Before the Dawn

Decided to get a super early start on things and get out right at first light on Saturday. That's a streetlight.

On the bridge into Upper's finest beaches.
Just when I thought things couldn't get any more picturesque at this spot, they add this gem. Things were non-existent here, so headed back into Ocean City.
While super clean, the tide made it tinier than what was forecasted. Still paddled out.
Post session, noticing the strange view from outside the 59th street station.
Shadowtalker:
By 7:30, the south end was swarming with people, boards, and pa plates, all amping up for the knee high conditions.

Celebrated Summer

America's Favorite Family Resort?

Blessed With Awareness

The school nurse required that each classroom watch this dvd. After reading the title, I'm sure you can imagine the ridiculousness that was found inside.

Gangsta's Carnival

Pretty interesting article on the opening of a new east coast shop opening in NYC. I guess when you get in the New York Times, you're a big deal. I'd still rather go to Mollusk.

Cashing In

I'm going to admit it...I picked up the Unbroken box set off of eBay for well over the $30 it cost at the Glasshouse show. It was worth it, seeing as I am a huge Unbroken fan, but to pull off a weekend trip to California to pick up a copy would have been well over the prices that they are going for right now. Unfortunately, picking up everything and flying cross country wasn't an option, even for Unbroken. With only five hundred being pressed, I was worried that the price would climb even further down the road and didn't want to miss out on one. I know there were people at the show that missed out getting one and that completely sucks, but I also know there were plenty of people picking up multiple copies as well. I'm just glad I had some birthday money to use on it to offset the cost. Here it is Unbroken doing it's best Joy Divsion:

bananarama

There Goes the Neighborhood

On my street, it used to be a tradition to torment my garbage cans on trash day. They were hung from trees, wrapped in gift wrap among other creative innovations, by one particularly creative neighbor. Probably my favorite one is the one pictured below:

Long Term Subscription

A friend of mine uncovered an old issue of Surfer Magazine from the 70s, right around the Magic Sam era. There were some pretty good pictures, a couple interesting articles (surfers' favorite vegetarian recipes and a piece on Mike Doyle), but perhaps the best part was the poetry section. That's right...poetry. There can be good poetry and bad poetry, but this stuff was in a class by itself, only born of the "stay psychedelic" era:

Twist of Cain

Memorial Day Weekend also means this mysterious mainstay will be awakening soon. This picture was taken on a winter morning when things were much more subdued.

Safe in a Crowd

Artwork by Alex Knost and photo by Dan Levy. This is a pretty appropriate description of Ocean City, but on Memorial Day Weekend, its even more appropriate. Plenty of log jams on the road, crowds on the boardwalk and tons of people out for a surf. The forecast for waves this weekend isn't that great and I can't say I'm disappointed. Not really into dealing with the crowds.

Closer Than You Think

Here's a picture from the final Carpenter Ant show from a while ago and I was stoked to see my elbow in it.
Can't see it? Let me point it out:
Sorry, I forgot who took these photos.

Dopesmoker

While reading Bears Go On Vacation to my daughter, I came across the part where brother bear and father bear take up surfing. While I am glad that the stand they are renting from is carrying traditional, single fin noseriders, I'm a little concerned about what the gentleman in the rental shack may have in that pipe of his.

I Remember Nothing

Nothing like finishing up your sophomore year and getting this in the mail. Circa '99, the description on the bill is hilarious.

Straight Edge Kids From Allentown Writing Essays

Here is the other write up from Tension Building fanzine on the pride of Emmaus, Rancor. This particular issue had a ton of good interviews and the already published band article on Atari, so I thought I would include Jamie Heim's history of Rancor as well. T.B. came with a seven inch complilation that had the Rancor song "So Much for You" which gains noteriety in my book for two things: It says "fuck" in it more than any song I have heard and it has one of the hardest breakdowns ever. Either way, it is one of my favorite Rancor songs that is not on the demo. Here's the article:

Fishbulb

Picking up Chinese food, I happened across this beautiful Tyler, all by its lonesome at Offshore Surfshop.

Bridge and Tunnel

Headed down south through the tunnel...

Wheels of Confusion

Took the students for a bike ride yesterday. It was pretty rad to see twenty kids on bikes tearing up the bike path in their town. Pre-ride:
Mandatory group shot:

Waiting for another school to join the ride, the kids decided to creating the world's biggest circle pit using their bikes:

Return of the Fly-er

A well designed flyer from the nineties. I just wish I didn't cut off the bottom when I scanned my original.

