#16 Balance Board

Balance boards are so cool and so useful for enhancing your balance on your surfboard…..which by default will increase your balance in every activity! There are many different types out there. My wife uses a neat circular one for her practice as a pilates teacher. In acting grad school we simulated the shipwrecking thunderstorm of Shakespeare’s, The Tempest, using 10 balance boards. The most popular model in the surf world is the Indo Board.

I have been eyeing them for a long time but just couldn’t justify spending nearly $200 for a board and a log. Still, the ‘neat surf toy’ factor kept drawing me back to gaze at it when browsing the surf shop. In an effort to satisfy my curiosity I decided to McGyver my own.

The design is as straightforward as they come. It is literally a board and a cylinder. The board was simple enough: a piece of plywood thick enough to retain stiffness. The cylinder was the tricky part. It needed to be stiff enough to support my weight rolling over it without losing its shape. A roller with a flat spot or an egg shape is not so fun. I found and 8” cylinder tube but it had no structural integrity. I had to reinforce it with some support ribs. I added some stain and barefoot friendly grip tape to boost the stylie points.

The whole thing cost me about $50. This is the end result:





I love it! I can’t say definitely that it has improved my surfing but I’m sure over time it will have an effect. I can say that it is ridiculously fun!!!

I am on the verge of becoming the Father of my 2nd Daughter. I probably won’t be getting as much ocean time as we welcome the newest family member to planet earth. The balance board will help keep my sea legs. If I get really desperate I could throw on our ocean ambience cd, jump on the board, close my eyes and teleport myself to the wave of my choice around the world….

#15 Black Surfers United

A few weeks ago I participated in my first public protest. It took place in Hollywood. The event was organized by Rhonda Harper of Inkwell Surf. We gathered to show our support for the Black teenagers on trial in Jena, Louisiana. If you haven’t heard of what is going on I strongly encourage you to ‘google it’.



I wanted to go down to show my support and it would also allow for a great opportunity to film how Black Surfers are active in the well-being of the community. In discussing the plans with Rhonda she invited me to speak at the event. My honest impulse was to find a reason to say ‘no’. Who am I to speak to the crowd? But as I searched my brain for a real reason to pass on this opportunity I found nothing. Why not speak? After all, I fit all the requirements: I am a Black Surfer, I am greatly concerned about how we treat each other & I did spend 3 years in graduate school learning how to speak : ) So I said ‘yes’.

The march took place on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood at 6:30am. I marched with my surfboard and had the following sign taped to it:



Here is the rough sketch of my speech:

As soon as I heard about this gathering I knew I had to be a part of it. I wanted to join the community. I wanted to put on the black t-shirt and walk among other who were AWARE.

I came down here from San Francisco which is know for being one of the most ‘aware’, ‘in-the-know’ places on earth yet most people I spoke to knew absolutely nothing of the events in Jena.

We have access to all this information still most of us don’t know what is going on.

I grew up surfing. I’ve surfed all over the world. And for the last 9-months I’ve been working on a documentary about Black Surfers. Part of the impetus for the project came when I came when I realized how many people don’t know that there are any Black people who surf. This lack of awareness inspired me to tell their story. On the most basic level…I simply want to make people aware!

And that is what I believe this gathering is all about. By coming together we are saying that we are aware of what is going on in the community. Our coming together will bring awareness to others.

CHANGE BEGINS WITH AWARENESS.

A few months ago we knew nothing of the tree in Jena and now here we are. How many of those trees exist? And in how many schoolyards?

I invite you to discover these trees. And as you become aware I encourage you to share your awareness with others. For only through awareness can we make change.

And I’ll add that you should be mindful for the trees can take many forms. The tree might be a system of beliefs. The tree may live inside your thoughts. We may be nurturing and growing these trees with our actions.

Find the trees!

CHANGE BEGINS WITH AWARENESS.

