He Said, She Said

Travel Yosemite on a $1.50 a day

2009-06-04T20:58:00.009-04:00

My good friends Mark and Chad got hired to do a bmx demo in Oakhurst, California (16 miles from Yosemite). Considering they needed someone to help film, I volunteered for the position, and found myself on a plane heading back to San Fransico on May
22nd. After the demo (on the 23rd), our friend Tammy (the event organizer) treated us to a full day at Yosemite. With plenty of snacks on hand to handle the non-vegan friendly park, I treated myself to a bottle of OJ for $1.50 to celebrate the day...They call me a high roller.

Chad, Mark, and Myself at Glacier Point.

The lower falls.

A dead tree and half dome.

El Capitan.

Another big rock that makes you feel inconsequential.

Me and Mark at the Overlook.

-He Said.

How She met He.

2009-05-09T11:02:00.003-04:00

Many, many moons ago when he was a "dandy highwayman," he stumbled across her and decided to make his move. Paparazzi made a documentary of the courting process and it went something like this...

-He Said

I mustache you a question?--16 hours in Minneapolis, Mn.

2009-05-08T17:54:00.009-04:00

1.Grow a mustache.
2.Fly to Minneapolis Mn. on Saturday morning.
3.Meet up with the two other judges (Chad and Dave) who also grew pretty sweet mustaches.
4.Judge a bmx contest with a $20,000 purse.
5.Show our mustaches on TV.
6.Fly home Sunday morning after spending a grand total of 16 hours in Minneapolis.

Pre judging.

Judging.

Post Judging. Behind us is Prince's home venue. Too bad his pencil mustache couldn't handle what we grew.

Light Yourself on Fire, literally?

2009-04-14T18:36:00.003-04:00

Last Sunday, someone took the name of our band a bit too literally. Luckily, he wasn't hurt too bad (somehow he only burnt his hand), no one else was injured, and our equipment nor the house (although both had a close call) did not become engulfed in flames.
(Photo care of Greg Smee)

-He Said

I'm confused, what is vegan?

2009-04-12T20:37:00.006-04:00

I found this on a gas pump near Micanopy this afternoon. In bewilderment, I've decided to throw the image out there to see if anyone can help me figure out why this was etched into a gas pump in the middle of backwoods Florida? 1st place prize, this creepy looking billy goat pictured below.

What am I supposed to do?

2009-03-20T23:18:00.004-04:00

At Golden Gate Park in San Fransisco, we found this sign upon entering. After we laughed at the absurdity of the signage, we bit our tongues and attempted to interpret the rules so as not to break any. In the end, we thought we would probably break them all, so we found something else to do.

1.No bicycle riding if you don't have any hands or feet.
2.No skateboarding if your torso is not connected to your legs.
3.No yeti's, especially if they're standing on 8 donuts.
4.No Nazi skindhead scooter gangs.
5.Animal crackers are not permitted.
6.No pooping, especially if you're pooping a canon ball.
7.No marijuana farming.
8.No stomping on your marijuana if you don't get caught growing it.
9.Do not allow the squirrels to eat your fingers.

It was kind of a San Fransisco Vacation.

2009-03-20T23:01:00.024-04:00

Many, many moons ago, she got accepted to present a paper at 4-C's this year in San Francisco. Upon her acceptance, she invited me to come along--an invitation I couldn't refuse. So, instead of making it a 3 day trip, we made it a week long vacation. Here are pictures for proof.

Before figuring out public transportation, the first couple days were spent walking (sometimes aimlessly) through the city. On finding the corner of Haight and Ashbury, we stood in line with a bunch of other embarassed tourists and snapped the mandatory shot.

We had no clue what these trees were? Maybe clones from the cover of U2's album "The Joshua Tree." Regardless, they littered the city and were quite appealing to the eye.

One afternoon we laid in Golden Gate Park--everyone else was doing it so why shouldn't we? I turned to Ariel and asked if I could be artsy. She approved, and this shot was the result.

Alcatraz--going to jail has never been this fun.

Century plants on Alcatraz. Considering the island is actually just a big rock, all plant life was imported from the main land.

San Fran via Alcatraz. She was pondering her escape plan...

On walking through the wharf, we stumbled upon a carnival game museum. I stepped to the plate first, dropped in a quarter and discovered that I'm a "clammy lover."

She stepped to the plate and I got a double whammy--Not sure how, but she's to become a rich widow.

We knew we had found the famouse wharf seals when we got a sudden whiff of poop.

Right past China-town, public transport ended. After walking up, down, and across every alley in this part of the city, she lost 3 pounds and collapsed from exhaustion. So I laughed and took a photo.

Golden Gate Bridge. 9am, on our way to the Marin Headlands and beyond to Muir Woods.

Of the many photos she takes of me, this is one of few where I don't look like an idiot. On top of some battlement from WW2 on the Marin Headlands.

He took this.

She took this.

Muir Woods. The lives of these four trees combined exceeds 4,500 years. One of my new favorite places to visit--trully peaceful!

Random Redwood tree stump in curious lighting.

The Gorilla came out when times were tough. Here, he forces me to stop whinning.

Sunset at "Lands End."

Get "raw-some"

2009-02-13T23:53:00.003-05:00

New Profile advert in this months issue of Ride Bmx Magazine.

-He Said

Friday Funnies: "Drunken Negro head cookies"

2009-02-13T23:38:00.004-05:00

My favorite quotes:
1."My brother-in-law, he's cuban--I like everybody as long as they buy"
2."It's a fun face, anyone who thinks different should be ashamed of themselves"
3."Obama is from Illinois, he's following in the footsteps of Lincoln"
4."The cookie is not unflattering, it's a fun face"
5.The cookie "is an expression of freedom"
6.The cookies are a "caricature and a work of art, no one got mad at the dead geese bread"
I think Obama should bless us by cutting more out of education this year...maybe we'll end up with more idiots like this baker?

-He Said

Non-profit donation--February 2009.

2009-01-26T20:43:00.010-05:00

Growing up, there was nothing that I loved more than hearing my grandpa (Joe Dawson)tell stories of his experiences during WW2. The stories of camaraderie and adventure and, unfortunately, the stories of death and destruction. The military shaped my grandpa--he was stubborn and scary, disciplined and a hard-worker as well as one of the smartest men I knew. Above all, my closest friend and my hero.
Before I hit my teens (and found bmx), I was set in following in his footsteps into the air force. But by mid teens my politics had changed pretty drastically, I leaned much more towards pacifism (though I do believe we need a military), and found myself more interested in learning about history and literature (hence my absolute love of telling as well as hearing a good story).
Most of my Grandpa Joe's stories were based around his flying in B-17's--The US's predominant bomber in the early phases of the war. I'm aghast at how this lofty airplane did what it did--brought my grandpa home safely after so many missions with the odds of return so highly stacked against him.
A few months ago, I got wind of a travelling air exhibit which featured a B-17: The "Nine-o-Nine." One of only 13 left in flight, I had to check it out. But then I read the fine print: "Go up in the Nine-o-Nine for a tax deductible donation." Back in November a date was set for the 17 to be displayed at St. Pete International. I immediately made the phone call, and reserved a seat with both my brother Jeff and my Boss, Jim Alley as flying buddies.
By 9:30am on Sunday, January 25th, the three of us were a couple thousand feet above Tampa, cruising at about 180mph. I can't even express to you how amazing this was!

My brother, Jeff Coplon. Pre-flight.

Me, like a kid in a candy store.

Pilot dudes--oh, how I envy these mustachioed men.

These Pratt and Whitney engines were so loud I had to put in ear plugs. There is no other engine on earth that sounds this amazing: ground shaking--It gives me the chills just thinking about it.

The nose-cone. 180 degrees of plexi-glass. Imagine sitting in this capsule while travelling 180mph thousands of feet over the city.

At about 1pm this afternoon, I was boxing some product up at work, and outside I heard the unmistakable sound of those four Pratt and Whitney engines flying above. I ran outside, and sure enough, the "Nine-O-Nine" was flying right over the building heading for its next stop in Naples, Florida. I'll admit, I got kind of emotional...it was as if the old rattle trap was saying goodbye.

In Loving memory of Joe Dawson...

-He Said.

Look back and laugh...

2009-01-24T09:29:00.002-05:00

This was a section in a video filmed in 2002. Not the greatest editing, terrible song, and yes I thought I ripped a hole in my butt. All you can do is look back and laugh.

Straight To Hell - Matt Coplon from Sebastian Surroca on Vimeo.

-He Said

Farewell, Amy Poehler

2009-01-22T23:24:00.002-05:00

I'll miss Kaitlin most of all.

RICK RICK RICK!

New Years check list, 2009!

2009-01-03T10:38:00.004-05:00

There were three things I wanted to check off for the New Year:

1.Don't drink. It's been almost 32 years and I'm still the designated driver. Check.

