The Builder's Boneyard

Huge News!

2012-02-03T08:29:00.000-06:00

I haven't been keeping up with this blog much in the past few months, primarily because I have been going through a time of great transition, risk, and uncertainty. I originally began posting as a way to document my road to becoming an architect, but with the recent situation I feared that I would not succeed in my attempt and therefore had no business writing a blog about it. Sure, the blog might still serve purpose as a source of "what not to do," but that would not be fun to write. Yesterday I received notification that I was accepted to the Master of Landscape Architecture program at Texas A&M University, and now feel that I can (and should) resume my postings.

This news marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life, a point at which I have turned off the well-traveled road and found myself walking deeper into a mysterious wood; Nothing is certain except the I knowledge that I am just where I need to be. Stay tuned and I will explain how a guy with an atypical background and relatively low undergraduate GPA succeeded in being accepted to one of the top-ranked landscape architecture programs in the country.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

Political Implications in the Borghese Garden

2011-12-17T21:32:00.002-06:00

Since the Time ofAntiquity, Roman estates have been developed to include an assertion of theirpatron’s wealth and political influence, however it was during the RomanRenaissance era that landscape took on a central role towards this end. Exemplifying this shift is the VillaBorgehese, commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the 17^thcentury and which utilized a vast garden landscape to flaunt and proliferateits owner’s power. Borghese’s estate wasnovel not only in the expansive size of its gardens, but also in itsorganizational layout and emphasis on the landscape. These new concepts in landscape architectureset Villa Borghese apart from its predecessors and helped to establish trendsthat would influence landscape architects and painters in the times thatfollowed.¹

During the ItalianRenaissance it was common for... (go here for full article)

Stourhead Gardens: Landscape and Perceptions

2011-12-17T21:20:00.002-06:00

The gardens at Stourhead in Wiltshire, England provide an exampleof how landowners of the past have utilized their landscapes to create astabilizing perception of wealth and establishment. Popular 18th century English cultural trendsand attitudes are drawn upon to inform the garden’s design, beautifying thespace while promoting the owner’s political agenda. Architectural elements are also incorporatedto streamline pedestrian flow while simultaneously establishing the owner’sright of proprietorship. By successfullyachieving perceptions through landscape design, we see that Stourheadinfluences its contemporaries and becomes part of an ancient tradition ingarden design.

Developed in the mid-18th century... (go here for full article)

Fontainebleau in Migration

2011-12-17T21:12:00.003-06:00

The Chateau de Fontainebleau, located about 35 miles southwest of Paris, provides a study in how transposition and migration within landscape architecture can have far reaching effects. At Fontainebleau we see how the 16th century French emperor Francis I transposes the politically driven siting considerations of ancient Roman emperors to his own era in an effort to solidify the authority of his rule. We also witness how groups and individuals become vessels that carry design languages across international borders and through time, particularly during periods of political turmoil. Perhaps most interestingly, Fontainebleau provides an example of how these transpositions and migrations are self-propagating and can move on to influence distant areas.

In choosing to site Fontainebleau... (go here for full article)

Master of Landscape Architecture Application Process

2011-12-04T23:02:00.001-06:00

As is typical, I'm here at a coffee shop in Austin working on my application to grad school. I feel that I'm pretty close to finishing up my statement of purpose, although it seems like I've been 'pretty close to finishing' for quite some time. I really need to wrap this up so that I can start working on my resume and fire it off to UTSOA by the December 15th deadline.

I have realized that it was an important move to resign from my job last month. The application process has been time and energy consuming, and trying to produce creative work after coming home from a stressful day at the office would have affected my application's quality. Plus there are so many little necessities of life that come up each day that it is often challenging to work on the application even without a job. Moving out of my apartment, for instance, which I'll be doing for the rest of the week. And too much is up in the air right now to sign another lease, so it looks like I'll be staying on a friend's couch for at least a few weeks. This is not all bad though - my friend is an architectural designer who can probably offer some pointers on my portfolio ;)

“Nothing happens until something moves.”

- Albert Einstein

2011-11-26T18:59:00.001-06:00

Today I took the New GRE, ticking off another box on my grad school applications checklist. My verbal and math scores were 165 and 151, respectively, meaning that I scored within the 96th percentile for verbal but only in the 56th percentile for math. It would have been great to score higher on the math portion, but based on what I've gathered from the UTSOA admissions department and online GRE forums, the GRE scores will not determine my acceptance into a LA program. Much more important - thank goodness - will be my statement of purpose, recommendation letters, and portfolio. I really need to hit these things hard in the coming days and 'get in the zone', so to speak.

I have been slowly collecting more portfolio material, and one piece that I'm kind of proud of is this flyer for a benefit concert I'm helping organize for my buddy, Trevor. It should be a good time.

Applying to Grad School!

2011-11-16T20:15:00.001-06:00

I had originally posted an excerpt from my application Statement of Purpose here, but after reviewing it today I was just embarrassed by it. Perhaps I'll post the finalized version if I am accepted ;)

Biting the Apple

2011-10-30T22:40:00.003-05:00

Last week I ended my six months of employment with Apple, Inc. I took this job back in April after it had essentially fallen into my lap - a random call from a contracting company led to an interview and within weeks I had gone from working as a restaurant host to helping manage accounts worth millions of dollars each day. The Austin headquarters in which I worked was located conveniently close to the Austin Community College campus, and I took the opportunity to audit GIS courses in the evenings. Being a contractor, my pay was minimal but it was enough to afford my own one bedroom apartment in north Austin, and living alone for the first time has been a welcomed experience.

While I feel that I served the company well and learned some useful things about account management and customer service, not a day went by during my time at Apple that I did not wish I was doing something more meaningful with my life. Throughout my six years of service in the Air Force I didn't always feel that my job was that important, but it was far more challenging and fulfilling than being an underemployed, underpaid cog in a consumer product machine. And with just one month left to put my graduate application portfolio together and fire it off to prospective colleges, I new my time with Apple needed to come to an end. On Friday I resigned on good terms and am now setting my eyes to the difficult path ahead.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs’ Stanford Commencement Address

Dick Pierce's Permaculture Design Course

2011-10-01T21:42:00.001-05:00

Today I attended the first class of Dick Pierce's Permaculture Design course here in Austin. Permaculture is a way of designing with nature to create self-sustaining farms at varying scales, and I've become so interested that I actually shelled out $600 and all my Saturdays from now to December to learn about it. I don't recall when or how I was first turned on to permaculture, but I believe it was when I came across the "Permaculture Pack" video collection while searching for Landscape Architecture materials on a torrent site a few months ago.

From what I understand so far, a Japanese man named Fukuoka became critical of destructive Western farming practices imported to his country following WWII. He reacted against these new non-traditional methods by forming his own farming system centered around working with nature to do as little work as possible. Fukuoka's insight and success was paralleled by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, who in the 1970s worked to develop and popularize "permaculture," a system of organizing nature's naturally occurring systems to foster self-proliferating soil fertility and yields.This type of farming has been expounded upon by highly successful small-scale farmers such as Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms, who was featured in the critically acclaimed book The Omnivore's Dilemma (one of my all-time favorites.)

Permaculture seeks not only to create self-sustaining farms for personal and community use, but to begin reversing the damage being done by humans to the planet's ecosystem and to ourselves. It is also focused on developing a more harmonious and fulfilling human lifestyle and has ethical considerations at its core. I realize that this all seems a bit hippie, and being hippie in any capacity is not something I've ever been much interested in. Yet permaculture has strong scientific backing and empirically measurable successes, and to me it just makes good common sense. Why should we create an ultra-complex system of petroleum-based farming that is costing us billions of dollars and exploding our rate of debilitating disease? Does the sun not provide enough energy already? Can we not use the hard-won fruits of our intellectual evolution to organize natural patterns into a highly efficient system while at the same time eliminating pollutions and wastes?

We can. If we can develop a new iPhone every year then we can figure out a way to feed ourselves sustainably, and permaculture offers a path towards that end. Ultimately, I would like to utilize the knowledge gained in Pierce's Permaculture Design course to create a sustainable farm on my father's modest acreage in Montgomery, as well as on future clients' properties as a Landscape Architect. In the shorter term, I hope to use some of the designs I create throughout the course in my MLA application portfolio.

Book Review: Becoming a Landscape Architect by Kellean Foster

2011-09-28T17:55:00.000-05:00

Earlier this month I read Becoming a Landscape Architect by Kelleann Foster, RLA, ASLA. The book is essentially a compilation of excerpts from interviews done with landscape architects and students from around the country, and provides information about job opportunities and the skills needed to succeed in the profession. It provided me more insight into the key skills I should try to develop and emphasize as I work on getting my foot in the door at a firm, and offered motivation and inspiration through personal testimonies.

I enjoyed how Foster points to the diversity of backgrounds in the profession. Due to my age and my current lack of experience in landscape architecture, I keep a keen eye open for instances in which an architect has overcome a non-traditional background to become successful in landscape architecture. One such architect profiled in the book is Douglas Hoerr of Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects in Chicago, who "wrote a cold-call letter to the most famous gardener he had heard of in England" and gained real-world experience over eight years. He went on to become a registered landscape architect and now partners a successful and respected firm.

