It occurred to me one day that I needed something to do with my time when I wasn't writing. You know--something to divert myself so more writing ideas could come to mind. One cannot sit in front of the computer screen all day waiting for an idea to come knocking at the door and say,
"Here I am."
For one thing, to do so will result in your eyes eventually turning to oatmeal and melting right out of your head. And, if that happens, you won't be able to write anything.
Second, you'll just whine and cry like a baby because you cannot think of anything to write. Your wife will yell at you.
I needed a hobby.
I have never been one to seek the traditional manly hobbies. You know what I am talking about: killing small animals during hunting seasons, making beer, watching one football game, then another football game, then another, and another, and so on! Worse yet, playing football or whatever other sports men play.
So, I took up an untraditional hobby here in Mexico. I breed parakeets.
Before you laugh let me say that I am serious about this hobby. It is something I did when we lived in a small college town in the States so I knew what I was getting into. At one time, we had a bird-breeding business going and sold them to pet shops.
Now I have a backyard (back patio) area where I had a local carpenter build an outdoor aviary. It is cool and I enjoy this to no end. The birds can stay outside in this moderate climate. All the mess associated with this hobby (bird poop and I am talking a lot of it too) can be contained easily.
I am glad I got back into this bird-breeding business because it is relaxing. It gives me something other than my wife to obsess about and dote on. It's like watching fish in an aquarium except these animals can fly and talk back to me when I coo to them. They tell me things like,
"Oh, ok, you've acted like a nutty-human long enough now get me some sunflower seeds."
This is a true story: Once, when we lived in Kansas, we had a Quaker Parakeet who talked-a lot! The Jewish lady from downstairs was talking to the bird when it said to her,
"Get me a beer!"
I am NOT making this up!
Some of you may be reluctant to get into breeding parakeets because you've heard that they can give you a lung disease. Let me assure you (cough, hack, choke) that this is absolutely (gag, can't breathe, bloody phlegm spewing) not so.
It is easy to breed parakeets. All you need is a good-size cage, a pair of birds, lots of seed, and a nest box or log. Make sure they have plenty of privacy to become acquainted but once they do, you don't have to worry at all about them needing privacy to "do the deed." In fact, they will not care who is watching or what is happening around them.
This could prove to be inconvenient when company comes over. If you plan to have the parish priest, the neighborhood watch group, or maybe a book-reading club meeting, you might want to cover them with a towel during this breeding period. However, be prepared to answer questions like,
"Why is that towel moving in such a rhythmic manner?"
"Funny, I don't feel a breeze, why is that towel flapping?"
"What's going on in that cage to make that towel move like that, Mommy?"
Of course, since we have the birds in an outside facility we don't have to worry about that one bit.
It really is fun and it gives me a chance to engage is something other than writing and bugging the life out of my wife.
Doug Bower is a freelance writer and book author. His most recent writing credits include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Transitions Abroad. He lives with his wife in Guanajuato, Mexico.
His new book, Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country, can be seen at http://www.lulu.com/content/126241
Culver prom limo ..1. Remember publication is a business; writing is an art.... Read More
It turns out that "tips and templates on how to... Read More
If you're targeting an educated, more affluent audience with your... Read More
Choosing the wrong words can have a poor effect on... Read More
First drafts are for getting down the ideas. Anna Jacobs... Read More
We writers are a powerful lot. We control time. We... Read More
Regardless of what sort of writer you are and how... Read More
Calling all publishers, editors, journalists and freelance writers. It's time... Read More
Riding on the fumes of potential, you take pen to... Read More
It never ceases to amaze me when a prospective writer... Read More
Back in my school days, if the teacher demanded a... Read More
Do you love someone very deeply? A spouse, son, daughter,... Read More
You have a great idea for a poem, a story,... Read More
In the business of freelance writing, it's not enough to... Read More
As an International language, English has been used widely in... Read More
Is there a book inside of you? Yes? Then why... Read More
You are the only one who knows what being a... Read More
Often, time is an enemy of writers. Sales seem slow... Read More
Great business writers combine narrative skills with sound judgment to... Read More
When a writer is working on their next literary masterpiece... Read More
Many of the most effective low-cost marketing strategies require writing.... Read More
Joyce Carol Oates. Langston Hughes. Anne Sexton. F. Scott Fitzgerald.... Read More
With the expansion and diversion of businesses, manufacturers, and even... Read More
You can learn a lot about what it takes to... Read More
Chances are, you'll be busy over the next several weeks.... Read More
Wood Dale limo ..Questions and answers on writing life experiences for ourselves and... Read More
Writing technical articles is a challenge. There you sit, surrounded... Read More
If you dread the thought of writing, if you fear... Read More
May I tell you about a writing technique shared by... Read More
SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER?Many people have entertained... Read More
Think you can't write a book that will sell? You... Read More
We all need a cheer squad.We all need people to... Read More
An island in the Mediterranean. A beach in Africa. The... Read More
My article this issue is an excerpt from a book... Read More
What am I going to write about?Which topic is the... Read More
While novels do not usually attempt to convey concepts about... Read More
Communication is effective when we follow certain rules. These rules... Read More
I call it cheap therapy. That gushing, near-religious, poured-from-the-body stress... Read More
If you either want to write a book to help... Read More
We writers are a powerful lot. We control time. We... Read More
Writing better is critical for students. But it's even more... Read More
Open up your favorite calendar and circle today's date.Why? Because... Read More
As you set out to create your first niche non-fiction... Read More
It's clich?, but true-a picture does paint a thousand words.... Read More
1. Set aside a time to write and keep it... Read More
For many years, I've been a tutor for students undertaking... Read More
Writers are an insecure lot.It's easy to understand why. You... Read More
My dad was wrong. I just discovered that I am... Read More
My husband is no poet, so when I offer my... Read More
One of the biggest problems that inexperienced writers have is... Read More
Writing |