Blog du Wrenhttp://www.blogduwren.comFC 111 - Buy You Some Peanuts and WHAThttp://www.blogduwren.com/?sp=FC%20111%20-%20Buy%20You%20Some%20Peanuts%20and%20WHATI could see this comic idea becoming a series. Or, if I was a syndicated comickist*, I could put maybe 3 of these next to each other and make a good Sunday-sized panel. But, alas, I'm just a lowly hobbyist comickist, so this will have to do. But maybe I'll bust the idea back out when comic ideas run low, or when I need a couple of off-blog comics to add to my book to make it more sellable*.

I do, however, encourage you to add your own onomatopoetically named sport in the comments. What if synchronized swimming was named "splish splash"? Or boxing "oof"? We're a smart bunch here. We can come up with some good ideas I'm sure.

P.S. The title of this post should really include a "?" at the end, but this crappy blog software doesn't allow for special characters in the post titles. Lame.

P.P.S. A reader who got a preview of this comic pointed out that some people might not know the word "onomatopoetically". dictionary.com defines it as [the adverbial form of] "the formation of words whose sound is imitative of the sound of the noise or action designated, such as hiss, buzz, and bang". Now we know.
]]>Thursday July 29 2010Scoot Scoot Rides Againhttp://www.blogduwren.com/?sp=Scoot%20Scoot%20Rides%20AgainAfter 8 or so months on the DL, Scoot Scoot is back in action. During his time off, he got a new tire, a new chain, and eliminated that pesky pulsing action that has been plaguing him for the past year or two.

Part of what took so long in getting SS back on the road was pure and simple racism. It is really appalling the number of motorcycle shops that downright refuse to work on Chinese scooters, even if it is something as simple as replacing a chain or tire. Due to that, I had to do all the work myself (although a few handy friends helped out along the way). While I might have prefered otherwise, I at least got a little practice in problem solving, parts acquisition, and, most of all, patience.

Yep, it feels great to be back with the wind in my hair and that little bit of extra freedom motorized wheels gets me. And with a couple months left of decent scooter riding weather here in the northwest, I'm looking forward some good riding.
]]>Wednesday July 28 2010Tuesday Thoughts on Happinesshttp://www.blogduwren.com/?sp=Tuesday%20Thoughts%20on%20Happiness     :-) Last minute, on a whim travel
     :-) Free airport WiFi
     :-) Fancy breakfast in bed
     :-) Unexpected gems that I would never find in a travel guide
     :-) Candy
     :-) Good friends
     :-) Seeing something I've always heard about.
     :-) Being reminded that we had the right idea long long ago
     :-) All around us
]]>Tuesday July 27 2010FC 110 - Wheeeeee!http://www.blogduwren.com/?sp=FC%20110%20-%20Wheeeeee!As you all know, I don't really need a new reason to ride public transportation. "Oh, that bus is a new color. I must ride it", "I've got 13 minutes left on my transfer. I'd better not let that go to waste", or "new route? Sure I don't need to go that way, but a new route is a new route". But some people are still working to overcome the hurdle of becoming users of public transit.

With increasing ridership in mind, I've submitted a proposal to the cities of Atlanta, Miami, and Detroit* to install roller coaster based transit systems. Think of the impact this could have: people clamber to ride public transit instead of driving because it is so fun, children get hooked at a young age possibly going on to never own a personal car, the system pays for itself by lost change under the loop-d-loop, new jobs will be created for saw dust shovelers to cover "transit related sicknesses"—the list goes on and on.

Or maybe we can all just have a chuckle at the thought. Happy Friday!
]]>Friday July 23 2010Dreams Come True Pavilionhttp://www.blogduwren.com/?sp=Dreams%20Come%20True%20PavilionYesterday, I finished the Dreams Come True Pavilion, a project began almost a year ago first with a wishing well and then a [fancy] rock wall. This last phase has been laying stone and broken concrete to create the "pavilion" part of the pavilion. The project has been an outlet for a creative need, an exercise in my stone stacking skillz, an investment in a project that I believe in, and an attempt to create something that really affects people in a positive way.

