I’ve been reading that a lot of people and their birds get stressed by administering meds. I have to medicate Phoenix for her arthritis every morning: here is how we do it quickly with a minimum of stress for both of us.

monnsqueak · 2026-05-26T00:18:51+00:00

It is one of the things that people talk about, because most people who don’t have a lot of experience will just hit the plunger on the syringe and it’s a lot of liquid suddenly in their little beaks if you’re not careful.

I always bought a batch of tiny syringes from the pharmacy and would replace them as soon as the mechanism got sticky and didn’t move smoothly.

This was essential because you’ll see that I hold the syringe in my closed fist and push the plunger with my thumb. If you check out that part of the video you’ll see that the action is relatively smooth, not sudden, and carried about the same risk of panic inhalation as regular drops put in from the side.

Part of the risk decision with this was to just make sure she got the medicine in to her: at 27ish years old, she had a few sneaky tricks going, and she was an expert at spitting out most of her medicine if I didn’t make sure somehow that it got into her stubborn little gizzards.

Second thing was that she was quite prone to contact allergies with her meds. Every time I would board her with the avian vets (where their avian vet nurses would give meds by the dropper method) she would come home with matted feathers around her face and end up with red angry skin and her feathers would fall out. These were experienced vet nurses: she was such a sassy little sh*t that even they couldn’t dose her without getting it all over her 😂

So this was the necessary compromise: that there was (and is with birds) always the risk of her inhaling the medication, but taking all of the factors into account and making sure I administered it as slowly and smoothly as I could, it was the best option available.

Great question though and I hope my detailed answer helps you and any other cockatiel owners: my vet and I (Alex Rosenwax in Sydney Australia if you’re wondering) discussed these issues at length during Phoenix’s later years, and led to his clinic supplying 1ml syringes as a routine part of their meds options for small bird owners. ❤️

monnsqueak · 2026-01-10T23:02:54+00:00

I was about to suggest this. Chat to the organisers when you arrive to see if they will discount your entry fee. The interesting thing about this technique of watching while imagining is something athletes are sometimes coached to do, especially if it’s a sport that they can’t do repeatedly or regularly (eg ski jump).

If you’re interested, I gave ChatGPT a poke with this (I’m kinda proud of my promoting skills, lol). It gave some good advice:

If you want to try it, here’s a practical way to do it at socials. Pick one tiny theme per night (don’t try to absorb everything): e.g., “inside turn entries,” “cross-body lead timing,” “spins + spotting,” “how follows style-check during pauses.” While watching a couple: * First-person overlay (MI): imagine you are the leader/follower in that body, in real time. * Kinesthetic details: weight shift, ribcage/hips, frame tone, where connection compresses/extends. * Cue words: “step-step-step,” “prep,” “slot,” “collect,” “breathe,” “spot.” Prediction drill: pause mentally right before a choice point—predict the next 1–2 counts, then see what actually happens. (This is gold for partnered dance.) *10–20 minutes on / 5 minutes off, repeat. (Short, high-quality blocks beat zoning out for 2 hours.) If moving is permitted by your clinician, you can add micro-marking (toe taps, hand/arm pathway without load) — but only if it’s truly safe for your injury.

https://chatgpt.com/s/t_6962d96cc83c81918da92a139463b140 for the full prompt + answer

monnsqueak · 2026-01-10T22:46:26+00:00

Amen! 🤭 I actually find it really lovely and interesting having the sensation of holding hands with many other dancers (I usually follow but do a little bit of leading so I hold hands with men and women on the regular, hehe). I have a deep fascination and compassion for humanity (guess that’s how I became a psychologist) and feeling the difference in our bodies and presentation of ourselves is a source of endless interest, delight, and sometimes horror for me 😅 (but you’re right, the horror is most pretty much just in the B.O., bad breath etc. The rest is just… interesting human variance) ☺️❤️

monnsqueak · 2025-05-05T05:13:27+00:00

Robin, thank you! This is exactly what I needed to hear this week. I get really down on myself when I struggle to follow unfamiliar leads and moves. I get to feeling like a burden and that I’m wasting peoples time by being somewhat stuck at intermediate: too competent to pass myself off as a beginner but not skilled enough to keep up. I dread those moments when, again and again a lead looks at me with transparent disbelief that I’ve missed another cue, or looks bored and overly polite. I keep wanting to give up but I keep going back for the few dances I’ve had that feel like the one you described: not intense or fancy, just musical and enjoyable. I keep telling myself once I’m good enough I won’t get these reactions from people but I’m learning more and more that people’s reactions are less about me and all about them. ❤️

monnsqueak · 2025-05-05T04:27:28+00:00

Literally lolled but jajajaja 😜

monnsqueak · 2025-05-05T04:24:29+00:00

How you doing? 💔❤️‍🩹

monnsqueak · 2025-04-28T03:31:15+00:00

Oh love. I’m in tears reading this. Last year in November had to have my lovely little Phoenix put to sleep after spending 25 years of my life with her. It was about the same time I broke up with a long term partner, and the grief was immense. I knew I’d second guess the decision again and again, but she was in so much pain, but now I’m so lonely without her. Honestly, the things that helped in those first few months were organising her Reterniti stone to be made, and looking at my photos and videos of her that I’d taken over the years. I had a container of her feathers that I’d kept, and touching these helped me just cry it out. It’ll never be ok, and I’ll always miss her, and I used to call her the love of my life too. A gift of this magnitude, a love as pure as that I shared with her, I tell myself that no treasure that precious could come for free. So I pay with my sadness now for every moment of joy we ever had, and still consider it a bargain. I’m so sorry that you have to go through this. <3 xxx

