katana600

It is hard to tell from the photos, but do all the amazons have red eyes?

Gilbert and I are making our way south. We stopped at my daughter's first apartment in Wilmington NC where she started a new job last week. She also has a new pet that appeared while we were traveling and Gilbert is NOT impressed with the Siamese cat. I put aluminum foil strips across the desk and perched him high atop a bookcase. The cat doesn't like the sound of the foil beneath her feet and it gives me a warning that she is approaching. Well, not that I need one, Gilbert does the smoke detector noise or a siren when she approaches. LOL He sure does know how to get my attention. He is talking and happy. My apartment settling is finished, my husband flew in for business yesterday and will drive home with me tonight. Home. It is a relative term. I have been gone such a long stretch I can't get a visual sense of being there. That being said, we have moved a lot with my husband's career so it doesn't lend well to putting down firm roots. LOL. Any small room with my friends, family and especially my little companion becomes home for the time I am in any one place. Our two little dogs and Java are going to be so wild with excitement I may not be able to go to bed tonight. LOL My mission "up north" is finished and I do have an angel on my shoulder and an inspiration for living my days to the fullest. It will take some time to process and find all the meaning that this was meant for me to learn. One thing I know for sure is that Gilbert was the joy of our days and the talk of the town. We laughed every day and he was a big part of that. He will have to go back with me every time I visit or I will have a list of folks who are giving me the dickens.

I don't have a zon.... yet. LOL I keep coming in here to read about them. After I lost my first baby grey, I stood for a long long time watching a young female amazon climbing, playing, swinging, just a gregarious little bundle of joy and energy. My heart was still with having an African grey, but someday maybe an amazon will find me too.

Of course he was totally awesome before he started talking, but now he can remind you of it more often. LOL. Glad to hear the news, it just gets more comical all the time with the things they pick up. Before long you won't be able to remember a time when he wasn't talking.

Thank you Ray for taking on a new title. You have been a welcome addition to this forum in many ways. It will be a pleasure coming into the Amazon room and know you are working behind the scenes to keep it active.

Wee wee wee are making our way back home. We are stopping off in Wilmington NC to help my daughter set up her first home away from our family home near Atlanta. She has a cat and Gilbert is not pleased with that development. We put him high on a bookcase and have been working to put barriers and distasteful distractions on the desk to keep the curious kitty from visiting him and we keep her behind closed doors for bedtime and if we need to leave the apartment. Gilbert has been my little partner during an extended stay away from home. He has adapted and is happy and well adjusted for the changes we have experienced.

It is always good to hear from an old friend. Glad to hear that Timmy is still the apple of your eye and family entertainer. Congratulations on your new job too.

You are all giving me ideas for when (and if) Gilbert becomes flighted. For Java I bent a piece of plexiglass to make a little arc over my keyboard and I propped it up to get my hands under it when I used my laptop. Gilbert can reach a greater distance than Java so maybe I can bend a cage grate divider to put my whole laptop inside a cage so to speak and have a hinged door where I can put my hands in. I will start working on that before I need it.

I agree that being brought to a good home and loved meant much to one little bird. I am so sorry for what should have been a joyful beginning of friendship to turn to heartbreak. My condolences to all of you.

Gilbert is continuing to be a daily source of enjoyment, comfort and company for my friend. When she went to bed last night she said "Night night Gilbert" and he said back "Night night sweet heart" He has not said that before and she was so pleased with his gift to her. He also has been making a new sound he keeps saying "Whee whee whee" and when I started about a week ago, I thought it was related to this little piggy cried whee whee whee all the way home. So, I say "All the way home" in response to him. My friend's daughter came yesterday and said it reminds her of the commercial, maybe for Geico where the mom car pooling has the little piglet in the back seat. When she mentioned it, I recalled last week when Martha had the tv turned to volume 38 when that commercial came on and I asked her to hit the mute button because we have a sixteen hour drive at the end of our stay here and I don't want to hear that allllll the way home. LOL. Well, when my friend and I were talking about the commercial, Gilbert started laughing loudly and then saying "Whee Whee Whee" over and over again. He has been absolutely possessed with it all day today too. I must admit, if he said it all the way home, I would still just love it. Hahahahaha. He is such a little cut up and has a great sense of humor too. I miss my husband and my kids, my dogs and Java and the things going on back home, but having him here with me just makes me smile every day in a situation that might otherwise be too stressful to bear. I know he and I were meant to come together in this lifetime and appreciate all the little connections that were made in order for us to find each other.

