Portland Timbers

Minor league sports are fun to attend. Soccer is a neat sport. Free stuff is good. Hence, getting free tickets to see Portland's minor league soccer team is doubleplusgood! Having spectacular weather didn't hurt either. Timbers won 4-0. Take that Canada!

Monday June 29 2009

File under: misc

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on Thu 02nd Jul, 2009 07:54 am PDT Chris said: Not so big without your ice or hockey sticks are you Canada?!? Eh?! ************************

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Crafts Camp

Back when I was on that deserted island in the south pacific*, we used our spare time to make things (or in my case, attempt to make things). We called it Crafts Camp. While very little of what I worked on turned out to be cool, the process of sitting down and creating something semi-artistic felt good. I had occasion to pursue that semi-artistic creative spirit again recently, this time a little less primitive than coconuts and shells. I tried my hand at stained glass. I had most of the tools around from an attempt I made 10 or so years ago. With a few trips to the hardware store and a little reminding from the woman* who owns Green Frog Glass in Bellingham, the project turned out a success. The whole thing was a great reminder that self-created art isn't out of reach of the everyday man and it is worth the time and effort.

Wednesday June 24 2009

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on Wed 24th Jun, 2009 05:59 pm PDT dave said: Palmyra is in the north Pacific. (I will never tire of correcting you.) ************************ on Wed 24th Jun, 2009 06:01 pm PDT dave said: great stained glass! but it looks more like a dog than a gerbil. nevertheless, i wish i could do that. ************************ on Wed 24th Jun, 2009 06:01 pm PDT Wren said: And no matter how many times you correct me, I will keep saying "South Pacific" because I am trying to create a certain mental image that just isn't done with "North Pacific". So there. ************************ on Wed 24th Jun, 2009 07:22 pm PDT Juline said: Nice job! I've done several pieces of stained glass mosaic, but have never tried leaded stained glass. And I didn't know of Green Frog Glass, so thank you for that. You should check out Kline Glass in Portland while you're there -- there is one on SE Grand, and another at SE 117th and Stark. ************************

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PDX Pics Quickie Post

I've just started a couple week housesitting stint down here in Portland, and if the first few days are any indication, it is going to be a great time. I've greatly enjoyed Portland in the past and I look forward to getting to know it even better this time around. Included are a few of the interesting things I've seen around*. Click on each picture to get the mini-story.

Sunday June 21 2009

File under: Portland, misc

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on Tue 23rd Jun, 2009 02:38 pm PDT rus said: A great honor to have my own crossword. You're a good boy. ************************

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Best Swimmin Hole in the County

Summer weather has started early and in full force. For those BdW readers from the Northwest, I know you know. Beautiful summer weather serves to make this place more spectacular than ever and you can't help but notice. For those of you not from the Northwest, just imagine: not too hot, but hot enough and green everywhere you look. With the just hot enough days of late, I've been hitting up my new favorite swimming spot frequently. I think anyone who has ever swam at the quarry will agree, it is hands down the best swimming spot in the county—cliffs for jumping, clear water, and, best of all, no chumps because it is on private land*. Throw in some good friends, inner tubes and a canoe, and the sense of possibility and inspiration that comes from the land and the project and you've got an afternoon that can't be beat. Oh, and if you're lucky, you might just come away with a dozen fresh* eggs.

Sunday June 14 2009

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on Sun 14th Jun, 2009 11:13 pm PDT Horge said: Freshly squeezed eggs are always good in the morning. Just be sure not to go swimming until 30 minutes after your omlette. ************************ on Mon 15th Jun, 2009 04:10 pm PDT Amiel Martin said: I can't believe you stole a picture that I took with a phone. That was fun, lets do more swimming (and projects) out there this summer. ************************ on Tue 16th Jun, 2009 12:24 pm PDT Saxtor said: Having visited this magical land, I can say that everything Wren says is true. This place defines "one-of-a-kind". ************************ on Tue 16th Jun, 2009 06:26 pm PDT dave said: are there fish in that water? or toxic metals? ************************ on Thu 18th Jun, 2009 09:14 am PDT Saxtor said: You can see fish jumping at the surface, and I was told they had it stocked. ************************

