoying reading your new blog for the first time.

The plants certainly look very familiar! I see many of them growing wild in my area.

I visited the Asheville area once--Highlands--to interview an eccentric poet. It is very beautiful. Good luck on all your endeavors here.

Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener) said...

Sorry, no, I took no note of the Eupatorium. More of that summer snow-blindness, I guess!

I'm finally back home and back on my home computer. I took me a couple more hours to clear the space for the, um, 450 photos from the whole week.Time for that external hard drive.

I'll work on my "Outside Clyde" post next. And I think I need to do a post of all the insects I saw during the week. Lots of things I don't see at home, so interesting to me.

Deviant Deziner, aka Michelle said...

Christopher,
Remain steadfast in your pursuit and transcend the disappointment. ( I know easier said than done but you can rise above it )
More times than not, it is not what you know but whom you know.
So get to know the horticultural crowd that moves and shakes things in your hood.
Join the local chapter of the state hort. society or the university hort chapter.
Perservere in your quest and chances are a favorable opportunity will present itself.

They can't be that stupid in your new neck of the woods not to see talent and intellect.

chuck b. said...

I extend my solicitudes for the job disappointment.

A friend applying for a university job once asked me if he should type his application and I said no, don't bother and he didn't get the job. And then I found out, you absolutely must type your application. I don't know if that has anything to do with your situation or how it's even remotely possible to type a job application nowadays, but...I just needed to get that off my chest.

I know it's hard to find work, and if I lose this job I've got right now I'll be up shit creek. I stand with you in solidarity in your moment of glum.

Christopher C. NC said...

You always have good advice Michelle. I have been noticing all the North Carolina plant societies in my reading and travels. I'll start writing the names and contact info down. I am also scheduled to take the NC Commercial Pesticide Applicators test September 19th. That will be another required item checked off the list.

Chuck I tried to type on the computer on the PDF file state application and it messed up all the margins. Then I started noticing all the spelling and punctuation errors on the state's application form and starting correcting them. I finally gave up and hand scrawled the information in the boxes provided. That must be it.

I can down load that file and try again.

Annie in Austin said...

No advice, Christopher, since you have experts like Michelle and Chuck to help - I'm just sending you positive thoughts from the heart of Texas. Four hundred and fifty photos? I'm stunned at that number.
We saw the decorated cows in downtown Chicago back in the summer of 1999- we still lived there at that time, went down to see them and I took a few photos.

Later on some of the designs were used for memento cow figurines sold in card & gift stores. It amazes me that the idea just keeps rolling on - bears in NC, dogs in Northern Illinois, and 10-foot guitars in downtown Austin.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Christopher C. NC said...

Annie I may have seen some Painted Pigs some where too. Those guitars would be perfect for Nashville. Maybe they have some.

Thanks for the good thoughts. I am sure all will be well in the end.