30 Ties - Day 23

Driving up to Humboldt for New Year's 2009! On Day 23, it was exciting to get out of dodge (i.e., Oakland) and drive up to Humboldt County. This would be my second annual new year's trip to visit Jim and Gail, extraordinary people living along the Mattole River near Whitethorn, CA.

I also really enjoyed the drive with my sister Aliyah, in her trooper-of-a-car appropriately named The Metro. Good times were had this evening along the windy, beautiful highway. The highlight of the trip, or at least the most memorable, was an abandoned toilet strewn in an open field just off the highway. The toilet was primed for a roadside pee-and-go... I'll leave it at that.

The picture for Day 22 shows Aliyah and me enjoying our drive to Humboldt to spend the week among the beautiful redwoods.

30 Ties - Day 22

Oh man, Dexter is a brilliant show. What a great ending to this season! Watching Dexter was made even better on Day 22, the day after Christmas, with good company, tea, chocolate, and a blue checkered tie from the Perry Ellis Portfolio Collection.

Thanks friends and family for the enjoyable Christmas festivities, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 21

Good ol' Christmas Day. For the first time, our family was invited to a Christmas dinner with the Belli family (our soon-to-be in laws, a la Matt and Melissa's engagement!). Not only was the food great--having raviolis on Christmas Day was a tasty surprise--but the Belli family graciously survived the chaos that is the Cline/Walton/Yablonsky clan. Rumor has it they may have actually enjoyed themselves despite our unavoidable awkwardness. For instance, it was demanded more than once that John, Melissa's brother, relive his heroic war story during the middle of dinner (which he did, with much grace.)

But such are the holidays: fat and family. And such is life. Better to go with the flow than to embrace ideal yet impossible realities. It's more fun this way anyway. You never know what will happen next.

The picture for day 21, of 30 ties for 30 years, shows me with my brother Ian. Most awesomely Ian, repeating the trek he took for Thanksgiving, took a greyhound bus up for the festivities. Ian seamlessly smoothed the otherwise unconventional family meet and greet with his lovely personality and timely jokes (thanks Ian).

With love and respect, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 20

I'm back from my week long hiatus in the beautiful King's Range, Humboldt County, California (tie pictures and posts for each day of the trip to come!)

But for Day 20, the highlight was Christmas Eve tennis with a tie. It was a beautiful day in the rwc (Redwood City). To burn a few calories before the eventual onslaught of deliciously prepared dishes-a caloric smorgasbord-Dylan, Rob, Aliyah, and I played some tennis. The game was not as intense as in the past, yet nevertheless great to get out there on such a nice day.

As you can see, the tie for Day 20 is a smart, shiny brown tie, great for those sunny days outside.

With thanks, Ryan.

P.s., over the next week or so, I'll still have limited internet access. I'll plan best I can to keep the posts coming.

30 Ties - Day 19

Christmas present shopping with the brother, wearing a green and black martini tie. On the eve of x-mas eve, Rob and I checked out Berkeley's Street Fair on Telegraph as well as Amoeba Records. I was looking for a $30 secret santa present but didn't find anything. The fair featured nothing too extraordinary, mostly crafts. Boring. But I enjoyed the walk outside with the brother; and with gaudy white sunglasses and a rad martini tie. Awesome.

Merry X-Mas & with Thanks, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 18

Last day hangin' up in Placerville at The Cozmic Cafe. We did something entirely different today, we played Uno. We of course also played another game of Settler's of Catan, but this time actually at the cafe. To finish the trifecta of games, we cajoled our mom into playing a game of scrabble. Chris won, as he is accustomed to doing. That smart bastard.

It was a long journey back to the bay area. Chris, Aliyah, and I hit the road in her beat-up old Metro. We pulled out my laptop and watched a couple Discovery Channel episodes of I Shouldn't Be Alive. A nail biting show reliving the most amazing wilderness survival stories. The stories are most often set in the midst of the Alaskan Wilderness, understandably.

