Another personal update - no pictures

Today was one of the best days that I've had in a long time.

Yesterday, I had an interview at my dream job with two of the mid-level people.  As I arrived home after, I got a phone call asking me if I would come in tomorrow (i.e. today) for a third and final interview with three senior people.  Of course I said yes!

The interview went so well.  These are people who are extremely well-known and respected in their field.  The company is one that I've looked up to for a long time.  They are consistently ranked as one of the top employers in the country.  They support all of the arts groups in the community and are very supportive of their employees doing philanthropic work (which means I can leave work early to attend my monthly nonprofit board meetings.)  It's as though the job had been created with my personality, experience, and skills in mind.

I thought the interview went well, but you never know what is going to happen.  As I was driving home, I received a voicemail from the woman who will be my boss.  She said that I "hit the ball out of the park" and repeated some compliments that the head of the department said about me.  I saved that voicemail so I can listen to it again!  She wanted to let me know that they are working on a formal job offer but hope that I will join their team!

I cannot convey how excited I am about this!  This is the next step in my new beginning.  Now that I have secured permanent employment, I can start looking for an apartment and truly begin my new life.  I have not been so happy in years.

Later, I had a hair appointment scheduled.  Since we were scrimping to try to pay off Thomas's student loans (and look how that backfired on me!), I usually just went to a cheap place for haircuts.  I went to a fancy salon based on the recommendation of one of my (gorgeous, stylish) friends.  It was so amazing and not that much more expensive than the cheap place.  I don't know why I haven't gone here for years!

What a good day, you might say.  But there is more!

When I got home, I found my art supplies waiting for me!  I didn't have time tonight to start, but this weekend, I hope to produce a painting.

And still more!

Then, I was looking on craigslist for apartments.  I want something that will allow me to keep the three parrots, has in-building laundry, and has dedicated parking.  And I might have found where I'm going to live!  This luxury condo is well within my price range, the landlord loves parrots, has dedicated in-unit laundry, and heated, assigned parking.  Can things get any better than this?  I have an appointment Sunday afternoon to see the place.

ETA: this apartment also has a sunroom and a balcony which I imagine the parrots will love.  Plus bike storage, a HUGE walk-in closet, and so much more!  And it's only 1.5 miles from work, so I can walk most days.  Yay!

Wow.  Just last month I was in the depths of despair because of Thomas's revelation, but I now realize that this might be one of the best things to ever happen to me!  Amazing how things can turn so quickly!

All about Beeps

Beeps has been extremely hormonal lately.  I had moved Calypso back into the living room, and this seemed to set Beeps off.  Beeps started doing the caique freak-out, where he'd make this hard-to-describe screeching sound while attacking his leg.  This is something I'd seen from Calypso in the past.

After a few days where Beeps wasn't getting any better, I moved him into the kitchen today, so he could be separated from Calypso.  This is one of my main concerns about taking them both with me to my new apartment once I have to move out of the house due to my impending divorce (probably will happen next month.)  I will be in a smaller place, so it will be more difficult to keep the caiques separated.

Anyway, I am trying to take things one day at a time and not get too hung up on the future!  Beeps seems to love his new position in the kitchen.  Funny, he prefers to spend time on the stand next to his cage, rather than his cage.  There are tons of toys on/in his cage and not much to do on the stand, but who can get into the mind of a caique?

Then, he flew over to what was Stella's green stand, in the other corner of the kitchen, and hopped over to the counter.  He'd never done this before!

So I took a little (not that interesting) video:

I've always heard that caiques hop instead of walk.  I've seen videos, and occasionally I've seen it in my own caiques.  However, in a combined 13 years of caique ownership (I've had Calypso for 8 years and Beeps for 5) I have seen maybe 15 seconds total of hopping.  I keep talking to them about hopping and maybe they'll start doing it someday!

Personal update

On a personal note, I am doing really well.  I continue to connect more with friends and family.  Usually, I forget to take pictures!  Last week, I went to a coffee shop to see my friend play in a band:

The next night, we went to a painting evening.  We had a teacher who showed us how to reproduce a famous painting.  In this case, we did Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss."  It's not an exact reproduction, but more of an homage.  My friend's was the best of the bunch; mine was just in good fun, but now it's hanging on my wall:

This got me really interested in painting.  I always wished that I was an artist, like so many of my friends (Mary, Shannon, I'm looking at you!)  This got me very excited, so I have decided to take up a new hobby.  Today online, I purchased several canvases, brushes, paint, and a palate, and I look forward to painting.  Hopefully next week!

This ordeal has taught me that who knows what life is going to throw my way, but that I will be OK, no matter what happens.  The parrots and I had a fun dance party tonight and we are looking forward to tomorrow!  I have been terrible at catching up on blogs, but I hope to do so soon, and you are all in my thoughts!!!

More Max

This was taken several weeks ago.  Max was chipping up a wood slice on the counter.

Later, I couldn't find the spoon she usually uses.  As it turns out, she must have flown to Stella's old stand to eat and then dropped the spoon.  I found it the next day.  In the meantime, I offered her breakfast on my normal spoon.  I didn't think she was strong enough to hold it, but I underestimated her desire for peanut butter and autonomy (I was prepared to hold the spoon for her, but she insisted on taking care of it herself.)

I should weigh the spoon and compare it to her weight.  I think this would be an amazing feat of strength if I were lifting an equivalent percentage of my body weight.  She will be a star next Festivus!

Max stalks Calypso

I can't believe that I've not yet posted in February!  I guess I haven't been taking as many pictures as usual, but the parrots and I are doing really well.

Sometime earlier this month, I had made tortellini, which meant each of the parrots got a noodle.

Beeps had to eat his in his cage as he was extremely hormonal and trying to attack both of his flockmates:

Max finished her first, so then she started to stalk Calypso, who is more careful and doesn't waste his food by throwing it on the floor after one bite:

Finally, he threw his on the floor as well:

Max had been trying to knock him off of the stand with the toy, but she gave up after she realized that she couldn't get to him with the toy.  He's just too short!

As you can see, finally she gave up and came over to me for some attention instead.