Blog du Wren

FC 160 - Those Airline Peanuts Go Straight To My Thighs

A couple of quick notes: I'm trying out a new format for my comic posts. This way is nice because 1) No need to click to bring up the full comic* 2) I don't have to write a blurb of a certain length to make the layout all work right (which saves everybody from needless rambling). Also, I got another comic featured over at Potluck Comics*, which is kind of neat.

Anyway, hope you enjoy today's comic. And may you all avoid body cavity searches.

Thursday February 9 2012

File under: comic

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Word With Friends

Have you played Words With Friends? With their website saying over 20 million people are addicted, chances are you have. I can safely say that I am 1 in 20 million.

For those of you who haven't played, it's Scrabble® with a slightly different board. The great part is, though, that you can take as much time working on the words as you want. And you can be playing as many games at a time as you want. I've currently got 4 going so there is usually a move waiting for me whenever I sit down with it.

Just like in Scrabble, there are many was to approach success. The most points, obviously, is a good one.* Or the best word (using all your letters, or obscure letters together). But one move that I just made that I'm super proud of is stringing words together so they make sense (kind of). While only worth 20 points, "shit here" is my proudest move on that front.

If anyone out there is looking to get in on the action, I'm totally up for starting a new game. My username is my name, no spaces. Find me and let's play!

Tuesday February 7 2012

File under: games

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An FKB and Zinzanni Weekend

Seeing a professionally produced* circus show always gets me excited. Seeing two such shows on back to back nights is a real treat! This weekend, I had such a treat courtesy of the Flying Karamazov Brothers and Teatro Zinzanni.

The Karamazov Brothers show was great. It was a nice mix of old routines that I know and love and new tweaks, lyrics, etc. And, like any act you see many times over again, there is always something new to see. This time, I heard a joke for the first time (that I am told has been there for ages): in reference to a Latino insurance company, calling it "Yoyd's of Mexico"*.

Zinzanni was really special. The atmosphere and the decor compliment the show wonderfully. got in the spirit and got all gussied up as well, a fun once in a rare while treat for me. There were some really great acts (poi tap dance, chinese pole, 3-high acro, hula hoop, contortion dance) and it was tied together well, although a little song heavy for me. And there wasn't nearly enough juggling. Circus without juggling shouldn't even count.

Anyway, if you are looking for a fun night out on the town*, check out FKB at ACT until Feb 12 or hit up Zinzanni, which is pretty much always showing.

Saturday February 4 2012

File under: circus

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Perpetual Marching Machine

Who doesn't love a good parade? To promote their upcoming run at the ACT theater in Seattle*, the Flying Karamazov Brothers organized a parade through downtown last weekend. It was great fun! The highlight, some might say, was when we ended in the Convention Center on the escalators, in a perpetual marching machine! With as much fun as we were having, it could have gone on for a long time. The security staff at the convention center, however, didn't quite agree. I guess that answers the age old question of who doesn't love a parade.

Anyway, if you are looking for a good time, check out the FKB show at ACT Theater.

Oh, and you can see me juggling in the parade dressed in an orange petticoat and wig, headed up the up near the beginning.

Tuesday January 31 2012

File under: video, circus

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FC 159 - Variance Application

The deserted island is a staple in single panel comics. I'm surprised I've avoided it for as long as I have*. When thinking about a comic for today, none of the ideas on my ever growing ideas list was striking my fancy, so I set to thinking about deserted islands. Boy did I come up with a few.

There are no less than 4 punch lines that crossed my mind for this drawing alone. What about you? I know you've got one. Share it in the comments. I was thinking maybe I'll try to do a series of deserted island comics, but we'll see how this one plays. Enjoy!

(P.S. I didn't win over at Potluck Comics. Alas. Thanks for all your votes, though. I've entered another comic but I don't know if it'll get accepted. If it does, I won't beg for votes like last time. One time being a freelance promoter is enough.)

Thursday January 26 2012

File under: comic

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Spoontastic

I like making things, esp. making useful things. Most times, I would much rather have a crappy (yet totally functional) thing made by me than a fancy, well made (and also totally functional) thing made by someone else. Perhaps that explains my passable but not top notch comics, crosswords, knitting, and soon to be cabin.

Anyway, the new genre of Things I Made is wooden stuff, in this case spoons. I'm greatly enjoying learning about what woods to use, how to cure wood, and about the tools. I haven't gotten to the complete stage on any of said spoons, but in their current state, they would do just a dandy job of stirring soup or getting it to your mouth. Someday, however, I'd like to get to the point of making some nice enough that I might feel good giving them as gifts.

All this woodworking has me looking at what else I might have an attempt at. In addition to spoons, I've started a spatula and a bowl(!). When/if those ever turn out, I'll keep you posted.

