Lessons in the Key of Life
Viewing comments for Chapter 6 "Lookit the Birdie"A music and dance teacher's improvization
25 total reviews
Comment from Jeffrey L. Michaux
This is hilarious! I can understand this dilemma though. I think that most animals have the kind of heightened senses that detect fear. They sometimes react to it. I can't lie to you about this. I probably would have been cracking up at you, but, not to your face. I would have helped you deal with this feathered flying fury. I'm an animal person and get along fairly well with most of them. The calvary did save you though in a nick of time. I enjoyed this Rachelle. It made me smile broadly picturing this scene, arms flailing, etc. Very well done!
reply by the author on 08-May-2019
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This is hilarious! I can understand this dilemma though. I think that most animals have the kind of heightened senses that detect fear. They sometimes react to it. I can't lie to you about this. I probably would have been cracking up at you, but, not to your face. I would have helped you deal with this feathered flying fury. I'm an animal person and get along fairly well with most of them. The calvary did save you though in a nick of time. I enjoyed this Rachelle. It made me smile broadly picturing this scene, arms flailing, etc. Very well done!
Comment Written 08-May-2019
reply by the author on 08-May-2019
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I have to admit, Jeffrey, that it's a lot more enjoyable as a story on here than it was the night it happened. I've made lemonade from my lemons!
Thank you for the delightful review...and I totally understand why you would have laughed afterward but helped me deal with it while it was happening. You are very chivalrous, indeed. xo
Comment from Tpa
This item is absolutely perfect for me. I must enjoy every single aspect of the item. I must leave that particular item and feel like I would tell someone about it, think about it or refer to it with confidence later during the day. The Author has paid particular attention to the language used and the words were chosen. Every single grammar issue has been resolved and there are no spelling mistakes. I would highly recommend this item to a friend.
reply by the author on 08-May-2019
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This item is absolutely perfect for me. I must enjoy every single aspect of the item. I must leave that particular item and feel like I would tell someone about it, think about it or refer to it with confidence later during the day. The Author has paid particular attention to the language used and the words were chosen. Every single grammar issue has been resolved and there are no spelling mistakes. I would highly recommend this item to a friend.
Comment Written 08-May-2019
reply by the author on 08-May-2019
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Well, thank you, Tpa, for that ringing endorsement!! VERY much appreciated. xo
Comment from Sugarray77
What a fun and humorous read, Rachelle. I enjoyed your bravado and how you related it to us in this fun way. Well written and a joy to read.
Melissa
reply by the author on 08-May-2019
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What a fun and humorous read, Rachelle. I enjoyed your bravado and how you related it to us in this fun way. Well written and a joy to read.
Melissa
Comment Written 08-May-2019
reply by the author on 08-May-2019
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Thank you, Melissa. I appreciate your feedback and encouragement. xo
Comment from doggymad1
This was a fun read. Your images are vivid and the reader can almost see the scenario being played out.
I look forward to reading more of your posts very soon. You know what they say about working with animals and children lol
Freda
reply by the author on 07-May-2019
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This was a fun read. Your images are vivid and the reader can almost see the scenario being played out.
I look forward to reading more of your posts very soon. You know what they say about working with animals and children lol
Freda
Comment Written 07-May-2019
reply by the author on 07-May-2019
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Thank you, doggymad1. I appreciate this really nice review very much. xo
Comment from susand3022
Hi Rachelle! I think that in bird language, 'STAY!' must mean, "Attack the piano teacher at will you puffed-up pincushion!" What a fun read... I always enjoy hearing about your teaching escapades! :)
reply by the author on 06-May-2019
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Hi Rachelle! I think that in bird language, 'STAY!' must mean, "Attack the piano teacher at will you puffed-up pincushion!" What a fun read... I always enjoy hearing about your teaching escapades! :)
Comment Written 06-May-2019
reply by the author on 06-May-2019
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Hahaha. You must be right about that! Who knew! xo
Comment from Sandra du Plessis
A very well-written humorous story about the parrot that have no sense of being polite to visitors and rule his territory as he is accusto med to.
reply by the author on 06-May-2019
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A very well-written humorous story about the parrot that have no sense of being polite to visitors and rule his territory as he is accusto med to.
Comment Written 06-May-2019
reply by the author on 06-May-2019
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Ohhhh yeah!! He was top, um, dog for sure in THAT household!
Cute review, Sandra. Thank you. xo
Comment from Y. M. Roger
LOL! :) Oh, I had to laugh at this one because it brought back a memory of visiting my aunt when I was a little girl....my dad's sister had a parrot named 'Satchmo' (remember, I'm from Louisiana) and, of course, Aunt Anne's house was Satchmo's domain. One time when we got there, Satchmo was 'out' and my dad tried a similar thing to what you described here and Satchmo was having none of it! :) :) I laughed so hard at that bird fussing at and flying around my dad's head that I actually wet my pants (just a bit!) ... I was about 14 or 15 at the time. :) :) So, yeah, thanx for the laugh this morning, Beautiful Friend! :) ;) Yvette
reply by the author on 06-May-2019
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LOL! :) Oh, I had to laugh at this one because it brought back a memory of visiting my aunt when I was a little girl....my dad's sister had a parrot named 'Satchmo' (remember, I'm from Louisiana) and, of course, Aunt Anne's house was Satchmo's domain. One time when we got there, Satchmo was 'out' and my dad tried a similar thing to what you described here and Satchmo was having none of it! :) :) I laughed so hard at that bird fussing at and flying around my dad's head that I actually wet my pants (just a bit!) ... I was about 14 or 15 at the time. :) :) So, yeah, thanx for the laugh this morning, Beautiful Friend! :) ;) Yvette
Comment Written 06-May-2019
reply by the author on 06-May-2019
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HAHAHAHA!! My anxieties can be your source of pleasure any time, Yvette!! I just want you to be amused! : )
I couldn't love this review more. Thank you for the day-brightener. xo
Comment from Louise Michelle
LOL - this was another fun adventure (or should I say misadventure). Well, girl, I'm awarding this a six. It's not for you, it's for Claude, LOL. What a clever bird and a clever write as well. Hugs, Lou
reply by the author on 06-May-2019
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LOL - this was another fun adventure (or should I say misadventure). Well, girl, I'm awarding this a six. It's not for you, it's for Claude, LOL. What a clever bird and a clever write as well. Hugs, Lou
Comment Written 06-May-2019
reply by the author on 06-May-2019
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Claude says "BRAWWWK! THANK YOU, KIND LADY!!! I'LL NEVER CHASE A CLASSY WOMAN LIKE YOU AROUND MY LIVING ROOM!!"
