Conure Corner - Niblet's Blog

You're Great Friends!

9/19/2018

Thanks to all of you for your prayers, tweets, messages, and concerns during Hurricane/Tropical Storm Florence last week. We were extremely lucky in central South Carolina, as the worst of the storm passed north of us. It seems your prayers worked, as the storm died down drastically before it hit. Thanks so much.

Of course, our friends in NC weren’t so lucky, and even some areas in our upstate are dealing with flooding from Florence. We’re sorry for that and pray that our friends in those areas are protected and brought through successfully. Tropical weather is no joke, and it can continue to impact areas even after the storm is gone, as we see in the news reports (that aren’t hyped up – but that’s fodder for another blog entry).

The good news is that we got 4 days off with the parronts, and we enjoyed their company. It turned into an impromptu “staycation” for the folks around here, and Zack and I enjoyed every minute of it. There was lots of attention, snuggles, fun and games, and, of course, watching TV (not news reports, obviously, as they were hyped up but again, that’s for another blog entry). It’s kind of dull now to be back in our normal routine with the parronts back at work, but we’ll survive. We find ways to have fun and adventures until they get home, as we learned with “Smart Thing” a couple of weeks ago!

Thanks again to all for your prayers and concerns, and for being great friends. We always pray for you, too.

That’s all today. Take care, and have a great rest of the week.

Luv,

Bubbles

So Far, So Good

9/15/2018

Hi all, thanks for keeping up with us on social media with now Tropical Storm Florence. So far, we're doing good in central South Carolina. It was windy yesterday, and now the rain has moved in. We'll certainly keep you posted through Twitter.

Sorry we haven't blogged, but the parronts have been busy preparing for the coming storm. The Governor closed work for both of them on Tuesday, and they've tried to use the time to prepare wisely: trimming tree limbs close to the house, taking in outdoor furniture and decor, checking in on and with family and friends, stocking up on food and supplies, etc. At least the storm has downgraded drastically, which is good. We're very sorry for the impact it's had on NC already. That footage got so scary yesterday that I was screaming at the news, and mommy turned it off. We spent the rest of the evening watching Star Wars Rebels on DVD. I sure am glad mommy and daddy are with Bubbs and me. We have enjoyed having extra time together this week, even if the reason is a bad one. Really, things have been ok here. It was sunny until yesterday, which was all wind. The rain just started this morning.

These tropical systems are scary, but as mommy said in her blog last weekend, this is the price we pay to not shovel snow in the winter. Heck, we barely have what you would call a winter in the southeast. I suppose everybody has their weather phenomenon they have to deal with.

But thanks again for your prayers and well wishes. We've made it through many of these storms, and pray this one will pass as uneventfully as possible, and that all in the path are protected.

That's all today. Take care, and have a great weekend.

Luv,

Zack

Smart Thing - An Anipal Land Short Story

9/7/2018

“Smart Thing, order a pizza.”

“Ordering rice cakes.”

Bubbles’ face feathers drooped. “I think you misunderstood me, Smart Thing. I said pizza.”

“You said pizza, but the perch said rice cakes.”

“I’m not fat! Mommy says I’m plush and pretty!”

“You are a plush little piggy!”

Bubbles fluffed up. “I’m not a piggy!”

“Your rice cakes will arrive in approximately five minutes by Dumb Drone. Oink oink!”

Bubbles growled as she dove headlong into the drone, rolling across the floor in a blur of smoke, wires, electronic parts, and blue feathers.

DING DONG!

“Oh boy, they’re here!” Zack said, his feet tapping across the entry way from the desk in the next room where he had been playing on daddy’s laptop.

“Not rice cakes!” Bubbles said, looking up from the tangle of feathers and now-demolished parts from Smart Thing, which was still squeaking out a weak “oink oink.”

“She’s in here,” Zack said softly.

Toes clacked through the entry way. Bubbles shook off the wires as her Twitter pals rounded the corner.

“Surprise pizza party!” they shouted.

“Really?” Bubbles asked. “No rice cakes?”

“No rice cakes,” Morty said. “Zack told us you got a defective Smart Thing, so we thought we’d come over for a pizza party to dismantle it.”

“It looks like you beat us to it,” Keito said. “What happened?”

“It looks like Bubbles turned Smart Thing in to spare parts for the BOOM!” Jinx said.

Bubbles drooped. “She said I’m fat.”

Zack cackled. “She said I had bad tastes yesterday. I asked her to stream scifi movies, and you know what she did? She froze the remote on the Hallmark channel for three hours."

“We don’t have the Hallmark channel,” Bubbles said.

Zack’s eyes widened. “I know. That's why I screamed so much last night. I think she’s demon possessed."

"Zack told us about that," Morty said, "so we decided to have a Surprise Friday Pizza Party!"

“Hi mates, sorry I’m late,” Jack said. “My drone had to fly around a hurricane. Say, did you know there are 5 bags of rice cakes on the porch?”

“Feed them to the wild birds,” Jinx said. “We have a Friday Pizza Party and Smart Thing Demolition going on.”

