Victoria Zigler's Blog: Zigler News, page 92
June 24, 2018
June 2018 #TV Talk And #Movie Mutterings - #AmWatching
There's still very little to share with you when it comes to what I've been watching, because I honestly haven't been watching much. The TV has mainly been on for the chinchillas to watch their crime shows, and I haven't watched many TV shows or movies - new to me or otherwise. Still, I figured I'd get you caught up anyhow. So...
As with the previous posts like this one, just click on the titles to go to a page where you can find out more details about the movie or TV show in question; the title links will usually take you to a page on IMDB.
Don't forget: I watch things across multiple genres, as well as for different age ranges, so you should always check before viewing to make certain something is suitable for the intended audience, especially when children are involved. IMDB will usually provide this information for you, but you'll have to look elsewhere if you can't find it on the page I link to.
OK... On to the reviews!
I watched a DVD that's a collection of six Peter Rabbit episodes. I can't find a link for you, hence there not being one posted at the start of this particular review. It was just one we found and picked up a couple of months ago. From searching online, I'm guessing it's some of the episodes from the 2012 - 2016 TV series, since the episode titles match some of the ones from that. Either way, it was a fun little collection; really cute. I recommend it to anyone who comes across it, and recommend that anyone who doesn't checks out the TV series I just linked to, since I'm pretty sure that's what it was from. Oh, and I give it five out of five stars.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011 movie):
Like the previous movies in this series, this was an entertaining enough movie that I enjoyed watching it, and considered watching it to be a fun way to pass the time. It wasn't fantastic though. Still, as with the other Pirates of the Caribbean movies, I give this movie four out of five stars.
As with the previous posts like this one, just click on the titles to go to a page where you can find out more details about the movie or TV show in question; the title links will usually take you to a page on IMDB.
Don't forget: I watch things across multiple genres, as well as for different age ranges, so you should always check before viewing to make certain something is suitable for the intended audience, especially when children are involved. IMDB will usually provide this information for you, but you'll have to look elsewhere if you can't find it on the page I link to.
OK... On to the reviews!
I watched a DVD that's a collection of six Peter Rabbit episodes. I can't find a link for you, hence there not being one posted at the start of this particular review. It was just one we found and picked up a couple of months ago. From searching online, I'm guessing it's some of the episodes from the 2012 - 2016 TV series, since the episode titles match some of the ones from that. Either way, it was a fun little collection; really cute. I recommend it to anyone who comes across it, and recommend that anyone who doesn't checks out the TV series I just linked to, since I'm pretty sure that's what it was from. Oh, and I give it five out of five stars.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011 movie):
Like the previous movies in this series, this was an entertaining enough movie that I enjoyed watching it, and considered watching it to be a fun way to pass the time. It wasn't fantastic though. Still, as with the other Pirates of the Caribbean movies, I give this movie four out of five stars.
June 22, 2018
#FurkidFriday: Favourite #Movies Of The Furry Family Members - #AmWatching
Hi everyone. This is Mollie the chinchilla.
The Mummy human was talking about her favourite things to watch on TV, so we thought we'd do the same. We told you about our favourite TV shows last week, so now here's what we had to say about our favourite movies:
Joshua: "I like action movies best. Although, those movies the Mummy human often watches with talking animals in them are sometimes pretty good too. Some of my favourite movies are Tomb Raider, the X-Men movies, the Lord Of The Rings movies, the Harry Potter movies, and Ratatouille."
Mollie and Maizie: "We'd rather watch NCIS. But if we have to watch a movie instead, something with action... Like those superhero movies the Daddy human often watches. The Star Wars movies are pretty good too."
Lilie: "Movies? Why would I care about movies? I'm usually too busy playing to care what's on TV. OK, fine... Sometimes I like to sit with Daddy while he watches his superhero movies. Only sometimes though, and only if it's Daddy."
I hope you enjoyed learning about the kinds of movies we enjoy watching.
Squeak soon,
Mollie
The Mummy human was talking about her favourite things to watch on TV, so we thought we'd do the same. We told you about our favourite TV shows last week, so now here's what we had to say about our favourite movies:
Joshua: "I like action movies best. Although, those movies the Mummy human often watches with talking animals in them are sometimes pretty good too. Some of my favourite movies are Tomb Raider, the X-Men movies, the Lord Of The Rings movies, the Harry Potter movies, and Ratatouille."
Mollie and Maizie: "We'd rather watch NCIS. But if we have to watch a movie instead, something with action... Like those superhero movies the Daddy human often watches. The Star Wars movies are pretty good too."
Lilie: "Movies? Why would I care about movies? I'm usually too busy playing to care what's on TV. OK, fine... Sometimes I like to sit with Daddy while he watches his superhero movies. Only sometimes though, and only if it's Daddy."
I hope you enjoyed learning about the kinds of movies we enjoy watching.
Squeak soon,
Mollie
June 20, 2018
#WriterWednesday - June 20th 2018
First, second, and third. Each point of view has its pros and cons, but which one is right for your book? Only you can decide, but the post I just linked to may be able to help you to do so, as well as offering a bit of an explanation if you're confused about the different types of point of view.
It doesn't matter what genre you write in, your story will have a certain theme - whether it's one you planned to use from the start, or one that became clear as the story began to unfold - the same goes for poems, but we're talking about stories right now. So, here's a post about how you can use theme to determine subplots, supporting characters, and tension in your story. Oh, and... Speaking of tension: take a look at these tips for sustaining tension in your writing.
On a similar note: take a look at this post that talks about the basic plot of a voyage and return story. NOTE: spoilers for The Wizard Of Oz are involved in the post... Just so you're warned.
Regardless of what you write, or the point of view you write it in, here are some tips for making a workspace conducive to writing. On a sort of related note, you might want to read this next post if you currently need to be thinking about how to make Summer and writing work together (or Winter, if you're in the Southern hemisphere).
No matter what your workspace looks like, or what changes you might have to make to your writing routine because of the changing seasons, if you're an author who blogs, you may be interested in what this post on better blogging topics for authors has to say.
Speaking of authors and blogs: here's a post that discusses why guest posting is awesome for writers, which you may wish to take a look at. Also, here's a list of 100 blog topics for fiction writers, which may be useful if you're trying to figure out what to blog about.
Also, if you want others to do reviews, a guest posting slot, or whatever else you think they might do for you, make sure to treat bloggers and reviewers with respect when contacting them.
Next, here are six tips to become a great author. I think the one about writing every day should be rephrased to say you should write regularly, because it really is OK if you don't write every single day. Other than that though, I think these are good tips.
Sometimes you need something to get your creative juices flowing again. If that's the case for you right now, here are some fun tools to engage your creativity.
If your creative juices are flowing just fine in general, but you haven't touched your 'passion' project in ages, you might want to take a look at the post I just linked to, and think about the possible reasons for that (as well as what you can do about it). Also, here's a post about the art of finding your way back to your projects, and another about mining old manuscripts, which I think are worth reading.
These are the top three excuses for not writing that book. If these are your excuses, take a look at your situation again, and see what you can do to change that. I understand that circumstances do sometimes get in the way, but nine times out of ten you can work around any of those three excuses. On a similar note, here's some advice on how to write 'less' and do 'more', and some tips for Summer writing.
Finally, here are 15 things that happen when you stop stressing about writing the 'perfect' book. So stop stressing about it, and just write!
It doesn't matter what genre you write in, your story will have a certain theme - whether it's one you planned to use from the start, or one that became clear as the story began to unfold - the same goes for poems, but we're talking about stories right now. So, here's a post about how you can use theme to determine subplots, supporting characters, and tension in your story. Oh, and... Speaking of tension: take a look at these tips for sustaining tension in your writing.
On a similar note: take a look at this post that talks about the basic plot of a voyage and return story. NOTE: spoilers for The Wizard Of Oz are involved in the post... Just so you're warned.
Regardless of what you write, or the point of view you write it in, here are some tips for making a workspace conducive to writing. On a sort of related note, you might want to read this next post if you currently need to be thinking about how to make Summer and writing work together (or Winter, if you're in the Southern hemisphere).
No matter what your workspace looks like, or what changes you might have to make to your writing routine because of the changing seasons, if you're an author who blogs, you may be interested in what this post on better blogging topics for authors has to say.
Speaking of authors and blogs: here's a post that discusses why guest posting is awesome for writers, which you may wish to take a look at. Also, here's a list of 100 blog topics for fiction writers, which may be useful if you're trying to figure out what to blog about.
Also, if you want others to do reviews, a guest posting slot, or whatever else you think they might do for you, make sure to treat bloggers and reviewers with respect when contacting them.
Next, here are six tips to become a great author. I think the one about writing every day should be rephrased to say you should write regularly, because it really is OK if you don't write every single day. Other than that though, I think these are good tips.
Sometimes you need something to get your creative juices flowing again. If that's the case for you right now, here are some fun tools to engage your creativity.
If your creative juices are flowing just fine in general, but you haven't touched your 'passion' project in ages, you might want to take a look at the post I just linked to, and think about the possible reasons for that (as well as what you can do about it). Also, here's a post about the art of finding your way back to your projects, and another about mining old manuscripts, which I think are worth reading.
These are the top three excuses for not writing that book. If these are your excuses, take a look at your situation again, and see what you can do to change that. I understand that circumstances do sometimes get in the way, but nine times out of ten you can work around any of those three excuses. On a similar note, here's some advice on how to write 'less' and do 'more', and some tips for Summer writing.
Finally, here are 15 things that happen when you stop stressing about writing the 'perfect' book. So stop stressing about it, and just write!
June 18, 2018
You Can Cross The Finish Line Too - #MondayMotivation
It's not always whether you finish first that matters. Sometimes it's just that you finish at all.
Yes, you might take some tumbles along the way. But if you keep trying, eventually you'll cross that finish line.
Just like I did in the only race I ever ran.
With the physical and/or emotional struggles that many people - myself included - are facing these days, as well as the time of year I'm writing this post, I was thinking about that race recently.
It was my school's sports day. Every primary/elementary school has them over here. They happen around late May or early to mid June each year, which is where the time of year comes in to it. Anyway, this was the only year I'd ever been allowed to join in with my school's sports day events. Concerns for my health - especially with my poor eyesight added to the mix - made them reluctant to let me before, and what happened made them decide never to let me again.