Thanks friends, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 17

Rockin' out at The Cozmic Cafe. I didn't do too much of anything different today than yesterday, up in Placerville CA visiting mother. But Aliyah, Chris, and I did do some serious air-band at the cafe. Very nerdy, very fun.

On a most unfortunate note, the bar at the cafe began serving Old Rasputin courtesy of the North Coast Brewery (not the unfortunate part), but they were out of it during my visit. Boo. I had the Anderson Valley Amber Ale instead. Still tasty. Still great times.

Thanks a million, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 16

On Day 16, I met up with my sister, Aliyah, her boyfriend, Chris, and two pet rats, Fede and Winkle, for a trip up to Placerville, California. We were all going up to visit our mom. (Btw, as I write this, the two rats are climbing frighteningly all over my body.)

While we didn't see our mother much, it was a very relaxing time. She owns and runs a wonderful cafe/bar/music venue/yoga studio/community event room, in Placerville proper called The Cozmic Cafe. They have a lot of exciting changes on the way which take up a lot of her time.

In the meantime, Chris, Aliyah, and I played some massive games of Settler's of Catan (the best selling board game of U.S. and Germany.) I won a game; Chris won a game; and Aliyah won a game. I don't think I could ever get sick of that game!

We also played Oh Hell, a popular card game similar to hearts. The picture for Day 16 shows me kicking some serious but. Don't ask me why I have my fist in the air.

With love and gratitude, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 15

Today is the first day of my 30's! The day started out by going to breakfast at Ella's, I ordered the chicken hash with a buttermilk biscuit. I then went for a walk along the bluffs at Land's End.

Walking along the wind-blown bluffs I had a chance to reflect. In thinking about all this turning 30 business, I realized I hadn't given it much thought. Maybe I was in denial of my older age; or maybe it was because I had always concluded turning 30 was no big deal. However, I came to understand that entering into your 30's was an important milestone. Not so much that turning 30 actually means anything--years are but a man made construction. But more so that the event provides an opportunity to take stock. To take stock of where you are, how you got there, the things you have accomplished, and what lay ahead. I left Land's End not only with badly wind swept hair, but with a comforted sense of what lay ahead in the next stage of my life.

After a great day in the city, I headed home. I spent the rest of the night listening to music (jj, memory tapes, dirty projectors, toro y moi, fever ray, and au revior simone) and organizing old photos. I also did the dishes. The picture for day 15 shows me doing the dishes wearing the tie for day 15, a 90's-style patterned tie. I'm also wearing a new t-shirt featuring the artist Amos Goldbaum (thanks Megan.)

With gratitude, Ryan.

P.s., for those that have trodded through the heavy sentiment of the last two posts, rest assured I intend to revert to more jocund material in the future :).

30 Ties - Day 14

Today, Day 14 of 30 ties for 30 years, is my actual birthday! The big 3-0. It was another great day. I met some of my oldest friends, Neil and Erica, for dinner in San Francisco. We decided to go to Nombe, a one-and-half-week-old restaurant, specifically an Izakaya, located at the corner of Mission and 21st St. Nombe serves some really exquisite tapas style dishes. While I normally eschew such restaurants, because the dishes were varied and affordable we were able to sample many of the items. And they were all very delectable. After fully stuffing ourselves over many courses, sake, and beer, we went to Laszlo, a bar attached to Foreign Cinema, for a nightcap. Before heading in we unavailingly scoured Mission Street for the creme brulee street vendor--apparently he's only out during the day.  

Now that I'm 30 I can settle into my adulthood, thankful for what I have already been given, and enjoy the present as it unfolds in front of me. There is something quite humbling about turning 30 unemployed. But in reality, I have been given a great opportunity at this stage in my life: the gift of time. Let it not be squandered; what shall I do in my old age?  

Thanks for a great night!

With thanks, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 13

On Day 13, I met my friend Josh in San Francisco to join in on his weekly Poker game, Texas Hold 'Em style. I had been jonesing for a good poker game since playing a casual game with brothers and friends a couple weeks prior. Wearing the tie for the day, a classic with blue and red stripes, I definitively felt like a real poker player. The game was fun and enjoyable; Josh's friends were a jovial group. Someone brought over homemade bourbon chocolate balls that were fantastic, and quite possibly got me drunk. In the end, I took second place, after handily defeating Josh and 6 of his friends, but losing my chips rather quickly in the final match-up play. I'll need to work on my end play. It is a whole different game.