2.Find a rock, launch off of it and ride the side of a building. Check.

3.Pedal past a leashed dog, and unexpectantly get bit on the thigh by said dog (ripping a hole in a good pair of jeans while only suffering a blood blister). Check!

Happy New Year.

-He Said

Spooky Scary

2009-01-02T13:14:00.003-05:00

Everything He knows about Judaism comes from Tracy Jordan.

New Year's resolution...

2008-12-22T17:53:00.004-05:00

She let me borrow a book called Mountains beyond Mountains and said "you're really going to like this." 10 pages in and I was pretty interested, by 100, totally engrossed, coming to a close at 300, and I realized I had just finished my favorite book for 08.

MBM is a story of an uncanny doctor named Paul Farmer who eventually co-founded a non-profit organization called "Partners in Health." Both Paul Farmer and PIH have done incredible things for the poor and those poor who suffer from serious illness.

Having finished the book, She and I have agreed to select an organization to donate to each month. Unfortunately, so many of them need our help...

For the beginning of 09, I've selected my first choice: Partners in Health. Please check out their website here:

http://www.pih.org/

Also, Dr. Paul Farmer was featured yesterday on NPR's special "This I believe." Listen here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98460202&ps=bb1

I feel invigorated and inspired! Do yourself a big favor and read this book! And maybe even consider giving Partner's in Health a little help?

-He Said

Charlie's office myths debunked!

2008-12-19T19:56:00.005-05:00

For years, Charlie and I have been working together in the Promotions department at Profile. We work good together, and somehow our sarcasm towards each other has never ended in fisticuffs, instead, a sincere apology by either party if its taken the wrong way. He's a good guy, and really fun to work with.

Charlie used to be a hot shot radio DJ up in Boston. We'd hear the stories: about him, rubbing elbows with the elite recording artists of the day. My favorite--Debbie Harry (from Blondie) bringing him chicken soup when he was sick. We'd partially believe the stories but would always ask for proof. Well, last week we got just that. To our surprise, 7:30am morning coffee was accompanied by an amazing cache of photos that Charlie had dusted off to bring for show and tell. Pulling the photos out of a manilla envelope, the shop was aghast! Upon my request, Charlie went ahead and scanned my favorite photo of the lot dating back to 1978.

Center in the photo is young Charlie weilding crutches, fresh from playing the role as an extra in "The Bad News Bears" (or so his attire would lead us to think). To his right, three bowlers with three very different fashionable 70's mustaches, and to his left, the man who introduced sensuality and phallic shaped microphones to rock n' roll, but more importantly taught us where Panama is located (California, duh!).
Yes, that's David Lee Roth from Van Halen! Eyes closed, mouth slightly ajar, and thinking to himself "Jump back, what's that sound? Here she comes, burnin' down now. Hot shoe, burnin' down the avenue. Model citizen, zero discipline."

-He Said

One of life's great questions

2008-12-19T16:45:00.003-05:00

Everyone knows Hitler was a man. What this website presupposes is... maybe he wasn't.

Grandma was a cage fighter back in the day.

2008-12-11T22:26:00.002-05:00

Down but not out...

2008-12-11T22:10:00.002-05:00

I've been having pains in my back for awhile now. I took a pretty hard fall about 10 months ago, and since then, my mornings avail a stiff lower back, and my afternoons, a tense, numbing upper shoulder area.
Finally, after fighting a losing battle, I took her advice and got some x-rays done. A day later I got a call from my chiropractor and this was the synopsis:
1.I have developed scoliosis.
2.I've had three fused upper verterba since before I was born onto earth. That leaves me with two less disks to suck up any compression.
3.About 10 months ago, the initial fall caused a compression fracture on my T-10 vertebra. Not having a clue of the internal situation, I've not only been mobile but I've been riding on it for that long. Luckily, over the past ten months, that old crack has filled up with calcium.

My doctor's advice? "I know you're not going to stop riding so be careful."

Scary, right?

-He said

Based on true events

2008-12-05T00:33:00.000-05:00

A musical interpretation of how He and She met.

--She said

He's crazy

2008-12-04T22:21:00.001-05:00

In spite of its new age hippie meets corporate yuppie name, Synergy is my favorite drink. It combines 3 of my favorite things: tartness, sweetness, and carbonation. And with its possible .05% alcohol content, it's a little bit like a vinegar mimosa (hey, a vin-mosa!).

As much as I love this drink, He HATES it, so much so that every time I treat myself to one (they're not cheap) he retches loudly. (To add insult to injury, he likes to waste my liquid ambrosia by taking a sip to "see if it's still gross.")

Oh, but be warned if you want to try one: the effervescence that I love so much means that the drink is prone to leaking ... and exploding.

-- She said

Is this vegan?

2008-12-03T18:39:00.001-05:00

You tell us...

Man Bras. Everyone needs one.

2008-11-27T17:51:00.000-05:00

Just bought mine this week. Fits good, looks great, my confidence has been boosted 200%, but mostly, I am gentler and more caring. Get one while they're hot!

I have a chance on Canadian Idol...

2008-11-13T12:16:00.001-05:00

This is proof.

-He Said

The Wedding Singer...

2008-11-12T12:15:00.001-05:00

I've decided that when He and She get married down the road, this will be the song we will sing and actually re-enact during the ceremony...I will serenade her with my sunglasses, pants, shirt, and sweet hairdo. If she doesn't accept, atleast I'll have a sensational pop career to look forward to.

Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up from UgoDuru on Vimeo.

Friday Funny

2008-11-07T10:31:00.002-05:00

Even Cows Get Emo Sometimes

Posted using ShareThis

Hootin and Hollerin!!!!!

2008-11-06T19:19:00.001-05:00

Back in September, Ariel and I flew up to Gainesville, Missouri for Hootin and Hollerin (a.k.a a good reason to get the family together). Picture a bunch of people square dancing, making knick knacks out of wood, roasting peanuts, and playing instruments made out of things pulled from the barn yard--that's Hootin and Hollerin. Count us in!

Above, the Gunn family and friends.

It's always good to wake up in the morning to a cool breeze, a cup of coffee, and a waterfall in your front yard. 10am Saturday, the Gunn compound.

Another eccentric little piece of nature in the yard. Years ago a wild wind tried to push this tree over...instead of giving in, it bent over the creek and kept a grow'in.

What are the chances of National Geographic hiring me for point and shoot photos?

Many might think this is a couple of bottles on Tacie's window sill...it's not, it's what professional photographers (aka high brow artists like myself) take with their point and shoot. Really, the scene just looked like it needed a photo taken

This is He, getting ready for the festivities.

Instead of inserting photos of the actual Hootin and Hollerin event (which for some reason I didn't snap any of the actual event), Here is a photo of "Lurch"--the guiness book's world record holding Watusi bull with the largest Horns...100lbs and 5 ft long each.

Lurch is a resident of the "Rocky Ridge Refuge" just over the Missouri border in Arkansas--we took a day trip down on Sunday afternoon. The owner tends to exotic animals, Lurch being one of them. I can't explain how docile this big dude was.

Check it out here: http://www.lurchandtheherd.com/

A better grasp of his horn size.

Lurch's best bud, Wade the water buffalo.

She and the newly adopted fawn...notice all the animals live behind the same fence and get along. Pretty amazing.

The last time I was up in this area was two years ago at about the exact same time. Then, Tacie and I had heard stories of the Ozark Turantula and thought we might have seen some on the road side...Once again, this year was right in the window (about one month long) of the season where they not only come out of hiding, but enter the closest roadway to soak up the heat from the cement. Not only did we see a couple, I actually got to snap a photo this time.

Stay Tuned for Hootin and Hollerin 09. Next year I might actually get some photos.

-He Said

Decibel Magazine's "My Awesome Day Job" article.

2008-10-25T18:31:00.000-04:00

I got a copy of the October issue of Decibel Magazine and was pleasantly suprised to find this little article included. If this piece captures what I actually sound like in conversation, I should probably start to worry. I knew that I kind of looked like Jeff Spicoli from "Fast times at Ridgemont High," but I wasn't aware that I talk like him too.

-He Said

LYOF Tour: September 5th through September 16th.

2008-10-25T08:53:00.001-04:00

LYOF went out on the road in mid September. As opposed to the tours we've had in the past, this one was scheduled by a booking agent that sent us on a pretty unusual, gas guzzling route. Most of the drives were pretty long...the first being a perfect example: Tampa to DC. From there, we went up to NYC and played shows back down the east coast to Florida. Then the second leg of our tour started: Tampa to Austin and plenty of shows in between.

Overall, we had a blast. Played some really good shows, met some really great people, ate some really good food, and got to celebrate the release of our new album on September 15th.

Here's a montage of photos from the trip in no particular order...enjoy.

