November 2009
Dear Elephants and any humans or birds who happen to be with them,
Tired doesn’t begin to describe it. And from what, it must be my age. I am older than Matt, though, of course, you wouldn’t know it by looking at us. He looks wizened and bedraggled. I, on the other hand, look fresh, young and handsome, but I digress. How are your birds? We would know how they were doing if you wrote articles about them. Aristophanes, Zeke and Emma are doing fine, but I better knock wood when I say that. No use tempting the blue fairies that live in the rafters with that kind of talk.
Aristophanes had a bad allergy attack yesterday and I handled it as delicately as I could. I do not want to awaken his Rodan personality at any cost. I tried to take him out of the cage, but it becomes impossible to do that with mutual consent when he is in the “sneezing mode”. So, I took a small dish towel and threw it over his head, kind of the way Dr. Kasman does it with a gentle hand, and grabbed him. I held him for a moment to give him the benedryl, then sat with him, feeding him treats and petting him gently for about a half hour. I think it worked. He hasn’t been trying to kill me and that is good. He also stopped sneezing and that, of course, is good too. He is a bit reticent about coming out of the cage, but we will work on that.
Emma has been fine and Zeke is just a special little guy. I may be getting a new friend for him, but time will tell. I am hesitant about bringing new birds or cats into the house. Zeke likes to fly all over the place and a new cockatiel would have to learn to follow him. A new cat, on the other hand, may change the quality of his life by limiting his freedom. I don’t want to do that. I only mention that because the woman who adopted the 12 year old cat I have been peddling, has 3 beautiful erstwhile feral kittens that need good homes. I get so tempted, but don’t tell Jackie that bit of information. Anyone want a kitten? They are neutered and have rabies shots.
I take back my fears about Aristophanes. Apparently, I handled his situation well. He is out of the cage and playing around without any malice toward me.....Whew, that was a close one.
I may not be able to visit with Fritha for two months while Bunny, her owner, works at the Radio City Christmas Show. That happens every year and that hurts because I love being with that marvelous elephant and feeding her lunch each week. Bunny supplies the animals, camels, donkeys, sheep etc. for the big holiday show each year. Elephants truly are the greatest life forms on earth and every time I am with Fritha that theory is substantiated.
I hope everyone among us is healthy. My poor boys, my grandsons Matthew and Elijah, came down with the flu. It seems to be running though the schools like wildfire. The doctor said that he has seen myriad cases in children, but most have been mild to moderate. I guess it is that time of year. I used to get sick with a whopping case of bronchitis every November, when I was teaching. It would last for quite some time. I guess it bounced back and forth among the kids in my class. It truly has not happened since I have been retired.
Tonight we have a special program on the endangered macaws of the world. Actually, I think that all the large macaws are endangered due to deforestation and capture for the pet industry. There are, however, some species that are at the doorway to extinction, with one wing in that door and the other pushing its way though. Once again, I reiterate that we are a rapacious species, often without a conscience. Carol Cipriano is here to share her macaw knowledge with us in the name of the World Parrot Trust.
Next month is our annual covered dish holiday party and penny social. All our pet birds are invited to that so they can eat with us and share with us. Bring in your stuff to put on the tables, but please make it stuff people will want, otherwise it just gets thrown out.
Have a wonderful month. Our financial statement from the show will be published in this newsletter. We have a new website keeper, Barry Cohen, who will be taking over our site soon. Send him stories and pictures please........
Love from the Chiger household,
Richie
Tired doesn’t begin to describe it. And from what, it must be my age. I am older than Matt, though, of course, you wouldn’t know it by looking at us. He looks wizened and bedraggled. I, on the other hand, look fresh, young and handsome, but I digress. How are your birds? We would know how they were doing if you wrote articles about them. Aristophanes, Zeke and Emma are doing fine, but I better knock wood when I say that. No use tempting the blue fairies that live in the rafters with that kind of talk.
Aristophanes had a bad allergy attack yesterday and I handled it as delicately as I could. I do not want to awaken his Rodan personality at any cost. I tried to take him out of the cage, but it becomes impossible to do that with mutual consent when he is in the “sneezing mode”. So, I took a small dish towel and threw it over his head, kind of the way Dr. Kasman does it with a gentle hand, and grabbed him. I held him for a moment to give him the benedryl, then sat with him, feeding him treats and petting him gently for about a half hour. I think it worked. He hasn’t been trying to kill me and that is good. He also stopped sneezing and that, of course, is good too. He is a bit reticent about coming out of the cage, but we will work on that.
Emma has been fine and Zeke is just a special little guy. I may be getting a new friend for him, but time will tell. I am hesitant about bringing new birds or cats into the house. Zeke likes to fly all over the place and a new cockatiel would have to learn to follow him. A new cat, on the other hand, may change the quality of his life by limiting his freedom. I don’t want to do that. I only mention that because the woman who adopted the 12 year old cat I have been peddling, has 3 beautiful erstwhile feral kittens that need good homes. I get so tempted, but don’t tell Jackie that bit of information. Anyone want a kitten? They are neutered and have rabies shots.
I take back my fears about Aristophanes. Apparently, I handled his situation well. He is out of the cage and playing around without any malice toward me.....Whew, that was a close one.
I may not be able to visit with Fritha for two months while Bunny, her owner, works at the Radio City Christmas Show. That happens every year and that hurts because I love being with that marvelous elephant and feeding her lunch each week. Bunny supplies the animals, camels, donkeys, sheep etc. for the big holiday show each year. Elephants truly are the greatest life forms on earth and every time I am with Fritha that theory is substantiated.
I hope everyone among us is healthy. My poor boys, my grandsons Matthew and Elijah, came down with the flu. It seems to be running though the schools like wildfire. The doctor said that he has seen myriad cases in children, but most have been mild to moderate. I guess it is that time of year. I used to get sick with a whopping case of bronchitis every November, when I was teaching. It would last for quite some time. I guess it bounced back and forth among the kids in my class. It truly has not happened since I have been retired.
Tonight we have a special program on the endangered macaws of the world. Actually, I think that all the large macaws are endangered due to deforestation and capture for the pet industry. There are, however, some species that are at the doorway to extinction, with one wing in that door and the other pushing its way though. Once again, I reiterate that we are a rapacious species, often without a conscience. Carol Cipriano is here to share her macaw knowledge with us in the name of the World Parrot Trust.
Next month is our annual covered dish holiday party and penny social. All our pet birds are invited to that so they can eat with us and share with us. Bring in your stuff to put on the tables, but please make it stuff people will want, otherwise it just gets thrown out.
Have a wonderful month. Our financial statement from the show will be published in this newsletter. We have a new website keeper, Barry Cohen, who will be taking over our site soon. Send him stories and pictures please........
Love from the Chiger household,
Richie