black friday... insanity?

Some people never ceases to amaze me.

I watch on the news some of the absurd mayhem with people fighting during Black Friday sales events.

Really?!?

CRINGE......

I just don't understand that.

I guess some people are just mindless ridiculous savages.

Weird.

My husband and I went out at 2:00am to do the black friday shopping.

To me, it is a part of the "holiday tradition".

We avoided the stores that sell high end electronics because it seems to me though stores attract the ravenous nut-bag savages.

As I posted before, I go out because it's fun. It's like an old fashion scavenger hunt.

I have coupons and a list. If I don't "score", no problem. It's just a game.

I bought a few X-mas gifts for my family but to be honest, I mostly bought stuff for myself.

I bought a lavender cashmere sweater for $27.00, a JLO handbag for $42.00, 10K gold earrings for $15.50 and a plush animal print blanket for a mere $10.00.

Not bad, eh?

It turns out my brother and his family ventured out as well on a nightly treasure hunt too.

The shops I went in had a good amount of shoppers in there but it wasn't crazy or disorderly. The customer service reps were well trained, helpful and organized.

The shopping part of the holiday is over so now, it's the gift wrapping and baking cookies part that is up next.

I enjoy doing these things.

If it becomes stressful then I will no longer do it.

As of now, I'm having a good time.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

You never know what will happen during the holidays. I think you remember certain 'incidents" only because it is punctuated by being a holiday. As my parents age, I take in each holiday as a gift for now on. My father has not fared well having Parkingson's disease. I see noticable deteriorating changes in him. It's tough.

I was glad my brother and his family could make it this year for Thanksgiving. I think it gives my dad a good distraction. The "kids" are now teens. I like the fact they are teens now believe it or not! We have actually 'bonded' through, get this, from watching "South Park" and from funny stupid stuff on "youtube".

Yes, I know.

It's bad.

And this Thanksgiving was no different.

I wanted to watch the dog show competition on TV. I figured I might get over ruled and get stuck having to sit through another boring foot ball game. However, I was lucky. We did get to watch the entire dog show. After that was over my brother channel surfed for the football games. Instead of sticking to one particular game, what caught his attention was the "Jerry Springer show". As you might guess, it was obscenely outragious.

We were all cracking up and yelling at the TV. My mother came in the TV room to see what the commotion was . I think she was horrified and said, 'turn the football game on". He switched to the game to check the score and then channel surfed to some MTV cable channel show that was similar to "Jackass' and "American's funniest video". Again, it was outragious.

My "inner immature teenager" emerged and we all were laughing like fools.

I learned a new term called "credit carding".

It's a term used on this show when a "dude is on his skate-board, slips off it and the skate-board jams up his arse like a credit card swipe". As you might guess, my teen nephews AND my brother being the ring-leader, were laughing their heads off yelling stuff at the TV like, " your card has been denied!"

As raucous and "inappropriate" as we all were acting I think my father enjoyed the shenanigans.

We all stuffed ourselves silly with a delicious holiday feast. I could barely finish a small slice of banana cream pie after my meal.

I think all in all everyone had a pretty good day.

I did kind of feel sorry for my mother for having to put up with all of us...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Christmas decoration time machine

For the past three years, I've kept Christmas decorating to a minimum.

First of all, less is best. It is also less stressful, psychologically, for me to deal with the post holiday let-down. It's a horribly depressing and a dreadfully daunting task to take all the decorations down especially if there was a lot of them. So I keep it simple now.

I've been buying small little live pine trees that I use as Christmas trees. In the spring time I plant these little trees in my yard. I used do a "fish" theme when I decorated my (then) six foot tall "faux" tree. Now, on my little trees I have a bird theme.

I still like digging in the holiday boxes where I keep my supplies and look at all the decorations I have collected over the years. It is sort of like being launched back in a time machine.

