More than just a lasting impression!!! (its a book... be sure you have time to read!)

[Monica]

I had a VERY busy day today! I even got to meet the author of a book and someone out of a VERY POPULAR movie!!!!!! Okay, so maby it's not that popular... but I think they said the movie brought in over 300 mill already??? Well, I think atleast 30 mill dollars so far, right????

Okay, let me first explain... I would have sooner, however both my computer and my mothers computer went down (mothers had atleast 7 attacks to it, along with a bunch of other junk... mine, I don't know, so it needs to be cleaned off and reinstalled...). Well, my mothers comp is doing fine now, however mine is down (though still works somewhat) still. Well, once we got that sorted out, we had internet problems.... not fun, I tell you! Then I just didn't have enough time when we got it back!

Okay, so for my day... It was FANTASTIC! I'm really pleased with how it turned out! I had decided a couple weeks ago to go to a seminar where Mark Bittner was going to be speaking at, and a friend decided that he wanted to go with me as he knew how excited I was about it. My mother decided she wanted to go as well! However, my friend backed out of it last night, because he wasn't interested... I was dissapointed...

So my mother and I still went! We had to stop by her work first to take care of a couple of things (much fun there! we had a bit of a problem with the alarms...) and left to one of the churchs in Sparks that the seminar was being held at. Instead of paying the $10 to get in, we paid for a family membership (25$) for RAAVE (Reno Area Avian Enthusiasts) and got in for 'free'. I am pleased to have been able to renew my membership!

There were four birds there, a double yellow head amazon, a patagonian, a senegal (I thought it was a red bellied as its stomach was quite orange, but I guess it was really a senegal), and a cherry headed conure (from Florida, such a cute gal, and quite small, too!). Mark was there too, and some members were expecting to get books from him however he didn't bring any, though there were two books for raffel with his autograph (I already had a book so didn't need another!). He talked about the birds, and about his life a bit, and it was wonderfull!

After he had talked, he even said he'd signed books, and if you didn't have one with you, you could get one, send it to him, he'd sign it and send it back! Well, he signed mine to "Monica and Frids" (he couldn't hear me correctly over the fans! LOL I love my *Frids* ). I even talked to the woman with the cherry head and a man that was there listening who has two budgies (one just bought) and a green cheek! The guy didn't quite here about the quakers and something about them being illegal so I had clarified that for him. I enjoyed talking to the both of them! I probably left a good impression with them, and one might be joining BirdBoard, while the other one is actually interested if she can get her computer up and running after two years of it not being hooked up!

Add to that, there was some lady that came up to me asking me if I was the girl that had come up to her some years ago... As it was, the first time I went to a RAAVE meeting, I wasn't a member yet though had planned on possibly joining, and there was a lady there doing a speech about birds and also showing slide-shows of her birds. What really caught my eye though is that she had 3 budgies, two males and a female, the female was seperated from the males however. She didn't want them to breed, which is a good reason she had them seperated. After she was finished however, I talked to her, and insisted that her albino female was actually indeed a male. She wouldn't have none of it, and it really infuriated me that she wouldn't even consider this bird being a male. (I mean, I'm just a kid, right???? what do they know?) Turns out that she had talked to experts and vets who all confirmed that this bird was indeed a female. I wouldn't have none of that, though! It was the last time however that she saw me, for a couple of years.... during those years however, she had talked to someone who was a bird specialist, and talked about birds masterbating...

After that meeting, she remembered me during all that time, and had to come up to me during this time. She ended up getting real close to my ear and told me in a whisper what she had heard about birds masterbating and that her bird indeed fit that discription of what he did... she got real personal and I guess she didn't want to offend me, so I came out straight telling her that I have two birds that masterbate as well! (one of them, daily, and almost year-round!!! ) So, indeed her little female, was a male! I was what, maybe 15 then? I guess she was real pleased to know that I knew what I was talking about, even at that age! PS, she's a pet psychic!!!!!



Anyway, before we left, my mother and I sat outside and chatted with a few more people. I even chatted with the club president, and she was pleased to know who I was then as I had previously e-mailed her a few times. My mother was let known that they do need some computer work, and that she said that she'd love to get a cockatoo, and they do have some birds in adoptiong (including a salmon crested too and a b&g), and we had a good chat...

After that, it was over to the movie theater! I had to go and watch the movie a second time, and it was just as great as the first time! At the beginning and a couple areas within the movie, I had watery eyes... Well, I didn't cry this time! LOL I was however pleased to have been able to chat with Mark before AND after the movie! He really loves Reno now (been 40 years since he was last here!) and loved the river in the middle of the city, too!


As far as updates go, the movie will be coming out on DVD and VHS this coming January, and I have an e-mail address if anyone is interested in having updates as far as this goes, and it WILL be able to be distributed to the world! So that means that for everyone out of the USA will be able to view it next year! Just pm or e-mail me if anyone is interested in finding out more info!

Mark Bittner is also working on his second book, which is an extension of the first part of the book, based on how he came to San Fransisco! I'm sure it will be great, especially for all you hippy lovers! I had a real pleasurable time being able to speak with him about the movie, book, the fact that I was able to actually see the birds at their park, a bit about my own birds, etc.

I had a wonderful time, and after the movie, my mother and I went and picked up a dog house (Bullet can fit into it, but its still too small for him, besides, he's afraid it'll attack him! I'm sure the cats will enjoy it once we get it cleaned up!).

[ParrotletLover]

It sounds like you had a great time, Monica!

[BirdzRmylife]

I'm really glad you had such a great time Monica. After being sick and all, you really deserved a special day like this !

[basketbagley]

Very cool Monica! Thanks for sharing! Movie sound great too!

[Monica]

I did have a lovely time! All too sad it lasted so shortly, however I am pleased to know that I am now a member of the bird club here, again!

[Rue]

...sounds like you had fun! Enjoy your signed book!