13 Thursday for the Birds
1. This is the time of year when sitting on my own porch can make me feel guilty. We have a family of phoebe’s nesting in our rafters, and when we go out onto the porch the parents get all agitated and watch every move we make.
2. The birds are back…checking out the real estate…a high-rise nest on my porch rafter…A one room shelter inaccessible to cats…with southern exposure and a landing deck… The rest of the poem is here.
3. Several times in the last few days a bird has landed on my bird bath angel’s head, making the angel look like she has a hat on, something that Camilla Parker Bowles would wear. 
4. As someone who is 5 foot and 1 inch, I sometimes wonder what I might have done with all the time I’ve spent hemming pants and skirts if I didn’t have to do it.
5. Maybe if I was taller, I would have read more of the classics.
6. Someone else on the search for 13? I took this photo at Nantasket Beach in Hull, Massachusetts and used it first in an earlier 13 Thursday. I guess the internet is all about sharing.
7. Most days I blog in my blue terrycloth bathrobe or a sweater and sweat pants, but last week I was trying on clothes to wear to my son’s fiancé’s nursing school graduation when I got sidetracked at the computer and found myself all dressed-up and blogging. For a few minutes, I pretended I was working in an office.
8. As far as I know my computer has a language of 3 sounds. There’s a high pitched sound to announce something new, a low bass sound when I’ve forgotten to do something, and a deep foreboding gong that seems to say “Wrong,” “Go Back Now While You Still Can,” and makes me feel like I’m getting voted off the island.
9. Number 13 in my “100 Things About Me” says: I wore a black crow feather in my hair for one whole summer.
10. And number 33 says: If I was a bird, my call would be: A Loud Yawn.
11. On the way to my neighbor’s, I occasionally spot a mountain bluebird or an indigo bunting. Whenever I do I feel as if I’ve been blessed by bluebird of happiness, and I think about the movie KPAX. In it Kevin Spacey plays a guy in a mental hospital, who may or may not be from outer-space. Things get interesting when KPAX starts treating his fellow patients. He tells one to watch for the bluebird of happiness, and so the man watches from the window each day. When he finally does see a bluebird, he’s cured and checks out of the hospital. Bluebirds can have that affect, you know?
12. I feel a big sense of accomplishment when I have a day where I remember to listen to the birds chirp.
13. Having a birthday sure can increase blog comment traffic. Thanks to everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday yesterday and to Sage for reminding me that Ayatollah Khomeni (also born on May 17th) is dead.
Comments
Utenzi had a birthday yesterday, too, Colleen. You are in good company!
I love #5!!! I am 5'10" and I spent a lot of time in my youth taking out hems and making them longer. I didn't read all the classics either....LOLOLOL
Posted by: kenju | May 18, 2006 8:21 AM
Happy belated birthday!!!I am 5'2, I know about hemming pants. Lovely poem about the birds (nice interruption of the regular blog program!). Happy TT :)
Posted by: mar | May 18, 2006 8:37 AM
I am with you on the hemming thing. It is SO frustrating. Sometimes even petite lengths are too long.
Happy Birthday....a little late but sincere!
My list is up.
Posted by: Jane | May 18, 2006 8:42 AM
Ha. A bird hat. Like Camilla. Ha!
Posted by: Carmen | May 18, 2006 8:55 AM
Happy belated birthday. Love your comment about being taller would have led to reading the classic. You're a classic and a wonderful read. My TT is.
Posted by: Lazy Daisy | May 18, 2006 9:18 AM
I'm glad my little piece of trival brought a smile to you!
The birds are eating like crazy, but now that spring has finally come up here, it's nice to see a lot of new faces at the feeders.
Posted by: sage | May 18, 2006 9:25 AM
KPAX! I loved that movie, thanks for reminding me about it, and for visiting my 13 :-)
Posted by: Janet | May 18, 2006 9:26 AM
Happy belated Birthday!!::) I will have to look for bluebirds and see how they make me feel. I will be planting a flower that attract humming birds and butterflys. Dont see to many of them in the city so I hope they work!
Posted by: Shannon | May 18, 2006 9:29 AM
Happy belated Birthday!!::) I will have to look for bluebirds and see how they make me feel. I will be planting a flower that attract humming birds and butterflys. Dont see to many of them in the city so I hope they work!mytt are up
Posted by: Shannon | May 18, 2006 9:30 AM
Happy birthday. I love the sound of birds early in the morning.
Posted by: Robin | May 18, 2006 9:32 AM
Oh me too.........#4. I've done so much 'taking up' with the hems it's unbelievable.
Great T T
Mine is up
Posted by: Wystful1 | May 18, 2006 9:37 AM
I see bluebirds nearly every day here in the summer; it does lift your spirits. I got tired of the limited language of my computer and changed it. Now when I do something wrong it says "Good grief" and "Bummer".
