Patron saint of budgerigars

Yes, I am the patron saint of birds, fish and reptiles.

I have bestowed the honor of naming my husband the patron saint of budgerigars.

Budgerigars are what we in the USA call "parakeets". Most people have owned one or two in their life-time. They are cute, funny and delightful feathered companions.

Sure, they are not as big and boisterous as a larger parrot but these little guys can talk and have special personalities.

"Whook" is our first (male) budgie who is now ten years old. He doesn't talk as much as he use to. You will hear him exclaim once in awhile, "I looove being a biscuit whook", "F*&^ing pain!" and "I love you!".

He sometimes has a hard time flying up to his cage due to his age. Budgies can live up to 15 years although the average life expectancy is 8 years. He gets very excited when I slice a carrot for him as a treat as well as cooked rice.

"Whook" is my husband's favorite bird. He will talk softly to him and touch his nose to his beak. Whook loves this one-on-one "guy time".

My husband says he knows what they are thinking. He will position "Whook's" mirror in the "right position" since "he's knows what guys like".

It's so cute to watch those two interact with each other.

My husband is kind to the birds, even the pigeons.

He is the patron saint of budgerigars.

* I painted the above attachment.

more shit on a shingle

It is sort of relief to know why I've felt so crappy for so long. I've always felt that these migraine/fibromyglia attacks were somewhat viral since they tend to last in 10-12 day increments.

Perhap it is not related.

I don't know.

It's weird.

I could swear to God I broke my ribs falling in patch of poison ivy or fallen off a boat, hitting my ribs then stung by jelly fish .

This what shingles feels like.

It is so uncomfortable to wear any under garments so when I am home I am "swinging free".

The prednisone (anti-inflamatory) works pretty well but when it is time to take the next dose I can feel it. My ribs hurt, burn and weep.

I have to get up at midnight to take the valacyclovir (anti-viral) since you have to take it every eight hours. It's suppose to slow the progression.

Oh well.

Migraines are still worse.

You puke from the pain and it doesn't go away.

You can't stand bright lights, sounds, smells and extreme temperatures either way.

I am guessing getting shingles is more common than I thought.

My hair-dresser got it. The poor thing got it on her face.

The "Captain' got it on his leg.

You get the chicken pox as a kid and then shingles, when you enter "scrogg-dom". I am guessing once you start recieving those AARP mailings you are now officially a "Scrogg".

Yes, I get those mailings now.

I from what I am reading, the shingle's virus still stays with you once the symptoms "goes away" and then it "pops up" again whenever your body is stressed.

Great....

I guess things could be worse but right now, it is not fun.

shit on a shingle

I've felt crappy all winter. I've really felt crappy for the last couple of weeks. Severe headaches, muscle aches and exhaustion. I am seriously sick of complaining and feeling sick. I found myself staying away from friends and activities just so I could just stay home.

Well now, I have any explanation of what has been going on. I've had severe rippling pain and burning wrapped around my back and shoulder as well as nasty looking sores on my rib cage.

I just left the doctor's office and found out that I have shingles.

Herpes zoster.

It's a form of chicken pox that old scrogges get when your immune system is in the shitter.

I look like a leper.

I suppose I should be thankful.

My hair-dresser had shingles as well but it hit her all over her face.

When I think of herpes I think of the kind you get in your private parts.

OMG that would be sooooo nasty.

I am on my way to the pharmacy to pick up the meds. It's an anti-viral Med.

It's the same kind that those poor suckers have to use when they have a "flare up on their private parts". I'm a bit embarrassed about picking up my prescription with this on my mind. I want to yell, "it's on my rib cage! Really!!!"

Regardless, it's F*&^ing painful and I'm bloody exhausted so I need to get the meds so it's doesn't spread.

Shit happens.

*the photo above it what the 'rash" looks like. It's kind of gross, eh?

Hahn's macaw

Ah finally my phone camera "sent" me the photo I took of the little Hahn's macaw to my email address. I am so technologically retarded that it is not funny. At least my cousin sent up my email address to I could send pictures to myself.
Here is the little Hahn's macaw that is up for adoption at my vet's office. (above)
If I didn't already have a house full of needy attention seeking birds I would've taken this little guy home and worked with him.
As you can see he is a feather picker. His feather picking problem is the result of mostly behavorial and diet. He was checked out medically as OK. The vet said he has come a long way but needs "one on one' attention.
My cockatiel "Button" is also a feather picker. She started doing it after her first molt at six months. Lutino cockatiels are a bit more immuno-compromised. She tends to have problems with yeast infections as well. She feather picks mostly, now, out of habit because her feather shafts are irritating as the pins emerge. She is on a good diet, she gets TONS of attention and has regular baths. It is very frustrating. I've been to numerous vets to help solve this problem but nothing has solved it. Despite "Button"s bald under-belly she seems like a happy little bird.
I do hope somebody with patience and time to spare will adopt that little Hahn's macaw.

