Graduation

Hey everyone. I know its been a long time coming, but I thought I should post some pictures from graduation.



Walking in to the ceremony.



Just after receiving my degree.



Mark helping show off my super-huge gown with fancy wings on the sleeves. (A word of advise to future grads: Don't order the gown rental online. Go try it on in person. This was big enough for two of me.)



Huggin' my mom



Pops and me



Kristie, Jim, Maggie, and me. I'm not sure if you still read this, but thanks again for coming out you guys.


Lamy came back to Colorado to celebrate with us. It was like old times having her here. Amy gets partial credit for this because she got me a terrible job at grocery outlet when I was 14. I still remember some of the dudes I worked with there, and how much I didn't want be be like any of them. At all.



Mark gets some credit too. He got me a job at Sakata right after High School that was even worse, and had even worse dudes... one of the dudes had been my boss at Grocery Outlet... (another was Leroy... but that's another story all together. Leroy should get his own post.)

There was something else about that job that I've thought back too a lot over the years. One day on the way home from Sakata, Mark and Melinda told me that the plant manager wasn't too fond of me, and had said I didn't smile enough. That day this manager had come down from his office, walked up to me and said something about my not having enough fun. As he said this, I was sweeping up millions of little broccoli seeds that had been spilled by the drop-out coke-head idiot I was running the canning machine with. It is still perplexing to me how anyone would be having fun in that situation, let alone smiling. Well, for the last 8 years, I've been working day and night to have a job that did put a smile on my face. More than that, I've been working for a job that no one would ever question my commitment too, or enthusiasm for.



Amy, Mark, Mom, Pops, and me. I am so thankful you guys could be here for this. It means a lot to Kristie and I.


Finally,



I owe so much to Kristie. She has been my constant supporter, therapist and partner through all the years of Architecture School. She picked up life in California six years ago to come out here with me so I could chase this dream, and since then she has spent far too many nights home alone while I was in the studio. I'm forever grateful to her.

She has done more than just support my emotionally (although she has done a lot of that, too). Over the years, she has delivered changes of clothes on presentation days, bought and delivered supplies to the school, met me for dinner when I hadn't seen her in days but couldn't come home because of deadlines, mounted drawings on boards at 2am, 3am, 5am, etc., stayed up late to read and reread countless essays and applications, endured countless boring conversations about ideas for school projects, let me read terrible essay passages to her in order to get out my frustration at grading them, listened to me breakdown over the phone in the middle of the night after several days of not sleeping, helped me handle bad partners, and bad teachers, and bad courses, and my own bad attitude, spent so many days shopping with me for wood, paper, tools, and other stuff only architecture students would ever need, said nothing about all the money I had to spend on those things, and so many other little things.

Kristie did all this while she took care of our home, cared for Lacey, paid the bills, and worked full-time at a job that supported us. There were many times that I failed to tell her how much I appreciated it, and I certainly didn't always deserve it. I am so thankful for everything she does. Without her, I wouldn't have made it. Only Kristie knows how true that really is. Thanks. I love you.

and we're back

I am an incredible person.

While this fact doesn't explain my absence over the last month, it should provide an answer to the overwhelming sense of joyous elation you are feeling upon my return. Now, I don't want to embarrass you by dwelling any further on your blushing adoration, so I will simply say thank you, and move on...

First off, I want to welcome Aaron and Meg-o's little boy, Corbin, to the world. I can't wait to meet you and start telling you lies. I predict you will be five when you first ask your mom, "Is there something 'wrong' with uncle Scott?"

Second, I graduated. Finally. No more school for me.

If there is any testament to my awesomeness, it is in the astounding numbers to be found on my transcripts. Most people can only hack it in school until they are 22 or 23. Try 32. I withstood the rigors of the education system long enough to get 3 or 4 degrees, but not wanting to seem greedy, I only accepted 2.

Oh, you have two degrees too? Really? That's nice, I suppose.... How many schools let you in while you were earning those degrees? 1? 2? Maybe even 3? ...well, that's not to shabby, but it ain't 6, so maybe you should stop gloating. They weren't all big state schools that accept every half-literate imbecile, either. I've been to several small regional colleges that are good enough to get you in and out in 2 years.

"2 years?!!" you say? Yes. 2 Years. The statistics are staggering, I know... and yet I did these schools one better, often attending sporatically for as little as a single semester. I say learning is like dinner at a fine dining establishment. It should start slowly and then last forever, until you ultimately are gorged beyond capacity.