Posted by: Leslie | May 18, 2006 9:59 AM
You crack me up! I'm sorry that I missed your birthday, Happy Belated Birthday, my fine Irish friend! I can just see you, 29 years young and all secretarial, blogging away on your front porch wearing a big floofy bird hat while the nesters chirp their protective little heads off!
Okay seriously, that's the kind of stuff that happens in my overactive imagination.
Happy Thursday!!
Posted by: Leanne | May 18, 2006 10:15 AM
Happy Belated Birthday!!!!! I'm so sorry I missed it! Wow, May is a popular month for b-days! Kris' is the 6th, Whitney's is the 10th, and my mom's is the 12th. I've known so many people with a birthday in May! We own the movie KPAX. Very good movie!!!
Posted by: TammyB. | May 18, 2006 10:20 AM
Happy late b-day! My T13 is up too!
Posted by: Sonya | May 18, 2006 10:22 AM
Happy Birthday Friend, My bird experiece for the week was sneaking the chick into the hotel we were staying in over my daughters graduation. Rode the elevator with the peeping chicks in a box and darned if the security guard didnt get on on the next floor-they stayed in my bathtub upon arriving home and then they have been passed on to some home schoolers to enjoy until that ceases and then outside they go. Enjoy your week Collen, Be Blessed
Posted by: Red Queen | May 18, 2006 11:10 AM
I had never had to hem pants in my life, I am 5'8", until recently. With all these tall girls now my pants become longer and longer when I buy them.
I love the Indigo Bunting, he is one of mine and Martin's faves and I do always think of happiness when I see him.
I hope you had a splendid birthday Colleen.
Posted by: Deana | May 18, 2006 12:10 PM
A Belated Happy Birthday, Colleen. Sorry I missed it yesterday.
Another wonderful Thursday 13...I truly enjoy yours so very much...One of these days I've got to get back to doing it even if I'm not a "member"...Come by and see my 'new' look, if you get a chance.
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | May 18, 2006 1:14 PM
I'm sorry I missed your birthday!
Loved your bird topic. I had lunch outside today. I am so sure I saw a swallow, but Glenn says I've been saying that since April and he still doesn't think so.
Posted by: lisa | May 18, 2006 1:25 PM
wow...you love birds huh? I remember as a child, the call of the birds in the spring, even though we lived in a bigger city...My TT is up, please visit
Posted by: PowersTwinB~Becci | May 18, 2006 1:52 PM
Nice T13 I love birds too! My two are singing out on the porch as I write this. =Mix)
Posted by: Margie Mix | May 18, 2006 2:15 PM
Number seven made me snort at loud. At *my* office.
:-)
Posted by: Jennifer | May 18, 2006 4:24 PM
Very nice
Posted by: d.challener roe | May 18, 2006 5:33 PM
Good list. I'm laughing at this one:
7. Most days I blog in my blue terrycloth bathrobe or a sweater and sweat pants, but last week I was trying on clothes to wear to my son’s fiancé’s nursing school graduation when I got sidetracked at the computer and found myself all dressed-up and blogging. For a few minutes, I pretended I was working in an office.
Posted by: Kathy | May 18, 2006 7:35 PM
My 13 are finally back....
Maybe I will sell a few of your books while I'm at it!
Luv ya!
Posted by: Chrissie | May 18, 2006 8:43 PM
Perhaps it is Camilla sitting atop your angel's head...
-TL of CheapChocolate
Posted by: TL | May 18, 2006 8:45 PM
#12
Aren't we all so guilty of not taking time out to do little pleasure things for ourselves? It's just not right... Good that you have something like that that makes you feel like you did something for you.
Posted by: angela | May 18, 2006 9:25 PM
Wow time flies. Whenever I see your Thursday 13, I think "Has a week really went by since the last 13?"
Posted by: Mayberry | May 18, 2006 9:54 PM
Ach, I missed a couple days and you went and had a BD?!?
Happy belated! I'm sure it was a great one.
Good you've determined your #8. I don't know what my beeps are trying to tell me. :-)
Posted by: Pearl | May 18, 2006 10:21 PM
Happy Birthday Yesterday!
Posted by: Terri West | May 18, 2006 11:20 PM
A loud yawn, I love it!
How did you keep the crow feather in your hair?
Oh yeah, Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Jen | May 18, 2006 11:29 PM
Your most creative post yet. So, charmingly funny!! You lifted my spirits on this Friday where I will dress up and go work at my computer in an office.
Posted by: Tabor | May 19, 2006 5:24 AM
Happy Birthday, belated.
Yes, those hats at that royal wedding, looked like a congregation of brightly colored birds.
Posted by: srp | May 19, 2006 1:47 PM
Hey, is that why they call women "birds" in England?! (A Brit's take on what we would call "chicks," also birds!?)
Posted by: colleen | May 19, 2006 1:52 PM