It's a new year: 2012

I can't believe that 2011 is over.  It went by so fast, well, every year flies by faster than the last.  I have heard that time goes by faster as you get older. 

A highlight of 2011 for me was the Royal Wedding.  I tried so hard not to get caught up on it and it was sort of annoying, but I couldn't help but suckered in.  I just love Kate and Will.  They just seem like such honest and nice people despite their status.  I was never in love with William.  He looks like his father too much, but I think Kate is just the cutest thing.  I did not love her dress.  It's a bit too regal and old fashioned for me, but it suits her really well and I wouldn't expect royalty to wear anything different.  It's not like they can exactly wear Vera Wang runway couture with a strapless back or something.

Personally, my fave thing this past year was my 30th Harry Potter themed birthday party.  I had such a blast with my great and awesome coworkers, bosses, sister, boyfriend, and closest friend.  I never really got to have birthday parties as a kid nor was Harry Potter around so I figured, why not do it now?  Sure it's not normal for a 30th birthday, but that's ok.  I've been going out and getting drunk on my birthdays for the last decade, why not do something different?  I worked so hard on it for weeks, in fact, it was all I could talk about for a month or two beforehand.  I'm sure I was driving my bf and my coworkers nuts.  Everyone dressed up too, well, almost everyone.  But one of my bosses spent the weekend beforehand whittling wands!  Hehe.  I went upstairs to the lounge area and there he was, still working on it.  He even dyed it to a nice brown color.  

I look super nerdy, but I love it!  and yes, those are posters I edited from photos I found online and soaked them in coffee water with coffee grinds.  One of my work friends took it one step further and and burned the edges.  She's so crafty :)

 

Yep, we even had a long Hogwarts table

I didn't do much for NYE.  I toyed with the idea of going out, but being that I worked all day on Saturday, it rained and then snowed, it was just better to stay home.  Of course I had to go to the liquor store for some sangria and pear cider.  It wasn't that big of a deal.  I played games on Facebook while my bf watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  I didn't even realize it was 2012 until I saw the time on my laptop saying it was 12:02 A.M.  We're so much fun :)

With the new year, the warm winter we had disappeared.  It has been extremely cold and gusty today.  I didn't realize how drafty my windows were until today.  And it's been so cold in my apt.  My space heater is not in use right now because a little rabbit chewed up the cord and I have yet to go buy a new one (a lack of motivation due to the warmness of winter).  Btw, when I say warm, I mean 30-40 degrees, which is warm here in Mn.  The snowfall last night was absolutely beautiful though.  It fell in soft huge flakes, like scraps of white office paper falling from the sky. 

Happy New Year to you all.  I don't believe the world will be ending this year though.  I'm not usually a resolutions sort of girl, but I think this year I'd like to write more, work on my craft projects more, be more productive with my time, save more money, work out, and sleep more.  Wow, there's a lot I want to do more of isn't there?  

I also got a little surprise from Ginger: an egg.  She laid her first one.  The entire flock has been extremely hormonal.  I love them, but they have been driving me insane with their hormones.  They are not only ten times more loud and obnoxious, but VERY mean to each other.  Ginger got into two huge fights last week with her mom and Sage.  She had them both by the necks and would not let go.  I sprayed her with water because that usually breaks up the arguments, but she only let Sage go when they both fell off the table and hit the floor.

Joey has been masturbating his teddy bear and to be honest, all the boys have.  Every birdy has been mating with their partners.  All they want to do is find a dark corner and nest in there including hiding inside my shirt.  It is a madhouse.

I am not letting Ginger have her babies though.  I have a hard enough time letting them go (hence why I still have all of them) and I don't trust people enough to sell them.  There are certain bird people I do know and I would just give them a bird if they ever wanted one, but in general, strangers are a different story.  I once did post on Craigslist to see what kind of responses I would get and I was not surprised of course.  I had all the "I'm getting this for my kid" (I just think this is a bad idea, it should be a family pet, not just for a child.  Sure some kids are awesome, but I've heard too many "kids lost interest" reasons to why a pet is rehomed) to "we don't want to pay a large rehoming fee due to the fact that we don't have any money." (uh, how are you going to feed it? and supply it with toys? and what kind of cage are they going to have?  and medical bills?).

