The worst story ever

Aspiring Hacktor · Post by **Aspiring Hacktor** » 06 Sep 2005 11:18

Hey,
my name is Hugh Martin I just moved from Toronto to New York to go to theatre school. I've been shredding since january off and on and with the new move finally decided to start a footblog.

And now the worst story ever:

It was my second night in Manhattan my Swedish friend Hakan invited me out to some party in Brooklyn. I was dead tired from Streetball earlier so taking my sweetass time I only arrived as the party was shutting down. No matter, the remaing partygoers filed out to some bar and then another, and that's when shit went pear-shaped. I was carrying my new Vida 32 with me. It had become my new best friend. As I got progressively drunker I would take it out of my pocket and break it in with my fingers. It was getting pretty nicely broken in. Anyway to make a shitty story short, I woke up the next morning in my friend's couch. Groggily I reached into my pockets to check how much money I'd ended up spending and alas - the footbag was gone! It was devastating! I considered running back to the bar but I had no idea where it was, and I'm sure not too many people would recognize the enormous personal value of a small smelly, dirty-looking soccer ball like footbag. It really felt like losing a good friend. And we'd only been together for such a brief time. Vida if you read this I'm sorry. I'll order another one as soon as I scrounge the money together. At least I still have my mosher 32 left. Shit just writing this makes me pissed off.

Anyway I shredded away my sorrows with most definitely my best session ever. I normally suck when I play stoned but yesterday I just decided to concentrate on playing well and funnily enough it worked. I took a different approach just shredding rather than drilling and I was so loose and having a great time. I played for like two hours on my new street, impressing passersby (some guy took some pictures of my feet, weird?). Highlights included really getting into a clipper groove, hitting some symp mirages, and most importantly OSIS BSOS for the first time. They still need a lot of work but I love that trick.

I still don't have internet yet, I'm writing from an internet cafe. Hopefully I'll get it figured out soon so I can post often.

FOOTBAG!

mc · Post by mc » 06 Sep 2005 12:33

hugh, that is fuckin BOGUS, dude, sorry you lost a good new bag so soon!!

are you coming to KICKASS? I'm a friend of Tom's, I'll be there for sure, you gotta make it out! at least you've got a cool tom bag to use.

Keep playing, I'm glad to hear you're hitting some tricks now, I read that you'd been pretty frustrated when you started.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi. see you on the scene...

SandWraith · Post by **SandWraith** » 06 Sep 2005 12:56

Aspiring Hacktor wrote:(some guy took some pictures of my feet, weird?)

foot fetish, anyone?

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 06 Sep 2005 13:29

aw bummer hugh! I am sorry to hear about the loss of your bag, Vida was real proud of that one and it was real sweet.

At least this way the bag I made you will get lots of love.

Keep at it Hugh, I am really happy you are in the footbag world.

Aspiring Hacktor · Post by **Aspiring Hacktor** » 06 Sep 2005 17:32

I had another marathon session today. I like playing on my street, a trickle of foot traffic, people hanging out on their stoops, and a nice cemetery to play in front of (it's locked - what a shame I can't dance on people's graves). I'm getting compliments from passersby and it really encourages me to try my damndest. I will be joining up with the NYFA tomorrow at union square at six. It will be nice to shred with them again as I have definitely improved since July. I am still reeling from the loss of my Vida bag. At least I am breaking in my mosher bag; I can almost do all the tricks I can do with a sandbag just as well with the mosher. I'm trying to wean myself off sandbags. I always feel so damn accomplished after I finish a footbag session. Too bad I don't spend my time accomplishing such tasks as cleaning my new apartment and running errands getting ready for school.

Matt: I don't imagine I will have the time/money to make it to KICKASS but my heart will be back with KFM and the gang. I might be able to pop up to Rochester at somepoint. We'll see.

Bander87 · Post by **Bander87** » 07 Sep 2005 16:34

I can't wait till I start getting comments from bypassers.

