Feeding Time at the Zoo
This is what a typical Birdie Breakfast looks like around here. Going clockwise from the left, that’s Simon’s breakfast, Kazoo’s breakfast and Oboe’s breakfast. By suppertime, Simon’s breakfast dish will…
birds
Prisoners in my basement
I spent all day Friday as a prisoner in my own basement. My tub and shower were being replaced with a Bathfitter acrylic surround, and there were some smelly chemicals…
The Macbook, the Geek, and the birds
I took my Macbook into Best Buy the other night because it was making funny noises and the three-year warranty hadn’t run out yet. Apple calls their technicians Geniuses. Best…
A little scattered
I’ve been a little scattered lately. I arrived home from work on Monday to the sound of Kazoo cackling in the dark. The whole time I was taking my boots…
The high cost of loving an animal
Oboe at the Vet's I know there are people out there wondering why anyone would spend twelve hundred bucks to save the life of a bird that could be replaced…
Welcome home, Oboe
We brought Oboe home from the hospital last night. There hadn’t been any improvement since Friday, but no deterioration either. Poor little guy. Life’s tough right now. But so is…
Oboe’s in the hospital
Oboe’s luck ran out tonight. Duncan finally caught him. We took him to the vet and they admitted him. He needs pain meds, antibiotics, tube feeding, x-rays, and I forget…
A new toy
We have a new toy at our house! For my birthday, my son gave me a gift certificate for my favourite pet store, Critter Jungle, which just happened to be…
We’re all adjusting
Apparently it’s not cheating if you cheat at Nanowrimo. It’s called Being a Rebel. They even have Rebel badges and everything. Rebels are creating all kinds of books at Nanowrimo,…
I got a job!
I got a job! I start on Monday! I’ll be working four days a week for a non-profit housing organization I already know and like, with people I already know…
Duncan and the Diabolical Genius
Sometimes Duncan seems like his perfectly normal old self, hopping in the car to go for a ride to the donut shop, catching a mouse or having a 17-hour nap…
Mostly good news
The morning after I wrote that last post about all the things my birds have destroyed, I was sitting on the couch with my laptop on my lap, and Simon…
Parrots: Winged toddlers who never grow up
A lot of people get rid of their parrots once they realize what they’ve gotten themselves into. Even if they’ve done their research, it’s one thing to read about it…
A whole bunch of stuff
The Baseline Cowboys raised $300 in empties and spare change for Christie Lake Kids on Wednesday! Rumour has it they’ve also volunteered to help out with Christie Lake’s cooking program.…
Love trumps freedom
Logan is practically blind now from the diabetes or the insulin, I’m not sure which, so he moves very slowly. After returning from a walk one day last week, he…
What’s grey and red and eats ears?
Oboe and Simon on the boingIn my experience, parrots are very well-behaved and sweet when you first get them. They don’t want to do anything that might upset you, because…
Jazz Fest, Bird University, and Spontaneous Combustion
I took an unscheduled break from blogging while making room in my life for the Jazz Festival. I saw the following concerts: k.d. lang, Pink Martini, Chick Corea, Bela Fleck,…
Talking to little girls
This morning my friend Grace shared a link to an article by Lisa Bloom called How to Talk to Little Girls. In it, Ms. Bloom acknowledges her first instinct when…
My lovebird proposed to me
We had perfect weather here in Ottawa yesterday, which only happens about once every 42 years. It was sunny and warm, not hot, with a cool breeze, and the humidity…