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I've been wondering what my first entry would be for the new year. This never crossed my mind as being it. Where to start. I'm currently very sleepy. I've gotten into this bad habit of going to sleep between 3 and 4 a.m. I've tried to break it by waking up early only to realize I am still unemployed/semi-self employed and therefor have little motivation to stay awake(instead of getting 8-9 hours and waking up at noon). So back to sleep I always go. I need to break this cycle but when you wake up at noon it can be hard to sleep before 3 or 4 a.m. that "night". I know this won't work during spring severe weather season so today was a good day to break it, and I certainly have a good start going(though at the moment I'm soooooo tempted to go back to sleep).   Last night was like most and I couldn't fall asleep remotely early. I found myself plopping in chase videos and enjoying them till I could sleep. I think it was around 3:30 a.m. I finally went to sleep. I don't recall the dream but I know I was having one. At a very bright and early 7:50 something I wake to this noise(after around 4 hours of sleep, from a normal 8-9). It seemed like it was happening in a dream at first. It persisted and finally woke me up but I didn't open my eyes right away. It sounded like something was hitting the fan and I didn't think much of it at first. But, it continued and I was like what on Earth is that. I rolled over and sat up and zooooooooooooooooooooooooming right over me was a BIRD!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh! I quickly hit the deck back under the covers and started to laugh. I then stopped for a moment and wondered if I was really awake. Yep, I was. I didn't want to look back out as I figured it would hit me(since it about did when I first looked). I didn't hear it so I peeked out and it is sitting on my computer desk. I continued to laugh and wonder exactly how it got in here and just how I was going to get it back out. I've had a bird in my old house before and have had one in the back of a car and often it isn't that easy to get them out.   For a few minutes I sort of sat there and watched it and thought about how to go about it. I did not want it flying around, trying to take my head off while I opened the window. It seemed content where it was now and was probably in shock I was in here, since I was now up and moving. I'm sure it was thinking the same exact thing when I woke up and saw it flying over my nose, "what the.....". Right away I think about the fun story it will be to share. Quickly after that thought I realized I needed pictures. I slowly crawl out of bed and open my camera bag on the floor, praying to god it would stay right where it was while I did so. It is like 10 feet away just watching me. I switch to my 1.8 50mm and bump the ISO up to 1600, since I didn't want to use a flash and it wasn't very bright in here yet. Even at that I knew I'd have a slow shutter(1/13 at first). I then stand up, remove the screen and open the window(brrrrrrrrrrrr, it IS winter). The rest is as follows....

I stand up and walk over to the wall near it figuring any second it would come flying right at my face. I'm not affraid of birds exactly, but I really can't stand things flying around me quicker than I can react to(especially with a camera in my hands). I guess I don't like the anticipation, yet at the same time I was laughing because of it.
The open window is behind me and to the right, or to the left of where the bird is sitting. It was quickly getting cold in my appartment.
Back to the bird and I'm like, ok, go. I'm actually trying to guide it by pointing with my right hand. Like, "go that way please". "Please, go that way...." "Please?" ...nothing............
"Ah hem, yo you, birdy."     "Who me?" Yes, we have contact. The bird and I are becoming more and more on the same page.
I keep signaling for it to hang a left on out of here. Finally! I saw him starting to move and knew the "money shot" was coming up, lol. That is kind of a hard shot, judging right when it would take off. Too bad for the high iso(noise), lack of light, dynamic range, and "un-artsy" setting. Most all of these images are cropped from the original. I'm using the wall to prop my hand and camera up against. The first shots are 1/13 while this one was 1/125(looking at the over-exposure this could have been even quicker, but it works for this I guess...the inside of the appartment isn't very bright at 8 a.m.).
Ah I see how ya are. You can't just go on out you have to make me sweat some more and wonder if you will or if you'll "freak out" and come at me again. He probably had to make this pitstop to poop on those $1 stamps he's on. Just got up and checked and no poop. Woohoo.
Ok, now he's moving around. The sweat starts to pour from my forehead. What to do, prepare to hit the carpet or to get another "money shot". At the very last second before flight I toss away all my fears of death and stand up and take the shot. Shear bravery got this shot. I considered sneaking into the bathroom and closing the door and giving it some time to just leave. I'm kidding. Had I actually thought of that at the time I probably would have.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooo, making me sweat some more. The appartment is half below ground, so the window is near ground level and I wondered if something was out there keeping it from taking off.
Now is when the cat outside ruins a pefectly good ending to a good tale. It is apparently hesitating because of the big black cat that is often out there. WAM, the cat nails it.
:( I could not believe what had just taken place. I thought I was helping this bird be free, but what I was doing was feeding it to an early death.   I'm just kidding, it is off hanging with its buds now. I was glad to see it first take off as I thought it might have broken a wing because it was letting me be so close to it.   How it got in here I'm really not sure. It would be the strangest awakening I've ever had, that is for sure. It is a tad shocking to causually roll over, open your eyes, and have a bird going crazy a couple feet above your head.