From Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards
Big Sur is a great drive, esp. in a convertible.
It was windy at Point Lobos.
I was thinking this scene would look better minus the powerlines and transmission towers, but maybe it's just me....
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Vine time
For Spring Break this year I traveled to the Central Coast of California. For the know-nots out there, it's the area roughly between Santa Barbara and Carmel-by-the-Sea. My sister accompanied, and we had a very good time. Much wine was consumed. The best day was driving around the hills of Templeton on the west side of 101, encountering turkeys and a number of fine pinots.
From Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards
Big Sur is a great drive, esp. in a convertible.
It was windy at Point Lobos.
I was thinking this scene would look better minus the powerlines and transmission towers, but maybe it's just me....
From Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards
Big Sur is a great drive, esp. in a convertible.
It was windy at Point Lobos.
I was thinking this scene would look better minus the powerlines and transmission towers, but maybe it's just me....
Friday, March 21, 2008
If someone can claim you as a dependent, do not check box 6a.
Despite the fact that I received a notice I will be receiving $600 later this summer, I still owe dollars to the IRS on my federal return. I've been dragging my feet over getting the paperwork done for weeks, but tonight the pressure climaxed and I took out my pen and worksheets and began the ugly process.
Turns out I owe less than the rebate thing we will get this summer, so that is good, but it's still painful to do this paperwork. I've done my taxes incorrectly the last few years, so this time I am paying careful attention to lines 18 and 26. I have a feeling something will be awry despite my conscientious outlook.
Oh, and one thing I've learned is that doing your taxes isn't so bad if you have both brownies and red wine as companions.
Spring break is around the corner and things look to be turning around...
Turns out I owe less than the rebate thing we will get this summer, so that is good, but it's still painful to do this paperwork. I've done my taxes incorrectly the last few years, so this time I am paying careful attention to lines 18 and 26. I have a feeling something will be awry despite my conscientious outlook.
Oh, and one thing I've learned is that doing your taxes isn't so bad if you have both brownies and red wine as companions.
Spring break is around the corner and things look to be turning around...
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Sausalito!
Scroll down for FULL effect:
Two of two. This one is nearly as long as me. I still am constructing the eighth scale model....
Two of two. This one is nearly as long as me. I still am constructing the eighth scale model....
New York's finest!
Eliot Spitzer used prostitutes while he was Attorney General for the State of New York. As his state's highest legal advocate, he thought no one would ever find out he ordered prostitutes to visit him at the Mayflower Hotel, no less than 5 blocks from the White House, on Massachusetts Avenue, in the heart of our nation's capital. Presumably staying there on official business...Perhaps meeting senators for drinks in the hotel bar, then retiring to his room, where some lady for hire was there enjoying the prepaid wet bar.
Pathetic comes to mind. Lonely comes to mind. Willful arrogance comes to mind...
In brighter news, I managed to find my beloved handbag on ebay and it has already shipped. Sure, it has a few scratches, but it is practically the real deal. And I saved quite a few dollars through ebay as well.
Pathetic comes to mind. Lonely comes to mind. Willful arrogance comes to mind...
In brighter news, I managed to find my beloved handbag on ebay and it has already shipped. Sure, it has a few scratches, but it is practically the real deal. And I saved quite a few dollars through ebay as well.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Backordered
Nordstrom apparently doesn't have qualms about advertising items on their website that will be backordered for 5 weeks.
I got an email about my amazing handbag, informing me that the expected ship date would be April 15. That is more than a month away. By the time I get the damn handbag, the new lines will be out for late spring.
Lame-o.
I checked around on the web and the item is unavailable everywhere else, too. Apparently it is quite popular. There was one in stock at Macy's but they wanted $25 to ship it. Nord's has $5 shipping, which is why I initially ordered through them. Little did I know of the pending delays.
I got an email about my amazing handbag, informing me that the expected ship date would be April 15. That is more than a month away. By the time I get the damn handbag, the new lines will be out for late spring.
Lame-o.
I checked around on the web and the item is unavailable everywhere else, too. Apparently it is quite popular. There was one in stock at Macy's but they wanted $25 to ship it. Nord's has $5 shipping, which is why I initially ordered through them. Little did I know of the pending delays.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Spend thrift
I just ordered a very expensive handbag. I don't really deserve the damn thing, but I tend to splurge when I am a computer slave before a final studio review. I hope Nordstrom delivers so I can have it by the end of the week.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Field trip to McNear Brickyard in San Rafael, CA
On Tuesday afternoon, my Design in Detail class took a trip to see a brick factory. It was an amazing day and I learned a lot going to McNear Brick.
Our journey begins at the palettes.
This is where I'd play if I was a kid. It looks very fun and dangerous.
This controls how the bricks are cut as they move through the factory on a conveyor belt. I was tempted to push some of these and pull some levers.
This is a view of the kiln firing bricks down the line. The bricks that are visible have just finished being inside there for something like 12 hours. They were still warm and steamy. 1900 degrees in there.
Here is Mr. McNear telling us how some of the machinery works.
Our journey begins at the palettes.
This is where I'd play if I was a kid. It looks very fun and dangerous.
This controls how the bricks are cut as they move through the factory on a conveyor belt. I was tempted to push some of these and pull some levers.
This is a view of the kiln firing bricks down the line. The bricks that are visible have just finished being inside there for something like 12 hours. They were still warm and steamy. 1900 degrees in there.
Here is Mr. McNear telling us how some of the machinery works.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Roommate landing
My absentee roommate finally showed up tonight. She signed a lease with us Jan. 15 and has not spent ONE single night at our apartment. I just got word from my other roommate she has, in fact, landed on Grove Street.
RAM installed
I personally installed 1 GB of RAM into my pathetic little laptop. Now I have more than double of the RAM that the system came with. Hopefully this will mean more streamlined computing.
This is an awesome pic of Hamilton Leithauser wailing into the microphone during their concert on Wed. night in San Francisco. I hadn't seen the Walkmen in concert before. If you are a fan of their music, you would have been very happy with the show, although they failed to play Revenge Wears No Wristwatch.
This is an awesome pic of Hamilton Leithauser wailing into the microphone during their concert on Wed. night in San Francisco. I hadn't seen the Walkmen in concert before. If you are a fan of their music, you would have been very happy with the show, although they failed to play Revenge Wears No Wristwatch.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Lunar eclipse, missed it.
A lunar eclipse event transpired on Wed. evening as noted by more than a few newspapers, astronomy user groups, and people in my studio. Apparently the event was not visible in Berkeley as the Berkeley Hills were blocking the moon, which I assume was laying low in the horizon (conjecture). All I know is that someone in our class went up to Wurster Hall's 9th Floor, looked out every damn window, and could not find a crumb of evidence pointing to a lunar eclipse.
Apparently the next lunar eclipse will happen sometime in 2010. I guess I will have to wait. Hell, why not just skip that one, too, and hold off to see this thing until 2012? Either way....
Other events of the week: This afternoon, around 4:30 PM, I enjoyed a private nap in my office. I have keys to one of the shared lecturer offices on my floor. No one really uses the office save for me. I am thinking of equipping the room with a mat of sorts, pillow, and fuzzy blanket - supplies that will increase the quality of my napping. Right now I just nap in a seated position leaning over the desk (it's okay....the chair is height adjustable, so it is more comfortable than it sounds). I came back from my nap happy and well-adjusted, ready to face more hours on the computer. I saw my studio mate Sam sleeping on his studio desk, looking terribly haunched over and labored by the whole process. I feel bad for him, but I can't just be lending out keys to my office willy nilly.
During the weekend I visited the stately Stanford Theater with Jason to see "Spellbound" starring Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck. I was most impressed with the venue.
That is all. It is late and I must retire.
Apparently the next lunar eclipse will happen sometime in 2010. I guess I will have to wait. Hell, why not just skip that one, too, and hold off to see this thing until 2012? Either way....
Other events of the week: This afternoon, around 4:30 PM, I enjoyed a private nap in my office. I have keys to one of the shared lecturer offices on my floor. No one really uses the office save for me. I am thinking of equipping the room with a mat of sorts, pillow, and fuzzy blanket - supplies that will increase the quality of my napping. Right now I just nap in a seated position leaning over the desk (it's okay....the chair is height adjustable, so it is more comfortable than it sounds). I came back from my nap happy and well-adjusted, ready to face more hours on the computer. I saw my studio mate Sam sleeping on his studio desk, looking terribly haunched over and labored by the whole process. I feel bad for him, but I can't just be lending out keys to my office willy nilly.