For a complete, uncensored (I'm warning you) tour diary, go to http://www.thedeciblog.com/ and search "Light Yourself on Fire tour diary." LYOF in Tampa photo above by Nicole Kibert: http://www.elawgrrl.com/

We stayed with my friend Jason Hammacher in D.C.. Not only was his house unreal, in an absolutely beautiful neighborhood, but Sticky Fingers (an all vegan bakery) is right around the corner. 10am breakfast bonanza and the best all-you-can-drink coffee!

Sticky Fingers was so good it has been honored with two photos. Ken (our drummer) and me, guts full, content, and ready to make the drive to NYC.

Newark, NJ.. Rest stop somewhere off I-1O. I have to take advantage of anything that resembles a launch ramp.

Imagine sitting in this every day on your way to work in the BIG Apple. I'll pass.

Richmond, Va.. Playing Nara Sushi in Richmond was a real treat. Getting free, all-you-can-eat sushi is another story.

Richmond. 1AM fire hydrant hop. Ask Ariel how I'm still awake in this photo, its a mystery.

Surprise. I opened a women's clothing store in Colombia, SC..

Rest stop rail hop in Pensacola, Florida. One of the many stops initiated by my old-man bladder.

My first time in New Orleans. Two hours prior to this we ran over a giant Nutria rat in the van.

Really late night show, with an unusually good turnout...New Orleans is the creepiest city I've visited. Mix Disney's Haunted Mansion with French architecture, a little bit of voodoo and poof!

Austin, Tx. I had no idea that death metal music and pizza were connected? L. to R.-Ken, Robert, and John.

A stray New Orleans photo. Robert, 3AM. This is the alley to the "Dragon's Den." Try loading all your equipment through this alley and then up a spiral staircase. Someone was trying to kill us.

-He said

Funny Ladies

2008-09-15T16:52:00.001-04:00

The opening skit of this weekend's SNL was one of the funniest I've seen in a long time. I've always loved Gilda Radner, but Tina Fey and Amy Poehler together run a very close second! [I've not seen Baby Mama, just so I can hold on to that perspective.]

--She said

Another New England Trip...

2008-08-30T12:33:00.000-04:00

Although I've been up to New England on four occasions in the past year and a half, it continues to have the same magical effect on me. I'm not too fond of it's winters, but summers are simply amazing.
On August 15th, I flew up to providence, RI. to embark on a work trip filming the team. We skirted the rental van up into New Hampshire, down to Connecticut and Massachusetts, and finally back to tiny Rhode Island. The only thing out of the ordinary was the extremely damp weather that reminded me of those storms common in Florida on a summer afternoon--torrential down-pours and lightning galore. Somehow we still made things happen, filmed a bunch, and got to experience a portion of the most rain New England has experienced on record.

Our Posse. Dover New Hampshire right before torrential rains #3.

Hamden, Connecticut. This is my friend Hennessey and me with "Captain peg leg" the 3 footed beagle. I really felt bad for this guy as he hobbled around my friend Matty's yard. Then he playfully attacked "ziggy" and I realized it was all a doggy facade.

Check out the way "Cap's" nub is pinning Ziggy. This is called the "nub choke out."

Some lake outside of Providence. Beautiful, warm and chrystal clear. We had to walk a mile in the woods to get to it. I tried to show off by doggy-paddling out into the center of the lake with my friends' Hennessey and Tony...when I got there, I pannicked and had to have the two of them escort me back. Honestly, it was pretty scary.

In high school I discovered the writings of HP Lovecraft and fell in love with his fictional, creepy stories of the weird and occult. His stories always took place in New England. On the last day of the trip, I took a self guided tour alone, rambling through historic College Hill in hopes to find architecture that inspired his many stories. This is the Lovecraft memorial near Brown University.

The Halsey House, erected in 1801 and thought to be haunted. This was the central location for Lovecraft's story "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward."

<Lovecraft's final residence beginning in 1935.

Pawtucket, RI.. After dropping a handful of people off on our journey, this was our group that ended the trip in Providence.

-He Said.

kitty cat

2008-08-15T22:37:00.002-04:00

In honor of the 42-pound cat that was found wandering the streets yesterday ...

--She said

Warning, Warning

2008-08-02T13:38:00.000-04:00

We have reached the BMX and metal limit. Step away from the computer, him. Step away from the computer.

Life on Mars?

2008-08-02T13:05:00.000-04:00

I heard a special report on NPR yesterday announcing the discovery of ice on Mars. I guess that from this discovery they've concluded that life could have possibly existed there.
What I don't understand is why they are re-releasing this information now when I thought the existence of aliens was solidified when David Bowie released himself to the public. Here's Bowie with his band of Martians:

-He Said

Too old for this?

2008-08-02T12:26:00.001-04:00

My friend Conall and I have been working on a video project this summer. It's going to be based around the idea of riding in Florida's unbearable summer heat and dealing with our local fickle climate changes: aka, afternoon thunderstorms.
Last Sunday, we met up in downtown Tampa, rode a solid seven hours, filmed for the documentary and shot some photos. Somehow, the impending storms never hovered directly over downtown which kept us partailly shaded in overcast and completely dry.
All photos by Chris Wharton. Matt. Lightning bolt pole ride...two days prior to this, we almost got struck by lightning (literally) a couple blocks away from here.
Matt. Barspin over a handrail in a shady part of downtown.

Counting stairs and getting scared.

A one shot deal. Suicide no hander...I'm happy I pulled this considering I thought for sure it was going to avail a bad wreck.

Conall, Ledge ride. Right after this photo was taken, Conall almost ran me over. His precision paid off for me.

Conall. Turndown with one of the inpending storms in the background.

Matt Arnold, and a grafitti inspired fakie barspin.

I just can't get enough of cabbage palms...or toothpicks by Conall.

Nosepick in front of what used to be a cigar workers front yard. This spot is right outside the cigar city...at the turn of the century, this place was producing the most cigars in the US. Now that this house in particular is gone, we've made good use of its drainage system.

-He Said

Metal Edge Announcement!

2008-08-02T12:08:00.001-04:00

Here is a blurb from the September 08 issue of Metal Edge Magazine. Everytime I see a photo of our band in print it makes me laugh. Little do people know that we are a bunch of softies.

The 4th of July in Milwaukee!

2008-08-02T11:29:00.001-04:00

Over the 4th of July weekend, I headed up to Milwaukee with the Madera team. Madera is our subsidiary company at Profile, and the team is (like the Profile team) made up of a bunch of my friends...one of the many really rewarding things about being a team manager.

So the trip started pretty rough. I left on a Wednesday, arriving at the airport a couple hours early hoping to get everything checked in and leaving a little time for me to relax.

1st problem: For the first time in 8 years, I was charged for my bike bag, -$80

2nd problem: My flight was delayed.

3rd problem: Once the plane arrived, a storm decided to arrive as well delaying my flight almost another hour and a half.

4th problem: The plane did not have air conditioning.

5th problem: I arrived to my connecting flight an hour after it had taken off.

6th problem: No more connecting flights at that hour, so I had to sleep in the airport.

7th problem: Airtran's staff was really unhelpful and unfriendly.

Verdict: Airtran sucks.

Solution: Don't be cheap, upgrade to an airline that doesn't consistently blow it. So I made it to Milwaukee July 3rd. On the 4th, we celebrated the birth of this great nation by lighting my friend Mike's yard on fire.

On Saturday the 5th, we took a day trip to Chicago. My friend Kevin Porter was our tour guide not only for spots to ride/film, but was our beacon to good food.
Atomic cafe...Vegan Ruben with a vegan chili with cheese!

For some reason I look like a little kid in this photo. Maybe it's because I ride a little kids bike?

Downtown Chicago.

My friend Dave McDermott and me. I've travelled all over with this guy...Chicago skyline.This is a monument/fountain that we found in a suburb of Chicago. We were amazed that someone would contruct this...

Just in case you didn't believe it in the first photo, here it is again. And to highlight its audacity, let me help: "Shit fountain."

Kevin told me about a vegan fast food restaurant. I was in disbelief until we made it there right before closing time. "Veggie bite" is the name, it's by no means healthy food, just decadent vegan junk!

I celebrated with a meatless Philly Cheese Steak and a giant non-dairy ice cream cone.

Back in Milwaukee I had my friend John take this photo in front of 4 Seasons skatepark. The photo turned out crappy, but it was more to create a visual that I was standing in front of the old chocolate factory that Jeffrey Dahmer worked at...Creepy to say the least.

-He Said.

Interview In Ride UK Bmx Magazine...

2008-08-02T11:13:00.000-04:00

This photo was taken over two years ago on a work roadtrip to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas. It was March, somehow brutally hot. Most of us got sea sick on the 2 hour ferry ride 65 miles off Key West, but it was worth it all. Check out the hallway at historic Fort Jefferson. The brick laying craftsmanship was incredible!
There is no bathroom on this island, and because of my overactive bladder, I was like a dog in an endless field of fire hydrants.

