Real Live Space Ship (aka a realization)

Some days, I get frustrated. Human nature. Somethings will seep into your mind and slowly bug you, but you have no idea what that object is.

It happens to me a lot. Lately, I've been able to keep it under control and let is dissipate and dissolve so I don't go all ape shit and let my anger come out in a destructive way. Every now and then it happens where I'm unable to control it and it comes out when I climb (which is odd and I have no clue why). Stupid things like letting go, knowing I can do a certain move and not being able to execute it..those types of things just put unwanted and unneeded pressure on my already shit mood. 

It puts people off and not wanting to be in the place. I hate it. Momentary relapses into my past suck. I used to o it and work hard not to. It's been a big personal struggle of mine for almost a year now. The anger issue has gotten substantially better than last September. I know I have a long ways to go before I'm completely better. But calming down has allowed me to be more positive about my climbing and abilities and to be more realistic about it as well. If you're close to a problem, then your close (I know I have touched this subject more than once, bare with me). If you're not, please don't say you are. It's unrealistic. I don't want to rain on any one's parade. But you have to tell it like it is and not get discouraged. I've stopped climbing with people because of that. I hate that I have, but I have. Climbing alone is fun, and climbing with people who are realistic about their own abilities and such make it more enjoyable for me. That's my personal opinion on the subject. 

Photos

Always remember to stretch

Five Ten

"This man felt the need for speed..."

"...this man also flet the need for speed."

Hawaii on BLU-RAY DVD. It's just like going to Hawaii.

Minus Hawaii.

Don't a be a whiny _ _ _ _ _

Motivation.

It's hard to think of much to write about a subject that, peaks and fades so quickly. Most of my climbing career is spent searching for this almost unattainable item. I really don't want this to sound metaphorical, or some old tired, hippie, horse-shit post. I guess there's a disclaimer for you…

But it's fucking hard to find sometimes. You're trying your projects or you're training. You feel so defeated and weak to get your lazy ass to the start of problems thinking, "I'm getting shut down. DUDE…what the fuck?" It's frustrating trying to climb through a shit session. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you know that it helps you become better. But in the moment, in that little blurb of time and space you forget everything. How hard you've worked to get back to a good mental game and a solid state of mind. Where you aren't cussing all the time and don't feel angry. 

You want to be stronger now and you hate that you can't see yourself getting stronger. 

It's only when you climb with others you haven't climbed with for a good amount of time, can you appreciate their words of, "You're pissing on that move," "You're climbing really strong." Having someone you respect within climbing and consider a trustworthy friend tell you things of that nature (and also call you out) is pretty fucking rad (read at your risk children). 

It also CREATES motivation (at least for me it does). I've come to a realization that taking a week long trip and only climbing twice while on that trip was the best time off ever. I wasn't angry, I didn't say the word fuck once (even I'm puzzled at that one). I can now reflect on how psyched I was to come back and GET stronger for my projects I have outside. 

So here's some tips for you people who think rest is bad and you get weaker when you don't climb 5 days on…

#1 TAKE REST DAYS/WEEKS. You aren't some freak of nature that can climb five days on. You will fail and fall. Rest god dammit.

#2 Climb with people stronger than you, but don't compare your self to them.

#3 Try harder moves than you're doing. Get uncomfortable bitches.

#4 It's just climbing. It's not YOUR job (unless you're a professional at this). Don't take it way too seriously. You're climbing rocks…outside…probably with a bunch of dudes, rolling around in the dirt on three inches of foam. How does that make climbing sound? Not that serious anymore I bet (dumbass)…

#5 Don't be a negative nancy. Or better yet a whiny W _ _ _ Y. You can fill in the blanks.

Those are my top 5 tips

Mini Top 5

Tonight was a really good plastic pulling/perseverance training night. I read THIS post about "1-6-3" when training. It's seems pretty true. One our of ten days of workouts will be fucking amazing. Six of them, nothing special. And three are the days everything is hard as shit and you feel weak. It's something interesting to think about.

Anyways, my goal to climb everything in the cave just got a major push in advancement, thanks to Chris Bloch. I showed up late for a session, only knowing I wanted to do the black ten in the cave. As I walked up to the gym, seeing his van got me psyched, knowing I'd be able to climb with someone else. And I actually enjoyed warming up on the North Boulder set, despite having been shut down completely last time I tried the problems.

We stepped into the cave and I put the problem down...first try of the night. Muscle memory at it's finest. Not wanting to end the session, Chris got me psyched on this white eight (if you watched the video, it's #5) with a dyno that gets you close to horizontal. A couple of times I supermaned out and feel face first onto the mat. One of the falls shot me back 4ft. out of the cave face down. It was so rad.

The moral of this post is: perseverance pays off
and...
You gotta bring the fire. Bring the passion.

THANKS FOR READING!

LA Cliché Promo Video

LA CLICHÉ PROMO 2010 from Cliché Skateboards on Vimeo.

HELLA tight.

I might die, but not today.

