Last weekend

Last Saturday I went to an auction with our friend Dave. It was pretty cool. Some interesting stuff and amazing deals to be found. It was my first time, so I was just checking it all out, and didn't get anything. There were some ladies there that got a little over-excited, I think, and ended up paying like 30 bucks for stuff you could get at michaels for 20. At one point two sisters were bidding against one another, and the winner of the two ended up paying like 50 bucks extra. Not too bright. Anyway, it was fun hanging with Dave, and hopefully we'll go again soon.

I got home and was watching tv or something when Kristie asked me what time I wanted to leave to see the Brian Regan show down in Denver. I had totally forgotten that Kristie found us tickets because we got them back in march, and s much has happened since then... We drove down, and got there just in time after a quick, super sucky burger at Johnny Rockets. It was so funny. I was hoarse from laughing at the end of the night. We will definitely be going to more comedy shows. The crowd is so much more diverse than at music concerts. It was really cool. And... guess what? You can see the show too, because he was taping for a Comedy Central special that night. I'll remember to post when I hear about it being on. And... its going to be his new DVD, too, so there are lot of little extras that he did after his usual encore just for that. You might even hear me yell, "Hey, I have a mouse, you jerk!"

If you hadn't heard of him, here is a bit from Youtube.

all good things

Good-bye my old job....

Its doubtful anywhere else will have the same penchant for putting a single song or Album on repeat all day the way Studio C does. Some personal favorites... 2+ days of the Charlie Brown Christmas Album
Obscure Culture Club
The Top Gun Soundtrack
Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" all afternoon and the next morning, complete with boss kareoke.


NOWHERE will have a basement quite like Studio C. That perfect mix of Ping Pong Table/ Conference Room/ room with piles and piles of random crap like plastic baby dolls, fake bags of money, a player piano, a ton of old office phones, and lots of places to hit your head/ trip on something.


Its equally doubtful I will ever work somewhere with such wonderful lunchtime excursions. Ho can you go wrong when you have choices like:
Zuni Kitchen
Los Carboncitos
Baby Egg Rolls/ Bun/ Lunch Special (all the same place)
Chinese bakery (Will's Grandma)
Pho
Chow Fun
Other Chow Fun
Other Other Chow Fun (that isn't as good)
Super-authentic Korean food (for the company Christmas Dinner)
Dim Sum

Nowhere else will have a fridge so fully stocked with mounds and mounds of string-cheese like studio C. Nowhere else will have such a ready supply of swiss cake rolls, animal crackers, or gross slightly-flavored carbonated water. Nowhere else will have such a rigorously designed coffee maker/ beans/ grinder/ water dispensor setup.

Most of all, though, I will miss that unrepeatable experience of walking around in the basement, and realizing the trap door in the ceiling was directly below my desk.

Studio C was an amalgum of the fascinatingly ingenious, and the amazingly infuriating. I'll go back sometimes I'm sure.... for lunch, mainly.

Officialier News

We gots lot going on....

First, Kristie started a new job downtown last week. We are so grateful for this change that has been a long time coming. She is very excited about it so far, and has been able to carpool with our friend and neighbor Aaron a few times. She's working for Biofuel Energy. If you don't know what that is... basically its gas made from corn, and other bio-based materials. When sustainably grown, (on farms that aren't cut out of rainforests like they do in brazil) harvested and processed, it is not super evil. This is a nice bonus, but the biggest bonus is that she will be working a lot closer to me, and we can meet for lunch and stuff.

Second, I got a new job. This one was more of a surprise. Last week I was struggling through a particularly difficult time with a certain someone at my job, when I turn to my computer and saw an email from someone in a studio I was a teaching assistant for in Boulder. They were wondering if I was interested in a position. If you can't tell from my subtle comments... I was definitely interested. The firm is much more established, has a great reputation, and I've thought about applying there a couple of times. Actually, one of their principals has been a guest lecturer in my Professional Practice class the week before... spooky, huh?

Well, I emailed back, and set up an interview, and by friday afternoon, they made me an offer. I am sort of in shock at how fast it went.. I wasn't even looking yet, and a week later I have given my notice at Studio C. Part of me (the part that can ignore the desk by the door) will miss it there. I learned a lot while I was there, and made a few friends. Thanks to Kevin again when he reads this. Keep track of the T-count after I go, and may you stay on Team Indy.

If anyone wants to check out the new places... http://www.bwgarchitects.com/ and http://www.bfenergy.com/. As one final bonus... Kristie and I are going to be working even closer to each other than we are now... a short free shuttle ride away.

Third, my birthday came and went. I got a book I wanted (and recommend) called, "101 things I Learned in Architecture School," and my Mom made me a scrapbook with pics and stories that span from when I was cute, to when I was adorable, then on through my ruggedly handsome, stunningly attractive, adequately super sexy, and stone cold studly years, to my present state of "egregiously good-looking." (Special thanks to Meg-o for her help with the scrap bookthe return of my long-stolen blanket that my Grandma made me.)

We got most of our trip this September set up... just two more things to book. All in all, we feel pretty blessed right now. A lot of hard work, struggling and waiting is beginning to pay off. Now we just have to get through this last summer studio...

Official News

Both Kristie and I are going to Australia and New Zealand in September. The flights are books, all but one of the hotels are set up, and we are taking suggestions on fun stuff to do in Sydney and North Queensland.

We are going to start the trip by flying to the North Queensland/ Cairns area to see the rainforest, and the great barrier reef. It's apparently the only place in the world where two world heritage sites meet. Kristie is going to have fun in Sydney while I go to the Master Class in New Zealand. We found her a great bed and breakfast between the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. My class is in Abel Tasman National Park in New Zealand. Apparently, some scenes from the lord of the rings were filmed really close to the Lodge I will be staying at, and the ring from the movie was made in the town I'll be staying in before the class starts. So, if you are super nerdy and want one, let me know.

More updates to come shortly.