Your Name Here

I have been meaning to get up some newer stuff from this year, but instead, here's some scrapwood art from last year. Got a lot of projects lined up for summer involving paint and old wood scraps if I can find the time.

Mug Mug Mug

In the great tradition of the Descendents, Gray Matter and Henry Rollins, I drink a lot of coffee. By far my favorite is Harry and Beans, straight outta Seaville, NJ.
Check out their website and order a bunch: http://harryandbeanscoffee.com/

In the Name of Progression

Just when you thought you couldn't read any more about the Unbroken reunions....not really, but the site Hate5Six Productions has the entire footage from Burning Fight in Chicago and some other random gems as well (The Floorpunch Reunion in Philly is another good one). I've watched a couple here and there so far including, Trial's set, Blacklisted, Disembodied and Unbroken' set. The quality is fantastic and it is pretty much one guy filming and putting the film up for nothing instead of selling it which is impressive in my book. Here's Unbroken...go about ten minutes in for the music to start.

Unbroken (Burning Fight, Phase 1) from hate5six productions on Vimeo.

How the Gods Kill

Found some waist high slop to mess around with yesterday afternoon, not far from the Polynesian Tiki God you see below. A very unmemorable session, other than towards the end, a crazy lightning storm started up miles out to sea. I was pretty much just sitting on my board watching cracks of lightning go off in the deeper part of the Atlantic all the while it was fairly clear closer to shore. The only thing better than that was the guy I saw walking down Asbury Avenue, shopping with his wife and wearing a long sleeve Rip Curl rash guard.

Crime Ridden Society

Yesterday, we got word that there had been an "incident" at a local bank and that a couple schools in the area near our house had been put on lock down in the afternoon. Interesting, I thought. Then we find out that it was the bank not two blocks down the street from our house that had been robbed. Wow, I thought. Then we get home from work and talk to our neighbor. Turns out the suspect fled after his ride had disappeared during the robbery and ran down our street. You gotta be kidding me, I thought. He apparently ripped up our street and hid in someone's basement a block away. When the owner of the house arrived home, he found a note from the bank in his house and immediately left and called the cops who found broseph in the guy's basement. There had been all types of cops, agents, dogs, guns, even a helicopter flying overhead to find the guy. Insane, I thought.

So after jawing with my neighbor for a while about missing the whole crazy afternoon, I head to my backyard, since the police had been back there with the dog while I was gone. What I found is pictured below:



Almost like a scene in a Hollywood movie, the suspect* plowed through our gate rather than opening it and then ran out the other gate on the other side of the yard. Honestly, I think its hilarious to picture him busting though the wood like the Kool Aid Man through a brick wall. You can watch the ace reporting of our local news station here: http://www.nbc40.net/pages/videoplayer/video.php?vid=9181

*innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

Drive Around

Had some unexpected time the other afternoon and figured I would drive around and see if I could find a spot worth paddling out at. It wasn't pretty, but finally settled on the junk that was breaking on the outside at this spot. A good way to spend an hour or so before heading back to UT.

Cure for the Common Cold

Its always a good day when a box with this logo is waiting for you on your doorstep:

Drink Deep

There are many things that New Jersey is lacking, but #1 on my list is A-Treat soda. I always look forward to a can or twelve when I go home. Not pictured, but deserving equal recognition are Big Blue, Grapefruit and Pineapple flavors.

David Comes to Life

Here's the trailer for yet another longboard dvd that has hit the markets from City Fog. Looks pretty good although the David Nuuhiwa footage is kind of weird to throw in there. You'll probably have to turn down the soundtrack and listen to something better like Career Suicide.

Quarantined

Before swine flu, SARS, and Avian Flu, there was....the Gorilla Flu. My neighbor's car is clearly contaminated.

Another State of Mind

Sitting around with a sharpie and a scrap of cardboard lead to this strange piece:

Things I saw while out in the water yesterday:

-2 guys riding fishes and dressed like it was the middle of winter, complete with hoods
-another guy wearing just a spring suit and getting blasted repeatedly by the shorebreak
-a plane flying a banner "will you marry me?" and a dude drop to his knee on the beach to propose to his girl.

This circus is just getting started.

Let's Hang Out

I might has spoken too soon regarding Floorpunch being the show of the summer. This event continues to grow and grow into what will most definitely be legendary:

It might be early, but I've already got my calendar marked and am counting down the days. I cannot wait to see who gets added to this!

Ever Fallen In Love?

My appreciation of the ocean started at a very young age.