Also inspiring is the fact that almost every architect questioned about the axiomatic qualities a landscape architect should possess gave essentially the same responses; creativity, artistic skill, the ability to empathize with people, personal charisma, a passion for the natural environment, and a love of learning. For years now I have craved the opportunity to develop these exact qualities within myself, but have felt constrained by the lifestyle I obliged myself to. My six years in the military, for instance, made me a much more effective leader but did little to promote my artistic talents. The idea of being able to use and develop these skills as a landscape architect adds fuel to my fire as I pursue this career transition.

Does Foster's book actually lay out step-by-step avenues one should take to become a landscape architect? No, not really, and I must confess that this is what I had hoped for when deciding to purchase the book. The book does, however, provide a wealth of raw, first-hand information about what is important in a successful landscape architect, and allows the reader to read between the lines to interpret how he or she might go about developing these skills. This allowance for interpretation is perhaps more valuable than a cookie cutter recipe for becoming a landscape architect, because (as expounded upon in the book) landscape architecture is anything but a cookie cutter profession.

Learning Photoshop and Building Design Portfolio

2011-09-09T12:04:00.000-05:00

Learning photoshop, little by little.

From Wikipedia:

"John Claudius Loudon (8 April 1783 – 14 December 1843) was a Scottish botanist, garden and cemetery designer, author and garden magazine editor.

Loudon was born in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland to a respectable farmer. Therefore as he was growing up, he developed a practical knowledge of plants and farming. As a young man, Loudon studied chemistry, botany and agriculture at the University of Edinburgh. When working on the layout of farms in South Scotland he described himself as a landscape planner. This was a time when open field land was being converted from run rig with 'ferm touns' to the landscape of enclosure which now dominates British agriculture.

Loudon was instrumental in the adoption of the term landscape architecture by the modern profession. He took up the term from Gilbert Laing Meason and gave it publicity in his Encyclopedias and in his 1840 book on the Landscape Gardening and Landscape Architecture of the Late Humphry Repton."

This Giraffe has absolutely nothing to do with John Claudius Loudon.

...or does it?

GRE Vocab Study

2011-09-05T21:13:00.000-05:00

Book Review - Holy Shit by Gene Logsdon

2011-09-03T17:53:00.010-05:00

Today I finished Gene Logsdon's Holy Shit (2010) as part of an ongoing effort to education myself on sustainable farming, which I intend on incorporating into my designs as a landscape architect. The book was entertaining, and provided both philosophical and practical advice on the handling of manure from various sources (cow, pig, man, etc.) I appreciated the author's tongue-in-cheek humor throughout the book, which helped make it an easy read. I also appreciated the short but concise chapters, which suggested to me that Holy Shit was formatted to be read in short sessions in which the reader had some, ahem, quality time on his hands.

The book was especially interesting to me in that Gene seems to be someone who has 'been there' in a way that I have not, though I wish I had. He provides real-life examples of how manure was used and managed during his childhood years as a farmboy, and the imagery is both pleasantly and inspiringly nostalgic. I would love to implement some of the suggestions from the book on my father's few acres in Montgomery, such as using chickens and goats to rejuvenate the soil and building a part-time use outhouse to produce additional compost.

For me, one of the book's most important contributions is the author's support of my ever-growing belief that Landscape Architecture (which often involves creative solutions to ecological problems) is a profession truly and deeply important to the stability of first world countries like mine. I immediately recall Jared Diamond's Collapse as I read Gene Logdon's comparison between the agricultural management practices of ancient fallen civilizations and those of today's first world countries:

"But why did these civilizations fall? Although much more evidence awaits discovery, from this new knowledge of prehistory emerges an unmistakable pattern. Invariably, at the root of every collapse was an agricultural mistake."

And also:

"Societies, becoming successful - that is, being able to dominate their environments to suit their own comforts - lose sight of the vital connection between their daily lives and farming."

Holy Shit provided me knowledge, ideas, and entertainment regarding organic waste recycling practices, and I recommend it to anyone interested in small-scale organic farming. I see it as an important addition to my small but growing personal agricultural canon, and it inspires me to continue my education on the subjects of permaculture and organic recycling.

Windfalls on the Sea of Change

2011-04-01T15:41:00.009-05:00

After speaking with staff and faculty at a few colleges and consulting with one of my most trusted friends, I am now leaning heavily towards pursuing an Associate of Applied Science Degree in GIS at ACC in Austin. It's much cheaper than any MLA program and geared towards providing the skills that employers are looking for. It also saves me from having to exhaust the last of my GI bill, which I plan to use for a Masters of Landscape Architecture.

The more I look into GIS, the more I get the sense that this is an extremely valuable degree to have. The skills can be applied to exactly what I want to do in the future, but also to a myriad of jobs and projects that I may find myself interested in or needing under unforeseen circumstances. I also like the idea of its versatility; such a degree would enable me to live securely pretty much anywhere in the world within just a couple years :)

Window Shopping

2011-03-30T11:40:00.008-05:00

I've beed doing a lot of soul searching these past few weeks. My plan to live in Austin and apply to MLA programs has been unfolding essentially as I had conceived, but the realities of job hunting as well as talks with architecture school graduates has placed some doubts in my mind as to the job security of architecture.

Recently, I have been tossing around the idea of pursuing an online masters degree in Geographic Information Systems from USC or Penn State. Jobs in GIS are plentiful and will be so for the foreseeable future. Also, while in the Air Force I used GIS programs and could add that experience to a GIS job resume. An online degree would allow me to continue working at my current job, plus the knowledge and skills learned would apply to Landscape Architecture and look good on college application portfolios.

I still have many questions that need answering before I make commitments. Today I am taking a trip to A&M to find out more about Landscape Architecture and future options. Hopefully I will return to Austin with a greater perspective and more prepared to make my next move.

The Winding Road

2011-03-15T10:59:00.008-05:00

I arrived in Austin on Friday, March 4th with no job, no real civilian work experience and no place to live. My plan was - and still is - to eek out an existence in Austin while pursuing the skills and experience needed to enter into a Landscape Architecture firm and/or graduate program. Since that Friday, I have secured a hosting job at a highly-frequented Austin restaurant and found a place to live for the next few months. My hosting job pays very little, but, fortunately, the room I will be renting also costs very little, despite its prime central-Austin location. As an added bonus, my new landlord expressed interest in having me design and work on her property's landscape.

Additional work opportunities have also presented themselves, although they are not yet secured. I have been offered part-time work at a growing landscaping and design company owned by a friend of my cousin, and hopefully I will begin that job in the coming weeks. Most promisingly, I have been asked to interview at the Austin corporate headquarters of a MAJOR computer company as a contractor. This job would be a big pay increase with steady, flexible hours, and provide opportunity to be hired directly into the company.

So, all in all, I would say things are going well here in Austin :)

Job Time

2011-03-03T23:15:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow I go to Austin to look for a job. I'd like to find something that will teach me skills related to landscape architecture, although I may end up just having to take whatever is available in order to survive. At any rate, it should be an adventure.

New building project!

2011-02-06T10:28:00.002-06:00

This shoe cubby will provide a better place to store our myriad shoes as compared to the plastic bin we are currently using. Hopefully I can finish it before Superbowl kickoff.

Learning CAD

2011-01-05T18:54:00.011-06:00

I have decided to use January to learn AutoCAD, and have downloaded the new 'AutoCAD for Mac' from the AutoDesk website. It is listed as free for students, however it keeps reminding me that my trial version will run out within the month...

DIY Recording Studio

2011-01-02T11:35:00.005-06:00

Looks like I'll be staying at my father's house for a couple months until my brother and I are able to move back to Austin. In the meantime I have some projects I'd like to do, including converting the upstairs "jam room" into a more capable recording studio.

DIY Pantry Project

2010-12-23T18:09:00.004-06:00

Pantry project completed.

And I'm eager to start the next project...

DIY Pantry Project

2010-12-21T00:09:00.005-06:00

Student housing in Austin's West Campus area is characteristically overpriced and undersized. The kitchen/dining room/living room of my condo, however, is almost comically tiny. Exacerbating space issues in the kitchen is the lack of a pantry and convenient storage areas. Thus I am making a small pantry which is sized to fit into a space between the wall and water heater.

I bought my saw off craigslist.com and the lumber from Lowes

I used thin wood runners for the shelf supports, but if I did it again I might just buy metal supports to save time.

I may box in that water heater with 1/8" plywood.

One of my neighbors happened to be throwing out this entertainment center thing, so I was able to salvage some free drawer runners. Score!

Paint primer

52 minutes until last final...

2010-12-13T08:08:00.003-06:00

If I start living in Montgomery, I should either join or start a book club as a way to meet people and further my education.

I've found it difficult to concentrate on my studies this last semester. My imagination has left the university for greener pastures...

