brandyII

This is your decision so make it wisely. Just don't be in the dark as I was and know that there are a lot of foods that will go down easily. They are called "slider" foods and those are foods that are usually high in fat and sugar. Ice cream is usually a no-brainer but chocolate bars, Cookies, cakes, chips things like that will still go down. So although you are told not to eat them or to avoid them if you're really tempted it's hard not too. I found it difficult in the beginning because the Protein had to be chewed really well and slowly and in small bites and sometimes it's easy to say forget that and eat the "slider foods". So basically it does work if you follow the plan but if you don't there's a possibility of not losing the weight you want to lose. I only tell you this as a warning if you do tend to crave and eat those foods a lot. Not everyone is a big sweet eater and eat basically all foods in bulk. I'm still struggling but not giving up yet. Good luck to you but the more you learn prior the better. I'm at the point now where I'm not filled to tightly and I try to follow a food plan as an example Weight Watchers and find it easier to follow with the band than without it. So good luck, brandyII.:wink2:

No I haven't read that but I find history interesting especially when it comes to theology. I guess after many years of being brainwashed by the Catholic Church and then finding out later what actually went on in history with the crusades etc...that I'm not surprised at anything anymore. History was a bit skewed when I was in school. Go figure! Okay I read it on line, now I have a headache! Now I know more about the Freemasons than I ever new before.

Wasa, just curious were any of our founding fathers atheists? Do you have any research on that? brandyII

We had a KMart first and it was always easy to get in and out of. Then came WalMart a few large blocks away and KMart became even more empty and easy to get in and out of. Then came Target across the street from KMart and they had to close the KMart. Now they put a Kohl's where KMart was. I love to go into a store and get in and out of it quickly. WalMart is always full of people mindlessly shopping but Target is prettier and it draws me in and I turn into a mindless shopper:tt1: I know too long of a ramble sorry, brandyII

Kat, I have a feeling my house will be much louder when we get our birdie home. Maybe I can teach it to yell at me when I eat Cookies or something, no then it may yell all day long! brandyII.

luluc, had to look up what a heeler was and found it was a cute herding dog, thought you had a cow chasing you all around, lol. Hey I'm learning! brandyII.

PaulD, That's a nice name for a bird, thanks brandyII.

Thanks for the info, I think I got his sister one a few years back that sounded like Gregorian chants!

People do like to think there's a reason they are here on this earth and religion is a big comfort to most people for a variety of reasons. I had twelve long years of Catholic schooling from 1st through 12. I had no problem with the schools but I feel like I did my duty. I don't place myself in any category now but I sort of intellectualize things more and naturally question everything I was taught during those 12 years of Catholic indoctrination. I believe in trying to be the best person I can and treat others well and don't believe any one religion is right or wrong everyone has to make this decision on their own and it's not something you can argue with someone about because it's basically just listening to yourself talk. Religion to me is history, it's mythology, it's short stories, it's many things but I know how difficult it is to rationalize it all after you've been taught so many years to follow this and do this and don't question that it's faith, blah blah blah. I still enjoy Christmas and Easter and Halloween, which were all pretty much pagan based holidays and from what I remember Jesus was not even born on 12/25 anyway. I forget why that date was chosen but it was picked and not his actual birth date. I know a lot of Christian based religions are told to proclatise so that's why they try to teach others of their faith and if you don't want to hear it just tell them so. When men come to your door in suits it's never a good idea to answer the door! brandyII

g2s, That's great I'm really excited, now that both girls are college age and + it's nice to have a new baby around too, especially one that will actually talk to you. I think the dining room is good because we took the table out and it fits all three cages and opens into the living room, don't really have a family room and into the kitchen so it's a pretty open area but still it's closed enough where it's not drafty. Thanks for all the info, I appreciate it brandyII. Plus it's on wheels so we can move it almost anywhere.

girlie2shooz, Wow, forgot about Reno, sorry. That was sweet that you slept with him after the quake, that must have really freaked him out! That is so cute about the grannie toast! My house is filled to the brim with music and singing already I can't imagine what life will be like with a bird like that but it will be interesting. I've also heard they imitate sounds really well too. Do you think my bird could train my dogs? Thanks brandyII.

From a completely non-scientific point of view or religious I've noticed in my life that a relative has a baby around the time one of my relatives die. Or a relative is pregnant around the time of a death. I've often told my daughter she has her great grandmother's spirit in her and I was pregnant with her when my grandmother passed. I think there maybe something to reincarnation but of course it's only my feeling. Something about one's energy still being around after they've died.