During the weekend I visited the stately Stanford Theater with Jason to see "Spellbound" starring Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck. I was most impressed with the venue.
That is all. It is late and I must retire.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
What you said depresses me. about my future
This afternoon and evening my studio class endured a 4.5 hour midsemester pin up. Although we aren't really halfway through the semester, we are, in fact, through 25% of it. For this project in studio we happen to be at the halfway point. There's always some hurdle at the halfway point, in anything you do, pretty much. Today happened to be our hurdle du jour.
The project presentation is for a waterfront project in Sausalito, CA. The way a review works is our professor invites people from the "real world" to come listen to each of our respective design proposals related to needed improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle experience of the waterfront. Some students propose seemingly simple pathway and connection improvements (they are never very simple, though). Some students propose destination interventions (meaning, to build something that people will come to experience). Other students propose building an island out of a peninsula or promote use of artistic installations in the landscape. It all varies greatly, depending on the particulars of the site chosen and the particular student who is designing it.
After nearly 4.5 hours of back to back presentations (each person gets 5 min to present and you get about 7 min of feedback), the main critic, who is an architect in Sausalito, tells us the following:
"Wow, you know, after hearing all about these tremendous proposals, I feel like what I do in the office is just a bore. I mean, in the REAL world, there is a big fear of getting boo-ed out of the room if you propose anything that is even remotely bold. I applaud your work. You've given me a TON of ideas that I hope to relate to our little city in the future. We need to get out of the box, but it is really only with presentations like this, from students like yourselves, that those ideas are produced free from fear of political reprocussions (sp) and the like."
So in just a few sentences, Michael broke us some pretty sobering news. The real world is boring and is subject to very solid boundaries. The work there is to do is to design parking circulation and cheap bike paths. There is no island-building in the real world, either.
Aye. It makes me want to be a little more grateful for where I am. It makes me want to make bold moves while I can before I become harnessed in.
Happy V Day.
The project presentation is for a waterfront project in Sausalito, CA. The way a review works is our professor invites people from the "real world" to come listen to each of our respective design proposals related to needed improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle experience of the waterfront. Some students propose seemingly simple pathway and connection improvements (they are never very simple, though). Some students propose destination interventions (meaning, to build something that people will come to experience). Other students propose building an island out of a peninsula or promote use of artistic installations in the landscape. It all varies greatly, depending on the particulars of the site chosen and the particular student who is designing it.
After nearly 4.5 hours of back to back presentations (each person gets 5 min to present and you get about 7 min of feedback), the main critic, who is an architect in Sausalito, tells us the following:
"Wow, you know, after hearing all about these tremendous proposals, I feel like what I do in the office is just a bore. I mean, in the REAL world, there is a big fear of getting boo-ed out of the room if you propose anything that is even remotely bold. I applaud your work. You've given me a TON of ideas that I hope to relate to our little city in the future. We need to get out of the box, but it is really only with presentations like this, from students like yourselves, that those ideas are produced free from fear of political reprocussions (sp) and the like."
So in just a few sentences, Michael broke us some pretty sobering news. The real world is boring and is subject to very solid boundaries. The work there is to do is to design parking circulation and cheap bike paths. There is no island-building in the real world, either.
Aye. It makes me want to be a little more grateful for where I am. It makes me want to make bold moves while I can before I become harnessed in.
Happy V Day.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Where's my sticker?
Question:
How much would it take to include one of those cute little "I Voted" stickers in the mail-in ballots? I mean, you go to the trouble to vote early and then on election day people don't see that sticker and assume you forgot about your civic duty. They get the sticker for showing up at the very last minute!
It's the little things that count...
That said, I voted for Hillary, with a bit of worry, but I am happy with my (early) vote. Can't wait to see how it all pans out...
Gov. Schwarzenegger's budget cuts for the UC system have got our department in a shakedown. They need to trim 7% from all expenses and issue a report in a few weeks to the chancellor. It really stinks. I heard that the class I TA for is going to lose its lecturer funding. That means a senior faculty member has to volunteer to teach Introduction to Landscape Architecture. It isn't a class anyone would jump to teach, unfortunately, because it is an entry level course for undergraduates (undergrads from other departments, I might add). Not at all glamorous and a lot of required legwork. Someone told me Randy H. volunteered to teach it next spring. I hope that is good news for me as I really kind of depend on the funding the TA position brings.
I just got home and am waiting for my laundry to be done in the washer so I can change it over. Long day ahead tomorrow, but at least it will be low key.
How much would it take to include one of those cute little "I Voted" stickers in the mail-in ballots? I mean, you go to the trouble to vote early and then on election day people don't see that sticker and assume you forgot about your civic duty. They get the sticker for showing up at the very last minute!
It's the little things that count...
That said, I voted for Hillary, with a bit of worry, but I am happy with my (early) vote. Can't wait to see how it all pans out...
Gov. Schwarzenegger's budget cuts for the UC system have got our department in a shakedown. They need to trim 7% from all expenses and issue a report in a few weeks to the chancellor. It really stinks. I heard that the class I TA for is going to lose its lecturer funding. That means a senior faculty member has to volunteer to teach Introduction to Landscape Architecture. It isn't a class anyone would jump to teach, unfortunately, because it is an entry level course for undergraduates (undergrads from other departments, I might add). Not at all glamorous and a lot of required legwork. Someone told me Randy H. volunteered to teach it next spring. I hope that is good news for me as I really kind of depend on the funding the TA position brings.
I just got home and am waiting for my laundry to be done in the washer so I can change it over. Long day ahead tomorrow, but at least it will be low key.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Thursday ramblings
Heard: Looks Just Like the Sun, Broken Social Scene
Labor:
I worked on this ridiculous graphic all week for P'Boz. It is made out of three individual b&w hand drawings that I had to break apart and carefully stitch back together.
Labor:
I worked on this ridiculous graphic all week for P'Boz. It is made out of three individual b&w hand drawings that I had to break apart and carefully stitch back together.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
I voted, did you? Also, customer service.
With Super Toosday fast-approaching, I completed and mailed in my California Democratic Primary absentee ballot. More and more, people choose to vote in absentia. I think it is probably a good idea, especially for busy or the mobility impaired. However, there is something to be said for going to your local polling station, waiting in line, and filling in a ballot in-person. I am a little miffed that my absentee status means that I will not be able to vote in person come November. However, I think they allow folk like me to drop off their ballots in person. But it's not quite the same thing now, is it?
Today I also experienced two excellent on the phone (OTP) customer service sessions. Dell has a feature on their web site called Click to Call feature. I wondered if it was even worth trying.
Clicking on the button, I was prompted to select a call back time. Choices are immediately, 1 min, 2 min, 5 min. I chose 1 min and got a call promptly back in 60 seconds (but was put on hold for about 25 seconds when the line was answered....but that's not too bad!). What is cool about this feature is that the person who is calling you knows what product you have been looking at on line and they are prepared to answer questions about that product genre, to assist you with an otp purchase, etc. It's very clever. The guy on the phone was also from America, as far as I could tell and seemed to be a reasonably chipper fellow. (Dell's technical support, on the other hand, usually contracts you out to India. A couple weeks ago when calling about a busted keyboard, I talked to Adnan in New Delhi for over an hour.)
Total time on phone to make inquiry and purchase two products: 7 min
Later in the evening, I had to call AT&T to set up a start-service for our phone and DSL service. After I gave her my basic info (name, SSN, DL#, address) she told me that she would call me back in 10 min to save me from having to wait otp with her while she did a residency and credit check. She called back in exactly 10 minutes and was just as helpful as I could ever hope, remembering my name and exactly where we left off when we'd hung up. She even tried to find out if I could qualify for low income land line service when I told her I was a grad student. On top of that, I also found out her and I share the some astrological sign. She was born on the 17th of August. Myself, the 11th.
Total time otp: 20 min
Totoal
Today I also experienced two excellent on the phone (OTP) customer service sessions. Dell has a feature on their web site called Click to Call feature. I wondered if it was even worth trying.
Clicking on the button, I was prompted to select a call back time. Choices are immediately, 1 min, 2 min, 5 min. I chose 1 min and got a call promptly back in 60 seconds (but was put on hold for about 25 seconds when the line was answered....but that's not too bad!). What is cool about this feature is that the person who is calling you knows what product you have been looking at on line and they are prepared to answer questions about that product genre, to assist you with an otp purchase, etc. It's very clever. The guy on the phone was also from America, as far as I could tell and seemed to be a reasonably chipper fellow. (Dell's technical support, on the other hand, usually contracts you out to India. A couple weeks ago when calling about a busted keyboard, I talked to Adnan in New Delhi for over an hour.)