Graduation

2010-12-06T22:20:00.004-06:00

On Saturday I attended my college graduation ceremony. I am graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in East Asian Studies and a minor in Architecture. Instead of writing about what I enjoyed or regret about my two-year experience at the University of Texas at Austin, I'd rather write about my future plans. Some things I'm thinking about doing in the coming year include:

1. Learning German
2. Taking a cross-country motorcycle trip to visit friends and experience my country
3. Living overseas for three months
4. Transforming my father's attic storage into a guest room and art studio
5. Recording a music album
6. Continuing my education through a book list
7. Producing an art collection
8. Creating an investment strategy... I'm considering silver or fine art

Also, my dad gave me a MacBook Pro as a graduation present, which I'm loving (right now, in fact)

I'm still trying to think up a name for her...

Perceptions

2010-06-16T20:39:00.007-05:00

This morning the the pedal bar broke off my bike on the way to class. Because of this I didn't have time to get coffee and was falling asleep in class. During my next class I was informed that an event that I would really love to attend is going to be held at a time for which I have already made plans. At the gym, I realized after working out that I didn't put any protein in my protein shake, so all I had to recover with was a banana and some milky water. I had been suffering the intense heat and direct sunshine all day, but when I went out to the pool to tan it was overcast and windy. When I got home I stepped into the shower, only to have a piece of plastic from a broken towel rack stab me in the foot. I got out and called the haircut place - they were booked until close. I took some laundry to the dry cleaners to find it was also closed. On the way to the dry cleaners I met a girl from one of my classes who wanted to talk to me, but I didn't use the opportunity to seduce her. I can't download reading files from Blackboard, even though my teacher has assured me I can.

Today sucked donkey balls.

NO!! This morning I overcame a difficulty and made it to class on time, and saved a couple bucks by not buying coffee. I also answered 5/6 in-class quiz questions correctly. I went to the gym and didn't waste time lounging at the pool. I discovered that a cute girl is attracted to me, and she is not only in my class but lives on the same floor of my apartment complex. I also found out what time the dry cleaners and haircut places close, and I didn't spend any money eating out. I'm now the cafe with plenty of time to do some much needed reading on a subject I'm passionate about, architecture.

Today was good.

UT Architecture Tour: Waller Creek

2010-06-16T02:55:00.006-05:00

Here are some images from today's campus walk-about. Richard Cleary is the professor leading our Campus Architecture & Planning summer course.

Summer Courses at UT & Landscape Architecture

2010-06-15T00:11:00.008-05:00

This summer I am taking four classes at UT. The first two, The Human Body and Campus Architecture & Planning, began at the beginning of this month and have been fun so far. I really need to make As in these classes in order to have a competitive GPA for grad school application, but it's tough to stay focused during the summer. After dropping a hint to my Dad, I now have a short-term incentive to make all As as well - a new camera! I made an A on the first test so we'll see how it goes.

I am now seriously leaning towards landscape architecture as my future profession. Ideally I would be accepted to the Master of Landscape Architecture program at UT for the fall of 2011, but I haven't even begun to assemble my application portfolio (in fact I don't even know when the deadline is). I need to get smart on both landscape architecture and the application process at UT if I want to stand a chance of getting into that program next year.

And you may have noticed I also updated this site ;)

Hope Had Died

2010-05-08T12:35:00.004-05:00

I wrote this short story for my ANS 361 class, Suicide in Japanese fiction. It combines literary elements and parallels the contents of several works we read throughout the class. Part of this project also included a libretto detailing how the story related to our other readings. "Hope Had Died" is loosely based around real people and real events.

Hope Had Died

Another Sleepless Night

2010-04-30T05:47:00.002-05:00

Disorder in the World of Suicide

Today

2010-04-16T23:21:00.006-05:00

It's strange how oftentimes my life will become organized only after I suffer through an exceptionally turbulent period. For instance, on Wednesday night I couldn't sleep at all, so I got up at 6:30am on Thursday and started my day. This might not seem like a big deal, but let's just say that I'm not exactly a morning person. That night I was so tired that I went to sleep at a reasonable hour - midnight - but then woke up at 7:30 this morning with a pounding headache and a terrible realization that I had a paper due in class at 9. I hadn't even started the paper, and it wouldn't be accepted late.

Surprisingly, I busted out the paper in two hours in my living room and made it to class about 45 minutes before it let out. The paper wasn't my best work but I'm pretty pleased with myself considering the time constraints. After class I saw my adviser and sorted out a schedule that will allow me to graduate at the end of this year, which got me thinking about my future options for grad school and employment. I'm beginning to compare landscape architecture to structural architecture, and at this point the former looks quite appealing.

Inspired, I then visited the School of Architecture graduate office and browsed through the application portfolios of accepted non-majors. Some of them were amazing, but I on the whole I know I can create something very competitive. With this in mind I returned to my apartment and finished a painting I had been working on.

Here is the paper I wrote this morning for ANS 361 Suicide In Japanese Fiction.

And here is the painting.

A New Day

2010-03-12T07:33:00.003-06:00

I'm Wide Awake It's Morning

Here's a paper that I wrote last night for ANS361, Suicide In Japanese Fiction. It's nothing groundbreaking but I'm kind of proud that I forced myself devote some quality time to it.

Two Audiences, One Message

by Tom MacDonald

SXSW

2010-03-11T15:12:00.003-06:00

Wooo the SXSW music festival is about to begin!! For those who don't know, South-by-Southwest (AKA SXSW) is a week-long music festival in Austin that draws musicians, fans, and media-types from around the world. Even now as I look out the door of Café Medici I can see excited people on the street and feel an energy in the air.

Unfortunately, I have a problem. I have developed an unhealthy sleep pattern over the last two months that I can't seem to break. I tend to wake up at noon (or later), slog my way through the day cursing myself for not having enough time to live a worthwhile life, and then mess around on my computer until 4 am. A must admit that this pattern has much to do with my devoting too much time to girl-chasing, but regardless of the reason I need to stop screwing around. My grades are suffering and one of my New Year's resolutions was to become a "morning person." Also I want to enjoy every second of SXSW.

Today I'm going to finish writing a class paper early, go to my friends party later tonight, and then down some NyQuil by 1am. Hmm... Now that I think about it I don't think you're supposed to mix alcohol and cough medicine... I'll have to keep that in mind. At anyrate I WILL get up at 7am tomorrow morning. Today will be busy. Fun, but busy.

Invisalign

2010-03-01T13:07:00.001-06:00

OK I really need to get motivated to study architecture somehow...but what to do? I'll just start by reading a few architecture blogs today.

In other news I just got back from the Randy Kunik orthodontist office in Austin and am wearing my first Invisiline tray. I can't wait to see what my teeth look like in 8 months! I hesitate to review Dr. Kunik's practice this early in my treatment, but so far I have been very impressed. Everyone has been very friendly, professional, and just generally classy. The physical office and interior spaces are first-rate as well. Thanks to my dad for helping me out with the financing, it means a lot.

(sigh)

2010-02-16T18:50:00.004-06:00

Well, at least the comments confirm who comes to this blog. I feel used.

Why Are You Here?

2010-02-15T15:08:00.003-06:00

Since January 27th, there has been a significant increase in people coming to this blog. I'm just curious - what is it that people are searching for when they stumble up this site?

Also, for anyone interested in planes or becoming a pilot, check out my little brother's blog at www.the-pilots-log.blogspot.com!

The V's Compel Me

2010-02-12T14:35:00.009-06:00

I'm not sure why, but there have been a ton of visitors to this blog recently. I had just about given up on it but I guess I'll start posting again, starting... NOW.

My school workload this semester is very light. I am enjoying 4 day weekends and hardly any homework, however all this free time is both a blessing and a curse. One thing I'm doing with my spare time is pursuing my dream of playing music at bars for money and recording a rock album with my brother (tomsrecordingrecords.blogspot.com). Unfortunately, I find myself neglecting the little schoolwork that I have and sleeping in way too late way too often. I have resolved to be more disciplined about this.

The musical projects are part of my architecture plan. While seeking advisement last year regarding what kind of person the architecture department is looking for, I was informed that one of the exceptional grad students had a background as a touring jazz musician. I was also advised to "just do what you love and you'll find yourself where you need to be." Well spoken.

Also on a side note, I have a really poor facial complexion and have suffered from mild chronic acne since high school. I tried everything and saw dermatologists but nothing ever helped much. That is, until I found The Acne Practice. This product has changed my life, and that is no overstatement. I highly recommend it to anyone suffering from any level of chronic acne. It works, friends.

How I Crucified Myself

2009-10-29T21:15:00.005-05:00

This is not about architecture but it is a story that must be told.

Today during sailing team practice the wind at Lake Travis was blowing upwards of 30 mph, which is really high to be out in a little 2 man sailboat. Inevitably the sailboat that my partner and I were in capsized in the very rough waters. It was chaos trying to get that thing righted, and after about 20 minutes of failed attempts I was getting exhausted. I was then instructed to grab a strap inside the boat to keep the vessel from rolling all the way over as my partner pulled on the other side. Well, I had to swim under the mast to grab this strap, but in doing so my life jacket got caught on something underwater and nearly drown me. I managed to get my mouth above the surface for some air, and also reached out to grab the strap. As the boat began to right itself I was still caught in the ropes, pinned to the mast. The mast continued to rise out of the water bringing me with it, arms flayed out in either direction and immobilized. "Fuuuck!" I yelled, as I was lifted up into the air, crucified to the mast. After I eventually freed myself we were towed in and practice was canceled. The sailing team said they had never heard of anything like that before.

