My lavish lifestyle is going to kill me.

Reading CNN.com at work today set me on the path to a discussion with my co-workers about the price of gas, our precarious national security situation because of our dependence on foreign oil and how there is no end in sight. This led to me becoming rather depressed about the fact that I drive a Chevy Blazer...a truck that I am pretty much stuck with for a while. Gas will be 5 dollars a gallon by the end of the year. Though, in reality, even if I was driving a smaller car, I'd not likely be saving all that much money at the end of the day. Or maybe I am just telling myself that. Either way, it bums me out to see things deteriorate in such a way. I wish I could install solar panels on my house, but I lack the know how and capital.

This feeling is compounded by the fear that Clinton will somehow win the nomination. It saddens me to think that people still get ahead by way of character assassination and fear mongering. If she wins the nomination, I am just going to sit this one out. Because a country ran by her or McCain will not be different one way or the other.

Man, I am really down about this.

The land of Vienna Beef.

I spent the last week in Chicago at a training class for my job. The hotel I stayed in was nice, but the internet access was essentially wireless dial up, and I had no desire to fuck with that. So, I just spent the nights walking around, or drinking coffee, or talking to Mica on the phone...just whatever. I just wanted to be home. It was also an opportunity for me to heal a little. I took a really bad spill while skating last week. Skating. The activity that I can largely do with my eyes closed. So much for that. Thankfully, the bike is back in working order. So, while in the city of wind, I did what everyone else does, including sneaky fucking Russians...I took pictures of the Bean. Actually, it is called the "Cloud Gate" but it is pretty much a big chrome bean. Very "Flight of the Navigator".

This shot was on Monday night. I got back to my room, got stir crazy and grabbed my camera. I am laying on the steps for this one, holding as still as possible. No one thought I was homeless, as they didn't shoot me horrible looks. They just thought I was crazy. Everyone in that city was carrying 20 pounds of gloom...


This one was on the same night, but I black and whited it. I really liked how it turned out. So much so that it became the desktop background on my work laptop. Good job, Stephen. Thanks!


This last one was a daytime shot. There were all these Russians milling about and staring at themselves in it. I had no idea that Russians were that narcissistic. I knew they were sneaky and could dodge bullets, however.


So, that is all for now. I guess I am getting ready to drive somewhere to eat some BBQ.

The grass is greener.

Because my dog has shit all over my back yard and just really done a terrific job of fertilizing the thing.

I mowed it, cleaned it up and took my son out there to see what he'd think of it. I hooked him up with his new (to him) whip and he seemed to like it.




And check out his "I'm chillin'" stance. Kid is gonna be a ripper.



I wrecked hard this past weekend. I actually did no damage to myself, but I destroyed my new cranks and new pedals. Shit. I guess I am glad that I did not get wrecked, because when I look at what was done to the metal on my bike...well...I realize that I would have shattered my leg.




Before the bike carnage, I got some pictures taken of me riding! Gasp!

Fastplant, baby!


Hippity hoppity.

Nostalgia in human form.

I grew up skating...a lot...and in the process of doing so, I made friends that did likewise. I would still see them from time to time and even though our lives have changed a great deal, our common thread was still there. Now that we have a skate park, I see them even more...like yesterday. Nate Holder was the man when I was in middle school. Vert skating was THE form of skatboarding in the 80's and Nate was ripping it up with guys twice his age. I can remember seeing him skate and seeing that picture in Thrasher and being completely awed that I went to school with him. Watching Nate skate now is like watching him skate back in 1988. Smooth. Controlled. Suit up, man.


Nate still goes higher than anyone.


His rock and rolls always looked unique to me. Still do.

If I was awed by Nate, I was driven by Jamie Smith. He was my peer...we skated together often, and even though we had different styles, we pushed each other constantly. Sometimes it was competitive, but more often than not it was just two friends trying to have fun. Jamie went on to some amazing things via skateboarding, whereas I starting BMX'ing, but we're still friends. And he is still really fucking good.


I just like the way backside disasters look, and he does them fast and smooth.


As tech as he always was, he could go big, too.

My daughter got some tooth work done yesterday and had to be numbed. When I dropped her off with her mom, she tried to smile but looked like she had a palsy, so being the great dad I am, I laughed and took a picture.


On Tuesday, I had to drive to Jamestown, TN for work. On the way up, I saw this creek and thought it just looked beautiful, so on the way back I stopped and took some pics.



I'm so vain...

Fate is a cruel mistress.

So, I make a new friend to ride with at the park and hard cider and a scooter take him from me. Fucking hell. Get well soon Nate. Get well...

Tonight I sat and watched the new Odyssey video. It's very awesome, but I am not sure if it is a "pop it in and get pumped to ride" video. "Chill Bro" is one of those videos. The Odyssey vid is more of a production...I dunno. It's like you are watching something more substantial than just a BMX video, which is both awesome and distracting. I need to see it again, I think.

Went to the park and saw old skating buddy Jamie Smith. He is P R O and was more than happy to do a few for me while I got the lighting dialed.



Then I asked Z-Biggy to get awesome. He replied with a tweaked as fuck footplant over the spine. He's too good at everything.



I am working on procuring some radio slaves, so hopefully the flashes won't show up in the next batch of pictures...

The Kids Choice Awards are on.

My daughter is watching it now. She's gonna be one of those girls that goes to PerezHilton.com or something. I tried. I really tried.

Today has been oddly long and arduous. Garrett has freaked out for a large percentage of the day. He calls me "mommy". He also headbutted my collar bone and actually inflicted pain.

He is obsessed with going outside, which is actually okay with me, except for the part where he tries to run into traffic.

He can almost turn it himself...


Anna has decided that April 1st is Holly's birthday. I'll go with it. I think she'll be 5 years old. I think. Maybe 4. I can't even remember. It feels like I have always had her, which I think is pretty comforting. She's a great puppy and is very happy that she can get on the couch now. I just gave up that fight...


Mica is trying to cram an entire book into the weekend for her Women's Studies class. Her teacher is a man hating beast. I bet she'd love me. No, really. Older woman think I am awesome. I can't explain it. Oh, look at those orange walls!


I have a shoe problem. I have a lot, but to be fair, I buy a pair of shoes and use them for everything...BMX, skating, work...so they wear out fast. Etnies stopped making the Ruben, which was my favorite shoe. I just bought some Orchid's (on sale!) and I hope that I get to try them out tomorrow.


This was a dull post.

I can't get a decent shot of Hendor.

Skate park night! Woo! Despite my efforts, I cannot for the life of me get a good picture of Hendor. I am not gonna give up, but maybe it's because it's just hard to photograph a force of nature.

I did finally get some pics of Nate. He's another that I struggle with, but finally the animal was captured tonight.

Nate was warming up with 360 nosepicks over the spine. The first one I shot turned out to be the best one, in my opinion...


Then he fired out a no footer nosepick! THE MAN IS A MACHINE. THAT MAKES NO SENSE.


Finally, we labored on this 360 over the thing...this one looked the best of the batch (again, in my opinion) but he was nailing them all night.


One of my favorite skaters to watch. This guy goes so fast and so smooth. I can watch smooth skating all day long. Not much going on in the pic, but he is just going so damn fast here...


It was a fun night. Mostly the older crowd, and there is an ease with one another when that is the case...skaters and BMX'ers getting along, pulling for each other and just having a good time. It's nice, man.

This is for my sis...look at that hair!