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Courtenay Martin, aka Courtenay Bluebird, is a professional journalist, writer, and photographer. Her work has been featured in newspapers and magazines throughout the United States, as well as the American public television network PBS.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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Bluebird Blvd.

  • Home
    • The Bluebird
      • Contact Bluebird Blvd.
      • The Fully Copyrighted Bluebird Blvd.
      • Oh, Bluebird
  • The Ear and the Eye
    • 5-Minute Dance Party
    • Bluebird’s Pillow Book
    • The Bluebird Sessions
    • Graphics
    • Photography
    • Poems
  • The Heart and the Mind
    • Adulthood CONFIDENTIAL!
    • Bluebird’s Personality Quiz
    • Essays
    • Humor
    • Mash Note Dept.
    • The Marriage Interpreter
    • News and Politics
    • Our Sunday Best
Michael Flatley in "Feet of Flames" wearing leather trousers.
  • Humor

I Was a Teenage Irish Stepdancer! Or, A Few Notes on Irish Stepdancing That I’ve Been Meaning to Write Down for Years Now

Courtenay Martin March 17, 2017

Happy St. Patriggggbllllllllaaaasaaaaarggghhhh. . . !

Read More "I Was a Teenage Irish Stepdancer! Or, A Few Notes on Irish Stepdancing That I’ve Been Meaning to Write Down for Years Now"

Stern man in Homburg hat staring at camera in black and white photo.
  • Essays

Essay :: Stripped for Parts

Courtenay Martin March 1, 2017

It’s the small things about people that will surprise you the most.

Read More "Essay :: Stripped for Parts"

Skeptical looking woman holding a photograph of a man.
  • Bluebird's Personality Quiz

Are you savvy about Valentine’s Day?

Courtenay Martin February 6, 2017

Are you a know-nothing when it comes to Cupid’s cuddliest holiday? Take this quiz and find out!

Read More "Are you savvy about Valentine’s Day?"

Close-up of Josef Stalin mustache and collar.
  • News and Politics

So you think your country might be fascist: A quiz

Courtenay Martin November 21, 2016

Have you ever found yourself in this dilemma?

Read More "So you think your country might be fascist: A quiz"

Melissa Villaseñor as Owen Wilson
  • 5-Minute Dance Party

5-Minute Dance Party :: Daily Itineraries Featuring Melissa Villaseñor (as Owen Wilson!)

Courtenay Martin September 13, 2016

When you think “Owen Wilson” these days, you’ll also thing “Melissa Villaseñor.” Trust me on this one.

Read More "5-Minute Dance Party :: Daily Itineraries Featuring Melissa Villaseñor (as Owen Wilson!)"

  • Instant Bluebird

Instant Bluebird :: You best be born tricky

Courtenay Martin September 8, 2016

A clipping about rule of order in English adjectives is making the rounds. But what is a rule but a thing to be broken?

Read More "Instant Bluebird :: You best be born tricky"

B&W photograph of blonde woman with crossed arms and sunglasses, staring directly at camera.
  • Poems

Poem :: Murder-Suicide

Courtenay Martin September 1, 2016

There was a man. There was a woman. There was a murder. This is her story.

Read More "Poem :: Murder-Suicide"

Concrete textured sign saying "Bluebird Blvd.'s 5-Minute Dance Party Whole Lotta Love (Christian Vlad Remix)
  • 5-Minute Dance Party

5-Minute Dance Party :: Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)

Courtenay Martin December 25, 2015

Who says it has to be a silent night? We can make it a little loud, don’t you think?

Read More "5-Minute Dance Party :: Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)"

Brightly colored photo collage of The H. dancing with psychedelic chickens.
  • The Marriage Interpreter

Humor :: The Marriage Interpreter (No. 52)

Courtenay Martin October 27, 2015

The Husband says he bought a new pair of Pollos and he’s almost finished reading The Lolololag Largolarginaut. How are you?

Read More "Humor :: The Marriage Interpreter (No. 52)"

Bluebird Blvd. glowing blackboard Holy Roller
  • 5-Minute Dance Party

5-Minute Dance Party :: Holy Roller

Courtenay Martin September 21, 2015

Musician Thao Nguyen’s Holy Roller reminds us that we can never get to the end of want—or claw-foot banjos. Yum.

Read More "5-Minute Dance Party :: Holy Roller"

Brightly colored collage with medieval painting and Allen Ginsberg's head.
  • Essays

Essay :: Dogs and words

Courtenay Martin January 10, 2015

O—Let all the words and all the dogs spill forth!

