Hardly Real

A Summer on the Road

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:02:00 +0000

This summer has been a weird combination of being eventful, but also being uneventful. At times I found myself struggling to stay active amidst job searching and adjusting to a temporary life at home. But at all other times I was probably in a car or van* exploring different parts of the country. Current estimations suggest that I have totaled over 6000 miles of travel in a car/van this summer!

Seeing many unique places in the mid-west**/east coast has helped me appreciate the idea of a home or a space that is special. Many of the people in the places I have visited have welcomed me with great hospitality and I am looking forward to offer my hospitality and space to those travelers who find themselves far from home.

Getting to travel has been great, but I long for a feeling of belonging in a place I can be a part of or call home, especially in this time of transition between college and the "real world". Having a loving community for four years has been great, but trying to find an identity in a new context has been challenging thus far! Many questions will be answered soon though and I hope to make the most of whatever new experience comes my way.

(zoom out)

View Places I've Been This Summer in a larger map

Questions: What gives us a sense of belonging?
What places would you like to visit someday?

* A special shout-out to desert neighbor! They let me go on tour with them! It was a great experience and maybe I'll fill you in on some more details, but for now listen to their music!
**Sometimes I think 'mid-west' is a bad label, especially for states like Ohio and Indiana...It's more like 'mid-east'

A New Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:19:00 +0000

Hello world,

It feels like it has been years since I have made contact with you! (maybe because it has actually been over a year) But I think that the time has come to really reflect on some thoughts as I enter a new phase of life as a post-graduate person, full of potential and little direction. I hope to make a few more tweaks to the layout soon, making it pretty simple and straight forward. I look forward to this new phase and I am hopeful for many new and thoughtful conversations as we journey together.

Ryan

A Party is a Good Idea

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:32:00 +0000

I'm not really trying to say anything.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:02:00 +0000

I like coming home for break because when I have nothing to do, I start to think of all the things that I want to do. The list gets pretty long:

write an FNL wrap... i mean rap.
learn 'the gambler' by fun. on the piano.
finish 'reaching out' by henri nouwen.
order school books! (I've already ordered 7 "for fun" books (yeah gift cards)).
send a letter or two.
master the fugimoto approximation technique.
keep reading for my independent study (that I finished) (it's pretty interesting).
replace my recently fallen pair of jeans.
purchase some new/used records.
see some people!
relearn some french.
blogging rhythm?

I think I have ways to go to get into a rhythm, but I'm going to work on it, granted that the new semester does not kick my butt. express myself.

Yellow

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:48:00 +0000

If I could briefly describe how elephants have impacted my life, I would start by saying that the idea of an elephant has impacted my life more than the physical animal. It has been said that elephants never forget. The same could be said about me...

World

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:02:00 +0000

I saw two butterflies today.

Manly Man

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:55:00 +0000

Subscribe for the podcast on iTunes --->
Listen Here

Hello... hello... And welcome back to the world (or my life), where I talk. I used to write, but now I talk and... write down what I said. So, it's kind of both at the same time. It's pretty, pretty cool if you think about it. It's kinda crazy too. But, you know, don't think about it too hard. Alright, anyway, I would just like to talk about manly things right now, cause I am confused about what defines being manly and things like that. As... an example, earlier this summer I did something... called man camp and it wasn't really for men, it was more for elementary school age boys, who will someday be men... and I...I was like a counselor kind of figure for that. And we did manly things, you know, we played in the woods and... hit people and farted and... all this other stuff, but what makes that manly? Why can't women like to fart too? I just don't understand what this difference is. Is there a difference? I mean I know there is some obvious differences, but... not... not really. (mumble) I'm also eating steak later, which is also a manly thing apparently... but I... cause there's only men here right now. "No girls allowed." That was the motto of man camp. So as you see, I don't really understand... what makes it manly and not so manly? Shouldn't...shouldn't everyone get an equal opportunity to eat steak and fart? I think that... that is true. I'm an equal opportunity... person in life... So, you can always count on me for equal opportunities. Well, that's all I've got for today. That 's all that's on my mind so tell me what you think. So, I'll talk to you later.
Thanks a lot!
peace.

