Blog du Wren

Crossword For a Sunny Day

With all this sun we've been having recently, I was inspired (between my many wonderful hikes)to write a crossword. "What does have a crossword have to do with the sun?", you ask. Do it and you will see. Online version here and printable version here.

(Also, if crosswords written by a witty guy you kind of know are your kind of thing, I think Chris's uncle has put a few out. Otherwise, you can go check out my list of mediocre crosswords on the games page. (Scroll all the way to the bottom. (There are more than just the ones I've made posts about.)))

So, at trivia last night*, I brought out a copy of this crossword*. In between rounds and when we were waiting for our score*, the team put their heads together in working on it. None were avid crossworders*, but they had a great time* and finished it up. Let me tell you, there are few greater pleasures for me than seeing people do my crosswords and enjoying themselves. The point of this rambling story is*, however, if you have some time to kill, consider doing a crossword. Oh*.

Wednesday January 21 2009

File under: games

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Sunny Days In Bellingham

Truly sunny days here in the Great Northwest are few and far between during the winter months. On the one hand, it can make life a bit dreary. On the other, however, it gives a person wonderful motivation to get out and enjoy the sun on the rare occasions that it is there. This past weekend (and so far today), the sun has been going all out to expose the beautiful vistas and invite all to come and play. And play I did.

The above picture was taken off a still unknown trail* off Cleator/Hiline Rd. The road is washed out, so it made for quite a long walk, but wonderful, as there were no people around. Plus, the view we ended up with was great. ('s a close up of the Olympics which kind of got lost in the panorama.) The day before, I finally made it down to Clayton Beach, which has been on my todo list for quite some time. We got a little lost, but there was still plenty to .

Yep, sunny winter days are true jewels in the Northwest. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm headed back outside.

Monday January 19 2009

File under: misc

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FC 58 - Friends Can Be So Fickle

Putting googly eyes on any inanimate object makes it funny if you ask me. I'm hoping that at least that will elicit a chuckle, even if the comic itself doesn't.

Gosh, not much else to say, but lots of space to fill up lest the whole formatting of the blog go askew.

*crickets*

I guess I could put out the call for artists again. I know I've been drawing a lot of the comics recently, with varying degrees of success *ahem*. I'm always game for trying to get a new artist into the mix. I've got a list of ideas. You can take your pick. Any takers?

Thursday January 15 2009

File under: comic

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Grenada Slideshow

One of the best things to do when returning from a trip is to review photos. For me, it helps me recapture a bit of the adventure and wonder when it is usually quite needed. (Post-vacation blues is no laughing matter). I went back and forth on whether to do a slideshow set to music or a captioned, proceed-at-your-own-pace slideshow. Since I am too lazy to write clever* captions and all the fancy javascript to go along with the latter option, I opted for the former. I hope you like it.

Many thanks to Maggie for letting me pull from her photos in addition to mine. Any really good photo was probably taken by her. Oh, and Sean, the star wipe at the end is just for you. Oh², and I used Vimeo instead of YouTube this time because YouTube didn't like that I was using copyrighted music for the soundtrack. Alas.

Wednesday January 14 2009

File under: video, travel

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FC 57 - RoShamBo...On a Higher Level

Now that I'm back home it's time to start back up with the Friday comics. I had one all lined up for last week, but I figured no one was going in to work on the Friday after New Year's Day, and since part of the idea behind the comic series is to give cubicle jockeys and others who work behinds computers a chance at a giggle, I thought I would save the comic for this week.

I feel obligated to apologize for the funky color pattern stuff in this one. Windows Power Tools image resizer seems to do not nearly as good a job with .gifs as with .jpegs. Alas. (For the hard core large screen high resolution folk, you can view the slightly larger but with better color version .)

(Oh, and Andrew, don't forget about that $11 you owe me from your epic RoShamBo loss on Tuesday. Epic!)

Thursday January 8 2009

File under: comic

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Racing the Waters

Of the 5 legs of this most recent journey, 4 of them have been effected by mostly weather-related delays. I guess that is part of winter travel. Luckily none of them were catastrophic and one or two of them were even for the best. This last leg, however, was by far the most adventurous.

After spending a great 4 days in Portland thanks to friends new and old, I decided it was time to make my way home*. I looked forward to the train ride as a time to wind down and reflect on my trip and how incredible it was*. The weather gods, however, decided that my time on a train was not meant to be. Mud slides between Seattle and Portland had all but canceled all trains out of Portland for the next 3 days. Luckily, my travel mate and I are the unruffle-able types and took it as a adventure.

