Soggy Sunday

[mitch5252]

...no you're not...you have to be from the real city part to be a real Chicagoan

But - oh thank goodness I'm not one of "those"...the REAL cities and their inherent traffic, costs, crowds, parking issues, noise, crime, etc., would have made me nuts. The 'burbs became bad enough, and that's why we moved to NW TN.

But, saying I'm "from Chicago" usually opens a nice discussion about "where exactly", as opposed to saying, "Hey, I'm from Winfield IL", which most people have never heard of! For me (and George), Winfield IL grew far too big for our taste!

I'm glad you like the city. Chicago is really pretty.

ON EDIT: Saying you're "from Chicago" is much more recognizable around the world than saying your from Illinois, much less Winfield IL!

[ialwaysneedaroadtrip]

Yeah..that's why they got the best public transportation in the country

Seriously, tho...the worst traffic is in the Bay Area...CA. I lived there, too. The crowding, too is nuts.

Nowadays I appreciate the quiet of say...my Dad's place. He's on 17 acres in the Ozarks....that's REALLY beautiful! But buggy!

[Bethers]

From the Chicago area myself also.

I use my fresh water tank for everything, including drinking and cooking water. I clean it and know it's safe. In fact, I am more confident about it than most bottled waters..

[Sandersmr]

I took Oscar to the vet yesterday. He's been doing some heavy-duty panting - just standing there and panting. They did x-rays and some testing and didn't really find anything other than old age. He does have a slightly enlarged heart but had heartworms when I first got him so the vet thought it might be due to that. And he has some calcification in his lungs that he thinks is due to old age. And Oscar has lost 6 pounds in the last 6 months. He really doesn't need to lose any more.

How old is Oscar? And what kind of dog is he?

Oscar is 11-12. He was a true rescue, found on the side of the road. And consequently, I don't really know his lineage - but yes, he's big! Now he's about 85 pounds and his ribcage shows through. We think he's got some possible mastiff, maybe some black mouth cur, some sharpei, probably some lab, maybe even some pit bull. He's a handsome lad, even if he is turning into an old man.

[ialwaysneedaroadtrip]

Awwww...Oscar sounds sweet. I'll bet he's a great companion on the road.

But even though the ribs show through, it's actually better for...especially larger dogs to be thinner (for their joints). But I realize of course he may be thin due to health issues.

Since our Scottie days...in the 80s...we've always had "true" rescues, too. In fact my oldest Shih-Tzu Lilly (the one in the pic) is from the street. The Chihuahua Charlotte is from a local rescue...ran by a colleague of mine...a fellow professional pet sitter.

The younger Shih-Tzu Binky I got out of an unattended, locked apartment last summer. She was in there for 27 hours. Her former mother had a psychotic episode and was taken away by EMTs 2 days before.

My latest rescue is an Orange-Wing Amazon parrot. His name is Fred. We just got him May 4th from a bird rescue in Tempe.

He is 50 years old. He is very sweet. He is in love with my other Amazon, but she thinks he is useless
So he just watches her all day.

[Nasoosie]

My latest rescue is an Orange-Wing Amazon parrot. His name is Fred. We just got him May 4th from a bird rescue in Tempe.

He is 50 years old. He is very sweet. He is in love with my other Amazon, but she thinks he is useless
So he just watches her all day.

Sounds like a very interesting and wonderful household with all those rescues and saves! What can I call you besides that huge long descriptive avatar name? I know I haven't properly welcomed you (along with many other lately) as I can never find the time to just sit and type----so welcome to you whoever you are! Would love to meet you somewhere with all your animal critters!

[Bethers]

What can I call you besides that huge long descriptive avatar name?

Soos, she did a lovely intro here:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10622
And her name is Cindy.

[ialwaysneedaroadtrip]

The famous Soos!
I've read so many posts referencing you, or otherwise making caring comments!
You have many friends on this forum, Soos!

And thank you, Beth!

I hope to meet each and every one of you during all our travels.

I plan on taking all 3 dogs next trip.....it will be Binky's first.

I've met RVers who bring their parrots along.....I would have to make sure the set up is perfect. ..especially with Fred being 50, and all!

