Oki:blog

Its the eve of a new yea and im listening to a Goldfrapp remix and imagining what 2009 will be like. THe truth is I already know because I have it visualized in ive even begun documenting. Off all the big events to come, I have two on day two of this new year. 1st, i get Chino back. 2nd, a group of my closest friends and I are having a photo show. It will be part of the First Friday downtown gallery circuit in January. The theme is people. The show its self will be made of b&w square prints the old school way. So heres to 2009, and to chapter 3 of my life. *deep breath*

Ferdinands in jail, originally uploaded by avelli.

Im pissed. Two reasons,

1) Ferdinands rabbies shot expired just 9 days before he bit a person.
2) The municipality of Anchorage gives their employees January 1st off.

Had the incident happened while he was still vaccinated then i could keep him quarantined for 10 days at home rather than in a shitty florescent lit cell. So now im without my son till January 2nd. That means he misses Christmas, New Years and my sisters departure back to Tazmania. Fuck. Lesson learned.I will keep up his vaccination.

Yesterday was my birthday. It was a day full of people watching and self reflection. After spending some alone time with mi self, i got together with the family and had pizza at mooses tooth. I love any pizza of thiers with artichokes! The night ended with a bit of a pub crawl downtown were my sister was bar tending at the local Latin Club Sorayas. I caught up with an old Puerto Rican friend of mine who introduced me to some rediculously fast flowing rhymes he does. Hip hop culture is so incredible in its ability to change with the times and with region. If your into David Lachapelle’s
photography or films than set aside 90 minuets and check out the film Rize. It documents LA’s Krump and Clown dance culture. beautiful. On that same note don’t drink and drive. And if your sober leaving the bars when they close give yourself 30 minuets so the drunks can dilute themselves with the other drunks in traffic. Thank you to Steve for letting me use this shot he got of me today.

 

My interests in a nutshell, originally uploaded by avelli.

Besides waking up today incredibly sore from a long saturday night of dancing, I have had a spectacular day. I got to go and represent Off the Chain Bike Co Op at the Rogers Park Community Council. I told them a little bit about us and answered some questions they had about our operations. So far so good because we have their support, as well as
the University Area Community Councils support. Its been such a cool process to learn the basics to civic engagement while representing my love for bikes. If you are curious to see were and when your community council meetings are held you can visit www.communitycouncils.org.
While sitting and waiting for my turn to speak , i noticed four posters that described the books in the section of the library i was closest to. I thought hey thats what i like to read/speak/ think about in a nutshell. What’s even better about this find is that now both adults and kids will know my interests from the same source! Now all i got to do is start embedding that photo in various places.

 

bike070607.jpg, originally uploaded by joshellington.

I went on a road trip to San Francisco for two weeks with an old buddy of mine from high school. A week before I left I had this vision of the bike that is currently my winter project. I knew when I woke up that Sunday morning just exactly how my first fixed gear bike was going to look. Now that ive gotten back from the road trip the fixie bug has bit me even harder with the sweet find of a 1960 Schwinn Traveler. It too was found just before I left at Off the Chain Bike Co Op were i regularly volunteer. What is going make this bike unique is that it would have come from pieces of other donated bikes to the shop. A mutant mutt if you will. Now before I go on you must become educated as to what kind of bike this is.
A fixie is a bike were the pedals rotate at the same time the rear wheel is rotating. This is beautiful and dangerous because its potentially hazard if you don’t know how to ride. And beautiful because it is the perfect combination of mechanics and organic movement when you ride. Ill be documenting my progress as I go on this Flickr Set so check it from time to time. Thank you to Joshellington for letting me use the image of his original Traveler from his flickr.

I’ve always found it to be more inspiring to be on vacation than when I’m back at home. It makes sense when you think about it because you are of course on vacation were u are more relaxed. However I’m convinced that this dosnt always need to be the case. I swear it’s possible to have a free and fluid mind even at home.
I just got back from a road trip with a buddy of mine. While on the road many things became obvious. For one,I neglected my blog. This is a bad sign because it means I am essentially neglecting to aknowledge all the cool things happening in my life. So that said I am going to make it a point to post a creation, photo, idea, or what ever random thought I am having on a weekly basis. My hope is to look back and see the growth.

Faces, originally uploaded by avelli.

Not too long ago there was a group of photographers that carried around small 35mm cameras. They photographed their world with very simple straight for equipment. This photo is a tribute to them. The shot it self is beautiful in its spontaneity. The kid on the right wasn’t there when i was composing and focusing. As soon as he peeped his face in i shot.
This photo proves you can go out with one camera and one lens and get incredible photos. I shot two photos that day. My newest challenge for growth in photography is to economizing the number of frames i take.

Now u know how were voting, originally uploaded by avelli.

For the longest time i debated on whether or not i should get political on the blog. Then i realized that my only reasoning for this, was the same as the taboos on subjects like sex, abortion and politics. This past year has been of course massive in terms of political events and the media. The one thing i have consistently noticed when ive asked individuals if they were voting and for who, is that there are essentially 3 kinds of people.

Apathetics: Woe is me, things will never change, my vote doesn’t really count. These people came to this conclusion based on loosing a grip on some sort of reality. They float down river to their awaited graves.

Voters: Vote with their party or a party, vote on the issues or on a single issue, vote because it matters. These people swim against the current and stay afloat and alive.

Revolutionaries:Continue the struggle after defeat, mobilize people and resources for a cause, enable others to take action.These people swim, grow communities and cause change no matter who is in charge. They continue to live through those that continue their efforts.

Were do you fall?

Anti-Palin Rally, originally uploaded by avelli.

Coming soon…Its done! Sorry about the aspect ratio. Anyone who knows hot to keep youtube from making my squares rectangles id like to know. 1st Amendment

This past week has been… shall we say…. momentous.

I have moved up in rank as a cyclist since I was involved
in a hit and run on Wednesday. I want to stress two things,
first, wear a helmet, and second, stop and check on the person
if you hit them. Its amazing what you learn to appreciate after such
and incident. I am super stoked i can put a shirt on by myself now.
Besides that my one and only current niece just left with her mama to Georgia to be with my brother. Im going to miss that little leech, she was such a great orientation experience.