Possum Jamb 12/29

The following day I was lucky enough to get a good session going at my ramp!! We had like 8 or 9 skaters there that day! I was so happy to ride with everyone. It has been a lonely winter so far in there. I was worried about condensation so I got down there a bit early. The ramp was in good shape. I only had a few droplets. I had been mopping the ceiling lately to try to avoid that problem. The roof is fine when it is raining but when the sun comes out and melts the snow on the roof, I get a bit of the drips - the metal sweats and lets out a bit of moisture.



Cappetto was the first show up and then soon after Eric, Danny, Tony F. and Colin arrived. Then Mike O and Cheryl stopped by too! Good stuff!


A few of the dudes had not been there yet so after getting to know the ramp I think they were stoked. It is hard to skate and a little intimidating. But the ramp is kinda like Wilson, it is gnarly enough to do stuff on but also small enough to be an enabler too! Danny full on ripped it! Eric was getting 50/50s, Mike O was shredding, I think we all learned a bit that day!



It was so great to see Tony F. I gotta get him out more!! Calabro went into hybrination mode and would not leave the house.

Eric did a killer edit of the day you can check it out here.

As for the rest of the week, I skated Possum the next day with Cappetto, Callahan and East Coast Mike. It would have been a rockin' sesh again but I think the holidays had taken its tole on the lot of us. We were schralpin' but it was a bit subdued. I was supposed to go to 4 seas with Calabro and Pat but MC bailed at the last minute. 2-man sessions kinda suck in that big bowl.

But luckily it was like 38 out and I sneaked in a sesh at Wilson!! "no nickname" Tom was there and we scraped out the leaves but beneath the leaves was ice! We skated it anyway and pretended it was a deathbox in the flat! I was just happy to be carving and barking up the coping! Sooooooo good. I miss that bowl!

One more thing - Such Luck Tim sent out his Holiday packets. He did a killer bedtime story for skaters!! I wish I could have read it to young Ethan but I just got it last night after I said my goodbyes!

4seas 12/27

We got a 4 seasons session the Saturday after the X-mas. It was the day that Chicago went from 20 below windchills to nearly 60 degrees!! The night before my building was sweating and the smoke detecters went off. The dude upstairs called the Fire Dept. and we had all these fireman yelling at us.. And going, where's the meth lab?? They just kinda came in, knocked the fire alarms off of the ceilings and went home. I think my landlord is not too happy... I just hope he replaces them.

The next day we went up to Milwaukee and things were equally as weird. The bowl surface was super grippy and the deck was super slimy. I think we all found this out the hard way. I slammed big time on my 3rd run. I went to slide my feet down the transition, my food grabbed and I went forwards, straight to flat, my knees, wrist and shoulder. Not fun.

Kevin and Phil also had substantial slams (Kevin was out for the night). But we tried to make the best of it. I was going at it strong for about another hour until my feet began to slide off of the side of my board. The deck was so dirty that the moisture turned it into black slime. I love 4-seasons but they never mop the bowl and they never clean the place either. They really need to take a pressure washer to that deck or something... It is a slime pit!

Holiday wrap-up 12/31

Well, winter break has been good to me so far. I have skated every day accept for the x-mas. Art work is coming along and got to hang out with my favorite and only nephew Ethan! He is super cute and a very good baby. My brother left yesterday 12/30 and my sister, brother in law and nephew headed out this morning 12/31. My mom is bummed. It was a good time though. We ate way too much food and gained lots of pounds.





Best wishes to all of my family and those who hosted us Amy, Aunt Bev and Tyna!!!!

more sk8n

Its been interesting skating when the thermometer reads sub zero. I got the grades in and got the last minute stragelers taken care of. so now it is just art and skating. Oh and cold ass weather! Well, we still went to 4 seasons for the Sunday sesh but it was freakin' cold in there. They said the heater was on and guys were skating in t-shirts. It wasn't quite T-shirtable but I had fun. Even though those who came were not into it. We managed a good sesh anyway.

The ride home was sketchy, roll overs, cars in the ditch, frozen bridges, low visibility and high winds. Well all that stuff just makes the ride more interesting. We go anyway. that is just how it is done here in the winter. I have no pics from the week. I have not been inspired i guess? Or lazy, or just trying to put my shit down before i freeze. You have to keep going to keep the warmth up.

