Ichiro Beard...Kinda

I don't really know what I was thinking calling this one the "Ichiro". All my time in Japan, his face was everywhere, so you would think that I would have his beard all figured out. But now, looking back through pictures, whatever beard shape that I thought he was sporting, I was wrong. That doesn't mean that there still isn't value to this beard (although there isn't really).

I wanted to get it down to a super fine, Back Street Boy-esque chin line, but my skillz, patience, and razor weren't up the challenge. So all we get is this lousy excuse for a midweek blog post. But never fear: flag day is just around the corner.
Tuesday April 28 2009File under: beard

Toggle Comments (4)comment?

Quote for Monday 6

"The world is a playground. You know that when you're a kid, but somewhere along the way everyone forgets it."
This week's quote comes courtesy of the epitome of cuteness, Ms.* Zooey Deschanel in the movie Yes Man. While I pretty much can't stand Jim Carey and much of the movie was predictable and overdone, there was an undertone theme that really agreed with me, making me quite glad I watched it. But as almost anyone can attest, taking a movie suggestion from me is much like asking for food recommendations from a dog (a.k.a. not advisable).

(Muchas gracias to Saxtor for manning the pause button enough for me to jot down the quote.)
Monday April 27 2009File under: quote

Toggle Comments (2)comment?

FC 64 - Just Doing My Part

First off, happy Earth Day! I know I am a day or two late but I can't go messing with the Friday Comic schedule*. If you forgot it was Earth Day or weren't able to celebrate it properly, I encourage you to take some time this weekend to do a little something-something (but not turning on the AC with the window open. Or leaving the fridge open.)

Anyway, my standard comic explanation/disclaimer: I didn't really have the people drawing skillz this week*, so I borrowed a few of my previously drawn elements. Ain't cut and paste grand! Please don't think less of me. Or do, as that seems to be the hip trend these day.

Anyway, if you haven't, be sure to check out the dedicated comics page for more drawin' and less yawin'.
Thursday April 23 2009File under: comic

Toggle Comments (2)comment?

Sleeping Outside Season

When the weather starts to get warm and there is a relatively small chance for overnight rain, nothing beats sleeping outside*. [Pictured here is the coveted sleeping outside spot, on the deck upstairs. Notice the view of Mt. Baker in the background, but high enough railings to block out any street lights.]

Last night was my 2009 inaugural outdoor snooze and it was awesome. Sure the birds start chirping at some ungodly hour, it gets bright well before I even consider getting up, and there's no Morning Edition to lounge and listen to, but the clear cool air makes up for it all. There is just something so primitive (in a good way) about sleeping under the stars.

Yep, sleeping outside on the deck is one of the [many] awesome parts about spending summers in Anacortes.
Tuesday April 21 2009File under: Anacortes

Toggle Comments (5)comment?

Mysterious Monday Quote

Life is tragic. Life is wonderful. Embrace it.

"Why mysterious?", you ask. Well, I ran across this quote this past week* and thought what a great, and applicable, quote. As with most people, I imagine, my life recently has had both big bummers and big wonders. When I read this quote, I filed it away to await Monday. Then I forgot where I got it from (which means it might not be an exact quote*). I was almost sure that it was from the latest issue of Mental Floss*, but in a quick search, I couldn't find it. That doesn't lessen the value of the quote, however.
Monday April 20 2009File under: quote

Toggle Comments (1)comment?

FC 63 - How Does That Make You Feel

Now that my travels are over with*, it is time to get back to the business as usual. This comic, drawn by East Coast MS Paint virtuoso Annie (with caption suggestion by her beau Sam)*, has been sitting in my inbox since before I left for Taiwan so many weeks ago, making it long overdue for posting. Luckily, once ya'll see it, you'll agree that it's worth the wait.

While I've still got one or two lingering travel posts I'm planning, you can count on your Friday fix of amateur comics resuming for at least a while longer. (Traveling solo lends itself to lots of thinking time which in turn leads to at least a few comic ideas.)

(And if you are just getting into the Friday Comic series, catch up on previous ones in an easy to navigate format here*.)
Friday April 17 2009File under: comic

Toggle Comments (4)comment?

More Minor Media Mentions

Forgive me if it seems self-centered to post such little things like a minor picture in a small-press magazine. This blog, while mostly for the purpose of keeping ya'll informed (and hopefully a little entertained), is also my virtual scrap book, something that I will look back on when I am 90 and say "those were the good old days"*.

Anyway, a picture of me made it to the Klipsun magazine, a WWU publication. A big thanks to team Weddle for spotting it and delivering it. To see non-scanned, original photos as well as read the text of the article, check it out on here on their website.

Besides a misspelling of my name, I can't really complain. There is just something neat about seeing yourself in print, I think. Maybe if this small-press media luck continues to rise, I might just make it to the NY Times someday.
Wednesday April 15 2009File under: misc

Toggle Comments (3)comment?

Good Hosts

Traveling can be a tedious endeavor: language barriers, different beds every night, very little familiar territory, no space to really feel comfortable. Traveling solo adds the extra aspect of not having someone to share thoughts and observations with, etc. Don't get me wrong; all the newness and time for reflection can be a very good thing, but it sometimes is just plain hard.

