Redwood Vaudeville Tour

Are you in Northern California? Do you live in a little town that doesn't see a lot of entertainment? If so, the New Old Time Chautauqua might be coming to your town. Come enjoy a vaudeville show filled with energy, juggling, music, acrobatics, comedy, and lots of last minute improvisation. (For example, the power went out due to a truck hitting a power line here in Pt. Reyes Station, CA. Luckily, the Dance Palace here has a little solar backup system so we at least had lights.) But on the other side of the stage, it is more than shows. There is camping, parades, workshops, swimming*, and all sorts of intangibles. And then there are the stories. After just one year, I've got my fair share. The people that have been here for all 29 years have that many more. Yep, Chautauqua: the Redwood Tour. Such an experience I can't even put together a cohesive blog post.

Wednesday June 23 2010

File under: travel, circus

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on Mon 28th Jun, 2010 07:30 pm PDT yo its chelsea! said: I love N. California!! Particularly Pt. Reyes! Hope its been awesome :) ************************

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Quote For Monday - Volunteerism

"We don't work for free for nothing!" This is the sign that I've set up in the kitchen. I'm tempted to call it my kitchen, because I have very little time outside of it, but we are a community here. But it isn't just a kitchen sign. It applies all around. To the performers, the [amazing] band, the logistics people—everyone is doing this on a volunteer basis. What we get out of it is an amazing experience and great satisfaction when we see the excitement and joy we bring to our audiences* What am I talking about? Why the circus, of course. I've run away with the circus again, this time on a tour of northern California. The New Old Time Chautauqua is the same group that I toured some islands with last summer. This year, I'm the goto guy in the kitchen (as opposed to last year where I just did breakfasts (which later evolved into co-managing the kitchen)). But more on that later. For now, I had better get back to the kitchen. Those beans aren't going to soak themselves, you know.

Monday June 21 2010

File under: quote

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on Tue 22nd Jun, 2010 08:19 pm PDT Mom said: Hey, tote that sign home with you. I'd like to put it up around here! ************************

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Familiar Giant

Familiar giant (remember?) with a familiar goober in front.

Friday June 18 2010

File under: travel, USA

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on Sun 20th Jun, 2010 01:15 am PDT Juline said: You're back in NoCa? ************************

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Trivia Town

For the past couple years, I've rarely passed through Portland without stopping in for one or more nights of pub trivia. The options are vast and convenient, the trivia is high caliber (mostly), and it is a great excuse to see friends that I might not other be able to see. When taking stock of where all I've played trivia here in Portland, I was amazed to find that I could name 9 places off the top of my head. Here's a quick review. 39th St Sports Pub: This was one of my fist Portland trivia endeavors and, if I remember correctly, one of my least favorites. Pretty much all I can remember about it was it non-syndicated and pretty unanimously agreed to be low caliber* Basement Pub: Owner run (i.e. non-syndicated), quick and to the point (30-ish questions rapid fire with no breaks), decent food, kind of a late start time, but it is made up for by its quickness. I've done trivia here a number of times. Eastburn: A ShanRock trivia venue. A good personal game of trivia. The person reading the trivia is the person that writes it (a big plus), encouraged interaction between teams, and a non-trivia interaction round (the time I went, it was competition Barrel of Monkeys). Belmont Inn: One of the harder, yet better attended Pub Quiz USA venues. Pub Quiz USA has a format that I love with lots of questions and lots of variety in types of rounds and questions (anagrams, music, etc.). There is a theme each week which is announced via e-mail newsletter. The Belmont costs $3 to play, but the winning team gets the whole pot. I've played here a number of times and enjoy it quite a bit. Morrison Hotel: A one off trivia (i.e. non-syndicated) that is very topic oriented, which is good and bad. The people are totally fun with lots of interaction. This isn't a trivia I see myself going to a bunch, but was a lot of fun when we did go. NePo 42: A Last Call trivia syndicated venue. Last Call trivia has a rather common format of one question with the time span of one song to answer it (rather than many questions per round). That means fewer questions, but more chat time. Another added feature of the format is being able to wager based on your confidence of your answer. This makes it a strategy intensive game (which can be good and bad). I had an enjoyable time at this and hope to try it again. Rose and Thistle: Another Pub Quiz USA venue and my current favorite. The questions aren't too hard, the quiz master is super awesome, it's free to play, but has good prizes. Oh, and we totally got first place there this week. Sante Fe Taqueria: Last Call Trivia here. The night we went, it was underattended with only 3 teams. We won the $30 gift certificate for first place, but couldn't feel too good about ourselves because of the lack of competition. It is really nice having trivia in a non-bar, though! Biddy's: Pub Quiz USA again and about in the middle on difficulty and attendance. This it the place I've done trivia the most, but mostly just because of location. But it is a place I would gladly go back to. Yep, Portland is pretty rich in trivia options. I look forward to exploring more of those options in my [hopefully many] future Portland visits.

