mc

[mc]

Funtastik. Wow. I'm just writing this one off as a loss. I made paul and chris wait until saturday morning to leave, upon whence I found out that they weren't planning on staying until Monday because paul had important academics to get back to. So, we had to depart on Sunday afternoon. That was major disappointment #1. Major disappointment #2 was that I left my climacools in paul's apartment in rochester. Seriously, what the fuck. I borrowed Waylon's g-units for a little while, and hit some fun moves in front of the executioner, those being atomic zulu mirage, and tapping hatting ss DLO.

Then, I went to the hotel with my posse, and we had some beers and hung out in the hot tub and scored a set of very usably modified lavers from John Mahood. I definitely wasn't able to do my usual stuff in them, but I could hit bunches of tricks anyway, so it was a great benefit to my weekend to have had them. Thanks John. I like your tube mod. It's the perfect amount of assistance with no interference.

Then what... The shred room was cool, but we messed it up and we weren't even supposed to be in there, so I'm not sure if we can use that hotel any more. I sat there and stitched bag #38 with waylon, which I sold immediately... I know I'd told someone it was for them, but I needed the cash, so... time to get working on the next one Then, I ran off with Irish to chill with some legends and pound some beers and get coached. We had a blast, and I played guitar and hung out with the legendary Jay Moldenhauer (sp?). Then, I got back to the shred room, and found out there had been some fisticuffs amongst some freestylers, which made me sad, but fuck it. No big deal, I'm just glad I wasn't there to have to see it or deal with. It was way better drinking beers and catching up with my hero.

Then, the next day, we got to the site, and I power-stitched #39, which I sold within 2 minutes of completion. I got in about 40 minutes of total play time in John's lavers. I hit a perfect levitating butterfly first try for taishi and chris dean. ben roscoe was facing the other way, unfortunately. I love that move, it's the only trick with phasing set that I can do. I should work on some other ones.

I liked playing with taishi, he has a really fun, fast style, and he's really nice. Ben roscoe is going to be great, he has huge windows and a nice slow style. Kind of like Kamil Hucal. Who else... Holy shit, jeff richards and chris obara. only been playing a year, and they have tight, fast, controlled styles. They are going to be SICKKKK!!! I can't wait to play with them again. Cleaver owned everything, once again. I can't wait to see finals.

more later.

[shreddaily]

Thanks for the updates MC, this was a very sad weekend for me not being there for the first time in 3 years.
Keep up the good shred, I was blown away by your skillz in ptown!
later...

[mc]

Just had a fred shred on campus. I'm going to update, shower, shave, and go back to campus and try and get my club involved for activities night. Then, I'm going to go to the library and read, and then go to class for 2.5 hours. Then, I'm going to come home and buy books online with my new debit card to replace the one I lost. Currently, I'm getting coached.

Anyway, I had a pretty light session, but it was fun. Hit some new stuff. Swirling flapper > gyro mirage bs. spender bsos for the first time, with two tight, clean spenders. Got another few e-mail addresses from people interested in joining my club. What else... mobius BSOS first try, a couple vortexes... this and that.

I'm having some nice cold sweetened iced tea, and swishing it around in my mouth feels good. I can't wait to represent the club at activities night and get some new people interested.

[BenRea]

how many people do you think will show up to the club at first? and how many to you hope it to grow to? whats the goal for everyone besides having fun(like what should they being practicing and what will they be able to do by the end of the first session?)


sorry for the questions, i just like to know about these things and also the fact that me and rob want to start a club aswell.

[Wasabi]

Although it was brief, Funtastiks with Matt Cross was amazing. And I'm sure Nasty was there in spirit as always. I hope to see you two again in th future.

[mc]

Hey Ben,

there's already a handful of people in the club. it would be cool if it could grow to 10 or 15 with at least 6 at an average session. The goal is almost entirely to have fun and enjoy footbag, but if someone wants tips, I'll help them. The goals are whatever the club members want personally. There's no pressure to advance or buy stuff, but I'll definitely be making my usual recommendations.

