So Ian and I are apparently both becoming cripples at an alarmingly rapid rate. I'm barely playing at all due to my stupid back. I intend to replace it with robot parts soon, so stay tuned for that.
Thought I would drop in with a little posi SCF news, though. I just got back from playing a little gig for a CD release party in Hazlett Theater in the North Side. Even though I have barely been playing lately (and already feeling anger from my body for playing today), it went super well.
An enormous bouncy castle was set up as the backdrop. All the band members entered through it, and then mid-way through the set they announced me, and I hopped around for a minute and then rolled out, ran to the front and did some shred for the crowd. Got big response: hollers, mad clapping, etc.
Just before leaving I did repeating spinning clipper which set everyone the fuck off. Haha, it was great. Tons of fun.
Got the gig because the band leader saw me playing in the park one day. Serendipitous.
Steel City Freestyle
Best session in about 6 weeks. Still some pain and limitations but massive improvement in general.
Got some new footage on tape. I thought I would hit a symp. rev. whirling swirl set but I don't have the timing yet. I should probably just go for the extra swirl. I have the time when I am tight with it.
Really want symp rev. whirling gyro anything. Got very close to symposium rev. whirling swirling gyro toe.
I hate being one-sided again but I am having a lot of fun learning new concepts.
Anyone who wants to see the footage can check the youtube channel. I'll post it there later. The only part worth watching is my longer strings and the new Symposium rev. whirling swirl trick. Double-helix. Nice to have a new 5. I wonder if I can make it into my first 6 with some creativity.
EDIT:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO9_8jOt6nM[/youtube]
Got some new footage on tape. I thought I would hit a symp. rev. whirling swirl set but I don't have the timing yet. I should probably just go for the extra swirl. I have the time when I am tight with it.
Really want symp rev. whirling gyro anything. Got very close to symposium rev. whirling swirling gyro toe.
I hate being one-sided again but I am having a lot of fun learning new concepts.
Anyone who wants to see the footage can check the youtube channel. I'll post it there later. The only part worth watching is my longer strings and the new Symposium rev. whirling swirl trick. Double-helix. Nice to have a new 5. I wonder if I can make it into my first 6 with some creativity.
EDIT:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO9_8jOt6nM[/youtube]
Last few days have been dream-like. And, my dreams have been that much more surreal. Can't quite put my finger on it. But, the beard continues to grow...
Apparently I put some weight back on while injured. This heat makes my exercise difficult to pursue. Unless it is footbag. And, then I seem to only trade pains. For example, 1.5 months of pain shifted from my knees to my head and now my back. Probably from laying around the house trying heal, rest and figure out this electronic thing I am build. Which, was broken but now is fixed.
Think I will miss worlds like I missed east coast and nyfa jam. Part of me feels it is only fair that I not allow myself these pleasures. After all, I am thoroughly enjoying every other aspect of my life on a whole other level. I don't reflect on my art or work very often. Even to the point that most of my friends and acquaintances from footbag don't even know what I am all about anymore. The exceptions being Matt and Jake, who have proven to be two of my closest friends and C-Fan who occasionally gets to hear about some of it long-distance (another one of my favoritest of peoples.)
Anyway, I am building something. I have been working on this piece since about February when I was given the opportunity to have my first solo show in downtown Pittsburgh at a reputable gallery. The show will be in January. In the meantime I am pushing myself very hard and trying to fund the most major work I have ever built myself. And, I am trying to get the most of it done that I can before jettisoning off to Brazil for work and then graduate school.
I am so happy right now that it is terrifying me. It makes me paranoid. And, I have been flying alot. New stress. New Joys. I will try and post more about what I do here but it is hard to share things on the interwebs. Or, I should say, tricky.
The started out rough. I woke up in a terribly bitchy mood. Had some fucked-up dreams and then got rubbed the wrong way. Thought I missed the window to kick today because I took my dad to Costco so he could use my membership. Ended up not buying much because I felt disgusting after making him and I copious amounts of spareribs last night (my girlfriend is away so it's drinks and shenanigans with the Brills!) Yeah, so I kicked anyway. And, I hit a new concept for the first time. After all of these years. Wow. I finally did this. Wow. And to think, just days after I learned double-helix. After over a month of complete pain and thinking my footbag carreer was over. I can be such a fatalist for being such an optimist. No bipolar cracks aloud
So, yeah. Yesterday while I was schooling double helix as a set, the timing really got into me, like a soulful track when you aren't aloud to fall asleep. Just melded into me. So, without even thinking about it, my body decided to mimic the timing from a toe set (same as the DH clipper/swirling foot). Apparently, somewhere between a toe set and a Double helix is a proper pixie set. Twice in a row I did this. Not even consciously, but, mostly listening to my body. Each time it either smashed into my had or my chest. And, it truly only felt like a toe-set.
