Right now Salty is.....

[wrench13]

Only 1 more day left, visiting a spring manufacturer, a heat treating company and a plater. These are all in the parts of CHina that the government would rather no be seen by 'tourists'. Not a 'closed' city, but certainly not tour friendly, none of the street and raod signs are in English. Thats how you can tell - the foreigner areas have 2 language signs. This is where they make everything you can think of , from plastic piping to ball bearings to drinking cups to screws to even knock-off I-phones. I was going to buy some new sneakers here, but my guides oth siad, No, this store only sells copies of well known brands. And everywhere - Christmas decorations with snowmen and x-mas trees . This, in a country where < 1% is Christian and the government rather anti-religion. But not anti-money, and Chinese spend more at X-mas then normal, so the govt looks the other way. I've been here many times, and it is still a strange culture and country. And everyone wants to know if Trump is crazy or not.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Have a safe flight back buddy. Can't wait to hear all about the reaction of Salty when he gets to see his Daddy in person. I bet he'll sqwak up a storm





Jim

 

[wrench13]

Oh I cant wait for tomorrow to be over so Salty can give me a big kiss hello and climb all over me. I mean I miss my wife and boys, but there is nothing like a big HI DADDY when I walk in the door.

 

[LeaKP]

Reports ASAP!!!! #teamsalty


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[GaleriaGila]

Now THAT's a homecoming that tugs at parronts' hearts!

 

[Kentuckienne]

Any chance the “chopped liver” resident can record a video of the homecoming? I say that as the resident Chopped Liver of the house.

 

[Inger]

Any chance the “chopped liver” resident can record a video of the homecoming? I say that as the resident Chopped Liver of the house.

Ooooh yes please!!


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[wrench13]

Finally home. I walked in the door, said Hello to every one, kissed and hugged my lady, next got Salty out of his cage ( Geri was cooking), and put him on his boing. I got a Hi Daddy from him, ad gave him his 2 hello pine nuts, just live every night, He shook my hand, and gave me high 5, and THEN , I made a boo boo. I didnt realize how exited he was and leaned in for him to give me a kiss, and WHACK, an nice little bite on my lip. My fault entirely. I shunned him for 30 seconds or so, because he knows better. Let Salty clam down, and then he stepped up, we sat on the couch, him on my shoulder and he got the first good head and neck scratching in 2 weeks, complete with eyes closed and x-mas cookie smells wafting in the air. Perfect gentleman, even nuzzling my cheek for more. We rough housed/wrestled for awhile, even giving him rasberries on his belly, more scratchies, and settled down to watch some TV with Salty on my knee. Dinner he got a whole yam, and made a complete mess, with wads of yam stuck to his beak, funnier then 'chop mouth'. Hung for a while and he did his training session like a champ, with lots of excitement and hopping from trick to trick. He's been helping me clean up when we are done, putting the tricks back into the trick box, and he did that pretty well too ( its a new thing I just started before I left). We finish, just like every night, at 9:20 or so, and he hung out on his chain, roosting and at 10 he calmly let me pick him up, with several kisses to his head, and put him to sleep. While not the perfect reunion ( my fault as I said), it seems all is forgiven for going away. THe good thing is Geri has made good use of the alone time with Salty, and he is much friendlier with her, even letting her rub his chin a bit. Sorry no video, Geri is a ludite when it comes to electronics and cell phones.

The down side f this trip? I did too good a job, and they are talking about me going there for 2 months! Yikes! Not likely and I will work to have my staff there fill the boss's needs instead of me going there. But surely another trip in March ( ugh).

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Happy to see you back my friend! Sorry to hear about the Salty nip..over excited to see Dad fersure.





Jim

 

[psychocircus91]

Glad the homecoming went (mostly) well! He wanted to give you a little souvenir to make sure you don't forget him anytime soon.

I have seen a lot of amazons that are very adaptable! I'm sure things will fall right back into place, like you never left.

 

[wrench13]

Yeah they are pretty much. Just the one nip, and as I said, that was my fault ( always the fault of the human, never the parrot). He was too wound up from seeing me, that's all. Salty cooled down, and it was like I never left. He's in his cage now, after having breakfast, trashing his foot toys, just like normal. I am changing his boing out today, the old one has too many threads loose, and its , well, time.

 

[wrench13]

Last night, after work, I selfishly went to visit my daughter's family and then went to a jam session. No biggie, right? It meant that Geri was going to do Salty's training session, scheduled every night at 8:45 to about 9:15 or so. The session was really bad, with too many people, a lot of less then ready players, and I did not particularly feel inspired so I was off my mark too. I left early at 9. When I got home, I found Geri had fallen asleep and no training had taken place! This is a big deal, since for almost 2 years Salty and I train every single night. It was too late when I arrived to do a full session, so he and I did a 1/2 dozen or so tricks, and I let him roost in his pre-bedding routine - climbing up to the highest point on his ceiling chain, while I darkened the room. I let him stay up an extra 20 min or so. I'll have to see tonight if Salty cops an attitude, which he's done before when something upsets his training routine.

 

[GaleriaGila]

I hope everything works out... you and Salty are one of my favorite bromances.

 

[Inger]

Oh geez. We’re here for you. I hope he just gives you a good chewing out and then gets on with happy bird life.


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[psychocircus91]

Hey routine is good, but it's okay to slip out of it once in a while, right? I mean, it prepares them for times when you're away, or if an emergency comes up, ect.

 

[wrench13]

Salty boy was OK tonite, even though I had to take wifey to the Dr. We were gone 2 hours. He knows something is up, cuz I always show him one finger ( We'll be gone for 1 hour,Salty), as I tell him. The one finger is a visual clue to what will happen. He was cool, tho, when we got back, gave him his nightly chop w/apple chunks and some good ol' Avicake. Did his full training session like champ, and even serenaded us between tricks. Point about him not getting too used to routine is valid, i think upon reflection.

He's been doing something really funny lately. WHen he is done doing the chopstick trick ( He holds onto a chopstick, while I spin him around) I give him his reward treat, and tell him it's my FAVORITE trick, he breaks into that crazy Star Wars character;s laugh ( Jabba the Huts pet, Salacious Crumb*. And he does it extremely loud and well. That cracks everyone up, every time! Gotta video just that , it's a trip to hear and see him do it.

 

[LeaKP]

Saltys a smart boy, a break from the norms here and there is ok. Hope all is well with the patient!


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[wrench13]

I just noticed - 20,000+ views !!! I'm so proud of my Salty boy.

 

[Inger]

Point about him not getting too used to routine is valid, i think upon reflection.

Someone very wise once told me I should not sit next to Bumble’s cage every night and listen to her sweet beak grinding while she falls asleep, because what if I can’t do it for some reason, or she outlives me and her next home doesn’t know about our routine? [emoji1]




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[AmyMyBlueFront]

There are about a half dozen threads I religiously follow ,anticipating the next post,and of course Salty is one of them.
I'm not real good at "routine",but Amy will let me know when I'm off track..like breakfast time. I Still get a kick out of it when he'll yell in his nummy bowl FOOD FOOD! if I'm late.
I've learned over the years..like with Smokey..bedtime for her was 10pm,and at 9:55 she was letting me know with Good Night..Goood Night.. and if I dawdled,she got louder...to the point where she'd climb into her house and slam the front door shut by herself with more Good Night's!
I was amazed with the accuracy of time...even when we changed times from summer to winter or vice verse.
Whoever coined the phrase "bird brain" must not have been owned by a parrot!



Jim