Wasabi: M(s)+J = BLAST

[Wasabi]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention some things in my topic:

I have Nastase Milleniums for some time now. I want to mod them. I also want to buy another pair for walking.

Robert Wojci has some interest in bag(s). I'll add him into the list of people to make bags for:

Chris Miles Balch - 1
Benny Kellman - 1
Tom Kotsakos - 2
Brian Dennis - 1
Robert Wojci - 1

What a drag, and I thought I would get some much needed rest in these cold months.

Also, some of my bags smell like peanut butter. Don't ask me why, but I think the answer is rather obvious and not needed to be said.

[Wasabi]

Tom Kotsakos - 2
Brian Dennis - 1
Robert Wojci - 1

My body is sore from playing. I need to exercise more to keep my stamina intact.

It was great seeing Benny Kellman again. I'm glad he and Chris Balch got hot bags.

I was rushing on everything in my freestyle yesterday. I felt very disappointed, but I did my best. I guess my ankle needs more time to heal, since the swelling is gradually decreasing and is returning my ankle to its normal size and form.

It sucks to be anemic. I need to get a gym card at my college and exercise/play footbag there more often. I need more and more solo practice.

I'll start stitching again on Wednesday. I can definitely make an express shipment to Tom about those two sponsor bags for the NYJ. No serious rush, I guess. And Brian Dennis will get his bag stitched sometime around late December - January.

I'm poor. I need to make more bag orders, or get a minimum wage job. Maybe the Student Resource Center at college. I might make a Bag Sales page to start extending my network as well.

A Rabbi/professor at my college saw me stitch and cut panels last Thursday. He gave me his business card to see if I could make and sell a footbag for him. Wtf?

W.

[Wasabi]

I have a final at 9 o'clock in the morning tomorrow. I didn't cover the latest readings he assigned us for the exam, so I'm a bit worried. I don't even have two of the books he requested. Ouch.

I also have a final paper I have to submit by midnight tomorrow. Double ouch.

I've been sleeping in for the past few days. Unhealthy.

I stitched a really hot 32, just like the one I made for Cornell and for Benny Kellman, except I used Black Noir instead of Country Cream. I'm going to stitch another one of these bags for the CIC NYJ. I hope I can manage some time on Wednesday and Thursday to complete two hot bags and ship them to Tom ASAP. Also, the Christmas season may slow down the shipment. So, an IOU is in order and whatever.

I just cut panels out for a really cool bag I have in mind. Neon Lime Ultrasuede Soft and Black Noir facile. I won't have time for it until January, though.

FFV just came out for the GBA. I'm an RPG nut. It's a splendid feeling.

**Waylon's Wishlist**

• 1.)FFV Advance.
  2.) A large bag of chilled lead shot, size 9.
  3.) A large bag of denser steel shot, size 7.5-9
  4.) Another 1/8th yard of Country Cream, Marmalade, Hot Pink (from Aiden) and Animal Print.
  5.) Some peace of mind.
  6.) A normal gf (NOT happening, but a man can dream).

[Wasabi]

Tom Kotsakos - 2
Chris Dean - 1 - 2
Brian Dennis - 1
Robert Wojci - 1

Wayway is busy this week.

[CIC flurry]

I totally appreciate your dedication to sponsor the event, Waylon. Don't stress too much though, I want you to enjoy your holidays .

[Wasabi]

I'm such a huge procastinator. I have several papers due this week, and I already have one paper that is already 24 hours late. I really need to get my act together, but I've been getting a lot of drama from some people lately (non-footbag related). I'm guessing it's just finals week and people need to vent their frustration.

If only they knew how much repressed frustration I'm keeping in for some of these people.

In my procastination, I began refilling bags. I really like seed beads. It just makes bags feel gushy. It also makes steel filler much easier to work with, what with its lesser density to lead filler and the added weight they offer that regular poly pellets can't seem to provide. Here's the progress:

• 1) Two abshires (poly pellet/steel shot filler, mooching off lead filler = resourcefulness).
  
  2) An old footfighter and my NG one (old with poly pellet/steel shot, NG with seed bead and PF steel shot filler). Holy crap, the NG one feels like butters, eventhough it feels over filled. No matter, since all FFs would need more filler than usual facile bags because of the Amaretto suede.
  