The field at our school wasn't entirely even, and that fact - combined with the fact children fall over sometimes when running about normally - meant I wasn't the only child who fell that day. But they were always more careful with me, because I was very ill until I was almost seven, and I was the only disabled child in a mainstream school.
I was also the only child who didn't go running to their parent or guardian when I fell.
What most children were doing was falling, getting up, and running for comfort.
But I wasn't most children.
I fell several times during that race, and crossed the finish line ages behind the last of the others to do so. But every time I fell, I got back to my feet, dusted myself off, and started running again.
Every single time.
I'd started that race, and I was determined to finish it.
By the time I did, every adult on the school grounds that day was cheering me on.
Sure, my ankle was throbbing so much I immediately hobbled over to the nearest tree, and sat in the shade of it clutching my ankle and crying, which is where I stayed until my Mam and teacher came for me a little while later.
But I finished the race; I crossed the finish line.
If you're facing some kind of challenge of your own right now, you can reach your own finish line too.
If you stumble and fall, just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and carry on. Just like I did.
Yes, you might take some tumbles along the way. But if you keep trying, eventually you'll cross that finish line.
Just like I did in the only race I ever ran.
With the physical and/or emotional struggles that many people - myself included - are facing these days, as well as the time of year I'm writing this post, I was thinking about that race recently.
It was my school's sports day. Every primary/elementary school has them over here. They happen around late May or early to mid June each year, which is where the time of year comes in to it. Anyway, this was the only year I'd ever been allowed to join in with my school's sports day events. Concerns for my health - especially with my poor eyesight added to the mix - made them reluctant to let me before, and what happened made them decide never to let me again.
The field at our school wasn't entirely even, and that fact - combined with the fact children fall over sometimes when running about normally - meant I wasn't the only child who fell that day. But they were always more careful with me, because I was very ill until I was almost seven, and I was the only disabled child in a mainstream school.
I was also the only child who didn't go running to their parent or guardian when I fell.
What most children were doing was falling, getting up, and running for comfort.
But I wasn't most children.
I fell several times during that race, and crossed the finish line ages behind the last of the others to do so. But every time I fell, I got back to my feet, dusted myself off, and started running again.
Every single time.
I'd started that race, and I was determined to finish it.
By the time I did, every adult on the school grounds that day was cheering me on.
Sure, my ankle was throbbing so much I immediately hobbled over to the nearest tree, and sat in the shade of it clutching my ankle and crying, which is where I stayed until my Mam and teacher came for me a little while later.
But I finished the race; I crossed the finish line.
If you're facing some kind of challenge of your own right now, you can reach your own finish line too.
If you stumble and fall, just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and carry on. Just like I did.
June 17, 2018
Medical Update - June 17th 2018 (PTMI)
This past Thursday was exhausting. But everything worked out, and I made it to both appointments with time to spare.
First, the asthma appointment:
I didn't see my own asthma nurse, because she's unavailable at the moment - hence the rescheduling in the first place - but the one I saw was just as nice, and my asthma appointment went well, as I'd expected it would.
My peak flow level is up a little. Not by much, but I have asthma, so it being low is normal. It was 250 last time, and 260 this time (normal is supposed to be 430, though the asthma nurse admitted that many people without asthma actually struggle to manage that). Also, my asthma assessment shows some improvement in general since I started using the spacer and the new inhaler, which is a good thing. I did say I thought it was helping. There's still room for improvement, but the asthma nurse and I are pretty sure some of that will settle itself in time, and when the issues I'm currently dealing with are resolved. So we're leaving things as they are for now, and I shouldn't need to see an asthma nurse again for at least a few months. No new appointment has been made at this time, since we'll just make one when it's time for me to get one of the regular assessments I should have been having.
As for the gynecology appointment:
It went better than I expected, but not as well as I'd hoped.
The good news is, I'm now on the hysterectomy waiting list. The bad news is, it's a three to six month wait.
I saw a female gynecologist who isn't the big guy in charge, but can speak for him in certain situations, plus got his approval before leaving too. They said I could stick around until he was free to get it then, or make an appointment to come back for that. I told them I'd stick around. I wasn't having them use that as an excuse to delay things even further.
OK, here's where that "PTMI" warning mentioned in the title comes in.
The gynecologist went straight to suggestions of alternatives to a hysterectomy. I wasn't surprised when she started in on other options first, including a comment about how, since the scan and the biopsy - which was clear, so didn't give us more issues to worry about - had been so painful for me, perhaps they could put me under anasthetic to have a proper look inside my womb. I was frustrated that she did so, but not surprised.
"So," I said. "No matter what path we take, you have to give me anasthetic, yes?"
She confirmed that this was the case.
"Good," I said. "Then you can give me my hysterectomy."
The gynecologist suggested maybe I wasn't understanding about how it carried so many risks. I pointed out that every option is risky, and I know the risks.
"Alright then," she said. "Tell me what they are."
So I did. I listed the risks the NHS themselves list.
When I did that, they backed down, and agreed I could go on the waiting list for a hysterectomy.
She insisted my being put on that three to six month waiting list is the soonest I can have it done. It isn't. They could do it faster if I was a priority case, but they won't make me a priority, because they want me to try and lose some weight.
I knew they'd start about that. Gynecologists always nag me about my weight.
Anyway, I did have to agree that less weight would be better for me, and it would be nice to get some weight off before the extra weight starts giving me other health issues to worry about. But I also pointed out that this would be easier for me to do if they'd get on with giving me the hysterectomy already, and asked how I'm supposed to manage to get weightoff with the constant bleeding making me feel so dizzy that just sitting up for too long can often make me feel like I'm about to pass out.
They suggested we increase my iron tablets to try and control the anemia. I replied that I don't need more iron, I need less bleeding. They had to admit I was probably right about that. Well, duh!
To cut a long story short, a compramize was reached. They'll tell my doctor to arrange hormone blocker shots for while I'm waiting, which should - hopefully - make the bleeding stop so I can get some exercise without such a high risk of passing out. They don't usually like to do this for someone my age. That's why, when they do the hysterectomy, they'll be taking my womb and not my ovaries. If the shots work, they will temporarily make my body think it's going through menapause, because it will essentially temporarily shut down my ovaries' hormone production. The hormones do more than work the reproductive organs, which is why they leave them to keep working as long as possible when they do a hysterectomy, unless they absolutely have no choice but to remove them for medical reasons (which they don't in my case, since removing my womb will be enough to make the bleeding go away). However, it is potentially a good way to make the bleeding stop - assuming the shots do what they're meant to - and at least I know it's not something they're going to want to leave me having for longer than they have to.
I'm torn on how I feel right now. On the one hand, I'm relieved they finally said yes to the surgery. On the other hand, I'm annoyed that they started in on my weight again, especially when at least 40lbs of my weight is what I've put on over the past few years while fighting them, and that they're using this weight issue as an excuse to avoid doing it quickly.
Anyway, now I have to hope these shots do what they're supposed to, and - quite frankly - have to do everything in my power to try and get some weight off, no matter how I'm feeling. Thankfully, they never gave me a spacific weight goal to reach. They just want to see that I'm trying. I think they're doing it to make me prove that I really would do something about my weight if I didn't have the bleeding to deal with. If the shots do their job, it shouldn't be too bad. If they don't... Well, I'll just have to hope that doesn't happen.
I suppose, if the worse comes to the worse, and the shots don't work like they're supposed to, so I end up passing out while attempting to get some exercise when the bleeding is bad, at least the ambulance ride to hospital will make them get the point. I hope it doesn't come to that though.
Oh, and there's one final condition I have to meet before they'll do the surgery, but it won't need to be worried about until the day I go in to hospital, and is one I don't mind doing, even though it means more hastle for us at the time.
They're insisting it be my next of kin - so that means Kelly - who signs the consent form, because I can't see to read what I'm signing. When I had my eye out, they were content to have the doctor read the consent form to me, and me sign it, while a nurse watched to verify this had been done, and I was signing of my own free will. The gynecologists are not content to do this though. They were willing to do this for the one that gave them permission to put me on the waiting list. I even managed to write my own name clearly enough that they could read it. But the pre-op form is another matter. So, when surgery day comes around, we'll have to arrange a doggy-sitter for Lilie, or put her in doggy daycare for the day, because she has seporation anxiety issues, so leaving her home alone is not an option, especially since Kelly will need to be at the hospital with me for at least a couple of hours, and I doubt they'll speed things up for our convenience.
Basically, they're agreeing to do the surgery, but they're making me jump through their hoops in order to get them to do it. It's unfair, and it's stupid. But it's what they're doing, and I can only do so much to stop them playing their games. Personally, I wish they'd do what needs doing quickly, so I can get on with my life.
I also wish people would realize that being overweight doesn't mean the overweight person is always making poor diet choices. I eat healthily 90% of the time, and don't over eat. My weight issues are due to lack of exercise. Why do people struggle to accept that? Why does everyone keep assuming that I'm overweight because I sit around stuffing my face with junk all day long? Yes, it's the cause of weight issues in many people. But there are other reasons why someone could be overweight too. Why is that so difficult for people to accept?
First, the asthma appointment:
I didn't see my own asthma nurse, because she's unavailable at the moment - hence the rescheduling in the first place - but the one I saw was just as nice, and my asthma appointment went well, as I'd expected it would.
My peak flow level is up a little. Not by much, but I have asthma, so it being low is normal. It was 250 last time, and 260 this time (normal is supposed to be 430, though the asthma nurse admitted that many people without asthma actually struggle to manage that). Also, my asthma assessment shows some improvement in general since I started using the spacer and the new inhaler, which is a good thing. I did say I thought it was helping. There's still room for improvement, but the asthma nurse and I are pretty sure some of that will settle itself in time, and when the issues I'm currently dealing with are resolved. So we're leaving things as they are for now, and I shouldn't need to see an asthma nurse again for at least a few months. No new appointment has been made at this time, since we'll just make one when it's time for me to get one of the regular assessments I should have been having.
As for the gynecology appointment:
It went better than I expected, but not as well as I'd hoped.
