repairing the corvette

I had an appointment yesterday with a bone doctor to access the damage. My foot looks like a base-ball mitt or like one those fat diabetic lady's feet with dropsy. It is huge, swollen and black. It was confirmed that I had three fractures at the joints. I now have a lime green cast on my foot.I have to wear this for two weeks and then I have to be refitted for a different cast once the swelling goes down.
 I still can not walk at all. I hop around on one foot,crawl  or use the rolling wheeled computer chair (downstairs)to get things. Simple things are a major production. To get something across the room takes a big effort and I am exhausted. I feel like I've swam a mile.
It's gross too. I can't take a full shower because I can't get the cast wet so I have  to just wash off with a cloth sitting on a plastic chair.It's going to be gross when they take that cast off too. My leg is going to look like Osama bin Laden's chin. (Sweaty, smelly dirty and hairy...ewwww!)
My poor cousin was just 15 years old when she had to wear a full body cast for six months due to a spine problem! OMG! Since the cast covered her from her chest down to her hips we drew "boobs" on her so she wouldn't feel left out since at this time we all were starting to  wear bras. God knows what the doctor found after he took her cast off. I bet old M&M's,  crayons, dead bugs, candy wrappers,. and perhaps a David Cassidy record she hid from her brothers. Ha!
I have to lay down most of the day with my leg elevated. I have all my spanish tapes, music and books to keep me busy.
My husband has been a star in helping out with the birds. He cleans the cages while I stand one legged at the sink cleaning their bowls. I feel like I need to do something so this way we work as a team.
This morning he brought some of my hand weights up from cell-block #9 so I can at least do some exercises to keep my upper body strength up.I had injured my left arm from the fall so I could barely move it. It finally I feels like I can (and must) keep my arms fit.
The doctor also suggested that I spend time in the sun for vitamen D (plus take calcium supplements) My dear husband took me to the beach in the morning (to see the pigeons) and then sit on one of the bench's for a little sunlight.
So that is all I can do for now

corvette crash

As you all know I like to compare myself to a "vintage' corvette.
Unfortunately, the corvette "had an accident" on monday night.
 I'm still not sure of what exactly happened. All I know is that I went out in the back to retrieve my wet suit from the porch because it was going to rain with fierce thunderstorms. I remember noticing a big hole that was dug on the side of the house most likely done by a raccoon or some kind of gopher and I was cursing at those critters
And then I found myself face down hanging off the side of three feet high concrete wall with my foot bent in a terrible position.
I couldn't stand up. And was shaking even through it was over 90F.
 I crawled up the stairs like an inch-worm climbing up a elm tree and realized my foot had to be broken.
The next day I went to the emergency room and sure enough, my foot was broken in fours spots.
Shit
I will see a specialist to find out more later after the swelling goes down.
It's amazing all those simple little things you do normally without giving much thought to it are now  daunting tasks. Forget about going out to get the mail, water the plants and fill the bird feeders .Just climbing out of bed to use the toilet is a challenge. Showering is a bigger challenge and doing any other "normal" tasks is exhausting, scary and even beyond my scope now.
Thankfully, my husband is taking care of the birds. I scoot around downstairs on a wheeled computer chair in the kitchen to empty food /water bowls. Thank God for him, really.
This is my biggest issue. I worry about my birds.
Yes it sucks I can't walk, drive, dive, run or just about anything else for a couple of months until my foot heals but it is caring for my birds is my biggest concern.
I probably will not be writing much because I need to rest and elevate my leg.
The pigeon sits with me and will not leave my side.
My loyal companion.

dive # 896 & 897 June 23rd 2013

Dive #896 June 23rd 2013
It's a perfect day to be out on a boat. Weather predicted to be the triple "H"s. And it was. I was glad I brought my wet-suit. Fred, Chris, Pete were in charge. Larient and a new girl, Andrea were on board.
We anchored off the restaurant. I don't mind this spot but Larient hates it. He likes to lobster  and this place was vacant of his prized victims. You also have to be careful at this spot because of fishermen casting their lines (and big nasty hooks) I ventured away from the wall where the fishermen were.
I was more interested in observing the pretty black and white ducks sitting on a rock.I believe they were common eider ducks as depicted in the photo above. I found quite a few flounders, schools of pollack and a good sized striper. I got a temp reading of 51F at 20 feet with a bone chilling thermocline.
Dive #897
We anchored somewhere in Lanesville. I had taken my wet-suit off and figured I was done for the day.
It was HOT on the boat and I couldn't stand it anymore so I did a "Hampton beacher" and jumped in the drink.
Shit
 It was COLD but invigorating.Chris joined the insanity as well. I think of my Aunt Grace from Quincy who used to jump high off the rocks wearing her ked sneakers into the icy brine from her cliffside home.
After drying off, a rouge wave rocked the boat. The portable shower fell overboard and started to drift away from the boat. Since I was already wet, I felt eyes upon me to retrieve the wayward sun shower drifting away to China
Soooooooooo... I am logging this as a dive. ha!
 I paddled as fast I could.
I must of looked like a golden retriever fetching a stick.
Success! I got it!
Again, we all cheated death once again. :-P