So, today I made myself hit alpine pixie clipper. Multiple times. Oh, and I also hit double helix out of spinning clipper. And, the whole day my back was killing me. I think I might have leveled-up again. I can't wait until a month from now when I can throw some whirls and whirling swirls back into the fray.
The video is long. I indulged because I was very happy about having my knee back today, even if the pain is just centralized elsewhere, ie: my back.
In case you were wondering, I am typing to pass time while the youtube video uploads. So, since I have a few more minutes to kill:
Mental notes:
Must kick wish Josh Gayhart again soon. That man is fucking ridiculous.
Must kick with Matt Beall again. It's been months!!!
Must drill flip twirl and rev. swirl.
Must drill far and diving rev. swirl
Must school weak spin.
Alright. Action:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcBtwyyoKH8[/youtube]
Apparently I put some weight back on while injured. This heat makes my exercise difficult to pursue. Unless it is footbag. And, then I seem to only trade pains. For example, 1.5 months of pain shifted from my knees to my head and now my back. Probably from laying around the house trying heal, rest and figure out this electronic thing I am build. Which, was broken but now is fixed.
Think I will miss worlds like I missed east coast and nyfa jam. Part of me feels it is only fair that I not allow myself these pleasures. After all, I am thoroughly enjoying every other aspect of my life on a whole other level. I don't reflect on my art or work very often. Even to the point that most of my friends and acquaintances from footbag don't even know what I am all about anymore. The exceptions being Matt and Jake, who have proven to be two of my closest friends and C-Fan who occasionally gets to hear about some of it long-distance (another one of my favoritest of peoples.)
Anyway, I am building something. I have been working on this piece since about February when I was given the opportunity to have my first solo show in downtown Pittsburgh at a reputable gallery. The show will be in January. In the meantime I am pushing myself very hard and trying to fund the most major work I have ever built myself. And, I am trying to get the most of it done that I can before jettisoning off to Brazil for work and then graduate school.
I am so happy right now that it is terrifying me. It makes me paranoid. And, I have been flying alot. New stress. New Joys. I will try and post more about what I do here but it is hard to share things on the interwebs. Or, I should say, tricky.
The started out rough. I woke up in a terribly bitchy mood. Had some fucked-up dreams and then got rubbed the wrong way. Thought I missed the window to kick today because I took my dad to Costco so he could use my membership. Ended up not buying much because I felt disgusting after making him and I copious amounts of spareribs last night (my girlfriend is away so it's drinks and shenanigans with the Brills!) Yeah, so I kicked anyway. And, I hit a new concept for the first time. After all of these years. Wow. I finally did this. Wow. And to think, just days after I learned double-helix. After over a month of complete pain and thinking my footbag carreer was over. I can be such a fatalist for being such an optimist. No bipolar cracks aloud
So, yeah. Yesterday while I was schooling double helix as a set, the timing really got into me, like a soulful track when you aren't aloud to fall asleep. Just melded into me. So, without even thinking about it, my body decided to mimic the timing from a toe set (same as the DH clipper/swirling foot). Apparently, somewhere between a toe set and a Double helix is a proper pixie set. Twice in a row I did this. Not even consciously, but, mostly listening to my body. Each time it either smashed into my had or my chest. And, it truly only felt like a toe-set.
So, today I made myself hit alpine pixie clipper. Multiple times. Oh, and I also hit double helix out of spinning clipper. And, the whole day my back was killing me. I think I might have leveled-up again. I can't wait until a month from now when I can throw some whirls and whirling swirls back into the fray.
The video is long. I indulged because I was very happy about having my knee back today, even if the pain is just centralized elsewhere, ie: my back.
In case you were wondering, I am typing to pass time while the youtube video uploads. So, since I have a few more minutes to kill:
Mental notes:
Must kick wish Josh Gayhart again soon. That man is fucking ridiculous.
Must kick with Matt Beall again. It's been months!!!
Must drill flip twirl and rev. swirl.
Must drill far and diving rev. swirl
Must school weak spin.
Alright. Action:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcBtwyyoKH8[/youtube]
Declared. It's a day off. A day off from everything. Maybe I'll school some js or C, but absolutely no development. Perhaps I will troubleshoot an arduino sketch, but no worrying. Stress is an indulgence. Fuck that noise. A day off from my project. I can get with that. What is a project when it is nothing but worries anyways? Perhaps I'll do another round of ordering parts from Sparkfun. But no more worrying. Not today.
