Blue and Green

Did you hold your breath? Did you? Well then you are dead now, or at least turning blue like a choking actor in a 1970's public service video on the Heimlich Maneuver.

Take a deep breath and come back to us please.

I moved again. Yeah, I think I'm a wandering gypsy at heart, but this time I just moved to a cheaper place closer to school. The parrot and I are settled in, but I'm still learning to deal with the roommate's cat. I do not understand cat.

MEOW MEWW MEOWW MEWW what do you want, animal!!?!?

I'm gardening at the church. Oh yeah, I kind of joined a church. Don't worry, I'm still probably going to hell, since it is a Unitarian Universalist church. Fun times with liberals and other unsavory sorts! I'm happy to have found a community. The garden should do well to nourish us at the shared luncheon, plus donate to the local food pantry, sharing center, or Food Not Bombs.

Speaking of, this happened in nearby Orlando:

My only thought is that the well off don't want to see the poor, hungry, homeless in the park. Don't feed the animals. Don't encourage the unwashed to gather. Compassion is dead, I tell you.

Parrots aren't "Pets" and Shit

The only animals that are "pets" are dogs and cats. Period. So says the lease agreements for every "pet-friendly" apartment I talked to yesterday. Now I understand that many birds can be loud shriekers, but dismissing all birds out of hand is narrow-minded, considering that many dogs can be loud barkers. They would deal with loud dogs by kicking the offending owner out, or whatever, and I don't see how birds can't be evaluated on the same case-by-case basis. I can't see how it could be a cleanliness or odor issue, because I guarantee that a day's worth of unattended bird shit smells way way less than a day's worth of dog or cat shit left in an apartment. I know for sure that if you got even a little dog shit on your clothes, People. Would. Know. Rigel occasionally targets my clothes, and I take a damp paper towel to it and presto! no smell or stains.

Bonus, people outside the property won't step in a pile of (pet) bird shit while walking around. Asshole dog owners!

Further, dogs shed nasty mangy fur, which also stinks stinks stinks. My parrot sheds pretty, lovely feathers, suitable for crafting. Birds possibly chew on mini blinds? So? We had a dog once who CHEWED A HOLE IN OUR WALLS!

There is a silver lining, though. The apartment I really really wanted has a sign at the front desk: "We are a pet free community."

I was highly disappointed, and I pouted: "but he's just a little bird..."

Well, then that's another thing, birds and fish are FINE! They aren't considered pets, after all.


I move in tomorrow, no pet deposit!
-

Happy Hatchday!

The little card that described the birdy in the cage said he was hatched on 20 April 2007. It also called him Sonny. A year later, he has a better name, a willing servant/playgym, and the gift of flight.

Here are a few pictures I took of Rigel this month. There are more on my flickr account.

Bird Therapy

Thanks to kiwilito over at birdboard.com for the laugh.

Petco and Petsmart

The Petco here where I got my birdie was the only pet store in town until today. I've been eagerly awaiting the opening of a Petsmart in this town and it opened today and I forgot to go. Petco's toys are so boring and I am too impatient to buy online, and to buy without holding things in my hand first.

Before I got Rigel there, I would go pretty often and get my heart set on one or another bird but didn't have the money/lifestyle to buy yet. I would see them degrade from happy bouncy new arrivals to quiet and unhappy little things. They even had a yellow parrotlet who was there for over a year whose bonded partner died of a sickness and eventually started plucking and was still on display until a few months ago. They have two beautiful linneolated parakeets that I wanted but were $400 each, still there 8+ months later and in the last 6 months I haven't seen them move from the same perch cuddled together looking fluffy. I visited again this week and they look double their previous weight and still sit on that same perch.

I got little Rigel there because I saw him and knew the time was right for me and if I didn't get him, he would sit in that place his whole unhappy life.

I finally went to the new PetSmart today, and its great! Open atmosphere, greater selection of toys and food, and the birds seem happier. They have mostly finches and budgies, and two quakers. All except the quakers (i think) were unclipped and flying around in their enclosures. Each cage did seem a bit small for each group of budgies, but they had nice natural wood perches and fruit out in each cage in addition to seed. They were all very active and it was so refreshing to see them flying around and not hopping from perch to perch or just sitting on the bottom.

I really regret that my baby was so severely clipped before he could fledge, but he is adventurous and likes to jump so I think he will do well when they grow out and can be clipped a bit kinder.

Also, I was being silly and couldn't find many good lolbirds, so I made some myself. Not that they're any better than what's out there already of course....

Obsession

Hey guess what? I've been married 4 years today. How weird is that?

