katana600

So let me see if I understand this: You don't give her a proper naming ceremony, wreck the poor gal a time or two and break her bits. Now you have removed some of her essential innards, plan to juice up her metabolism with rocket fuel, spin her in the lake like a whirling dervish and leave her to her own devices? Please hire a professional videographer so we can see this carnage Bernie. Please oh please seek cover and come back to us, you keep my imagination from running amok. LOL.

As we try to make sense of our loss I am finding a positive outlet for my emotional side. Since PDD research has made little progress in decades, but is on the cutting edge of creating a test with higher accuracy for diagnosis I am making a quilt to raffle for the benefit of research funding. I have requested and have been granted permission to use a design from a book by Deb Karasik. If you want to see her work, check her site http://www.quiltmavens.com/ As I make progress, I will show you the quilt. This picture shows some of the fabric I am currently gathering for the quilt.

Dearie me, Bernie, you took OFF the means to stop your boat after juicing up the motor so it can go doubly fast? What are you going to do, stick your toe in the water to make it come to a stop or do you just plan to speed around and around until you run out of fuel?

Ha ha, you all just make my day with your pictures, puns and well... just you Bernie... happy birthday!!!

This is a very interesting link. The information about the vulture flying at 37,000 feet was amazing. The more we learn about birds, the more we realize we know so little. Thanks for a fascinating link.

Ooops, I was thinking so much about you that I forgot the original question about your bird's reaction to the bandages. Maybe you could try wrapping a strip of guaze around your wrist, increasing it gradually and training now while it isn't as much of an issue and you can take your time introducing the change.

How long has it been since you have had an IV? Mine were ten years ago and I would have the same apprehension as you, but saw something different this time when my daughter had surgery on her foot in December. Speak to the anaesthesiologist, they have progressed considerably and may be able to ease your mind ahead of the surgery. I do understand the relief and emotion of a professional validating your pain and being able to offer you some relief. A friend who had carpal tunnel was an avid knitter and she had some of the same concerns going into the surgery and a year later is just wondering what took her so long. Good luck as you face your surgery, then recover and heal and find more pleasure than pain in what you create with your hands.

I am so sorry drug abuse has affected your life so profoundly. I don't have any thoughts on him but am admiring that you have set up a support system, talked about your trials and fears and hope for better days ahead for you. If you have a narc anon family support group, that is excellent. You really do need to have someone unbiased to hear your side and allow you to discuss it and reflect it back to you. Just as he may not see the impact of his ways until he steps away from the drugs, it is hard to be on the inside and have a clear picture for yourself. Setting healthy boundaries and making clear decisions often comes from having the insight to talk to someone professionally who has seen the same behavior over and over again and could guide you as you figure all this out for yourself. You are worth it.

Can we add: keep them entertained

Wow, this is the first I am catching up on this. Congratulations to Tully for finding you! He is really going to benefit from his new environment and he looks like he is comfortably settled already.

I can't stay away from the amazon room to see all the variations. Thanks Jay for bringing all these informative and beautiful posts to our forum.

World's most dangerous guitar player, that is our Bernie.

Georgie and Louie are lucky little birds, they have a great setup at your house! I really enjoy seeing your pictures and hearing about them together. We all see a ragged feather from time to time, Georgie will take care of his. It is all part of that playing with reckless abandon. I don't think his feathers will fall out just because they were broken, they have a schedule all of their own and may not be replaced until molting time does it naturally.

Awww, be still my heart he is such a sweet guy! His feathers are looking good, he is just gorgeous. He looks so comfortable and poised in your home. Good for you Robin.

The baby pictures are always so adorable and addicting! It is amazing how quickly they change. It is going to be fun to hear how it goes when you see them in person, I'm sure you can barely contain yourself. Enjoy, then come back and tell us all about them.

Welcome to the forum. Of course you can stay with or without a grey. It is a good place to learn lots of nice things that benefit all of our birds.

Welcome to the forum, I love his name, Ollie. It is going to be fun getting to know both of you.