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Salmonberries

Walking around in the woods recently, I was treated to a pleasant surprise: salmonberry season is in full swing and I happened upon a great patch. "What are salmonberries?" you ask. Similar to a raspberry in color and fruit structure, salmonberries are a sometimes slightly bitter wild-growing berry of the west coast. Every couple of years around this time, I usually seem to stumbled upon one or two berries, not quite remembering which of the lesser known edible but not awesome berries they are, but have a munch anyway. This time around, however, we found so many and engorged ourselves so much that I doubt I will be unsure in the future*. While the taste of the berries wasn't awesome* (I like my berries with a lot of flavor and sweet), there is just something about a wild growing fruit that always gets me. It is one of the reasons I am so fond of blackberries (even though they are horribly invasive and can tear up a short-pants wearing leg in no time). I guess it reminds me of what it would have been like before agriculture, grocery stores, and imported Chilean fruit became standard. You just go out for a hike, happen upon some berries, eat them right off the bush, and then head back to your wigwam to blog about it.

Tuesday June 9 2009

File under: misc, food

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on Tue 09th Jun, 2009 06:48 am PDT Saxtor said: If you give up refined sugars for several years, they become awesome, flavorful AND sweet!Where was this salmonberry stash found? They weren't even close a week ago at Whistle. ************************ on Tue 09th Jun, 2009 08:36 am PDT Mom said: Rubus spectabilis (Salmonberry) is typically salmon colored--more orange-yellow than red-- when it's ripe. Could be that you jumped the gun on harvesting. They are juicy and, while not sugary sweet, they aren't bitter either when ripe. Your tummies will be the judge. ************************ on Tue 09th Jun, 2009 08:44 am PDT Wren said: Saxtor, the berries in question were found up in Sedro when I quickly popped in for a check on the Oats.Mom, these were definitely ripe. They fell off in our hands. Perhaps maybe overripe? ************************ on Tue 09th Jun, 2009 07:55 pm PDT dave said: nice wigwam comment. how are the oats doing? ************************ on Wed 10th Jun, 2009 01:42 am PDT Sean said: The schnozzberries taste like schnozzberries ************************ on Wed 10th Jun, 2009 02:06 pm PDT Jule said: they weren't thimble berries were they? They tend to fall off in your hand very easily. I have seen salmonberries of that color, but they are less common than the orange ones. just as good though. ************************ on Wed 10th Jun, 2009 04:40 pm PDT Juline said: Love salmonberries, for the same reasons you do. They were a nice snack on bike rides in Humboldt as a kid. Thimbleberries are another one. They're actually sweet, but are usually few and far between. ************************ on Thu 11th Jun, 2009 08:26 am PDT cardboard said: them salmonberrys are just spectacular....get it? I was mowing down last night at cornwall...the dirty huxley kids somehow missed a few. ************************

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Cross-Blog Babysitting Adventure

You often hear horror stories about babysitting gone wrong. "I lost the baby", "The kid #2ed all over the house", or "You're supposed to feed kids!?!?". I offer this as a counterpoint to all those horror stories. Last night, I had the honor of watching the IHJ kids* and let me tell you, they were super stars. No crying, they ate all their brussel sprouts, they went to bed right on time with no whining, and Calvin even changed his own diaper*. That left plenty of time for such valuable play lessons as "How to throw a frisbee" and "Let's touch the sharp thing". Not only did I have a great time and was super happy to begin to return the many favors the IHJ crew has shown me, but the experience was good mind-brain fodder at a particularly apt time. Yeah, I might even consider a career change* if I thought all kids were as good at being babysat as Jonah and Calvin.

Monday May 11 2009

File under: Anacortes, misc

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on Mon 11th May, 2009 05:50 pm PDT Andrew said: Ahhh damn! That "sharp thing" picture made me laugh out loud. Comedy gold! ************************ on Mon 11th May, 2009 06:33 pm PDT Joe said: good for you wren. ladies love seeing a man that's good with kids ;-) ************************ on Mon 11th May, 2009 10:00 pm PDT Jule said: sounds like those kids were good with man ************************ on Tue 12th May, 2009 06:40 am PDT Dave said: I concur with Andrew - nice work on 'touching sharp things'. Made me laugh. ************************ on Tue 12th May, 2009 12:30 pm PDT Jenn said: I have to point out two things: 1. Wren saved our Mothers Day night out at the Melting Pot when we couldn't get any babysitters and we all had an awesome time and he was so happy about doing it. 2. Calvin is always scared of strangers and cries when we leave him, so I was so amazed and impressed that Wren had a no crying night. Not (as I'm sure you are joking to yourself now) because I doubted Wren, Calvin really is just that clingy. Thanks SO much Wren! ************************ on Wed 13th May, 2009 05:01 pm PDT Christen said: Free babysitting? Add that to the "pro" column for summering in Anacortes. ************************ on Thu 14th May, 2009 06:20 am PDT Sean said: Uh huh. Blame the #2 all over the house on the kids... ************************

