_______________ my new aesthetic. ____

you, me & everything in between. // you make the city feel like home. // what is there, then, if not us. // so many words, so little time. // every second a moment of painstaking brilliance. // but how far can we really travel without these stars to guide us home? // if only we could write the words, perhaps our hearts would follow. // the elementary truths, contained within a tiny, almost imperceptible vessel called existence

[mynewaesthetic]

happy 1st year, patricia!

(one of my girlfriend's many aliases)

here's a poem I wrote in honor of our 1st year milestone today. (for the actual meeting behind the poetic interpretation, see patricia's post here.) I love you dear! <3

5/15/2012

the fog lingered

the smoke machine of heaven

so I sat at the gazebo

hid some roses you deserved

a lion in my samsonite

not to pounce, but to love.

then you wandered my way

a princess among research interns

so I gave you some roses

but you looked confused

a tourist somehow caught

in the serengeti midnight

without a flashlight or a map app.

so I lay my heart bare

under a canopy of wood

and stars, and mist

and you said yes

so I gave you the lion.

well one year has passed

and the mist has cleared

we are no longer strangers

fumbling over brushwood in the dark

but explorers

carving out a new path

dry-hand-in-sweaty-hand

with elephants to capture

and lions to seek out

of which one plush specimen

lounging in some luggage

in a gazebo in the mist

is really just the beginning.

[writerswritecompany]

Writing Quotes on Notebooks from SparrowNestScript

[gentilenextdoor]

Cricket, this is for you.

[mynewaesthetic]

so good. :D <3

[comicmonkey]

They roll deep.

[naawkwe]

[gentilenextdoor]

Books and Radiohead: a combination I rarely encounter.

[mynewaesthetic]

ohhhh good times. mwahaha

[mynewaesthetic]

Hammock - Cold Front (6:57).

The cinematic first track off the ambient/post-rock duo's latest double-album, Departure Songs.

Also, you can download a free 9-song Hammock sampler (including two tracks from Departure Songs) here.

[mynewaesthetic]

Carlo's amazon.com review of Hammock's Departure Songs. ***** (5/5 stars)

Massive. Absolutely massive.

Really, that's the best way I can sum up ambient/post-rock duo Hammock's latest double-album Departure Songs, which looms as their boldest and most brilliant effort in what is already an extremely impressive catalog. But massive in what ways exactly, you may ask? -Musically. Marc Byrd & Andrew Thompson's arrangements have been maturing considerably since their first album, 2005's Kenotic, and this time the pair are swinging for the fences. Consider how thickly the layers of synth, guitar washes, cinematic strings and even horns envelop melodies in tracks like "Ten Thousand Years Won't Save Your Life" and "Tonight We Burn Like Stars That Never Die" (heck, even the song titles are massive). Expect more drums and more gorgeous vocals too. Just turn up the volume and let this thing take you apart slowly. -Thematically. Departure Songs deals primarily with capital "I" Issues of death, loss, and absence--and the beauty, joy, and victory of Living even amidst such realities. Indeed, what always strikes me as remarkable in Hammock's music is how even the most somber of subjects is tinged with an inevitable air of hopefulness. You will find that these 19 tracks evoke quite a range of emotions, and it's all the better; Hammock offering us "the whole catastrophe" time and again only makes our listening experience that much more meaningful. -In terms of sheer volume of music. With a running time of nearly 1 hour and 50 minutes, there's a lot here to love and there's plenty of time to love it. If you're a longtime fan, think of everything you love about Hammock already and amplify it. You might just end up with Departure Songs. And you're not a fan yet, let me just say this: ten thousand years might not save your life, but Hammock might just help you enjoy the ride. FAVORITE TRACKS: "Frailty (For the Dearly Departed)" - A dignified elegy with strings in full lament, "Frailty" is the literal centerpiece in Departure Songs & probably one of the most elegant tracks Hammock has ever created.

"Hiding But Nobody Missed You" - The vocal interplay here between Marc & his wife Christine Glass Byrd as the drums and synths amble along is magical. This is one for the ages. "Tape Recorder" - Patient, nuanced perfection. "Ten Thousand Years Won't Save Your Life" - Never has a revelation of life's impermanence sounded this triumphant and amazing. WATCH FOR: -The clever reworking of an old Hammock classic in "(Leaving) The House Where We Grew Up." -The aggressive drums on "(Let's Kiss) While All the Stars Are Falling Down" - especially in the outro. -The gorgeous coda of strings and guitar ambience that brings "Pathos" to a stirring close. -Everything about "Artificial Paradises" (which features Helios mastermind Keith Kenniff). -All the epic song titles, which are an art all their own. My all-time favorite is still "Lonely, Some Quietly Wander in the Hall of Stars" (off the Longest Year EP), but some of the weightier ones here come close. (link to the actual review is here. also, listen to "Ten Thousand Years Won't Save Your Life here.)

  RIYL: Sigur Ros, M83, Explosions in the Sky, Stars of the Lid

[mynewaesthetic]

EXEGESIS OF A FRIEND REQUEST MESSAGE. (OR: happy 1st friendiversary, patricia!)

background: while in the philippines last year (and through a quite unusual set of circumstances), I came across one particular girl’s facebook page and tumblr blog.  After being in awe of her for about 2 weeks (and after considerable prayer), I decided to send her a message. 

What follows is a brief exegesis (explanation/interpretation) of my initial message. The rest, as they say, is history. (:

“hello! I know it’s a little strange to get friend requests from people you don’t know, but I’ve been doing ministry w/ ptr. brian lopez in baguio city, & I happened to come across your blog somewhat randomly. it’s awesome! & you’ve got great taste in literature & music. I hope that’s not too weird. That is all!”

