RyanHarne.com

Ok. I will come out and say it. I was out in the sun today…on a towel…with my iPod…for two hours. And then I sorta had ice cream. By now, I’m sure everyone has lost their respect for this nominally slimline and studious character many call ryanharne.com. But let me explain.

The weather outside today began oh-so comfortably. I left for my early morning EF group meeting without any kind of jacket, so unconsciously my mind was already being allured into submission.

Then I had my classes leading up to noon when I had lunch with Abigail. I had a very small breakfast and a more-than-moderate lunch (Indian cuisine). I then returned to my room with the intentions of finishing up the last bit of Inventor for the EF report. Once that was done, I felt needy.

It was something that had been growing in my since last Friday. Each day since the end of last week, the weather has been successively nicer. But each day since Friday I’ve been too busy in the early afternoon to stay outside for any length of time. But today I was free for a few hours.

And mother nature called my name. She said, “Dear Ryan! Come to me! I am full of wonder and love. Enjoy my luxuries and yield to my pleasantries!” So, in a dazed and mindless state, I wandered outside, totally unaware of what was going on. Totally innocent to what was about to take place.

I woke up about two hours later having laid out in the sun letting my body be horribly ravaged by the ultraviolet and ultraviolent rays of the sun. While there is no noticable burn on my skin, I can tell that my conscience was seared. And at this lowest point, Abigail was able to lure me away to get some ice cream.

Oh and now I recant! My former disciplined self deserved better. I am ashamed.

Women always get their ways.

And I thought I’d praise Apple for finally releasing the 1.5Ghz PowerBook G4s. And the nicely renovated iBooks. I needs me a Mac soon.

My week ends and begins in one fell swoop. Somehow Friday night, Saturday, and today all morphed into one being, one singular existence that never began nor ceased. Let me explain.

Friday night was APEX. Went alright. Then I met Abigail for some well-deserved Bollo’s lattés. Then we rented Superstar and Meet The Parents and had fun.

Saturday was immense. Abigail and I left early for Christiansburg for some long-awaited, action-packed enjoyment. We saw Kill Bill Vol. 2 and…woah…it was good. Immediately leaving the theater I was actually disappointed but the more I think about the film in hindsight the more I want to see it again. A director’s dream, indeed. It comes to an unexpected resolution of a brilliant plot formulated in the first volume, but allows for much more expansion, as opposed to the plateau many sequels are faced with. Abigail liked it too.

Then we raced back with the BT to hit up Soundfest 2004. After we both won two more iTMS songs from our Pepsis, we walked to McComas parking lot. Within minutes we were the recipients of a bag full of label and corporate merch. I got a Harvey Birdman t-shirt and we both got lots of other various Adult Swim goodies. Plus, we got full-length cds and EPs for absolute free. So after Jet Noise, we went back to my room to drop off our booty ::arrr:: and then hit up the shows again. Races to April was very nice. Copeland was great. I had vaguely remembered hearing their name in the past, but it was great to finally form an opinion of their music (which is good stuff).

Soon after Matt Nathanson performed. Him and his cellist were simply amazing. His comedic interludes remind me of Matt Hogan, whom I played with in a band for many years before I left for college. ::memories:: So that was very nice. Then Q and not U was up. I was actually disappointed with them. Their music seemed quite unrehearsed in its own way; while it was clearly practiced to perfection, this perfection was actually compromised of the most randomness and musical awkwardness I’ve ever witnessed…ever. Just not liking it. Plus one of the vocalists went on this set-long rant against Bush and all that he stands for. Then he told us not to listen to the media. How ironic. Whatever. Cave In closed. Abigail says they have been around for a while. Then I noticed Cave In’s merch table loaded with past cds; reminesce. They were musically amazing. Both guitarists brilliantly revealed their years of experience together as they soloed and such in complete unison. Quite impressive.

And following this rocktacular experience (with ear plugs might I add), Abigail and I hit up Deets and Express for some foodstuffs. I actually had a fastfood hamburger; I seem to become desperate for food late at night after skipping dinner. Anyways, so I had microwavable meat for my ultra-late meal.

Sunday is here and gone. But somehow its plot never stopped even as I write this into Monday morning. I met with my group not long after lunch to continue on our design project. I worked on the Inventor stuff and textual additions for an intense time following the actual meeting. Then I had my physics lab report. And my EF homework. Ouch. So I missed this wonderful 80+ degF day; if there was one thing I wanted out of today it was for the sun to ravage my whiteman’s body. Perhaps next weekend, following my submission of this project and my last physics test, will I relent to the UV fetish I’ve been meaning to satisfy. Yet still, right now my brain is riddled with thought processes beyond control.

Thus this week should be just as wild as last week. But now stuff will begin to wind down. Wind down like a…top…reaching its last revolution before faltering and succombing to centripetal and gravitational forces.

I like to write. I like to write in my blog. Perhaps a new design soon. Perhaps a new design after this physics test. Or maybe after finals. Let’s not rush things, Willis.

Stress perhaps has initiated this incessant neck cramp I’m having. Truly annoying.

The weather is very nice today. For the first time in many months, I felt a warm breeze today. Blacksburg’s capability to chill down the warmest smile via its endless supply of wind amazed me this winter. And now, I’m noticing this invisible neighbor doesn’t hide away during the spring. Seriously, the wind here is no fun, it never stops. And when it does stop, well…when it does stop that’s really nice, but it rarely occurs.

Anyways. This week has been really long. The EF project is due next week so I have been working nightly with my group to see it to completion. Lots of report left. Lots. Plus my regular work load has stepped up a bit as well. This is fun. Fun like a train in my face.

