released.

HYSTERICAL!!!

A roof to climb.

I am quite happy and settled into my lunch now.. the quizno's sub and coke is really hitting the spot. The 'spot' is actually one that was created through my wild and crazy escapade to 80's night at Skully's. That place is fun! I love it, but as I say frequently - I wish that Thursday there could be transplanted to a Friday night so that I could REALLY live it up. Sometimes I really get in the mood and dress eighties. It's so much fun!

I am a little slow today due to last night, but lets hope that the lunch hour will mend me. If not - oh well.. :)

I received a CD in the mail today that I had ordered. It is by the group "Architecture in Helsinki." How could I not get a CD by a band named after my profession as well as a cool town in Finland. They have won me over already. Turns out that the music is rather bouncy, electronica, and quite happy. Simple, not overly complex, and clean. I am already into the CD and this my first listen.

Many of my friends have recently adopted kittens. They are all so adorable! They run around chasing the air as well as their tails. Give them a toy with cat nip and they are a mess! Makes me wonder if I should get a needy animal to wake up to every morning. How could you ever be in a bad mood with a soft purring kitty around?

My obsession with Air America 'Unfiltered' morning show is ridiculous. I need to stop listening to it! Yes, I am in love with Rachel Maddow and that is part of the issue, but it is making me angry at the state our country is in. I am equally as frustrated that I am listening to all of this propaganda and I can't vote. Makes me rethink getting dual citizenship. It would be worth it if I could help to get bush out of office.

If bush does get reelected I am also going to consider finishing my schooling out of the country. Canada, Ireland or England seem to be the main choices.

I cant wait!! :)

This is quite hilarious.... Some people are naturally funny - this guy is one of them.

Main Street Diner, Southern Ohio.

Niches.

Friends.

It is sunday evening as I sit here typing to someone. I hate sundays - the anticipation that I have for the week is an almost sickening feeling. I dread tomorrow - we have a project going out to bid that needs to be finalized and I am sure that everyone will be on edge slightly. This means that I get incredibly emotional and take everything personally. I am a Cancer which explains a lot, yet it can be very frustrating at times.

Went out with a friend to Hocking Hills this weekend to explore the autumn colors. It was beautiful. Sometimes the city can suffocate you without your realization and a moment in nature can help to alleviate that. It was a needed escape. We also had a chance to hang out in a little town, Vinton (i think) was the name. The town was created around a main crossroad with local diners and 'quaint' american architecture. It was a plesant surprise as we were lost at the time.
I had the local specialty, which was fried califlower for lunch. It was quite yummy. But, one thing that did strike me was everyones kindness and time for you and your concerns. We were given a free map at the local gas station along with no-obligation directions to get us to our destination. We were also asked questions from locals as to where we were from. (must have stuck out quite a bit.) I wish I had a great story to tell - something like: I am travelling to the west coast by car and this is my second day on the road... blah.. blah... Sadly, I replied with Columbus - an hour north. Regardless, it was a nice day trip and quite entertaining.

Additionally, I witnessed the kindness of human nature at our destination Niches Retreat. The retreat which was in true need of support in many ways was given a future due to kind donations. It was a wonderful moment to experience.

It is turning 8pm and I am going to start another movie in my list of 'must watch.'

Remembering Jacques Derrida

Me at work today.. :)

I do often wonder why all of the good, attractive people are always taken. I am not saying that all of the single people are unattractive - it's just that I don't know you yet.

Of course, I am posative that I do not want a relationship at the moment - hell everyone knows how bad I am at dating and crap like that. But - I suppose that the Sleeping Beauty movie by Disney has haunted me since childhood or maybe it was Beauty and the Beast. (in my story there would be no beast though - lets not read into things literally.)

Or - maybe I just sound like a bitch when I talk. hmm.

enough self loathing and off to a friends house for the debates.....

The spatial mess of a Columbus, Ohio intersection. Do the wire companies think we won't notice what is above us?

• A Rebel without a Cause (James Dean - maybe he really is as hott as he looks on the cover)
• North by Northwest (thanks Trevor)
• Mrs. Minnover (no idea, won a couple of oscars back in the 40's)
• Twin Peaks (another David Lynch)

I now remember what school reading was like. Often quite boring, yet somehow important in the shaping of our small minds.

After a friend kindly told me what he was reading tonight for class I decided to check it out too - since I had the book sitting on my kitchen table this seemed like a great way to move on with my self inflicted challenge. Colin Rowe - Mathematics of the Ideal Villa.