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Elwha Camping Adventure

Close on the heels of the start of sleeping outside season comes the beginning of camping season. This year's season started with 2 nights at the Elwha Campground in beautiful Olympic National Park. Despite rain and a lost pocket knife*, I'm calling the adventure a success. Being out on new trails, around big trees, and surrounded by unknown wildlife sounds was a much needed change of pace. One of the highlights was finally making it up to the much storied Olympic Hot Springs. An easy 2.5-mile hike took us to 7 or so shallow, steamy pools. The unoccupied ones were a little grubby for my liking, so I made due with just soaking my feet. Next time, however, I hope to come back in the true off-season and be able to get in the good ones. Shooting for just a couple weeks earlier in the year would not only clear out the other soakers, but would also probably have more than the trace of snow that was around this time. Soaking in natural hot springs with snow and gorgeous nature all around you - yeah, sign me up. Next year.

Monday May 4 2009

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on Mon 04th May, 2009 11:15 pm PDT Horge said: Shame you lost the knife. Otherwise, yep. Though can't remember where all we travelled (Tubingen, Rothenburg... ? ...) ************************ on Tue 05th May, 2009 10:08 am PDT Wren said: Fresh off the cell phone*, hot springs pics. ************************

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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 2009

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on Wed 15th Apr, 2009 10:28 pm PDT dave said: Wren, I actually have a copy of this picture in my kitchen. Gordon mailed it to me a couple weeks back. I refrained from passing it on to you because I know how you feel about [international] mail. Congratulations - cool picture. You and sepia go well together. ************************ on Sat 18th Apr, 2009 01:21 pm PDT Joe said: hellyea ************************ on Sun 19th Apr, 2009 10:21 am PDT Horge said: Congratulations Ren! ************************

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Minor Media Coverage

They say there is no such thing as bad press, right? Well, I would argue the same about minor press "coverage". A friend brought me a copy of the latest North Cascades Challenger, the North Cascades National Park Visitor's Guide for 2008-2009 (online here although it seems to be an older copy as I couldn't find the same picture). Lo and behold, who is that on page 3? This picture must have been taken 3 years ago at least. Probably more. I haven't been up that way in ages. Anyway, it is always a pleasant surprise when something like this happens. And since a blog is analogous to a scrap book*, I thought I would "paste" the clipping here.

Wednesday February 18 2009

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on Wed 18th Feb, 2009 12:49 pm PST Joe said: can't tell when that was takin cuz you've been wearing that same outfit since I've known you, so like, 20 years haha ************************ on Wed 18th Feb, 2009 01:43 pm PST amanda said: Ah, that's so crazy! ************************ on Wed 18th Feb, 2009 11:51 pm PST Mom said: Oh, Zing! Joe. Good call. ************************ on Thu 19th Feb, 2009 07:25 am PST Sweet Julie said: I was thinking the same thing when I saw the pic too, Joe! ************************

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A Full Social Calendar

I've been housesitting up in Bellingham for just over 2 weeks now (this stint), and I'm having a blast. Perhaps it is coming from a smaller town where there is less going on, or perhaps it is because I'm starting to get to know the social scene of the town better, but I'm feeling like the most social guy in the world. My dance card is full of activites*.      + Monday: Juggle club at the Cirque Lab      + Tuesday: Trivia at Uisce*      + Wednesday: Trivia at the Longhorn Saloon in Edison      + Thursday: Something always seems to come up on Thursdays.      + Friday: Winter League ultimate frisbee with Bellingham Ultimate. In between all the planned activities, the weather has been so good that I've been out hiking in the woods almost daily. With such a full social schedule, I haven't had time to do all the time-killing activities I had planned (knitting, a jigsaw puzzle, intense nerd-out computer time, watch lots and lots of T.V. on the beautiful flat screen they have here, etc.). But I can't really complain. I'm feeling more busy (in a good way) than I have in years. After all, I can rest when I'm dead*.

Tuesday January 27 2009

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on Tue 27th Jan, 2009 06:02 pm PST Joe said: Ishka's is dope, actually ran into the brothers root and mike there randomly the one time I've been. good times. ************************

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