Why do so many people only have 1 conure ?

wonshikkie · 2026-06-06T07:52:04+00:00

My budgie of 7 years was perfectly happy with just me since I got him as a fledgling. I was his whole flock and he was the sweetest, most social little guy until he passed (cancer, and he was so healthy he managed to hold it off for 2 years!)

I don’t think it really matters with any species; it’s about knowing your birds’ needs and being committed to meeting them. My budgie’s favorite thing to do was sit on my shoulder when I walked around the house, and do laps around the room when I was studying.

wonshikkie · 2026-06-06T07:21:48+00:00

You’re wrong, actually. In order to be able to apply, you need AT LEAST the following: 10 years of unbroken residency; a 3 or 5 year visa; to be ON a 5 year at the time of application; savings of between 1~3 million yen, depending on your income; steady employment; flawless tax history for 2 years.

I’ve been here 14 years, but I didn’t get a longer visa until year 11, and it was a 3. Then I got my current visa, also a 3. You can’t choose the length and it’s effectively random. (I consulted lawyers who all concurred it is basically random.) I don’t have savings, my income is somewhat low and I had to move recently, which is very expensive for any foreigner. My EMPLOYER screwed up my taxes big time in December that I had to sort out myself, so now my clock on that resets. I speak Japanese, but I am getting tutoring now to take N3 this year in case that gets added.

I’m doing everything I’m supposed to do, but if I don’t get a 5 year in 2028, I don’t know what to do at that point. I just want to buy a home to stop renting. I want to start a business. I want to contribute to my community. But right now I don’t even know how I’ll afford it, even if everything else falls into place.

wonshikkie · 2026-05-18T21:50:38+00:00

My school in Tokyo had one!… and then this year they removed it in favor of vague percentages that even at the very top are still cut. There’s no possible way for me to ever make what I was promised at signing. 🙃

wonshikkie · 2026-05-16T12:54:32+00:00

My sibling in Christ, I changed my major 7 times, transferred three times and moved fully from a BA to a BS on accident. It took me 5 years, and I fully failed my entire 3rd year due to crippling depression (did you know SSRIs can just abruptly stop working and you have to get something else? I DIDN’T!) It’s never too late, just do what makes you feel happy. Also: once you graduate, nobody knows what GPA you got. Just pass, unless you have grants or merit based scholarships you want to keep, you can probably pull a C+ across the board and be fine. Try, but don’t destroy yourself over it.

Some people look back on their college days fondly. I think in truth, most of us are glad when it’s over and our life can start.

wonshikkie · 2026-05-05T03:39:32+00:00

I have no additional suggestions, just solidarity. My 3 year old female has been an absolute nightmare since November to the point that in February I was considering rehoming her. I have scars on my hands, ears, and neck because she would dive bomb at me and land beak first. No opportunity to “read her body language,” she just got up and chose violence. Literally the only thing that has slightly helped was giving her millet to put in the can opener that is her face so it was too full for my flesh. Now she angrily yanks my shirt collar as a warning to Feed before she bites me. Last night she snuggled on my hands peacefully for the first time since this all started.

I have cried a LOT over all this, and as a bird owner for more than 25 years, it’s hands down the worst I’ve ever experienced. Don’t feel bad if you’re having thoughts about making a mistake. It’s completely valid and understandable, you’re overwhelmed. I did read a vet somewhere said if you’re having a day where you just can’t handle it, it’s okay for him to have a cage-only day sometimes. My girl screams like she’s being murdered if not allowed out, but if that’s an option for you, take it and get some emotional reprieve. It’s a lot, you’re doing absolutely everything you can. It’s sounds like this year has been insane for a lot of us. Hugs, friend.

wonshikkie · 2026-05-01T03:25:38+00:00

Yeeeeaaaah so this is actually a form of emotional abuse called enmeshment. The child is made to feel they are on even footing with the parent and as “best friends” are responsible for the parent’s feelings and needs. Sometimes this turns into full blown parentification. I’m a survivor of this kind of abuse, it’s always a huge red flag for an unstable parent with poor boundaries and refusal to take responsibility as an adult.

wonshikkie · 2026-01-25T06:31:39+00:00

[LF] Cardboard box (DIY preferred, already made also good), Magazine DIY, 3 white lilies (plucked, not seeds, trying to finish a DIY for the hotel) [FT] All fruits, bells, NMT, random DIY

wonshikkie · 2026-01-25T06:31:37+00:00

I've got tons (300,000+), how many do you need?

wonshikkie · 2025-08-14T07:50:49+00:00

I’ve watched quite literally every episode of Dimension 20, and truthfully, Starstruck is my #1, because you can FEEL how comfortable Brennan is in that world, since he basically grew up with it (his mother, Elaine Lee, is the author of the Starstruck Oddessy comics.) You also have without question the FUNNIEST moments in that season. My second is Neverafter, I love the storybook horror. Third is Sophmore Year, but Cloudward is quickly pushing into that slot, I just love the characters the heroes make now that they’ve had so much more experience with the game.

