Birdman.

[JSimko]

I found out about 2.5 years ago that I have a reputation of having birds in three towns. I used to bring my birds to the local donut shop and met lots of cops that way. I got pulled over for a light being out and did not have any of my birds with me. I did not recognize the cop who stopped me. After looking at my insurance card and registration he said I could go and as he turned to walk away, he turned back to me and asked "Hey aren't you the birdman?" When I replied yes, he asked where are the birds. I had to tell him that it was to cold outside at that time and they would not be out till the next day.

[Love Bird B]

LOL! That says a lot. I love it.

[Redstorm1721]

How funny. That was cute!

[Jenny]

So funny!! Even better if you can get out of tickets that way! :)

[JSimko]

That would be great. I have finally gotten so tired of everyone breaking the rules but me that I have started doing whatever speed everyone else is doing even if it is way over the speed limit. As long as I am in the middle of a large group I can use the excuse that I was going with the flow of traffic and that will get you out of trouble every time.

[claudio25]

thats GREAT birdman. people in my small town refer to me as the 'bird lady.' that horrified me when i found out! i only have one bird (granted, like you though, i take her to the stores)! i'm the bird version of the crazy cat-lady :)

[crazeemama]

Well - i am referred to as 'that crazy lady with the birds' -

[Mrs.Birdy]

Hey, has anyone ever seen that old movie..."The Birdman of Alcatraz". It is a true story of a prisoner who was allowed to keep wild birds and made a lifelong study of them. Excellent movie.

[Love Bird B]

Hi Mrs. Birdy,

Yes, I've seen "The Birdman of Alcatraz" too. I recently found out that Hollywood really took poetic license with that story. The real story isn't half as well... Hollywood, lol, or sniff :(

Crazeemama, that's a pretty good title to have. I'm now known as 'that person who now has Perky' It would be more accurate to say that I'm the person Perky now has.

[Shockadine]

That's funny that know you now. Well you guys are lucky. They call me 'that girl that's obssesed with her bird' and then they avoid me. No one seems to like birds around here. I can't remember how many times I ended a conversation with a new person when I bring up the fact that my bird has a diaper and I bring it to stores with me. After that they think I'm a freak and don't talk to me, or make cracks about my birds. Everyone knows it's me because I have a keychain on my backpack of Hayley, and there's pics of all the birds in my wallet. I brought Hayley to petsmart the other day and I heard someone say, "There's that again." Now the store workers are starting to know her.

[crazeemama]

You are probably much better off without those people. They sound pretty shallow.

I got Ty from a young lady in Denver and several months later i went to a petsmart near the VA and she was a checker there! So now when i go in there all the people mention that they have a severe macaw in the store (and only1199.00 - at that price i would have to have 2!)

[crazeemama]

As i understand, he was not exactly a successful DALE CARNEGIE GRADUATE! What i find is he wrote a book about bird husbandry etc. and it stood as THE resource for birds for quite awhile.
WHODDA THUNK IT!

[Squawksx3]

The Birdman of Alcatraz was a great movie. I call my hubby "the birdman of Modesto" because of that movie LOL. People here LOVE the birds. We would take them for walks around the neighborhoods and people would go out of their way to come and see them. Its amazing how many people have never seen a parrot in real life. They are in awe, and they're such a big hit with the kids. When we take them bye-bye in the car, people point and stare. Theres a few times it almost caused accidents from people looking and not paying attention to the road. I work at a police dept, and sometimes take the birds in.... they're a big hit there too... which goes to show you, not all us cops are bad LOLOL. I cant imagine living in a place where people dont like birds.

[crazeemama]

Not too many people here have birds. iF YA Gotta feed it and you can't eat it then it better be a cow dog or else its days are numbered! That is why i was so surprised to find someone around here breeding greys (well 60 miles away around here!)

I know one person in this town has a blue and gold but outside of a few canaries,'keets.cockatiels that's about it. Even peach faced loves are pretty exotic here.

Shockadine - Don't worry about those guys - they don't know what they are missing and too juvenile to realize there is more to life than a popularity contest.

[JSimko]

I thought that was all life was, just a popularity contest. You can lie, cheat, even murder and if you are famous and popular you get away with it and possibly become wealthier from it.

[crazeemama]

It can certainly appear that way in the short term. But i believe that there is a higher court that will prevail.

[JSimko]

I used to believe that. Now I just face reality. Those who are lucky are handed life on a silver platter and it has never been about what anyone deserves.

[kittycatgirl]

hi you all!
how do you add a picture like JSimko? thanks.

[schavon2]

once again jason, i think you have a really skewed sense of reality. saying those who are fortunate or successful are that way only because it was handed to them sounds to me the easy excuse of an unsuccessful person.

i know alot of successful people, and every one of them, without fail, worked hard for what they have. i'm sure there are those in the world who are handed wealth and opportunity, but they are far outnumbered by those who earned it.

