Author: Tim Pigott

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.

Weather:
I mean it’s winter. You enjoy the days you can and hibernate when you must.

The year just ended so here is a round up of local vids worth your time. Hopefully they will keep you motivated over the winter:
– Deric’s No Cap
– Chucky’s gentle
– Jake’s do you think this is ok
– Chad’s bummmer 3
– Kevin’s What is this? A serenade?
– Segatron’s Trabajando

Please enjoy the latest seasonal iteration of Signal. We found some random spots and spent long days out in the air. In 2019 I plan to try and clean my lens more but I’m not promising anything.

This post is a few days later than I had hoped because I’ve been busy assembling and sending out the holiday package.

This year I highlighted a number of the things I love: skateboarding, public transit, wonderful food, cardboard, block printing. I didn’t get around to a few other elements but sometimes a deadline can answers questions for you and you have to seal it up, apply stamps and throw it in the mail.

As it stands I have a few packages left and some extra calendars and bandanas.

Yell if you’re interested.

Say hello to Little Pancake Man aka Stuart Gremlin. He lives here now and I love him.

He’s the latest addition to our world and while he’s been a challenge it’s certainly worth it in the long term.

The same can be said about this year.

It’s certainly been a challenge.

I should’ve traveled more. Hesitated less. Made more of my time.

And when I wasn’t making the most of my time I should’ve enjoyed that downtime instead of browbeating myself over my inefficiency.

I should try and figure out how other people do it.

Live lives. Find contentment. Find quietness.

Damn this is a pretty terrible read.

Last year I took some pictures I liked. Laughed more than cried.

Spent a reasonable amount of time making things. Ate some delightful foods.

There were lots of amazing nights with friends.

Afternoons with family.

Mornings with cats.

That ones a bit of a double edged swords because most mornings my cats wake me an hour earlier than I’d like demanding to be fed.

But after they get fed I can catch a little more rest and if I’m lucky fall into that heavy short deep sleep.

Come to think of it 2018 was A-O-K all things considered.

I mean there’s was a lot of just awful things happening to the world.

And there are days I’m convinved the world is 110% terrible.

Too much unexpected sorrow, undeserved tragedy, cruelness and rage.

Sometimes it feels like too much.

Today I experienced one of the most simple blissful feelings I can have in my day to day life.

I walked up to the bus stop as the bus was pulling up.

The opposite can happen too.

Sometimes you hustle up the stairs just to watch the doors close and the train pull away from the platform.

I’m hopeful that 2019 will have some of those blissful experiences.

And I’m certain it will probably some of those let downs.

But how I react after that grouchiness or happy rush is something I can control.

I’m going to stay up and try to learn to be better.

At least I’m going to try my best to.

If I forget don’t hesitate to let me know but please be kind about it.

We all need more gentle optimism and enthusiasm in our lives.