Animal Intelligence

Over the years I have read many accounts of animal intelligence.
Working in a veterinary hospital, I do see my fill of people refusing treatment or care for their pets because: "It's just a farm dog" or "It's just a cat."
There are many days that statements like these really bug me.

Being a scientific minded person, I have sought to find a way that we can understand how animals think and communicate through books and shows, etc. What I have read and what I have experienced leads me to believe that animals are much more intelligent and capable of thought and feeling than many give them credit for.
Some may argue that the use of tools is what separates us from our animal ancestry - however I've seen the footage of chimpanzees useing sticks to get termites out of mounds for food.
Well, a few nights ago, Sean and I saw Macu our Bronze Wing Pionus playing with her toy bottle cap (I swear, I've bought her way more expensive toys, but she looooves plastic bottle caps from sodas). Then we noticed that she was using the toy as a tool to scratch the places on her head she can't normally reach with her foot.
Not only was it amazing, but adorable!
So take that all you people who think that animals can't think or don't have intelligence!
I caught a picture of her here doing it, but she hates the camera and dropped the bottle cap the minute the flash went off.

New material - yay!

So I have found this cool new material in the art store which is supposed to be a gel that you can use to make paint more flexible (ex. for fabric, glass etc use) but I've just figured out how to use it as a sealant for my art - making it possible to do thinkgs like put images on glass, plastic and yes, even leather.....I'm sooo excited!
I just need to find a way to get it more streak free...I will have to do some experimenting.

Scary Day for Zouma

So Zouma got rushed to the vet this morning.
Without any apparent sign, her legs stopped working and her vent skin was blue from lack of oxygen to the body.
Dr. Rupiper did some radiographs and it looks like she has pretty severe hypercalcemia to the point that her once hollow bones have filled up with calcium and are extremely fragile. Her hormones are all out of whack making her body strain to pull all the calcium from her body to her soon to be forming egg.
I'm devastated.
She's had access to a cuttle bone and grit and fresh veggies and fruits and seed. A great diet for her, but it looks like it's just her hormones causing this condition. Her legs are paralyzed and we're not sure if the kidneys are also an issue. I'm so worried for my little girl.
If she makes it through today, I'm putting her on depo shots every month (just like humans, it can help balance hormone levels) and who knows how much that will cost, but for gods sake, she's only 6, not a very good run for a lovebird.
Please keep her in your thoughts, I hope all will be ok...

A sad day coming

Last night on our nightly stroll together Sean and I happened to walk by one of our most favorite eating establishments, Aram's. Only to find the notice that due to the economy that they will actually be closing for good come the end of June.
I am shocked and hurt and feel betrayed.
Aram's is practically an establishment. It's been around since the 80's and was a fixture I grew up and around. To have it be gone has affected me more than any restaurant or shop or thing should. I guess these feelings are a testament to how much I love that place.
When I feel sick, I get Aram's rice pilaf and dolma and pita with hummus and it makes me feel better, now it is gone.
Please, if you're in the area take the time to eat here, even if for the first time - they have the best Mediterranean food!

Getting Knitty with it...

So I now realize that I have to succumb to a greater and more insidious power than I could have ever imagined.
That power has a name, and it's name is: knitting.
Ok laugh if you will, but I'm serious. I decided to take it up to try a few projects here and there - who doesn't want a pair of neat fingerless gloves or a nice head kerchief I asked myself. I can stop anytime I want. (sure)...

Well, it's gotten out of hand...or rather gotten into my hands. I just finished my last project of a nice kerchief knitted out of this silky bamboo yarn, and not two days go by where I'm looking at my empty needles and thinking to myself like a crack addict "What can I do next? I gotta do something...more, more more!" Ok maybe not that bad, but when Friday rolled around and Knitterly (Petaluma's local yarn store) had a sidewalk sale, I was down there touching merino, cashmere and silk with the rest of the junkies.

When I came home I could hardly contain my excitement, because I got such a great deal on some cashmere and wool. It did look kinda lame though when I got home with a bag bursting with yarn and me saying "I got the best deal evar! I only spent $70!!! Awesome!!!"
But hey, I didn't start knitting to save money - I started to have fun and well, I guess waste money whilst having said fun.
My next project will be a black wool,silk blend shrug. It has minimal instructions, doesn't say how many skeins of yarn I'll need, but hey, I'm game.
I'll post a pic when it's done.
Until next time.

Free Music!

Ok -
So this is incredible. I just got the news that 16 volt is releasing their entire back catalog of music to everyone for free. (Seriously).
I have to say that they are my favorite industrial band out there and in an atmosphere where many good industrial bands have gone by the wayside, they are still touring.
Sean pointed out yesterday that there's pretty much not a single day that goes by without some 16 Volt being played in the house, and well, it's true.
If you haven't heard of them, check it out - I mean come on, it's free!
Sean and I saw their gig in Sacramento last year and for me it was the best show of the year. These guys rock!
It also helps that Steve White (of KMFDM and Pig fame) was a total nice guy and talked to me a bit while getting set up on stage - talk about awesome!
So, in short, check it out - it's worth a listen.
(A few of my favorite albums: "Skin" or "Letdowncrush")

What would you do?

What would you do if you are faced with the horrible thought that you might soon be losing the two most important figures in your family, your mother and your sister?

I've been wrestling with this idea the last 3 days and have gone the gamut from crying, losing my shit and trying to take it all in and be hopeful and flexible to see how things turn out. Needless it say all that thinking and attempting to be cool with the cards that life has dealt us has put me in a rather dark mood. Macu bit me hard just 5 minutes ago, I'm thinking this is her way of telling me to snap out of it.

I'm not saying that I've lost faith, but just saying that things are a little surreal in my head right now.

How the hell do you cope with these questions, much less sleep well at night?