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Nickel's Baaaack!

Ha ha, just kidding. I didn't really go anywhere, but Tall Bird's been hogging the 'puter, and I've been really busy shredding and screeching and climbing my tree perch. Oh, and laying eggs. Yep, I did. Three of 'em. And no, before you ask, I don't still have them. In fact, I didn't want to have anything to do with them after I, um, deposited them.

Truth to tell, it wasn't the most fun thing I've ever done in my life, and, tho I like to think I'm a pretty adventurous Grey, I'm not interested in doing it again. Ever. I've got more important ~ not to mention pleasant ~ things to do, like shred magazines and toys, practice my singing (which TB calls shreaking, she's got a tin ear), and climbing my tree perch. By the way, here's a picture of me on top of the tree. Don't I look gooood!

Weekend Report

It was a quiet weekend at Lake Woebegone, er, Chez Nest. Stayed home both yesterday and today, except for a brief foray into the basement to drop off the recycling and then to the lobby to pick up the mail. Whoopie. I think Tall Bird wasn't feeling well and took a lot of naps. Me too. I mean, I took a lot of naps too, not that I don't feel good. I feel great! My flight feathers are growing back in, as well as my breast and back feathers. Today when I jumped off Tall Bird's shoulder, I glided a short distance before dropping, er, landing. How far did I glide? About the length of three of me. OK, STOP LAUGHING! I said it was short!

Anyway, Tall Bird moved around furniture and my perch yesterday. It's back near the window again. I like it there. So it blocks the TV. So what? We hardly ever watch TV. I celebrated by climbing to the top of the tree. Then I couldn't figure out how to get back down, but Tall Bird helped before I started to panic.

Not much else to report, just the usual playing and preening and eating and shredding and pooping (I can say that here, can't I?) and exploring and whistling and talking and shrieking and showering and eating and playing and pooping... Oh, well, you get the picture.

Am I Not the Cutest Bird Alive?!

NUFF SAID.

Splashin' in the Pool

Actually, it was in the water dish.

It's nice and warm today, and I felt like taking a dip in the ol' water dish. Tall Bird took it out of the cage, filled it with more water, and put it on top so I could have full access (sometimes she knows just what to do). It was great! A little wobbly, but I didn't mind. I got soaked and had such fun. Tall Bird took a movie, and I'm posting it (or trying to ~ darn instructions are confusing! SQUAWK!)

Of course, Tall Bird couldn't let me have all that fun by myself but had to get in on the action too with the mist bottle. I didn't think I needed any misting, I was getting wet enough all on my own, but she sure got my whole cage and the walls and the floors around it all wet. Then she had to clean it all up. Heh heh.

My cage is all fresh and clean now, and so am I. Time for a little nap. Let me just stick my head under my wing for a second and... ZZZZ

Fun with my Flockmate

We had quite the weekend. It entailed a lot of driving, but I guess I'm getting used to being in the car 'cause it didn't bother me MUCH. On Saturday, we went to the vet, which wasn't fun but wasn't all that bad. The vet was really nice, and he talked in a low, unscary voice and didn't try to hold me or even look at me until I was ready to interact with him. Why, you may ask, did I have to go to the vet? I am looking pretty happy and healthy. Well, I started mimicking Tall Bird's morning cough, and she wasn't sure whether it was just a joke or if I was really sick. She's such a worry wort. (As it turns out, I am FINE. The vet called me BEAUTIFUL, and said I was CHARMING. Hah! He obviously has excellent taste. Hmm, I wonder if he also tastes good... Haha, just another one of my little jokes. I don't bite. Really. SQUAWK!)

Sunday we went to an Easter Party and there were a whole bunch of kids around sticking their tender little fingers in front of my face and saying, "Step up" until THANK GOD Tall Bird told them to stop and wait until I felt comfortable before HOVERING around me. After that, it was fun. I rode around on Tall Bird's shoulder and once almost got on her head. Everyone laughed. Then, after awhile, I was feeling much more MELLOW, so I let one of the kids scritch my head, and another one fed me a grape! I got on another one's fingers, and gave kisses all around. But I wouldn't talk, nope, no matter how much Tall Bird wanted me to. Heh, she didn't say anything about it to me, but I can READ HER LIKE A BOOK. Well, not like a book, because actually I can't read books ~ but I KNOW WHAT SHE WAS THINKING! Anyway, after we ate (I had rice and some chinese chicken salad plus that grape) and visited some more and I kissed a lot of people and got my PICTURE taken with them, I was tired and wanted to GO HOME, so I couldn't help myself, the words just popped out: LET'S GO TAKE A SHOWER! My, didn't that cause a few mouths to drop! Everyone who heard me was all, like, "Did that bird just say 'Let's go take a shower?'" Well, it wasn't exactly what I meant, but it got the job done. Tall Bird knows me too. We left right after that, and I was so happy to get home to my own little nest and get inside my cage and eat some pellets and drink some water and be left alone in peace and quiet for awhile!