I have decorations from the "60s", "70's", "80's" and "90s". Some are from friends and relatives that had come and gone in my life. I have some are "speciality made" ornaments. Some are souvenirs from places I've been to such as: Washington DC, San Francisco, Grand Cayman, Bonaire, the Bahamas, Maine and New Hampshire. I have religious ones along with some silly Three Stooges ones AND dunkin donuts ones! Some are childhood favorites that I could never part with even though they have gotten scroggy looking through out the years. They reflect various stages in my life.

They are like a diary of my past Christmases. Some were wonderful, some were very bad, some were "life changers", and some were just funny.

I like to peruse through shops and look at all the decorations. There are certain ones that are popular for the times.

I could'nt help notice (*see photo above) of the "Jersey Shore" ornaments.

My first thought was "what the ...?!"

I thought it was pretty funny!

black friday sales

Yup, again, it is that time of year.

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Parties

and shopping

And yes, I engage in the 'black friday" shopping frenzy.

To me, it is a 'sport" like hunting.

You scan the sales and plot your attack. To me, it's fun.

You can check online to view the "sneak previews sales' of black friday.

It's similar to bird watching in a way. You have to plan to get up at a certain time in order to see that particular bird. Regardless, sometimes that bird isn't always there but it is the "quest" and the "seek and find" aspect that makes it fun.

I like food shopping too. I check the sales paper, organize my coupons and go for the kill.

Years ago, I used to compete with my father on who scored the best food shopping deals.

Our conversations would go like this," you're gonna be pissed! I got a buy-one-get-one-free PLUS I had triple credit coupons! You gotta be retaaahded to pass up this wicked pissa good deal!"

The funny part was I only bought stuff that I use.

My father would buy anything and everything he had double/triple coupons for. Somedays he would have bought cases of creamed corn, canned green beans or rago pasta sauce. My mother would just roll her eyes not knowing what to do with all these canned goods. If there was ever a nucleur holocaust we would be set for life with all the creamed corn, green beans and rago.

He would call me and tell me what was "good" on sale at the Star market. (Star market was the grocery store of choice. Today, it no longer exists)

I do my father's Christmas shopping for him now. I know his eyes will light up when I describe the "deal" I scored for him on black friday.

The plan is, I will try to buy a la de da pearl necklace and earring set for him that he will give to my mother for Christmas (At least that is what I am strategizing) It's on a "special black friday early morning deal" plus I have two coupons. I know he will enjoy just hearing about the "hunt" so we shall see if I am successful!

On another note regarding shopping. H & M is now carrying the Versace line.

Seriously

Versace.

H & M is an inexpensive designer knock-off store. I bought a British flag purse there about 15 years ago for just $12.00. It's pretty beat up now from years of use but it remains still one of my fav pocketbooks.

I just recieved in the mail a Sophia Vergara top I ordered from KMart.com.

Yup, Kmart.

It is bloody gorgeous!

It was wrapped up and labeled nicely as well. I only paid only $22.00 for it.

I've seen similar tops in boutiques in Newburyport that easily could go for $120.00. It is that nice.

Pssst..I ordered a pair of Sophia Vergara shoes too, but don't tell anyone.

I can't wait to get them!

the wild pigeons of Salisbury beach part 47

The photo (on part 46) was taken 3 weeks ago.

The photo above (part 47) I took 5 minutes ago.

You can clearly see how badly eroded Craow Dum's beak is. He can not close his mouth since his remaining upper beak is only a 1/2 inch piece of keratin.

I have to fill his food cup all the way to the top in order for him to eat. I notice he tilts his head to the side scooping one seed/pellet at the time to eat. He will feast for a good hour. He has no other bird to compete with for food so he can take his time. I know he is consuming a decent amount fof food because he poops constantly.

Yesterday a little more of his beak splintered off. I hope and pray no more falls off.

Yesterday when I sat down to watch the evening news I felt something leaning next to me. When I looked down there was Craow Dum snuggled right up to me.

I looked down and he looked up.

I groomed his head of dander and wayward feathers. He fell asleep purring.

