Mono No Aware/Zombies/Love

There's something vaguely post-apocalyptic about the Fulton Mall after dark. Protest-rock from the 60s and 70s mingles with the smell of downtown Fresno while very few, if any, people wander the industrial-art adorned promenade. I almost expect zombies/vampires/mutants/aliens to pop around the corner at any second.

This week I'm in training to be a CASA (hence my time on the F. Mall) and Bekah has been in Southern California visiting her family but she'll be back today with the kids and my father in law. I have been meaning to update this blog for a while but priorities have pushed it down the list. With the extra quiet, I have been able to work on a song or two though. This fall, we are going to record a worship album and finally get to the second overdubs lp... of particular inspiration is this incredible Hammock song/video "Mono No Aware."

Hammock - Mono No Aware from David Altobelli on Vimeo.

pithy Bible verse for the day, currently listening

(Ecc 10:11) If a snake bites before you charm it, what's the use of being a snake charmer?

albums currently in heavy rotation:

Eels - Hombre Lobo
Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - Vs. Children

Dear Congressman Radanovich

Congressman, I urge you to vote no on cuts to $506m from our multilateral contributions in the State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill.

Overall, support for these multilateral institutions is a key part of our foreign policy and re-describing the US to the world. Working through multilaterals, we are able to leverage more from other countries to share the burden.

Along with 1,000 other ONE members in your constituency, I humbly ask that you consider the benefits that these funds have for the world's poorest people.

I appreciate your time.

thanks for your tireless service and representation!

Ryan Townsend

who are you?

Vacations make the average worker more efficient when she returns.

I am Clark Griswold.

He's got you and me sister in his hands.

Aside from children's songs, these one word title songs have been in heavy rotation with the Townsends during our pre-easter trek to Monterey and our post-Easter Vegas Vacation. Maybe i'll have a chance to post the playlist tomorrow but chances are it's gonna be crazy at the office.

Superdrag "Aspertame"
Leona Naess "Mexico"
White Lies "Death"
My Bloody Valentine "Sometimes"
U2 "Magnificent"
Owen "Gazebo"
Radiohead "Just"
Tokyo Police Club "Centennial"
S.F.C. "Respect"

That's it for now. Looking forward to getting off the freeway and watching some soccer highlights.

So yesterday for the first time in forever, i spent an extended perioed of time in a record store, Zia's in Vegas. After much deliberation, i walked out of there with the self titled debut album from uk band white lies and owen (the ep) for 13 dollars american. Today, we are at red rock canyon and a petting zoo old west style farm caled bonnie springs. We ate a picnic that included carrots which then reminded me of my favorite music video, Last Stop: This Town by Eels.

las vegas, TWITTER, trial and error, love, red rock

the process of experimentation via trial and error has led me to the conclusion that the best blog posts are birthed when I am away from my laptop. often, these moments come and go and are lost forever. imagine my joy then to discover that i can text blog entries, ala twitter (i know, yes, i"m late to the party but sue me and you can follow me later than never THE RYAN TOWNSEND), and therefore post more often with more inspiration. ok, maybe it's wishful thinking but that's what tools and toys are for.

day three of vacation was great fun, did the whole casino strip thing, went to Mandalay Bay and saw the sharks with amelia. played some games at a castle themed casino. rode the tram. went to some outlets. got some cheap sunglasses (along with buying inexpensive jeans, I am now officially moving beyond lushness). i signed up for pandora. I am reading Chasing The Dragon by Jackie Pullinger. I am trying to learn how to relax. I should be sleeping now in fact.

tomorrow is nature day at red rock. friday is beatle's love cirque de sol. saturday is an area 51s game. I've been informed that they are no longer the Dodgers triple a team which is too bad because i was looking forward to hating them. tonights game by the way...sickening.

so, in conclusion, thanks to sms functionality, expect a lot more posts. just don't expect them to make sense.