Of Course I Hear Voices: I Own Parrots

Like the title says...I'm only going to do this once. I will answer any questions you have, but I'm not going to make this a series or my only blogging focus." Ok...again it has been a while, but this time my absence is much more that "I was busy." On June 3, I was talking to my mom about picking a resort for our vacation to St Thomas. On June 4, my father had a major stroke. On June 6, my sister and I were following our mother home from the hospital when we were hit by and EF4 tornado. It took my mom's car off the road, and she was killed when her car was struck by debris. My sister's rental car was totaled. We were tossed around and cut by glass, but we were able to walk away from the accident. There had been a warning, but then it was lifted. We even passed an EMS as we turned on to 795 in the pouring rain, and they didn't know it was coming either. Then the rain and hail stopped. My sister and I saw the green lightening first, and when we turned o...

I have been in a major slump writing wise. I started some ideas that seemed perfect, but then they would fall flat. I would be all over the place. My focus was a joke. What I did get down was just a joke. I was trying way too hard, and the results were not pretty. Even my blogging was pretty shabby. I had major writer's block. I might have a good idea for a while. I would think it was going some where, and then it would fall flat. My inspiration was lacking to say the least. Just when a story was coming to life, I would lose interest or realize it just wasn't good. I think we are getting over this road block. I'm not sure why, but the writing bug is back, and it is ready to make a big splash. This new story seems to have staying power. It looks like a mainstream fiction novel, but so far there are some interesting twists. I wanted this one to still be in my darker voice, but I also wanted to make a strong female lead I could identify with, people would understand, and that ...

I could write another "why I hate me" or "why I wish I were like the popular girls" blog, but I will spare you all of that and move along to the real issues at hand. Do I sometimes hate me? Oh you bet I do. I'm a girl it happens. All women are crazy. It is just a question of how crazy we are at any given minute. I've just accepted it. It isn't a bad thing. Hell, I came home last Thursday and had a moment where I hated all the clothes in my closet and I hated them even more once they were on me. It wasn't rational, but it happened. Sometimes I hate that I can't be "normal." It happens. I can let one little thing cloud my thinking. I key thing is not to dwell. Do I wish I was more like the "popular kids" in my group. Yes. It hurts to be forgotten or left out. While I have no real desire to be the constant center of attention, but it is nice every once in a while. Lets be honest here, I'm too self conscious to handle being in...

Popcorn and Weddnesday are nesting. Well Popcorn is nesting. He and Weddnesday have been mating for a while. About 3 weeks ago Weddnesday started laying eggs. After 2 rejected nests, they started preparing it. Weddnesday went along with the sitting on the eggs for about a day. They she lost interest. All responsibility fell to Popcorn. He has been a good dad. He stays in the nest most of the time. Weddnesday sits on the eggs when it suits her. I do worry though because male cockatiels are usually only fertile until age 14. Popcorn is 21, so he may be past that stage in his life. However, he is really into this, so I hope for his sake they do hatch. We should know early next week if they hatch. If they do, I will have 1 or so birds to give away. Popcorn is lutino and Weddnesday is olive pearl pied. They should be adorable babies! I'll keep everyone posted.

A few months ago, my 10+ year old parakeet was diagnosed with a kidney condition. I decided to try the meds. Over the last few months, he slept quite a bit, but when he was awake he was still very happy. I knew it was only a matter of time before we lost the battle, and I was dreading the day I had to decide to put him down. I was going to go phone shopping after work on Saturday, but I opted to just go home instead. I am glad that I went straight home. I returned to find Skye unable to stand. I called the vet's emergency care line, but I knew it was too late. Skye spent his last moments with me on the couch. He was beak grinding until the very end. He will be missed. He was my little happy parakeet. His parakeet buddy is heartbroken. The cockatiel he came with just keeps looking for him. I miss him greeting me after work. Skye and Popcorn came to me 4 years ago. Their owners moved out of their apartment, and left them behind. It was a rough transition. They wouldn't come out o...

After finally getting my travel blog back in shape. I am ready to return and bring this one back its former glory. We have so much to catch up on my friends! I'm ready to tackle the world again...and that could be good or bad...

If I knew for a fact the world was going to end, I would want to go somewhere where I could enjoy ever last second of my time here on earth. I would want to round up my friends and family and head to a place that never "closes" and we could party 24/7 until the end. That place would undoubtedly be Las Vegas. Why Planet Hollywood: 1) Centralized location: I can walk pretty much any where I want to go 2) Small but totally fun casino 3) It is attached to a mall: AND that mall has a Betsey Johnson Store. Why Vegas: Again, it never shuts down...and we can enjoy ourselves in our last days.

I love to travel. Any time I am out seeing the world, I am happy. I wish I could afford to do more of it! If I am taking this picture then I am on vacation in one of my favorite places. If can't get much better than that. I can walk down to Fort Point, then take the trail to Fort Mason. From there I can grab the 30 bus to Chinatown and grab some passion fruit Tea at Maggie's Cafe.

Ohhh.....Cadbury Eggs. I get happy every year as the appear in the stores. Granted their appearance keeps getting earlier and earlier (I'm expecting them to be on shelves the day after Christmas soon.) Cadbury Cream Eggs I am a long time Cadbury egg junkie. I have loved the clucking bunny and the original creme eggs for as long as I can remember. I look forward to them every year, but I refrain from buying them more than once or twice a season as a treat. Today (Easter) I walked the mile to and fro the store to rationalize my consumption of one of these little guys.

