Head of the Hooch

Hello again.

Went to a new place this weekend, Chattanooga, TN. It seems to be a pretty cool place. It should be known that I didn't venture far from the riverfront, but what I saw from there was pretty cool. We had our first head race regatta there this weekend. Our 'first' regatta scheduled a couple weeks ago at Cape Fear was cancelled. This weekend is our final of the short fall season. It will be in Augusta, GA, and will mark one year of crew for me. Yoohoo!

Anyway, this weekend was a good row, despite finishing DFL. The women had three boats, a varsity eight and pair, and a novice four. The men only had one boat, a varsity eight. It was our first race together in that configuration. It went well, but we need work. It didn't help that we were up against half of the SEC & ACC, and not to mention the US National Team. Comparative to the size of our school, and our experience, I can't say we did that bad. We'll get better. Results , Pictures , Video

Some of the family was there this weekend. That was nice. Haven't seen some of them in a while. Thanks again for coming. It was great to have some fans for a change.

Pet Peeve #294

I am sure we have all experienced this once before, if not several times. Though I am not sure how frequent it occurs in the women's restroom, I know that it occurs quite often in the men's, and that is the, always unpleasurable, unflushed toilet or urinal. If I am to write about such crap, I assume it has reached the level of pet-peeve, which makes it quite an appropriate discussion for a blog post.

So, let's discuss.

Why? Why would anyone not dispose of the container which they just left their bodily waste? I know some people don't take out their garbage for a while, letting it pile up, but I believe this is on a different level than that. It's one more simple task before you pretend to wash you hands in the sink. Apparently, zipping up your pants was far too much physical action for you to bear, and pushing down a level a half an inch is just too much. Maybe you simply enjoy the idea of the next user cringing when stepping up to the toilet. Why?

Is it a matter of pride? "Hehe, look what I did," yet you flee the scene before you can point it out to anyone. Maybe post-it notes should be left on the counter so that stakes can be made on your accomplishments. I understand that from time to time is proper male discussion to speak of the length of a coiled 'monster', or the duration of a post-LOTR wiz, but those are normally spoken in the past tense, not something you share in a public restroom with strangers. These such marks on a toilet should normally, and preferably to most, be kept to yourself and your own mental records.

Is it a matter of conservation? According to some crazy people, our planet Earth is going to run out of water someday. I'm not sure how exactly since ice caps are melting as we speak (read), so I don't see what they are so worried about. Anyway, I know it is common practice for some to try to conserve water, like taking baths instead of showers, filling the sink with water while shaving instead of letting it run, stuff like that. However, when it comes to discarding waste immediately, letting it sit there emitting odors throughout the restroom until someone returns, possibly hours later, is entirely unacceptable.

I experience this quite often in the building I spend a good bit of time in, Eichberg Hall, and it is my assumption that many of the Architecture, Historic Preservation, and other building majors students (aka. eager environmentalist hippies) try to conserve the water in Eichberg's toilets. I have also experienced it in other buildings on campus that should have a lower number of Earth-happy people, yet my reaction is the same. Similar to a humorous thought regarding vegitarians, I flush the toilet at least once, maybe twice for a #2, for everytime you don't flush. So, therefore you are not saving anything. Granted, you have managed to stink up the bathroom for everyone else, and that is something I can't get rid of as easily, but nonetheless, your efforts have been thwarted. I encourage everyone having similar views towards unflushed toilets to do the same. Together we can make a difference, blah, blah, blah.

If you happen to be a non-flusher, please elaborate as to why you make this your routine. Thank you.

Extra! Extra!

About 2 hours ago, I started to make a new blog entry about the Braves finally capturing a win, making it only there 3rd of the month. With the month ending in a couple days, you can deduce that it hasn't been a good month for them. They are facing some record lows this month, none of which are making me happy, but that doesn't stop me from being a fan of the team. I would like to hope that they can still continue their run of post-season appearances, but at this point that is very unlikely, but not impossible. The exact same scenario played out last year with the Houston Astros, and they made it to the World Series. Anything is possible.

