13 Thursday: For the Record
1. A haiku a day keeps the “roses are red violets are blue” blues away.
2. Where do poems come from? Some lines just come and you follow them. Others you have to dig.
3. I use to wonder when I’d be too old to sit on the sidewalk. Now I know it’s when you can’t get back up. I learned this recently while I was dealing with a bad back.
4. What I haven’t mentioned until now is that on the same day that Hillary Clinton's and Barack Obama’s Roanoke speaking engagements were cancelled due to high winds, brush fires spreading, and the Roanoke airport closing, we had an electrical fire in our computer room caused by a broken lamp that was still plugged in and a surge of electricity. The fire alarm probably saved our house but the room is covered with a layer of white 9/11-like fire extinguisher dust and smells like a toxic waste dump. 
5. I went to the Hillary pre-primary rally (which was ultimately cancelled) with my friend Mara. At first I was hesitant about going. I had to be reminded about the significance of Hillary being the first female candidate to get this far, and I was still upset about her vote for the Iraq war. But Mara knows how to get me to go anywhere with her. All she has to say is, “Don’t you want to blog about it?”
6. From Thirteen Thursday February 2005: My first act of guerilla graffiti with my new label gun was to print up labels on bright red tape saying “I love you” and then stick them on certain people’s briefcases, cars, cards and such. I’ve decided that my graffiti tag is XOXO.
7. My new favorite word: frippery. Frappe is pretty good too.
8. I’ve always gotten the words bizarre and bazaar mixed up, probably because Bostonians pronounce them the same.
9. Probably the only Beatle’s song I never liked was the one called Revolution Number 9 in which someone repeats over an over “Number 9 ... Number 9 ... Number 9 ... Number 9."
10. When I was a little girl I used to tell my dad that I loved him 60. I guess it was the biggest number I knew.
11. Have you ever noticed that road speed limits match the speed of life? When you’re young time passes slow from 0 -20 mph. 45 mph is pretty comfortable, like middle age. At 55 life starts going pretty fast and after 65 it all pretty much whizzes by.
12. A clock is a man-made orbit … that paces its own cage … Round like a planet … made in its image … A mechanical nightingale of gilded numbers … is an excerpt from a poem I once performed with a troupe called Women of the 7th Veil. We did improv dance to Dave Matthew’s “Two Step” while the poem was being read. Let the clock stop … It’s hypnotic talk … Let the clock stop … Let it stop … Let it stop … Turn it off.
13. Watch time STOP at Grand Central Station HERE. .
Thursday headquarters is here. My other 13's are here. View more 13 Thursday’s here. The first photo is one I took at the cancelled Hillary rally of hannel 13 interviewing an attendee.
Comments
How true number 11 is. Great list. Happy Valentine's Day!
Posted by: Adelle Laudan | February 13, 2008 9:20 PM
What a surprise! I clicked to watch time stop in Grand Central Station and ... found myself home on my own blog!
Posted by: Bonnie Jacobs | February 13, 2008 10:07 PM
Ha! It's a small cyber world.
Posted by: colleen | February 13, 2008 10:09 PM
Love your rule about sitting on the sidewalk---too true.
I wish I could have seen Hillary speak. Thanks to the DNC, nobody campaigned in Florida during this historic primary season. :}
Mine:
Landscapes & Cityscapes
Posted by: Damozel | February 13, 2008 10:39 PM
The speed limit out here is 75. No comment. ;-)
Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow, Colleen!
Posted by: SunnySchlenger | February 13, 2008 10:45 PM
Sorry to hear about your computer room, but I'm delighted you're all ok.
You mean "Revolution 9" during which someone repeats "Number 9" over and over?
Posted by: Nicholas | February 13, 2008 11:38 PM
#3 had me laugh and was very easy to relate to.
#4 had me concerned. This must have been scary for you.
Posted by: Coll | February 13, 2008 11:39 PM
Oh, that one about sitting on the sidewalk really got to me! Ted & I were painting the baseboards a few months back when we noticed that we weren't as quick at getting up and down as we used to be.
But I refuse to give in. Let's make a pact to sit on sidewalks till we're ninety--as long as there's someone around to help us up!
Posted by: patry | February 13, 2008 11:41 PM
Hi Colleen,
I had to laugh at your comment about realizing you could no longer sit on the ground when you could no longer get up! I'm still limping around, but getting better...however, I'm totally petrified of slipping on the ice and snow again and walk like I'm 110 years old! I guess this may be a clue that I need to move to a warmer climate!
Happy TT -- have a great Valentine's Day!
Posted by: Lara | February 14, 2008 1:30 AM
Wtching Time Stop at Grand Central was fascinating....!
So, how was it hearing Hilary speak, or was that the speech that got canceled?
A Very Happy Valentines Day to you and Joe, Colleen....! Have a lovely loving day!
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | February 14, 2008 4:56 AM
Another great 13! I have a theory regarding the relativity of time too. I call it the "bathtub drain theory": life is like water going down the bathtub drain...the less there's left, the faster it goes down. Sorry to hear about your fire. I know from experience (work vs home thank goodness)about how it can smell. Good that you were home!
Happy Valentine's Day! And oh, yes...are your ears burning? They should be. Come see why at http://spatter.typepad.com/spatter/2008/02/twice-honored.html
Posted by: June | February 14, 2008 5:47 AM
Happy Valentines! I am glad your fire was no more than it was. But I am sorry about the mess. It may be a while before you stop smelling the electrical smoke smell. Yikes.
Posted by: CountryDew | February 14, 2008 6:56 AM
i see you are into F words - goodies happy hearts day
Posted by: sandy kessler | February 14, 2008 7:02 AM
Glad the fire wasn't worse than it was! But wow, scary!
I love reading these Thursday 13 things about bloggers. It's fun to get to know the person behind the blog.
