the wild pigeons of Salisbury beach part 49

I woke up a little later than usual and went for my usual run on the beach. I also fed the pigeons. To my surprise, Brownie was there! (Or I think it was Brownie!) The pigeons all gathered around me as I fed them. As I fed them I was pondering about the new year.

What will this new year bring?

I am hoping to stay on track as far as keeping my weight off.

I do think I need to exercise more. I need to step up my exercise program up a notch.

I also want to do more art work this year. I think creating stuff helps the brain.

I need all the help I can.

I am afraid of growing stagnant.

Although as far as self improvement goes I do need to learn to keep my cool. Yesterday I went down to the town of Burlington. It is hard to believe I actually lived there for five years. It is just one big crowded angry obnoxious traffic jam. I had been stuck in solid traffic for a good 30 minutes. There was one stupid girl who stopped her car just in front of me while the light was green just talking on her cell phone. My inner "Somerville" came out and I leaned on my horn. Her response was to flip me the finger. I should have just ignored her continuing obnoxiousness but I could not control myself and responded in the same manner.

After that, I was disgusted with myself for reacting that way.

I have to just stop and just breathe.

It is not worth dropping to that level of uncultured inhumanity.

Ugh...

I just have to keep calm.

No, I won't let people walk all over me. I will state what I want but as Cesar Milan (the Dog Whisperer) would say, "be calm assertive".

I have to admire the pigeons as I feed them. People think they are stupid and dirty but they are NOT!. They just go along and are remarkable in their survival skills.Each one is unique in their own way. If that one lone brown pigeon is indeed Brownie I wonder where he has been. Does he also look at the new year as a new year of new challenges and self improvement?

Maybe not.

Maybe I am just over thinking things.

another New Year already?

For some reason this year really, really, zipped by.

I'm starting to at least think about New Year's resolutions.

So far, the one resolution that I was able to keep this year was staying away from donuts and junk food.

As far as trying not to swear -that one is impossible to keep.

I still run everyday and workout in cell block #9. I was hoping to join a kick boxing class and found that the only classes available were at night.

Maybe this year, I'll find classes during the day. I had signed up for four different art classes this year and three of them were cancelled. I can't say I didn't try to pursue self improvement. I just had some road blocks. I also battled some serious mystery illnesses that left me in the hospital a couple times this year.

I am trying to just mellow out and to be calmer. I have way too many days that I have major fights in my head. I've got to stop that. In the long run it doesn't matter . I can't change how people feel and treat me. I can only change how I react to those people.

I am hoping that we will have a mild winter. Last year was a killer and it basically crushed my dog walking business. (Yes, last winter snow/ice/blizzards/freezing relentless rain crippled me more than one way.ugh....) I now am re-focusing on bird care. I am getting a few more bird customers. This is working out so much better with my life-style.

One of my pet birds (Smitty)passed away this year and at the same time, we added a new bird, a baby pigeon, to the flock. I learned quite a bit about pigeons and how different they are than parrots.

Speaking of parrots, I made it down to Bonaire this year to see and write about the "wild parrots of Bonaire" (I am just waiting and hoping my article gets published!)

I am trying to work on just being patient and shutting my mouth when it come to my parents. They have a lot on their plate right now especially with my father with his Parkingson disease and my mother having to deal with him. Instead of opening my mouth making what I think are great suggestions I have to keep my mouth shut and just listen.

Instead of criticizing people and finding fault with stupid shit I will focus on the good things and give compliments. It doesn't cost anything, so why not?

I will focus on the things that I am thankful for and to not lose sight of that because it could be over in a split second.

Happy New Year!

a "family" Christmas!

I cringe when a certain percentage of folks who will declare, "I hate Christmas!"

When I ask them why they hate Christmas there are usually certain aspects of the holiday they dislike.

A lot of people hate 'shopping" and the whole present giving aspect of it.

I can see that.

I feel if you hate it so much -then, don't do it.

Life is way to short to be stressed out over it.

A lot of people hate having to go to family/company/ social events. Again, if it stresses you out so bad -don't go.

