My Kind of Beach

Of all the qualities they choose from to rate a beach (sand quality, surf, proximity to tiki bars, etc.) the biggest one for me is isolation. Yeah it can be nice to have someone bring your alcohol-free, parisoled mai-tai right to your beach chair, and having bronzed bodies to watch as they strut their stuff is good times, but I guess I just prefer space and peace and quiet. In my travels, I've found a few great isolated beaches (Thailand, Palmyra, Cambodia, etc.). Now I can add Grenada to that list. Getting out to Bathway Beach took a little doing; a halting bus ride and a long walk in the warm sun, but I guess that what keeps it isolated. In the 3 hours we spent there reading, beach combing, and processing coconuts sans machete*, we only saw 2 other souls. So despite the fact that the water wasn't really swimable and I had to go without ice cream for the afternoon, I'm still rating Bathway Beach among the top beach of Grenada.

Tuesday December 23 2008

File under: travel, Grenada

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on Wed 24th Dec, 2008 12:41 am PST Horge said: Seems very nice, though I'm suspicious of the name. Maybe it's empty because all the locals know that's the way wastewater from their bathrooms goes :) ************************

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A 3-Hour Tour...

My usual travel style may well be described as directed wandering. I usually know more or less were I'm headed and more or less how. Yesterday, however, there was no "more or less" about it. The guided personal tour is an experience I've tended to shy away from. I didn't know what I was missing. Yesterday, a local by the name of Keith took us on a half-day tour of the interior of the island. It was 3 hours of non-stop information; plant names and uses, local critters, historical tidbits (the 1983 US shenanagins, 2004 hurricaine desctruction, etc.), demographics info, import/exports, and the answer to any question we could ask. Besides all the info, we got to see spots a public bus couldn't take us*. Yes, a guided personal tour has its place every now and again. And if you ever take one in Grenada, ask for Keith!

Sunday December 21 2008

File under: travel, grenada

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on Sun 21st Dec, 2008 09:04 pm PST per said: yah, but can Keith whistle a sweet melody wif his finger pursed between his toothless gums? I think not. nice banana airbag. ************************ on Mon 22nd Dec, 2008 10:36 pm PST Joe said: i'll be sure to do that. thanks for the hot tip. ************************

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FC 56 - Freedom Is Just Another Word

This week, I'm going to have to bypass the usual banter and disclaimers warning of an unfunny comic, etc. etc. In just a short while, I'm headed into shore to hook up with a local taxi driver (that comes highly recommended) to take a tour of Grednada and then be dropped off on the north side of the island to spend some time up there. And I haven't even started packing yet. What I will say, though, is that this is the comic I have been sitting on for a few weeks while that multi-panel comic plot was playing itself out that I talked about being so excited about. So for disclaimers, etc. you can go back and check that out. (Oh, and because of the nature of the aspect ratio of this one, I will include the text from the 3rd panel here, in case it is unreadable on your computer. "Johnny would have never guessed that the inspiration that served to change his life would come from curbside furniture.")

Friday December 19 2008

File under: comic

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on Fri 19th Dec, 2008 04:19 am PST Dave said: Aha! I get it! (nice fire, btw) ************************ on Fri 19th Dec, 2008 08:13 am PST Saxtor said: AWESOME! ************************ on Mon 22nd Dec, 2008 10:32 pm PST Joe said: that's awfully nice furniture on the lawn, are you sure its free? its the little details wren, that REALLY sell the funny. ;-) ************************

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Boat Life

Boat life, from the brief experiences I've had with it in the South Pacific, on Lake Union, and now here in the Caribbean, suits me. And it seems the more I learn, the more I like it. My accomodations here in Grenada are aboard SV Starshine, a 37-foot cutter anchored in Prickley Bay. Notice I said anchored, not docked. That means: a) No shore power. All power aboard is from the solar panels, wind generator, or, when the need arises, a small generator*. b) No shore water. Water comes from rain water catchment, or a water maker when needed*. A daily swim off the bow does away with the need for showers, at least for me. c) Dingy in dingy out. No popping down to the corner store for an after dinner ice cream. Aside from the ins and outs of being anchored, other new boat stuff presents itself everyday. From the morning dispatch via VHF radio ("the Net") to the close knit community among the cruisers, I dig it all. (The warm weather and wonderful company doesn't hurt either.)