When we finally got back home, I found that a tree had broken and crashed upon my bike.

Study Breaks

2009-10-26T00:27:00.003-05:00

Her Hidden Hammer

2009-10-23T11:17:00.002-05:00

She finds a hidden hammer
Now all the world's a nail
The salt is rising from her skin
Before her looms the snail

He'll melt under her shadow
He'll drive her leaden sail
Her tyrant sun is rising
Beneath the comet trail

She grips her hidden hammer
And swings it at the foe
The force of stolen sovereignty
Accelerates the blow

But high and wild it misses
Her castles fall from air
The nail drives deep into her heart
And pins her to despair

Forever, to despair

Feeling Paltry Amongst Punk Ass Kids

2009-10-20T22:48:00.007-05:00

One of the maxim's I live by is to not give a shit about what other people think. A wise man once said, "Confidence is the secret to a man's success" (Obama's father to Barack), and I concur. Making an effort to think rationally and not be swayed by the misguided perceptions of society or individuals is synonymous with manhood.

Unfortunately, I seem to be having trouble with this concept during my weekly discussion sections in ARC 318L. When it is my turn to speak, I often feel intimidated and self-conscious, which inhibits the clear expression of my ideas. This intimidation stems from need to prove myself to the architecture students. They have a more thorough education on the subjects we discuss, and I often feel like I'm going to say something really ignorant. Added to this is my longing to become friends with these people who share my interests and who I, in a way, look up to. In effect, I get nervous and then immediately despise myself for allowing younger people to make me feel self-conscious. It sucks.

On the bright side, however, my response to Frank Lloyd Wright's "In the Case of Architecture" article receive maximum points. Finally, a good grade. The class also seemed to be impressed with my topic selection for our final project, which is a comparison between the modern residential architecture of South Korea and that which was built before the Japanese occupation of 1910.

In the Case of Architecture

2009-10-19T22:19:00.014-05:00

After not being accepted for the student blogger project at UT, I got kind of pissed and almost gave up on blogging. Very few people view this site, and I've often considered that it is merely a time-wasting narcissistic endeavor. Instead of throwing it all away, however, I decided to just refocus on my original purpose in creating this site: chronicling my path to becoming an architect.

So in regards to that, my current situation is that I am halfway through ARC 318 L, a course broadly surveying architecture since a little before the Industrial Revolution. Unfortunately, I haven't devoted all my energies to this course and am not doing especially well, but hopefully things will improve from here on out. Well, right after this nap anyways...

In this class we write short response papers to weekly readings, which I will start posting regularly. I am also just beginning our big research assignment tonight and have to turn in the proposal statement paper tomorrow. I've decided to research something related to the architecture of South Korea, a country in which I lived for two years while in the Air Force.

Response to Frank Lloyd Wright's 1908 Article, "In the Case of Architecture"

Untitled

2009-10-16T00:27:00.004-05:00

In the utter darkness, 'twixt the twilight hours
I replied to Mother, quenched her thirsty flowers
Greedy pigs so spied me, in their nightly prowl
And pounced like bloody robbers, dealing false and foul

Proffered easy money, they began to scheme
Published filthy slanders, charges base and mean
Necessity of nature, they assessed a crime
And so the whiteness of my name, was traded for a dime

The Garden District

2009-09-10T08:08:00.006-05:00

Discussing masterworks of American literature with friends at a coffee shop is tops. In the process of snapping this pic, I thought I had set my camera to time delay, so after this was taken I quickly ran over to my seat and posed.

From left: Kyle w/ Style, Pirate Jeff, and Cameron (aka "the Clink")

Getting Ripped at the UT Gym

2009-09-08T21:50:00.002-05:00

I started working out at the gym last week. I tried to take it easy for those first few sessions, but I was still sore as hell for a week afterwards. It's pretty cool that I can easily walk from my apartment to the gym, which was a big reason I moved there. Another great thing about the gym is that there is a rock climbing area inside, which I play around on for 30 mins or so after each workout. My goal right now is just to keep up a good workout/diet regiment until Thanksgiving.

this is seriously the pool at the gym

no, I didn't take these pictures

Sweet OZMA Vid

2009-09-06T14:16:00.001-05:00

Expanding the Empire II

2009-09-04T14:30:00.007-05:00

Just real quick before I pack up and head to Montgomery for the 3 Dizzy Weekizzee. I had an interview today for PROJECT xYz, and let's just say things could have gone better. First of all, I looked like a jackass after arriving late because I couldn't find the building, which was a bit outside of what I consider "the campus". Secondly, it was hot as balls out outside, and after finally finding the building I ended up meeting my interviewers while sweating like a glass of iced tea at a Texas BBQ. And yes, I said interviewerS, three lovely ladies who were well dressed and ready for business. My initial thought was that two of them were competing interviewees, at which point I considered that (A) this is bizarre (B) I've splashed into a pool of sharks, and (C) I am reeeaally underdressed (and no doubt undergroomed) for this.

Anyways it turned out that they were a team of interviewers, but I was still shaken up a bit. Afterall, you don't have too many job interviews while in the military. You're pretty much 'in' at that point. Stay tuned for more info on this mysterious PROJECT xYz.

CRIBS: MacDonald Manor

2009-09-01T21:27:00.013-05:00

My new apartment at The Villas on Guadalupe is tight!

15 minute walk to class. This makes it easy to run home if I forget something or need to blow mud, and hours less spent each week commuting on the bus.
Sweet location. Right on the drag, people, and it's just a 15 minute walk to JP's Java.
POOL!!! Dang our pool is tight! Everyday I tan at the pool while studying, go for a swim, then study some more in the jacuzzi. This is known as 'ballin.
More privacy. At Woodmeade, my bathroom was right out in the hall, my roommate had to walk past my door to get to her room, and our bedrooms shared a wall (...which made things a bit awkward at times). In my new apartment, I have my nice little bathroom within my room, and I'm separated from my roommate by the living area.
Internet. At Woodemeade, I sapped wifi from one of my neighbors'. This is the equivalent of reaching a very long, very thin straw into the thick internet milkshake of someone sitting in a booth 100 billion light years away. My new apartment boasts a constant stream of 100mb/s deliciousness, similar to an internet milkshake pulsar going supernova in your asshole.

'Ballin.

Fall Semester 2009 Begins

2009-08-27T10:06:00.003-05:00

This week I moved into my new apartment and started the fall semester at UT. My apartment held a few disappointments, such as finding that the quality of materials in the bathroom wasn't quite as nice as the model I was shown, and I don't have the view of the pool I was hoping for. Overall, however, it is rad. The floor plan, quality of materials & appliances, and general feel of the space is much improved over Woodmeade. The pool is really sweet, and my classes are just a 15 minute walk from my front door. My roommate seems decent as well.

My class schedule is a massive improvement over last semester's cluster f, which should allow me to start working out at the gym regularly. This semester I'm taking Masterworks of American Literature (E 316 K), Introduction to Astronomy (AST 301), History of the U.S. 1492-1865 (HIS 315 K), and World Architecture: Industrial Revolution-Present (ARC 318L).

Post-Summer Pre-Fall

2009-08-18T12:38:00.004-05:00

Last week I finished my summer classes at ACC. I took 18 credit hours and ended with a 3.78 GPA, not too bad. I learned some good foundational skills in AutoCAD, welding, drawing, and painting. I have also been casually studying Spanish through a free online site called LiveMocha.com. I figure that since many construction workers are Spanish speakers, knowing Spanish will be helpful in my architecture career.

Since finishing the summer classes, I have been staying with my Dad and brother in Montgomery. My brother and I have been working on recording a music album, which is coming along slowly. Today I will attempt to make a bookcase for my brother, my first real woodworking project since making a birdhouse in middleschool.

Ch-Ch-Ch- Changes

2009-08-04T20:32:00.002-05:00

I am homeless.

Bum Shanty Cactus

2009-07-14T21:23:00.006-05:00

Took a trip into the Austin outback today for a landscaping project in my drawing class. There were a disturbing number of abandoned bum shanties...

Crayons and Molten Steel

2009-07-13T21:27:00.007-05:00

For one of the projects in my art class we were asked to cut images out of magazines, make three small collages, and then make the collages into larger drawings using different mediums. So far I've finished two of the three. They aren't that great, but I'm getting some good exposure to working with charcoal and conte crayon.

Toothy Bitch

Gem Splash

I also took some pics at the ACC welding shop last weekend.

Nano

2009-07-09T18:31:00.007-05:00

One reason that I'm taking classes this summer is to create some material to possibly use in my application to UT's graduate architecture program. Here's some recent work I did in my painting and drawing classes. I know these aren't that great but each project seems to come out a little better than the last one. So... progress.