“Maybe I need to be on a diet?” Bubbles asked, staring at her tummy.

“Absolutely not!” Keito pecked Smart Thing fiercly, silencing the weakening ‘ooooooooiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnkkkkkkk.’

“Mommy’s right,” Zack patted Bubbles on the back. “You are plush and pretty.”

“Thanks everybody!” Bubbles said.

“Come on, let’s eat this pizza and breadsticks before the outside birds start a revolution on the back deck,” Jinx said. “There are some doves and cardinals out there giving us the stink eye through the window already. I think they know we’re eating better than they are again.”

They cheered as they dug into their treasures, leaving Smart Thing smoldering in the corner.

THE END.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like - Still Summer

9/6/2018

What’s up with all of the fall and holiday stuff online? It looks like Santa Clause spewed pumpkin spice, leaves, and trees all over social media. I know people are sick of the hot weather and ready for fall, but there’s one problem: it isn’t here yet. The pumpkins aren’t ripe yet, and the leaves aren’t changing. Heck, it’s still in the 90’s. I know Labor Day is the ‘unofficial’ end of summer, but I think Earth is telling you that it has different ideas. The fall equinox isn’t until September 21, and the weather patterns – well, fall might arrive in South Carolina sometime in mid-October.

Sorry folks. We’re as sick of the “shake and bake” as you are, but we still have more coming, and these fall posts are just depressing you because they can’t change reality. The Earth’s axial tilt isn’t shifting, and the planet isn’t moving around the sun any faster just because you want it to. You might want to be glad for that. Such celestial alterations would no doubt have catastrophic consequences.
Mommy has posted a few things of this nature online in the past week or so, and met with some hostility. I think you misunderstand us, dear readers. We do understand your frustration with summer lingering on while the calendar forces us off vacation and back to school and jobs.

We understand how difficult it is to walk in stores wearing shorts and flip flops while the shelves are stocked with sweaters and jackets. Late August through September is a time of incongruity where the climate is telling us one thing, and the schedules and retailers are telling us another. It is frustrating, but we don’t help ourselves by wishing life away. No worries, folks – you’ll be shoveling snow before you know it (we won’t because we choose to live in the deep fried insanity of the south, but most other people will). And you may be wishing for those long days and warm skies again when the snowflakes start to fall and the sun sets hours before it used to.

I just hate to see people make themselves miserable with these posts lamenting the weather. It seems we’re always complaining about it. I think it’s best to take the advice mommy’s granddaddy gave her when she was a kid: don’t wish your life away, because one day you’ll be old and wish you had it back. Live in the present and enjoy the blessings you have. Seasons will always come and go, and all things pass. Just roll along, and try to make the best of the place where you’re at.

That’s all today. Take care, and have a great week.

Luv,

Bubbles

Payback Stinks

8/29/2018

Payback stinks, and mommy learned that this week. After 7 days of giving Zack antibiotics, she had to get a cavity filled yesterday. She's glad it's done, but she's sore and hot/cold sensitive now. The dentist said that's normal for a few days, and to be patient. Healing takes time. She's getting better, but she'll definitely be brushing her teeth much better now.

She said what goes around, comes around. But I don't think it's payback. Just wacky human luck. At least the cavity is filled. The dentist took good care of her and she'll be ok. These things just happen - kind of like allergies. Speaking of that, our new air filter also arrived yesterday. It's nice, and so quiet that we can barely hear it! Everybody's sinuses are feeling better already. So that was a good suggestion from the vet.

So we're doing good. Zack's done with his medicine, mommy's cavity is filled, and all is well. We're humming along. Healing and living and enjoying life.

That's all today. Take care, and have a great rest of the week.

Luv,

Bubbles

Allergies

8/22/2018

It turns out that I have one more thing in common with my human parronts: allergies. Mommy took me to the vet yesterday, after I scratched a spot on my head until it bled a little, and I was sneezing. I've had sinus infections in the past, and she wanted me checked out. The vet examined me, and proclaimed me ok. She said I probably have allergies, and gave me antibiotics as a preventative measure. She also said that spot where I scratched is over one of my sinuses, and should heal up ok, if Bubbs will quit picking at it. The parronts have been monitoring us closely to make sure that she leaves it alone. So far, I'm healing up pretty good.

The vet also "prescribed" a HEPA air filter for mommy and me. She says that she has one in her main living area, and it's a big help to her and her birds. Mommy has a birthday coming up, so she said she's going to use her birthday money to order us a good one. She's researching them now.

So it turns out that birds can have allergies. Gee, I wonder what the outside birds do if they have them. They don't have human parronts to take care of them and buy them air filters!

Bubbs and I sure are lucky to have parronts who love us. All in all, the vet said I'm in good shape and will be ok (she also said I'm extremely handsome). The antibiotics are a preventative measure, and very low dose. But I'm still giving them hell about it. Gotta keep them on their toes!

So I'm fine. Just fall allergies, like everybody else, it seems! Go figure.

That's all today. Take care, and have a great rest of the week.

