RIP Emily Bird

We don't what happened.  Duane found little Emily at the bottom of the cage just as I came in from home work, tonight.  She's the all yellow one in the back.  We got her as a baby bird in the fall of 2009, just before we moved down to Tucson.

She was ok, hopping and playing with the other birds earlier in the day.  She is survived by her best friend Mr. Bird (the light blue guy, front right.)  No squabbles or fights were heard.  We just don't know what happened.  I think that's the hardest is the not knowing.

RIP Emily, you are missed.  Sept 2009 to April 2012.

They Need Their Own Zipcode

The birds surprise arrived a day early.  It ended up being a long procedure, so I'm glad it was my day off.  After much research, I found the perfect flight cage at the lowest price.  Considering the size and quality of this cage compared to their house-shaped cage, it was a steal.

The dimensions are approximately over 4 ft tall, 3 ft wide and 2 ft deep.  When I stand next to it, it comes just below my chin.  Yes, yes I am short.  It's on caster wheels, to make moving for cleaning easier.  I told Duane we should put a motor on it and a steering wheel so Huey and Herbie can take it for a spin around the apartment.

Duane said, "I don't think so."

 Mr. Bird said, "Word."

 I said, "It would be great.  You'll be sitting in your office and suddenly a huge cage would come pulling up to the doorway."

Duane said, "I don't think so."

Mr. Bird said, "Word."

Once Duane assembled the lower half, he thought they sent extra pieces.  This thing is huge.  We had planned on leaving Cassidy in the house cage with Mr. Bird, Myrtle and Meanie, because of Cassidy's bum leg.  After realizing the size of this thing, in person, it was decided they all could go in the big cage with plenty of space.

It was a two hour project just to transfer 18 flying maniacs with sharp claws and beaks.  Not easy to catch with them all fluttering around.  I transferred three and Duane caught the rest, while I manned the door on the big cage.  We were supposed to take turns, but Duane kept saying I'm going in again.

 There was only two mishaps, four if count the damage to our hands.  Myrtle broke a feather on her wing and bled a little bit.  We were quite concerned, as parakeets can bleed to death losing just a few drops of blood.  I was afraid of injuring her worse if we tried to catch her again to apply styptic pencil.  In the end, we decided to just watch her carefully and she's just fine this morning.

The other mishap was, Clarence/Clarice (we can't decide boy or girl) some how got away and flew across the room, right into the wall, thud.  Then bounced to the floor.  I found him a little stunned hopping around under a plastic bag.  He's just fine, with a tale to tell the other birds.

(Cassidy is sitting on the left bottom yellow calcium perch.)

My birds don't read the internet sites about how parakeets are supposed to act.  Like mating season is from October to March, yet their still laying clutches of eggs in May and July.  They are supposed to take one mate for life.  Huey and Ladybird, yes.  Mr. Bird, our resident gigolo, mates with toys, Myrtle and his mistress Emily.  We had to remove Emily, when Myrtle laid her eggs, as the girl birds will fight to the death over the breeding house.

Emily and Mr. Bird are now reunited.  It was like a love story when they spotted each other from across the cage.  "Mr. Bird!"  "Emily!"  They have been following each other around the cage like two star-crossed lovers.  Myrtle isn't put out, she prefers to just sit alone on a perch, unless her egg hormones have kicked in.

I start on the phones tonight.  We take only re-fill calls for the first half, then status calls the second half.  I'm practicing my, "This is pharmacy technician Denise.  May I have the patient's name and date of birth?"  I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.  I'm writing WIPW next, which will be scheduled to post at midnight US eastern time tonight, since there won't be anymore progress on the WIPs between now and tomorrow.

It was asked if I have other grandchildren.  This is Faith and my daughter Nicole.  It's blurry, taken with her phone camera.  I'm sending my daughter an inexpensive Kodak digital camera when I get  my first two-week paycheck, so there will be no reason not to send me pictures.  Nicole reads my blog every day, whether I post or not.  Everyone wave, "Hi, to Nicole."