crazy days in the bird house

*Here is a pic of Patches just "being Patches". As you can see he is full of himself. He is a typical male strutting his stuff.
Well, I've been getting a flood of calls right now that the summer is now here for potential vacationers looking to board their birds. The calls are  referrals from my vet's office. It's been crazy! A lot of my 'regulars' are here boarding right now. As with all my birds they all require heaps of attention and care. People do not realize how much goes into caring for birds. And no you don't just lock them in a cage all day and give them a bowl of seed.They get 'flight time", one-on-one 'talk time", fresh veggies and water changes (constantly) and of course, cleaning up poop and feather dust non-stop.
Charlie (the formerly "lost cockatiel") has been getting along wonderfully. He waits for his daily evening routine by poking his head out his cage looking for me. Many people would think he is "slow' in learning since it has taken over a month for him to get used to my hands. I think of the way I learn (say spanish) I take a few steps forward and a few steps backwards.I eventually get there but it takes awhile.So I understand him. I personally think he is doing great. He now makes "kissing" sounds. He actually "helps me" with my studying because he likes when I read out loud to him. He will give me an affirmative "PHEEEEWWP!" Patches finds this all so interesting as well and will climb in Charlie's cage to eat his food and tear the bottom cage lining newspaper for fun.
Croaw Dum follows me around and has to sit on my lap whenever I interact with the other birds.When I "disappeared" into the bathroom I found him on my computer "pressing' keys on the keypad. I have no idea what he did but he made copies of my files (!?)
Teddy the new ring-neck dove is quite comical but you have to keep an eye on him. You would think doves are 'gentle' but he goes after all the birds and attacks the dove-shaped napkin holder.He is a very hormonal dominant male. He has the attitude of a football player (except for he is a dove.) A female mourning dove visits the back deck every morning and he does his bowing, dancing and cooing.
I have a couple of potential new customers that will be interviewing me this weekend.It's kind of fun to see all kinds of new and different birds. thankfully, my birds don't seem to mind the company and thankfully my husband doesn't mind either, for the most part!

Bird lady of Salisbury and "super model"

I just wanted to share with you my lastest icon painting. It says 'pigeon saint" in Russian (feeding baby pigeons).  I used multi-mediums in the piece such as felt cloth, silk cloth, 14K gold leaf flake, medallions that I had found, a pipette, and a religious relic that Dive buddy Chris found on the boat. The painting gives off good energy!
I had just recently entered a bird food contest and was picked as one of the winners.of a $50.00 sample basket. My birds like Lafeber products as you can see "super model""-Buttons" enjoying out of a small dish. Her photo may be used in one of their advertisements!

Teddy

Sometime before Christmas I got an email from a small bird rescue up north looking to place a baby ring neck dove. I thought about it but declined.
Teddy the ring neck dove was still advertised in my bird club newsletter looking for a home nine months later
.Nobody wanted to adopt Teddy.
 It's not that I had extra room or anything to house "another bird' . However, through my husband's curiosity he wanted to just "take a look at Teddy".
We called the lady who ran the little rescue way up northern New Hampshire to see  if we could  "just see" Teddy.
My husband urged me to use my vehicle since it is larger to transport cages. I wasn't keen driving that distance since I tire easily and my eye-sight is not that good for highway driving. Plus, I thought we were ONLY going to just "look" at teddy. That's all.
Well as you can see from the above photos, Teddy came home with us
He is a light brown "proved male" ring neck dove. They originate from Africa. He is a proved male since he mated with another dove and had babies. Teddy was "eager' to mate again to the point he was attacking the female and the babies. Teddy needed a new home ASAP.
Teddy is very vocal. He spends most of his time doing this mating dance and vocalizing. No, he doesn't just "gently "coo". He appears to say, "whoops! There  he is..whoops! there he is..." He also laughs raucously. He reminds me of the bare-eye doves in Bonaire.
He eats dove seed, Harrison's pellets and fruit and broccoli!
I have this Mexican brown dove napkin holder on the table.Teddy has taken a fancy to it and will attack any of the birds if they get near it. Oh my God. Teddy is a handful!
 I keep Craow Dum away from him-especially since Craow Dum is hand-capped.
I took Teddy to the vet for a wellness check-like I do routinely for all my birds. Teddy checked out A-OK.
I put some toys in his cage to keep him busy. He likes woven chain toys and bobo dolls that he can bop with his beak.He also 'steps up" on your hand which is unusual for a dove.
He's a pretty bird, for sure. I think since I know what to expect now from Teddy he will do fine in my crazy bird house. He is getting used to the daily routine and is doing fine.