Whew! Parties are fun, but they can be exhausting too.

April Showers

I am NOT CONTRARY. I just decided I wanted to join Tall Bird in the shower after two weeks of hearing her splashing around in there, having fun behind the curtain. She let me climb on her shoulder to reach the water and then on her head when the water got a little heavy for me. It WAS FUN. When we got out and got dried a little (she wrapped me in a purple handtowel and HELD ME LIKE A BABY, which was NOT AT ALL ACCEPTABLE, at least until she handed me the almond ~ she can wrap me in a towel anytime for an ALMOND!) GNAW GNAW CRACK CRACK crunch crunch crunch CHIRP

Showers and Bird Carriers

Sometimes I think my flockmate, who I think I'll start calling Tall Bird, is just the tiniest bit wacky. Like this morning, she turns on the radio and starts dancing around, then tries to get ME to DANCE. BEFORE BREAKFAST! I gave her SUCH A LOOK!

Did I dance with her? Well, yeah, I did. A LITTLE. I didn't want her to have all the fun. Mostly, though, I practiced my chirps and whistles and a few of my more piercing screeches. She just laughed at me and tried to screech back. It's sad, because she tries so hard, but she'll never reach my sublime level of shrillness.

So, where was I? Oh, yeah. Then, after breakfast, she brings me with her to the bathroom and sets me on my perch by the mirror. I thought she was going to take a shower, like usual, but instead she got out the broom and started sweeping the floor. Then she took out the hamper and the rug and then put me on the floor, which I like 'cause there's this rolly perch thingy that I like to play with, and I am working on opening the cupboard doors or chewing them to bits if I can't figure it out. Anyway, I was checking things out down there when all of a sudden I felt this warm mist coming down on me and I look up and there's the mist bottle sitting on the side of the tub, just shooting out warm misty water ALL OVER ME! All over everything, in fact, including her. Like I said, wacky.

Then when we got dried off, we went out in my new little mesh cage that she carries in front of her. I didn't like going in there at first, but she always gives me an almond when I do, and we always go somewhere fun, so I'm good with it now. Mostly. We walked over to the library, where there were a lot of people and kids. And some of the kids came over to talk to me, and that was kinda fun. Tall Bird was talking about me, I heard my name, and then the kids said it too. I didn't say much, but I clicked and chirped a little. I was hoping she'd let me out, but no luck.

When we got back to the nest, she gave me some lunch, and a GRAPE! I liked that grape most of all. Then ALL OF A SUDDEN I felt like getting WET again! So I said, "Let's go take a SHOWER!" She laughed and said I was a contrary critter, but I said it again, so she took me in the bathroom and misted me again. Then when I was dry, I went back to my big perch and fell asleep.

SQUAWK! FLAP FLAP FLAP!

It's okay.

Sorry, I heard a siren outside and it was REALLY LOUD. Tall Bird just came over to the perch and closed the window and shut the blinds. Chirp. Much better.

Field Trip

Went for another ride in that unpleasant moving room my flockmate (FM) calls a "car." First she put me in the tiny carrier made of wood (which is really fun to shred) and wire, which I can't seem to break but which makes this cool snapping sound when I pull on it with my beak.

Anyway, we drove for a long time, my FM trying to distract me by singing (tho she doesn't have the best singing voice I've ever heard). I was okay because she always told me when we were going to go and when we were going to stop, so I wasn't surprised. Have I mentioned I don't like surprises?

