Not worn out by slumber party, Little Bird nests near top of Picks tree

She's not quite at the tippy-top of the tall Picks tree, but she's at the highest branch she's ever called home.  After co-hosting a weekend sleep-over at ground level, Ali spread her wings Sunday and soared above everyone but Mark in the overall standings.  The feathered flutterer is chirping it up with a 30-13 record over the last three weeks, and is now in sole possession of second place.

The Little Bird finished fourth and sixth in her first two seasons.  But her third year has been more of a charm as she glances down upon a group of unskilled tree climbers below.  Ali was 10-5 in Week 14 to break a tie with D.J., who slipped to third place with a 9-6 record.  Mark was 11-4 and has a 12-game advantage from his lookout post atop the fruitful tree.

Before nesting above the neighborhood rooftops on Sunday, Ali spent time at street level with her twin sister Nicki and five friends celebrating a recent double birthday.  The non-feathered party participants -- also known as Angelica, Courtney, Katarina, Lauren and Taylor -- joined in the fun of "Freaky Friday" at the Ogden Theater, and exciting bowling and tasty pizza at Safari Land.  Does Ali ever bowl anything but lucky sevens?  At least she knows how to "make good choices," so you won't find her straddling some guy on a big black Harley, or whatever bike that was in the movie.  And she'd never say her mother's face feels like the crypt keeper.

Regarding the Little Bird's chances to peck away at her uncle's lead of a dirty dozen, it wouldn't be the first time in Ali's short career that she filed a powerful late-season flight plan.  In the final two weeks of the 2001 Picks campaign, she walloped Nickster by eight games and thumped her father by nine to come from way back.  That's the kind of pecking action she'll need down the home stretch this season.