October 4 in Scott

In my previous entry, I posted a video of the branch toy I have made for my birds. I reflect on the feeling of doing it and it makes me see that doing unconditionally. Something good for another gives me great joy. Such as putting out a handful of peanuts on my porch rail and watching a squirrel come and get them and sit there eating them. Today I saw a squirrel cross the road, and as it was crossing the road, I was cheering it not to get killed. It came up on my porch and stared at my front door. I got out the peanuts and slowly carefully to not startle it put the peanuts out for it. There was great joy in doing that. I found that my birds like to eat noodles. Uncooked. I have a bag of twisted whole wheat noodles. I give them as special treats. They will perch on one leg holding the noodle with the other and have what I consider to be a good time where it appears to be so. I find that if I can tell something humorous and people smile about it, I feel great joy in that. When I was in the grocery store on Monday, I saw a woman with her arms full of products. I offered her a shopping bag and she snarled at me that she did not want it. I did not feel bad because of her reaction, but I felt good because I did make an offer. A regret of mine is that when I was young, I did not see how something so simple as small acts of kindness give far more pleasure than any alcohol or drugs.

I find it interesting that on YouTube I see videos that are very positive about Kamala Harris saying she is ahead in the polls. That is what the algorithm of YouTube is showing me. A news sites it is much different about the polling often saying that Trump is ahead. I’ve noticed the same sort of thing regarding the Ukraine war in that on YouTube. There are very positive videos about how Ukraine is doing in the war. On conventional news sites the story is much different. If there are any stories about Ukraine war at all. It seems to have faded from the forefront of news. Ukraine war fatigue.

What seems like many years ago I got a Conure bird. He was never friendly to me, but did accept my presence in giving him food. He would still does see my hands is something separate from me. Routinely attacking them. It’s a little routine we seem to have. It used to enlarge me and now it just makes me laugh and cuss him out. I was adding Chia seed to oatmeal this morning and he attacked my hand and it spilled on the counter. Cusshim out and clean things up. Two years after I got him I got another Conure. It turned out she was a female or is a female. Very friendly at times even loving to me. The male bird was totally smitten by her. After two days in separate cages, I put them together and oh what a romance. I felt good that they were so happy together. Most of the time they have been since that time. When the male bird attacks my hands, the female bird tries to rescue them. She fears I will get angry and hurt the male bird. I get a little upset, but I laugh it off after I put a Band-Aid on a bite. For a long time, the female bird would climb around on me and take naps under my chin. A few weeks ago, I was startled when I felt something fall on me and noticed it was the male bird. He would jump on me to join his mate, but recently he has been landing on me and just sitting on my shoulder and staring at me. I find it hilarious that his behavior can change so. When I was on my treadmill tonight, he did that, but it got ugly when he decided to attack my neck. Later I found out why: the collar of my T-shirt had loose threads. He was playing with them. When he makes me yelp The female bird puts herself between the male bird and I. I thank her. But I am delighted the mail. Bird will now sit on my shoulder and just stare at me. I have a one-way conversation with him, making sure my voice is friendly and not loud.

As I have been dictating, this, I could smell a slight lemony scent that made me feel alarm. The scent got worse and I knew it was a skunk. Perhaps stupid me grabbed a flashlight went on my front porch, turning on the light first and shined the flashlight on my lawn. Sure enough there was a nice healthy looking skunk out there. Usually very shy creatures. It tried to go under my neighbor’s house then decided to just go around. My fault in part because I had water out for animals. I just wish the skunk would drink and not make a stink of things. Tomorrow I remove the water. Or only leave it out during the daytime. I need to make sure that there are no gaps in the skirting of my mobile home for such creatures to go under my house. That is a nightmare.