#14 The Season

I woke up about a week ago and knew there had been a shift. The air felt different. There was a stillness that was not there when I went to bed. Out the window the sky looked bigger. And then when I checked the buoy readings I saw that there was south swell in the water. These were the signs of the new season…San Francisco’s Surf Season!

I surfed twice that day and nearly everyday since then. That is an unusual feat these days with a job, wife, 2-year old daughter and a new baby arriving in2-months. It seems that my life aligned effortlessly with the shifting elements. Like just last night I had an awesome sunset surf after a full day of work and family fun. Life’s ability to organize itself never ceases to amaze me.

Waves…the good waves begin far from our place of enjoyment. Far out to sea high winds blow directionally over a large area of water for an extended time(aka. fetch). The ocean feels the wind and begins to react. The surface looks agitated as ripples splash and crash chaotically in the direction of the wind. After some time the winds energy is consumed by the sea and the ripples begin to transform. What was once chaotic becomes organized as invisible bands of energy form just below the surface. All of the bands from one given fetch creates the swell. The higher the winds and the longer their duration …the bigger and more organized the swell. The swell marches almost unnoticed for thousands of miles through the ocean until it reaches the shallower waters of the coast. One by one these bands of energy grow and heave into waves. We then tap into their energy as we surf!

This is all to say that things work themselves out. The waves found their way from the wind. It is the same with the desires for our lives. We may have an idea of what it is we want but don’t know how it will ever or can ever come about. Theory and practice have taught me that life will organize around our intention. Granted, the winds did not intend to make waves. That gives us an advantage…..we can set an intention. Imagine if the winds could choose to create a perfect swell for your local spot at your request! Our future is what we decide….

#13 The Glass

I had planned on getting up at 5:15am this morning for a dawn patrol but my daughter decided that 5:00 would be more appropriate so she got me up a little than expected. After coaxing her back to sleep I was able to be out of the house by 5:30. The weather was clear by my house but as I headed west the fog got so thick I needed the wipers. Even now as I look off my back porch I can see blue skies every directions except west. During the summer the fog enjoys lounging on the coast.

Western fog....

I met my friend at the beach. From the parking lot the ocean was invisible. We decided to go with the odds as far as where to paddle out. There was one spot where 2 dudes and a woman were suiting up. That’s about as good of an assessment as one could wish for given the circumstances. We were not disappointed.

Okay, granted I have had many a session in weak choppy lifeless surf this summer so my wave-o-meter not calibrated. The waves were fun. It’s not so much that they were even that fun because, truth be told, they were backing off quite a bit and had no juice but they were GLASSY!

Oohhhhh, the glass! Paddling out when the ocean is shiny and smooth is a treat regardless of the wave quality. There is something magical about seeing such a huge body of water so well groomed. I imagine myself skimming effortlessly across the surface leaving to trace. And then when the waves came through they were gorgeous. I smile with the thought of it.

Glassy days are rare around here. There is joy in knowing that so many elements had to come together to create those special conditions. It feels like a honor to be able to share in the experience. This morning I celebrated with a few surfers, a curious sea lion pup and a playful dolphin. I still have fond images of exceptionally glassy days from my childhood burned into my memory.

I had planned on getting up at 5:15am this morning for a dawn patrol but my daughter decided that 5:00 would be more appropriate so she got me up a little than expected. After coaxing her back to sleep I was able to be out of the house by 5:30. The weather was clear by my house but as I headed west the fog got so thick I needed the wipers. Even now as I look off my back porch I can see blue skies every directions except west. During the summer the fog enjoys lounging on the coast.

I met my friend at the beach. From the parking lot the ocean was invisible. We decided to go with the odds as far as where to paddle out. There was one spot where 2 dudes and a woman were suiting up. That’s about as good of an assessment as one could wish for given the circumstances. We were not disappointed.