Thanks for stopping by the crazy house.  More craziness and hilarity should ensue.

WIP Wednesday

I tried to get to the edging on Dayflower Dreaming.  Sadly, there is five more rows to go.

Even though there is about ten more rows added, it looks the same so no new picture.  The problem with letting a WIP languish too long, I forgot why I was making this.  I have no idea what to do with it once I'm finished, other than block it, fold it up and put it someplace safe.  I think I might have wanted to use it on one of those small round decorator tables, however that no longer interests me.  Too far into this to rip it out and re-use the yarn.

Same progress on Villa Mirabilia as I posted on Saturday.  This was started before the above project and I still have the same plan to frame it and hang in the living room.

After I posted on Sunday, Duane went in to assemble his pizza.  I wasn't able to get into the kitchen until around eight that night and by that time I was too tired to mess with the cake like I said I was going to. Monday, I felt fluish with body and head aches.

That's ok, his pizza was delicious.  The crust was so buttery and yummy it could have just had melted cheese on it and it would have been wonderful.  The beef brisket was tender and tangy with his homemade sauce.

I made the Black Forest cake tonight while watching Fried Green Tomatoes for the third time in a week.  It was the only thing on tv those nights.  My kitchen is about as big as a postage stamp.  The top layer of the cake broke in three pieces when I placed it on top.  Chocolate ganache then a layer of cherries.

Heavy whipping cream was on sale, so I got that.  While whipping it up, I thought how did they whip cream before electricity.  Those women must have had one heck of an arm.  I just put a few dollaps on the cake because there wouldn't be any room for the cake in the dollhouse sized refrigerator.  Postage stamp kitchen, dollhouse refrigerator and an oven the size of an Easy Bake. (sigh)

It didn't matter to Duane that my sad cake looked so pathetic.  He said it tasted better than the Sara Lee version.  He even sat in here and watched some of Fried Green Tomatoes with me while he ate it.  It was the part where Idgy and Ruth get into a food fight.  I was thinking about that scene while I was whipping cream and thought about coming in the bedroom and tossing a spoonful at someone.  Just to be funny.  He said, that would be better than a glass of water.

Speaking of Duane, he wrote two new posts on his blog.  One is his progress and the other is his cheesecake recipe that I posted a picture here.  Stop over and ask him for that great pizza crust recipe.  I can't rave enough about that crust.



It's late Tuesday night here, and no call back about the job. I had a feeling the lady before me would get the job as she knew other people in the facility.  I'm feeling a bit depressed and disappointed.  Every morning I still continue to fill out at least 5 applications a day. Today, I spent eight or more hours sending resumes and applications.  I'm down to grocery stores, fast-food restaurants, housekeeping, laundry and convenience stores. I don't care what it is, as long as it's something I can do.  I just need a job.  I know there's nothing you can do unless you know an employer in Tucson and call them up say give that lady a job and send positive thoughts.  It's just so disheartening.

We made a decision last month. It will be awhile, but we plan on moving to Fresno, Ca.  I've made a few really good friends here, but I'm just not happy with Arizona. If you have first hand experince of Fresno, give me a shout.  I've been doing a ton of research online.  There seem to be more jobs listings in Fresno and I was attempted to apply to some, except I have no way to get there.  Until then I will dream of the day I can ramble on.

WIP Wednesday

I know on Monday, I said I would post on Tuesday about the birds.  When I came back with Duane from the SSD Dr. I was both tired and stressed.  So, since it's now Wednesday on the east coast, I'll just write a two for one.

Even though I've put an additional 30 rows onto Dayflower Daydreaming, the progress really can't be seen, so no new picture.  I am determined to get this very old wip finished so I can use the needles for the project I really wanted to work on. I'm using some of my very first handspun lace weight merino from 2006, which is when I started this.