The game play lasted late into the night. When I finally arrived home, I was glad to see my bed. It had been a long couple days and I needed some serious time to veg.

Looking forward to tomorrow, my actual b-day, the big 3-0. There is no doubt about it, I'm old (as dirt). Everything from here on in is bonus play.

Thanks friends, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 12

Freedom's Front Door. Where do I start with my day at MEPS? There were so many funny, noteworthy events throughout my long, six hours at the facility. I, of course, wore one of my new ties, a lovely blue paisley tie by Pierre Cardin.

I would first like to commend the personnel who assisted me. They were kind and affable, with an exacting efficiency throughout the whole process.
 
Once I arrived, I got my vision and hearing tested. Nothing extraordinary there, except that I failed the depth perception test by a smidgen. The projector-like eye piece was cumbersome, and I found it difficult to point out the little circles that protruded out from the others. This precludes me from being a pilot I was told. I wonder if I would have passed the test as a youngin'?

I guess the most amusing part of the process was stripping down to my underwear in a big room with about twenty other applicants. There were chairs lining two corners of a cold, large room. When I entered the room, it became obvious that I was to strip down and sit along the wall. Luckily the first seat next to see the doctor was open and I grabbed it. After I saw the doctor, my group was asked to stand in a line and perform predefined movements, such as the 'duck walk', a movement wherein you walk on your heels and toes in a crouched position. The calisthenics were conducted in view of the doctor and the group of applicants awaiting their turn.

A funny feeling came across me while leaving the facility. It almost felt like a sadness. The only think I can attribute it to is a feeling of aloneness after being a part of something of which you have no control. Or maybe it was a feeling of a loss of self after being processed as something other than a fully autonomous being. We do as humans have a desire to be a part of something larger than ourselves, maybe that was it.

In any event, it felt good being at Freedom's Front Door, wearing the Pierre Cardin tie, a beauty; accompanied with a baby blue Calvin Klein shirt and Banana Republic navy blue striped pants.

Muchas Gracias, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 11

On Day 11, I'm sitting in the Wyndham Hotel Lobby in San Jose, awaiting my medical exam in the morning at MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). Combined with my participation in the Fed's unemployment insurance program (i.e., funemployment), I now without a doubt feel a part of the system.

I check in; they have playstation 2's, and other games for us to play. But I'm not all that into the video games, though the modern warfare game a few kids are playing looks fun. I go to eat dinner at the hotel restaurant. Given a dinner voucher, I decide against the American Dip--a french dip with a heavy dose of nationalistic sentiment. I eat instead the hamburger with, yes, freedom fries. The freedom fries with a dollop of good ol' American ketchup were delicious.

Alone in the lobby awaiting my fate, the picture for Day 11 shows me biding my time, with my tie for the day. I will soon venture up to my room, where I am to meet my roommate, also named Ryan. I anticipate not getting a full night's sleep. Alarm is set for a wicked 3:44 a.m.

Thanks, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 10

Day 10: climbing with a tie. As is custom to wear a tie to the most interesting portion of my day, I climbed with a tie at the Mission Cliffs climbing gym, in San Francisco. I met Jenny, Colin, and an ex co-worker and friend of Jenny's, Fritz.

After the evening of bouldering at the gym, we met more ex co-workers (including my good friend Josh aka Jarsh) for dinner at Flower & Water, just two blocks away. Good company and good food! We then went for a drink at the Lone Palm, my favorite bar in the city. Awesomely, they were playing Passion Pit upon our arrival. Btw, Passion Pit is now featured in the new Palm Pixi Commercial. Isn't the relationship between commercial enterprise and indie music fascinating? They make odd bedfellows, indeed. For an interesting discussion about this phenomena, listen to this recent podcast by Slate's Culture Gabfest.

