---

Meet Ryan. This will be Ryan's third year on PlaidNation, so he's a veteran.

Have you seen the new Dos Equis spots? That dude is a boring old coot compared to Ryan. Hang with Ryan for a night, and you'll certainly end up in an adventure. Or on the news. Or in an incredibly awkward situation that you'll laugh at later. Ryan has more entertaining life stories than the most interesting person you ever met. We believe he's a book, a film and a television show, waiting to happen.

While on tour, Ryan will be our primary driver. He's held this role before, and believe it or not, we're totally comfortable with that. We swear that he's the ultimate, safe, conservative driver. And yes, we've seen his videos.

He's a pop culture expert, a digital DJ, near expert snowboarder, and social media juggernaut. If that wasn't enough, he's a designer, too.

Oh yeah - Ryan is looking for a job. He's been a professional intern, part-timer and producer for Plaid on multiple occasions. Now he's got a degree, and looking to go pro. If you could put Ryan to work and you're in NYC or the vicinity, give us a shout and we'll get you connected. He says he'd also consider positions in Tahiti. (And yeah, with Ryan's luck, that will happen.)

Follow Ryan on Twitter

Labels: crew, ryan

posted by darryl ohrt at 10:18 AM 0 Comments

---

In honor of Texas.

Labels: ryan, tshirtoftheday

posted by mtlb at 10:10 PM 0 Comments

---

We spent some time with Bill Clinton, at The Clinton Library, and got our pictures with Bill.

We splendored in the building's architectural goodness, and avoided the airport-like security search - by staying outside.

Rob, pictured at left, is completely surprised at actually meeting Bill at the Clinton Library. Ryan and I also got our pictures with Bill. What a day.

Labels: Day 18, lifeontheroad, photos, rob, ryan

posted by darryl ohrt at 6:31 PM 0 Comments

---

Labels: Day 18, ryan, tshirtoftheday

posted by mtlb at 6:08 PM 0 Comments

---

Labels: Day 16, ryan, tshirtoftheday

posted by mtlb at 4:02 PM 0 Comments

---

Labels: Day 16, ryan, tshirtoftheday

posted by mtlb at 5:08 PM 0 Comments

---

In many ways, it’s become the Ryan tour. Still fresh in my mind is his story from Asheville, NC over the weekend, which, he delivers in his understated way much the same way you would ask someone how their day was: “It was ok.” After hearing it and then having him tell us that that’s not even a fraction of what happens to him, I’m convinced he’s a conduit for all the funky karma in the world. Even though I’ll paraphrase it here, the story will suffer no less. Apparently after going back to his room for the night, he encountered a couple of Super 8’s ‘residents,’ Julie and Richard. Feeling their pain, he purchased beverages of the liquid variety for them. He did this because he felt bad for them. Turns out the trucker driving Richard and Julie across the country left them there–and took off with their stuff. See, they had to stay at the Super 8 because Julie can’t stay with her sister anymore, and was forced out of her house. (Bad family vibes being what they are you know.) Oh, and the reason the trucker took off was because he was on his way to Atlanta to kill his wife who was cheating on him.

I swear Ryan needs his own show.

Labels: lifeontheroad, ryan

posted by mtlb at 12:02 AM 1 Comments

---

With the addition of a swell belt buckle purchased at Bele Chere. The collection grows.

Labels: Day 15, ryan, tshirtoftheday

posted by mtlb at 10:56 AM 0 Comments

---

Labels: Day 14, ryan, tshirtoftheday

posted by mtlb at 7:14 PM 0 Comments

---

Since it was Skydiving Saturday, you get the value-add of a harness.

Labels: Day 13, ryan, tshirtoftheday

posted by mtlb at 3:53 AM 0 Comments

---

Hooray for week three!

Rob wanted to be sure that we kicked it off in true Plaid style so...he dropped in by parachute. That’s him in the photo to the left, strapped to the belly of someone who knows how to parachute for a living.

Not to be outdone, Ryan joined Rob on the jump. They each leaped out of a tiny plane, at 10,000 feet. And neither of them screamed like little girls. Bill and I remained safely on the ground, senses intact.

You can see more pics of their adventure in today’s Flickr photo set.

