moonshadowed

A link too funny NOT to share (Twilight Parody)

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:23:00 GMT

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Talk about a rogue's gallery

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:50:55 GMT

Taken today at my brother's house. Cousins Megan, Austin and Gregory, along with Thomas and Georgia. Yay for flickr's photo editing 'cause the original taken on my digital was overexposed or something..

Homemade Wall-E costume

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:01:04 GMT

Here it is:

He has his hands up near his ears because he is afraid Jewel is going to squawk. She squawks and growls when he comes into the room someitmes.

Side view.

Going to have to get Georgia to model her "prinsa" costume next. (tommorrow)

Unsure

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:57:02 GMT

Let me start off by saying, there has been nothing in particular that has happened to cause this... but there are times when I'm not sure I'm the best match for Jewel. I will do my best by her, but in all honesty, I know I"m not as confident with her as I could be. Of course as jeriendhal points out, Jewel and I have only known each other a few days.

I don't know. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't have doubts. of course, we've got two months to get to know each other.

More Progress with Jewel

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:30:27 GMT

I'm flabbergasted by this morning's events. Jewel came forward in the cage..and I don't know how to describe it.. she had a real interested look in her eyes. Not really expecting anything, I put my hand up and asked "Do you want to step up?"

And she did!

We walked around the house and I stood talkng to her. The kids made her startle a little.. just because they move so quickly and whatnot. Thomas asked again, "Can we pet him?" (He gets the him/her thing mixed up sometimes) and I told him, "I don't think she's ready for children to pet her yet." She did let me scritch her on the head briefly.

When it was time to go to the bus stop and daycare I had to put her in her cage, but I had a pistachio ready, so she will associate going into her cage with getting a treat. She went in willingly.

When I came home, I could tell she wanted out again..so after getting my coffee cup situated downstairs..and bringing her portable playstand also downstairs... I opened up the cage, presented my hand and said "Step up"

She did without any hesitation.

Right now she's stiting on her playstand eating some food and looking all around.

She's come to my hand willingly again, and I can tell there is something on the desk that intrests her, but I'm not sure what it is. (There is a lot of junk on our computer desk... this might be the incentive I need to clean it up! LOL) She went back to her playstand for some more food and is sitting there with one foot tucked up and she's puffed up with her head feathers kinda fluffed forward. If I'm reading her body language...that's happy and content?

I'm so thrilled! I was truly thinking it would take another week or so for her to come to me willingly...and I was totally okay with that. I want her to be happy and healthy..and to know she's loved.

update: Well, I tried something and it didn't work. I don't yet have a proper shower perch, but thought maybe a towel draped over it would provide secure enough footing. It didn't. :( She squawked and we were both a bit startled and scared, but eventually I got her calm and back in her cage. She accepted a nut before I left for work, so I think ultimately I was forgiven.

I guess I was too puffed up with the earlier success and pushed things a little too fast. We won't try a shower again until there's a proper perch.

Weekend distractions

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:27:10 GMT

Of a good sort!    I used to have parrots before Thomas was born. Specifically, two caiques. But when he was born I felt I couldn't give the birds what they needed and rehomed them with experienced bird mommies. (Ladies with previous parrot experience).   If I knew then some of the things I know now, perhaps I wouldn't have rehomed them... but at the time it seemed like the best decision for them and me.

Well, Thomas is 8 and Miss Georgia is 3 and a half. I thought with care and proper supervision, I could perhaps have a parrot in my life once more.

Enter Phoenix Landing.   I took two of their classes (and would be willing to take more if my schedule allows)... and I'm now a proud foster "parront".    Originally, I was supposed to get a senegal as my first foster bird, but as in human fostering, things didn't work out. (As in I'm really not sure, but from what I heard the first foster family did not return emails...)

Then last week I got an email from the Maryland Adoption coordinator. She just had the relinquish form for a bird, an african grey. Was I interested? (The reaction in my head was H*ll yes, but the polite emailed response I sent was "Certainly")   Actually, I would have said yes to any parrot really. (I knew I wanted something a bit larger than a cockatiel or budgie, but smaller than a cockatoo.)

So.. without further ado, meet Miss Jewel:

I took this picture on Saturday evening after I got home from work. My sweet hubby, jeriendhal was the one who went to pick her and her stuff up. (And she came with a lot of stuff from her first family: a large cage, a sleep cage, a travel crate, and a box full of her favorite foods and another box full of her favorite toys.) I know she was well-loved, because her first mom has already requested an update by email, which I sent to the MD adoption coordinator. (We aren't supposed to have direct contact, although Royce did talk to the woman because Jewel's stuff was in her husband's truck.)