Thursday December 18 2008

File under: travel, Grenada

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on Thu 18th Dec, 2008 10:52 am PST amanda said: Sigh. I just can't imagine it. Not with the snow falling rapidly outside. Are we on the same planet? ************************ on Thu 18th Dec, 2008 11:19 am PST per said: so nice! I'd trade these land locked sticks for a pair of rubbery tide-going sea legs in a heart beat. Will there be any cruising to compliment the anchored community life? ************************ on Fri 19th Dec, 2008 02:54 am PST Wren said: The plan was to cruise up to Carriacou, 25 or so miles north, but the swells and wind would make it a pretty gnarly trip, so at least for the time being, I think we are staying put. My hope is that maybe in the next couple weeks, a little out of harbor sailing will be experienced. ************************ on Fri 19th Dec, 2008 04:16 am PST Dave said: Wren, who are you staying with (i.e. who owns that boat)? While we have similar weather, your living on a boat right now (and not working) easily trumps me. I hope you're having a great time. ************************ on Sat 20th Dec, 2008 11:29 pm PST Mom said: You'd better not come home yet, there's no path shoveled to the Outback (or through it for that matter). We have snow drifts in the yard and driveway! Real drifts! Oh, the slings and arrows of your outrageous fortune of being In the Carribbean now! ************************ on Mon 22nd Dec, 2008 01:22 pm PST Jen Kay said: That sounds awesome! Of course you would be off somewhere great right now. I would love to be anchored out on a sail boat...hope you're lovin it! Merry Christmas ************************ on Wed 31st Dec, 2008 06:33 pm PST Amiel Martin said: hey wren, if you like sailboats so much, you should come sailing with Hallie and I: http://www.twitpic.com/u0vh ************************

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Carribbean Todo Checklist

First 24 Hours of a Caribbean Vacataion Checklist: 1. Swim in warm warm water. 2. Take a bunch of pictures. 3. Get a little sunburned. 4. Buy tacky touristy crap. 5. Complain about the heat. 6. Realize that you don't have any right to complain about anything really, because you are in the freaking Carribean for gosh sakes. 7. Drink parisol-ed drink. 8. Make blog post about first 24 hours in Caribbean in an attempt to make friends at home jealous. Six out of eight, not too shabby.

Monday December 15 2008

File under: travel, Grenada

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on Mon 15th Dec, 2008 05:56 am PST Luke said: I'm just jealous of how cute you look in that hat! ************************ on Mon 15th Dec, 2008 06:27 am PST Kat said: Officially jealous. ************************ on Mon 15th Dec, 2008 07:09 am PST Sara said: The wind chill is -16 here. Yep, I'm jealous too. ************************ on Mon 15th Dec, 2008 07:10 am PST Hope said: a bus driver asked him if he was Jewish ************************ on Mon 15th Dec, 2008 04:37 pm PST Joe said: ya know what the weather is like back home? you're a jerk for posting this blog and these pix. ************************ on Mon 15th Dec, 2008 05:52 pm PST Jule said: don't forget to eat some overly spicy Caribbean food and then have to sit out a day of your vacation because of stomach cramps. In case you didn't know, it is cold here. read previous comments for further details. ************************ on Mon 15th Dec, 2008 06:17 pm PST dave said: you spelled Caribbean three different ways in the first three listings of the word. ************************ on Mon 15th Dec, 2008 08:51 pm PST Sarah F said: man! you lead the good life, wren. we're wearing our puffy wisconsin coats here and watching all the kids staying home from school sled on ice in the street. ************************

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D.C. Jump

[on a brief layover in DC, I stopped in to check out the new Capitol Visitor Center]

Friday December 12 2008

File under: travel, misc

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on Fri 12th Dec, 2008 09:06 pm PST Nesbitt said: I can't believe you didn't call! You are in DC like all the time! ************************ on Fri 12th Dec, 2008 10:40 pm PST Mom said: So is the joint getting all spruced up for the incoming administration? ************************ on Fri 12th Dec, 2008 10:54 pm PST per said: ya know, that dome is made proportionally to accept that pose perfectly within the circular vault of its heavens. who's that standing on top? anybody... ************************ on Sat 13th Dec, 2008 02:42 pm PST Joe said: per, to answer your question, i believe its your mother ;-) ************************ on Sat 13th Dec, 2008 11:49 pm PST Dave said: The Statue of Freedom, of course. And there is a law that no private building in DC is allowed to be built taller than that statue. ************************

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FC 55 - Building Walls

It's back to the old one panel comics, at least for a bit. My little foray into the multi-panel comics with a plot, recurring characters, (inside jokes,) etc. was a good experience, though, and I imagine I will readdress the genre before too long. But for now, back to my origins. I give credit to my brother's friend Kevin for this one, although he may not know it. He didn't do the drawing (as you can tell by my now tell tale style), but he did give the inspiration for the joke. (Inspiration for the plaid shirts, however, came from my many years of manual outdoor labor.) (P.S. No, this isn't an editorial comic trying to undermine security precautions or in support of terrorism. Believe me, it's not that complicated. If you don't get it, you probably do but it just isn't funny. (That last caveat pretty much goes for all my comics.))

Friday December 12 2008

File under: comc

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on Fri 12th Dec, 2008 12:12 pm PST Hope said: bwa ha ha! ************************ on Fri 12th Dec, 2008 07:28 pm PST Joe said: :-) ************************ on Mon 15th Dec, 2008 05:54 pm PST Jule said: I thought I came up with that one and then Kevin said it loud enough to be funny. or maybe it was the other way around. ************************

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Punkstos Bday

Punksto, hands down the cutest child in her generation of my family, turned six years old this weekend. We made the trek down to Olympia to help her celebrate, and celebrate she did! Family dinner, delicious cake, and a party at the gymnastics place, where mats for tumbling, bars for swinging, and trampolines for bouncing abounded. (It was a great place to practice the new(ish) trick.) ((The gymnastics place didn't let "adults" play on the equipment, which was kind of like putting a piece of pizza in front of someone on the Atkins diet, pure hell. I was ready to risk it all and make a break for the springboard into the foam pit. But I held myself back, for Punksto's sake. I guess that is my present to her: not getting her banned from the gym.))