"Eddie" (my favorite cockatiel) flew in the room and immediately climbed up on my chest to snuggle under my chin. She had to make sure that she was still the top cuddle bird!

And then of course, Fresh baby and Button flew in the room landing on my head. They did not want to miss out on anything.

As I look down on Craow Dum I can't help but marvel at this little bird's appreciation of just being.

He has no concern with vanity on how awful his beak looks. I know myself I'll look in the mirror dismayed at how big my nose looks and how my skin is sagging at the jaw-line. Craow Dum doesn't care at how his beak looks so long as he can eat and have someone to cuddle with.

He just appreciates the moment.

the wild pigeons of Salisbury beach part 46

I've had "Craow Dum" since mid-August.

Despite vet visits and round the clock care I give him, I worry that Craow Dum is still "dodging the bullet" as far as survival goes.

He does eat good, his poops are perfect and he socializes with the other birds. His feathers are shiny although still a little raggy around the edges since the feather lice incident early September.

And yet, I still worry about his future.

His face is so messed up.

He does not have a white powdery cere which would indicate good health.

His cere is discolored and deformed. (The cere is the fleshy part on the beak where the nose would be) He breathes with his mouth open causing mucus to spill out of his mouth.

I run a humidifier near his "house" to keep his throat moist.

His top beak is a stub.

Sadly, I noticed more of his top beak has fractured off and is splintering.

This is disconcerting. I fear his entire top beak may eventually fall off.

He is a funny little thing though. If he can not get at his food in his cups he will jump on me as if to tell me, "Hey! The food is too shallow! You need to fill up the cup in order for me to eat! I'm hungry!"

He tries to groom himself but it is problematic.

He got a feather lodged in his mouth the other day. He was twirling around frantically to dislodge it. I grabbed him and pulled it out.

He is gaining weight and flies a little to get exercise which is a good thing. I also beleive he is indeed a "boy". As I was petting his back, he got very excited and started cooing very loudly. He then twirled around "bustin' a move" like I've seen male pigeons do when they are trying to score a female. It's funny to watch. It is one day at a time with him.

Hopefully, he will be OK.

* post-note:

I can't help but think at how more emotionally stable animals are rather than people.

Think about it for a minute.

I found this poor pigeon in a sewer.

Just think at how emotionally F*&^ed up a kid would be if he/she was chucked in a sewer left to die. Craow Dum doesn't seem to be carrying any emotional baggage as from being disgarded by his parents. He just seems to be happy to be with me.

He will purr contently after eating and just sit comfortably on the rug like this is the best thing in the world. He is happy for the simple comforts in life.

He is not obsessing about his past and wondering about the 'what ifs" and the "how comes".

He is just living in the present.

Maybe we should learn from this little pigeon.

The "poor man's" African grey & the "Merry Widow"

the "poor man's African grey



The "merry Widow"

I've always wanted an African grey parrot.

They are extremely smart and if they bond with you, become your life partner.

"Craow Dum" the pigeon is a funny little guy.

I never realized how personable and affectionate pigeons are. When I take Craow Dum out of his cage to run around he will stop, look up at you and smile!

He flies a little now. He will land on my shoulder like my other birds do pretending to be a parrot. My husband jokes with me and says, "there's your African grey you've always wanted. He's your "poor man's African grey!"

I look at Craow Dum with his half missing crooked beak and his chubby girth. I can't help but laugh.

Meanwhile, after "Smitty" the budgie passed away I noticed changes in his partner "Twillinger".

When "Whook"s partner "Dexter" died years ago. Whook was very quiet and appeared to be depressed for a long time. "Twillinger" did not react the same way as Whook did.

"Twillinger" was grossly obese. Budgies generally weigh 30 grams. Twillinger weighed 76 grams! However, I never saw Twillinger eat on her own. Smitty "fed' her. She hardly left her cage either.

