waringis

WHO HE IS: An artist of Cocoa Beach, also one of my favorite painters.
WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW HIM: I believe he will be legendary one day.

     I was on my way to the infamous Coconuts, located just outside Orlando at Cocoa Beach, when I first stumbled upon Rick Piper. Among a few other artists, he was sitting on the side of the street selling original art. His work, in particular, caught my eye and caused me to immediately pull over. I needed to see the paintings up close and personal. There were two pieces that immediately drew my attention, both were his. One was of a beach scene that had a Buddha type character carved into a rock. The other one was a much darker piece of a lonely mermaid that was chained to the floor of sometime type of cell, depicted mostly in shades of blue and grey.
     I purchased “The Call” that day, my first piece of original art named after the waves that appeared to be calling out from the Buddha’s stone-cold mouth. Although, the mermaid still haunts me to this day. I often wonder if I made the right decision, considering it’s been six years and I still debate it. The choice to endanger those in the vehicle with me when I nearly wrecked the van pulling over that day, however, appears to have been the right choice (Sorry Casey!). Because I now have six pieces of Rick’s work living in my house. The latest one I acquired, I feel most certainly was meant to be mine, even though I missed the opportunity to buy it during its first release.
     For five years, I have continually asked about this particular painting titled “Earth Moved.” I had no money at the time Rick was selling it, and so it slipped away. Since then, I’ve asked Rick things like, “Do you think it is inappropriate to approach the new owner and ask if it’s for sale now?” Rick usually laughs at my ridiculous attempts to claim what I tend to think is mine. One day, he gave me a print of it—I imagine out of sympathy.
     Then, last week, due to unforeseen circumstances, the painting suddenly became available again. When news of this popped up on my e-mail, along with a picture of the piece, I nearly fell over. I called and e-mailed Rick simultaneously, hoping he had saved it for me. And he did, “Earth Moved” is now mine. It’s something that I—never in a million years—imagined happening. Because when you miss out on good art, you never get the opportunity to get it back. Unless you are me, then things usually have a strange way of working themselves out.

“Earth Moved”

Were you born and raised right here in Cocoa Beach?
No, but I am a Florida native. I was born in West Palm Beach. My Dad was a preacher, so we were almost like a military family when it came to moving around. He liked working with smaller churches to get them to a certain point, build them up. Then he would look for a new place to do that once he did it. So we moved all the time. My Dad liked Florida though, so we were always back and forth to Florida. 

When did you get locked in here?
I moved to Cocoa Beach in … geez, my first stint here started in, like, ’79. I got married a moved away for awhile to Connecticut. Then I got divorced and moved back … I’ve been here ever since; I consider it like home.

Were there any repercussions from being a preacher’s son?
Yeah, you know, being a P.K. is a big deal.

What is a P.K.?
A preacher’s kid, P.K. is what all the preacher’s kids call it. It’s a unique aspect to be raised by the person that is—at least in your small society—a religious leader. I saw my dad when he was not the preacher. My dad was a flawed human as there ever was, not in a sense that he was doing anything hypocritical. He was a hard guy, hard on himself and hard on everyone else.
     The story that is unique to preacher’s kids is that you have to act a certain way. If you get in trouble, it’s a bad reflection on your father, his business or his avocation. You are always under that scrutiny. Most preachers’ kids rebel crazily, they’re usually the wildest kids in town. I wasn’t as much, but my brothers—I was the baby of five kids—they took care of that.  I grew my hair out, that’s about as rebellious as I got. I had a couple of brothers that were major drunks, so I didn’t get into that. By the time they were in college, they were messin’ up pretty hard. I saw that from a distance and thought, “Nah, I don’t want to get into that.” My art is my escape, my drug or whatever.

When did you pick up a paintbrush?
Well, I’ve done art my whole life … painting is something that came later in my life. Drawing was my strong suit. I was a black and white artist, mostly pencil, charcoal and graphic stuff, like printing. All the way up and through college, I had a sense that I didn’t really know color.

Really?
Yeah, I always excelled at drawing. The first contest I ever entered was in first grade. I remember it distinctly. They rejected me because they thought my parents had drawn it. My mom was like, “I don’t know when he did it!” It was cool because she defended me. She said, “He just does this. We don’t know how he does it.”

Are your parents artists?
No. My dad was OK; he wrote some poetry. But I do have creative people in my family. There were some aunts that were gifted, but not formally artists.

At what point did you realize it was something that you wanted to do professionally?
Well, I think even as a kid you could have randomly walked in my house and found me sitting in front of the TV, drawing on a sketch pad. I have boxes and boxes full of sketch pads… [Rick’s friend Hideki drops into the studio to measure some art and hang out.]

Do you think school is a place someone can learn art?
I think you can learn a great deal about art in school. I actually have a belief system that anybody can be … I don’t think “taught” art is the right word, but they can be introduced to the visual aspects and levels of their own mind and facility. I see education as a place where you can learn a lot of technique and get a lot practice, experience and influence from other people. And occasionally, you might get the right teacher that can teach you something about it. But for the most part, it’s an innate part of humanity for most people.   
       I think there are people, like myself, that have an intrinsic gift for it and are driven. I guess because a dominate part of my brain makes me want to mimic things visually. There are artists friends of mine that I’d qualify as gifted artists; and then there people who do art, who don’t have a natural gift, but do it because they love it. I imagine anyone can get better with their physical facility for drawing or painting. But to me, that’s not art as much as technique. I think that art can be done by people that are extremely naïve and that have no technical ability at all; they can do incredible things that are visionary expressions. I think great art is authentic expressions in a visual language.

Do you remember the first painting that you sold?
I remember the first painting I sold when I decided to do quit my job, move out of the house I was renting, abandon my job and commit to it. I moved from my big house on the canal to a tiny apartment. I committed to painting; I jumped off the ledge and didn’t sell anything for a long time. I had made a few, very large attempts at master pieces. That’s kind of what you do, especially when you’re in the mode of jumping off the cliff. You think seriously, so you make serious art. I starved and starved and starved. I couldn’t give them away. I literally went to a friend of mine’s house and said, “Monday, I’m going to start looking for a job and abandon this. I can’t do it.” I was starving, literally, for months. These were the friends that fed me, so I didn’t necessarily starve to death. But I was like, “That’s it. I can’t. It’s broken me.”
     Then a friend of mine, no it was my son’s friend, his father had come over to pick him up. We had been fishing. He had heard about my paintings; he was a doctor. He introduced himself and then said, “Hey, I heard you have some paintings.”
     I was like, “Yeah, yeah.” At that point, I was ready to put them out in the dumpster. But I brought him in and showed him anyway. Mentally, I had abandoned the whole idea.
     He asked, “How much are they?” They were 5’ x 6’canvases, huge pieces that took weeks of work. I was trying to get a grand back then, but I had lowered the price to $500 … then $300.
     So I said, “I’m trying to get $300, but at the moment I’d take $150.” That was the cost of materials.
     He looked at it and said, “I really love this one but I can’t give you $300”
     I said, “OK, well what can you give me?”
     He said, “$400 because that’s all that I have on me and its worth five times that.”
     He was this guy that came out of the blue and gave me hope. You can’t do anything without hope, especially creatively. He made everything better. Suddenly, I was validated. I just needed the universe to give me that, “Hey, you’re on the right road.” Then things even got worse of course, but I wasn’t stopping at that point. 

Is it essential that you live close to water?
Yeah, I think it is. I need to be near some environmentally inspiring place. I couldn’t live in a town that doesn’t have water or mountains in it, or at least some feature that has a wealth of inspiring aspects. But water is a huge symbol of my work.

How does the beach inspire you?
When I was a child, we had lived in some pretty boring Midwestern kind of places that didn’t have a lot going. So it was really inspiring to see the river. What fascinated me about seeing water in mass everywhere—I have sketches from way back when—was trying to figure out what the waves look like when they are moving. They move so quickly; it’s a fascinating organic shape that focuses almost everyone, so much that when they see water they are transfixed by it. It’s like what my friend calls a common primitive; it’s like looking into fire. It just locks us in, that curve motion that you can see. You’re not really sure what it’s doing, or how it’s doing it, but you can freeze it in a photograph.
      It’s not just the beach, it’s all water. I can watch a river, rapids or a waterfall pouring. However, waves are a great expression of water and energy. It’s one of the only places in the natural world that you can visually observe energy. Surfers like to talk about that a lot; I’ve read some esoteric articles about it in surfing magazines. Waves are the only place you can see energy, approach it and climb on top of it.

Where else do you draw inspiration? Are there other artists you look up to?
All artists influence me. If I see something I like somewhere, I’ll work it into my next few pieces. No one else will see it, but I do. I love Dali, Picasso … I like Surrealism and Cubism. [Rick’s phone rings and he answers it for a brief second.]

Some of your pieces remind me of Dali. How does he visually influence you?
If I go to an urban museum, he is someone I seek out. He is a masterful painter and masterful compositional artist, as far as using space and form. His fields of dream like circumstances … I love that. If you ever get to see Dali’s paintings in person you’ll notice that he paints with incredible technique. I can look at it from an inch away and not even understand how he got that intricacy. His canvases are like 25 feet across—just gigantic—and it makes you wonder, “Gosh, did he spend a lifetime doing that?”
     The answers is no, he probably did it for a show between this time and that time. I mean, how could he have even completed those? There are a few tricks in there I guess. Dali likes to do color fields and fades that seem to be plains in a dream-like desert. If you look at it pragmatically, those cover most of his canvases and then the super detailed stuff is small.  So I guess it does only take weeks, as opposed to the months that it appears to take.