Total time on phone to make inquiry and purchase two products: 7 min
Later in the evening, I had to call AT&T to set up a start-service for our phone and DSL service. After I gave her my basic info (name, SSN, DL#, address) she told me that she would call me back in 10 min to save me from having to wait otp with her while she did a residency and credit check. She called back in exactly 10 minutes and was just as helpful as I could ever hope, remembering my name and exactly where we left off when we'd hung up. She even tried to find out if I could qualify for low income land line service when I told her I was a grad student. On top of that, I also found out her and I share the some astrological sign. She was born on the 17th of August. Myself, the 11th.
Total time otp: 20 min
Totoal
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The Sausalito Waterfront tour
My spring studio is spending 7+ weeks investigating design interventions along the Sausalito waterfront. Most of Sausalito is tourist central, but there are large expanses of the waterfront that are nearly impossible to navigate as a pedestrian. It will be our challenge to reveal the potential of these many spots.
Just a few pictures....most of the ones I will actually use are too boring to post here. Here are the more interesting ones.
This is a public trail in Sausalito with a rather rigid looking fence that the property owner can close or open without notice.
This is Tuxedo, the mixed lab that accompanied us on the tour of Sausalito's waterfront today.
This is an interior shot of Spaulding Wooden Boatbuilding School. Here is the current project, the Freda, built in 1885. The hull is being reconstructed. Spaulding finishes about one boat each year.
This is the hood of a very interesting set of wheels.
Just a few pictures....most of the ones I will actually use are too boring to post here. Here are the more interesting ones.
This is a public trail in Sausalito with a rather rigid looking fence that the property owner can close or open without notice.
This is Tuxedo, the mixed lab that accompanied us on the tour of Sausalito's waterfront today.
This is an interior shot of Spaulding Wooden Boatbuilding School. Here is the current project, the Freda, built in 1885. The hull is being reconstructed. Spaulding finishes about one boat each year.
This is the hood of a very interesting set of wheels.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Fred Thompson's company
Today, in step with Fred Thompson's announcement, my stepfather dropped out of the City of Beaverton mayoral race. See the full story in today's Oregonian.
Bruce cited problems relating to his health as being the main reason for stepping out. I believe he would have made a good mayor. That aside, I am actually relieved I didn't have to hear about the race antics, hob-knobbing, administrative drudgery, fundraising events, uninvited photo-opts, and all the related angst entailed in a typical municipal election.
I have a sense that the prospect of avoiding any one of those things would improve one's health...
Bruce cited problems relating to his health as being the main reason for stepping out. I believe he would have made a good mayor. That aside, I am actually relieved I didn't have to hear about the race antics, hob-knobbing, administrative drudgery, fundraising events, uninvited photo-opts, and all the related angst entailed in a typical municipal election.
I have a sense that the prospect of avoiding any one of those things would improve one's health...
Friday, January 18, 2008
I like it when my truck's balls get noticed....
There is a line of vehicle accessories available for purchase that allow you to give your truck or motorbike a pair of big silicone balls. Who ever came up with this shit amazes me....I'd love to meet her/him. In any case, the state of VA is considering banning those balls as they constitute a real distraction to drivers.
The add-on accessory of a pair of lipstick prints on the ball-sack of choice resolves the question of why the Muslims hate us.
But before the Muslims blow us away, they should consider these fine set of special-edition balls as an indicator of American virtue....link to video.
The add-on accessory of a pair of lipstick prints on the ball-sack of choice resolves the question of why the Muslims hate us.
But before the Muslims blow us away, they should consider these fine set of special-edition balls as an indicator of American virtue....link to video.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Best new thing to eat
This yogurt is the most delicious. It isn't diet food, but it's not full fat either. Too bad only one store I know carries it...
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Wire-tapped
TV status: Tonight marks my completion of Season 1 of The Wire. At least for this viewer. Could I get through Season 2 before next week?? It's possible, but I should probably save it for the hard times I'll see over the next few months.
Neck and headache discomfort status: worse than ever....will seek professional advice..
Work status: progress comes slow....meaning I can't take off after sunset anymore
Computer status: new keyboard, hibernation button, and right speaker. This thing is actually looking real good!
New roommate status: Arrival TBA, but this weekend is the best guess. She is quiet, and doesn't seem to answer emails. Ever. It's weird.
Neck and headache discomfort status: worse than ever....will seek professional advice..
Work status: progress comes slow....meaning I can't take off after sunset anymore
Computer status: new keyboard, hibernation button, and right speaker. This thing is actually looking real good!
New roommate status: Arrival TBA, but this weekend is the best guess. She is quiet, and doesn't seem to answer emails. Ever. It's weird.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Happily wired
...starting episode 10 of season 1 of The Wire. I am content with this broadcast addiction.
Mavericks, couch chicks
This Saturday was the amazing annual event for the surfing world, Mavericks. I've never actually attended the event, but I usually spend a good day or two marveling over the photos that result from the competition. Here are a couple I swiped of the Chronicle.
Friday, January 11 (1/11/08) was an event for Mr. ??? at 111 Minna Gallery. It was a free event, which was nice, but it also got rather crowded. Some of the pieces I thought had more entertainment value than others....but it is all very subjective.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Hope for Hil yet
Hillary's unexpected victory in NH disrupts Barak Obama's hopes for an early sweep. I am very glad the race is still head to head. Leave it to those New Hampshire-ites to go against the popular grain.
Live free or die, you dirty Iowan scum!!! Or at least I imagine that's how it might go down in a state to state faceoff.
The next primary (So. Carolina?) will be full of tension, as it should be.
And, of course, the Republican primary in NH also delivered favorable results. The most favorable.....Still, that's not saying much!
Live free or die, you dirty Iowan scum!!! Or at least I imagine that's how it might go down in a state to state faceoff.
The next primary (So. Carolina?) will be full of tension, as it should be.
And, of course, the Republican primary in NH also delivered favorable results. The most favorable.....Still, that's not saying much!
Fun at the slide library, Apple style
Since about 1pm, I've been in the slide library. It's a somewhat dreary place. Full of old fashioned slide drawers with dusty tops.
I haven't been pulling sildes from these drawers, per se, but I have been getting some practice on an Apple computer they have in here as the patron workstation. I can't say the thing has a ton of advantages in terms of navigation. The mouse can hardly do a damn thing. So much for scroll capacity. It takes twice as much mousework to move files around as it does on an IBM computer. I have no idea why they don't incorporate a more dynamic mouse.
In other news, it is raining hard.
Update to come.
I haven't been pulling sildes from these drawers, per se, but I have been getting some practice on an Apple computer they have in here as the patron workstation. I can't say the thing has a ton of advantages in terms of navigation. The mouse can hardly do a damn thing. So much for scroll capacity. It takes twice as much mousework to move files around as it does on an IBM computer. I have no idea why they don't incorporate a more dynamic mouse.
In other news, it is raining hard.
Update to come.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Making mom proud on the New Year
My final grades for Fall 2007 are below. My name isn't on the readout, but trust me, they are mine. And no, that is not an A- for the drawing class. It is an A+.
I slipped marking the New Year. Since I had this blog, I think I've mentioned the New Year regularly. As it stands, I am one week late to do so. But better late than never.
Here is to an exciting 2008. Looking forward to early November, when things really start to get shaking!
Until then, I will be a slave-student and shall continue to eat most of my meals out of plastic containers.
I slipped marking the New Year. Since I had this blog, I think I've mentioned the New Year regularly. As it stands, I am one week late to do so. But better late than never.
Here is to an exciting 2008. Looking forward to early November, when things really start to get shaking!
Until then, I will be a slave-student and shall continue to eat most of my meals out of plastic containers.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Oh dear, my tea is moving.
Ants. Ants tend to invade Bay Area homes during spells of wet weather, seeking a dry refuge and perhaps a snack. Since I've lived on Grove Street, we've suffered a couple ant attacks after seasonal rains. This weekend, the entire Bay Area has experienced more than a few days of downright damp weather. Fittingly, the ants returned to our abode, uninvited, and in great numbers.
I first noticed something awry from a distance when the cup of tea I'd left full on my nightstand appeared to be moving. Inspecting it closer, I found about 50 drowned victims inside the mug, with at least 25 comrades circling the perimeter of the cup edge. Those guys got flushed.
