Wanted to Get There, Coulda, Shouldnta, Didnta

To My Traveling Friends on the Road.....what a nightmare today has been. Going through North Dakota was fine,...and then... dum da dum duuummmm... we arrive through Minnesota. I know, I know.. it's suppose to be spring time. You guys out there in California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, it is nice and beautiful, nature is popping out in extravagant colors and birds are in song. However, you guys in the Northern states need to WAKE UP!
I94 was going smooth (save for the 8,952 potholes, bumps, road injuries) and then I come across the ice storm. With the ice storm brings cars, trucks, minivans, and semi-trucks in the ditches, the medians, and the lakes.
In less than 20 minutes I counted 4 cars spun out in the center median, 5 cars, 1 pickup with trailer backwards on the side of the road, 2 semi-trucks jackknifed in the center median (you guys know better!), and one car who flipped himself into the canal 8 feet from the shoulder.
One, I hope everyone is okay. Two, I saw how you were driving and ditching your vehicles was inevitable. SO...let's establish some rules for the road to make it a safer, "funner" place to be!

1. When ice is present, DO NOT slam on the brake! Your vehicle will try to immediately stop but with no force of traction. You will feel a G force or two as the world whirls around in circles, and no, there is no contest with reward to see how many times your vehicle can spin 360 degrees on the freeway. Although a nice, uniformed man may give you a long yellow ticket chronicling your little escapade.
2. When ice is present, DO NOT stomp the accelerator! Physically the front of your vehicle will want to go straight. Murphy's Law says that the back of your vehicle (being incited by the roar of an engine), will want to race the front of your vehicle for the finish line! Most of the time...the back of the vehicle wins, sending the front, backwards.... science is weird huh? LOL Again, a weary and now somewhat irriated state worker wearing a now slightly soaked uniform, will whip out his growing ticket list and write you an official statement that you can show to your friends ....and a judge!
3. When ice is present, DO NOT make sudden lane changes! Why do people make more sudden lane changes when the conditions are worse? Alright everyone, although your job is frustrating, although your friends and family are getting on your last nerve, ... a snowstorm is NOT the place for vehicular suicide! Think of the people you are freaking out when you leave only an inch and a half between your bumper and the bumper in front of you. Stop it..you're freaking your car out! Two, your dog is waiting at home to be fed, he's counting on you to make it!
Be safe out there everyone!!! Be patient so you won't BE a patient!!
The Magicians Owl

Evil Parrots!!!

This is Mitie Mike. He's a military macaw and I was trying to draw his portrait. What a BRAT! Not only would he not hold still but then he bit me. He dipped his beak in my ink pot and stripped the plastic off my pen!! Some thanks I get for making him look good in ink! hee hee...
Most parrots talk somewhat well but the best "talker" is the African Grey parrot. A friend of mine has a beautiful specimen which says things like: "I can talk can you fly?", and mimics everything from children playing, phone rings, and even the microwave beep, with perfect accuracy. My friend says she doesn't answer the phone anymore because she's never sure if it's the bird or a caller. The parrot can even "throw" his voice which is a talent I haven't been able to learn yet.
Personally I have a Citron Crested Cockatoo which is extremely destructive. He has the most innocent look on his face when he's at his worst. A few years ago he learned how to escape his cage, (bugger) and while I slept, he proceeded to destroy the vacuum cleaner. In one night he managed to eat through the hose, bite through the electrical cord, ripped off the rubber stripping on the front, took apart all the peripherals, and basically shredded the rubber grip handle. In the morning I walked into my living room to see a cute, white bird immediately drop the rubber bit he was chewing on and exclaim "Good morning, I love you!"
LOL Of course I'd have vacuumed the mess up but for the fact that it was the vacuum that was in a thousand pieces all over the carpet. Sigh,.... anyone want a parrot? :)

Thanks to Oregon!

:) The Owl is back in flight once again!!! I know I know..I've been MIA recently. Whew..has it been a great couple of months! I somehow managed to catch a great respiratory flu in North Dakota, which I'm still fighting after 4 weeks. In Idaho I think I ended up with food poisoning which landed me in an Oregon hospital. Funny how these things work out however, because as some of you know, I believe that even bad days can be good days in disguise.
I never tire of learning about other peoples lives and jobs. What does everyone else go through on a daily basis? Gotta say..I'm impressed with those who give their lives to emergency room work. What a thankless job that can be, not to mention the pressure, the stress, even the mystery of trying to find something wrong with a complete stranger whose medical history is sketchy at best. :) In Oregon though, I found nurses and doctors who showed such wonderful kindess and patience for all they cared for. The sick can be extremely hostile. One older gentleman, who I felt bad for, was obviously feeling wretched and wasn't really cooperating...and yet all his care givers were still so understanding and did their best to satisfy his needs.
Thank you to all those receptionists, nurses, care givers, doctors, lab guys, and clean up crews that keep hospitals running!!! You are all AWESOME people. I know many times you are unappreciated and probably rarely thanked for all you put up with from us sickies :) but know that you do a wonderful service and the world is a better place because of all you do!

TY The Magicians Owl