Are there other artists or eras that you’re attracted to?
I was heavy into Cubism early in my life. That introduced me to abstract art and the idea of abandoning rules. Of course Cubism has a certain set of rules that gives it its look, but the whole phenomenon of abstraction is a very freeing concept artistically and creatively—I think beyond even visual arts. Think about it. When the camera was invented, the purpose of an artist changed. They were no longer a recorder of Realism and serving a purpose as a craft, striving to make things as perfect as they look. The only way to get a picture of a King or valley back then was to have someone paint it or sculpt it.
     Then the camera was invented and you could make a more perfect image in a thirtieth of a second. All the artist of that era—Modern Art and the twentieth century, we’re talking about 1910—it was the whole permeation of the idea that we don’t have to do this. What is our purpose? We don’t have to just recreate images. They explored it all the way to abandon the form and the subject matter. You’ve got [Paul Jackson] Pollock that just poured paint on something, his own expression that isn’t really any thing. It’s not a picture of anything. Although, I struggle with Pollock’s interpretation; he wasn’t even trying to be beautiful. But then again, I’ve seen a Pollock in the right lighting in a museum—and I’m sure he’d reject my opinion of it—and it was beautiful, when I walked up to it, the sunlight hit all the ridges of paint. I don’t think he meant it for that purpose, but I see beauty in his aesthetics.

How long does it take you to finish one of your pieces?
I paint pretty fast. I’ve done a lot of mural pieces, so I’ve gotten fast. I typically see paintings as something I need to get to the finish of. A lot of artists will work on multiple pieces here and there. I tell people, “For me, it’s a story and I have to see how it ends.” So my smaller pieces, I’ll finish in a day. It depends on details and inspiration. Some times I get this idea and it just cranks; I’m talking a 6-foot canvas in six hours. Then, you’ll get other ones that you struggle with.

Do you work best in the morning or at night?
I seem to work best at night. My schedule slips though because I stay up later and later painting and then the next day is ruined. I’ll wake-up later and paint later. But I did discover that every six months it turns over completely because I start staying up so late it that it is morning. Then it’s like, “Hey mornings are cool. I haven’t seen these in a while.” [Laughs] My life right now is so independent of all that though, a lot of times I don’t even know what day of the week it is—those are my best times. When I’m involved in creating and not tied to anything. 

Do you keep track of where your paintings go?
I do. All these paintings are original authentic expressions, so I feel tied to all of them. I don’t just create product. A lot of people ask me to paint things again and I never do that. I just paint; and I want to find new things every time I do it. Some times people will come up to me and say, “I have one of your paintings.” I won’t recognize them, but as soon as I found out what painting they have then I remember the whole thing. I recognize people by what pieces they have.

Do you do paintings by request?
Rarely. I am at the point right now that I have enough people collecting me, so I have the luxury of doing what I want to do, which is what most people want from me. People like my style. I don’t want to copy a picture. I get offers every week of my life for commission work and I say, “No.”  For other people and fans of my work—depending on the timing and the money—occasionally, if you give me a little idea, I’ll sketch something based on that. If I like it, I’ll show it to you. If you like it, I’ll paint it for you.

How is the business side of being an artist during these times?
In these times, it’s hard. It’s sucking. Everyone is suffering through economic karma, as well as other karma from this period of time. I can’t wait for it to be over. The last 6-8 months have really been recessionary. Art is one of those things people buy when they are in a good mood; it’s a subjective purchase. If people are worried about their groceries, they aren’t going to buy a piece of original art. That aside, last month was an anomaly; a lot of things came out of no where. 

What does the little group of fish in most of your paintings symbolize?
I spend so much time fishing in this lagoon system out back, the Banana River, some of the best fishing in Central Florida, Florida and the world, really. The bottom of the food chain is the mullet, or these little schools of mullet. As a fisherman, I cast net those mullet to use for bait, to catch other fish. If you been to the river, you’ve seen them everywhere. There like your constant companions when you’re wading around and fishing. A lot of my paintings have the fingerling mullet.
     You know, I’ve wondered [about the mullet] too. I put them in the air and all around because that’s how it feels to me. There’s also this link to this whole life cycle. They’re there, and they’re there in abundance. Without them, none of the rest of it would be there. They’re harmless little vegetarian fish that get harmed. I kill them and use them for bait, but I have a mad respect for them. I’ve held many, and looked into its eyes and then let it go. [Laughs]

An example of the fingerling mullet in “Tentative Step on to Water.”

In what exhibitions or museums has your work been featured in lately?
My last big deal thing was last year when I won “Best of Show” at the Brevard Art Museum. I also won the Purchase Award that year. That was a lot of prize money and attention because no one has won both of those awards in the same year. That was the first time that I ventured into museum contest. I don’t really do a lot of seeking out for competitive environments. I mean, first try—win everything. That was great.
     This year I didn’t even get in the show. In the last six months, a lot of things have tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Hey, this is not what you do. You don’t do the subjective art world and get validated by ribbons, prizes, awards and money.” I create my artwork, and sell it to people who fall in love with it. That’s my mission. Competitive environments don’t bring out the best in me anyway.

What is your definition of successful art?
I think what you’d call success is creating something that is important visually to you. Like, if you take a walk, and you get this idea or see something that makes a thought. Then you take that and bring it into the realm of 3-dimensional reality. If you love it and authentically it expresses what you were hoping it could, then someone else, especially some one you don’t know, sees it and says, “Oh my gosh!” The authenticity of a connection to another human through something that is truly your reflection of a reality is the most successful thing that could ever happen. If they buy the painting, that’s validating too. But really, the money just allows you to buy more materials to go do another one.

Where are the furthest places that you’ve sent your paintings?
Let’s see, I have paintings in France. I have paintings in the Caribbean … in Hawaii … in Canada and South America … and now, prints in Japan … thanks to Hideki. He’s trying to market my stuff over there.

Where do you see your art heading?
I don’t know. There always is the tropical aspect and the reflections of this area … and things that I love that are true to me. [Hideki asks to take pictures of us while we’re interviewing.] It’s an interesting question because I look forward to finding out where it goes. I wonder what I’ll be painting at 80, because I know it’s changing. It always changes. To me, that’s one of the most important parts of it. I want to keep growing and changing, like everybody … whether they know it or not.
     To answer you specifically, I’ve been thinking about doing something on a much larger scale, something that is not meant to be bought individually. I want to find a venue, or big space, and do an installation without the approval of museums or whatever. What people don’t know is that I’ve done lots of kinds of art in my life—I’ve just settled on doing what I love.

Where do you think your art will be in 100 years?
That’s one little connection us artists have with original art, it gives us a little bit of immortality because it will be around. That’s a satisfying idea. There will be people that see my painting for the first time in 100 years. I mean, like six generations from now there may be people in their teenage years playing on beaches, and then they see my paintings and go, “Wow.” That’d be great.

Then, I guess, you’ve done your job.
Yeah, I’ve done my job. It’s why art is referred to as a life’s work—it’s not work. Who knows what will happen after I’m dead, but right now it’s kind of a delicious idea.

*Interview Date: 7/30/2008

To see the mermaid that haunts me and more of Rick’s work, go to www.rickpipersart.com.  

WHO SHE IS: Professional Wakeboarder
WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW HER: She’s won many, many contests and has brought national attention to the world of women’s wakeboarding.

     If you ask me, Dallas Friday needs no introduction. Chances are you have seen her on TV, either on ESPN, FUSE, or the ABC Family channel, in a show called Switch; or you may watched her Cheetos commercial or recognized her voice and reproduced image on the Disney cartoon Kim Possible.
    If you don’t watch TV, you have seen her in a magazine or the newspaper. After all, she’s been featured in over ten different titles, including major publications like Rolling Stone, Men’s Journal, Sports Illustrated, CosmoGIRL! and Southern Living. The 21-year-old also made headlines in the local newspaper two years ago, when she fractured her femur during a wakeboard contest in Singapore. It wasn’t just the news of her injury that broke headlines, but the fact that she was induced into a medical coma from post-surgery complications. Her near fatal experience had editors eager to follow her story until she was well and back into the states. 
     And finally, like other celebrity atheletes, Dallas owns a fair bit of internet real estate. The rider can be found on Facebook, MySpace, www.DallasFriday.com and searched through engines like Wikipedia, Google, You Tube, etc… To escape Dallas Friday and her media frenzy seems nearly impossible—at least to me. That’s why I’m not even going to bother conjuring up an intro for the world class athlete. Instead, I’d rather focus on the unique dynamics of this interview.
     The following interview was created specifically to coordinate with the article I wrote about Dallas for the 2.2 issue of The Standerd: Wakeboard Quarterly. To go along with the edit, photographer Josh Letchworth took photos of our interview in hopes to capture the event in its rawest form.  I knew having another person in the room was bound to effect the normal dynamics of my interviewing process, but no one could have predicted Josh’s influence on the two of us. As he jumps in and starts to ask questions, you will notice Dallas starts really opening up; I also stop talking and start admiring his candidness.  So instead of the interview ending, which is what I thought was happening, it begins again; and the result is amazing. Josh exposes a deeper, sincere Dallas, perhaps this is a side of her that you haven’t heard about.

Jana: What do you want to talk about Dallas? You’ve been interviewed and questioned plenty of times to probably know.
Dallas: What do I want to talk about?

Jana: Yeah, like, what’s on your mind?
Dallas: A busy summer … and it’s about to start. Reality is kicking in, I guess.

Josh: Are you anxious about this summer?
Dallas: Yeah. Now that there is the Queen of Wake Series, there are a lot more contests going on this year. I do stuff for my sponsors all the time too. So it’s going to be a busy summer; it’s going to be fun but it’s going to be hectic.

Jana: Do you have to mentally prepare yourself for it to begin?
Dallas: Yeah. Being away from home is difficult sometimes. It’s been nice being home and relaxing. But I’m motivated for this year … more excited and eager than ever before.