It is the eve of the eve of that annoying hallmark/religious holiday. it really means nothing to me other than a chance to see my blood relatives. I am glad for that. I have to make four stops on the day of the day and will be obligated from 1pm Wed-possibly 9pm Friday. I am gonna sneek a ramp sesh in tomorrow morning and friday morning though! Maybe even the night of the day of the day too! After that i am free.

I am full on stoked to see little Ethan! My favorite nephew.

sk8n

Well it has been a while since I posted last. I've been skatin' just about every day! Just finished the semester and only have to tally up the grades and submit. then i am done!!!!!

I have been working on the art a lot too lately. I finally got the little studio set up and started a bunch of stuff. I even started a painting!! I haven't been able to paint in such a long time so it feels really good to get that going again. The drawings are going well too. I think it is all gonna tie together soon and I'll post pics of the progress.



I've been mostly skating my ramp, alone. Cappetto came by on Thursday which was really fun! I had Callahan out last week too. I have not been getting many pics of footage lately though... I have some but nothing spectacular.

The sessions in Milwaukee have been epic lately though! Last Sunday was amazing. We went up Wednesday too but got caught in traffic for nearly 3 hours! By the time we got there it was a little over an hour to close. shit

I took these pics the other night when it was 10 degrees out side! It was close to 20 in the barn but when the lil torpedo heater kicked on it warmed up a bit. I got this little thermometer and up on the decks the temp can be up to 38! Not bad for a barn with no insulation...

I was talking with some people about it and everyone has a different point of view. It is cold in there. But you have to define cold and decide if you can handle it. Yes it is cold. But I am used to it now. I really don't mind skating alone anymore but am always happy to have people sesh. If you come on a 35 degree day it will be very pleasant in there with the lil heater going.



I am beginning to think that you either have to be from the Region or from south of Roosevelt Rd. to not worry about the cold... is this a challenge Northsiders??? It is cold in there sorry people. But come anyway! I should add that when it is 20 degrees out you can always see your breath in there... Yes, the pic is accurate and I do not smoke.

During the week carwash usual

SO I was doing the usual - MonTuesWed Carwash sesh. It was lots of fun this week! I got a few pics. Alex has returned and has been at the wash a few times. It is always good to see him as well as Gordon and Topless Mark!

I skated alone on Tuesday but Wednesday had a crazy good sesh! Even Bert was there. I didn't bring my camera in though. Please remember these are just pics to document - I am not a photographer...



The ramp has been fun this year. I think I have just the right amount of balance now between bowls and mini and big and small... School is almost out!! The art is coming too! Getting stuff done already.



Gonna go skate the minivert tonight with Callahan. I better take some pics this time.

essaysessaysessays

Well, I finished this stack over the weekend. I have 50 more to do online and i am done for the year!! I have over 150 5pg essays to read/correct each semester.

If you go back to the future and see the younger me - please tell me to move to Oregon around 1994 and just skate, live off the grid and play music and make the art YOU believe in!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I tell the same to my students!

Milwaukee 12/7

Sunday was much needed round wall and pool coping fix time. This round was Fat USA Kevin, Oscar and myself. MC is in work land now - we won't see him 'till Saturday or Sunday. Maybe not even then. He did like 5 shoots this fall and all the Mags are demanding stories now and yesterday.






We made a stop to return the saws and drills to Nick. He lent them to me during construction of the ramp. Thanks a mill Nick!! Also thanks for the donation - very generous! You guys got to get out there and sesh soon!

Anyway, we arrived at 4 Seasons around the usual time 5pm. The parking lot was full - lots of bikers last night! They just finished a new biker area that covers the old kiddie street course to the other side of a park. It is essentially a BMX motocross ramp run with table tops, doubles, vert wall, etc. no pics (next week)

I was talking with Jeff and they are also planning to kill the mini and replace it with a bowled contraption. Basically the mini with a hip and corners?? Could be cool. I was assured that they are keeping the clover. It would be a national tragedy if it went away.



SO as soon as we got in the bowl the Blacktooth team from Madison showed along with Grump (Chicago chapter) and some dudes from Minnesota. It was snake time and shred time. I had a great sesh! I was so nerve racked from the fast snaking and radicalness that it took me a bit to get calmed down. I dropped in, double trucked the deep and ended up on my elbow over the hip. She was slick and I landed sideways. No biggie though, just a reminder to slow down a bit and get warmed up.

Good stuff. I only got a little footie as we were leaving. I was so into skating that the big sesh is only a memory now.