The good news is, I'm now on the hysterectomy waiting list. The bad news is, it's a three to six month wait.
I saw a female gynecologist who isn't the big guy in charge, but can speak for him in certain situations, plus got his approval before leaving too. They said I could stick around until he was free to get it then, or make an appointment to come back for that. I told them I'd stick around. I wasn't having them use that as an excuse to delay things even further.
OK, here's where that "PTMI" warning mentioned in the title comes in.
The gynecologist went straight to suggestions of alternatives to a hysterectomy. I wasn't surprised when she started in on other options first, including a comment about how, since the scan and the biopsy - which was clear, so didn't give us more issues to worry about - had been so painful for me, perhaps they could put me under anasthetic to have a proper look inside my womb. I was frustrated that she did so, but not surprised.
"So," I said. "No matter what path we take, you have to give me anasthetic, yes?"
She confirmed that this was the case.
"Good," I said. "Then you can give me my hysterectomy."
The gynecologist suggested maybe I wasn't understanding about how it carried so many risks. I pointed out that every option is risky, and I know the risks.
"Alright then," she said. "Tell me what they are."
So I did. I listed the risks the NHS themselves list.
When I did that, they backed down, and agreed I could go on the waiting list for a hysterectomy.
She insisted my being put on that three to six month waiting list is the soonest I can have it done. It isn't. They could do it faster if I was a priority case, but they won't make me a priority, because they want me to try and lose some weight.
I knew they'd start about that. Gynecologists always nag me about my weight.
Anyway, I did have to agree that less weight would be better for me, and it would be nice to get some weight off before the extra weight starts giving me other health issues to worry about. But I also pointed out that this would be easier for me to do if they'd get on with giving me the hysterectomy already, and asked how I'm supposed to manage to get weightoff with the constant bleeding making me feel so dizzy that just sitting up for too long can often make me feel like I'm about to pass out.
They suggested we increase my iron tablets to try and control the anemia. I replied that I don't need more iron, I need less bleeding. They had to admit I was probably right about that. Well, duh!
To cut a long story short, a compramize was reached. They'll tell my doctor to arrange hormone blocker shots for while I'm waiting, which should - hopefully - make the bleeding stop so I can get some exercise without such a high risk of passing out. They don't usually like to do this for someone my age. That's why, when they do the hysterectomy, they'll be taking my womb and not my ovaries. If the shots work, they will temporarily make my body think it's going through menapause, because it will essentially temporarily shut down my ovaries' hormone production. The hormones do more than work the reproductive organs, which is why they leave them to keep working as long as possible when they do a hysterectomy, unless they absolutely have no choice but to remove them for medical reasons (which they don't in my case, since removing my womb will be enough to make the bleeding go away). However, it is potentially a good way to make the bleeding stop - assuming the shots do what they're meant to - and at least I know it's not something they're going to want to leave me having for longer than they have to.
I'm torn on how I feel right now. On the one hand, I'm relieved they finally said yes to the surgery. On the other hand, I'm annoyed that they started in on my weight again, especially when at least 40lbs of my weight is what I've put on over the past few years while fighting them, and that they're using this weight issue as an excuse to avoid doing it quickly.
Anyway, now I have to hope these shots do what they're supposed to, and - quite frankly - have to do everything in my power to try and get some weight off, no matter how I'm feeling. Thankfully, they never gave me a spacific weight goal to reach. They just want to see that I'm trying. I think they're doing it to make me prove that I really would do something about my weight if I didn't have the bleeding to deal with. If the shots do their job, it shouldn't be too bad. If they don't... Well, I'll just have to hope that doesn't happen.
I suppose, if the worse comes to the worse, and the shots don't work like they're supposed to, so I end up passing out while attempting to get some exercise when the bleeding is bad, at least the ambulance ride to hospital will make them get the point. I hope it doesn't come to that though.
Oh, and there's one final condition I have to meet before they'll do the surgery, but it won't need to be worried about until the day I go in to hospital, and is one I don't mind doing, even though it means more hastle for us at the time.
They're insisting it be my next of kin - so that means Kelly - who signs the consent form, because I can't see to read what I'm signing. When I had my eye out, they were content to have the doctor read the consent form to me, and me sign it, while a nurse watched to verify this had been done, and I was signing of my own free will. The gynecologists are not content to do this though. They were willing to do this for the one that gave them permission to put me on the waiting list. I even managed to write my own name clearly enough that they could read it. But the pre-op form is another matter. So, when surgery day comes around, we'll have to arrange a doggy-sitter for Lilie, or put her in doggy daycare for the day, because she has seporation anxiety issues, so leaving her home alone is not an option, especially since Kelly will need to be at the hospital with me for at least a couple of hours, and I doubt they'll speed things up for our convenience.
Basically, they're agreeing to do the surgery, but they're making me jump through their hoops in order to get them to do it. It's unfair, and it's stupid. But it's what they're doing, and I can only do so much to stop them playing their games. Personally, I wish they'd do what needs doing quickly, so I can get on with my life.
I also wish people would realize that being overweight doesn't mean the overweight person is always making poor diet choices. I eat healthily 90% of the time, and don't over eat. My weight issues are due to lack of exercise. Why do people struggle to accept that? Why does everyone keep assuming that I'm overweight because I sit around stuffing my face with junk all day long? Yes, it's the cause of weight issues in many people. But there are other reasons why someone could be overweight too. Why is that so difficult for people to accept?
June 15, 2018
#FurkidFriday: Favourite #TVShows Of The Furry Family Members - #AmWatching
Hi everyone. This is Joshua the degu.
The Mummy human was talking about her favourite things to watch on TV, so we thought we'd do the same. Here's what we had to say about our favourite TV shows:
Joshua: "I love animal shows like Meerkat Manor, and crime shows like NCIS. I also love The Big Bang Theory. Charmed used to be great too, but I haven't seen that one lately."
Mollie and Maizie: "We love NCIS best, and would be happy to watch that all day and night. But some other crime shows are sometimes good too... CSI and Criminal minds, for example. Those wildlife shows Joshua and the Mummy human like are often interesting too. Oh, and The Big Bang Theory isn't too bad."
Lilie: "TV? I haven't got time for that! There's much too much playing to do!"
I hope you enjoyed learning about our favourite TV shows.
Squeak soon,
Joshua
The Mummy human was talking about her favourite things to watch on TV, so we thought we'd do the same. Here's what we had to say about our favourite TV shows:
Joshua: "I love animal shows like Meerkat Manor, and crime shows like NCIS. I also love The Big Bang Theory. Charmed used to be great too, but I haven't seen that one lately."
Mollie and Maizie: "We love NCIS best, and would be happy to watch that all day and night. But some other crime shows are sometimes good too... CSI and Criminal minds, for example. Those wildlife shows Joshua and the Mummy human like are often interesting too. Oh, and The Big Bang Theory isn't too bad."
Lilie: "TV? I haven't got time for that! There's much too much playing to do!"
I hope you enjoyed learning about our favourite TV shows.
Squeak soon,
Joshua
June 13, 2018
#WriterWednesday - June 13th 2018
In case you missed last week's post: "The Ocean's Lullaby And Other Poems" is now available in audio from Audible, Amazon, and iTunes, read for you by Carol Weakland, who has narrated and produced two previously completed poetry collections for me, and is working on more of my poetry collections right now. Click on the post I just linked to from last week for more details, as well as for purchase links for all available formats. As suggested by the title, this is one of my themed poetry collections, where the ocean is the theme of the bulk of the poems.
Speaking of my books becoming available in audio: I ended up dissolving the audio production contracts for the books in my "Zeena Dragon Fae" series,since things weren't working out with the original narrator any more, so we both agreed it would be for the best. Basically, to cut a long story short, she didn't feel she could complete the project with its original terms any more, and I didn't feel I could meet her new ones. I could have done without this on top of everything else I'm dealing with, but never mind. At least the process of dissolving the contract was - thankfully - faster and easier than expected, so it's already done, and I've even taken auditions and lined up a new narrator for the series. If you're interested, the new narrator for my Zeena books is Ella Lynch.
In other news: a notice has now been added to my website about how any cookies that end up on your browser as a result of browsing it aren't my doing, are needed to run the site - because the domain that hosts it says so - and aren't being used to gather any of your data. Additionally, any data we end up with from you as a result of you contacting us via any of the methods listed on the website will not be used in any way without your permission.
***~~~***
Are you feeling overwhelmed? I get it, and so does the author of the post I just linked to. Sometimes you just can't do everything. I know, I should take my own advice, especially given my determination to avoid missing a single posting slot even while I'm struggling with real life stuff (as I mentioned Sunday, I am trying to accept I might miss a post slot, and it will be OK if I do, but finding that hard to accept for some reason, despite the fact I really don't feel well, and know I should rest more). But it's always easier to give advice than to take it. Try to do a better job at taking the advice than I am.
Speaking of everything a writer like me tries to fit in to their day: if you think all a writer does all day is write, you might want to think again. Here's an example of what a self-published author does all day. One of these days, when things settle down as regards the medical stuff and moving, I'll tell you about all the things I do in what passes for a "normal" day for me as a self-published author. Even now though, when writing time is so thin on the ground as to be almost non-existent, I'm still dealing with the social media stuff, the blogging stuff, audio book production, filing paperwork, as well as reading and reviewing books. All while dealing with medical issues, preparing for a move in the near future, and general day to day houshold tasks... And this is when I'm not working much due to health issues and real life demands. Yes, really!
Although, if your reasons for not managing to get everything done is because you're traveling, these tips on how to write effectively while you are traveling may at least help you get your writing time in. Oh, and here's what to do when you're motivated to write right now, but literally can't.
Remember though: writers are allowed to take vacations.
No matter your current situation though, here's some advice on taking time for your writing, and the guilt that comes with it.
Anyway...
Here's an interesting post about the novelist's conundrum: to lie for truth's sake, which contains some tips on dealing with the "write what you know" thing without just writing your own life story, and can potentially help you create more relatable characters.
Speaking of the kind of lie it's OK to use when you're writing: here's a post on how to use red herrings to your advantage, which will especially proove useful to any mystery writers reading this.