On another note, I am going to try to make it to worlds again. My body feels at least 50% better and I am looking better financially.
Can't wait to kick after I leave work. Can't wait at all.
On another note, I am going to try to make it to worlds again. My body feels at least 50% better and I am looking better financially.
Can't wait to kick after I leave work. Can't wait at all.
Came into NYC on Sunday to see Ken and say goodbye to him, as he is preparing to move to Denver. I thought I would miss the session because I didn't want to leave my girlfriend's family in Princeton. Her cousin's wedding was on Saturday. Great people. Amazing people.
I decided to check the schedule and I was offered a ride just around the time my girlfriend was going to drive back to Pittsburgh and I went for it. Things worked out. I made it to a great session and a great night of hanging out with Ken, Barrett and Bagel.
Highlight of the session was learning a new set and footing a new trick out of it, within about 20 tries. I met John Goode who seems like a very chill guy. He suggested I try toe-set swirl. I got the set to pop the second try, I believe. It took a few rounds of self-serving but I got toe-set ripstein.
Aside for this, my game was really good. Especially since I am still injured. It was a lot of fun.
Bagel trounced us at poker. Ken was pretty solid, himself. Had a blast.
I decided to check the schedule and I was offered a ride just around the time my girlfriend was going to drive back to Pittsburgh and I went for it. Things worked out. I made it to a great session and a great night of hanging out with Ken, Barrett and Bagel.
Highlight of the session was learning a new set and footing a new trick out of it, within about 20 tries. I met John Goode who seems like a very chill guy. He suggested I try toe-set swirl. I got the set to pop the second try, I believe. It took a few rounds of self-serving but I got toe-set ripstein.
Aside for this, my game was really good. Especially since I am still injured. It was a lot of fun.
Bagel trounced us at poker. Ken was pretty solid, himself. Had a blast.
I guess that's one way of looking at it. The other way of looking at it:Ian Brill wrote:Bagel trounced us at poker. Ken was pretty solid, himself.
Game 1: I eliminate Barrett, then I eliminate you, then Ashley has a huge comeback against me, but then I have a big comeback against her. We decide to draw for the sake of time (so she can go to bed), though I was ahead of her in chips at this point.
Game 2: I win.
Game 3: I win.
In all seriousness though, I'm really glad you made it to the City to hang out this weekend. I think the last time we shredded together was Girltalk in Pittsburgh, and that wasn't even a real session. Shredding with you and Bruce in the City in summer always pumps me up. It wasn't til just now that I realized though that neither of us tried for matador this weekend...
I'm also glad you decided to hang with Barrett, bagel and I for ice cream and poker. Some epic hands were played for sure. I'll let you know if it works out that I can come back to the City again sometime before Denver, but if not, come visit me out in Denver!
Oh, and get that toe ripstein on tape sealed!
Here's a reference at 2:30 which might help you think about the timing.
John- it was dope meeting you, and thanks for the insightful suggestion to try toe-set swirling-set.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWZwmq7MJM8[/youtube]
And, since I booked a flight today, I look forward to seeing you in Oakland
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWZwmq7MJM8[/youtube]
And, since I booked a flight today, I look forward to seeing you in Oakland
Hey check it out, this guy put Matt's video on his site.
http://bombfootbags.com/footbag_videos.html
Word up,
http://bombfootbags.com/footbag_videos.html
Word up,
Jake Milofsky
Steel City Freestyle [ex officio]
Steel City Freestyle [ex officio]
Y'know, the fact that ANYONE linked that video along with my favorite Vasek footage is taken as a very high compliment.
For the record, that video and that M83 track REALLy remind me of this video I just saw for the first time:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9WdUgn0XkU[/youtube]
Such a fucked-up video.
For the record, that video and that M83 track REALLy remind me of this video I just saw for the first time:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9WdUgn0XkU[/youtube]
Such a fucked-up video.
Footed two new moves today and sealed a third. I should mention that I hit another the other day as well. So, in total chronological splendor:
• Tuesday I hit phasing ss clipper. I have had a hard time uploading that video but it's up now. I hit it in another (7_1_10) but I am yet to get that whole thing up on youtube.