Carwash Wednesday night 12/3

After a long day of dealing with late essays and interesting stories of why it was late or not complete, I headed out to the carwash. Much to my liking, Eric, Juan, Danny and Pat were all there!! We had a fun sesh on the mini. I must say that Danny is just becoming a trick machine! Maybe he is healed from ACL surgery or just living the life of the early 90's late 80's!! Cool tricks Danny!



I kept slamming all night. I was all pissed and trowing shit, I realized later that my trucks must have been frozen! I finally got all warmed up and things went much better. I get a little emotional sometimes.

After we seshed for some time, the young dudes went home. I love those guys but as soon as they left out, it was an immediate Old man street course raid!! We all went for it and it was bank time 80s style.



Juan with the foot plant to fakie (or whatever you call it on a bank?) Iceplant?




Danny with some rad fast plant mute that I wanna learn tonight!

Non Sesh?

No pics because the shred did not happen? Was supposed to shred Milwaukee Friday and then the riders bailed on me. SO I went to the carwash. About an hour into it the breaker blew and we had no power no lights. I did get some shred though so that was good.

The big bummer is that Calabro, Kevin and I were supposed to go to Detroit to stay with Danforth to sesh the new bowl at Modern. You would think that this alone would be motivation for MC to get off his ass and do work during the week so he could go. But no.

Part II - Murf was gonna be there Sunday to do a photo shoot for Juice Mag. Still this did not motivate and we did not go... Another one of those once in a lifetime EXPs that I blew because of friend loyalty or stupidity... So Milwaukee did not happen today either.

At least I have a vert ramp to skate. I went there and got the shred on alone.. that is why I built the thing because when people bitch out at the last minute I have somewhere to go. thats all

(Monday Dec 8)

I had to edit a bit because I was P.O'ed at MC all weekend. He is very busy and I respect that. I am just not the type to procrastinate and therefore I can not understand it when people do. I deal with students all the time and the little BS reasons for not getting things in... It is that time of semester. (read post - essaysessaysessays)

Milwaukee 11/30

We went to Milwaukee the next day for more shred!

Mike Owen started a blog! Check it here.

I have to be careful. Every Fall, I manage to save a little cushion in my bank account. By the end of Winter, the cushion is gone and I wonder where it went?? Skateboarding indoors! I pay 100 bucks a month to ride a mini twice a week 3 months out of the year and just built another ramp but I still find myself driving far and away on the weekends! Well I guess it is better than what I was doing before - paying to skate everyday!



My old winter schedule was Krush on Monday-Wednesday, Scrap Thurs, Fri, (Sat) - Four Seasons (Thurs) Sat, Sun... So that was at least 100 a week for park fees plus gas and food - you get it. If I was decent or a bro maybe I would get in for free but not. So I did what I did and have what I have now!! At least the new winter crew is chipping in for gas. I was too embarrassed to ask before or they just forgot. (every week) But gas is cheap now!



It sucks again this year though. As soon as Dec. 1st hit the big freeze came in. It is like 10 degrees today! Calabro talked me in to coming over and getting breakfast and the plan was to work through the afternoon and head to 4-seasons for some Fri night shred. Well, now he is bitchen' and moaning about going up there... We'll see what happens.



But last Sunday we went up there with Kevin for more shred! As if GR wasn't enough. It was great! A big winter storm was coming in (first one for us) and Calabro whined the whole way saying we were all gonna die. The storm didn't hit until the middle of the night so all was well. I just told him, this is what we do and if we get stuck we get stuck. We always use caution of course - last year we had to turn around. Mostly because they closed the highway! That is about the only thing that is gonna stop me from getting there.

Anyway - Jeff, Jeff, Marty and the other dudes came out. The night sesh was great.

I skated the carwash a few times this week and my ramp with Callahan Wednesday night. It was cold as hell but once the torpedo heater got going it was decent. I guess dudes that come form the south of Chicago or NW IN are not afraid of the cold. Those north siders - where are they??? bring it!

Grand Rapids 11/29

We went up to GR on Saturday. A bunch of us were supposed to go but many bailed due to illness, marital duties and dooty.. Mike O, Cheryl, Matt drove in one car and MC and I went in the Fit. It was a very long drive this time. It was sunny and 45 degrees and the whole 3 1/2 hour drive we were both like, WTF??? I like to go to GR when it is freezing cold out or when it is 111 degrees. Not when the weather is skateable. But I don't bail on people (or try not to). SO we went,

I was a bit salty at first but as the day went on it got better. Mike O was ripping the vert and the rest of us skated the bowl. However we all gave our sweat and skin cells to the vert ramp. I dropped in and it felt crazy slow and very canyon like. I think I am getting used to mine now.