[ObArA'BaRs]

Funtastiks ruled.
U guys made it that way
I cant wait to get those bags waylon
I also landed phoenix>blurrywhirl>pdx torque first attempt

[mc]

shit son. nasty nasty combo. I don't think I've hit that one yet, I'll have to give it a try. I think I've hit both the links. 5s are fun! Thanks for the sponsorship for the ride home. It was awesome meeting you and your buddy, keep shredding harder!

[slapdash21]

matt cross. what it is that is up.

just thought i'd say hey.

ithaca, november 11-12th?

pax,

[mc]

Yo bowler!!!

I really don't see myself missing that event Ithaca rules, and so does somolinos. can't pass it up. no no no.

Just finished footbag #40 yesterday, it's already in the mail for Noah Zilberberg. Next comes Josh Lewis, then, if Rob Fuller wants to pay, I'll make one for him. Then, I'm not taking orders any more. I'm going to stitch, and sell them as they come. The sell IMMEDIATELY, so there's no need to obligate myself to do something that I might not be in the mood to do (that being stitch a bag when I don't feel like it). How ironic; my bags are the best they've ever been, and I'm making them less available

a beautiful black wasp just came and landed on my windowsill and cleaned itself for a moment. I got a good look at it from behind my venetian blinds... What a beautiful creature. So complex and tiny. I wish I could fly outside of my dreams... but then, I don't even really fly in my dreams that much as it is, maybe I should start taking more advantage of that first.

Time to start #41... but first, coffee. Coffee, how I love you.

[mc]

I stitched #41 today. It is my most supple bag yet, and also uses a pattern that I've only seen on one footbag before. If I had my digital camera, I'd post a picture. However, Noah J-B isn't returning phone calls and won't mail it to me. I hope Josh Lewis will take a picture and post it. He's going to love this bag.

My bags keep getting better and better They're starting to look really clean and even on the inside.

My arm HURTS from all this stitchery, plus had a hard guitar session today. I worked a bit on a song called Walk on Water, and a video game theme that I hope to post in a video soon. I guess it's time to go out and party. Life is good. Shower, then party...

[mc]

Just made a big order at fieldsfabrics.com! I ordered Flash Red, Petit Pois (greenish), Country Cream (whitish), Princess Purple, Imperial Blue, Sunny Sienna (Orange), Oliver (brown), and Tulip (yellow)! I'm excited, can't wait to stitch it all together.

I got my new Andy B bag in the mail yesterday. I think it's going to be a good shred bag in no time. I'm going to add some plastic to the filler after I break it in and review it. It's a little empty for me at the time being.

I will start footbag #42 tonight or tomorrow.

[PegLegHolly]

wow i wish i could get one of those bags... maybe youll be at nyj or something that im at in the future.... but i totally understand the whole thing of hating to stitch when you dont really want to. taking breaks when you need them is an awesome way to do things... but it seems people who want footbags want their bags on their time frame. whats the pattern you stitched that youve only seen on one other footbag?


thanks for the props on my clima mod. i really got lucky with it.


but for now keep shredding and stitching..

be easy

[mc]

Just had a fun session... felt so motivated to start the day after my coffee and my stomping and singing class. What a good start to the week. I did both vortexes first tries, lots of both jani walkers, zulu warrior first try for the first time cleanly (although I'd badly slurred it before), blurriest > blurriest starting from both sides, and some other stuff.

oh, by the way, the other day, I hit symp tapping blink. I had forgotten to mention it. sweet move...

I also met a kid who's in my stomping and singing class (otherwise known as "applied musicianship") who HAS LAVERS AND USED TO PLAY FREESTYLE!@! he's going to join fred shred!! he said he could do around the worlds when he used to play before, so that's a good start. Can't wait!!

fun session, felt strong. did lots of different components and some shred and muted spinning clippers.

I encourage everyone to spend some time today considering their lives and how they have changed in the past 5 years. I know I will.

I remember lying on my back, looking up at the stars on september 11th, 2001, thinking that it would be the start of world war 3, and that I would die soon. Maybe I was right, just on a longer time scale than I thought.

[Wasabi]

I was in highschool when I saw the planes crashing into the World Trade Center through my classroom window. I didn't feel like I was going to die, but indifferent. I felt a lot of pity to those people that died in the tragedy, and much more for the people who put their lives on the line to save them. It was a very weird moment.

