David
I definitely recommend going to Worlds.
If you're able to play and money isn't a huge issue, then I can't think of anything that should stop you from wanting to do this. Even if you don't play, it's a trip to Europe with all of your best friends! How can you pass that up?
I'm kicking myself now for never having gone to enough tournaments, and only JUST going to my first Worlds this past year after playing footbag for, like, 10 years!! Now that I have been constantly plagued with injury after injury after injury and being able to play footbag alone would make me the happiest person in the world, I am kicking myself for missing tournaments that I should have been at and had the means to get to. I can't believe I missed Worlds '04. I was injured and wouldn't have been able to play anyways, but I will always, always regret missing out on that when my whole crew was there without me!!
If you don't go, like others said, you may really regret it later on in life. Worlds is the best, and from what I hear, Prague is the best of the best.
I'm going to try my hardest to make it whether I can play or not.
I hope to hang out with you in Prague, David!
If you're able to play and money isn't a huge issue, then I can't think of anything that should stop you from wanting to do this. Even if you don't play, it's a trip to Europe with all of your best friends! How can you pass that up?
I'm kicking myself now for never having gone to enough tournaments, and only JUST going to my first Worlds this past year after playing footbag for, like, 10 years!! Now that I have been constantly plagued with injury after injury after injury and being able to play footbag alone would make me the happiest person in the world, I am kicking myself for missing tournaments that I should have been at and had the means to get to. I can't believe I missed Worlds '04. I was injured and wouldn't have been able to play anyways, but I will always, always regret missing out on that when my whole crew was there without me!!
If you don't go, like others said, you may really regret it later on in life. Worlds is the best, and from what I hear, Prague is the best of the best.
I'm going to try my hardest to make it whether I can play or not.
I hope to hang out with you in Prague, David!
Dave, watch 1:30
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmzHPactwHY[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmzHPactwHY[/youtube]
It is 2:43 a.m and I have to go to church with my family in 6 hours for mother’s day, but I just couldn’t sleep. Perhaps it was the soft glow of my half closed laptop spilling on the floor or the way my neighbor’s lights shine through my window like they have for the past 19 years. Needless to say I am back in Bethlehem, back in the bed that has been nestled in the same corner for almost two decades. Back in the town that now feels like a pit stop on my road trip of life. I took out the garbage last night and for the first time felt foreign in my home town. It was not a good feeling. Perhaps it would be if I had some new place to call home, but I do not. I am floating between school and here, and soon another location will be added to the list of places I have known.
Perhaps I woke up because I wanted to write in this blog. I haven’t for almost two months now. I miss it, reflecting and all, and even though footbag has perhaps fallen into the backlight of my life it does not mean that this has to stop. I was really happy when a few people messaged me and said noticed my absence. That means a lot, and I’m really glad people like reading this. I think it’s healthy to reflect and write and I guess in the spinning ps whirl of the past few weeks I forgot that. (really corny footbag joke is in the last sentence).
Some of those messages were about me going to worlds, and I do not think I am. I could write a big thing about footbag and what it means to me now but I really don’t want to. That partly has to do with the fact that I’m not sure what footbag means to me. It must mean something, as I still look at the forum every time I check my e-mail and log onto instant messenger. I still like watching videos and clapping my hands when Bevier hits some nasty combo only he could think of. I still like stitching and listening to music to kill time. But it’s odd, because I wrote love in those last two sentences and then changed them to like. And before I wouldn’t of done that.
This year at school was weird. I thought about it as I walked home the other night from a friend’s apartment. My finals were done, not a worry in the world really, and I wondered how much I had changed this year. My conclusion was not much, which in unfortunate. I do not feel very different. I am still the confused kid I was months ago, perhaps on a more set track, but for the wrong reasons. I have given my energy and time to a major I am unsure of, but I get a real thrill out of knowing my energy placed in my school work will get me somewhere. I am just not sure if that somewhere is where I want to be. I really hope when I get into my major next year I enjoy it, because the business foundations (accounting, business law, etc.) weren’t really doing it for me.
I wonder if you made a big list of my gains and losses this year if I came out on top. I lost a lot of footbag skill. I am not the player I once was. I lost my best friend and still wonder if I should pick up the phone and call her. I don’t know what I’d say though. I lost a lot of the crappy friends at school I had last year, but gained a few amazing ones. I lost a lot of faith.
