good wind

We set out again for another evening sail on the bay yesterday afternoon, this time with my visiting Aunt Max and Uncle Em (the CA Wilson's). It was a very nice sail. Good wind. Cool temps. Chatting. Wine. Dinner. Etc. Didn't get back until well after dark. I omitted the obligatory sunset photo last time, but was encouraged to take some this time ("ok, fine!"). Still managed plenty of fuzzy photos, but I did get a few nice ones this go 'round.

** these and a few more on flickr. enjoy. peace.

do it right

"We are travelers on a cosmic journey - stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. But the expressions of life are ephemeral, momentary, transient. Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, once said,

This existence of ours is as transient as autumn clouds.
To watch the birth and death of beings is like looking at the movements of a dance.
A lifetime is like a flash of lightning in the sky,
Rushing by like a torrent down a steep mountain.

We have stopped here for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment, but it is transient. It is a little parenthesis in eternity. If we share with caring, lightheartedness, and love, we will create abundance and joy for each other. And then this moment will have been worthwhile."
     ~ Deepak Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

Life is short. Do it right. Peace.

Lazy Sunday

Ahhh!....Sunday. The day of rest. Rowdy and I obey. Living the high life. Here's to the hope that everyone is having a delightful Sunday. peace.

   

some rainy day colors

Not too much going on today. It has been drizzling off and on all day. I have always enjoyed the atmosphere during a good rainy day. Everything gets cleansed and appears brighter and more vibrant in the process. Mom was going out to garden in the rain for a bit, so I decided to take a wander by the garden myself for a few photos.





**can't wait for a real camera. Auto-focus all the way, baby! More [less focused] photos on flickr.

Smooth sailing.

Went out this evening for, if my memory serves me, one of my first hassle free outings on Dad's boat. It seems every time there is something, some slight mishap, or minor failure of equipment that fouls up the trip juuuust enough. Tonight however was quite nice, great breeze, nice seas, and for a second, I was able to forget all the potential hassles of owning a boat, briefly dreaming of having my own one day. I should know better.

Dad and I set out about 4:30 or so, and on one tack off the channel were able to make it all the way out to the other side of NAS. Took a turn for Gulf Breeze, then a slow turn back to the marina. Caught a nice sunset (not shown), and an equally pleasant full-moonrise (shown, to the best of my ability on a rocking boat). It's a long weekend, so maybe we can try to go 2 for 2.

Couple more rockin' attempts on flickr, though they are not very successful with just a point and shoot.

peace.

So....deux

I guess it is time for my annual blog posting. Updates....hmm, let's see.

I have recently graduated from SCAD with a Master of Architecture degree. However the diploma for said degree is being withheld until I turn in my thesis book. Guess they really want the proof that my life sucked over the last few quarters.

I moved from Savannah this last weekend, back to Pace, Florida where I grew up. I will miss Savannah greatly, but will probably miss the people I met there more. College was the last item on my preconceived list of accomplishments that I must do to have a 'good life'. Oh, the mind of a high school kid...I sometimes wish I could return to high school and tell myself not to worry about lists, and to just do whatever you want. Pace is a nice place to sit and think, primarily because there is not much else to do here, but perhaps I am not looking in the right places.

It is a peculiar feeling returning home after so long away. I have visited plenty, and this move still feels like a visit, so I am beginning to fear the realization that I am nearing thirty and living with my parents. All the more incentive to complete the tasks I must do here and move on. I have a quite lengthy to-do list hanging on my wall next to me, just in case I wake up one day guilt-free. By the looks of the list, I could be here for a while. As lists often do, I intend for it to change as time passes, however if it stays the course it could take a good six months to a year to complete. I have a few urgent tasks, namely that damn thesis book, followed by a website, and of course finding a job, but I also have a few 'wants' added in the form of materialistic purchases that I feel necessary to move on with my life in the direction I want. (ha, typing 'I want' only makes me realize I don't need them, ah! why with the self-inflicted guilt?). Again, with these preconceived lists and wants, but I guess that is what people call dreams. I don't know. I don't know what the future holds, but I hope I can let go of some of these lists and just live freely. (perfect timing, Tom Petty.)

If you are down this way, let me know. Rowdy and I could probably use a break from sitting on the back porch reading and writing. That will do for now I suppose.