Anyway, I wanted to be clever and place a video of Andruw Jones hitting a 444ft. homerun into my blog post. After far too little searching, and a lack of certain computer/web skills, I decided to forgo the Jones video until another day, and just dazzle everyone with my intellectually typed words. I decided against that as well, since I was too busy investigating a new video and blog I discovered while looking for homeruns. The site is about a guy named Matt, and his blog describes his travels. He has a video which is quite interesting, not so much for the topic, which is dancing, as it is about how he framed his dancing by his surroundings. Incredible. This guy has traveled like I want to travel, meaning simply....Everywhere, and even better, before he is old and retired. His travels are quite interesting. Interesting enough to hold my attention for a couple hours of reading, and exploring pictures.

When I come across things such as this, it always raises questions in my head. "Why can't I do something like that?" The answer is always, "I can....but" "But what? What is holding you back?" "Nothing...really....I'm just supposed to...." I hate that life is so planned out for you. Yes, I know you can do whatever you want, and take whatever course you want in your life, but overall, there is some kind of pre-planned route that you are made to feel guilty for leaving. There is safety in that pre-planned route. To me, that is its only appeal. Joy & excitement usually follow, but they are not guaranteed, like it is when you leave that route. Anyway, I thought Matt's site was very interesting and, in a way, inspiring. Check it out if you have some extra time. It'll make you hate your job. Where the hell is Matt?


Where the Hell is Matt?

All along the watchtower

Well, just as the last post was read by it's first reader, my relaxing vacation is over. I have returned to Savannah to start the summer quarter of classes. I am already a week into it and it appears that it will be, again, a great deal of work. I am hoping not as great as the previous quarter as that was no fun at all. I would like to salvage as much of that 'summer' feeling as I can, so I hopefully there will be time for the beach, trail, etc.
Before heading back to SAV from FL, I went up to ATL to visit Matthew and go for a hike, and then by the office to see some friendly folks there, and finally by to see my 2nd family, Elizabeth, Richard and the kids. The memory of their children amazes me. At the rate of my recent visits, which have unfortunately been once or twice a year over the last few years, I am amazed by how well they remember me and my changing appearances. I can't remember what my professors name from the Fall quarter, and they remember me from 12 months ago. Anyway, It was great to see everyone again, hopefully it won't be that long again before I see them again.

I have continued to organize and update my photos, which can found in the Photos section (oddly enough), so feel free to check it out. It's strange. I love to be organized, but hate doing it, and the time it takes to do it. I guess it's worth it in the long run.

"There must be some kind of way out of here...", said the Joker to the Thief.

Done.

...and not a moment too soon, since I was one deleted file away from an aneurysm. I've completed a very hard quarter, and couldn't be happier that I am done. I have a short 2 weeks off before I return to Savannah for the Summer quarter, and the 3 courses it holds (Arch. Fundamentals 2, Construction Technology, and English Lit. & Comp.) Shouldn't be too bad, I certainly hope not. This quarter was an A and 2 B's, which were very hard fought grades.
I am now in Florida at home, trying my best to remember how to relax. I will stay here until the end of the week, then head up to Atlanta to go hiking with Matthew. I'll probably stop in on some old friends to say hello while I am there. After the hike in the Smokies it will be back to Savannah for school.
I will be living at my friend, Meg Tate's house this summer. Then for the Fall, David and I have found a awesome house to live in. I'll discuss that in more detail when it gets closer to move-in time. It's gonna be sweet.
In my relax time / boredom here at home, I've updated my photo album to something that will work better for me when it comes to posting new pictures, and easier for you to navigate, so enjoy. You can find my Arch. Fundamental final portfolio in there somewhere. :)

And after calming me down with some orange slices
And some fetal spooning
E.T. revealed to me his singular purpose,
He said you are the chosen one
The one who will deliver the message
A message of hope
For those who choose to hear it
And a warning for those who do not
Me, the chosen one
They chose me,
And I didn't graduate
From fucking high school

