Okay, so I hear the parrots go by.  Yes, in Southern California we have parrots.  Not all over the place, just a flock or two, and in Ocean Beach this time of year you hear them a lot.  They're loud.  It's really quite an unpleasant sound, except that it's made by PARROTS which is just so cool that I don't care that they sound horrible.  So this time, as they fly by, the sound doesn't go away, which I slowly realize means that they've landed in the trees right outside my house.

So I go out on the patio, go to the end, and in the tree right next to our condo (yes, the one Mamasita was going to jump to) are parrots.  About 8 feet from my head.  And they're gorgeous.  Really.  And they're looking at me and jumping from branch to branch and it was just SO COOL.  I went to go get my camera and when I slid the screen door closed, they all flew away.  They didn't mind me sliding it to go OUT there, so I'm not sure I scared them off, but I want them to come back!!!  That was just so neat.  What gorgeous birds.  Okay, a quick web search seems to indicate that these are Red-crowned Parrots (native to Mexico) - and there's a rumor the flock started when an old woman's house was burning down and she let them out to save their lives.  I doubt it, but it's a nice rumor.  Of course, she didn't have 30+ birds in her house, so they've established themselves nicely here - or if she DID have 30 of these guys in her house, I'm sure that house burned from arson. ;)  But I like the birds. :)  They're just goofy.  And SO BEAUTIFUL!

By the way, I make fabulous guacamole.