[JSimko]

Not where I live.

[schavon2]

not from your outlook i'd say is more like it. if you look for bad in EVERYTHING you will certainly find it.
i feel sorry for you jason. you are the most negative young person i have ever come across. that chip on your shoulder is gonna weigh you down more and more the older you get

[dlaura]

Amen, Schavon2! This is what J's dad & I keep telling him - but we aren't getting thru either.

[dlaura]

Jason is upset that (since he feels we are in a position to) we do not buy/start a business and let him manage it. Due to the negative attitude - we do not plan to do this.

[schavon2]

my heart goes out to you d.

i wish your son would get some help. is he a minor? couldn't you force him to?

funny that he wants you to hand him an opportunity, while at the same time putting down those who, in his estimation, were handed their opportunities. and notice what he says about people not getting what they deserve. does he think he deserves to be handed a management opportunity in a family owned business? on what grounds, what merits?

doesn't he see that what you put out there comes back to you? if he is this negative in all his dealings, it's no wonder he has such a poor view of humanity, and sees the dark side of everything. bad karma.

again, my heart goes out to you d.

[Love Bird B]

Auntie B says that Jason needs to fall in love!! Hopefully, with someone he can have a loving relationship with. There's nothing like being in love that can transform a person, except that it can also drive you crazy, but that's another thread.

[schavon2]

i don't think falling in love is the answer to anything.

you have to love yourself before you can love another.

and looking to change someone, or to be changed yourself, is a pretty poor reason for faliing in love i'd say.

no auntie b...i think this is a very troubled young man in need of some serious therapy. my heart goes out to his parents.

[Love Bird B]

Good points Schavon. I was thinking that change would come naturally as a result of being in love but I admit, I'm a mushy person.

[JSimko]

You do not know what I went through, and it is not your place to say that I am seriously troubled. Let's end this discussion before you chase me away from this board.

[schavon2]

i dont know jason...your mother seems to agree. and as long as your posts continue with in your usual negative vein, i'm gonna call you on it every time i see it.

you ARE seriously troubled. we'd already established that. maybe if everyone keeps at you you'll get the help you need.

no i don't know what you went through, but you obviously need to talk it through with someone.

but jason, everyone has baggage. everyone has a burden to bear. you're not the only one who has had bad things happen to you. it's just that not everyone lets it direct the rest of their lives and you seem to have.

i'm not chasing anyone away from the board. just calling it as i see it. when you post a ridiculous statement like that above in a public forum like this, you're gonna have to answer for it. if you can't take the heat, then don't post the inane comments.

[JSimko]

Having a love for animals only wins the respect of the animals. I wish it could get me a job that would earn me a livable wage, but the few jobs that pay well and deal with animals are taken and have huge waiting lists and most of those people that hold those positions will not give them up because they pay well. I have met quite a few that don't care at all about the animals, they are just in it for the money. Then again that is a fact of life in Sparta New Jersey. I want out of this state now more than ever before. I have been checking on prices in New Jersey and North Carolina and N.C. living costs are half of what they are in N.J.. For the filthiest little rat hole apartments in N.J. it would cost $800 per month and it is half that for a large apartment in N.C. that is not even attached to the neighbors. And the place that I want to go allow pets and include a pool. Two years from now I will have the money saved to get out and I am never looking back. Also I applied online to a few places in that area and they pay more than I have ever gotten in N.J..

[Love Bird B]

Jason, you're wrong about only animals winning respect for you. I love what Casegura said -

"Jason, did it occur to you that those hateful people put you on the road to becoming the wonderful animal person that you are? The one thing that I can tell from your postings is how much you love your pets and how much talent you have with them."

Please keep us posted on what you're planning next. Jobs working with animals have always been tough to get, at least the ones I had wanted.

[Mrs.Birdy]

I respect you Jason. I have learned so much from you on this board. Through reading what you have done with your own flock, I have a better understanding of my own birds. Thank you.

P.S. Hope you stay with us here on the board...there is so much more to learn.

Thanks....you'll always be my "Birdman".

:)

[JSimko]

Thanks very much. I have decided to try to volunteer some time to a bird rescue right here in Sparta. I will keep everyone posted.

[Love Bird B]

Way to go, Birdman! There's the Jason I know and admire!
One would think I really am your aunt, LOL!
I know that Sparta will be a better place for birds and who knows where else?

I look forward to hearing about your updates.

Hugs from your "Auntie B" :)

[Mrs.Birdy]

Good luck Jason!!!

Please keep us posted on what goes on with the rescue......sounds very interesting.

I wish I could volunteer at a rescue, but the closest one to my town is approx. 1 hr. away:(

Roseanne