shannon returns to the menagerie

With her "tail" tucked between her legs and her pockets made lighter by the blackjack tables of Vegas, Shannon returned to the menagerie in Berkeley on Monday afternoon.

She and Tracy were greeted by a frantically chirping Kiwi. Their flight had been delayed, and so the bunny and bird were kept waiting for their morning meals. Both critters were very excited to have their humans home again. Cindy came hopping to the front of her pen for some pets (and pellets) and Kiwi clambered around in her cage, chirping madly. Shannon opened her cage, and Kiwi was very pleased. She no longer felt like nipping Shannon's fingers, and instead scurried back and forth her shoulders. Kiwi sat on Shannon's shoulder while Shannon pet Cindy through the bars of her pen.

Both Kiwi and Cindy were very pleased when Shannon filled their food and water bowls. Shannon learned by now that Kiwi greatly dislikes plastic bags, but luckily Dorothee had left some peppers in the fridge that were not bag-bound. After three days, Cindy's litter box was quite full and in dire need of cleaning. In the past, Kiwi had not liked the grey gloves Shannon wears to retrieve the bunny poops, but she was so anxious to be out in the apartment that Shannon thought she would give the process a second try.

At first Kiwi did not mind the ziploc bag for the bunny poops, and it was good. When Shannon pulled on the gloves, she also did not mind. But then Kiwi walked down Shannon's arm to her left glove and began to attack it, not realizing that there was a hand within the glove. Shannon yelped, and Kiwi hopped off - into the litter box! Luckily she landed in a clean patch of hay, and Shannon was able to scoop her up before any more mischief could be perpetrated. Back into the cage went Kiwi. While Kiwi chirped for attention, Shannon quickly cleaned Cindy's litter box.

Poor Kiwi was left inside her cage for a while longer, as Shannon had to boil some water for her spaghetti, and Shannon knew that little parrotlets can go to birdie heaven if they become too involved in the cooking process. Shannon and Tracy tried to determine if they were "Smarter than a 5th Grader," and it was determined that they were not. Poor Kiwi and Cindy.

When the meal was completed, Cindy was allowed out of her pen. She was very happy at this prospect, and stayed out in the apartment for three hours. For the majority of this, though, Cindy destroyed a cardboard box under Shannon's bed, which kept her quite occupied. During this time, Kiwi was allowed to sit on Tracy's shoulder, which tickled her neck very much.

Kiwi was a very good little bird, and only pooped once while out all of this time. Finally it was time for both Kiwi and Cindy to get ready for bed. Kiwi was tired after all of this excitement, and hopped back in her cage easily. Cindy, however, took more persuading. But finally both girls were in their homes and ready for sleep. It was good.