Lost my younger cousin Bud yesterday. We had a lot of good times together throughout his too-brief life on this earth, from our earliest years doodling a summertime afternoon away to our later years with some unforgettable trips to Savannah. I never met anyone who didn't like Bud, and on the very, very, very rare occasion Bud didn't like someone, you knew for sure that person was no good. He was a radiant presence wherever in the world he was (and he has certainly been all over the world), and he gave his life to everyone around him.

Bud was also one of the most talented artists I've ever know. Below is a small sampling of his work. These capture his work on the page, but he was also a very talented sculptor as well.

Bud was always one to give of himself and not ask for anything in return. He was a wonderfully unique individual. He was one of the kindest people I'll ever know, and the fact that I'll never know more of him is something that is completely unfathomable to me right now. I miss you and love you, Bud.

Spaceboy, I've missed you...

Drag Coefficient?

        Midway through my ride this morning, I thought the bike started to feel a little sluggish, but thought it might just be the snow accumulating on the road. I guess all the ice accumulating on the bike probably had more to do with the added drag.

 

Or maybe not, it kind of makes them like bladed spokes. Kind of....

Two of me from two swells ago at Beach One. Fun swell, more fun than Friday's, if you ask me.

     At the end of my ride today, about 1/10 of a mile from home, a big schoolbus that was painted bright green and had the words "FUN BUS" or something like that written on the side decided to turn right in front of me as I was coming down the hill into Tuckerton. The driver definitely saw me, because I saw her start to go, see me, hesitate, then go anyway. So, anyway, this is the first song that comes to mind. The Who, of course, with "Magic Bus." I want it...

Blissful Evening in the Woods

     As long as I live, I will cherish all of these cold mid-winter night rides with Henry in the woods. They get me out in the cold when I might be more inclined to stay inside after working all day out in the cold, and they give the little man a workout he would never otherwise get. But on top of that, there is something pretty magical about the woods at night, especially the hour after the sun sets and and darkness seeps in and engulfs the fading light in the West. It is generally an exceptionally still time, and I sometimes stop and just listen and look at the silhouettes of the trees, dark against the dying light. That is, I stop for just as long as Henry will allow.

    I got out in the water last Tuesday for the swell the mighty blizzard Juno kicked up for us. Some really fun chest-head speedy lefts down at WJ. Basically, my favorite kind of swell at my favorite place. It felt really good to get in the water again, it felt like it had been forever since I had caught a real wave.

By the time I got out, the swell had faded a little bit, but there were still some really fun waves coming through. I had to get out because my leash broke and I had a pretty long swim, so that combined with surfing for the first time in a while pretty much killed my arms. That, and I didn't have another leash with me. Really beautiful evening though.

Selfies while riding in the snow aren't the easiest thing, but at least I got Henry in the picture too.

"Moonshine," by Bardo Pond, off of their exquisite album Ticket Crystals.