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. (Here'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 see. 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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on Tue 20th Jan, 2009 02:23 am PST Dave said: Wren, when I am elsewhere I on the internet and I come across an asterisk, I instinctively roll my mouse over it. And frown in disappointment. ************************ on Tue 20th Jan, 2009 09:36 am PST Wren said: Here's another sunset panorama. When it is so beautiful, it is hard not to take pictures, and when I have pictures, it is hard not to share. ************************ on Tue 20th Jan, 2009 12:06 pm PST Joe said: that's dope wren. Dave - I do the same thing haha ************************ on Wed 21st Jan, 2009 03:13 am PST Dave said: I really like that second one, Wren. Nice vista. ************************

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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

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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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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

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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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Handmade Hat Sale

As you know, I like to knit. The thing is, the only garment I know how to knit, more or less, is hats. I like knitting hats. Here are some hats I made. I want my friends to have them. So I am having a hat "sale". The price is $10 a piece which includes shipping. The reason it is a "sale" instead of a sale is that $10 won't even cover the cost of the wool and shipping. The reason I am charging $10 instead of just giving them away is because I want you to want the hat you receive. It is a terrible injustice when a handmade hat goes unworn, and since you know your tastes better and your current headgear needs better than me, I figured this is a way to help make sure these hats fulfill their destiny. If you want one, let me know. (And if you want any more info about a particular hat, I can provide that as well.) size: Large color: Brown and black This is one that I wear pretty often. It is from pretty thick yarn, so makes for a warm hat. I wear it with the bottom edge folded up. A small head would swim in this hat. view 2 size: Medium (to small) color: blue with white/grey stripe This one looks funny on me in the pictures because I have a huge head and it works better on a smaller head (although a friend with a small head tried it on and it was too big for her, so medium heads might like this one best). Warmness-wise, it is not arctic wear. More for fall and spring temps. view 2 size: Large color: Shades of red In case the texture don't come through well in the photos, this uses a frilly* yarn combined with a wool yarn, so it gives an overall fuzzy texture. It is made to be a little loose, but it will still keep you plenty warm. (It would take a bold man to wear this hat, as I see it more as a woman's hat.) view 2 size: Medium color: Flecked brown with off-white bottom A tight knit hat that will keep you plenty warm. The bottom border is cotton, so doesn't made your forehead itchy*. view 2 size: Large color: Red shades Notice in the picture, the 3 ribs towards the bottom rim of the hat. That's what I call style*. This hat is made from pretty thick wool and is made to be a little loose on your head. view 2 size: Small color:Green with 3 purple stripes No picture of me wearing this hat because I just can't get it on. It is more the size of a small headed adult or a normal headed child. I think it would be a very cute hat for a child with the curl at the bottom and the little nipple at the top. Very cute. The yarn for this one isn't too thick so this hat won't overheat your little one.

Sunday November 30 2008

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on Sun 30th Nov, 2008 03:04 pm PST Sean said: Your model should sport different facial hair styles to accentuate the moods and personalities of the different beanies!! ************************ on Sun 30th Nov, 2008 06:42 pm PST Ryan Walters said: Are these hats pre-washed?... ************************ on Sun 30th Nov, 2008 09:19 pm PST Andrew said: A sweet idea! I am impressed! I would buy me one of your headgear if only you made it wool free... ************************ on Sun 30th Nov, 2008 10:25 pm PST Wren said: Sean, I agree that the model aspect of this post is lacking, but you would be surprised at what kind of looks when you ask people to "be a model on my blog". Andrew, I should have mentioned: the wool for these hats comes from sheep that have had all 4 legs planted firmly in the soil so they are technically more like plants than animals, ergo vegan friendly. ************************ on Sun 30th Nov, 2008 11:48 pm PST Joe said: i'm very impressed wren. it takes a real man to admit he can knit. you also make some cool lookin hats. i want one! ************************ on Mon 01st Dec, 2008 04:58 am PST Sean said: I meant with you modeling all the hats. Just cut your facial hair different for each picture. And maybe wear some glasses with one of them. ************************ on Mon 01st Dec, 2008 11:16 pm PST Horge said: Cool hats! But I'm just curious about your description of hat #6. Exactly what does it mean for a child to have a "curl at the bottom"? Do you mean "male" or "with ingrown toenails"? And what kind of a child has a "nipple at the top"? I'm pretty sure it's standard to have two near the middle, or three if you're a topless, dirt-mall psychic... ************************

