Took a pause from the usual hustle to attend a few social functions and let loose for a change. Thursday brought about a handful of bouts thanks to Counterpunch Production’s Brawl on Bay St. VI. Noteworthy happenings included a hit that left one contender out like a light, ten toes up. It’s especially amazing because I happened to look away for that split second when that connection was made. I always seem to miss the good stuff.

We also had good great ringside seats right behind the soundboard. (This one’s for y’all that turned down my extra ticket opportunity..) Peep the view:

Not too shabby right? Once that was over, I made my way over to link up with the crew for our weekly boogeyfest down at Li’ly Lounge, which can be found in the Little Italy area of the Tdot. If you’re down with soulful and funky house grooves and wanna jam with a no-hate-on crowd, then this place is definitely something you should reach. (My homegirl, Lucia also assures me that this is a great Saturday night “film lounge” spot. I was astounded to learn that these days thats what all the kiddies are calling “afterhours.” I guess I wouldn’t know anymore because I haven’t been found kickin it in any of those places in enough time. Anyway, back to the original topic at hand.) DJ Dirty Dale and his crew always have us cuttin up nuff carpet into the later hours of the agro mack, and I’m more than certain they’ll have the same effect on you too. One thing I love about house jams as well, is the mixed crowds especially when it means that I get to see my bboy’s!

Here’s a track I’ve been grooving to on the regular ever since we started hitting up Li’ly’s a month ago:

I’ve got so much to hitchu all up on, update wise that I’m afraid it’ll have to wait til tomorrow. I can definitely guarantee you that it’ll be packed with dope images of shots I did with photographer Scarlet O’Neill, new sketchbook material as well as new ink that I’ve been busy slangin’ onto happy clients, old and new. I’ve also got a major announcement to make that I’m bursting with, so be sure to stay tuned and peep back quickfast, pamilya!

Life is funny. And we speak the same humour. Not a lot of people get it, but that’s okay with me, because Everything Is One. Synchronicity. Simplicity. If this is going over your head already, you ain’t even gotta sweat it. But if you’re down with the content found within those simple sentences I just wrote, then rest assured knowing that there are more of us and hopefully our numbers are growing consistently.

The sun is starting to shine and the days are getting longer. I went for my first run of the season last saturday and did 2.6K ’round my hood. My goal is to hit 5K in two months. I’ve been considering the fact that you’ve really gotta be some kind of sick motherfucker to enjoy the feeling of not being able to breathe coupled with that hacking cough quickly followed after it.

What do you think about when you revisit your past? Do you regard it as all good because your present perspective is all hindsight? Is it all bad? Is it a combo of the sweet and sour? Myself, I prefer to keep it where its at: BEHIND ME. I used to be one of those highly sentimental types, which I don’t view completely as a negative thing. What I do consider bad is when you live so much of your life in the good or bad of the past to the point of it obstructing your ability to perceive and live in the moment and therefore plan for the future. For all the lay peeps out there, it’s like wearing a blindfold you refuse to take off on a hot sunny day while walking down the middle of a road.

My life is plagued by curses and blessings. Some things just really aren’t that simple, not everything can be lumped into conflicting two categories. After all, it was imperialism that taught us that things are either one thing or another and can never be anything out side of those two archetypes. I try to resist these limited notions whenever I can. But in terms of curses and blessings, I find that it just is what it is. I’ve created ghosts. They’re my own. I understand this, and I take full responsibility for it. And still, they resurface from deep and still waters, sometimes I’m aware, and sometimes it takes me by surprise. Sometimes I even go visit them myself, of my own accord. I find that it’s seldom worth it. I’ll continue to encounter them, I’m certain of this. Every opportunity gives me a chance to sway the experience and ruthlessly guard the boundaries I have established.

The angels though, they continue to touch base, regain the connection and speak to me in their own ways. Sometimes the omens are small, but because I know to look for them, I can listen to them and feel confident that I’m riding the right wave.

Before you know it, spring will be upon us and peeps’ll be shedding off them Canadian winter layers. Lets hope we’ve all got something to show other than pasty skin and hibernation-insulation pounds. GET TATTOOED.

I’m completely enamored with Sylvia Ji who’s work that revolves primarily around women and the female form is just stunning. She kills me. I’ve had a magazine clipping of one of her dia de los muertes inspired Guadalupe pieces framed with me for nearly a year now and didn’t realize it was her until I finally got around to ordering a year subscription to Juxtapoz Magazine. It’s time to get really inspired and motivated if I’m ever going to try and get my game up like this real player right here.

The tattoo gallery is back up and much improved. I have my wife to thank for that. I had to majorly re-prioritize over the weekend as I’m about to enter a serious asteroid belt in warp speed. With only eight more weeks to go in my academic career it’s time to put my head down in the textbooks (and sketchbooks) to keep the burners going bright and strong til the very end. I’m going to miss sparring for the next couple weeks, which is kinda bogus, but I’ll be putting down some serious rounds in other arenas of life.

See you all on the other side, I’ve got some business I must attend to. Stay tuned for some killa projects that are about to go under way.

&Enjoy the link below.