Dignity Village

We have had a lot of visitors lately. It's been great having friends come in from VA to skate and make art. One of which is our good friend Johnston Foster who is doing a very large scale installation at the Disjecta gallery space in north Portland. Johnston's work requires large amounts of found plastics and other discarded items. Portland is good at setting things that may or may not be useful out in designated piles in random neighborhoods so we were out and about looking for desired materials. We came across a "yard sale" in the north east as we casually got lost. It looked janky as hell and decided to stop. We pull up and quickly noticed a small fenced in community. As we entered the gates we were slightly greeted by the security of this compound. As direct as possible he question our visit to the community but quickly asked if we wanted a tour. Johnston and I looked at each other and I thought he would ketch how large and wide eyed i was, which in eye contact language is lets get the fuck out of here before we get killed by some hobos. We did not share that moment. Johnston agrees with a "sure, but also a " what is this place." It's always a good idea to ask where you are before you get murdered just in case one of you gets out and is able to contact the authorities. The security guard told us to stay where we were and he'd find someone to give us a tour.It took a minute for the guard to find someone, during this time i was trying to hint to Johnston that we should just cut out. Yet again there must of been a communication block because we stuck around for around 5 minutes waiting for someone to show up. Her(him?) was named Rocky and the tour began. Rocky showed us about 3 of their structures before we were greeted by a guy named Dave. Dave looked like he had been around the block multiple times. He had a marijuana bandanna on pinning his long gray hair down to his head. He wore aviator sunglasses with a light tent, enough to see how gentle his eyes were. He spoke to us in a way that sounded like he was half way paying attention to what he was saying but his mind was somewhere else. As the tour went on, It was explained that this was a village for people who didn't have homes and wanted to live in a community that is nurturing and safe. Nothing shady could go down at Dignity Village and not be dealt with. I started to realize that the vibe at this place wasn't pathetic or hopeless but inspiring and up lifting and kind of felt ashamed for wanting to leave so quickly. To my credit, within the first steps of our tour we witnessed a guy hitting a couch with a sledge hammer taking it apart for what i guess for the materials. This place used everything. All their houses were built in precarious ways with what ever they could score through donations and what they find. Anything they could get their hands on was useful just like every body that was in the village had to be useful and help the community. They have their own micro government, they make their own rules and regulations. This is something that they could control together and succeed because alone they were too weak. We finished our tour and went on our way. Their pride was the most memorable about the whole experience. That and the couch

Big Ol' Neglect

I'm so sorry people. I feel like I've treated you so wrong and now I must make it up to you all. No no no, it's not okay. For those of you who have followed me with my bullshit comments and what nots i let you down. Got some fuel these days though. Some topics and things and stuffs that I've either observed or just stumbled upon. It was never you, it was me. I just love you so much baby, why can't you see that? I never meant to hit you, twice. Just come back baby! We were meant to be....

Slight old man rant...

This happens from time to time.... but when I go to my local skate park, I just get so annoyed by teenagers. No respect for anyone older than them at all. I figured that they would just get out of my way much like i did for anyone older then me skating when i was a youngin'. This is not the case anymore. I get sassed by kids on a regular basis. I've turned into the "Old Dick". Constantly yelling for kids to move. I just don't want to be injured by someone's negligence. I've been ran into by bikers on several occasions and it fucking hurts. I figure if i don't yell at them they'll never figure out that they are a nuance. plus they are so worried about their hair and cloths that they are a danger to me and themselves. jerks. ok done

I also tumble

This is where i post all my drawings at. I feel like i'm cheating on blogger but whatev. http://joshrodenberg.tumblr.com/

The A Team Movie. I have so many things to complain about with this movie but this being only one of them, it's a good one. WHO RIDES SPREAD EAGLE ON TOP OF A DANGEROUS CONVOY? Why would you ride on top of a HUM-V like this? you’d get shot so quickly and it just looks dumb

Tears for Beers #3: Lagunitas, Hop Stoopid

After a frucking long day at work, I was in some dire need for some drinks. The Lagunitas Hop Stoopid was recommended by a coworker. Being easily coxed into whatever most of the time I went for this Ale. It didn't hurt that it was only 3.99 for a pint bottle. Lets face it. I want something quality from time to time, but i don't really want to pay for it. It's the 'Merican way really. How often do you just go out and spend a bunch of money on an item that you've never had before. Probably never, unless you're one of "those" types that either spends all your money and complains about not having any or you are so rich from your parents that burning $100 bills can't bring you joy thus further. Back to the beer, I opened up this ale which by the way has an 8% alc. content. Shit that's a good amount for a $3.99 beer. Makes that papst/rainer/busch/high life/ any other cheapo beer in your hand go placid. Your first sip of this beer will be a bit confusing. Your taste buds need a chance to be submerged with the flavor/ texture of what the fuck is going on. Slow it down buddy, enjoy that shit. A couple more sips go down and maybe a gulp was intermingled in there as well. You get a light dry /citrus flavor with that hoppyness that jumps across the tongue. All of this considered, it is a smooth beer, doesn't have that meatiness that others have where you can't tell whether you've had a beer or a meal. Maybe the only problem here is these could go down too easy. I could really see myself drinking a few more of these and starting some ruckus. I've only had about 8 oz. and I'm feeling a little reaction. I'm no little tike either. 3 bottles of this and i'm sure I'd be either on the floor or possibly wrestling my friends in a friendly WWE(i still consider it WWF) Cage match, just like at my wedding. Get this as either a connoisseur of beers or if you just want to do the job and forget about the worries of your normal day. Make sure the Ibprofen and glass of water is waiting for you in the morning.

Tears for Beers #2: Walking Man IPA

A long time friend came into town this weekend and there was a few things that we needed to take care of. Getting caught up and drinking. We had the opportunity to try out many of the micro brews that Portland bars have to offer but one definitely stuck out from the rest. We visited a Coffee shop/Bar called Cooper's to watch the Timbers Vs. United soccer match and ordered a few Walking Man IPAs to quench the old thirst. Immediately the flavor of this mild IPA was honest and smooth. It had just enough hoppyness to make you notice it was in fact an IPA but not that overbearing ending that smacks the tongue like a Midwest domestic violence incident. Those hard hitting IPAs end up making me chug the rest of my beer in order to prolong that final taste. I then get wasted by their high alcohol count and the next thing I know I've had half a bottle of Jack Daniels, I've tried to hop over a fence and rip my pants from ankle to thy, have scraps and abrasions from trying to skate drunk and barely recall being slapped in the face. The next day of my life is devoted to swearing off alcohol and sweating out the evil. With the Walking Man IPA, this was not the case. We enjoyed the beer more than the game because it was a way more organized taste unlike the haphazardly chaotic playing style of any American major league Soccer team. Drinking a couple of pints definitely eased the pain of our beloved Timbers losing in a 3-2 match. Ended up only being 3 dollars a pint for this quality beer, leaving my wallet and I both satisfied.