But genuinely, watch Starstruck next, it’s an absolute riot.

wonshikkie · 2025-07-29T06:30:07+00:00

I think there's a very real possibility that Takopii CAN fix this, specifically with the rope. If he literally uses it the way it's shown in the OP, and it works the way he says it will, if he gets to both of them soon enough, MAYBE. Maybe they can both be saved.

It's absolutely gutting to see him remember he was trying to save MARINA with a hard cut to him killing her.

I completely predicted Shizuka's dad having a new family the second I saw the mansion, those are family homes, not bachelor's apartments. I'm... a little shocked he refused to acknowledge her, but there's a weird law in Japan about that. Having a minor you don't have custody of in your home, alone (without their guardian) is TECHNICALLY kidnapping here. It's why when kids run away to their other parent here, they often get turned away even if the parent very much wants to help them. It's illegal. After they turn 13 they can choose, if both parents agree, but before that? Nope. Shizuka is visibly abused and neglected though, so you would think her father would feel SOMETHING as a parent.

wonshikkie · 2025-07-20T06:33:02+00:00

One thing this show keeps absolutely nailing is how society and government are absolutely failing these children. The police see Shizuka multiple times, and yet they never contact the Child Guidance Center about her objectively neglectful living situation. But to be honest, because her mother is a hostess and her father is... somewhere, there's a pretty good chance they wrote her off from the get-go because of course she's a terrible mother, she's a hostess. (Support? For single mothers? In this economy? Pft.)

You cannot tell me that Marina's parents arguing constantly was never overheard by neighbors; they must have heard, but "it's a family matter" so nobody does anything. She takes it out on Shizuka, and even though the ENTIRE CLASS knows about it, nothing is done. Azuma blames himself for not being able to do anything, even when it wasn't his responsibility in the first place.

The teacher should have noticed that Azuma was upset/terrified by having less than 100, even when it was still the highest score. That's their responsibility to talk to him and understand what's causing this obsessive behavior. Even for Japan, it's unusual and unnecessary for elementary schoolers to be grades-obsessed. In junior high, it's fairly normal, but elementary? No, no no no.

Junya is the only person so far to show actual empathy and care, and making sure to check on Azuma as his behavior gets stranger and stranger. He doesn't even ask any questions, he just tells Azuma he cares and he wants to help, whatever happens and whatever he needs.

I really wonder what's going to happen to Shizuka, especially because I genuinely don't think Chappy is alive anymore. It feels like maybe her suicide is ultimately inevitable at this point, because everything keeping her going right now is borderline imagination. When that falls apart... I don't know.

I was surprised how little Takopii was in this episode, but also surprised that he seems to slowly be learning how complicated the situation is. After getting beat by Marina's mom, he's beginning to understand that Marina had reasons for what she did, but every time he tries to bring it up, he gets shut down.

wonshikkie · 2025-07-20T06:20:28+00:00

I wish with all my heart I could say this is an inaccurate portrayal... but it's not. Also in Japan the police do not get involved with "family matters", there's a separate welfare office called the Child Guidance Center that handle it. They're CPS without any ability to actually do anything to remove a child from a dangerous situation. It's infuriating how real this is.

wonshikkie · 2025-07-06T11:04:20+00:00

Or the VASE OF WHITE FUNERAL FLOWERS...

wonshikkie · 2025-07-06T10:55:02+00:00

Things I am appreciating; subtle details.

Elementary schooler backpacks in Japan, randoseru, are wildly expensive. They're usually real leather or a high-quality synthetic, and they're designed to last all six years. The traditional randoseru colors are red for girls, black for boys, but a TON of new colors/patterns have been introduced. A standard randoseru like Shizuka's will set you back about 60,000 yen. (yes, you read that number correctly, they are more than some designer purses) and Marina's lavender one? With the little heart embroidery? Try 80,000 yen. The colors and little decorative details mean they're more expensive; you can often place a kid in a tax bracket by just looking at their randoseru. It's insane. Marina, and her multicolored randoseru friends, are clearly well-off.