Okay, granted I have had many a session in weak choppy lifeless surf this summer so my wave-o-meter not calibrated. The waves were fun. It’s not so much that they were even that fun because, truth be told, they were backing off quite a bit and had no juice but they were GLASSY!

Oohhhhh, the glass! Paddling out when the ocean is shiny and smooth is a treat regardless of the wave quality. There is something magical about seeing such a huge body of water so well groomed. I imagine myself skimming effortlessly across the surface leaving to trace. And then when the waves came through they were gorgeous. I smile with the thought of it.

Glassy days are rare around here. There is joy in knowing that so many elements had to come together to create those special conditions. It feels like a honor to be able to share in the experience. This morning I celebrated with a few surfers, a curious sea lion pup and a playful dolphin. I still have fond images of exceptionally glassy days from my childhood burned into my memory.

#12 Enjoyment

There is that famous quote that I’ve heard many times and in many places that goes something like: The best surfer is the one who is having the most fun. I’m not sure who said it but I’m glad they did. This idea has been on my mind a lot recently as I’ve found myself losing some of the pure enjoyment of surfing.

I have been putting a lot of thought and energy into improving my game in the water. Outside the water I have been developing the ‘perfect’ workout routine to maximize my strength and flexibility and balance in the water. There is the stuff from the last entry but that is only the beginning. I am constantly finding excuses to squat down so that low center of balance position becomes 2nd nature. It is a big deal for me at 6’2” and all the height coming from my legs. My wife likes to enjoy the fact that when we sit down she looks down on me.

And then there are the thoughts of surfing. All day long I am daydreaming and analyzing and plotting surf related ideas. I do take breaks to accomplish needed tasks but those are like commercial breaks from the 24~hour marathon. The other day I was telling my wife about a wave I had gotten and midway through I let out this big grunt as I simulated a turn. She laughed and said, “wow, you don’t make noises like that when we make love!” I laughed because I knew she was right and said, “well, yeah! I’ve been in love with you for 8 years but I’ve been in love with surfing for my whole life.” Fortunately, she finds understanding through her lifelong love affair with dance.

When I get in the water it’s time to apply and experiment. I paddle out with a mission. I have specific things I want to try. Each wave is a chance to improve upon the last. After a wave I analyze. What happened? What did I learn? How can I do it better? I am constantly watching other surfers to glean anything I can from there style. I am watching the ocean to see what gems of knowledge I can gather from her movement. I am obsessed to this pursuit of improvement.

I actually don’t mind a little obsession but when it starts to remove the enjoyment things are going to far. I’ve been reading this book called ‘flow’ which talks about achieving happiness. According to them one of the main ingredients to happiness is attaining enjoyment. Enjoyment is achieved through effort towards some goal. Enjoyment is achieved using some level of skill. Enjoyment isn’t always ‘fun’ at the time but when reflected on is looked at as an ‘enjoyed’ experience. Hmmmm….

The more I write about this the more I realize I don’t need to write about it. Surfing absolutely gives me enjoyment! My hang up is a tendency to want instant results. And this expectation leads to a diminished sense of enjoyment. The true lesson here is to develop compassion & patience with myself as I paddle down this lifelong watery path….

#11 Surf Subsidy

Springtime! High Onshore Winds! White-Capped Seas! Choppy Surf! I guess it’s the seasonal balance we have to endure to enjoy the offshore glassy surf of fall. I’ve still managed to motivate myself…sometimes….to go out into the slop in search of that one good one. I don’t always find it but it is always revitalizing to take that dip in the Pacific. This season, in particular, there have been many-a-day that I didn’t heed the inner draw to the ocean because of ‘life busy-ness’ so I’ve had nurture other ways of subsidizing my surf habit.

For the record I have to state that NOTHING can replace surfing. I’m tempted to explain why but it would take a lifetime….and I guess that’s why the blog : ) That aside there are some things I do to keep me physically and mentally prepared for my next surf. The 3 regulars in my life right now are: Skateboarding, Swimming & Tai Chi.

