Most commented posts
- one deep breath: delicious autumn — 15 comments
- one deep breath: spices — 12 comments
- one deep breath: storms — 11 comments
- one deep breath: color(ful) — 11 comments
- one deep breath: breath — 10 comments
Ryan Gillespie
Author's posts
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/04/los-angeles/
Apr 05 2008
dwelling in my disasters
Ray Lamontagne – Empty (from BBC Four Session)
I’m not having much luck in my first choice of “things to do after I’m done at Canterbury.” The craigslist job board for Santa Rosa isn’t providing many opportunities to apply for jobs. So I’m left with also figuring out what Plan B really is. Do I stay in Los Angeles, which often sucks away my will, and is so expensive, just because its the easiest option. Do I look to move back to Oregon, even though I have no idea on how I’d pay to move my stuff back up there? Is there some other place I should think about going?
Really, like Ray sings above, the whole process has left me feeling kind of empty. Change is coming and I need to work on making sure its good. As one of my friends pointed out last weekend in Salt Lake…I sure thought I’d have more things figured out by the time I was this age than I do.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/04/dwelling-in-my-disasters/
Apr 01 2008
Sketch 13
For work I traveled to Salt Lake City over the weekend for the annual gathering of college students in Province VIII (basically the west coast states + one state in). I was traveling with 5 students and my boss. While waiting for our flight to begin boarding, I noticed what would be my second celebrity (albeit B/C-list) siting since moving to Los Angeles.
Yes, Ron Jeremy was on our flight to Salt Lake City of all places. (Yeah, I know it may be hard to tell in this picture, but the short guy with long greasy hair is Ron Jeremy.) Later, I found out from one of the weeklys, that he was there to debate porn critic Michael Leahy at the local community college.
The rest of the weekend was pretty good, though a little bittersweet as well. The conference went pretty well, no major glitches. It was good to see my friends from throughout the province. But it was a little bittersweet, because it may have been my last gathering as well. After being involved with the gatherings for eleven years now, it may be time to take a break from this. I’ve been going back and forth on this, at one point in the weekend I was totally ready to continue on. But an interaction Saturday night pushed me back on the side of retiring from this ministry.
Nothing new to report on the job search. There hasn’t been much interesting on Craigslist in Santa Rosa. I’m starting to consider looking a little harder in Los Angeles as there are a few compelling reasons to stick around as well. I’m trying to have hope that things will work out, but the end the month is coming quickly and its really freaking me out.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/04/sketch-13/
Mar 31 2008
The Avett Brothers @ The El Rey 3/30/08
Thanks to the kind folks at Losanjealous, I was able to see The Avett Brothers last night at the El Rey Theatre. It was my first time seeing them, as the couple times I had planned to see them in Portland, it ended up falling through. The brothers were full of energy, which was good for me as I had just returned from Salt Lake City, and was a little tired. It was my first time seeing a show at The El Rey, and its a pretty cool venue. Anyway, if you like bluegrass/alt-country, check out The Avett Brothers, they are great live.
Here is a clip from their show Saturday night in Solana Beach, CA (there weren’t any on youtube from the the LA show yet):
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/03/the-avett-brothers-the-el-rey-33008/
Mar 27 2008
Sketch 12
Its the end of the month, and that inevitably means a late weekly post. Work of course has been incredibly busy, with the monthly MiX event and the upcoming Prov Gathering happening at the same time. I’m behind in my job search, which is to say, I’ve only applied for one job and never heard back. I’ve basically got a month to find a new job. Yikes!
Easter was ok. As I said in my last post, I didn’t really enjoy the Maundy Thursday service at Beverly Hills. I missed the Good Friday service at Beverly Hills, because I thought I had to work (which I found out I didn’t 3 hours after the Good Friday service). I ended up not going to one of the evening options for Good Friday, because I wasn’t feeling well after eating too much pizza while watching basketball in the afternoon. The Easter service was pretty good though. It was a little long for my sore back (I had pinched a nerve or something, somehow). After service, I drove out to Pasadena and met the Canterbury Group for Easter Brunch. So I at least got a Easter dinner of sorts as well.