Jana: What do you hope this season brings for you?
Dallas: First off, I just want to remain healthy. I want to finish the season off without making any doctor’s appointments. Then, I just want to have fun and try my best.

Jana: A lot can change between the ages of 18-21. What has changed the most for you in those years?
Dallas: I’ve just become more mature, I guess.

Jana: Are you feeling more responsibility?
Dallas: Yeah, for sure. Not just as a role model but as a business partner to my sponsors, like being on time for things and putting all my effort in. You’ve got to show your sponsors the same support they show you. It seems like to make it in our industry, you can’t just ride good. You’ve got to talk to your sponsors, be responsible, be smart and always remember you have the public eye looking at you from every perspective. I just try to keep my head—no matter where I’m at. Because you’d be surprised; someone’s always watching.

Josh: That’s a good point. There’s always so much more than just being on the water. I really have realized that.  Following you guys around and seeing what you do. I’ve noticed you have to be on a lot—socially—you just have to be on.
Jana: Yeah, that’s true. Describe a typical day for you in season.
Dallas: I usually just wake up and have a Red Bull …

Jana: Oh, come on Dallas. Is that a sponsor plug? [Laughs]
Dallas: No, I’m serious. [Laughs] That’s what I do; I wake up and have a Red Bull. Then, I’ll go for a ride. Then I’ll take care of some business, like phone calls or e-mails. I’ll have lunch. Then, I’ll probably have some kind of photo shoot or event I need to go to. Then hopefully, I’ll get to ride again.

Jana: How many hours do you put on your boat each day?
Dallas: Lately … not much because it’s been real windy. I’ve [also] been busy doing so much of this kind of stuff, it’s been crazy.

Jana: What is the deal with the wind in Orlando? I feel like it has been extra windy this year.
Dallas: Oh yeah, it has.

Jana: Do you think you could ever move away from Orlando?
Dallas: No way. [Laughs] I love Florida; I’m a Florida girl for sure.

Jana: What does this place offer you?
Dallas: First off, my family. I love the weather, I don’t really care for the cold; I love the humidity, even though a lot of people don’t; there are so many lakes; I love being outdoors. It’s just beautiful here. Everyone that comes down here never leaves.

Jana: True. Last year, there were deaths due to bacteria in local lake water. How did that affect you?
Dallas: I’m in the lake more than anyone, especially my lake. It was just unfortunate. I feel for their families. It’s just one of those things you can’t do anything about. [Pauses] I really don’t know what else to say.

Jana: Is it something that you think about when you get into the water?
Dallas: I probably wouldn’t go swimming in shallow, nasty-looking water. But it definitely doesn’t keep me away from riding. That’s for sure.

Jana: What inspires you?
Dallas: What inspires me? Or what motivates me?

Jana: Either.
Dallas: [Thinks]
Josh: Like, what’s the one thing that you can look at, or think about, that puts a smile on your face?
Dallas: I would say watching people do something that they love for a living. I think that’s really cool. Like Parks [Bonifay], [Shaun] Murray, Shaun White, Bucky Lasik, Travis Pastrana—you can really tell that they love the sport that they do. They create their own image and style—that’s inspiring.

Jana: I think some people may feel that same way about you. Do you feel that way about yourself?
Dallas: I don’t really stop and think about myself. I feel like I’ve worked hard … and I’m thankful and appreciative that I’m able to do what I love, and that I have the people that support me, like my family, around me. I’ve been given an opportunity and I don’t think I’ve wasted it. I’ve worked hard; and from what I can tell, it’s paid off.

Jana: Define wakeboarding and what it means to you.
Dallas: It’s my life. [Laughs] Everything I do revolves around it—everyone I talk to, everything I do and the decisions I make. I don’t know Jana … that’s a hard question.

Jana: [Laughs] Alright, let’s lighten it up a bit. You’ve walked many a red carpets, what actually happens on those things?
Dallas: Lots of flashing lights. [Laughs]

Jana: What are you thinking about when those pictures are being taken?
Dallas: Hold a smile. [Laughs] No, it’s cool. I’ve gotten used to it. It’s the world of wakeboarding that I never expected.

Jana: Were you taught how to pose?
Dallas: No! I wouldn’t take the time to learn how to walk down the red carpet—that’d be pretty funny. I just try to be myself and keep a happy face on.

Jana: Where do you keep your ESPY award?
Dallas: Next to the kitchen sink, on the counter. It’s next to my Arby’s Action Sports Award.

Jana: Do other athletes at red carpet events ever call you up to go ride?
Dallas: They don’t ever call me because I don’t give out my number. But sometimes people do say they want to go ride.

Jana: What celebrity numbers do you have in your phone?
Dallas: The newest one I got is Shaun White. [Laughs] I haven’t used it yet, but I will.

Josh: [Laughs] Are you saving that one for the right moment?
Dallas: Yeah, I guess.

Jana: Thanks Dallas, I think I’m all set. Josh, do you want to add anything else? [Josh has finished the photo shoot and takes a seat next to me.]
Josh: Yeah sure. What’s next? I mean, you’re coming off a big injury. Where is your head at? What are your goals?
Dallas: I always have goals and things that I want to accomplish … you have to. Once you have accomplished something, you can’t just stop there. I want to keep riding and stay healthy. Injuries have been a big part of my career, like any athlete. I want to be an inspiration for others that get hurt … because there are always bumps in the road, it’s what makes you stronger. When everything is taken away, you realize how bad you want it. I am definitely working hard and I get frustrated. I just want to be back to where I was, or even better.

Jana: Is there anything you feel like you have to prove?
That’s a tricky question.  I wouldn’t say I feel pressure but … there are … what is the word? [Pauses] Expectations? [Pauses] That’s kind of a weird subject, I’m sorry.

Josh: Weird is good.
Jana: That’s good that they’re adding of more women’s events to the tour this year.
Dallas: Yeah, it’s about time. There are a lot of new, up and coming girls; and I definitely see a lot of potential in a few of them. They seem hungry for it. They’re not just good riders, but motivated good riders—which are two different things. It’s the difference between being good and being the best. Hopefully, we can get more girls into it. I think it’s grown a lot in the past 4-5 years. I’m stoked to be a part of it, and I hope to stay a part of it for many, many more years.

Josh: Do you acknowledge that you have attributed a lot to that?
Dallas: I’ve hoped so. I remember reading interviews and articles when the girls weren’t really pushing themselves; that’s kind of when I got on to the scene. I just started riding hard and riding with the boys. That’s what caught the eye of the public I think. And it may be what motivated the girls a bit, like in the way that girls can do this sport too.

Josh: Do you let the “what’s next” get to you? Or do you block it out and just let your instincts take over?
Dallas: It’s kind of hard to plan the future with everything you want to do. It’s really frustrating thinking about the season with all the contests, photo shoots and obligations that I have.

Jana: How do you stay organized?
Dallas: My mom. It’s crazy though. I try not to think ahead or worry about things you can’t be in control over. I’m not saying I don’t plan things … it’s just, you know?

Josh: Yeah, I know what you mean. But are you still excited about it?
Dallas: Oh yeah. I really am excited. When I’m standing on the dock and about to ride—that’s how I feel about this entire year. I just want to go out there and do it. I’m really anxious. 

Josh: When you think about wakeboarding this year, what pops in your head: a competitive aspect or joy and riding for the love?
Dallas: Everything. I’m a competitive person, so I’m definitely thinking about competitions and how well I’m going to do at them. I think about what’s going to motivate me this year. I kind of think everything happens for a reason. So if I do badly, there is a reason for it. I’ll figure it out in the long run. I’m just excited about this year. I know people want to know where I’m at as far as my riding goes and if I am the “motivated Dallas Friday” that’s going to make a come back. I think about it all the time; it’s weird. I just got to be myself and go out there and do what I’m meant to do. I have a game plan.

Josh: Are you nervous—with your leg—when you ride now?
Dallas: No, not at all. I’ve never been [hesitant] after any of my injuries. I don’t have that mental block, maybe because I did gymnastics. It’s a demanding sport and you must always get back up and do it again … until its right. There is no second guessing, you just have to know that you can do it. I remember when I first did a whirlybird after the doctor let me ride. I was out on the boat with [Josh] Sanders. He was like, “Think about it. You’re gonna commit, right?” He was nervous that I was going to get hurt while he was driving the boat. I was like, “I got it! I got it!” He was like, “Are you sure?” And I said, “Dude, I’m full of it.” He shook his head and said, “Alright Dallas.” I know he was nervous; I would have been too if I was driving the boat. I landed my first three [whirlybirds] and they were better than they were before. It’s just one of those things that you have to have confidence about.

Josh: Where do you see yourself in twenty years?
Dallas: I have no idea where I’ll be at.

Josh: Do you want to have kids? Do you want to get married?
Dallas: Yeah, one day; but way down the road.

Josh: Do you feel that motherly instinct?
Dallas: I’m sure I’ll have kids some day. But I can’t even picture that right now and I don’t have that need. You would have to have a lot of patience. I’m just tryin’ to live my life to the fullest. You have to enjoy it while you can.

Josh: Do you like peace and quiet?
Dallas: Yeah, I do. My time is precious. Alone time and at home time is the best time.

Josh: Do you ever shut-down and turn your phone off?
Dallas: No, not really. I wish I could turn my phone off, but I’d just lose it. I’m already onto my fourth phone this year. It’s ridiculous.

Josh: Where’s your place—the place you go to and completely disconnect, no wakeboarding?
Dallas: Driving in my car, or sitting outside. Sometimes I just sit outside and look around. Probably once a day I say, “I love Florida.” Florida is the best place ever. I feel so fortunate to own a house on a lake with a boat house.

