adult coloring book craze

When you go into craft shop now the front aisles are filled with "adult coloring books".
When I say, "adult coloring books" I don't mean like the "adult" doodle pads (see above) that we used to buy at "Spencer's gifts" in the 1980's.
(Ah yes, those famous "doodle pads". As you might guess these were the "it" joke gift to give our female pals in the early 1980's. And of course,  we immediately pulled out or pens to "fill in the blank' with our sordid imaginations. We would laugh hysterically at our sophomoric creations.)
The adult coloring books you see in the craft store are line drawings of an elaborate nature similar to zentangle designs that you color between the lines. It is suppose to be used as a 'stress reliever". Perhaps it would help somebody who is a smoker who wants to give up the habit but needs something to do with his/her hands. I find myself drawing and doodling whenever I and talking on the phone.
When I mentioned to my mother of what she thought of this "adult coloring books" fad and she, in her usual politically incorrect Boston fashion said, 'that's retahded..you gotta be retahded to be coloring as an adult.."
ummm..ok..
I personally find this coloring book thing intriguing. It is something I would do while sitting on an airplane to pass the time. I don't have an iphone or ipad or any of those gadgets to entertain myself.
 I prefer to draw. I've found myself drawing buck teeth, pointed ears and antennas on some of the movie stars in the "National Enquirer" after I finished reading it.
Maybe I should pick up one of those coloring books and a pack of colored pencils to bring with me on my next trip.
It will keep me out of trouble.
I think.

orthodontics for ..fish

• Goldfish Gets Braces, Thanks to Veterinarian

Goldfish Gets Braces, Thanks to Veterinarian

Dr. Brian Palmeiro constructed the braces out of a credit card.

By Cari Jorgensen

7

Published: 2016.03.21 10:49 AM

Mr. Hot Wing sporting his new braces, thanks to Dr. Brian Palmeiro.

Lehigh Valley Veterinary Dermatology/Facebook

While dogs with braces might be strange enough, the concept takes on a whole other level when it’s applied to fish. That’s right: A pet goldfish was recently outfitted with braces. Brian Palmeiro, VMD Dipl. ACVD of Lehigh Valley Veterinary Dermatology in Allentown, Penn. told Action News that the goldfish, named Mr. Hot Wing, “was born without a lower jaw bone and his mouth couldn’t stay open, which made it hard to eat and breathe.”
Dr. Palmeiro performed the surgery on Mr. Hot Wing after researching the case and constructing the custom braces out of a credit card.
The surgery reportedly cost around $150.

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Have you ever seen a fish with braces before?

centerfold bird

I was asked from the editor of "Pet Sitter's World' magazine to send a photo and answer questions in an interview for pet sitter's who specialize in caring for birds. I've been a member of PSI (pet sitters international) since 2006 when I started my business. It is a sounding board for business ideas, to place to get information dealing with all kind of issues working with animals and people, a learning center and a network to purchase insurance.
I had my husband take a bunch of different photos with me with some of my birdy customers . They chose the one I have of "Sweet Sweet" the blue fronted pionus. As you can see he is not only beautiful but cooperative.
I was very excited to be chosen for the interview with the hopes of possibly being on the front cover of the magazine.
Unfortunately I didn't make the front cover.
But they did print the interview along with the photo of "Sweet sweet" the pionus in the middle of the magazine.
That counts for a centerfold, right?

facebook irritations

*this photo was 'shared" on facebook. It was one of the 'few" funny photos I've seen relating to politics. I really just thought it was funny because it involved a troll doll.