After Smitty died, Twillinger demanded to be let out of her cage. She immediately parked herself on Whook's cage. She spent more time flying around which she never did before. I noticed she has slimmed down quite a bit as well. She never spent time mourning Smitty like Whook did . She was more like the "merry widow".

I could'nt help think of when women get divorced how they spend more time out and about socializing, working out at the gym and trying to lose weight to look good. Twillinger seemed to fit that mold. Maybe her relationship with Smitty wasn't as great as I had thought. She seems to be enjoying her new found freedom.

I dunno.

These are just some of todays crazy ponderings!

blue shark found

I fed the pigeons as I usually do at the beach. I could see that obnoxious "40-something-singleton-loser-that still-lives-with-his-parents" walking his dog heading my way.

He deliberately lets his dog run after the pigeons.

He turns to look at me with that sour "I'm the boss here" snotty-face.

I glare back at him with daggers in my gaze.

Looking past "retaaahded guy" I could see something lying on the beach.

I brushed past him and saw a freshly dead small blue shark with a hook and line hanging out his mouth.

This was not a dogfish but a 3 foot long blue shark.

Some early morning fisherman pulled him to shore, cut the line and left him there to die.

He was beautiful.

I felt sick to my stomach.

Seriously, what was the point of leaving this creature on the beach rather than to let him go?

the big year

Brown-throated caribbean parakeet


Common Emerald hummingbird

Bananaquit

yellow-shouldered amazon parrot

troupial

Saffron finches

Yesterday, my cousin and our husbands saw the movie "the Big Year" at our local cinema.

It was a very entertaining fun movie. First of all my "boyfriends" starred in the movie: Owen Wilson, Jack Black and Steve Martin. The movie was funny, clean and clever. You could safely watch this movie with your mother.

The film was about competative "birders" out to log the most number of birds sighted. I could completely relate to the 'how" and "why" of that obsessive mental "treasure hunt" of seeing new birds.

I also do that with scuba diving. It is the thrill of the "visual hunt" to seek out and log those special and different fish species.

While I was in Bonaire, I logged different bird species I spotted on this visit.

Here is my October 2011 list:

frigate bird

Bahama pintail (duck)

black winged stilt

least sandpiper

ruddy turnstone (they are everywhere!)

eared dove

common ground dove (one of these little guys liked to stay under my truck at night)

white faced dove

brown throated parakeet*

yellow shouldered amazon*

common emerald hummingbird (the first time I've seen one in Bonaire!)

scrub flycatcher

grey kingbird

thrasher

house sparrow

bananaquit (another favorite!)

saffron finch (still another favorite!)

troupial

yellow oriole

bare eye pigeon ( and yet, another favorite of mine!)

I didn't venture out looking for flamingoes this year but regardless, it was still "the Big year' for birds for me!

the wild parrots of Bonaire part 2

The next day, "Jon the vet", came by in his truck to take me to the parrot rehab.

He was a handsome young enthusiastic gentleman from Spain. He was collecting branches of sea grape and ligum vitum for the parrot's aviaries from the north section of the island. I am guessing (and hoping) that picking me up wasn't too much out of his way.

I was glad he picked me up too.

I would have never found the avairies. They were posted somewhere at the 'outback' of Bonaire.

I was still not feeling well and was suffering from a zomig dull throb in my head and neck. Most likely if I had made an attempt to find the place I would've gotten another flat tire, got lost in the desert or stuck in a rut . My bleached bones would be found years later after running out of my pocket supply of raisens after being eaten alive by hungry desert iguanas and buzzards.

"Sam the director of EchoBonaire' was busy sweeping up the floors of avairies and preparing fresh food for the birds. These two guys certainly were not living the life of luxury. Their living quarters were quite primitive.

There was no running water or electricity. Fresh water was collected in a giant rain barrel. The toilet was a bucket. They had a small generator to run a small hot pot stove and one light bulb. They no refrigeration. Both these guys were emotionally and physically fit to be able to endure these harsh conditions. I was getting eaten alive by the no-see-ums. They didn't seem to be bothered by these pesky bugs.

