October has been a slow month for blogging. I’ve finally found things to keep me busy, so that’s why I haven’t done much to the website. So what’s been keeping me busy? Well… for once, we’re palying D&D far more often than I had originally planned, so that knocks at least one, sometimes two whole days out of the week for me. Then, I’ve been working two days a week at the Japan America Society, which keeps me pretty busy and tired in the beginning of the week. And thirdly, the big 3: World of Warcraft, Stronghold 2, and Civilization 4.

I got WOW earlier this month, and it’s an okay game. I like it more for the artwork than for the actual game… video game RPGs are pretty stale gameplay, in my opinion, especially compared to a weekly D&D game. But I’ve always like Blizzard’s art, and WOW is no exception, so I enjoy exploring the world. There’s a million things that would have to change for me to really love the game, but that’s just me; I have very picky expectations for gaming that don’t really coincide with other peoples’ expectations.

Stronghold 2 is a really fun game because it does meet those picky expectations I have for games. I actually haven’t been playing so much of it anymore, but they just released a brand new patch which speeds up the game, so I may start playing it more often.

And finally, Civilization 4. The big one. I’ve been waiting for this game for ages, and it’s finally here. I love everything about it; the strategy, and it’s really made well for multiplayer. I could write more about this game, but that is time that could be spent conquering.

It really doesn’t feel like Halloween season. I’ve been drawing and watching tv all day, and the only remotely Halloweeny movies on were “The Sixth Sense” and “Ghost.” What is wrong with the world nowadays? Five years ago, the whole month of October was like a bad scary movie marathon. You could turn on the tv at any time of any day in the month and find at least one horror movie or tv show, and the last week of October meant that you couldn’t turn the tv on to any channel without seeing one. This year… it’s Starship Troopers, Dogma, and other absolutely non-horror movies. What makes it worse is that non of my friends are particularly interested in watching horror movies with me either. It makes me miss Ringling, where you couldn’t stop us from watching 4 horror movies every weekend. And I have so many movies that I haven’t watched yet, just waiting to scare me. I’m so sad. :’(

In other news, I’m still drawing, and I plan on updating the portfolio area and posting more art once I get a chance. And now, I have to catch up on some emails before the draw of Civ forces me to play.

Sad news… Odo died on Thursday, around 5:45. He seemed to be doing so well… he was lively and had gained a lot of his energy during the day, so I thought he was recovering. He was able to bite, was happy to pull himself around with his wings and bill, and he was even eating some seeds and millet instead of just the liquid diet I had to give him via syringe. He really wanted to visit Guido, and Guido was really missing him, so I put him in a separate cage so they could be near eachother. A little while later, I came in to get him for his 5:00 feeding, and he was lying upside-down, dazed and very weak. I gave him food and vitamins, but he was barely able to swallow them. He wasn’t even able to spit out a corncob that was in his mouth (I had to take it out with a toothpick), and it seemed like he was having trouble moving his neck and wings. He was getting worse by the minute, but I did my best to keep him warm and talk to him, but it just wasn’t enough.

He was such an adorable bird, with big sparkling eyes. Even though he was sick and paralyzed during his last days, he was still cheery, and loved to sit in my hand whenever he could, whatever I was doing.

Guido seems to be doing alright without his brother. He’s a little lonely, but he’s not acting depressed, and he’s still got Igor to keep him company. I’m spending a lot of time with him now, so he’ll become a people bird and won’t become depressed or lonely as a single lovebird. Igor is helping him a lot, and Guido is bright enough that I think he’ll be OK.

Goodbye Odo. :’(

When I came home from work, Odo the lovebird was fine. Around dinner time, though, I noticed he was acting strange, limping around.

At first, I thought Guido bit him, and when I took a closer look I discovered he wasn’t able to use his foot at all. Then I thought Guido had maybe broken Odo’s foot, but there was no blood or tears in the skin. I took Odo away for a little while, and he lay down in my hand, unable to use his foot at all. He perched on one leg when he could, but it seemed very difficult for him, and he was content to lie in my hand (which was warmer, too).

Before settling them down to bed, I checked on Odo again. Now he was lying flat on his breast with both his legs curled up. He tried dragging himself with his beak, and flopping around with his wings, but it was very difficult for him. I took him out again, and looked at his feet — both were now paralyzed.

I put him into his birdie buddy to keep him warm and give him a comfortable resting place during the night, but I’m really worried… If the paralysis continues to spread, I don’t think he’ll live thought the night. I can’t take him to the emergency room until tomorrow, so I can only hope that it’s only his legs that are paralyzed. And even if that is the case, getting him food and water will be very difficult as well.

I’m really worried for Odo.