Along my wall, a trail of several 100 strong was homing in on my small bedside trash can. No food was in there to speak of, only some empty Reese's wrappers (Halloween candy leftovers) and a damp tea bag or two. Despite the lack of adequate food, the ants had invaded the trash bag without any hesitation to note.
The rest of the devils were given the ultimate ant treatment. Sprayable bleach. So now my room smells like Clorox, but at least it is ant free. Ants die immediately upon bleach treatment. However, it is unclear whether hardy survivors may later breed to create a super generation of ants that withstand most chemical assaults. It is the risk you take, I suppose.
I will continue to monitor the source of invasion (a crack in my wall) until I am confident the ant warriors are disbanded and in full retreat.
I first noticed something awry from a distance when the cup of tea I'd left full on my nightstand appeared to be moving. Inspecting it closer, I found about 50 drowned victims inside the mug, with at least 25 comrades circling the perimeter of the cup edge. Those guys got flushed.
Along my wall, a trail of several 100 strong was homing in on my small bedside trash can. No food was in there to speak of, only some empty Reese's wrappers (Halloween candy leftovers) and a damp tea bag or two. Despite the lack of adequate food, the ants had invaded the trash bag without any hesitation to note.
The rest of the devils were given the ultimate ant treatment. Sprayable bleach. So now my room smells like Clorox, but at least it is ant free. Ants die immediately upon bleach treatment. However, it is unclear whether hardy survivors may later breed to create a super generation of ants that withstand most chemical assaults. It is the risk you take, I suppose.
I will continue to monitor the source of invasion (a crack in my wall) until I am confident the ant warriors are disbanded and in full retreat.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Thursday, December 27, 2007
An evening with friends
Tonight I attended a very pleasant post-holiday gathering. It took place at friends of my sister's, just down the street near NE 40th and Skidmore. The theme was, specifically, "Port, wine, chocolate and cheese."
The hosts supplied a hefty amount of all promised menu items. The favorites were these homemade dipped caramel-filled peppermint chocolates, with crushed candy cane garnish. We also sampled a tempting white port (more light brown than anything) directly from Portugal that our hosts, Brett and Jessica, picked up in Lisbon this past fall.
There were only four other guests at the party apart from the two hosts, my sister and myself. Two couples, both residents of the same neighborhood, provided intersting stories and commentary.
The first couple operate a high end office and accessories store on NE Alberta.....they were responsive when I asked them if they were planning to carry any of the Freitag line. They responded that this Spring was the launch date, given some delays to shipping and product line agreements....I am not particularly fond of the Freitag line, but I do recognize its current market potential. To set the record straight, I am not a fan of the line because I find it panders to a crowd of snobby status-seeking design types who pay too much for a semi-decent product line. In any case, the brand promises a lot of profits to upscale retailers and apparently it was of current interest to these guys. Perhaps it was the port?.....
The next couple was a nationally known band member and his girlfriend, who also works in the music production biz. Chris W. of Death Cab is an easygoing and relaxed dude and his girlfriend is equally or more as engaging and interested in all things ranging from academic to domestic. It was fun to hear about their on the road stories. I really like the fact that Portland breeds of an atmosphere where rock star profiles find time in their (post-holiday) schedules to fraternize with locals in their neighborhood, talk about things outside their sphere of knowledge (or interest), and do it with amazing success and clarity. I could hang out in Portland on a permanent basis with great happiness with friends of a similar caliber....
Aside from the great party, I leave for Berkeley tomorrow night. For the next several hours I am supposed to figure out how to feed 16-18 people over three days....
The hosts supplied a hefty amount of all promised menu items. The favorites were these homemade dipped caramel-filled peppermint chocolates, with crushed candy cane garnish. We also sampled a tempting white port (more light brown than anything) directly from Portugal that our hosts, Brett and Jessica, picked up in Lisbon this past fall.
There were only four other guests at the party apart from the two hosts, my sister and myself. Two couples, both residents of the same neighborhood, provided intersting stories and commentary.
The first couple operate a high end office and accessories store on NE Alberta.....they were responsive when I asked them if they were planning to carry any of the Freitag line. They responded that this Spring was the launch date, given some delays to shipping and product line agreements....I am not particularly fond of the Freitag line, but I do recognize its current market potential. To set the record straight, I am not a fan of the line because I find it panders to a crowd of snobby status-seeking design types who pay too much for a semi-decent product line. In any case, the brand promises a lot of profits to upscale retailers and apparently it was of current interest to these guys. Perhaps it was the port?.....
The next couple was a nationally known band member and his girlfriend, who also works in the music production biz. Chris W. of Death Cab is an easygoing and relaxed dude and his girlfriend is equally or more as engaging and interested in all things ranging from academic to domestic. It was fun to hear about their on the road stories. I really like the fact that Portland breeds of an atmosphere where rock star profiles find time in their (post-holiday) schedules to fraternize with locals in their neighborhood, talk about things outside their sphere of knowledge (or interest), and do it with amazing success and clarity. I could hang out in Portland on a permanent basis with great happiness with friends of a similar caliber....
Aside from the great party, I leave for Berkeley tomorrow night. For the next several hours I am supposed to figure out how to feed 16-18 people over three days....
Sunday, December 23, 2007
It's gift giving day
Concert wrap up:
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks played on Friday night. From what I did hear, it was a fine performance. However, circumstances required a rushed departure. Pre-performance we visited Ron Tom's, also on Burnside, where my sister and I met a couple of annoying dudes whose version of mingling to us seemed more like medieval torture.
Saturday I was a shopping drone.
Sunday it is very wet here. I am going to go food shopping with Sarah and then I am off to Vancouver for an annual gift exchange tradition.
Shall I return not bearing candles or themed socks.
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks played on Friday night. From what I did hear, it was a fine performance. However, circumstances required a rushed departure. Pre-performance we visited Ron Tom's, also on Burnside, where my sister and I met a couple of annoying dudes whose version of mingling to us seemed more like medieval torture.
Saturday I was a shopping drone.
Sunday it is very wet here. I am going to go food shopping with Sarah and then I am off to Vancouver for an annual gift exchange tradition.
Shall I return not bearing candles or themed socks.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
It's a holiday tradition
Shopping for the holidays is an annual rite of passage. I tend to try and do all my shopping in 1-2 days, sometimes with favorable results, sometimes the opposite. Today was a decent attempt. Several gifts were procured:
1. Pirateology - gift for nephew Everett, age 7
2. Life of Pi - gift for nephew Alex, age 15
3. Pacifica lotion - gift for exstepmother Stephanie. This particular one smells like Chai. It is amazing.
4. Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolour set - gift for sister Sarah
1. Pirateology - gift for nephew Everett, age 7
2. Life of Pi - gift for nephew Alex, age 15
3. Pacifica lotion - gift for exstepmother Stephanie. This particular one smells like Chai. It is amazing.
4. Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolour set - gift for sister Sarah
Monday, December 17, 2007
Fin.
The semester is over. I haven't slept since Saturday night and I am still rolling although I am about to fall asleep in my keyboard any minute. I think it is actually pretty dangerous for me to be handling graphics files in this state...my hand is likely to slip and delete a lot of fine line work.
The only chores I really must do today are 1)look busy while I am sitting outside of Peter's office (if I am in front of a computer he assumes I am working, when in reality I am reading celebrity blogs) and 2)clean off my studio desk. The janitors are rolling in tomorrow morning and have promised to take anything remaining with them, so it's up to me to clear off the altar.
Here's to tonight's sleep.
The only chores I really must do today are 1)look busy while I am sitting outside of Peter's office (if I am in front of a computer he assumes I am working, when in reality I am reading celebrity blogs) and 2)clean off my studio desk. The janitors are rolling in tomorrow morning and have promised to take anything remaining with them, so it's up to me to clear off the altar.
Here's to tonight's sleep.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Post review sleep session
Hours of sleep consumed between Dec 7 - Dec 10: 12
Hours of sleep consumed evening of Dec 10: 14
There is something wrong about the above sleep data. Entirely wrong. However, on the bright side, today I am feeling great and looking even better. My skin no longer resembles that of a haggard 50 year old. My eyes are not (completely) blood shot. I am better hydrated, too. The long days and nights in this building literally take all the moisture and life outta ya.
Herr Bosselmann showed up at our review today. A gem of a phrase he uttered at one point was, "You know, slime is an extremely fascinating thing for 10 year-olds...think about it."
December seems like it is almost over. I will be home in a week. However, there is still much work to be done. I have an exam on science and ecology things on Friday and another design project due on Monday. Which I haven't even begun to think about yet...
