13: Bird is the Word
1. Since hearing Nancy Sinatra’s old song “These Boots are Made for Walking” last week, while watching the PBS special on the history of feminism, I’ve been saying to Joe, when we’re getting ready to go someplace, “Are you ready, boots?”
2. My four-year-old grandson Bryce likes to play Mario and Luigi. Yesterday I asked him if Mario and Luigi have a mother. “Yes,” he answered, nonchalantly, “that’s why they say ‘mama mia!”’
3. He also said, “They don’t have cars in Italian. They just used boats and wheelbarrows.
4. After typing #3 I became intrigued with the word “wheelbarrow,” which I always thought should be “wheel barrel.” So I did some research and discovered that one very old meaning of the word “barrow” is an open container for carrying people or goods. The earliest barrows were carried by two people holding handles on either end. Add a wheel to one end and you have a wheelbarrow which can be handled by a single person.
5. “So I would “knock wood” to ward off bad luck; Italians would say “touch iron.” ~ Post from a Facebook friend who is currently in Italy
6. Mishearing song lyrics can result in some funny lines, like when my sister Sherry thought Yellow Submarine was Jealous of Marine. This week while babysitting Liam and Bryce, I heard Bryce singing, “I like big butts. I can’t apply.”
7. I recently read an online poem about violence towards women called V is for Violence and Violation. It was a good poem, but while reading it, I felt like sticking up for the letter V, which I consider to be one that vibrates with a powerful life force, such as in vibrant, vitality and victorious. Of course the words vicious, vindictive and vile also begin with V, and live can be twisted to spell evil.
8. V is the letter equivalent of the color red.
9. I hope there is no connection between the English calling a girl a “bird” and flipping the bird being called that because birds have a long association with taunting. ~ More on why giving the finger is also called flipping the bird HERE.
10. According to the article above, in Afghanistan, Iran, and a few other countries, the thumb, rather than the middle finger, represents the phallus. Flashing a thumbs-up to an Afghan with no exposure to Western habits is the equivalent of flipping him the bird.
11. In the spring of 2010, I wrote this in a 13 Thursday: So now that the bluebird of happiness (an indigo bunting) lives in my yard, what should I manifest next? How about the fountain of youth?
12. The bad news: There is no key to happiness. The good news: It isn’t locked. ~ quote seen on Facebook
13. THIS is the soundtrack song for this blog post. It won out over THIS one.
_____________Thirteen Thursday
March 6th, 2013 10:59 pm
I saw that PBS special too and really enjoyed it. We sure have come a long way!
I still don’t get what “Jealous of Marine” would mean?? I love the song that won out!!
March 7th, 2013 1:21 am
Numbers three and four brought to mind the poem by William Carlos Williams, The Red Wheelbarrow.
My T13 post
March 7th, 2013 1:59 am
LOL on #2
March 7th, 2013 6:28 am
“I like big butts, I can’t apply,” made me smile. I think it’s because my kid sister used to think the refrain of Creedence Clearwater’s “Bad Moon Rising” was, “There’s a bathroom on the right.”
March 7th, 2013 6:59 am
How interesting to equate the letter V to the color red. I wish my mind worked that way.
I haven’t heard the Trashmen sing Bird in ages, thank god. Beatles singing Blackbird? ANYTIME!!!
Thanks for another great 13, CR.
March 7th, 2013 7:21 am
I am ashamed to say I thought it was “Wheel Barrel” till I read your post! OY. I must say I loved finding out why it is actually Wheelbarrow…
For years I thought the first line of THE WAY WE WERE was: ‘Memories, “Like” The Corners of My Mind’—no, it didn’t make any sense, but that is what it sounded like people were singing….lol!
LOVE the Beatles song—Sooo very glad that won out…
As always….a very amazing T13!
March 7th, 2013 8:52 am
How about that version of MockingBird with James Taylor?
Love your post, fun as always. You have a great mind.
March 7th, 2013 9:04 am
4. neat.
8. Red Violin.
March 7th, 2013 9:35 am
I certainly did not know 5
March 7th, 2013 10:12 am
I thought it was “like the corners of my mind” too, Naomi. And I just looked it up and that is what it says!
March 7th, 2013 10:29 am
Paul’s not my favorite Beatle, but that song is one of my very favorites 🙂
Dave and I were trying to get Ralphy (then 4) to say “Mama Mia that’s a good pizza” but Mama kept coming out Mommy 🙂
March 7th, 2013 10:47 am
I like number 12. There is no key to happiness, but there is no lock. Grin.
http://otherworlddiner.blogspot.com/2013/03/inspiration-from-news.html
March 7th, 2013 11:55 am
In addition to touching iron for luck, Italian males also sometimes touch their, ah… *ahem*, to ward off bad luck/evil eye/misfortune.
Fewer and fewer do it publicly, from what I’ve seen anyway. Thank goodness.
And to make your “Mamma mia!” sound especially authentic, remember to pronounce every ‘M’! (You can even leave off “mia” if you do that.)
Heh.
Happy TT!
March 7th, 2013 12:37 pm
I love your grandson’s cultural knowledge. 🙂
13 Chapter Titles for tSLBoM
March 7th, 2013 7:22 pm
Colleen it is “Light the corners of my mind”
March 7th, 2013 9:22 pm
Look at this, She: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/barbra+streisand/way+we+were+the_10023800.html
March 8th, 2013 12:25 pm
“8. V is the letter equivalent of the color red.”
You’re right, it is!