Another post that mystery writers especially may be interested in is this one that answers the question, "does your mystery novel need to have a solution?" Personally, I find those where you have no idea at all who did it frustrating, but don't mind the other options so much.
On the other hand, if you write historical stories - be they fiction or non-fiction - you may like to check out this post on historical research for writers and enthusiasts, so you can have the best chance of getting your historical facts right.
Anyway, going back to your characters for a moment: should there be a reason for all your character's actions? The simple answer is, "Yes," but read the post I just linked to for a more detailed answer to that question.
Next, let's take a look at types of conflict, and some examples of how to use them.
OK... You've written your story, and now you want to publish it, right? Of course you do! So... Indie or traditional - how does an author pick the right direction? Well, there's no right or wrong answer to that question. But check out the post I just linked to in order to see the pros and cons one author used to make the choice.
Regardless of your chosen method of publication though, here's an excellent post containing some tips on self-editing: tightening the story and cutting costs, as well as one you may like to check out about common consistency errors you might be making.
Finally, as a writer, do you make time to read? If not, you should!
Speaking of my books becoming available in audio: I ended up dissolving the audio production contracts for the books in my "Zeena Dragon Fae" series,since things weren't working out with the original narrator any more, so we both agreed it would be for the best. Basically, to cut a long story short, she didn't feel she could complete the project with its original terms any more, and I didn't feel I could meet her new ones. I could have done without this on top of everything else I'm dealing with, but never mind. At least the process of dissolving the contract was - thankfully - faster and easier than expected, so it's already done, and I've even taken auditions and lined up a new narrator for the series. If you're interested, the new narrator for my Zeena books is Ella Lynch.
In other news: a notice has now been added to my website about how any cookies that end up on your browser as a result of browsing it aren't my doing, are needed to run the site - because the domain that hosts it says so - and aren't being used to gather any of your data. Additionally, any data we end up with from you as a result of you contacting us via any of the methods listed on the website will not be used in any way without your permission.
***~~~***
Are you feeling overwhelmed? I get it, and so does the author of the post I just linked to. Sometimes you just can't do everything. I know, I should take my own advice, especially given my determination to avoid missing a single posting slot even while I'm struggling with real life stuff (as I mentioned Sunday, I am trying to accept I might miss a post slot, and it will be OK if I do, but finding that hard to accept for some reason, despite the fact I really don't feel well, and know I should rest more). But it's always easier to give advice than to take it. Try to do a better job at taking the advice than I am.
Speaking of everything a writer like me tries to fit in to their day: if you think all a writer does all day is write, you might want to think again. Here's an example of what a self-published author does all day. One of these days, when things settle down as regards the medical stuff and moving, I'll tell you about all the things I do in what passes for a "normal" day for me as a self-published author. Even now though, when writing time is so thin on the ground as to be almost non-existent, I'm still dealing with the social media stuff, the blogging stuff, audio book production, filing paperwork, as well as reading and reviewing books. All while dealing with medical issues, preparing for a move in the near future, and general day to day houshold tasks... And this is when I'm not working much due to health issues and real life demands. Yes, really!
Although, if your reasons for not managing to get everything done is because you're traveling, these tips on how to write effectively while you are traveling may at least help you get your writing time in. Oh, and here's what to do when you're motivated to write right now, but literally can't.
Remember though: writers are allowed to take vacations.
No matter your current situation though, here's some advice on taking time for your writing, and the guilt that comes with it.
Anyway...
Here's an interesting post about the novelist's conundrum: to lie for truth's sake, which contains some tips on dealing with the "write what you know" thing without just writing your own life story, and can potentially help you create more relatable characters.
Speaking of the kind of lie it's OK to use when you're writing: here's a post on how to use red herrings to your advantage, which will especially proove useful to any mystery writers reading this.
Another post that mystery writers especially may be interested in is this one that answers the question, "does your mystery novel need to have a solution?" Personally, I find those where you have no idea at all who did it frustrating, but don't mind the other options so much.
On the other hand, if you write historical stories - be they fiction or non-fiction - you may like to check out this post on historical research for writers and enthusiasts, so you can have the best chance of getting your historical facts right.
Anyway, going back to your characters for a moment: should there be a reason for all your character's actions? The simple answer is, "Yes," but read the post I just linked to for a more detailed answer to that question.
Next, let's take a look at types of conflict, and some examples of how to use them.
OK... You've written your story, and now you want to publish it, right? Of course you do! So... Indie or traditional - how does an author pick the right direction? Well, there's no right or wrong answer to that question. But check out the post I just linked to in order to see the pros and cons one author used to make the choice.
Regardless of your chosen method of publication though, here's an excellent post containing some tips on self-editing: tightening the story and cutting costs, as well as one you may like to check out about common consistency errors you might be making.
Finally, as a writer, do you make time to read? If not, you should!
June 11, 2018
#Music Monday: The Ugly Bug Ball
A fun little song... Just because. Plus, it's another my Grandma really likes.
June 10, 2018
Random Ramblings - June 10th 2018 (LBE & FD)
Monday posts are covered for the next couple of months - partially due to the fact I was already ahead on "Music Monday" and "Monday Motivation" posts from having done a batch of them back in March, so just had to do a few more posts to fill in the gaps - and I've done some extra Sunday and Friday posts too. This post you're reading now had to be written in little bits over several days, because I have a few things I want to tell you about.
Anyway, beyond that... Well, if I miss a posting slot, I'm going to have to deal with that. At least I can take comfort in the knowledge that I tried to make sure I wasn't going to miss one. Knowing that helps... A bit anyhow.
I know it doesn't really matter. I mean, I know you'd understand if I miss days with everything I'm dealing with right now. But the part of me that knows that is being told to shut up by the part of me that feels I should stick to what I promised to deliver, which is making it difficult for me to accept the truth, even as I'm able to acknowledge that it is the truth. I hope that made sense.
I thought I'd done enough. It should have been enough. If things had worked out how I'd hoped they would, it would have been enough. But things are happening slower than I'd hoped as regards the medical stuff, and other things have joined those I was already dealing with.
I've done my best. I can't do better than I'm already doing. Now I just have to make myself accept that - preferably before I lose what little sanity I've managed to retain thus far.
***~~~***
As I mentioned above, things are moving along with the gynecology stuff, even if not as quickly as I'd hoped, nor even as quickly as should have officially been the case. Yet, on the other hand, they're moving more quickly than I'd expected, since I know what hospitals are like for taking forever to sort out appointments, so wouldn't have been too surprised if things had moved more slowly. Disappointed, yes. But not surprised.
When you have to go through a doctor to see someone over here, there are three levels of doctor referrals: emergency, urgent, and general. An emergency referral is meant to get you seen within two weeks, an urgent one is meant to get you seen within four weeks, and a general referral is meant to have you seen within six weeks. Those numbers are only what they aim for, and appointments can happen a bit quicker, or take a bit longer to come through, depending on who you need to see about what, how busy they are, and whether you get lucky and someone else has to cancel or reschedule.
As an example of this: Kelly is still waiting for the appointment to have the lump on his head drained. When he called this past Friday - because it had been six weeks since he'd seen the doctor - all they'd say was that he was on the waiting list. So he still has no idea when he's getting that done, despite being told he'd have it done within six weeks. Unfortunately, that kind of thing is normal for a general referral.
Anyway, I was supposed to be getting an emergency referral to the gynecologist. It's what the nurses at the hospital asked for me to have. It's what I asked the doctor to do for me. It's also what I understood he was agreeing to do. But it's not what he did, as I learned when I called after 13 days to find out why I didn't even have an appointment date yet.
He only requested an urgent referral.
OK, so that's better than a general referral, I suppose. But I was supposed to get an emergency one. Was I surprised I didn't? No! But I was disappointed, and maybe a little annoyed.
The appointment centre for the hospital said I could call the doctor and take it up with him if I wanted to. I didn't though. By the time I could have gotten to talk to a doctor, he could have had time to write the letter and send it to them, and they could see it, the other two weeks would have almost been up anyhow. Plus, if I didn't manage to convince him to ensure it was an emergency referral when I spoke to him originally, I really didn't know what I could possibly say to change his mind and get him to upgrade me to emergency status. If he'd only given me a general referral, I'd have called and said something, but at least he did arrange an urgent one, I suppose. *sigh*
So, I did the only thing I could do: waited.
At least, I waited a few more days, and then called the appointment centre back.
Well, they said I could. So there! Plus, I said I waited. I never said I did so patiently. *wink*
Anyway, at first it seemed like I'd be out of luck again, and they said about all they could do would be to eMail the gynecologist's secretary to chase up the appointment. I agreed to them doing so, and hung up, expecting to need to call again in a few days, and quite frankly feeling rather annoyed about the whole situation. But the phone rang a few minutes later, and I was able to make an appointment then and there. I was even lucky enough that someone had cancelled their appointment, so I was able to have one within a few days.
Amusingly - Or maybe it's only me who finds it amusing... I am suffering from blood loss while writing this, after all, and when it gets very bad I have been known to find things amusing that really aren't (that's my excuse anyhow) - I got a letter from one of the other doctors from our surgery the day after the appointment got made, asking me to call them. When I did, it was to say they know it can sometimes take months to see a gynecologist, so they wanted to know if there was anything they could potentially do for me in the meantime. I don't think there would have been much they could do, if anything. But since this discussion happened two days before my appointment, it no longer really mattered, and I just found it amusing that they decided to suggest potentially doing something helpful a couple of weeks after the initial phone conversation, but not when I was actually talking to them to ask for help. I wonder if the fact I spoke to a male doctor on the phone, but it was a female doctor who saw my notes and offerred help means anything? Maybe not, but now I'm curious...
So, my appointment was for 11:00am on May 24th.
Unfortunately, since this was with one of the lower level gynecologists, she didn't have the power to approve or deny any requests. All she could do was examine me, do a biopsy so they could have the results by the time I saw the next person in case there's anything worse than what we're already seeing to worry about, talk to me about potential options, and make recommendations based on her findings. Fortunately, talking to me and comparing my notes with what I was saying, as well as what she was seeing, seemed to have her agreeing that a hysterectomy is a potentially good idea in my situation. How much this will help my case when I speak to her superior is unclear, but it will potentially help my case that I have the medical people on the lower rungs of the ladder appearing to support my decision.