So, there are 2 new birds at PetSmart. One is $1500 and totally out of the question. The other is a lot less and SPUNKY! But I need to research if he is good for apartments, no need to piss off the neighbors (or the spouse, I guess). I'm still torn about the pair of lineolated parakeets, but they are very expensive to buy the pair. Also, there is a pacific fancy parrotlet that is pretty cool, and in a comfortable price range. I've probably started to annoy my friends with the what-bird-will-i-get debate, which has been raging in my head for the last 4 months. I just want to be sure I can take care of them, love them, afford them, and not get kicked out of my apartment. So it goes on.

Random

Confessions of a Failed Mathlete
The first time I ever saw a math question about two trains approaching each other at different speeds, I drew a complete blank. In a white flash of panic I saw my brilliant academic future begin to slip away.
Do I ever know how that feels, we started Related Rates yesterday. Not going so well. Oh well, its not like its going worse than the rest of the term. Damn.

Quarantine
Yes, the government can still enforce quarantine & isolation.
Having a horrible and deadly disease will not get you enough pity for the rest of us to be okay with you giving it to everyone. Sorry.

Scientists have revealed details of the world's only known case of "semi-identical" twins.
They are the result of two sperm cells fertilising a single egg, which then divided to form two embryos - and each sperm contributed genes to each child.
Dude.

Morpho Towers--Two Standing Spirals
The body of the tower was made by a new technique called "ferrofluid sculpture" that enables artists to create dynamic sculptures with fluid materials. This technique uses one electromagnet, and its iron core is extended and sculpted.
You might remember the last ferrofluid image I posted about, a spikey black fluid. This is way way cooler, looks like a black spiral tree and it moves to music. There is video.

I was going to post more, but now I have to pee, and then go back to working on my bungled math work. I probably should've started my homework yesterday. I had a bad day, with a failed attempt at a seperations physical, getting my taxes done, and finding that the bird I've wanted to get has a hurt foot. So instead, I started reading Brother Odd at 4-ish. 8 hours later I was finished, and tired, and slightly happier.

I havn't been to the gym all week. I'm a bad bad girl. Ugh.

Sarah: I owe you an ice cream cake...please come over and eat the rest, before I do. Please.

Some Heck of a Day

My friend Sarah's kittycat Othello has been sick for awhile. Today we went to the vet to be there with him while he was put to sleep. I've never been there for anything like that. All my family's pets died when I wasn't around, most with no advance warning. It was much more unpleasant that I even thought. Everyone give Sarah big hugs, she is very sad.


In other news.

Yesterday was a pretty good birthday. If only I didn't have to sit around waiting rooms being ignored so I could outprocess. But once I got home things got better. I hung out with Sarah because Michael was waiting for my gift to be delivered, then we all went to Bonsai Garden for some pretty decent food. I had some sake and they brought out a slice of cheesecake for me. Weir got me a strange gift, an iPet. It dances to my music and purrs when you pet it. We then headed over to the bar for some drinks. Pretty good time.

This morning I had to get up early to ride with Michael, so I could pick up my car. I spent about 3 hours off and on waiting for stuff to be sorted out. I'm finally ready for tomorrow's final-out appointment. Geesh. I did get some reading done, but it turns out I've already read this book. To finish or not to finish???? Eh.

After class I ran to the grocery store and picked up lotsa good food. I just made pizzas on tomato-basil tortilla wraps, very tastygood.

I also got a haircut this afternoon. Not the best, but I figure Becky can help me out with a really great cut when I come home in May, so I'm not worried about it.

I Burn Things

Wee Planets slideshow.
If you don't at think at least one of these images are JUST WOW! then I don't really want to know you anymore. Okay kidding. Half-kidding anyway. Maybe less than half. Check out the pictures.

I'm hungry. I tried making pancakes this morning, some Jiffy cornbread pancakes. I just cant keep them from burning with these new pans. I hate these new pans.

Why did I buy the new pans several months ago? Because I wanted to buy a bird, and teflon non-stick coatins are a big no-no for birdies. I still have no bird, because I still haven't filed my state taxes. The little pacific parrotlet we saw at Petco last week apparently died a few days after it arrived there. Sad, he was so spunky. I really like the little slate and blue lineolated parakeet, but they're $500 each and come in pairs, and if I'm going to spend that much on a bird I want the Dusky Pionus. Just one Dusky is cheaper than two linnies. In any case, I still can't cook without burning something most of the time, and I don't want to kill some pretty and expensive bird. Sad.

But then happy, because this should be my last week of work. Final-Out is Friday. Yay!

Today Is...

Today has been my "Take Offense at Everything Day". Please enjoy.

