Over the weekend I was walking around my neighborhood and saw some animals…
A black cat just chilling.
And then I was walking past one of the dozens of restaurants within a block of my home, all which have outdoor patio areas, and noticed a man studying. With his two “un-leashed” birds just standing on the railing that bordered the outdoor eating/patio areas.
The white bird was more stand-offish and just stood on the railing.
But this smaller and more colorful bird was scampering up and down the railings.
Walking back and forth, shuffling it’s little feet
Moving side to side on the railing
I was pretty surprised the birds didn’t try to fly away and that the man was so chill about not having them somehow “leashed”. I am obviously not a bird person because I guess I assume that birds will always fly away, or try. Clearly these were his pets and they just stayed on the railings next to him. Maybe their wings were clipped? I have no idea.
As as aside, it would have freaked me out if I was trying to dine next to birds.
I have a semi-phobia of flying birds and their, ahem, waste. It stems from childhood memories and Florida family vacations and tourists feeding the seagulls massive amounts of human food. Do the math.
Ever since childhood, I really don’t like birds too much. I am not scared of them, but I just don’t really like them too close to me. I fear that they will, well, you know…all over me.
Not to mention, it seems like it would be a health code violation to have birds that close to food. Then again, people bring their dogs all the time into restaurants, grocery stores, and malls here so I guess it’s not much different.
After my walk was over, I followed up my animal sightings with some plant eating.
A crunchy, fresh salad + Vegan Slaw Dressing
And some Mango Ginger Maple Tofu
I just mentioned how much I love mango things and recipesFrom my last post about Granola and Granola Bars, many of you said you do make your own granola at home and told me your fave recipes. For anyone who is still buying granola, try making it at home. It’s so easy and you’ll save so much money!
I’m glad you enjoyed my granola and granola bar recipes as jumping off points. Thanks for all the great comments on that post!
Dessert: Peanut Butter Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies (Vegan, GF)
Questions:
1. Do you have any phobias or fears? Either of animals or otherwise?
I would not really call my dislike of flying birds a phobia. I just don’t really like birds. Just like I don’t like onions but I am not phobic or fearful of them.
I also hate ants! They skeeve me, make me shudder, and where there is one, there are 25 behind it. I would say they definitely creep me out.
And snakes, yes. Fear and phobia. As well as most other reptiles. Ick! Not for me!
Also, big dogs (un-leashed), yes, I tread lightly around them.
Gosh answering this question made me realize a few things.
However, I am not afraid of elevators, small spaces, I’m not claustrophobic, I am not afraid of clowns, or losing my teeth or some things I’ve read are “common” fears or phobias.
2. Is it common for people where you live to bring their pets out in public places like stores or restaurants?
When I first moved to California, I will never forget the day I was in Nordstrom trying on $200 jeans when a lady’s toy chihuahua walked into my dressing room.
Ever since then, when I go to the mall, I see dozens and dozens of tiny, purse-sized dogs along for some shopping in stores like Neiman Marcus to Victoria’s Secret to hanging out at their owner’s feet in open-air cafes.
Or just hanging out in their owner’s purses being pampered with doggie nail polish and hair barrettes on. And I’m not kidding.
In my neighborhood, there are lots of young, childless, fabulous people who treat their dogs (and apparently birds) as their children and bring them everywhere. Many times I wish I came back in my next lifetime as a toy poodle in this zip code because oh boy, it would be a very pampered existence!
3. Best thing you ate or did over the weekend?
I hung out with Skylar and enjoyed our 78F and sunny weather on Saturday. Sunday it was rainy, cold, and nasty.
P.S. If you’re just catching up on posts from the weekend, here are mine since Friday:
- Granola, Granola Bars, & Oats
- Blue Food & Fun Toppings
- Photography Homework & iPhone Apps Recap
- Got an iPhone
- Drinking Water
i’ve had so many birds poop all over me…my head…my leg, my clothing…ugh! i don’t fear animals…i love them…and that pic of the black kitty was so beautiful…thanks for taking it…
i do however feel the same way about ants, june bugs, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders…they all skeeve me…ALL. OF. THEM. i scream if any of those things happen to be crawling on me…SCREAM BLOODY MURDER…haha…and i have scared many people. many people.
i am afraid of flying. which i think comes from the fear of death. yep, i am so freaking afraid of dying…don’t ask!
best thing i ate over the weekend were my mamas homemade yummy cookies…and my homemade hummus…and the best thing i did was pick our wedding invitations…so excited about them…they are truly awesome!!!
i am so jealous that you are experiencing nice weather…i woke up to minus 20 (or at least what felt like -20) this morning…and froze my poor little (big) butt off waiting for the bus!!! ugh! i am so sick of this cold brutal winter…
as for pets…definitely not allowed to bring pets into grocery stores or any type of store, although some clothing stores are ok with pets…and definitely not allowed to bring pets into any restaurants…although we are allowed to tie them up outside the restaurant. the laws are pretty strict over here if you are a pet owner. which i am not happy about. thinking about moving out to your part of the world…haha!!!
have a beautiful day darling!
birds and ants, not for me either :)
have a great week hon!