I do admit, I appreciate the honesty because in the end I am really doing the people who write back a favor.  So yes, found the dummy eggs I'll replacing her eggs with.  I think I'm going to boil her eggs (no worries, they are nothing but yolks right now) and then put them back in because I have a feeling at the rate the hormones are kicking in right now, other pairs will be laying soon.  Fun times I tell ya.  I really wish I could keep the babies, but I have no more room left and it's pricey with the amount of birds I have plus Evie's medicals bills are $$$.  Believe me, I love baby birds.  They are so precious, cute, and fun.  I love hand raising babies.  It's such a miracle to see them as eggs, hatchlings, and then 6 weeks later, they are out and flying.  I love watching them learn how to fly.  It is so instinctual and they do it with so much grace.  I love seeing that spark in their eyes when they make the first flight or see their siblings do it.  I remember when Basil learned how to and Ginger saw him.  She tried to follow him and wanted to do the same exact thing.  The look in her eyes were full of determination and of that spark.  Those 8-9 weeks from eggs to weaning goes by super fast.

So yes.  I tried to take some recent photos but like I said, they are all nuts right now and won't sit still for the camera.  You'd think it was a monster they've never seen before.  So I played around with a free photo software from http://www.poladroid.net/.  I love it.  It's pretty fun and it only takes like 8 pictures or so before telling you to turn it off because the film is out like a real polaroid.

     

And today, January 2, is Pan's take home day!!!  It has been 3 years since I have brought him home back in 2009.  I still remember it like it was yesterday. 

Tis the season

I've been meaning to write, but it's been so busy and I'm so fatigued.  This month flew by so fast, I can't believe Christmas is this Sunday!  I've been making Christmas cards for my friends and coworkers.  I love arts and crafts and doing things like that.  In fact, I still have 6-7 cards to make!  I think drinking wine at night made me uncreative and lazy and that's why I still have cards left to create.

I didn't buy the fids or the buns any toys this year.  I just got them what they needed and besides they appreciate out of cage time more than anything and since I have 4 days off, I plan on spending it w/ them.  The birds are doing great.

I am a bit sad about Evie.  She is on antibiotics and was doing so well not picking at her wing area.  It was not red, raw, and bleeding.  I haven't had to clean her up in a few months now.  There were even feathers growing back, but the other day I took off the cage cover and there was dried blood on her.  She did hurt herself.  And to think that she was doing so good.  We tried putting a collar on her and she did not do well with that.  She was on the floor rolling onto her back trying to get the thing off her plus it was huge even though it's made for lovebird size.  All I can do is continue to feed her good, bathe her daily, spray her with a solution the vet gave me to kill off germs on her skin (which I think led to her picking at herself because I was trying to get under her wing that night to spray on her), and give her her medication.  Unfortunately I feel in my heart that it will always be this way with her.  I hope that one day she will stop mutilating herself.  It's been a few years now and it's not ceasing.  She does better when she's on meds, but she can't be on antibiotics forever!  I just have to keep an eye on her.  I don't know what more I can do.  I've done all I can, googled and spent hours online looking at similar things, taken her to the vet for expensive visits and meds.  But she's my baby and I love her and so all I can do is try my best to make her feel better in any way I can.

Pantalaimon is such an awesome mate to her.  He protects all the time from me when I'm trying to get her to come out of their hut so I can medicate her and protects from the others.  He goes to her when she chirps for him.  And to think that 3 years ago, she hated his guts!  LOL.  Evie and Joey were so mean to Pan for like 4-5 months!  Poor Pan Man.  But they're just a wonderful couple.  I just love all my critters so so much.  

I have been reading a new book: The Night Circus.  I love it so far.  I did also read Lord of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring.  I loved the movie and picked up the book months ago, but never made it past the part where they were lost in the forest forever.  The book was very wordy and it dragged on.  I finally skipped the forest part after they met some guy name Tom and went to the Prancing Pony part.  It got good from that point on.  So even though I own the extended versions of the movies and know what happens, I still love reading it and seeing the difference along.  It is different reading it as well because I feel like I'm right there with them.

Anyway, I gotta run to make more xmas cards that need to be sent out asap!

Mice

About a week ago, I heard something chewing underneath my heater.  "Dear lord, let it be Milo," I thought.  I was clearly wrong as Milo was in front of me doing nothing.  I kept hearing this awful chewing sound.  I know that noise.  It's truly Fall now.  It's been cold and I know they are back.  This year I'm taking a new approach.  Snap traps.  Last year I called the building and they came in and put out poison and I put out sticky traps.  I learned I dislike both those methods.  Obviously poison is dangerous.  Milo got into some I think.  I don't know if he truly did or not, but I treated it like as if he did.  Better to be safe than sorry.  That was not a fun nor cheap vet visit.  He lost a pound or two and some patches of fur on his neck from wearing a collar for a month.