Aspiring Hacktor · Post by **Aspiring Hacktor** » 11 Sep 2005 08:28

I've been to two union square sessions now. There's a good group of around ten people who show up all of widely varying skill levels and styles. I got a camera so once I get my internet figured out I'll try to put together a video before the weather turns and all the little footbaggers hibernate for the winter. I am getting a bit better with my symp mirages and my osis is coming slowly but surely. I definitely need some more long solo shreds to beef up those moves. As much as I like shredding in circles I find I cool down too much sometimes as the bag makes its way around and that I can't focus on new tricks because if I drop my turn's over. The alternative I guess is becoming a friendless solo-shredding loser. Hmmmm. The other night while I was soloing under a streetlight on my street this cyclist and a taxi got in this huge argument about three car lenghts away. I assume the cabbie hit the cyclist but I didn't see it as I was concentrated on footbag at the time of the incident. Anyway the two started yelling and swearing pretty loud and it seemed like things might come to blows. Not wanting to even witness a streetfight let alone get drawn in, I collected my stuff, ended my sesh early, and went to get pizza (in a desperate attempt to undo any exercise I might have gotten through footbagging). By the time I returned to my street the two had left and all was quiet once again. With too much pizza in my belly I headed inside rather than finish my session. One last thing. I just learned that we have rooftop access in my building. Expect a video of a rooftop session with the manhattan skyline in the background at some point.

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 11 Sep 2005 09:27

You fucking rule Hugh.

The fact that you are here in the footbag world instead of in my first year engineering classes 4 years ago is really cool and strange!

I love it!

Keep shredding hard man!

I suggest that you shred solo as often as you can muster and then go to every group session you can make it to also.

Also, at group session if you find yourself not being able to stay warm try keeping the circle size down to 3 or 4.. or even 2! I find one - on - one sessions are frigging intense and fun sometimes! Remember our union station shred? I find I stay much warmer in smaller circles and hence I play much better.

Also, if you are in a circle with people and you drop right quick then they should give you a passback if they have a soul and/or a heart.

Happy shredding!

Aspiring Hacktor · Post by **Aspiring Hacktor** » 18 Sep 2005 07:34

Been shredding pretty much daily. Making it to Union Square on Wednesdays and Saturdays to shred with the NY crew. Some of these guys are pretty fucking good. Once I figure out what the hell is wrong with my camcorder/computer connection I will definitely make a video. Also I would need the internet I suppose (coming next saturday, I feel so lost and disconnected without it). I'm working on a bunch of three ads in parallel. Symp mirage, Osis, and paradox mirage are all progressing slowly but surely. I've hit them each BSOS at one time or another but I typically hit them less than half the time. More drilling. All my laundry stinks because of my footbag clothes. I should consider shredding naked. Does anyone shred without socks? I imagine your feet would stink and you would get blisters but you could save on some smelly laundry. My school finally starts tomorrow. It's supposed to be pretty intense so we'll see how it goes. I have ballet classes which I am actually looking forward to because I assume it will help my footag and vice versa. Reading Tom's blog I miss kingston and the KFM shit seems to be blowing up over there footbag-wise. Ah well, I'll make it back one day.

Aspiring Hacktor · Post by **Aspiring Hacktor** » 22 Sep 2005 14:33

Still shredding. I hit butterfly>pdx mirage BSOS today. Fuck yeah! I'm definitely getting better. I need to drill the hell out of my osis I have been kind of lax on those lately. On the other hand symp mirages are coming along nicely. Making friends with the union squares. Footbag is fun. School is fun. Ballet is going to kick my ass into shape.
Peace e peace on out.

Skeletor · Post by **Skeletor** » 22 Sep 2005 17:11

HUGH!

I just want to hug you! Im soooooooooooooooooooooooo sorry about misfit!

Your coming to KICKASS correct?

