released.

I am finished with my work with 30 mins to spare... :) Talk about close calls!

So I just ate lunch and am indulging in a nice box of After Eights. These things are great. I couldn't help myself when I bought a box to bring home for thanksgiving for my folks - I had to get one for myself. They remind me of when I would spend my summers in Ireland at my grandparents farm and my grandmother would stuff me full of every food imaginable - polo's for me to eat before dinner in the haystack without my mother knowing, a couple of cookies before dinner that my mother did know about, a full dinner (a roast, potatoes, veggies, gravey,) apple pie, buscuit cake, mashmallow cookie things, tea and THEN the final food to stuff down were the After Eights. Thin, creamy and chocolaty. Yummmmmmmmm....

Thinking about it now, I should have eaten more at Thanksgiving. Good thing Christmas is coming up so I can give it another try.

I am back today with a better out look on life. I woke up early and 'hit' the gym to relase that bad attitude I was getting. (I have refused to even turn on my phone in two days - bad sarah) I was then able to stop by a new coffee shop on the way to work for a well deserved coffee (dark roast with NO creamer or sugar) and a sesame seed bagel. I am now at work eating and drinking - settling into the day. It's 7:30 and I have a TON of work to do before a meeting at 3pm. agh!

I am very exicted about this new coffee shop that opened just a hop and a skip from where I live. Finally a GOOD cup of coffee and a relaxing place to read just around the corner. These are life's simplicities that I dream about! Before this place I would have to drive 10 minutes to find a decent cup. (I have been known to be quite picky about my coffee.) The extra special thing about this coffee shop is that it also (unlike most american cafe's) serves liquor's. Yummy... a shot of Bailey's Irish Cream with an espresso is one of the most wonderful things in the world.

Listening to - Everything But the Girl - Tempremental.

I have returned from the Cleveland to the dreaded Columbus. I spent two nights and one day with the folks and drank and ate all I could have dreamed of – it was wonderful. I then spent a nice relaxing night at Joe’s parents house. We watched the James Bond with Zorrin and Mayday while guzzling cheap wine. I can’t believe that Mayday actually thought that Zorrin loved her!! Not bad. We then drove back to Columbus and I am currently at work – it’s Monday.

I honestly don’t know how much longer I can do the Columbus thing. It is mind numbing – and maybe I need help with my life outlook, but things are just not fun. I couldn’t sleep last night again due to my fixation on the animals rustling in the walls (I live in an old, old Victorian house) and my obsession with my current life status.

Work is becoming stressful because I feel like a complete idiot. I know nothing about the damn field of architecture. Who was I kidding when I went to school for this? This as in 40+ hour a week of feeling like I am stupid and the remainder of the week trying to convince myself I am not stupid.

Not even Chocolate Chocolate Chip cookies make me feel better anymore. Vanilla maybe?

Yay!! Our firm was mentioned in the Columbus Dispatch today! 

I have done it again. I have worked myself up about the wonderful 4 day break I get due to Thanksgiving. I have worked myself up so much that I am now sitting here at work, light headed, sniffling and coughing. Somehow it has become quite normal for me to be sick during such familial gatherings. All I want is to be actually able to taste the food that my mom will have worked so hard at preparing. My first real 'vacation' in 8 months and I am sick.

The nature of this trick being played on me, even in it's ironic manner, it not remotely humorous.

I will be spending all of my designated free time until Thursday sleeping in hopes of ridding myself of this bug in time for greeting relatives and friends.

I am having issues with the actual size of the background. It seems that when I use a different monitor shape the picture suddenly ends. Let's see if this works. If not, I may be begging for help! :)

Finally my editing is finished for the time being. I decided to finish it up in the middle of The Lord of the Rings which I had rented to understand what all of the fuss was about. Granted this is first one (of three) and I am 2.5 hours through. I don't know if I can take it anymore. I am utterly sick of seeing Froto on the edge of death every 1/2 hour. I additionally cannot look at the actor who was in Hidalgo without cringing. I was able to see that movie for free while flying to California this summer and drifting in and out of uncomfortable, lateral sleep. Thank god that I only had to watch it on a 15 square inch screen - anything bigger would have been utterly ridiculous.

