Sick Scrub Jay

Update July 26: I asked Lumpy to smile for me today. At first he said No, and stop calling me Lumpy. But then I explained it is a term of endearment so he smiled for me. Click pictures to enlarge.

  

Update: July 22:  I think the lump is getting smaller. The first 3 pictures here are today, the last 3 are from July 5. Although I am a little concerned about what looks like blood around his beak in the last picture here (click to enlarge). 

 

  

Update July 19: Lumpy is still hanging in there. He is still eating and hanging with his family. I am not certain, but it almost looks like he is starting to get new feathers coming in. Either that or the lump is getting a little smaller. He looks kind of rough right now, but it's molting time.  All things considered, he is still remarkably perky (see last photo from today.)

Update July 11: I think things might be getting worse.  On his leg where I thought he was just molting, it appears that there is another cyst/tumor now. It's weird because he seems more active, and has been interacting with his family for the past few days, which he hadn't been doing for a while.  It's on his left leg (with the yellow and silver bands) on his lower thigh. But at least as shown in the next picture, he is still eating, and I saw him poop yesterday. 

Update July 9: Might be just wishful thinking, but I think Lumpy (that is his name now) looks better today. He came down and took peanuts.

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Older updates

Update July 6: Cyst looks about the same size. He seems to be flying a bit stronger today. Came down and took peanuts. I noticed the feathers are off of his left flank below the cyst. Not sure if just part of regular molt. But at least he seems to be eating. 

Update July 4: Not sure if I am just seeing what I want to see or the camera angle, but I think it looks smaller today, maybe he's getting better? 

One of my Scrub Jays is very ill and getting worse :-( Here are pictures comparing yesterday to today.

July 2, front view

July 3, front view

July 6, front view

July 2, side view

July 3, side view

July 4, side view

July 4, side view

 

July 6, side view

July 6, side view

July 6, can see feathers off of upper left flank.
Not sure if just regular molt. Good news is that
he is eating, came down and took nuts a few times.

Blue Jay-Scrub Jay hybrid?

 

The Cats

 I used to have a site dedicated to the cats but it got lost. I am trying to do a back up but came across a bunch of old pix so I decided to post them here for posterity incase the back up drive dies. And besides, who doesn't love a good cat picture or 3?

Been thinking about Sinaed a lot lately as Barty is in renal failure and incontinent. Not ready for diapers yet, and hopefully it won't get that bad. 

After Sinaed died, I said we are NEVER getting another cat and I gave alway all our cat stuff. That lasted about 3 months. This is the day we adopted Pita an NummyMuffinCoocolButter. 

David with Pita You can hardly even see him there. This size didn't last long!

The kittens first Christmas. We think they killed Santa. But they still got Salmon treats in their stocking. 

Yeah... so what I said about never getting another cat? A feral cat gave birth in our back yard. We caught the kittens and took the mom to the humane society. I tried to find homes for them, but yeah, you know how that goes. This is Lisa trying to escape. She is the only one who still really never assimilated into the house. 

Barty, on the other hand, he loved me from the first time I gave him a belly rub and Salmon.

Barty and Maggie. This picture makes me sad. Since Barty has been sick, Maggie and Nummy won't go near him. I think because he doesn't smell very fresh. I got some kitty wipes, but he still kinda doesn't smell super fresh.

Nummy and Bart. Same comment as above :-(

I work from home and don't have kids, but wanted to participate in Take Your Kids to Work day. Here is Barty wearing a tie and helping me at my desk.

Here is David with Barty wearing a tie.

Barty and Nummy drinking coffee like pros. (Actually, there were salmon treats in the coffee mugs.)

Pita and Nummy on coffee break. 

A deep meaningful meeting to discuss important cat business things. Like, "How do we get the last salmon treat out of the coffee cup??"

I love this picture. I eventually took a third one of this photo on the screen with Pita lying on the keyboard again, but I couldn't find it. 

One of my favorite pix of Nummy. Someone gave me a sign for the house that says, "You are never fully dressed without cat hair." Too true!

Self Portraits

 I do a self portrait every few years. Haven't done one in a long time. Haven't been inspired. Here are some from years past. 

This is the oldest, I think from 2001. Even though it was a tough time in my life I still like the drawing and still have it hanging in my office. 

This is from around 2003, when I first met David. This called "self portrait with David"

I think this is from around 2008? Depression rears its ugly head again. 

This is from around 2014. It's based on a Dax Riggs song, "Demon Tied to a Chair in My Brain" which to me wasn't as negative as the title implies, it was actually a positive time for me.