Aspiring Hacktor · Post by **Aspiring Hacktor** » 27 Sep 2005 19:37

Vida, thanks for the understanding on the loss of your bag. I will be ordering a new one soon. In fact if you PM me your address I can send you a check in the mail (I would also need to know your real name as I assume you can't cash anything with 'vida the shredita' on it). Unfortunately I can't make it to KICKASS due to time/money restraints. I wish I could so I could show my wonderful mentor Tomosh how much I've improved again since last we shredded. I have been having trouble finding time to shred. I missed the last union square session for a streetball game with my friend. We kicked some punk 16 year-olds asses on the playground. I have been shredding for 45 minutes during my spares at school (which are few and far between). Everything is coming along. I wish I had more time, but then again I'm learning all this other cool shit at school so I guess I can't complain. I finally have internet at my house so I can now transform into a true modified-junkie.

Skeletor · Post by **Skeletor** » 28 Sep 2005 15:54

pm me your address Hugh. I have a present for you. Sucks you can't come to kickass!

but... presents are sweet!

Aspiring Hacktor · Post by **Aspiring Hacktor** » 05 Oct 2005 17:08

Where does all my time go? I've shredded only twice in the past week, and one of those times I was drunk so it doesn't really count. My school has kept me really busy and exhausted. I've never actually had to pay attention in class for eight hours straight. Making new friends and going out also takes up a bunch of time. Excuses are excuses though. I am going to make more time footbag so I can get over my current hump. Still only hitting pdx mirage, symp mirage, butterfly, osis, and none of them with super consistency. On the plus side I am having a great time in my new city and at my new school. Sorry for the meagre footbag content. I don't know who I'm apoligizing to as I believe this blog (boring as it is) is unread and lost in the vast world of cyberspace.

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 05 Oct 2005 19:35

I read your blog!!!

go Hugh!!!!!

Aspiring Hacktor · Post by **Aspiring Hacktor** » 12 Oct 2005 16:20

been really good about playing lately: four days in a row.

going back to basics and really schooling my clippers. Consequently been getting more consistent all around. Hit butterfly, pdx mirage, symp mirage, osis, BSOS all in the same string. That was definitely a first. I guess I need to start learning some new tricks. I've been trying infinities but I haven't quite figured them out yet. Also interested in stepping sets at the moment.

my friend found my Vida 'misfit' bag the other day. It had been lost for a month. I am in love with my prodigal bag now more than ever. I don't understand why said friend didn't find it the first time he searched his house when I said it went missing...ah well.

I really wish I could be going to kickass this weekend. I miss Kingston, and my friends. I'm also curious to meet all these new KFM members. At least I can lay claim to being a member in it's inaugaural year.

footbag is a great way to combat depression, unless you have a shitty session and then you're just fucked.

Skeletor · Post by **Skeletor** » 12 Oct 2005 16:39

I am so happy misfit was found. So so happy for you! And your going to love the new one I am sending . It will be a great mate for the other one!

and you'll have another Vida bag to play with when misfit 1 dies!

hug!

ps. add me to msn if you've got the magic.. [email protected]

Aspiring Hacktor · Post by **Aspiring Hacktor** » 20 Oct 2005 20:17

Footbag is great.

I was having a lovely night shred under the iridescent glow of a streetlight in the city that never sleeps, when my session was interrupted by a questioning passerby; "you want some whiskey?" He asked. Having shredded for a decent amount of time, and feeling pretty good about it (hitting all the usual stuff, consistency and string length improving), I decided to persue his offer. I ended up two doors down from my apartment chilling with some college kids drinking straight out of the bottle and getting to know my neighbors. It was certainly a twist to my evening I could never have anticipated. I think it's pretty damn cool that I made some new friends because I was footbagging by myself outside my apartment at 11pm. What a sport.

Peace.

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 20 Oct 2005 21:55

Footbag brings you many gifts!

Aspiring Hacktor · Post by **Aspiring Hacktor** » 02 Nov 2005 05:13

I hit my first four adds yesterday: ripwalk and crispy torque. It felt pretty damn good. I need a lot of schooling before I am at all consistent. I actually think I need to go back and school my clippers even more (especially weakside) and then really nail my stepping set before I get too enamoured with 4-add trick hunting. Actually everything in my game could stand some improving. It's harder and harder to motivate myself to shred outside alone as it is getting darker and colder. Shredding in my apartment isn't really an option. AHHHH.

The worst story ever

The worst story ever

Re: The worst story ever