evan, lindsay, nina, elena and esther

This is the best news of the year!!! (after the wedding... and radiohead's new album release. and probably some other really exciting things haha) For those of you who didn't know, the lovely and bodacious rachel whitaker and I have been gathering donations to help our friend alamitu pay for a much-needed surgery. Evan even made this awesome website to spread the news

www.alamitu.org

Yesterday we were talking via skype with Alamitu's cousin Wondu (in the picture) and we learned that the surgery has been done! She is free of the tumor on her back! I felt like my heart would explode with happiness. She's waited for years for this miracle. Now she'll be able to get a job and support herself. Those transcontinental grapevines are sometimes hard to get the real story through, so we didn't know exactly what was going on for a few months, but it happened! AND it turns out that the amount the doctor needs for the surgery is almost exactly the amount we've raised.

Prayers are once again answered. It's been really cool to see where the donations came from, all over the place, people we don't even know. Thank goodness for the internet and for awesome people! We're waiting for a post-surgery picture of Alamitu and other info to be able to send the money. Better yet, Evan and i could go back and see Alamitu in person now!! pah that would be a miracle... maybe some day.

Travis and I had Ad Concpeting class together this morning. In Rainbows on each of our iPods, we went to the library after class and put in our headphones, and sat down to discuss things quitely. The transcript of our chat is as follows:

[we had listened to 15 step prior to chatting -- this while listening to bodysnatchers]
Travis's new status message - in rainbows 8:56 AM
Travis: both songs rich bass and crisp ride
me: retro active.. refrencing previous stuff.
but groovy
Travis: sounds like an ok computer b side..
me: totally.
i likke how they are repeating the groove-guitars in un suspecting parts
Travis: they sound like a happy band. high high high energy
me: i was reading on a business blog this week how they are changing music.
...the businees of music.
this really is historic.
Travis: yeah.. we talked about this album in my media management class for a couple days.
big big deal
[nude]
me: PHEW!! gooooood song
Travis: layers. holy cow
me: this showcases phil's tact as a drummer.
SO tastefull on the kit... like no one else.
Travis: and thoms skills as a singer
me: such a warm guitar part.
Travis: this song should be in a movie soundtrack
me: we could make that happen
Travis: trueee
strings.. so lush
me: i love this ambience/light
its like fairytale disonance
Travis: so much tension
Travis: all killer no filler
me: radiohead is such a good example of a band that can change so much, with out loosing it's roots. and all that change comes without decay.
[Weird Fishies/Arpeggi]
Travis: exactly..
the drums sound real
i love that
me: crisscrossing time signatures ... like pyramid.
Travis: too many drums sound too processed
me: watch the reverb on thom.
i love how they split (hard pan) the two guitar parts.
Travis: nobody does a love song like radiohead.
eds voice
me: it could be classified as mathy ... but its not in any mold.
Travis: sounds underwater
me: waterworld!
haha
Travis: like pyramid song
me: *see above
Travis: amen
[All I Need]
me: i never was a big fan of distorted bass. but this is really refined.
Travis: yes.. and its really processed.
me: or is that bass?
Travis: and doubled w electric piano
me: there you go.
Travis: the album has such a great balance of keys and guitars
me: and the voice doubled with drums...
like stuff on the eraser
[Faust Arp]
me: amazing
Travis: sounds so wes anderson
me: beatles
Travis: beatles
me: haha
Travis: ben folds strings
me: okay.. okay
[Rekoner]
me: i think its neat how music comes back. hard pans unlike anything since the white album.
Travis: good point
me: the aux percussion is so strong
...present
Travis: the only time they played this live was at the gorge show we were at
fact!!!!
me: really?
Travis: recokner that is
me: wow.
i wish we could have had christian in on this chat too. in sync with us.
Travis: yeah. i agree
i talked to him yesterday. he was mad that he was gonna be so busy today
[House of Cards]
Travis: i like how the reverb doesnt cover up his voice
me: like in wierd fishies... it trails. very deliberate.
not like a filter thats just applied and forgotten
Travis: good mix of R&B melodies with britpop chords
me: my iPod EQ is on R&B
man.. all i need is some candy.
Travis: mhmmm. taste the rainbow
me: hahaha
[Jigsaw Falling Into Place]
Travis: acoustic sounds real and natural.. not dashboard processed
me: they used tape. it shows.. even on 160 KBPS
Travis: yess
[Videotape]
Travis: another great love song
me: their live is pretty simlar.
till the drums
Travis: the drums give it a tribal feel
me: the piano is very 'spinning plates live'
Travis: so much tension, yet again
me: listen to the echo in the left.. i love how it separates more and more
Travis: very optismistic
me: ok.
Travis: it could very easily break.. but theyre better than that
end

thursday. pick me up at comic frenzy at 6:45. we'll be leaving early. dress out of this world.

(i love lindsay)

TO BE CONTINUED... (we had a soccer game instead)