I grew up riding a regular short skateboard. I was mostly a street skater but would dabble in the Del Mar Skatepark before it’s unfortunate demolition. Those were the days when it was common to slam my body into the concrete repeatedly during the day as I learned new tricks or heaven-forbid I would hit a rock while cruising down the sidewalk! I just had a flashback to my college days. I had stayed up all night for a final in my physics class….appropriate! In a state of total delirium I decided I would skate to class to help get the juices flowing for the test. It was working. The cool morning air. filled my pores. My senses sharpened as I whizzed past the other strolling students. I was feeling ready to own that test……..and then I hit the eucalyptus seed! All that good energy I had built up was violently expelled as I body-slammed to the pavement. I don’t recommend staying up all night before a test.

Nowadays I have transferred my love of skating to a longboard. Straightaway it’s awesome because the weight and size of it seems to allow it to plow over those once menacing pebbles. I left the tricks behind too: no more ollies. These days it’s all about carving!

My skate is about 3.5 feet long with some fat, soft, sticky wheels. I keep the trucks fairly loose. I could use some new bearings but it still goes fast enough to get the job done. I’m on a hiatus from riding my bike all over the city and my skateboard is now my main transport. My bike gloves have transitioned nicely to skate gloves so I can go for the occasional blacktop hand drag. Any smooth flat or downhill surface provides a great place to ride. On the streets I’ll coast in the bike lane until traffic clears and then drift out into the lane as if dropping into a clean lined-up section. And then it’s all about getting low and getting in as many turns as I can before the next motorized 4-wheeler drops in on me. Sidewalks are fun too. The people, trees, fire hydrants & light posts make for good weaving obstacles….and they generally provide a smoother surface.

One epic skate mission I experienced started long before sunrise. At 4:00am one morning 4 dudes and myself piled into a van and headed north across the Golden Gate bridge on route to Mt. Tamalpais. We drove as far as we could up the mountain and then grabbed our skates and helmets and hiked up the gated-off ranger road. Fog had enveloped most of our journey but about halfway up the curvy, tree lined street we broke free of the fog and were welcomed by the clear brightening sky and the lingering stars. We got to the top with just enough time to find a comfortable boulder seat for the show. Below us a blanket of fog sheltered the bay and with universal precision the new day began as the sun peeked its head above the eastern hills. We watched until our souls were charged and then we mounted our boards for the uninterrupted flow down, down, down….

Swimming has obvious value to any surfer. We are land animals. Surfing takes place in the ocean. The ocean is big and powerful. The only way to navigate the ocean (if your leash breaks..which it is known to do) is to be able to swim…well! So for that I swim.

I also started swimming to increase my paddle strength & endurance. After doing some varied style warm up laps I grab one of those hourglass shaped floatation devices and pinch it between my thighs. This floats my legs and allows me to pull myself through the water using only my upper body for an extended period. It’s a good surf simulator. The psychological benefits of knowing I can swim a great distance will be comforting on the bigger days.

The hidden benefit of swimming is the anti-gravity effect. All day long we are relentlessly mashed down by the force of gravity. The effects of this are clear in the shrinking and sagging bodies of our wise elders. The water provides support against gravity. It gives our joints and skeleton and skin a break. Thinking back to how our lives began in the warm, nurturing, suspension of our Mother’s womb gives support to there being some natural, healthy, life enhancing qualities to being surrounded by water.

Surfing is similar but not quite the same because our body is being smashed against the board. The ocean, however, has innumerable other healing qualities that surpass any swimming pool. Sounds like the best thing to do would be to add some bodysurfing to end of each session! : )

On a blown out day last year I was going for a walk along the boardwalk and came across a friend of mine, Sparky. He too was looking out over the sea for the one wave that would inspire him to paddle out. He shared with me one of his life secrets to good health and well-being [& better surfing!]….tai chi. Once I got that information I never looked back.

