13 Thursday: The Beach Vacation Version
1. Pelicans always look like cartoon characters to me. When they crash down into the water to catch fish, it looks like slapstick.
2. What a world! If spring is taking too long, you can drive south to meet it. Drive a little further and you’ll run into summer.
3. I love the sound a stick makes when you swish it quickly in the air, and I’m still amazed that if you swing a bucket of water upside down fast enough, the water won’t fall out.
4. The first place I blogged since we left home last Friday was under a palm tree in the corner of the Huntington Island Park Ranger’s front yard, the only place in the park to pick up wireless.
5. I forgot to bring shoes that tie, which means that I’m riding my bike in flip flops or clogs.
6. I watched some of the Academy Awards on the small TV in our camper. I liked when George Clooney was accepting his award for best supporting actor and announced that he was proud to be part of such an “out of touch community” (Hollywood), one that brought attention to the issue of AIDS when no one else was talking about it and fought for civil rights before it was popular.
7. The Blogsphere is a pretty big water cooler to hang out around. Being on vacation, I haven’t been there lately and am wondering what others have been blogging about.
8. This is what I saw yesterday evening: A man on the beach flying an orange kite, wearing a black t-shirt that read, ‘Fat people are harder to kidnap.’
9. I’m reading “Hannah Coulter” by Wendell Berry. It’s one in a series of books about the lives of the good people of the fictional town of Port Williams (probably Kentucky) and is mostly about grief and love. In the first chapter, I picked up a few more names for the list of old country names that I’m collecting: Jarrat and Burley. I also discovered a few more in the obituary section of the Floyd Press that ended up coming with us in the truck: Remon and Meda. Old country mountain names are like the hippie names of old times.
10. I’ve been trying to finish a poem about my father who passed away this past November. It’s all coming down to one line. I have about 11 syllables to describe my father’s condition the last time I saw him in the hospital. I have pages and pages of words and notes but it’s too big to condense it and pin it down. Maybe I need to start a second poem.
11. Each line in a poem should look and feel like no other line was possible, and finding what isn’t working in a poem is as much progress as finding what does.
12. I’ve had the old song “As Time Goes By”…You must remember this…a kiss is just a kiss…a sigh is just a sigh… in my head lately, especially last night while riding my bike along the shore at sunset. At that point, I came to believe that my father was talking to me through his mother tongue, his beloved songs of the 40s. Tears began to fall, and I dared to hope for an open line to him and wondered what song he would choose to put in my head next.
13. Even on vacation I’m a homebody. I like to stay at the campsite while my husband goes out to explore area golf courses. What could be better than a thermos of tea and a good book to read with the ocean as my front yard and hours to while away following the sun, moving my beach chair or tracking it down by bike if need be?
The photo: My makeshift cabana and my wheels; my back-up home away from home and transportation when my husband takes the truck camper to go play golf. Click the 13 Thursday icon on my sidebar to visit others who play. Nicole, just the girl next door, hosts the game. Visit her for the rules.
March 9th, 2006 8:44 am
I like to think of the old names, how they were passed from generation to generation, link after link.
Love the t-shirt the man on the beach wore!
March 9th, 2006 9:36 am
The song reminds me of the BBC comedy “As Times Go By” that I watch on PBS every Saturday night, even though I’m sure I’ve seen all the episodes already. Two young lovers separated by the Korean War and by a lost letter meet again after many years.
It sounds very relaxing where you are. Have a restful, quiet time.
March 9th, 2006 9:55 am
Fat people are harder to kidnap
He,he.
March 9th, 2006 10:25 am
Following the sun sounds so indulgent. Yeah, for you!
pelicans are funny birds.
March 9th, 2006 10:32 am
Great list loved the t-shirt qoute! I want to find spring to:) My tt are up.
March 9th, 2006 11:14 am
Sounds like you are having lots of fun on your trip! Yah!
Got my TT up!!
March 9th, 2006 11:26 am
I hear you about #13…even on vacation I need to hunker down and be “home” for a bit! Happy vacation!
March 9th, 2006 11:54 am
your 13 makes me wish I was on the beach!
have a great time!
March 9th, 2006 12:16 pm
LOL Sounds like you’re having a good time. I can’t imagine camping with a TV and computer. lol Although now that I have my laptop that might be possible but I still wouldn’t have internet.
Happy TT!
