A6 The BulleTin • Friday, July 30, 2021
DEAR ABBY
Write to Dear Abby online at dearabby.com
or by mail at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
“I made the front page of the local newspaper and things
got a little out of control. So I decided to become a pirate.”
— Chris Biro, executive director of Bird Recovery International
Dear Abby: My daughter
is pregnant with her second
child. Her first, my grand-
daughter, is 2, and the light of
my life. I lovingly offered to
take care of her when it’s time
for my daughter to have the
baby. She’s having a C-sec-
tion, so she may be in the
hospital for a couple days.
My daughter wants me to
come to her house one day
out of every weekend to learn
my granddaughter’s routine. I
have spent several weekends
at her house doing this, but
not every weekend, as I work
full time from home and also
have a full-time rental busi-
ness (30 rental units) that I
manage with my fiance.
Recently, my fiance has
taken ill and is bedridden.
Everything, including his
care, has fallen on me. When
I called my daughter to tell
her I wouldn’t be able to
come for the weekends be-
cause of his illness and my
other responsibilities, she
lost it and became hateful
and confrontational. I tried
explaining that this is, hope-
fully, a temporary situation
and that I will still be able to
do what I promised, to no
avail. Nothing I said appeased
her. We are not talking, and I
really cannot endure another
confrontation with her. .
— Sidelined in Florida
Dear Sidelined: Give your
pregnant, possibly hormonal,
daughter time to cool off, and
then contact her again. See if
the two of you can work out
an arrangement that’s sen-
sible. You already have your
hands full, and the additional
responsibilities because of
your fiance’s illness may pre-
vent you from caring for
your grandchild as you had
planned. If she unloads on
you again, tell her you know
she’s disappointed and so are
you, but you can’t handle an-
other abusive confrontation
and end the conversation.
She will manage. Trust me.
Dear Abby: My friend was
telling me about the delicious
dinner he had last night at
a local restaurant. His meal
cost $8, and he raved to the
waitress about how the food
melted in his mouth. He
compared it favorably to the
$70 dinner he’d had at an-
other restaurant the night
before. He then informed me
he was “in and out of that
restaurant for only $10.”
My response was, “Are you
telling me you left a $2 tip
for THE most delicious meal
you just ate?” He replied that
he gave her a 25% tip and
thought it was fair. I told him
I thought he was cheap, and
he could have given her more
money at the very least for
her effort in serving him. He
said I should write you and
ask, so here I am.
I realize a 20% to 25% tip
is generous, but considering
these times of pandemic, I
think he could have done bet-
ter. What do you think?
— Flabbergasted in Ohio
Dear Flabbergasted:
Truthfully, those who can
afford to do so should give
more. The restaurant business
has been decimated because
of the extended COVID quar-
antine. That said, however,
my suggestion would have
been that your friend should
have added a generous tip
for the cook sweating in the
kitchen, who produced that
memorable meal.
YOUR HOROSCOPE
By Georgia Nicols
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
DYNAMIC | POSITIVE | AVERAGE | SO-SO | DIFFICULT
MOON ALERT: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT today (12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. PDT). After that, the
Moon moves from Aries into Taurus.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021: You are friend-
ly, likable and entertaining. You are also impulsive and spontaneous, often in
a dramatic way. You will be youthful, warmhearted and generous all your life.
This year is about you. You might do a makeover. Think of the impression you
create. What courses or further education might you get? How can you be
the best that you can be?
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
This is a high-energy day for you. For the first half of the day, the
Moon is in your sign dancing with Jupiter, which makes you feel happy and
optimistic. Later, shopping or moneymaking ideas will appeal to you. To-
night: You might spend money on entertainment.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
This is a positive day for you! In the morning, you will feel happy
with your own company. After the Moon Alert, the Moon will be in your sign,
which will make you emotionally energized. This is the perfect time to ask for
what you want. Tonight: Stay confident.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
This morning is a good time for pleasant conversations with friends
and groups. However, later in the day, you will enjoy your own solitude, be-
cause there’s something you want to do. You’re going to spend energy doing
it — by yourself. Tonight: Serenity.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
You are high-viz this morning. This is a good thing, because people
admire you! (You might use this to your advantage.) Later in the day, warm
bonds with a friend or a group will lift your spirits. These connections might
even boost your earnings. Tonight: Check your finances.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
This morning travel plans appeal to you. You want to do something
different that expands your experience of the world. This afternoon, people
will notice you much more. Because you make such a strong impression, you
might arouse opposition to you. Tonight: Caution.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
This morning is a good time for discussions with banks or anything
to do with loans and mortgages, because others will benefit you. After the
Moon Alert, your attention shifts and suddenly you want adventure! Tonight:
You want to run away and join the circus.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
You might attract someone to you this morning who is enthusiastic
and upbeat. Either way, your interactions with others will be positive and en-
joyable. Later in the afternoon, financial discussions about shared property
will benefit you. Tonight: Stay hopeful.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Choose to work with others this morning, because various group
activities will benefit you. You will get more done by letting someone help
or by helping someone else. After the Moon Alert, expect a lively discussion
with a partner or close friend. Tonight: Someone has something to say!