I want to write down progress (and setbacks if any, altho I hope there won't be any/many) as they happen...

Saturday (day 1): She stepped up for jeriendhal to go from the travel crate to her big cage once he set it up. This makes perfect sense as there was something she wanted -- the security of her cage. He told me she was VERY quiet and only squawked once, briefly, when Salem (our cat) came up to the crate to sniff at her. Georgia was very interested and standing near the cage talking to her in whispers. (I had told her we need to be quiet and gentle to the bird and it seems she took my talks to heart)

When I got home she seemed interested as I talked to her, but didn't want me to touch her. The picture above is one I took when I opened the door to hand her a treat (as pistachio nut in the shell). I didn't press the issue since we had only just met.

In the evening, I thought to see if she'd be willing to step up to go to her sleep cage. She wanted nothing to do with my hands. In fact, she snaked her head forward and...not bit (at least she did not break the flesh), but it was definitely stronger than a nibble. I wisely backed off... just covered her big cage and told her calmly "Nite Nite Jewel." Other grey parronts at Avian Avenue told me that it was indeed a warning bite and had I pursued the matter I would have gotten bitten harder.

Sunday (day 2):   We had to get ready to go to my brother's house for nephew's bday party. Hubby had only put one toy in the cage yesterday so I got a few more to put in to hopefully occupy her while we were gone.

When I opened the door to the cage, she came forward, ignored my arm reaching into the cage and clambored to the top of the cage. (A dometop). I got things set up and we let her walk around up there for a bit as we got ready. When it was time to go she did not want to step up, not even for a bribe of her favorite pistachio nuts. So I got a stick figuring maybe that would be easier for her to step up on... or if she decided to nail something it would be that and not flesh. Oh my did she squawk and growl. I kinda got her cornered on the side of the cage in a little standoff.. she obviously did not want to step onto the dowel. I offered my hand saying calmly, "Jewel honey, step up" Hubby was behind and to the side ready to be the bad guy if need be and towel her.

Eventually she decided that between the dowel, my hand and the towel, my hand was the lesser of three evils. She stepped up. We praised her effusively and I gave her a pistachio as I put her back into the cage. After we came home from the party we have hung out near her cage talking to her, and praising her when she played with a toy. At one point I stood near the cage and she came forward and sorta grumbled squawked at me... like she was telling me off for this morning! (lol) She did, however, accept a pistachio from my fingers. She also took a red seedless grape from me, very gently.

Monday (day 3): I tried misting (spraying her with a mist of water) ....thru the bars of her cage since she won't let me hold her yet. She seemed to like it. I didn't *soak* her, but she did get wet and fluffed and stretched a bit during and afterwards. This is supposed to be good for all birds and especially feather pickers.

She has also been willing to come forward to the front of the cage and look at me as I talk to her. I tell her over and over how beautiful she is and how I only want to be her friend. (She did try and clamor out again earlier in the moring when I had the door open to check something, but I used one hand to 'block' her -- she squawked and I said calmly, "You're not coming out unless you want to step up. You want to step up?" and presented my other hand... she retreated back into the cage and I said calmly "I guess not. That's okay then."

Then I am near her cage and talking to her before I had to go to work and guess who let me stick my pointer finger in thru the bars and give her a very brief scritch on the head?

She was at the food bowl, but she saw what I was doing and clearly tilted her head toward me so I could. It was quick and very brief, but she let me do it! I praised her and said what a beautiful and good girl she was, and how I only wanted to be her friend and love her.

I know it was a priceless gift, that brief bit of contact.

Thomas' costume in progress

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:48:56 GMT

Georgia is going to be (big surprise) a "prin-sa" (how she says Princess).
Thomas was a bit trickier, since he doesn't always tell me what he wants to be..but his current interests include Toy Story, Toy Story2, Chicken Little, Wall-E (yeah, all Disney-Pixar films!) and outer space.

And the reviews I saw on the Wall-E costume to buy indicated it was kinda cheaply made for the price... so I'm making one on my own.