Some people feel the holiday times dredge up horrible memories. Perhaps a loved one passed away during the holidays.

Sure, I can suggest spend time with friends or take a trip but that is easier said than done. Some people don't have the money to take off some place or they don't want to spend time with friends fearing that they will be the third wheel at their family event.

I guess right now I am looking at Christmas time for me as if I am holding onto a hand full of sand. The grains of sand are trickling out between my fingers and I am trying to hold on to it.

Christmases over the years have changed. Not for the worse or better but they have just changed. It is because I have changed and the environment around me has changed.

As my parent age, I treat each holiday now as a gift and enjoy it for what it is. My brother has taken over the role as the holiday recreational director. He hosts Christmas breakfast. I find myself really looking forward to this. The food is awesome and I have a bratty good time joking around with the family.

He brought out the "infamous" santa outhouse. You press a button and of course, you hear all kinds of "bathroom noises" and santa saying all kinds of gross bathroom stuff like, "santa dropped a yule log!"

My mother kept saying, "get rid of that thing!" As you might guess, the more she complained about it the more the kids kept pressing the buttons for more raucous toilet humor.

This year's Christmas theme was "family guy" stuff. The kids got "family guy' trivia games , t-shirts, pajamas etc..

(*"Family guy" is a crude adult humor cartoon)

The family guy board game was horrifying. The grosser the better!

One of my favorite gifts was something my nephew made me. He has been making these duck tape wallets. I know it sounds odd but it is a new craft project that young people have been getting into.He made me one with a velcro claps with my name"Auntie fish" on it. When you turn it around there was a picture of a troll doll! I love the fact that he researched on the internet the perfect troll doll to make this wallet "custom" for me. How cool is that?

Even my father got a good chuckle out of the "troll wallet".

My father suffers from Parkingson's disease. It is a devastating and treachous disease. Some days you are getting by and on a turn of a dime, you are incapacitated. Despite all of our goofing around I kept one eye on my father to make sure when he got up from his chair that he didn't fall or trip. He did Ok but he was very unsteady and his speech was off. In spite of everything, I think he had a good time but he was exhausted.

However, who knows what next year will bring.

I just hold on to these holiday get togethers like sand clutched in my fists hoping to hold on to as much as I can.

I think that is all you can do.

Xmas guests

According to THIS year's BirdTalk survey (2011) : "do you buy your bird a holiday gift?"

76.75% yes

18.24% no

5.01% don't celebrate holidays

People love their birds! How spoiled is that?

As of now, I have a full house of "birdy customers" since their owners are visiting relatives over the holiday season.

My husband has been "a shining star". He has been helping me take care of the birds since I've been sick. It appears that the shingles virus on top of the migraines has been paying me a unwanted visit. I feel like somebody has kicked the shit out of me and chucked me down the stairs.

Seriously, the pain has been unbelievable to the point that it is debilitating. Neurotin and those types of meds to curb nerve pain is pure junk. I just have to wait it out just like waiting it out for a nasty storm to pass.

The birds are great company. They crack me up.

Eddie (my favorite little brown cockatiel) loves to snuggle up to me-even though she can be a little nippy and demanding of my attention!

I was worried about Patches. He was screaming bloody murder all day yesterday. When I entered the room he stopped. I think he just wants attention. Once I talked to him calmly and kissed his head quieted down. He doesn't like to go in the living room so I have to stay in the bird room to appease him.

I think the birds know when I feel like crap. Some of them will snuggle up to me where as some of the other ones will amp it up and act like demanding brats.

Louie (princess of Wales parakeet) was twirling his head as if to tell me he wanted more seeds. I checked the bowl and he had a full bowl full of them. He then went down picked up poop with his beak and chucked it me. Maybe he was telling me that he wanted his cage cleaned NOW! What a BRAT!

The birds will all scream when they hear a car pull up in the driveway. They let me know when I have "Visitors". No doorbell needed.

Craow Dum the pigeon seems to be the most accomodating when I am feeling crappy. He will plop himself right on my lap as if to say, "stay here. Don't move. Just relax".

