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Weather:
Relentless.
This winter dragged on for far too long. I’m glad it’s a memory. In a month the pipe shattering polar vortex will be completely forgotten and long sleeves will be tucked away to hibernate.

A few things worth checking out:
– I know it’s sold out but the Red Skate mag project is great. Amazing work all around.
– Nico’s Postcard shirt is perfect for the crisp spring days.
– Steve makes amazing drawings.
– Jay recently put out a xereox Street Canoe supplement zine. Inspiring as always.
– Justin has been steadily adding offerings to the Pillowy Cloud store.
– A bunch of solid folks started a podcast to talk about skateboarding. They call it Vent City.
– Finally I made an instagram for my new wild shirt wearing cat. Please give Little Pancake Man a visit if cats are your thing!

So….

As I mentioned earlier winter really dragged on.

It seemed like any time it warmed up it was on a week day.

Or it rained.

Or snowed.

I did make it down to Arizona for the annual Sweet Crew trip.

Nothing but love for everyone who came and all the Arizona people who took time to show us around especially Tim, Buzzy and Dylan.

I didn’t film anything there and I didn’t take too many pictures.

I also went to NYC briefly to celebrate Tash and Jason’s wedded bliss.

I was delighted by pizza and snow and walking too much and seeing too much and unfortunately not having enough time.

So I guess winter wasn’t all terrible.

I probably worked too much.

But that seems to be fairly typical.

I also planned out some projects for the rest of the year.

After two years of short seasonal Signal vids I’m starting to work on a longer offering.

It’ll probably include all the usual suspects and be a little different.

Not reinventing the wheel just expanding on some concepts.

If you want to film some tricks for it get at me.

I’m still working on a long form animation piece.

Progress is slow and sporadic but continues nevertheless.

I’m still cutting up paper and making collages.

I don’t have an endgame with it. It’s just fun to do.

After a small run of Signal shirts I’m working on some more small runs of blockprinted clothing.

I’m learning more about fabric, needles and thread. Possibilities.

So beyond this year I’ve also been thinking about what happens after that.

What’s next?

What’s the goal?

How can I better in the world?

How can I be a better person?

These are huge questions and they can be overwhelming.

Most days I just try to think about what’s for dinner and what time I should get to bed to get enough sleep to feel mostly rested.

Even those easy questions give me trouble.

I never get to sleep at the right time.

Dreams get interrupted by the alarm clock.

Last night I dreamt about skateboarding in the rain.

So in the midst of all this immediate and long term philosophical hand wringing I think I came up with something.

I figured out the answer of what I want to do with my life.

What I want to be when I grow up.

Let’s be honest, I’m grown and old now.

I want to be an enthusiast.

It’s kind of a catch-all but you can add it to most things.

I’m not a photographer, I’m a photography enthusiast.

I would never feel comfortable introducing myself as an artist but I would certainly say I’m an art enthusiast.

I have no formal culinary training but I certainly love to cook and eat and celebrate enthusiastically.

I’m not sure that this revelation answers any questions.

And even if I’d like to I don’t think I can hand someone a resume with the title “enthusiast” as the only skills and experience.

I guess I could get a business card that said enthusiast.

I’m not sure who I would give that card to or why I would need it.

I also realize that if someone told me this the cynic in me would want to snicker.

No big deal.

I like it.

It would be good for an obituary.

That’s all I got as far as revelations.

Or deep thinking.

I’m planning on making it out to Portland this year.

Detroit.

Milwaukee.

I’ll shoot some amount of photos.

I’ll lose my temper when I shouldn’t.

I’ll overthink things.

I’ll regret things I’ve said.

I’ll regret things I didn’t say.

There will be pizza.

Grilled foods.

Curbs and tacos.

Minigolf.

Miko’s Italian ice.

So much to look forward too.

A whole city and society and culture and world to actively interact and participate in.

I can’t wait to get involved.