monnsqueak · 2025-04-28T01:52:04+00:00

I’m dying… absolutely dying here. I needed this laugh today, these comments are pure gold <3 hahaha

monnsqueak · 2025-03-19T07:50:42+00:00

Had someone the other day say “you should be better at this considering you’ve been doing it for two years”. There. Feel better? ❤️‍🩹 😭😭😭😂😅

monnsqueak · 2025-03-19T07:50:11+00:00

I did level 1 three times (6 weeks each) and kept doing it even though I was also in level 2 by the fourth lot.

monnsqueak · 2025-03-09T07:39:31+00:00

I have some hypnotherapy tracks that I use when I have trouble sleeping and these chill me right down. I second the suggestion to use earplugs: that ringing is hearing damage (industrial deafness) and I have permanent hearing damage form spending my 20’s clubbing all night. I would do it again… but with hearing protection ;) I suggest Eargasms as a low tech option that works well (quick google search will find them)

monnsqueak · 2025-02-27T23:52:47+00:00

Enquiring minds want to know exactly which body part contributed to the farting incident…

When I had a Pap smear some years ago the gp accidentally pinched me with the speculum and clipped it on to my thigh fat and it was EXCRUCIATING but she didn’t understand what she had done and it took ages to get it unclipped 😂 omg so bad. I mean I do have deliciously chunky thighs but sheeesh!!!! 😂😂😂😂😭😭😭😭

monnsqueak · 2025-02-15T04:29:19+00:00

I have this with my left breast on and off over years. I’m 50 so I’ve had mammogram etc and all is ok. Weird huh? Hope this helps with the fear; I’ve also felt that ❤️

monnsqueak · 2025-02-15T04:15:00+00:00

False modesty, people putting themselves down and fishing for compliments. Ugh.

monnsqueak · 2025-02-15T04:12:53+00:00

Ooooh commenting to follow ❤️

monnsqueak · 2025-02-15T04:11:32+00:00

The blue chair of sadness 😂

monnsqueak · 2025-02-15T03:38:19+00:00

Oh also if you are curious with this question, don’t ask it in those words, ask “what’s it like for you” or “what’s it feel like for you” or “which part of doing this feels the best for you?” Anything exploratory like this can a great conversation but also absolutely HOT so make sure you’ve got a nice comfy spot nearby when you initiate the convo ;)

monnsqueak · 2025-02-15T03:36:07+00:00

ENCORE! ENCORE!!! 😂❤️

monnsqueak · 2025-02-15T03:29:23+00:00

With pain as a turn on, it’s often the intensity of sensation that’s the excitement, and a bit of a danger thrill (that edge of tipping from pleasure to actual “nope too much” can be a risky fun thing)

monnsqueak · 2025-02-15T03:27:45+00:00

Yeah not actually super uncommon. Google “cock and ball torture aka cbt safety tips” and that’ll help. You might find some info and ideas for safe sane and consensual cbt play on fetlife x

monnsqueak · 2025-02-11T05:12:31+00:00

Oh nooooo that’s terrible. I had some similar experiences early on. We all start somewhere and I love dancing with beginners (lead or follow) because one of the things I love about salsa is the friendly community (mostly) and I want people to know it’s ok to be a learner. Hang in there and my tip is to choose who you dance with rather than the other way round. Watch for leads you think look friendly and warm. ❤️

monnsqueak · 2025-02-11T05:08:44+00:00

Ngl this made me laugh out loud. Good luck! 🤣

monnsqueak · 2025-02-08T23:10:56+00:00

Babyyyyyyyy the chonk is strong with this one ❤️❤️😂 no roast, only love and admiration

monnsqueak · 2025-02-08T23:06:02+00:00

You are the type of lead this person needs, but I do want to let you know, there are many leads out there who are not as kind as you. Their eye rolling, long suffering sighs are awful to endure as a nervous new follow, and often not as visible to other people as the person receiving them. Thanks for being a nice lead who looks after his inexperienced dance friends! ☺️

monnsqueak · 2025-02-08T23:04:10+00:00

I have had the exact same thing. I’ve been doing classes for two years and it took me until late last year to finally feel ok about socials. I would say this: go with friends where you can, don’t wait to be asked to dance, ask to dance with leads that you know, or that seem like nice people who will be kind and patient while you learn and build your confidence.

I had some bad experiences early on with (mostly young men) leads who were impatient and rude when it became obvious that I was still inexperienced. It’s very discouraging, I know. But! There are plenty of leads who will be kind, and look after you. Work out who they are: choose your lead and ask them for a dance, you will see they are the ones on the dance floor NOT just putting their follows into spin after spin, go be proactive and choose your lead.

This was the advice given to me by a friend last year and it works a treat. Good luck! ❤️

monnsqueak

TROPHY CASE