The Columbia River

The Columbia River is just awesome. Not "awesome" in a "totally tubular" or "Mom, those were some awesome potatoes" kind of way. We are talking "awesome" like aweinspiring, full of awe, etc. Driving along the Columbia gives you vistas around every turn. Driving along the Columbia on a scooter surrounds you with the vistas as well as the sounds, smells, and even temperature and humidity changes (which do add to the overall feeling.) As I proceeded east, the sky ahead was blue and the sky behind was grey, which is quite typical of east of the mountains vs. west. Having that great weather made for the morning's scoot all the more enjoyable. I crossed the river at The Dalles and before I knew it, I was out of beautiful river gorge country and into beautiful rolling hills grasslands country of Eastern Oregon. (Oh, but just before I crossed the river, I came across this sign that I couldn't help but take a picture of.)

Tuesday April 24 2007

File under: travel, road trip

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on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 05:52 pm PDT Saxtor said: The Dalles is somewhat of a special place. First, my Dad spent a better part of his adolescence there. Second, Celilo Falls is located very close to The Dalles, and has been a fixation of mine for many years. I hope to be able to see it at some point in my lifetime, and get very excited when there are rumblings about opening the Columbia dams to showcase the falls. Third, The Dalles is home to Project 02, aka goo ************************ on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 05:55 pm PDT Saxtor said: I think I broke the comments... ************************ on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 06:37 pm PDT Andrew said: Gretchen just laughed out loud at your error, Saxtor. ************************ on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 07:33 pm PDT Saxtor\'s Boss said: typical ************************ on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 09:25 pm PDT Mom said: Oh, Columbia, you gem of the ocean, you. Wait, didn't someone already say that? But I don't think anyone has compared her to my potatoes before--cool! ************************ on Thu 26th Apr, 2007 10:07 am PDT jenelle said: on the wroad again... i just can't wait to get on the wroad again... the life i love is riding scoot scoot to the end, and i can't wait to get on the wroad again. ************************ on Sun 29th Apr, 2007 03:24 pm PDT Trista said: well, i hope you stopped to get some Doritos and AJ... that's some fantabulous prices there in Googleville! ************************

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The Civilized Leg

Three days in with about 500 km down, I'm starting to get into the road trip mentality; equal parts of extremely tangible logistics (Stop for gas? Left or right? Is it going to rain?) with the extreme intangibles (illogistics?) (I am where I am. Neither "left" nor "right" is better.) These first 3 days have been wonderful; relatively few miles per day, a comfortable place to sleep each night, and a chance to figure out the newness that is long distance scooter travel. Today, however, the civilized leg of the journey is over. No more comfortable places to stay. No more frequent service stops (which are so handy for my 1.3 gallon gas tank.) No more semi-familiar terrain. Today, I take off on the wilder side. The "plan", as such, has me following the Columbia River east out of Vancouver to the east side of the Cascades before heading south on the back roads of Oregon. I'll eat when I'm hungry and I'll camp when I'm tired. This "wildness" is going to be an adventure. But that's what I in it for, right?

Tuesday April 24 2007

File under: travel, road trip

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on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 08:33 am PDT Sean said: Come to Iraq! The roads are in pristine condition for Scoot Scoot. But the soda's here are made with "sugar," instead of that sweet sweet high fructose corn syrup. So go with the crab juice. ************************ on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 05:26 pm PDT Andrew said: Mountain Dew? ewwwwww! ************************

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Road Trip!

"Road Trip!" Those words have always evoked a spectacular sense of freedom for me. In my day, I've gone a few doosies. There was the high school road trip to mythical South Whidbey. And who can forget Duck Itch Lake up in Canada? Both the eastward and westward Marilyn roadtrips were not to be forgotten as well. The time has come for a new page in my road trip history. Much like the road trips of yore, this one is about the journey as much as the destination. What makes this one different, however, is that there will be no sleeping in the back of the car, picking up hitch hikers, locking the keys in the car, or blasting the stereo full blast. This road trip is just me, Scoot Scoot, and the open road. So with my sleeping bag bungeed on, a shiny new trunk for my laptop (can anyone say "internet addiction"?), and perhaps an unrealistic sense of enthusiasm, I embark. Stay tuned to BdW for reports from the road.