Someone gave me the book for Christmas when I was just getting started with my grey journey. It was a great book, but it made me really really really appreciate that our greys are not predators. All of us devoted to our birds do "get it". Thanks for the reminder Steven.

I also loved the video of Dayo flying to you and walking up to the camera. What I would give to see Gilbert fly to me some day. I enjoyed seeing Dayo exploring, climbing and Jake come through a time or two in your videos. Just what I needed today. Thanks

We are staying in a six story apartment building in sort of a senior center. Gilbert is the talk of the town. We were having the windows cleaned last week. The man was sitting on the ledge reaching around to wash the outiside. Gilbert asked him what he was doing. To my surprise, he leaned in and said "I'm washing your windows". Here I thought I was the only one to answer that relentless question. From my vantage point where I was washing dishes, I could see Gilbert in his cage next to the window and the back of my friend Martha's head. Gilbert asked a second time in a different, more demanding tone "What are you DOING?" The man leaned back in, and said in a patient but firm tone, "I just told you, I am washing your windows." But he was looking straight at Martha and she piped up "Well don't look at me, I didn't ask you, it was him," with a finger pointing to Gilbert. The fellow looked at him and thought this woman was trying to get the best of him and with a shake of his head said "Noooo". To which Gilbert told him "Bye bye, see ya later" Now when we call for maintenance, someone is up here in fifteen minutes and the building manager brought me a card and some cookies to say how much everyone is enjoying Gilbert staying with us. It is so funny. I love knowing he is making someone smile when things are tough most days for our fellow tenants. We are meant to be here for this time.

I lost my first grey, brought home his brother and lost him to to the same illness. Your loss is compounded by emptiness and unfathomable questions. You have a good spirit and so many of us out there trying to think of ways to help you. Anyone who loves one of these exquisite African greys can feel for you as you live with hope of someday seeing Murphy again. I did get another guy in my life and even though he will give me a wicked bite on the occasion that he feels like it, I already am smitten. He will never replace or heal the void left by my first love or my second love, but he is the fellow who came into my life and he is the one I will treasure while he is here with me. Some things are meant to be and if you can visit Charlie and if you are able to take in a bird who needs a home it will not diminish your caring for Murphy or take his place, it will just give you a place to express your love and some day you won't hurt as much as you do today.

You popping in is a breath of sunshine in my life. Thanks. Good to know you are still thinking of us as we are thinking of you too. All my best to you while you are out there looking out for us too.

This is the backpack we have for Gilbert. He seems to like it a lot. I did have to put vet wrap around the perch because it was too slippery and a little small for his feet. I have a small wire cage, plus a larger travel cage for him but he didn't seem to like being out in the open in a strange house. Today, he is back in the smaller travel cage and I wrapped his favorite red fleece blanket around one end and part of each side to give him a more secure spot to hang out. When I first brought him to the small apartment where we are staying, he seemed scared and wanted to be in a smaller space. Then he started shredding newspaper and I was concerned he was nesting. Also the back pack didn't give me much room to get around him to change his food and water and he bit me three times with wicked intent a couple of days ago. That is when I got the idea he was in there building me a love nest and it was not such a good idea to allow him to continue. The back pack is intended for a couple of hours out of the house, not for him to stay in there for long. I just keep watching him for signs of what he needs and rolling with the changes. We are in this hospice program for the long haul and will do whatever it takes to keep Gilbert settled as well as my family back home in touch.

I think of you every day and pray for a miracle and reuniting. I know it must be hard to keep coming back when you miss Murphy so much. I am glad you do come back into the forum, you are still part of the family and we do understand how it feels to love him so much and keep up hope that he has been taken in by someone who will take good care of him while they search for you. They wouldn't know about this forum, but hopefully would start searching around and find us too. I wish I could think of something to say that would give you comfort during this long time of separation and your hard work trying to get back together with your friend. You are daily in our thoughts and prayers.