I am trying to find the happiness in morning showers and soft grass. I am trying to be happy and positive and live in the now rather than that large abyss of the present. I want to be more like Scott sometimes, how he seems really happy. I want to be like Alex, sure in what he believes. I want to have some more defined direction and put all this energy I have into it. I want to be more than a blip on the radar.
I am moving to Portland this summer to do a marketing internship at Kenny Shultz’s company. I really hope the change of scenery helps my perspectives. I wonder if I am running away from Bethlehem. I don’t know what I would be running away from though. I am going to live at Red Husted’s. I will probably play a lot of footbag. I want to help the scene there. Teach people. Let them benefit from my knowledge of the game and from the things I did right and wrong (there are plenty of both). I think it will be fun, and the marketing experience will help me on my career path. This summer should be good.
I had an epiphany the other day on why I play footbag now. I think so hard about things, I focus so much on the future, and I really just weigh myself down with thought. And I realized that when I play footbag I don’t think of those things. I am truly happy when my lungs are bursting and the foreground is a blur. When I hit something I suck at 20 contacts deep but no one I’m playing with knows because it looked natural. I play for perfect sets. For creative combos without thinking. For brand new white shoelaces. For when I surprise myself. For friends in every country. For matching shred outfits. For choice bags. For good style.
For that blankness of mind that I’ve only found 50 contacts deep with no signs of stopping.
Have a great day.
David Clavens
Perhaps I woke up because I wanted to write in this blog. I haven’t for almost two months now. I miss it, reflecting and all, and even though footbag has perhaps fallen into the backlight of my life it does not mean that this has to stop. I was really happy when a few people messaged me and said noticed my absence. That means a lot, and I’m really glad people like reading this. I think it’s healthy to reflect and write and I guess in the spinning ps whirl of the past few weeks I forgot that. (really corny footbag joke is in the last sentence).
Some of those messages were about me going to worlds, and I do not think I am. I could write a big thing about footbag and what it means to me now but I really don’t want to. That partly has to do with the fact that I’m not sure what footbag means to me. It must mean something, as I still look at the forum every time I check my e-mail and log onto instant messenger. I still like watching videos and clapping my hands when Bevier hits some nasty combo only he could think of. I still like stitching and listening to music to kill time. But it’s odd, because I wrote love in those last two sentences and then changed them to like. And before I wouldn’t of done that.
This year at school was weird. I thought about it as I walked home the other night from a friend’s apartment. My finals were done, not a worry in the world really, and I wondered how much I had changed this year. My conclusion was not much, which in unfortunate. I do not feel very different. I am still the confused kid I was months ago, perhaps on a more set track, but for the wrong reasons. I have given my energy and time to a major I am unsure of, but I get a real thrill out of knowing my energy placed in my school work will get me somewhere. I am just not sure if that somewhere is where I want to be. I really hope when I get into my major next year I enjoy it, because the business foundations (accounting, business law, etc.) weren’t really doing it for me.
I wonder if you made a big list of my gains and losses this year if I came out on top. I lost a lot of footbag skill. I am not the player I once was. I lost my best friend and still wonder if I should pick up the phone and call her. I don’t know what I’d say though. I lost a lot of the crappy friends at school I had last year, but gained a few amazing ones. I lost a lot of faith.
I am trying to find the happiness in morning showers and soft grass. I am trying to be happy and positive and live in the now rather than that large abyss of the present. I want to be more like Scott sometimes, how he seems really happy. I want to be like Alex, sure in what he believes. I want to have some more defined direction and put all this energy I have into it. I want to be more than a blip on the radar.
I am moving to Portland this summer to do a marketing internship at Kenny Shultz’s company. I really hope the change of scenery helps my perspectives. I wonder if I am running away from Bethlehem. I don’t know what I would be running away from though. I am going to live at Red Husted’s. I will probably play a lot of footbag. I want to help the scene there. Teach people. Let them benefit from my knowledge of the game and from the things I did right and wrong (there are plenty of both). I think it will be fun, and the marketing experience will help me on my career path. This summer should be good.
I had an epiphany the other day on why I play footbag now. I think so hard about things, I focus so much on the future, and I really just weigh myself down with thought. And I realized that when I play footbag I don’t think of those things. I am truly happy when my lungs are bursting and the foreground is a blur. When I hit something I suck at 20 contacts deep but no one I’m playing with knows because it looked natural. I play for perfect sets. For creative combos without thinking. For brand new white shoelaces. For when I surprise myself. For friends in every country. For matching shred outfits. For choice bags. For good style.