• Today I almost sealed toe slicing osis
• I footed weak side phasing osis, third move of string and at the end of another string starting with other side toe swirling clipper
• Toe slicing rooted clipper
• I keep coming very close toe set symposium swirling osis, accidently. I am going to school this someday.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nni2J3wAhuc[/youtube]
• Tuesday I hit phasing ss clipper. I have had a hard time uploading that video but it's up now. I hit it in another (7_1_10) but I am yet to get that whole thing up on youtube.
• Today I almost sealed toe slicing osis
• I footed weak side phasing osis, third move of string and at the end of another string starting with other side toe swirling clipper
• Toe slicing rooted clipper
• I keep coming very close toe set symposium swirling osis, accidently. I am going to school this someday.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nni2J3wAhuc[/youtube]
Already showered twice today. Once before kicking. Once afterwards. Gonna have to grab another one soon. Since I just kicked with Matt.
I would say that the whole week has been a bit of a landmark for me, but today needs to be documented. Afterall, I just hit my first 6 add trick. And my second one too.
For some reason I just grew sick of not having had hit one so I willed myself to hit wonton eclipse. Then, after sealing phasing osis on my strong swirl side, I hit symposium phasing osis on my weak swirl side.
My game feels shaky right now. I can occasionally slow myself down and hit these harder sets. Sometimes midstring. But, they are all such weird concepts and I sometimes get them mixed-up. For example, I could see myself hitting symposium phasing dyno by accident. It's not that there is a total lack of control, but more like things are actually popping and I am overwhelmed. The best thing about it is that it allows me to do fancy cross body tricks on my bad knee side without having to start out of clipper. It may feel like an edge, but it's just that I am not playing with a handicap for the first time in ten or so years.
Also, I had a run of probably over 50 contacts. Matt and I both think so but we weren't counting. I ended it with a hand-grab.
I leveled-up this last two weeks. Hopefully, I can stay injury free long enough to appreciate it.
Almost forgot: today marks my first double dexing set as well, unless you want to count phasing clipper which I hit on tuesday. I suppose I have two since I have hit it both sides. Wait, technically three, because I hit syposium phasing as well. Hah. When it rains it pours. Speaking of which, it's time for that shower
I would say that the whole week has been a bit of a landmark for me, but today needs to be documented. Afterall, I just hit my first 6 add trick. And my second one too.
For some reason I just grew sick of not having had hit one so I willed myself to hit wonton eclipse. Then, after sealing phasing osis on my strong swirl side, I hit symposium phasing osis on my weak swirl side.
My game feels shaky right now. I can occasionally slow myself down and hit these harder sets. Sometimes midstring. But, they are all such weird concepts and I sometimes get them mixed-up. For example, I could see myself hitting symposium phasing dyno by accident. It's not that there is a total lack of control, but more like things are actually popping and I am overwhelmed. The best thing about it is that it allows me to do fancy cross body tricks on my bad knee side without having to start out of clipper. It may feel like an edge, but it's just that I am not playing with a handicap for the first time in ten or so years.
Also, I had a run of probably over 50 contacts. Matt and I both think so but we weren't counting. I ended it with a hand-grab.
I leveled-up this last two weeks. Hopefully, I can stay injury free long enough to appreciate it.
Almost forgot: today marks my first double dexing set as well, unless you want to count phasing clipper which I hit on tuesday. I suppose I have two since I have hit it both sides. Wait, technically three, because I hit syposium phasing as well. Hah. When it rains it pours. Speaking of which, it's time for that shower
I got sick right when I left Brazil and immediately saw a doctor, got started on antibiotics and went to worlds with his blessings. That was over a week ago and I am still sick.
I am in a bit of a funk but perhaps recanting highlights will cheer me up.
*Visiting SF multiple times with C-Fan, John Goode, John Schneider, Barrett, Chris Kovac, Taylor Chaintell and Matt Kemmer
*Getting a full hack with Ken, Taylor and Barrett while sitting down on the BART
*Chumly
*The breakfast buffet
*Seeing the Japanese crew represent and meeting a few other members
*Lon Smiths qualifying routine
*Kicking with Dylan Fry on the night of finals
*hitting a new move: symposium horizontal leggy quantum refraction swirl
*Chinese with Nathan, Dennis, Barret, and John Goode
*Circles finals
*Meeting new players, all of whom seemed like very nice guys
*Meeting and getting tips from Brian Cooper
*Spending time with John Goode, Matt Kemmer, Taylor and Chris Novak
*Hanging with NYFA in SF
*Saying goodbye to my two East coast friends that are relocating, Ken and David
*Seeing Evan's entrance to BAP. He seems like a great guy and I could tell this meant a lot to him.