dive # 895 June 9th 2013

Dive # 895 June 9 2013
I had been watching the weather. There was a tropical storm in the south stirring up trouble. The waves and wind on saturday was pretty dicey but sunday it cleared up nicely.
Fred, Chris & Pete were running the show. Larient was onboard giving a helping hand. We had Jackie K, Andy, Isly (sorry for the incorrect spelling) and a new guy-Eric.A nice mellow group.
Since the winds were still a bit compromising we headed up north to naked man beach.( I could vaguely spot perhaps one naked guy on the rocks) The winds died down in the afternoon and it got toasty! Regardless, I wore my dry suit this time-which I was glad I did. I was still frozen especially my hands. Thankfully, no critters emerged from inside my dry suit after a long winter's nap.
At about 25 feet I got a temp reading at 46-7F. It was a bit murky on the descent but cleared at about 20 or so feet with a current. I just followed a lobster line as a guide.
I saw lots of cunners, pollack, skates and some big lobsters outside the traps. I think they were deciding whether or not to enter.Any place that offers "free food" could mean trouble. (think:"free donuts")
All in all it was a nice relaxing dive.
As Fred would say, "ahh..it's great to be US!"
Yup, I would have to agree.

summer colors

As one may notice this time of year, how bright and colorful the American goldfinches are.
 It's their "summer coat". I can't help think how similar I am to the goldfinch with my "summer coat". The summer coat I am referring to is a summer tan. Yeah, yeah I know the pasty white barneys are screaming how 'the sun is bad for you". I recently had some iridescent pinky tell me how "unhealthy" my tan was.
Sorry but I look and feel gross without somewhat of a tan-even a "fake bake" looks better than frog belly white. I bet the goldfinches feel the same way.
OK I've tried all kinds of different sunless tanners & bronzers to boost the 'summer colors" .
I will present my unbiased review on the ones I've used and tried.
1) Neutrogena "sun fresh" sunless lotion price $8.99 CVS
It claims to have "delicious fresh scent". I assumed it didn't have that sunless tanner smell (chemical) and claims it "goes on evenly" without making you look like a pumpkin.Wrong. It smells the same and I never got any color out of it despite using medium deep tones. Perhaps I wasn't patient enough.It also felt a little sticky.
2) Jergens natural glow $8.99 Walmart
This is very popular. It also claims to not have that "sunless tanner smell" and you get a "even golden color in 3 days". Hmmm..It still has the smell and it took two weeks to get any color. It is just an "ok"  moisurizer.
*3) amir argan oil sunless bronzer $19.99. online drugstore.com
More expensive but this is the best bronzer. It still has a 'smell' but it goes on evenly and naturally plus the argan oil is top notch in moisturizing. This was the best bang for the buck. My only complaint is don't get any on your mouth. It tastes like lady bugs (don't ask)
I've tried other ones in the past and they were awful. They smelled bad, streaked and turned you a dirty orange color.
For a washable bronzer, Bonney Bell is still the best. I  can only find it online.
So there you have it.

FYI

OK ladies and gerbils, this friday is National donut day.
Buy a beverage and get a free donut at dunkin donuts!.  :-P
You ever notice how shitty ol' starbucks never has any freebies or specials?
 It is because they SUCK!.
(And their coffee taste like cigarettes.)
Regardless, I will not indulge in the donut give-a-away..
 This is only a "public service announcement" (wink!)
I haven't had a donut in now three years.
Dunkin's just came up with a new breakfast sandwich  instead of using a bread or a bagel it is a donut cut in half with the sandwich fixings inside. It is probably a billion calories but I bet it taste like heaven.
Do you ever watch those cooking competition shows on TV?
There is one show with a bake-off starring Jeff Foxworthy  (the "you know you're a red-neck" comedian. I'm not sure why he is a judge in a baking show though(!?!)) Anyways, all you see is these beautiful creations of cookies, cup-cakes and pies.
 It is kind of like a "playboy channel" for people with a "sweet tooth".
My Mother could "kick ass" on that show with her banana cream pie and apple pie. I personally think my scones are the best. They are low fat/low sugar with healthy morning kick start ingredient such as:oats, whole wheat, dates, walnuts. However, a lot of  people may not like them since they lack the 'fun' ingredients.
Dive buddy "Andy' sometimes brings these polish donuts onboard the dive boat as a treat for those to indulge in.
I've resisted the temptation, so far.
However
 I think I actually caught one of those fluffy donuts peeking of the bag and winking at me.
What a naughty little thing!