Hours of sleep consumed evening of Dec 10: 14
There is something wrong about the above sleep data. Entirely wrong. However, on the bright side, today I am feeling great and looking even better. My skin no longer resembles that of a haggard 50 year old. My eyes are not (completely) blood shot. I am better hydrated, too. The long days and nights in this building literally take all the moisture and life outta ya.
Herr Bosselmann showed up at our review today. A gem of a phrase he uttered at one point was, "You know, slime is an extremely fascinating thing for 10 year-olds...think about it."
December seems like it is almost over. I will be home in a week. However, there is still much work to be done. I have an exam on science and ecology things on Friday and another design project due on Monday. Which I haven't even begun to think about yet...
Friday, December 07, 2007
Two days on the job and you kill someone
Breaking news from Berkeley's big box neighbor....the irony of the situation is ludicrous.
Emeryville Mayor Kills Pedestrian
Emeryville Mayor Kills Pedestrian
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
It's official. Countdown begins.
Mental state: apprehensive & aware, not shaking
Dehydration scale (1-10): 7.8
Coffee intake in past 24 hours: <10 oz.
Beer, wine & spirits intake in past 24 hours: >12 oz.
Hand residue factor: ink and wash stains
Craving status: New York strip steak
Current desk display: 2 bananas, 1 Blue Moon Lager, 8 pieces of battered trace, laptop, desk brush, Elmer's glue, ipod, engineer scale, 1 eflute 100 scale topography model, drafting tape, various pencils and pens
Most recent sleep period: 230am-830am (sleeping in!!!)
Dehydration scale (1-10): 7.8
Coffee intake in past 24 hours: <10 oz.
Beer, wine & spirits intake in past 24 hours: >12 oz.
Hand residue factor: ink and wash stains
Craving status: New York strip steak
Current desk display: 2 bananas, 1 Blue Moon Lager, 8 pieces of battered trace, laptop, desk brush, Elmer's glue, ipod, engineer scale, 1 eflute 100 scale topography model, drafting tape, various pencils and pens
Most recent sleep period: 230am-830am (sleeping in!!!)
Thursday, November 29, 2007
He performed card tricks, too
The male model tonight had a vast array of talents. One, he wasn't half bad at the job we hired him for. He started off the night with a pose that was a crowd stunner. He got on his knees and proceeded to lean back, all the way so I couldn't even see his head. He was spread eagle in front of Sara and I, who had a hard time collecting ourselves and begin the drawing. I only have a skeletal outline of it, but from what I do have you can imagine the situation.
After the first set of 10 one-minute poses, he took a break. He read a bit from a book, some kind of "how-to" manual of card tricks and related magical maneuvers. At the next break, he broke out a formidable wad of 100 bills and special gold coins to demonstrate a sleight of hand trick.
3 min pose
5 min pose
5 min pose
I felt a lot better about this week's drawing results. Men are supposed to be more difficult than women to draw. Perhaps I do not share this sentiment due to the fact that the woman we drew last week more resembled a 13 year old girl than a mature woman. I feel bad for saying that, but that is the kind of harsh criticism folks ought to anticipate in the modeling universe.
10 min pose
I rather like this one below.
10 min pose
And no, he isn't sitting in a puddle of poo in this last one. It just looks that way.
15 min pose
After the first set of 10 one-minute poses, he took a break. He read a bit from a book, some kind of "how-to" manual of card tricks and related magical maneuvers. At the next break, he broke out a formidable wad of 100 bills and special gold coins to demonstrate a sleight of hand trick.
3 min pose
5 min pose
5 min pose
I felt a lot better about this week's drawing results. Men are supposed to be more difficult than women to draw. Perhaps I do not share this sentiment due to the fact that the woman we drew last week more resembled a 13 year old girl than a mature woman. I feel bad for saying that, but that is the kind of harsh criticism folks ought to anticipate in the modeling universe.
10 min pose
I rather like this one below.
10 min pose
And no, he isn't sitting in a puddle of poo in this last one. It just looks that way.
15 min pose
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Music notes
Not that I have the time to be doing this, but I was browsing the concert circuit and I came across a notable gem or two.
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone w/ the Papercuts, Bottom of the Hill
December 5, 2007 (Wed)
St. Vincent, Great American Music Hall
February 17, 2008 (Sunday)
Explosions in the Sky, GAMH
March 21 & 22, 2008 (Fri & Sat)
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone w/ the Papercuts, Bottom of the Hill
December 5, 2007 (Wed)
St. Vincent, Great American Music Hall
February 17, 2008 (Sunday)
Explosions in the Sky, GAMH
March 21 & 22, 2008 (Fri & Sat)
Dozing in the library
There are few places in Wurster Hall where a person can get any privacy. There are also few places where you can comfortably take a nap. Naps are seriously mandatory at school these days, as final projects are coming to a close in the next two or so weeks.
I've taken to napping in the library along the south facing windows where there are a series of small tables (they fit one comfortably). It is very pleasant. You don't get the noise from studio (people slamming drawers, nailing, power tools, music, etc.) and it has a favorable microclimate that induces a quick 45 min nap. The tables are not oversized so you aren't uncomfortable haunched over with your head in your arms. And if you need a makeshift pillow, just pull a nice hefty book from the shelves and begin improvising immediately! Plus, people rarely venture along this wall. It seems that napping is one of the preferred activities in this part of the library environs.
Your only risk of napping in the library is one of your classmates coming across you as they get to the end of the stacks. It is important that this napping zone not become too widely known in our class for risk of overcrowding.
Other updates: A male nude model is the main event in my Wed. night drawing class.
I've taken to napping in the library along the south facing windows where there are a series of small tables (they fit one comfortably). It is very pleasant. You don't get the noise from studio (people slamming drawers, nailing, power tools, music, etc.) and it has a favorable microclimate that induces a quick 45 min nap. The tables are not oversized so you aren't uncomfortable haunched over with your head in your arms. And if you need a makeshift pillow, just pull a nice hefty book from the shelves and begin improvising immediately! Plus, people rarely venture along this wall. It seems that napping is one of the preferred activities in this part of the library environs.
Your only risk of napping in the library is one of your classmates coming across you as they get to the end of the stacks. It is important that this napping zone not become too widely known in our class for risk of overcrowding.
Other updates: A male nude model is the main event in my Wed. night drawing class.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Holiday muse-ic
This shall prove to be a grand show featuring both a well established and an up-and-coming Portland music act.
Stephen Malkmus has been residing in Portland for several years now. He recently had a kid, I guess. I saw Blitzen Trapper over the summer at Holocene. They were a little loud and anxious, I thought. I hope that the last several months on the road have polished their act and things will be more interesting this time around.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Too cute
This is from my favorite otter. Happy Thanksgiving y'all.
P.S. Tonight on the way back from my parents' house, we got pulled over for speeding and an obstructed front license plate. Tickets were about $400. However, we were spared the breathalizer.
P.P.S. I wasn't driving.
P.S. Tonight on the way back from my parents' house, we got pulled over for speeding and an obstructed front license plate. Tickets were about $400. However, we were spared the breathalizer.
P.P.S. I wasn't driving.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
A car went into the corner store
On Monday night, as I was biking home south on Shattuck, a police car busted past me going 60. Other official vehicles followed seconds thereafter. I didn't think much about it, shit like that happens a lot on the border of Berkland.
I got to my apt., at Grove Street and Adeline, and found my roommate Garrett outside, looking down the street. He said he'd heard a loud crash 5 minutes earlier. We walked down a half block and at the corner a Saturn had apparently veered off the street, hit a tree, and continued its journey into the side of a building with a corner store. The tree was on the ground, a victim of this crime, which appeared to be a case of grand auto theft. The doors of the vehicle were wide open and there were no signs of any driver or passenger. Police were swarming around on the streets, perhaps responding to reports of sightings of the alleged suspect. We didn't stick around to find out.
Based on this incident, the reaction time of the police in Berkeley is pretty good. By the time Garrett and I got to the crash, the crime scene van was already there and they had roped off the immediate area. I am sure the suspect easily escaped. God knows he could have been hiding in our carport. There's a lot of hiding places off of Grove Street.
I got to my apt., at Grove Street and Adeline, and found my roommate Garrett outside, looking down the street. He said he'd heard a loud crash 5 minutes earlier. We walked down a half block and at the corner a Saturn had apparently veered off the street, hit a tree, and continued its journey into the side of a building with a corner store. The tree was on the ground, a victim of this crime, which appeared to be a case of grand auto theft. The doors of the vehicle were wide open and there were no signs of any driver or passenger. Police were swarming around on the streets, perhaps responding to reports of sightings of the alleged suspect. We didn't stick around to find out.
