Feb. 25th, 2006
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Animal Tales I: The Hummingbird
Feb. 25th, 2006 01:28 pmAs I sit here with Motley asleep across my legs and Foley draped over the back of the couch and licking my face, I thought I'd commit to memory some true animal stories in my life. I want to start with something that happened back in 1996.
In order to set this up, I have to talk about our Quality Assurance office in the building that hosted Readers Digest and Special Products. When Timothy came into our department, he decided that we needed better soundproofing for our office in that particular building. So he put up cork board all over the walls and covered that with a fuzzy cloth wallpaper. It did wonders blocking out the sound of the loading dock where the office was. During that time, I spent half my time in the Special Markets building and the other half in the Distribution building. Everyone in both buildings knew I had this thing about taking care of animals. I'd nursed a couple of birds back at work, I'd rescued a dog and a cat, and I captured a mouse and took it outside before anyone had a chance to kill it.
One week, when I was working in Special Markets, I got a call from the ladies on the Distribution dock. They said that a bird had been caught in the warehouse and that it looked a bit ill, they were sending via shuttle over to me in an audio cassette box. A few minutes later I got a delivery I never expected. It was a female ruby-throated hummingbird and she lay there like a sick bumblebee. I left her in the office and ran up to the break room to make up some sugar water and get some red swizzle sticks. During my constant research on wild birds, I'd read years before that hummingbirds have to feed at least every thirty minutes or they would become hypoglycemic and possibly die. I rushed back to the office and began feeding the wee bird the sugar water through the swizzle stick. Hummingbirds eat with their tongue, which looks like a tiny thread. This little lady drank enthusiastically and I gave her all she wanted. I did this every ten minutes or so and noticed that she was perking up a bit. Within 40 minutes, she was quite alert and perched on my index finger. Why I allowed her to perch still baffles me. I was an idiot! After perching there for just a few seconds, the hummingbird shot straight into the air and flew around the office faster than the speed of light. I panicked. What on Earth was I gonna do? It then occurred to me that I'd read somewhere that birds will go to sleep when it gets dark. I turned off the office lights and waited for a couple of minutes, then I turned on the flashlight that Tim kept in the office and began hunting for the hummingbird. I found her attached to the wall sound asleep. She was able to perch on the wall because it was so fuzzy. Climbing up on my desk and carefully peeling her off the wall, I gave the hummingbird one last swizzle of sugar water, then took her outside. She perched on my finger for a couple of seconds, then launched herself into the air and away from the warehouse.
So that was a pretty cool experience.
In order to set this up, I have to talk about our Quality Assurance office in the building that hosted Readers Digest and Special Products. When Timothy came into our department, he decided that we needed better soundproofing for our office in that particular building. So he put up cork board all over the walls and covered that with a fuzzy cloth wallpaper. It did wonders blocking out the sound of the loading dock where the office was. During that time, I spent half my time in the Special Markets building and the other half in the Distribution building. Everyone in both buildings knew I had this thing about taking care of animals. I'd nursed a couple of birds back at work, I'd rescued a dog and a cat, and I captured a mouse and took it outside before anyone had a chance to kill it.
One week, when I was working in Special Markets, I got a call from the ladies on the Distribution dock. They said that a bird had been caught in the warehouse and that it looked a bit ill, they were sending via shuttle over to me in an audio cassette box. A few minutes later I got a delivery I never expected. It was a female ruby-throated hummingbird and she lay there like a sick bumblebee. I left her in the office and ran up to the break room to make up some sugar water and get some red swizzle sticks. During my constant research on wild birds, I'd read years before that hummingbirds have to feed at least every thirty minutes or they would become hypoglycemic and possibly die. I rushed back to the office and began feeding the wee bird the sugar water through the swizzle stick. Hummingbirds eat with their tongue, which looks like a tiny thread. This little lady drank enthusiastically and I gave her all she wanted. I did this every ten minutes or so and noticed that she was perking up a bit. Within 40 minutes, she was quite alert and perched on my index finger. Why I allowed her to perch still baffles me. I was an idiot! After perching there for just a few seconds, the hummingbird shot straight into the air and flew around the office faster than the speed of light. I panicked. What on Earth was I gonna do? It then occurred to me that I'd read somewhere that birds will go to sleep when it gets dark. I turned off the office lights and waited for a couple of minutes, then I turned on the flashlight that Tim kept in the office and began hunting for the hummingbird. I found her attached to the wall sound asleep. She was able to perch on the wall because it was so fuzzy. Climbing up on my desk and carefully peeling her off the wall, I gave the hummingbird one last swizzle of sugar water, then took her outside. She perched on my finger for a couple of seconds, then launched herself into the air and away from the warehouse.
So that was a pretty cool experience.
A note before the photo cut. A couple of the pictures here may be offensive to some. It's of me playing at being Hitler. Now, before anyone bites their knuckles and begins complaining in hushed tones that I'm an anti-Semite, I am not. I'm actually semi-Semite as my Mother Unit is Jewish and introduced me to Judaism at a very early age. I'm very proud of my Jewish heritage and still observe many of the holidays (that's why I have a menorah in one of the pictures). The photos were taken after I noticed how my hair, which I was trying to grow out, was slicked over and looked very much like a Hitler-do. A little eye shadow on the lips and VOILA! Tinhuviel Hitler is born! I never claimed to be politically correct and I don't intend to start now. So, if the pictures offend, don't kick me around because of it. Just lighten up and laugh.
( enjoy or suffer the consequences )
( enjoy or suffer the consequences )
Animal Tales II: The Mourning Dove
Feb. 25th, 2006 07:35 pmOne day back in the early 90s I was driving down one of the many back roads that comprise Duncan when I spied a mourning dove in the middle of my lane. I ran over it, straddling it with my tires, so I could get to a spot where I could park and go rescue the bird. I was about two feet away from it when it looked at me and snickered evilly (well, that snicker was in my imagination, but the bird was fucking evil), then flew off. Right about that time a pick-up truck rounded the corner and almost turned me into road kill.
To this day, I carry a special resentment for mourning doves. That won't stop me from trying to save one if it's in trouble, but I'll think twice before playing in the road again.
To this day, I carry a special resentment for mourning doves. That won't stop me from trying to save one if it's in trouble, but I'll think twice before playing in the road again.
