Sometimes I get myself into the most absurd situations somehow. I don’t go out looking for trouble or anything, but it sure feels like I’m on the search for something troublesome considering how often that’s the outcome. I often take on odd jobs to earn extra cash for instance, which can sometimes be more hassle than they are worth in the long run. For many years I’ve confidently watched people’s homes and animals while they went away on lavish vacations, for instance, so why wouldn’t I also agree to take on a birdwatching job when it was proposed to me by a coworker? I have some experience with birds, so I figured it would be no big deal to stop in and care for their avian pals. What I didn’t realize was how sensitive their pets would be to the indoor air quality. You see, when I first stopped in to feed and water the feathered friends, the air felt very thick, hot, and humid. I could barely breathe when the stuffy air combined with the general bird stench, so I went over to turn on the AC system for a little extra ventilation in the house. Everything was fine when I heard the AC unit kick into gear and the air began rushing through the air intake vent towards the cooling system. It was another moment, however, before the high quality treated indoor air started to flow out from the air vents all around us. Just as I stuck my head into a large cage to clean out the dirty droppings, the AC started to wash through the room. Just then, the birds began to panic over the flow of cold air. Everyone began flapping their wings, screeching, and jumping all over the cages – including the bird I was trying to care for. Five stitches later, I knew better than to operate the AC system while I was interacting with the birds.