Blog du Wren

Friday Comics Go Big

In lieu of this week's comic, I have a favor to ask. Well, it is a story combined with a matter of pride combined with a favor. Please bear with me.

In my seemingly never ending web wanderings, I came across a comic site that, instead of posting its own comics, features various other comics from across the web. Since this was somewhat in line with what Friday Comics were back in the day when I had all sorts of guest artists covering for my lack of artistic skill, I had to investigate further. It turns out that in addition to showcasing various comic artists' work, they have some incentive to submit: the most viewed/liked/shared comic can win big bucks!

Needless to say, I submitted one, and much too my surprise, it was accepted! Now comes the favor part: go check it out. If you feel comfortable, share it with your friends, "like" it, or even tweet it. Any traffic, reposts, or social mentions it gets before Jan 17 gets me one step closer to the big bucks i.e. becoming a professional comic artist!

And for your help, I promise you this: I will have a new comic up next week. No holiday excuses, no late posting, no "the deserted island I'm on doesn't have internet"s: there will be a new comic next week for sure...unless you don't go to Potluck Comics and check out my entry. Thanks!!

Friday December 30 2011

File under: misc

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Crosswords du Wren Go Mobile

It's been a long time since I've posted about one of my crosswords*. But instead of just another "hey look at the crossword that I made" post, I'm spicing this one up.

Through some investigation and lots of dinking with my new not-a-phone apps, I've figure out how anyone can do MY crosswords on their smart phone! (I'm currently working under the assumption that no one does them because it isn't overly convenient to print up a PDF)

Step one: download Shortyz to your smart device (I know it is available for Android but probably for iOS too). Or there might be other apps that support the .puz format ("Crosswords" for the iPhone/iPad is one).

Step two: go to crossword section of the games page and look for the puz link (which currently only exists for the most recent two puzzles).

Step three: click and start doing enjoying the wonder that is a homespun crossword.

All crosswords are also available in an html format and a PDF format for printing, so no mobile device is necessary. So if you're a crossworder, dive in. And if you see something you like, let me know. The biggest thrill* of creating crosswords is knowing that people do and enjoy them.

Wednesday December 28 2011

File under: games

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Twas the Night Before Christmas 2011

Disclaimer: I would say that this poem is inspired by true events rather than an actual true story. I've been spending lots of nights in a Toyota van* of late and it's been totally awesome. But the truth is, this actual night before Christmas, I'm in a bed. But the sentiment stands.

Twas the night before Christmas with just us in the van
Parked any old place just cause we can
Last night at the Cirque Lab before that the quarry
When living in a van you can write your own story
The world is your oyster with your bed close at hand
The space's a bit cramped but the view is quite grand.
Now back to the present this O Holy Night
We're parked on a street that's lit up so bright
The blue lights in bushes and white lights that twinkle
Unfortunate inflatables that make my nose wrinkle
So we draw the curtains and settled in to our nest
To make good on the proverbial "long winter's rest"
The rain hits the roof just loud enough to hear
So I close my eyes and imagine reindeer
Dasher and Dancer and Blitzen, the whole posse
With Santa yelling "onward" and being quite bossy
I don't think he'll find us but I'm not going to gripe
Plus he'd have a fat chance of fitting through the tail pipe
But I've got all I want as I scribble these words
I've got health, I've got freedom, I've got Angry Birds
My family's amazing, I've got many a friend
To count all my blessing would go on without end
So as I drift off to nodland, a smile's on my face
Of anywhere I could be, this is the place.
Matt Foley's* wrong in his motivational speech
Van living's awesome, all you need's within reach
So I reach out my arms and she snuggles in tight
I whisper Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night

Saturday December 24 2011

File under: holidays, poetry

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FC 155 - The Downside of LEDs

Ho ho ho! Merry everyone! The Friday Comic is coming a little late today but since I figure of the few people that still read, and of those the few that still have desk jobs, and of those, the few that have to work today, we aren't dealing with masses that will rise up in protest when they don't find the Friday Comic up first thing. (And after all, I consider it a miracle that stuff gets posted at all anymore, what with the current blogging economy and all.)

There are about 4 other punch lines I contemplated for this comic. Hopefully you'll get a chuckle out of this one. And I hope this doesn't come across as a blasting of holiday decorating. I love seeing a well done lights display. Heck, I'm even a fan of over the top, Clark Griswald style displays. The inflatables, though, and the outlined reindeer and sleighs, etc. I could do without.

