Possum Jamb 3/28

So we got together for a great sesh at the Possum ramp on Saturday. It was Callahan, Cappetto, Owen, Cheryl, Pat, Matt and myself. Man was it cold though, that night it actually snowed 4" in Chicago. I know that is a far cry from the 12-14" they got out west but come on, it is late March people!! The saying goes something like March out like... I forgot.. Something about a big bang or strong big whatever.



I personally was a little out of it. I had been gone all week skating like crazy, barely sleeping and was off. But the others were ripping. It was a good sesh, I had to get more propane because the wind was whipping through the barn. But after we got going it was quite pleasant in there even with the 30 mph winds.

Haunted House

As we left the cave experience which was my "Cities of the Underworld" fantasy we went on to go for more EXPs. "Ghost Hunters" is one of my favorite shows and I have always been into ghosts, haunted houses, spirits, specters, gouhls and warlocks. We went to this amazing Haunted House this is both an attraction for halloween and thrill seekers but 'tis really haunted. At least according to the current owner of the place.



It is called Raven's Grin Inn and is located at 411 N. Carroll St. Mount Carroll, IL 61053

We called and made an appointment and arrived around 8:30pm. It was very dark out and let me tell you, it is an experience you will never forget. I won't give the details away but it is a wonderful place to go and have a hell of a lot of fun and get the crud scarred out of you too!




I should warn you though, listen to him when he tells you that if you have health problems or a weak heart to take the stairs. But if you are ready for some serious spooky action that you might actually not walk away from then follow Jim!!

Davenport and beyond 3/26 - 3/27

I was glad to get out of there, cops make me nervous. I really do not do anything that is illegal but I just want no part in any situation with the police. They there to serve and protect, I can only hope that when the day comes, they will be around to protect me. But in the meantime, I will stay out of their way.

The original plan was to skate for like 6 hours, eat and then find a campsite. But since the park was a blink and be done with it situation, we had lots of daylight on our hands. We had already ate, I got my 10oz allowance of coffee (I was drinking way too much, another stomach culprit) so we decided to head north and do tomorrow's agenda today. We arrived at this state park about an hour north of Davenport.



I was skeptical, Calabro has been blowing hot air about how great caving is and that I really need to try it sometime. I was like "what the hell is caving and why would I want to go crawling around in one"??? But I have to say, it is fun! As long as the thing doesn't collapse, or you don't get lost, attacked by bats, bears, mountain lions or break your leg on the slippery ass rock down there...

But we did go and I had a blast. I would even be willing to go again!! I was un-prepared, and MC kinda was too. I shot some video before we went in. It was fun, the park was empty and it was erie, kinda like a cheesy horror film from the 80s or one of those crappy action movies from the 90s that dealt with how nature bites the outdoorsman on the ass.





We checked out a few easy ones, and then found a cave that went way back. We were in there for nearly 2 hours. It got super tight at times and a little difficult but definitely not more than medium difficulty. It was fun!

Davenport 3/26-27

So on the way back from beloved Kokomo, after John and I parted ways, Calabro called me up. I guess he was ready to get on the road too and his movie fantasy went well, some of the dudes were still there and even getting scenes in the film! Pretty cool stuff.

We decided to go to Davenport, IA and finally check out the park. I have been meaning to get out there for 2 years. I had only heard great things about it and was looking forward to some more good times. We arrived Thursday around noon and had not stopped for lunch. So we went to take a quick look. I personally was not into it. My first impression was oh no, crash up derby! But I tried to keep an open mind.



We found some local Grinder place and had pasta. I should have went for the "gondola" sandwich but was trying to eat less spicy, to give my stomach a break. As I mentioned before, the stress accumulation from this semester has been enormous and my winter eating habits (self medicating) took its toll on my stomach... Anyway, I ordered a "salad" the meal, it was a styrofoam bowl with some iceberg lettuce in it? But the garlic bread was good (didn't I just say I wasn't eating that stuff?)



We got back to the park and it was flooded with kids, bikers and a few skaters. I knew it was bad news when I saw a kid walking in with a megaphone. Apparently the street skaters use it to inform people to get off of the obstacles when they skate. The park is very big, had nice lights and even has facilities, bathroom, snack shack, eating area, etc. It was all closed of course due to the early Spring season.



So the park has its strong points. It is supposed to be a Site Design park but I think they designed it around 2000 and the city did not get around to build it until 2007. I think that skatepark companies have learned by now that a street course/flowbowl that interlock do not mix well. The crash up derby factor in this park is 90% on a medium day. Bikers sit on the opposite side of the park in the street area, and air into the flow area. Which makes for near death experiences with collisions and even landings. Yes, they might just land on you or into you, even if you are standing on the deck, because it is fly-out city too.

I took maybe 5 runs and if the park was totally empty, it would be fun or if I was a local and had local clout then maybe I could deal with the near collision stuff. But I am not going to blow my knee out on the 3rd day of spring and a park that is 3 hours from home and one that I am not particularly fond of...



The little kid fight was slightly entertaining, I was so ticked at the locals for snaking, fliping boards in the bowl as I carved by, or the bikers for just being who they are that I actually stood there for a minute and watched. Then I was like, I better break this up or something, luckily a local who knew the kids did the dirty work. That is whole other issue, you don't know who's big brother is watching from across the street in the nova or whatever...