Stay tuned for some truly exotic posts with ties (tie-xotic?) over the next day or two. I'll be writing from a hotel lobby courtesy of the U.S. Dep't of Defense.

With love & thanks, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 9

Day 9's picture shows me coming home after an amazing, but long weekend. The Sunday was spent mostly relaxing with my brother Matt. Dylan, Kate, Matt, and I also went to a persian restaurant in the rwc (redwood city), called the Paradise Kabab House. If you are in the area, drop everything you're doing and go there! Not only was the food delicious, but before the meal began the owner came over and let us know that if we didn't like any of the dishes we ordered, he would give us anything else we wanted. At the end of the meal he again came over and asked us if we wanted any more food. We were so stuffed and had to kindly decline.

With thanks, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 8

I cannot formulate into words my feelings of utmost affection and gratitude toward you'all, my friends and family here in the bay area. You have been so very kind, loving, and sincere, in being there for me this past year. I've had one of the best years in my life (this my thirtieth); and it is because I have been here in the bay area with the friends and family that I love.

As you (my friends) saw, I was unmistakably surprised by the party you threw for me last night. Of course this was most noticeable by my failing to notice five of you hiding underneath a blanket in an open corner of the living room. Oh man, the moment you unveiled the "surprise!" marked in me absolute feelings of graciousness and embarrassment, in a way that I could not have thought possible. Graciousness in you'all coming together for my birthday; embarrassment for me seemingly taking longer than a fortnight to pick up on the moving, laughing lump of blanket right in front of me.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am humbled by your love and warmth. I look forward to spending more time together this holiday season.

With affection & gratitude, Ryan.

P.s., day 8 marked the first non-traditional use of a tie. The blue, hexagonal patterned tie, a favorite, was warn as a scarf thrown around the neck. The silky material warmed the neck while also feeling cool and satisfying against the skin.

30 Ties - Day 7

Day 7 started out disappointingly, at least as far as ties are concerned. In the morning, I left my apartment to meet my friend, Jenny, for a morning of rock climbing at the gym, in Berkeley. But I forgot the tie I was supposed to wear for the day. Though I moped inwardly about my dire, tie-less situation, the rock climbing was great. We bouldered for a while, scrambling up some V2's, then we roped up to climb some longer routes. At the end of our climbing, to train for a theoretical Marine boot camp we did straight up pull ups until we couldn't do no more.

The rest of the day it rained, and rained, and then rained some more. It was the kind of rain you look forward to in order to shed all regrets about not venturing outside, make some tea, and watch wonderfully terrible movies inside. I went back to my apartment, grabbed my tie, and headed to Jenny's house. We made some chai tea, mac & cheese, and watched two terrible movies: Obsessed, with Beyonce and Stringer Bell from the Wire, and The Contractor, with Wesley Snipes. I thought at least the latter movie would be good, having not met a Mr. Snipes movie I didn't like. But it too was terrible. It didn't matter; outside it was finally raining hard, I was inside and warm, and I had with me the tie for day 7.

With thanks, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 6

Day 6 was a great day. Met Jason and another of his friends, Jesse, at Mission Street Food for an offal dinner night. I never thought exotic meat parts could be so exceptionally delicious; but there was nothing... (wait for it) awful about it. Each of the dishes featured quite complimentary flavors and textures, such as chicken-fried liver with a dill buttermilk sauce. I was happily surprised at how much I enjoyed the meal. Gratis Jason, there was also very good beer to compliment the food.

Not too much time to digest though. I had unwittingly double-booked the night, so shortly after dinner I headed off to see the band Passion Pit with Megan. They were opening for Gossip, a band which I hadn't heard of. Passion Pit put on a good, no, great, show. The crowd was, however, overtly douchey. They were a younger crowd who had apparently failed to learn crowd etiquette. Time and time again whippersnappers pushed through the crowd with their head down and without remorse for disturbing those around them. A fight also broke out between a bro-looking dude and a short, very drunk hipster. Though the drunk hipster had an admittedly great 'stache, help us all if this is what SF has to look forward to with the merging genres of indie, dance, and electronica. I have seen the face of this younger neo-hipster crowd and I don't like what I see.

