Thursday, October 26, 2006

Ok guys!

Three days left until the show! I can't wait!
Neal has taken Friday and Monday off so we can get ready before and clean up afterwards. This is going to be a great show.... probably just because we are doing the presentation, but that's ok. Education is such a good thing and I hope this all goes well and we get a lot of good feedback. I am hoping people will let Mr. Tillman know they liked the presentation. That would be "one up" in our favor to do this again! Yahooooo!

We are thinking about offering a new service to our business. Neal and I were thinking of adding a mobile cage cleaning service for those who may need it. The price we have come up with is very reasonable. We are thinking of charging $25 per hour (one hour minimum) and $.25 per mile. Of course, for those of you who only have a couple of cages, I would not charge the $25 per hour. But, I have looked up other services like this and we are well within a good price range. Would any of you be interested in this? Let me know and also let me know your suggestions, if you have any.

We are also going to be adding some things to our business cards... mainly the services we offer such as; mobile cage cleaning and grooming, avian education, DNA sexing, disease testing, avian rescue and placement, avian nutrition and home habitat counseling. What do you think?

We just adopted a new bird. His name is Pickle and he is a Senegal parrot. What a cutie he is! He is a hoot and is always making me laugh. He lays upside down on his cage with his ball in his mouth and shoots it out of his feet. Then he chases the ball as it is rolling away. What a character!

Yesterday was my last day on the job. I cried when I left. I really do (did) love my job. But, it is time to find something new. Hopefully, working with birds! I talked to Don (the owner) and told him I was disappointed we were no longer working with birds and that was part of the reason. His words were, "there is no money in birds". I guess I can understand that as it is a business and one has to make money. But, there has to be a way to make it work somehow. I would at least try! There are other reasons as well, but not working with birds is a major part!

I have also found a way to make organic birdie bread! I am going to make it for this show. I hope the birds will like it! It is going to be sooooo yummy and I hope to get a lot of feedback!

Well, have to run. Have much to do still.

Hopefully, we will see you at the show on Sunday. The presentation is at 1:15p.m. Please make it if you can... I will be looking for you! Thanks for all your support!

Until then,

Phoenix and Neal

Posted by Masta Niall at 5:44 AM | | Comments

Monday, October 16, 2006

Good Monday, Everyone!

Just a few quick words to update everyone.

Neal and I are still around and have been very busy the last few weeks. We had to change out the vinyl flooring in our big bird room as the carpet underneath got moldy. What a mess it was. We cleaned the carpet very well, got all the mold out and replaced the old vinyl with new vinyl. It smells and looks much better now (even though the vinyl flooring is all different colors... LOL). I even think the birds like it! :)

We are still preparing for the bird show which is fast approaching. We are doing some last minute changes on the presentation and hope to try it out this next weekend at Neal's work where they have a projector. I hope it goes well. But, that will give us a week to correct any errors before the show. Cross your fingers!

I had a unique situation hit me last week, with a bird, that really got me upset and thinking.... what do people think buying a bird is all about? I mean, do you just see it in a store or at a show and decide you want to take it home without doing any research first? There are other shows (at least 4 per year) and there will be birds available then, too, after you do much research. Neal and I so much want people to learn before they buy. Is that too much to ask? Baby birds are way different than adult birds. These "sales people" out here just talk the birds up without telling the consumer the "bad" things about the bird and what can happen as it gets older. Not to blame it on them, as it is normally "buyer beware". But, the bird is the one who pays the ultimate price... not you, the consumer. THINK PEOPLE! PLEASE!

Ok, enough of that negative stuff. :)

I want to thank all who have been contacting us with questions and concerns. Thank you, so much, for putting your faith in us and trusting us with your bird's life. You are who give us the strength to continue doing what we do and to continue updating the web site and relaying new information. Hats off to you and yours!

Ok, time to get back to work.

I hope to see all of you at the bird show on Oct. 29th.

Have a great week,

Phoenix and Neal

Posted by Masta Niall at 4:59 AM | | Comments

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Hi all!

Sorry it has been so long since I have updated this blog. A lot of things have been happening and I have not had the time. However, today, I decided to sit down and write to all of you and let you know what's going on in our lives.

Well, I am going to be giving notice at work soon. I want my last day to be October 25, 2006. Don't get me wrong, I love my job. However, there have been a lot of things changing lately... and in my opinion, not for the better. I know the owner has to run a business, but the place is called "The Bird Store" and there are hardly any birds there. It feels to me that the philosophy of the store has changed and is now a "bird supply warehouse". I miss handfeeding the babies and taking care of them. But, I guess I can understand what needs to be done by the owner's point of view. Oh well. It was a nice place to work and to learn. I appreciate that.

There is a show coming up this weekend. Neal and I are planning on going. We do not have much done yet, so, Saturday will be a busy day (the show is on Sunday). I don't think we will be bringing very much. Maybe some food, cages and puppets. We shall see.

All the birds are doing well. We are going to be adopting a new Cockatoo who is in bad shape. She has started plucking her feathers and we want to stop it now (or at least try), before it becomes a habit. Her owner is very concerned for her and I appreciate the she has the faith and trust in me to give me a chance to help. I LOVE Cockatoos!

I am trying hard to add more articles to the site. With the last few weeks being so busy, I have not been able to do so. I am hoping by the bird show on Oct 29th, we will have the site updated and looking sharp! Everyone cross your fingers for us!

The presentation for the show is coming along well. We almost have everything finished and are going to do a test run at Neal's work. I hope everything is good! But, at least we will be able to polish things up before the show! Yahooooooooooo! I can't wait! I hope all of you will be there to support us and let us know how we do?

Corene and I have been talking a lot and sharing ideas. What a super lady she is. I appreciate her so much and hope she and I can become close friends. We so much believe in the same things and I hope to eventually help her with all the stress she carries on her shoulders. Although she loves birds, there are so many people who contact her with their bird problems and being it is just her, you can imagine the stress she has to deal with on a daily basis? So, I hope to help her as much as I can!

Neal went to his friend, Martin's, house on Tuesday. He said he had a good time and I am glad he did. He deserves to be happy and I know this bird stuff is not his dream... really. I hope to make him as happy as he has made me. :)

Ok, I guess that is it for now. Please continue to contact us if you have any questions regarding birds. We are here to help!

Have a super day and be safe,

Phoenix and Neal

Posted by Masta Niall at 1:58 PM | | Comments