MORE OF SYDNEY AT THE GABRIEL FOUNDATION

ERIN SYDNEY AND LISA

SYDNEY SAYS JULIE PLAYS WITH ME JUST RIGHT!

TRAVIS IS ADMIRING SYDNEY'S FANCY CREST!

LOVING HIS SHOWER!

SYDNEY'S ADJUSTMENT AT THE GABRIEL FOUNDATION

SYDNEY &  HIS NEW "BOOS" ERIN & LISA

with Sergio Jr on the bike

SYDNEY WITH JULIE WEISS MURAD, PRESIDENT & FOUNDER OF

THE GABRIEL FOUNDATION

Also starring Sergio, Jr on the bike and the dog who prompted Syd's barking in the first video! 

Notice how kind and affectionate Sergio and Julie are to Sydney!

STATUS OF THE MOVE

Things are moving along here and I've been setting daily micro-goals for packing and the myriad of other transactions associated with picking up one's life in one state and plopping it down into another.  Two sisters, Terri and Stacie, are arriving via Terri's SUV on August 8 to provide another vehicle for last minute stuff/ treasures and to help with last minute organizing.  They will be a godsend!  My last official day of work is August 9.  Stacie returns to CO on  August 10, movers come on August 11, escrow closes on the SD sale on August 12 and Terri and I depart to caravan in separate vehicles (I will have two unhappy cats in mine) very early on August 13 after overnighting at my bestie Mags' house.  We spend that night in St. George, UT and then it's east to the Rockies and my new home.  (And getting those damn cats out of the car!)

Having a family like mine has made this all possible.  Sisters, brother, brothers-in-law - I simply could not have gotten my arms around all the hundreds of steps, beginning with househunting in northern CO so many months ago.  It was so daunting in the beginning and so many variables were dependent on others it took a flow chart to map them out.  Terri has done all the heavy lifting in helping on this end, but everyone has been so helpful on getting me set up in my new place over there!

Horace Greeley is credited with the much quoted "Go west, young man!"  Terri coined  "Go east, old woman!" and it always makes me laugh!  We say it all the time now.

SYDNEY'S EXCELLENT ROAD TRIP

A LONG GOODBYE

Sydney at Spotted Wolf Lookout on I70 near Green River, Utah

WE MADE IT!

(Oh wait, are those mountains in front of us?)

Early in the morning on July 12, Terri and Sydney-bird and I set out for the biggest adventure of his life and the saddest journey in mine.  Our goal was Denver by 5 p.m. the following day.  There we would meet with the people from The Gabriel Foundation and Sydney would go on to live with their happy flock in Elizabeth, CO. It's taken me several years to make this decision, and only after touring Gabriel and getting to know the leadership and their principles, was I able to make it.  He is set for life and will not be passed from person to person.  His wings will grow out and he'll learn to fly.  Meanwhile, he is doing well and making friends.  I even received a video of him getting a good shower, which he loves! Still and all, I miss that boy and there's another scar on my heart, right next to the one that Holly left.

Here are some photos of the trip, which was made more complicated by the fact that Sydney would not poop in his traveling cage.  This meant frequest stops....  We spent the night at Best Friends Animal Society, a gorgeous animal sanctuary in Angel Canyon near Kanab, UT.  Then on to Colorado!

Here's the Sydney-bird, peeping out of  his cage at nap time!

 Valerie and Sydney at 8 p.m. July 12

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Kanab, UT

Pictures of Sydney and Terri at Best Friends

HOME FROM COLORADO

I'm back from taking Sydney to The Gabriel Foundation where he will live out his life with birds, people and his wings!!!  He will learn to fly as an 18-year old cockatoo.  I love this bird so much and I want him to be happy and well balanced, which I think is possible at Gabriel.  I drove him over there with my sister Terri as support crew and it was quite an adventure to spend two days in the car with a parrot who doesn't want to poop in his cage.  More on that and the trip when I get my wits about me!

A HUGE GOODBYE

SYDNEY EUGENE MILLER

Today is Sydney's last day in San Diego.  He is going to a wonderful parrot sanctuary outside of Denver, CO where he will live out his life with other parrots and especially cockatoos just like him.  Soon he will have new, grown out wing feathers and will be learning to do something he has never done in his 18 years - FLY!  I'll be living nearby and can see him at this wonderful place.  For those who know me, I have been worried for years over what will become of Sydney when I can no longer care for him.  He will outlive me by 20-30 years easily.  This is a solution and the chance of a lifetime for him to get into what is considered the best parrot care in America.  I will miss him so much, but know this is the right thing for him and his future.

MY RESPONSE TO THE SORTING/DUMPING/PACKING NIGHTMARE

MOVING - DO NOT LIKE!!!!!

KITTIES PLAYING, MOSTLY AIDAN

Aidan and Bear Playing (Mostly Aidan)

Here is a cute video of Bear and Aidan playing,  Twice a day these two stage a wrestling match, but then Bear gets back to his much needed rest and Aidan plays by himself. They both love this pom pom on a stick toy.

Thanks to BFF Mags for the great photo work!