*Talking to dermatologist Dr. Schneider long-distance about how to best handle poison ivy
*Getting tips from Benny's wife about anti-inflamatants
*Sleeping about 2-3 times a day
*Having co-joined rooms with another group of footbag players. Word.
*Learning poker.
*Learning how to get free wifi.
*Watching the Thursday night Penske, Schneider, Cory circle
*Watching the Friday night DC, Takumi, Manna Circle
*Watching Anz shred in Person
*Playing with the Erie crew again
*The night I slept in. Sigh.
*Seeing friends in SF.
I am in a bit of a funk but perhaps recanting highlights will cheer me up.
*Visiting SF multiple times with C-Fan, John Goode, John Schneider, Barrett, Chris Kovac, Taylor Chaintell and Matt Kemmer
*Getting a full hack with Ken, Taylor and Barrett while sitting down on the BART
*Chumly
*The breakfast buffet
*Seeing the Japanese crew represent and meeting a few other members
*Lon Smiths qualifying routine
*Kicking with Dylan Fry on the night of finals
*hitting a new move: symposium horizontal leggy quantum refraction swirl
*Chinese with Nathan, Dennis, Barret, and John Goode
*Circles finals
*Meeting new players, all of whom seemed like very nice guys
*Meeting and getting tips from Brian Cooper
*Spending time with John Goode, Matt Kemmer, Taylor and Chris Novak
*Hanging with NYFA in SF
*Saying goodbye to my two East coast friends that are relocating, Ken and David
*Seeing Evan's entrance to BAP. He seems like a great guy and I could tell this meant a lot to him.
*Talking to dermatologist Dr. Schneider long-distance about how to best handle poison ivy
*Getting tips from Benny's wife about anti-inflamatants
*Sleeping about 2-3 times a day
*Having co-joined rooms with another group of footbag players. Word.
*Learning poker.
*Learning how to get free wifi.
*Watching the Thursday night Penske, Schneider, Cory circle
*Watching the Friday night DC, Takumi, Manna Circle
*Watching Anz shred in Person
*Playing with the Erie crew again
*The night I slept in. Sigh.
*Seeing friends in SF.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3r8ian8HQ4[/youtube]
• Discovered I need to drill whirl. The old school way.
• Discovered I need to use my arms to improve my clippers
• Discovered that my right clipper needs TLC, desperately, starting with using my arms to help with balance, so that I can hold the bag longer and set better from where I need to
• Discovered that my body requires wider extension of my clippers if I want to have any crank.
• Discovered that I need to drill all atw variations. I use too much energy. My idea of an atw is an uptime dex with far too much power in the set height. Should be easy enough to adjust and then maneuver into proper set-forms
Highlights:
* Scophthalmus Rhombus, aka: "Brill" (as in fish) on tape. I have better ones from earlier. Mega deep and clean beyond doubt.
* "Gold Digger" on tape. Multiple times. Some cleaner than others. I can and have make this much deeper but I was kicking after a week of lying in bed, fighting off the sickness I got before going to worlds.
Off to grab my bus to PSU. Hot. Dang.
• Discovered I need to drill whirl. The old school way.
• Discovered I need to use my arms to improve my clippers
• Discovered that my right clipper needs TLC, desperately, starting with using my arms to help with balance, so that I can hold the bag longer and set better from where I need to
• Discovered that my body requires wider extension of my clippers if I want to have any crank.
• Discovered that I need to drill all atw variations. I use too much energy. My idea of an atw is an uptime dex with far too much power in the set height. Should be easy enough to adjust and then maneuver into proper set-forms
Highlights:
* Scophthalmus Rhombus, aka: "Brill" (as in fish) on tape. I have better ones from earlier. Mega deep and clean beyond doubt.
* "Gold Digger" on tape. Multiple times. Some cleaner than others. I can and have make this much deeper but I was kicking after a week of lying in bed, fighting off the sickness I got before going to worlds.
Off to grab my bus to PSU. Hot. Dang.
Awesome! I am mega-stoked about this Beatles show- are you thinking about coming down for it? I mean... lol...
That is great that you found that I am living and breathing that project in school right now. For example, today I was introduced to the laser cutter... 
and on Monday I was told that I had access to some of the most powerful equipment in the world for my octaphonic sound spatialization.
Good eyes! Looking forward to seeing you this weekend!!!
That is great that you found that
I am living and breathing that project in school right now. For example, today I was introduced to the laser cutter... and on Monday I was told that I had access to some of the most powerful equipment in the world for my octaphonic sound spatialization. Good eyes! Looking forward to seeing you this weekend!!!