Enter wonderful people. In Japan and Taiwan, I was fortunate to have a number of wonderful hosts to help ease the hardships of travel. Whether providing guidance on local activities (many of which I would have never experienced otherwise), welcoming me and sharing their lives with me, offering up generous use of their homes and a place to sleep*, or just indulging my brain dumps (and chance to speak English for a while), I realize that my experience wouldn't have been nearly as wonderful without these people. So to Bob, Dave, Kristin, and Bryan I can't say thank you enough. If ever I can repay you in whatever way, I'll be glad to do it.

In thinking about it, all my travels of late have been helped along and enhanced by so many good people: Steve and Hope in Grenada, Gabriella in Mexico, so so many good folks on the eastern seaboard, Andrew and Gretch in Portland, and Sibley and Nina in Santa Cruz just to name but a few. I count my lucky stars each time I think about it, and hope that the generosity they all have shown me comes back around to them someday. As I hope, I realize that the best way to make sure that happens is to be the best host I can be whenever I get the chance. So next time you, any of you, pass through Anacortes, know that you've got a willing host to put you up, show you around, and help in any way possible. After all, it is the least I can do.
Tuesday April 14 2009File under: travel

Toggle Comments (3)comment?

Meebo HQ Visit

Silicone Valley is like my Hollywood. Just as a visitor to Hollywood might buy a Map to the Stars and go hunting for their favorite celebrity's homes, I stalk and gawk around Silicone Valley looking for my favorite tech companies. Highest on that list is meebo.

Meebo is a company started back in late 2005 that allows users to access all their various instant messaging protocols via a unified interface all through through their browser*. The nerds among you probably already know all about it. I imagine the non-nerds don't care. Anyway, I've been following the company since its start-up via their blog where they write about the venture capital aspect, the technology hang-ups, the social culture of the bay area, moving from a garage to a real office space, hiring people, etc. etc. Seeing it all in person was something I've been wanting to do for a while.

When we found the location, I was positively giddy. I was so giddy, in fact, I thought it prudent to stroll the avenue for a minute or two before making too much of a fool of myself by knocking on the door. While trying to compose myself on the street corner, I recognized a meebo-er* and lost whatever composure I had managed to regain. Long story short, I finally got up the guts to poke my head in to the office. I was given a quick tour, a smile, and a meebo t-shirt*. I snapped a goofy picture for the blog, and I was out the door. (The giddiness, however, remained for a good 2 hours.)
Sunday April 12 2009File under: travel, USA

Toggle Comments (10)comment?

Santa Cruz Visitor Decathlon

Firstly, good work to all those that correctly identified last post's interchallenge: Trees Of Mystery near Klamath, CA on highway 101. In all the times I've passed by it, I've still never paid the $13 to do the tour. Maybe someday...

We just finished with a wonderful (albeit way too short) visit to Santa Cruz. Although it may have been short, we still managed to complete 7(ish) of 10 of the Visitor's Decathlon events.

1. Tree Platform: a platform 72 feet up in a redwood at the top of a ridge overlooking the Monterrey Bay.
2. frisbee golf: we played 9 holes on the world renowned frolf course.*
3. roller coaster: the Giant Dipper is the 3rd oldest roller coaster in the US. It is wooden, it is historic, and it is awesome. *
4. Saturn Cafe: quirky vegetarian cafe. We ate there. It was delicious.
5. Malobar's or Dharma's: this is one we missed. We only had a few meals to eat out and this missed the cut.
6. pier and sea lions: check.
7. surfing or watching surfers: this is the ish. The weather wasn't great so they weren't out in droves, and we had already stopped for a bit up highway 1 to watch the gnarl be shralped.
8. Tandem bike: missed it. Next time...
9. Mystery Spot: Alisa and I thoroughly enjoyed this one*.
10. Adult gymnastics: had we had more than 48 hours in Santa Cruz, this is one we definitely would have liked to get in. Instead, we played some beach volleyball*.

I had so much fun on this decathlon, maybe I should consider looking into the Olympics...
Thursday April 9 2009File under: travel, USA

Toggle Comments (4)comment?
   < Previous Page  Next Page >
 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 .............25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112
Recent Comments:
*Wren on Photos of Me and Della
*Horge on I Bought a Car - Chevy Cruzin
*Horge on Photos of Me and Della
*Horge on I Bought a Car - Chevy Cruzin
*Steve Rowe on I Bought a Car - Chevy Cruzin
Recent Content:
*I Bought a Car - Chevy Cruzin
*Photos of Me and Della
*Twas The Night 2020
*Obituary Addendum
*The Light Has Gone Out of My Life
*The Real Food Show Video
*Money Map
*This is 41
*Sleeping Around 2019-2020
*Sunday Universal Crossword By Me!
*Minor Media Mentions - AMPulance Tour

Websites du Friends:
* Wren and Della
Della and my juggling website
* The Real Food Show
A circus-inspired elementary assembly show to teach kids about healthy eating
* Della Moustachella
Della's performance website
* The Fun Bags
Della and Sadye's Performance Troupe

Tags
Anacortes (39)
Cambodia (5)
China (14)
Korea (1)
Macau (1)
Mexico (13)
New Zealand (1)
Seattle (2)
Thailand (18)
USA (11)
Vietnam (5)
beard (5)
blog (8)
books (1)
coding (15)
comic (45)
contest (4)
environment (9)
events (12)
food (22)
games (15)
geocaching (4)
holidays (13)
juggling (8)
links (9)
meet-ups (1)
mexico (1)
misc (54)
movies (5)
open letter (2)
participation (1)
pics (39)
poetry (6)
poll (1)
quote (6)
road trip (25)
stats (1)
transportation (14)
travel (136)
video (6)
work (8)