Wednesday June 16 2010

File under: misc

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on Thu 17th Jun, 2010 11:26 am PDT soreyes said: http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/06/settle-trivia-debates-anytime-anywhere.html ************************ on Thu 17th Jun, 2010 12:30 pm PDT jen said: Congrats on your first place at trivia this week! I expect nothing less from you though, I mean you ARE Wren after all. :) ************************ on Wed 05th Dec, 2012 05:31 pm CST Wren said: In an effort to keep this list up to date, here are a few off the top of my head that I've been to of late: Bar Bar in Mississippi: One off hosted by an authentic eccentric. From what I remember, I like it, the menu was decent, it's hosted outdoors in the summer(!) and we won, so it can't be all bad. Sandy's at 59th and Foster: Rain Brain trivia, which has some fun format highlights (a list round, varied audio clips), but the bar is a total dive, the host and regulars have too much false enthusiasm for me, and the format disproportionally weights some topic specific questions so overall is hit and miss. Press Club at 26th and Clinton: Another Last Call venue, which happens to be a format I really like. The host was great here and the teams fun. The menu is a bit fancy for me, but the owner seems nice and there are lots of magazines to read as you wait for your teammates to arrive (last minute no doubt). ************************

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Vancouver and Its Mad Skillz

VANCOUVER MAD SKILLZ JUGGLING/ETC. FESTIVAL VANCOUVER MAD SKILLZ JUGGLING/ETC. FESTIVAL I went to Vacouver this weekend to check out the first annual Mad Skillz juggling/etc.* festival. Let me tell you, it was good times. Copious juggling, a mad hunt for ice cream, a nude beach, a new knot trick, and ever so wonderful company made for a day that's already got me looking forward to next year. Good times!!

Sunday June 13 2010

File under: juggling

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on Sun 13th Jun, 2010 11:38 pm PDT Saxtor said: Ahhhh, you've identified one of my favorite aspects of Vancouver; the jaunty crosswalk man. ************************ on Mon 14th Jun, 2010 07:48 am PDT gretchen said: it's andrew doppelganger!!!! ************************ on Mon 14th Jun, 2010 09:32 am PDT Wren said: He even shares Andrew's love of crass juvenile humor! ************************ on Mon 14th Jun, 2010 08:51 pm PDT Andrew said: Whoa. Freaky.That guy looks waaaay higher class then me tho. ************************ on Tue 15th Jun, 2010 12:18 pm PDT Ryan said: A new knot trick at the nude beach? Sounds dangerous. ************************ on Thu 17th Jun, 2010 12:31 pm PDT jen said: Great photos of the juggling. It must be hard to capture such skill. Props to your photographer. ************************ on Thu 17th Jun, 2010 05:24 pm PDT BEARD NAZI said: beardlessness?!!?!?!? ************************

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FC 108 - Cinematic Remake...With a Twist

Disclaimer: This comic contains a bad word. If you can't tell what is going on on the movie screen there, it's because drawing a close-up of lips turns out to be really really hard. I tried. I failed. So I overlaid the actual screenshot from Citizen Kane and fiddled with the opacity. I probably should have just used the straight screenshot, but I guess I've become too proud. Back in the day, tracing, cutting, and pasting were the name of the game. Today I just can't bring myself to do it. (Although it is pretty obvious that this hybrid is probably the worst of both worlds.) Anyhoo, I'm guessing this is going to be my last Friday comic for a couple weeks. Tomorrow I hit the road so will hopefully have some interesting stories to tell and pictures to share. But, as always, Friday Comics will be back as soon as things are back to normal and I have lots of blog space to fill.

Friday June 11 2010

File under: comic

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on Fri 11th Jun, 2010 08:02 am PDT Amanda said: It took me a minute to realize that was a mouth and not a butt... ************************ on Fri 11th Jun, 2010 05:28 pm PDT gretchen said: doesn't first look like a butt either.... ************************ on Fri 11th Jun, 2010 05:29 pm PDT gretchen said: or second like a butt...mouth came time mind third. ************************ on Sat 12th Jun, 2010 12:47 pm PDT Amanda said: Hummm... victim of the one arm bikini-waxer. ************************ on Sun 13th Jun, 2010 09:52 am PDT jes said: I'm commenting so that in two years when you look at your comments you'll remember I read your blog sometimes. DID YOU HEAR THAT? I'M READING YOUR BLOG ************************ on Mon 14th Jun, 2010 04:37 am PDT Dave said: is having seen Citizen Kane a prerequisite to understanding this comic? ************************ on Mon 14th Jun, 2010 09:35 am PDT Wren said: Oh poor poor Dave. I haven't seen Citizen Kane either, but I do know that it is the source of one of the most famous quotes EVAR. *SPOILER ALERT* As he is dying at the end of the movie, he utters the words "Rosebud". ************************