"Scooter" the turtle

One thing that keeps me going in my business is the challenge of new and different pets people keep.
One of my long time customers just "adopted" a red footed tortoise (Geochelone carbonaria) for their son. After discussing with the parents about what I need to do for the turtle I really think THEY are the ones that are thrilled with their new pet!.
"Scooter" has quite the set-up. He is in a 50 gallon aquarium/terrarium. He has plenty of places to hide under a canopie of sheddings and faux foliage. He has a "flintstone" type of pond that needs to cleaned out every other day because similar to my iguanas, this tortoise has an affinity for pooping in the tub of water.
I also need to spray inside the aquarium with mists of water to keep the humidity up in his temperature controlled climate. The humidity reader needs to be at least at
50. When I checked it first thing in the morning, it was at 30, so I sprayed fresh water around to keep it moist.
Scooter has the life of Riley. I cut up very fine kiwi fruit, carrots, a plum and romaine organic lettuce.
I plunked him down in front of his buffet.
His little head poked out very slowly and then back in again.
He was hilarious to watch, if not a bit obscene.
Yes, his head looked like a little penis.
I know, I know I AM juvenile.
As my mother would say, "oh for God's sake! What are you a 5 year old!?!"
I used to have turtles when I was a little kid. They were the painted turtles. We would get them from a big bin filled with hundreds of them all piled on top of each other at the local 5 & 10 store.
A childhood chum, "Richie P", always seemed to have a turtle or two in his pockets as well as a hamster. My Aunt Anna had a gigantic turtle that she kept in her apartment bathtub. She would pick it up and kiss him on top of it's huge head calling him her "little fig".
When I mentioned to my mother that I had a new "turtle" customer she said,"oh remember Aunt Anna's turtle?!"
*Just out of clarification of terms used: "Scooter" is a tortoise which means he is a land dweller. My Aunt Anna had a turtle which meant he lived in water.I sometimes tend to use the words "turtle and tortoise" interchangeably but I think you all know what I mean. They are both are cute and funny little herps!

the Wild pigeons of Salisbury beach part 23

For a week now, I've noticed that "Craow Dum" has not been around. This is really odd.
Even in the worst weather I would see him in his well protected loft above Sal's pizza stand. When craow Dum saw our car pull up he would perch himself on the eaves awaiting his breakfast.
I haven't seen him at all for over a week now.
He is not only distinctive looking with his black beard but also his swollen feet due to an entanglement of monofiliment fishing line. There are other pigeons that look similar to him but I can pick him out of a crowd.
There seems to be more hawks flying around more than usual which makes me a bit nervous for the pigeons. I also saw a squished mash of feathers a few yards away from his spot on the street too. Some poor unfortunate pigeon got ran over by a car. Most likely on purpose.
My husband thinks Craow dum flew to another nesting spot with his lady friend. He thinks she was not pleased with staying at his messy bachelor pad. I know in the past, he has not had success with trying to set up a nest at his Sal's pizza loft.
Let's just hope he is right and Craow Dum has taken up with a lovely lady pigeon, perhaps up in Seabrook.
Maybe he will be back with a few new pigeons in tow.

"Rio"

Oh yeah.
I simply had to see the movie "Rio" (in 3-D) as soon as it came to the theaters.
It was the long awaited animated movie about parrots.
It was worth the wait.
The best way to describe it is that it is "a kaleidoscope of color and cuteness".
What I find puzzling that the producers advertise, as if this is a selling point, "from the creators of "Ice Age."
"Ice Age" completely SUCKed.
"Ice Age" was boring and reeeeeeally annoying. Halfway through watching "Ice Age" I said, "OK, I'm done" and shut it off.
"Rio", in contrast, is a FUN movie.
The main character is a parrot named "Blu".
He is a Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) which is an extinct "little blue macaw". The characters in the movie kept calling him a 'blue macaw" which for me, make me think of a "Hyacinth macaw" (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) which is a larger parrot listed as (just)endangered. Both are originally from the jungles of Brazil.
Sooooo, which is he? A Spix or a Hyacinth?
"Blu's" favorite snack when he lived in captivity was chocolate chip cookies and hot cocoa.
Chocolate is deadly for parrots.
I just hope little kids watching this movie don't start to give their parakeets chocolate chip cookies.
I can't help but notice things like this.
The villain of the story is a bare-eyed cockatoo (Cacatua sanguinea) named "Nigel". This species of cockatoo is from Australia, not Brazil.
Yes, I know, I know, it is only a cartoon.
And yes, I know bull dogs don't talk either. ):-P
Despite of these incongruous details I found this movie completely entertaining and adorable.
This is one of those "must-see" animation films.
Enjoy!