dead old blog

I mentioned before that I have started trying to lose weight. Well, for a while it seemed that delving below 209 pounds seemed challenging (every time I would come close, my weight would shoot back up to 212 overnight and it would take 3 days to get it back down) but I have finally conquered 209. My average weight now seems to be 206 (with peaks of 208 and the lowest I've seen at 204.5).

So I imagine I'll stick at this weight for a while then see another average drop to around 200 maybe.

So, that's 10 pounds lost, without too much work really. We were going to the gym every single day, where as now we go two times a week, but I am walking all the time now. Dropping off jeans at Self Edge, or walking to Embarcedaro to get my sellers permit, etc. I'm also eating salads more now, which is really challenging... Most salads seemed designed for two people and cost $10. That sucks for someone who wants to get a nice salad by themselves over lunch.

One thing that I've noticed is how much drinking affects weight. I mean I knew about it before, but jesus, I can totally see it now.

Please note, my blog has moved to www.DocPop.org/blog Check it out for my newest writing. Please don't link to this blog entry, you can use http://www.docpop.org/2007/07/29/40-ounces-of-denim.html instead.



I went to Zeitgeist friday night with Emma and her friend Poncho. Avoiding my usual rules, I mixed different alcohols. Starting with an order of 3 shots of Fernet and a bottle of nigori sake, then a shot of whiskey and some of Poncho's tequila. I think there is probably a rule that anybody named Poncho has to have tequila on their person. Did you know Poncho is short for Francisco? Sort of a Bob/Robert thing. Hmm... I live in San Pancho? That works.

Anyways, the tequila was followed by Purple Hooters shots, and then I walked home. Needless to say, Saturday morning was rough. Actually, Saturday afternoon was rough, I woke up at 12:30, then decided to go back to sleep and get rid of my headache. I finally woke up at 4 and, after a bowl of ramen with egg, decided to make the worlds dopest selvage beer cozy.

It's sexy ain't it? Even cuter than my coffee cozies. The bottom is leather.









update: Thanks for checking out my coffee cozy. Please note that my blog has moved to DocPop.org/blog. Click here to see some of my newer crafts (and denim related projects). Or check out my Etsy account at www.DocPopCrafts.com!

Labels: Self Edge denim raw Samurai blue jeans selvage

My first skating injury.

Tried dropping in on my first half pipe and did this. The ramp was covered with sheet metal and hella slippery.

Pretty much ruined my skating career.

10 years later, I got the urge again, so I bought some new inline skates and successfully dropped in to a 8 foot bowl.

... but, since it was my first day skating in a decade, I hadn't redeveloped my skating muscles yet and, I swear to you, I got stuck in the bottom of the bowl and had to be pulled out. A 25 year old, overweight inline skater at a minneapolis skate park... being literally pulled out of a bowl by three 16 year olds.

While recently blogging about the City Museum, the coolest/most dangerous place in the midwest, I realized that they were missing something. They have plenty of holes, rebar tubes, hulking devices and 3 story tall slides, but what they are missing are some mascots. Faces to slap on stickers or shirts, people in giant foam costumes, something to animate, this is what I want to see at a theme park, so I got to work on a few designs.

Meet Snaps, Johnny, and Finn. The Father/Spirit/Holy Ghost of St. Louis's City Museum.

Snaps is the epitome of cool. With his hot shades and hella fresh lingo, this foot cast is both hip and relatible to todays youth. Snaps teaches kids not to be scarred of scars or broken bones... Instead, were your injuries with pride, announcing to the world that "I got this at the City Museum".

Johnny is the more huggable and embracible side of the CM mascots. In a politicaly correct world, where museums are full of dull models and demonstrations, Johnny helps thin skinned parents let go of their maternal fears and let their children go wild knowing that, at the end of the day, a band aid can heal all wounds.

Finnegan is the laughable missing finger that teaches kids to continue on in the face of adversity... and not to sue if they should happen to lose any appendages while enjoying a fantastic day at the worlds greatest playground.