I will post more next time about graduation... I have pictures, and there is a lot I want to add.

walkin' with Bill

Tonight I had a meeting at the school, I walked over from work (about 3 blocks). After the meeting was over, I was on my way back when I noticed that the guy walking across the street in front of me looked a lot like (former governor of Colorado) Bill Owens.

I wasn't sure if it was him, until I noticed one of the homeless dudes that is usually in that area staring at him, too. I caught the homeless dude's eye and mouthed, "Is that the governor?"

He responded, out loud (actually, he pretty much yelled), "Yeeeah!"

I wasn't sure whether to take a photo, or try talking to him... I decided to talk, and called out, "Governor!" -a photo of the back side of his head taken hastily from my camera phone would probably just be useless anyway, right?

He turned around, said hi, and asked if I was a student at the school.

I told him I was finishing up and would hopefully be teaching there soon.

He asked my name, shook my hand, and we started walking again. He said that he taught at DU occasionally, and asked what department at CU I was hoping to join. - Wait? are we having a conversation now?

I was not planning on this at all, and, while realizing that we were now walking together toward my office, I responded, "Architecture."

(A quick side note, here. Don't former Governors get a security staff? It's a little strange to me that this dude was walking down 14th street, with no one around except homeless guys and me.)

He wished me luck with the position, and I told him thanks, and then I blurted something about how I thought he was a good governor, and that I appreciated his bi-partisanship on issues, and that I thought it was really terrible what the former CU president did throwing him under the bus on the whole Churchill thing - What am I talking about?! Where was he walking?

"Ya, that whole thing...", he said. - Uh oh. Better change the subject. Where the heck is he going?- The notion that he might be headed, like me, to BWG Architects for the intermediate Spanish class flashed quickly through my mind.... Him: 'Hola! Me Llamo, Bill. Fue el Gobernador de Colorado. Y tu?' Me: "No, no fue un Gobernado. A Ti, te gustas gatos negros?"

We were almost at my office when I remembered that I needed to move my car because of the hockey game at the Pepsi Center tonight. -Ohh... Ok, that's probably it... - "Are you headed to the game?"

"Ya, I'm meeting some people there."

"Cool. Hope you have good seats..."

"Thanks. Good luck again, Scott."

I left him at the corner and went into the building to get my keys. I felt kind of dumb for that last comment. Of course he had good seats. He was a governor. He was considered as McCain's running mate. He's still on the news, well at least Fox News, all the time. He probably had a suite. - Then again, he didn't even have a ride to the game. Dude's friends made him take the 16th street mall shuttle and then hoof it alone the rest of the way. That's pretty weak.


Ok, so I have to say, I came away really liking him. He didn't seem bothered to talk to me, which is odd, since I basically yelled at him to get his attention. He did ask me if I voted for him, though. (I didn't... we moved here after he was elected for his final term.) But he genuinely seemed pretty humble . When I told him that thought he was pretty good, he said (really sincerely) that he was just thankful that people gave him a chance. That may be a prepared response, but at least its the right one.

let's take a peek inside the glutton hut

While few who have seen my sculpted physique would expect it, I am, in fact, a big fan of tasty food.

To share my epicurean inclination, I've been planning a new segment for this much-lauded beacon of adequacity. In each segment, I'll share one of the many saucy secrets my adventurous stomach has unearthed during my lifelong trek along the hungry highway. I'll try to mix in some recipes, but mostly this will be the better type of food: the type someone else makes for you while you sit there and . Hopefully, this will inspire you to put something new on your plate.

Before I get to our first entry, let me just put out a little plea. I'm not so sure about this segment name. What do you think? Do you have a suggestion to replace it? Let me know.

Ok, so let's start off slow. Kristie and I were looking to try something new in the kitchen last night. While we were shopping, I saw some wonton wrappers, so we decided to give em' a go. Here is the end result:



There was a bit of a learning curve, and we'll do a little tweaking with the filling next time, but all-in-all it was pretty tasty. One package makes 60 of these, so you should do one of the following in advance of making them.

1. Invite people to a party.
2. Invite yourself to someone else's party.
3. Have lots of kids.
4. Be super fat and at least a little hungry.
5. Enter a Bring-Your-Own Wonton eating competition.
6. Have a plastic bag to put leftover wrappers in, so you don't have to make them all at once.
7. Be really bad at folding won tons so you end up wasting a lot of them.