Sunday April 22 2007

File under: travel, road trip

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on Sun 22nd Apr, 2007 11:44 pm PDT Horge said: You ever read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"? It's a good book. A bit dense on the philosophy, but kinda cool in promoting the worth of road trips via motorcycle... ************************ on Mon 23rd Apr, 2007 06:35 am PDT Nesbitt said: If you make it all the way to Baltimore you will be my hero! ************************ on Mon 23rd Apr, 2007 06:42 am PDT Sonya and Kate said: If you and Scoot Scoot make it to good ole Iowa, we will let you sleep in a bed and give you a meal if you want! ************************ on Mon 23rd Apr, 2007 10:43 am PDT Sweet Julie said: You are so right- I hear the words "Road Trip" put together, and I start packing too! ************************ on Mon 23rd Apr, 2007 11:07 am PDT Saxtor said: Wren! Since you'll be going right through the area, let me recommend going to this spot. The earthcache has been deactivated, but that does not matter. This is possibly one of the most amazing spots I have ever visited, and would be a wonderful pitstop on adventures through the area! I await future (and hopefully regular) updates! ************************ on Mon 23rd Apr, 2007 02:09 pm PDT Saxtor said: I didn't think of it until now, by my hot spring suggestion goes quite well with your affinity for water features. And unlike your others, in this one, homelessness isn't a prerequisite for bathing! ************************ on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 12:13 am PDT Horge said: If you make it to Bosnia on that thing, then you will also be my hero! And I'll give you a couch to sleep on and some chow as well :) ************************ on Fri 11th May, 2007 04:44 pm PDT Micky Rourke said: lo-tech, just what I expected. ************************

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Public Water Features

As far as public art goes, I would have to say that water features are my favorite (with the exception of maybe functional art like bus shelters, etc.). In my meanderings around and about, a good water feature will always stop me in my tracks. One of my favorite attractions in Rome was Trevi Fountain. The Bellagio's fountain in Vegas captures me. At the mall in Pattaya Thailand, I sat and watched a funky little water feature for hours (while I ate $0.65 oreo blizzards by the dozen). It isn't just in far away places that water features add to the interest of an urban landscape. Just the other day in Seattle, with a couple hours to kill, I thought I would do a quick tour to see what I could find. Pictured to the right is a calm little fountain next to Key Area at the Seattle Center. Also at the Seattle center is the famous International Fountain which, esp. in the summer, doubles as functional art keeping people cool. Downtown has a couple neat little fountains like this one at the Baimbridge Ferry Terminal, this serene waterfall at the birth place of UPS (privately maintained), and one of my favorites at 5th and James. Also vying for a top spot in my favorites are some of the basalt fountains at Amazon.com. I didn't get a chance to trek up to Cal Anderson Park to snap a picture of that great fountain. So next time you are scurrying through a city with your head down, look up and enjoy some of the public water features!

Friday April 20 2007

File under: misc, pics

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on Fri 20th Apr, 2007 10:59 am PDT Saxtor said: I too pay attention to water features, but less for the aesthetic (though not always) and more for the sound and the feeling they elicit. The UPS one is a great example of this. When you walk by that place, you're drawn in by the heavy vegetation and obvious park-ness of it. But once inside, the sound is completely different than the cacophony of the city noises. Water features can express many different types of sound, this particular one suggests being in the forest. Also, when you walk into the enclosed area of the UPS park (or in proximity to most water features), the air temperature drops a measurable amount that tells you you are in a different place. The smell also changes (sometimes to chlorine). What amazes me is every time I have passed the UPS park, I have only seen one or two people at a time sitting and enjoying it. Also, I have been by the Amazon fountains countless times on my way to Uwajimaya from the train station, but it wasn't until you brought to my attention that that was Amazon did I have the foggiest clue the purpose of that building. ************************ on Fri 20th Apr, 2007 04:28 pm PDT per said: there's a project in Vancouver by Arthur Erikson that employs the water feature in a stealth way. It's a courtyard bldng where the lower level facing the street becomes a sheet of water that pours out of the 2nd floor above. visually it's open as the main entrance, but the water completely eradicates any noise pollution from the clanky vroom vrooms happenin at street level. http://www.hillside.ca/1540/erickson.htm http://www.architecture.uwaterloo.ca/faculty_projects/terri/gallery/waterfall_gallery.html ************************ on Fri 20th Apr, 2007 10:16 pm PDT Mom said: Imagine a huge waterfall in Spring during the early melt, imagine surround-sound and then you can imagine what a large water feature does in the center of a bustling city. Downtown Minneapolis has such a place as well, next to Symphony Hall--a place to really get away from the city. Also, remember that touch-of-the-wild fountain at REI. ************************ on Fri 20th Apr, 2007 10:58 pm PDT Sweet Julie said: I like cascadas, personally. ************************ on Sat 21st Apr, 2007 04:04 pm PDT amanda said: what about the one in your own backyard?? i like that one too ************************ on Sun 22nd Apr, 2007 11:56 am PDT Sean said: I enjoy peeing from high places.Wren enjoys peeing down his leg. I have pictures. ************************ on Sun 22nd Apr, 2007 09:03 pm PDT Wren said: Speaking of water features, Sean, I happened by the Seattle International fountain again this weekend and realize this was a much better angle for a photo. ************************ on Sun 22nd Apr, 2007 09:38 pm PDT Sean said: Uhhhh that's a lot of peepee.I like the Swiss Family Robinson water gathering contraption. ************************

