Welcome Ajax!

The Flock has a new member!

Ajax is an African Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus). His age is unknown, but he is probably about 3-4 years old. He came from a rather strange environment, where he received a very good diet, but he had to work for every bite. His previous owner didn't believe in freefeeding, so the birds (their were 7 Greys living in this house) had water in their cages, but they had to do tricks for all of their food. Although the birds were all very tame, none of them talk - which is very odd for Greys. Most of the tricks were cued by hand gestures, and so very little conversation was going on between the birds and the human. I think the constant working for food made them focus very hard on physical behaviors, and not much on mimicking sounds.

His previous owner also didn't offer the birds much in the way of toys, because they were out of their cages all the time. In his new cage, he has a lot of toys, and he is slowly learning how to play with them. He woke me up today by ringing a bell toy - which was very cute, except that it happened at about 6:15 this morning.

I'll post more about his progress along the way.

An Odd Weekend

It was certainly indeed an odd weekend. Our ring leader His Sinfullness went out on the road to Columbus and left us to our own devious deeds. Friday wasn't bad most of the house went to a costume party down in Colorado at our friend Rachel's house. I woke to an empty house Saturday morning and after came home to an empty house. Now in a house that normally at least has one other person in it this was just creepy. Tessa and Gina took off to Boulder to go see Dar Williams live that I sent them to, and Ben and Mark were at the first annual Home Grown Drag Show in town. Both shows were 21+ so I, alas, could not attend. I stayed home Saturday night and finally got used to the creek of the doors and floors, reminding myself that really the ninja's would not attack while Linus was away. I enjoyed having the entire living room to myself being able to play music, watch what ever movie I wanted and just relaxing.

Maybe you guys could plan another weekend away and I could have the house to myself for the entire weekend, just imagine what fun I could have ;) Tomorrow Linus will come home and the world as we now will go back to normal, and I am kinda excited about that.

To whomever cleaned the bath tub and kitchen today - thanks!

Like a miracle, the bath tub became cleaner overnight. There was this spot, on the left side near the middle, that wouldn't come clean - but today it was gone. My first reaction was that Tess probably did it, but that explanation fails to satisfy my innate sense of wonder. Perhaps it is because I have read too much Irish folklore, but I want to believe that there is a sparkling and magical Otherworld, which intersects our own. The little people are all around us, and we need only to put aside all the trappings of adulthood, and return to our childlike selves to be able to see them.

I imagine going to the bathroom some early morning and as I draw near the door I hear small voices, singing the sort of jolly songs that make work go faster. I peek inside and find a tiny gnome sleeping by the sink with his hat over his eyes, and his little bucket and mop propped against the cotton swabs. I'd pull back the shower curtain slowly and quietly, to see his little friends scrubbing the tub, rapelling with detal floss down the walls of the shower stall, and polishing the chrome spigot with some magical cleanser that only the wee ones know the secret of making.

After reveling in this rare sight for a bit, I'd gently pick up the one on the vanity, and shake him awake. Once he had a moment to rub the sand from his eyes, I'd lean in so close that I'd be able to see the tiny flower in the buttonhole of his wee little lapel, and I'd say...

"GET BACK TO WORK YOU LAZY LITTLE BITCH! DON'T YOU SEE THE FILTH ON THE FLOOR BY THE HEAT REGISTER!? AND HAVE YOU LOOKED IN CORLEY'S FUCKING ROOM!? THERE'S MOLD APPROACHING SENTIENCE IN THERE! I'M TEMPTED TO JUST DUMP A HUNGRY CAT IN HERE WITH YOU WORTHLESS LITTLE FUCKERS AND COME BACK IN THE MORNING! NOW GET IN MY ROOM AND SWEEP BEHIND THE BED, YOU NO-GREENCARD-HAVIN' LITTLE BASTARD!! Wonder of the Celtic Otherworld, my ass..."

*DISCLAIMER* (to keep the hippy-pagans of the Flock happy...)
No Wee People were harmed in the making of this post.

some observations

As Fall proceeds to wax and wane, as temperature and snow come and go... us at Flock Hall find new patterns and routines. Linus no longer can fly kites as often he used to be able. The windows stay closed for longer periods of time, and the dishes get done less and less. Work, school, and play have their appropriate spaces and soon enough the holidays will be upon us with their expectations and weighty situations.

But, until then... I will spend my time amongst the autumn leaves and crisp breeze of the surrounding season. I will soak in the light and glow of the autumn sun and pray for life to linger for but a little longer, before sleep.