That's so frickn' cute!!!!! I'm assuming you live in CA. Has he been through many earthquakes? Poor guy. We've gotten them before here too in NY but they're nothing like what you all get out in CA! How old is Austonio. And everyone here wants to know what "granny toast" is. Who needs a husband if you have Austonio. Before we told my daughter she could get the bird I asked her which she'd prefer an African Grey or a hot new boyfriend and she picked the bird. I thought it was an important decision she should make. Thanks brandyII

Okay birdie friends, My daughter says she's familiar with the info on the viruses and says they shouldn't come in contact with each other for a month. I reminded her of the hand washing etc..., I'll remind you she's almost 20 but still. Anyway I think once I make initial contact with the avian vet I'll discuss those aspects with her and hopefully things will work out smoothly. I don't want the new bird getting sick, $$$$ but I also don't want our old friends getting sick from the new bird since we've had them for so long you know? thanks brandyII

kclang, Wow, between you and countingthedays I'm learning a lot about these birds. Now I'm thinking I should bring my other birds to the vet before I bring this one home and I've never taken birds to a avian vet before. I've had my cockatiels for 11 years. I knew I needed to take the African Grey but I've never brought my parakeets or cockatiels before. Do you think that's a good idea? Am I a bad mother? brandyII.

Countingthedays, Wow thanks for the info, I'll show this to my daughter. Thanks things I didn't think about. brandyII

Chill, agree to disagree, brandyII

Trell, you're right and I bet you always are! Peace be with you!

trell, I don't expect you to try to change my mind, in fact I'd like you to think about spanking and what it actually is and why you feel the need to use it as opposed other means of disciplining your child. Keep an open mind not an open hand! brandyII

Sorry, but it doesn't change my mind and I don't believe anyone should spank their children. I could have spanked my children, it's an easy way out. Who knows if they would have grown up differently if I had. Maybe for the worse. Maybe if I had sons and hit them they would hit their wives, is that right? Where do you draw the line and how many people step past that line? How do you know which children should be spanked? If you have five children do you spank them all or just certain ones? The whole thing baffles me and I still think it's barbaric, I don't hit my animals either. Sorry you can't change my mind and if I see someone hitting their child out in public or their animal I'm probably going to be one of those annoying people who will come up and say something or report them depending on the situation! Discipline can be used without physical force or emotional abuse, knowledge is a good thing:thumbup:

Now I only drink when I'm sociable so what does that mean? He is a loner and likes to drink his vodka but I think he drives to a different state to get it cheaper and by the case or should I say cases. I decided he can handle that part of his celebration and I'll handle the munchies, thanks for your input, brandyII.

luluc, tried to give you more rep but had given it to you already, sorry, wouldn't let me give you anymore but for that story let's just say you deserve lots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!brandyII

Countingthedays, that's a cute name. It reminds me that my rescue dog who is part rottie has a white spot on his chest that looks like a ghost. At first it looked like a cross and I wanted to call him Crusader but it turned into a ghost. So your bird learned "shut the hell up" from one time, I'm in trouble! That's what I'm afraid of saying the f word one time and it's stuck in his head for the rest of his life! I know what you mean about it being a one person bird and also heard one sex bird, like they pick out one sex over another. She is doing her next semester on line at home so she'll be home so that's good so I hope that will happen. I have enough animals that follow me everywhere and I really want this bird to bond with her. Thanks for all your help, if we do have a prob I probably will contact you. The people that we're getting the bird from are going to hand feed and wean it but their mother breeds them in Texas and ships them to NJ. We'll drive down to get it. We have two other birds so I hope that won't be an issue. They're in separate cages because the male liked picking the female's neck feathers. So we'll have one room that basically is all bird cages and they're not small. We may have to get a heat lamp, I think because we're in Upstate NY where we have cold winters. They will all be in our dining room which has one window and opens into the living area where we all tend to end up. No room for dining anymore! We've also found an avian vet and have to bring the bird to the vet within so many days of bringing it home. Anyway my daughter is going to be the main caretaker and is up for it so hopefully everything will work out. We don't get the bird until the middle of June. When we finally pick out our bird out I'll try to post a pic. Thanks for your input, brandyII.

favorite, that's a pretty funny story about your Amazon. I know my dogs are smart and know what a pizza box is but they don't verbalize like a bird will. It's amazing the sounds that I saw on some website that these birds will mimic better even than speech, I'm kind of looking forward to the experience. The only word that I can tell my male cockatiel says is Jessica!, like he's heard us yell it so many times that it's what he says when she comes home! I guess we're going to have to be careful of what we teach him/her when we get the baby.

Wow, if you think about it a rescue parrot is probably more difficult than a rescue dog. Plus they live so long. That's pretty admirable to take on a rescue parrot like that. It's hard to think of people mistreating birds or any animals, they're lucky now though. I don't know why your avatar reminded me of some type of sea creature, but it did. I'm probably just weird! brandyII.