It might have helped that they could tell by my responses - and how low my iron level is, despite my being on iron tablets, and having had a blood transfusion only a couple of months ago - that I was serious about what keeps happening. Plus, I was dizzy enough that the nurse had to grab me a couple of times to keep me on my feet. That almost landed me some time back in hospital then and there, I think. But I'm just on the side of the numbers with my iron level where the fact I have iron tablets to take means they're willing to just send me home. I am for now anyhow. Although, judging by how I'm feeling, exactly how much longer that's going to be the case remains to be seen.
Anyway, they were going to do more checks on me than they did, but she decided it wasn't worth it Since I'm so set on just having an end to it, and the things she was going to do were designed to see if certain other options might be open to me. She figured it was a waste of my time and hers to do them. She wrote something in my notes that essentially said she'd discussed them with me, but since I feel the other options wouldn't be something I'd want to consider anyway, she decided not to proceed with those particular tests. I know she did, because she read it out to me as she wrote it, with two nurses in the room to witness this. She also wrote a fantastic referral letter, which she sent me a copy of, to expand on those comments. As long as they pay attention to what she said in her letter, I should actually get something done.
While I was waiting, she told me that - if symptoms got really bad, and the appointment was taking its time - I should go to A and E if I feel I need to. They won't be able to do much, but they can check my iron level at least, and give me a blood transfusion if it drops below a certain level.
I haven't gone to A and E though, since I haven't felt any worse than seems to be my normal. Besides, I got an appointment through a few days ago, and am seeing the gynecologist on Thursday June 14th at 4:50pm. Hopefully this will be the gynecologist who can actually make decisions, and I can convince this person to do what needs doing so we can finally get me sorted out. Cross your fingers and toes... Get your furkids to cross their paws... Think positive thoughts of agreeable doctors... Pray... Whatever you think might help!
Actually, it looks like I have a busy day that day, though I shouldn't need all those crossed fingers and positive thoughts for the other appointment, so save them for the gynecology one.
My appointment with the asthma nurse, which was meant to have been on June 6th, had to be rescheduled for some reason, so I have that coming up on Thursday too. That one's at 3:20pm. I considered rescheduling that one again, but since I do have time to go to that one first, and it's sort of on the way to the hospital anyhow, I figured I'd just go straight from the asthma clinic to the hospital. Since the appointments are an hour and a half apart, I have time for the asthma clinic to be running a bit late, while still leaving me with plenty of time to get to the hospital - even given the fact I'll be going through town during rush hour. At least this way I can get them both dealt with out of the way. Plus, I can save a bit of cab fare, and have one less trip up our stairs to deal with.
The inhalers and spacer seem to be keeping things under control as regards my asthma, so I'm expecting the asthma appointment to go quickly and smoothly, since it's really just to check that this is the case, and I'll order refills while I'm there.
I do have a post scheduled for next Sunday. But, if I'm able to do so, I'll move that one to one of my empty July slots, and do a quick post to let you know how the appointments went. If you get anything other than a medical update next Sunday, you know I wasn't able to do so for some reason, in which case I'll come update you when I can.
***~~~***
I could so do without this right now, especially on top of everything else, but... We'll be moving in the near future.
I don't know exactly when, but it will be as soon as we can, and it's only partially by choice.
I really don't feel like going in to the full details, but the short version is that we've been having issues with one of our neighbours. It's not just us. Not even close. She's caused problems for other neighbours too, one set of which had enough and moved away last year. Another set of our nice neighbours are planning to move away because of her too. Not that I blame them.
We tried to ignore her originally. All of us did. We hoped by not reacting she'd get bored and go away, which some people like her often do. Not her though. She just started causing more and more problems, until we were forced to do something. It's like she felt she needed to raise her game to force us to react; she seems to want the reaction, and the drama surrounding it, even if the rest of us would rather avoid it and live peacefully.
No. You didn't miss me mentioning it in a pprevious post. I've been trying not to mention it on my blog and social media. Partially because I didn't want to add to the negative posts out there, and partially because I just didn't feel like going in to it, especially when there were so many other things I could be posting about.
Anyway, it started with the odd noise complaint - whether we were making any noise or not; sometimes she'd actually wake us to complain of apparent noise, and other times we weren't even at home - and gradually got worse. It started a few months after we moved in here, but only escilated towards the end of last year. She even has a stick (the handle of an old broom) she uses to bang on her ceiling, which is meant to be a signal to us that we're making too much noise, and should stop, but which only serves to annoy us (and everyone else in the building, and adjoining buildings). She complains about noises - real or imagined - day or night. Meanwhile, she thinks she can make as much noise as she wants, regardless of the time of day or night, including banging so much with her stick that the neighbours in the process of moving right now were forced not only to move their fish tank away from the adjoining wall, but also to go sleep in the car with their baby. It says a lot when it's quieter in the car in the street than in your own home, doesn't it?
Anyhow, as I said, we've been trying to ignore her. The problem is, now it's at the point where she's claiming we're being racist towards her, and that Kelly is stalking her. She even went as far as to go up to him in the street, scream abuse at him, and then take a photo of herself with him behind her to use as apparent proof of this (all he was actually doing was standing there waiting for the light to change so he could cross the road to go to the shops on the other side of the street). We couldn't care less what colour her skin is; she could be purple with pink polka dots for all we care. Our only issues with her are the verbal abuse and threats we've been getting from her. Some of which, I'd like to point out, are logged with the police, including an incident where the police heard her being verbally abusive and threatening to us while I was talking to them on the phone. So it's now way past the point where we can just ignore it.
So, what it all boils down to is this: the landlords have been involved since a few months after it all started, the police have been involved since the end of last year, and now everyone's had enough. Since she doesn't want to move, and the landlords and police know the stairs are hard on me anyhow, we've been asked to move. Actually, it's more like we've been told we either move, or we only enter or exit our property when we can be reasonably confident of not running in to her, and go the other way when we see her coming down the street. In short, we either move, or stay as far from her as living in the same building will allow, even if we have to be inconvenienced in order to do so. Accompanied by comments about how they understand how hard the stairs are on me sometimes, and wouldnt I be better in a downstairs place, and if they were us they'd have moved by now, it makes it perfectly clear what they want to happen. Though I notice neither the landlords nor the police are offering to help us pay for the move they want to happen so badly.
So, I guess we're moving.
We're not completely moving away from this area. We like this general area. We moved here on purpose almost seven years ago, and nobody's going to bully us in to moving away. We're just moving enough to put some space between us, so we're no longer her neighbours. We could move away to a new area, but why should we? As I said, we like this area. Other than the tourists who seem to forget about nearby residents potentially wanting to sleep at night, and some issues with seagulls getting in to garbage when idiots put their bags out too early, or people don't clean up after their beach parties, it's a nice area. We won't be bullied in to giving it up completely. Moving to a different part of it. Fine. Moving away from the area completely. No! It's a big enough area that we can put a bit of distance between us. That should be enough.
Oh, and to those tourists I mentioned: beach parties are fun. Yes... Absolutely! Beach parties that go on until like 3:00am however, are only fun for those at the party. Also, if you're having a party on the beach, please take your rubbish home with you when you leave. Just saying.
Anyway, we'll be moving as soon as we can arrange it, and trying not to run in to her in the meantime. Quite frankly, we'd be moving immediately if we could, but circumstances - financial especially - don't allow for that.
Right now we're trying to get the money together while packing. This essentially involves me sitting on the floor with a box, while Kelly fetches stuff to put in to it, because I'm better at making the best use of space in the boxes, but even sitting down to do that requires me to take regular breaks from the task. The plan is to pack as much as we can while waiting for my gynecology stuff to be sorted out, all the while saving as much as we can each month, so we can be ready to move as quickly as possible afterwards. It's the best we can do, since we'll need the time to get the funds together, and my constant need for rest makes packing a slow process. In fact, since even with rests I can't do more than maybe a box a day, and even then have to take some days off, slow process is an understatement, and packing hasn't gone as quickly as it would have if I could do more.
Like I said, I could so do without this right now.
Since we have to move though, we're going to take the opportunity to move to a place with less stairs. After all, it's true the stairs are hard on me - and still will be after I get them to do the surgery, because of my leg and asthma - and Kelly wouldn't mind less stairs to deal with. So we might as well have something potentially helpful to us come out of this, right? Besides, if the landlords and police are going to use that fact to push for it to be us moving instead of her, the least they can do is allow us to only look for places that will take away the stairs issue.
***~~~***
Apparently the new kettle we got a couple of months ago has a removable filter near the spout.
This was something I didn't realize until I accidentally knocked it off while sticking my hand in the kettle to check the water level when I was filling the kettle a couple of weeks ago... If I'd known about it, I'd have been more careful how I stuck my hand in there.
No, I wasn't risking making hot drinks while all dizzy like I have been. I was just filling it with cold water. Kelly was making the drinks. I'm pushing things enough as it is, without risking falling while holding a kettle full of hot water. Just thought I'd get that in there, for those who may have thought about it and been concerned.
Anyway, it took us absolutely AGES to figure out how to put it back on, because I never knew it even came off - as I mentioned above - and Kelly couldn't remember how it was supposed to go.
Naturally, as soon as we'd managed to get it reatatched we realized it was one of those situations where it was easy to do, once you knew how, and you felt silly for not figuring it out sooner.
We'll just chalk it up to a learning experience. At least we know how to remove and reatatch it now, and I know to be careful not to knock it off when checking the water level in future.
***~~~***
I don't remember ever having tried artichokes before. So I did a couple of weeks ago... On a pizza.
As one of their vegetarian pizza options, one of the pizza places near us has a pizza with artichokes, mushrooms, and garlic. It sounded interesting, so I tried it. I actually really loved it.
They also had one that involved asparagus, and I tried that too. I didn't enjoy it quite as much though, but I wasn't all that surprised. Not because of the asparagus... I really like asparagus... But because it involved olives, and I'm not too keen on olives. It was nice enough, but the one with the artichokes was better.
The same pizza place also does a fantastic salad, and some very tasty cheezy garlic mushrooms.