Self Portrait (work in progress)

Whale's Din Din

In other news, I finished my introductory CAD at ACC (DFTG 1405) class with an A and have started intermediate CAD (DFTG 2419). 1405 was pretty cool and Doug Smith was an excellent teacher and motivator. For anyone thinking of taking this course, I really suggest doing the 8 week summer course. The CAD skills you learn are essential but basic, and it would have been boring and frustrating to have stretched it out over a 16 week semester.

AND - I found my IPod Nano! It seems that I slipped it into a paper folder with some documents when I was moving to Austin and forgot where I put it for six months. So I've been catching up on some music. This week I've been listening to The Shins's album Chutes Too Narrow, and it is damn good. I don't really know how to explain it... kind of folky and quirky with superb song writing and great vocals.

Back

2009-07-06T16:16:00.011-05:00

Went to Montgomery for the 4 'O J weekend and worked on some music with my brother. Haven't been posting here as often because the blog has been... compromised. Meaning that my mother has apparently learned how to use the internet to a certain degree and is now peering into my digital backyard.

(edited 7/13/09)

Oh fine, look at my blog. Just don't tell me about it.

Oh Snap!

2009-06-17T17:38:00.008-05:00

I signed a lease yesterday at The Villas on Guadalupe, a co-op that I found through Ross at Uptown Realty in Austin. It seemed to be a big step up from the Jefferson West apartment I very nearly leased. Sure, this place could end up being a paper-walled 24/7 toga party nightmare, but irregardless it provides the three things I wanted: walking distance to UT, garage parking for my car, and an upgraded kitchen. Also, I'll only have one roommate as opposed to the five I was expecting at Jefferson West, which is a relief.

And speaking of living with people in apartments, I had a little episode the other day with the guy who lives above me at Woodmeade. I was warned by my roommate and apartment management when I moved in that this guy could be a difficult neighbor, but I haven't had any problems with him save one - he gets pissed off when I play my stereo and starts stomping on the floor until I turn it down. This might be understandable if I played music really loud at inappropriate times, but this is not the case. Apparently he doesn't get that we live in an apartment complex, and yes you can hear my stereo just like I can hear you humping your wife or your pillow or whatever the hell you're doing up there at night.

Anyways, the first real incident with this guy happened on a Saturday afternoon. I was listening to KVET (best country station ever) on my stereo at reasonable volume, nowhere near 'party' volume. The guy upstairs starts stomping around and then calls my roommate (not sure why she ever gave him her phone number), who then asks me to turn it down to appease this A-hole. So I go up to his apartment to have a nice, civilized conversation, and the guy won't answer the door! What a pansy.

After that I just didn't bother worrying about it, and turned it down low each time he started his douche marching. But the other night I got pissed. It was around 8:45 Saturday night, and I was listening to my stereo while making dinner. Here comes this jackass stomping around above me, but this time I just ignore him and don't turn it down. He continues stomping, until my roommate comes out and wants me to turn it down, not because it's bothering her but because she doesn't want a confrontation with the guy upstairs. Guess what? I got confrontational.

Not sure exactly when it happened, but sometime throughout my six years in the military I changed from an almost pathetically passive person to a guy who will seriously SNAP. And snap I did. I won't get into the details, but suffice it to say that my hand still hurts from 'knocking' on this guy's door. I yelled, I cussed, I threatened. Thank goodness he never opened the door, because I'm not sure what I would have done.

In retrospect I wish I hadn't acted so crazy, and in fact it is quite disturbing. Didn't really know I was like that... I'll probably apologize to the guy the day I move out, but until then I bet he thinks twice about stomping on the floor, lol!

This Is the Money

2009-06-10T19:48:00.005-05:00

I just saved a ton of money by switching to GEICO! Seriously, I will be saving 16.45% on my six month premium by switching my auto insurance from USAA to GEICO, while retaining all the same coverage. I'll need that money because it looks like I'll be moving into a swinging new apartment - with 5 other tennents. More to come on this... I just farted super long and loud at this coffee shop so I must now leave immediately.

ACC Welding

2009-06-07T13:12:00.006-05:00

Yesterday I acquired my first hands on experience in welding - five straight hours of it. The process was a little more intense than I had expected, as was the burning I felt as bits of molten metal flew down my shirt collar. It was pretty fun though. We just practiced welding straight lines on steel plates using a stick welder, but I had fun imagining that I was making weapons for a king in Medieval Europe. Apparently I've read too many books.

Also enjoyable was scavenging for cheap welding tools. I ended up getting a tool box, steel square, striker, wire brush/chip hammer, and vise grips for $20. The tool box was also filled with a bunch of screws and other handy crap.

tool box bonuses included screws, twisty ties, and a spring; SCORE!!

ACC Summer Classes

2009-06-03T19:28:00.004-05:00

I began summer classes at ACC this week. The classes are great, but getting to and from the campus is a huge PITA. I live on the south side of Austin, the campus is on the north side, and my commute coincides with rush hour. It normally takes me around 45 minutes to make the 15 mile trip, and I can't take the bus because that would take over an hour. Also some of the people who ride the city bus scare me.

Today I started on my first oil painting in my Painting I class. Our painting professor is a massive ginger kid who probably could have been a successful ram-buster (Irish version of bronco-busting cowboy), but instead chose to become a soft-mannered art teacher. This afternoon in class I glimpsed his repressed Braveheart fury when I kept trying to make my painting 'good' instead of 'practicing basic paint application and removal techniques'. I wanted to explain to him that I needed to sell my painting to recoup some of the money I spent on the painting supplies, but I just decided it was safer to shut up and color.

I Got Lasik

2009-05-29T00:33:00.005-05:00

Had Lasik today at the office of Dr. Charles Moore. The actual procedure only lasted about 5-10 minutes but it was a little more intense than I was expecting. It felt like I was being experimented on by aliens. Then the aliens decided to slice the top layer of my eyeball off. It burned.

Good news is that now I can see like a hawk! I still have some scratchiness and discomfort in my eyes but that's supposed to go away pretty soon. I just hope I don't wake up blind tomorrow...

Why did I opt for this expensive procedures?

To prepare for the future.

Hey, Tom!

2009-05-22T20:41:00.005-05:00

I have not been posting lately because I have been doing this.

It Is Raining

2009-05-16T12:28:00.003-05:00

Took my second to last final exam today.
Walked from the bus stop in the pouring rain.
Texas weather is unpredictable.

Proper Public Bathroom Usage

2009-05-14T20:44:00.006-05:00

After I'm done taking a wiz in a public bathroom, I do not immediately flush the toilet, because that would cause all kinds of urine molecules to burst from the urinal and fill the bathroom with an invisible piss cloud. Instead, I pull out the paper hand-drying towel from the dispenser, but I don't tear it off. I just leave it hanging there while I wash my hands with soap and scorching hot water, working quickly so that no one else flushes a toilet before I'm done. I leave the water running, and with my clean hands rip off the towel from the dispenser. I dry my hands, then use the towel to turn off the hot water in the sink, never allowing my skin to actually contact a bathroom surface. Then I use the towel again to flush the toilet, and quickly run to the door with the piss cloud expanding behind me, much like an explosion in an action movie. I use the towel a final time to open the bathroom door, and then, while holding the door ajar with my foot, throw the towel into the nearest trashcan and slip outside. Sometimes I hold my breath during this process.

Wild Things

2009-05-13T21:14:00.013-05:00

Woah!

Also took my physics final today... not sure but I think I may have pulled it off. I'd say 3:1 odds that I got an A, and if so it will once again confirm what I've been saying all along - I am The Bomb.

UT Course Reviews

2009-05-11T18:15:00.015-05:00

Well, finals are still left this week but the semester is basically over. Overall, it was a lot of hard work, a lot of sleep deprivation, and a lot of coffee, but I loved every minute of it. Here are my thoughts on the classes I took:

ANT301, Physical Anthropology with Professor Chris Kirk
This class about evolution was fun, enlightening, and I feel privileged to have taken it. Professor Kirk is freaking hilarious! There was no real homework other than studying for the exams, which were not too hard. I ended up making an 87 and would have made an A if I had studied a little harder for the second test. This is one of those classes that can change your outlook on life and help you understand who we are and why we act like we do.

ARC308, Architecture and Society with Larry Speck
Larry is a practicing architect and the former dean of UT's prestigious School of Architecture. He is also freaking hilarious. I can't really say enough about this class. It's great for anyone interested in architecture or building, or just wants to gain a better appreciation of the world we've created for ourselves. No homework other than studying for the tests and writing 3 papers. I got an A in this class, as should anyone else with decent writing skills.

GOV310L, American Government with Professor Edwards
I loved this course, though I could see how others might not be so into it. I plan to eventually be active in local politics, so I really tried to pay attention. I have also spent some time overseas in various countries, and when talk turned to politics I usually just shut up so as not to expose my political ignorance. I don't think I'll have that problem anymore. Professor Edwards is a little dry, but he has some kind of engaging old-school Vietnam protester aura that I really like. Plus he looks like Longshanks from Braveheart. No homework in this class except reading lots of newspaper articles, keeping up with current events, and reading the textbook. I got an A in this class but it wasn't exactly easy.