Audio Audio Audio

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:25:00 +0000

Listen Here

Hello and welcome to The World (or my life) episode one, season one. One, one, one... one..... one. I would just like to take a moment to thank you for listening to the new podcast version of the... words that I would like to say. So you can look at the words and listen to this at the same time. Or you can just listen to this... and read the words?... at a different time. Or you can do one or the other; you don't have to do both. That's kind of the beauty of it. And sometimes the problem I see with writing... and typing... words is that sometimes you can get double meanings out of things. So I thought this way if I talked... that I could... emphasize certain things and inflectuate* my voice so that you understand the meaning of what I'm actually trying to say. So... if umm... you get confused you can always listen to my voice inflections and that would make the world a better place. So yeah, this is the first one. I'll update a little bit more about my life and things like that... and how they relate to the world around me. So, thanks a lot and I'll be talking to you later.
Alrighty,
bye bye

*not actually a real word

Free Update

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Dear World,

I first must apologize for not posting in over a month. The month of july turned out to be a busy one. Many job opportunities came up and many road trips took place. I found myself in many places from Pittsburgh to Cleveland to Mount Vernon to Burton to Harrisonburg, Virginia. There are many stories to tell and I hope I get to share my thoughts on all of those experiences. Right now, I am in preparation to go back to college in less than two weeks! Exciting times, indeed. I also have a new posting idea coming up soon, so stay tuned and we will see how it goes!

Love,
Ryan

Rain Dancing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:52:00 +0000

I'm pretty sure the past few days have been a dream... nothing seems real. Especially the clouds. There were big, puffy white clouds and dark, ominous clouds together in the same sky. Sometimes spots of blue decided to take part in the sky canvas... sometimes it rained too, but only in small areas for short amounts of time. I think the rain followed me as I went here and there. But then the sun sets and the artificial lighting takes its cue. Every time I step under a street light my body finds just the right pose... The sad/deep/contemplative/cultured pose that makes me look like a mysterious poet, who hides in words. Headlights flash on and deer come out.

Drying Off

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:10:00 +0000

It rained all day yesterday, which created enough water to flood our yard, which happens every once and while because of the creek running through it. But it never ceases to amaze me how intense and how enormous the water can get. Words really can't describe it.

... And After...

Man-Made walls obviously can't contain the water.

Honor on your sleeve

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 03:58:00 +0000

Tonight, while at home, I was able to watch the film "A Few Good Men" (You know, Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and the "You can't handle the truth" line). The movie revolved around this murder trial… and at the end, it becomes a battle between Justice (in the context of the law) and Power. Power argues that it should stay in control because it knows how everything is done and Power makes choices that "save lives" and that "are in the best interest of the country,” even if that means bending or breaking the law. On the other hand, there is Justice (in the context of the law). Justice reveals the corruptive nature of Power by some creative means, shedding light on Power's evil ways. Happy ending. The end. But Wait! Is this how justice works? Can justice truly be served in the context of the law? Can justice be limited to a certain set of rules and regulations of one country and be considered just for all? And at the same time, can justice (in the context of the law) shed light on true justice and peace?

Summer Concert Series

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:57:00 +0000

Concerts, concerts, concerts... there are so many great shows happening this summer, so here is a list of must see concerts for the Cleveland/Pittsburgh/Columbus area that I would like to see. Let me know if you want to come, or recommend any other shows.

~~Appleseed Cast: June 3. The Grog Shop. Cleveland.~~
~~Not Coldplay~~
Ace Enders and a Million Different People. June 21. The Grog Shop. Cleveland.

Cotton Jones. June 24. Beachland Ballroom. Cleveland.

mewithoutYou: July 5. The Grog Shop. Cleveland.

Man Man: July 10. The Summit. Columbus.
Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band. July 13. Wexner Center for the Arts. Columbus. (or Pittsburgh).

M83: July 18. Wexner Center for the Arts. Columbus.
Los Campesinos!: August 6. The Grog Shop. Cleveland.
The Decemberists: August 14. Byham Theater. Pittsburgh.

Jason Mraz: August 17. Time-Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City. Cleveland.
Shapiro: TBA.

