hi birdy

It's been a couple years since I've featured our darling starling Arlo on the blog. Since then he survived another move across the country and, due to his tendency to compete with movies and dinnertime conversation, has been situated in our mud room.

I often miss him being right there in the thick of things... but it is awfully nice to actually be able to hear the movies. He still occasionally gets to run around and reek havoc when we play board games, try to steal sips of wine and search for bugs up our sleeves. However, with our full household we don't get quite as much bonding time with him and I'm glad the kids are finally getting big enough to hold him every  now and then.  I don't know what I would do without his cheerful greetings every time I walk through the mud room.

He hasn't picked up any new phrases in his old age but he tirelessly practices his favorites. He still breaks into random coughing and sneezing fits, whistles song remnants and  flatters himself incessantly. Some things have become more distorted over the years and he forgets a few phrases until I remind him again.

Yesterday morning he was feeling in a particularly flamboyant mood and decided to give a personal performance while perched on my finger. Usually I can't get him to serenade in front of the video camera. For all of his self-flattery and reassurances he is a shy and retiring sort. Here are two segments from his long concert, highlighting his current pet phrases:

*kissy noises* - good birdy - love you arlo - want some breakfast? - love you, good birdy - you're a good birdy - love you arlo - jump up birdy - hi birdy - come here, jump up - be nice - *distorted phone ringing* - it's okay - he's a good birdy, arlo - pretty birdy, pretty pretty - be right back, okay? - want some breakfast? - be nice - *distorted phone ringing again* - want some breakfast?

love you arlo - *lots of kissy noises* - jump up - hi birdy - how you doin? - it's okay birdy - he's a good birdy, arlo - pretty birdy, pretty pretty - be right back, okay? - want some breakfast? - how you doin? - be nice *distorted phone ringing* - want some breakfast? - love you, good birdy - it's okay - he's a good birdy, arlo - pretty birdy, pretty pretty - be right back, okay? - want some breakfast? - be nice *phone ringing* - want some breakfast?