For that blankness of mind that I’ve only found 50 contacts deep with no signs of stopping.
Have a great day.
David Clavens
david
-
EoghanMcDowell
- Atomsmashasaurus Dex
- Posts: 921
- Joined: 10 Aug 2007 16:16
- Location: Talent, Oregon
- Contact:
That last entry you wrote was beautiful and poetic. I think that you'll be able to sort through your problems. Though it probably doesn't mean much coming from me, since I've like never met you. But i hope you find out what it is your trying to find out.
Good luck
Eoghan
P.S. You're a great writer.
Good luck
Eoghan
P.S. You're a great writer.
Eoghan Patrick Morgan McDowell
im one of many who truly enjoy reading your blog... its really the best one here, maybe followed only by boychuk's.
im glad that you still find that joy of forgetting everything but the bag when you play.... thats the same reason why i play. to forget all the crap going on in your life and just focus on keeping it up. i try to stay in that mindset when i play, but i get angry alot sometimes. im gonna try and fix that, especially now that i cant play and see how dumb that is; i should just be happy im playing.
im very sorry you wont be going to worlds, even though im not going. i think theres loads of reasons you should, but you probably have loads of reasons why you shouldnt. do whatever you think will make you happy. but heres a nudge in my direction.... think if how far away all your problems will seem halfway through the tourney, while your shredding in a circle with people who admire you, and on another continent. decide for yourself.
i really hope you get back in touch with your friend, david. they are so important in holdiog you up, and sometimes down when you need it. know that flying solo can be a rough path in life... i know this sounds weird coming form someone who is younger than you, but i have learned some things. just keep the best friends close as you can.
that would be so awesome for you to move to portland. having david, nick, red and the rest of sole purpose in one city would be insane... ill have to come to portland as often as im allowed this summer. itll be somewhere i think that you can do alot of thinking, relaxing and playing while still being in the right city to stay on track careerwise. its good that your starting to prioritize your life as more of an adult than a teenager. when is your 20th birthday? id like to send you a bag.
thanks for writing this. its 5:00 here... i just stitched a footbag and traced and cut panels for 6 other bags, starting at 11:00. i think i can still say i love doing this. i hope one day you find that agian, wether its for footbag or something else. life is a whole lot easier when you have something to love. peace, and have a sweet mothers day tomorrow.
im glad that you still find that joy of forgetting everything but the bag when you play.... thats the same reason why i play. to forget all the crap going on in your life and just focus on keeping it up. i try to stay in that mindset when i play, but i get angry alot sometimes. im gonna try and fix that, especially now that i cant play and see how dumb that is; i should just be happy im playing.
im very sorry you wont be going to worlds, even though im not going. i think theres loads of reasons you should, but you probably have loads of reasons why you shouldnt. do whatever you think will make you happy. but heres a nudge in my direction.... think if how far away all your problems will seem halfway through the tourney, while your shredding in a circle with people who admire you, and on another continent. decide for yourself.
i really hope you get back in touch with your friend, david. they are so important in holdiog you up, and sometimes down when you need it. know that flying solo can be a rough path in life... i know this sounds weird coming form someone who is younger than you, but i have learned some things. just keep the best friends close as you can.
that would be so awesome for you to move to portland. having david, nick, red and the rest of sole purpose in one city would be insane... ill have to come to portland as often as im allowed this summer. itll be somewhere i think that you can do alot of thinking, relaxing and playing while still being in the right city to stay on track careerwise. its good that your starting to prioritize your life as more of an adult than a teenager. when is your 20th birthday? id like to send you a bag.
thanks for writing this. its 5:00 here... i just stitched a footbag and traced and cut panels for 6 other bags, starting at 11:00. i think i can still say i love doing this. i hope one day you find that agian, wether its for footbag or something else. life is a whole lot easier when you have something to love. peace, and have a sweet mothers day tomorrow.
-
shreddaily
- Flower Child
- Posts: 1665
- Joined: 03 Sep 2003 16:56
Thank you Dave. It's good to read something from someone who's being real.
Ben Skaggs
Amateurs practice until they can get it right.
Professionals practice until they can't get it wrong.
No, I don't play soccer. Yes, there are competitions. 4 years. Lots of practice.
Amateurs practice until they can get it right.
Professionals practice until they can't get it wrong.
No, I don't play soccer. Yes, there are competitions. 4 years. Lots of practice.