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Dating a Jeopardy Writer

I often wish that I was more artistically inclined. I've known people in my life who can whip out the coolest sketches in no time. Give me enough time and art supplies, I will just end up with a bunch of paper cuts. Luckily, in lieu of art skills, I was blessed with at least functional skills of persuasion. So when I got the idea for a comic, I applied those powers of persuasion to convince my very talented neighbor to collaborate* with me. The result turned out very nice, if I do say so myself. See for yourself.

Wednesday April 18 2007

File under: comic

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on Wed 18th Apr, 2007 11:59 am PDT Saxtor said: Did said artist specifically ask to not be credited? First a blog, then games, now comics? Is there a reason for me to visit any other websites?!* ************************ on Wed 18th Apr, 2007 02:55 pm PDT Deanna said: I like to think Wren wanted to keep me, his secret artist, to himself for fear I would get snatched up by somebody else looking to outdo his mad skills as a comic genius. ************************ on Wed 18th Apr, 2007 03:41 pm PDT trista said: i like it. it's funny. ************************ on Wed 18th Apr, 2007 05:47 pm PDT Jule said: Oh wow! that is a cool drawing, and funny comic. New Yorker anybody? ************************ on Thu 19th Apr, 2007 10:00 am PDT Saxtor said: And Deanna, were you 'assciated' with the misspellings as well? ************************ on Thu 19th Apr, 2007 04:42 pm PDT Wren said: I except all blaim for the mispellings, grammer errosr, and, stuff. ************************ on Thu 19th Apr, 2007 08:54 pm PDT Andrew said: Wren! Those words you just dun' wrote are spelled wrong! So ironic! ************************ on Sat 21st Apr, 2007 04:00 pm PDT amanda said: hmmm, wonder where you got that idea? now do you see why i turned him down? funny, the waiter in paris also recommended the creme brulee... clairvoyance?? btw, the dude does not look like alex tribec. i love it. ************************

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Rust In Peace

Good cars—I mean cars that we really love—don't come along very often in our lives. It is with great sadness that I had to let Marilyn go this past weekend. She lived to a ripe old age of 309,811 miles. Now she has gone to a better place, the vehicle donation program at KUOW. Hopefully someone out there will find a use for some of her parts, so she can continue to live on in one form or another. But instead of focusing on the sad, let me look back on the good times she provided. We shared accomplishments,setbacks, learning experiences, and confusion. She took me on adventures and was always patiently waiting for me when I came home. Marilyn, you will be missed.