I’m off to Salt Lake City for the annual Province VIII Gathering for Ministry in Higher Ed this weekend. It’ll be nice to get out of the smog of LA. It may even snow in Salt Lake City.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/03/sketch-12/
Mar 20 2008
Maundy Thursday (90210)
I’m not really sure how I felt about the Maundy Thursday service tonight. It was good, but I was still a little disappointed that only (i think) 6 people actually got their feet washed. They were chosen to represent the larger community and reflected different segments of the parish population. But then this is a larger church than I have ever been in as well, so perhaps it simply would have taken too long. Normally this is my favorite service of the year, but I’m not so sure this year.
But I also wonder if it has more to do with me than the actual service. I’m still feeling disconnected towards God and my faith. It’s not that I don’t believe anymore, its that I’m not hearing anything right now. I go to church each week on Sunday morning, but it doesn’t feed me like I’m used to. Sometimes I enjoy the sermons, but that’s more of a product of good preaching than being inspired by the Holy Spirit.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Jesus’ words could also be my cry right now.
I just wish I could open my ears and hear where God is guiding me right now. I’m really stressing about what I’m going to be doing after May. Whether or not I’ll drift away from church for awhile or even for good. I feel disillusioned about the institution of the church right now or at least how I fit into it.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/03/maundy-thursday-90210/
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/03/circle/
Mar 18 2008
Sketch 11
I find myself often overwhelmed and lost living in a city the size of Los Angeles. So when a friend offered a chance to not only get out of Los Angeles for a couple days, but to get out of the state, I jumped on it. My friend was trying to convince me that Phoenix is a cool place, because I had made fun of it in the past. Mainly the thing I don’t like about Phoenix is the sprawl of urban mess, covering way more ground than is needed (and can be supported by natural water sources in the area). Because we were flying on a seat available basis, we quickly found out that our chances of getting out of LAX were slim to none, however if we drove down to Long Beach, we’d have better luck. So braving the Friday evening rush hour traffic, we set off for Long Beach in our quest for seats on a plane.
With plenty of time to spare, we managed to get through the rigorous security at Long Beach, and get on the plane.
On Saturday we went for a 5.8 mile hike on the Go John Trail outside of Cave Creek, AZ. A relatively short drive from Phoenix, away from most of the sprawl that makes up the Phoenix Metro Area.
The wildflowers were in full force and it was just nice to actually get out into nature for a change. There are more pictures here.Sunday night was the monthly dinner group I’m a part of. I think that all nine of us ended up showing up this week. It was a great evening of food, wine, laughing, and discussion. I made a Guinness Cheesecake for dessert. It was a great time for sure.
It’s spring break here, so the majority of the students are gone, and I can mainly work from home this week. I’ve got a lot of personal projects to work on, as well as a couple work projects. I’m hoping I can make some headway on the personal projects this week. Good news is that I’ve got my resume updated, so now its just sending it out for jobs and what not.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/03/sketch-11/
Mar 12 2008
Sketch 10
Not a lot happened this past week. Lots of work and a few movies.
From Netflix I’ve watched:
Ascenseur pour l’échafaud (1958) — Louis Malle’s first film, which features a beautifully haunting soundtrack from Miles Davis. The film is called Elevator to the Gallows in the US.
Balls of Fury — A silly stupid comedy about ping pong, death match style. Mindless entertainment, not great film by any means, but it served its purpose.
Good Luck Chuck — A silly romantic comedy about a guy who is always the guy before the marriage. Also kind of mindless entertainment. But Jessica Alba is nice to look at.
Dan In Real Life — Another romantic comedy about a single father of three girls (two teenagers) who also happens to be an advice columnist. He ends up falling in love with his brothers girlfriend. Silliness ensues.
Slueth (2007) — Kenneth Branagh remake of the 1972 movie of the same name. The original screenplay was written by Nobel Laureate Harold Pinter. Michael Caine reverses his role from the original, playing the aging detective writer, instead of the struggling young actor (he was nominated for an Oscar in the original film version). I haven’t seen the original however, so I can’t say which was better, just that this was enjoyable.
At the theater I saw The Bank Job. Set in the 70s, a band of amateur thieves get conned into performing a heist for MI5. Based on a true story (at least according to the promotions). I enjoyed it.
I didn’t get as far in my job searching as I would have liked. But I’m going to wrap up my resume updating by Monday (which is spring break) and really start the search in earnest.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/03/sketch-10/
Mar 10 2008
kindness
sunkissed clouds embrace
wind blowing through your absence
spring returns with you
more impressions of kindness can be found at the new community at one single impression (formally one deep breath)
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/03/kindness/