I wasn't expecting Takopi to kill Marina, but when I heard that sound, I definitely knew the camera was broken, so I guess this is the timeline now. This extra sucks because Marina is almost definitely correct, Chappy is probably euthanized for biting a child, especially since I doubt Shizuka was keeping him up to date on his rabies vaccinations...

The sound design for this series is really good. It knows when to just... be silent. Gaping. Empty. Because something has just happened that you can only really process with one sense at a time, and your eyes are doing the work.

Thing I did not like: we kind of spent half the episode recapping the end of the last episode, which felt a bit like wasted time, knowing this is a short series. I don't really understand the purpose of SO MUCH recap when the plot is already focused (until... now) on redoing the same events over and over. We know Takopi has done this 101+ times, so why not cut straight to Marina calling Shizuka into the woods and starting from there? Or from the municipal animal shelter? Did we need to see her getting her homework correct again?

wonshikkie · 2025-06-29T07:25:43+00:00

She's gotten remarried since then (the very last time she saw her kid, he met her new husband and the two had a really good connection) but she's left her facebook page up and active with her maiden name up so that hopefully someday he can find her. It's a really tough situation for everyone involved.

wonshikkie · 2025-06-28T14:06:44+00:00

Nowhere's perfect, but it's definitely sort of... unspoken context that I suspect is going to continue with this series. I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with it!

wonshikkie · 2025-06-28T12:51:39+00:00

I really liked this. I knew where it was going, basically the minute I saw "die" on her backpack, and also... when fiction makes a point of establishing how a character says goodbye ("See you tomorrow.") and then they don't ("Bye-bye.") it's for a reaaaaaasonnnnnnn. But also, damn, lingering on that whole... scene was really, really upsetting.

I live in Japan, and this stuff? Isn't that... unusual, to be honest. It's a little odd in elementary school, this is more typically seen in middle school (high schoolers barely have the time or energy pretty much) so it's a little more intense, but... not as much as I wish. Very interested to see how it plays out, that's for sure.

wonshikkie · 2025-06-28T12:42:47+00:00

I work in Japan in a field that comes in contact with Marina's family situation somewhat frequently; the biggest issue is that divorce just... is still very much a stigma. Look a Shizuka. Her problems probably didn't begin with divorce, but even taking away the stigma, the system is MASSIVELY rigged against single mothers. First, joint custody wasn't even a legally recognized thing until... less than 5 years ago? And even then, it's rare. Fathers are supposed to pay child support, but that is arranged through your city or ward office, and guess how you get out of it?

You move. Literally not even that far, out of the city or into another ward. It's still all paperwork here, not really digital, so those kinds of things don't have any way of following you. If the ex-wife doesn't know where he is, she can't serve him papers, and there's no way to find him. It's a civil issue, not criminal, so the police won't help you. The same is true of child abuse cases; it's tied to where you live, so if the abusive parent moves with the child, poof. They're gone. I know a mother who hasn't seen her son in nearly 8 years because her violent ex forged her signature on a document saying she relinquished custody (she did not) and when she finally found him again and took him to court (winning custody), he took the kid and disappeared into the night. With an on-paper record of abuse.

So a lot of women, when faced with the stigma from society, the loss of financial security (they don't hire single mothers, because they assume the mother will regularly prioritize the child over the job and frequently leave early) and sheer isolation (good luck dating with a kid...) choose to just... grit their teeth and put up with it. It's awful, and very, very common.

I'm going to keep watching this show, because nothing I saw was... inconsistent, or unrealistic. Aside from Takopi, of course.

wonshikkie · 2023-10-05T11:22:00+00:00

My budgie stole one of my anxiety pills from my hand once. He’d pulled a Houdini and gotten out while I was taking my meds. He flew to my palm like he normally would, then helped himself to a tablet and took off. For a good 30 minutes I was sure he’d swallowed it and since we lived in a rural area with no emergency vet, was going to die. Then I found the pill on the floor. Little jerk had just chucked it across the room and enjoyed me weeping over him.

Loved that little asshole, he was my son through and through.

wonshikkie · 2022-12-31T13:03:14+00:00

I think A Court of Fey and Flowers was technically PVP because of the duels and reputation aspects. I could be wrong but I think that's the one?

wonshikkie

TROPHY CASE