I did not like the sticky traps because once I caught a mouse, it was still alive.  The first time I caught one, I tossed it in the garbage.  My bf made me go kill it for it's wrong to let it suffer.  Yeah, that was not fun because I did not want to kill it.  It was the first animal I have ever physically killed.  It was traumatizing for me, something I never want to do again.  I had to smash it with a hammer.  :(  After that, I drowned them.  I didn't know what else to do.  One was a baby looking one that was shrieking all night super loud.

Not only that but Milo stepped on one.  I thought I hid it pretty well, but then he was running around the room super fast and I couldn't even catch him.  My first thought was that a mouse was hanging onto his foot when I realized it was the sticky pad.  I finally caught him and had to cut off the pad from his fur and wiped his back leg with olive oil to get all the goo out.  October 2010 was not a fun month for Milo and I.

So yes, I picked up and vacuumed all the poison.  There are still some underneath the oven that I just can't physically get to.  But I do keep a super careful eye to make sure they aren't being moved.  So this year, I am bringing out the snaps.  It's a quick death!  I got some black snappy ones, A Better Mousetrap, and the old fashion spring ones.  I actually snapped my thumb on the old fashion one.  I hate them, but I can see why they work so well.  I am also waiting on my order of live traps.  At night, I bring out the snap traps and plan on using the live traps during the day.  I don't want my birds escaping and landing on a snap trap.  That would be awful.  I hide the snaps underneath the kitchen sink.

The other night I was woken up at 5 A.M. by a chewing or scratching sound.  I couldn't tell where it was coming from.  It sounded like it was behind my bookshelf, yet in the walls, or even under the floor.  It was driving me insane.  So I made a mixture of peanut butter, molasses, a few seeds, and vanilla extract and put them on the bait.  I was looking forward to waking up to see dead mice, but it's been a few days and I have yet to seen anything.

Either someone else found them and killed them or they ate some of last year's poisons I threw down the cracks underneath the heater.  Who knows.  I have not been hearing any noise at night too.  Who knows.  I will continue to set up the traps though.

I just hate mice.  I am so scared of them.  They can be kinda cute, but they're creepy.  The way they scatter across the floor, can squeeze through a hole the size of a pencil, and that disgusting tail.  When I saw one last year, I went hysterical.  I was on the phone crying, screaming, and heaving.  You would have thought I saw something else besides a mouse.  My birds were scared of me.  They flocked to the curtain rod and looked at me like, "ok, there is something scary going on because mom is freaking out, but we don't know what it is.  Why is she acting so crazy?"  Seriously, they had this "what is wrong with you" look in their eyes.  I know mice are harmless, helpless creatures just looking for food and warmth, but they are scary.  I have to tell myself they aren't gonna bite me nor kill me nor kill my pets.  I have to mentally talk myself out of it otherwise I will become that screaming lady.  I will admit I slept with a flashlight and spray bottle so if I saw one, I would spray at it.

Honestly, I pick mice over rats and bats!  Mice are fine as long as they are not indoors.  It's amazing how many people are scared of mice though.  I spent all night googling it.  Like I said, I don't like to kill them nor do I want to, but I have to.  They can't live here.  I did not call my building this time.  I don't need them to come out and put out poison.  I love my babies too much to do that again.  Not worth it.

Cemeteries

As it is Halloween, I thought I would write about cemeteries.  Now, don't get me wrong, there is something spooky about them and the mere mention of visiting one to take pictures was greeted by a "hell no, are you crazy?" by my boyfriend.  No, I'm not crazy.  Yes, it's creepy, but there is something very peaceful and beautiful about cemeteries, especially old ones (though I do say that they are the most eerie).  I like looking at the tombstones, the dates and names on them.  I wonder who these people were, how did they live, how did they die, what wishes and dreams did they take with them, did they accomplish all they wanted, and were they good or bad people.  When I went to take some Autumn photos, I had to walk by an enormous cemetery.  It was extremely quiet and large.  This one though does not allow photos to be taken.  I did dare from outside the fence and then I deleted the photos because I felt bad (yes, I am a goody goody two shoes like that).