A common image that comes to mind when I think of tai chi is of old Chinese people moving slowly in a park. It’s actually a very fitting image. Tai Chi is one of the oldest exercises in Chinese history…so old that its beginnings come from the world of legends. Its purpose is simple: to extend life! Of course this is probably the most complicated simple task I can think of…but that’s beside the point : ) The neat thing is that it works. Remember the image: OLD Chinese people. And not only are they old they are moving in ways that most people half their age cannot!

I began by going to the source. I found a group that practices everyday: rain, wind, fog, whatever happens they practice! That’s part of the magic: discipline. The group consisted of about 35 people…all Chinese….95% women…and 95% looked over the age of 65. For an hour they practiced Qi Gong & Tai Chi. And then they would do 30-minutes of line-dancing! Here were a group of ‘old’ people that had found the fountain of youth. To move like them at there age would truly be a gift. A few of them would take turns leading each day. It was totally free to join. And all were welcome. I learned a lot from them but there was no direct teaching so I searched out another group.

In search of a group that I heard practiced in Golden Gate park I stumbled across another small group of people practicing under the trees by the lake. Again they welcomed me to the group. This class was led by a middle-aged Chinese man who 10 years prior had a serious back injury. After unsuccessfully trying everything to fix it he found tai chi…..and it worked. His back is stronger than it’s been his entire life….and you can see it in the way he moves! He teaches the class for free as a way to give back for all tai chi has given him. His passionate teaching was an inspiration. I’ve taken the fundamental teachings from him and now simply use a dvd to learn. It’s not ideal but it’s the best way to keep things going with my schedule.

The advantages of this practice are many. One of the cool things about tai chi is that all I need to practice is a flat surface. Recently, I’ve been using the tennis court near my house. This has a perk because when I’m done I skate around a bit. The court surface is extra-‘grippy’ allowing for sharp turns. I’ve also been playing with walking the length of my board as if I were surfing a longboard…..oooh, I want a longboard so bad! : )

As far as tai chi and surfing. One of the fundamental movements is a twisting of the torso with the knees in a bent position…..prime surfing movement! The movement is done slowly which builds strength throughout every position of the movement. The slow movement also brings awareness to the limits and potential of the body. It’s surprising to find out how difficult it is to move slowly for an extended period of time…physically & mentally! And that’s the other huge bonus of tai chi: development of concentration. Mind & body become trained to work as one. And according to the legend if you are diligent in your practice you can achieve immortality……I’d be stoked to be an old healthy guy in the line-up : )

As a bonus I’ve been able to add one of my old standby’s back into my life: Yoga. My wife teaches Pilates at Bernal Yoga and they allow spouses to take unlimited yoga classes. So Respectable!!!

When I was in Australia I knew this guy, Fish, who was a farmer. Every night he would get absolutely wasted on drugs and alcohol. I watched this for a couple months and then one day said, “Fish, why do you do this to yourself?” With a corner smile he replied, “We’re all going to die……..it would be a waste to die healthy.” And then we laughed : )

He had a point and to it I would add: To die is certain…..to live is not.

Let's strive to LIVE!

#10 ACTION VS. DISTRACTION [aka...Dissed-Action]

This year has been a relatively dry one for me. Now that spring is nearly gone and I reflect on what went down I see that I had some valuable lessons to learn….

It all started in late January…..actually it started in late December when I pigged out on delicious, decadent junk food at my parents house for the holidays which led to illness upon returning home but that’s a different insight…..getting back to late January…..I was out at OB on a sunny head-high, clean day…..atypical for winter. I was surfing with a good friend. There was no crowd. There were plenty of wave s for everyone. It was one of those days where I was reminded why I love calling OB home.

I felt good heading into the water. ….loose….fluid. I had been watching some surf videos of the pros and analyzing their style for technical inspiration. I felt like some of it had sank into me. About a fourth of the way into the session this nice left came my way. …I’m a goofy-footer! In my excited state I dropped-in, bottom-turned & had a nice carve off the top. I know it was a nice carve because I saw it…..and that’s where the problem lies!