Josh: Where do you want to vacation?
Dallas: People think I’m always on vacation. It’s not true. [Pauses] I’ve always wanted to go to the Maldives.

* Interview Date: April 1, 2008

WHO THEY ARE: Young writer’s from the Page 15 summer camp.
WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW THEM: They are our future.

    
     Page 15 is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping inner city kids discover their voices through reading and creative writing. It’s also a foundation that my best friend Julia has dreamed about doing since we ran laps around Lake Silver for high-school soccer practice. Nearly fifteen years later, she has made the foundation become a reality.
     The Page 15 kick-off is a five-week camp that starts this summer at the Urban Think! Bookstore in Thorton Park. Five groups of kids will meet for one week at the bookstore, for a total of five weeks, to write their first children’s book. They also get the chance to design the cover of their book as told to a professional illustrator, experience a reading of a children’s book by the author himself and cooperate with a musician in writing a class song. When the camp started with its first group, a brilliant but wild bunch of kindergartners, I was there to help Julia corral the young writer’s.
     The highlight for me was interviewing each child for their Author’s Bio found on the back of each writer’s book. The interviews were only meant to be short, but when a couple of the kids started talking I just couldn’t stop. And so I pressed on with more questions until they were ready to end the interview, which wasn’t long. Below are interviews from Justin and Graham, two very talented young men. I can only hope you enjoy the interviews as much as I enjoyed conducting them.

Justin’s Interview

Jana: Do you know what this is called?
Justin: No.

It’s a recorder. Do you know what it does?
No.

It’s going to record our voices. OK?
OK. And then you’re going to put it onto paper at the end.

You got it. How old are you?
6

Where are you from?
Orlando

How long have you lived in Orlando?
100 hours

What do you like about living in Orlando?
I like my X-Box and my PSP game.

What do you not like about Orlando?
Somebody ruined my perfect life.

Somebody ruined your perfect life?
Yeah, that’s right.

How did someone ruin your perfect life?
Because I always tell them something to do … but they don’t do what I do.

Oh, you mean they won’t do what you tell them?
Yeah.

Got it. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I would go to talk to Mommy; she can take me to the game store.

Have you ever been to Disney?
Yes, I did.

What did you think about it?
It was so good. I went on the Peter Pan ride and then I screamed like this, “Kapoo-whoo kapoo-whoo.” I did.

What is the first thing you think about when you wake up?
I just scream and then I run. And then I push Courtney, and then I lock her up under my pillow. She says, ‘Boy, I’m gonna slap you in the face.’ And she does.

Who is Courtney?
My girlfriend. She always keep on slapping me in the face all day.

Are you in school right now?
Yes.

Are you in school or are you in camp?
[Laughs] I’m in camp.

Do you like camp?
Yeah.

Are you going into the first grade next year?
This is not school. This is camp!

I know, but next year are you going into the first grade?
I don’t know.

OK, well what do you think school will be like next year?
I am not going to school. I want to stay here all day, OK? I don’t want to leave here because I like this. And I like what you do.

Well OK, and thank-you. Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?
Hmm. I want to be [pauses] spider-man.

How are you going to go about becoming Spider-man?
I’m going to climb up the walls and I’m gonna spin my web. Then, I’m gonna fly up and catch a bird. Then I’m gonna fly down and give the bird to Mommy. And then I’m going to get the bird a cage.

Do you know who the president of the United States is?
Yes … president Daddy. My Daddy is president.

Who is your hero?
Courtney because she always wants to throw me into the pillows.

Courtney? That’s your girlfriend, right?
Yeah, I know. That’s all … that’s all the question’s I got.

You mean answers? Well, can I ask one more question?
Yes.

How about three more questions?
No, I like one.

Name three things you’d like to do this summer.
I’d like to get a cake, and then I’d like to put the cake in … that is not my question [laughs]. I am just kidding. I’d like to have nice stuff, and I’d like to do good, and I’d like for everybody to do what ever I say.


Graham’s Interview

Jana: Do you remember what this device is called?
Graham: A phone?

No, it looks like a phone. What is it?
I don’t know.

It’s called a recorder. Do you know what it is going to do for us?
Call somebody?

No, it’s going to record our voices. So go ahead and say your full name into the recorder.
[Pauses] I don’t have a full name.

OK, then just say your regular name.
Graham

And how old are you Graham?
5 ½

Where are you from?
Orlando, Fl

How long have you lived in Orlando?
For 100 million days.

What do you like best about living in Orlando?
I like my new baby sister … baby Sarah.

What do you not like about Orlando?
That we had to move to a different house and I still miss the old house.

If you could go anywhere in the entire world, where would you go?
I would go back to the time of the dinosaurs and fight the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

What is the first thing that you think about when you wake up in the morning?
The first thing that I think about when I wake up is checking on my pet tadpole.

Does the tadpole have a name?
Uh hmm, his name is Taddy.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Max

Are you in school right now?
No.

Are you in camp?
Yes.

What do you like about camp?
I like making books for my mommy and daddy.

Are you starting kindergarten this year?
[He shakes his head yes.]

What do you think kindergarten will be like?
I think it’ll be, like, a lot of homework and you will go on a field trip to the zoo.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A fisherman. And then when I’m finished being a fisherman, I’ll be a horse rider … and then a zookeeper.

How are you going to go about becoming a fisherman?
I’m going to catch a lot of fish—maybe even a saw-fish.

Do you know who the president of the United States is?
The person that … I don’t know.

Well do you know what the president might do?
He might tell people to do good things.

Who is your hero?
[Pauses]

Do you have a hero?
Um, no … wait, I do have a hero. It’s the girl that was wearing a white shirt yesterday; she helped me not throw up.

Miss Julia?
Yeah.

Why were you going to throw up?
Because I went too fast on that blue thing that goes around and around. [He is referring to the blue spin bucket at the playground in Lake Eola Park.]

Name three things you are going to do this summer.
I am gonna go to Montana for my birthday. Two, I am gonna go to Maine. And three, I’m gonna go fishing with Cole.

What is your favorite food?
Chicken nuggets and French fries … I’m thirsty.

To learn how you can donate or become a part of Page 15, please visit www.page15.org.

* Interview date: June 11, 2008

WHO HE IS: A tattooer
WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW HIM: You never know when his work may be walking by you.    

      “Hey! Do you want to come over on Wednesday,” asked my friend Shelby. She is my neighbor that lives on the 9th floor; I live on the 10th. “I am making lasagna and Jozlin is getting his tattoo worked on.”
     “Um, yeah! Do you think the tattooer will want to tattoo me? And then, let me interview him at the same time?”
     “I can ask.”
     “That’d be sweet. I was going to go do that this week.”
     “Do what? Get tattooed?”
     “Yeah. And if I don’t have to leave the building to do it, even better.”
     “I don’t see why he couldn’t. I’ll call you.”
     Before Shelby had stopped me at the pool over the weekend, I was narrowing down tattoo shops to visit. It was time for more ink, but mostly I wanted to interview a tattooer. Thanks to her, I may not even leave my building. She’s having a tattooer come over her house as a present to her boyfriend. The tattooer’s work was already all over Jozlin; and I was a fan.

                                                                                ***

     There is lasagna in the oven. Everyone is chatting around the kitchen bar while Shelby pours wine. There are moments in life that feel scripted. As soon as the doorbell rings, I know it’s Joe and I feel like I am in a movie.
     Joe is skinny and smells like Marlboro Reds. He has longer brown hair that is pulled back into a ponytail, but not pulled all the way through. He is no stranger to wearing ponies. He is wearing jeans, a black T-shirt (that he later tells me is from his favorite tattoo shop), cowboy boots and a short, scruffy mustache and beard. It appears that his body has tattoos on top of tattoos; I imagine this is probably because he ran out of space on his body.
     “Hi, I am Joe.”
     “I’m Jana, nice to meet you.” We shake hands and look around the room. “So you’re cool with me interviewing you while you work.”
     “Yeah. It’s cool.”
     “Awesome.”
     “What kind of tattoo are you thinking of getting?”
     I show Joe pictures of the small bird I’ve envisioned on my wrist for the past few months. As I explain the details, I cannot believe the words that are coming out of my mouth. There was one point in my life that I shunned tattoos; I’ve also never been a big fan of birds. Yet, today it feels right. So I tell the stranger how I’d like to have the bird tattooed on my body.
     “So what do you think?”
     “How about I draw something up for you? I prefer to free-hand everything.”
     “Um, sure. You’re the expert.”
     “I’ll take care of you, don’t worry. I’m going to go set-up and smoke a cigarette. And then after that, we’ll get started.”
      I watch him walk out onto the balcony. He pulls out his cigarettes, lights one and takes a long drag. I can still run, but I don’t.

Jana: What am I nervous about? Um, just that it looks nice.
Joe: [Laughs] I have my portfolio in the car that I can go get for you.

No, it’s cool.
Just because you’ve seen a couple of my tattoos, doesn’t mean anything. Do you want me to go get my portfolio?

No.
Are you sure?

Positive. It’s just that it’s forever …
You could have this gone in a month if you wanted.

How?
Lasers. [Laughs]

I heard that is terribly painful.
[Laughs] I didn’t say it was going to be easy; I said it was going to be possible.

Once I’m ready to commit, I can commit … I think.
You know, I’ve been tattooing since ’95. And there is something to be said about the experience—as you see it happening. Even if you want a little tattoo, it’s yours. I like to draw them on personally, but that’s just me. It took me a long time to be comfortable with my artistic ability. So where were you thinking about getting it?

Right here. [I point to my wrist.]
So, I’m gonna start drawing it as big as I think we should go, and then I’ll let you tell me when to go smaller. [He begins to draw.] How’s that?