I really don't know how to update anymore. It is demotivating to try and think of something, potentially boring to read, to come up with. I don't really do much with my days. I forget to take pictures during the day and don't think what happens is very interesting day to day. I mostly sit around till I want to climb (on climbing days) or ride my bike around. That's…about all that happens.

Sometimes, I get an idea to write about or form my own opinion about. But mostly, I keep to myself. There have been day I haven't said a word, not opening my mouth. I guess that's interesting sometimes. How can one not say anything during the day? No human interaction for one helps. You don't have people around you that do (in your opinion) dumb things. 

For example, I was on my bike yesterday on College going up towards Claremont. I had an AC Transit bus on my left side. Up ahead a car was backing in to a parking space, possibly 100ft in front of me. I was approaching the car on the drivers side, when all of a sudden, the drivers door opens quickly.


Spilt second thinking!


I swerved left then back right to avoid hitting the door AND the bus. Wanna see your life flash before your eyes (as the cliché goes)? Try that scary shit.

Bridges Route Setting Update 9/7

Usually, I'm not this exhausted after a setting day, but I tried to climb yesterday afterwards since I wasn't tired yet. I think it might have worked because I'm still exhausted.

Yesterday was the first time we reset the rope walls at Bridges. We've done this maybe twice since the gym was open. It only gets touched by the kids and birthday parties. It's one of the quickest things to set surprisingly. Yes, this is a bouldering gym but we have a small top-rope wall (small enough you can solo it, but the staff gets on your ass if you do that) to appeal to birthday parties.

The front of the wall, about 20ft. tall

Finished set

As we finished, Ben Eastman and Ethan Pringle showed up to do some climbing there

Ethan Pringle

So come in and climb at Bridges. We'll be taking about 3 weeks off from setting so whatever you're projecting will be up for a while. Hopefully that motivates you to go and do them quickly so you can enjoy the weather outside

"Dude, what the fuck?"

Mistakes are, highly likely to happen DAILY within life. Small ones, mid-size, and the ever shitty big ass huge mistakes (then there's the deadly mistakes, but that's an entirely different level).

Some you can correct easily. Some so minor that by simply saying, "It's completely my fault that this happen, I made the mistake. No one else," works. It helps you learn that what you did wasn't the the best choice and you (hopefully) learn not to make the same mistake twice.

Other type of mistakes take time and forgiveness. It doesn't happen over night. The sooner you learn THAT, the sooner you can stop crying and whining about how you're sorry. Sorry is a cop out. Sorry fixes small minuet mistakes.

Also, don't lie about your fuck ups. Don't try to point the finger and blame someone else for what you did. It sucks when someone else is involved in the mistake that is an innocent bystander within the scenario that has unfolded. Thanks to you, they may or may not get a shit storm. It really depends on who created the mishap and how they react to it. I've seen people get shocked and point fingers, not wanting to take blame for their actions. Almost embarrassed by what they did. "My god...did I really do that? I don't want any part of this shit storm," is a rough generalization of what probably goes through any ones subconscious when they're about to point fingers at someone else to blame for their faulty behavior. I've seen it, done it (as I grew up but quickly learned not to do that bullshit anymore), and been on the receiving end of finger pointing. It sucks. it's like winning the worst game show in history. You mess up and don't want to be caught with the blame. What do you do? If you're a spineless piece of shit, you look at the next guy and say, "No it's THEIR fault this happened, not me. I had nothing to do with this. Yes sir, I'm completely innocent."

I call BULLSHIT.

If you hadn't lied right there, and instead owned up to what you created, the person asking for an explanation wouldn't have to go through a run-around of crap and stories and the ever so friendship ruining device we call, drama. And they'll probably respect you better for being able to come clean. It shows integrity and respect towards others. Don't lie to them. Grab a spine and stand up straight.

Otherwise, GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE.

Check out Kyle Luman's photo blog.

KYLE LUMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

I've known this guy since high school. The guy is a talented photographer, skater, and an all around good dude to be around.

So check out his photos and tell him what you think of his products.

No witty title

Ever since I've gotten home Sunday evening, I have been seriously bugged out by my return. My body is still slow from my one week on vacation, I hate wearing shoes after not for a week, my joints and muscles are a lot stiffer here...so many factors I had forgotten about that can make you completely miserable and hate life.

I've also noticed that I tend to get mad over here, a lot more, than where I was. It dawned upon me that I swear a lot more than when I traveled. I was more at ease and comfortable abroad. The airport didn't bum me out, the slowness of people either didn't creep into my head like some infestation of frustration. I didn't experience anger. Only once did it ever almost become a problem, but it quickly and swiftly subsided.  I thought home was here, with friends and climbing. What's going on? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot??

But for now, I'll endure getting used to home while subconsciously wishing I was back on a white sandy beach, enjoying the sun and the ocean breeze. Possibly a cold beer in my hand, contemplating where I will eat dinner after climbing. I'll be in the crowds of people whizzing by me to catch trains, only to run up the stairs to be defeated by the sight of it pulling away. I'll be enjoying my time, not worrying about if I missed out on something (like I used to do before I left).