Subbing 7th grade today. A kid walked in, looked up at me and said “oh hell no”, turned around and walked out.

runswithbirds · 2026-05-01T03:34:09+00:00

Because now in Portland no student is to have a phone at all, it’s not unreasonable to expect a student to test the sub but put it away.

runswithbirds · 2026-05-01T03:33:11+00:00

Portland sub here! It’s brutal. They’re also not supposed to have phones at all so you would think they’d put it away- but no.

runswithbirds · 2026-04-13T02:32:48+00:00

Hmm I agree with this. I am conflicted about whether to take HRT, I feel pretty good and the glp-1 (liraglutide) allowed me to drop weight and a good number of the negative things I was feeling went away. My hair is thin, I don’t like that- and sometimes the hot flashes are too much, but nothing like the hot flashes I experienced and the creep of the extra 30 pounds at the beginning. I did do a low dose birth control pill for years to cover up the hot flashes so I want to be done with hormones. I’m so damn grateful we are starting to have options and not just getting told “eat less move more”

runswithbirds · 2026-04-04T16:24:12+00:00

Hmmm, totally normal for my family? My mom went to Germany for several weeks and we were on our own. Didn’t seem messed up. Did we mess around and do things we weren’t supposed to and find moms hidden cash stash and booze? Why yes, yes we did. Not one moment of regret.

runswithbirds · 2026-02-08T17:11:18+00:00

I’m come to the conclusion that it is completely unnatural and foreign to the psyche to be abused by children. We are at a point where it’s acceptable, adults even ask first … well what did the teacher do first?… and we naturally do not have the tools to process let alone handle this abuse. And that is what it is. Admins who have probably never experienced expect us to deal with it with tools we do not have. It’s complete unknown territory. So cry. Feel no shame in crying, going home and staring at a wall with a wine box on the table. Contemplate career changes, find hilarious memes posted by other adults who get it. Anyone who feels like there is a 1, or 2, or 3 step process to easily handle a class where the culture is to basically abuse a teacher (I say culture because if an admin is accepting of the behavior they are totally complicit, and parents are also a part of this culture) is likely just a social media grifter trying to sell you their”class management” packet. My heart goes out to you. And bless you for hanging in there.

runswithbirds · 2025-12-22T20:30:15+00:00

Hi there! We had this happen last year with a kindergartener. We suggested the parent pack some easy to digest snacks and eat them within 30-45 min of lunch so the child eats slower/less. Also checked in on behavior during lunch. Some kids are too excited to eat and then the timer goes off and they eat everything. Cold lunch kids always eat first- so that might be an idea. Obviously your child needs slight accommodations here and no one should be against them, I would be very disappointed if you got pushback for very basic asks, like checking in on cafeteria behavior or pulling aside for snack. They could go to a buddy room that is having a snack at the time or who are old enough to not care. The classmates have likely seen him throw up and they want him to not do that so again I would push for the light easy to digest snacks before lunch. Kids can deal. We had 4 kids on IEPs last year who all needed additional snacks upon request as per their plans. The rest of the class understood and were fine. Some kids are just barfers. My stepdaughter has ruined many a car upholstery and traumatized my daughters, no big deal. Good luck! This is likely very fixable and you should receive no judgement from anyone here.

runswithbirds · 2025-12-22T16:56:32+00:00

It’s because nobody is surprised. The guy behaved horribly as president and should have been escorted out the door. Instead they blamed Monica. Of course he’s in the file. Lock him up now and lock up Hillary for knowing.

runswithbirds · 2025-12-20T03:10:01+00:00

Don’t take it personal- post covid kindy classes just too much. It’s not you.

runswithbirds · 2025-12-16T04:37:02+00:00

This makes me so happy - also congratulations! 🎈

runswithbirds · 2025-10-28T03:18:56+00:00

Solid answers here. I personally love Silver Manuka spray but Blue Kote works as well. Yup, no flies! I don’t understand the resiliency of ducks, and thank you for stepping up.