I like it.
Which way do you want to fly?

I want to fly towards the inside, like this. I’ve left the picture there on the floor for you.
Oh good. It’s like you’ve done this before.

Not like this, this is my first in-house experience.
Is that what’s making you nervous?

No, but what are the benefits of tattooing in someone’s home? Besides the obvious—comfort.
That is the No. 1 thing … and it’s more personal. You know? I personally have been conflicted the whole time I’ve been doing it because fundamentally, I was taught this is not what you’re suppose to do. You’re supposed to tattoo in a shop. But when you consider how many shops there are and the experience you get as a human being going into them, I think this is a more positive experience.

So is it going to hurt?
Yeah. [Laughs] Do you want me to lie to you and say no?

No.
I didn’t think so. There would go the initial part of our trust right there.

True. Is there any spot on the body that is more sensitive than others?
There are a lot of places that are sensitive—your wrist is a good one. The wrist is tricky but it won’t be any different than this one. [He points to my other tattoo.]

Great. So I choose sensitive areas?
So far, you’re picking good ones. However, there are more sensitive places than those—that I can assure you.

It’s probably not cool to talk about the pain of tattooing, huh?
That was the funny thing about working with the old guys in tattooing—and I have worked with a lot of old guys. [They would say] in the old days, a lot of times the people they were tattooing were going off to war. And hell, they might not even come home. So what was a tattoo? Not pain. And were they going to lose face to all those sailors? No.

You are going to be extra careful when using that needle, right? It’s permanent.
Um yeah, that’s the idea.

[Laughs] These must be the questions everyone asks right before they get tattooed?
Yes and no.

What is the most frequently asked question?
Will it hurt? So I guess yeah. Or where is the worst place to get it? My favorite answer to that has always been “prison.”

[Laughs] Yes, I can imagine how that could be bad. What is the most frequently requested tattoo?
It changes over the years.

What part of the body is best for ink?
The skin. [Laughs]

Well then what place do you enjoy tattooing the most?
That’s a hard question. There are places that are tricky. But what’s my favorite place to tattoo? [Pauses] That’s a tough question, maybe the outside of a calf or the outside of an arm. The inside of the arm can be fun because the person can lie down and get comfortable. Then, it’s like I’m not even working on a human being—but of course I am and I know that.

What is the strangest tattoo you’ve ever done?
That’s another question I get. First, you have to ask: what is strange? By request, I’ve tattooed a body suit [this is from the chest and below] on this guy of humans with horse heads having sex. They were like centaurs but reversed—very graphic images, a super colorful fantasy. He is still having more work done to it.

Doesn’t that make you wonder about his personal life?
Yeah, he told me where it came from. You learn a lot about people’s personalities with tattooing, even if you don’t want to. It’s like I am a keeper of the secrets. The cool part is you get to hear this stuff. The uncool part is that I have to keep that secret; I have to hold on to that weird-ass stuff.

[Laughs] That’s totally valid.
[He finishes drawing on my arm.] OK, you are going to have to trust me. I know you can’t see the details but this is what it’s going to look like. The marker is much thicker than it will be.

OK. I just want it to be dainty and cute—anything but hardcore.
You got it. I promise.

It’s just that I’m not hardcore.
I picked up on that. Stars … stars are the most requested tattoo. You had asked earlier.

Right, I have some of those. Does it feel powerful to permeate your art onto someone’s body?
It’s gratifying, but a fleeting gratification. Sometimes, people don’t realize what I go through to tattoo them. The art—nine times out of ten—isn’t ever really appreciated.

Like they don’t know what you’re capable of?
That’s a great way to put it. But the average person doesn’t appreciate art, that’s where it is fleeting. It’s wonderful when you can help people. You know what I mean? There is that aspect; you can see it on television. Fundamentally, I absolutely hate that they are putting tattooing on television because they portray it as something it is not; they marginalize it.

What is tattooing to you then?
It’s my life. It’ everything; it’s my history; it’s something I want to be a part of. I get joy from putting tattoos on people, whether it be a little baby sparrow or a whole front. I think it deserves the same amount of energy and appreciation from me. If not, then I’m not going to sell you short … for forever. If I don’t like it, then I won’t do it. That’s another advantage to this kind of environment for tattooing. I have more—and less—control. I have less control over the environment, but I have more control over the tattooing. I can walk away. When you work for somebody, you don’t have that option. And I don’t necessarily mean walk away but rather guide you to a better tattoo. Ultimately, it’s my job to make sure you have a tattoo that looks good today, tomorrow and 20-years from now. There shouldn’t be any regrets. And if there is, it isn’t because I didn’t give you 100% of me.

So have you turned down people?
Yeah, it’s the luxury of what I do. And if it’s something I can’t turn down, then it’s more money. The price of your tattoo is easily determined by your attitude. People seem to forget that and I don’t understand why—I can charge whatever I want. [He starts the gun.]

Some people won’t do little tattoos.
Some people have big egos don’t they? [He starts tattooing.]

How did you first get involved with tattooing?
Getting tattooed; and then being at the right place at the right time. I think being nice helps. I got involved in tattooing through photography, another art form I truly love. I took pictures of someone being tattooed once—I was doing mostly photography at that point in my life—and I brought the tattooer some pictures. He didn’t work a camera very well. So he asked me to do it and in exchange he taught me how to tattoo. Looking back, he mostly taught me what not to do because he gave me a lot of ugly tattoos.

What should people be weary of when getting tattooed?
Obviously, there is the sanitation aspect of tattooing. But in today’s world, honestly, everything I do with regards to sanitation is a lot more for me than you. I know that sounds like a shitty thing for me to say, but it’s what I have to do everyday. I have to act like everybody I tattoo has Hepatitis. I get tested every year to make sure I don’t.
     You know? Do your research and find a tattooer that you trust. If for any reason you don’t feel comfortable, walk the hell away. You are the one in control. You have the ultimate veto over your body, not me.

What did you practice on when you first started?
Friends I don’t talk to anymore … and myself. I tattooed myself first.

Where do tattooers go to get tattoos?
Other tattooers they respect. I’ve gotten tattooed all over the country. How are you doing?

I’m good. How are you doing?
I’m doing great. I don’t feel a thing. [Laughs] Are you doing OK really? I feel bad now.

[Laughs] I’m good. How can you tell a tattoo artist may be inexperienced?
That’s a hard one. They all think they are the biggest, baddest thing out there. An old-timer told me, “People are going to tell you that you are a legend and that you are the best tattooer … blah, blah, blah … but the second you believe that shit you need to put your machine down and go home.”

Are you a saran wrap and Vaseline kind of guy or …
Yes. That’s a weird-ass question to ask. [Laughs] But an honest question for a tattooer.

Why Saran wrap?
Saran wrap creates its own environment. You’re leaving with a sterile wound and [by wrapping it in saran wrap] I trap it in its own sterile environment. Your white blood cells rush to the surface of the skin and so they are trapped there; and it’s healing in its own environment. When you clean that off 4-5 hours later, you’re cleaning off what mostly would have formed a scab. And so your body heals easier. If you take care of it after that your usually good to go.

What wrecks tattoo?
People.

What about the sun?
Yeah the sun. It’s all how you take care of yourself.

How many dollars of ink do you have on your body?
Dollars? Oh boy, that’s a good one—and tricky. I’ve traded a lot of tattoos with friends. I’d say more than $10,000 and less than $30,000. But that doesn’t count travel time, travel cost, friendships and relationships lost …

Over tattoos?
Yeah. It’s all or nothing.

What could break up a friendship?
Money and women—the same things that breaks up most friendships.

How long will you tattoo?
Until they take the tattoo machine out of my dead hand. [The tattoo session has ended.] So what do you think?

[I shake my head yes.]
Pretty, isn’t it? Now, we can keep going with him all the way around like this …

No-no! [Laughs] At least not yet.
[Laughs]

* Interview Date: 5/28/08

WHO HE IS: A resident that has given up his Orlando life for a journey unknown.
WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW HIM: He wants to help people.
     
      I had just spilt hot, green tea all over my notebook when I noticed David Green standing in front of me. He was wearing baggy jeans, an extra-thin cotton t-shirt and a thick, shaggy, black beard. The last time I saw David was at City Fish in Thorton Park; he was shaven, clean-cut and dressed in what I assumed to be his work attire, khakis and a collared shirt.
     “I’m a mess. What can I say?” I said scrambling to wipe the tea of my notebook. It was too late, ink was running off the pages.
     “It’s OK,” he replied. He ran to get paper napkins and then returned to sop up my mess.
     “Thanks… so, how are you?”
     “I’m good, really good. How are you?”
     “I’m as busy as ever; just working on some school stuff.”
     Before this interview, David and I were restaurant friends. Meaning, we ate at the same places because we lived in the same neighborhood. Therefore, I didn’t know things like his favorite color, TV show or music. I knew things like where he ate and who he ate with. On this day, we were not technically at a restaurant but at Starbucks. He was alone.
     “What’s with that beard? Are you going on a trip or something?” I said half-jokingly.
     “Actually, I am.”
     “Really? Where are you headed?”
     “I’m hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.”
     “When do you leave?”
     “Thursday.”
     “That’s soon,” I replied. It was a Tuesday. ‘Who are you going with?”
     “Myself.”
     “Just you?
     “Yeah.”
     “When are you coming back?”
     “I don’t know, maybe 6 months.”
     “You don’t know when you’re coming back?”
     “No.”
     “Huh?”
     It wasn’t the most intelligent response, but considering I had just been deep in the existential works of Jean-Paul Sartre it’s all could come up with. Luckily, it didn’t prevent David from telling me the story of how he quit his job, gave away all his things and was leaving for an adventure; he planned on back-packing the entire west coast, from Mexico to Canada.
     After David left, I wondered if he’d make the journey; I wondered if I could do something as brave as him; then it occurred to me that maybe I should have stopped him. Recently, I read Into the Wild. The back-packer in that book hiked the west coast, but then died in Alaska. I convinced myself this would not happen to David.
     The next day on a whim, I e-mailed David and asked if I could interview him. I had only thought of it when I had tried to go to bed the night before and could not sleep. I was sure David didn’t have time since he was leaving in one day and considered my chances lost. But David surprised me with a quick response to my e-mail; and we did meet for coffee talk the next day—the day he was leaving town.