I didn't have footbag to support me then. If I had started, I would be a much more consistent player. But I'm still glad that i can take up this fun sport and live the rest of my days with it. I'm always trying to improve, and always trying to integrate myself to this lifestyle. I want to see better days myself, but I too feel that something dark is lingering somewhere I won't expect. I hope my footbag lifestyle won't change so drastically just yet.

[mc]

I made #42 today. I cut the panels out last night. I liked not having to cut panels, and being able to stitch as soon as I wanted today. Maybe I'll prepare panels for the next one. I can't wait to get my facile order. I'm going to make some fun, super-colorful bags.

It's nice making a bag, and not owing it to anyone. I was playing with it earlier, and liked the feeling that I could have just given it away to a friend in the area if I wanted to. Obviously, I decided against that, because I need money but it was good none the less. I'm liking my bags more and more with each one.

I would also like some dinner, I better get to that... I wonder what I'll make... probably couscous with broccoli, maybe chili...

[mosher]

Matt, I am stoked to see your bags at KICKASS2, you too of course!

hehe we will be able to talk stitching and stuff.

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

[mc]

Tom, I think you will be pleasantly surprised and glad to give one away as a prize

After I stitched #42 last night, I cut out panels to make #43, and as I had made panels, I decided to just bang out a couple of pents because I had the energy and time, so I got 1/3rd of the way done with it. Then, I finished it today between lunch and the first official Fred Shred Footbag club meeting! Two bags in two days, I was psyched! I'll probably cut out some more panels after work tonight.

The first meeting went well. I brought 42 and 43 for kicking. I've decided to keep them both because I need some broken in bags of my own for demonstration purposes. I was really pleased about the fact that when I decided to keep them, I got that 'new bag feeling' in my tummy, from one of my own bags!

back to the meeting; 3 people played with me for an hour. Two were club members, but only one came on purpose. The third is going to join the club, I hope. I wore lavers and baggy shorts, everyone else had pants on. I was going to wear my shred gear and really go for it, but I don't want to make people feel like they really have to perform at a certain level and become intimidated, so I just kept it casual. Jeff, the club member that came intentionally, already has lavers and can do alternating toe stalls! How awesome to not have to convince someone to buy the shoes.

So, that went well. Fun fun fun. Now for some academic stuff.

Got two The Streets albums in the past few days... lovin it...

[mc]

haven't stitched since #43. I'm expecting my facile order to come in today, so I can start making some beautiful bags with new colors... but if they don't, I still have enough for a few bags from my limited palette.

had an interesting session yesterday... I was sitting home songwriting, and I wrote a really great verse, but I didn't know where to go from there, so I put it down, and went out to enjoy the weather. I did some shred and worked on some strings and spinning clippers. I wasn't really going all out... but, then a really really strange thing happened. I was doing some jani walkers, la di da, and then, without even really consciously deciding to try it, and without any thought whatsoever, I threw down a nemesis. It was SO weird... it came right back up into my hand, and I just stood there for a second, thinking, "I didn't even just decide to do that." It was like the nemesis busted itself. The set was a bit low, so I'm not totally sure about it, but it felt pretty good. later in the session, I was actually trying it, and I footed one that was unquestionably clean... So I'll bust a really good one soon...

Then, I got a HUGE circle. Lots of people are showing interest in Fred Shred. We almost got a full hack with 8 people or so. It was REALLY hard, we tried for a long time, but we couldn't quite do it. One of the newbs is going to come to KICKASS with me, I think. Jeff came out in his lavers, and he did around the world and some toe stalls. he's going to be solid soon, if he keeps playing. good guy, that jeff...

so, fred shred is off to a good start.

[mc]

Just stitched 2/3rds of #44. The colors are beautiful. This footbag is going to be the KICKASS prize bag. Then, all the bags I make over the next week will be for sale there. and, I just went back on my word and took an order from Mike Anello, so I'll make his next week. RFA members get special exceptions on footbags (just like anything else) so I don't mind.

Anyway, I'm really pleased with this bag and my consistency on it so far... that's all... time for work...