Based on this incident, the reaction time of the police in Berkeley is pretty good. By the time Garrett and I got to the crash, the crime scene van was already there and they had roped off the immediate area. I am sure the suspect easily escaped. God knows he could have been hiding in our carport. There's a lot of hiding places off of Grove Street.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Pie n' Wine
There is a pie and wine party tonight that I probably should not go to given the fact I am really behind on my studio design proposal. We have a preliminary pin up on Monday. But I will nonetheless venture forth toward fruit-studded baked confections and the sacred libation of Dionysus.
Today I spent most of the day completing a draft of an unrelated drawing assignment. It was beautiful outside and I should have been outside running, biking, or shopping.
Light at the end of the tunnel - Wednesday all I have planned to do is pack for my pending 2 night journey up north...and worry about what I have to get done for studio when I return on Saturday night.
I may try a vegan Japanese restaurant with Christina tonight. Not sure if I will end up full after that one, but then again, there is a pie n' wine party calling my name.
Today I spent most of the day completing a draft of an unrelated drawing assignment. It was beautiful outside and I should have been outside running, biking, or shopping.
Light at the end of the tunnel - Wednesday all I have planned to do is pack for my pending 2 night journey up north...and worry about what I have to get done for studio when I return on Saturday night.
I may try a vegan Japanese restaurant with Christina tonight. Not sure if I will end up full after that one, but then again, there is a pie n' wine party calling my name.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Naked people. Six hours of naked people.
Graduate school provides the opportunity to do things you haven't done before. You learn and grow from these experiences, thus enriching your educational experience. I myself have traveled three times overseas on the dime of the Beatrix Farrand fund, among countless parties, receptions, conferences, sponsored field and professional office visits.
Graduate school will also pay for nude models.
For the next two weeks, a nude model will visit my landscape drawing class and we will utilize her/him for three hours. There will be breaks. Apparently, nude models are traditionally given a five minute break for every 20 minutes of work performed. That means, collectively over two weeks, almost 70-80 minutes of breaks for the nekkid one while we gawk, stare and try to pretend we are only mildly amused.
Monday will begin with a female model. Our professor Chip claims that women are "easier to draw." I wonder what that means. He claims men are "difficult." I would like to know more details about that one.
Having never been in a class with a nude model, I have many questions about procedure, proximity, and expectations. I do hope this person is relatively in shape. Otherwise, I might as well just go hang out in the locker room of the Y with a tablet and charcoal. I am concerned about being too close that I may feel like I am staring.
My classmate Sara, who has taken figure drawing classes before, assured me that while it IS weird, you quickly acclimate to the environment. However, she told me that she's seen it all in terms of models, including a man who appeared to have visible STD symptoms. Ouch.
Oh, we were told that all cell phones will be collected into a box when we enter the classroom as a safeguard against unauthorized photos being taken. Also, there will not be drinking allowed that night in class (which goes against normal operating procedures). Wish us luck. And above all, wish us virile, attractive models!
Graduate school will also pay for nude models.
For the next two weeks, a nude model will visit my landscape drawing class and we will utilize her/him for three hours. There will be breaks. Apparently, nude models are traditionally given a five minute break for every 20 minutes of work performed. That means, collectively over two weeks, almost 70-80 minutes of breaks for the nekkid one while we gawk, stare and try to pretend we are only mildly amused.
Monday will begin with a female model. Our professor Chip claims that women are "easier to draw." I wonder what that means. He claims men are "difficult." I would like to know more details about that one.
Having never been in a class with a nude model, I have many questions about procedure, proximity, and expectations. I do hope this person is relatively in shape. Otherwise, I might as well just go hang out in the locker room of the Y with a tablet and charcoal. I am concerned about being too close that I may feel like I am staring.
My classmate Sara, who has taken figure drawing classes before, assured me that while it IS weird, you quickly acclimate to the environment. However, she told me that she's seen it all in terms of models, including a man who appeared to have visible STD symptoms. Ouch.
Oh, we were told that all cell phones will be collected into a box when we enter the classroom as a safeguard against unauthorized photos being taken. Also, there will not be drinking allowed that night in class (which goes against normal operating procedures). Wish us luck. And above all, wish us virile, attractive models!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Next semseter
We've already signed up for classes for Spring semester 2008. Oh, how I wish it were my LAST spring here. Sadly, it is NOT.
Anyway, it appears as though I will not be required to take LA 202: Neighborhood Landscape Design. Under normal circumstances, this course is taught by my adviser Louise and I would jump to take it. However, this year she is on sabbatical and will not teach next term. The course this term is apparently going to be split between two fill in faculty members, one of which I am uncertain I like very much.
The other options are to take either Peter's Advanced Urban Design studio (CP 248) or Randy Hester's Environmental Planning studio (LA 205). I decided to enroll in Randy's studio. I haven't had Randy as a professor since Spring 2006. He's a big reason I came to the department, so perhaps this will reignite my enthusiasm for studio. Lately, I just feel pooped because we've had to crank out obscene amounts of work the last three weeks.
That stuff is pretty mundane, though.
Things to look forward to are Thanksgiving. I will be a basket case trying to get out of here. The good news is that Chip cancelled class on Wednesday night, so I will be able to meander on home before midnight to pack for the mad dash home. I will spend two nights at home and there are already plans in the making to see the Chuck Close exhibit at the Portland Art Museum.
Anyway, it appears as though I will not be required to take LA 202: Neighborhood Landscape Design. Under normal circumstances, this course is taught by my adviser Louise and I would jump to take it. However, this year she is on sabbatical and will not teach next term. The course this term is apparently going to be split between two fill in faculty members, one of which I am uncertain I like very much.
The other options are to take either Peter's Advanced Urban Design studio (CP 248) or Randy Hester's Environmental Planning studio (LA 205). I decided to enroll in Randy's studio. I haven't had Randy as a professor since Spring 2006. He's a big reason I came to the department, so perhaps this will reignite my enthusiasm for studio. Lately, I just feel pooped because we've had to crank out obscene amounts of work the last three weeks.
That stuff is pretty mundane, though.
Things to look forward to are Thanksgiving. I will be a basket case trying to get out of here. The good news is that Chip cancelled class on Wednesday night, so I will be able to meander on home before midnight to pack for the mad dash home. I will spend two nights at home and there are already plans in the making to see the Chuck Close exhibit at the Portland Art Museum.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Night Falls on Kortedala
This is Jens Lekman at Bimbo's in San Francisco on Friday,
November 9. Photo credit to Jason.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
One powerpoint, two powerpoint, three powerpoint - bust!
Come 11am tomorrow, I will have had presented three Powerpoint presentations in one week. The topics have been diverse, yet interrelated as most things happen to exist in this world:
1. An Introduction to Three Watersheds of Contra Costa County
2. Sustainable Storm Water Case Study: The Mount Tabor Middle School Rain Garden, Portland, OR
3. Mending a Divided Watershed: Rodeo Creek
Despite the flurry of practice, I have not learned how to animate slides yet. That function is generally overused and abused in presentations - we've all seen that circle that flys spinning counterclockwise onto the screen - but it is a good feature to use when you are displaying plans or maps with layered information. So while I do not claim to be a PPT guru, I do have some formidable skillz with this application.
I better sleep, I have to get up in three hours. I really need some damn sleep.
1. An Introduction to Three Watersheds of Contra Costa County
2. Sustainable Storm Water Case Study: The Mount Tabor Middle School Rain Garden, Portland, OR
3. Mending a Divided Watershed: Rodeo Creek
Despite the flurry of practice, I have not learned how to animate slides yet. That function is generally overused and abused in presentations - we've all seen that circle that flys spinning counterclockwise onto the screen - but it is a good feature to use when you are displaying plans or maps with layered information. So while I do not claim to be a PPT guru, I do have some formidable skillz with this application.
I better sleep, I have to get up in three hours. I really need some damn sleep.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Prevailing over blockage
All I needed to get over this writer's block I've had was to go visit Whole Foods. That place is a cluster fuck of pretension, urban vanity, and irresistable boutique chocolate bars.
I went there with the idea I would spend $10 on dinner and I spent $34. Half of that was spent on some good EFAs from the ocean swimmers. I am almost out of the Walgreen's brand I currently use. These things cost $17 and claim to be derived from "Wild Caught Small Fish" with "No Mercury, PCBs and Lead." Hmm, funny thing but I thought most consumables we buy lack these elements. I love unheeded advertising! Looking at the label more closely, I see that this is a product from Norway or Iceland. I guess they fish on the international boundaries of these Scandinavian countries and can't 100% guarantee the nationality of their net's catch.
