Wheel of Fortune

Wren recently tried out for Wheel of Fortune and was accepted! We flew to LA for the big day! Destination: Culver City.

 Destination within destination: Wheel of Fortune!

 

We settled into our hotel (The Double Tree) the day before so had time to visit Sony Studios where Wren's taping will be.

 We took their 2 hour tour, and thought we didn't get to see the Wheel studio, we did get a sweet pfaux-to of what we might look like if we did win big on Wheel... maybe something like this!

Other things on the tour included the Wonder car from Will Ferrell's movie Talladaga Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

 Wren got his photo with this cute rig from 22 Jump Street.

 

A favorite for Wren was seeing the Jeopardy studio.

 I totally got to meet the real (cardboard cutout) of Alex Trebek!

And see the famous sheet music for the show

We bussed home to be ready for the big day!

Wren preparing his mug for national television.

Having his morning breakfast (buffet style, and comped by Wheel) in his "business" suite, yeah!

Off he goes with his back-up outfit and a bunch of other contestants!

I didn't get to see or talk to him until he was competing. I met two sweet ladies who I sat and cheered with. I saw 5 shows from noon to 5, with a short lunch break. Wren was the 4th group out of 5. It's such a nerve-wracking game to watch!

We wanted to take advantage of our time in LA so we went to dinner close to Venice Beach. They just happened to be starting trivia... it was perfect. We didn't win, but it was super fun!

The next day we were supposed to fly out, but we were on stand-by and the flight was totally full, so we booked another night and went into town to the Museum of Jurassic Technology. A suggestion from our friend Saxtor. It was super interesting.

The In and Out was a burger joint Wren had been excited to visit, so we had our lunch there.

 The whole trip was a blast. I got to meet Pat Sajak and Vana White! And the entire Wheel staff was super nice and helpful (especially this guy Tony who has been part of the Wheel crew for 30 years!). We always knew what to do as the audience and Wren said the staff really helped the contestants feel comfortable and have fun. No wonder Wheel of Fortune is known as "America's game".

See Wren's results on national TV Thursday, October 30th. Check local listings for the time... go Wren!

Painting with KC

It's been almost 3 months of very part time work with KC, and boy has it been fun, and scary, and awesome. Here I am power-sanding the roof ledge, on top of a yoga studio on Lummi Island.

The studio.

Here's KC staining the face I just finished sanding.

KC's wife Katelyn is an artist. I snapped this photo of one of her paintings when I stayed at their house recently. I just love it!

I've been blessed with such a wonderful boss, and the opportunity for a great ongoing work experience.

4th of July

This year Chautauqua was booked to be part of the Darrington 4th of July fair! We paraded with the parade, where we totally faux pas-ed and didn't throw candy to the kids! But Claymazing made it all better when he announced that candy was bad for you, but juggling is good for you! Thanks Clay and your traveling Shaza-ambulance troupe, the Emergency Circus!

Wren went even with his hurt foot!

 Chautauquins lined-up for lunch!

 This was Greg's first Chautauqua event. He helped set up my new aerial rig, and performed the hilarious acro comedy piece, Hanzel and Franzel, with Nate.

There were baby goats there.... this ones belly was so big.

 This one was all white... why are they so cuuuuuute?!?!

It was fun to see so many Chautauquins outside of tour. Great Job Karl for organizing such a successful and fun piece of the Darrington 4th of July fair! Afterwords, we shot off fireworks with Cosmo (our 6-year old neighbor).

 He helped set everything up.

 And I would light them.

Paula (of two-doors-down) snapped these photos. Wren, Margaret, Allison, and Rick supervised. It was super fun.

Lebn and Jessica's Wedding

This weekend Wren and I had the pleasure of attending a most beautiful event: our friends' (Lebn and Jessica) circus-themed wedding in Sisters Oregon. This photo is from their engagement... they unknowingly planned and asked each other on the same day!

 The day of the show Schedule... I can't wait 'till 7:30!

 Wren and I at the Ceremony...

Circus peeps at the Ceremony...

 On Sunday after the ceremony many of us went on a rafting trip down the Deschutes River. There were about 6 big rafts and one kayak full of merrymakers.

Dream was part of the float...

Wren was on the float... happy Wren! He had just sprained his ankle real bad playing soccer with his 5-year old friend the day before the wedding weekend, so floating was an activity he could especially enjoy.

Miss America was on the float...

 People did acro on the rafts...

The new bride and groom were on the float...

Even with his hurt foot, Wren and I had the most wonderful time.

 This was one of the best weddings I've ever attended.

Thank you Lebn and Jessica, and congratulations!

The hair of the Wren

Wren, you so crazy! Just look at that hair, it's so crazy! He's been having me trim it up for him. This is the amazing before picture.

After I'cut his hair he goes momentarily insane, but Margaret approved!

 I think she especially approved once we got through the beard.

 And now here he is, in all of his smiley, facey, chin-tastic glory... complete with cutsie circus hat.

Wren, you so crazy handsome!

Juggle Club at Boulevard

Juggle club at Boulevard is so beautiful and sexy.

Many of the fellas go shirtless. I enjoy objectifying them with my camera.

 Thanks fellas. And to make juggle club even more mouth-watering, I'd like to share this tantalizing tale.

On our way to juggle club one Monday, we were strolling by Rocket Donuts and they had a free sign on a box that contained about 50 donut holes and this monster donut!

 We brought it to juggle club and everyone was happy.

Especially Della because she wouldn't let the fellas eat any donut with their shirt on.

The end.

The Jewel of Magic

This weekend I had the honor of performing the Chair Dance for a dear friends benefit show. Crystal, the Jewel of Magic. She is an amazing woman.

Crystal, the “Jewel of Magic,” is unrivaled and a pioneer in her field. As a comedian and magician, she has performed from Japan to Jamaica and opened for acts like Steve Allen, Jay Leno and Ellen DeGeneres. Crystal’s world travels have honed her already natural talents of making peoples’ worlds brighter and full of possibilities.

Living on-and-off in Bellingham for 14 years, she has brought our community joy and laughter through the Bellingham Circus Guild, The Farmer’s Market and Allied Arts.

Presently this wonderful human is in the midst of her greatest feat yet: recovering from cancer. Now it’s our turn to bring a little magic to her life. Your donation can help her to offset these costs and help her shine as bright as she ever has.- See more at:

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/benefit-for-crystal-the-jewel-of-magic-/178645#sthash.RbwhYTzC.dpuf