Ryan

Average white male, 36, postal worker, married a tad bit over 10 years now (my marriage has been a slow-motion train-wreck that will most likely totally "de-rail" in Spring 2009), living in the Portland, Oregon (USA) area. Honest, dedicated, sincere, wistful, nostalgic, defeated, melancholy, bitter, passive-aggressive, apathetic, angry, regretful ... I am many things, often all at once. And, YES, that glass is half-EMPTY.

The ONLY reason I'm even bothering to remain on this planet with the rest of you fine people is because of my wonderful 8-year-old daughter (the true love of my life). Otherwise ... POOF! Peace out ...

I'm usually pretty easygoing, but OCD people ANNOY THE HELL OUT OF ME. Drama, drama, drama. Focusing on the details so much you're missing the bigger picture. Makes me want to puke.

...and no, I don't maintain a "blog". In fact, the profile you are now reading is probably the lengthiest piece of information there is about me anywhere, let alone the internet. And I'm no "Luddite" but I LIKE that.

There are a few blogs that are interesting, I'm sure, but for the most part, people just waste their time on them for no good reason other than self-validation, like, "Look, world ... I exist!" I view them like those cheesy Christmas "brag " letters that one certain snooty aunt & uncle used to send along with their Christmas cards every year. My life is pretty 2-Dimensional, and I would actually be amazed if anyone wanted to read about MY daily exploits.

(not to "dis" anyone who actually does maintain a blog ... I'm just sayin' ... in MY case)

Oh! I could go onandonandon ... Jon Brion, Elliott Smith, Eels, Drake Bell (don't laugh, he's really good!), First Wave Hello, Astrud Gilberto, Midnight Oil, Beck, Chester French, Antonio Carlos Jobim, the Cardigans, Belly, Delays, Dandy Warhols, Enya, Adiemus, Soundgarden, Jayhawks, Ken Andrews, Madonna, Nine Inch Nails, Shins, Snow Patrol, Veruca Salt (pre-breakup), Kool Keith, DJ P, DJ Z-Trip, Prince, Duran Duran, Go-Go's, Keane, Coldplay, the Vines, the Killers, etc ... and I'm ALWAYS up for a good "blend" (mashup, if you must call it that).

Recently been bumping the "Special Herbs Box Set" by MF Doom ... underground instrumental hip-hop! It's amazing (though some would say a bit repetitive, but a "song" will go on for about two minutes and then switch into the next song, so you don't get bored) ... pick it up if you like good background music or you just want some interestingly fresh beats to free-style rap to (ha-ha!), and it's WORK-FRIENDLY!

Better Off Dead, Back to the Future, Clerks, Pulp Fiction, Young Guns ... Cinderfella with Jerry Lewis ... most anything with Mark Wahlberg or Brad Pitt or Scarlett Johansen.

I love the whole "TV on DVD" thing going on these days --- Rescue Me, The Shield, Sopranos, Dead Like Me, Arrested Development, Little House on the Prairie, Seinfeld.

I've been watching waaaaaay too much HGTV lately ... must be my age.

The kind that OTHER people make. I sure hope my swap partners for mix CDs don't expect me to figure out how other people make those fancy CD covers on their computer and stuff ...

I give you a CD-R and a tracklist. THAT'S IT.

To me, it's the music that's important, because if you're normal you're gonna put it on your computer or Ipod anyway. If you want to waste your time making it all fancy-pants, that's fine. You do that. Me? I'm either too busy working, sleeping, or entertaining my daughter. Much better pursuits, in my opinion. But hey ... more power to ya, if that's your thing.

BOTTOM LINE: I WILL DEFINITELY APPRAISE AND AESTHETICALLY ADMIRE YOUR "NON-SWAP-REQUIRED" ARTISTIC TALENTS IF YOU DECIDE TO DISPLAY THEM FORTHWITH (context?). JUST DON'T GET ALL UPSET IF/WHEN I DON'T RECIPROCATE IN KIND!