I actually did not dress up and go anywhere this weekend.  I did not catch the fever this year.  It's fun to see other people's costumes, but I just don't want to do anything, dress up, or go any bars or clubs.  I used to wonder as a child if adults ever dressed up.  I always thought that at some point, people just stopped, but no, it gets better as an adult because you get to go out and party and drink!  Though after a decade of doing such things every year, it gets a bit dull and a break is needed now and then.  So, maybe next year!  I keep saying I'm going to be Boo from Monster's Inc.  I better be her soon before I start looking too old. You know, as far as costumes go, I never could be a scary, creepy, funny, or ugly thing.  It just doesn't appeal to me and it's never my type of costume.  I used to have the sexy costumes, but it's so cold!  The last few years have just been cute things.  

This is from last year.  I do have to say that getting ready, drinking, and eating was the best part of the night.  And sitting around watching Chuckie beforehand.  We all laughed because it's so old and dumb, though I think I did jump in one part.  

i definitely will not be watching any horror flicks tomorrow.  I hope nothing scary is on tv (yeah right).  I just hate horror movies.  I used to enjoy it as a kid because it sort of a rush and a bet to oneself that one could watch such things, but now as adult, it's just plain scary!  And horror movies these days are just over the top.  I can't watch those Saw movies at all.  Who thinks of those things anyway?  It's sick and disturbing.  There are other ways of teaching movie goers to appreciate life.  I just feel like those kind of movies give sickos ideas and there are enough bad things that happen in this world.  You want to watch something really scary?  The news and CNN is full of disturbing real life things.  I just like to stay in my happy place.

Another reason why I hate horror flicks is that a few ghostly encounters are enough to last me a lifetime. I don't need movies to feed my wild imagination any more than it already is.  Great, all this writing about ghosts is starting to scare me.  I am such a baby.  Guess I'll just sleep on the sofa and fall asleep to PBS.

Speaking of PBS, I saw a commercial for a space show.  Now that sounds cool because one of the questions it asked was something like, "have you wondered if there is another you living in an alternate world?"  Uh yes!  

And on another lighter note, I joined Pinterest for some inspiration and craft ideas.  I'm not feeling too creative lately.  Plus there are just awesome pictures on there!

Boo!

This is Joey Boo's Halloween photo.  He's so cute.  

Theater and some

My boyfriend and I went to see a play last night.  It has been a long time since I've been to the theater.  I think the last time I went was a few years ago to see one of my friends perform.  I can't even recall what it was about, only that it was a comedy and I loved it.  I can say that I don't miss being on the stage.  That's for sure.  It's much more fun being the audience.  Half the time I was wondering how they didn't go blind staring at the light or tripping over something when the lights went off.  Anyway, last night's performance was great.  We saw Four Destinies and it was the highlight of my day.

After seeing that, I think I do want to see Les Miserables in December.  I hear it's a great musical and I do like the song I Dreamed a Dream.  I mean, how can one not like that song?  And it's not because of Glee that I like it either.  I like the lyrics.  Besides, I have not been watching Glee this season.  I heard it sucks, which is disappointing since I like the show.  I am not even going to try reading the book by Victor Hugo.  I have way too many books I haven't even started yet on my Nook.  Seriously, I have a couple hundred books and about 160 of them are unopened and some are partially read.  Like I said, when they are free or cheap, gotta take advantage of the price!  And no, I have not been reading lately.  I switch from books to music and right now I'm on music mode.

Otherwise The Lion King is coming in January and just in time for my birthday!  It always gets sold out super fast though.  But really, we don't need to go see the pricey and popular shows.  I'm perfectly fine seeing something smaller.  They're just as entertaining.  Perhaps a comedy.  The one last night was a bit on the tear jerker side.  There were funny moments, but it was sort of sad.

Here are a couple of photos from last Sunday.  It's been a nice Fall with its' warmth and sunshine.  This year, Spring was awful.  It was cold and wet and gray all the time.

I was waiting for some Hobbits to fall down and we'd be off to see Gandalf. 

