Forgotten Actualities

After spending a considerable amount of time in Southern New England, North Florida and Nowhere Pennsylvania, I have come to realize it does not matter where you are, but what you discover while being there. Starting in Pennsylvania, trying it out in Florida, finally settling and realizing everything I have ever wanted is in Rhode Island, has not only outlined a lifestyle for me, but it has also filled in the gaps in between every one of my always expanding index of interests.

Pennsylvania taught me to appreciate the great outdoors, street skating, and snowboarding.

Florida it was surfing, park skating, and an addiction to dive bars and cheap beer.

Rhode Island not only took all of these interests and consolidated them into one simple lifestyle, but it made it easy for me to participate in all of them within the hours of the sun.

The most interesting places could actually be right on your doorstep, dont forget about 'em

Rise and Grind, 7ply upgrading the park and making it fun for old heads

RI's got a good trail system, mid-days mind clearing

Victory at sea 1.5 miles away from clean mellow lines

Building an outdoor deck bar, cold and damp Rhode Island Style

Make up our own minds for experience

No more than a year ago I experienced this video and I couldn't find it again until today. Within the first two minutes it changed the way I felt about everything in my life. Watch it more than once, and think about every word said. You'll be happy you did.

"...push the scope of my experience for adventure through passion"

Nowhere Spared

The winter season, usually frees up enough time for me to really get really lost in my imagination. The past few years it has been filled with thoughts getting lost in deep in the woods in the most pristine areas of the world, that are unaffected by all the B.S. of today's society.

Last year I read a book called "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson. This book was his account of hiking the Appalachian Trail, which he did in numerous sections. While the book seemed to drag on, I couldn't help but become obsessed on how he explained the feeling of pure nothingness. Where the whole world seemed to be perfect, no wars, no politics, no rules.

I picked up a book this past week, "One Mans Wilderness" which is Dick Proenneke's journal of the experience he had becoming a self sufficient craftsman in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness. I'm not far into this book, but I have already found myself lost in my imagination, thinking, obsessing over the feeling of pure nothingness.

The wilderness seems to be the only place to escape all toxicity of the earth.
Until now.

While getting lost in imagination, reality pokes its evil spear and brings forward the earths real issues.

This is an article I found this evening on what is happening in one of the last pure places on earth. The cause could be tied to mankind and our ability to overlook the effects our lifestyle has on our planet.

In case you weren't aware.

It makes me sick how divided surfing is, not only on the physical level but on a business level as well. Money runs everything, whether its contests or free surfing, you need it to participate. The fact that most people spend more money buying surf equipment then they spend actually trying to find waves pisses me off. Call yourself a contest surfer, call yourself a free surfer, regardless you are at the mercy of the corporations.

Don't even get me started on snowboarding and skateboarding.

To shed some light, Korduroy TV composed this wonderful animated reel

Contest VS. Free Surfer Animation from www.KORDUROY.tv on Vimeo.

Become more aware of your Environment.

As a kid I participated in almost every team sport, I learned alot about team work, and I learned alot about myself. I learned that listening to a set of rules and regulations for past time enjoyment wasn't the way I wanted to live my life. Rollerblading was introduced to me, and I decided to pursue it for a better part of my young life, until I realized I was more comfortable with my left foot forward.

Snowboarding, Surfing, Skateboarding.

It wasn't until the past 5 years that I started realizing the freedoms the earth provides you. Becoming involved in these sideways stanced past times opened my eyes to the environment and how much we rely on mother nature to provide us with perfect conditions.

If all we have to do is become more aware of our environment to preserve the regulation free activities that are available to us, then I am a life time supporter.

Forrest Shearer knows how it is, we all should.

Kicking off the year of Firsts

I wouldn't consider myself an alcoholic, but I am finding myself addicted to trying new beer and wine. My girlfriend is a graduate from a the culinary program at Johnson and Wales, so I blame her for steering my tastes away from quantity over quality, to quality and quantity.

Whether its at the food store or at the package store, she finds some of most interesting things that can satisfy any palate. Tonight she stumbled upon this gem, while I was busy looking at overpriced 12 packs.

-You know its a good life when Labatt Blue with lime

makes it into a micro brew variety pack

Yankee Spirits in Attleboro, MA decided to compile this variety pack, which included 3 of each of the beers shown.

With the exception of two, all of these beers were firsts for me (including the Labatt, even though all 3 still remain my fridge) . I can now say I have a few new favorites including the Lagunitas IPA and Boulder Beer's Hazed and Infused.

Keep your eyes open, new experiences are all around you, even in your favorite package stores.

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