Lake Swimming

The talk of the town these last few days is all about how hot it is. No, it's not 117� like some places, but mid-eighties is still pretty hot for us wussy Northwesterners. And what is there to do here in Anacortes when the going gets hot? WHISTLE LAKE!!!! We made it to the parking lot before the throngs of cooler-toting, party dudes descended, and made a bee-line for the relative seclusion of the skinny dipping spot (although no skinny dipping occurred.) The water was cold, but it was a refreshing cold. A quick swim across the lake and back was enough to remind me it has been too long since I have been swimming, as my arms were barely keeping me afloat*. Yes it's hot, but if it wasn't for the heat, a dip in Whistle wouldn't feel nearly as good as it does, and for that reason, I'm not going to complain. (Well, okay maybe a little.)

Wednesday July 11 2007

File under: Anacortes, misc

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on Wed 11th Jul, 2007 03:59 pm PDT cardboard said: this weather is even to hot for swimming...not really sure what to do but keep complaining ************************ on Wed 11th Jul, 2007 06:16 pm PDT gretchen said: you guys are a bunch of wussies. i say that if it is 68 or above, the weather is great for swimming. ************************ on Wed 11th Jul, 2007 09:18 pm PDT Wilbur said: i gotta get my ass out there REAL soon. who wants to go thursday!? ************************ on Thu 12th Jul, 2007 04:36 am PDT Chris said: I agree with gretchen, what happened to the calibur of Anacortesians who were more than happy to take a jump in the lake in early January will snow was still floating on the surface? Sheesh, you leave for a couple of years and everybody gets all soft! ************************ on Thu 12th Jul, 2007 09:06 am PDT Sarah said: Ahhhh....Whistle Lake. Such wonderful memories. ************************

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Scraptacular

Scrapbooking is all the rage these days. Back in my employed days at www.PhotoWorks.com*, we were always taking the scrapbooking crowd into account when designing our products. ("Who would possibily want to order an empty book? Oh yeah, scrapbookers.") Besides knowing that scrap bookers might want to purchase an empty book and fill it with pictures themselves, I didn't really know much of the nitty-gritty about the world of scrapbooking. When I got back from Asia, I was thinking that I should a book together for myself. I had saved maps, ticket stubs, and of course had lots of pictures. When looking around and talking to people about scrapbooking, I found that it was much more complicated than putting pictures and ticket stubs in a book. You needed embellishments. "Embellishments, embellishments, embellishments", a scrapper* friend told me. That same friend recently put together a scrapbook of my scooter trip for me as a gift. Let me tell you, it was a fine piece of work. Embellishments galore! Now that I have an idea of what a proper scrapbook looks like, I might have a go at my Asia one again. Not that I have a chance of equaling the style that is this, this, and this, but I can try.

Saturday June 23 2007

File under: pics, misc

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on Sat 23rd Jun, 2007 07:02 pm PDT Ryan Walters said: Did PhotoWorks wrong you in some way? Who do you now recommend for our photo-based projects? ************************ on Sun 24th Jun, 2007 12:10 pm PDT Saxtor said: I'm with Ryan. Are you withdrawing your endorsement on personal grounds, or has their product suffered in some way? ************************ on Sun 24th Jun, 2007 12:33 pm PDT Cyndi said: Ok, little wierd, but Ok ************************ on Sun 24th Jun, 2007 12:36 pm PDT Cyndi said: Ok, I cant spell today, I have a cold ************************ on Sun 24th Jun, 2007 04:48 pm PDT Amanda said: oh come now wren, you're embellishment enough! ************************ on Sun 24th Jun, 2007 05:52 pm PDT Wilbur said: nice! that's TOTALLY how i'd picture you'd look in scrapbook form. ************************ on Sun 24th Jun, 2007 07:37 pm PDT Jule said: that is scraptacular! ************************ on Sun 24th Jun, 2007 07:38 pm PDT Jule said: ah crap, that is what your post is called, i am not original at all, ************************ on Mon 25th Jun, 2007 12:20 pm PDT Sean said: Only 15 piece of flair? Come on. ************************ on Wed 27th Jun, 2007 06:53 am PDT Nesbitt said: I read the following article and thought Blog Du Wren. Thought you would enjoy it. Not sure if Baltimore's haul would be nearly as good.http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/21/garden/21freegan.html?pagewanted=1 ************************

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Local Music Equals Local Fun

Saturday evening, I found myself at Boulevard Park in Bellingham rocking to the sweet sounds of Spoonshine (Best. Band. Ever.). Even though the weather wasn't perfect (although it did clear up for a moderately nice sunset*), the turnout wasn't as good as it could of been, and I didn't have any juggling buddies to throw clubs at*, it was still the best Saturday night I've had in a long time. Oh, and any day that you get to hang out with a caped wonder can't be a bad day. Speaking of local music, rumor has it that the Red Note (current band of former Perfect Day frontman and local legend Shane Chapman) is playing at the Brown Lantern this Saturday night. It'll be a raucous good time, no doubt. (Okay, everyone is entitled to doubt. Far be it from me to tell you how to feel.) Anyway, it is good to poke my head in on the local music scene every now and again. Knowing the guys (or gals) that are up on stage always makes for a more enjoyable show.