While my head remained gloriously admiring the fan of water over my left shoulder the lower half of my body continued around & down to the bottom of the wave. My energy was going down and right while my head went up and left. My spine got totally compressed and my hips were instantly jammed out of alignment. Even the chiropractor was like, “Wow!” when she looked at my twisted skeleton. It was not good….definitely as painful as one might expect. Thankfully she was able to tweek me back.

So what went wrong? This was an extreme example of the downfall of distraction. The distraction was my desire to see the maneuver while trying to do the maneuver. Whereas the pros are pulling off all of these amazing maneuvers they rarely witness the results. That’s because in order to pull the maneuver they have to complete it with their whole body….which means ‘no peeking’. The head is the heaviest part of our body and where it goes the rest of the body will naturally want to follow. I started the movement with my head and as my body followed I looked back to see the spray but it was too late. The momentum of the board and the wave carried my feet around while my head remained behind me…..crunch!

In any surf video you can see how the pros lead all their movement with their head. It’s actually neat to watch a video and focus on their heads. It is amazing how quickly their heads are swiveling around leading them through an infinite array of intricate maneuvers. This phenomenon of the ‘leading head’ can be seen in any activity. Even the simple act of walking begins with our head. It should really be called ‘falling’ because we are actually allowing our head to gently fall forward and then stepping forward to catch it.

Getting back to the distraction. I need to work on simplifying my action. Whatever it is I’m trying to do I need to just do it. As much as my ego wants to checkout what is going on I need to let go and trust that things are working. Until then the distraction will ruin all attempts at advancing my surfing…..thus the ‘dissed~action’!

As usual this applies effortlessly to life. Anything and everything we strive to do in life could be called and ‘action’. The dictionary defines action as: the process or state of acting or doing. Well, that about sums up life. All day every day we are doing things. The more we can concentrate on whatever it is we are doing the more success we will have.

And distraction has many faces. There are the obvious times we know we are giving into some distraction. And there are the times that distraction disguises itself as a seemingly productive activity. An example might be deciding to clean your house when you have an important project due for school or work the next day. Yeah, the house may be dirty but cleaning right now might lead to a less successful project.

As I incorporate these ideas into my life I’ve found that it’s important to be patient with myself. Going the way of distraction is as human as breathing. So when I find myself ‘off-the-path’ I take a breath and allow myself to ease back on track. Each breath is an opportunity to try again….

#9 The Documentary

The message on my phone this afternoon was “I heard you got started. A friend told me there were a bunch of Black guys with boards and cameras at the beach. “

We’ve actually been brainstorming, researching, making connections and have had one other filming session but today did feel like the beginning! Kevin, who I interviewed a few blogs back, and myself are putting our energy into making a documentary about the Black Surfing Experience.

This morning at 7:15am my buzzer sounds the arrival of Kevin with the camera. He’s here to get some footage of me packing gear into the car for the session. At the van I meet another Black surfer who Kevin met one day getting out of the water. His name is Jerrod Ewell. He grew up surfing the waters of Oahu and has become a recent transplant to the mainland. Right away the deep camaraderie of this shared passion makes the stories start to flow. He tells me how in one of his earliest sessions he was saved in the water by the legendary Black surfer Buttons Kaluhiokalani.

The stories continued to flow all the way across the Golden Gate Bridge as we made our way to Cronkhite Beach where we would meet up with another Black surfer whose roots go all the way back to the Dogtown crew, Jason Gittens. He’s surfed & skated with some of the best of them, traveled the world in search off waves and now calls this cozy, tucked away wave his homebreak.