How To: Become an Individual

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:08:00 +0000

I have heard a lot of talk these days about individualism and "right for me" kind of talks and attitudes. This idea has flooded the nation, and the world for months and years now. The news media is quite uncertain about when it is going to end. Young people today consumed in style and hairs do's. I once saw a young lady, in her early twenties rip her shirt off because she saw another young lady with the same shirt on. Now, it seems kind of ridiculous if you ask me, but I heard that the young generation is trying to make their voices heard and they have to use any means necessary. I guess that is what needs to be done in a world like ours today. Nothing is unusual anymore, only normal... or maybe a little odd, but kind of dig it. Speaking of which, I recently talked to a distant friend who told me that he recently started drinking bat milk to help his hair growth (I've also heard that it stops cancer, but it hasn't been proven yet). But I guess hair growth has been a big problem in his family for years, so he's hoping he has finally put an end to it. I told him I tend not to have problems with my hair like he does, but he insisted that bat milk would give my hair a good glow, and it tastes pretty good once you get used to it. He also explained that bat milk is somewhat expensive because bats are small and bat milkers can only get so much out of each individual bat, but in the end, it is totally worth it. I later read in the newspaper that the price of bat milk has shot up tremendously because of the high demand; I guess it really does work. But as it turns out, it doesn't prevent cancer. Now, I keep seeing that the latest fashion trends have been getting more and more peculiar. Peacock feathers made into blouses, pants as shirts, shoes as gloves, I really don't understand it all. I don't know what they will come up with next. I'm not even sure who "they" really are, anyway. I thought they were very fancy designers, but now I have a funny feeling "they" might be thrift store consumers. The speed that these fashion statements appear is unbelievable. It seriously changes from one day to another. One day stripes the next dots and then solid colors. I imagine that these color changes will change even more rapidly, till all the clothes and colors go swirling into a giant fashion storm, a fashion war, until one day when everyone wakes up and they are all wearing white and everyone looks eerily similar. It is at that moment that everyone realizes they are the same and there is something good in knowing that. Peace and harmony are here, but we must never forget that the red paint bucket is always there, teetering over our heads.

3. write songs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:54:00 +0000

la la la... Those were the only words that came to my head... and those aren't even real words. Music is a crazy thing. It is something that speaks to humans in a way I can't explain. Especialy in deciding what is good and what is bad and what is new and what is old. (go to subversivereformation.com to read more about that). Even if it is "good" or "bad" the creative nature behind creating songs is deep and mystical. It doesn't matter if it has been heard before, at its core it is art; it is fresh and new.

Anyway, I recently created a myspace page for my music.

It has been something I have enjoyed creating for a while and thought I'd share. I hope you enjoy my creative expression. Be my friend (if people still do that). Let me know what you think. I'll add some more songs and ideas as summer goes along.
Peace.

Long Live Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 May 2009 02:19:00 +0000

Hello, it is summer.
I decided it is important for me to enjoy summer before I return to the daunting tasks of college life and work. So I decided to make a (loose) list of activities/events/hobby-ish things I would like to experience this summer.
1. Read. Jesika Barvitski has let be borrow about eight books, or so. I'm starting with A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. I'm pretty excited to dive into it, I'll probably post about it. (any suggestions here?)
2. garden. i have some seeds. my mom wants to plant some herbs, so just need to find an ideal spot (if anyone has any good tips, links, or books let me know!)
3. write songs. I had a streak going on at the end of the year. I hope to continue it in summer. I still have a few ideas in mind and want to play aroud with them.
4. write. i also have some blog post ideas starting to flow out of my brain from last semester. hopefully they are good.
5. Visit Troy Current.
6. Go to Brooklyn
7. Cook. Every once in a while I'll look at a cookbook (especially with pictures) and really want to create the dishes. (again, any ideas are helpful).
8. Build meaningful friendships.
9. Research grad school/intership/ job ideas. Just see what cool opportunites are out there.
10. Rest/Sleep/Reflect. I just need to spend a few days resting and sleeping. Also catching up with the family.

I like (loose) plans. Let's see how it goes.
What else can I do this summer?

New (s) (ness)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 May 2009 23:47:00 +0000

Hello world,
life life life. I would like to inform you that I have updated my layout. I'm trying out this template, but I'm still trying to customize it. so there will be more changes soon, probably. If you have any suggestions, let me know!
I would also like to point out that the end of the year is coming up! A week of classes and then finals. That is pretty crazy... time. whew. I felt like I just arrived at school and now I'm halfway done! Wowo wow! I'm feeling somewhat thoughtful, so maybe I'll throw some more posts up soon.
peace.

vague thoughts. brief rambling.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:03:00 +0000

Today was inspirational... Life flowed
Books.
Poems.
Laughter.
Words.
Thoughts.
Music.
Paper.
Sun.
Amish.Lifestyles.
Human.Interaction.

I needed it so much right now.
There was a red wheelbarrow and a tree.
Images so vivid. Pictures so clear.
I'm learning. living. loving (trying).
I'm pretty sure I can see you.
let this love flow. let it grow.
let your love flow. and grow.

the city (two)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:38:00 +0000

I remember stepping of the metro; there were people everywhere. They were going here and there. They were mostly running to the surface, suffocating underground. I don't like walking fast. Besides, I knew what I was about to see. As I emerged from the subway, my eyes had to adjust to the light. Artificial light. The sun was down. It was Time Square. The massive attraction in Manhattan. The bright lights dazed the masses, like bugs on a summer night. They continued walking toward the lights with heavy pockets, hoping to relieve the weight of their wallets. The lights are a vital part of this area. They must hide the rest of the city. A city torn from brokenness and despair. Keep the lights on. Spend money. There is nothing wrong here.

the city (one)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:21:00 +0000

Hey Hey
I'm back from experiencing New York. And I must say it was a marvelous experience. Concrete, grass, cars, bikes, trains, people, more people, life, stores, stories music, friends, buses, more people, books, vendors thoughts, life. It was wonderful being back in the city. Being back was one of the best parts about the trip. Everything was a little more familiar and it gave me the opportunity to open my eyes wider. I could see deeper. clearly. clarity.
Stories coming soon...