After visiting family on Christmas, which is fun, it is also nice to just crash with my birdy buddies after all the festivities.

Everything right now is in slow motion and that is how it is with me right now.

random acts...

After reading the newspaper, there are some days I just want to crawl in a hole to excape all the nasty people. You constainly read about kids getting abducted.There are multiple scams going on pretending to be legit charities. Locally, banks and just people going shopping in stores are getting robbed. There have been brazen daytime home invasions too. Some people are robbed and some people are killed just for the 'fun' of it.
It's so sick.
People blame the "economy".
Puuuleaze.... it is purely because of selfish horrible evil people.
There are seriously way too many a$$holes in the world.
But every once in awhile.....
you hear of some people committing random acts of kindness.
Yes, there is a tiny light in the tunnel of darkness.
Just simple little acts.
I've seen people buy coffee for the Salvation Army bell ringers who stand out in the cold with their donation bucket.
Local folks here run toy drop off drives for kids who may not get any toys for Xmas.
I just read in the local paper there have been "secret santas' paying for strangers Xmas layaways at Kmart in Newburyport. (Despite what you hear about Newburyport being a 'rich town" there are a lots of people in Newburyport who are barely making ends met)
I try to do my part as well. I give to my favorite charitable organizations-MSPCA, Oasis foundation, ECHO, Pettingil (and local food and toy drives)
Just do one just one little act of kindness....

more night frights

This morning I feel as though I've been hit with a sledge hammer.

I can't even touch the side of my head without wincing.

My neck, left shoulder and spine hurt like hell.

My eyes look like two piss holes in the snow.

I took a zomig and a naproxin to help me navigate out of bed.

God...

Where the hell is my F*&^ing coffee?

I feel like one of the characters from the movie "the Hangover" -except for the fact that I don't imbibe in adult beverages.(Hey, at least I didn't wake up in some shit-h*le hotel in Thailand or wake up with a "new' tattoo on my face)

It's just another nasty MF migraine.

At 4;00am my husband nudged me out of the bed. The birds were having night frights.

If you don't stop the frenzy and panic somebody could easily break a wing or or worse, a neck.

F*&^.....

Carl, my 15 year old grouchy male budgie was having a major tantrum. He got the rest of the birds in a panic. He fell off his perch and couldn't get back on. He was screaming and flapping around. I turned the lights on to try to calm everyone. The light was like daggers in my eyes. I got Carl back on his perch. He was still pissed and carrying on like it was MY fault he fell down.

Poor Eddie lost a pile of feathers as a result.

Thankfully, no major damage done.

I am just guessing that we might of had a "microburst" last night. There were branches and Christmas decorations all over the place.The wind last night sounded like a freight train ripping by. We had no signal on our TV last night.We couldn't get any TV channels what so ever. That usually happens when it is wicked windy out.

It's one of those "dunkin donut days", but as always, I have to resist.

I'll just settle for just a nice cup of coffee.

Argggggghhhhh.....

Annual visit to the Mall

I just finished reading a book called "Zoo Story-Life in the Garden of Captives" by Thomas French.

It is well written story about the characters -both human ( zoo keepers, the CEOs of zoo, and visitors) and of course, the resident animals -at the Tampa Lowry Park zoo. It is an observatory and analytical account of the personalities that enter the zoo encampment.
Once a year around this time of year I venture out to a Mall.
I don't go there to shop.
I go there to see the Christmas decorations and to watch the people.
A Mall is like a zoo for humans.
It is an artifical environment designed similarly like a zoo.
There are fake trees, food courts, artifical lighting, pumped in music, and aisles for walking.
You could write a social doctorial thesis alone on observing human behavior at a Mall.
Malls are primarily geared to teens and 20 somethings. Basically,t he mating age group.
Stores that lure this group are :Wet Seal, hot Topic, Spencer gifts, Forever 21, a store that sells body piercing jewelry, and a fast food venue that teens like.
Stores geared for the over 40 crowd is : J.Jill, JCrew, the Gap and Talbots. These stores SUCK big time and I swear, drive adults -with any taste in fashion -out.
I sat on a bench and watched people hurry by aimlessly. Most had cell phones glued to their ears.