It is cute to see them walking around on the floor and it sounds like you are in the same room the whole time. Other than the woodwork or furniture he might remodel, watch for electrical wires. Mine likes to try to chew the cord off my computer when she can't get to the front to turn it off. It is interesting you mention the carpet, I hadn't considered why Java goes to the floor only in the family room but it must be because all the other floors are hard surfaces. She likes to play on the stairs too, and again that is carpeted. Glad you mentioned that.

Wow Jay, this is an amazing amazon thread and I love it. Thanks for the research and a glimpse into the habitat and natural environments.

I also never tire of the antics of the other birds out there. Bragging is not just anticipated gladly, it is necessary. Thanks for sharing.

Oops, sorry, I forgot what I was doing. Bare foot prints in the snow... now it is all melted and my kids are not embarrassed for the neighbors seeing that their mother is nutty. LOL.

This is such a wrenching situation, I just want to clarify that there are always two sides and what I am suggesting is to think from both sides to create a win-win situation. As Dan said, if this is Sindbad, he didn't do anything illegal. I was just thinking about the suggestion of helping him to find another grey since there are so many in rescue type situations, so thanks to Greywings for that concept as well. As difficult as it is, you can't expect the other fellow to think as you think, or he would have known the great distress you are going through and would have moved hell and high water to get the bird reunited with its beloved companion, of course always with the "if" this is the case. What may be best case scenario is if you could put yourself into his head and come up with a solution you could both live with as a first attempt to reunite you with Sindbad if you can.

I have some thoughts on this. First I would consider putting as many layers between Tobie's living quarters and the exit doors as you can manage reasonably. Next I would work to train him that outside is not a place he would want to go. I have several exit doors in my home, we have a flighted bird and one thing I have done is train everyone to come and go through the garage. We try to go to the garage, close the house door, then open the garage door to create a buffer. That of course may not work for everyone and still doesn't guarantee closing off an escape route. Next, I post a note at my front door on my side to remind me to check first for a bird before opening the door. We have a firm rule that whoever opens the cage is responsible for being vigilant to keep the bird in sight. I have also considered getting a fake predator bird to put on the doorway to the exit. That has to be weighed with the concern of keeping stress levels up on your bird whether it senses it is in constant danger, which wouldn't be good. It will be interesting to hear other ideas people have to put a buffer between your exit and Tobie. I'm glad you are thinking of it, but don't let it overwhelm you. With care and precautions you will find a balance between keeping Tobie flighted and free and you getting a good night of sleep so you enjoy that time with him... LOL.

This is an incredibly tough spot you find yourself and we are all with you on the emotional aspect. If this is Sindbad, and my heart says it is likely, first sit with yourself and get calm so you can think of the best way to handle it. Think of your first goal. It would be my first goal to get my bird returned. If you are too emotionally involved it would be in your best interest to find a liason. I don't know if the police will be the best route if you consider you may not have proof needed to get him back. It would be easy to move the bird to another location and close the door on negotiating a return. I am with you on the thinking that you don't want to reward someone for keeping him from you. Perhaps you could go forward with the idea that Sindbad has been rescued and is being treated as best this person knows how. He did have concern enough to look for a more suitable cage. Take a deep breath, consider your options. If I could be calm enough, I would go in with profuse graciousness that this person has "rescued" my bird and is keeping him from harm in the outside elements. Next, considering the high maintenance and cost of keeping a grey, it may be they are already thinking they are in over their head and would consider a trade or "purchase". Worry about what is right later. If there was something I had of value to them that I could trade, I would offer that first. I lost my bird in a different, final kind of way and look at this from a far removed place in my heart. The main thing I would say is if you have anyone who could converse with this man and be a go-between, it may be your best hope in getting Sindbad returned home if indeed this is him, and I hope with all my heart it is. Don't make any sudden moves based on emotion. Get a grip first and a solution will present itself.

Uh oh... I may be a Canadian after all. Either that or I better get there as fast as I can because we are kindred spirits. We have little shaded pockets of snow still here in Georgia almost a week after the tiny bit of snow. Schools were still closed yesterday.