More

So, Thursday's classes have come and gone. I just walked out of Eichberg Hall at 5:00pm and realized I hadn't stepped outside in exactly 24 hrs. and building for closer to 36-40. My model is very near completetion. I did all that work for my pfsr. to tell me that we will critic and turn in on Tuesday, which I suppose is a good thing, as now I have less work to do over the weekend. I have inhaled way too much fiber-board dust, and super-glued my fingers together enough for a while. It's time for a nap, and a shower. Hopefully the skin on my fingertips will grow back soon. Here are some pictures of yesterday, last evening, this morning, this afternoon, whatever time it was. Once it's done I'll take it to the photo vault for some shadow casting and such. Later.

Latest Fundamentals

The quarter only has a week and half left, and things have been moving slowly on the model. I have started working on the base, but have yet to completely finish my roof system, which will probably be some kind of skin wrapping the trusses, not the ever-so-popular ski-slope design, I just hope it will work because the model is due to be completed and turned in on Thursday, less than 48 hrs. from now. So....I have a lot of work to do. I have made progress since these photos were taken yesterday, and newer, hopefully completed model photos will arrive shortly.
























"Ohh, take me right back to a grand world"

Fundamentals

So I haven't slept much lately, and it's all due to the excessive amount of homework I've been receiving. The assignment taking up most of my time so far, requiring multiple all-night homework sessions at Eichberg Hall, is my Arch. Fundamentals model. We started at the beginning of the quarter playing around with blocks, planes, posts, etc. Found an arrangement we liked, then multiplied in a formal arrangement (linear, stepped, zig-zagged), now we are elaborating on that arrangement moving horizontally and vertically. After repeated all-night sessions, followed by class with the professor acting as a tornado, literally ripping it to shreds, and repeating, we've begun to see a function emerging from the pile of sticks and foam core board. We are only at midterms, so I've got a long way to go on this project. I'm certain I will have to continue to change and refine it until its a beautiful structure. Guess the function of my building, and you'll get 10 cool points.

Quote Of The Day

On my Google Homepage I have rarely read Quote of the Day that appears every day. Some days I read it, others I forget. It is usually nothing outrageous, or anything relative to the way I'm feeling, but today's was.

You've achieved success in your field when you don't know whether what you're doing is work or play.
- Warren Beatty

Right now everything I do seems like work, and no play. Well, there is play, but it's only found in the procrastination from the work. They are not synonymous. I am once again thinking of ditching the architecture. The feeling of being a quitter, giving into my laziness, wasting my intelligence, or whatever that feeling is, still remains, because I know I can do architecture, but quite frankly I don't know if want to. I want something that is new, something that will be exciting everyday, something that I will always enjoy doing, not just most of the time. I don't see that future right now. I think my procrastination problem would disappear if I actually wanted to do the work I'm given. If I enjoyed it, I wouldn't find excuses to do other things. I can do architecture, play it safe, and not enjoy the ride, and make it work for my life, or I can do something else that I would enjoy completely, not knowing if it would work, or if I'd fall on my face, and be happy. So, I don't know where this is going, but if I make a change in the near future, don't be too surprised.

I wanna have the same last dream again
The one where I wake up and I'm alive
Just as the four walls close me within
My eyes are open up with pure sunlight
I'm the first to know

Note To Self: Egg Salad

• Never, ever, under any circumstances purchase and eat an egg salad sandwich from a gas station. Never. Just because you have been working all night w/o sleep, and haven't eaten in 30+ hrs. is not a valid excuse. Never......ever do it.
  

"Where is my mind?"

Clemson Sprints

We are heading out tomorrow for Clemson. It should be a comfortable and pleasant 8 hr. bus trip up there. :) The pressure is on this race, since family will be in attendance. I will be in a Men's Novice 4 again, and possibly a Mixed 8. It could be a long day, with as many as 3 races, or a short day with only 1, it just depends on how we do in our first heat. Should be another interesting weekend.