I also liked the way he was emphasizing his speech with the waving of his foot. He is adorable and I loved hearing him talk and practice his speech. He is a very clear talker and has lots and lots to say.

I can guarantee Stu knows your dad is sick. Gilbert and I are staying with a close friend while she is dealing with end stage cancer and is in a hospice program. At first, I was staying with the daughter, my friend, and going back and forth. As I was spending more time at Martha's apartment, Gil started pulling feathers. I moved in and brought Gilbert along to provide full time 24 hour care and Gilbert has been amazing. When we are up in the night for meds and checking on things, I come back to my air mattress next to Gil's cage and he greets me with a low "honking" sound. I tell him everything is okay and we go back to sleep. While we are up with him, he regales us with his laughter and quips but when we sleep at all hours, he is a silent sentry watching over us. He hasn't plucked since he came to the apartment and he is making himself welcome and keeping all her visitors entertained as well. I know he knows.

It doesn't seem possible that baby Isaac is 20 months old already. He was one of the babies online just after I joined the forum. You have the fairy tale story of love and devotion and I really enjoy your posts. Through thick and thin, shredded household items and carpet stains, you and Isaac are a team. And where did he pick up "Ouch"? Are you pinching his toe? LOL Thanks for the updates and for being the best friend a bird could dream up.

This thread was great to remind me that we are not alone with plucking issues. Gilbert only plucks during times of change and he has plucked a little recently. There is so much we can do to recognize anxiety and the causes that are possible and to be calm and try lots of new things. I have discovered Gil likes to shred pieces of newspaper to substitute for picking his feathers. Thanks for taking June in and giving her your attention.

Gilbert was staying in my friend's home during the day and I would be home with him in the evening. He started getting really upset with that arrangement and started plucking out a few of his chest feathers, so I made a change. Gilbert has been around the block a time or two. My friend first visited in my home, then I left for two weeks. Now he is at her house and I was gone for extended periods. He has seen that pattern before. I brought him to stay with me full time and he is pleased even though it means he is staying in the back pack. He likes the small secure area. He likes even better that he can see me 24 hours a day. Love the picture with his chicken bone. He was having a snack while he watched me cook some chicken chili.

We are having some great times together. A couple of nights ago, I put him in his backpack and took him to visit my sister. He has been in the backpack a few times and I like it best because it has a screen to protect him from mosquitos when we are outside. Inside the house where he is protected, I will unzip the flaps and give him the freedom to come out onto the table perch if he likes, and he prefers to stay in the backpack. I also like the screen aspect because I can give him millet and other messy snacks and not worry about him flinging it around in someone else's home. When I picked up the backpack to go, I put the strap over my should to carry him carefully as I usually do when it slipped and he fell off his perch with the sudden motion. I talked to him as I was carefully moving the backpack to help him get oriented but when I put it down, the little magician had performed a disappearing act. Logically, I knew it was zipped, I checked it carefully, but when I saw it empty, I was sick for a second. Not to worry, Gilbert had reached up to find a small ring for hanging toys and he was gripping it and holding himself to his ceiling and was hiding. Now he doesn't want to get back into his backpack and I don't blame him a bit. He is more content and secure to be in his travel cage and he doesn't need to be carted around town if he is happier staying home. He is chatting happily in the room with me and I am coming in and out all day to make sure he isn't lonely. He seems to take all our travels in stride and I am relieved that he is here with me and he is feeling okay about it.

Gilbert is entertaining and entrancing all our friends and relatives. He is also having a few meltdowns and has sniped at me for a bite or two. He has not been plucking so overall I think the good outweighs the bad and I am sure bringing him along was the best choice we have for now. The pictures are when he curls himself up coyly on the cage bars to lure me in for a scratch on the head... or to bite me and I never know which. This look, with his eye open, is the lure for a bite look. He will close his eyes when he is genuinely wanting to have a scratch on the head. He is such a clever little monkey.

I will never get tired of you going on about your feelings for Isaac and all things flighted and grey. I feel the same way about ours. One thing about that Rio movie though... I tried to copy the fist bump and Gilbert seemed to be getting into it, then gave me a good nip to let me know that whooshing equals hissing in his little world and it was not a good thing. LOL. I love that a movie was made about this subject and I like watching it too. And, yes, my name is dee and I am a grey-a-holic