We went with #6, with a bit of #7. (No, not #4, jerk-faces.) To cook em' we pretty much just followed the directions on the package. You should do that.

Here is the recipe for the filling that I used.

1/2 lb Lean Ground Beef (we used really lean 4% and it was still good)
1 tsp Cornstarch
1 tsp Salt
1 tbs Mirin (white wine works, too)
1 tsp Sesame Oil
1/4 C Green Onion (finely chopped)
Dash white pepper
A couple shakes of ground ginger

Basically, just mix all this togehter in a bowl, and then dab out about a TBS in the middle of each wrapper. Fold them in half, and then pinch the wrappers closed.

I think it would have been better with a some finely chopped cabbage. We'll try that next time.

Here are a few more pictures. we made up some rice, and drizzled chili dim sum dipping sauce over the wontons.... mmmm.

its too late baby now its too late...

...cause I just bought "Stanley" for me. I am so excited to get it, you have no idea. I chatted with Adam (the artist), and he has a few pieces that he is going to get up, soon. I'll link to em' when they go up. Dude is ridiculously talented, so you will want to check in.

(Also, thanks again, Adam.)

Stuff you should know about stuff that is awesome

This one is short and simple.

If you have kids, and you like them. You should get these paintings.
If you don't have kids, and are cool, you should get there paintings.
If you have kids, and want them to think you got art for them, but its really for you, you should get these paintings.

Because these are awesome. I just saw them like 5 minutes ago, and I'm not so sure I don't want em' for myself. I don't have kids, but I am awesome.

Here is the link:

xadamdx.blogspot.com

Seriously, these will not last... you do love your kids, right?

PS: This is truly awesome stuff.

Stressed at work?

I have been a bit stressed about it lately, with all the upheaval in the economy, but I think I've found the solution...

Ya, that's right... I'm wearing the snuggie to work.

The Basement - Part I

We decided to finish the basement this year. I'm going to update as we go, but to start... the mess:

From Basement Project

here's what you've missed so far

Hey, everyone, sorry for the long break between posts. We've had a busy first month of 2009.

In mid-January, my firm paid for everyone to stay at Devil's Thumb Ranch, outside Winter Park. It was a really nice place.

From BWG Devils Thumb 012009

The Lodge

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The lodge has 5000 acres in its own little valley with the continental divide as a backdrop.

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The afternoon before the party, we went cross-country skiing at the resort.

From BWG Devils Thumb 012009

It was Kristie's first time, and she did really well, which is more than I can say for myself.

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I fell a lot. Including one time, when I was bassically standing still... but at least I looked good doing it.

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At the company party. we went to bed before things got too crazy. It was a good time, though.

I had two other interesting bits of news:

First, I was accepted into the Glenn Murcutt International Master Class in Australia for 2009 or 2010. we decided it would be best to wait until 2010, so more on that as things get closer.

Second, I cleared up the remaining course credit issues at school, and submitted my papers to graduate in May. Commencement will be on the 16th. I hope everyone can make it out to help us celebrate.

Up next, our basement finish project begins...

how I will remember this year

When so much has changed in our nation, it isn't easy to pick out a single thing that I will remember 2008 for. We are in the midst of massive financial turmoil and the economy is sputtering to a halt. After a summer with gas prices over $4.00 gave way to a winter that had seen them drop below $1.40, we are all left to wonder what's going on around us.

We are undoubtedly at a crossroads in our understanding of the world we share; a tranformative moment in our approach to energy and resource management, the rights of individuals, our collective place in the world community, and our relationships with our past mistakes.

We have seen great achievement, and great loss. Events like the Olympics in Beijing called our attention in a very clear way to both our individual and collective capacity, and our underestimated ability to deny what shames us.

We've seen some divides widen (Sarah Palin did so much to break down old and outdated rural/ female stereotypes, didn't she?), and others begin to mend (do I really need to say?)

In light of all this volatility and transition, you might expect a few noteworthy items to slip by unnoticed. It's only natural. However, I would be remisced if I were to let one item pass by unnoticed. This summer, when the news was consumed with stories of foreclosure, recession, Obama-mania, and who was going to be on the next season of "Dancing with the Stars," something changed in America.

I'm talking, of course, about Nectarines.



