iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Thanks all for the birthday wishes! My amazing wife, @ulabeast.bsky.social, and I spent it dancing like maniacs here in Port Townsend, Washington, with our wonderful friends Heather and Jeffrey. We’re on our way to Vancouver for a few days.

A group of older dancers smiling and standing around some drums

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

I received the 2024 FEMA Administrator’s Award for Innovation… three months after I left the Agency… awarded by Cam Hamilton, who is also no longer with FEMA. Still, grateful for the recognition.

Gray-haired smiling man holding a framed award from FEMA and a challenge coin.

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

The Michigan Ave @ypsilibrary.org opened yesterday! I’m so happy. I checked out my first book from there yesterday!

Happy man holding a copy of the book “The Great Crash 1929” in front of a librarian.

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Another great day volunteering at the Detroit Institute of Arts! I love working with visitors here.

Smiling man, with a tie standing in the Great Hall of the Detroit Institute of Arts, wearing a badge that says “Hablo Español” (I speak Spanish) and a neck leash that says U.S. Marine Corps.

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

HAIR WARS! My volunteer shift at the Detroit Institute of the Arts coincided with Detroit’s historic Hair Wars beauty battle. The gentleman seated here, surrounded by women wearing his elegant creations, is Wishbone, the self-proclaimed “Michael Jackson of Hair”. It was a privilege to be present.

Elegantly dressed man with a cape surrounded by beautifully dressed women with elaborate hairstyles in the Great Hall of the Detroit Institute of the Arts

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

This immediately made me think of this:

A kid at a keyboard types Frodo’s quote: “I Know What I Must Do. It's Just... I'm Afraid To Do It”. Three immense muscular men respond “You have my bow!” “And my axe” “My friends… you bow to no one”

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

At Kelsey Museum of Archeology at U of Michigan. So many artifacts of powerful men seeking immortality through the work of their subjects. Almost all had a placard next to them marked “unknown ruler“. “My name is #Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”

Man smiling in front of of the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology at the University of Michigan

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

I’m officially retired from #FEMA now. 27 years of federal service, 17 at FEMA. I’m excited to continue working nearer to home in #Ypsilanti, and grateful to have served the survivor w so many amazing people. Gratitude for my wife, @ulabeast.bsky.social, for supporting this transition.

Smiling man standing in front of FEMA headquarters in Washington, DC

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

After 27 years of Federal Government service, 17 at FEMA, I’m retiring next Friday. I’m taking these #FEMA polos to HQ to give to the next generation of Emergency Managers. On people’s worst days they are the helpers.

A stack of nine FEMA polo shirts on a suitcase

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

I’m now addicted to Cardio Quest, a phone game that lets you fight monsters and bosses using your heart rate as fuel. If you liked Zombies Run! you’ll probably like this (www.mycardioquest.com) #CardioQuest #ZombiesRun #ZRX #Gamification

Medieval warrior armed with axe and shield in role-playing type game on screen

Monster the warrior is fighting along with scores in role-playing game in screen

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Went with @ulabeast.bsky.social and our friend Dean to the Detroit Masonic Temple to see the Candlelight Concert: Rings and Dragons, with music from LOTR and Game of Thrones. A beautiful and unique experience! Lots of folks dressed as elves! @candlelightconcert.bsky.social

A string quartet playing amidst a sea of candles in a high-vaulted room with intricate painted patterns on the walls and ceiling.

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

I finally finished The Silmarillion and I’m heading right back into The Lord of the Rings! #tolkien #ringsofpower

A hand holding a dog eared copy of JRR Tolkien’s The Silmarillion in front of a copy of The Lord of the Rings

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

@ulabeast.bsky.social and I are still on our honeymoon in Belize! I’ll do a photo dump when we get home. We were at the Mayan city of Xunantunich a couple days ago here

Older couple smiling in front of a Mayan ruin

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

30 years sober today. We can do together what I could never do alone. Thank you all.

30 year sobriety coin held in a man’s hand

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

My second shift as a Gallery Services Volunteer at the Detroit Institute of the Arts this past Sunday. I’m headed back tomorrow for another shift! #dia #detroit

Man in suit poses comically in a large room with light-colored marble floors, marble walls, and a gold-colored painted domed ceiling

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

High Scope Mansion tonight. This is 150’ from our house #Ypsilanti is an incredible place.

High Scope Mansion in the moonlight of Ypsilanti

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Our back gate’s hinge broke. Hardware store didn’t have a replacement. Yep: I use a hose clamp. My dad will never truly be gone as long as jury-rigs like this exist

Man in furry hat pointing at a fence repair he made by replacing a broken hinge with a hose clamp

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

I just finished my first shift at the Detroit Institute of the Arts as a Gallery Services Volunteer. What an amazing museum. Eager for my next shift. #HiMom

Smiling middle-aged man with glasses standing in front of the Detroit Institute of the Arts

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

I’ve always wondered: is this story from page 80 of the Big Book the origin of Mr. Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life”? The BB is from 1934 and the short story the movie is based on is from 1943. Anyway, I always joke that Mr. Potter must have been one of us! #sobersky #recoveryposse

he accepted a sum of money from a bitterly-hated business rival, giving him no receipt for it. He subsequently denied having received the money and used the incident as a basis for discrediting the man. He thus used his own wrongdoing as a means of destroying the reputation of another. In fact, his rival was ruined.