Dammit is being very naughty in the closet with the carpet.  One way to dissuade him is to put a throw rug over the area.  For some reason, he doesn't have an appetite for throw rugs.  I'd remembered in the 90's it was the rage to crochet doilies out of heavy yarn for throw rugs.  Looking at it, I'm afraid he'll probably catch a paw in one the holes.  I guess this one will end up in front of the kitchen sink or beside my tub.  I'm using Simply Soft acrylic Dark Teal.  I think for Dammit's rug, I'll afghan stitch a rectangle (boring) and maybe cross stitch a design on it.

The pattern (free) is one of the first doilies I ever crocheted.  It was a favorite of my late ex-MIL's.  We made tons of these which she gave many sets as presents.  Except to me, because I could make my own damn set if I really wanted one.  They were always size 30 white cotton with the final round in a variegated colored border.  Her favorite being DMC's variegated golds.  When DMC stopped making size 30 in variegated colors was when I figured out how to dye my own thread.  I could never get an exact match to the gold that would satisfy a certain person.

The birds. We are up to 13 fully feathered birds.  Some of you may remember, when the first four babies hatched on Christmas and New Years.  January was the most hits ever as many came to watch the progress pictures of the babies. Then Meanie hatched on that awful Saturday.  Shortly after Duane came home from the nursing home, another three were hatched.  Can't remember if I posted about them, as I was a bit distracted.

Last month, I talked the next door neighbor into letting me borrow the cage that the boarder found in the garbage awhile back.  He wants a cockatiel, but isn't in the position to take care of one.  We are borrowing the tall cage until I can afford to buy a bigger one.

Poor Myrtle has been wanting a family so bad, these long months while waiting for Ladybird to be finished with the house. Myrtle is the green and yellow bird in the left side cage.  This last batch, we told Ladybird and Huey they were finished and snatched the house out before they could repopulate it with eggs.  Myrtle now has the house.

One of the last three birds, has a bum leg.  His left leg sticks straight out to the side.  He has to hop around on the one good leg.  What were we to do?  Duane said he couldn't see putting a little bird down just because it has a bad leg.  So, we named him Cassidy.  He's the dark blue one, holding onto the bars with his bum leg. Meanie is in the back.  Meanie turned out to be such a sweet little bird.  He loved helping to take care of his younger siblings.  We decided that since Meanie helps Cassidy, we would keep them together and put them in with Mr. Bird and Myrtle.

There on the right is Cassidy's two brothers.  Duane named them Pete and Repeat.  They like to argue over the swing, knocking the other off.  I say, "Pete and Repeat sitting in the swing. Pete fell off. Who was left?"  Duane says, "I'm not falling for the joke that never ends."

Myrtle, oh my, that little lady.  It's like she knew this was her only chance.  There are two babies there, one hatched on Saturday, the other on Monday.  You'll notice there are still five, yes five, more eggs unhatched. *heavy sigh*  If they all hatch and survive, that'll be...... You do the math.  The house will be coming up missing, just as soon as these are ready to leave the nest.

Monday's grocery shopping trip, Duane was able to get something he's been wanting for over a year.  A beef brisket.  He roasted it that afternoon in the oven.  He has planned barbeque brisket sandwiches and a deep dish barbeque brisket pizza.  Oh and his famous chilli.

The appointment went ok today.  The Dr. was a very old Jewish man.  I answered most of the questions in the beginning, as Duane doesn't have much recollection of the ICU and what happened.  Then the Dr. checked his hands and ankles, listened to his lungs and heart.  Shuffled some papers, looked at a couple medical journals and asked when was the last time someone really listened to his lungs.  I couldn't remember if the Dr. did when we saw him in June or not.  He then said, he highly suggested we have someone listen to his lungs, a chest x-ray and have him checked out by a pulmonologist.  He said, he heard something and he's not sure if it's old or something new.  He is concerned about that with the recent joint pain Duane has. He said, he wasn't allowed to advise, but it was hard to break old habits.  I'm hopeful that the Dr's report will be on our side, but now I'm worried.  Luckily, I already have a follow-up appointment scheduled for this Friday with his Dr.