Monday April 16 2007

File under: transportation, pics

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on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 02:48 pm PDT Saxtor said: A great eulogy for a great car! It should also be noted that the fourth BdW post was about the car. God speed old girl! ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 03:27 pm PDT Andrew said: I spent more than a few hours in that car, and I must say, each was an adventure in it's own right. She shall be missed. ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 04:20 pm PDT Nesbitt said: Sad. RIP. ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 08:08 pm PDT Doubting Mom said: In all honesty I admit that at 250,000 miles with white smoke billowing out her tail pipe I was a non-believer. Marilyn, you have proven that trust alone can make a car go. Wren believed in you to the end. ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 08:24 pm PDT Jule said: I would like to advise the members of KUOW not to take any part of the car involved in steering. Marylin, I love you, but talk about a speed shudder! You couldn't look out the rearview mirror, and that wasn't cause she was missing one! It is good to know she has gone to a better place. RIP ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 08:27 pm PDT Jule said: whoa! new background for the title of BdW? what gives? ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 08:27 pm PDT Jule said: whoa! it changes all the time! ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 08:53 pm PDT Saxtor said: Also, since Wren likes statistics, lets take a look at Marilyn's sordid, dirty past. If Marilyn averaged 30mpg (research shows 27/33mpg city/hwy) she slurped down 10,327 gallons of sweet Middle Eastern nectar in her lifetime. That's a whopping 56800 pounds of carbon she pumped into the ol' atmosphere! This sounds like a lot, but here is where it shows that Marilyn was an extraordinary car, and Wren an extraordinary car-owner. According to EPA statistics, the average car pumps out 11,681 pounds of carbon per year (at a conservative 12,000mi/year @ 21.1mpg) which means it would take the average driver less than 5 years to generate as much carbon as team Marilyn/Wren. ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 08:59 pm PDT Saxtor said: (although, much like our parents used to drink soda with real sugar vs. today's high fructose corn syrup, Marilyn likely drank mostly North American oil in her early days) ************************ on Tue 17th Apr, 2007 11:37 am PDT Sean said: I gave Marilyn sugar once. Only the best for Marilyn! None of that high fructose corn syrup garbage. ************************ on Wed 18th Apr, 2007 07:05 am PDT Nesbitt said: By the way Wren, Honda is still kicking. ************************ on Wed 18th Apr, 2007 09:47 am PDT Wren said: I was thinking of Honda when I wrote this. I remember the jump starts they shared back in the good old Bates' days. ************************ on Wed 18th Apr, 2007 02:56 pm PDT Deanna said: Marilyn, there is a huge void in my heart(and behind my house) We will miss ya! ************************ on Thu 19th Apr, 2007 08:54 pm PDT Siri said: I think Elton John said it best in the song "Candle in the Wind":"Goodbye Norma Jean,Though I never knew you at all.You had the grace to hold yourselfWhile those around you crawled. . .And it seems to me you lived your lifeLike a candle in the wind,Never knowing who to cling toWhen the rain set in.And I would have liked to have known youBut I was just a kid.Your candle burned out long before,Your legend never did."Get it? It's a Marilyn Monroe reference. RDRR. ************************ on Fri 20th Apr, 2007 07:26 am PDT me said: where will the random drunk guy crash now that she's gone? ************************ on Wed 13th Jun, 2007 07:43 pm PDT Auntie Rose said: Wren'Thanks for taking such loving care of Marilyn. She was so good to me and to you as well.I have never had such a fun time in a car as I did with Marilyn. She was always ready for any adventure, thats why I knew the two of you would be a perfect match. DOn't evben be thinking that you are getting my HYbred TOyota Hylander any time soon however >Love Ya like family, oh thats right you are family. :) ************************

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Estamos En Fuego

Who said sparklers were just for kids or making bombs*? With a little creativity, a fancy schmancy camera, and a little help from the internet, lots of fun can be had. In honor of the IHJ invasion, Ryan held one of his world renowned Movie Nights. (Casino Royale was this episode's feature.) After the movie (and pizza, cake, and splargus*), Ryan coaxed us all outside for a little sparkler art. While I was a little reluctant at first (partially because of the cold, partially because the chances for undesirable fire consequences were not as slim as one would hope), I quickly got into the spirit once I saw the results. Outlining was the first course of business. Here's Ryan, me, and Chris and Jenn. (You may notice a bit of a solar flare above Chris in that last one. He took it like a champ!) After we had our fun with outlining, we tried a little skywriting. As you can tell, I was decidedly unsuccessful.

Sunday April 15 2007

File under: Anacortes, pics

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on Sun 15th Apr, 2007 12:34 pm PDT Andrew said: nice pics champ! too bad art is for nerds! ************************ on Sun 15th Apr, 2007 08:28 pm PDT Ryan Walters said: Good times. Next time, we'll do it on a warmer night so we can perfect it! ************************ on Sun 15th Apr, 2007 08:34 pm PDT Ryan Walters said: You're right -- splargus is cran-raspberry. Splongus is cran-apple. ************************ on Sun 15th Apr, 2007 10:11 pm PDT Sean said: OlogduWon? What the heck does that mean?I did the rhinocerous juggling trick out here. It was a big hit. Poop is universally funny. ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 08:26 pm PDT Jule said: wow! you guys look like angels! that is really neat. ************************ on Sat 21st Apr, 2007 03:53 pm PDT amanda said: but did you actually burn anything? ************************

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Tiptoe Through the Tulips

For anyone who lives in Skagit County, or even in the whole Northwest, it goes without saying that we live in one of the most beautiful places in the world (although it is sometimes worth reminding ourselves of when it has rained for 12 days straight). Tulip time in Skagit County might as well serve as the poster child for the Northwest's beauty, if you ask me. It wasn't until 2 years ago that I visited the tulips the first time. Of course I had driven through from time to time, but I had never stopped. Since then, I've tried not to miss snapping at least one picture per year. (It makes for a perfect backdrop.) Today, with an out-of- towner in tow, Dave and I played toured guide. He played professional photographer while I attempted to follow his lead. While photography might not be my thing, at least I can do fun computery stuff with pictures. Check out this panorama (Java required).