Hey, we may be saving to move, but we do need to eat. Besides, why should we give up weekly take-away night? Saving is one thing, but she's making us suffer enough, without also taking away take-away night. Just thought I'd get that in there, because I did actually have someone tell me the other day I shouldn't be ordering take-away if I'm trying to save to move.
***~~~***
Kelly saw a picture on Facebook several weeks back. It was entitled something like, "How to bother a geek," (or words to that effect). He described it to me at the time.
I was going to post it here, but he couldn't find it again to grab it for me.
The picture featured the actor Patrick Stewart, dressed as the leader of the X-Men, with a quote above him that read as follows:
It bothered me at the time, and still bothers me now... Nearly two months later. Haha!
I guess that makes me a geek.
If none of that means anything to you, and you don't understand why it bothered me, you obviously aren't one.
I won't hold that against you. I will, however, explain if you want me to.
***~~~***
There are several birthdays among family and friends this month. I'd like to wish everyone a happy birthday, but I keep falling behind on that. So, if you had yours recently, or are about to, then a very happy birthday to you from me!
I want to mention two birthdays in particular though: my Mother-In-Law, and my Dad.
Kelly's Mom celebrated her birthday yesterday (June 9th) and my Dad celebrates his this coming Wednesday (June 13th).
So, happy birthday, Mom, and Dad!
***~~~***
Did you know that some people celebrate Fairy Day every June 24th?
If you're the kind of person who does... Happy early Fairy Day to you!
Also, if you're the kind of person who loves fairies, and believes in fairy magic, you may be interested in reading this post about the faerie star and what the seven points of it stand for.
Anyway, beyond that... Well, if I miss a posting slot, I'm going to have to deal with that. At least I can take comfort in the knowledge that I tried to make sure I wasn't going to miss one. Knowing that helps... A bit anyhow.
I know it doesn't really matter. I mean, I know you'd understand if I miss days with everything I'm dealing with right now. But the part of me that knows that is being told to shut up by the part of me that feels I should stick to what I promised to deliver, which is making it difficult for me to accept the truth, even as I'm able to acknowledge that it is the truth. I hope that made sense.
I thought I'd done enough. It should have been enough. If things had worked out how I'd hoped they would, it would have been enough. But things are happening slower than I'd hoped as regards the medical stuff, and other things have joined those I was already dealing with.
I've done my best. I can't do better than I'm already doing. Now I just have to make myself accept that - preferably before I lose what little sanity I've managed to retain thus far.
***~~~***
As I mentioned above, things are moving along with the gynecology stuff, even if not as quickly as I'd hoped, nor even as quickly as should have officially been the case. Yet, on the other hand, they're moving more quickly than I'd expected, since I know what hospitals are like for taking forever to sort out appointments, so wouldn't have been too surprised if things had moved more slowly. Disappointed, yes. But not surprised.
When you have to go through a doctor to see someone over here, there are three levels of doctor referrals: emergency, urgent, and general. An emergency referral is meant to get you seen within two weeks, an urgent one is meant to get you seen within four weeks, and a general referral is meant to have you seen within six weeks. Those numbers are only what they aim for, and appointments can happen a bit quicker, or take a bit longer to come through, depending on who you need to see about what, how busy they are, and whether you get lucky and someone else has to cancel or reschedule.
As an example of this: Kelly is still waiting for the appointment to have the lump on his head drained. When he called this past Friday - because it had been six weeks since he'd seen the doctor - all they'd say was that he was on the waiting list. So he still has no idea when he's getting that done, despite being told he'd have it done within six weeks. Unfortunately, that kind of thing is normal for a general referral.
Anyway, I was supposed to be getting an emergency referral to the gynecologist. It's what the nurses at the hospital asked for me to have. It's what I asked the doctor to do for me. It's also what I understood he was agreeing to do. But it's not what he did, as I learned when I called after 13 days to find out why I didn't even have an appointment date yet.
He only requested an urgent referral.
OK, so that's better than a general referral, I suppose. But I was supposed to get an emergency one. Was I surprised I didn't? No! But I was disappointed, and maybe a little annoyed.
The appointment centre for the hospital said I could call the doctor and take it up with him if I wanted to. I didn't though. By the time I could have gotten to talk to a doctor, he could have had time to write the letter and send it to them, and they could see it, the other two weeks would have almost been up anyhow. Plus, if I didn't manage to convince him to ensure it was an emergency referral when I spoke to him originally, I really didn't know what I could possibly say to change his mind and get him to upgrade me to emergency status. If he'd only given me a general referral, I'd have called and said something, but at least he did arrange an urgent one, I suppose. *sigh*
So, I did the only thing I could do: waited.
At least, I waited a few more days, and then called the appointment centre back.
Well, they said I could. So there! Plus, I said I waited. I never said I did so patiently. *wink*
Anyway, at first it seemed like I'd be out of luck again, and they said about all they could do would be to eMail the gynecologist's secretary to chase up the appointment. I agreed to them doing so, and hung up, expecting to need to call again in a few days, and quite frankly feeling rather annoyed about the whole situation. But the phone rang a few minutes later, and I was able to make an appointment then and there. I was even lucky enough that someone had cancelled their appointment, so I was able to have one within a few days.
Amusingly - Or maybe it's only me who finds it amusing... I am suffering from blood loss while writing this, after all, and when it gets very bad I have been known to find things amusing that really aren't (that's my excuse anyhow) - I got a letter from one of the other doctors from our surgery the day after the appointment got made, asking me to call them. When I did, it was to say they know it can sometimes take months to see a gynecologist, so they wanted to know if there was anything they could potentially do for me in the meantime. I don't think there would have been much they could do, if anything. But since this discussion happened two days before my appointment, it no longer really mattered, and I just found it amusing that they decided to suggest potentially doing something helpful a couple of weeks after the initial phone conversation, but not when I was actually talking to them to ask for help. I wonder if the fact I spoke to a male doctor on the phone, but it was a female doctor who saw my notes and offerred help means anything? Maybe not, but now I'm curious...
So, my appointment was for 11:00am on May 24th.
Unfortunately, since this was with one of the lower level gynecologists, she didn't have the power to approve or deny any requests. All she could do was examine me, do a biopsy so they could have the results by the time I saw the next person in case there's anything worse than what we're already seeing to worry about, talk to me about potential options, and make recommendations based on her findings. Fortunately, talking to me and comparing my notes with what I was saying, as well as what she was seeing, seemed to have her agreeing that a hysterectomy is a potentially good idea in my situation. How much this will help my case when I speak to her superior is unclear, but it will potentially help my case that I have the medical people on the lower rungs of the ladder appearing to support my decision.
It might have helped that they could tell by my responses - and how low my iron level is, despite my being on iron tablets, and having had a blood transfusion only a couple of months ago - that I was serious about what keeps happening. Plus, I was dizzy enough that the nurse had to grab me a couple of times to keep me on my feet. That almost landed me some time back in hospital then and there, I think. But I'm just on the side of the numbers with my iron level where the fact I have iron tablets to take means they're willing to just send me home. I am for now anyhow. Although, judging by how I'm feeling, exactly how much longer that's going to be the case remains to be seen.
Anyway, they were going to do more checks on me than they did, but she decided it wasn't worth it Since I'm so set on just having an end to it, and the things she was going to do were designed to see if certain other options might be open to me. She figured it was a waste of my time and hers to do them. She wrote something in my notes that essentially said she'd discussed them with me, but since I feel the other options wouldn't be something I'd want to consider anyway, she decided not to proceed with those particular tests. I know she did, because she read it out to me as she wrote it, with two nurses in the room to witness this. She also wrote a fantastic referral letter, which she sent me a copy of, to expand on those comments. As long as they pay attention to what she said in her letter, I should actually get something done.
While I was waiting, she told me that - if symptoms got really bad, and the appointment was taking its time - I should go to A and E if I feel I need to. They won't be able to do much, but they can check my iron level at least, and give me a blood transfusion if it drops below a certain level.
I haven't gone to A and E though, since I haven't felt any worse than seems to be my normal. Besides, I got an appointment through a few days ago, and am seeing the gynecologist on Thursday June 14th at 4:50pm. Hopefully this will be the gynecologist who can actually make decisions, and I can convince this person to do what needs doing so we can finally get me sorted out. Cross your fingers and toes... Get your furkids to cross their paws... Think positive thoughts of agreeable doctors... Pray... Whatever you think might help!
Actually, it looks like I have a busy day that day, though I shouldn't need all those crossed fingers and positive thoughts for the other appointment, so save them for the gynecology one.
My appointment with the asthma nurse, which was meant to have been on June 6th, had to be rescheduled for some reason, so I have that coming up on Thursday too. That one's at 3:20pm. I considered rescheduling that one again, but since I do have time to go to that one first, and it's sort of on the way to the hospital anyhow, I figured I'd just go straight from the asthma clinic to the hospital. Since the appointments are an hour and a half apart, I have time for the asthma clinic to be running a bit late, while still leaving me with plenty of time to get to the hospital - even given the fact I'll be going through town during rush hour. At least this way I can get them both dealt with out of the way. Plus, I can save a bit of cab fare, and have one less trip up our stairs to deal with.
The inhalers and spacer seem to be keeping things under control as regards my asthma, so I'm expecting the asthma appointment to go quickly and smoothly, since it's really just to check that this is the case, and I'll order refills while I'm there.
I do have a post scheduled for next Sunday. But, if I'm able to do so, I'll move that one to one of my empty July slots, and do a quick post to let you know how the appointments went. If you get anything other than a medical update next Sunday, you know I wasn't able to do so for some reason, in which case I'll come update you when I can.
***~~~***
I could so do without this right now, especially on top of everything else, but... We'll be moving in the near future.
I don't know exactly when, but it will be as soon as we can, and it's only partially by choice.
I really don't feel like going in to the full details, but the short version is that we've been having issues with one of our neighbours. It's not just us. Not even close. She's caused problems for other neighbours too, one set of which had enough and moved away last year. Another set of our nice neighbours are planning to move away because of her too. Not that I blame them.