I joined facebook only a year ago. Yes, I know,I'm  slow poke dinosaur trying to keep up. However,my nephews (now)tell me no one goes on facebook any more. People do other things (in which I can't remember what he said). Even twitter is outdated.
 I was hestitant to join facebook because it did not want to be barraged by;
1) boring baby pictures
2) political rants & propaganda
3) anti religion crap
I was very selective in linking friends so I wouldn't have to look at stuff that would irritate me but yet, I'm bombarded with heaps of (mostly leftist) buzz word propaganda pasted on photo shopped pictures.My husband showed me how to delete these by clicking("do not show") . But regardless it seems more and more  new shit appears. It never ceases to amaze me that people will actually believe some hate provoking head-liner just because it is on the internet. It is no wonder radicals and nutters are springing up all over the place. It's constant.
 If I see one more  anti-white police bullshit story I'll scream.
If I see one more "Warren" for president I'll puke.
Seriously?
I've serious thought of just not doing the facebook thing anymore because of all the aggravating crap.
However,I do stay on because I do enjoy the "amazing world of cockatiels" with all the cute photos and stories. I also like the pet sitter page and the palomacy pigeon rescue site. Every once in awhile some political junk will slip in the private chat groups and the moderator ( members) will  scold the person who posts something that is "not appropriate" for the group.
Hooray!

bad commercials

Commercials are meant to entice you to buy their product.
Some of the commercials on TV, to me,  do exactly the opposite.
I cringe every time see those aspen dental commercials-especially the one where the 40 something lady gleefully sings about getting new dentures because she hasn't been to the dentist since 'the leg warmer fad" (think 1980)
It is obvious  who the target audience that aspen dental is trying to appeal to.
And it is not for people routinely go for dental hygiene visits.
Gross.
I also can't stand the honda and toyota commercials . Boring cars for boring annoying people.
And of course we are bombarded by verizon and t-mobile phone plans and all those "advertised special"cable bundle plans. It never ceases to amaze me how much this shit costs.
It is so stupid. All of it.
I miss the jetblue pigeons and the cozyshack jack russell.
p.s. I forgot to add that gross talking pink intestine on the list of bad commercials. (I think it is a commercial for some new medication )

life with birds too.... more

It never ceases to amaze me whenever I go to meetings or social gatherings with people I've never met before to some of things they say whenever I introduce myself  and tell people what I do for living, "I'm a petsitter. I specialize in boarding pet birds". I get "treated" with some of the most obnoxious "conversions".Maybe they just don't know what to say other than their only (negative) experiences with birds. I cringe to think at how clueless some people are and don't even realize it.
One woman at a business social got very animated when I told her I specialize in caring for birds. She told me how "her cat catches them and she makes crafts with their feathers".
I shit you not.
I was completely gobsmacked.
Another told me how "her cat kept killing her neighbour's homing pigeons..oh but (she) felt bad"
Really?
Another agreed at how "smart" pigeons were because "they tried everything to get rid of them from installing spikes, to sticky glue..."
I just glared at her.
I hear this shit at business socials! Argh!
 I do all I can do not to scream, "are you a f*cking retard!?!?"What is wrong with you!?! You wouldn't treat a dog like that!"
But for some reason people can not comprehend that birds are thinking, feeling, pets. 
This morning something spooked my birds as I was doing their morning routine (cleaning their cages and feeding them) . Most likely there was a hawk flying around by the window. The birds were flying all around in a panic. Charlie and Patches was screaming.
And then I couldn't find Patches. I tried listening for him and calling for him but I couldn't find him. I heard a faint sound like he was upstairs but when I called for him he didn't respond.
I took his best pal Charlie upstairs so he could call for him. He did and Patches called back. Patches was stuck behind a bureau, scared and couldn't get out.
Charlie sat on my head calling for Patches while I got him out. They were both quite relieved to see each other.
After dinner I sat with Sal my elderly adopted tiel. His previous owner must have taken good care of him because he is quite healthy for a 20 year old cockatiel.. He was quiet and shy when we first got him. It was an adjustment for Sal. It took him awhile to get used to my home but I was very patient with him. I let him adjust on his terms. For an elderly bird he has become quite animated and really relishes one on one attention. He loves when I whistle and when I kiss his beak. Lately he has learned to come out of his cage and follow me around.
I do not know what else to say except they are a joy to be around.
I "get" them and they "get' me!
 