After I procured my oil allotment (sp) I got in line near the express area. This area has a clear view of the salad bar and pastry case. I began musing over several of the elaborate confections, one a variation of a Boston Creme, the other a more traditional, yet vegan, carrot cake. In the glare of the case, I saw a man put his hands into the candied pecans container of the salad bar. He continued to crush the nuts in the palms of his hands (it looked like he was warming his hands by the fire) and then sprinkle the crushed contents onto his salad box. The remainder crumbery, not desirable by him, was returned to the greater nut box. The first thought through my head was "Gross" but the second thought was something along the lines of "if you act like this in a public place of relative scrutiny, how in the world do you behave once you get home?" Good lord.
Time to nap. Stay out of the candied pecans.
I went there with the idea I would spend $10 on dinner and I spent $34. Half of that was spent on some good EFAs from the ocean swimmers. I am almost out of the Walgreen's brand I currently use. These things cost $17 and claim to be derived from "Wild Caught Small Fish" with "No Mercury, PCBs and Lead." Hmm, funny thing but I thought most consumables we buy lack these elements. I love unheeded advertising! Looking at the label more closely, I see that this is a product from Norway or Iceland. I guess they fish on the international boundaries of these Scandinavian countries and can't 100% guarantee the nationality of their net's catch.
After I procured my oil allotment (sp) I got in line near the express area. This area has a clear view of the salad bar and pastry case. I began musing over several of the elaborate confections, one a variation of a Boston Creme, the other a more traditional, yet vegan, carrot cake. In the glare of the case, I saw a man put his hands into the candied pecans container of the salad bar. He continued to crush the nuts in the palms of his hands (it looked like he was warming his hands by the fire) and then sprinkle the crushed contents onto his salad box. The remainder crumbery, not desirable by him, was returned to the greater nut box. The first thought through my head was "Gross" but the second thought was something along the lines of "if you act like this in a public place of relative scrutiny, how in the world do you behave once you get home?" Good lord.
Time to nap. Stay out of the candied pecans.
Writer's hesitation
I've had a few free hours since our doosy of a presentation at 2pm today. I thought about posting a run down of the day's events, but it just isn't terribly interesting to describe. Then I thought about posting some announcement about the tailless raccoon I saw outside of Wurster with my friend Tim on Saturday night, but I realized I've already done that before (it's weird...the thing looks like a odd-shaped bear with no tail).
Still, no spark of inspiration from that either.
I then thought about just going on strike for a little bit, hoping that interesting writing topics may just need some time to ferment and ripen.
It's hard to say what will happen. Maybe it's the lack of sleep causing this streak of uninspiration. Who knows.
Still, no spark of inspiration from that either.
I then thought about just going on strike for a little bit, hoping that interesting writing topics may just need some time to ferment and ripen.
It's hard to say what will happen. Maybe it's the lack of sleep causing this streak of uninspiration. Who knows.
Monday, November 05, 2007
When weekends aren't weekends
School is great and everything but it gets tiresome when you log in more than 36 hours there over the course of a Saturday and Sunday. Today I arrived at 8:30am and I just got home (it is 2:46am on Monday). The day before was about the same.
Things in my group are good. We left our building tonight in high spirits after plotting out our presentation board, which is more than 6' long. Whenever you plot anything more than 48" long, you always risk having graphics go astray or print out blob-like. By the graces of all that is holy, the 72" board printed out complete and pristine. The colors weren't half bad, either. Our 30 slide powerpoint presentation is also in top form. We run through at 10am tomorrow, and then do the presentation at 2:00 in front of a selected panel of stakeholders and critics. Shall be interesting. I cannot wait until we are done so I can catch up on all the other crap I've ignored for days.
I had a nice catch up with some friends from Oregon on Friday night. We went to eat at Sam's Place, some seafood joint in the thick of the financial tourist trap district. Can't say I adored the neighborhood, but the fish wasn't half bad. This restaurant is one of SF's oldest, apparently. The service is alright, if a little slow but it was a Friday evening.
My take home message of the evening was that people who have jobs have it easy. They have time to dine and socialize, plan morning outings to the spa, and even exercise. People like me barley have time to get 3.5 hours of sleep a night. A condition which I am currently headed toward if I do not wrap this message up soon.
Things in my group are good. We left our building tonight in high spirits after plotting out our presentation board, which is more than 6' long. Whenever you plot anything more than 48" long, you always risk having graphics go astray or print out blob-like. By the graces of all that is holy, the 72" board printed out complete and pristine. The colors weren't half bad, either. Our 30 slide powerpoint presentation is also in top form. We run through at 10am tomorrow, and then do the presentation at 2:00 in front of a selected panel of stakeholders and critics. Shall be interesting. I cannot wait until we are done so I can catch up on all the other crap I've ignored for days.
I had a nice catch up with some friends from Oregon on Friday night. We went to eat at Sam's Place, some seafood joint in the thick of the financial tourist trap district. Can't say I adored the neighborhood, but the fish wasn't half bad. This restaurant is one of SF's oldest, apparently. The service is alright, if a little slow but it was a Friday evening.
My take home message of the evening was that people who have jobs have it easy. They have time to dine and socialize, plan morning outings to the spa, and even exercise. People like me barley have time to get 3.5 hours of sleep a night. A condition which I am currently headed toward if I do not wrap this message up soon.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Only 27 min left of my favorite month
Well, the bell is about to toll the end of the fine month of October.
No other month compares in my opinion. October is the time of year you truly feel the day's length fleeting and your senses become awakened to a new palette of smells and colours. The sun begins to set around 5:00pm and soon the dinner hour is completely black, suggesting a different variety of foods should also be introduced. Thinking back to late June, when evenings would often trail along until nearly 10:00pm, the evenings of October seem entirely longer and dominant to the days. Something nice about this October is that it was essentially a dry month, too, allowing me to bike to school and back without cursing Mother Nature.
Now just 21 minutes left in October 2007.
I should take a quick moment to commemorate the birthday of my father and three uncles, who turned 61 and 59 last Sunday (28th). Happy birthday, Pops.
Tonight is Halloween. I am without costume, still at school, and I just finished coloring these perspectives I promised my studio group all weekend. I will now go scan them and head home.
Here is one:
Oh. Here's to a rockin' November.
No other month compares in my opinion. October is the time of year you truly feel the day's length fleeting and your senses become awakened to a new palette of smells and colours. The sun begins to set around 5:00pm and soon the dinner hour is completely black, suggesting a different variety of foods should also be introduced. Thinking back to late June, when evenings would often trail along until nearly 10:00pm, the evenings of October seem entirely longer and dominant to the days. Something nice about this October is that it was essentially a dry month, too, allowing me to bike to school and back without cursing Mother Nature.
Now just 21 minutes left in October 2007.
I should take a quick moment to commemorate the birthday of my father and three uncles, who turned 61 and 59 last Sunday (28th). Happy birthday, Pops.
Tonight is Halloween. I am without costume, still at school, and I just finished coloring these perspectives I promised my studio group all weekend. I will now go scan them and head home.
Here is one:
Oh. Here's to a rockin' November.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Shellac = shiny fun things
Our midterm for my Landscape Drawing and Painting class is to make a weird proscenium and memory chamber for two soon-to-become threatened species: Apis mellifera (common honeybee) and Quercus agrifolia (Coast Live Oak). It is a strange project but it is very doable because there are only a few guidelines we must follow. Above all it should be interesting to look at. I think I succeeded.
Look inside the boxes:
Required parts were two matchboxes and one cigar box as the base for the assignment's elements. I didn't want to bother with procuring a real cigar box, so I made one using museum board that I found in a drawer. The matchboxes were easier to come by.
I used a lot of shellac-varnish on my box. Everything is eerily shiny and decoupage-y looking. It would probably go up in flames if one of those matches was lit. I am exhausted from all this craft making. I shall now sleep.
Look inside the boxes:
Required parts were two matchboxes and one cigar box as the base for the assignment's elements. I didn't want to bother with procuring a real cigar box, so I made one using museum board that I found in a drawer. The matchboxes were easier to come by.
I used a lot of shellac-varnish on my box. Everything is eerily shiny and decoupage-y looking. It would probably go up in flames if one of those matches was lit. I am exhausted from all this craft making. I shall now sleep.
Happy Birthday, Janine
Today is Janine's birthday. Here's to you!
