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
great pics…can’t beat so calif
i’m one of the lucky ones also…orange county
oh this is interesting that you said hi today (thanks!)
i was just on a couple blogs and commented RIGHT under you about 20 mins ago!
I am mildly agoraphobic. Meh.
The best thing I did this weekend was discover your blog! I posted my own just a few minutes ago about what is now my new favorite breakfast! Your microwave banana oat cakes. Delicious!
thanks for the kind words, amber :)
I am terrified on roaches and spiders. I don’t go near them. WIll not. Never.
i am with you on the phobias! mine are almost 100% animal related: all dogs; the look in cats’ eyes (evil and possessed, i am telling you! as evidenced in your photo, above, too!!); flocks of birds cawing; snakes and all reptile types, fish in the ocean when i am swimming…i just justify it by saying i am a PEOPLE person NOT an animal person!
so glad you’re having great weather – enjoy!
i hope you are having a blasty in aruba!!!!!!
Looks like someone kidnapped my cat and took her to Cali!! She’s a chunky panther kitty too! :)
Love all the animal pics! I’m afraid of cock roaches, scorpions, and spiders!!! They are just SO CREEPY!
And I agree w/ the bird thing, they are just annoying to me. I think they are pretty in the wild, but why someone would want to own one as a pet is beyond my understanding. I can’t stand the squawking!!!
chunky panther kitty…love it :)
i was going to say…that cat is definitely a little chunk ball :)!
big dogs freak me out, too! well, i should specify by saying big dogs that jump freak me out. i’m only 5′ 1″ so when big dogs jump up, they’re basically as tall as me. i’ve been scared of them since i was a kid but i’m sloooowly coming around to them. at least the ones that don’t jump ;) i also hate spiders. and looking at pictures of things underwater. the beginning of titanic? skip it, thanks! i’m weird :)
the best thing i did this weekend was rock climb! i hasn’t gone in just over a week and it was spectacular. lovelovelove climbing. oh, and all the yoga i did this weekend, of course!
big dogs..yes, it’s always the biggest dogs that are the jumpiest with owners who say, oh but my dog is ‘friendly’—sure. Then keep it off me!!
I can’t go surfing without thinking of sharks. I guess you could call that a phobia! And whenever I go hiking, I think about mountain lions and bears and wonder what the chances are of coming across one. That freaks me out….a little bit!
The best thing I ate this weekend was excessive amounts of chocolate. This tends to happen often!
I have a full blown irrational phobia of snakes. And worms.
It affects my life and I can’t swim in lakes or even do much gardening because I’m so afraid of worms and water snakes. The smaller snakes are, the worse I am afraid. It’s very difficult for me to do strawberry picking due to fear of snakes.
I really want to get over it.
thanks for the candor. I don’t garden b/c well, i live urban, but am not into worms either. Ick!
I love birds and would be stoked to see some hanging out with their owner at a restaurant, lol!! :) Their wings were definitely clipped to just be hanging out like that.
My major fear is spiders. It’s pretty crippling!
1/ Im terrified of birds. Had a bad experience with a peacock and a swan as a child.
My mother tried to cure me of this fear by buying me a pet budgie I named Quincy .I hated him .
2/ Its actually illegal to bring dogs etc in stores, restaurants here. I ve worked a lot of retail and I cant say how many times I ve had to ask someone to take their dog outside.
3/ Best thing I did this weekend was relax and super clean the kitchen lol its snowy and cold here.
Skylar’s hair is so pretty. Getting very long .
thanks for the compliments on skylar’s hair
#2…sometimes i WISH people would tell the pursedog ladies to maybe tone it down a bit, or just keep the dogs in their purse and not let them wander!
love that you take your camera with you on walks! Pictures are absolutely gorgeous though!
not always, but many times. Thanks for saying you enjoy them!
People here bring their dogs everywhere. EVERYWHERE. It’s a little annoying, actually.
I am sure those birds’ wings were clipped. That’s pretty common for parakeets and cockatoos like those. I’ve been shit on by birds more times than I can count. Occupational hazard. ;)
occupational hazard…LOL
I kinda hate flying birds b/c of my childhood memories. You are a brave woman with your job! Baby poop is fine, bird poop is not!
That is so cool. No one would keep exotic birds around these parts. The most exotic animal sightings we get is the occasional flock of turkeys, lol.
Ok turkeys, that’s pretty cool. I am down with that.
Every once in awhile, I’ll see someone with a pot-bellied pig walking around on a leash. But never a turkey.
Those birds are beautiful!!
No, here in central Illinois, people aren’t seen with their pets unless it’s on a trail or in the park :)
LOL, you mean you don’t walk into the spa with your dog and have it get a massage while you’re getting your nails done? :)
I have a BIG fear of spiders. I hate them so much.
The birds look so tropical where you are! We have nothing like that!
I hate millers (aka big moths). I have no idea why … I grew up in NE and they were really thick there. In the summer they would flutter outside of your door when it was dark outside bc they like light. Well, anytime you’d open the door about 5 of them would get in, and then they would be fluttering all over your house ramming into the nearest lights, and you. Yeah, I hated that!
Haha, I can’t imagine people bringing their purse dogs inside everywhere, I don’t think people around the midwest would like that too much.
Aaanyways, to end this long-winded comment … have a great Monday : )