The Saga of Groucho the Flyaway Parrot

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3.4K followers

Michael, on the WA blog “Judge, Jury and Executioner!”

https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/ultimateless/blog/judge-jury-and-executioner/comment/8594342

wanted to hear the story of my lost African grey parrot. .. so here you go.

I was given an African Grey parrot for my 33rd birthday, by my long-suffering wife (her description of herself). The best gift I’ve ever received. I’ve had many dogs in my life, but always wanted a parrot. We named her Groucho, (the bird not my wife).

The year was 1984, we lived on one of the most beautiful blocks in NYC, West 78th Street. After work, I would go home and take one of our two parrots to sit on the front stoop and wait for my wife to get home. The neighbors and kids loved our birds, Groucho and Jaco, and the birds loved to be out.

I never worried about them flying away, their flight feathers were clipped by the vet, so they couldn’t fly. Until one evening in June, when I was sitting out with Groucho.

A car backfired, she got scared and flew into the tree in front of our house. I was surprised she could fly that far, but I wasn’t concerned. I went into the house to get a ladder and a broomstick to get her down.


She started to come down to me and then changed her mind and decided to fly off down the block headed for the Museum of Natural History (the one in the movie ‘Night at the Museum’.

Watching her fly away down the block and across Columbus Ave. I was shocked and you could have knocked me over with a feather.

“What, the (expletive deleted) do I do now?”

I grabbed her pet carrier, (a product that I had designed and sold as “Groucho’s Mobile Home”) and ran off down the block following her. I lost her in the trees of the museum.

So, I’m walking with her carrier, looking in the trees and calling her name. “Groucho… Groucho… Groucho… “ Who should be walking down the block towards me, but my long-suffering wife (her description of herself).

She looks at me and the carrier in my hand and asks, “What are you doing?” I didn’t say anything, I just turned the carrier around to show her the empty box. She cut loose with a series of four-letter words, that were obscene, and expletive that questioned my mental capacity and my genealogy.

I won’t repeat those words here, but I’m sure that children of the Upper Westside learned some new words and expressions that evening, that their parents regret to this day.

That’s all I have time for today kids, come back tomorrow for Part II “The Search for Groucho”.

Until then here’s a little video I did so you can get to know Groucho & Jaco a little bit better.

WARNING!!! ADULTS ONLY!!!

BEWARE- Vulgar Language from a talking toy parrot.

Groucho Playing + Monty Python

https://youtu.be/YCRv68p7aM0

Phil

If you like this let me know!



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Recent Comments

14

Sounds like Cartman from South Park. My question, since part 2 hasn't happened is "Did you get Groucho back'?

Hi dear. To keep you going, I've prepared a Dose of Encouragement specially for you and for all my other loved ones. Here it is: Hope you will appreciate it.
Have a nice day.
Best Regards

2

Phil, love it. Shared with 2 other bird owners.
Barbara

1

Barbara, I had a feeling you would like it.
I hoped you warned those other two bird owners about the Fowl Language in the video. ;^)
Phil

1

I thought that while waiting for Part II of Groucho's story I would drop by with a little Jaco story.

My African Grey parrot Jaco, loves to talk on the phone, but usually he just answers "Yes!" to whatever he's asked. Sometimes he'll ask, "Do you want a beer?"

When Caller ID indicates it might be a telemarketer, I'll pick up the phone and let Jaco take the call. He's the dream call for a lot of telemarketers, because whatever they're selling he's buying.

Right up until the point when they need more than a "Yes!" to close the sale. Then they're SOL. ;^)

2

That's awful! You're making a mini-series out of this? LOL ! Well done...you should write a blog on how to keep an audience? Seeing as you call your parrot Groucho you probably know that Groucho will NOT be a member of any club that will have him as a member! It's probably good that you don't call your 'long suffering wife' (as you so candidly point out.....several times) Groucho. Thanks for the post and the link...I am reading this at 5.30am my time....

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Michael, there's not going to be a Part II with only 1 Like. 8^)

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I felt sure your publicity stunt was going to work! Maybe part two needs a catchier title and that will lead them back to part one. How about: Groucho makes his Marx! That might work!

1

Maybe if Groucho was a big-eyed, cuddly puppy that was lost in Central Park. But, who names their puppy Groucho?

One of my neighbors at 133 W 78th was the newspaper columnist and humorist "Molly" Ivins. Her dogs name was, 'Shit"

1

Most people know Groucho Marx he hasn't been lost to antiquity just yet!

Shit...short for Shitzu?

1

It wasn't a Shitzu, it was a mutt.

1

Well it doesn't really 'mutt'er now does it! Now I'm getting way ahead of myself...toooo many coffees...not my fault other people bought them for me...honest! LOL !!

1

Michael, your first post here was 5:30AM your time, have you slept? Or is this just Sleep Deprivation taking over.

That's why Donal Drumpf says such stupid stuff, he only gets 4 hours sleep a night.

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Good to know I'm following in a successful person's footsteps...NOT! I do sleep and I sleep deeply but I don't need too much because I also just spend 'me' time in a looooonnnnnggg hot spa! Thanks for your concern Phil, it's much appreciated.

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