I've also been thinking of some updated CM marketing slogans. I'm sure that anyone who has ever really explored the deepest bowels or climbing the peaks of wobbling rebar tubes has paused to reflect on their current situation and said "I totally shouldn't be allowed to do this" followed usually with the thought "This is great!". We are always finding ourselves wanting the very things we can't have, so why not tie that in with the new slogan "The City Museum; You totally shouldn't be allowed to do this!".

This sucks, I'm anxiously awaiting a call about a big gig that I probably won't even get.

I wan't to talk about it, but I always feel so dumb when I've talked about stuff if and then it doesn't happen.

So I, and probably about 20 of my friends, are all checking to make sure our cell phones are one and working and nervously awaiting a call from an 310 area code.

I did a trunk show yesterday called "Mission Indie Mart". I had wallets, cozies, and comics for sale and actually did pretty well. Something interesting happened though, I heard someone refer to a coffee cozy as a "kah-see" instead of a "koh-zee".

About, half an hour later somebody else said it that way too, adding that it was the correct pronunciation. At the end of the day I had noticed 3 people saying "kah-ze", but I found most people that stopped at the table used the "oh" sound.

Then, today I heard someone else use it at Self Edge.

Enough is enough. Look it up. According to Websters-Merriam, and Dictionary.com it is pronounced "koh-zee" (even when the alternate spelling with an "s" is used). Now I'm not saying that "kō'zē" isn't acceptable, it is mentioned as an alternate pronunciation on Dictionary.com, but don't try telling me it's the "correct" way to say cozy.

As most of you know, Shannon and I went to Saint Louis over a week ago. We left on a Thursday and I haven’t slept in San Francisco in 9 days. It’s been terrible, I’m so pissy. Seriously, I was feeling crazy homesick from the second I got off of the BART. I was going to try to do a video blog, but I’ve been crazy busy. Now I’m stuck in east bay traffic, so it seems like a good time to blog.

I went to Saint Louis to judge the Missouri State Yo-Yo Contest. I tend to get hassled by security whenever I fly, so I’m always very diligent about what I bring with me when I travel. I had some liquids and stuff that I had to bring to STL so I checked my luggage with all of that stuff. The security line was crazy long and after I made it through the xray the airport security guards pulled me aside and asked if I was aware that I had a knife in my bag. The knife was a gift from my grandpa. It was his pocketknife, and I have no idea how it managed to get into my bag.

I had to run to another terminal and grab an envelope and a stamp to mail my knife to my home address, then wait in line again. After getting cleared to enter the airport I ran to our gate without even stopping to put my shoes back on. I made it there two minutes before our flight was due to leave. It turns out the flight was half an hour delayed.

We boarded, there was tons of turbulence we arrived at Las Vegas with only a few minutes to run to our transferring flight. Again we ran to the next gate and again the flight was delayed. This time by an hour.

Finally we boarded, more turbulence, then we arrive. Of course my checked baggage was lost. It turns out everyone flying from Oakland had their luggage lost.

I should note that the only yo-yo I brought with me on my carry on luggage was a piece of shit Duncan Freehand Keychain yo-yo. A little novelty yo-yo that I had recently modded for better play, but still… It was a sucky yo-yo to be stuck with for a few days.

We stayed at some friends of Shan’s new house. They had big dogs and tiny pillows. I barely slept. In the morning I met with Chris, the organizer of the yo-yo contest. I told him I barely slept a wink and was stuck with old stinky clothes. I asked him if I could just rest, but he wanted to go to the riverfront and film.

The good parts of the trip involved hanging out with old friends (Josh, Hank Freeman, Rick Wyatt, Takeshi, etc) and anytime spent at the City Museum (the greatest place on earth!). The bad parts were any thing that involved traveling or sleeping or “seeing St. Louis”. Luckily we spent a few hours on Friday climbing around the City Museum.

