Claimed 2011

Couple of fun swells this past year... the last being the best, not only for me, but for a good friend as well. Claimer: Ryan Brower
Photo: Jimmy Smith

You wont find any of that here.

I gave it a try once, for about two weeks.

I tried reading about it, but the boredom strewn and unhappiness that followed ruined it.

I seldom watch TV, almost never if its on more than the news.

I find conversations pertaining to it useless because no one is ever correct.


Today at work, I briefly stated that I dont vote. Expecting no response, I never turned into the conversation and attempted to focus the customers I was supposed to be following. Before I even got the "te" out of my mouth someone gasped made a completely moronic statement, "well you should!" followed by, "what if the federal government made every surfer pay $500.00 to go in the water!?!?"

great.

In my life, every minute counts and I am not going to waste it arguing on something I dont know enough about. If I feel that there is ever someone qualified enough to make decisions based on the people and not on money, then yes I will vote. Until then I'm going to continue living a worry-free and and ridiculously fun life, learning how to be self sustainable. (Please dont comment, "Well if you want to continue that way of life you need to vote.")

You will never find a post here that is meant to be one sided, expressing my views on a subject that I know nothing about.

Stay positive and feel alive.


If that didn't get anyone fired up, maybe this will

Merry Chreativeness

Days come and days go, some more meaningful than others, but in the end its just another day.

Christmas time is big in my family, and so is every other holiday, but Christmas is planned for weeks and weeks in advance. Shopping is a daily activity, decorating hourly, and listening to Christmas music almost secondly. This year, I had the same overeager Christmas spirit as previous years except I finally made enough money to buy everyone the "most meaninful" gifts they could ever think of. Out I went, melting bank cards, spending hours looking for the best deals, missing waves and sunny days at the skatepark.

The "most meaningful" gift I gave this year was a typical sunrise picture that I snapped last October mounted in a frame I made from salvaged woods. Free.

I sat there thinking I have finally found my niche, photography, and then I discovered something deeper after visiting a outdoor retail giant.

I spent $41 and some change on insulated pants for winter hiking. There I was spending money so I could enjoy earths freedom. The outdoor industry is huge, and without it many people cant even fathom going out in a wooded area to camp for a night. It then hit me, you dont need to spend your money to enjoy life, or to give "meaningful gifts", all you need is a creative approach and an open mind.

The earliest pioneers didnt have insulated hiking pants, they didnt have strip malls and department stores that carried the "most meaningful" gifts, they only had their minds and creativity. The wilderness wasn't a place of recreation, it was home, and everything they could give the earth gave to them. They never missed perfect days standing in lines with hundreds of dollars worth of gifts piled in a cart, they never had to waste money buying the "most meaningful" cooking equipment, sleeping bags, and warm clothing. They could capture every part of the day while using their creativity to create the "most meaningful" survival equipment for themselves and gifts for their fellow adventurers.

The "most meaningful" gift comes from a creative mind, not from a fat wallet.

Step 2 of a 20 minute framing process

Next Christmas, do yourself and your family a favor and create something meaningful, don"t waste perfect weather trying to buy it.

Keys To Reality

A good point and a good read. Here is the PDF

Vermont Travels

East of Burlington lies the home of Snowflake Bentley, a very unusual character, but wilderness pioneer none the less. The snowflake is something I catch myself thinking about every winter anytime I am outside. Whether I am stuck knee deep in the middle of the woods, or careening face first into it, the snowflake makes up one of most interesting things in my mind and on our planet.

Until tonight I never knew such a man existed, however I knew not one snowflake is the same. Thank you Mr. Bentley for your photography skills and drive to solve the earths phenomenons.

Fairfax VT winter compound

During my most recent trip to Vermont, I got myself turned around on what was supposed to be a short hike. The snow not only blazed my trail, eventually leading me back to my 4 wheel sleigh, but also re-sparked my interest in winter survival.

Thick wetties, thick wool, jonesing for powder pockets and frost bitten nor easters.

Blue Water Task Force

Saturday morning I began a yearlong volunteer study that has been going on for over a decade. Blue Water Task Force is a program through surfrider that collects water samples near surf spots around the world.

scarborough beach, ri
"when the water smells like your toilet, paddle out"

Dirty Feat: The beginning

After years of deliberation, I have finally found the time to document and share some of the best feelings my "doing everything the most difficult or dangerous way" personality has ever experienced. I invite anyone that has a knack for sustaining your adventure, whether its traveling days to get barreled out of your mind, digging yourself out trying to find a deep pocket of pow, carving mach ten around inverted bowl corners, or purposely getting your self into brave heart wilderness situations. Chug your coffee, grab a brew and get dirty feat in the natural world around you.