We found a friend who graciously let us borrow his vehicle* and we set off northward. The top of the hour newscast, followed by calls from concerned friends and family, alerted us to what might be our next hurdle: floods were expected to close I-5, and soon. After a discussion of whether to turn back and possible contingency plans, we pressed on. Freeway off ramps were closed as we raced by because everything below the level of the freeway was underwater. We saw police and highway workers getting ready to close down the last open land route between Portland and Seattle. As we looked in the rear-view mirror after passing the worst of it, a call came on the phone announcing that the freeway is now closed. We were among the last 100 cars to get through.

While the rest of the ride wasn't totally stress-free (heavy rains and dangerous puddles made for a bit of a white knuckle experience), we were glad when we crossed onto Fidalgo Island safely. Now as I listen to news of road closures, evacuation notices, and river stages I think about 1) the awesome power of Mother Nature 2) that it is good to be reminded that, despite what we want to think, we are still at the mercy of our environment 3) how glad I am to live in a place where the perennial disasters (fire, flood, drought, etc.) have so far avoided and 4) how glad I am to be home safe and sound.

Thursday January 8 2009

File under: travel

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Communal Meals

The first thing I'm told when I walk in Andrew's door in Portland is "We've got dinner plans". Not being one to eschew meal plans, I dumped my bags and headed back out into the [relatively] cold northwest weather. Dinner was homemade tamales with lots of extras at a friend's house. Many people gathered together to cook, chat, eat, flirt, and discuss the finer points of converting a client-side database to be server-based. The following two meals the next day were much the same way: food gets cooked, friends descend, fun ensues.

Yes, these Portland dwellers do it right*. The idea of coming together for a shared meal is one that warms me to the core. Good people combined with good food: I'm afraid that's a hard one to beat.

Tuesday January 6 2009

File under: travel, food

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Recognize This House

Do you recognize this house? is another view. Not right off? How about if you removed the bushes? Replaced the gravelled front yard with grass? Painted it pinkish yellow? Added a nerdy yet do-goody neighbor? Does it ring a visual bell now? ( is a visualization). Still not seeing it? is your final hint.

Back in 1997(ish), a house was built using T.V.'s the Simpson's home as a model. The house was then given away in some crazy promotion. I vaguely remember hearing about the contest back then. Well, on this most recent visit to the Las Vegas area, I sought it out and took my typically . With the change in landscape, paint color, etc. it is hardly worth being a destination in itself, but since I was just out cruising around, it was a good way to kill the time. Plus, it complements my last Las Vegas Simpsons experience well*.

Sunday January 4 2009

File under: travel

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Freemont Street Experience

One thing you might not think of when thinking about Las Vegas is free shows. Sure there are pricey cirque d' soleil shows, fancy showgirls shows, and once-in-a-lifetime Bette Midler shows, but there is lots of free entertainment too, if you know where to look: the water show at the Bellagio, the pirate show at Treasure Island, the circus shows at Circus Circus, the animatronic Zeus show at Cesaer's Palace, etc. While each of them have their charm, my vote for best free show in Vegas is the Freemont Street Experience.

Freemont Street in downtown* Vegas is a pedistrian mall with older (yet not unfancy) casinos lining it. Covering about 3 blocks of the mall is a giant dome* which, in the evenings, turns into a giant screen displaying what I can only describe as a crazy music . saw Don McClean's American Pie and one with the music of Queen. If you've been there, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, I suggest checking it out. It'll make you feel better about all that money you lost at the roulette wheel.

Friday January 2 2009

File under: travel

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New Years Eve in Las Vegas

New Year's Eve in Las Vegas: . Streets blocked off. More booze than usual. More lights than usual. Motorcycle stunts. Police keeping tabs on everything. to revel together. Fireworks from everywhich direction. All in all, energy abounding: electric, chemical, and human.

Or so I heard. I was in bed by 9:30 and hardly stirred when the fireworks went off right outside my hotel. Jet lag coupled with cruisers lag* left me one tired cookie. (Sleeping through the big moment also means I'm up to 11 years on my no kiss at midnight streak. Yes, ladies, that is a challenge.)

Anyway, to each of you I send you my hopes for the best possible 2009 ever.

Thursday January 1 2009

File under: travel

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