Interestingly enough, I noticed young women wearing nice fashionable shoes had shopping bags. The ones with crappy shoes did not. Thirty some-thing men gathered nervously at the chain jewelry stores. Mothers with young children always seemed to be in a hurry. The over-weight lumbered by as this was their only form of exercise for the month. Teens always gathered in herds posing.
I made the mistake of parking my arse down on a bench with a cup of dunkin donuts coffee seated outside a store called Charlette Russe. As I was observing other people and making mental comments about them in my mind comparing them to as zoo creatures. I failed to include myself in this diorama.
And yet, I consider myself as a "hunter".
I caught myself glaring at the wall of colorful platform shoes and boots in the display window of this shop.
They had shoes in every candy color imaginable. I caught myself swallowing hard and had to get up and walk away.
I wonder if the sharks in the aquarium feel this way when they circle and can see the zookeepers carrying buckets of fish-bits walk by?
Hmmmm...

Birdy Christmas!

Well I finally submitted my article regarding the parrots in Bonaire to BirdTalk magazine, the local paper and the Birds of a Feather NH bird club newsletter.

I hope they all print it. It took me close to two months to write it! I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile in 'birdy land" I found a few Christmas theme survey results posted on the Bird talk website.

According to Birdtalk magazine reader's 2011 survey, "how many do you have bird themed holiday decorations?

55.56% yes

37.04% no

7.41% don't celebrate the holiday

In a 2010 survey, "how many include your bird in your holiday photo?"

59.19% yes

40.81% no

In a 2009 survey, "how many buy gifts for your bird?"

85.6% yes

14.23% no

So there you have it, I'm not the only one that does it!

bust-a-move

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sez55YUF23k&feature=share







A girl from my cockatiel chat group sent me this youtube video (above).



It's freakin' hilarious. Please turn on your speakers to listen to it.



Budgies always crack me up!







* the photo above are two of my new clients!

santa's workshop part 2

Ok readers! Here you have it at "santa's workshop for very spoiled birds"!



Here is "Fresh Baby" and Craow Dum overseeing the assembly line of soon to be made toys.


Craow Dum is exhausted from all the work and decides to take a nap on the middle of the table.




Voila! A new toy is made!

Patches will love this one.

They all love these chew toys!

This one is an all time favorite with shoe-laces to chew and wreck!

This one is the number one favorite and wicked easy to make. It will be destroyed in less than five minutes!

* I had a photo of Craow Dum on his cozy quilt but as I was taking the photo he pooped on it. I figured I'd spare you that one.

Who in the world is Justin Beaver?

The other day I saw a button with the words "who in the world is Justin Beaver?" along with a cartoon buck-tooth beaver sporting a shaggy hair-cut.

I burst out laughing.

The button was poking fun at old farts like myself who are clueless in knowing who or what is hip right now. The button was poking fun at the intended (with the play on words) :teen singer Justin Beiber.

Seriously, I have no idea what he sings.

I only know who he is because I, yes, read the National Enquirer.

The National Enquirer is my coffee cake muffin for the mind. It's just fun to read.

I remember a few years ago while I was down in the Florida keys relaxing after a day of scuba diving reading the National Enquirer. Dive buddy Pete caught me reading it and shouted, "don't read that ! It will make you reeeetaaaahded!"

I don't care.

It's light and entertaining.

One time I won $25.00 because I sent in a letter to the editor stating that I was "disgusted with Joan Lunden because she happily promoted using a Japanese skin care product that contained whale oil!"

And I just sent them another letter because I was disgusted that a pet store allowed convicted animal abuser Micheal Vick to purchase a caique parrot! Really!

I plead guilty that I enjoy seeing what the movie stars are wearing-especially Angelina Jolie.

Sad to say but I know who "Snooky" is, "lil' Wayne" and who the Kardashians are.

All without the benefit of a radio or cable TV.

Yup, I'll admit I felt kind of sad that Demi and Ashton broke up as well as JLo and Marc Anthony.

I kind of miss seeing Paris Hilton.

