Yo Ho Ho!

** I will be giving away one Twenty Four At Heart 2011 Calendar this week.  You can click here to get details/enter to win.  **

I really, really, needed to get out of the house last weekend.  On Sunday afternoon, I dragged Briefcase off the couch and down to one of the local harbors where there was a "Tall Ships" festival going on.  

You know, the real old sailing vessels?  

Those.

I took my camera, but I limited myself to taking just a few photos.  I'm more than a little afraid of going back to the depths of hell when things are just beginning to improve pain-wise.

The ships were beautiful, the crowds were huge, and there were men and women in pirate attire all over the place.

I have to admit, I wasn't expecting pirates.

Perhaps, I should have done some research before attending?

 

Apparently, an entire pirate sub-culture exists.  

Who knew?

I feel a tangent coming on ....

A pirate tangent.

(I'm using immense amounts of willpower not to write words like lass and smartly and lubber.)

Although, let's be honest - it is REALLY tempting to go off on a tangent about the pirate sub-culture. (Would I immediately find myself with thousands of pirate enemies?)  

Arrrrrgh!

Anyway ....

I was talking to Briefcase when all of a sudden I got that feeling you get when you just KNOW someone is watching you.

Apparently, someone red was very curious about my camera with all its shiny parts.

So yes, I stood there and talked to two parrots for (quite) awhile.  I let them get their fill of staring at my shiny camera.  I explained to them what it was and then I asked them what they were eating.  They had toys to keep them amused, but they mainly seemed interested in finding out more about me.

Do other people talk to random birds at pirate Tall Ship Festivals?

Or is it just me?

Briefcase stood nearby watching me, like ... "Really?  Don't even think about bringing home a parrot." 

To be honest, it might have crossed my mind for just a fleeting moment.

They were very personable!

Also, I hate to admit it, but it's been a long time since anyone has worked quite so hard to charm me.

© Twenty Four At Heart

Comments

[Lynda M Otvos]

Cute cute cute -- but loud, uncontrollable, messy, loud, random sleepers, noisy... Your dogs are the best pets going, Sunshine.

[Jan]

Hey - International Talk Like A Pirate Day is September 19 (this coming Sunday)! Furthermore, you can set the language on your Facebook account to Pirate.

Yup - an entire Pirate subculture. Ninjas are better, though.

[Michelle]

They are some beautiful birds

[Joanne]

Talk Like a Pirate Day is for real, yessiree, me hearties, itis! There are some really cute videos on the website, and I have noticed a LOT of the cat blogs are into TLAP Day also.

[unmitigated me (m.a.w.)]

TLAP Day is September 19th. Always a favorite around these parts. And at least none of those ships seem to be flying the Jolly Roger!

Sometimes I leave my camera behind on purpose, to make myself use my other senses for awhile.

[di]

Ahoy matey! Yep, birds can be charmers, but MESSY! And NOISY! I'd rather let them live on the pirate ship and just go visit them from time to time while they charm me.

Looks like you had a fun day!

[Tami]

Adorable! Nice shots too. Did I mention I want to win your calendar?

[kara-noel]

We were there too! Did you see the pink pirate? You couldn't miss her!!

[Sandra]

Awe, he's so cute (the parrot). We have one who lives across the street from us. He's soooo loud. OMG. Talks non-stop. Really.

Glad you had fun.

[Jack]

I always observe International Talk Like a Pirate Day. In fact my FB profile pic is of me in my pirate hat.

[Erica]

Your animal shots are cute as heck.

[Jane]

Oh, he's so cute with the little 24 heart. I'd want to take him home! Well, not really, too many feathers everywhere.

When I was at the Outer Banks of NC last summer, they had replicas of different Elizabethan ships and yes, a pirate festival! You couldn't even tour a ship without asking permission to come aboard and being spoken to in "Ye Olde English." It was so much fun! And, it seems people were a lot shorter in those days. The ships were replicas right down to the measurements and, man, the people sailing in those things were small!!

Ahoy, Matey!

[Fragrant Liar]

I am a closet pirate, or an underground pirate, or something like that. Just love the whole pirate adventure. And hey, I like parrots! Yes, Talk Like a Pirate Day is going to be here post haste, matey. Yo ho ho ho!

[San Diego Momma]

You know, I get busy, distracted, swamped...and so don't keep up with my favorite blogs, don't visit for awhile...but then, but THEN I do and you say something like "pirate tangent" and I fall in love all over again.

[Jill]

Wow ... where was that? Looks like something I should have taken my kids to see!

[Rob]

Parrots can be alot "smarter" than humans will give the credit for. Some of them have lifespans that rival our own. That's rare for a warm-blooded animal.

If you doubt, I have a second hand story about an African Grey, a rival parrot and a roast chicken. It challenges the idea that black humor is unique to humans.