It was just last night as I was going to sleep, I was thinking about cooler temps coming in a few months. I'm quite sick of high 90's and 100's in temps.  Then I thought, come winter, comes the FLU!!!  I had a panic attack at the thought of the flu season coming.  After this past February, I think anyone in my shoes would.

Oh well, as with everything else going on in my life, we shall wait and see what comes next. I'm also quite tired of this waiting and uncertainty about the future.   

 Thank you for stopping by.

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The Tired Chronicles

When I die, if I have to come back, I want to be Bootsie.

We are managing just fine here, though we both fall into bed totally exhausted at night.  Then our muscles wake up and complain.  I'm telling myself this exhaustion all the time will pass.  You'll remember I had these episodes of fatigue a few times before these last couple months.

The patient is pretty easy, 17 animals, and keeping the apartment clean for visitors that show up.  I have to two out three isn't bad.  What am I talking about?  The home case-worker was ok.  Friday, we had our first outing and it wasn't as bad as I had worried about the night before.  His new primary care Dr. is one of the Dr.s from ICU team.  That was a big relief.  Then there was the nurse from Nurse Finders.

He kept talking about advice his Dr. gave him that had nothing to do with D's issues, his whole families health history with hypertension and diabetes.  How much he hates McDonald's.  Twenty percent of red meat has MRSA and you can catch it if you have a cut on your hand while handling it.  We should all just go vegan.

He didn't bother D, whose seemed to have acquired super human amount of patience.  I had to restrain myself from asking him to finish up the Necessary business and leave now.  Especially when he asked where I worked.  Then while watching me spin on my wheel asked if I spin yarn and knit sweaters for sale.  Yeah, right after I open my boutique on Beverly Hills.  D told him, not many people could afford the sweaters I knit.

The link to my Artfire store, Knitting Kitties.  That's as far as I've gotten today.  Monday started with a call from my AWOL daughter at 8:30am and the phone didn't stop ringing all day.  Her internet and laptop is messed up is all the reason I got for her being AWOL for weeks.  She found out she's having a girl due October 13th but will have a C-section the week prior to that.

I don't know if I mentioned this, but last week I woke up, made my coffee, sat down, fired up Facebook.  Just as I was taking my first sip of coffee, up comes a post from my oldest son that he got married that morning.  Daughter informed me that youngest son got married two days before that, and his wife is due in December.  Poor Dot Whooten. (me) (reference to a character in Standing in the Rainbow .)

I found a package of ten skeins of undyed fingering weight merino from Knit Picks that I will dye for sale later this week. I'm thinking tonal colors. Any suggestions?  I looked on their website and they don't sell it any more.  I had bought this to dye for a Fair Isle sweater.  I guess I'll replace it with their merino/silk at some point, maybe.  I'm trying to sort through the confusion that is my stash.

A sneak preview of some things I'm going to list.  This is 2/20 silk 1200 yards that I dyed in pinks, peaches with a touch of violet.  I have a second skein to remake this Shetland Garden Faroese Shawl (my rav page).

Two skeins of merino/silk 70/30 fingering weight 440 yards.  Dyed in shades from medium to light blue.

That's as far as I've gotten.  Pathetically sad, I know.  I need to get busy, the phone/internet is due for shut off on the 29th.  I think if D calls them, they will give an extra week for a small fee.  I'll have him call later today.

Remember those birds that we hatched around Christmas and New Years?  The two on the perch, on the right are lifting the door together.  The one sitting on the food dish is telling them they aren't lifting it high enough.  They lift it just to the top of the dish, the bottom one tries to stick his head out and they let it go trying to follow.  The door drops shut and they have a discussion.  Then they pull the lid off the dish and that's when I get up to put a stop to their antics.

Summer is coming to the desert.  The watch for the first 100F/38C day has started.  The Weather Channel has predicted it will happen this weekend.  Fun times.  Very soon, I'll be whining every post about the heat index of Hell.  Very much like northerners with non-stop snow storms.