So much for saving for a new camera.  I have to save it for Evie's medical treatments.  I took her in on Friday and we did a culture test.  I won't get the results until Thursday.  We're looking for specifically what bacterias are on her skin.  I have to look for an E-collar for her as well only when I put it on her, I have to make sure it's not sticking out like what it would like on a dog or cat.  It would be the opposite way, covering her wing area.  I have to make sure it doesn't hit at her scab and irritate that area.  Of course, I gotta make sure my baby isn't stressed out and that she's eating and drinking.  Poor baby.  I just feel so bad for her.  She's just the nicest and sweetest bird.  I wish I could communicate to her to stop mutilating herself.  It breaks my heart every time I have to clean up her wounds and there's blood everywhere.  She can't even fly anymore and just looks so rough right now.  All I can do is give her daily baths, administer pain relief medication for her, and give her tons of food so she doesn't lose weight.  And it's so expensive going to the vet!  But I can't not do anything.  That would be mean and irresponsible of me as her mom.  Like I said, she's my baby.  I also have to buy an Avian Sun Lamp for them since the days are getting shorter and I know I'll be sitting underneath it for some sun therapy.  And I also have to take Joey in to get a blood test to make sure his liver is ok.  And that's more $$$.

Music and Television

I have been on huge music kick.  I have been googling Youtube for tunes from the 80's and 90's.  I found a lot of remakes from a variety of folks and I have to say that there are some talented people out there.  In fact, sometimes they're better than the original.  I wish I could sing!  Every time I hear an average Joe on tv sing really good, I'm just awed by them.  I totally wish I could sing.

I am just so bored with the music on the radio right now.  And I hate listening to the radio because they play the same thing over and over and over again.  I'll switch the station and it will be playing the same thing.  For example, I am so over that dumb Dynamite song and Katy Perry's California Girls.  In fact, I'm over Katy Perry.  I like her, but I can't listen to her music anymore.  I have to switch to something completely different on the radio just to not hear top 40's sometimes.

Anyway, here's a video of a remake of U2's "With or Without You"  I just fell in love with this song again.  They did a great job.  I like this version because it's just softer, slower, and more emotional.

I've also developed a bad habit of watching trashy television shows at night.  Well, it's not that trashy and it's not every night, usually just Wednesdays.  I think it's channel 5.  Or is it 4?  I dunno.  I never pay attention.  It's whatever channel that plays The Middle, Suburgatory, Modern Family, Happy Endings, and Revenge.  That's 3 hours of me sitting in front of the tube watching it.  But it's hilarious!

Of course, Revenge isn't funny and I only watch it for the hot bartender and to see how she is taking down people.  But really, the actor (Nick Wechsler) that plays the bartender is super cute.  Like when he smiles, and he's got a really cute smile, he has these cute dimples and he's just so sexy!  hehe.  I have a lot of fun texting my work friend cuz we watch it.  "Omg, did you see him there?!  So hot!"  Hey, don't judge, it's the only time we can drool over someone.  Personally, I'd rather spend Wednesday nights laughing and giggling like a teenager than to watch 20/20 or Dateline or 48 Hr Mysteries and then can't sleep at night because I'm worried about someone murdering me and whatnot.  No way.  Though I will admit, I was badly addicted to Bachelor Pad and Jersey Shore and that's trash.  But trash can be so good sometimes :)  Nothing like a little Ron-Ron juice to get the party started.

Nick Wechsler, I like his facial hair and that he's not all clean shaven and pretty boy.  

Another thing I'm addicted to lately: taking Fall pictures.  I have loads to share.  But I think I'll only share my favorite ones or the really good ones I took since I took like a thousand.  I am definitely going to save my money and get a DSLR.  They are expensive, but I do enjoy taking photos.  Pictures mean a lot to me.  After people or pets are gone, your youth, whatever is important to you, pictures capture that moment in time and even if your memories fade, you'll always have those photos to remind you.  Not only that, but the story behind them.  There are photos of my pets that I post on facebook.  They mean nothing to others, but sometimes there is a story behind it and only I know (and find endearing).  I don't post those photos for others, but for me.

It's getting late and all I can say is that I certainly hope I didn't get any ticks on me from hanging out inside a hollow of a tree.  It looks romantic in movies with couples going into one after getting caught in the rain and making out, but it was not romantic.  Nor was my bf and I making out in it.  And it was sunny.  He decided to go in it while I was taking photos of a really cool log with moss all over it.  He thought he would hide from me.  Then he struggled to come out.  Haha.  So I went inside after a few minutes of "I don't know if that's a good idea, is there an animal in there?" It was cool, but it was very quiet, a little too quiet.  It blocked out the wind and noise.  Extremely spacious as well.  And of course on my way out, he says, "honey, there are bats in there" to which I really tried to hurry out though I knew he was lying.  I'll def have to share those photos.