@Luxomancer Wishing him a full and speedy recovery.

There's really no keeping gifts secret from my dad. He is just way too nosy. I had to tell him to please step away, that is his Christmas present. And then he stopped being annoyed at me for not letting him snoop and looked pleased. He better have a good fake surprise ready.

@Sigmundine I give him those raw because he loves chewing them to bits. He loves the crunch. If I put those food items in his chop i cook them. What kind of macaws do you have? Ours is a military macaw.

@Sigmundine he loves chewing up squash. Butternut, acorn, etc. also sweet potatoes and yams.

I gave the macaw, half a spaghetti squash and an empty egg carton. He started with the egg carton, but is now chewing up the squash.

#RealBirdNews

Weather update: 30F, frosty, and foggy.

Greetings of the day from NorCal. It's dark and 31F. I have delicious tea and need a refill. Am also updating all the iThings. Gotta get to writing.

Greetings from dark and 32F NorCal. I have delicious comforting tea. Doggos are on my bed, equidistant from the devil cat. It's an interesting arrangement. All of them are facing me.

@Tattoomonkey29 It just sounds terrifying. Sending you soothing pats.

Greetings from NorCal where it is dark and 38, My tea is Imperial grade pure bud Bi Lou Chun green tea to which I have added cardamom pods and saffron. It's a splurge because saffron is expensive but it's really delicious!

@Tattoomonkey29 Yikes! I hope you feel better soon.

I now have coffee. All is well with the morning.

Greetings from NorCal. It's dark, damp,. and 42F. My coffee is brewing. Have a great and safe day!

Winding down for the night. I made delicious hot chocolate which I sipped before starting the bed time ritual for the dogs, cats, and bird. May everyone have a great day/evening.

@LPH6 What's bigger than ginormous? Because that's what this feels like. But my dad is ready to part with things. Phew!

I made a pile of "things that have cords and can't go in the dumpster" which included several of those had saws with round blades, every single blade rusted and my dad, who is the son of a hoarder, only asked to keep one of them. He's 91. If he wants to keep one, that is OK. But not all of them. But corded items are a separate dump experience.

Tuckered out from putting garbage in the dumpster. So much . . . stuff. I have been forged in the fire of "surely we'll fix this . . . whatever . . . one day." You shoulda seen me. "WTF is this unopened thing from 2002? Who cares? Off to the dumpster with you!"

I mean a joke post used to be pretty obvious, but nowadays people really are that stupid so . . .