Additionally, I haven’t been to Bollo’s all week. How upsetting. Maybe tonight after APEX.

Arg. I think I need some brain down-time. This weekend will be fun, but very busy. Thus the relaxation factor will diminish a bit. Oh well.

But first, I need a Bollosian latté.

I promise to update the other areas of my conglomerate website system some time in the near future. My school schedule for the next two weeks is wild. I have so many tests and various graded assignments due that my life will come to a considerable halt during the weeks approaching.

I’d further like to express my appreciation for Virginia Tech for the challenges provided here for me. I have no idea exactly where my life is headed, but I have a feeling that these intense time constraints and discipled studies will pay off at some point. I just thought I’d mention that. Plus the gyms here are nice.

I rocked my linear algebra test Monday night. I then celebrated at the Easy Chair with an almond latté, a new for me.

Tuesday was rather exciting; the first of my very busy days this week. I got up for my workout, took care of the previously mentioned workout, showered, and studied all morning for my EF test. Studied all morning with the exception of one break to read some Les Mis. I’m about 1/14 through the book in two weeks, that’s the type of progression I expected. I can only assume once I get home, my more expansive schedule will allow more for reading pleasure.

I left around noon to go to Target and B&N. I picked up Kill Bill Vol. 1 for my enjoyment, as well as a venti Starbucks mocha for my immediate pleasure. That was a nice, drenched, trip. We had a flood watch covering most of the day. Wonderful.

Tuesday night was the EF test. Nominal indeed. To celebrate, Abigail and I watched Kill Bill Vol. 1. Now we’re ready for Vol. 2 releasing this Friday. We will be there. Or be squared.

It stopped raining today. It stopped raining today to begin to snow. Oh yeah. Fun. It was very light snow, not actually doing anything more than causing people to double take towards the sky. But it was very cold and annoying outside today.

Then add onto that my intense physical exhaustion and sleep depravity. I don’t know why either are existing; I get enough, varied sleep and I workout amply. Oh well. It’s likely just stress. I am stressed, by the way.

Finals are soon. Lots of them. This semester will be easier, however. I can’t imagine how my 19 credits worth of classes next semester will end up towards finals week. Arg.

I guess that’s it for now. Like I said, I’ll try and update the other sections at some point, I’m just too busy right at the moment to accomplish such a daunting task.

This Saturday is Soundfest. I am happy. Very happy.

Happy post-Easter! I’m really bad about blogging on holidays, so I tend to get around to wishing everyone a wonderful day after the fact.

Good Friday evening, Abigail’s family arrived in Blacksburg. We all ate at Gillie’s for some fine vegetarian cuisine. That night, some zucchini bread was forged in the fiery furnace and all enjoyed it.

The next morning I spent with Isaac, Abigail’s brother, while she and her sister and mother went and had pedicures. So both of us went to Bollo’s for some morning coffee and walked through downtown Blacksburg for a while before returning and nearly completing our conversation about music. We have a rather distinguishing trait common to us, we both play[ed] trombone. I played from 6th grade to my graduation and Isaac has been playing for several years now already. So that sparked good conversation.

Then I had to depart for an EF performance meeting. We tested out catapult design (built in two meetings after we discovered our first design’s failure). Amazingly, our accuracy was unprecedented. The team was very pleased. So now we just have to submit our souls to the writing of this report. Arg.

Sunday morning/afternoon I also spent with the Whalens for some fun and such. After they departed I worked my brains out, as I am doing today. This week will be evil.

I went on my run earlier this afternoon due to the realization that I will have no life/time tonight. So much to do. Surprisingly, even on this dank day, the gym was nearly full. I would have expected the opposite.

So I have too much to do right now and not enough time to reconsider my blog for efficiency and eloquence.

I got inspired Wednesday. I would have mentioned it earlier, but it would have seemed out of place as an announcement of sorts. In my comm class, my professor imparted that she was going to fast on Friday, Good Friday. Somehow, this was alarming to me. Never before had I heard the mention of fasting on Good Friday, honestly! And I thought it was such a good idea, such a wonderful idea. So today, according to my promise and decision I made on Wednesday, I am fasting on this holy day.

This year has presented me with a much more expansive and elaborate understanding of the importance of this week. Despite growing up in a church-every-block town, Easter seemed to have gained only mediocre relevance to my faith from what traditions/etc. that I grew up around. Oh, how I’ve noticed my error. Without the resurrection of Christ, Christianity loses its caption, loses its luster.

Several events have likely led me to this higher appreciation of this week. First was viewing The Passion film that was so highly raved about. My brain went into a frenzy after having such paramount truth thrust upon my conscience. Also, this past Sunday Abigail and I went to the Case for Easter event at Burrus Auditorium. Lee Strobel was telecast live from some church as he summarized his book in one stunning ’sermon’. Sometimes it’s almost as if you can tangibly feel your faith. Perhaps that is a way of putting my experience into words.

Thus, today I am fasting. And contemplating and thinking and praying. The more the better.

My brother called me telling me that he won an iTunes song on a Slurpee cup. That was interesting, I didn’t know the game stretched as far as paper cups (he mentioned how you had to roll the edge of the cup lid away to see if you won). Oh well. And I found a Sierra Mist bottle yesterday at Kroger that had yet to be attained. So I got it. And won another song. woot! This game is not over yet.

So this weekend I have a couple of tests to study for, an EF project to continue, and I get to meet up with Abigail’s family while they are here. I shall be busy.