..I'm not complicated. What you see is what you get. I grew up in Baltimore city--5 minutes from CharmCity skatepark. I can't think of a better place. I was raised here, the youngest of 4 with my brother and sisters in a tiny row home about a mile from the General Motors car plant where my Dad worked for 30 years. Baltimore to me was where our family put down very deep roots. It was rich with tradition and ethnicity and amazing foods. Our parents worked very hard to build lives for us, gave us a functional set of values, and sent us on our way. Baltimore is steamed crabs, Natty Boh, the Orioles, marble steps, painted screens, street huxters, and Captain Harvey’s steak subs. It's a place straight out of movie scripts and storybooks. It was the center of my universe.
So here I am, now.
I am human. I make mistakes. I'm good at that! I've been doing it for years. Most the time I learn from them but every now and then, it never fails, I trip... I start getting that panicky feeling like, "oh shit, I've done it again..." You know what I mean... I try to live honestly to myself and to others. Again, I make mistakes!!! "Damn it!" For the most part I don't gamble! I live my life under my own microscope, carefully! Ahhh!!! "Please give me peace!" Sounds a little uptight, huh?
Yeah, I can be a little obsessive...
What I want to be and what I can be are two entirely different things. There's a North Star out there somewhere but my compass is broken. I'm not planning to blame anyone or anything for this except possibly the mixed up random milkshake of DNA that I inherited...
Besides all that there are so many things that I love and are important to me. I love dancing, walking in the rain, turning my face to the sky to taste the raindrops, deep thundering storms that sends fear straight to the heart, walking barefoot, endless Pacific coastlines, wriggling my toes deep into the sand just at the break of shore, feeling my feet sink deeper as the ocean sucks away, seeing footprints in the sand (especially birdprints), watching my wet footprint stamp the dry ground then seeing it evaporate in the sun, clotheslines--rows of underwear and shirts--whites and colors floating on the wind backlit by the sun, saltine crackers and butter, the taste of my long blonde hair between my teeth, driving in my car--alone, with the radio turned up loud and singing to the top of my lungs. I love to keep things light and upbeat. I love spontaneity and new discoveries like being unexpectedly kissed on Venice beach by a local skateboarder who tells you how beautiful you are after asking for directions, and coming home to find a baby goldfinch sitting on your front step! Ahhh!
Dakota practicing for the DamnAm in Costa Mesa!
-.--.- ing?
It's Official!!! Dakota is on Heater Skateboards! Check out the CharmCity.tv website!!!
Dakota took 2nd place on the Paul Rodriguez AMforce Team in Baltimore--Wooo!!!
Video clip of Dakota killing the handrail at the Ledo's Pizza skateboard contest in Fredericksburg, VA, July 30th!
Dakota Welty handrail tricks
Add to My Profile | More Videos
Warped Tour, Nassau Coliseum, August 4, 2007--Second Place!!!
Dakota-Backside feeble @ King of LA contest--Wilshire 10 replica!!!
Dakota's Back 5-0 on the "Shredillac" at the Black Label/SunDiego/Innes demo, Escondido, California!!!
Photo of Dakota watching Gumbie KILL the Dew Tour!!! Baltimore, 2007!!!
Gumbie and Fans @ the Dew Tour, Baltimore 2007!!!
Gumbie making Baltimore and CharmCity Proud @ the Dew Tour, 2007!!!
This amazing photo was taken by: David Stuck!
Thanks to everyone who supported the Reid Menzer Memorial Skatepark Fundraiser and Groundbreaking on June 2nd. It's because of YOU that it was a HUGE success!!!
Check out this sick video from the Reid Menzer Fundraiser!!!
R.E.M June 2nd CharmCity/Heater Demo from CSCproduct.101 on Vimeo
This is what I'm about:
Kindness!
My kids and what they do...
My son, Guy, and his awesome guitar playing and his amazingly creative mind.
My son, Dakota, and his passion for skateboarding.
My dear husband whom I've known almost all my life, and my family.
Photography!
All kinds of people who love and appreciate ART and how it exists in every corner of our lives in so many ways...
Found this little guy on my front step!!!
It's a baby goldfinch!