Sunday June 17 2007

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on Mon 18th Jun, 2007 09:27 pm PDT jenelle said: indeed. I was fortunate enough to see those guys busking at folklife. it think it's safe to say that most bands which include an upright bass are going to be good. by the way, it sounds like you didn't make it to the solstice parade. whatsamattuh, you don't like seeing nekked peoples on parade?! ************************ on Fri 22nd Jun, 2007 08:49 pm PDT Wilbur said: yea next time they're playin around here call me i'd like to go see em. shane's playin this saturday? what time? i'd like to come down and see. prolly see ya there... ************************ on Sat 30th Jun, 2007 10:08 am PDT trista said: RED NoTE! RED NOTE! ************************

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Wear Sunscreen

Graduation season is upon us (and has been for some time if the "Dads and Grads" ads are to be trusted). It is a time for new graduates, whether from high school, college, or even grad school, to look ahead. It is also a time for non-graduates to offer congratulations and advice. Congratulations are easy. Advice can be a little more tricky. In a famous graduation speech/column* (often falsely attribute to Kurt Vonnegut*), Mary Schmich of the Chicago Times compiled her own list of advice to graduating seniors. It grew in popularity from a forwarded e-mail eventually to a top 40 song. If you've never heard or read it, I highly recommend it. The speech can be found here and Wikipedia's entry on the history of it can be found here. Not that many folks about to, or having just, graduate(d) read BdW, but I thought it would be fun to compile our own list of advice gleaned from our own personal meanderings, just as Ms. Schmich did. To start off the list, I will borrow 2 pieces of advice that I've come to greatly support. Know thyself* (Those Greeks really knew what they were talking about.) and Just do it (Perhaps a little pushy for an advertising slogan, but often valuable as advice when faced with decisions of action/inaction.) What say you?

Thursday June 14 2007

File under: misc, participation

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on Thu 14th Jun, 2007 04:49 pm PDT cardboard said: I have heard many but the advice my boss has given to be the most inspirational. The first is "You can never listen to to much ACDC or Van Halen". The second i might botch a little but comes from one of his dads good friends and goes something like this "man back in the 60's everyone was shooting smack and doing hard drugs while i was just smoking good weed and smiling the whole time." Another classic that i throw out pretty often but dont seem to live by is this "you will never look when your an old man and wish you had worked more" ************************ on Thu 14th Jun, 2007 10:31 pm PDT Emily said: "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man." - "Who is George Bernard Shaw" (Another quote, non widsom-related, from my favorite movie Dream for an Insomniac.) ************************ on Fri 15th Jun, 2007 12:10 am PDT Horge said: A few classics: "You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but don't pick your friend's nose." and "It's better to be pissed off than pissed on." Otherwise, one of my own thoughts: the real power of a degree is not in the department or school which issued it, but in the fact that you did it. ************************ on Fri 15th Jun, 2007 08:54 am PDT amanda said: you sound smarter if you speak with Wikipedia quotes ;) ************************ on Fri 15th Jun, 2007 08:55 am PDT amanda said: you sound smarter if you write with Wikipedia links ;) ************************ on Fri 15th Jun, 2007 09:06 am PDT amanda said: but no, seriously, part of working is being unemployed and it's ok ************************ on Fri 15th Jun, 2007 11:28 am PDT Sean said: Stop Whining! - Mr. Kimble; Kindergarten Cop ************************ on Fri 15th Jun, 2007 03:13 pm PDT Amanda said: Serve others. ************************ on Fri 15th Jun, 2007 04:21 pm PDT Jule said: Be passionate about the things you do, especially those you do for fun. and make sure to invest in your 401k...(I had to put some practical advice in there) ************************ on Fri 15th Jun, 2007 04:45 pm PDT Saxtor said: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." - Michael Pollan ************************ on Mon 18th Jun, 2007 05:52 pm PDT Chris said: Start accepting your own mistakes and failures instead of your parents' money; you learn more and your success is sweeter. ************************ on Mon 18th Jun, 2007 08:32 pm PDT erin said: at my graduation from undergrad our speaker was whats-his-name Hilton... and he left us with one piece of advice, "put the shower curtain in the tub". i wish this story was a lie... that's what you get for going to a state school in ohio. ************************ on Tue 19th Jun, 2007 08:27 pm PDT Wren said: I just came across this list of advice and I couldn't pass up sharing it. Enjoy! ************************

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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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Simpsons plus Word-nerdiness equals Happy Wren

The keen eyes of a friend found this recently and knew I needed to see it. From 1995, Lisa in Wordland is a comic featuring many beloved Simpsons characters and much word-nerdiness. It is even more pertinent, as I have been thinking of word play [almost] non-stop for the past week or so. Some of the priceless phrases: "If bombastic periphrastic grandiloquence be the music of life, then rattle on, I say. Rattle on!" courtesy of Sideshow Bob. Or maybe you prefer palindromes (from Otto, of course): "Tired nude man in a pajama I am. A japan I named under it." But since a picture is worth 1000 words check these out.