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
This is a happy morning full of fun opportunities. Perhaps a power
breakfast? Meet someone for brunch? Activities with children or anything
to do with sports will appeal to you. In the afternoon, after the Moon Alert,
you’re ready to work hard. Tonight: Be productive.
Parrots
Continued from A1
After completing a circle,
the birds gracefully landed on
the outstretched arm of Chris
Biro, a tall man clad in pirate
garb: tricorn hat, ruffled purple
shirt and cavalier boots with
a bayonet and a blunderbuss
hanging from his belt.
He stood on a small stage
surrounded by an array of ka-
leidoscopic birds before a small
but impressive pirate ship.
Biro, the pirate from Walla
Walla, Washington, and exec-
utive director of Bird Recovery
International, has been work-
ing with parrots for some 30
years.
In college, Biro bought a
blue and gold macaw, and he
became known for cruising
through Walla Walla on his
Honda motorcycle with the
bird perched on his shoulder.
“I made the front page of
the local newspaper and things
got a little out of control,” Biro
said. “So I decided to become
a pirate.”
Biro began appearing at fairs
and other events, where people
took photos with him and his
growing collection of parrots.
Soon after that, Biro made a
discovery: he learned to train
his parrots to “free fly,” or, to
fly away from the trainer and
return.
Biro said it’s his “claim to
fame” in the bird world. He
now has over 25 trained par-
rots, and he’s adopted more
than a hundred over the years.
He also teaches students how
to train parrots — “people
from over 30 countries” — and
now, he’s using his techniques
to inform parrot conservation
around the world.
His show isn’t a trick show,
Biro said. It’s educational, and
he loves to see the awe and
wonder when people interact
with a parrot for the first time
in their lives.
To demonstrate the intelli-
Seniors
Continued from A1
Insurance companies that
didn’t set out to cover them
this year can apply for a mid-
year change and cover them,
the senator said.
Wyden is familiar with the
rule because, he said, he was
the one who got the change
made in 2019, he said.
Getting air cooling and pu-
rifying devices to seniors as
soon as possible is essential,
given that more than 100 Ore-
gonians, many of them seniors
without access to air condi-
tioning, died during the deadly
heat wave a month ago. Tem-
peratures are predicted to rise
into the high 90s Friday.
Congress passed the
Wyden-authored law known
as the CHRONIC Care Act,
which updated Medicare
to focus on the chronic ill-
nesses that dominate seniors’
health concerns, his office said
Wednesday. One provision of
the law allows Medicare Ad-
vantage plans to offer bene-
fits that are “non-primarily
health-related” in order to
maintain or improve the health
or function of the individual.
Recent guidance from the
federal government specified
that this category includes in-
door air quality equipment
and services, it said. And un-
der the ongoing public health
emergency, Medicare Advan-
tage plans are allowed to apply
for midyear benefit changes to
best serve their members, his
office said.
For more information, visit
medicare.gov and search for
Medicare Advantage Plans.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
This morning you’re enthusiastic with big ideas about something
to do with your home or your family. This could relate to a home expansion
or even a family expansion. Later in the afternoon, take time off to play and
enjoy yourself. Tonight: The arts, sports and fun activities with kids will ap-
peal to you.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
A general feeling of enthusiasm and a positive outlook on the world
will embrace you this morning. It feels good. However, this afternoon, in-
tense feelings at home will be lively and dynamic. This could describe a fami-
ly conversation or some kind of event taking place. Tonight: Socialize!
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
This morning is an excellent time for financial negotiations. You
might see how to boost your income, or perhaps you will make a big expen-
diture. This afternoon, short trips, conversations and a busy pace will excite
you. Tonight: “The game, Mrs. Hudson, is on!”
Find it all
online
bendbulletin.com
Dean Guernsey/The Bulletin
Chris Biro, executive director of Bird Recovery International, holds Dingbat, a blue-throated Macaw prior to
The Pirate’s Parrot Show at the Deschutes County Fair in Redmond.
gence of his parrots, Biro often
has them repeat song lyrics
sung by fairgoers. The birds
only need to hear them once.
“Parrots are incredible
birds,” Biro said.
It wasn’t Biro’s first time at
the Deschutes County Fair, but
he was happy to be back after
last year’s hiatus.
He wasn’t alone. Energy was
in the air as fairgoers partook
in all the activities that were
canceled last year due to the
pandemic.
In the crafting area, a group
of women in a circle worked
on a large quilt. Surrounding
them were arrays of preserves,
baked goods, produce and
flower arrangements. Craft-
ers stood proudly next to their
achievements as fairgoers wan-
dered past.
Outside one could hear the
tumbling of rides and the joy-
ous cries of riders at the car-
nival. Always visible in the
distance was the slow turning
of the pink Ferris wheel. The
smell of barbecue, lemonade
and hay wafted through the air.
For many, it was good to be
back.
“I love the fair,” said Chris-
tine Rivera, leaving the fair-
grounds with her family in the
afternoon.
“I’m definitely glad it hap-
pened this year.”
e
Reporter: 503-380-5285,
djefferies@bendbulletin.com