Jana: So today is the big day. What errands do you need to do before you go?
David: I’m checking the backpack one last time and making sure everything is in there. I got a solar pack from a friend yesterday; that’s going to keep my phone and iPod charged all the time. I mean, it shouldn’t be to hard finding sun in the desert. Right? So basically, I’m just making sure everything is ready. Other than that, I am making phone calls to people; I did a blog entry today. There’s been an outpour of love, kindness and support. Everyone wants do whatever they can to help and be a part of the adventure. That’s a cool feeling. It gives me the idea that I’m on the right track.

Maybe we should back step for a second. Can you tell me again what it is you’re exactly doing?
Yeah, Ok. Sure. I’m hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s a 2700 mile trail system set-up by the federal government as part of a national park system. It starts at the border of Mexico and California and heads north through Oregon, Washington and ultimately ends 8 miles into Canada. It passes through 21 national parks, 18 mountain ranges; you can climb one of the highest mountains at Mt. Whitney and you also pass three of the largest lakes in the country.

How Many people take on the Pacific Crest Trail adventure?
There are about 300 people a year that try the whole thing. It’s called a “through hike” when you do the entire 2700 miles. Out of the 300 people that try it, about 150 make it. But probably a million people touch some part of the trail each year; they’re just on weekend trips.

And you’re back-packing the entire way?
Yes, I’m going to back-pack the entire way, which means carrying a 50 lb backpack on my back that has a tent, a sleeping bag and whatever I may need for survival.

What other essentials are bringing with you?
Different clothes for different types of weather. The common mistake is to—well because you start in the desert—it is to bring warm clothes. But when you get into the mountains—even in the summer time—you can expect snow and ice. If you end up in those situations with just shorts and a t-shirt, you’ll be in trouble.

Are you bringing money with you?
Yeah, I’ll have some pocket cash because along the way there are small towns that have general stores. If there is something that I need, like supplies, it’ll be a good time to grab them.

What about food?
I’ve got a back-up supply of food that is basically a raw food diet. Mostly, it is 40 different fruits, vegetables and nuts packed into a 1 lb block that is super loaded with nutrients; I’m bringing three of those. That way if I’m struggling to find food, I’ll have something. But my main goal is to eat off the land as much as I can. I’ve been studying several different books of edible wild plants and fruits; there are some excellent resources online about things that are edible in the wild.

Are you going to hunt?
I’m mostly vegetarian now. So I probably won’t hunt anything. I will do some fishing. When you’re traveling by yourself and you hunt anything that is large it’s kind of wasteful. There’s no way to take it with me; and if I’m in the forest I’m pretty much making myself susceptible to bears at that point. It’s never a good thing to have extra meat lying around.

Are you trying to disconnect yourself from the world? I wouldn’t think so since you’ve mentioned you’re bringing a cell phone and an iPod.
That’s a good question. I’m not running from anything and I’m not searching for anything. That’s a little bit different than most of those who take on this kind of adventure. For me, I have always searched for something my entire life; unfortunately I was always looking externally. I thought I could find happiness through objects, people, achievements and other things. Finally, I was fortunate to wake up one day and realize that success for me was to find that peace from within—and to realize it had been there all along. Once I found that, I had a new outlook on life. I was like, “Wow. I just want to enjoy things and live life to the fullest.” One of the first things to come to mind was to go on this trip. Part of that is because I love music. There could be nothing more exciting—ugh, powerful—than sitting on top of a mountain and putting my favorite song on. You know … just enjoying life.

How long do you plan on this trip taking?
I could do it in 4½ months based on what I’ve read, but I’m going to take a full 6 months to do it. That way I don’t feel rushed. And if I get someone where that is absolutely breathtaking, I can spend 4-5 days there without feeling like I’ve fallen behind schedule.

What have you done with your life here?
I love Orlando; it is a great place for me. I moved here about 6 years ago from a small town in South Georgia. I got here at a really exciting time … the housing market was doing great and the economy was great. I started here in the technology business and did that for about 4 years. Then, for the past 2 years I was in the mortgage business and met a lot of really great people. I grew a lot as a person and I’ve made some great contacts, both spiritually and professionally.     

So you’ve quit your job?
Right.

What about returning to your job when you get back?
No. Ultimately, my goal is—and that’s one of the things I need to do today; I have a phone interview with a non-profit group—my goal is to go to a third world country, a remote place in India or somewhere where people are living well below poverty level and help those people get an economy started. There are organizations that do something called micro-funding; it’s a big thing that has been successful. So hopefully, when I finish my trip I will have a job lined up there.

What have you done with all your stuff?
That is one of the most rewarding parts—I gave everything away.

When you say gave everything away, you mean …
I mean everything. I ended up with my backpack and a box of clothes. That’s it. At first—it was kind of cool—I went through making a list of what I was going to give away and to whom. I wasn’t going to get rid of some things like my bike, my skateboard and my pool cue. Then I woke up one day and thought that was kind of silly. I was giving away everything but those few things. So I ended up giving those things away too—to my favorite people. It was cool to think of other people … and get in the habit of thinking about other people. I needed to get out of my head, over myself and over my ego.

How have friends and family responded to these actions?
Some people in the beginning were like, “Wow, what an awesome adventure,” and they’ve stuck to that. My Mom’s first words might have been something like, “Are you crazy?” She didn’t take it well at first because she couldn’t understand my motives. After a couple of weeks, she began to understand why I was doing it. She gradually got behind me and has been supportive. Last week she called me up and said, “I think it’s really awesome what you’re doing and I’m really excited for you. You are going to see some of the most beautiful things on earth. I’m really proud of you.” It seems the whole experience has changed people. I’ve gotten e-mails from people who are in a funk with life and now they feel inspired to go on a trip or look for a new job. I think we all have that inner struggle; it’s just a matter of waking up and realizing we can pursue our dreams.

Can you think of any one thing that inspired you to do this?
I’ve got to put that on God. And I don’t believe there is this one guy, in a white robe, with a white beard, in the clouds waiting for his chariot or something like that. That’s not my image of what God is. I look at God as more of this energy that controls all of existence. I feel I had a set of circumstances that worked to get me to a certain point, and then I woke up and had this awareness. Before, I had a feeling of emptiness that a lot of people describe. Even the people who end up with the most toys in the end can have this emptiness. I didn’t like it. I realized—for me—there was a different path in life; there was more for me to get out of life and more for me to do for other people. I have to look at God as being that catalyst that woke me up one day.

What are you expecting from this trip?
My biggest expectation is to create more love. I really feel that—based on the things I’ve learned over the past few months planning for this trip—that when you let go of all the attachment and live life as it is meant to live, all of sudden it easier to love people—you can love everything around you and you appreciate it more. My ultimate goal is to live a life filled with love, peace and compassion—and then that it becomes contagious.

It seems ironic that you would want to isolate yourself to create this love.
Yeah, it is kind of funny. I didn’t understand why I was going to go on this trip in the beginning. I felt like it was what I was being led to do. As it all started unfolding—and even last night I was thinking of this when I had some quiet time—I realized this trip has taken on a life of its own. And although there will be times when I am all alone, they’ll be great times because I plan to write a couple of books. I’ll need the time for the books; and I’ve also started a blog. I don’t think people need me face to face, or even need me at all really. But maybe some day down the road, they’ll read one line I wrote or hear a word I said and it will move them … give them some positive energy. It’s the story itself that is important, not necessarily me.

If the trip becomes too much will you quit?
Quitting is not an option, especially with the amount of support I have. There is no excuse. If I need anything I can pick up the phone and call people; and I know they will help. 

So you’re not pulling a Christopher McCandless from Into the Wild?
No, I have no anger in my heart. I’m not running from anything or even searching for anything. I really just feel fortunate to have found what I’ve been looking for all along inside myself. It’s empowering because now I can go do anything that I want to do.

Are you worried about injury, illness or death?
I decided—as part as my awakening—to look at my fears. I realized that my fears were the things that were really controlling my life. When I look at my fear, I’ve started to look at it from a different viewpoint. Like does it help me—A? And B where is it coming from? Does it serve a purpose? There are safety issues and wild animals and I think it’s normal to fear some of these things. I just need to take the fear and turn it into a positive and say, “OK, am I prepared as much as I can be?”

Are you bringing a camera?
Yes, I love to take pictures. I’ve got a really big memory card that is blank and ready to go.

Are you bringing any pictures with you?
No. I thought about it and was going to, but there is a good possibility my backpack will get wet at some point in this journey. And I want to take as little as possible.

And what about that beard?
You know, I’ve never had a beard this long before. It’s staying … as long as doesn’t get too hot. But if it does, I’ll shave it off. [Laughs]

                                                                   ***

     Nearly two months after David left, I finally got around to transcribing this interview. Before posting it on my site, I checked out David’s blog to see how he was doing. He is in Big Bear City, California getting pounded by snow. I e-mailed him the following interview to him expecting no reply. To my surprise, he quickly wrote this back:

     Awesome! Thank you for sending this to me. It was great to go back two months in time and read those questions and answers. The trip has been an amazing journey so far. I haven’t included a lot of really cool things in the blog because I have started my book. It is difficult not to put everything on the blog because I would love to share it. Stay in touch.
                                                                          David “Forager” Green

To keep up with David’s journey visit: http://hemmingwayadventure.blogspot.com.