-He Said

American Gothic

2008-07-26T23:49:00.001-04:00

All we're missing is a pitchfork and a frown.

-She Said

Light yourself on Fire Tour dates!

2008-06-28T11:24:00.000-04:00

We're hitting the road in Aug./Sept./ and Oct.. Hope to see some of you at these dates?

Aug 1 2008
7:00P
YMCA
Sarasota, Florida

Aug 2 2008
8:00P
New World Brewery
Tampa, Florida

Sep 6 2008
8:30P
Velvet Lounge
WASHINGTON, Washington DC

Sep 7 2008
7:30P
Knitting Factory
NY, New York

Sep 8 2008
8:00P
Nari Sushi
Richmond, Virginia

Sep 9 2008
8:00P
Soapbox Laundry-Lounge
Wilmington, North Carolina

Sep 10 2008
8:00P
Drunken Unicorn
Atlanta, Georgia

Sep 11 2008
8:00P
Brass Mug
Tampa, Florida

Sep 12 2008
8:00P
The Atlantic
Gainsville, Florida

Sep 13 2008
8:00P
Dragon’s Den
New Orleans, Louisiana

Sep 14 2008
8:00P
Red 7
Austin, Texas

Sep 15 2008
8:00P
Downtown Music
Little Rock, Arkansas

Sep 16 2008
8:00P
The End
Nashville, Tennessee

Oct 10 2008
8:00P
Transitions Gallery
Tampa, Florida

Oct 11 2008
9:00P
BETA BAR
Tallahassee, Florida

The South! Vacation part three: Atlanta, Ga.

2008-06-28T10:50:00.000-04:00

On the last leg of the trip we headed 5 hours south of Greensboro to Atlanta. The plan was to hang out with my brother (Artie), see some sights, indulge in the urban shopping that Tampa lacks, and fill our gullets with even more large doses of Vegan goodies.

Ariel's Top 5

1.Soul Vegetarian (for lunch)
2.Soul Vegetarian (for dinner)
3.The Container Store
4.The High Art Museum
5.Hanging out with Artie (I'd almost forgot that we saw him, he was so busy studying hard! We're proud of you, Artie!)
Vegan barbeque ribs, mac and cheese, collared greens, and salsbury steak. As fake as George Washington's teeth.
Ariel--In Soul veg Heaven.

Ariel--Holding a cache of Container Store goodness while a taxi driver (behind her in the mini van) looks on wondering why this crazy woman is so happy.

Matt's top five

1.Atlanta as the new Vegan Mecca

2.My first experience walking through Ikea.

3.A night stroll through Piedmont Park.

4.The High Art Museum's Civil Rights pictoral documentary from 1955 to 1964. Heartbreaking.

High Art's Louvre exhibit right around the corner from their Georgia Folk Art exhibit.

5.Comprehending my brother Artie working two jobs, handling full time school, and still being able to get up at 5:30am every day for a 2 hour work out. I thought I was busy?

-He Said

The South! Vacation part two: Greensboro, N.C..

2008-06-28T10:40:00.001-04:00

By Friday night, we were back in Greensboro at my Brother's house. We strolled through the city of Greensboro (and got a tour of UNCG via golf cart-thanks Rebecca) on Saturday and spent the rest of the time hanging with Buddy, Rebecca, and Gabby. Thanks to Rebecca for being an amazing cook, Gabby for being a precocious ball of non-stop fun, and Buddy for explaining to me why Soccer is a pretty amazing sport--after years of bewilderment, I finally understand.

Ariel's Top 5

1.meeting Gabby, v. 5
2.beginning each morning with a Gabby hug
3.painting Matt's toenails with Gabby
4.coloring with Gabby
5.being introduced as Gabby's aunt

A shy Gabby.

Still a shy Gabby.

Gabby unleashed!!!!!

Buddy and Rebecca just finished hand-building this sweet playground a week before we arrived.

Pink beard the Pirate.

And her first mate, the hornswaggling uncle Matt.

Gabby, Ariel, and Matt. UNCG campus stroll.

Buddy, Rebecca, and the semi-professional nature photographer--Gabby.

A Plaque commemorating the historic Woolworth's lunch counter sit in--Downtown Greensboro.

Foot-prints to the beginning of the civil rights movement. Again, the Old Woolworth's building.

Zombie Gabby!

When Ariel told me that she and Gabby were going to paint my toenails, I said "no."

Then the boss gave me the stink-eye and off came my socks.

For such a tiny little person, Gabby has a ravenous appetite. I've also never seen a child eat as well as she does!

Matt's top 5

1.Gabby.

2.Late night Tevoed soccer with Buddy followed by Metal Mania on VH-1 featuring a video with saw-bladed, Blacky Lawless from the metal band W.A.S.P..

3.Gabby.

4.Rebecca's amazing improv salads.

5.Having to tell my unbelieving friends that I personally didn't paint my toe nails pink.

-He Said

Not pictured: Green Hill's Center for NC Art exhibition, "Regrowth," featured this incredible artist, Bryant Holsenbeck, who makes installations out of discarded objects. This particular one was a tropical forest made out of torn pages from books, garbage bags, garden hoses, pencils, among other things. I can't explain why I love art made out of garbage.

-She Said.

The South! Vacation part one: Chapel Hill, N.C..

2008-06-28T10:28:00.000-04:00

After flying into Greensboro, N.C. and setting up post at my brother/sister-in-law/niece's house (aka-camp LaPlante), we took off Thursday morning in our rented Toyota Yaris for a quick trip to Chapel Hill. Our friend Adam is taking the summer off; he ended up being the most perfect host to fulfill our touristy needs. Adam covered all corners: swimming, rock climbing, museum strolls, and most importantly, a docent to our bottomless stomachs in search of vegan decadence.

This is a quarry somewhere near Duke University. Adam heard that it's roughly 60 feet deep which, right from the beginning, made it scary for me to swim in. From the point pictured, we swam across the the quarry to climb a cliff about 15 feet off the water. Adam jumped in with no hesitation, making the jump look easy. Ariel looked at me and asked if I was going to do it. I said no, took about a ten foot running start and dove feet first into the great wide open. My jump was off axis, my arms rotated a double wind-shield wiper in a lame attempt to straighten myself, and my landing was just plain terrible. Afterwards, my butt felt like it had been spanked by a dozen angry nuns. That's what I get for being a show-off.

From left to right: Adam, Ariel, and Matt. Good swimmer, great swimmer, doggie paddler.

Ariel and Adam. The Duke University Botanical Gardens.

I've never seen a Magnolia tree with a root system this wild. Lord of the Rings????

Someone spiked Ariel's vegan cupcakes with a shrinking potion. This was some off-the-wall yard art/plant nursery somewhere near Hillsborough, N.C..

-He Said

Not pictured: UNC-Chapel Hill's Ackland Art Museum. We visited the exhibit of eastern and western representations of the garden and saw works by Catherine Chalmers, Imogen Cunningam, and Edward Weston. If you're in the area in September, stop by the "Circa 1958" exhibition. Rauschenberg, Warhol, Lichtenstein, oh my!

-She Said

The Cure--Now and then.

2008-06-14T11:14:00.000-04:00

Last summer, Kieran got us tickets to see the Cure. Due to the delay on their recording of a new album, the tour was re-scheduled a year later. Wednesday was the show here in Tampa. On the handful of other times that I've seen them, they were really good. However, 2 hours and 45 minutes into the show on Wednesday was when I realized that this was probably one of the best concerts I've been to.
After an hour into the performance I began counting songs in hopes that they would cover atleast one tune off of each album. By the end of the night, they had gone back to 1978 with "Boys don't cry" and "Killing an Arab." Unfortunately, they missed one album: "Bloodflowers." This was a record I listened to for 6 weeks straight back in 2000 while travelling through Europe...It brings back good memories and I was hoping to feel some of that live. But O-well, a fat man with smeared make-up can only play his guitar so long.
Although the show was amazing, I was let down that Robert Smith is the only original member. See this photo circa sometime in the 80's. What happened to these guys? Where did they go?
Instead of the original dudes, Robert Smith had to substitute them with these young posers. From left to right: Robert Smith (after a trip to MacDonalds for some Happy Meals), A 20+ year old bass player who loves Adam Ant way too much (Although I did like his conquistador tights and sash), Jon Bon-Jovi decided to play drums on this tour, and who is this 2nd guitarist with crappy henna tattoos, screen from a porch as a shirt, and bat make-up?
Come on Robert, bring some of those old dudes back!

-He Said

Is there a 12-step program for this?

2008-06-03T22:48:00.001-04:00

I was looking through my 12-year-old cousin's yearbook, which had a supplemental autobiography of each of the graduating fifth graders. Within just a few minutes of reading their family histories, likes and dislikes, and tales of their funniest and most embarassing moments, I became increasingly irritated by the number of typos, unclear pronoun references, sentences that could be combined for clarity and concision but weren’t, and inconsistent type font and size. I crossly wondered, why couldn’t these kids be provided with autobiography mad libs so that all information could be edited for correctness and conformity? How could a parent send in a full page of cursive font? How could the teachers not correct all the it's/its errors? I had to put the book aside at the letter J before my head exploded.