Then the dummies got into it again, I already had my stuff packed up and was ready to go. By the time we got to the van, 5 squad cars had pulled up and the kids were in custody... They apparently have lots of trouble out there at the park and the police have survelance cameras installed and the response time is very fast. They do all kinds of things to "punish" the skateboard community by turning the light off for a month or closing the park. When these kids were not even skating, one was talking shit and eating doretos and the other was riding a BMX bike in the muddy and recently landscaped area outside the park...





Anyway, I had enough, Calabro could care less and we were already over it.

Kokomo 3/24 - 3/25

Sunday was spent at WIlson all day. Lots of mini sessions, break for lunch then more. That seems to be the pattern for me Saturday/Sunday at Wilson in times of good weather. Although this year, I am trying to break it up a bit. When 70s hit I get obsessed with Wilson and can't stop skating there. Then I get burned out and go on the road. This year, I need to gain some kind of balance. Triple Threat was a good harbinger for what will come in the near future.



For weeks, Calabro and I have been discussing Spring Break. I had originally considered going to my sister's in NYC (which I am feeling quite guilty that I didn't) to see my nephew Ethan. That will happen soon though. Anyway, the other possibility was Costa Rica but that did not happen. SO, I just figured that we would do some midwest road trippin'. However, the weather forecast was super crappy, it was supposed to rain and blow wind everywhere drivable. We wanted Montana, but Whitefish had 2 feet of snow still, Moab was rain, below that were tornado possibilities, and Ohio was too far to drive with only one forecasted day of good weather.




I voted for Kokomo/Bloomington, Calabro got a call to do a movie, looked at the wind forecast and bailed. SO, Monday was mope-day. I was bummed, I thought that nothing was gonna happen. But Cappetto called up and said he was off Tuesday and did not need to go into work until Wednesday evening. So KOKOMO it is!!! Screw the wind, screw the forecast, Screw it, I am going to Kokomo!!



It was breezy but it was 72 degrees and I was fine with that! We actually made an effort to get some footy too! I took a bunch of photos and got some video, Cappetto shot some vid with his HD camera as well.



I have a very handy phone that does internet so I was updating on facebook just to tick off Calabro. I was bummed but after getting some serious fun in at Kokomo, it was all better. I must say that I was developing some stomach issues in the last few weeks. I was kinda getting worried but after two days in Kokomo, my stomach is about 60% better. Who needs the doctor when you have a park that good. It under 2 hours from Cappetto's house and 2 1/2 from my parents, so it is a go for this season. I finally have someone to go with on a regular basis!!

Triple Threat 3/21

Cappetto and I did the Triple Threat on Saturday. Prairie Pallooza went so well that I was super energized the next day. Even though my body was tired, my mind knew that Spring Break has just begun and I must do something good! I was so out of it that Cappetto called me Saturday morning and I had already forgot we were doing triple threat. Spring semester is always nuts but this one has been really nuts!!

To top it all off, my online class has been offline since Tuesday and I really do not know if it will go back up again or not. The last time this happened, I had to re-create the course from scratch while I was teaching it. suck




But after my brain woke up and my body said "huh?" I was out of bed and ready for "Me" time! I re-arranged my trunk and actually cleaned my car out Saturday morning while waiting for Cappetto. I always get into a nasty funk during winter and my car really gets funky! I got the camping gear out and made my trunk good weather road ready instead of WInter road ready.






So, Cappetto showed up and we skated Possum, then Whiting and then Wilson. It was a long day but good things will come. It was kinda like an injection of gnar to kick off the season. Spring is hear!!





Cappetto took all the footy with his camera, I got the EXP shots. I seem to be more interested in that stuff, the people we go with and the experiences we have. All of this BS of following people around with a fish eye is great and all but none of us are that photogenic or good.. but we try

Prairie Palooza 3/20

makin' T-shirts!



So my Spring Break was supposed to unofficially begin on Thursday but things have been super busy. Thursday afternoon I had to get more stuff done for the HS show, get another work to GSU for a student show there, pick up ribbons for the HS show, and get more details done... Friday, The wall cards were printed and I installed them and cleaned up the gallery, got it all together and I am happy to say that the show looks good. Just a lot of paperwork for this thing.






The other thing on the agenda was Prairie Palooza, an event I have been planning for weeks with the Art Club. The original idea was to have a jam night, coffee house thing but then circumstances beyond us all brought Prairie Palooza into my professional life. We had 5 bands play, and art show, concession stand, T-shirt sales, you name it.



I was super leery of this event because if it went badly it could be negative toward my job. But luckily it went off without a hitch! The club made money (for our lit/art mag Exposure) and we had enough to pay for the supplies and other expenses. We also have enough to donate a little to a good cause. Charity is important.



The bands were great!!

Milwaukee 3/19

I has been so stressssssful these past few weeks. But I found a chance to sneak out a Milwaukee sesh on Thursday. This week I am juggling Midterms, finishing the Skyway Exhibition, Student show at GSU, Curating the High School show at PSC and gearing up for Prairie Palooza at the college tomorrow.





Phil got his pro model!


MC, Dacia, Phil, Pat and I all met up for some good fun at 4 seasons. The weather keeps fluctuating so this day was good for a little indoor. I need to concentrate on getting skate footage but I always seem to get the other stuff. When you are road tripping, the other stuff is the best anyway. Unless you are pro or something... Skating is about fun and the experiences you have on the road, not how good you are or what you can do and all this BS. Yes, young ones, skating is about fun!







MC gearing up for an energy blast.







Accept for naked man fun - these pics are too funny to pass by.