Read More "Essay :: Dogs and words"

Santa_Fe_R.R._crosses_the_Colorado_River_into_California_between_Topock1a34756v
  • Essays

In Memorium :: Even the rivers have rivers where he shall go

Courtenay Martin November 22, 2014

The loss of my friend Mark was devastating. This memorial may be one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to write.

Read More "In Memorium :: Even the rivers have rivers where he shall go"

Abelard draped across The Husband's lap in a wing back chair at night.
  • Photography

Photo :: The evening news

Courtenay Martin November 15, 2014

Do you have a gigantic dog who likes to be held like a baby? Well, we do!

Read More "Photo :: The evening news"

The Husband is wearing a New Year's Eve tiara and is grinning. Vintage-style advert.
  • Humor

Humor :: Are you sure you’re ready to come home?

Courtenay Martin September 28, 2014

So, I guess I should say that The Husband doesn’t ordinarily wear a tiara? Also? Ireland.

Read More "Humor :: Are you sure you’re ready to come home?"

Advil Lavigne: Just tell me which one fixes the headache.
  • Humor
  • The Marriage Interpreter

Humor :: The Marriage Interpreter (No. 51)

Courtenay Martin September 20, 2014

According to The Husband, there can only be one Dr. Pepperlander.

Read More "Humor :: The Marriage Interpreter (No. 51)"

  • Humor

Humor :: Miss Frankly Forty

Courtenay Martin September 17, 2014

You know what? I turned 40 on Monday. Here’s an illustration of what I think of my forties so far.

Read More "Humor :: Miss Frankly Forty"

  • Humor

Humor :: A note from The Management regarding the current geographic coordinates of the sexiness

Courtenay Martin September 6, 2014

Maybe my schedule will open up in February 2015?

Read More "Humor :: A note from The Management regarding the current geographic coordinates of the sexiness"

Drum Major marching in the dark: Let's all channel young Marty Feldman. I will write like bebop. And, Lo, it is time for the ritual burning of the cellphones. Get the chafing dish.
  • Humor

Humor :: Are you writing?

Courtenay Martin September 1, 2014

Help me, Twittermonster. Please save me from myself.

Read More "Humor :: Are you writing?"

The foster dog looks at The Husband
  • Essays

Essay :: Names: Some secret, some not

Courtenay Martin April 24, 2014

There is no greater sleight-of-hand than a name.

Read More "Essay :: Names: Some secret, some not"

The Ting Tings' Kate White looking pensive in black and white.
  • 5-Minute Dance Party

5-Minute Dance Party :: That’s Not My Name

Courtenay Martin April 23, 2014

I once allowed a woman to call me Whitney for eight years without correction. Have you ever done something like that?

Read More "5-Minute Dance Party :: That’s Not My Name"

Photo-illustration of The Husband making Bunny Ears.
  • The Marriage Interpreter

Humor :: The Marriage Interpreter (No. 50)

Courtenay Martin April 20, 2014

The Husband said to tell you Happy Halloween.

Read More "Humor :: The Marriage Interpreter (No. 50)"

Staredown between bunny and officeworker.
  • 5-Minute Dance Party

5-Minute Dance Party :: Sunny and Steve — Enjoy the Sweets

Courtenay Martin April 20, 2014

Don’t worry—I’ll always share my Easter chocolate with you!

Read More "5-Minute Dance Party :: Sunny and Steve — Enjoy the Sweets"

Tango dancer arches back over a chair.
  • 5-Minute Dance Party

5-Minute Dance Party :: Libertango

Courtenay Martin March 28, 2014

I am always amazed at what the tango can do when matched with the right dancer.

Read More "5-Minute Dance Party :: Libertango"

Matthew Brady, first known war photographer, looking stern in self-portrait contact sheet.
  • Our Sunday Best

Our Sunday Best :: The weight of light

Courtenay Martin March 24, 2014

Whatever the war photographers brought into a place was carried on their backs— and sometimes in their minds.

Read More "Our Sunday Best :: The weight of light"

Close-up of the unreadable face of the mysterious woman in Franz Von Stuck's - "The Sin."
  • Essays

Essay :: The Ouroboros chain

Courtenay Martin March 22, 2014

In the last month of winter, I bought a clock from a man in Latvia who deals exclusively in time.

Read More "Essay :: The Ouroboros chain"

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