Yes, I have a problem.

Surprises

2008-05-31T12:08:00.001-04:00

Things I didn’t expect to find in my grandmother’s junkroom:

A WWI bayonet

A 1943 German edition of Mein Kampf

A bourbon decanter in the shape of WC Fields’ head (to pour, just pop off his top hat)

A 1941 edition of Marriage and Sexual Harmony. Praised by Health and Hygiene for its “sensible and scientific advice” and deemed “excellent” by Church Management, the book tempts me with its opening line: “True marriage is a happy venture into a promised land.”

--She said

A sign that I may have a small problem

2008-05-31T11:56:00.000-04:00

At my twelve-year-old cousin's promotion from elementary to middle school ceremony, the principal said a heartfelt goodbye to his students and pronounced the year the "funnest ever."

I don't remember what happened next because I blacked out from the strain of not leaping to the stage and hogtieing him until he promised to stop corrupintg our youth.

Light Yourself on Fire!

2008-05-31T09:06:00.000-04:00

Ride Bmx Magazine #146 just featured an article on my band, Light Yourself on Fire. Here it is....Enjoy.

Pedal, Pedal, Pedal!

2008-05-25T10:15:00.000-04:00

I promised myself that over the course of the summer I would take breaks from my bmx bike in order to pedal my mountain bike a little more. Yesterday morning, I accidentally set my alarm for 7am, woke up thinking it was 8, and immediately took off to ride through Tampa on what ended up being about a 4 hour ride. For the most part, I followed along the winding Hillsborough River. This is what I saw:

What makes my neighborhood so unique: it's adjacent to the Hillsborough with plenty of really old oak trees. Some are healthy, and some, not so much.

If you can't live within eyeshot of the Sulpher Springs water tower, why not make one yourself?

22nd Street train bridge. I'm not sure why, but this area reminds me of Oregon.

I went to Rowlett Park in hopes to do a little bird watching. On approching the river bank, I heard a Limpkin bellowing its deathly cry and stumbled upon this water mocassin. Needless to say, I couldn't get any closer to the river to snap photos.

Instead, I followed a path and found this tree over hanging the Hillsborough which was a pretty good substitute.

The real Sulpher Springs water Tower.

One of three crack pipes found near the river. Scary.

One of the many springs that feed into the Hillsborough...

...trickling down stream to the river.

Near Lowry Park, I found this pond that warned "Beware of alligator." I thought it funny that the sign announced a single gator. But sure enough, there was only one single 5 footer basking in this unusually murky yet somehow clear sulpher water.

This pretty large gopher tortoise was walking along side the bike path. From my past experiences with these threatened little dudes, they are usually really skiddish. However, this one walked right up to me...on his back I noticed a huge bite mark that was well on its way to healing.

Last monday, some news was floating around about the discovery of a Confederate, Civil War blockade running ship that had been burned and consequently sunk into the river. For 125 plus years, passers by thought it was a piece of an old dock. This past week, the ship got the attention it deserved. Archeologists dug away and decided that its rot was just too bad to even fool with.
So to avoid others digging away at the wreckage, the city left the grave unmarked. The ship lies under these waters.

-He Said

My best buddy becomes a doctor?

2008-05-10T11:56:00.001-04:00

Last Friday my best buddy of 10 years graduated from medical school. Unlike most Med. school graduates, we celebrated Dr. Pinzon's title by heading to the skatepark/bowl in downtown Tampa to indulge in what we call "Dirt nap Friday."
At the bowl, we snake to the bottom and jump our bikes out of the end. Doing an assortment of different tricks while in the air, we hope to land without falling in the sand and getting filthy. Most of the time we just end up getting filthy...Pinzon always being the dirtiest.

Dr. Pinzon will be doing his residency in Pediatrics at the L.A. county Hospital in Cali. for three years. Once finished, he'll be heading back to Tampa to work at his father's Pediatrics office.

I honestly can't tell you how proud I am of this guy. To balance Med. school, riding, and a serious relationship is a pretty big task to pull off.

Congratulations Dr. Pinzon! Dirt nap friday will never be the same without you.

360 table top out of the bowl.

Dr. Pinzon getting filthy on "Dirt nap Friday."
All photos by C. Henrich.

The Ozarks.

2008-05-04T10:06:00.000-04:00

A couple weeks ago I headed up to Joplin, Missouri for a bike contest. Although it was April, it was freezing cold and our thin Florida skin forced us to stay inside most of the time.
In Joplin, our friend Jeana was the most pleasant host on Friday and Saturday night. She treated us to a pancake breakfast on Saturday while Sunday we headed to an all vegan cafe inside of a bead shop. There, we indulged in the most delectable vegan brunch.
Unlike Ariel (who loves to photographically document good food around the world), I was unprepared and didn't have the means to snap a shot of the heavenly sustenance. My appologies.
By Monday it had warmed up a bit and we packed up to leave for Springfield, Mo. where we stayed at my friend Joe West's skatepark/apartment.

After eating an amazing breakfast at this Holiday Inn, Mark and I lounged in front of this fireplace. Because of it's ties to the skatepark (that held the contest in Joplin), Joe West got a lush suite comped for a low price of $7.
What do poor bike riders do on trips? We cram in like sardines! $7 split 8 ways, that's $.87 a person.

Once we got to Sprinfield, we unpacked and road through the streets most of the day. Here's Joe West in front of a monument that sits next to the court house. We rode here for hours and didn't get the boot by the police.

Mark snapped this shot of me filming next to an old school-house. A couple hours later, this brand new panasonic video camera decided to die on me. Moral of the story: buy a warranty and then insure it!

This is the entrance to the apartment we stayed at in Springfield. It's hand made by Joe with particle board, throw away carpeting, and a mess of 2 by 4's. Believe it or not, this place is pretty confy.
When you walk around the corner to the left, you'll find this. There's nothing better than having a private skatepark right outside your door.

For $600 a month, Joe and two roomates split rent here. The only draw back is that it is in an industrial complex...it sits right in front of a live turkey processing plant which was so brutal it could make just about anyone atleast consider vegetarianism.

Lastly, here's a video that we put together documenting the trip. Thanks to Jeana Gockley and Joe West for their fine, Ozark hospitality!

-He Said

Clark Kessinger...The greatest "old time fiddler"

2008-04-28T21:07:00.000-04:00

When I lived with my grandmother for many years, there was a framed photo of her father playing the fiddle on a porch in West Virginia. Not until many years later would I realize that he was deemed the greatest old time fiddler in the US.

My brother sent me this link last week. My great-grandfather, Clark Kessinger getting it done on the fiddle. Personally, I think he's a better dancer.

-He Said

La Chua Trail

2008-04-28T20:43:00.000-04:00

Last week I turned in my Nature Writing final which finished up my second graduate course in Florida Studies. Needless to say, I feel I did pretty terrible on it. Who wants to read an amateur rant about nature observations?
To celebrate the completion of a very difficult semester, Ariel asked me if I wanted to cruise the La Chua trail last Saturday. I couldn't resist: it's one of my favorite rides in the state. And just like our last ride down this trail, it ended up being pretty eventful. Highlights were; chasing a wild turkey to get the crappy photo below, seeing an 8 to 9ft alligator lumber out of a marsh to devour some lunch, and my friend Andrew almost getting T-boned by a deer crossing our bike path.
Here are some photos.
(Above...cactus were in bloom)

My crappy, photo of a wild turkey. You don't have to believe it...but I know what I saw.

This sign made me laugh as well as gave me the chills.

This Blue Heron flew off just in time. Note the alligator to its immediate right.

Full, content and sunning.

Somehow, this was pretty amazing. Backwoods Florida at its best.

-He Said

I'm back!

2008-04-27T21:08:00.000-04:00

And broke, but that's another story.

So I've spent the last few months traveling and writing and scrambling to meet deadlines and squandering my quite expensive gym membership. My dream of a 5k was fast fading away, until a friend recommended the book Three Months to a 5k. I've just succesfully finished week 1, which means I'm only 11 weeks and 44 sweaty dates with the treadmill away from the finish line ...

Does anyone else get really itchy when they do cardio? Maybe I'm just allergic to excercise.

Around the world in two minutes...(kind of)

2008-03-16T11:59:00.000-04:00

Ms. Ariel and I are planning our next vacation for this summer. We're not sure where it will be? Considering the down and out dollar bill is worth little internationally, we might stay close to home this year. We'll see.

I was flipping through our photos of the last four summers of tripping. I found some good ones and I thought I'd share (plus I need some inspiration to work on my current paper for class).

Some were shot by he, some were shot by she.