PHY302K, Physics with Professor Na Sai
Picture this: a donkey somehow acquires one of those golden 'grills' that rappers wear on their teeth. Then the donkey holds his teeth inside a furnace, heating up his grill until it is glowing a bright red. The donkey then proceeds to bite down on your ass - hard - and won't let go no matter how much you scream and struggle. Does that sound like something that might interest you? If so, take this class. OK, to be fair, this donkey did teach me quite a bit of about how our universe works, and for that I'm grateful. I'm also grateful that an 80 was an A in this class.

PHY102K, Lab for PHY302K w/ some random Asian grad student
The PHY302K's bastard mule child that kicks you in the balls once a week. I barely managed a B in this "class". I mean seriously, the quality of teaching in this class was pretty disrespectful. Also, the RLM building that this course was taught in is an architectural nightmare. It's layout is attrocious (i.e. the escalators take to you up to a certain level, the elevators take you to other floors, there are no bathrooms in the lobby, the corridors are disorientating, etc.) and it sets the tone for the class.

Game of Thrones

2009-05-07T00:03:00.014-05:00

edited

Not sure what I was thinking at the time (it was pretty late and I had been studying physics and drinking coffee all day) but I wrote an embarrassingly nerdy post about Game of Thrones... so I've deleted it. Sorry, it's bad enough that I have a blog, not ready to reach the next level of nerddrom. Suffice it to say, Game of Thrones is the first book in an awesome series that will soon be coming to HBO.

Moving on, after speaking with the former dean of UT's school of architecture, I have decided to shift my college plans. Instead of transferring into the undergraduate architecture program next fall and graduating with a BA in 2013ish, I will finish my BA in Asian studies in 2011. After that I will apply to the graduate architecture program at UT, which I should complete in 2014. I feel much better about this plan.

To stay focused on architecture while finishing my BA, I'm now minoring in architecture and am taking summer classes related to architecture. This summer I'll be taking welding, woodworking, and CAD courses at Austin Community College, and it's going to be sweet!

Austin Coffee Shops

2009-04-26T13:27:00.017-05:00

Tom's Austin Coffee Shop Rankings:

1. JP's Java - 2803 San Jacinto Blvd

good coffee selection, good roaster, good java
open late; until 1am M-Th & Su, and until 11pm Fr & Sa
chill atmosphere, good music
lots of study space
walking distance to UT campus
wi-fi sometimes unreliable
the HVAC is super loud sometimes

2. The Garden District - 2810 S Congress

reliable wi-fi after 5pm
balcony overlooks a nursery; nice view and sweet smells
nice owner and all girl staff ;)

3. The Flightpath Coffee House - 5011 Duval Street @ 51st

reliable wi-fi
chill study atmosphere; well-lit tables inside, no annoying music
hard to find a table or parking spot during peak hours
3 mins from Tex Burger mmmm...

4. The Hideout Theater - 617 Congress

really supports local artists and displays their work
good downtown location
reliable wi-fi
seating not very cozy
there is some damn 'tinging' noise I always hear coming from the refrigerator

5. Halcyon - 218 W 4th St

two personalities; more traditional coffee house in the daytime, more 'club-ish' in the evenings
wi-fi unreliable
loud, often annoying music
good downtown location
you can cook smores over a candle on the table
kind of cool to tuck yourself into one of the couches, sit in the darkness and noise, and watch people partying along 4th street

Pumping Iron

2009-04-21T19:20:00.007-05:00

OK, in lieu of what is shaping up to be a not-so-stellar performance this semester, I've formulated a plan that I think will get me back on track. Not going to post the details now, but suffice to say that my spirits have been lifted, meaning more posts for the very few people who occasionally read this blog (nerds)

So funny story - as I mentioned, yesterday was a pretty horrible day. Besides the bad test grade I received, I ended up missing two classes because I forgot my lunch and had to ride the bus back home to get it. Perhaps you're wondering why I didn't just buy lunch at school? Well I'm trying to put on some muscle, so my 'lunch' included like 3 meals of protein shakes, pasta, fruit, vitamins, etc. Anyways, when I finally got back to school and realized that I wasn't going to make my last class, I just went to the gym as I had planned.

Now at the UT gym there are many huge guys and many good looking girls, so I already have to fight through the trauma of exposing my spindly white legs and laughable high school freshman strength. On this day while trying pathetically to look tough, I slapped 45's on the bench and psyched myself up to lift. Unfortunately, my arms suddenly went out on the second set and the bar sank to my chest.

I had no spotter and couldn't get the bar off me, which as you might imagine is quite embarrassing. Eventually some guy saw me and rushed over, but for a second he didn't help - he just stood there looking. "Help," I gasped. He then pulled the bar off my chest.

"Sorry, I wasn't sure if you wanted my help," he said. "I didn't want to intrude on your workout."

"Oh, ya, it's cool man," I replied. "That's how I work out."

I Blew It

2009-04-20T23:58:00.003-05:00

:sigh: I am disheartened. I received a recent test grade in one of my classes today, and it was bad - real bad. So bad that now there is no way I can get an A in that class, which I was counting on. Getting 3 As and 1 B vs. 2 As and 2Bs is a huge GPA difference... I might be screwed. ugggg horrible :( :( :(

Britain's Got Talent!

2009-04-19T17:39:00.011-05:00

First off, I know this is kind of old news, but Susan Boyle - amazing. Humanity needs these sorts of things.

Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent 2009 - Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Secondly, finals are drawing near! So far this semester my grades have been spending time of the borderline, but as of Monday I'm going into finals mode aka social deprivation status in an attempt to claim my rock star As. Shouldn't be too hard since I only know like two people in Austin.

One of those two people, my buddy Chris from Trinidad, came over Saturday and we changed the oil in our Subys. Man, I love using Wrenchy, the big socket wrench that came with my Craftsman tool set. Pretty sure that if Wrenchy could cook and take a good beating without squealing to the authorities I'd marry it.

Speaking of beatings, what's the deal with the Anderson Silva fight on Saturday night? Mr. Silva, dude, I love watching you fight, but don't act all whiny in the ring if the other guy isn't fighting like you want him to - just KILL HIM! What's so hard about that? Also, if you keep dancing during the fight you're going end up getting KO'd, my friend.

OK it's study time.

Flowers, Eggs, and Satellites

2009-04-13T22:45:00.008-05:00

Our crawfish boil a few weeks ago was such a success that my Memaw decided to host her own family BBQ over Easter weekend, complete with bottled Shiner for us grizzled adults and an Easter egg hunt for the squealing young 'uns. At first I wasn't exactly thrilled at the prospect of driving 150 miles from Austin to Memaw's house, but it turned out to be a great travel experience. I first drove to meet my Dad and little brother in Montgomery, and along the way was treated to huge fields of bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush. Then my brother (who's a pilot) flew us from the airport he works at into Houston! When we returned to my Dad's house from the BBQ, I installed a new Kenwood DNX5120 stereo/Garmin navigation/DVD player in my car, which planned a more efficient - and more beautiful - route to Austin than the one I had been taking! Despite the distances I had to travel, last weekend was really fun and suprisingly stress-free.

Getting in Shape... Maybe

2009-04-07T18:37:00.003-05:00

One of my goals during college is to gain some muscle. My basal weight is around 158ish, which I'd like to get up to 175. However, since starting this semester I've been so worried about my grades that I haven't even tried going to the gym. Looks like I'm starting to do a little better in my classes though, and if tomorrow's tests go well I may start building a weight gain program. Based on my rough calculations, within six months I should be able to take on all challengers in the octagon.

Smile while you can, Silva

TOGA

2009-04-02T14:18:00.005-05:00

Just got done taking my Architecture and Society test. I think I did really well, probably a 95 or above. That class is coming super easy to me, which gives me a little hope that the architecture program next year will come relatively easy to me as well (if I get in, that is). Tomorrow is a U.S. government exam, and next week I have a physical anthropology exam and another physicsDREAD exam. Needless to say I won't be partying this weekend. ...Come to think of it I haven't done anything resembling 'partying' since I moved to Austin. What the heck is going on here, isn't college supposed to be super awesome monkey fun time?? JOHN BELUSHI, WHY HAVE YOU FILLED ME WITH LIES?!??

Keep Austin Spicy

2009-03-30T11:42:00.011-05:00

I am always on the lookout for cheap/free food, so I jumped at the chance to acquire $5 all-you-can eat food at the Keep Austin Spicy food festival last weekend. I was sadly disappointed. Here's how the website advertised the event~

KEEP AUSTIN SPICY! Asian Food Festival will provide a wide variety of entertainment all through the day while you sample all the delicious selections at the Tamarind Food Court.

Tickets for Keep Austin Spicy Festival are on sale NOW!

Enjoy your day of SPICY goodness for only $5! You may purchase your tickets at the event. Cash only!