Cheryl was totally getting it that day. I was stoked for her - she was ripping the bowl!! Calabro hurt his back but still did manly airs on vert and I re-learned my lines.

Just to be sure there is no confusion - the video is not me!! It is Mike Owen...

Carwash

We had a really fun sesh out at the Carwash last Wednesday with Eric, Juan, Pat, Mark, Gordon and Chris. Eric took some footy, check it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5heclrOAOmk

Furniture?

Ethan - ready for TOFUrky!

Well, it is the eve of Thanksgiving and I got out of work early! I am waiting to pick up Callahan and go shred the ramp. For the first time I think I am getting some "me" time - chillin' drinking coffee and updating my blog!! This is as relaxing as it gets for me. Ha! My school is undergoing a gestapo like Internet sanction limiting our usage to school email and online classes.

So for fear of being found out as a degenerate skateboarder, I have opted to update my blog off campus. Not that it matters, I am not slamming faculty member (although I would like to) or breaking the law or whatever.



Anyway - Furniture - I had a ghost post a few weeks back with no photos and such regarding my insane surge of furniture building. I must say that I nearly killed myself this semester dealing with school stuff, building the ramp, dealing with departmental BS and moving. Plus - the election. UGH!

I even got my cat back!

So as the ramp neared completion, I decided to move. Smart right? I moved an hour away from the ramp - dumb? Well the way I see it, my sanity depended on moving back to Chicago, continuing with my art career and not slowly dying creatively. I want to make art and exhibit again and getting in that urban environment (and having a studio) will help. So, I moved back to Pilsen although not in PODland. They charge way too much for their spaces. They are really cool spaces but it is getting very yuppie around there and will soon become the trend-zone if it is not already. I do wish I still had the gallery though - I really loved doing that.

I actually had big plans for this year with better connections and all. But I figured that I would go bankrupt sometime this year and did what i did to get the credit card demons off my back.

Anyway - back to the now - I build a bunch of furniture and stuff for the place:




I have been wanting to build a couch for years now. But my last two places really were not up to having a couch. But since my new place is a real apt - couch works!



I had the design in my head so the process was really not that difficult. I actually made a few tables in this same way a few years back so I knew what to do! It is a 2 x 6" frame with sanded poplar 1 x 3"s and 2's wrapped around the frame. this gives it that floating effect that International style sky scrapers had - you can not see the feet of the couch.

I like to think of these couches and tables as architecture anyway.





Dacia gave me some cushions last year from an old couch that she had. So I cleaned and dyed the covers gray. So the whole thing cost about $80. Maybe an Ikea couch is almost as cheap but I had a lot of fun building the thing.






I got a cool table from Calabro at his aunt's estate sale. I decided to refinish it. It was a very rapid refin but it works. Thanks Calab!






My place is super small - it has two bedrooms but they are really the size of a closet. So, for my area to sleep - I had to go back to the old twin bed. I made this frame out of the old erector set metal shelving stuff ? I found a bunch of it on the back 5 where my dad dumped it 20 years ago. It is rusty and nasty - I should just sell it to the yuppies up north for big-K



I also needed a kitchen table. So I decided to use the inner waste from the transitions I cut for the ramp. Scotty Karate always said that he wished he could figure out what the heck to do with them. Well you could build a table top or a skim board. Or, you could build a table top in the shape of a skim board!! thats what I did.



I took three pieces of 3/4" plywood and glued them together. I think that I should have glued them first, then cut out the shapes. Sanding them was a pain in the ass. I still didn't get the ply's perfectly flush but it is good enough. I also made an additional one for some skimin' next year!

Milly 11/21-23

So we hit up 4 Seasons twice this past weekend. Kevin was on vacation so he MC and I went to both Cream City and 4 Seasons on Friday. I have no pics of this sesh but it was fun! Pat met up with us for the night sesh. It was a good day - cold out but fun. We hit up the Palomino my favorite restaraunt in Milwaukee for some good food! They usually have punk rock waitresses but this time it was a bunch of down home girls or something?




