The Suspending Chef.
At A Glance Author Fuzz Contact Fuzz@bme.anon IAM Fuzz When It just happened Artist IAM:DTM and IAM:Noah Studio Extreme Graphix Location Geneva NY
January 9th, 2006 I moved to Pittsburgh, PA from a small town in upstate New York. I missed my friends, I missed my family, but I really didn't miss the town at all. I spent about two months or so through the first cycle of classes (cycle is 39 class days), and all I wanted to do was come home.
I talked to the suspension crew a couple of weeks before. I decided I wanted to suspend when I visited home, however, I needed a new set of hooks and I was broke, and it hit me. Since I was going to a culinary school I could cook for the suspension crew if they were alright with it, and much to my luck they all liked the idea.
After a really long Greyhound trip my mom picked me up, we headed to the grocery store and bought a lot of food for tomorrow, including lots of seasonings, peppers, garlic, pasta, etc, etc, etc. For the menu I decided to cook a spicy Cajun chicken dry rub, a pasta dish with assorted veggies and seasonings, followed by a caesar salad and dessert.
I woke up early the next day, and prepped some things for the huge dinner I was preparing. After cutting everything up I took a break and picked up one of my best friends. We hung out for awhile, went to pick up the rest of the friends I was bringing along, finished cooking up a wonderful meal and we headed up to Amazing Grace (Dan Ross' shop)
We fucked around for a little bit, some people ate, and they all loved my food...at this point I was a bit nervous. I realized that I didn't prepare myself for this mentally. If you've suspended before, you probably know what I'm talking about. It takes a lot of mental preparation, for at least myself. If you haven't suspended before, obviously doing something like a suspension takes a lot. You want to feel like you're 100% completely ready to do so.
I didn't feel ready, but I wanted to try anyways. I was hungry too. I know suspending on a empty stomach was a bad idea, and as good as my food was, I needed some greasy food. I grabbed a slice of pizza and some Coke, headed back, ate my food, and continuously tried to prepared myself.
I straddled the chair and Noah asked me if I wanted to do two hooks in at the same time or one at a time. The first suspension I did one hook at a time, and I figured although I'm doing another four point, I'll just do both hooks at the same time. Dan asked me if I was ready....hesitantly I said yes. Dan laughed, and mocked me about it. But he was right. I can't be a pansy about this. They then asked me if I wanted to do it on the first or second breath. "Second" I replied, and then it began.
"Alright. Take a deep breath in and out."
I exhaled.
"Again."
I breathed in and out, as I felt the 8 gauge needles pierce through my back. I let out a combination of a sigh and a groan, sat up and waited a couple of minutes and repeated the process. Soon after I felt something run down my back. I thought it was the Technic-care until someone mentioned something about my back bleeding a lot. I felt it run down my back and into my pants. It didn't bother me at all, it just didn't happen during the first suspension.
The hooks were in but I still wasn't ready. I tried my best to prepare for it as I was rigged up, I leaned forward, letting the tension pull on my back. I was nervous as hell but I just kept going.
My best friend Beach walked me. Couple steps forward, couple steps back, as the tension on my back continued. My breath got really short, but I kept going. After a couple of steps I lifted my legs in the air and I was off the ground. Beach asked me how I was, but I told him not too good. My body was shaking and I just wasn't ready.
After being up for a couple of seconds I decided to come back down. I looked at my friends there. I looked at Beach and the suspension crew. After a min or two I decided to try it again. I figure.."I've gone this far, I can do this" I stood up again and began walking with Beach, couple steps forward, couple steps back "Kick me in the nuts" Beach said. I laughed as I walked, and every last step forward I kicked him in the nuts...not hard but I did. It really improved the mood for myself and before I knew it, I was back up in the air.
I wasn't shaking this time. I felt great. I'm sure there was a huge smile on my face as I looked around, saw everyone below me, saw my feet dangling. I decided to start swinging for awhile, pushing my legs back and forth for a bit. It all felt so much better. I'm glad I overcame whatever problem that stopped me originally. After swinging for a little bit I decided just to hang in the air, stretch out, and just be in the moment.
After a few moments Noah lifted me up higher and Beach said "I want you to start swinging, and I want you to hit the jewelry case with your foot, and then hit the wall." I loved the idea of it. I swung back and forth and put my body into it, going back and forth, and little by little my foot came closer to jewelry case. I tapped it with my foot and it was enthralling, really. I didn't hit the back yet. I kept swinging, feeling absolutely amazing. Until I hit the wall with my other foot. I felt like I accomplished something great just then.
Beach looked up at me and asked what I wanted to do next. I smiled and told him that I wanted to end the suspension on this high note and I decided I wanted to come down then. I was happy with what I did. I came down and felt like a million bucks.
All was well and it was another amazing, wonderful suspension.