Rainy night, sunny Friday!

Band practice is at 6:45am on Friday (actually Tues, Wed, Thur and Fri). This morning it was all foggy outside. It has been raining here way more than normal. I know why. I have been reading lots of Northwestern Skateboarder blogs . Oregon weather has been in my thoughts and presto... the power of the mind! Now, I'm thinking of 78ºF and sunny! Here is a pic from a few days ago. The "D-man" is working on dropping in. WILL HE DO IT??? We will see.

Music Wednesday (on Thursday)

I didn't get this post in yesterday like I had hoped. Music is one of those things that is hard for me to talk about (now my wife is laughing hysterically). I have SO much to say about music that I don't even know where to begin. Call this post an attempt to organize my thoughts into a crooked line of misfits.
Without any further ado here are ten (this one goes to eleven) albums that have shaped the Vekster's musical taste.

1. Def Leppard, Pyromania
One fifth grade day while riding the bus to christian school I found myself ordered to the front of the bus as punishment for questionable behavior. Mr. Miller the bus driver / principle must have felt a little bad for scolding me. He cleared his throat and made a cavalier attempt to relate. "So, what is your favorite song?" he exclaimed while making a sweeping bus turn onto Broadway. "Rock of ages" I stated with the excitement of a cow in mid graze. "Ooo that's a REAL goodie!" he asserted. I had to snicker. He was referring to the famous hymn and I was referring to Def Motha frekin Leppard! Pyromania was the first full album I owned (sort of). My friend dubbed me a tape from his record.
2. Duran Duran, Rio
I have many fond memories of riding that bus to Cornerstone Christian School. One day a cute classmate turned to her friend and said "Simon Le Bon's voice is soooo sexy!" That was it... I have been a Duran Duran fan ever since.

3. The Beastie Boys, License to Ill
This album changed everything. I bought the record from a kid at school. I made a dub tape for my walkman. I used to ride my Skyway TA out the airport and back listening to that tape over and over. My favorite song was "The New Style"

4. Dead Kennedys, Give me convenience or give me death.
"Hello, I'm punk rock, I'm going to destroy everything... so we can start over... and maybe do it all right this time". Punk Rock is misunderstood, misinterpreted, misappropriated... and I LIKE IT! Life Sentence is by far my favorite track. The words are so fitting. I have been known to do a pretty good Jello impression.
5. The Cure, Standing on the beach
The Cure, The Smiths, New order, Depeche mode. I listened to a lot of Collage radio through this time. I skated, I played drums in a few bands. I drove a Subaru wagon. Good days!
6. The Cult, Electric
I hear this album and I think "Summer" (the season). The whole album Rocks ( except for the last song) Possibly the most listened to album I have ever owned. I want to learn Duffy's solo on "love removal machine". I have tried to cop it but somthing is not quite right. Someday I'll get it down.
7. Jane's Addiction, Nothing's Shocking
When you hear the intro to mountain song, you just go "YES!!!" "Down the beach" Is an audio picture. The bass guitar work on this album is so musical and signature. I love to play along to this album on bass guitar.
8. Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate machine
Trent Reznor: another one on my list of people I would like to work with. The first time I heard this album I was hooked. It was permanintly installed in the tape deck for several months.

9. Helmet, meantime
This album is rock. Its hard, musical, unique, flawed, real and it's the best music to go with a good day of snowboarding.
10. Mute Math, Mute Math
Mute Math is the most creative group of musicians in the world today. the only thing wrong with this album is that they did not re-release "Reset" again on this album. Mute Math possess a supernatural ability to take you on a journey of epiphany.

11. Oingo Boingo, Boingo Alive
Danny Elfman. Danny Elfman. And then there's Danny Elfman. My good friend Travis H introduced me to this band. I thank Travis for much of my musical exposure. I can't think of one band that Travis introduced me to that I didn't like...except for maybe "the meatmen".
Wow, I didnt even get to mention Fugazi, Bad Brains, Public Enemy, skinny puppy, front 242, The Dead Milkmen, mae, orange 9mm, Ulrich Schnauss, The Sex pistols, the Ramones, Midnight oil, Men at work, Bob Mould, nitzer ebb, The Ministry, wall of voodoo, Billy Idol, Uniform Choice, T.S.O.L, G.B.H, the Circle Jerks, Filter or the list goes on forever. Thank God for the Ipod. Now all my music can live together in harmony!
-k

Nostalgia Tuesday

In an effort to stay regular with my posting, (more fiber in my post diet?) I have come up with themes for each day of the week. Monday, I will have the "Goal Post". Tuesday I will have "Nostalgia Tuesday" and Wednesday... well I haven't thought it through that far yet, So we'll see what good things Wednesday has in store when it gets here!

This week I have a picture of me (circa 1987-ish) on my old ghetto ramp at 191 T-son Road.

This is some variation of a front-side grind (my skate terms are not what they used to be). I was about fourteen or fifteen in this picture. You can see I loved Tracker Trucks. I skated Tracker exclusively for years. Why? Who knows. I liked them. I also really liked that Sims Jeff Phillips deck (R.I.P. Jeff). The Phillips was the last board I purchased with a focus on art and aesthetics. After the Phillips I only chose boards for function. I often painted over the bottoms as soon as I got them. What a shame. Kids, never ever throw out art completely. There is a balance between art and function that is LIFE.

I kept that old thrashed phillips deck for years. Regrettably I threw it away during our last home move. And to think... I could have dumped it for at least $30 on ebay.

Monday Goals

So, I am toying with the Idea of doing a goal list every Monday. Seems like it might be fun. So here we go.

THIS WEEKS GOALS (In no particular order)

1. Finish that Video for the Piano guy
2. Finish my wedding video (8 years in the making)
3. Hang out with my family every night
4. Write a song
5. Learn a new song on guitar (paperback writer)
6. Skate

This weeks tricks to learn:

1. Air to tail
2. Front side 50
3. Fakie to front side 50
4. Fakie disaster
5. Front side disaster
6. Back side board slide

If I learn everything maybe I'll post a vid.

Time Flies

Here are a couple of pics of me with my brother and sister. The first pic is from 2002 the second pic is from today. Its fun to see people change... and stay the same.

Sunday!

We are definitely taking full advantage of having the mini ramp in the back yard. Here are a few pics from Sundays short but fun afternoon session.

This is my little sister Andy. She has totally got the skate bug!

My brother P. Front side grind.

Me. Front side air on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Photo P. Shell

Saturday Session

Last week I was a little under the weather, consequently I didn't get to skate my ramp. I almost went crazy. I think I was skate-sick, luckily skateandannoy.com kept me going. By the time Friday rolled around I was so excited to skate that I could barely contain myself. We had a fun family date: wonderful quality time, terrible fast food!

Saturday morning I jumped out of bed, mowed the lawn and declared it session time!

I have had my mini ramp for several weeks and have not tried any back side airs. It is harder [for me] to throw any type of air on a mini, but my brother had the camera and I like to see airs on film, I mean on mega-pixels. BS Air

I'm [finally] learning to do hand plants, they are not tweaked [yet] but I am landing them! I need to get my hand up on the coping. Today the mini, next year the skate park!