Moonlight I'm still mourning the loss of this show. I think had the writer's strike not happened this show may ave survived at least one more season. Twin Peaks Um...it is Twin Peaks...dark and twisted...need I say more Poltergiest the Legacy It takes place in San Francisco...and it i generally fun to watch. Although I have come to the conclusion I only really like Alex and Nick and sometimes Kat. Rachel is annoying, Derek is pretentious, and don't even get me started on Kristen. All are fine actors, but the characters bug me. Blood Ties Great show. Cheesy FX. Amazing chemistry with the actors. Best episode: The "groundhog day"episode where Vicki keeps reliving the same day w/ Pandora's Box Daria I am Daria...need I say more X-Files Pre-Agent Doggett episodes only...Favorite Episode: The vampire one with Luke Wilson. SCRUBS Old school only please. Law and Order CI Eames and Goren episodes only. NCIS Great sho...

A quick trip into Carmel turned into a 3 hour ordeal...boooo! Last night I plugged my phone into the computer, and the charging symbol did not come up. After playing with the cord a bit, it did and the phone fully charged. This morning, not so much. I could get the charging symbol to come up, but as soon as I let go it went away. Okay, no worries this is why I have insurance on my phone. Store 1:I go to my usual Sprint Corporate Store. I show it to the guy at the counter. He looks at it, tells me it is totally fixable. However, they no longer do repairs so I will need to go this store in Castleton. Store 2: I drive up to the other store. They are busy, but they are the only repair store on the northside, so it is expected. An hour later they call me to the back counter. Employee/manager: Jennifer I'm sorry but your phone is not fixable. We see that you have insurance, so we have put in an order to have it replaced. It should arrive in 1-2 business days. Me: Um, why can't you j...

I really do hate driving, but somehow I end up putting 200 miles a week on my car. I drive to and from work, to karaoke shows, on errands, and to meetings. I'm a professional designated driver, and I drive out of my way to keep my friends safe. Really, I would give it all up if I lived in a city of that had decent public transportation system. It would save me money and headaches. Until that day comes, I will be grateful for my little car.

ballet flats These shoes are comfortable and cute. Really that is the only motivation I need. Teal Kangaroos When I was 5, all I wanted was a pair of Kangaroos. On my 25th birthday, I bought myself my own pair. Black Goth Boots These things are so tall I can't drive in them. I'm not sure how I walk in them. Really, I shouldn't stand in them too long. They are not functional, but I realy do love them.

I've been to beaches all over the world. I've enjoyed the French Rivera, sunburned in the Bahamas, and scraped my feet up on Zebra Mussels before I was smart enough to stay out of Lake Erie (I was under the age of 13). Still my favorite is an unlikely winner. I'm not a swim at the beach type of person, but I do like to sit and enjoy the view. If you are looking for a tropical destination, this isn't for you. However, if you just want to enjoy the waves and the Pacific Ocean, grab a cup of coffee at the Cliff House and take in the ambiance.

I love breakfast food. I can eat it any time a day. Although I never really eat a good balanced one (cereal bar in my car). grits I could eat these every morning for breakfast. They are a little piece of the south! Biscuts and gravy Again this is a southern breakfast standard. It reminds me of breakfasts with my dad. Scrambled eggs with cheese and salsa It is a breakfast standard with a twist and very easy to make. Bacon When I was in jr high, we stop at this diner in southern Ohio. I asked for a side of bacon, and they put raw bacon INSIDE my omlette. It has been a joke ever since.

Sleep is overrated. There are so many other things you could be doing. ...Deprivation... I'm a chronic insomniac. I have trouble sleeping on a regular basis. When it happens I have a pretty decent list of things to do. 1) Watch bad sci fi in hopes it will bore me to sleep or just as back ground noise. 2) Write fiction: sleep deprivation does wonders for creativity. 3) Blog.... 4) Read and research 5) Do Laundry 6) Clean 7) Plan vacations 8) Web Design

You can learn so much more for observing. Yes, being the center of attention is fun, but you miss out on all the little details. You miss getting to learn about people and situations.

Oh this one is easy...and a little predictable for me... Batty Batty is the brains of the operation. He's loyal, sweet, and will take out anyone who messes with his friends. Abby Abby is sweet and misunderstood. She just wants to be loved, but sometimes doesn't communicate that well. She also tends to "eat her emotions." Charlie Charlie is adorable, but he is also very clingy and needy. He demands to be the center of Snow White's attention and can be a little destructive. He doe not seem to understand the word NO. Weddnesday She is the cute and clumsy dwarf. She's a people pleaser with a horrible sense of direction. Popcorn He's the oldest and most arrogant. He has his good moments, but he mainly acts too good for the rest of them. Skye Hyper, sweet and loyal. Maya Last but not least the youngest and quietest...she just wants to be your friend

One would thing shopping the day after Christmas would be a nightmare, but Best Buy really surprised me. I was ready for a long and painful afternoon. Instead it took less than an hour, and quite pleasant. My mother bought me a camera I already own for Christmas. I wanted to return it and put that money towards a new laptop. The mother board on my old laptop had dies, and I was making due with my netbook. I was very happy to have something to fall back on, but I needed a regular laptop pretty soon. I had been looking at a particular laptop since Thanksgiving, but the web site said none of the Toledo stores had it in stock. I wanted to look any way. I knew the return line may be scary and I may not find what I wanted, but I was at least ready to look. I arrived at the Best Buy, and there was a huge line for check out, but the returns line was pretty short. They were moving people through pretty quickly. My longest hold up was a woman trying to return an item that had been mailed fr...

I am going to be happier this year. I think that last year didn't suck. I know that there are no guarantees in life, and I may not find everything I'm looking for in 2010. However, I'm going to be grateful for the things I do have. I'm not going to take things that just annoying personally. I'm not going to feel guilty about taking time out for me. I'm going to work on getting things in order, and to keep moving forward. Constantly searching and trying isn't working, and isn't making me happy, so maybe this will be better.