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Dungeons & Dragons 101 at Wyrd Byrd in #Ypsilanti tonight was amazing. Our party survived a savage giant mouse attack! The owner/DM, Shawn, hopes to run a monthly game right here in the heart of Ypsi! #dnd

Storefront of Wyrd Byrd, a shop with 45 rpm records and books displayed in the window.

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

My brother Pete and I play Dungeons & Dragons on Zoom most weeks. We’re 1,000 miles apart, but when we’re playing it’s like we’re kids again. We love doing the voices and everything. I’m grateful we have this to keep us close. #dnd

Screenshot of two smiling adult brothers playing Dungeons and Dragons via Zoom. The brother on the left is role playing a character from the game.

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

Our Greyhound Zoom managing to be an even bigger good with a tongue boop. #greyhound

Black greyhound dog stretching with his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

I’m from rural Texas (Lumberton!) and I’m bad at being cold. #Ypsilanti is 14F today. Having a furry hat like this makes life slightly more bearable.

Man in furry ear flap hat looking right into the camera

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Sitting in an empty theater waiting for the 9am showing of “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim”. Good to have a wife who gets me (thanks @ulabeast.bsky.social) #tolkien

Older hyper enthusiastic Tolkien fan sitting in an empty movie theater

Text exchange:
Husband: I’m absolutely alone in this theater
Wife: You are the One True Fan
Husband: One Fan to Nerd Then All

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Just got “The Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons 1970–1977”. The thoughtful Preface and Forward by @doctorcomics.bsky.social and @increment.bsky.social address some issues moral issues in the original text. I love the 2024 PHB’s inclusive language and illustrations.

Front cover of the book “The Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons 1970–1977”. The cover features a dark red background with gold letters and an enormous gold ampersand.

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

*A new Tolkien film!* I just got a matinee ticket for “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim”. Time to pull out LOTR and read the Appendices! Okay I’ll admit, I’ve never read the appendices through. I glanced at them for “Rings of Power”. I’m excited to see what all is there!

Movie poster with painting of six epic humanoid (and one eagle) Tolkien figures standing ready for battle over the words “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim”. Colors are dark with a stormy sky background and amassed troops armed with lances in the foreground, all tinged with the color of blood.

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

I finally created manually a D&D character using the new 2024 Player’s Handbook: a Barbarian named Kai. I hadn’t done that since #DnD 2nd Edition! It was a real education in how D&D works now. I’ll build a few more and then play one at Adventurer’s League at Golden Rhino Games here in #Ypsilanti!

Screenshot of a Dungeons & Dragons character sheet for a Barbarian named Kai. Str 15, Dec 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10!

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Zeno and Zoom enjoying the snow. Thanks for the furry hat, @ulabeast.bsky.social! #sighthounds #ypsilanti

Man in furry hat with two sighthound dogs (a black Greyhound and cream Sloughi) in a snowy field in Ypsilanti, Michigan

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Coincidentally, it’s used in a lot of countries’ Emergency Management communities. It figures in the logos for the US FEMA and Spain’s Protección Civil, for example:

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

Our very fast #greyhound boys Zoom and Zeno. Zoom is a black American Greyhound and Zeno is a cream Sloughi/Saluki. @ulabeast.bsky.social #AnnArbor #Michigan #sighthounds

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

I just got a tour from the docent, Jacqueline, at the #Ypsilanti Historical Society Museum! What a great tour and an amazing history.

Happy older man with purple t-shirt standing in front of the Ypsilanti Historical Society building

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

I’ve listened to the first hour of the Andy Serkis version of “The #Silmarillion” and I love it. The Martin Shaw version was always good, but Serkis just has such an expressive voice and style. #tolkien

The front cover of the audiobook “The Silmarillion” read by Andy Serkis. The artwork is of a Balrog.

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Here is my Genre Map from the #StoryGraph app, an alternative to Goodreads (inspired by @readingthislife.bsky.social) #booksky

Ordered bar chart, each bar representing a book genre (e.g. Fantasy, Classics, Science Fiction) and bar length representing the number of books read in that genre (e.g. 27, 21, 18)

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

My wife asked for a Silmarillion quote applicable to current times. There are so many. #booksky #tolkien #silmarillion

The other had now achieved a unity of its own; but it was loud, and vain, and endlessly repeated; and it had little harmony, but rather a clamorous unison as of many trumpets braying upon a few notes. And it essayed to drown the other music by the violence of its voice, but it seemed that its most triumphant notes were taken by the other and woven into its own solemn pattern.

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Tim Chen Allen @timchenallen.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Out on the morning stroll with our sighthounds, Zeno and Zoom #sighthounds #ypsilanti

Two tall sighthounds, Zeno, a cream-colored Sloughi and Zoom, a black-colored American Greyhound, stand on a leaf-strewn path in the early morning in Ypsilanti, Michigan

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