  3) One of my older models. Failed attempt, and the bags just feels way full. I could fill it with lead and revive it, but I have better uses for it than waste it on a bag with one of the my older, crappier templates.

All have been filled to 50.8 grams. Like it was with me and 46.8 grams, I've been obsessive with this number weight for my bags. My larger bags are usually 54.8, I think.

James Hermey PMed me about a trade. Freakin' wonderful!

I really like the level of stitching I'm producing with each of my bags. Perfectly round, evenly stitched, quick break-in EVEN with tight stitching! I don't even feel like putting any more additives for my filler to make it play well either. It's just methods that makes my bags feel softer and have smoother break-ins than standard fillers. I'm that much in love with the efficiency that seed beads offer. I mean, I'm not abandoning my formula, but let's just say that with bags in which I use lead shot I would only use glass seed beads, and with the steel shot I tend to be a bit more creative. It's a funny though, but, I feel as though I can be secluded inside a room for a month or more and spend all of my time experimenting with fillers, perfecting my stitching and switching it up with template sizes if the need arises. Creativity and experimentation is so very important in stitching, I just love it.

[Wasabi]

Misery in Idleness.

edit: It seems like a waste, but I have a cool bag concept that involves patching tape and really stretchy facile. If only I had more Mefix tape.

edit2: I need a new scale! UGH. My scale keeps sapping away precious amounts of battery life from the stupid 3V cells. Damn you, CR2032! (Sigh.) I would like to have a scale that can be plugged in into some outlet. That would be splendid, and I wouldn't have to waste so much money on batteries.

[Wasabi]

I'm typing this blog post with gloves on. It's really cold in my room, but nothing like in colder parts of the Western Hemisphere. My room has poor ventilation, and can't keep in heat well enough to have a stable work environment. Oh, just think, when the heat comes in unexpectedly from the radiator I can be at peace! I don't want to catch another cold again and again like I usually do at this time of the year, so it would be nice for anyone wanting to open the door of my room to CLOSE IT.

...

I really need to move out of here.

I've been drifting in and out from sleep. I feel nocturnal. Not normal, right? Stitching is going pretty well. I just made a really ugly bag, but from how random the colors are, I think it would have a certain 'exotic' appeal to it. I don't know.

I'm confident to say that my ankle feels a lot better. I can do my clipper form in more than two places now (slouching posture, erect, frigid, etc.). I can... er... quasi-spin. Don't take my word on it. Hit flip dyno in flip-flops, but it was snagged into the gap from my foot and sandal, so there was no release. It took me several tries though, so I didn't want to go any further from that. Anyway, I can't wait to go back to playing again from being injured in so long. 3 months (including December)! I think it's time well spent, so I'm not going to play unless I'm in tip-top condition.

Oh yeah, I've been playing with my Peng bag that I received as a birthday gift early this year. I REALLY like this bag and I REALLY like the template and how small it is. I'm sure she doesn't want to go back to her template, nor does Pengpeng remember the specifics about it, so I'm going to try and experiment. I could use a mini template, since I only have a large and regular size template. The KFM fill is also very choice, especially the steel shot version. It doesn't feel gummy like the lead shot.

And on that note, I have poor memory when it comes to people's birthdays, especially footbagger's birthdays. It only just so happens that I'm only informed through blog posts and whatever. I should keep a list so that I don't forget (rude, but efficient in my case).

PS: When December 28 roles by, I'm going to start wearing the blue NYJ shirt that I got from Rochester, the one Matt Cross hosted. I'm keeping up the faith! At least until New Year's. Don't want to get the shirt rank or anything.

[Wasabi]

I've spilled most (more like ALL) of my filler on the floor late last night. My scale has no battery life. Without these two essential items with me at hand in an instant, I can't complete the bags that I'm currently stitching.

...

I don't think I'll be able to properly ship in my prize bags for the tournaments that I'll be sponsoring. I'm a failure.




Merry Christmas everyone. I'm sure some of you are having a better one than I am.

Still a couple days until the tournaments start, right? Hopefully, a miracle will happen.

I don't think I'll be visiting my blog or modified until the beginning of January.

PS: I can be contacted through PM and such. I'm just going to lurk.