Thursday March 15 2007

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on Thu 15th Mar, 2007 08:44 pm PST Antonella/ -lil tee said: Eye just knew this was for ewe. ************************ on Thu 16th Mar, 2007 06:55 1m PST jule said: go hang a salami, I'm a lasagna hog. by the way, that is a palindrome, not a description of my eating habits, although, I am sure many will disagree ************************ on Thu 16th Mar, 2007 10:09 1m PST saxtor said: That is an awesome palindromemordnilap emosewa na si tahT ************************ on Thu 16th Mar, 2007 12:33 pm PST amanda said: RELEVANT ************************ on Mon 19th Mar, 2007 12:23 am PST Horge said: If you're into palindromes, you ought to give a listen to Weird Al's song "Bob" off of the album "Poodle Hat". The whole song (http://www.alsongs.com/index.cfm?view=alsong&songnumber=170) is just a bunch of palindromes, which he sings like Bob Dylan... I just introduced my girlfriend to Al's zaniness and she loves it! ************************

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Puzzle for a Rainy Day

Jigsaw puzzles can be a great way to pass time on a rainy day (or rainy week as the case may be). With both time and rain in abundance, I figured there is no better time than the present so I biked down to the local thrift shop to snatch up a puzzle. One thousand pieces for $.50 (not bad), however the pieces kind of smell like smoke (not good). The scene is of a beach, with trees, people sunbathing, waves, and lots of sky. Anyone hankering for a challenge, I'll set aside all the sky pieces for you. Speaking of puzzles, I ran across this one the other day in my internet meanderings. It is simple but challenging. I'm somewhat ashamed to say that it took me the better part of an hour to solve although I did solve it. Anyone familiar with tangrams (Mrs. Doran alums, I'm looking at you here) should have a hoot of a time with this one. I say, let it rain!

Sunday February 4 2007

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on Mon 05th Feb, 2007 04:37 am UTC Emily said: Time and a puzzle!!! I'm jeolous. I absolutely love puzzles. I tend to loose steam when the sky is the only part left too. Have fun :) ---emily aka The Nevada Junior 2nd Place Puzzle Contest Winner 1992 ************************ on Mon 05th Feb, 2007 07:15 am UTC Saxtor said: I haven't seen a puzzle in well over a year, and yours was the second one in the same day. ************************ on Mon 05th Feb, 2007 04:38 pm UTC Chris said: Ok, here's the real question: What do you do when you finish a puzzle. I spent a good couple of days finishing a big puzzle with Jenn and once we were done she wanted to take it all apart and put it back in the box. I just can't bring myself to do that after investing my time. ************************ on Tue 06th Feb, 2007 01:59 am UTC gretchen said: laminate it. ************************ on Tue 06th Feb, 2007 07:51 am UTC Horge said: I don't know if anyone else has menioned this to you Wren, but that tan-looking piece over there on the left definitely goes together with that other tan-looking piece one to the top and middle. Also I'm pretty sure that some of those blue ones are sky pieces. You thank me later with a check in the mail. :) ************************

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Still Cold

For anyone that lives or has spent a winter in either the midwest or the northeast, you can pretty much discount this post. Us northwesterners have a slightly different sense of cold. So when it snows (for the second time in a winter!) and there is still ice on the roads 4 days later, that is something of note. So I shall note. Billy the snowman still guards our front door, although he has already started his eventual journey to the ground. He is also missing a face, for which I put the blame on either mischievous neighbor kids or hungry crows. Our water feature (a.k.a. pond) in back of the house has some great ice on it but still keeps plodding along. The earlier heavy rains caused a bit of a flood at Smiley's Bottom which has now frozen over and turned into a great ice sliding spot. (We northwesterners don't really have ice skates as they would only get used even less than once in a blue moon.) Luckily I'm in a place to enjoy the snow, cold, and ice how it should be. I've got nowhere to go (and even if I did, my car isn't agreeable to taking me). The cold even makes some things better. Last night, for example, I had the pleasure of a dip in a hot tub under the clear cold sky. A scandinavian style roll in the snow made it that much more refreshing. So to Jack Frost, I say this: Keep up the good work!

Sunday January 14 2007

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on Tue 16th Jan, 2007 06:04 am UTC Saxtor said: I am with you, this Winter has been jawesome! ************************ on Wed 17th Jan, 2007 06:39 pm UTC Chris said: Viva la Jack Frost!! We've had a sudden Arctic Blast/ Ice Storm down South here and since Texas doesn't know what to do with ice I haven't had to go to work for two days now. Thank you ill-prepared city planners! ************************ on Sun 21st Jan, 2007 03:42 am UTC Auntie Rose said: Wren: Have you read Emoto's book on the effects of emotions on water crystals?Its Awesome ************************

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