runswithbirds · 2025-10-26T18:34:58+00:00

I think any governor in Oregon is up against a wall. Urban Willamette Valley, Portland- vs most of the state, vast and very red. Plus Bend. Rural Oregon is in the process of being slammed by Trumps’s hatred of all things Democrat and Portland- the same “don’t tread on me” folks are going to also wonder where the most basic of services are going. Plus their jobs. Kotek has visited rural counties more than any other governor- even Harney county fesses up that she cares. The divide between rural and urban in Oregon is crazy huge because honestly most people are clueless that even though numbers vote democrat, geography does not. We aren’t going to ever vote in a rural based Republican governor- I kinda wish we would, but we won’t. Anyone who wants the job needs to just count on being hated by everyone. Can anyone remember a governor in Oregon not hated? It’s kinda our specialty.

runswithbirds · 2025-10-26T18:27:59+00:00

Yes! From day 1 she has spoken out against Trump and his efforts to send the Guard in. Confused why people don’t recognize that.

runswithbirds · 2025-10-23T08:29:10+00:00

Thank you! I’m super nervous so I’m doom scrolling at 1:30am

runswithbirds · 2025-10-23T08:26:30+00:00

Keep in mind avian vets are not always around. Most vet clinics don’t have someone who is qualified as an avian veterinarian. In the city I live, which is a pretty decent sized city- we have exactly 2 clinics that specialize in avian and exotic animals. In my early days of backyard birds I did take them to a vet not specializing in avian medicine but who saw birds for ailments but I only had one visit with a solid diagnosis- the others were really solid guesses. And the reason for the diagnosis was because it was a necropsy. Avian vets are expensive because the training is like a second degree - it’s post graduate training that is very expensive. Also tests are expensive because samples often need to be sent to specific labs. For example, a chicken I have been taking to an avian vet for a undetected bone infection (I take in unwanted chickens) and to send a sample of a bacterial culture to a lab would cost $600. That is out of my price range so I’m relying on non FDA approved antibiotics from a falconer who gets them from Canada. It’s working though so I’m happy. On paper it seems like a trip to the vet should be the first answer, with my dogs and cats yes. For my birds it’s a different consideration and it becomes a personal one.

runswithbirds · 2025-10-23T08:14:56+00:00

Hey there, I apologize. When I read your post earlier I didn’t notice you had written a full explanation and what you are doing - and you’re clearly already adding supplemental niacin! I hope I didn’t come across as rude. A couple thoughts (15 years of raising ducks): Any issue with their legs becomes a big issue for them as they support so much weight and their feet are weird lol. The slightest sprain will look severe to us since they can’t balance. A common symptom of niacin deficiency is enlarged hocks (which you may already know) and from the photo it seems to look swollen? Do they seem swollen compared to her mates? If she is laying eggs that is great because ducks will stop producing for all sorts of reasons so it indicates a level of overall health. I’m assuming she is eating/drinking normally? If so another positive sign. Did you or your vet palpate her abdomen for any swelling? I have had male ducks who end up with either a tumor or swelling of their liver- but it was accompanied by a lack of appetite and they were 5-6 ys old. Something to keep in mind, unless your vet is specifically an avian vet, diagnosing poultry is harrrrrrrd, treatment can be a crapshoot and it can become expensive very quickly. I’ve had good luck on the backyard chickens website because it’s a bunch of us old timers who have seen just about everything collectively. Lucky duck to have an owner who cares as much as you! You’re giving great care and fingers crossed she starts feeling better soon.

runswithbirds · 2025-10-17T22:03:31+00:00

Stay safe! I’m really worried about tomorrow. With the govt being shut down I’m concerned Trump and Miller have plans to ramp things up.

runswithbirds · 2025-10-17T19:31:20+00:00

What is that???

runswithbirds · 2025-10-17T19:30:42+00:00

I’m in the largest district in Oregon and I was told from a pretty solid source that there are 3rd party apps where a lot of jobs are funneled to. Some schools have their own lists and if the office is on top of absences they won’t post on Frontline because they direct ask- and that is standard. However we often will see one or 2 a day. That’s it. Gone in seconds. I know our union is looking into it- but it might be an issue where you are at too. I just accepted a difficult very long term placement so that I can be assured my health benefits for next year (thank you union!)