Posted by: kacey | February 14, 2008 8:59 AM
okay, it ate my reply. Maybe. Unless two comments show up.
Glad your fire wasn't worse! But it's still very scary. (um, what else did I say before my comment went away?)
I really enjoy reading Thursday 13 posts. You get to know the person behind the blog.
Posted by: kacey | February 14, 2008 9:02 AM
That freezing hoax is the coolest thing ever! I would be totally wigged out if I just happened accross something like that. Happy Valentine's Day Colleen!! XOXO
Posted by: Poe | February 14, 2008 9:10 AM
The freezing in place was like a scene from a movie, one that I've secretly been expecting to really happen someday, a collective glitch in conformity that shakes what we assume is real all up.
Posted by: colleen | February 14, 2008 9:49 AM
Do you think that Hillary or Barak broke your lamp in the computer room ?
Posted by: Gattina | February 14, 2008 10:02 AM
#11 is my favorite!!
Happy Valentine's day xox
Posted by: Sherry | February 14, 2008 10:12 AM
Well the electrical fire was related to the big winds that caused them both to cancel (because of strong winds and brush fires in Roanoke). Although I have heard that Hillary is running on fumes now and that Obmama has surged (the fire was also due to an electrical surge). So you may not be too far off, Gattina. The incidents are related.
Posted by: colleen | February 14, 2008 10:16 AM
It's an interesting question, I often wonder not only where poems come from but where stories come from. I always think that they are all out there, fluttering around like butterflies and birds, just waiting to find a suitable arm to settle on. And then merge with you and suddenly their words come pouring through you - only sometimes they tease a bit and you have to hunt them down.
Posted by: Absolute Vanilla... (& Atyllah) | February 14, 2008 10:59 AM
Mike Huckabee arrived at the Weyer's Cave airport and it made the national news. Big doings for our small community. Sorry about the fire in your house. Loved your friend's comment about events being items to blog about.(I may have to start using that with my blogging friends.) Happy Valentine's Day Colleen.
Posted by: Lazy Daisy | February 14, 2008 12:03 PM
I like that you have a graffiti tag and that you engage in guerrilla graffiti. I will try the same. I have labels I just don't know what to do with!
This is a great list.
Posted by: SandyCarlson | February 14, 2008 12:57 PM
Oooh #13 was SO amazing!!! Sorry about your computer room :-( Wonder how many non-Bostonians pronounce "frappe" correctly? ;-)
Posted by: Janet | February 14, 2008 1:55 PM
I don't think anyone liked Revolution Number 9 unless they were tripping or something. I love the Beatles to death but that one is irritating.
Posted by: April | February 14, 2008 3:31 PM
"When I was a little girl I used to tell my dad that I loved him 60. I guess it was the biggest number I knew. "
As i child i would always express my love by way of indicating the gap between my hands, that became boring and one day as a little girl- i put them behind my back. All the love that i felt for him could no longer be confined to the space between my hands...it surrounded me. thats the day when my father started growing proud of me-his daughter.
the way you write is very interesting!
Posted by: Anupama | February 14, 2008 3:42 PM
What a cool, fun list of stuff! I needed that; it was like slowing down to 25 for a few minutes and that sort of break is much needed.
(btw, I, too, came to the same conclusion about sitting on the ground. Fortunately, once I've rebuilt the strength in my back, I can sit on the ground again. For short times.)
Happy TT!
Posted by: Susan Helene Gottfried | February 14, 2008 5:43 PM
Yikes, sorry to hear about the little fire.
Frippery is a great word. :)
I almost posted that amazing Frozen Grand Central Station video today! I loved it.
~S
Posted by: Shephard | February 14, 2008 6:49 PM
I love the seemingly random lists of 13 things you generate each week but never think to do something similar myself. I could write myself a note, but it would probably get buried in the mess of papers on my desk. I have trouble getting off the sidewalk these days too ... sigh! Happy Valentine's Day.
Hugs and blessings,
Posted by: storyteller | February 14, 2008 7:01 PM
That Beatles song, Revolution Number 9 was on my iTunes player for a while. I thought it might make for interesting background sound but every time it came on it just made me really irritable so I had to can it for the sake of my sanity. By the way, I haven't forgotten about the meme...
Posted by: Smiler | February 14, 2008 7:30 PM
Oh, my word. That link in item 13 is the best thing ever. Thanks!
Posted by: Jennifer | February 14, 2008 7:39 PM
I am glad that your house is OK...and all of you.
Posted by: thebluestbutterfly | February 14, 2008 9:29 PM
I'm glad the fire didn't go beyond being a frightening reminder and that you're all OK. Fire is quite likely my biggest fear, ever since we had a chlorine-fed fire at my pool when I was a lifeguard. I made the mistake of going back in to clear the area...not realizing how toxic the smoke was.
Gaa!
Dropped by from Michele's. It's good to be back.
Posted by: Carmi | February 14, 2008 9:44 PM
oooh. Your #10 almost stopped my heart with a memory. When my son could only count to ten, he discovered there were more than 10 steps on the stairs, and told me "I love you FOURTEEN Mummy!" for the very same reason. It was the biggest number he could visualise. Thank you for this... and all the rest!
Posted by: Imelda / GreenishLady | February 14, 2008 10:27 PM
Colleen, a scrabble comic: http://bunnylogic.wordpress.com/2008/02/15/the-fretting-zoo-021508/
Posted by: Pearl | February 15, 2008 10:34 AM
I never know if I am pronouncing frappe correctly.
Posted by: Deana | February 15, 2008 11:04 AM
It's just pronounced frap. It's a word I grew up with for a New England style milkshake-like drink and you don't hear it used much anymore.
Posted by: colleen | February 15, 2008 11:37 AM