Labels: Day 13, rob, ryan

posted by darryl ohrt at 7:42 PM 0 Comments

---

(In case you can’t see it, the pattern is old school rap CD covers.)

Labels: Day 12, photos, ryan, tshirtoftheday

posted by mtlb at 12:05 AM 0 Comments

---

Check out Ryan's t-shirt of the day. He won't tell anyone what Durki is. I'm pretty sure it's a street gang. Or a feminine hygiene product.

Labels: Day 10, photos, ryan, tshirtoftheday

posted by darryl ohrt at 12:27 AM 0 Comments

---

Giuli was very clear as I spoke to her on the phone, prior to our arrival in North Carolina. From our office in New England, she had already scoped out an awesome BBQ place for us to eat tonight.

Ryan wouldn't have it. He insisted that we eat at Hooters, and fill our bellies with cheap beer. "It's walking distance from the motel" he says.

I would like to point out to my wife that my hands are clearly far away from the waitress. Which is more than I can say for Ryan. Justus and Bill were also very well behaved. Shame on Ryan.

Labels: Day 10, lifeontheroad, ryan

posted by darryl ohrt at 12:26 AM 0 Comments

---

Like a Kia, Ryan’s shirts have the power to surprise. Here’s the one from yesterday.

(Previously in Ryan’s t-shirts.)

Labels: Day 9, photos, ryan, tshirtoftheday

posted by mtlb at 11:57 AM 0 Comments

---

A Chris Cunningham tribute. Ryan has more shirts. Want your shirt on the blog? Contact Giuli AT thinkplaid DOT com and she’ll get them to the van. (As always, cool shirts, only, please. Ryan’s not a whore. Usually.)

Labels: photos, ryan, tshirtoftheday

posted by mtlb at 9:46 PM 0 Comments

---

Mmmmm. Chinese food. Still two weeks left in the tour. Ryan's going to run out of cool shirts. Want your shirt on the blog? Contact Giuli AT thinkplaid DOT com and she'll get them to the van. (Cool shirts, only, please. Ryan's not a whore. Usually.)

Labels: Day 5, photos, ryan, tshirtoftheday

posted by darryl ohrt at 1:00 AM 0 Comments

---

Here's Ryan's t-shirt of the day, for Thursday, week one of the Plaid tour.

While Ryan has a sweet t-shirt collection, he's worried that he might run out before the tour ends. He'll need another 15 shirts. He's got at least 5 - 7. (Hint, hint.) We need cool shirts. Send now and get on next week's blog.

Labels: photos, ryan, tshirtoftheday

posted by darryl ohrt at 11:54 PM 0 Comments

---

Today, Ryan declared the last row of seats in the van as "Ryan's Zone."

Giuli discovered a massive pile of Jolly Rancher wrappers and sticky stuff, while taking that seat on the way back from dinner tonight.

Ryan says that what happens in Ryan's Zone stays in Ryan's Zone. And the "throw your wrappers in the garbage" rule doesn't apply there. Keep out.

Labels: photos, ryan, van

posted by darryl ohrt at 11:31 PM 0 Comments

---

Because he has so many, and because we have spare time, Ryan’s t-shirts get their own Flickr page now.

Labels: Day 3, photos, ryan, tshirtoftheday

posted by mtlb at 4:28 PM 0 Comments

---

In no particular order:

+ When in the hotel, staying in separate rooms right next door to each other, we still use IM to communicate. Very weird to IM the person in the room next to you. Love the internet.

+ Spending an entire day in a van leaves you with a sense of being disconnected from the world. Even with two wifi connections, three laptops, live video and an iPhone.

+ Ryan has the most bitchin' t-shirt collection. He's pictured above wearing a shirt that matches his meal tonight at the BBQ place.

+ I got lots of flack at our office for being a sneaker whore...yet I packed fewer sneakers than anyone in the van so far.

+ Giuli drives like a freakin' race car driver. I'm having panic attacks about her next shift driving. Really hope that I can just fall asleep. Kind of like closing your eyes on a scary roller coaster.

Labels: giuli, ryan, van

posted by darryl ohrt at 1:49 AM 0 Comments