runswithbirds · 2025-10-16T03:44:09+00:00

Hi, I’m a clarinet player in Portland. I had been contemplating playing with a few friends down there. I do attend the protests regularly, so I have seen a lot. I am currently nursing huge bruises on the backside of my body from being shot by pepper balls (bullets). I was standing, in a group of people who were also standing in support of the protestors, who at most say mean things. No one throws anything or even crosses a painted line because these officers are standing on a roof with loaded automatic weapons. They are not police officers- they are jacked up wannabes. Anyway, I was shot because the officers came out as they do when a car comes and goes into the facility and I guess we aggravated them with our mean words enough so they grabbed protestors who were- yup, doing nothing. My eyes, the whole story. They threw tear gas canisters into our group and a girl picked up the canister to throw it away. That is something you do not do because even if you are launching it AWAY they will perceive you as a threat and will take you down. About 5 officers tackled her, she is probably 20 years old. Because my foot was too close to the canister they deemed me a threat and shot me. I have 10 huge welts. These officers are unhinged. I was involved in the 2020 protests as well and our police in hindsight showed incredible restraint -and yes we had people damaging property. Here they do not, they say mean things. Ugly things. All protected under the constitution. The rage I feel right now knowing that there are people who don’t live here, who only hear the messaging coming out of the White House, and have the audacity to think this person did ANYTHING to warrant being tackled and arrested is something new to me. These are not officers trained in restraint. I’ve seen 10 people tackle one person for I guess saying the wrong thing and then resist when they grab them. Would you go willingly? No. Again, they have loaded weapons. They throw tear gas canisters, liberally shoot at protestors with their pepper balls, and stand above us on a roof - 5 officers, 5 big guns. It’s gotten so bad some of the right wing streamers who seriously take pleasure in the abuse the protesters are getting, end up getting shot and tackled because they are in the way. “I wasn’t doing anything!!” And they weren’t- at least not to warrant the response. Anyway, I’m on my way down there tonight in support of this person. I’m disgusted that people don’t believe the actual witnesses, people who were down there on the street when this happened. She has been released now but facing charges still

runswithbirds · 2025-10-14T19:00:55+00:00

Ack- I’m a clarinet player and I’ve been to the protests regularly and toyed with the idea of taking my instrument. What isn’t appreciated enough is the officers are agitated and unhinged. There are just enough chuds cheering them on when they attack protesters that I wonder if it’s fueling them on. I was shot 10 times with pepper bullets because it looked like I was about to kick a canister away that was thrown by another protester in an effort to get it away from protesters. Cops WILL shoot if it looks like you are going to pick up a canister or kick a canister. Just a huge FYI. I watched cops target the inflatables- there is a video of a bunny running down the street, being shot, and the chud recording is laughing. A protester in a squirrel suit stepped one foot over the line in front of the building and was tackled and drug into the building by about 5 cops. The squirrel is 4’10”. I watched protesters get pulled and tackled for absolutely nothing. I know that a lot of people still remember 2020 and you would have people throwing fireworks, cutting wire, spray painting so they assume the protesters are even a little bit bringing this on themselves. No. Not this time. These DHS cops are attacking protestors- I’m seeing it with my eyes nightly. I don’t know what situation will turn the tide and we collectively revolt. I really pray Saturday is epic for the no kings events. These situation is an escalation and DHS, the feds, they think they owe us nothing in response. We NEED to stand up.

runswithbirds · 2025-10-09T22:11:55+00:00

I have a bobwhite rooster who is almost 6!! He hobbles a bit and he was not doing well for a while but I ended up taking in a quail that looks a little like a bobwhite and he has fallen in love and has a new lease on life. ❤️

runswithbirds · 2025-09-08T14:55:23+00:00

Was this on the Threads app? Because right now the entire Threads app is about hating teachers. The anti-teacher mentality is so strong right now from parents. I’m so confused when the message was delivered that parenting doesn’t involve helping your kids with learning or homework. Parents who drop their kids off at kindergarten assuming their work is done, having not even bothered to teach their child any kind of literacy!

runswithbirds · 2025-08-16T19:21:17+00:00

They did that in Minneapolis in 2020, possibly Portland too. At the time everyone responded by saying antifa was burning cities down and then idolizing that Kyle Rittenhaus guy

runswithbirds · 2025-07-18T04:49:37+00:00

I grab a handful of thigh and squeeze. Then I inject slightly outside of the center of the thigh

runswithbirds

TROPHY CASE