[Bethers]

I've met RVers who bring their parrots along.....I would have to make sure the set up is perfect. ..especially with Fred being 50, and all!

I know someone who travels with her parrot(s). She had two and lost one to illness this past year. They travel like pros. And 50 to those guys is nothing.

[ialwaysneedaroadtrip]

Oh...bummer!

Do you know what the illness was?

Fred got a clean bill of health at his first Drs appt a week ago, but he does have arthritis in his feet...they are slightly deformed from that. Also, it makes him clumsy...he falls easily...so traveling might be an issue...BUT while we were in the car together for his Drs appt. he seemed to know "how" to travel. Whenever I went to grab the handle at the top of his cage he would "grab on" tighter and lean over a little as tho to brace himself.

So since we were so happy that his Drs appt went so well I decided to stop at Starbucks on the way back home. Well this particular SBs had no drive-through...and it's already over 100 here in AZ...so...me and Fred just went into the SBs together. The travel cage is really small...I doubt very many people even noticed me carrying him inside. The lady sitting outside with her Shih-Tzu didn't even look up when I walked by, but boy her dog sure noticed
So I just set him on the floor in front of the counter while I made my order, and off we went.

He was chattering at me in the car, and we had a good time! He's actually calmer while in the car than my other Amazon is. Phoebe...the White Wing, just sort of freezes up when she's in the car...that's equivalent to petrified, but she's trying not to show it...which means she's even more scared than that!

I would have to make sure the cage I use for a long trip doesn't have too much height in it for Fred, so if he falls it's not a big deal. I've been looking for a little larger travel cage for him on Craigslist. The ideal size would probably be equivalent to a small folding wire dog crate. As long as the bar spacing isn't too wide...I could actually use one of those.

[OregonLuvr]

The gal Beth is referring to rescued this bird (she had 2 until he died). He had Congestive heart failure and kept getting pulmonary infections. He spent the last few years on heart meds and antibiotics.

She installed a large cage behind the passenger seat. Both her birds traveled very well. She had an outside perch for them and they would sit out there and squawk and sun themselves. Never tried to fly away either. We had many visitors when we camped together, the birds called them over LOL They were Green winged Macaws I believe.

karen

[ialwaysneedaroadtrip]

That's funny! But what a lousy way to die...that likely was very painful for him.

Yeah...Fred can't fly at all. Of course the Rescue trimmed his primaries WAY too far back...I would not have trimmed them that far. When he "gets off" his perch...he just falls to the floor...not good planning there. A bird can split their chest open that way.

Phoebe can maintain an eye level height at the point I trim hers...but if she can sustain an around the entire room flight...it's time for another trim.

Since Phoebe hates Fred right now...the "closest" they can be together is if he is on the stand next to her cage. If he so much as touches her cage...she's there squawking and biting at him. But he loves her, and is very persistent...he might win her over with time

[Nasoosie]

Thank you, Beth, and Welcome Cindy, and I will track down and find your intro words some day when I have the time, like when I am trapped inside this trailer during story weather, or something. I love reading about your critters!

Right now it is sunny, cooler, and a perfect day to enjoy being outside.

I don't know about this "famous" bit, but "infamous" I will go along with!

Gotta get out there while the sun is out----later.

[ialwaysneedaroadtrip]

Soos; are you a Full-Timer?

[Nasoosie]

Not really, Cindy, although I live in my trailer nearly all the time, even when parked at my house in the Adirondacks. I have a campsite at my son's, replete with 30 amp power, water, and sewer, on their property with a pond view, so I stay there as often as possible. However, I also have a real house in the outskirts of Orlando which I use now and then also. Its homeowners' association won't allow RVs, so I can't park there! I also camp at various Campgrounds in FL and along the way on my trip down and back each year.

I am headed back to my Adirondack house now, where my daughter, her guy and their son are living for the summer, so I will be out in my trailer where I love to be anyway. I also have a leanto (with screened-in overhang) on our pond I built by myself, in which I hope to camp when it is nice, also. I am really looking forward to getting back there for many reasons!