October 2011
Dearest Birds, Elephants and even Humans who can read,
Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make our 20th show such a rousing success. I was really impressed that overcoming as many obstacles as we did, and there were many this year, everything turned out just beautiful. My special gratitude goes to Little Matthew B, who chaired the show, and did a yeoman's job along with Barry Cohen, Francine Garber, AnnMarie McKeon, Jackie Chiger, Caitlin Rabbit, Renee' Crespo and her family, Debbie Napolitano and her daughter and son, Karen Graves, Mark Spina, Alli Hemmer, Jenna Blank, The Kristt family, Matt Dubrowolsky, Rick Stein and everyone else (I hope I didn't leave anyone out) who really gave their all for the good of our club. Next year will find us looking for a new venue. We have had our show in the same place for 20 years, but now it is time to move on. If anyone knows of a good place, at least as good as the one we have always had, for a reasonable price with everything we need....please speak up so we can all check it out.
On the home bird front my AWARD WINNING AMAZON PARROT, Emma, is quite the happy boy. Emma has conferred with me and told me that he is quite proud of being judged "the best Amazon" in the show. Zeke is good too, flying happily and constantly needing to be watched so that that rotten little black cat, Baby Simon, doesn't use him for Sunday dinner. Aristophanes does not have that problem, if it came to it he would have pussy cat croquettes instead of the other way around. Somehow, cats just don't stand a chance with macaws. The cutest thing is watching Simon play with Emma. They chase each other all around the elephant room, hiding and surprising each other. The problem with Zeke, being a cockatiel, is that he is too small to play like that, even though Simon wishes he would. Not easy, but we manage.
We have some fine meetings coming up. Leslie Wallace, the president of the Staten Island Bird Club will be presenting a program for us in November. She will be accompanied by her magnificent greater sulphur crested cockatoo, Lola. It is rare that we are treated to see one of these birds and they are truly beautiful. Our big covered dish holiday party and penny social is coming quickly upon us in December as the weather turns to be distinctly colder and the snow starts to fall all around us. I have heard from Nancy Clum, from the Bronx Zoo, and she is looking to find someone who works for her to give us a tour of the ins and outs of the bird exhibits there. She does not work weekends and she is looking for someone there who does and can do right by us.
I look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday when we can talk all about our super show and see how it was all put together. I am also anxious to hear ideas about how to make the show better and what more to include.
Have a great Halloween, everyone. Jackie and I will be going to the PAWS Sanctuary in California to visit with 10 elephants, 39 tigers and whomever and whatever else lives there.....
With Love,
Richie
Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make our 20th show such a rousing success. I was really impressed that overcoming as many obstacles as we did, and there were many this year, everything turned out just beautiful. My special gratitude goes to Little Matthew B, who chaired the show, and did a yeoman's job along with Barry Cohen, Francine Garber, AnnMarie McKeon, Jackie Chiger, Caitlin Rabbit, Renee' Crespo and her family, Debbie Napolitano and her daughter and son, Karen Graves, Mark Spina, Alli Hemmer, Jenna Blank, The Kristt family, Matt Dubrowolsky, Rick Stein and everyone else (I hope I didn't leave anyone out) who really gave their all for the good of our club. Next year will find us looking for a new venue. We have had our show in the same place for 20 years, but now it is time to move on. If anyone knows of a good place, at least as good as the one we have always had, for a reasonable price with everything we need....please speak up so we can all check it out.
On the home bird front my AWARD WINNING AMAZON PARROT, Emma, is quite the happy boy. Emma has conferred with me and told me that he is quite proud of being judged "the best Amazon" in the show. Zeke is good too, flying happily and constantly needing to be watched so that that rotten little black cat, Baby Simon, doesn't use him for Sunday dinner. Aristophanes does not have that problem, if it came to it he would have pussy cat croquettes instead of the other way around. Somehow, cats just don't stand a chance with macaws. The cutest thing is watching Simon play with Emma. They chase each other all around the elephant room, hiding and surprising each other. The problem with Zeke, being a cockatiel, is that he is too small to play like that, even though Simon wishes he would. Not easy, but we manage.
We have some fine meetings coming up. Leslie Wallace, the president of the Staten Island Bird Club will be presenting a program for us in November. She will be accompanied by her magnificent greater sulphur crested cockatoo, Lola. It is rare that we are treated to see one of these birds and they are truly beautiful. Our big covered dish holiday party and penny social is coming quickly upon us in December as the weather turns to be distinctly colder and the snow starts to fall all around us. I have heard from Nancy Clum, from the Bronx Zoo, and she is looking to find someone who works for her to give us a tour of the ins and outs of the bird exhibits there. She does not work weekends and she is looking for someone there who does and can do right by us.
I look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday when we can talk all about our super show and see how it was all put together. I am also anxious to hear ideas about how to make the show better and what more to include.
Have a great Halloween, everyone. Jackie and I will be going to the PAWS Sanctuary in California to visit with 10 elephants, 39 tigers and whomever and whatever else lives there.....
With Love,
Richie