*Interview Date 4/3/08

WHO HE IS: A local writer
WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW HIM: He’s the third oldest man alive with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy.

     On more than one occasion, a complete stranger has yelled out to me, “Hey that looks like fun!” The strange thing about this remark is that I wasn’t participating in anything fun at all. I was simply driving my wheelchair from one place to another (not even fast). These comment has baffled me and I’ve wondered, “Why would someone say such a thing to me?”
     I’ve thought, “Have they mistaken my wheelchair for a go-kart? Or maybe they think I’m test-driving a segway—a new one that accommodates to a seated position? Are these people challenged, like mentally challenged? Perhaps they meant it as a compliment? ” Then it dawned on me, “What if I’m driving around town with a smile on my face that insinuates that wheelchair driving is a good time? In that case, I would need to check myself in a mirror immediately.”
    After obsessively studying myself in every full-length mirror that I’ve come across, I’ve rendered this study inconclusive. However, I feel a need to tell those that may be misinformed that wheelchair living is difficult (even though this is something I do not talk about often). For me, it means more time spent getting ready, needing and depending on help each day, consistently dropping things on the floor that I cannot pick-up myself, dealing with back-aches and other uncomfortable ailments and this is what is guaranteed on a good day. So perhaps you can imagine what a bad day in a wheelchair may be like—I like to call it Frustration City, which last time I checked is located far away from any place I would call fun. 
    Luckily and coincidently, when I am living in Frustration City, something encouraging always happens to me and I am able to pull myself together. It’s been something simple, like a hot chocolate waiting for me when I’ve gotten to class. Or something much more complicated, like a woman explaining how her 16-year-old daughter will never be able to drive since she has lost function of her body due to a nerve disease like ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). During the most recent meltdown, I came across Scott Sands blog.
     Scott Sands is a friend and former patient of my pal Shannon, a Speech Therapist. She has talked about Scott for years. Mainly, that he is an amazing writer and that he too is confined to a wheelchair. Unlike me who is paralyzed, he has Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy; a degenerative muscular disease that is hereditary and effects only males.
     As a baby, Scott appeared to have normal control over his body. Then, as he started to grow and around the age of 5-years-old, he slowly began losing muscle function starting with his hips and legs. Now that he is 41-years-old, Scott is left with only minimal function of his left index finger and a machine that helps him breathe. He blogs because he is a writer, but also because technically he was not supposed to live past 30-years-old. It is amazing to think he has succeeded this goal by over a decade.  
    I could sense Scott was feeling the same loss of motivation that I was when I began to read his blog, however, his was on a much bigger scale.  As I sat feeling hopeless about trivial things and wanting to watch reality TV; Scott was contemplating what would happen if his breathing machine suddenly quit and promising each of his nurses that he wouldn’t die on their shift. My melt down suddenly seemed as ridiculous as strangers calling wheelchairs fun.
    The following interview is unlike any one I have ever done before. Scott had to time his answers to my questions with the exhale of his breathing machine. Therefore, to read this interview accurately you must imagine about a 3-second pause between every couple of words.
    I am glad I got a chance to meet Scott; he is one of the most determined people I have ever met … for many reasons. The main reason being that he still believes in trying—even when the odds are not in his favor.

Jana: How old are you?
Scott: 41

How is that possible?
I have no idea.

According to medical experts you were suppose to die before 30.
Probably … more like … at 20. I got lucky … I guess.

How old were you when you got diagnosed with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy?
I was probably … like 5.

What was your life like as a kid with DMD?
Challenging … I had to … learn to adapt … to everything … and it was … very gradual.

How do you define Duchenne?
A gradual deterioration … of muscle … and … ability.

At what age were you confined to a wheelchair?
Like … 9 … I could have made it … one more year … but … I was lazy.

[Laughs] At what point were you put on a breathing machine?
19 … I used … a mouthpiece … for 3 years … and then I … was trached.

What kind of thoughts goes through one’s head that has to rely on a breathing machine?
Don’t die. You get used to it. It becomes … a part of you.

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
Maybe … four hours with everything.

What time do you wake-up?
Anywhere … from 8-9 a.m. … very early.

That’s early? So you’re at night owl?
Oh yeah.

Do you stay up all night?
Until 1-2 a.m.

And then you wake-up at 8-9a.m.? That’s not a long time to be out of your wheelchair.
I’m in my chair … all day long. I don’t transfer.

What is the most daunting task of having your disability?
Probably speaking … and swallowing. But … I’m used to it. I don’t … think about what I can’t do … I do whatever I can. That’s quite a bit.

Scott and Derek Jeter

That was my next question. What do you do for fun?
Concerts … games … Magic games … computer … blogging … taking pictures …

How do you type?
I can show you. [Scott backs his chair up and drives towards his computer. There next to a keyboard is a small pad and stylus pen. As he begins to set-up to show me how he types, he becomes afraid it will take too much time. So instead, Shannon explains that the pen and pad lead to a virtual keyboard that appears on his monitor. Basically, he taps the pen to the pad to make letters appear, according to where the cursor is on the monitor. The space of the pad is only a few inches in height and width to accommodate his limited movement.]

How long does it take for you to write a blog?
5 hours

Whoa! People better read it then if you’re putting that much effort into it…
They better!

Where is the farthest place you have traveled?
In my mind? Sicily

How about in real life?
New York

What do you think about New York and its accessibility issues?
I’m from there. It’s not good … in the city. In Long Island … it’s very easy.

That’s good to know. I was recently in New York City and I thought the accesibility was terrible.
It’s difficult …

When did you move here from New York?
I came here … on vacation … and got pneumonia. They trached me … and I never left.

When was that?
December … 1989

Was it too much for your medical condition to move back?
The weather … is good here … and … I was very sick.

Do you like Orlando?
I’d rather be … in New York.

Since you had to leave your hometown so abruptly, was it hard to stay connected with your friends?
I was … really sick … for 3 years … and … didn’t have a computer. I could barely … use my phone. They found me … in … Esquire Magazine … and … came to visit … after 19 years.

That’s cool. Do you ever feel people staring at you while in public?
I used to. Now, that I’m older … not so many … except maybe … children.

Do you ever want to tell these people something?
Shove it …

[Laughs] What kind of education do you have?
A degree … in Journalism.

What more do you want to accomplish in your life?
I want to … write a book. I want to … find and help everyone … out there … with this disease. I want … to show them … it’s … not the end … of the world. You can … live … into your 40’s. Twenty years ago … there was no way.

Do you think that is due to the advancement of technology?
And … medication … and ventilators … good care … and great doctors.

Do you have a back-up ventilator?
My nurse …

[Laughs]  So, I feel flattered that my site is listed under your favorites on your blog site. I mean, I’m up there next to Youtube.com and Sting.
You are … up there … but … you are … underneath Sting

[Laughs]
… and Jesus.

*Interview Date 2/20/08

Go to www.scottsandsalive.com to check out Scott’s Blog.

WHO HE IS: Creator of Orange Blossom Pilsner
WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW HIM: He is to thank for import and micro beers in Florida.

     One night a group of us went to Anthony’s Pizzeria in Thorton Park for dinner. “Beer, beer, beer … let it flow like water,” sang my friend Mandy. Our waiter had just asked us what we wanted to drink; we wanted Orange Blossom Pilsner.
     Ever since this dinner, I find myself singing this little ditty all the time—in the car, in the shower, at breakfast, while getting ready to go out.  I’ve even professed this tune to other waiters—without even realizing it—when recently asked for my drink order. This has made me think that something is either seriously wrong with me or something is seriously right with beer—let’s just assume it’s the latter.
     Besides beer, I also love art and bookstores; so you can imagine my excitement when I was asked to guest host the third Thursday art-show at Urban Think!, my local bookstore. Within ten minutes of my hosting experience, in walked Tom, the creator of Orange Blossom Pilsner. Unbeknownst to me, he had arranged with Jim, the bookstores manager, to give samples of his beer away at my art show. This seemed like a bizarre coincidence considering that just days before we sang a song for beer—Tom’s beer—and now the beer inventor was standing before me. I could even personally congratulate him for his success in making an excellent honey beer—and I did.
     Within two samples of Tom’s beer, I had the confidence to ask him to interview with me. (Note: I did not mention our song; however I did make him aware of his awesomeness.) He agreed. Although, I’m not sure he thought I’d be so persistent. It took a couple of unreturned e-mails to get the response I wanted. But I finally got it, when he wrote back, “I’d be tickled to do an interview.” Finally, the green light to inquire about anything I ever wanted to know about beer.
     The moral of the story is this: When you do good things; good things come to you. I got to meet a brew master and score an unexpected interview in exchange for helping out a friend. (Come to find out, Tom’s beer of choice before his own creation was Coors. This is also my favorite commercial beer—clearly why I feel qualified to call him a brew master.) So people of Orlando: pay it forward and make our community a better place. The possibility of goodness is inevitable.      

Tom: Since I’ve been around the microbrews have become very popular.
Jana: How is that?
Tom: The way I look at is that I planted microbrew seeds all over central Florida and they grew.

What do you mean exactly by the term microbrew?
I mean craft beers—beers that are made with high integrity; beers that accountants don’t oversee; beers that the brewer looks at himself as an artist and is also trying to make the best possible product. A lot of our mainstream 7-Eleven beers are designed by accountants. They’ve figure out things like, if we use rice instead of malt then that’s cheaper. The craft beer movement was started with the home brewer’s movement back in 1978. Jimmy Carter made home brewing legal. It was the year I turned 18-years-old and also the year I started making home brew; I was old enough to but the ingredients to make beer but not old enough to buy beer. [Laughs]

That doesn’t make any sense.
Yeah. I could buy hops, malt and yeast and make beer … but they wouldn’t let me buy beer.

