Home
>
Writing
>
Mexican Living: Pasatiempo

Mexican Living: Pasatiempo

It occurred to me one day that I needed something to do with my time when I wasn't writing. You know--something to divert myself so more writing ideas could come to mind. One cannot sit in front of the computer screen all day waiting for an idea to come knocking at the door and say,

"Here I am."

For one thing, to do so will result in your eyes eventually turning to oatmeal and melting right out of your head. And, if that happens, you won't be able to write anything.

Second, you'll just whine and cry like a baby because you cannot think of anything to write. Your wife will yell at you.

I needed a hobby.

I have never been one to seek the traditional manly hobbies. You know what I am talking about: killing small animals during hunting seasons, making beer, watching one football game, then another football game, then another, and another, and so on! Worse yet, playing football or whatever other sports men play.

So, I took up an untraditional hobby here in Mexico. I breed parakeets.

Before you laugh let me say that I am serious about this hobby. It is something I did when we lived in a small college town in the States so I knew what I was getting into. At one time, we had a bird-breeding business going and sold them to pet shops.

Now I have a backyard (back patio) area where I had a local carpenter build an outdoor aviary. It is cool and I enjoy this to no end. The birds can stay outside in this moderate climate. All the mess associated with this hobby (bird poop and I am talking a lot of it too) can be contained easily.

I am glad I got back into this bird-breeding business because it is relaxing. It gives me something other than my wife to obsess about and dote on. It's like watching fish in an aquarium except these animals can fly and talk back to me when I coo to them. They tell me things like,

"Oh, ok, you've acted like a nutty-human long enough now get me some sunflower seeds."

This is a true story: Once, when we lived in Kansas, we had a Quaker Parakeet who talked-a lot! The Jewish lady from downstairs was talking to the bird when it said to her,

"Get me a beer!"

I am NOT making this up!

Some of you may be reluctant to get into breeding parakeets because you've heard that they can give you a lung disease. Let me assure you (cough, hack, choke) that this is absolutely (gag, can't breathe, bloody phlegm spewing) not so.

It is easy to breed parakeets. All you need is a good-size cage, a pair of birds, lots of seed, and a nest box or log. Make sure they have plenty of privacy to become acquainted but once they do, you don't have to worry at all about them needing privacy to "do the deed." In fact, they will not care who is watching or what is happening around them.

This could prove to be inconvenient when company comes over. If you plan to have the parish priest, the neighborhood watch group, or maybe a book-reading club meeting, you might want to cover them with a towel during this breeding period. However, be prepared to answer questions like,

"Why is that towel moving in such a rhythmic manner?"

"Funny, I don't feel a breeze, why is that towel flapping?"

"What's going on in that cage to make that towel move like that, Mommy?"

Of course, since we have the birds in an outside facility we don't have to worry about that one bit.

It really is fun and it gives me a chance to engage is something other than writing and bugging the life out of my wife.

Doug Bower is a freelance writer and book author. His most recent writing credits include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Transitions Abroad. He lives with his wife in Guanajuato, Mexico.

His new book, Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country, can be seen at http://www.lulu.com/content/126241

family-safe home cleaners Lincolnshire ..

In The News:

Texas family reunites with missing 11-year-old cat Grayson after 103 days using Petco Love Lost's AI photo matching technology and community help.

Tired of AI customer service loops? These insider tricks help you escape "frustration AI" and get real human help when you need it most for urgent issues.

Unlock richer audio from your streaming apps with simple tweaks to volume normalization, equalizer settings, and quality preferences for cleaner sound.

Scammers are sending fake Facebook settlement payout emails that mimic legitimate notices from the privacy settlement administrator to deceive users.

Holiday shopping scams surge as fake refund emails target distracted consumers during Black Friday and holiday seasons, costing Americans billions annually.

The AI-powered IRMO M1 exoskeleton features four modes, including turbo, eco, training and rest for hiking, running, cycling and sports with eight-hour battery life.

OpenAI announced upgrades for its ChatGPT Images platform on Tuesday, saying the program can now make more precise edits and produce images more quickly.

Chrome for Android now turns web articles into AI-powered podcast conversations. Get hands-free browsing with Google Gemini's natural audio summaries.

LastPass faces $1.6 million fine from U.K. regulators after 2022 data breach exposed 1.6 million users. Password manager failed proper security controls.

Petco disclosed a data breach exposing customer Social Security numbers, financial account details, and driver's license information due to a software error.

Baseball teams can now analyze complete swing mechanics in normal training environments using Theia's markerless AI system that processes standard high-speed footage.

Smart home hacking fears overblown? Expert reveals real cybersecurity risks and simple protection tips to keep your connected devices safe from hackers.

MIT develops needle-free glucose monitor using light technology. Revolutionary device could replace painful finger pricks for diabetes management.

The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.

Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.

Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.

Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.

Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.

Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.

Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.

Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.

Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.

Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.

Mexican Living: Pasatiempo

Writing