Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The Bird Whisperer Cheats Death on the Interstate

Sorry for the recent silence on here. The last few days have been very busy. Not interesting enough to write about, but busy enough that I haven't had time to both sleep and write. And I enjoy my sleep.

I will not try to recap the last few days, there were a few interesting things that happened. For the last couple of weeks, I have had a shimmy (or shake, I don't know if 'shimmy' is really a word) in the front end of my van. I just made an appointment to have it looked at. In the meantime, I have had Red in this vehicle on a few different occasions.

The monkey from my
shoulder attacked
my tire.
After visiting with a friend, I went out to my van to discover that my tire was flat. Upon changing it, I discovered the problem that had been causing the shake. I had a busted belt under the treads. This caused the shaking and for the tire to be severely imbalanced. I had driven this time bomb on the interstate with my daughter and Red in the van. Luckily, it blew when it was parked. I'm also grateful that the cost to repair this is the price of a new tire and not something mechanically wrong with the vehicle which could cost a few thousand...I exaggerate, of course, but not really.

When I arrived home, I found a visitor in my yard. I have become accustomed to children playing in my yard, but the neighborhood has been much quieter since the neighbor's house was burned down by an unhinged sociopath. The peace has been nice, but the flames did not scare off this little guy.
He hopped up to me when I got out of my car.

I saw him approach right when I stepped into my yard and he let me walk right up to him. I reached out to pick him up and he just watched me do it. Very strange.

After talking with him for a few minutes, he felt better and flew away. The next day there was six worms gift wrapped on my front step. I suspect that means his week is going better than it was before.

TOTALLY UNRELATED OBSERVATION:

This conversation happened in my front yard a few days ago.


Sydney and Christopher
ME: Sydney, why is Christopher crying.

SYDNEY: I accidentally hit him in the head with a bat.

ME: Well, is he okay?

SYDNEY: Yeah, it happens all the time.

29 comments:

  1. Thank goodness the tyre blew when you weren't driving. Doesn't anyone listen to Car Talk? You're not supposed to keep driving when you're car is doing crazy things like this!

    As to the birdie thingy - what sort is it?

    The bat conversation was hilarious and the picture a perfect touch. It would have been funny anyway - but to see Sydney, in her read-headed glory and fun smile, just brings the whole thing together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I should have stopped driving sooner. I am happy to know what the issue was.

      I don't know what kind of bird he was. He left me after about 20 minutes. He just flew away.

      Delete
  2. How is your shoulder feeling? Any progress there or too soon to tell?

    Poor little birdy. I wonder if he was sick. Man what with the birdy leaving worms and the awards fairy breaking in your house and drinking all your beer, you have quite the neighborhood. Did they ever find out if it was arson for sure?

    Glad everyone is okay. That flat tire on the highway deal is scary.

    Hope you get some rest and peace this week! Got a summer reading list?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do have a summer reading list, it can be read here. I will start on the Hunger Games series as soon as I finish the one I am reading now.

      I still have a little limited mobility in my shoulder, but the therapy is helping.

      Delete
  3. I always think that if I could survive on 5 to 6 hours sleep, I would get so much more done.

    Great call and response from Sydney there. Just gold.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can do low sleep for a couple of days. Then it catches up and I am useless.

      Delete
  4. Well, I had a flat tire last week so I know how that feels.

    Oh, the conversation with the kids made me laugh so much! haha I don't think I can sleep now cause I'll keep thinking about it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i think I read that post.

      You never know what to expect when children are involved.

      Delete
  5. Yesterday, I was in the car with my boss and we pulled into a parking lot. Some idiot at left a box cutter tip in the middle of the road and it totally slashed up her tire. If she didn't have the air thingy to level it off (oh, I am so mechanical haha), we probably would have swerved and taken out part of CVS. Looks like we were both very lucky and unlucky with vehicles.

    Also, that is so freaking awesome with the bird. He must have just wanted to talk about his problems.

    And the kids are adorable and hilarious. (Kids usually are, but they were even more so.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I still can't figure out the deal with the bird. He had no fear of me and acted like we were old friends.

      Delete
  6. Great post, but then I got all distracted by the cute kids. If it makes you feel better, I am the queen of car disasters. Really shouldn't be allowed to drive. Hope things get better!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Things are looking up. Grateful for the low cost repair.

      Delete
  7. I am definitely glad the tire didn't blow whilst one of your most favoritest ladies were in the van. ;)

    What kind of bird is that? It looks like a baby . . . something. I don't know birds. But it's kinda freaky looking, right? Maybe it's just the picture, but the one of you holding him makes him look like a baby vulture or something equally as evil.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am very glad of that as well.

      I don't know what kind of bird it was. I don't think it was a baby, but I could be wrong.

      Delete
  8. Sydney sounds like one smart cookie - just act like it was an accident, an accident that happens ALL the time.

    Glad to hear your tire decided to die alone, and not while you were driving.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I think Sydney has it figured out.

      Delete
  9. I love when my tires defy me and cause me issues! Of course not that PTAL is driving that car too I have been much more diligent in taking care of all the little things.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am bad about getting those things taken care of.

      Delete
  10. That red hair is to dye for!!!
    Glad all are safe...including your wallet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't say that too loud. She might find out. Thank you.

      Delete
  11. Glad disaster was avoided with the tire. Recently, my truck made an odd clunk sound. I crawled underneath and can't find anything wrong. I've been driving around the last week with all my senses on high alert trying to feel something wrong in how the truck drives. It's rather stressful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That was my first thought as soon as I saw the tire. Very grateful it held on.

      Delete
  12. You do know that the 6 worms left on your doorstep, means that you and the bird are now officially dating?

    Sydney and Christopher are adorable, though because of her penchant for wielding bats, I kind of feel sorry for any future boyfriends she may have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did not know that. I will have to let the bird down gently.

      Delete
  13. It could be a baby crow. Or raven. It doesn't look like a mature anything.

    ...or if it is mature, it's stoned or something. Check out those eyes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At first I thought he might have been injured. I still don't know. Perhaps he had just flown into a window before I pulled up.

      Delete
  14. Be careful with birds. They like to make people sick. Bird droppings are deadly things, and so is a baseball bat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did wash my hands afterward. He might have been friendly, but I wasn't taking any chances.

      Delete

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