We tried to ignore her originally. All of us did. We hoped by not reacting she'd get bored and go away, which some people like her often do. Not her though. She just started causing more and more problems, until we were forced to do something. It's like she felt she needed to raise her game to force us to react; she seems to want the reaction, and the drama surrounding it, even if the rest of us would rather avoid it and live peacefully.
No. You didn't miss me mentioning it in a pprevious post. I've been trying not to mention it on my blog and social media. Partially because I didn't want to add to the negative posts out there, and partially because I just didn't feel like going in to it, especially when there were so many other things I could be posting about.
Anyway, it started with the odd noise complaint - whether we were making any noise or not; sometimes she'd actually wake us to complain of apparent noise, and other times we weren't even at home - and gradually got worse. It started a few months after we moved in here, but only escilated towards the end of last year. She even has a stick (the handle of an old broom) she uses to bang on her ceiling, which is meant to be a signal to us that we're making too much noise, and should stop, but which only serves to annoy us (and everyone else in the building, and adjoining buildings). She complains about noises - real or imagined - day or night. Meanwhile, she thinks she can make as much noise as she wants, regardless of the time of day or night, including banging so much with her stick that the neighbours in the process of moving right now were forced not only to move their fish tank away from the adjoining wall, but also to go sleep in the car with their baby. It says a lot when it's quieter in the car in the street than in your own home, doesn't it?
Anyhow, as I said, we've been trying to ignore her. The problem is, now it's at the point where she's claiming we're being racist towards her, and that Kelly is stalking her. She even went as far as to go up to him in the street, scream abuse at him, and then take a photo of herself with him behind her to use as apparent proof of this (all he was actually doing was standing there waiting for the light to change so he could cross the road to go to the shops on the other side of the street). We couldn't care less what colour her skin is; she could be purple with pink polka dots for all we care. Our only issues with her are the verbal abuse and threats we've been getting from her. Some of which, I'd like to point out, are logged with the police, including an incident where the police heard her being verbally abusive and threatening to us while I was talking to them on the phone. So it's now way past the point where we can just ignore it.
So, what it all boils down to is this: the landlords have been involved since a few months after it all started, the police have been involved since the end of last year, and now everyone's had enough. Since she doesn't want to move, and the landlords and police know the stairs are hard on me anyhow, we've been asked to move. Actually, it's more like we've been told we either move, or we only enter or exit our property when we can be reasonably confident of not running in to her, and go the other way when we see her coming down the street. In short, we either move, or stay as far from her as living in the same building will allow, even if we have to be inconvenienced in order to do so. Accompanied by comments about how they understand how hard the stairs are on me sometimes, and wouldnt I be better in a downstairs place, and if they were us they'd have moved by now, it makes it perfectly clear what they want to happen. Though I notice neither the landlords nor the police are offering to help us pay for the move they want to happen so badly.
So, I guess we're moving.
We're not completely moving away from this area. We like this general area. We moved here on purpose almost seven years ago, and nobody's going to bully us in to moving away. We're just moving enough to put some space between us, so we're no longer her neighbours. We could move away to a new area, but why should we? As I said, we like this area. Other than the tourists who seem to forget about nearby residents potentially wanting to sleep at night, and some issues with seagulls getting in to garbage when idiots put their bags out too early, or people don't clean up after their beach parties, it's a nice area. We won't be bullied in to giving it up completely. Moving to a different part of it. Fine. Moving away from the area completely. No! It's a big enough area that we can put a bit of distance between us. That should be enough.
Oh, and to those tourists I mentioned: beach parties are fun. Yes... Absolutely! Beach parties that go on until like 3:00am however, are only fun for those at the party. Also, if you're having a party on the beach, please take your rubbish home with you when you leave. Just saying.
Anyway, we'll be moving as soon as we can arrange it, and trying not to run in to her in the meantime. Quite frankly, we'd be moving immediately if we could, but circumstances - financial especially - don't allow for that.
Right now we're trying to get the money together while packing. This essentially involves me sitting on the floor with a box, while Kelly fetches stuff to put in to it, because I'm better at making the best use of space in the boxes, but even sitting down to do that requires me to take regular breaks from the task. The plan is to pack as much as we can while waiting for my gynecology stuff to be sorted out, all the while saving as much as we can each month, so we can be ready to move as quickly as possible afterwards. It's the best we can do, since we'll need the time to get the funds together, and my constant need for rest makes packing a slow process. In fact, since even with rests I can't do more than maybe a box a day, and even then have to take some days off, slow process is an understatement, and packing hasn't gone as quickly as it would have if I could do more.
Like I said, I could so do without this right now.
Since we have to move though, we're going to take the opportunity to move to a place with less stairs. After all, it's true the stairs are hard on me - and still will be after I get them to do the surgery, because of my leg and asthma - and Kelly wouldn't mind less stairs to deal with. So we might as well have something potentially helpful to us come out of this, right? Besides, if the landlords and police are going to use that fact to push for it to be us moving instead of her, the least they can do is allow us to only look for places that will take away the stairs issue.
***~~~***
Apparently the new kettle we got a couple of months ago has a removable filter near the spout.
This was something I didn't realize until I accidentally knocked it off while sticking my hand in the kettle to check the water level when I was filling the kettle a couple of weeks ago... If I'd known about it, I'd have been more careful how I stuck my hand in there.
No, I wasn't risking making hot drinks while all dizzy like I have been. I was just filling it with cold water. Kelly was making the drinks. I'm pushing things enough as it is, without risking falling while holding a kettle full of hot water. Just thought I'd get that in there, for those who may have thought about it and been concerned.
Anyway, it took us absolutely AGES to figure out how to put it back on, because I never knew it even came off - as I mentioned above - and Kelly couldn't remember how it was supposed to go.
Naturally, as soon as we'd managed to get it reatatched we realized it was one of those situations where it was easy to do, once you knew how, and you felt silly for not figuring it out sooner.
We'll just chalk it up to a learning experience. At least we know how to remove and reatatch it now, and I know to be careful not to knock it off when checking the water level in future.
***~~~***
I don't remember ever having tried artichokes before. So I did a couple of weeks ago... On a pizza.
As one of their vegetarian pizza options, one of the pizza places near us has a pizza with artichokes, mushrooms, and garlic. It sounded interesting, so I tried it. I actually really loved it.
They also had one that involved asparagus, and I tried that too. I didn't enjoy it quite as much though, but I wasn't all that surprised. Not because of the asparagus... I really like asparagus... But because it involved olives, and I'm not too keen on olives. It was nice enough, but the one with the artichokes was better.
The same pizza place also does a fantastic salad, and some very tasty cheezy garlic mushrooms.
Hey, we may be saving to move, but we do need to eat. Besides, why should we give up weekly take-away night? Saving is one thing, but she's making us suffer enough, without also taking away take-away night. Just thought I'd get that in there, because I did actually have someone tell me the other day I shouldn't be ordering take-away if I'm trying to save to move.
***~~~***
Kelly saw a picture on Facebook several weeks back. It was entitled something like, "How to bother a geek," (or words to that effect). He described it to me at the time.
I was going to post it here, but he couldn't find it again to grab it for me.
The picture featured the actor Patrick Stewart, dressed as the leader of the X-Men, with a quote above him that read as follows:
Use the force, Harry!
~Gandalf
It bothered me at the time, and still bothers me now... Nearly two months later. Haha!
I guess that makes me a geek.
If none of that means anything to you, and you don't understand why it bothered me, you obviously aren't one.
I won't hold that against you. I will, however, explain if you want me to.
***~~~***
There are several birthdays among family and friends this month. I'd like to wish everyone a happy birthday, but I keep falling behind on that. So, if you had yours recently, or are about to, then a very happy birthday to you from me!
I want to mention two birthdays in particular though: my Mother-In-Law, and my Dad.
Kelly's Mom celebrated her birthday yesterday (June 9th) and my Dad celebrates his this coming Wednesday (June 13th).
So, happy birthday, Mom, and Dad!
***~~~***
Did you know that some people celebrate Fairy Day every June 24th?
If you're the kind of person who does... Happy early Fairy Day to you!
Also, if you're the kind of person who loves fairies, and believes in fairy magic, you may be interested in reading this post about the faerie star and what the seven points of it stand for.
June 8, 2018
Ten Unexpected Life Hacks + Five Facts About #Cockatiels You Probably Didn't Know (unless you have them)
Ten Unexpected Life Hacks For Raising Cockatiels
By Laurel A. Rockefeller
1. Seed only diets are NOT for the birds.Remember reading all those really old parrot guide books advocating for all seed-diets for budgerigars and cockatiels? Throw them out! Though it is true that cockatiels are granivores (meaning they eat primarily seeds in the wild), an all seed diet is a fast track to early death. Instead offer your bird a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and raw nuts along with some quality pellets mixed in with the seed. Just skip the guacamole; avocado pits contain an especially deadly poison that tends to leech into the fruit, sometimes all the way to the skin. When it comes to avocados, play it safe and keep them away from your birds.2. When calcium blocks fail, offer your birds dairy.Traditionally we offer cuttlebones and mineral blocks to our birds at all times so they can ingest what they need in terms of calcium and other essential minerals as they need it. But as with food, birds can be picky and not like what is offered. When mineral blocks, calcium blocks, cuttlebones, and other traditional offerings fail serve milk, cheese, and other dairy foods. Though these will cause digestive issues from lactose intolerance that should be monitored carefully, dairy works in infusing your bird’s blood and bones with the calcium they need to stay strong and healthy. Plus, many cockatiels enjoy eating cheese and drinking milk. So, say yes next time your cockatiel wants some cheese or a sip of your (plain) milk! Dairy does a birdy good!
3. Use pet mats to contain the mess.
Birds, like children, make messes. A lot of them. Whether it’s throwing the contents of their food dishes onto the floors, chewing up toys (and precious objects in your house they decide are their toys), or simply pooping wherever they happen to be, your cockatiel will make quite a few messes. Over the decades I’ve had birds I’ve tried dozens of different options for trying to sweep up and clean up the mess. And while these worked with food messes, they didn’t on the bird poop – until I discovered pet mats while browsing online pet retailer Doctors Foster and Smith. These mats are supposed to be used right side up which is absorbent to liquid messes, but I found that flipping them over works perfect for bird poop! The backsides of these mats are liquid repellent. When you are ready to clean simply pick up and wipe the poop away with a cleanser-infused sponge. Air dry until you are ready to put them back in place. Find them in three sizes at https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=29946
4. When your birds won’t eat fruits and vegetables, try offering them prepared different ways.Birds are picky eaters, especially cockatiels. They may love one fruit or veggie when prepared one way but hate it prepared a different way. Experiment until you find what your birds prefer.