The result of hauling, stacking, and laying all these rocks is something I'm quite proud of. I would love to show it to you sometime if you ever find the chance* to make it up to the Quarry (between Anacortes and Bellingham). If you come, be sure to bring some coins for wishing (and a swimsuit for the best swimming hole in the county). Until then, have a look at a picture or two: dedication stone, the well front and center, an artist's self portrait (posted here for archival purposes).

And remember, dreams do come true. (They really do.)
]]>Wednesday July 21 2010Phone Booth Scorehttp://www.blogduwren.com/?sp=Phone%20Booth%20ScoreYou've heard of a ground score, right? When you find something neat on the ground (ex: money, a crossword puzzle, train ticket to Peru, etc.) Well, the "score" concept can be applied to other locations as well—pocket score (finding something in your pocket you had forgotten about or that maybe you didn't even put there), public transportation score, etc. Well, this weekend at the farmers' market in Port Townsend, I had myself quite the phone booth score.

Have you tried Baconnaise? I haven't yet either, but the slogan alone has me extra curious: "The ultimate bacon flavored spread". Sounds like a pretty freaking good idea to me. Anyway, I found this sealed container of Baconnaise in a phone booth in Port Townsend and was forbidden from trying it while under a friend's roof (because the use by date was 3 months ago and the ingredients contain egg yoke). So now I am just waiting for the right "sandwich, salad, dip, sauce, chicken, fish, or fries" to come along so I can give it an initial try. I'll keep you posted.

(P.S. Dear animal loving friends: it's "kosher and even safe for vegetarians"!)
]]>Monday July 19 2010FC 109 - Seeking an Outlethttp://www.blogduwren.com/?sp=FC%20109%20-%20Seeking%20an%20OutletI'm pleased to report that Friday Comics are back! The reason I'm pleased is not only because I've missed them, but I've gotten a few compliments and inquiries of late about them. It is always nice to know that your work is appreciated and since this is what passes for my work these days, I'll take it.

I had a few great comic ideas find their way into my brain over the last month, and I hope to let some of them out soon (as I don't have many travel plans in the near future (although one never knows...)). So stay tuned (if you want) for the [attempted] cubicle comforting routine I call Friday Comics.
]]>Thursday July 15 20102010 Chautauqua Picture Round-Uphttp://www.blogduwren.com/?sp=2010%20Chautauqua%20Picture%20Round-Up
After a trip, there's a whole list of things to do. Go through the mail, do a load (or 8*) of laundry, deal with e-mails and calls you've been putting off, etc. And then there's the pictures. It's both a burden and a pleasure, at least for me. Luckily I've got the blog as an outlet for sharing them, giving me more incentive to get them dealt with. Anyway, I hope they put a smile on your face.

]]>Wednesday July 14 2010Overheard at OCF 2010http://www.blogduwren.com/?sp=Overheard%20at%20OCF%202010
The midnight show's not at midnight. It's at 10:00. Every is SO OLD now.
Cry randomly but in a cute way.*
I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you. You look different without pants.*
How long do I have to keep my fake butt?
Ew, poop sauna*
Boyfriends? Boyfriends are for home.

How do you describe in 200 words or less something that is almost indescribable? That's kind of how I feel about making a post about the Oregon Country Fair. (Here is my attempt from a couple years ago.) I could talk of it's magic, heat, crowdedness, shows, music, talent, dust, nature, extreme hippiness, and food. Pictures sure would help, but anytime I tried a shot, it didn't even come close to doing the scene justice. So instead, I selected a random smattering of quotes I overheard (or were directly told) to share with you. I hope you enjoy! (Oh, and a tech note*)
]]>Tuesday July 13 2010Blog du Wren