# Parrot goes away
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [May 14, 2008, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282 "2008-05-14T14:26:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/1 "2008-05-14T14:26:25Z")
Well, my car is in the shop. Been there for three weeks with transmission problems.
I just signed a new contract. All the Westerners got pay cuts, mine was was 27%. I have decided to move up to Riyadh. To do that I have to get rid of the parrot. We have been together for seven years. I made up a poster and had a buddy take to his (best in town) compound. The compound manager called within minutes.
He is a Parrot person. Has a couple in the house already. He passed my interview. So he will be over in a few minutes to take Onan. Best thing for him. Best thing for me.
I am a freakin’ mess.
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### Author:  [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/2 "2008-05-14T14:39:46Z")
Oh dear, I am so sorry to hear that. ☹ Many hugs for you…
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/3 "2008-05-14T14:47:48Z")
You didn’t really call him Onan, did you?
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### Author:  [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/4 "2008-05-14T14:49:12Z")
That’s fucked up, man. You are doing the right thing, doing what you must, but still; that’s fucked up, man. Without my animal companions I would be lost. My sympathies.
God on ya for finding a proper home for your bird.
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### Author:  [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/5 "2008-05-14T15:08:43Z")
Awwww!
I got Murphy about the same time you got Onan, so I’ve always empathized/ mourned in advance your inevitable parting (in that some day you might leave SA and wouldn’t be able to bring Onan with). I’m so sorry.
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### Author:  [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/6 "2008-05-14T15:11:30Z")
It’s been 7 years since you got Onan?
I remember when you got him!
I am sorry you have to lose him but at least you know he will be in a loving home.
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### Author:  [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/7 "2008-05-14T15:24:32Z")
Awwww, as a fairly new bird-person, I’m heart-broken for you. ☹
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### Author:  [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/8 "2008-05-14T15:26:20Z")
'suse me. got something in my eye right now.
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### Author:  [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/9 "2008-05-14T15:28:04Z")
Aw. Bye-bye Onan. At least he’s just off to a new home.
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### Author:  [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/10 "2008-05-14T15:39:09Z")
Oh, geez…I’m so sorry Paul. I kind of know how you feel right now. Just thank goodness you found him a good home.
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### Author:  [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/11 "2008-05-14T15:57:23Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad]
You didn’t really call him Onan, did you?
[/QUOTE]
In the grand tradition of IIRC Texas Guinan, who named a pet bird Onan because he spilled his (bird)seed on the ground.
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### Author:  [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/12 "2008-05-14T15:59:51Z")
I am so sorry. Although I am not a bird person (scared of them, saw the movie Birds when I was little), I am a pet person. I would be bereft if my kitties had to go to new homes.
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### Author:  [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/13 "2008-05-14T16:00:43Z")
Oh dear. I’m so sorry to hear that **Paul**.
Stupid question - could you not have found work in a different country for more $ ? (I know you said you just signed your contract).
Is there any way this new person would consider letting Onan come back to you in later years? Or would that be wrong?
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### Author:  [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/14 "2008-05-14T16:12:31Z")
I will find work in Riyadh, God willing. I have an informal interview next weekend. I have to clear the decks to be ready to move.
As an English (Language) teacher, the only place to make a real salary is in the Middle East. In five years or so, I can retire. All I wanted to do was be left alone for a couple of more years. Damn this Al Salam Aircraft!
The employees (that are left) are not happy. The RSAF is not happy. (Operational Readiness is near zero at the moment.) The contractor himself will not be happy trying to ride heard on this low-bid contract. Nobody is or will be happy; yet here we are.
(The new owner just called. Onan is established and is starting to settle down. Me? Not so much yet.)
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/15 "2008-05-14T16:13:25Z")
I have not been posting much lately, but I had to for this.
A few years ago I had to give up my beautiful white-capped pionus Kyoko for similar reasons. I knew up and down, left and right, that she would be happier in the new home. But it still broke my heart. What if they didn’t remember that she was scared of the nail trimmer and liked to run to her mommy afterwards? What if they never fed her popcorn or watermelon again, her favorite treats? What if they forgot to give her her beloved cardboard tubes?
I still choke up if I think of my precious baby too much. I’ll miss her forever, I think. I haven’t gotten a new parrot, either.
But, you know, the good memories were all worth it. She was such a darling, and so silly! Remember all of the good things about Onan.
I hope you have lots of pictures. I didn’t have a digital camera at the time, so only have a handful of pics of Kyoko.
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### Author:  [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/16 "2008-05-14T16:15:35Z")
Not so much photographs. Sort of engravings on my memory.
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### Author:  [@Mycroft\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_H)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/17 "2008-05-14T16:26:48Z")
Dang! I’m so sorry for all the upheaval you are going through and needing to give up Onan is just a brutal kick while you are vulnerable. I can’t imagine how my wife would take ever needing to give up Webby (a nanday conure). She’s had that bird longer than I’ve known her.
I wish you the best as you move forward.
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### Author:  [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/18 "2008-05-14T18:50:38Z")
Aww, I’m sorry. I’ve never had a parrot myself but I had a friend with a couple and I can understand how anyone could become deeply attached.
Good luck in Riyadh.
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### Author:  [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/19 "2008-05-14T19:31:28Z")
~hug~ Aw.
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### Author:  [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-goes-away/449282/20 "2008-05-15T02:50:57Z")
A good night’s sleep and a predawn sleep helps everything. Still the house is quiet and empty. Harumph!
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