I don’t remember much about Friday night, a few of us went to a place called “Grille” though. It was a bar with a big restaurant attached to it, but all the lights where off in the restaurant. They assured us they were in fact open, and they even turned some of the lights on for us. It was a fun intimate get together and I got to talk a bit with Russ Andert.

Russ is the guy that makes a yo-yo called the Dert. He’s holy revered man by most Midwesterners and totally a friendly humble guy. He just recently started making a new yo-yo called the Baby Dert which is one of the best playing mini yo-yos I’ve ever played. I’ve got two of them now.

Saturday started early, the judges and organizers got started at around 8am and spent the entire day running the event (until 6pm). Chris had asked me to do a Drown Radio set, which I was really against but did anyway. It was terrible, one of the most awkward shows I’ve ever done, it couldn’t have ended soon enough. It would be nice to do a proper show in an STL club sometime though.

The contestants were great. It’s no surprise that there was tons of talent there. It used to be that only a few cities produced good yo-yoers, but it seems like every contest you go to now, no matter how small, will have at least 5 great yo-yoers that seem to have come out of nowhere.

After the event we spent more time climbing and exploring the City Museum then I headed off to do an interview with Bill Streeter from LoFi Saint Louis. Plans were being made for clubs to hang out at in STL, but then somebody told us that the City Museum was open until 1am on Saturday nights! I lived in there for a year and never realized that the City Museum was open late! We had a blast. Tons of fun. The museum has grown so much over the past 7 years. The was the best night of the trip. Tons of hanging out with old friends and climbing really really dangerous things.

I mentioned I used to live near Saint Louis. It was the worst year of my life. Absolutely, no doubt. Since then, everything that has ever involved STL has been cursed. Flying from SFO to JFK once involved a 30 minute layover in STL that of course turned in to a 10 our delay. Etc.

We spent another day in STL, climbed in the museum more, and pretty much spent the day hanging out with yo-yoers and teaching/learning tricks. Another great memory.

We flew back to Oakland on Monday, more delayed flights more crazy stuff.

When we made it back to the Bay Area, we didn’t head straight home. Instead, Shannon and I had to house site this in-law hippy apartment in Berkeley for 4 days. That sucked.

Here is one label I don't mind being thrown around. It's my Doc Pop red tab craft label. The fine print says "remade in USA" on one side and "docpopcrafts.org" on the other.

I think these labels look great with the denim. San Franciscans can see them in greater detail at Stylerecycled House Party (25th & Guerrero Streets) on Sunday July 22nd from 10-4pm.

I accumulated a lot of new items at The Missouri State Yo-Yo Contest. This is some of it.

Clockwise from left;

Drown Radio signage from my show.

MOYO tag on my Blackspot sneaker.

Louisville Slugger clicker from Rick.

Dert by Russ Andert. Traded for a something something. I love it.

Baby Dert, bought from Chris. First yo-yo I've bought in a long long time.

Baby Dert, traded for a something something. I love the Baby Dert, it's totally my favorite new yo-yo of the year.

MOYO cufflinks. Sterling silver with the date of the event stamped on the back.

Modded trucker hat. With a MOYO pin over the printed logo.

The event was a blast, I saw lots of old friends from my early days in the midwest and did tons of climbing in the City Museum.

Sphere of bonding.

A few weekends ago I helped on the set of the new Geek Entertainment video. The video, which is online now, is a parody of Don't Cha by the Pussycat Girls. The GETV version is all about iPhone envy and is probably their nicest looking music video yet.

While I was on the set I snapped some pics. Note, the "MAC" graffiti that appears behind the dancers on the street was actually part of a huge Mac Dre memorial piece. It was just a pure coincidence that it happened to be on the same street as our warehouse shoot.

Chris from MoYo was cool enough to give me a Missouri State Yo-Yo Contest hat.

I decked it out with a MoYo pin he gave me and also added a matching sterling silver chain where along the top.

It's a killer look, if I do say so myself, and I'm planning on doing my next run of Drown Radio hats in a similar style.