5. Provide a nest box even if you don’t plan on breeding your birds.Cockatiels LOVE to nest. Even when you have a single bird, odds are very good you will experience nesting behaviours which can be very destructive to your home. The solution: offer a nest box your bird can customize to her/his/their liking through chewing the nest box, cardboard boxes, and shreddable toys. Nest boxes offer privacy for your birds for when they feel like hiding and a safe place for your hens to lay their eggs.
6. When the pre-drilled hole doesn’t work, open the lid to your nest boxes.Some birds don’t like the pre-drilled holes provided for them in commercially made nest boxes. With the lid closed tight, the sudden plunge into blackness can be a rather terrifying prospect. Opening the top alleviates this stress while also providing an alternative route into the box your birds may find they prefer.
7. Prevent illness with regular trips outside.Unfiltered UV light is essential to your birds’ health. Without it your bird cannot manufacture essential key nutrients she needs, especially as she ages. Cockatiels in particular are vulnerable to sight loss and blindness as they age, especially if they do not receive regular doses of unfiltered sunlight. While full spectrum light bulbs are available for lighting around your home and cages, nothing does a body good quite as well as fresh air and family time inside the protection of a quality travel cage. So, take a trip, a picnic, an afternoon of fun in the sun. Your bird will reward you not only with the happy chirps of the moment, but with a longer life too!
8. Offer play spaces in every room of your home.Your cockatiel is extremely social and needs constant interaction with you and other birds in your home (preferably other cockatiels). Make those interactions safer while controlling your bird’s mess and destructive habits by providing at least one play space such as a natural wood perch stand in every room and placed near where you and the family spend the most time.
Floor length java tree/play stand.
Java trees (aka Borneo or coffee wood) offer a natural climbing surface that is durable enough to naturally wear your birds’ nails while being smooth and comfortable enough to be easy on the feet. If you need something small and portable that sits on your desk, try the medium size perch stand by Penn Plax just like Arwen’s.
Arwen on the portable perch stand by Penn-Plax. Photo taken with my kindle fire. What’s great about this perch stand is the way it easily assembles and disassembles and fits into a carry-on suitcase for out of town trips. Very hotel friendly! I bought mine at https://www.amazon.com/Penn-Plax-Perch-Stainless-Feeding/dp/B00OE3C1K6.
9. Grapevine perches make healthy feet.In addition to java/coffee wood/Borneo perches and play spaces, grapevine exercises your birds’ feet while helping to wear down toenails safely and effectively. Choose twisted, gnarly perches over straighter options if you can. The less straight and smooth the better. I found my favourite grapevine perches at my local Petco (also available online) where I was able to choose the least straight and most twisted perches the store had in stock. If your local pet store doesn’t offer grapevine, ask if they can order some perches for you. It’s well worth the extra effort!
10. Sundecks and platform perches open up relaxing possibilities.Imagine always having to keep your hands curled around an object 24/7/365. After a while your hands would get really tired – which is exactly what your birds experience when their only perches are round. Platform perches made of wood and sun decks made of plastic-covered metal give your birds a flat surface to rest on that are also perfect for placing small treat bowls and fresh fruit/veggies upon. Another option for opening up those feet? Clam style mineral blocks positioned horizontally.
This popular clam style mineral block doubles as a flat perch.
Cockatiels enrich our lives. But by following these tips and tricks, you can make your life with your birds healthy and happy for many years to come!
***~~~***
Want some more facts about Cockatiels? Then watch this informative video:
***~~~***
Learn more about caring for your Cockatiel by purchasing a copy of Laurel's book "Preparing For My First Cockatiel" today!
The book is available in both English and Spanish.
Here are the purchase links:
English: Amazon.Com or Amazon UK.
Spanish: Amazon.Com or Amazon UK.
By Laurel A. Rockefeller
1. Seed only diets are NOT for the birds.Remember reading all those really old parrot guide books advocating for all seed-diets for budgerigars and cockatiels? Throw them out! Though it is true that cockatiels are granivores (meaning they eat primarily seeds in the wild), an all seed diet is a fast track to early death. Instead offer your bird a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and raw nuts along with some quality pellets mixed in with the seed. Just skip the guacamole; avocado pits contain an especially deadly poison that tends to leech into the fruit, sometimes all the way to the skin. When it comes to avocados, play it safe and keep them away from your birds.2. When calcium blocks fail, offer your birds dairy.Traditionally we offer cuttlebones and mineral blocks to our birds at all times so they can ingest what they need in terms of calcium and other essential minerals as they need it. But as with food, birds can be picky and not like what is offered. When mineral blocks, calcium blocks, cuttlebones, and other traditional offerings fail serve milk, cheese, and other dairy foods. Though these will cause digestive issues from lactose intolerance that should be monitored carefully, dairy works in infusing your bird’s blood and bones with the calcium they need to stay strong and healthy. Plus, many cockatiels enjoy eating cheese and drinking milk. So, say yes next time your cockatiel wants some cheese or a sip of your (plain) milk! Dairy does a birdy good!
3. Use pet mats to contain the mess.
Birds, like children, make messes. A lot of them. Whether it’s throwing the contents of their food dishes onto the floors, chewing up toys (and precious objects in your house they decide are their toys), or simply pooping wherever they happen to be, your cockatiel will make quite a few messes. Over the decades I’ve had birds I’ve tried dozens of different options for trying to sweep up and clean up the mess. And while these worked with food messes, they didn’t on the bird poop – until I discovered pet mats while browsing online pet retailer Doctors Foster and Smith. These mats are supposed to be used right side up which is absorbent to liquid messes, but I found that flipping them over works perfect for bird poop! The backsides of these mats are liquid repellent. When you are ready to clean simply pick up and wipe the poop away with a cleanser-infused sponge. Air dry until you are ready to put them back in place. Find them in three sizes at https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=29946
4. When your birds won’t eat fruits and vegetables, try offering them prepared different ways.Birds are picky eaters, especially cockatiels. They may love one fruit or veggie when prepared one way but hate it prepared a different way. Experiment until you find what your birds prefer.
5. Provide a nest box even if you don’t plan on breeding your birds.Cockatiels LOVE to nest. Even when you have a single bird, odds are very good you will experience nesting behaviours which can be very destructive to your home. The solution: offer a nest box your bird can customize to her/his/their liking through chewing the nest box, cardboard boxes, and shreddable toys. Nest boxes offer privacy for your birds for when they feel like hiding and a safe place for your hens to lay their eggs.
6. When the pre-drilled hole doesn’t work, open the lid to your nest boxes.Some birds don’t like the pre-drilled holes provided for them in commercially made nest boxes. With the lid closed tight, the sudden plunge into blackness can be a rather terrifying prospect. Opening the top alleviates this stress while also providing an alternative route into the box your birds may find they prefer.
7. Prevent illness with regular trips outside.Unfiltered UV light is essential to your birds’ health. Without it your bird cannot manufacture essential key nutrients she needs, especially as she ages. Cockatiels in particular are vulnerable to sight loss and blindness as they age, especially if they do not receive regular doses of unfiltered sunlight. While full spectrum light bulbs are available for lighting around your home and cages, nothing does a body good quite as well as fresh air and family time inside the protection of a quality travel cage. So, take a trip, a picnic, an afternoon of fun in the sun. Your bird will reward you not only with the happy chirps of the moment, but with a longer life too!
8. Offer play spaces in every room of your home.Your cockatiel is extremely social and needs constant interaction with you and other birds in your home (preferably other cockatiels). Make those interactions safer while controlling your bird’s mess and destructive habits by providing at least one play space such as a natural wood perch stand in every room and placed near where you and the family spend the most time.
Floor length java tree/play stand.
Java trees (aka Borneo or coffee wood) offer a natural climbing surface that is durable enough to naturally wear your birds’ nails while being smooth and comfortable enough to be easy on the feet. If you need something small and portable that sits on your desk, try the medium size perch stand by Penn Plax just like Arwen’s.
Arwen on the portable perch stand by Penn-Plax. Photo taken with my kindle fire. What’s great about this perch stand is the way it easily assembles and disassembles and fits into a carry-on suitcase for out of town trips. Very hotel friendly! I bought mine at https://www.amazon.com/Penn-Plax-Perch-Stainless-Feeding/dp/B00OE3C1K6.
9. Grapevine perches make healthy feet.In addition to java/coffee wood/Borneo perches and play spaces, grapevine exercises your birds’ feet while helping to wear down toenails safely and effectively. Choose twisted, gnarly perches over straighter options if you can. The less straight and smooth the better. I found my favourite grapevine perches at my local Petco (also available online) where I was able to choose the least straight and most twisted perches the store had in stock. If your local pet store doesn’t offer grapevine, ask if they can order some perches for you. It’s well worth the extra effort!
10. Sundecks and platform perches open up relaxing possibilities.Imagine always having to keep your hands curled around an object 24/7/365. After a while your hands would get really tired – which is exactly what your birds experience when their only perches are round. Platform perches made of wood and sun decks made of plastic-covered metal give your birds a flat surface to rest on that are also perfect for placing small treat bowls and fresh fruit/veggies upon. Another option for opening up those feet? Clam style mineral blocks positioned horizontally.
This popular clam style mineral block doubles as a flat perch.
Cockatiels enrich our lives. But by following these tips and tricks, you can make your life with your birds healthy and happy for many years to come!
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Want some more facts about Cockatiels? Then watch this informative video:
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Learn more about caring for your Cockatiel by purchasing a copy of Laurel's book "Preparing For My First Cockatiel" today!
The book is available in both English and Spanish.
Here are the purchase links:
English: Amazon.Com or Amazon UK.
Spanish: Amazon.Com or Amazon UK.
Zigler News
Author and book news for children's author and poet, Victoria Zigler, as well as general news from the life of the Zigler family; furry and otherwise!
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