pet parrots

Every once in a while I get  phone calls from strangers that range from : "I found this turtle..."  "do you adopt out....?"   "I have three large dogs that are a little hard to handle.." etc... etc...

The other day I got a call from a lady who had this poor abused emotionally demented cockatoo. She was looking for a home that could 'work with the bird" to hopefully help him. 

Big birds like cockatoos need someone with the experience and patience to understand their needs. This is a huge challenge. Think of a obnoxious three year old with emotional problems-only with a very sharp 4 prong beak and the voice like a siren.

Funny thing is dive buddy Chris pointed out an article in the Gloucester newspaper about the plight of an abused cockatoo to me. This was the very same bird! (see below article)

http://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2013/06/01/rescue-fred-the-cockatoo-from-lin-chandler/

The lady who called me was very nice and she had experience with larger big birds with "big personalities". Cockatoos in particular have big personalities and are very needy. This poor bird in question had emotional problems from horrible abuses from previous "owners". This on top of "just being a cockatoo".
 It was a bit too much for this "foster parrot mum" to handle, but she cared enough for the bird's welfare to reach out and seek help.

Sadly, I do not have the experience or the housing for this type of bird. I did offer some suggestions to perhaps somebody that would or could help.

I asked her where she got my number and she told me a vet's office because " (I) had experiences rehabbing small parrots" (cockatiels) (Ahhhhh..the word got out! (wink!))

Yes, I have cockatiels that were neglected and some have behavioral issues. I spend alot of time with my birds establishing routines and boundaries. I've learned to understand their behaviors and needs.

I am hoping things turn out well for that poor cockatoo. The sad thing about birds is they don't get the headlines and sympathy or protection laws like dogs and cats. Usually abuses are not reported or anything done about it, and for the most part they usually do not survive.

Yup, some bite, poop on my head, destroy books and make a racket when I'm on the phone. My close friends understand when I tell them, "I gotta get home for my birds".
It's not an "excuse" to leave. I really do have to leave and get home to my birds!
.My birds have their routines and they get agitated when I am not home for them.It's stressful for them when I am gone for extended periods of time during the day.

They are neurotic but then again....

How does that go?
You are like the pets you pick. :-)

dive #894 June 2 2013

Summah is heeeeyyaaaH!
Saturday at 10:00 am reached 97F. I bought my yearly beach pass and migrated onto the beach. It was so freakin' hot that I couldn't stand it. I stood at the water's edge and my ankles were numb from the cold.
Regardless, I took a deep breath and "Hampton beached" it.( I made a running start and ran in).
It was ridiculously cold.
"Crabs and ice water' cold.
At least this way I knew what to expect the next day when I went diving.
You are probably thinking, "gee, if the water is that cold why don't you wear your dry suit?" I packed it and re-packed my wet suit instead figuring I'd rather be cold rather than pass out on the deck of the boat from heat stroke.
I was in such a good mood on sunday.
My head was clear.
June is my favorite month.
I was going diving.
I was seeing my dive pals.
Life is good.
Fred and Chris were running the show along with Pete and Larient's assistance . I was glad to see Lareint onboard. He had issues with his ears last season. Apparently he was A-OK to dive again. Hooray!
 Also onboard, Jackie K & Andy were diving, and Bill L was out enjoying the boat ride.
We anchored at Folly Cove. The place was chock-o-block full of divers. I like this spot-especially for my first dive of the season. I was trying out my husband's regulator that I had piece mealed together plus his BCD with a new inflator hose. The regulator leaked a bit at the first stage/yoke area. Pete tightened something up that seemed to have done the trick.
I puttered around for a bit but my hands got wicked cold. My temp guage read 48F under the boat and 50F closer to the rocks.Everyone claimed they saw skates and sculpins. All I saw was a moon snail. The viz was about 25 feet. Even though I was cold I was glad to be in the water.
All in all we had a super day.