You can Always Squeeze a Little More Blood out of the Stone

In my particular case, the stone is my hard drive and the blood being wrung out is excess footage.  Enjoy watching some of the homies do what the do best, and no I don't mean drinking beer and acting like children, even though they excel at the too.  The featured skaters are

Austin Gardner

Aaron Brown 

Billy Roper

Dave Abair

Dillon Constantine 

Peter Raffin

Jesse Rose

Matt Hicks

Erik Deringer

Gunz

James Delreal

Wayne Nguyen 

Home Girl  

One More for the Road

A while back I discovered why, as people grow older, they become increasingly more bitter and unreceptive to the world around them.  I came to this particular revelation after my local Hollywood Video closed its doors and I could no longer peruse the vast selection of films until something caught my eye.  I felt a tinge of resentment towards the modern world for robbing me of one of my favorite activities.  I then realized that after decades of similar unfortunate occurrences one transforms into a Scrooge like version of their former self.  Over time a person's spirit erodes like a cliff consistently being berated by the pesky sea.  Huge tragic events do not break down the human spirit, it is little things, like the closing of a video store or perhaps your favorite bar.

I was frightened by what I had learned about the human race but also relieved that I had recognized the issue early on.  These photos may not be the cure, but they sure do ease the pain.

            

However, after I learned that Bukowski already wrote about this type of thing in, "The Shoelace," I felt a little less special.  But I still love these damn photos.  

Photo credit should be paid to Lane Kerans, myself, and others.

"It Must Totally Suck...

to not be us," said Daryl right before sinking his teeth triumphantly into a taco.  And if I am going to be completely honest, which The Clog always is, I must agree with him.  Because you see children, without even knowing it, we have unintentionally stumbled upon the key to eternal bliss.  I am not talking about skateboarding, but the charred crater of a brain that comes after years of standing on said piece of wood.

Are we completely fried? Or do we just know how to appreciate the little things in life, such as a row of leaves stuck in a table?

Or perhaps a nice plate of haggis would better suite you.  

Barney Stinson Approved

I thoroughly enjoy celebrating a friend's birthday by way of the Clog post.  I feel that it is a much more creative and heartfelt gift than something purchased at a store.  Today is Julian Quevedo's birthday.  Any skater who has seen him mangle a ledge agree that he has fine tuned his craft to sheer perfection.  Few do it better than him, but there is more to the man than sw front crooks.  He is a no nonsense, loyal, ninja who will pick you up from a grimy street corner at 3:00 Am with a bucket of fried chicken and beer.  Here are a few extremely old clips demonstrating a portion of his wizardry.  

      

A Couple Brain Cells Swirling

Aspiration breeds discontent.

If you realize you are already dead then you are free to live.

If you realize that you have already reached your destination then you are free to roam.

Acceptance leads to relief, which in turn leads to satisfaction.  None of this might make any sense, but then again, who in their right mind leaves a perfectly good loaf of bread on a bus stop bench?

As Christmas Slips Away

Having your birthday the day after Christmas must be a little rough.  With all the fun and merriment exerted on the 25th people tend to be less eager to party the following day.  I also doubt your dear friends have very much gift giving left in them.  It would really suck to be born on December 26th, but it would be even worse to be a holiday the the day after Christmas.  

I have endless sympathy for Boxing Day.  This overlooked holiday whimpers around in the shadow of Christmas like a nerdy younger brother.  It truly is a shame because Boxing Day is both more meaningful and modest than it's older brother.  In olden times servants carried around little boxes designed for collecting money from their bosses.  Placing money in these boxes was known as boxing, which we now call tipping.  December 26th was a day for employers to hook up their employees with fat tips yo!  So for all you waiters, bartenders, baristas, strippers, and anyone else who relies on those few extra dollars to survive, rejoice because today is our day! 

The Demon Baker of 13th Street

I have always been fond of the film, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.  I think it might have something to do with the films subject matter, that includes decapitation, cannibalism, revenge and meat pies.

While Sweeney Todd's throat slitting is indeed amusing, it is Mrs. Lovett's (who I have to assume is a distant relative of Jon Lovitz) 

use of human flesh as meat pie filing that truly peaks my interest.

This holiday season I am honoring the wonderful Mrs. Lovett by baking some meat pies of my own.

There are several delightful flavors like ground pork and mashed potato.

Try the ham, broccoli, and cheddar for breakfast!

Lastly we have here steak and mushroom filing that is cooked in ale and spices.

Christmas is almost upon us, so place your orders before I am too drunk off eggnog to operate a rolling pin.  Merry Christmas!