success!

I just received word from my sister that Operation Budgie Switch went off without a hitch. The Adorable 6-Year-Old Niece thinks her parakeet, Kipper, went to the spa for a wing clip and grooming, which adequately explains his slightly different coloring.

Lest you think my niece is not the sharpest tool in the shed, I have to say, don't talk shit about my niece, first of all, and two, my sister and I picked a really good substitute. We went to four different pet stores before we found a reasonable facsimile. The birds don't look exactly alike but it's close enough. We also picked up a buddy for Kipper II to keep the birds happy... and further distract the niece from discovering any major differences between the replacement and its late predecessor.

I know some of you don't agree with the switcheroo but the niece is extremely sensitive. She was also on vacation when Kipper kicked the bucket so no doubt she would have been inconsolable since she wasn't there to say goodbye to her pet. She also has a very looooooooooong memory. Hell, she's still on my case about the time I took her into the ocean when she was about two years old and her Gilligan hat was swept out to sea courtesy of a cheeky wave... and my poor reflexes, apparently.

However, she informed me on the telephone this morning that she got a "biiiiiiiig sombrero" in Mexico so I dare say the missing hat issue is now resolved as well. It's like killing two birds with... er, perhaps that's not the best choice of phrase...

Fingers crossed that these birds stay healthy and refrain from encouraging any more tired sitcom plot lines in my life.