I sent her a card from this cheeky site I just found. Some of these are pretty damn hilarious.
I sent her a card from this cheeky site I just found. Some of these are pretty damn hilarious.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Another gratuituous link...
Click here for Swedish people. I shall be enjoying this performance very soon.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Going too far
I found this item on one of my classmate's desks this morning. I believe in haute cuisine and all that junk, but I think this case of fusion has overstepped some delicate boundaries.
The kicker is that this particular person has in the past claimed to be a vegetarian.
The kicker is that this particular person has in the past claimed to be a vegetarian.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Board
This is my board that I will present in 20 minutes for LA 111: Plants in Design. Just posting an entry here while it plots.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
D-day is Thurs. 11am
All evening I have been (re)designing the Wurster Light Court. Non-Wursterites will not be familiar with this space. It happens to be an interior courtyard of our monster building which is home to the College of Environmental Design. On the UCB campus.
The design is for my Plants in Design course, so most of the intervention has to do with (you guessed it) plants. So far I like my plant palette. There are many ferns and clumpy grass thingies. Oh, I plan to better articulate this information when Thursday morning rolls around.
We were only given 10 days to do this project (the first 7 days of which I was completely focused on studio and not thinking about plants in the very LEAST). So that gives me less than three days to complete a 10 day long project. Sounds like a typical situation for most misbegotten souls here at Wurster Hall. In between now and Thursday's presentation, I have exactly 8 hours of classroom time and two additional projects to turn in.
I plan to be here until 2:30am. I have class at 8am today, so I need to get at least 3 hours of sleep. I must be well rested, for tomorrow I will be watercoloring this enormous Light Court design.
So that means I must sign off immediately and return to my plant mode.
The design is for my Plants in Design course, so most of the intervention has to do with (you guessed it) plants. So far I like my plant palette. There are many ferns and clumpy grass thingies. Oh, I plan to better articulate this information when Thursday morning rolls around.
We were only given 10 days to do this project (the first 7 days of which I was completely focused on studio and not thinking about plants in the very LEAST). So that gives me less than three days to complete a 10 day long project. Sounds like a typical situation for most misbegotten souls here at Wurster Hall. In between now and Thursday's presentation, I have exactly 8 hours of classroom time and two additional projects to turn in.
I plan to be here until 2:30am. I have class at 8am today, so I need to get at least 3 hours of sleep. I must be well rested, for tomorrow I will be watercoloring this enormous Light Court design.
So that means I must sign off immediately and return to my plant mode.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Hasta luego, Jean Paul
Jean Paul's last week in Berkeley is nearing its end. Last night marked his farewell party on Grove Street. Things began around 9:30, when JP and his crew (Pete, Ingrid) were the first to arrive. It was nearly 11:30 before a critical mass was established. Many, many people were in attendance; some people we met off the street even dropped in (I warned them not to steal anything). Particular highlights:
1. Michael Gougherty head-butting our dining room door and cracking it.
2. Drinking from the tequila bottle at 3:10am.
3. Realizing, for the second time in a calendar year, that crumbly chocolate cake is not a good party food if you have beige carpet.
4. Waiting for a cat fight to break out between roommate's love interests
5. Watching a guy that brought a bucket of chicken to our party consume nearly every piece of it.
6. Drop in visit from the neighbor at 2:50am.
There are certainly more highlights to be added, but my brain is slow tonight. I've been looking at numbers too long on a spreadsheet.
1. Michael Gougherty head-butting our dining room door and cracking it.
2. Drinking from the tequila bottle at 3:10am.
3. Realizing, for the second time in a calendar year, that crumbly chocolate cake is not a good party food if you have beige carpet.
4. Waiting for a cat fight to break out between roommate's love interests
5. Watching a guy that brought a bucket of chicken to our party consume nearly every piece of it.
6. Drop in visit from the neighbor at 2:50am.
There are certainly more highlights to be added, but my brain is slow tonight. I've been looking at numbers too long on a spreadsheet.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Corn maze = Good time autumn fun
My friend Andrew has proposed his annual escapade down to Fremont to the autumn corn maize (maze). Each year, he gathers together a group of people to carpool all the way down there to participate in the old-fashioned Halloween pre-gaming.
Seeing that this year there will be no official Halloween party in the Castro, I see the corn maze as a potential alternative venue for the crowds of San Franciscans looking to rabble rouse a bit amongst tall vegetation. With a little planning, beers and flasks can be smuggled in and enjoyment to be had. There are, however, no bathrooms at the corn maze (as far as I can recall) so drink with knowledge of that constraint. Otherwise, you will be wandering into adjacent corn fields to relieve yourself, and you know what can happen out there!
Bird's-eye view of the Fremont Corn Maze
One of the fun things I remember about the Fremont corn maze was the interaction between strangers. It is inevitable that within the group you arrive at the corn maze with someone is likely to go missing among the networks of winding paths and dead ends. If such an event occurs, you could try calling your friends on the cell. However, that route isn't terribly effective given that it's hard to give directions in a place such as this ("take a right at the big group of corn husks" doesn't quite cut it) and given the fact that cellular reception not as reliable as in the city. It is best to ask for some help: "Excuse me, but did you recently pass by a bunch of loud drunk people? One person would have smelled of bourbon. You did? Where were they headed?" Someone might even escort you to them and offer you a swig from their group flask. Good things come from asking for help in the corn maze. Really.
Oh, that reminds me of one important hint: don't wear any shoes that you would care about if they got submerged in mud/manure. I speak from experience. Same applies to your pants.
Consider visiting a local corn maze this autumn.
In other Halloween pre-gaming news, Jean Paul's going away party is this Friday, the 19th, right here on Grove Street. I am trying to figure out where my pad of colored construction paper is. I would like to decorate this place properly...in the spirit of the season.
Think this concept, but much better....
Seeing that this year there will be no official Halloween party in the Castro, I see the corn maze as a potential alternative venue for the crowds of San Franciscans looking to rabble rouse a bit amongst tall vegetation. With a little planning, beers and flasks can be smuggled in and enjoyment to be had. There are, however, no bathrooms at the corn maze (as far as I can recall) so drink with knowledge of that constraint. Otherwise, you will be wandering into adjacent corn fields to relieve yourself, and you know what can happen out there!
Bird's-eye view of the Fremont Corn Maze
One of the fun things I remember about the Fremont corn maze was the interaction between strangers. It is inevitable that within the group you arrive at the corn maze with someone is likely to go missing among the networks of winding paths and dead ends. If such an event occurs, you could try calling your friends on the cell. However, that route isn't terribly effective given that it's hard to give directions in a place such as this ("take a right at the big group of corn husks" doesn't quite cut it) and given the fact that cellular reception not as reliable as in the city. It is best to ask for some help: "Excuse me, but did you recently pass by a bunch of loud drunk people? One person would have smelled of bourbon. You did? Where were they headed?" Someone might even escort you to them and offer you a swig from their group flask. Good things come from asking for help in the corn maze. Really.
Oh, that reminds me of one important hint: don't wear any shoes that you would care about if they got submerged in mud/manure. I speak from experience. Same applies to your pants.
Consider visiting a local corn maze this autumn.
In other Halloween pre-gaming news, Jean Paul's going away party is this Friday, the 19th, right here on Grove Street. I am trying to figure out where my pad of colored construction paper is. I would like to decorate this place properly...in the spirit of the season.
Think this concept, but much better....
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
No-zones of victory
Stop the presses!!!! Something amazing has happened in DC! The end of a wholly corrupt system, resulting in millions of pilfered dollars going into the pockets of DC's cab drivers, is about to happen.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Status check:
I think I've posted this image before. I was browsing through my photos of Donnell Garden for my drawing assignment, and I came across this one. It's a favorite. It's just so damn optimistic!
In rainbows
The new Radiohead downloadable name-your-price is really quite good. I prefer a few tracks over others, but usually I end up liking the ones I don't listen to at first the most.
Super easy download, too. I paid 5 pounds sterling, about $11 US. Sure, the really dedicated fans might pay more, but I am a graduate student. I feel like their system sets it up so those like me are able to benefit from others' subsidy.
It's nice to have new Radiohead tunes to listen to. I've listened to The Eraser too much, frankly, since last summer.
Super easy download, too. I paid 5 pounds sterling, about $11 US. Sure, the really dedicated fans might pay more, but I am a graduate student. I feel like their system sets it up so those like me are able to benefit from others' subsidy.
It's nice to have new Radiohead tunes to listen to. I've listened to The Eraser too much, frankly, since last summer.
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