Give a Hoot

Owls are the Wise Choice

Confession: I was a little late to pick up on the Amazon Three Wolf Moon t-shirt phenomenon, and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, great, because that means I’m not the only one. But as far as I’m concerned, wolves are totally 2008, and while the Chinese will try to tell you it’s the year of the Ox, what’s melting my butter these days is a bird of prey that’s positioned to become the hottest icon of 2009 and beyond – one that symbolizes everything from intelligence and intuition to transformation and independence.

Someone needs to track down an “I Howl for Owls” bumper sticker and send it to me ASAP, because I’ve got a serious case of the like-likes for this creature. I don’t know if it’s because of their nocturnal nature, acute sense of hearing, off-the-charts night vision, big Manga-esque eyes, all of the above, or more, but apparently I’m not the only one on board the owl train, because I can’t blink without seeing a sweet little owl-branded item calling my name. In fact, there are currently over 16,000 items on Etsy alone that incorporate owls in one way or another. That’s what we call a “growing trend,” people – write it down.



Currently in high wardrobe rotation is this tee I picked up from Forever 21 (and yes, once again, I realize I have no business shopping in that store, but I’m sure the teenagers get a good laugh seeing me struggle through the racks). I also recently discovered this flask (who is laughing now, underage teens?), which just happens to match my tee perfectly. Who’s to say it has to carry hard liquor when surely it would work just as well for carting around some Thirsty Owl wine? I volunteer to put this hypothesis to the test and will report back with the results, if I don’t black out.

My home front may also get an Owl-redo sooner than later, though combining this Macramé wall hanging, wood art, and lamp all at once might raise the “too much of a good thing” question regarding my interior decorating skills. Maybe I should just stick with more mobile accessories, like this owl cap for my car key or a classic Mr. Owl lunch box, if just as a reminder that we have yet to nail down exactly how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, a treat that is clearly too tasty for any owl to resist.

I’ve also been contemplating putting my owl obsession into my life more permanently. I’m taking the plunge and getting my first tattoo this year, and though I’ve been threatening to go all cupcake in terms of the design, I have to admit, I’m swooning over this one:

Turns out I wouldn’t be the first to follow this path – in fact, owl tattoos are so popular, there’s an entire blog dedicated to them!

As luck would have it, I’m off to Comic-Con International next week and my owl fixation can come right along with me, as the "Owly" Animated Short will debut on site, based on the award-winning graphic novel series by Andy Runton and co-created by publisher Top Shelf Productions and Sprite Animation Studios. Comic-Con attendees can see the short at the Top Shelf booth (#1721) throughout the course of the convention, and also meet Andy and the Sprite and Top Shelf teams. Count me in!

Like any good crush, even this one has its flaws, and I’ve got to admit there’s some uses of the owl that are just flat out FAILS as far as I’m concerned, like the excessive use of the owl in all things “Harry Potter.” I can already hear the collective gasp among the muggles, but before you get all Voldemort on me, know that I’ve just never been a big “Potter” person from the get-go, and not for lack of trying. I am familiar enough with the original book series and the subsequent movies to know that the owls are meant to serve as bridges between the magical and muggle world, but I have another word for that: it's called "two-faced."

I’m also dismayed by the fact that the entire “Hooters” brand is built off of the owl look and feel, because other than the name being a slang term for – giggle – boobies, I don’t see how owls have anything to do with poo-brown nylons, Nair lifeguard orange short shorts, Mystic Spray Tans, or really shitty wings.

That said, when you find something you love, you learn to love it completely, even the aspects you like the least (or loathe the most). So I will turn a blind eye as another “Potter” film rolls out next week and boycott the boob-inspired chain, and instead embrace all the good this hot, lovable icon has to offer, like implementing their likeness into cupcakes such as these – this must be what they mean by “a marriage made in heaven,” don’t you think?