“hello!”: A cheerful greeting. Please understand that the exclamation point is wholly merited, as I am indeed quite happy to strike up a conversation with you & see where it might lead.  What you may not understand at this point is that it has taken me probably an hour or so to write, revise, and carefully punctuate this simple 6-sentence, 58-word paragraph. (even my lack of beginning capitalization is calculated for nonchalance. As you will soon find out, I am a Writing major. (: )

“I know it’s a little strange to get friend requests from people you don’t know”: Understand, I’m fully aware of the fact that you don’t know me yet.  So really, I empathize with your plight as you read this message. (Read: please don’t decline my friend request. Pleeeease. (: )

“but I’ve been doing ministry w/ ptr. brian lopez in baguio city”: You see, I’m very much like you! I love God & enjoy serving him. Oh, and I think you know ptr. brian Lopez in Baguio City. He's the reason I came across your blog, you know. See, I can’t be toooo much of a creeper.

“& I happened to come across your blog somewhat randomly”: I do rather believe it was divine providence over sheer randomness, but the fact remains.. seeing you here was pretty unexpected. (:

“it’s awesome!”: I should know—because I’ve been lurking on your blog for like, 2 weeks, in awe of your love for Star Wars & Jesus & good music & pop culture & your good looks, and you didn’t even know I existed. Until nowww. Hellooooo.

“& you’ve got great taste in literature & music”: Because it would seem you enjoy reading, perhaps you will find my frequent use of the ampersand (“&”) subconsciously hip & classy.  But probably, I am just being a nitpicky Writing major who is spending way too much time on a simple message to a girl he seems to be in love with before he has even really met her in any sense of the phrase. But forreals. C.S. Lewis AND Anathallo?   Explosions in the Sky AND Dostoevsky?  WHO IS THIS GIRL? We should be friends or something. (:

“ I hope that’s not too weird”: helps balance out the chiastic structure of this message that I have unwittingly created! I’m serious!  Wanna see? (:

CHIASTIC STRUCTURE IN CARLO’S OPENING PARAGRAPH TO MS. PATRICIA ADDUN

Cheery, nonchalant greeting (“hello!”)

          2. Acknowledgement of the possible awkwardness this message may entail (“I know it’s a little strange…”)

                    3.  Acknowledgement of commonalities, thus blunting the possible awkwardness this message may entail (“but I’ve been doing ministry w/ ptr. Brian lopez in baguio city…”)

                              4. Indirect acknowledgement of your extreme awesomeness in hopes that you will want to talk to me some more. (“it’s awesome!”)

                    3’. Acknowledgement of commonalities, thus blunting the possible awkwardness this message may entail (“you’ve got great taste in literature & music”)

          2’. Acknowledgement of the possible awkwardness this message may entail (“I hope that’s not too weird”)

1’. Cheery, nonchalant ending (“That is all!”)

(CHIASMUS: a literary device wherein words and sentences are arranged in a symmetrical or otherwise parallel fashion. for the record, I wasn't thinking "chiasmus" when I wrote this. but it did probably take an hour or so to write :P)

“That is all!”: I really hope my casualness provokes further conversation.  I really hope this is not “all.”  I really hope you respond to my message. (:

“Hey! No worries. You like Star Wars so that's good enough for me. Hahaha. You're a lit major. That's pretty cool. I take it you're into music ministry, too?” [Pat’s response, several hrs later]: YES, she responded. And gleaned that I like Star Wars, am a Lit major, and am musical in some way on my Facebook page. Praise the Lord. God, please let your will be done as we strike up further conversation.

POSTSCRIPT: I sent the above message on september 24th, 2011.  today is september 24th, 2012. I have literally been captivated by this girl for over a year and the state continues.

Pat, words can’t express how amazed I am at who you are & all that God has done. I am in awe that you would want to hang out with me, much less be my girlfriend.  And I am utterly grateful to God that our paths have crossed—somehow, some way!—and that our friendship has continued to this very moment.  May he continue to guide our relationship as he so desires, and may we be a blessing to him and to all we meet.  So now I raise a bottle of Smart-C as I say cheers to the future and whatever may come our way. Happy friendiversary, Ms. Ana Patricia Addun. (:  I love you!

[ashleymaeb-deactivated20170302]

Carlo's Headed to Baguio!

[mynewaesthetic]

I just saw this now! I looove these people!! :o)

[standandfeel-yourworth-blog]

[gentilenextdoor]

haha yes. 

P.S. I cannot believe that they’re having a farewell concert…ON STAR WARS DAY, NO LESS asdfdjklsf;

[mynewaesthetic]

this is true. this is all true :O

[mitchvillareal-deactivated20130]

If you want your art to matter, you have to be what you are enough to let go of what you are not.

London O’ Connor (via nicaraguas)

[makingmyselfepic253-blog]

[mydigitallifestyle-blog]

In everything you do.  

[mynewaesthetic]

mmm. #taking to heart.

[march4]

[mynewaesthetic]

true in many ways.

[an-oddberriedcobbler]

[mynewaesthetic]

this is one of my most favorite pieces of art. ever. :)

[crookedindifference-deactivated]

Jellyfish by Alexander Semenov

[-jnfm]

Coooool

[mynewaesthetic]

this is actually my favorite animal-- land or sea. hahaha

[mynewaesthetic]

it's ADELE! gotta love it :)

[nevver]

Hayao Miyazaki

[vanillajournal]

[mynewaesthetic]

that's right.