life with birds too

It was wonderful to friends last saturday at SeaRovers. It was exciting to see all of Fred's films running on a continuous reel throughout the day-especially the latest one of our adventures in Andros. Seriously I was smiling the entire day! It was great fun!
With that said and done, I started to feel a 'darkness" descending upon me. The next day, the symptoms got worse and I could not get it together, and eventually collapsed on the couch. A monster migraine was moving in.
Even my feet hurt, my hair hurt and my eyes couldn't stop tearing up.
I even missed tai chi classes this morning. And today is friday!
I still feel shitty.
I pretty much did what I absolutely had to do this week  (took care of my customers, did laundry, took care of the birds etc..)but I spent the rest of the time with a cold towel on my face on the couch.
It is so odd how my birds know when I am "off".
As I lay on the couch with a cold cloth on my forehead one by one the birds flew into the living roon to accompany me. One would be on head, another on my foot, another on the pillow and two walking around on my chest. The pigeons scooted in next to me on the couch to nap.
As I am typing this I hear a loud "flap flap" and cooing sound. The pigeons are coming upstairs to check on me. It is so funny how in tune they are.
When I arrived home from the SeaRovers on saturday both the pigeons were perched on the chair facing the door awaiting my arrival. The rest of the birds were making a racket and immediately flew over pulling papers out of my "goodie bag" of travel brochures from the show.
I have to say I'm never lonely.
How can I be with my flock?

life with birds

*Jim Carrey with a dove on his head.
 I look like this all the time in my home.
I ran out to Demoulas to pick up a few groceries. I reached for my purse and realized there was bird shit all over it as it swung back and forth smearing the mess all over my coat and pants.
Ah..life with birds!
When I arrived home both the pigeons were perched on the chair next to the door staring at me as if to say,"it's about time you got home!" They left a circle of turds by the door as they paced back and forth awaiting for my arrival.
Eddie Scizzorpoop, my little favorite girl.( I'm sorry but she is my favorite cockatiel). She was born April 13 2005. She is an offspring of Linus and Lucille.
Last weekend she appeared to be in distress. She was all hunched over straining to lay an egg. She has laid eggs before but without any problems. Sometimes she would be just walking around and one would just plop out. One time she was sitting on my lap and dropped one.
However this time, she was in obvious pain. I placed her in warm water and washed her 'bum" hoping this would help her drop it.
 Later that afternoon two soft rubbery eggs came out. She was still in distress. Soft eggs are not a good thing.She was vomiting and pooping out seeds. I was worried she would not make the night. All the birds were sitting on her cage which made me especially nervous about her condition
Thankfully, she made it and I called the vet that morning.
The vet did a bunch of tests. Her ovaries were inflamed and her white blood cell count was elevated. She also had some yeast in her poop.She is now on liquid calcium, metacam for the inflamation and baytril for a possible infection (she could have left over yolk inside of her)and  I added a few drops of apple cider vinegar to her water for the possible yeast in her digestive system.
I isolated her in her own cage and changed her diet.I removed the seeds so she is eating avicakes, zupreme pellets, greens and cooked kamut. She loves the kamut!
She is doing 100% better. She isn't too happy about me giving her meds twice a day but I think she will be OK.
Last week I took Button to the vet. She couldn't fly and her breath smelled like corn chips. And no, I don't have corn chips in my house so this is odd. When birds smell like this it means they have a yeast infection.The vet ran a test but everything came up negative. As a precaution I added apple cider vinegar to her water. I no longer smell the corn chip smell.
Craow Dum- the pigeon has had an extremely snotty nose. More than usual.She looked like she had a chandelier hanging from her nose. It was gross.I had washed her face and,nose and mouth. I figured it has to be from all the dry air from the heating system.  I pulled out the humidifier and placed it next to the pigeon hutch.She is always snotty so I have to routinely be on booger patrol.
AaaaaaaH!!!!!!!
It's never a dull moment with these birds!