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Weekend Wall Building

At one point in my life, I was a stone mason's assistant/landscaper guy*. The job mainly entailed carrying heavy rocks and shoveling gravel. As I worked my way up the not-at-all-corporate ladder, however, I got to get in on the actual building part. And while I never did a wall all by myself, I was involved in all the different parts of wall building, at least enough to get the general idea of things. Fast forward 5 years. I got a chance to put those skills to use. My brother is now a homeowner, and as such, he is on a home improvement kick, as with most new homeowners. A layer of paint here, a new floor there, new gardens here, there, and everywhere. When he started talking about putting in a rock retaining wall/terrace, I couldn't help but give my two cents. To make a long story short, 2 cents became 2 tons over 2 days. This weekend, I went down and acted as director for the wall you see before you. Jule and Katy did the majority of the actual building (as my wrist has recently put in for its 2 weeks vacation for the year and refused to work). I stood by and imparted sage wisdom. The results, IMHO, are spectacular. With the materials we had in the time we had, we created something pretty freaking nice. It felt good to be back out working with the rawest* of building materials, creating something from nothing. And with the way the wall turned out, I now have an even greater appreciation for those skills that I learned so many years ago, with a yoke on my shoulders, an ache in my back, but almost always a smile on my face.

Monday November 24 2008

File under: work, misc

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on Mon 24th Nov, 2008 02:01 pm PST Joe said: nice job wren it looks good. i'm sure it felt good to get back to your computer after all that tho. ;-) don't lie! ************************ on Mon 24th Nov, 2008 04:02 pm PST dave said: wren, that wall is awesome! nice work. it's so cool to have useful, shareable skills. ************************ on Mon 24th Nov, 2008 05:35 pm PST jule said: make that 8 1/2 tons. Thanks wren! That is a great wall ************************ on Mon 24th Nov, 2008 09:36 pm PST Wren said: I meant only that I probably moved 2 tons. Jule and Katy each moved a fair piece more than that. I didn't mean to diminish nothing. ************************ on Tue 25th Nov, 2008 07:10 pm PST Nesbitt said: "Something there is that doesn't love a wall," but I don't know what, walls rock. ************************ on Tue 25th Nov, 2008 07:49 pm PST Wren said: I didn't get it either. Now I do. (Oh, those academic types...) ************************

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Family Circus

When I see young 'uns outperform me, whether it be in sports, language comprehension, or circus arts, I like to think that if I got started at an early enough age, I could be juggling polyglot soccer star. But that ship has sailed, for me at least. Enter Punksto. I've touched before on the story of The Trick and how I attempted to planted to the circus arts seed at an early age. Now that seed is growing. It looks like she's moved on from acro-balance to aerial stunts. Give it a few more years, and maybe she'll take after her old uncle and pick up juggling! And when she does, Barnum and Baily watch out! My plan: to tour the country. Punksto will open with her Monkey Girl act and I will follow with my Hickboy combo tricks (mini-video of combo trick can be seen here.) Yes, I predict we will be quite the hit. Get your tickets now.

Tuesday November 11 2008

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on Tue 11th Nov, 2008 07:45 pm PST Andrew said: Where is Jeffy? ************************

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Serious Ultimate

I like playing Ultimate [frisbee]*. In fact, I list it among my top pastimes (whenever I am asked to list pastimes, which isn't very often). But this weekend, I realized that I am not nearly as serious about ultimate as some people. Oy! On an invitation from a friend, I cruised over to join in the fun at the Sundodger Ultimate tournament. Though I should have known better, I was not expecting what I saw. Ultimate players as far as the eye could see. There were 24 fields packed with players. (Quick math: ((24 fields x 2 teams per field)+4 or so bye teams) x 11-17 players per team = about 700 ultimate players in one place!) The place was so vast, in fact, that after roaming around and not finding my original adopted team, I was recruited by another team to get a couple games in. Then, during their bye, I went and found the original team, and played a round with them. Three all out competitive, high quality games is enough to point out that I'm not hardcore like so many of the folks there. But worth noting: the fact that I could just show up at a tournament and find not 1 but 2 teams (on which, I only knew 1 player on each team) to join up with goes to show you the prevailing attitude of the sport: acceptance, camaraderie, and easy-goingness(?). It is why I ditched the high stress world of Div III track back in college and took up with those hippies throwing a frisbee around. Yep, good times.