Here's the box part (there will be straps to go over his shoulders):

And here's the wheels which we'll attach to each side:

I know he likes it because he wants to wear it now. :D

Cute Thomas story

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:32:32 GMT

Georgia and I put Thomas on the bus, which picks him up at daycare...after which I walk her inside to her "classroom" then leave for work.
We're driving to daycare and Georgia and I are singing fragments of songs ...and our singing isn't that bad, honest! Thomas likes music, but for some reason he didn't want us to sing. "No, no, stop!" he said.

Well, we kept on.

So he starts hollering "Mutiny! Mutiny!" (which I'm sure he got from the Captain of the Axiom in Wall-E...a movie he has been enjoying a lot recently.)

It cracked me up.

Rather a nice way to start the day -- being silly and laughing with my kids.

Some brief thoughts on 9/11

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:20:00 GMT

Last night, I was playing the online game I like to play, World of Warcraft. (Did my first instance (Nexus)as main tank: lv80 warrior(me!) , 2 deathknights -in 71 and 72, I think.... one of whom is a VERY experienced tank), a lv 80 warlock, and a lv 80 pally.who acted as our healer. -- we only had one complete wipe, on the final boss.)

Anyway, after we were done the instance, it was close to midnight my time and someone on the world chat asked for a few min silence to commemorate 9/11. And a couple of people were VERY irreverant. But the comment that burned me up the most was "So, it was almost 10 years ago."

My thought was: SO? What the f*ck does that have to do with it?

It WAS a tragedy, it IS a tragedy. People lost their sons, their brothers, their husbands, their fathers... their daughters, their sisters, their wives, their mothers.. their friends. It was the first terrorist attack on American soil. it was a loss of innocence as a nation.

To be so cavalier about the loss of life, for whatever reason...is horrible.. and anyone who is so.. less than human, in my opinion.

Salem

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:20:50 GMT

For docnerd :

Salem is a bit of a doofus, but he's a sweet one. And he gets definite brownie points for helping me get my son Thomas to sleep some nights. (We've had instances when Thomas has been in meltdown mode and Salem will come onto the bed and curl up near him and purr...which helps soothe Thom to sleep.) So even tho sometimes he's waaaaay to finicky about the litterboxes, I cut him some slack for stuff like that. This pic also shows his little white spot on his chest.

This one is to show the white spot on his tummy! ;) He's got this .. "Aw come'on mom, I'm trying to get some sleep here.:" look , doesn't he. LOL

(sighs) I must be nuts

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 20:22:16 GMT

I miss having a pet bird in my life. And while I'm concerned that Georgia is still a bit too young for me to have one yet, that hasn't stopped me from wanting one, or starting my research.

So there you have it... I wants a bird.
Steps I've taken so far: joining some online forums and asking questions. I also went to a petstore to handle two birds (tho the one I visited only had two... but one of the two I felt rather drawn to... a white capped pionus.) But if/when I *do* get a bird, it will be from a breeder.

I'm also thinking of taking some classes on parrot behavior, etc from www.phoenixlanding.org/
and possibly fostering... I asked on a forum and they said that with precautions even a home with children could foster. (And, to be honest, I would only do that with a small to medium sized bird anyway.)

The thing is..when I was in the petstore, and holding that baby pionus...it snuggled up to me and chirped...and I just had this feeling of total contentment.

So crazy or not, I needs another bird in my life. Eventually.

Mommy gets pwned

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:59:28 GMT

PWNed : (definition from urban dictionary): A corruption of the word "Owned." This originated in an online game called Warcraft, where a map designer misspelled "owned." When the computer beat a player, it was supposed to say, so-and-so "has been owned."

Instead, it said, so-and-so "has been pwned."

I figured put that up there for my mom, who might wonder.

****

Earlier this summer, Thomas' daycare group (the schoolaged children, at least) went bowling. He is an ace at bowling on the wii, and we were told he had a great time and even got 2 strikes.... so we thought this might be something fun we could do as a family. So on Sunday we thought, why not?

Thomas bowling.

Daddy helping Georgia take her turn. (I actually helped her quite a bit too, but chose this picture because it turned out better.)

The final scores: R = Royce (101), 1st T = me = 99, 2nd T= Thomas (104), G=Georgia, (100)

So yeah.. I got pwned.... by everyone. Even the 3yr old!

One last shot: Georgia finally has enough hair for ponytails...and is thrilled.

Status of me

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:29:11 GMT

Still coughing up my lungs. Even on meds. :P Doctor said on Monday if I still have symptoms by Thursday to call in the morning and they'd get me in to see me. And in the meantime I'm thinking "yeah a$$hole, if I'm still alive by Thursday." I am soooo sick of coughing.
(yeah, yeah..anyone want some cheese to go with my whine?)