Somewhere around June, this:





Became this:




Um, What?! So we're just going grapefruit size with everything, now? Is that the plan? Agricultural scientists haven't been able to crack the code of making the pit separate cleanly from the fruit, but making the thing 3 times bigger happened over night? I get that there were other things going on, but you would think at least one or two of questions at the presidential debates might have been focused on this. At the very least, a segment on Dateline was in order.

Again, for reference...



If I sound incensed, it's because I am! One of our more cherished food-stuffs was hijacked and no one seems to have noticed. We're not talking about the pluot, the kiwi fruit, or some lame-ass wanna-be like the cherry tomato. This is the nectarine. The silent shepherd of the sapling sea. The pre-pubescent peach. Smooth like a plum, but without all the attitude, this titan of tangy is no flirt. It won't tease you along like that tramp, the clementine orange, only to leave you a few days into the new year. The nectarine is a robust, full-bodied fruit that doesn't take a backseat to anyone. I say we need to leave it alone.

So, you tell me... are we going to go through another year of focusing on trivial issues like the disastrous effects of mortgage-backed securities, the important steps we are taking to correct eight years of ruinous foreign policy, or how to transition a 20th century workforce into the emerging economy of the 21st century. Are we going to ignore the issue until all the members of the drupe family are abnormally large? Is this what we want?



Maybe it is... that actually seems kind of sweet. Nevermind.

As for next year, Let's have hope that it brings us more humility, resolve, and restraint.

Steamboat Christmas

I know its a few days late, but we just got back, and I didn't want to miss the chance to say Merry Christmas to my hoards of readers.

The weather was good, so we drove up to Steamboat to see my folks. We stopped at the top of Rabbit Ears Pass to take a few pics.






My parents showed us around town, and we took a few photos...



The girls in the back of mom and dad's car.



Across a valley filled with vacations homes.



My new favorite salon name.



A little Christmas display in one of the shops on main street.



One tough Hombre



Christmas Morning...





Opening presents...



Christmas Dinner



The Roast - Kristie Approved.



What you get when dad cuts the roast.



Mmmm... rolls.




Mom and Dad... Every time we walked into a store, someone would make a comment about them looking so nice, or being overdressed. You two really are the best lookin' couple in town...



Unless its these two... ahh, to be young and in love.



More photos....

SWAP-OFF!!!!!!! TAKE 1

Good evening.

Welcome to the biggest moment of your life. Why is this moment so defining? Well, before this post if done, you will face a fork in the road.

Down one path... despair and regret.
Down the other... glory. hope. maybe even lust.

How do you achieve all these dreams? You'll be mildly surprised to know that all it takes is moxie. The type of moxie that makes you trade something awesome and desirable for this:



POW!!!! That's right. One red toy car, and, count em'... 12345. FIVE HAZELNUTS!

They could be yours, and something better could be mine. Think about it... Do you want something of yours that is awesome, or something of mine that will make you cool?

I'm not going to make it easy, either. I have fancy artistic photography, nostalgia, and whimsy on my side... Check out this sexy shot:



Still not convinced?!! Well, feast on this:



Start making offers, but remember, I need to trade very soon, like as soon as you can possibly get this to me. Best offer wins... Others will have to wait.

... I am in a swap-off super swapping battle with Mr Zeke-a-saurus Tex, and only have 30 days to swap stuff. If you miss out this time, there will be more opportunities. Thanks for your support. You are cool. Not as cool as me, but still cool - If you make an offer.

buh- rrrrrr!

Just a short post here. I am watching the news. Its -15 outside, -36 with the windchill. Yesterday it was 61.

I took Lacey out earlier, and thought it was cold enough that she should have her sweater on. It didn't matter much, because got about halfway through our usual route when she pooped, then sat down and started whimpering and crying. I had to pick her up and put her inside my coat for the walk back home. Poor little thing.

winter in colorado

just a taste of the good times here.

stuff you should know about stuff that is awesome

Its been a while, but you favorite regular feature here at Items Deemed Adequate for Print is back.

Today we bring you the people who brought you the hits. Of course you already know who I'm talking about. I don't even got to say it. You're already already popping and locking even without the track startin up. If you got an expensive hat on, now is the time to remove it. Better do it now, because this groove is about to explode your dome.

So, don't be shy.
Turn up the volume, and grab a friend or two, and get to it.....

Cause there's a Meeting in the Ladies Room.