On the road

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:03:00 +0000

Hello,
It's been some time since I've been here. But the good news is that I'm starting to think and have thoughts again. Tomorrow morning I will begin my Journey to New York City. I hope to have a journal in my hand some of the time. So, when I return hopefully I'll have some updates on my life, my thoughts on the city, and the experiences that come with it.
Let the journey begin.

Extended Melody Project

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:43:00 +0000

Extended Melody Project
Brasil (A Benefit Concert)
March 14, 2007
Former Ibiza 33 Nightclub
156 Howard St
Mount Vernon, Ohio
(Behind the comfort inn)
7pm $5

Check out the details here.

Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:23:00 +0000

My new favorite spot on campus is behind oakwood hall, in between the pine trees, with my head toward the sky. The experience can be enhanced with the addition of snow and cold weather. In case you were wondering.

A Family Band and a Thug Rapper Eat at Perkins Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:32:00 +0000

A new experience shows Family Bands and Thug rappers dine at Perkins Restaurant.

I'm pretty sure all the famous people go to Perkins restaurant when they visit Youngstown, Ohio. But as soon as I typed that, I realized it wasn't true because Barack Obama and Charlie Sheen go to the Yankee Kitchen. And it kind of made me not like the politics around Barack Obama because my grandpa was at Yankee Kitchen the morning Obama came and the owner said that he and whoever he was with had to leave. I'm pretty sure my grandpa wouldn't hurt anyone. I think the secret service needs to be more subjective when dealing with people's grandparents.

Anyway, back to Perkins and the famous people that go there. It all started when I arrived and there was a tour bus in the parking lot! And from reading the print I realized this could only be Blaine Bowman and HIS Good Time Band! I know, right? The guy who brought you hits like Sozo -Sozo and Sweet Home Up in Heaven, was at Perkins right at home! Unfortunately, at this point in time I didn't know any of this information, but luckily my friend's dad gave us the scoop via text messages. Anyway, you can probably guess what happened next... The hostess sits us right across from Blaine Bowman and HIS Good Time Band. And besides Eavesdropping on their conversations we had no further contact with them, but at least they let us sit by them. Unlike Barack Obama's secret service, who wouldn't even let my grandfather enjoy his breakfast.

My encounters with the celebrities of the world didn't end there. Let me take you on a trip to the restrooms at Perkins, but fast forwarding to when I was washing my hands, because this is where exciting begins. Someone walked into the bathroom and said something like "fkjdfldkhgdjgh". A little thrown of by the mumbles, I mumbled back "mmehwhat?". But I really think he was just wondering where he could find tissues. We then began what I think was a conversation. A few lines into the conversation (we were out of the bathroom at this point) he told me he was a famous rapper from Columbus. At this point I was pretty determined to keep the conversation going, but instead of asking his name/rapper name (or telling him mine). I told him I went to school near Columbus. I think this killed it. I wish I knew. But I had a feeling he wasn't really a rapper to begin with.

But what a good time. The memories are irreplaceable. I just wish my grandpa would have had a good time with Barack Obama.

2009 Resolution: Don't Make Promises I Can't Keep

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:37:00 +0000

I was watching Wheel of Fortune tonight and at the end some words came up on the screen. I noticed that the show was copyrighted in 2009. It kind of caught me off guard because I'm not used to seeing that combination of numbers. And it made me think of all the excitement from a couple nights ago, when it seemed like every other facebook status was "looking forward to 2009" or "la'08ter ga'08or". There seems to be all this hope/hype about the new year, but isn't it the same thing every year? We ponder turning our lives around for a few days, but then realize we're screwed and go back to the same old routines. Or are we trying to change for the better? What is your new years resolution?

Here's Mine:
Wake up at 7:30am everyday, read a chapter of the Bible and maybe pray a little, read a chapter out of leisure book, run 3 miles, eat a healthy breakfast, smile at everyone I see, give money to the needy, and maybe even give away something that I value, do homework 6 hours a day, only go on facebook for 30min a day, journal my thoughts daily, find a spouse, volunteer 10 hours a week, lift weights, become number one.

Sounds pretty good, but we only live one day at a time. Make the most of everyday? Yeah, try that. Don't worry about the whole year.