So stupid me, I assumed that there would be 50+ vendors handing out free samples of flaming hot tamales in promotion of their restaurants. Wrong. After paying the $5 to get in, I was then required to buy 'food tickets' to pay for food. There were probably less than 20 vendors at the entire event, and it didn't seem like I was paying much less than what I would have paid at the restaurants for their mediocre food. Also, nothing was spicy! This is Texas, and if you advertise something as "spicy" you had damn well better provide some jalapeno chili or something, not Thai bubble tea. When I got back home, pissed off and poorer, I combed through the event website (which was far classier than the actual event, btw) and found that it did in one area mention the 'food tickets'. Overall I still feel scammed.

In other news, I'm submitting my application to the UT Summer Academy of Architecture today, and hopefully I'll be accepted. I am doing well in my Architecture & Society class and my teacher recommended me to someone involved in the summer program's orchestration. I'm also throwing into the application a drawing of one of my favorite cafes, Sugarcubed in Montgomery, TX. Check them out if you get the chance!

Sugarcubed off highway 105 in Montgomery, TX

The Knife's Edge

2009-03-28T18:30:00.007-05:00

I left my camera back in Montgomery, so I won't be able to post pics of the crawfish boil for a little while. The party was lots of fun with great turnout - over 50 people came! It was great seeing both sides of my family get to meet again, especially my Granny and Meemaw.

I haven't been updating this blog much lately because I've been pretty worried about my grades. I'm walking a razor thin line, and I hate writing sad/scary/anxious posts. We'll see how it goes with my tests next week. I'll leave you with this pic of my Uncle Brent and his sweet Harley.

My beautiful Granny and my good friend Jeremy (how much have they had from that keg?)

Aunt Cindy at the poker table, Granny suggesting she go all in every hand.

Texas Crawfish Boil

2009-03-21T07:51:00.005-05:00

Party today at my Dad's house in Montgomery, TX. The weather looks to be nice and the area has been decorated with blooming bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush. Unfortunately, the crawfish are not being cooperative. Last night they staged what is being dubbed "The Great Crawfish Escape of 2009", and were found flowing in a long march from their holding containers to the dry creek bed in the back of my dad's property. Then, after we spent an hour searching the grounds with flashlights to recaptrue them, they retaliated by ingesting cyanide pills and most were dead by morning.

We're still scurrying around trying to prepare for the coming guests, but here's a little taste of what's to come:

Monty! Sit yer black ass down 'er and guard 'dem crawdaddies

that's it.

One More Day Till Spring Break!

2009-03-12T17:51:00.008-05:00

Things on my list for this spring break:

SXSW
Create and submit an application to the UT School of Fine Arts
Finish the architectural drawing/painting I started two months ago
Check out Lasik surgery
Have a sweet Texas-style crawfish boil birthday party!

(btw I figured out how to get my nine-year-old yardsale scanner to work)

Hey Cat, You're on My Stuff Again

2009-03-03T22:19:00.005-06:00

What is with this cat? He always wants to lay right on my crap, wrinkling my homework, obstructing the use of my laptop keyboard, and turning my cotton hoodie into something that PITA members are going to throw paint on. He also has this thing for my pink eraser (movie to come).

*Note my pink eraser clenched in his phalanges

In infinitely more important news, academic clutch time is upon me. My grades have not been outstanding so far this semester, more like average. That's not going to cut it. I need to make at least a 95 on my next government and anthropology tests, a 90 on my architecture and society paper, and As on all my physics homework from here on out. If I don't meet these goals, then I am going to be in a very scary situation when I try to apply to the School of Architecture next fall. I don't intend to put myself in the position.

Empty Forest

2009-03-02T01:38:00.009-06:00

Did this while watching Solitary 3.0 episodes on Hulu.com. This show is ridiculous!

Coming Along

2009-02-28T19:09:00.007-06:00

This was a pretty good week. I was able to catch up in all my classes, and I even got an A on my physics homework. I think things will be a little easier from now on if I stick the routine I've developed.

On Thursday, the TA of my Architecture and Society class took us students on a tour of the campus, schooling us in the history and design concepts behind some of the early UT buildings. I'm pretty sure that the ARC308 TAs are architecture grad students, so as I improve my grades I'm going to be hitting them up for advice and referrals for transferring into the School of Architecture.

A Smaller Cage

2009-02-24T23:28:00.006-06:00

A Smaller Cage
by Tom MacDonald
2.24.09

the cat was stuck inside the room
he meowed for help within the gloom
but no one came to set him free
no savior bringing golden key

the cat contrived to fly the coop
by amassing lots of poop
a smell to signal passerbys
this was the plan he did devise

his master soon became aware
of such a reeking in the air
the cat was pleased to see his scheme
was working nicely, it would seem

but to the cat's utter chagrin
when Master finally burst in
it wasn't freedom that he brought
but a magazine, rolled and taught

Master took one look around
and saw the feces on the ground
he beat the cat with blinding rage
then put him in a smaller cage.

cats?... cats?? ....rraaAAr

2009-02-22T14:28:00.008-06:00

My roommate abruptly informed me on Friday that a hand-me-down cat would be coming to live with us. I'm not a cat lover. One of my best friends from childhood had three cats: Fancy, an obese tabby, who when lying on her back would begin wheezing under the suffocation of her own fat; Bandit, a ferocious dog-fighting tomcat who frequently ravaged my unsuspecting socked feet; and Milo (or something), a decrepit old cadaver of a cat who spread a thin layer of brittle hair over everything he touched.

I hate the dander that animals invariably get on every object in the house, I hate having to them become living trip wires as I groggily move through the hall in the mornings, and I HATE how 95% of pet owners baby their animals instead of training them properly. At least I was able to cunningly convince my roommate to change the cat's name from "Frisky" to something less stereotypical. To be fair, "Bear", as he's now called, has actually made me smile a couple times this weekend. His curiosity is comical and it was pretty funny when he climbed into my open guitar case.

For better or worse I'll have to deal with the cat for the next few months. Anyways, here's some pics of "Bear".

Newton's Law of Embarassment

2009-02-21T00:21:00.011-06:00

Well lucky for me, the class average for last week's physics test was around 35, so with the curve I ended up making a low C. I'm just going to have to shoot for a B in physics and make sure I get As in my other classes. Posting about my hardships in physics is getting pretty old, but I must mention one more thing that happened this week in lecture.

I was sitting in the front row of the lecture hall (aka hell's arena) thinking that I could soak up some extra understanding by being close to the Teach. An unused overhead projector on a desk between me and the teacher was blocking my view. I knew it had to be affecting other students as well, so - being the man of action that I am - I decided to do something about it. As the teacher wrote unintelligible symbols on the chalkboard and rambled on about god knows what, I got up and walked to the center of the floor to lower the projector. It wouldn't move. I tried harder, only to find that it resisted any force that I applied. I started trying to turn knobs, pop it with the palm of my hand in strategic locations, push, pull... no luck. At this point I was getting pretty frustrated and embarrassed, and involuntarily let out a furious curse under my breath.

Apparently the sounds made in the floor of a lecture hall carry, because from behind me I heard gasps/chuckles from around the auditorium and the teacher stopped her lecture and turned around. Giving me a look of both perplexity and horror, she calmly lowered the projector and I sat back down. From behind me the suppressed laughter and hushed comments continued. This wasn't the end of it though, because after the incident I realized that I had left my glasses and pencil by the projector. No way I was going back up there though, so I just brooded in my chair, blind and helpless for the rest of the lecture.

Damn This Class

2009-02-16T13:18:00.009-06:00

I am becoming very incensed with my physics class. After taking today's GOV301 test (which seemed to go pretty well) I rushed over to the physics classroom to find that 90% of the other students had left their classes early and were already working on their physics tests. After plowing through a gauntlet of knees and dirty tennis shoes I squirmed into one of the auditorium seats designed for Chinese elementary school kids and looked at the tree-scab in front of me. 19 problems that could reasonably take a well-studied examinee ~2 hours I was expected to complete in 50 minutes. Needless to say I barely got through 4 problems before the professor started forcing the class out of the auditorium to make room for the next class. This is some serious bulldiarrhea.

Physics Troubles

2009-02-15T16:24:00.005-06:00

General Physics 302k is destroying me. I must have put around 20 hours into this week's 21 basic homework problems and I still only got a 72 - exactly the class average. I need to find some help because my current grades are not going to be enough to ensure my acceptance to the School of Architecture next fall.

I also have a physics test tomorrow and a government 301 test - which I haven't been studying for due to the physics homework. Arrgg!! I want to hit physics in the face with a baseball bat and force a fat donkey to trample his groin*.

*physics' groin is made of two small pulleys and a spring

Building Selection Assignment

2009-02-12T22:51:00.010-06:00

The MS Word version of this ARC301 assignment is much prettier and has pics but was apparently 'too big' for Googledocs to upload in its entirety. Google gives me 1Gb of Picasa space but less than 1000Kb for crappy doc conversion/upload? That just makes me want to puke all over your head, Sir.

