I stay at home alot more than I used to because I feel bad when I am out and they are stuck in their cages. I think generally I am just a happier person, they make me complete, lol.

I've always been a responsible person, but being a fid mom has made me even more so. I stay at home a lot more, and I've never been away from Ollie for longer than 27 hours. And that only happened once! I've put her to bed, and woken her up every day but for a handful of times. I also have a lot more patience, and am less sensitive to noise!

Well, having 11 dogs BEFORE bringing any birds home, I'd have to say that most of the logistics of going away from home haven't changed much--I just have to get an additional petsitter in (thanks, Deb :-).

However, that said, our lives have been changed financially in ways I couldn't even imagine! We bought most of our birds, and they weren't cheap. Then comes the cages, the food (OMD!! THE FOOD!! Everything fruit or veggie fresh or dehydrated organic. Nuts of all kinds. Mac nuts! Anyone ever mention that those puppies are SPENDY?! LOL!), the toys, the vet visits. And the cost of an aviary that we'll be adding this weekend. And the noise....oh, the lovely sound of macaws in the morning and at sunset!

These Goons have enriched my world beyond anything I could have possibly imagined. They are loyal and loving (we'll see if they stay that way past maturity :-). They are beautiful clowns. They are intelligent enough to carry on conversations with me and each other--in English. They fill my world and my heart with love, laughter and companionship. Who'd have guessed a few 2 lb. balls of feathers and big beaks could add so much to our world? They're worth every dollar, every moment spent NOT traveling, every worry, every second spent working to fill their wants and needs. The love I feel for our birds and they for me is a gift beyond measure, and beyond my ability to fully articulate. Suffice it to say, they've enriched our lives :-).

Pita has filled up all those empty places in my heart. He gives me a reason to wake up each day. I laugh more, I love deeper. He is my world.

I really don't remember. I have had fids most of my life.

The responsibility can certainly be a heavy burden, and many folks would say that now I have no life at all! It's pretty difficult to think of going anywhere for longer than a day.

The daily workload routine of cleaning cages isn't that bad. I wipe down cages and change cage papers every day. Even when Chico gets here, that'll still take less than an hour a day. Still, when you add that with all the daily feeding, socialization, etc., it takes up a good bit of my free time.

I also am a healthier eater now because of them. As Gini said, getting rid of all the teflon and scented items has to be beneficial to humans as well as birds.

I think I'm a more patient, more centered person as well. Interacting with birds sort of forces you to be that way. You have to slow yourself down, you have to pay attention. Also, I love to learn, and Lord knows there's always plenty to learn about these guys! I never lack for mental stimulation. These guys are like little brain teasers wrapped in feathers!

My daily life now centers around the birds. Any out of the ordinary schedule change makes me first think how it will affect the birds and their schedule. I willingly stay home more - I would honestly rather stay home and play with them than do anything else.

Overall, my life has become HAPPIER because of the birds. All of my animals bring me joy, but the birds have been the most fulfilling additions to our family.

Before the fids came I was OCD anal retentive, everything has its place, no dust person. Ive learned to live with a little mess. Im not happy about it but Id go nuts if I kept trying to keep everything perfect! So basically, they've made me chill in a very different way.