I was amazed despite the primitive conditions at how clean, healthy and beautiful the avairies were. The sand floors were swept clean, both food and water were fresh. The birds were absolutely delighted with their newly arrived greenery.

They still had about 50 parrots that still needed to be hand fed once a day. Larger parrots ( Yellow-shouldered amazons-Amazona barbadensis) wean later than the smaller parakeets (Brown-throated Caribbean parakeets-Aratinga pertinax. "Prikichi"). Many of parakeets were scheduled soon for their release.

They had to do some behavioral modification in steps in order for the birds to be able survive back in the wild. They had to learn to be afraid of people so part of the program was to make loud noises in order for the birds to relate "fear" and "people" together. They also had to learn to forage on their own (search for native food). So far, they have had success with many of the birds they could release.

I had asked Sam if the sudden increase of parrots that I had seen by the black Durgon was due to his release program. He said that only a handful of parrots from his rehab had been released so far. He suspected the reason for what I viewed as an increase in parrot population was because the parrots had been driven out of their habitats due to construction and destruction of habitat so they are searching food closer to the city.

Perhaps my joy at seeing so many parrots this year will be short lived. The human residents in this area may not like parrots eating their hibiscus plants or hearing them squawking in the morning.

I held my breath.

So what is the long term solution?

I'm not sure.

I think a parrot rehab should be establish for the long term similar to the cat/dog rescues. This will help save parrots that had been abused or injured.

I think the Dutch government should help fund the program to ensure this natural resource to endure.

Educational programs should be provided to educate the public about their native parrots and why they need to be protected.Also teaching the public about proper care for parrots those who have legally obtained parrots.

Perhaps, since Bonaire is a tourist island, introducing 'ecotours" to bird watchers will make the parrots "more valuable" to the natives.. The government would be more eager to protect the parrots from smuggling operations if income was to be made from bird watching tours.

Please check out http://www.echobonaire.com/ to help!

the wild parrots of Bonaire part 1

The single most thing that made the trip to Bonaire worthwhile was seeing large flocks of brown throated parakeets and yellow fronted amazon parrots fly by.

For the last four years, I would see on occasion, small flocks of the parakeets but not the amazons. Four years ago, I was lucky enough to spot a small group of the amazons that would roost in the hibiscus bushes behind "happy Holiday Homes" in Punt Verkant. Sadly, a lot of construction had been taking place building more and more "new vacation homes" tearing down the bushes, trees and plant life.

The parrots had disappeared.

What plants remained the wild donkeys and roaming goats ate.

On this visit to Bonaire, at about 6:00am, the sky came alive with the raucous call of these amazon parrots. I saw them in the hibiscus bushes, on the telephone wires and trees that looked like they had hanging peapods. I thought to myself, "wow, I wonder if these are the parrots that were rehabbed and released from the parrot smuggling episode?".

It was very exciting to see.

The first thing I did despite feeling pretty shitty from the flight (migraine)was to seek out the director of the parrot rescue of echobonaire. The last I heard via the internet, that they were rehabbing the parrots at a youth center downtown called Jong Bonaire. I thought this was a brillant idea to get teens involved in caring, learning and being responsible for the well being of these 150 or so baby parrots.

I drove around looking for the place and found it accidentally . It started to rain. My windshield wipers were not working so I pulled into the first parking arena on a side road.It was Jong Bonaire.

It turned out that most of the parrots were released and were no longer being cared for at Jong Bonaire.

My heart sank. I was hoping to find out more about the birds. I talked to the activities director at the center and she informed me that the rest of the parrots that were still in need of rehabbing, medical care and feedings were moved to aviaries outside of town. She was kind enough place a call the director of echobonaire for me.

I talked to Sam Williams who was in charge of the program. The next day he arranged to pick me up to take to the aviaries. I was grateful because I was afraid to drive my rental truck since the wipers didn't work and I had a flat tire.

I was about to embark on a new adventure.

* And yes, those photos above I took!