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Herding Cats

I now know where the term "herding cats" comes from and all too well what it means. I'm at a new housesitting job this week where 2 cats are my charge. In the housesitting realm, I consider cats to be the easier of the household pets–no walking, no scooping poop (unless they are indoor only cats), etc. The instructions read "At night, bring Gus into the house and put Baily into the garage. They might need some coaxing with a can of tuna." The first thing I realized when I went to bring the cats in for the night is that I didn't know which one was which. Hmmm... But worse, there were 3 skittish cats running around the yard to choose from. So not only did I have to pick which one went where, but I also had to deduce which ones to herd in the first place. In both instances, I let fate decide. I got the opened a can of tuna, placed it just inside either door, and lied in wait. The first cat* to fall for the tuna-in-the-house trap got to spend the night in the house. Same with the garage. I mean, each should know where they belong, right? Wrong. Since that first night, I ran into the neighbor at frisbee* and he let me know which was which. It turns out that I got the right cats but the wrong places. Alas. But since I've known, garage kitty has wised up to the tuna baiting, so I'm going to need to develop a new strategy anyway. Yep, house/petsitting is a good job. But it ain't always easy.

Wednesday June 9 2010

File under: work

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on Wed 09th Jun, 2010 01:09 pm PDT mindi said: I am awfully fond of the action shot of the "fat" cat. ************************ on Wed 09th Jun, 2010 03:29 pm PDT mely said: your life is full of cute things. :-) ************************

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Quote For Monday - Stay Puffed

seen at Johnny Picasso's

Sunday June 6 2010

File under: quote

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on Tue 08th Jun, 2010 10:58 am PDT mely said: i love it. :-) x ************************ on Fri 11th Jun, 2010 12:08 pm PDT jenelle said: This would be a fun quote to letterpress. hmmm... ************************ on Fri 18th Jun, 2010 09:24 pm PDT Sweet Julie said: OMG- so true! I was walking down the isle of the grocery store- stopped in my tracks to the best smell ever- low and behold, down by my feet were the mmmmmmmmmarshmallows ************************

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FC 107 - I Aint Lying

Undoubtedly spurred to action by the noticeable absence* of the Friday Comic last week, loyal reader (and previous comic contributer) Horge put together (conceived, wrote, and drew (totally awesomely, BTW)) this one so as to make sure we all don't go another week without a comic. Thanks for the break, Horge. In my defense, my trip to Montreal, while work related, was still technically travel which is one of the acceptable exemptions under Friday Comic code (142.14 A sec. 23). And there's another comic-hiatus-due-to-travel in the near future, so be warned. But remember, there's always the comic archives* if you want to remember an old favorite. But we are here and now and enjoying this comic by Horge. There's even a story to it involving poorly translated Bosnian newspapers and Tiger Woods. But I'll let him tell it in the comments. Take it away, Horge.

Friday June 4 2010

File under: comic

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on Fri 04th Jun, 2010 06:22 am PDT Horge said: Not a Bosnian newspaper, but a good ol' fashioned American typo from the AP when Tiger withdrew from that tournament a few weeks ago... Not such a wild story, but meh, what are you gonna do? ************************

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Anasaurus (a.k.a. Dinocortes)

A group of merry pranksters livened up the new(-ish) roundabout coming into Anacortes for the Memorial Day weekend with dozens of plastic dinosaurs. While a casual observer might pass by without noticing them, plenty of people gawked and even took an extra pass 'round to see the herd in all their glory. Without compromising any of my informants, I think I can safely say that the group of merrymakers responsible for what the media is calling Anasaurus is the same group that perpetrated the flamingoing of the weird psuedo-park at 18th and Commercial a couple months back. I, for one, love their antics and can't wait to see more. Three cheers for random acts of public art*!!!!!

Wednesday June 2 2010

File under: Anacortes

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on Wed 02nd Jun, 2010 05:33 pm PDT Cyndi said: Darn! I missed that. Would have loved to roundabout that dino island ************************ on Wed 02nd Jun, 2010 07:49 pm PDT jdog said: are you sure it wasn't the same group that was responsible for the lesser known, but equally awesome urban farm prank of '09? ************************ on Thu 03rd Jun, 2010 12:22 am PDT Horge said: Hilarious! Pranksters keep up the funny work, and Wren, stay on that story as it develops! ************************ on Thu 03rd Jun, 2010 10:09 pm PDT Sara said: Being the nerd that I am, I looked at this hoping to see a photo of the entire roundabout. ************************ on Fri 04th Jun, 2010 03:36 pm PDT Saxtor said: Well, now these make so much more sense: This and this. ************************ on Tue 16th Nov, 2010 08:27 am PST Danny Rambo said: Hmmmm. If uou refer to a wandering flock of pink flamingos near M and 6th, I know the source, the pranksters motivation, and I even fed a little corn to one that wandered back home. Save the flamingos! ************************

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