Played for the first time in like 2 weeks today. Knee hurt a bit, hope that clears up before Green Cup. Should probably work a routine again. Really looking forward to seeing Lon and Penske. Hope Penske comes out, I think its tentative as of now.
I really really want a north face backpack, the exact one this kid in juggling club has, but its $100. But it will be worth it because it will help me carry all my frikken shit to portland (and i have a lot of shit).
I'm stitching bags like crazy right now to help pay for the flight to San Fran and then to Portland. Hopefully I can move some bags when I get on the West. I am really looking forward to going out there and its really only like 8 days away now which is crazy.
Today I went frisbee golfing with mike which was fun. I also saw the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall which wasn't bad at all, made me laugh which was good. Saw it with some kids from high school and my neighbor, not a bad scene. Got some advice I should be more accepting of people and their stupid decisions. I would flesh that out but I'm not sure if I quite understand it. I guess I just write people off to fast maybe? That is probably it.
Gotta wake up super early and take my mom to work tomorrow, that sucks.
Got the new Death Cab record, haven't listened to it yet.
Talked to Ashley for the first time in a while.
Overall a fine day.
dc
I really really want a north face backpack, the exact one this kid in juggling club has, but its $100. But it will be worth it because it will help me carry all my frikken shit to portland (and i have a lot of shit).
I'm stitching bags like crazy right now to help pay for the flight to San Fran and then to Portland. Hopefully I can move some bags when I get on the West. I am really looking forward to going out there and its really only like 8 days away now which is crazy.
Today I went frisbee golfing with mike which was fun. I also saw the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall which wasn't bad at all, made me laugh which was good. Saw it with some kids from high school and my neighbor, not a bad scene. Got some advice I should be more accepting of people and their stupid decisions. I would flesh that out but I'm not sure if I quite understand it. I guess I just write people off to fast maybe? That is probably it.
Gotta wake up super early and take my mom to work tomorrow, that sucks.
Got the new Death Cab record, haven't listened to it yet.
Talked to Ashley for the first time in a while.
Overall a fine day.
dc
david
yo david, that's really cool about your internship with Kenny's company. He's a really smart guy in the business world (we all think of him in a footbag way, but he's just as successful as a business man) so he'll lead you in a good direction.
You wrote:
So, I'm sure that's not directly applicable to the situation that you're referring to, but maybe you can get something out of that.
You wrote:
I once got similar advice in a different context. At my last job, my boss (who I loved, and am still great friends with) noticed my disdain for other employees that weren't "on my level" (his words). He explained that although I may be more talented or naturally intelligent or work harder, that often times these other people have a lot to offer too. He wanted me to be more open minded and accepting of that possibility. I worked really hard at it (I still do) and he was right. For example, one guy was slow as (pick your analogy) in terms of volume of work completed, but when I took a step back, I realized that he'd been with the company for over 30 years and had all sorts of insight on a zillion business related topics. Once I figured out how to pull the good insight out of him, he became a really valuable contributor for us.Got some advice I should be more accepting of people and their stupid decisions.
So, I'm sure that's not directly applicable to the situation that you're referring to, but maybe you can get something out of that.
Bob R.
-
Mathochist
- Multidex Master
- Posts: 278
- Joined: 24 Dec 2004 05:21
- Location: Around the world
9:43 in the morning. Haven’t been up this early in like two weeks. All packed up, ready to start this summer adventure. I fly to San Francisco in 2 hours. Meeting up with Goldberg, spending 2 days at his house, then green cup. Flying to Portland with red/landes after the tournament and spending the next 2 months there. Crazy.
I am going through that normal stage where I am not stoked and I have this weird jumpy feeling in my stomach. But I know once I get there I will be happy and stoked. It is a bummer to leave Bethlehem though, as I just really started liking it a lot.
Well, nothing really left to say on that. Not sure when I’ll post next. Hopefully I can squeak out a win at green cup in routines/circle. Hope my knee holds up so I can play as much as I want to.
Hope all goes well till the next time I post.
david
I am going through that normal stage where I am not stoked and I have this weird jumpy feeling in my stomach. But I know once I get there I will be happy and stoked. It is a bummer to leave Bethlehem though, as I just really started liking it a lot.
Well, nothing really left to say on that. Not sure when I’ll post next. Hopefully I can squeak out a win at green cup in routines/circle. Hope my knee holds up so I can play as much as I want to.