The cameras rolled in the cold, misty morning as we enthusiastically came together to share some waves. The elements joined in by giving us a small window of some fun little waves before the onshores turned on and blew us out of the water. Jason and I introduced Jerrod to the Nor Cal tradition of carrying a large bottle of hot water in the car for a euphoric post cold-water –surf rinse. From there it was off to the local Marin surf shop, Proof Lab. Without any notice they welcomed us in and let us set up to do some on camera interviews right in the middle of the shop.

It was an epic day. Everything came together in ways greater than our expectation. For me today was an inspiration that this film need to be made. These stories need to be told. The more I learn the more excited & surprised I am by the depth of the Black Surf Experience. Stories reaching back to the 40’s. Stories arising from all over the globe. Stories that transcend race, class, gender & any other artificial divisive classification are alive and ready to be shared.

I started this blog with the intention to add one more voice to a growing diversity of surfers. That impulse has grown into a desire to share the many voices that are relishing the joys of a life in the ocean….

Check out the website!

www.BlackSurferDocumentary.com

Contact us if you would like to get involved!

Surf like there is no tomorrow!

#8 [Flashback] Nias Island: Alifa II

It’s now about 8:30pm two days after the attack and the Pit Monsters should be coming out of their daytime slumber. I don’t want to kill them so I’m going to trap them in a water bottle and free them across the street in the rice fields….at least that’s the plan….

No one was up when I first checked before bed so I just went to sleep & figured I’d see them through the night, as usual. Sure enough on my first ‘wake & pee’ I found the bigger of the smaller one’s EATING at the bottom of the steps. This was great because I didn’t know what they ate.

The Pit Monster’s were carnivorous!!! A giant cockroach lay in 3 pieces being devoured by the Monster. Cool! I would miss the exterminator qualities but it was time to evacuate.

Using my trap made of a 1.5 liter water bottle with the top cut off and a 12 inch extremely rusty knife I patiently and easily gathered up the Monster. I then took it across the street for relocation. It looked even more ominous as it frantically, yet purposefully, crawled around a giant leaf violently swinging its body in the air. Once it reached the ground it darted straight into a hole…..someone received an unexpected, unhappy guest!

With that creature removed I was chillin’ with the thought of removing the small one. I didn’t see it however, so I went to bed. As I slept a huge thunderstorm rolled in bringing Monsoon amounts of rain. Upon returning to the bathroom later in the night I found a surprise that got stirred up by the downpour…..the HUGE Pit Monster had returned!

I was peeing when I first saw it and my reflexes took me on top of the toilet bowl in one quick leap. This time it didn’t ease my concern with slow movement; it raced frantically along the floor with uncanny quickness. I knew what had to be done but wasn’t eager.

I grabbed my trusty knife and containment device for the hunt. For the previous hunt I had prepared myself by getting clothed but this sudden challenge had me butt naked. In retrospect it was a sweet….Nature vs. Nature moment! : )

After a couple unsuccessful round-up’s the Monster ran up the leg of the table. There, it lay motionless waiting for my next move. It had to be returned to the floor for capture so I decided to give it a quick poke with the knife. Sounded easy enough.

However when I poked the Monster it clung to the end of my knife and quickly raced up the blade towards my hand……Uuuuughhh! I flung the knife & teleported to the top of the stairs!

Deep breath…….okay, no problem. I could see the Monster on the floor and my knife was accessible. The hunt had to continue.

With tools gathered I nudged the Monster into the corner. The nudges were actually more like solid pushes because this thing did not want to move. The amount of resistance and mass of this creature was way more than any bug. Eventually it curled itself up in such a way that its stinging tail stuck out creating a formidable defense.

After much shaky & hesitant prodding I got it inside the container. Once captured it lay still. I held it to the light for a respectful investigation before setting it free in the rain across the street.

Phew, my adrenalin was crazy!


It took a week and another big thunderstorm to bring the smallest Monster out. Again I found myself in the raw for the hunt. Experience made successful nabbing come quick.

Still, I had an uneasy feeling because I swear it looked Bigger!…..