Luv,

Zack

One Busy Season Ends, Another Begins

8/15/2018

Mommy’s busy season at work has ended, and daddy’s is beginning. It’s back to school time, which means chaos and madness. And then the kids will come back.

It’s too bad that their jobs are more in synch, but then again there are advantages to them having busy seasons at different times. It means that at least one of them is “grounded” to help and support the other during their frantic time. And, of course, Zack and I are here to help in any way we can. Whether they need Zack’s specialty snuggling or my cheerful encouragement, we’re ready to help when the work day is over!

So there’s not much going on here, and I guess it must be that way for all, because social media is quiet lately. Just back to school chatter and the usual plethora of advertisements and inspirational posts. Even the political rants and liberal rage seem to have tamed a bit. But we haven’t been online much lately, either. Mommy was busy last week catching up on everything that piled up while she was writing, so we’re just getting back to things.

That’s all today. Take care, and have a great rest of the week.

Luv,

Bubbles

What Mommy Missed (Hint: Nothing)

8/1/2018

Mommy just finished another round of writing. She’s spent the past month rewriting her two novels-in-progressed based on feedback she got from her beta readers in May and June. If you don’t know, beta readers are people who volunteer to read early drafts of novels to let writers know if they’re on track, or if they need to make some changes. It turns out that mommy did need to make some changes to her manuscripts. Unfortunately, the changes she decided to make required some major rewrites. Fortunately, the changes made both books a lot better. It was hard work, but she said it’s worth it, and she’s happier with the manuscripts now.

So now she’s rattling around, wondering what she’s missed in the past month while she was in a writing-induced haze. I can help! Here’s a summary of what you missed this month, mommy:

0

It was a dull July. But thank goodness, because April - June was insanity with her busy time of year at work, so she’s grateful. The writing is work she enjoys, and while rewrites are frustrating to a degree, she was delighted to see the improvements as she rewrote these manuscripts. She did check into social media over the weekend, and was wondering if she missed some stuff. But she’s been assured that’s not the case. Ok. She’ll take that and move on.

Another thing to be grateful for is that she finished this before the season premiere of Better Call Saul on Monday (August 6). Great timing there, mommy! You finished your own worlds in time to delve into another one. Then again, she says nothing’s better than to dive into a good book or TV series after finishing a productive round of writing. It looks like she’s getting her wish.

That’s all today. Take care, and have a great rest of the week.

Luv,

Zack

Staring Contests

7/26/2018

Mommy says that parakeets can get a look on their face that conveys an expression somewhere between “I don’t care” and “You’re an idiot.” I guess it’s the look I have in this picture, and she’s asked me to teach it to her. She said other humans can be oblivious to words sometimes, and those situations require an expression of obvious disregard or disgust to effectively communicate the sentiment. It seems humans have this whole range of silent communication with body language and facial expressions, and we ‘keets have mastered part of that art.

So she’s been staring at me a lot lately. That’s ok. I can stare back. It’s kind of interesting to stare at humans, actually. How do they manage those big honker noses? Or eyelashes? Or those big cheeks? They really are different; almost alien. Definitely not as cute as birds, but that’s ok. I love her and daddy. They’re the best.

Still, I think I’m good to win this staring contest. I’ve mastered the look. She’s still working on it. And if all else fails, poop. There’s no mistaking that message! I guess humans can’t do that, with pants and all. Ahh, the freedom of being a bird! It’s wonderful!

That’s all today. Take care. Have a happy Friday tomorrow and a wonderful weekend.

Luv,

Bubbles

Brain Burn

7/19/2018

Mommy discovered that she needs to restock her card supply yesterday. One person at church passed away this week (on his birthday!) and another is having surgery for cancer. You should have seen her rummaging through that drawer looking for sympathy and get-well cards. It seems these things happen in spells, and she let her supply get low.

Actually, she sent them the last cards she had. Which means they were the “bottom of the box” selection and not the best, but it’s the thought that counts, right? And she figured she better get that stuff out while she had the thought, so as not to be embarrassed Sunday morning with an uncomfortable “oops, I meant to do that” during the Pastor’s prayers.

She’s still scrambling, despite the busy time of year being somewhat over at work. The truth is that they’ve had a lot of late replies this year and are still hearing it about the stupidity and unfairness of it all. She says people will wear you out sometimes, and I believe it. Add that she just finished rewriting a novel, that she just stumbled upon another marketing opportunity for her writing, that she had a meeting at work yesterday, and that she just got over a virus that had her puny for 5 days, and her brain is full. Remembering our feeding, cleaning, and care hasn’t been a problem for her, so I’ll refrain from criticism. She's feeling the brain burn, and I can be a somewhat patient parrot. But if that popcorn is late tonight because of distractions on the computer or phone, I’ll have a chat with her.

Actually, she’s a good mommy and I love her. I just like to keep her on her toes. She likes feisty, and I’m happy to deliver. The more she thinks, the better that brain will get. She keeps me wondering too, so it’ a fair trade.

That’s all today. Take care. Have a Happy Friday tomorrow and a wonderful weekend.

Luv,

Bubbles