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So Far... Till More...

Since January I've been on a mission to "find myself" a bit more and try to establish some roots that will linger into my future.  What I know of my life is that ever-changing and that it's constantly necessary for me to update my formulas.  I used to walk the streets aimlessly, flipping a coin at cross streets to determine whether to go left or right.  It was known that this was a tactic and not uncertainty - I was absolutely certain the ultimate decision would lead me to exactly where I needed to be.  Faith in fate is crucial.

I've always had an inner feeling of contentment knowing that any stage in my life is just the setup for the next.  Lately I've been having a feeling of soon reaching where I'm destined to be.  When I think about it, I get nervous because I've been so anxious for that moment since I was small.  I never wanted to be a kid, or have people treat me like a little kid for that matter.  I knew that's not what I was destined to be so I wanted to skip all the bullshit and get straight to it.

I've had a bountiful amount of lessons and experiences, so far, that have led me where I am today.  I can thank my parents for sharing their experiences with no filter as it was the lesson that "Experience is Everything".  I learned from Jeff King that "Everything is a Lesson" via a hammer toss (this story will be another post).  And the stitches to all of this I inherited from a youthful, young-minded, sweetheart of a woman named Adrian, aka "Grammy" (grandmother of a friend of mine) who told me how to pay all of what I know forward and help the world - "You Can Never Give Advice.  You Can Only Share Your Experience".

For me 2015 has been a great year thus far.  I started off leaving my job at Kayo due to foresight of not having any growth there.  I was looking to be acknowledged for my hard work and dedication other than just a head nod and hype talk.  I am at a point in my life that I need to be invested in things that are going to reward me spiritually and monetarily for the work I put forth.  My spirits were low and I saw myself being a horse with the blinders on in an industry that raised me.  Then a friend of mine asked me "What's your plan b?"  I said, "Plan b?  If I had a plan b I wouldn't be all in."  He replied disgustingly with "I got a plan b for the plan b".  Next, I chose to go to college for the first time to become a teacher.  I felt out of place, probably close to how a soldier coming back from war feels.  In the semester I took a public speaking class where I learned one valuable lesson: Gauge Your Audience.  I find this lesson to be of value in every aspect of human interaction.  After passing my classes with A's and a B - thanks to being able to do my homework at Papa John's in between deliveries - I was offered an opportunity to work for some of my favorite brands as a sales rep.  It was a great honor to be able to work for brands I've been in love with for so long.

This brings me to my current state - RV Salesman.  My father-in-law owns multiple RV dealerships, Richardson's RV Centers, in Riverside.  The biggest RV show in the states was about to take place in Pomona, back in October.  I had asked if he needed any extra hands in hopes to make some extra loot. Without hesitation he said "Yes!" and I was in the game.  With a quick 4 hour walkthrough of 2 units at one of his lots, I was off to the races in my pink breast cancer awareness polo selling coaches to adventurous citizens.  I ended up outselling all but 1 of his 50 employees over the course of 10 days and was being asked to work full time at the lot.  After a thorough analysis of my current monetary status and future opportunity, I quit my job.

Here I sit in my grey cubicle, bowing to a Rasta-colored piece of art Luca made using broccoli and green beans and a photocopy of a "Another Happy Customer! SOLD!  We Have More Available!" sign, whilst typing this blog post in between answering emails and phone calls and sternly informing old geezers... "I'm not new to the game.  So watch how you're talking to me.  A baby shark is still a fuckin' shark."

I'm extremely determined to rid my life of petty acquaintences and shed pounds I don't need (in all respects).  My most current topic of change involves looking at GQ articles on "How To Dress In Your 20s".  I'm trying to reinvent my kit while still staying true to my style.  On that topic,  the best lesson I've learned is from my wife in a show and prove manner - "One Ten is Better Than Ten Ones".  Since adopting that pattern I've been extremely satisfied with my lifestyle and am determined to fine tune my work thus far in order to be the new me.

As 2 Chainz says, "Be The Best Version of Yourself."  

So that's what I'll be doing.  For myself, my kids and the world... Keep Watching.

Pandora's Box

When I was 6 years young, my father Greg (still living in New York at the time) would send the occasional package of goodies to my brother and I.  I'd hit him back with a "Dear Gerg, thanks for the stuff.  How's the weather?  The weather here is sunny..."  and keep it moving until the next time I'd see or hear from him.  These boxes would contain probably some clothes, some baseball cards, maybe some McDonald's bucks.  My recollection is foggy because one day the ULTIMATE box had arrived and nothing else mattered.

My mother had brought the freshly delivered, brown, cardboard vessel in to the living room where my older brother and I were told to sit down if we wanted what was inside.  With criss-crossed legs and the patience of a dog balancing a treat on it's nose, Monty and I sat foaming at the mouth thinking about all cheeseburgers we were about to cash in on.  Instead of getting the Hamburglar's earnings, my mom pulled out something I had never seen before - skateboards.  One had a rat with freaky little teeth and the other had a mass hiding under a checker patterned rug.  We both lunged forward and I snatched the checkered crawler board from my mom's hand.