Oh my God… I love birds. I don’t know why, I just think they;re so cute and smart! I totally want one. That mago tofu also looks amazing…
Sometimes i”m convinced you live in a jungle with all the trees and wildlife hah
And the funny thing is that I live in VERY URBAN San Diego. Like this is urban, you should see the non-urban!
I hate, hate, hate spiders and any flying, stinging insect; wasps, hornets, bees, etc. The arachnophobia is irrational, but the stinging insect thing is not; I’m very sensitive. Last time a wasp crawled into my sandal and stung me on my foot, it swelled up on the bottom like a baseball and I could barely walk for a week.
I also freak anytime something sharp comes near my eyes; I get a strong mental image of my eye getting stabbed.
see the stinging thing…yes that’s totally valid!
i am almost ‘phobic’ of garlic and shellfish…probably b/c i get a swelling reaction like that too. You are anaphalatic reactive to them, that’s how i am to shellfish and garlic, so yeah, not irrational :)
Oi, hate ants too! Totally irrational…I just hate it that there are so MANY. One ant? No probs. Seeing a live anthill or lifting a stone to discover a gazillion ants and little white ant eggs. Creeped OUT! Hahaha, and there’s no explanation…
I used to be scared of dogs as well due to a really unfortunate series of events with some stooopid dog owners when I was a kid, but I’d say that’s more of a rational fear, now. Bigs dogs CAN be dangerous so yeah, caution. I don’t really like dogs I don’t know, big or small.
I get it that people spend money at the vets when they have a pet, but purse dogs? “Nail” polish? I’m sorry (well, no I’m not) but I will never understand.
I am majorly afraid of snakes. Like, I’ve actually thrown up when I’ve seen them before. Gross.
i remember a few of your phoenix runs!
Roaches terrify me, particularly big, flying ones. Yes, I grew up in Texas, and yes, I have seen a roach fly towards me aggressively. Super frightening!
I rather like birds. Their feathers are so soft and baby birds in particular are just cutest! Maybe I’m envious that they can fly ;-)
Bringing dogs to restaurants (outdoors) is pretty common in NYC. As long as they’re well-behaved pooches, it doesn’t bother me. And yes, I def do see some lap dogs, or should I say, purse dogs, around town.
Best thing this weekend was freeing myself of an obligation it was time to let go of. Hooray for freedom! AND just chilling and enjoying some downtime was great.
BTW, been meaning to ask you, this comment system you’re under never shows my last blog post. Is it something I have to sign up for or something like that? (No need to answer immediately, just wondering).
for some ppl, i know if you go to the commentluv site, you can re-configure your settings w/ them and that should do the trick when commenting on other blogs.
Thanks, Averie. I’ll investigate :)
I am very afraid of rabbits. I would lie in a pit of snakes before I would share a patch of real estate of any size with a bunny. OK, maybe not lie with the snakes but definitely deal.
I am not afraid of anything else living that I can think of but prefer animals, critters and insects to keep out of my home. Live and let live.
Skylar is just getting more and more beautiful!!! I love your photos of her. What a lovely free spirit she seems with her happy face. She must come by it honestly. ;)
“critters and insects to keep out of my home. “—YES please! me too!
Ha– I just posted a bird-heavy post as well!! I like birds from a distance…but yeah, if they get too close, I freak out. I don’t mind them when they’re sitting, but when they’re flying overhead, I’m always worried that something is going to fall on me!
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I am deathly afraid of snakes! Major anxiety if I see one! We have leash laws here and I don’t see many animals out and about with people. Closer to the city, I think you can take your pets to restaurants near or at the parks.
I had the Conure as a child-the second, smaller parrot. My parents had the first bird. They are both mushes and very loving, but I am allergic to down-like seriously allergic so no birds for me. Your neighborhood is really pretty by the way. My boring suburban street could learn a thing or two from those photos.
I won’t go near a pit bull. I don’t want to hear how nice they are or were raised, you can keep your pit bull or rot weiler(sp) far away from me and my kids.
i know when 100 pound dogs are running freely and someone says “oh my dog is really friendly, he won’t hurt you/your child..” I am always thinking, sure. Maybe so, but we’ll stay…over here!
Not really any phobias here, but I guess I could count being in water—I really hate being in lakes and oceans, but I don’t know if I’m really scared of it—I just don’t like to get wet!
I have completely different animals in my neighborhood—and they are all hibernating right now :)
I think I’d have been a little worried dining next to those birds, too! I wouldn’t say I’m afraid of them, either – but…I don’t know. I guess it’s not something I’d encounter around here so I’d just find it odd? haha.
Thats crazy that you can bring animals into supermarkets and stores around there! Here we have signs saying no pets :P Which, I’m not complaining. I love animals but I don’t need them licking my produce because they want an apple or something :P
Fears? Well, I’m always afraid we’ll see a bear when my mom and I are trail riding (our horses) in the woods…I guess it’s irrationally rational. haha.
I am terrifed of birds, moths, grasshoppers and um…. butterflies… basically anything that flies :-o!
I have MAJOR arachnophobia – I’m getting chills just typing about this, haha.