Drugs

Done are my days of using illegal drugs recreationally. I was searching for something back then that I am still searching for today. I have discovered that drugs are not the way. Sure, maybe doing drugs was finding your own way and being different at one time, but when it becomes a habit and repetitive, you are simply following the leader.

Wasting time getting high puts you out of your place where you should be. I personally had little trouble quitting illegal drugs mainly because I only really did psychedelics. I only found trouble quitting cannabis. I found this drug to cause more problems for me than any other. Using it made me realize that life is better without it. That is the key that you have to realize for yourself that life is better without drugs.

I can only imagine how hard it is for people smoking meth and crack. To me, cigarettes was always the worst drug. People who smoke are perpetuating the capitalist agenda in order to keep sucking down that tar. You don't like it the first time you do it, but if you keep doing it, you'll like it. That makes no sense. I guess it is sort of a rationalization like being an acquired taste as with beer for some people. I don't enjoy beer like I used to.

Looking back, would I change anything? I don't think so. I mean of course you could look at it like something could be better, but without the perspective that it shaped me into today, why would I want it any other way? I did what I wanted to back then and I am going to do what I want to today. I just want something else.

Coffee, I have discovered, is seemingly more pleasurable than beer. I think this is my vice these days. It puts me in the mood to take on the day, which I like, and is useful in ways other than just feeling good. It's a moral booster. There is no end in sight...

Skateboarding to me has always been sort of an anti-drug drug. I think what keeps me skateboarding is the high associated with the speed, adrenalin, and I guess the "runner's high" that you get with physical activity. I feel better when I am out doing something, that is also why I like physical labor. It is a good way to stay fit without having to do hard work outs at a gym.

My goal these days is not necessarily being "drug free," but instead to be myself. I am going to do what I do because only I can and nobody else can do it for me. My life is based upon what I want to do and I am going to make it happen. I do not want to get side tracked on stupid drug side missions; I am on track for the olympic gold. See you soon 2016!

Skating Alone

Skating alone can be wonderful if you actually feel like doing it. All you have to do is get on your board or get in your car and go. No waiting around for others to shower or get ready. If you are ready to skate, you go skate. Solo missions are usually just that: missions. You go out to your spot and get it. You are on your own time and you make the most of it. There is no compromise in where you skate, or how long you skate there. You are the master.

I just got back from a "solo mission" and it was wonderful. I did just what I wanted. I skated the spots I wanted to hit. I didn't have to wait around for others to finish skating. I just skated as hard as I wanted to at the places I wanted to. I listened to the radio like I wanted to and went to eat the food I wanted to afterwards.

I can't say that I would want to skate alone all the time though. It is fun skating with friends and/or associates, depending on the circumstances of course. It's sort of like a work out/practice/taking yourself out for a date.

Skating alone is just one of those things that you have to do for yourself, and besides it's a Monday!

Reflecting on the First Sesh in a Week

Let's face it: not skating sucks. Not skating for a week because it has literally been raining sucks. So Sunday night I go over to a friend's birthday party; have a few drinks and chill out. On the way back home we make a pit stop at another friend's house, wait on him because he is out running errands and the street is just dry enough to get a session on.. Hell fucking yes! It may be flatland, but flatland on the surprise with all your homies? That is a real sesh. No fucking park skating where you've done the same tricks over and over with that weird guy who you've never talked to. How about a new environment where you don't even have your board so you have to ride your friend's board? What a great way to celebrate life. That is what I live for; I don't really care about being the most drunk or being the life of the party or even making new friends for that matter, but that sesh with your friends that comes out of the middle of nowhere, that spontaneous skate sesh sweeps you off your feet. Too bad it can't last forever. You feel your energy wind down and it's back to normal, boring life. You know that that is going to be the best part of the day. Life of watching boring tv shows, staring at screens whether it be a computer screen, phone screen, or tv screen…. waiting for the next sesh …. sigh…..