Monday December 8 2008

File under: misc

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on Mon 08th Dec, 2008 11:27 am PST gretchen said: happy belated birthday, cora! we were certainly thinking of you on your special day. i hope your birthday wishes all come true! ************************ on Mon 08th Dec, 2008 03:24 pm PST Saxtor said: Adults can't play on the equipment, but grandmas can, it appears. Margaret appears to be putting all that living room trampolining to good use. ************************ on Mon 08th Dec, 2008 06:48 pm PST Joe said: I just put it together that Cora and Punksto are the same kid. How'd she get that name? ************************ on Mon 08th Dec, 2008 07:20 pm PST Mom said: Here's the poem Cora recited to us on her birthday: When I was one I had just begun. When I was two I was nearly new. When I was three I was more and more me. when I was four I was even more. When I was five I was so alive. But now I'm six, I'm as clever as clever. So, I think I'll be six now forever and ever. adapted from A.A. Milne ************************ on Tue 09th Dec, 2008 08:05 pm PST Andrew said: Rhyming "clever" with "clever"? Brilliance! Happy Birthday Punks! ************************

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FC 54 - The Rebuttal

You can tell right away, dear long time reader, that this comic wasn't made by me. Not because it is inferior in artistic quality or joke caliber. Quite the opposite I would say. Any pen and paper drawing automatically gets props above any paint shop pro-ed drawing. As for the joke caliber, I genuinely LOLed. Ms. Hannah (of HBadventure) provided this comic without so much as a paint fill bucket click by me. It is her rebuttal to my recent series (that stars a character that may or may not be loosely based on her). (If you haven't been following that series, allow me to refresh your memory.) Throw in a little game night inside jokery, and voila. Inside jokes are funny. So is this comic. Thanks Hannah! (P.S. See? One panel comics can be funny!)

Thursday December 4 2008

File under: comic

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on Fri 05th Dec, 2008 10:36 am PST Saxtor said: Now THIS is a comic. Clowns - check Ninjas - check A mega-burn - checkcheckcheckcheckcheck Huzzah! ************************ on Mon 08th Dec, 2008 06:35 pm PST Dave said: now that I get it I think rebuttal comics are great! ************************

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Pictionary Telephone

What happens when you mix the wonderful drawing game pictionary(tm) and that wacky whispering kids game telephone? Pictionary Telephone of course! Here's how it works: 1. Everyone starts with a half sheet of paper. (The more vertically oriented the better. I usually split 8x11 sheets vertically.) 2. On the top of the sheet, each person writes a short common phrase (book title, catch phrase, adage, etc. 3. Here comes the crucial step: each person folds the top of their paper back so that the phrase is still visible, but upside on the backside, leaving the front of the paper empty. Diagram 1a. 4. Once everyone has written their phrase, every passes their sheet to the left. 5. Now everyone draws a picture representing the phrase on his/her sheet of paper. It is best to keep the picture small, again aligned to the top of the page. Pictionary rules apply: no letters, numbers, or symbols. 6. Fold the paper in the same manner as before. This fold should cause the original phrase to be hidden (by being folded under) and only the picture to show (upside down on the back of the paper). Diagram 1b. * 7. Pass the papers to the left. 8. Now everyone writes what phrase they think the picture represents (again at the top of the paper.) 9. Now pass again. This cycle of guessing the phrase from a drawing and drawing a phrase repeats until there is no more paper. After the sheets are mostly used up, unfold them and pass them around, so everyone can see the hilarity that came about. Sometimes the drawings are so good and the phrases so memorable that they make it all the way through without being changed: example 1, example 2. Sometimes things start out in the right direction and take a bit of a left turn:example 3, example 4, example 5. Sometimes it's not even close*: example 6.

Wednesday December 3 2008

File under: games

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on Wed 03rd Dec, 2008 12:50 pm PST Joe said: lol omg...great game idea...i'm still keeled over in laughter from example 6 hahahaha ************************ on Wed 03rd Dec, 2008 02:12 pm PST Saxtor said: Please note that my masterful drawing of Europe left out France altogether. And in my defense for the "not even close, that "dog" doesn't look like any dog I've ever seen. ************************ on Wed 03rd Dec, 2008 11:43 pm PST Horge said: For now at least, the crucial Diagram 1b picture actually brings up 1a again... ************************ on Thu 04th Dec, 2008 10:55 am PST Wren said: Horge, excellent observation. That's why I keep you guys around: you're the best editors a guy could wish for. ************************ on Mon 08th Dec, 2008 03:20 pm PST Saxtor said: By the sounds of it, this is a high-brow, literary version of this game. ************************

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