I’ve discovered a way to drive poor Calliope the parakeet insane. There’s a wooden ladder in their cage, with colored wooden balls on the rungs of the ladder. Calliope absolutely *hates* the balls on the top two rungs and insists the remaining balls be on the left side of the rung. So, every morning, I reattach the top two balls (she’s chewed through the rungs to get them off) and move all the other balls to the right side.
She then spends an hour or so rearranging things to her satisfaction.
Ernies, meanwhile, does intricate ceremonial parakeet dances to cheer her on.
Ernie may be pleased that she has something productive to do. Do you think you are really driving her insane, or is this just environmental manipulation to provide Calliope with life experience?
Ernie seems like a cheerful fellow, dancing for Calliope. You should post a picture or two.
I’m going to need to buy new toys, in addition to a camera. I need a new camera desperately, but will hopefully have one next week.
And I agree with your assessment, although I really enjoy thinking I’m driving her bats. She’s *very* determined. I’d love to know why she has to have everything on the left side, though.
Yes… but it means I need to scramble a bit and make her a basket (which we do for the kids instead of stockings). I have a little gift (she likes teas, says my son) and a book (everybody loves puppies), so I don’t think I did too badly for a last-minute thing for someone I don’t know very well.
Yes, it is exciting! And scary… and sad to think of him maybe getting married and moving out… and happy because he is floating on Cloud Nine.
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I’ve discovered a way to drive poor Calliope the parakeet insane. There’s a wooden ladder in their cage, with colored wooden balls on the rungs of the ladder. Calliope absolutely *hates* the balls on the top two rungs and insists the remaining balls be on the left side of the rung. So, every morning, I reattach the top two balls (she’s chewed through the rungs to get them off) and move all the other balls to the right side.
She then spends an hour or so rearranging things to her satisfaction.
Ernies, meanwhile, does intricate ceremonial parakeet dances to cheer her on.
Ernie may be pleased that she has something productive to do. Do you think you are really driving her insane, or is this just environmental manipulation to provide Calliope with life experience?
Ernie seems like a cheerful fellow, dancing for Calliope. You should post a picture or two.
I’m going to need to buy new toys, in addition to a camera. I need a new camera desperately, but will hopefully have one next week.
And I agree with your assessment, although I really enjoy thinking I’m driving her bats.
She’s *very* determined. I’d love to know why she has to have everything on the left side, though.
She’s obviously a right-clawed parakeet and needs them out of her way as she steps up the ladder.
!. Really?
I made that up, but didn’t it sound authoritative?
I’m impressed – I thought perhaps, in one of your incarnations, you were a parakeet expert.
Oh!!!! and The Girl is coming for Christmas!!!!
WTG, Kate’s son!!!!
This is exciting!
Yes… but it means I need to scramble a bit and make her a basket (which we do for the kids instead of stockings). I have a little gift (she likes teas, says my son) and a book (everybody loves puppies), so I don’t think I did too badly for a last-minute thing for someone I don’t know very well.
Yes, it is exciting! And scary… and sad to think of him maybe getting married and moving out… and happy because he is floating on Cloud Nine.
Aaaaah – sounds like he found himself a keeper.
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