I was hoping to have a big sesh at the ramp Saturday but everyone bailed on me. That kinda sucked. Callahan was the only one still in but I just told him forget it. So I spent most of the day trying to get my new torpedo heater working. I bought it that morning for a pretty penny I must say. But I think it works really well.

I decided to pick up a propane powered one to cut down on the stink. Kerosene heaters eat gas like crazy and smell terrible. The propane is expensive too but the smell is not quite as bad. I'm sure it is bad for you also though.

Once I got it to fire up (I had a bad tank and had to exchange it) the place heated up in 20 min. It was about 25 degrees out that day and it took about 1/2hour for the heat to dissipate. I had the temp set at just below half so I figure if I do this for 20 min on the hour we should be good. It does not get to 80 degrees or anything. But it does make it more comfortable and skateable! SO hopefully that problem is solved.

Our sesh worked out pretty well on Sunday. We decided to go for a night sesh and ride with Jeff and some of the Milwaukee dudes. Not everyone showed and we had some no shows too but it was still fun. The bummer was that all these Chicago dudes went in the morning. So, we missed the big sesh. It is hit or miss though so you are either in a heavy sesh with snakes everywhere or it is you and a scooter kid in the bowl. Winter time! ahhh

Milwaukee 11/15

We got our first trip to 4-Seasons in Milwaukee last Saturday. Good fun! I only got a few shots when we were gettin' ready to leave but I'll try to start posting skateboarding again on this blog! No more construction pics.




My photos full on suck, My version of photo shop expired and I am not sure how to correct photos in iphoto. There is no save button on the version I have. BUT, I finally realized that Preview on mac now allows you to rotate, flip and resize photos. So who needs Photoshop now anyway??

more better pics to come. We are gonna go Friday and probably again Sunday this week.

furniture?

Rather than skating everyday my last two weeks have been filled with other obligations. The first is work of course but the other big project is the ramp. That has taken up most of my time for the last two months. But during that time I have always fit a session most every day.

However, I recently took an apartment and have had double duty happening. I have made several trips moving my belongings like most of us do. However, I always refuse to rent a moving van and rarely ask for help to move. The last move I used my Honda Fit which must have taken at least 20 trips. I work in the South Burbs so I was able to take a load in after work and stay south or north and work it out that way, little by little.

I did the same thing this time but I was using Calabro's VAN!. Ha. So the trip[s were less. In fact, I was so efficient about it, I would






Well, yes. I am a cheap bastard and usually try to get away with as much as I can. The only problem is that my moral code does not allow me to lie, cheat or steal. I am not some kind of crazy religious fanatic but I was raised a certain way... So, rather than steal cars to buy other things, I always try to make them first. (if I can).

I have this thing for making furniture when ever I move into a new place. Did I tell you that I finally got a new place? Yep, back in Pilsen again but away from Pod land. screw 'em. I am in the neighborhood now, hopefully it will be a good experience. My place is very small but good and cheap and that is what I was searching for. The furnace is new and it has been recently updated.

Ply dat ramp

SO I just picked up mega loads of plywood and still have to get masonite. If anyone is feeling generous or down right guilty and wants to contribute I have a couple ideas for that. Rather than just out right asking for cash from you dudes you can get something from your donation. I am like Chicago Public Radio and the damn pledge drive. But rather than giving you a coffee mug I will give you something worse! Art?



Yes, some of you may have noticed that I make T-shirts, I'll sell em to ya for 10bucks. I have about 8 different designs and will be making m0 and mo betta soon!




I also have a series of paintings that I will sell for a discounted price that varies from $40-100 depending on the size of the work. I have some examples posted here so you can see. I have been meaning to get my ass out to photograph the rest but I have been working on this ramp so damn much...



Check these out. They are acrylic on canvas, stretched over panel.





SOme of these are from the famous MOWA series, lawnmowers and scooters! The others are an abstract geometric series that I did a couple years back. However I am going to revisit these ideas very soon! I have some more:







If you hate these, check out my site click on this link it takes you to the artists page of the now virtual expgallery.com I am going to let those go for $125. They are all framed and are ready to hang in your home! This is my most recent series and I am still working in this style.

If you were too lazy to go to my other site then check these two:




So, you donate cash but also get artwork. Sound good?? Well, then just give me cash then. No?

I really hate asking for bucks but I guess we all are gonna ride it... I really don't expect to recoup much but a little will help pay that home depot card. And you will get some art you were meaning to buy when I had the Gallery!!