RSS
« Santarchy in Pittsburgh | Home | Heels! HEELS! »
This is the city
December 11, 2007
I ran out of Christmas cards the other night and was forced to make a 2am run to my 24-hour Giant Eagle for backup.
I threw on a hoodie and left my apartment. It was dead quiet, and as I walked to my car I heard a gentle who, whhoooo and immediately stopped to listen. An owl?! I stood there for a moment, focused. I never heard an owl in real life and was excited about it. As excited as one can be at 2am.
The hooting got louder and as I proceeded to cross the street, I glanced at the houses nearby and saw a little old man in bright green pants. He was energetically pacing his front porch, grinning. I watched him briefly, aware that I could no longer hear the owl, and the old man, as if in response, turned to me, lifted his hands to the sides of his mouth and — WHO! WHOOOO!
I laughed and got into my car. He giggled behind me. Whe-ha!
Categories: Daily, Pittsburgh
December 11th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Have you ever read or seen Gormenghast? BBC did a great mini series. The king looses his mind in episode 2 and thinks he’s an owl.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gormenghast
December 11th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
That’s awesome!
December 11th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Aw that’s so cute!
December 11th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Now I’m left wondering what the heck the guy was doing outside, at 2am, whooing like an owl. That’s not exactly something you see people doing all the time.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
There really need to be more little old men wearing bright green pants in this world!
December 11th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
If he ever decided that he wants to expand his… whatever it is… you can send him over my way. I’m easily amused, as is my younger sister.
Seriously, that’s the best story I’ve heard in a while.
December 11th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
At least, somebody made u giggle at 2AM…and that photo, did you take that yourself? It’s so lovely…
December 11th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Look at our blog pictures!
We’re the same! wtf!?
December 11th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
I whole-heartedly agree with Frank! I now know what I’m getting my PaPa for Christmas! haha
December 11th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Your neighbor sounds magical…. or dangerous. There is a thin line between magical and dangerous.
December 11th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
beautiful shot!
December 11th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
That’s a beautiful picture!
December 11th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
That’s hysterical! I can totally see him thinking “boy, did I get her!” The bright green pants crack me up.
Is that your neighborhood, or just a random shot?
December 11th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
weird AND hilarious at the same time.
Who does that ? :-)
I too am intruiged by that neighbourhood shot - it looks picture perfect!
December 11th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
so@24 were you referring to my comment? bec i honestly don’t know, had not been to your site…but will check it anyway… :S
December 11th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
I remember the first time I heard an owl- it IS exciting! Too bad it wasn’t an owl after all, but it makes a pretty hilarious story
December 11th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
If you take all of the pictures on your blog, then I am impressed. I never can mine to come out clear.
K.
December 11th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Your city is freaky :P
December 11th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Karen - That’s my neighborhood. It’s ok. Sometimes.
Kate - I do, and thank you.
December 11th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
haha, what is an old man doing out at two am!?!? what is going on in this city of yours??
December 11th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
I love the crazies out in the middle of the night!
December 12th, 2007 at 12:03 am
What some people do at 2 am eh? LOL Lovely pics.
Jan
December 12th, 2007 at 2:15 am
You were certainly devoted to the idea of getting Chrsitmas cards done if you were willing to run out at 2am. Either that or you’re a night owl. Perhaps this is what the old man was communicating?
December 12th, 2007 at 4:44 am
Diane - You’re a genius.
December 12th, 2007 at 11:17 am
I am SO behind on Christmas cards! Sighhhh. Thanks for the reminder.
December 12th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Your lovely story reminded me of a great night spent looking for an owl.
We were working at a kids’ camp at the seaside, and this strange shriek had been bothering us all evening. So a friend and I set out to see what was making the sound. We walked for a while, until we got to a fenced territory. It was a yacht club. The owl was sitting in a tree just beyond the fence and staring at us. It was making its shrieking noise at precisely equal intervals.
Then the yacht guard came out. He told us the owl was a good sign - they only live in very clean ecology. They had left the area altogether a while ago, and now they’re coming back.
December 12th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
I just love the fact that you are so nonchalant about 2am Christmas card runs ;)
December 12th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
See, this is why I don’t do Christmas cards - it’s not because I’m too scatterbrained, it’s just because “whooo”ing at 2am would scare me to death!
December 12th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
See…in New York…this is very common.
Although the guy is usually drooling and asking for money at the same time.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
That’s hilarious. Unfortunately, like the commenter above, we have those people all around downtown Seattle as well:)
That’s a great shot — it looks like a postcard.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
LoL, that’s such a cute little story - love the randomness :)
December 14th, 2007 at 8:48 am
haha very funny.
Our nextdoor neighbour is a bit like that - she only appears under cover of darkness - she gardens in the dark, does her housework by torchlight - everything!
Lovely photo.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
there should be more people in the world like that old man.
December 14th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
Owls! We don’t have owls around here. That might be because I’m right next to a freeway though.
Lovely picture too. Looks all quaint and invitingly cold. Makes me want to wear a bunch of sweaters and scarves and go outside and watch my breathe turn into mist.