We went back to that place where they pulled out my feather and clipped my beautiful long, sharp claws, but nothing like that happened this time. My FM just carried me around on her finger and even let me sit on her shoulder for awhile. There were a lot of other birds around, and lots of colorful toys and other stuff all over the walls! Then all of a sudden she stuffed me in this strange cage! I was too surprised to be scared, and she told me it was okay, so I settled down on the perch that was inside it. So then guess what she did. She hung the cage on her shoulders by some straps and carried me all around the store with her! It was very strange, but I kind of liked it. She told me we could go for lots of walks now, with me in the hanging cage where I'd be safe.

Then we drove to a house and met her friends, a lady named Leah and a boy named Jake. There was also a dog (scary thing that made such a racket) named Buddy, but Jake took him away and then I felt happier. Jake really liked me, and he was very nice, so I let him hold me and only bit him a little very gently, but he didn't get mad or scared. So I even let him give me some skritches on my head.

Then we went to another house and my FM talked to some guy she called "Plumber," and let me ride on her finger while we walked around outside and inside. Then she put together a big cage (but it's not as big as my home nest cage) that I rode in on the way home. It was lots better than that little carrier thing, but I was still a little nervous about all the movement. She still told me when we were going to go and when we were going to stop, but she didn't sing, thank goodness!

I was so glad to get back home, and I was really tired too. I guess my FM was also tired because she went to lay down and I slept for a long time on my perch in my very own really big comfy cage. I'm still tired today, but she's getting ready to take me out for a walk. She promised me an almond when I get into the little cage, so you KNOW I'll be hopping right in. I LOOOOOOVE almonds best of anything!

My Portrait

This morning, my flockmate, who sometimes calls herself "Mom," points this black box at me and there was this flashing light and then she says, "Oh, you bwootiful bird!" Then she did something on the thing she calls Computer, clicking on that fascinating thing she calls Keyboard, and suddenly there was this bwootiful bird in the window. She said the bird is a picture of me, but I know is another bird on the other side of the window. I tried to get the other bird to come in and play with me, gave it kisses, even said, "It's okay," but nothing worked. It's annoying, but what can you do? Some birds are just shy.

Now we're going to the bathroom so my flockmate/mom can get wet under the waterfall. Why she wants to do that is beyond me. I hate getting wet in the waterfall place. Last time she took me in the waterfall place with her, I let her know in no uncertain terms that I didn't like it. She doesn't make me get in there anymore, but she does let me hang with her in the steamy bathroom. I don't mind that, especially when she gives me paper to shred.

After she puts on her feathers ~ she calls 'em clothes ~ we're going to go out and get my new play stand, whatever that is. I'm not sure about riding in the car, but it wasn't sooo bad last time, so maybe it'll be okay this time. Just so long as I get some treats at the end of the trip...

Today Is The First Day!

Here she is! Yes, I said "she." The other African Gray didn't work out, but I was fortunate that Nickel needed to find a new home and I was chosen! I feel bad for her first mom, but I promise to take really good care of her and play with her and give her oodles of attention! And toys. Anyway, I brought her home this evening, and here she is in her new cage swinging like mad. I hope she settled down to sleep sometime. Maybe when I turn out the light in a few minutes.

I feel incredibly fortunate and honored and happy tonight.

A Gray of My Own

I've only just learned that I may soon have a Gray of my own or, more accurately, a Gray will soon own me. *crosses fingers, toes, eyes* All I know about this African Gray parrot is that he is a Congo (type of subspecies) and an "extremely smart healthy male who's family is allergic" to him. I feel really sorry for that family, because no matter what the reason it's got to be painful to give up one's feathered friend (or, as some people (not me) might say, one's "pet bird"), but I'm very pleased for me, because I had an African Gray once before and am so excited to maybe be getting another one.

Roddy, a Timnah (which is a bit smaller than a Congo), was given to me by the son of a woman who had passed away. Though I had Roddy only a short 5 years, we bonded like I've bonded with no pet I'd ever had before or since, and I loved her so much! In fact, I believe she saved my life (or at least my sanity) when my daughter was going through the worst of her teen years. For that two or three year period of time, it seemed to me sometimes that Roddy was the only living creature who was truly happy to see me.

Anyway, I lost her much too soon to cancer of the wing, which was misdiagnosed by the vet I initially took her to see. To make a long, painful story short, even though her wing was eventually amputated by the second vet, the cancer spread and she died soon after. I still miss her.

Now, five years later, I'm again ready to be the friend and caregiver of another African Gray, to experience the laughter, joy, and caregiving that comes with living with an intelligent, mischievous, loving Gray.