As my eyes gazed over the board I knew something was different.  This was my opportunity to be just like my dad.  This was what he had done and now he let me in the club.  I put that useless wooden toy right on the brown carpet and immediately stood on it.  The skateboard molded to my feet and the sensation mainlined right into my veins.  I asked my mom, "What do I do?".  She said "You spin in a circle on 2 wheels... Just not in the house!"  So spun around I did - right in the house.  Sure enough I slipped out and hit the 3 foot tall glass door of the stereo case.  Didn't break.  Mom telling me "That's why I said 'Not in the house'".  I was HOOKED.  Thanks, Gerg.




Lordż

I've noticed that recently I have been mentioning the Lordz Wheels video, "They Don't Give A Fuck About Us" to random people.  I think it has to do with Alex Carolino's steez, the sheer rawness of Bastien Salabanzi, William Phan's smooth operating whilst trying to swallow his tongue on Ecstasy, or Flo Marfaing's complete Paris annihilation. Mike Long showed me this video years ago.  Steezy local homies like the Taherkhan brothers, Kyle Castleberry and Stewart Durst knew about this flick and were hyped on the European assault TDGAFAU had to offer the rest of the world.  Here is an ode to those homies for being part of something that is truly undeniable and probably some of the better skateboarding to ever occur.

Enjoy... or die.


A New Start... And It Don't Stop!

This blog was originally created to give a home to my photos from my European adventures. With the demise of the hard drive I used to save all of my photos from those amazing days, I have stalled.

But now I'm back.  I just can't let the Wild Moose blog go!  My wife, Chelsie, is all hyped on blogging too, so now we're dueling our posts on the couch.

I've decided to check in more frequently and will be amping up my site as I go along.

I do have some catching up to do since my last post (which would take another lifetime), so I'm gonna give you the short.

I successfully made it back from Europe.  The trip changed my life forever.  The best way I can describe it is like having to take a massive shit, then taking that shit, and right there, the feeling after you've narrowly escaped shitting your pants.  The Indiana Jones Save.  Incredible and recommended to everyone in the world.  What did I learn there? Eat when you want to eat, sleep when you want to sleep, and EVERYTHING ALWAYS WORKS OUT.

I made it back to the states and arrived dead center in the rat race -- customs at JFK.  Back to Cali where I drove taxi for a good while (pre-Über) and made bank.  Quite lucrative.  I moved in with my good friend Mike, his girlfriend and her sister.  Found out about juicing. My friend and his lady split up and I was living in Gangsta's Paradise in the middle of 2 sisters like Yung Jack Tripper.




Enter my Golden Year (year of the number day your were born on, said to be the most important year of your life -- mine November 25, 1986):  2012.  My 25th year.

After a few months of Three's Company, a quick hop to Las Vegas for the weekend developed a relationship that would bring me to the life I have now.  Clearly, what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas.



I started dating my roommate Chelsie.  I got a job at The Kayo Corp which I was SO hyped to get.  I worked in the warehouse making boxes and checking brand new skateboards for blemishes.  Fresh product, hip hop and unlimited skateboards.  I was in heaven.



Chelsie and I moved to Encinitas in a small cottage about a mile from the beach.  We loved our 600 square foot abode and made it our own.  I grew grass, Chelsie started sewing and we got married and made a baby.




Luca Lennox Wood.  July 23, 2013.  12:55 p.m.  Zion Hospital.  San Diego, CA, USA.



Unimaginable feeling.  Pride.  Love.  Honor.

I couldn't believe that in a matter of seconds my whole life could be changed again.  There were two of us and after a few strong pushes from Chelsie we were three.  Best feeling in the world for real.  Do it.




We've since moved to an AMAZING house in Riverside, CA (Chelsie's hometown) to be close to her family, who is an EXTREME help with Luca.  Not that he's needy or we insist on pawning him off to anyone, but it is so incredibly helpful to have beautiful people that love him as much as we do around us.  Chelsie's grandmother is a saint and her father is so generous to our family - always looking out for us.  My dad comes through quite often and since Luca's grand entrance has really stepped his family matters game up.  My mom is in the process of moving out to Cali to be close to us and the rest of her family.  She's been out for both of Luca's birthday blowouts and can't wait to be warming up in the sun again. We can't wait either!




I quit my marketing job at Kayo in January.  I was known as Skate Wonka and had a highly successful following.  I got to do some incredible things and meet some amazing people.  I am forever grateful to all the people that let me do my thing and believed in me.  I was ready for change and wanted to expand my horizons.  Chelsie was a teacher at the Catholic high school she went to and one day I thought, "What's the illest job out?".  Then I looked at Chelsie and knew.  Monday thru Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., holidays off, no uniform, influence the youth and create your own curriculum.  So I enrolled in city college and took some classes.  My favorite class was Public Speaking, where I gave lifetime achievement awards to Wu-Tang, spoke about my experience skateboarding, and broke down the reasons behind the current drought in California - alfalfa to feed cattle & almonds.



My short lived college experience was soon interrupted by an opportunity my friend offered me to work for a few shoe companies I've always loved.  When I asked Chelsie what I should do, she said, "School's been there way before and will be there way after you.  You still love skateboarding so just do it."  Ride or Die chick.

So here I am now... Married with children, I own a car, have a job, go to the gym, hit Disneyland almost once a week and just might wear sandals more than I wear shoes.  The good life some say...







Stay tuned for what's next!  Cause it don't stop!!