The new background of my blog is of a picture I took while studying architecture in Italy. It is of Brion cemetery by Carlo Scarpa. Scarpa has to be one of my favorite architects. His use of heavy, raw materials in such organic space is amazing. I also admire him for his true beginnings as a stone mason. He knew and understood more than the design/art of the field, but also the technical and realistic part of it. Every single joint and latch, hinge and fixture was designed and detailed by him. He in my mind, is a true architect and designer.

I am now going to get ready to head over to my friends, we have two missions tonight:

1. Put a piece of Ikea furniture together without breaking it in the process.
2. Finish the photo shoot installation piece.

This is the new background... for now

I am trying to make some aesthetic changes on this blog, so stick with me while I pull it all together. If I actually understood html it would probably help to speed the process up :)

I am currently sitting in a coffee shop waiting for the day to begin while enjoying my satisfaction with the day so far. At a mere 7:12am I am comfortably seated at a coffee shop with a half eaten bagel and a warm cup of coffee. I am extra proud of myself for my lack of ability to sleep last night which allowed me to go the the gym at 5am. So now tonight I won't have to fret about not working out etc.... I can just go out an party knowing that I already paid my dues today.

I am quite excited about work today since I will be traveling to Ohio University to do some measurements for two different projects. (no they are not dirty bathrooms!) This traveling means that my boss will drive us so I can sit and relax for a couple of hours, we'll be around a college campus (oh I miss those days), I'll get a free lunch out of the trip, AND we'll get back to the office late which means that it will seem like a short day. What a great day I have planned out!

Additionally tonight will involve finishing or at least working on the installation for joes apartment. (The photo shoot was part of the process.) I'll show you the finished project when it's completed.

7:18 and I have also written in my blog. Damn people - nobody can touch me today!

This on the other hand is probably the worst!

Joe and I did a fun photo shoot last night and this was the best picture that emerged from it.

ohhh... a restroom renovation? The joys of learning... and no I didn't use the facilities while I was there.

While outside of my apartment last night I ran into the lady who had called the ambulance for Rosie and I naturally asked her how things are going. She started shaking and told me that Rosie was pretty much on her death bed at a local nursing home. The lady, Mary, was very visibly shaken and upset as she referred to Rosie as her best friend and pseudo-mother. Throughout this I had no idea what to say other than to listen as I felt that Mary had had little time to vent.

I was then brought up into Rosie's apartment, which was one of the biggest wrecks I have ever seen. Mary was distraught over Rosie's apartment mess and inability to take care of herself. This frustration unleashed itself in yelling and shouting at the world as I stood before her.

Upon reaching her front door, up 16 steps, I was confronted with a sudden entourages of flys and bugs crawling around the door. I opened the door and inched in to find a light as Mary marched forward at her sad ability to show someone this hell. Unable to find a light I stood there in the doorway in my pajama pants and sandal's. My fear suddenly hit me when Mary explained how she had a rat run over her foot earlier in the day. Bags, dirty clothes, old food as well as overall junk was piled everywhere. Cockroaches ran up and down the walls ignoring the usual light they fear. This apartment could have been described as a trash heap from years ago. I wondered if I was to dig deep enough in these piles if some items would have begun the process of decomposition. Maybe some fossils of old library books were buried under the bed.

I shortened the stay as much as I could and probably had the words ' let me go' imprinted on my face. I managed to escape with a cordial smile while in agreement to help as much as I could. I should have put a clause in there - I will provide my services to the latter providing there is no contact with the apartment required.

Regardless, the way that some people live I will never understand. Hopefully Roise will end up in a home with nurses and people who won't let her live in a dump... Nobody should have to live/choose to live like that.