Some ladies in Legacyland (a sims2&sims3 group I belong to -- awesome group of ladies!) were talking about Dungeons and Dragons recently. It reminded me that I have D&D to thank for many things -- some of the best friends I've ever had in my life....including my dear husband, whom I met at our college's gaming group. I even met badasher thru D&D too.... he had started his Kyrie campaign back on Prodigy like...er... 12 or 13 years ago. He and I became friends...and then thru reading the campaign posts jeriendhal got sucked in too...and they became friends.

It just got me to thinking how much I miss D&D. With the kids being the ages and as active as they are, I doubt jeriendhal and I could do a "live" D&D campaign....but maybe I'll start looking into a play by email or something....

Wow... My storytime today

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:06:11 GMT

Well, I technically have two... the first for babies age: newborn - 12 months, the second ages 12-24 months. And prior to summertime, I wasn't getting many (or sometimes ANY) babies, and maybe 6-10 toddlers.

Today?

Twenty kids (some older siblings, but still children), and fourteen adults.

Can we say barely controlled chaos? (lol)

I wish I had a picture.. it was a blast. (and pretty noisy after the group let out... so anyone who expects the library to be quiet better not be around after toddler storytime)-- haha

For your general amusement

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:25:39 GMT

A picture of Thomas with a whole bunch of cornstarch in his hair. Deliberately applied by me in order to remove the vaseline his sister had liberally applied in his hair. (as told in jeriendhal 's entry.) Step #2 was to use dishwashing liquid to shampoo the cornstarch and any remaining oil out.

It worked. :)

I may have to try this recipe at home

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:53:14 GMT

It looks like it might work in terms of coming close to the way the our local chinese food place makes honey sesame chicken. (Or "Chinese Chicken" in Thomas-speak.)

One Year Ago, today....

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:38:34 GMT

...half a world away... I became a mom for the second time (and probably last..lol... jeriendhal and I always talked of having 2 or 3 kids, and with Miss G we're probably done, as she and Thomas can be quite a handful.)

Today was the day I met her in the civil affairs office in Nanjing -- the capital of Jiangsu province. I wasn't legally considered her mom at that point -- today was the start of the "24 hr harmonious period", we returned the next day to the civil affairs office to finalize the adoption. Click here for the entry from the travel blog I kept during the trip.

I can't believe its been a year. Time has flown in one sense...and yet, it seems like this fiesty, sassy, smart little girl has always been a part of our family.

Funny story: I was doing my exercises on the Wii fit a day or two ago..and doing squats, which of course you have to hunker down low. Georgia is watching..then swats my backside and says, "You got a big butt." Grandma (my mom's) curse has been fulfilled "May you have a daughter exactly like you." <- when I was younger I did something similar.. luckily my mom had a good sense of humor and laughed... as I admit that I did. LOL!

Cute Georgia story

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:16:47 GMT

jeriendhal and Thomas had gone to bed. Miss G was running around while I was on ICQ chatting with my best buddy Elena. At one point Georgia comes bouncing up to me...

G: "Mommy, guess what?"
me (a little distractedly): "What baby?"
G: "I need a hug and a kiss." (wraps her arms around me and plants one on me)
Me: (melts into a puddle of goo) "Aww, thank you baby." (and kisses and hugs her back)

Yesterday must have been G's day to be cute... (especially cute that is). I didn't see this one, but jeriendhal told me that at one point yesterday both kids had gone upstairs... and lay in Thomas bed. I believe Thomas had pulled the covers over his head and Georgia was beside him, with her arm around him. When daddy went upstairs to check on them she looked up and said, "We sleeping."

Proud of myself

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:47:55 GMT

I got "uncle" cards for Father's day out in the mail today. ;) For me, that's an accomplishment! (Oh, how I wish we had grandpas to give cards to...but I admit to being greedy and wishing for more time with those very special men.)

Haven't gotten/made a card for my husband yet..and not sure what to do for his gift -- he's not a tie-wearing kinda guy!

But I'll think of something... or blatently ask him for ideas. LOL

We're On Our Way

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:09:44 GMT

Was the title of Thomas' 1st grade celebration which took place at 7:30pm last night. We weren't too sure about going, or allowing Tom to participate, partially because he doesn't always do the whole "following directions' thing, and too, because of the lateness of the hour.... he is usually ready for bed around 8pm or so, although he has on occasion stayed up until 9:30 or later.

