Skate Camp!

So today was the first day that I got to teach the kids at Mercy Housing skating.  With the help of a bunch of skateboarders around me, we managed to gather enough skateboards for each kid.  Paul and Joey volunteered to help me teach all the kids.  I can' thank everyone who helped enough.  You all managed to give kids who have lived through really rough circumstances be exposed to the activity that has changed all our lives.  Thanks again!

Paul helping unload the boards.

The boards!

We arrived early, so Joey and Paul hucked off this table.  I remember doing this a lot in elementary school.

Joey skating his biggest drop.

Finally, the kids arrived and I had to start acting like an adult.

Me trying to demonstrate an arms length space away from each other, and the kids not listening at all.

Sierra, the program director, took all of these.

Practice in the grass.

More boards.

One foot at a time.

She took to skating so quick.  I was seriously impressed.

Isaiah and Patrick getting into things.

Before we handed out the boards, one of the boys said, "Girls can't skateboard!"  I thought that he might have scared them away, but they were totally down.

Shredding.

We broke the kids into groups of three.

Paul's group.

Joey's group.

Paul had a nice circle going.

Actually getting moving.

You go!

Me trying to keep things semi-organized.

More shredding.

David getting in there.

We had an entire sidewalk and basketball court to work with, but the kids all seemed to want to skate on the same section of sidewalk and run into each other.  Can't explain that.

Justin getting his push on.

Yep.

Mohammed and Isaiah.

Finally wrapped things up with a nice pep talk.

Bye friends!

A major, major thanks to Joey and Paul!

Dogs!

I've been taking Maddie on longer walks lately, loot at how thin she's getting!

Cool and cute!

Then I went to Northglenn park and skated with Luke for a bit.

And then The Shop.

Paul and I skated to Noodles and Company for lunch.

We got the new Thrasher's in, we're the shop of the month!  Very exciting!

Then I went and did my first day of tutoring at Mercy House.  The kids are amazing!  Jackson, a second grader from Nepal, read "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish" to me.  I helped some middle schoolers with their math, which was surprisingly difficult.  They might be tutoring me soon enough!

Then Mason and I went to Sweet Action. Always good.

Corgie!

Books!

Long time since any sort of book update.  Here's what I'm getting into this semester (thus far).

This is my Virginia Woolf stuff for my independent study.  Criticisms, biography, and my two novels of choice (The Voyage Out and A Room Of One's Own).  I wrote the first six pages the other day, progress has been made!

These are the books for my other classes, Political Science and Homer/Virgil.  UnSpun is a really interesting read, especially as our Nation heads into another election.  The book breaks down real political rhetoric used in past elections and demonstrates how both sides manipulated "facts" to present what the want.  Ultimately, the book is making me realize that I need to broaden my political scope, and possibly even entertain ideas that the other side presents, as tough as that might be.

The Iliad is a classic, but this is the third time I've read it for school.  I'd like to read something new.  But it's still thought provoking; in class today I realized that Kanye West is a modern day Achilles.  It's quite a rant, but if you're interested ask me about the comparison in person.

Boards, Wood, Bridges

I met up with Mason to pick up another board.  It was very nice of him to contribute this board, but even funnier that it's Kahlil's board that has been sitting around since Mason and I lived together.  At least it will get used now.

Then Kenyatta gave me a complete and a bunch of product. Thanks buddy!

After that I went to Vitamin Cottage and got a delicious vegan pasta and a Hansen's soda.

Denver Park!

When I got out of my car, I dropped my water bottle that I've been using for months.  It exploded all over my feet and broke. Bummer wave.

Onto The Shop.

We loaded up Cory's car with wood for DU ditch.  Scott sat on top of the wood during the ride over.

J Greer's board went into the water before the bridge was even built.

Wood!

Like a bridge over troubled water...

After skating, I met up with Tyler Haberkorn and Keith to get more skate stuff.  Tyler complained they aren't any photos of me on the blog, so he took one.

Then I got dinner with the illusive Jason Clark.  Quite a treat.