Thursday April 12 2007

File under: pics, Anacortes

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on Fri 13th Apr, 2007 09:41 am PDT Sweet Julie said: Java-schmava! I LOVE the pretty flowers! And the beautiful people in them! I wanna go! ************************ on Fri 13th Apr, 2007 04:36 pm PDT cardboard said: funny the posterchild for the northwest is a non native ugly hybrib tulip. I could see it being the posterchild for traffic and general misery for anyone driving in the valley...its colorful but i dont see any beauty lurking there. What say you wren i have a hard time believing you are pro tulip festival. Seems like a waste of good farm land to me. ************************ on Sat 14th Apr, 2007 09:05 am PDT ALP said: your tulips are beautiful! however, i'm still enjoying my mountains... ************************ on Sat 14th Apr, 2007 09:27 am PDT Jule said: Those are beautiful! They really should make a festival out of those....How many tourists did you have to elbow out of the way to get those nice shots? It looks like you missed one in your panaroma, sorta looks like Dave Clumpner! ************************ on Thu 26th Apr, 2007 02:16 am PDT Kate said: Great photos! Made me smile. ************************

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Web Guy for Hire

Over the past 7 years or so, I've often dreamed of making a career of independent web work: contracting for a company here, creating small business websites there, working on my own projects in between. While the projects (and therefore income) have been far from steady, I've done some really fun projects. One recent project of note is Cardinal Points, a website for my neighbors' small business. I want to point this out for a number of reasons. For one, in the vast spider web of links on the internet, search engines reward those sites that are linked to. Also, there's something to be said for promoting local business. (Anybody need a water maker installed on their boat?) Finally, I wanted to use this as an example of the fine work I am capable of. (You knew there was going to be a plug in there somewhere.) Do you or someone you know need a website: small business, blog, photo gallery, event announcement? Perhaps just a touch up on your current site, or adding a bit of that fancy Web 2.0 functionality? I'd love to help. I charge about half of what you'll find elsewhere (thanks, in part, to my low overhead*), but have the experience and skillz* that rival the best. I won't go into more of a pitch here (because, let's face it, 98% of BdW readers have as much need for my services as Saxtor has need for a blog (ZING!)), but if you have any interest at all, contact me and I'll answer all your questions. ( * hover over for additional ramblings)

Tuesday April 10 2007

File under: work, coding

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on Tue 10th Apr, 2007 05:33 pm PDT Saxtor said: A water-maker installed on their boat? Is this where they invite you onto their boat with a case of Mt. Dew in tow? ************************ on Tue 10th Apr, 2007 08:56 pm PDT Jule said: Maybe you could make me a website! I need it to make loads of money, require no maintenance, and allow me to spread my witty opinions across the web. I am thinking maybe a professional spamming program? or some underhanded bank scheme? maybe a phishing ploy! Or, maybe I will just work for a living...sigh. ************************ on Tue 10th Apr, 2007 08:57 pm PDT Jule said: P.S. nice site! If i ever get a boat (hence my need to make money using the diabolic schemes in post 1), I will go to Frank for all my drinking water and generator needs. ************************ on Wed 11th Apr, 2007 09:55 pm PDT Amanda said: I don't know what you're talking aboot. ************************ on Wed 13th Jun, 2007 07:46 pm PDT Auntie Rose said: Next time I get paid I'll be calling you wren. I have survived all this time without a web site, how did I do it? ************************

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Happy Easter

Have you ever wondered where Easter eggs come from? (I just couldn't help myself. I've had this image on my computer for ages and love sharing it.) Anyhoo, Happy Easter!

Friday April 6 2007

File under: holidays, pics

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on Sat 07th Apr, 2007 02:49 am PDT mmmmmmm said: cadbury eggs ************************ on Sat 07th Apr, 2007 08:25 am PDT Sweet Julie said: I am Soooo stealing this one Wren! ************************ on Sun 08th Apr, 2007 01:38 pm PDT Antonella said: I think this bunny's name is HUMPPER! ************************

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