[mosher]

*hug*

[CIC flurry]

*group hug*

Don't sweat it. Peace and hapiness!

[Wasabi]

Bags to make:
Tom Kotsakos - 2
Chris Dean - 1 - 2
Brian Dennis - 1
Robert Wojci - 1
James Hermey - 1

Completed:
Tom Kotsakos - 1
Chris Dean - 1

I'm just posting this so that I can keep track of my pace.

One bag for the Chicago NYJ is done. Another for the one in Geneseo. They're hot bags, but they have yet to be properly filled. I'm still picking some of my spilled filler, but I think I gathered most of it off the ground and into a safe metal container. I just need batteries for my scale.

I ordered a digital kitchen scale off Amazon with an optional outlet plug. That should fit nicely around my workstation.

I'm going to try to finish the bag for Chicago sometime this week, and see what happens. I convinced Chris Dean about setting up a raffle for my bag, so that should be fun. How about it, Chicago? A raffle for a Wasabi bag or two? I think that'll be intense.

I can't wait for my trade with James Hermey. I have a solid bag idea that I'm sure he'll like. Brian and Holly seem to be stepping up a notch as well. Let's just say that I haven't lost my touch with the needle and floss just yet. I think I'm getting over my footbag depression (although my academic performance for this semester just plain SUCKS). My ankle is starting to feel a lot better now.

I'm just poor as hell, as usual.

In the words of Ben Rawsko: "Keep it real."

[Wasabi]

I have so many things that kept me off from doing anything footbag related, it's effin' frustrating. I need to register for classes next semester. I have to go and fix the internet account for a neighbor's computer. I have to recalibrate a postal scale that I got online, and find a way to install it near my workstation. My usual dealer is being a bit dodgy, and I'm jonesing. FFV Advance is super addictive.

I've been waking up around 4pm and sleeping around 6am. My body's clock is wayyyyy off.

My professor e-mailed me about the final that I didn't do for him. I replied saying that I have no desire in doing it, even if there is a possibility for an extension. I don't want to pay attention to anything college related, since I already missed my previous registration date due to other finals and a nervous breakdown. Then there's stitching footbags that I really need to kick my own ass for doing ASAP.

December was a frustrating month. I don't want January to be the same.

There is so many things in the world that makes me sad, but I'm sure I brought it all to myself.

[beenjammin]

I think weve all been there

[CIC flurry]

Think about when we were little and a New Year was a fresh slate. Do it! 2007 will be good.

[C-Fan]

I'm with Tom on this one. 2007= fresh start. Make it a killer year, f* the past. Buck up Way, good things are on the horizon.

[Wasabi]

Thanks for all the replies. It means alot.

I've collected most of my bearings lately (as well as spilled filler off the gorund) and I think I'm ready to get my life back on track. I just finished two more bags, but on separate orders, so that's pretty good. It'll keep me organized well enough to complete those orders.

I'm sorry about my progress on the Chicago NYJ bags. HOWEVER, I'm doing my best to make it up to you guys. Tom, you will get your bags sometime this month, I promise. It won't be in late Januaray and whatever, but you'll definitely get your bags within a week or so.

Started work on Brian Dennis' bag. I have high expectations already.

Haven't started the bag for James Hermey. Considering that he's all ready with his part in our trade, I have to bust my ass to get his bag done soon. I have such a crazy idea for it, I think I'm a bit afraid. I don't know if the colors would work.

Got a specific order from Robert Wojci. Should I spark some creativity on it? He suggested an all Country Cream bag, which is cool and all, but a bit bland for my tastes. I don't know. I just have a wily curiousity for bag stitching.

Pengpeng suggested that I make a list of all the things I should do with each passing day. I think it's working perfectly.

I had a crazy time at some Sbarro restaurant today. I ordered a regular slice and I spilled all of the coin change I got in return. Some cute teenage girls helped picked them up for me, although I was feeling a tad bit embarassed and didn't pick most of the change off from the floor. As I sat down, they came over and were sitting about 1-2 tables away from me. Nothing significant, but I thought it was a funny (and clumsy) point of my life. I ate in peace and left.