Hope all goes well till the next time I post.
david
david
Hey David,
This weekend was really awesome. I've met some really good footbaggers, but none were so much fun to hang out with, as a person as well as a shredder. Sorry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye, I thought I was going to go to SF with you guys on Monday, but I was too tired.
Thanks so much for the shorts, and the letter really inspired me. Today at Stanford was one of the best sessions I've ever had (quite possibly because of your influence,) and I'm keeping in mind everything that you told me.
I'm really glad you enjoyed your stay at Steve's and I hope you have even more good times in Portland. The entire crew is coming up for U.S. open, so maybe we can chill some more and kick together a bunch. Maybe by then we'll be seeing some barraging ducking? I was really impressed by how much crazy stuff you were able to do, its even sicker in person.
Anyway, I'm glad to hear that we inspired you a little bit too. I hope you will take your own advice and remember to always have fun with the sport. It can be really really frustrating sometimes, but we all have our off days and our on days. Like you said, every other day you hate freestyle, but the days that really count are the days when you love footbag, and you're busting crazy strings and new tricks. Those are the days you'll remember.
Hope to be seeing you at U.S. open,
Jeff Mudd
P.S. I expect to be seeing mullet > shaft rpt. on your next video.
This weekend was really awesome. I've met some really good footbaggers, but none were so much fun to hang out with, as a person as well as a shredder. Sorry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye, I thought I was going to go to SF with you guys on Monday, but I was too tired.
Thanks so much for the shorts, and the letter really inspired me. Today at Stanford was one of the best sessions I've ever had (quite possibly because of your influence,) and I'm keeping in mind everything that you told me.
I'm really glad you enjoyed your stay at Steve's and I hope you have even more good times in Portland. The entire crew is coming up for U.S. open, so maybe we can chill some more and kick together a bunch. Maybe by then we'll be seeing some barraging ducking? I was really impressed by how much crazy stuff you were able to do, its even sicker in person.
Anyway, I'm glad to hear that we inspired you a little bit too. I hope you will take your own advice and remember to always have fun with the sport. It can be really really frustrating sometimes, but we all have our off days and our on days. Like you said, every other day you hate freestyle, but the days that really count are the days when you love footbag, and you're busting crazy strings and new tricks. Those are the days you'll remember.
Hope to be seeing you at U.S. open,
Jeff Mudd
P.S. I expect to be seeing mullet > shaft rpt. on your next video.
Another month gap between posts. It’s been a while, a lot has changed, and I feel different. Odd, because in my last post I said how I didn’t feel that I changed all this year. I think I did more learning in the past month than I did all year at school.
I live at Red’s like I said before. It is going well. The house is nice, everyone is very cool. I like getting to know footbag players on a more personal level, and that brings up a lot of neat findings but also some weird ones. You just realize that you never know people from the 2 day tournaments and such. A lot can be learned about people from their dish cleaning habits.
I have been playing footbag, but only about twice a week. My knee is still messed up.
I am flying back to Pennsylvania tomorrow because my uncle is very sick and is expected to pass away this weekend. I went on a long walk to think about it this afternoon, about 4 miles or so. It was the cap on two pretty sucky days. Life was going so well too.
There are positives though. My uncle will be able to end the pain he feels every day. He has trouble eating and breathing. I hope he leaves at peace with how things are. I don’t know if that is ever really possible.
I could write pages about how my life is now, but perhaps it was the day of thinking that has burned me out. I feel worn and sad. I am not good with death and funerals.
I come back to Portland next Monday, the 30th. I will be on a plane for most of my birthday.
david
I live at Red’s like I said before. It is going well. The house is nice, everyone is very cool. I like getting to know footbag players on a more personal level, and that brings up a lot of neat findings but also some weird ones. You just realize that you never know people from the 2 day tournaments and such. A lot can be learned about people from their dish cleaning habits.
I have been playing footbag, but only about twice a week. My knee is still messed up.
I am flying back to Pennsylvania tomorrow because my uncle is very sick and is expected to pass away this weekend. I went on a long walk to think about it this afternoon, about 4 miles or so. It was the cap on two pretty sucky days. Life was going so well too.
There are positives though. My uncle will be able to end the pain he feels every day. He has trouble eating and breathing. I hope he leaves at peace with how things are. I don’t know if that is ever really possible.
I could write pages about how my life is now, but perhaps it was the day of thinking that has burned me out. I feel worn and sad. I am not good with death and funerals.
I come back to Portland next Monday, the 30th. I will be on a plane for most of my birthday.
david
david