Where could you buy those ingredients?
There were a few home brew stores; one was in Orlando. There wasn’t a whole lot of information for home brewers but I dug into it … I made a lot of bad beer at first, but I was really passionate about it.

What kind of home brew kit were you using?
A novice home brew kit is—you know—some malt extract, mixed with water in a pot, then cooled off and blended with more water, then yeast. I look at that like making a TV dinner; you can grab a TV dinner out of the freezer and throw it in the microwave for eight minutes, and technically, you made dinner. I eventually turned my garage into a home brewery; there was no room for any car.

How many wrong brews did it take before you got the right brew?
It was hit and miss. I think out of the first ten brews I made, probably three were good. Then out of the next twenty beers I made, probably six to eight were good. I just slowly refined my art.

Are these recipes that are written down?
Oh indeed, I like the creativity of brewing. That’s how I express myself; a lot of people paint on canvas or strum their guitar but I brew. I became interested in making unique beers. I’ve made coconut beers, ginseng beers, shitake brown ale …

What do you think it is about beer that tastes so good?
I almost think that as humans we are conditioned to like beer. Back in the old days, it wasn’t safe to drink water but it was safe to drink beer. That still stands in Mexico frankly. [Laughs] I wouldn‘t drink the water in Mexico even today. But I think that is the reason why we became conditioned to like beer and how it’s made such a lasting impact even today.

Before making your own beer, what kind of beer-man were you?
When I was 12-years-old, my father was going to Colorado—that was before Coors had made it east of the Mississippi—I said to him, “Dad, bring me back some Coors.” He looked at me like, “What in the world. Why does my 12-year-old want me to bring him back beer?” So I was kind of a beer geek from early on.

How had you heard of Coors at such a young age?
I’m not sure, but I had an interest.

When was the first time you drank beer?
When my Dad brought me back the Coors.

Wow, he did it? Well, I can’t blame him; Coors Light is my favorite beer—my favorite commercial beer at least.
Coors is a damn fine product.

I like you more already. What was it about your brew that made you think you could market it?
It was a hobby gone wild. I was a stage-hand for 20 years; I worked in television and theater but all the while I was brewing beer. I started brewing in a little brewery here in Orlando. They didn’t understand good beer; they just knew they could make it for $1 a gallon and sell it for $4 a pint. Their accountants were like, “Yeah, let’s do it.” But they didn’t know how to do it. 
    They had heard about me—an artist in that type of craft—and asked me to brew for them. I was at a point in my career where I could take the extra time, 15-20 hours a week. I was kind of ahead of my time back then; microbrews hadn’t really caught on here even though I was making some incredible beer. I made a toasted coconut porter there and took it to the 1^st Universal Studios Beer Festival and won the People’s Choice Award as the best tasting beer. I was proud of that. But when I went back to the owners of this brew pub and told them, they said, “That’s nice … but we’ve decided to close the brewery.”
    I chose to go on for the art and love of it. I started a beer distributorship. I also contract brewed my coconut porter. Coconut was hard to work with, plus it was a dark beer that folks often are afraid of. That’s when I realized that my honey beer was what people went nuts over. So I contracted that and let the coconut porter go; I don’t regret it for a second.

What made you try honey beer?
I would go into my kitchen and look for things to make beer with. I was a pretty creative brewer. [Laughs]

Like a scientist of sorts?
Yeah, I made beer out of whatever I could imagine making beer out of. I was also famous for my Cherry Brew. The difference between my cherry beer and commercial cherry beer was my beer was made out of real cherries. The commercial beer is made out of fruit extracts. I would buy pounds and pounds of cherries and crush them up.

How did you get this kind of beer to the masses? Through contest?
At that point, I was an amateur brewer so I brewed for my friends … and home brew competitions. The home brew community started to build and host some serious competitions. They were fun.

I was unaware a home brew club even existed.
Well, there’s a home brew club here in town—the Central Florida Home Brewers—they even have a web site, www.CFHB.org. I’m one of the founding members; it started over 20 years ago.

Wow. Is there some kind of beer patent that keeps people from ripping off your recipes?
There’s copyright, but the recipe is a secret. It’s your own. I go out to the Great American Beer Festival in Colorado every year and enter OBP in the competition but I don’t bring it to the floor. That means I don’t pour it at the festival. I’ve got several reasons for this; the first being that I don’t have my beer available in Denver. That’s where a majority of those consumers are from. It’s not like I can turn them on to my beer because it’s not available to them.
    There are also a ton of brewers from all over the nation there. So if I bring my crisp honey beer to them and they like it, they might decide to make a honey beer. And frankly, making a good honey beer is not difficult. Any competent brewer can make a good honey beer, but why OBP tastes so good is the sheer amount of honey I use. I’d venture to say it’s ten times more than most commercial honey beers that are available on the market. When accountants at a commercial company get a hold of how expensive it is, they say, “Oh no, you can’t spend that much money making the beer.”

With your experience, can you taste a beer and tell exactly what is in it?
To a certain degree, I’ve got a pretty good palate. I actually have judged at the Great American Beer Festival for 5 of the past 7 years. The GABF is one of the biggest beer competitions in the nation, if not the planet. To judge at an event like that is one heck of an honor.

How does one get picked to be a judge?
I was just recognized in the crowd for my accomplishments and that’s from having a good palate.

How many contests has OBP won?
The contest that means the most to me is the consumer—the people who actually drink beer. So I win every festival when I hear consumers say, “This is the best of the fest.” That means more to me than any gold medal. However, OBP did take a bronze medal at the GABF festival a couple of years ago and I’ve taken some awards at miscellaneous smaller events. Those are nice, but the real victory is when consumers come to my table and tell me it’s the best beer of the event—and I hear that often.

Now, do your recipes stay the same at every contest or do they change?My recipes stay the same. Now, I’m not going to say there aren’t outside influences that may affect the beer from batch to batch. But I’m always trying to refine my beer to make it the best that I can. I’m bringing up a fella that has a PhD. in brewing to South Carolina next week. He’s going to go over our process to make sure that we are doing everything we can for it to be the best it can be. I’m more of an artist than a scientist when it comes to brewing and you can’t ignore the science of brewing. Knowing that I lack some of the science aspect—because I am an artist—it’s necessary I bring him in.

Where does one go to school to become a PhD. in brewery?
There are two colleges in the States and two in Germany. The Doemans and Weinsthephen are in Germany and are famous. Then there is UC. Davis that is in California and The Siebel Institute in Chicago. So, yes, you can get a PhD. in brew sciences.

Do you plan on spreading your beer nation-wide? For right now, you are committed to Central Florida, right?
I actually am in Georgia and I have a distributor in South Carolina. My goal is to make OBP huge in my home market—which I’m working hard every day to do—then to make an impact on Florida, our home state. Then I’d like to grow it out from there. I probably jumped into Georgia and South Carolina a little quick but I think the brand is good enough to release it a little early.

How long has OBP been a brand?
I brought OBP to market 4 years ago.

Every time I drink your beer it comes with an orange slice. Is that the way you think it tastes best? Or is it something bars and restaurants take the initiative to do?
Personally, I don’t drink it with an orange. The orange gives it a certain amount of flare and makes it special. People seem to like it with an orange and as long as people are drinking my beer; I’m happy. They could put a pickle in it if they want to, but just please enjoy my beer. It’s neat to go to a pub and see oranges on the side of beers and think, “Wow, that’s my beer they’re drinking.”

What percent alcohol is your beer?
5½ %

Now how does one test their beer for alcohol percentage?
That’s a great question. There is a tool called the hydrometer. What the hydrometer does is measure dissolved solids. Like how you float better in the ocean than in a lake; it is because of dissolved solids and the salt in the ocean make you more buoyant. When you first make a beer—before it becomes beer and before the yeast has a chance to eat up all the sugar—you measure the dissolved solids. Let’s pick a number, say it measures as 1044. Then after the yeast eats the sugar and converts it to alcohol—that’s the process of how beer is made—you measure the dissolved solids again. Then you take the 1044 that it was before and take the difference from what the yeast broke it down to. That’s what will give you the measurement for alcohol content. It’s very scientific.

Um, yeah I’d say so.
To say it in laymen’s terms … I have OBP² coming out. It’s an 11% version of OBP. It’s the exact same recipe, just half the water. The way I explain it to people is it’s like a pot of coffee; if you cut the amount of water you use in half, you have a stronger pot of coffee. It’s very similar to beer. If you use the same amount of grain, with the same amount of honey, but half the water, you’ve got a double strength beer.

So a brew maker is in control of the alcohol content of their beer?
Yeah, that’s the food for the yeast. The more food for the yeast… the more alcohol you get.

How does a brew maker calculate a price for their beer?
It’s the same as every other business. How much does it cost to make? I’m going to add a 10-20% mark up because I need to make a profit. Then when it’s sold to the distributor, they mark it up. Then when it’s sold to the retailer, they put their mark up on it. By the time the consumer gets the beer it’s been marked up by the brewery, the distributor and the retailer. Not to mention it is taxed at all those levels. A wonderful beer truly costs about a quarter to make, but to the consumer it’s a dollar to a dollar-and-a-half beer.

Are there a lot of rules and regulations to making beer?
Oh good Lord, yes. The ATF is very serious about what they do. I just completed getting approval for the OBP² bottle label. You have to jump through all kinds of hoops. I had problems with getting the OBP² label approved because the agent said I was touting the alcohol strength. He thought I was emphasizing that the high alcohol was the selling point and he didn’t like that.

I