Observing the Budgie Parakeet at Petco.
Sarah: Awww! I'd love to have one and see my cats play with it.
TJ: What!!!??? *horrified* Maybe I should get a vicious fighting pitbull and see how they play with your little WienerChihuahua. *grrr!*
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2007/02/toyger_toyger_burning_bright.php

Eating at Zookini salad bar:TJ: I don't know what I want.
Michael: You should just get a Zoo-trip. (unlimited trips to the mega-salad bar)
TJ: Did you just call me a hippo!!??

Later at the restaurant:
Waitress: Is everything okay? Oh, I see it must be, your sandwich is all gone.
TJ: *whispers* I think she just called me a piggy. :(

There were more, I just can't remember them.

My Mom called this morning to tell me about the fire and that everyone is okay. It was early the morning of Valentine's Day and they barely made it out. Family, friends, teachers and strangers are helping them with pretty much everything they need. The insurance will pay to rebuild the house. Sadly, they lost all their pets, and on top of that their horse had to be put down recently.

They're all pretty upset, but getting through it with my family's usual odd humor. May as well laugh to keep from crying.

Thanks to everyone who expressed their concern. There are some really great people in the world, and I'm glad to know every one of you.

I don't like your animals!

But I was looking for recipe's and this just looked too cute, and reminded me of a certain conversation from yesterday (you still have to try one):
Homemade Dog Treats
Homemade Cat Treats

Anyway, I got some good reviews about the turkey gravy I made, but I have lots of fresh leftovers. Have to use them before they go bad: heavy cream, parsley, shallots, etc. I'm thinking about a cream of broccoli soup, and I found a recipe here: Cream of Anything Soup. The best part? Recipes adjustable to serving. Sweet.

In response to Chloe:

Is Goonies the one with the big dog? I dunno, I'm a complete outcast on 'classic' movies like that.

I've had volunteer work that made me feel bad, especially visiting old people, especially vets, especially during the holidays. But some makes me feel good, like tutoring kids, which is weird, because I despise other people's offspring.

I hate dogs. Destructive disgusting beasts.
Also hate cats. Evil disgusting beasts.

When I eventually live a settled life, I want to get an African Gray Parrot.

I was at a public bathroom an hour ago that smelled like maybe the sanitary napkin trash hadn't been taken out. Rotten un-ladylike odor...

I've only eaten (i originally typed eated) Thai food twice, because even the 'not spicy' food burns my tongue off.

Random, completely unrelated information:
I didn't eat any lunch today, but I did take a lunch break.
My arms hurt.
I have 3 homework assignments due on Monday, and 2 due on Tuesday.
Today is Sci-Fi Friday.
Micheal and I are looking for an apartment to move into in December.
Ants. Fucking Ants.
There are no curry restaurants in San Angelo.
Scratch- There are no good restaurants in San Angelo.

It's Raining!

Yay!

It just started raining. I've had the sliding door open all day, and just now every one of my neighbors' dogs started barking LIKE THE SKY HAD DEEPLY OFFENDED THEM.

I put on some tangerine lip gloss and answered the door...

The Link Collector

I took most of the week off to study for finals. I've felt like crap all weekend. I had a little wine on Saturday, which probably didn't help things. I felt better for a few hours though. I might make an appointment tomorrow. Maybe. Probably not. Oddly, right now is the best I've felt in a few weeks. I know I'm not better, but its still pretty good.

We saw two movies on Saturday too. Talladega Nights, and Descent. I had low hopes for Talladega Nights, and high hopes for Descent. I was pleasantly entertained, for the most part, on TN. Descent was disappointing. Predictable: I knew who had to survive, who would die, from the first 10 minutes. Over-gory: not that I'm opposed, but gory doesn't make a movie good. Also, most of the screen was black/dark for most of the movie.

Next time I'm going to watch the first 20 minutes of a movie, and then write what I think will happen, and have everyone confirm it when its over.

Yet another reason to avoid cats
So they can't infect you with the cat-loving brain disease.
(You like cats? So do I! We should trade recipes some time!)

Legalized Extortion
Some people need to be destroyed.

How to totally fake being a geek
In which I find a blurred reflection of myself.

Once Again, Fat and Happy

MMMMm coookies.

So, one of the people I work with is having her birthday tomorrow and I decided to bake the cookies she's been asking for. I made classic peanut butter criss-crosses. Except, and you may know this about me already, I did not exactly follow the recipe. I've developed an obsession lately for cooking with honey instead of granulated sugar. It's kinda working out. I have to add more flour because the honey makes the batter a bit too runny, but after that they turned out great.

I work with this other girl who hasn't ever baked cookies before, so she came over to help out and hang out. And she also brought her little chihuahua dog. Very cute, for a dog anyway. ;)

My roomate won't stop talking to me...I don't care...please stop...

I'm drinking coffee before bed, I'm never going to sleep tonight.