Wednesday January 25 2012

File under: misc

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Jeopardy at Home

Last week, I tried out to be a contestant on Jeopardy!. Again. As opposed to last time, where you get dressed up*, went to some fancy conference center, and walked away with a souvenir pen, this time was a measly little online test. It was still fun, but I'm sure 100 times more people took it which doesn't bode well for my odds*. They don't tell you how you did, win or lose, so I can't say for sure, but I'm fairly certain I won't be receiving The Call any time soon.

But that doesn't mean it wasn't a step towards my goal of eventually being a television trivia game show contestant. Not only did taking the test give me a better idea of what to expect for next time around, but in surfing around before hand, I came across this guide on How to Win on Jeopardy!. One thing that he recommends doing is, when watching, keep score of yourself using his handy system. It is a way to judge your relative competitiveness as well as keep track of the progress of your training. And while it is optimistic to think I will ever get to test the whole competitiveness thing and I'm not really training, I thought it would be a fun exercise for a week where I'm available to watch Jeopardy! every night*.

The results: My score of $17,000 isn't up to his recommended threshold of a consistent $24,000 to have a shot. But who knows what the week will bring. I'll try to post my progress/stats in the comments at the end of the week.

Jeopardy! Round
Country Groups	Constellations	Dominos Pizza	Treason	2-letter Words	Arctic
•	O	O	•	O	O
•	O	O	•	O	O
•	O	O	•	•	O
•	O	O	•	O	O
•	•	O	O	X	•
$0	$2000	$3000	$1000	$400	$2000	$8400

Double Jeopardy! Round
Country Groups	Picture the "S"	Moments	Real People In Novels	Weather Talk	Science Fiction TV
O	O	•	•	O	X
O	O	O	•	O	•
•	O	•	•	O	X
•	O	•	•	•	•
•	•	•	•	O	•
$1200	$4000	$800	$0	$4400	-$1600	$8600

•	Didn't answer
O	Correct answer
X	Incorrect Answer

Monday January 23 2012

File under: games

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FC 158 - Talk About a Niche Market

So you just get into the office. Your cup of coffee is hot in your hands, you're just wiping the snow off your shoulders, and you sit down at your computer. Naturally the first thing you do is bring up Blog du Wren, since it is Friday and you need your comic fix. Well, the second thing you should do is click through to Potluck Comics and like, tweet, and comment your little heart out*. There, now doesn't that feel better, having helped me win $250 and attain my life long goal of becoming a professional comic maker guy?

Now you can go back and appreciate today's comic, esp. the detail with which the background greetings cards were made. "Wow, he drew each and everyone one of those cards. I bet that took forever," you say to yourself. Well, I told you a thousand times not to exaggerate.

Today is the last day of voting over at Potluck Comics so I won't be playing the shill any more (although if I get another comic featured, I might tastefully advertise the fact). (This whole getting others to do your advertising for you via social networking, etc. really gets my goat. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if a post bubbles up out of it. If I win the big moneys, however, I might feel differently.)

Thursday January 19 2012

File under: comic

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Snow Day 2012

Not more than 48 hours after I was musing about how I would really love it if we had a good snowy winter storm, the powers that be obliged, and obliged with fervor. We here in Western Washington got (and, if reports are true, will continue to get) a good dumping, and I couldn't be happier.

Day 1 took me out for a nice walk in the woods in Bellingham. I covered many miles and smiled the whole way. I made it up to where snow in the woods was displayed straight out of a Robert Frost poem*.

Day 2 was an adventure in getting from Bellingham to Anacortes on the bus when, unexpectly, Island Transit was shut down. Big props to Skagit Transit* for being there and doing a great job! When the roads are bad, people need public transportation more than ever. (The above picture is taken at Skagit Station)

We were treated to even more snow for day 3, and despite the extra , I'm as stoked as ever. I've got no place else to go, so let it snow, let it snow, let it snow*.

(As a side note, in looking back through the archive, I'm realizing that just about every winter, I have a snow post, which must say something about my relationship with snow. Anyway, with that thought in mind, here's my archival self-portait).

Wednesday January 18 2012

File under: Anacortes, misc

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FC 157 - Waste Not Want Not

In all this hubbub surround my entry over at Potluck Comics*, I've been thinking more and more about Friday Comics, my motivation, etc. Is that old adage of "if it makes just one person laugh, it's worth it" really true? What if it doesn't make anyone laugh? Or what if I never know? All these thoughts have been swirling of late. But enough about that.

In a brief glance back at my comics folder, I sure have a lot of kitchen/food related comics. Hmmm....I wonder if that means something. I do like to eat! And to cook, at least for myself. Maybe not so much for big groups, at least anymore. But enough about that.

Anyhoo, happy Friday! I hope you have a chuckle at poor Chef Bourchard*. Or maybe you'll get a little inspiration for your next salad!

Thursday January 12 2012

File under: comic

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