March 9th, 2006 12:48 pm
I love the Pelican obseravtion.
My 13 are up
March 9th, 2006 2:42 pm
Haven’t seen a pelican in a long time…Enjoy your vacation, I thought you were only away for the weekend, you lucky one.Your banners are the best ones! My TT is up.
March 9th, 2006 2:43 pm
And just in case you find some time to visit: I have a new look, with a little help from my friends 🙂
March 9th, 2006 3:41 pm
Have you tried to fly a kite on the beach yet? For me, the BEST place ever for a kite is on the beach. No trees, powerlines or buildings and the wind is great!
My 13 are up.
March 9th, 2006 4:49 pm
I love the collection of old country names. More than is probably appropriate. I’ve got a couple you can borrow. My great-grandfather’s name was Devilla. His wife? Prairie Hinkle.
March 9th, 2006 4:57 pm
# 12….No doubt you are right on that one. He is letting you know he is okay. How wonderful for you, Colleen.
March 9th, 2006 6:49 pm
I don’t know why it took so long to get to you today. I always enjoy your 13. Always. You never disappoint.
I love that we can drive South and meet Spring or Summer. I know that. I just never thought about it. Jacob thought that was great. The way you say things… things I know to be true, but never think of.
Perhaps the reason for obesity in America is because fat people are harder to kidnap. Kinda makes sense. Gotta go eat some cookies and drink a coke!
Enjoy the vacation!
(my 13 are up)
March 9th, 2006 7:27 pm
I;m sorry about the loss of your dad {{{ }}}
http://mamakellysmusings.blogspot.com/2006/03/thursday-thirteen-1-random-facts-about.html
March 9th, 2006 7:47 pm
#1. Amy made the same comments about donkeys earlier this week.
#3. The little boy in me agrees with you on both counts. My boys haven’t discovered the bucket trick, but they sure know about swinging sticks.
March 9th, 2006 8:38 pm
I like your comparison to Blogging Community to the Watercooler. How true.
March 10th, 2006 10:05 am
Martin and I love “as time goes by” we love watching Casablanca together for a romantic evening.
Looks like you are having a blast…I did the same thing though, wonder what was happening on my favorite blogs. So as soon as I would get a minute to get on I would try to run to at least one and peek.
I thought George’s speech was nice too and I loved Reese’s, she was very poised and a down home girl.
March 10th, 2006 10:26 am
#12 was my favorite
“…I dared to hope for an open line to him…”
wow…
March 10th, 2006 1:41 pm
Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about coming up with the ransom money.
March 10th, 2006 5:50 pm
I’ll never look at a peican the same way… 🙂
Here via Michele’s today!
March 10th, 2006 7:42 pm
Love that t-shirt. Homebodying around camp seems like a sighfully good way to go too.
March 10th, 2006 9:25 pm
Colleen:
5. I forgot to bring shoes that tie, which means that I’m riding my bike in flip flops or clogs.
Kathy:
Didn’t I teach you anything? (LOL)
Colleen:
10. I’ve been trying to finish a poem about my father.who passed away this past November. It’s all coming down to one line. I have about 11 syllables to describe my father’s condition the last time I saw him in the hospital. I have pages and pages of words and notes but it’s too big to condense it and pin it down. Maybe I need to start a second poem.
Kathy:
xoxoxox
Colleen:
12. I’ve had the old song “As Time Goes By”…a kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh… in my head lately, especially last night while riding my bike along the shore at sunset. At that point, I came to believe that my father was talking to me through his mother tongue, his beloved songs of the 40s. Tears began to fall, and I dared to hope for an open line to him and wondered what song he would choose to put in my head next.
Kathy:
“A” you’re adorable,
“B” you’re so beautiful,
“C” you’re a cutie full of charms…
Colleen:
13. Even on vacation I’m a homebody. I like to stay at the campsite while my husband goes out to explore area golf courses. What could be better than a thermos of tea and a good book to read with the ocean as my front yard and hours to while away following the sun, moving my beach chair or tracking it down by bike if need be?
Kathy:
Me too!
March 11th, 2006 10:40 pm
Your idea that I may find Spring by driving south has got me thinking :-).
March 12th, 2006 6:32 am
I hadn’t realized you were away! How wonderful to race off to catch the spring/summer instead of just waiting till it comes to you. Yayyy for you!
March 13th, 2006 12:29 am
ill trade you my snow for soem of that sand, please????