[Wasabi]

I had a crazy dream last night. The only relevant things I could remember was that I was having lunch with my family and a few familiar relatives at a HUGE, pretty high-end restaurant in some hotel. When I was done eating my fill, I was going all around the place finding a toilet. I asked everyone, and they seemed to be giving me so many wrong directions, until this one old guy pointed out a men's bathroom at the corner of some room. Sure enough, I went in, and the place looked like the usual trashed up bathroom (even at an expensive hotel such as this.) Weird.

Anyway, as I was done finishing my business, I exited the bathroom and saw this small monkey come around the corner of my eye and attack me. I tried my best to get him off me, but in the end he knocked me unconscious. When I came to, I was in this dark room with this huge podium in front of me. I was under an intense light, maybe a spotlight, and I heard a large booming voice. I still felt woozy from the head trauma that monkey gave me, so I didn't hear most of the speech, but then the person at the podium soon explained his brilliant plan to take over the world. How and why he was doing it, I didn't know, but as soon as I looked at the wall behind him, which encompassed any one person's vision in terms of size and fascinating architecture, was a board similar to the Family Feud.

The guy at the podium then spoke, in the same booming voice, the names of people he proposed to capture, brainwash, and turn into superhuman soldiers to support this plan for world domination. Sure enough, the board in the back listed the names he spoke of, and they were all footbag players. Scott Gordon Bevier, David Clavens, Jordan Moir, Matt Cross, etc. So many names literally exposed themselves on the board. The final name came down to Willie Digges, and that was it.

So, if there are any secret military programs specifically targeted at footbag players to be manipulated with mind control and genetic altering modifications that I should know about, tell me. I would like to control the world with you guys.

/pseudo 'wtf?' dream.

[Wasabi]

Just got a Docbag and (!) a James Hermey bag in the mail today.

I'm comparing this fresh Docbag with the one I got a long time ago, and I can definitely see a difference in his stitching style. It's much bigger, but the stitching is much more refined. Atlantis and Green Mist. Definitely loosely filled with steel shot, 51.6 grams, but that's alright. I can fill it a bit more to give it some added girth. I can't wait to break-it in so that it can look a bit more spherical.

The James Hermey is just that - awesome. 10/10 Blurs are always so damn cool. Dark Jade pents, I think, and Atlantis Blue and Country Cream hexes. 47.1 grams. The filler is really cool and much better than the one I originally felt from Drew Martin. I can't wait to break-in this bag, but I really can't wait to stitch the bag that's for his trade: Admiral pents, Cameo and Animal Print hexes. This is going to be the best trade I'm ever going to do. Ever.

Lately, I've been intrigued with the type of steel shot I've been seeing from other people's bags. Some calibers look really cool, and some different types of steel shot look great when mixed with a much different caliber. I'm definitely liking the steel shot that Peter Brocka uses in his bags, and from what I'm seeing in the bag that I got from Kickass, White Cougar and Punch, that type of steel shot looks pretty damn cool. PF steel shot is alright, but only as a supplement with another steel shot filler, I guess. The steel shot from the Docbag that I just received is probably the most intriguing, because it looks like lead fishing weights but it's not.

Seriously, a lot of people are making a lot of hot bags lately. I definitely need to step up to represent my craft.

I'm going to go and send out a few bags on Saturday and Monday. I busted my ass to stitch this week, and I think the fruits of my labor is showing up well in my bags. However, now that my stitching has reached it's peak, my steel shot is now running low. I'm going to go and get several pounds worth of the stuff sometime next week.

Peace Footbloggy.

[Wasabi]

Bags to make:
Brian Dennis - 1
Robert Wojci - 1
Chris Dean - 1 (?)

Completed:
Tom Kotsakos - 2*
Chris Dean - 1
James Hermey - 1
*An extra gift was added along with Tom's shipment.

Excellent stitching progress for a slacker like me, I suppose. The secret is in the energy drink, and how much you consume it to get you gearing to go.

All I ask for anyone that has received my bags is to post a picture of them and send them to me via pm. If you want to post them in the "New Footbags" topic, that's cool too. I'm planning on opening a bag shop/page, and photos would definitely help me out here since I don't have an available camera good enough to snap pics with. I should probably contact Matt about adding me into the Stitcher's Contact List, but I'll wait until I have more updated photos.

I'm starting to work on Brian's bag, and then cut out panels and work on Robert's order after that. I could use more bag orders, though.