Info/Results: Clemson Sprints 2006

"Hopeless time to roam
The distance to your home
Fades away to nowhere
How much are you worth
You can't come down to earth
You're swelling up, you're unstoppable"

Leprosy Weekly Update

It hurts to bathe.

















"ARTHUR: What are you going to do, bleed on me?
BLACK KNIGHT: I'm invincible!"

Power 10 in 2

Let's sprint. The first race of our Spring Crew season, the SERCS Regatta, is this weekend in Aiken, SC, and it's a 2k sprint. It should be interesting. The only race I participated in so far was a longer 5k which is more about endurance. This weekend's race will be over before we know it, in about 7 min. or so., which means it will be all power, and less endurance. Not to mention we will be rowing side-by-side other boats, and starting from a gun (or flag drop). Last time, our position was determined by time, starting on 30 sec. intervals, so you didn't see many other boats. I'll be in the stroke seat again, but this time in the Men's Novice 4, instead of the Novice 8. I'm looking forward to it, it should be pretty intense. I'll post some pictures when I get back. The results should also be posted on the website, so you can see how we did there.

UPDATE: The race went well for our first time. We could have done better. The team overall didn't fair too well, but hopefully we worked out all the kinks for the upcoming race at Clemson. My boat came in 4th in our heat, so we didn't advance to the final, but at least we didn't come in last. We beat Berry by a mile, but I'm not sure if that's something to be proud of or not. I'll hope for better luck next time, some stronger legs would help too. Later :)

"Gravedigger, when you dig my grave, could you make it shallow so that I can feel the rain?"

W.W.I.F.A.T.M. Pics

Success! that is if success is defined in this case by making people happy. We had a lot of fun playing with our (Zach D. and I) project. We had a man holding the narrow end, and the rest of the class helped it fill up. Then we realized that since it was a warm day and garbage are black, that the air inside heated up. Then when the breeze picked up and the man on the narrow end, I assume accidentally, let go, our creation decided to take flight. It was never intended to do this, but it did, and people loved it, so I loved it. Once it came back down to Earth, people ventured inside, the courageous traveling past the narrowing into the little side bubble thing, and crawled down to the end. All in all, it was a good, and I'm happy with it. We came up with a lot of ideas during the process of making it, so it could've been better, but I guess we'll save those ideas for next time. Here are some pics, hopefully others will trickle in from other students:








"uh...I think it's trying to swallow me."

W.W.I.F.A.T.M

Well, I've finished my 3-d Design project. Me and another guy named Zach have been working on it for a week or so. Some of you may have heard the specifications, but basically the prfsr. wanted us to create something, anything, that involved rhythm and repitition. And he preferred it to be on a large scale, if possible. So we took that as a challenge and decided to create a large inflatable space, hopefully large enough to fit our entire class into. The rhythm being the fluidity of the air flowing through like waves, and the sounds made by the contraption. Any cool rhythmic light patterns created would be an added bonus. Our medium consisted of 30 gallon garbage bags, duct tape, and air. Several designs were semi-thought of before we started, but the prfsr. didn't really want us to plan much, just get started and see what happened, so that's what we did. About 150 garbage bags later, we were done. Yesterday we tested it, and I took a couple pics, and video was shot. We will present it tomorrow to the class, and I'll take more pics then. I'll post them when I get the chance. Yea for art!, .... and crazy professors! :)



















































"Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man!!"

Life Drawing is...ummm....fun

....I guess.

My drawing class had a weekend class last week, to observe all of the different drawing professors' work. There were also model sessions going on while we were there, and our teacher encouraged us to try it. I've never been good at drawing people, but sure, why not. I figured the dude was going to pose sitting on the this block in the middle of the room. I grab my pad and pencil to get ready, looking up only to see a full moon shining back at me. "Oh, it's this kind of figure drawing." Anyway, this is what came of it, for your viewing pleasue. FYI, it was my first time drawing a live figure, let alone a nude one. And I can't draw heads. Oh well.