The attached picture shows me wearing tie 6, while drinking a quick pre-show glass of wine before heading off to the show--mashed with a picture of Passion Pit.

Note: Look forward to creative uses of ties in the future! It's becoming difficult to match the ties with the non-dress clothes that I have. Suggestions appreciated.

30 Ties - Day 5

Behind Oakland there is the Redwood Regional Park, a marvelous place to go for a bike ride. After the birthday party last night, and debauchery with the brother (r-o-double b!) the night before last, it was seriously time to take a long, late evening calorie-burning bike ride around the park. Of course I took with me the tie marked for day 5.

The temperature outside was, to put it bluntly, ice cold. I took to the street bundled up in my best goretex, a Merino wool skullcap, and my iPhone. The three layers of clothes I had on were not enough though. The first leg of the loop featured a long downhill stride along windy, tree-shaded country roads. Because I had forgotten to wear gloves my hands damn near froze off. Yet with the fresh, cold air streaming past me I didn't care.

Once atop the ridge after a grueling uphill climb, the skyline road back to the truck was spectacular! The recent storm left patches of snow that glistened with pinks and purples from the setting sun, and between the trees peeked breathtaking views of the bay. With me, my bike, the rad blue emblazoned tie around my neck, and the gritty feel of the road, time stood still leaving me at peace.

30 Ties - Day 4

Day 4's picture is a mobile email. It was another busy day today, primarily it being Megan's 29th birthday. She had about 10 of her friends over for a small, makeshift dinner party. She prepared several styles of marinated shrimp and chicken tacos, in her terribly small kitchen. Oh so good.

As shown in the picture below, near the end of the night we all sat in Megan's living room and chatted; me primarily listening and taking in the night. I am wearing one of my favorite ties of the group, a burgundy colored tie, with womb shaped designs patterned throughout (paisley, I assume).

Yes! There is an awesome print of a giant artichoke in the background, created by an Italian produce company, I believe.

The Musical Playlist for the night was exceptional: the xx, fuck buttons, passion pit, et al. Essentially the who's who of pitchfork.com's favorite album list.

A great night. Oddly, not one person mentioned the sheer randomness of me wearing a tie sans dress shirt. I guess it is San Francisco. All style goes here.

With love and thanks, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 3

On this balmy Monday night, I was welcomed by a surprise visit from my brother Robbie (r-o-double b!). He was going through some relationship troubles with his girlfriend of two months, Rachel, and wanted to hang out. So that we did. Nothing too out of the ordinary--we talked, we watched the latest episode of the Office, and we contemplated delivering food in (which, as of this writing, was decided against for lack of funds).

I had had a very busy day puttering around Berkeley running errands, such as visiting the bank, the DMV, and our local camera store to develop film. It has been pleasant for me and my brother to be cooped up in the apartment with no conscious desire to go outside. Though the night is young.

This picture shows my brother and I enjoying our night in, on this cold Monday night, concluding day three of this series of thirty ties for thirty days.

With thanks, Ryan

30 Ties - Day 2

On day 2, I decided to go with the YSL tie, a brown tie with light brown and cream colored stripes. I felt the tie matched well my velour long sleeved shirt and beige corduroy pants. The picture was taken by Megan as we contemplate what to order for brunch at Bellanico, a somewhat new brunch place by my apartment in the Glenview district of Oakland. Should we go with the eggs florentine or the duck confit hash? Wearing the tie, I felt pleasantly at peace venturing into public wearing otherwise pajama-like clothes.

As always, with thanks, Ryan.

30 Ties - Day 1

Thank you so very much for my thirtieth birthday present, of thirty ties for each year of my life. I am very touched by its thoughtfulness. In appreciation, I would like to give to you, a picture a day for thirty days, of me wearing each of the ties.

So, without further ado, here is day one, a picture of me wearing my first tie. The picture was taken on a random industrial street, somewhere in the heart of Oaktown.

With much thanks, Ryan.