Fashion Flashback

Style can be lots of different things, but I'm going to discuss dress. Style can be everything from what you choose to wear to how and what tricks you choose/can do. It is a way of moving and doing.

My group of friends from high school all had this thing for wearing white T's. White T's from Walmart or whatever gas station sold them, preferably baggy at that. I was so crazed with this White T style that I wore a white T every Friday from Sophomore year to Senior year. Of course this was reflected from our choice in music at the time. We were into that down south crunk style of rap and our white T craze can be summed up from the song White T by Dem Franchize Boys. LOL.

For pants, it's always been slacks/khakis, preferably Dickies. I think this type of pants slay jean/denim style pants because you can move your legs better in them, not to mention I saw the older dudes wearing them.

There was a specific incidence in high school where "what pants 'skaters' wear" came up in my senior language arts class. It was so stupid and I felt embarrassed. It was the debate between skinny and baggy pants between the class, except me, and the teacher. It was college shirt day where you wear a shirt of what college you were going to. I wore my ATLAS shirt Sergio made. I've never been one for school spirit, but you bet I was glad to get out of there. I would never wear shorts though, even in the summer it was always long pants.

Hats are a life saver. They keep the sun out of your eyes and look cool too. Style follows function in this instance. It was fitted hats back then, but snapbacks now. I hardly ever go out without a hat. It is essential to skate function for me. I don't remember the last time I skated without a hat. Flat bill trucker hats are the shit! I like them a ton. Regular hats are cool too. I have a few of both. I think bucket hats are in style now.

Winter time was the time of flannels and hoodies. I think we got hooked on flannels from The Joe. He rocked them first and from what I remember some people at school thought he was homeless.
Flannels are sick and you have to be lucky to spot a good looking one at Goodwill that you can get for like $5.

Shoes was what it was all about though. They are by far the most expensive part of what to wear. Spend next to nothing on shirts, pants, etc, but when it comes to shoes, go all out. Get some fancy Nike Sb's. I was into Lakai and eS during high school.Vans skate the best though. I found that out later on in college, I think.

I can say not much changed throughout my college years either except I started wearing shorts again.
I like to keep it simple. No fancy get up, maybe some tall socks in the summer time, but that's about it. Button ups are in...

Easter Nostalgia

Easter weekend of either my Junior or Senior year in high school is a memorable one to me. It is the first and only time I have been held at gunpoint, and thankfully by a cop. 

My brothers and I had gone over to Sergio's house for the day because fellow skater Cody in that neighborhood was getting rid of his ramps in the cal-de-sac that we would skate. We didn't want them to be scrapped so we took them to the most reasonable location available: the abandoned concrete factory across the street. 

We used Lydia's jeep to help move the ramps. The concrete factory across the street had a long and winding path leading up to the actual facility. I think we had to rest a few times getting the first ramp down there. Lydia stayed in the car near the intersection. We picked up our boards and headed back up to the car for the next load and as we come to the clearing we see two cop cars and two police with some rather large rifles. We were thinking, "Oh great, we're getting kicked out." but continued walking towards the cars. 

"Hands up!" said the cop as he pointed his rifle at me. I'm thinking, "Oh shit! That's a big gun." I wanted to ask him about it, but I didn't say anything. I dropped my board where I stood and put my hands in the air. Kevin, Steven, and Sergio followed. They asked us if we had anything in our pockets that they need to know about. Sergio told the cops he didn't know and proceeded to dig through his pockets. This angered the cops and caused them to shout at him. Lydia was near her car crying as they proceeded to search us. 

Long story short they asked us what we were doing back there and we told them. They told us they got a call from some neighbors that four large hispanic males were stealing from the warehouse, which is in fact the opposite. Sergio thought it was funny they sent two small white officers with big guns to take down the hispanics. Things can be like that sometimes. 

After the whole ordeal, we went back out front of Sergio's house and could not get our minds off what had just happened. It was very surreal, almost like a dream. We couldn't get our selves to skate anymore so I think we just went home. I think it was a Friday after school, not sure, but Easter was the following Sunday.