Sunday November 9 2008

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on Sun 09th Nov, 2008 08:12 pm PST Go! Turtle said: Thanks for playing with us on Saturday. We went 1-2 on Sunday losing to the Sockeye farm team then coming back big against the Dirty Nerds. For the last game we only had 1 sub and almost came back from 5 down to win. I know I speak for everyone on the Central Washington Alumni-Ghetto Birds when I say that we couldn't have done it without you. ************************ on Sun 09th Nov, 2008 08:13 pm PST Joe said: awesome. i miss ultimate. don't have time to try and find anything down here. ************************ on Sun 09th Nov, 2008 09:10 pm PST whuppinstick said: I hope that Go!Turtle is referring to a team made up of people who work at a sockeye fish farming operation. ************************

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If She Could Vote...

If Punksto (front row left, dressed as a pegasus) could vote, I'm sure she would vote to re-elect Governor Christine Gregoire (back row right, dressed as Dora the Explorer).

Tuesday November 4 2008

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on Tue 04th Nov, 2008 10:00 am PST fernism said: best pegasus with chicken pox you ever did see....and i have to admit that governor gregoire makes a scary good dora... ************************ on Tue 04th Nov, 2008 12:37 pm PST gretchen said: cora looks aweseom! nice work on the costume, punksto. you totally kicked my butt in creativity, that's for sure. but the prize for scariest goes to the dude standing behind cora, what is that?! ************************ on Tue 04th Nov, 2008 10:28 pm PST Andrew said: Wow! Talk about political ties! ************************ on Wed 05th Nov, 2008 10:34 am PST Saxtor said: I'm not sure what he's dressed as, but the goofy-looking bloke standing there is the First Gentleman, Mike Gregoire. ************************

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Broadway Baby Broadway

Last time I was through NYC, everything fell into place–weather, meeting with friends (, meeting with strangers), etc.–everything that is except one thing: seeing a Broadway show. This time, while the weather has been against me and tracking people down for getting together has panned out less smoothly* (not to mention no fun strangers -> friends), I did make it to a Broadway show. Avenue Q is hilarious romp, once described as Sesame Street meets South Park. A combination human/puppet cast lends the musical a playful feel. And although the set, costumes, production wasn't as spectacular as I had imagined*, the experience was extremely fun. While I wouldn't consider myself a great fan of musicals, the songs in this one were funny enough, tongue-in-cheek enough to make it really fun. (In fact, do yourself a favor: go search google for "Avenue Q The Internet is Really Really Great" and watch a video that ensues.) Yep, a Broadway show: another thing checked off my life list.

Wednesday October 29 2008

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on Wed 29th Oct, 2008 10:09 am PDT Saxtor said: Damn, I wanted to see that when it was in Seattle. ************************ on Wed 29th Oct, 2008 03:58 pm PDT Joe said: cool. i've only seen a handful of Cirque du Soleil shows myself. oh and i've never been to NY so I guess that might explain not ever seein a true Broadway show. ************************ on Thu 30th Oct, 2008 08:06 pm PDT Sarah said: I love Avenue Q! Saw it with my mom and sister in Baltimore last year and make Dave sit through the soundtrack every once in a while. Glad you enjoyed it! ************************

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Preach On Will

REST AND BE THANKFUL - William Wordsworth This view and this quote greeted me after a quickie solo jaunt up Blanchard Mountain(?) in the Chuckanuts this afternoon. I was trying to take advantage of what might be one of the last sunny, non-muddy days of the hiking season. If the weather man cooperates, maybe I can get a longer jaunt in this weekend. It's the perfect cure for those computer blues.

Wednesday October 8 2008

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on Thu 09th Oct, 2008 10:30 pm PDT Wren said: P.S. I know the title reads kind of rough, but I am unable to use commas (or question marks or colons) in post titles. It should read "Preach On, Will". ************************ on Fri 10th Oct, 2008 08:09 am PDT per said: wren, you should get that colon problem flushed out as soon as possible. The title prepped me for a sermon on internally motivated action which, as you pointed out, can spark up at a moments notice. Don't forget the TP on those long hikes. ************************ on Mon 13th Oct, 2008 07:20 am PDT Chris said: Don't worry about lack of commas, the universal law of punctuation conversation will be upheld if for no other reason because according to my professors I am addicted to punctuation marks. Most of my editing marks in the side from them read something like "Good info Chris, but as a general rule a sentence should really contain fewer the five semi-colans" ************************

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