While walking through a construction site I was lucky to find this gem.

I am lucky enough to live in the same building as the neighborhood drunk. This woman is 65 years old but tends to physically look close to 80. She tends to stumble around to the local bars all day until she is turned away due to her reaching the 'crawling' level of intoxity. Quite often I have been lucky when she returns home from her bar hopping to receive a huge hug, life advice about kicking police officers asses, not walking around with an open container, and if your friend walks around with an open container - make sure that you walk ahead of them! She is quite endearing in her advice and usually leaves me to ponder these lessons with a 'pwees sawah don't be mad at meee.. I'm a good kid.'

I was saddened to return home on Friday to see a friend of hers standing on the curb in front of the house. Suddenly after a brief hello a large flashing ambulance spun onto our corner of town. Out rushed a couple of young buff, slow motion running (such as in Baywatch) uniformed people with their arms stacked with blankets, bags and other important items.

After turning out my lights and becoming the sneaky neighbor trying to listen in to the hustle and bustle above me. Turns out that my neighbor had been having seizures for the last two days and hadn't alerted anyone. They rushed her off to hospital with the friend yelling 'Rosie, you better listen to them, they know what they are doing.'
'oh, and your hospital staff better pay no attention to her, shes a stubborn old woman.'

I hope that Rosie is ok, I need some more of those drunken hugs!

CNN.com - Suicide suspected at WTC site - Nov 7, 2004

Sorry to be so pessimistic. I am working on my optimism and the election results could pose a great opportunity for me to do that - or just become oblivious to the world around me.

Thoughts as gathered at www.bbc.co.uk:

If, as seems increasingly likely, Bush takes a second term, it is a bleak day not just for America but for the whole world. It is frustrating having to sit back helplessly and watch as America makes a huge mistake - one which will not be confined to their borders. In the past four years George Bush has wrecked the economy, ignored the environment and allowed lives to be lost in a needless war. Who knows what more he can 'achieve' during another term? One shudders to think. - Polly, Devon, UK

Well it looks like another 4 years of hearing about WMD. God help us all and the world. - Ann Keane, Beirut, Lebanon

I was going to rant against the US people for voting in Bush. Having read the comments here, all I can say is: I am truly sorry for you, I too fear terrible times ahead. - Jim Tindal, Birmingham, UK

The voice of America indeed - but which America? How so many people voted for Bush is mind-boggling. An absolute disaster. This is a tragic day for our planet and for all of us, wherever we live. - Raymond Perrez, Toulouse, France

If Bush wins, as it seems now, we will have more problems. For the world it's a sad day. The conflicts with Europe will widen. And the hatred against the US will also widen. Just hope for 2008 and Hillary Clinton. - Peter, Gothenburg, Sweden

Bush wins, and it really tells something about people of the United States. More war and misery. - Annika, Helsinki, Finland

Today is quite reminiscent of the day before Father Christmas (Santa) comes. I am feeling that anticipation/excitement growing as the day progresses. The culmination being, not a stocking full of new toys come tomorrow, but the reign of a new president.

I had a wonderful morning. I strolled down to the local cafe and had a bagel while carefully eyeing an attractive girl and smearing cream cheese all over my face. Of course this was not the obvious eyeing, it was the quite, shy, me making a statement that was so subtle it could easily have been missed. Next time I will actually try to make eye contact.

I did get a chance to drive downtown to drop some papers off and on every street corner there were people holding election signs. People were beeping horns, hollering their political candidates views across the street, waving signs in front of cars, canvassing the neighborhoods, sticking pamphlets in every door and mailbox, as well as covering peoples windshields with 'useful' candidate information.

This was beautiful.

Never, in my 24 years of life (minus the first few due to ignorance) have I seen so many people passionate about their beliefs and while being so obvious about it. The passion, anger, frustration was written on everyone's face. If only this happened everyday of the year. We need full time people on the streets to make us feel and think aside from the ones always asking for change.

A cool rug attached?