Enjoy.

-He Said

The Isle of Skye. Scotland.
Gledalough, Ireland.
London Bridge.
Rock of Cashel, Ireland.
Naples, Italy.
The Parthenon. Athens, Greece.
The Blue Mosque. Istanbul, Turkey.
Rhodes, Greece.
Mykonos, Greek Isles.
Surfing in the middle of the city. Munich, Germany
No mans land, Ireland.

Tulsa's finest!

2008-03-14T19:12:00.000-04:00

Bikerfox Movie Trailer Bicycle Dancing Queen from BikerFox ® on Vimeo.

Tulsa, Oklahoma's finest. Motivational speaker, bike stunt extraordinaire, and all around badd-ass. Look out for his movie in 08...Biker Fox!

Tallahassee: Florida Panthers, Confederate civil war graves, and dozens of police saying "you can't do that here."

2008-03-08T10:44:00.000-05:00

“Hey Matt, I think you just drove through wet paint.”
I walk out of the coffee shop, Ty’s hanging halfway out of my car, his torso hovering over a puddle of fresh, white house paint.
“I think we have a problem here…”
Thursday, February 28th, 10:30pm, Gainesville, Florida. It’s about 40 degrees. For the next hour, me and my friends Ty Stuyvesant and Mark Mulville scrub white paint off of my rims, tires, and wheel wells. By 11:30pm our wet hands are frozen, we’re tired, and we still have to finish the 2-1/2 hour drive northwest to meet up with another group of friends; Chad Degroot, Dave McDermott, Jeff K., and Brian Kachinsky.
This wasn’t the best way to start our weekend trip to Tallahassee.

(Check out my new white wall tires...beautiful)

About an hour away from Tallahassee the coffee is wearing off. I keep asking Mulville to tell me stories so I have a reason to stay awake. Off in the distance on the side of the road, my headlights reflect off of two marble sized objects. As we get closer, those marble reflections become the two eyes of an animal runs against us. Mark screams “Did you see that?” waking Ty up from the back seat.

I turn to Mark, “I saw it too…looked like a Florida Panther to me.”

For the rest of the ride to Tallahassee, Mulville and I revel on the possibility of what we saw. Spotting a Florida panther today is as likely as winning a million dollars on a scratch off ticket.

(Me in front of the Capital building wondering when our governor is going to come out of the closet)

By 1AM we roll past the capital building and into our motel room. Three days in Tallahassee; here we go.

A little background on Tallahassee:
1.It’s the capital city of Florida.
2.It’s probably the hilliest section of Florida offering up plenty of rails, ledges, and stairs for us to ride.
3.It’s the only big(ger) city in Florida that is reminiscent of the South.
4.There are two, huge Universities: FSU and FAMU. Both campuses have a ton of stuff to ride, but also have heavy security to stop you from doing so.
5.It has a dialed cement park. But like most skate parks in Florida, “no bikes allowed.”

(A really, really old and wild shaped live oak near downtown)

Friday morning we woke up and immediately pedaled into downtown to check out some spots and get some breakfast. By noon, we headed onto FSU campus. And within 10 minutes, FSU police had kicked us out and warned of arrest on our return. This cat and mouse game went down at the capital building, the stadium, under a random overpass, and finally at some federal building on the outskirts of town. By 5pm, we were kicked out of 5 dialed spots. In desperation to have a decent session, we headed to the skatepark in hopes that we wouldn’t get the boot.

On arrival, the park was packed. We loaded out and hung out in the bleachers like a bunch of vultures waiting for some spare carrion. Slowly we made our way in to shmooze with the locals. Rule of thumb: At an anti-bike-park, It’s always good to butter up the locals. Be friendly, ask questions, get permission to ride…this always seems to work. Well, at least it worked for us on that Friday night. We got a good three hour session in which pulled us out of a trip slump.

From then on we were pretty motivated and the weekend ended up producing some pretty unique (possibly) untouched spots on the fringe of the city.

(I just recently learned the difference between "cabbage" and "Washingtonian" palms. These are cabbage palms. In celebration of my new knowledge, I jump between two)

(Old city cemetary and dozens of unmarked, confederate civil war graves)

(Ty tabling out of an unrideable transition behind someone's apartment while I film in the blazing hot sun)

(The infamous witch grave of Tallahassee...old Bessie with Mulville as a model)

(Chad Degroot. Roof hop at FAMU minutes before we got kicked out by security)

-He Said

Fish Eating Creek

2008-02-23T16:43:00.000-05:00

On Friday afternoon, the big boss man let me leave work an hour early so I could head down to Fish Eating Creek (a private nature preserve about 120 miles from Tampa near Lake Okeechobee)...a trip sponsored by the Florida Studies program at USF. At 3pm, I took off from St. Pete and drove through the little towns of Myaka and Arcadia, arriving at my destination at about 6pm. By that time it was getting dark and the mosquitoes were ready to feast.

On walking up the path that lead into the sanctuary, I was surprised when my friend Sean rolled up on this swamp buggy to pick me up. Homemade, this beast got her done in the mud. Its drive shaft had broken earlier in the day but was somehow miraculously fixed by our host and guide, crazy Bob.

After about 15 minutes of rolling through muck and swamp, I arrived at the camp fire and our motel for the evening...picture a giant shed, walled with mosquito netting, a makeshift kitchen, and about a half dozen bunks. This would be the first time I've slept outside since I was 12.

After some really good food and even better conversations around the campfire (as well as finding out that one of the twelve guests with us was Susan Surandon's brother), we headed to bed at about midnight. At this point, the reserve was dead silent except for the sporadic, eerie hoots of barn owls.

At about 7am, everyone woke up to some breakfast and coffee over the fire. Soon after, we took off for a pretty long walk through the woods. Not far from camp, we discovered this saw palmetto above. This palmetto species only grows about a centimeter a year. Granted the size of this one in particular, we're looking at about a 250 to 300 year old plant.

Through the reserve, Cypress knees were a dime a dozen. At one point I was certain that my clumsiness was going to send me to my death atop one of these bad boys...I was wrong, luckily.

On our walk there were many sloughs to cross. Most of them had makeshift bridges to span the water. This was the most aerobic of the lot. Here is one of my professors (Dr. Mormino) making it happen...this guy knows an ungodly amount of information about Florida.

Sour orange and lemon trees were found at random throughout the reserve. Most of them were pretty deep in the bush. Legend has it that early Spanish settlers planted them. Too bad they weren't concerned with taste...these things were terrible.

I had to snap this shot on our way out. This is Fish Eating Creek. Pretty breath-taking...I felt pretty lucky to have experienced its remoteness.

Thanks to Dr. Mormino for the invitation. And thanks to crazy Bob and Sean for picking me up in the swamp beast. If not, I would have had filthy feet after walking through the muck. If you didn't know, filthy feet are on my top five list of things I can't deal with...Yes, I'm an odd one.

-He Said

thank you, garmin

2008-02-10T22:31:00.000-05:00

I only have a few things to say about this weekend. The best part--second even to the Moroccan shiskabob at Casbah or the yummy vegan cobbler from Sentient Bean--was that Matt and I only had ONE fight all weekend. This lack of fangs is exceptional for two reasons:

We were both incredibly tired. I stayed up until 5 AM finishing that paper, and Matt had a really stressful work week.
Traveling brings out the worst in us. I can be a control freak, preferring to plan where my next 4 meals are coming from. And at what times those meals will occur. And where'll we'll park when we get there. Matt, on the other hand, responds to routine change by devolving into preteen Matt, who is easily overwhelmed and highly defensive. (Come to think of it, though, this is perhaps an evolution, as Matt outside his comfort zone used to turn into toddler Matt. That version threw fits and then needed naps. Preteen Matt is much better.)

What can we thank for our near perfect calm? Behold:

That blurry thing is a Garmin, a GPS system that Matt's mom recently gave him. We will never travel without it again.

--She said

Savannah, Georgia.

2008-02-10T21:23:00.001-05:00

So last Thursday night we packed up the car and headed to Savannah. Ariel was presenting a paper at a writing center conference, a paper she was fooling with until minutes before it was to be presented. On Friday, not only did she get it done in time, but it read extremely well and she did a great job presenting it. When in comes to writing, Ariel makes it happen with precision. This was my third conference as her personal assistant, and the third time I left with a smile on my face being quite the proud boyfriend.

On Saturday, after the conference, we headed down to the old town which dates back to the late 18th century. Based around 24 town squares set up in a grid, Savannah is quite possibly the biggest historic city in the states. Although there is plenty of interesting stuff to check out (including too many tours to choose from), we settled on only one historic tour, spending the rest of our time meandering on foot through dozens upon dozens of streets covered in oak and smothered with picturesque spanish moss. The city forces you to relax ... and we needed it.

Here are some photos we snapped while walking through the city...

Forsyth Park. Created in the early 18th Century. There are two of these fountains...the other one is in France.