Building Selection Assignment

Midnight Oil

2009-02-11T04:04:00.002-06:00

4 am... done with paper... (gargling sound)

Lil Update

2009-02-09T19:31:00.005-06:00

Dang life's been busy! As mentioned in the previous post, after seeking the exceptional advice of Liberal Arts councilor Kelly Strait, I changed my classes at the end of the first week to those that better fit my goals and GI Bill requirements. I am now taking Architecture & Society, General Physics +Lab, Anthropology, and Government. I love all these classes and look forward to going school each day, so I often find myself walking around with a big dumbass smile on my face.

One thing that has surprised me about attending UT thus far is how freaking hard the classes are! Individually they are no problem and even physics comes pretty easily to me, but keeping up with the work in all five of them is nuts! I basically go to school, study, and sleep - and I don't even sleep that much.

I'm trying to figure out a rhythm though, and today I received a boost in confidence when my UMUC pre-calculus final grade came in - 95 baby!

First Week at UT

2009-01-23T17:05:00.008-06:00

Wow what a week. My brother and I moved all my crap to my apartment on Monday night and I'm still trying to finish unpacking. I managed to leave my wallet in the truck when my brother drove back to Montgomery, leaving me around $40 to live off until I get it back. I did all the basic 'back to school' stuff - learned to use the bus system, found my classes, bought textbooks, etc. Unfortunately, after meeting with an adviser today all but one of my classes were changed and I lost any sense of rhythm I had developed. I was also told several times throughout the week that the architecture program is extremely difficult to transfer into and that applicants should have a 4.0 GPA. (gulp...)

I'm not really phased though. The classes I swapped into better meet my transfer goal as well as the requirements to receive GI Bill money. Now that I've turned in all the paperwork, I should start receiving GI Bill funds in 4 - 6 weeks. Also, I maintained a really hardworking routine this week and have confidence that I will be able to achieve a 4.0 this semester. My main goal now is to get this damn UMUC pre-calculus final over and done with.

Cutting Board

2009-01-16T20:57:00.006-06:00

I cook often and use a cutting board nearly everyday, but when I moved to my Austin apartment I quickly realized that I had been using other people's cutting boards for >3 years and needed one of my own. Today I used my dad's shop tools make a cutting board out of some lumber that had washed up in the aftermath of hurricane Ike. It's nothing special but I know I'll enjoy using it everyday, plus a board of this quality would probably retail for at least $50.

Registered

2009-01-14T11:09:00.005-06:00

Well I'm all registered for classes! Since I get poor internet connection in my apartment I went to JP's Java this morning to ensure I'd have no problems being the first to register when the system opened up at 0900. This proved to be a good idea, because by 1100 about 95% of the classes were closed or wait listed.

Right now I'm majoring in Asian Studies, so in order to receive GI Bill money I have to take courses that go with that major. Because of this, I had to get into the few courses offered in the spring semester that fulfilled requirements of both Asian Studies and Bachelor of Architecture majors. Luckily I was able to register for just enough and maintain a workable schedule. This semester I will be shredding it up in Architecture and Society, Engineering Physics I w/ Lab, Integral Calculus, and Rhetoric & Writing. I can't wait to go shopping for a sweet new Trapper Keeper emblazoned on the front with a fluorescent wizard flying a large dolphin over a rainbow and/or waterfall.

Orientated

2009-01-12T18:23:00.003-06:00

This morning I woke up early and made the three hour trip from my dad's house to Austin so that I could attend spring orientation. The sky was clear and the near-full moon hung low in the western sky, illuminating rolling cow pastures and guiding me the whole way. Overall it was a very pleasant trip, except that once I neared Austin I hit the morning traffic rush. Orientation at the university was interesting. I sat in various auditoriums amongst a surreal wash of young kids, with the realization sinking in that I'm really here and about to do this.

Passed Inspection

2009-01-07T17:57:00.003-06:00

Huzzah! The Suby is street legal and I'm feeling pretty good. I've been going to the gym with my brother about every other day for a month now, and I've gained like seven pounds or something. I also saw Will Smith's movie Seven Pounds on New Year's Eve, and it was one of the coolest movies I've ever seen. Monty, my dad's dog, is getting better at retreiving and has been a little less destructive lately, and next week I'm moving to Austin and taking my last UMUC final exam. I have been keeping up with my art practice and posted some of my work on my deviantart.com page. Huzzah!

(sigh) Another failed inspection

2009-01-01T12:28:00.003-06:00

Art Contest

2008-12-30T21:30:00.003-06:00

I've been practicing drawing about 1 - 2 hours about three times a week... not nearly as much as I need to be. Never the less, my skill have been improving. I'm going to enter a couple design contests I saw on craigslist. Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky.

this one
and this one

Artists I Like

2008-12-23T10:28:00.007-06:00

Craig Mullins
Todd White
Scott Cameron
Victor Nizovtsev
Clark Goff
David Levine
James McLaughlin Way
Geoff Taylor
Micheal Komarck

suggestions welcome!

Austin Apartment

2008-12-21T13:42:00.008-06:00

Yesterday I made the long drive through the cow pastures and little oil towns strewn between Montgomery and Austin, where I was finally able to check out the apartment that I'll be renting for the next six months. The apartment was nice and my future roommate showed me around Austin a bit, which was really encouraging. From what I've seen of Austin so far, the city has the feel of Portland OR and San Angelo TX layered together, making for a lively and amusing culture of liberal swingyness set atop an enduring old-west tone.

Probably the most motivating part of the trip was finding that my roommate, a current UT architecture student, had switched majors from engineering to architecture after being at the school for a while. This is great news, because it not only solidifies the possibility of me being able to get into the arc department, but now I have someone in my immediate network of friends who's actually done it!

Sold!

2008-12-19T19:06:00.004-06:00

I sold the Civic yesterday to my uncle and it was a pretty sweet moment. The Civic cost me quite a bit of time and $ but the mechanical skills I acquired made it all worth it in the end. I feel a little freer and lighter now and look forward to being able to focus on other projects more directly related to architecture - which brings up an issue that I think I should address.

Someone reading this blog might reasonably ask, "If this is supposed to be a blog about becoming an architect, why did the author spend so much time working on his car?" Well, I'll tell you. I'm not going into architecture for the job title. I want to do it because I love designing, building, and fixing stuff. Also, I know that being able to handle tools, troubleshoot mechanical/electrical problems, source supplies and equipment, etc. will be skills I'll need in order to function as a decent architect. And that, my friends, is that.

Civic Hood Latch 2

2008-12-17T12:22:00.004-06:00

Unbelievably, I got in the car yesterday to drive it to my Uncle's, only to find that it wouldn't start AGAIN. The starter seemed to be spinning fine but once again there was no fire. When I tried to open the hood and take a look at the ignition fuse, the hood release cable became detached from the hood release mechanism and I was unable to open the hood. The last time this happened it was a huge pita and I ended up having to get a new $22 cable. Once again, the car received one of my thorough verbal assaults.

Luckily, my dad figured out that by wedging the hood open a bit you can access the two bolts that hold in the hood release mechanism. I really wish I had realized this the first time this problem occurred \_/. Anyways, once the hood was open I took the release mechanism out to fix it once and for all (here for pics). Also, the car just decided to start working again without me doing anything to it. Starts right up now! ...what??

Civic Starter 2

2008-12-15T20:28:00.008-06:00

Yesterday I exchanged the starter for a good one, bolted it on, and the car started right up. I then decided that before I took it to my uncles' I would try troubleshooting the CD player, which had suddenly stopped working about a week ago. After about 30 mins of testing wires I decided that I would just figure it out when I arrived at my uncle's, since he seems to know more about cars than me. I went in, took a shower, put my stuff in the car... and found that it would no longer start. The starter seemed to be working fine but the car wouldn't fire up. At this point I was really pissed and called the car several choice words before calling it quits for the day.

Today when I resumed messing with the car I found that the CD player had mysteriously begun working again. I also found that a fuse to the ignition harness had blown, probably while I was testing the radio wires yesterday. After replacing the fuse the car started immediately, so thank goodness I can finally $ell it to my uncle for some ramen noodle money. For pics of this project go here.

Civic Starter

2008-12-13T21:16:00.008-06:00

About a month ago the Civic would 'click' when I tried to start it. I would try restarting it a few times with eventual success, but the problem seemed to worsen as time went on. This morning I was about to drive it to Houston and sell it to my uncle but, alas, it wouldn't start at all. Just 'click, click, click'. I cleaned the battery terminals/posts and used a multimeter to test the voltage on the positive wire going to the starter, and all appeared fine. So I replaced the starter ($80 at O'Reilly's) and the car started immediately. Unfortunately, now when I turn the key and start the car, there comes a scraping/screeching sound from the starter, as if I'm holding the key in the engine ignition position too long. If I let go of the key really fast the sound doesn't last as long, but I can't start the car without making the sound for at least half a second. What's up with this?

Also, the CD player was working one night when I parked the car, then the next morning had no power. I am still trying to figure this one out. Perhaps a ground wire has become detached somewhere?