Thanks, Lou! A delight, as always. xo
Comment from Mastery
Hi, Rach Great little yarn here for your book. It is almost to unbelievable to be true, and yet I have seen such birds in action and therefore nothing surprises me other than, why in the world did the student leave her bird out? Just to show off, I would imagine. LOL
I think I would have been a bit perturbed, especially if it went for my eyes.
Suggestion: I have always stressed and feel that it is vitally important to both start and finish each story with a good "hook" to draw the readers in. Check any and all of my chapters in my books, they will bare that out, I think, if you want an example.
In this case, I would have my first sentence or hook say:
"One night, Claude, my student's African gray parrot, waddled into the room where I was teaching."
And add on from there.
Bless you teacher. I would like to stay after school LOL Bob
Suggestions: I would break that first paragraph in two pieces.
reply by the author on 05-May-2019
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Hi, Rach Great little yarn here for your book. It is almost to unbelievable to be true, and yet I have seen such birds in action and therefore nothing surprises me other than, why in the world did the student leave her bird out? Just to show off, I would imagine. LOL
I think I would have been a bit perturbed, especially if it went for my eyes.
Suggestion: I have always stressed and feel that it is vitally important to both start and finish each story with a good "hook" to draw the readers in. Check any and all of my chapters in my books, they will bare that out, I think, if you want an example.
In this case, I would have my first sentence or hook say:
"One night, Claude, my student's African gray parrot, waddled into the room where I was teaching."
And add on from there.
Bless you teacher. I would like to stay after school LOL Bob
Suggestions: I would break that first paragraph in two pieces.
Comment Written 05-May-2019
reply by the author on 05-May-2019
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Haha. Thanks for the feedback, Bob. xo
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:) Good job. Bob
Comment from Michele Harber
FSBFF, this story is very enjoyable, particularly because there's so much of your verbally playful sense of humor in evidence ("Rhodes Scholar vocabulary," "feathered missile," "my cavalry," "my attacker," "no longer had flight privileges").
The only problem I had with this story (you didn't think I'd let you get off that easily, did you?) was that you didn't introduce it. You essentially assumed that the reader had read your previous chapters or, at least, the last one. You can introduce the story and Tiki the gerbil in one sentence, i.e., "When I teach music at people's homes, house pets like Tiki the gerbil ... ."
That change is necessary for the chapter to work as a free-standing post. This next - and, yes, last - suggestion is just that, a suggestion, not a necessity. I just think this will help punch up a line. You said that gerbils and the like "make me want to scream. Literally. But so do creatures with feathers ... . They, in fact, make me run and duck ... ." If you were to say, "but not so creatures with feathers," you would mislead the reader into thinking you were okay with birds, then you hit them with the one-two punch of your not only being frightened by the birds but, in fact, its being a worse fear than that engendered by the various rodents. If this were a stand-up comedy act, it would sound something like, "birds don't make me want to scream [beat, beat], they make me run and duck and flail my arms a lot!" Anyway, that's my suggestion to do with as you will. It is in no way a make it or break it issue for your story.
reply by the author on 05-May-2019
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FSBFF, this story is very enjoyable, particularly because there's so much of your verbally playful sense of humor in evidence ("Rhodes Scholar vocabulary," "feathered missile," "my cavalry," "my attacker," "no longer had flight privileges").
The only problem I had with this story (you didn't think I'd let you get off that easily, did you?) was that you didn't introduce it. You essentially assumed that the reader had read your previous chapters or, at least, the last one. You can introduce the story and Tiki the gerbil in one sentence, i.e., "When I teach music at people's homes, house pets like Tiki the gerbil ... ."
That change is necessary for the chapter to work as a free-standing post. This next - and, yes, last - suggestion is just that, a suggestion, not a necessity. I just think this will help punch up a line. You said that gerbils and the like "make me want to scream. Literally. But so do creatures with feathers ... . They, in fact, make me run and duck ... ." If you were to say, "but not so creatures with feathers," you would mislead the reader into thinking you were okay with birds, then you hit them with the one-two punch of your not only being frightened by the birds but, in fact, its being a worse fear than that engendered by the various rodents. If this were a stand-up comedy act, it would sound something like, "birds don't make me want to scream [beat, beat], they make me run and duck and flail my arms a lot!" Anyway, that's my suggestion to do with as you will. It is in no way a make it or break it issue for your story.
Comment Written 05-May-2019
reply by the author on 05-May-2019
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Alright! Thank you for this valuable feedback. I will give it more thought later tonight when I have some spare time. xo
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I?ll look forward to hearing what you think. Have a great evening.