But he did VERY well. Of course we were lucky in one of his teachers specifically came to help prompt him and keep him on track during some of the songs.. and I also noticed some of the other kids helping Thomas out. It was really sweet to watch. There were no meltdowns..and it was a beautiful, moving program. These children have every right to feel so proud -- they did VERY well!

Some picturespam:

On stage, grinning -- he had spotted us in the audience and knew we were taking his picture.

With friends during another poem.

A rap number. We were surprised he kept the sunglasses on (like he was supposed to) the whole time!

At the end, there was another number where every child got the chance to be center stage and shine... and allow us parents to take their picture. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who had tears in my eyes.

Waiting in line after the last number to be ready for dismissal from the program. Beside him is the teacher who had come to help him stay on target. She was a bit embarrassed by the expression on her face in this one.. but hey, it had been a long program! We were glad she was there to help our boy.

More pictures from the end.

It was a great program! And Georgia did very well as an audience member! (Of course it didn't hurt that I bribed her with the promise of a lollypop when we got home if she was a good girl... hey, whatever works, I say!) :)

Poignant

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:07:05 GMT

A call I answered at my library not too long ago.

"Hey Tracy, this is.." and it sounded like he said "Dan". Now sometimes we get customers who will act like they're our best buddies and whatnot, so I'm trying to think "who is Dan and how do I know him"

"Dan?" I answered.

"DAD" came the carefully ennunciated reply. "Your Dad"

Cue my heart to contract in a bit of wistful longing... oh if only.

"Oh," I said, "You want Traci M** . let me get her." Then I think I made the poor man feel bad because I inadvertantly blurted out something along the lines of, "You can't be my dad, he passed away."

Okay, I might actually have to buy these....

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:21:14 GMT

Or put them on my list for birthday, Xmas, etc.

I listen to a wide variety of music... everything from John Denver to Nine Inch Nails...
and as now all who read this will know, one of my handles is the pirate-librarian....

Pirate hip-hop! LOL!! (Pirate Dan and his scurvy crew)

Found them here:
cdbaby.com/found

I also want to get my own copies of the Pyrates Royale CD's... www.pyrates.com/. My friend badasher had them.. not sure if hubby has any of them or not..but I wants me own. ;)

Mommy and daddy score a hit

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:32:13 GMT

In the birthday present department!

For Thomas birthday we've split the celebration up a bit.... we had cupcakes with Grandma Day this past Sunday... then mommy and daddy gave him his presents yesterday (his actual birthday)... and on Sat the 13th we'll have some cake, etc with my mom. I also went to Thomas' school yesterday and had lunch with him. He didn't know i was coming, so he was suprised and GRINNED.

Anyway, here's the best toy evah! (at least to Thomas, who has a fascination with all things mechanical -- like microwaves, dishwashers..and real washing machines)

This toy washing machine, by Mielle can really hold water, altho so far we haven't needed to put any in. So far Thomas is just enjoying pressing the buttons and watching it spin. He's also put his own socks in to "wash" as well as a bath washcloth. Too cute!

Funny Georgia story

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:23:47 GMT

The conversation went something like this:

Georgia had gotten yogurt on her shirt so she took it off. "I'm naked!" she exclaimed. (She was still wearing jeans)We chuckled at that and told her she was half naked... so she took off the jeans and said happily "I'm naked!"

Then she started shaking her pullup clad tush around and said "Shake your body! Shake your body!"

I laughed like a loon.. When I asked her what she was doing she told me, "I shake my hinney!"

I am a puddle of goo

Wed, 27 May 2009 13:02:53 GMT

Here is something my son wrote in a school assignment. Daddy had trouble deciphering it, but I didn't.
He had to make a storyboard with three pictures on his topic and write. Here is what he wrote:

Topic: When I got hurt

One day Thomas went to walk with mom. When I was walking I fell down on sidewalk. I made bleeding and I cried. My mom helped me. She put bandaid on my legs. Mom said I hope you feel beder*. Mom hugged me and I got happy.

*beder = better

His teacher wrote one word: WOW! on the bottom of his paper.

Not only did the topic itself make me gooey, (because as I wrote earlier in my journal, I felt responsible for that fall he had..) but it makes me so proud of how far he's come. There was a time when he was a toddler that I thought he might never talk well, much less read or write! And to see proof of what I had always hoped/known... that he's a bright boy... well, I am so proud.