Anyway, Happy St. Presents Day to all and to all good night.

Friday December 23 2011

File under: comic

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Daily Walking

There was a point in my life where I was trying to walk at least 3 miles a day. My main motivation wasn't health or non-dependence on fossil fueled vehicles* but instead down right entertainment. Walking is awesome. Walking on a daily basis is daily awesome!

Every now and again, I'm put in a place where a daily walk isn't just a hobby but a job requirement. I relish this prod to take back up the activity that I so often slip out of. With as much fun as I usually have, it reminds me that I need to make it a priority. I encourage you to do the same.

Touting the perks of a daily walk wasn't the impetus for this blog post. Instead, I got some neat pictures from my walks recently* that I thought would be fun to share. Enjoy! and .

Tuesday December 13 2011

File under: Anacortes

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FC 154 - Slurm

While making this week's comic, I am reminded why I don't do multipanel comics very often: they're tedious. As much fun was I was having drawing* aliens, this took a long time. But I do it because I care.

But what a crazy concept: what will we do when we find intelligent life. Notice how I say when instead of if. Of course it is going to happen. And probably even in my life time. Even if we don't establish contact, we're bound to find evidence of it. SO CRAZY! What an amazing miracle this universe is.

And that is your Friday thought for the day: the amazing universe we live in and how big business will be the first to exploit it. Happy Friday!

Friday December 9 2011

File under: comic

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2012 Bellingham Circus Guild Calendar

It's that time of year again, time for the Bellingham Circus Guild calendar FUNdraiser. This year's calendar marks the 3rd year we've solicited photos from members, slaved away at photoshop*, and haunted kinkos in an attempt to share some fun and maybe make a little bit of money.

This year, we decided, instead of one layout and just dropping photos in, we would create 12 different layouts. Sure it's 12 times the work, but hopefully it will be a lot more fun. From all the feedback we've gotten so far, it is.

Where can you get one of these fine pieces of wall candy? you ask. Come to December's Vaudevillingham and you won't be able to walk out the door without being capitalistically assaulted to buy one. Or, contact me. I know a guy. The tentative price is $10 and it goes to help support the Cirque Lab, the practice/performance/teaching space for the Bellingham Circus Guild. So get yours today!

Because I think the whole thing is so freaking neat, here are few previews: August and June. To see more, buy a copy! Or have a look at 2011 or 2010.

Friday December 2 2011

File under: circus, misc

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A Little Slice of Heaven

Years ago, I had a real job*. I worked in Seattle in a cubicle. The work wasn't bad at all. The commute however was a drag, so I would often stay on the city. One of the ways I would treat myself was to visit my favorite pizza place, pizzeria pagliaccis.

It's been a while since i've roamed the urban streets of my past stomping grounds. Tonight, however, I find myself with a couple hours to kill as I wait for a predictably late craigslist ride. What better time to treat oneself than the present. Yum!

While the pizza (and salad, especially) and nostalgia are worth a blog post of its own, I'm using this opportunity more to try out mobile posting from my new toy. That's right! This post is done completely from Non-a-phone. HTML on a mobile keyboard isn't the easiest thing on the world, but I'm pleased to prove that it is doable! (although the process is tedious enough that none of us should get used to this up to the minute drivel)

Anyway, I've got pizza to eat (and thumbs to let recover)

Tuesday November 29 2011

File under: misc

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FC 153 - Frail to the Chief

I was halfway tempted to save this comic for next week and instead do a Thanksgiving comic (like that Google one I did a couple years back). It was going to be a big fat guy at a fully loaded dining room table, holding up a turkey leg and stein full of beer, saying "I'm thankful for triple by-pass surgeries". I didn't get around to it. Alas. Maybe next year.

One thing that I did try this time around is to think a little outside the box. Or, more specifically, do a speech bubble outside of the box. We'll see how that pans out. Ain't it grand that over 4 years into this comic creating foray, there are still new things to try!

(Oh, and for the record, I would totally vote for a grandma for president. As long as she wears a shawl, says "sonny boy", and doesn't cave to corporate interests, she's got my support!)

Thursday November 24 2011

File under: comic

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Silliness in Vegas

Combine traveling with a super fun gal, needing to test out my new not-a-phone camera, and, well, Vegas, and some fun pictures come out of it all.

Wednesday November 23 2011

File under: travel, Vegas

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