à bientôt!


p.s. I will be trying to update and maintain this blog a bit more. Be sure to look at some of my friends blogs as well. They are very talented artists and designers that need jobs and people to pay them money to live. So hire them. Peace.

So....

So....it's been a while since I've used this. I was recently reminded that I had a blog, and was somewhat surprised that I had forgotten, as I usually enjoy sharing what's going on. I guess I could have used in the last year or so, but I just haven't felt like typing things out for some reason. I could have used it last summer to tell you about my trip to Hawaii, or about my growing puppy, or maybe in the fall to tell you about my dealings with a coward, or even in the recent months to tell you of my fabulous experiences in southern France, but I didn't. Don't know why. I guess if you know me you know what you need to know about me. I'll post some things now that I have remembered this outlet, but don't rely on it. If you want to rely on anything, do so with my photos. Those are updated on a more regular basis. They are here. So...until next time.

Au revoir

Rowdy

It's been a few weeks now with this new critter running around, so the "aaw, look at the puppy" phase has worn off, and I still want him around, so he will be staying. He's almost got #1's down, and he's learned his lesson with #2's, so that is good. I've put up some pictures from a couple weeks ago, hopefully I'll put up newer ones soon, as he's doubled since then.

Some days...

....just aren't as good as others.

Woke up way too early, cause my bladder was at its breaking point. Stumbling in the dark looking for the door. Stepped on something loud and a cracking. Ouch. Finally get back to bed for 30 min. before the alarm goes off for practice. Getting ready, realize that ouch earlier was my new pair of glasses, momentarily destroyed, overwhelmingly ticked. Park at the gym for practice, we run 10 minutes late, so I must have deserved the parking ticket. Body is already sore and it's only 9am. It's overcast and cold. Blah. Had a few hours to do work for classes, couldn't find the motivation, but I did find the bed. Kinda fixed my glasses. Class from 2 - 730. Blah. It's cold. House is empty. Making some warm, easy dinner, Ramen. Check the email. Listen to some music. Realized the Ramen had been boiling for 20min. Ugh, white mush. Turn up the music louder. Typed a blog about my awesome day.

Today sucked. But it could have been far worse I'm sure. Tomorrow can only be better. I think these kind of days happen every now and then to average the rest out, and to make you realize how good you really do have it, because by the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that you wake up in the morning and step on your glasses. Time to make more Ramen. You can't mess that up twice in a row, right? :)

Listen to Regina Spektor.
It may make your day suck less.

Resolution

Well, it's a new year. If my math is correct, it's been about 10 years since I finished high school, which is a somewhat disturbing thought. Don't they have parties for that? So far '07 is going well. Back in Savannah, the Winter quarter just started, and crew practice is back in the routine.

I am taking a class this quarter that has become very interesting very quickly. One of the ideas that has repeatedly kept my mind interested in architecture is the idea of creating sustainable design, and "thinking green". This class, Environmental Control, focuses a lot on the subject. It has been a common element of design, and is in constant discussion over at Eichberg Hall (Arch. Bldg.). And starting this quarter, SCAD's School of Building Arts has adjusted their mission statement and course goals to include the teaching and understanding of the ecological responsibilities held by an architect, and to uphold the environment they alter. I was planning to do so anyway, but making it a requirement for every student is wonderful. I think it is a great initiative, and I plan to do my part to support it in my own life as much as possible, hence the resolution title.

Having reverted to the college life, anything cheap becomes appealing. And being around "green" people at Eichberg, lectures, and constant energy saving fact sheets posted on bulletin boards, I am becoming more and more aware of how easy it is to save my money when it comes to power bills, water bills, etc. In EC, one such fact was that the U.S. contains 5% of the world's population, yet we use 25% of its energy, leaving the U.S. with the most energy spent per person in the world. Furthering the guilt, the fact following was that the Southeast region of the U.S. spends the most per person in the country. Leaving me to be one of the most energy consuming people in the world. Yuck! Tuesday we watched this video, Kilowatt Ours. It shows how the U.S. creates most of its energy, and is quite helpful at showing ways you can help to save as well. The easiest ways to be turning off the lights, computers, AC, etc., when no one is using them. Also, replacing your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. They are slightly more expensive, but they are guaranteed to last 5 years, and emit far less energy (incandescents are lucky to last a year). If you happen to come across the video, I recommend checking it out. It's interesting. Well, that's my PSA for the year. I'll let you know what else I find interesting as I come across it. Back to work.