Again, Forsyth park. A monument to some dead dude. There's a lot of dead people in this city with plenty of monuments to commemorate them.

Palm trees look good anywhere. Every city needs some.

A prison for Union soldiers was built under this oak tree during the Civil War. The tree, according to it's plaque, is 270 years old. Many Savannahians think the South will rise again. I hate to break the news to them ... it probably won't.

Ariel likes to splurge on food. After that conference, she needed a reward. This was probably the best salad at one of the best coffee shops we've visited. (Behind this building was where the 8th Airforce formed--wikipedia it, they were pretty interesting.)

Every street in Savannah looked like this ... Seriously amazing.

Overall, it was quite the relaxing trip. If you're ever heading up or down I-95 and can afford to take a couple hours break, Savannah won't let you down.

-He Said.

Happy Anniversary, Mr and Mrs. ___

2008-01-27T21:36:00.000-05:00

This year my parents celebrate 34 years of marriage. I was going to post an adorable picture of them in celebration, but since both are extremely paranoid that revealing anything about themselves on the internet will result in identity theft, nay, a made-for-TV kidnapping, I will instead relate a CIA quality Top Secret version: After we exchanged ______ at my _____, we went to ______ and enjoyed lots of ______. And here's a dramatic reenactment of what Mr. and Mrs. ___ look like, with some slight airbrushing to keep their identities secret.

Happy anniversary, ___ and ___!

--She said

Destination: he could have known

2008-01-25T22:26:00.000-05:00

While Matt spent an hour and a half driving around Ocala trying to find a Staples, his brand new GPS system sat safely in his room. In case he ever needs directions to the kitchen.

--She said

Destination: I don't know.

2008-01-25T21:10:00.000-05:00

This is one of my best pals, Kieran Walsh. We have a history of going on random, wild trips together. So when he called me and asked if I wanted to head up to the historic Dade Battlefield, I couldn't refuse. "See you at 6am" he said. On a Saturday? Ouch.

Before the battlefield, Kieran took us to this junkyard in Inverness. Why the owner dude bought a missle, I'm not sure. In the back of the place was a motorcycle graveyard. Kieran was like a kid in a candy store. Fortunately, the stuff was over priced or I would have been helping Kieran load some of this crap into his pickup.

A mine. No expalanation. But if I owned a junkyard, I would have bought two of these.

This natural cathederal is on the way out of Inverness. Finding roads in rural Florida with arching Grandfather oaks is a real treat. We don't see this enough.

We got lost because both Kieran and I have a terrible sense of direction. After leaving Inverness, we ended up 20 miles south, somewhere close to Dade City. On a rural route, Kieran spotted some cages down in a ravine. We stopped, snooped around outside of some barbed wire gate and got close enough to snap some shots of what we saw. First, some testy baboons. These things were not stoked to be in a cage.

Next to the baboons was a black panther--the first one I have seen. Another animal not pleased to be caged--the poor thing was walking in circles.
After snooping around for a bit, we checked out about a dozen white-tailed deer, a black bear, and some Spider Monkeys. We were drawn to a deep bellowing noise coming from somewhere in the back. After about 15 minutes, some guy rolls up in a car to ask what we were doing--he thought we were trying to jump the fence. Satisfied with our explanation, he told us that the place was a private animal rescue that had just opened about five months ago. . . and the bellowing was from a lion.

Although we never made it to the battlefield, missles, mines, rednecks, and exotic animals were a much better substitute.

I want to thank Kieran for driving and always being down for random adventures. Many more to come...

-He said

He said he wouldn't get mad

2008-01-22T21:27:00.000-05:00

if I razzed him on the blog. So I'm taking his offer of immunity to point out his grammar gaff: Ariel and me, not Ariel and I! I sometimes wonder if he does that on purpose to drive me insane. Like when he says, where's the cat at? Why the at? Who needs the at? Stop the madness!!!

Also, you've got to be joking about working out to that video. That's our wedding dance, dude.

--She said

The ultimate work out mix!

2008-01-21T22:53:00.000-05:00

We have found the ultimate work out mix. Wamm? No. Boy George? Maybe. Michael Jackson? Real close. Imagine Ariel and I, on a Sunday afternoon, learning the dance moves off this video. Behold, Indian Thriller:

accountability

2008-01-09T10:23:00.001-05:00

I'm a stressball. People who don't know me very well probably can't tell how crazy I am, but my friends and family know how insanely intense I get. More so than any vitamin deficiency or hormone imbalance, strees is probably the major cause of my migraines and meltdowns. Last year (and with Matt's financial assistance--thanks, baby!), I joined a gym to try to keep some of that stress from tearing my face off. I don't go as much as I'd like to, but I've discovered that I really like cardio as a way to take the rough edges off. I mean, who has the energy (or salt) to cry over a $600 car repair after a butt-kickin' spin class? So why did it take me so long to figure out that not only can I actually do cardio, but also that I like it (or at least its effects?). Because I'd never really been to a gym before! Turns out all I needed was central air, music videos with skinny pop stars shimmying around (and by that I mean Iggy Pop and David Bowie during their heyday), and no worries about getting hit by a car to bring me over to the sweaty side. Also, I love that no matter what I do, I'm never going to fall off my stationary bike, no matter how hard I ride. Maybe I can learn to take care of myself after all ...

So I thought to keep me going I'd try to run in my alma mater's 5k in the fall. It's no marathon, but it's still a good goal. Last night it took me 48 minutes to jog/walk 5k. Women my age were running it in TWENTY MINUTES. Now there's a goal. Gulp. I've posted my new favorite song to sweat my guts out to. If anyone's reading, give me some suggestions for songs to jog to. Preferably something that will help me forget I'm a wimp.

--She said

My lovely Tampa...

2008-01-07T17:45:00.000-05:00

I just took my friend John to the airport today. He spent 8 days in Florida, more than half of those in Tampa. Being bike riders by trade, it is our duty to travel to cities far away to scour for "spots." The term "scour" in the bike world entails pedaling through all the nooks and crannies of any given city to find optimal places to ride--so called "spots."

Yesterday, John and I covered all of downtown and Ybor. Even though I've been riding this area since the early nineties, new spots (usually due to construction) will always pop up anew. Beyond the act of riding, traveling through the city-scape of Tampa always proves to me why I love this little neck of the woods so much. In perfect, winter cooled air, John and I checked out the campus at U.T. with it's Russian minarets, Tampa Theatre with its 1930's facade still in tact, the giant ships in Port of Tampa (I always revel in the thought of something that massive being built to float), and the old, red brick Cigar factories of Ybor.

So unique is this town. I can never get enough...and neither can John--he's flying back to New Hampsire into 3 feet of snow. Sorry man.

-He Said.

Sticky fingers

2008-01-06T21:05:00.000-05:00

School is back in session tomorrow, so I'm gearing myself up by eating my body weight in delicious, diminuitive Clementine oranges. Normally I hate eating fruit I have to peel myself or that makes my fingers sticky (I'd probably eat everything with a fork if I could), but somehow getting these wee things all over me and under my nails doesn't bother me.

Go get your own box before I eat them all!

--She said

Caution, Alligators!

2007-12-31T22:02:00.001-05:00

So Saturday ending up being a pretty eventful/adventerous day for the two of us. Our friends' Candi and Andy decided to take us on a little bike ride through Payne's Prairie south of Gainseville. After bouncing on the bed like a child, my extreme annoyance worked well in getting Ariel up at 9am and on the road. By 10:30am, the four of us were pedaling adjacent to Payne's Prairie. Within five minutes I saw about 3 wild turkeys. The excitement of spotting them would have lasted me all day until Andy pumped up the jam and took us to a succesion of sinkholes with this plaque protecting the entrance. Ariel and I were pretty freaked out by the sign, but even more so when we saw a pile of bull alligators wading in the water while some sunbathed on land.

Northern Florida and the whole state of Georgia is suffering from a serious draught. Notice the sinkholes are pretty low, filled with black, evil looking brackish water. To make things even more morbid, we got word that the alligators (due to a low food supply) have been resorting to canibalism.

Here is a photo of a Blue Heron. The picture does not justify the size of this bird. I would have snapped a closer picture but he wasn't stoked on us hanging around his tree and quickly flew off.

After pedaling a good ten miles, we came across this look out onto Payne's Prairie. This shot defines why I love Florida so much. Beautiful expanse.

After our bike ride we headed out to the "Treehouse" (Ariel's parents). In route we found this creepy looking goat on the side of the road behind a fence. He was not interested in me but seemed to have the hots for Ariel. Check out that wild tuft of chin hair...That's the epitome of a "goatee."

-He Said.