She is no longer the "it" girl. She, however, would crack me up.

I am glad I see less and less of that F*&^ing loser Charlie Sheen and Micheal (child diddler) Jackson. Gag....

Puulease...

OK, I am going to have a cup of tea and read my latest issue of the Enquirer with my birds now.

'Bye!

the wild pigeons of Salisbury beach part 48

There is a completely different group of pigeons on the beach now. I don't recognize any of these new pigeons. I've been watching a new group up in Seabrook that roost near where Mattie the Jack Russell lives but I haven't identified any of them yet. I haven't seen any of Craow Dum's visitors on the back deck either. I continue to feed any and all of the newcomers on the beach still just about every day.

Craow Dum (my pigeon) seems to be doing OK. His beak is still splintering off bit by bit but he doesn't seem to be bothered by it. The main thing is so long as he can eat.I think he likes his "quilt" because in the morning it is completely covered with poop. And because he is such a messy bird, he has a bath just about every other day.He's a funny little guy. He does his "bust-a-move' bit whenever my husband sits next to me on the couch.

A girl from my cockatiel chat group informed me about a sanctuary in New York that , yes! it rescues pigeons! I might take a ride out there to visit it some time in the summer.

http://www.peopleforpigeons.blogspot.com/

http://www.birdparadise.org/pigeons

santa's workshop

According to a 2006 gallup poll, 76% dog owners and 67% cat owners buy their pets Christmas gifts. Every December issue of Bird Talk magazine is featured a section :"gifts for your pet bird" .

Yes, we spoil our pets.

I'm no different.

I give Christmas gifts to my pet sitting customers as well as their pets. This is usually a small bag of treats or small toy for dogs and cats, or a home-made toy for the birds. I have even given strap-on (faux) reindeer antlers or santa hats as gifts for dogs to wear for funny photo ops.

Birds are a little fussier when it comes to toys. I have know what they like to play with. I know my birds like paper or balsam wood toys that they can wreck. They love anything with shoe-laces or wicker balls. If they destroy the toy then I know they liked it.

My customer's birds I've observed like similar toys to what my birds like. I will make a bunch of fun bird friendly toys for them.

I ordered a pile of wicker balls, chinese finger pulls, straws, balsam wood strips, wicker stars, tiny plastic chains etc..to make an array of colorful bird wrecking toys.

My dining room table will look like santa's workshop with all the toy making supplies spread all over the table. And of course, the cockatiels will "insist on helping me" make the toys. They will grab the straws and run away with them. I will no doubt find plastic beads scattered all over the floor. Most of the balsam wood will be chewed before I even string them on a cord.

Craow Dum the pigeon doesn't play with toys but I noticed he just loves to snuggle on the fuzzy fleece blanket on the couch. I made him a little "quilt" of fleece stuffed with quitters batting. It will be soft and fluffy for him.

Yes, talk about being spoiled!

duck!

I went out for my usual early morning jog. I just happen to spot a duck ( An American black duck) staggering across a drive-way.

I thought this was odd.

I walked over to the duck expecting and hoping, it would either run away or fly away. But instead, it plopped down on the driveway and stared up at me making a half-hearted warning 'hiss". If I didn't know any better I would've swore the duck was drunk by the way it was staggering and falling down.

My initial thought was , 'oh shit...I better do something before it gets squished by a speeding morning commuter or attacked by a dog". I ran past the duck further up the street to complete my run and to contemplate of what I was going to do to help the duck.

Why was the duck staggering? It didn't appear to be wounded but then again I was just looking at just the top part of the bird. It then occured to me as I ran past the marsh that perhaps this duck was shot underneath by a duck hunter or poisoned by a lead pellet either lodged in it's body or ingested. I could hear the boom of the shot guns over the marsh.

I turned the corner heading towards my car. I would need a blanket to secure the duck because I could easily get bitten by the frightened animal.

When I returned to the area I couldn't find the duck. Either he hid under somebody's car or under one of the houses. I wasn't about to trespass during the early hours onto somebody's property.

I am hoping, perhaps, he felt strong enough to fly away.