Labels: crafts, yo-yo

I haven't had computer access for a couple of days & it's driving me totally nuts.

Did I get cast for the Mountain Dew commercial? Did my "Doc Pop" clothing labels arrive?

I can't wait to get back to SF to find out. In the meantime I will smother myself with memories from the City Museum and the Missouri State Yo-Yo Contest... but mostly just about the City Museum.

Will update soon.

I did a series of gorilla designs for a possible client the other day. In the midst of the sketches, I whipped out this yo-yoing ape drawing.

This could be considered a work in progress.

I'm very happy with the inks and composition... I guess I might try to color it once I get my lappy back.

It's cute.

Shannon and I have been working out recently. Shan's a member of 24 Hour Fitness and, throughout June, can bring a guest for free. I've been wanting to buy my own membership, I can handle the $24 a month fee, but there is no way in hell I'm going to pay the $90 sign up fee PLUS a bullshit $90 processing fee. On one of our recent visits, we found out that for only $15 extra, a member can sign up to always be able bring a guest. What a deal! So we were going to start paying this month, but it turns out they extended their free guest deal throughout July.

About the closest thing I've ever had to a regular exercise routine would be riding my bike to and from work. I love being my own boss, but I have to admit I miss having a reason to ride for 1-2 hours a day. I've been self employed for about a year now, so when I checked my weight a week ago and saw that I weighed the most I ever had, I wasn't too surprised. I measured in at 216 pounds.

That was the first day we went to the gym, the next morning I weighed in at 214. Then 211 the next, followed by 210, 209.5, 209, then for no reason a spike back up to 214. I understand that there isn't a direct correlation between how much exercise you do, and your exact weight, but I was starting to feel good watching the weight drop steadily then shoot back up. This morning I weighed in at 211.

I guess my goal would be to get back to 180, which was my average weight throughout my 20s. I don't have an exact plan or anything, since I'm sure I would just be disappointed with the results, but it would be nice to lose 4-5 pounds a month. With an hour of exercise a day (burning an average of 500 calories each time) this might be doable.

What other goals do I have? Hmmm... Well, I would like to release my album "2.0" this year. I already have tracks with MC Lars, MC Router, and Cerebral Vortex done recorded, but not mastered. The album will be released only on USB Drive, so I'm still trying to find the PERFECT source for that. I've also recently dug up my old four track. I miss doing my folky-indie stuff, and I might try to release an album of stuff culled entirely off of these old tapes. There is music ranging from 1994 to the 2003. There is some really fantastic guitar stuff on there too.

I'm also hoping to finish another 20 pages in my book (the graphic novel) by the end of the year as well as organize and attend a big 24 Hour Comics day here in SF. I'm already working with 826/McSweeneys on that.

The tailoring is going REALLY well. I've learned so much about this machine so far, and hemming still offers challenges but less often and easier to solve. I've still been working with the denim scraps, in fact I'll be ordering labels for my clothing company today. People seem to love my raw denim coffee jackets, so I've been trying to tweak the design of those.

Speaking of crafts, a bunch of trolls recently found my Vacuum Tube Necklace blog and cluttered it with messages about how wasteful I was being. 'Cause, you know, taking stuff out of the garbage and making it into something that people will want again is a horrendous crime. I don't mind folks who don't like the things I make (because I know that there are many more who do like it), but I hate to see these displays of self righteousness. Every little hobby has pockets of jerks like this that don't try to offer any sort of help or information, but instead lash out at people. Its like the video store clerk in Clerks... Here is some one's only chance to lord their superiority over someone, so they take it. It's the same arragont nonsense I see on hip hop forums, absinthe web boards, and much to often on the yo-yo web boards.

Speaking of yoyoing, The 28 Days of Yo blogging project is all finished. I'm really pleased with it, and the web traffic was through the roof. I only missed two days (when I got my chainstitch machine) too. Now I'm hoping to record a new video in the next two months and I'm considering biking to Nationals this year... If I can get Phil in on it too.