My parents are ruining my cat

2007-12-26T15:10:00.001-05:00

Matt's been pouting for the last week because I haven't posted anything (I guess my first post didn't count). I reminded him that I don't have any stories to tell b/c 1) I'm not a good storyteller and 2) I never go anywhere save for the grocery store and school. I could regale you with stories about students who don't do show up to class and turn in gibberish for essays and then grumble when they see their D ... but, really, does anyone want to hear that? But, Matt reminded me, don't you have a cat who's always doing uncharacteristic cat things, like play fetch or Sudoku? I groaned, I'll be a crazy cat lady! I don't want to be that girl! Matt just sighed, and I felt terribly guilty that I was ruining his blog. So I'll try.

How, you ask, are my parents ruining my cat? Because they spoil him rotten! Don't get me wrong, I certainly appreciate them watching him while I visit Matt in Tampa, but not only do they let him stay up all hours of the night (dire consequences for my sleep schedule), but they also feed him about 300 treats a day. Each. And one thing I love about my cat is how skinny he is b/c he looks like a goofy little Barbie horse galloping around the house. Will he still be able to play fetch and gallop if he's a big fatty?

Master Marmalade, before his visit to my parents' house:

Master Marmalade, after a 5-day stint at Chez Gunn:

But I guess that's the punishment I get for not giving them grandchildren.

--Ariel

Closure...

2007-12-25T09:06:00.000-05:00

Back in 2001, I spent three semesters in class (as a non-degree seeking student) deciding if I wanted to start graduate school. By the Spring of 2002, I decided to take an indefinite break to concentrate on my new career (which included plenty of travelling with my bike--I couldn't ask for more, really). But, through that period of time, the desire to go back to school has haunted me. That was the case until this past Fall when Ariel discovered that USF offered a graduate program in Florida Studies. Like a kid in a candy store, I jumped at the opportunity to mill around through the study of Florida's people, places, literature, and history--I've always wanted to figure out why I love this damp, humid, sometimes unbearbable swamp state.

Now, the Fall semester has now come to a close. It ended last week as I finished my first Seminar paper on the history of Sunken Gardens in St. Pete (an amazing botanical garden that was initiated in 1903). The project took about 25 hours of research and 57 hours to write (How do I know this? I'm a nerd and kept time). Yesterday, to experience some closure, Ariel and I dropped by the park briefly to take some photos. I brought my video camera along (not really the best for still shots)and took some wide angle photos to capture sections of the park's vast foliage. If anyone is in the area and would like a tour, I now know an absurd amount of information about this place...
Ariel and a Bismark Palm.
Behind me is a row of 104 year old Cuban Royal Palms.
Across the street from the Gardens is Crescent Lake and this amazingly huge Banyan tree.
Crescent Lake.

-He said.

Alcohol: The instant best friend factory.

2007-12-21T20:56:00.000-05:00

Today was the Profile Racing (my job) holiday party. Once the food was laid out, I indulged in veggie sandwiches, piles of chips with cranberry salsa, soy nog, and the abstaining from alcohol for my 30th year. But while I ate, many of my co-workers got hammered, which is always enjoyable to watch.

Today is the only day out of the year where we don't fight like a dysfunctional family. The more beer that was pounded, the more cordial everyone becomes.
This is Scooter. He loves to insult my existence daily from 7:30am to 4pm. But today, even though he's raising his fist at the camera in anger, we're good buddies at about 5 beers down his tubes.

This is Jack, our head machinist. At about 7 beers, he's glassy eyed and loving dispite his usual complaints about my work ethic. And in between giving me hugs today, he actually kissed me on the cheek and picked me up like his new bride on wedding day.

Four days off. I'm not complaining. Back to the grind of receiving plenty of invective on Wednesday.

-He said.

Before Ariel posted her first entry

2007-12-20T22:12:00.000-05:00

She went through and copy edited Matty's posts. That one detail sort of sums up her entire personality.

(Note to Matty: I didn't shorten either of them--imagine the restraint this required.)

Highwaymen... is this a coincidence?

2007-12-18T20:48:00.000-05:00

She said that I should take off early Sunday morning from Gainesville so I could make it down to the Florida Antiques show at Sunken Gardens in St. Pete. About 10am I took off, making it to the Gardens by about 12:30. Walking through the doors, I passed 4 of the original Highwaymen artists showcasing their work. One, Roy McClendon, sat in the corner. A little, wrinkly and very modest old man, he received my barrage of questions. And in his modesty, my compliments on his work always made him point his finger at his son's pieces instead of his own. His son's beautiful, much more detailed work was a mere fraction of what McClendon, Sr. had to offer. Not only in form and ageless beauty, but in price. At a steep $800, I had to pass on McClendon's work.

Instead, I bought a pictorial history of the Highwaymen. Check out some of their art here: http://thelegendaryhighwaymenartgallery.com/Gallery.htm This is a shortened version of their story:

In the late 50's, a group of African American high school kids near Ft. Pierce, Fl. were recommended by their art teacher to be mentored by a well known landscape painter in town. For the next year or so, the kids were taught art and then sent on their way to practice the painting of picturesque scenes of East Florida. As time went on, the kids got a little older and a little better at this genre of painting so they set out for the shoulder of US 1. And as the highway shuffled tourists down the booming Sunshine State, tourists began buying their art as souvenirs of Florida. Everyone took a liking to the art, so much so that at $10 to $25 a pop, it was estimated that the highwaymen (about twenty total) sold 50,000 to 200,000 pieces over twenty years. But as the '70s rolled in, and technology replaced nature, these paintings (which critics feel had a large impact on the success of tourism in Florida) were tossed up into the attics by those who had forgotten the magic of Florida's sub-tropical oasis.

Fast forward to 1994. Some dude announces the Highwaymen as a unique phenomenon in the art scene. So people start pulling the pieces down out of their attics and before you know it, by 2007, originals are going from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars. The highwaymen craze was put into full effect.

So I, a couple weeks ago, had a decision. Buy: 1. original, or 2. a representational book. I'm on a budget: choice two is a better option.

I leave the antique show, enamored with these artists, hardly able to wait out the trip home to flip through my new book of edenic scenes. The next afternoon, I go riding at the skatepark really late. On leaving at 11pm, I noticed that I had missed 7 calls from Ariel. So I call her back immediately expecting the worst. No emergency--luckily--instead, she tells me to call her mom as soon as possible. I hesitate because of the hour, but in anticipation of a surprise, make the call. Tacie answers and begins to tell me a story of her thrift shopping in Ft. White, Florida. On milling through the piles of forgotten stuff from forgotten people, she stumbled upon 5 paintings of "scenic, Florida art." The lady at the counter wanted $30 for the lot, unfortunately Tacie only had $20. But, the clerk, wanting to get rid of them, settled for $20--fortunately.

So Tacie brings home five pieces of art and calls Ariel to let her know about the find. Ariel, remembering my episode of enthusiasm about the highwaymen a day prior, asks Tacie to read her the signature. It's W. Daniels, who happens to be one of the twenty Highwaymen, the brother to Johnny Daniels (the most prolific of the gang).

Tacie was calling to let me know that one of the pieces was mine... Here it is above. Am I going to sell it? The money wouldn't be worth the years I'll be able to repeat this story of coincidence. Instead, I've got a proud place for it in my dining room. Thanks, Tacie!

First Post: White is the new Black.

2007-12-18T18:08:00.000-05:00

She said that it is imperative not to wash whites with colors. But is it really?

In 2003, I saved up my pennies and bought a house. Not a good one, it was actually pretty shabby. To cover up the "shab" I decorated it with "Shag." Let me rephrase that, I painted my whole house in Shag colors (bright blues, reds, and greens) and accented it with his art. Go here for a sample: http://www.shag.com/ Find the most rediculous print, and that was my house.

In the back of my house was a little shed. It was actually more like an outhouse with a washer and dryer. On opening the door to do my laundry I would have to fight off wolf spiders. No joke. Big ones. With egg sacks on their backs. In that room was where I learned how to do laundry. It was scary for me. Every turn of the knob could mean sudden disaster. Cold, warm, hot water? Lights, colors, darks. Small, medium, full load? Too many decisions. But I pulled through, and every wash came out just fine. For four years since, I've been successful in executing the art of laundry. You might call me a laundress or a launderer? I'd take that as a compliment. Until last night...

As 2008 creeps on the horizon, white shirts have become the new black. I remember telling myself years ago that I'd never wear a white shirt again. Well, I was wrong-I picked up two white shirts recently. Well, they were white until I decided to prove Ariel wrong. I thought to myself, do whites really need their own wash? Of course not, its a myth--bang! My two new shirts in with the colors. Turn the knobs: Medium load, color option, hot water and the washing machine starts washing.

A half an hour later the washing alarm screams done. I put down my coffee, run and open the door, and as if I didn't know the outcome, my white shirts are a faded light blue. Now, the white shirt trend I was to jump on, failed.

But, as I have done in the past with ruined shirts (blood stains, dirt stains, or sweat stains from riding), I fold them up and put them in the closet to be worn the next day.

Sweet.