Funny how the more I flip through these books sitting on my table I realize that during school I started out most of them in full vigor - highlighting, marking notes in the margins and color coding ideas. By about page 50 this colorful mosaic had faded into a black and white page. I had obviously stopped reading out of shear boredom of the material and hoped that I could get all of the information from lectures.

So tonight is the chapter, "Character and Composition." After reading the thoughts, love and hate come to mind immediately. I love the theory and fluidity of relationships throughout history. How simply the use of one word can banter back and forth to unfold deeper conflicting ideas within the structure of the ethos. Fascinating. But, why did I have to force myself to not day dream and reflect on today's myriad of events.

Sometimes I wish I was a little more disciplined.

Regardless, I am now reading this book as the next phase of this 'ridding my table from books' adventure. Some of the chapters later on look really great. eg. 'transparency: literal and phenomenal' and 'The Architecture of Utopia' look especially juicy. I just hope wrap up my day dreaming prior.

I am currently sitting here at Cup-O-Joe, trying to design a sign that will be placed in front of a prestigous, gorgeous building here in Columbus. I am researching Olbrich for ideas on monument and layering neo-classical ideas. I think that I have a good idea on how to approach the sign.

It seems that ever since I have graduated from college and working full time in my profession, which I currently love, I am scared and terrified of ceasing to learn. In order to continue this theoretical movement I have removed all of my old architecture books to the middle of my kitchen table. I am forbidden to move them until they have been read throughout, thoroughly. Since I am quite anal about mess and clutter, this is a hard feat for me to stare at these books constantly.

I am also, since all of my friends are back in the grind of school without me, have been making a concious effort to watch all of the movies that are celebrated within the industry. I am fed up with being in the middle of a good conversation when someone suddenly makes a reference to a movie that I have not seen (which is quite a few.) I refuse to be that ignorant person again. As of last week I have watched:

• A Short Film about Love
• Blue Velvet
• Brazil
  

On the list for this week is:

• One Flew Over the Cockoo's Nest
• All about Eve
• Space Oddessy 2001

So thats about it for the moment. If anyone has recommendations for other 'classics' that are worth seeing please let me know!

Which Historical Lunatic Are You?
From the fecund loins of Rum and Monkey.

ELITE DESIGNERS AGAINST IKEA

Funny site - worth checking out if you are a designer or lover of ikea.

After being called out on the mistake they then explained their mistake. What is the world coming to?

A scary mistake!

Check out "The Other Paper" this week... they did publish my letter which is quite exciting. I was the 'highlighted' letter on the first page. They pulled out two quotes of mine for the headline.

"To some people it may be hideous, but its presence is a feat within itself."

(I think this is the second one, but I can't remember)
"Through its grandeur scale and powerfulness, this building is a monument."

Just found out that OSU used some of my renderings for some form-z book thing. Cool eh?

Last week I was informed of an article that was written in a local paper regarding the new School of Architecture.

http://www.theotherpaper.com/substory1.html

The article was awful. It was taking easy hits at the new design and pointed out all of the flaws - disregarding the monumental positives. It would have been a little more rewarding to the community for the author to take a optimistic and constructive look at the new school.

Regardless - I got slightly annoyed by the cheap shots that I felt had been taken and decided to write to the editor to explain my unhappiness. Here is what I wrote: (Watch out for the cheesy romanticism towards the end - gotta love it)

Having spent four years bouncing buildings while going through the Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture and completing my undergraduate degree in the basement of Vivian Hall, I would like to congratulate all of the students on their brand new beautiful home. I am truly excited for you all. However, I am upset that the article, “Architecture Profs Rip Architecture Building,” responded to only the controversy and design flaws of the project and not the positive aspects of this structure. The mistakes that were pointed out are genuine mistakes that will always be apparent in projects of its scale. This should not be shocking to anyone in the profession. Could we not instead focus on the wonderful new space and accessories that the students
have gained?

I am also thrilled in the fact that within these times of McDonaldization and cardboard houses we are still producing buildings that are formally designed. To some people it may be hideous, but its presence is a feat within itself. So much collaboration, struggle, and tension went into it and finally Knowlton stands as a testament to that. Through its grandeur scale and powerfulness, this building is a monument to all of the hard work and dedication that these students have presented throughout the schools existence.

So, to the students who are up late worrying about a current project – I say, “good luck and maybe someday we can participate in a project like the one that is sheltering you during your late nights and disheartening critiques.”

According to the editor, whom I talked with yesterday - the letter should be published next week. I truly hope that it is, because, man, was I angry. (plus it's always fun to get things published.) Next stop - my own article.

I am cold.. where did the summer go?

I also had a dream last night that my mother gave me plastic surgery. Talk about a nightmare.