contagious smiles are cyclical onto myself

i'm trying to find a good photo uploading program to use to upload some of my photos from work. i'm also waiting to find a moment to sit down and read the manual on my new camera, so i can learn to take to best pictures possible with all its gagillion settings and options... someday soon, hopefully. i think i'm just tired and not wanting to do anything right now. i have a huge test on friday morning, but the book for the class is soul sucking and i don't want to read it. (its one of those ridiculously huge texts with fine print and ginormous chapters...oh, and sentences a paragraph long with words i swear don't exist in the english language. the landscape historian that wrote the thing has no life...i stick my tongue out to you, Elizabeth Barlow Rogers!) so, yes. I can't get myself to read to damn thing. plus i'm trying to read Blink for a group project we have to do, and study for my midterm on monday for the internet class that i haven't even looked at the notes for yet. gulp. i'm a terrible student.

but on a side note, i feel happy today. i walked around smiling most of the day and found myself giggling over nothing a lot as well. i'm not really sure what the reason for this is; maybe i got sprinkled with fairy dust or something; though i didn't achieve lift off or anything. neverland is still just out of my reach. everyone i know in the world is busy. all my arch friends, (in both countries, mind you) have projects due tomorrow and are being temporarily eaten alive. my heart goes out to all of them tonight, and has been for the past week. we will party this weekend to revive you! everyone else i know i cant get a hold of because they are swamped too. i feel alone, but i'm still content. i look forward to this weekend. i want to do something fun and social. i also need to catch up on financial crap; interesting how much i feel like an adult lately.

anyways, weather will soon be perfect. i expect around the 15th everything will be just right. it usually happens around that date. winter clothes are sounding so good to me right now. soft, warm sweaters and coats, socks, and scarves. (though people look at me like i'm nuts for wearing a scarf in arizona, but i won't give it up). anyways, off to sleep. pictures are soon to come. take care to all of those suffering homework burdens tonight!

hug

so i sit at a desk in a condo realty office

well, i think this is going to turn into a weekely blog for me. I wanted it to be a little more often than that, but it seems that I have far more writing than I ever have had to do this semester. I can sometimes find the time at work, which is where I am right now, so I think I'll just have to realy on that time for a while...

speaking of work, I figured I'd share my work environment with everyone via this blog. I have a lot of people asking me what it is I do all the time, so I figured this would be a good way to explain it. Also, I really like the place that I work at, and I want to show what the model/office actually looks like. So here goes:

My job consists of very little. I sit around most of the time and fiddle fart around on my computer, since all I'm really required to do it answer the phones and great and register customers when they come in for information. I have to smile and act friendly, (which, I consider myself to be a smiley, friendly person anyways, so no trick there...). That's pretty much it. I'm not allowed to give out ANY information on the project, since I'm not a licsenced real estate agent, so most of the time its better that I pass people over to the sales agents as fast as possible. I assist my dad (whom I work with) with clerical stuff, and also the other sales associate(realtor) when I work with her, but there is a lot of down time. So much so that the other sales associate and I often find ourselves playing the Sim 2 during most moments of the day. I play sometimes when I'm working with my dad, but he usually has more for me to do. Does this sound like a real job to you yet? I'm still tryin to convince myself that it is...

The funniest part about my job is the people and interactions I have on a day to day basis. I meet a lot of really interesting customers everyday; some of which I find myself wishing I had never met; others that I wish I could inherete into my family some how. The zaniest lady I've met since being here came in a few weeks ago; actually, the night before my birthday. She was so sweet and funny, her and I hit it off right away, just talking about what ever. She was one of those people that you can be instant friends with. She came in to gather some quick information about the project, and then said that she had to go to an appointment, but would come back with her friend later to look at the model. When she returned an hour later, I met her friend as well. They were such a riot. I kept thinking that the two of them reminded me of my best friend and I, and I pictured us as the same two ladies in the future. My dad came out and spent 2 hours with them, just chatting and running them through the project. We all ended up talking and joking around for a while before they left, and they happened to bring up this amazing pastery/coffee shop around the corner...particularly their cream cheese coconut cupcakes. I said I had never been there, and they proceeded to tell me that I should go there as soon as possible. I promised them I would, said goodbye, and felt so sad that I might never see them again. They were very entertaining. My dad and I talked about them for a while, particularly how fun they were, and towards the end of the work day started cleaning up the office only to hear a knock on the door. They had both come back, with a cream cheese cupcake and lemon cookie for both me and my dad, because they just thought it was something they just had to share with us. It was so funny! We couldn't believe they had done it. Lea, the lady looking to buy the condo, kept telling me that she wanted me to meet her son, and that she would try to bring him in the next time she came. He's supposedly 26 and gorgeous, and she insists that we'd make a fantastic couple. Haha.

Its moments like that that I love working where I do. I meet a lot of really interesting and intellectual people, along with many of the individuals involved in the design of the project. I've been offered an opprotunity to visit the firm, and to submit a resume to see if they have any job opprotunities for me once school is out. That is extremely exciting! One of the head designer's over there plays bass in a rock band during his spare time, and he's in his 40's or 50's. I've heard they have improvised rock concerts there every once in a while...sounds like a fun environment to me.

Oh, I guess information on the project would be good to know as well. The website is in need of some updating and work, but you can get a sense of what its all about at least: www.portlandplacecondos.com There is really a lot more information that what the website offers. I believe they are in the process of revamping it. Also, I'm going to post some pictures of the office and model when I get home, since I forgot my camera cord today...

So, that's where I work. I'm going to go back to my boredom now, and veg out until someone comes in for me to greet. Who knows, maybe it'll be another crazy group of ladies with sweeeeeet pasteries for me to munch on...mmmmmm.

i am a so lazy and bored. save me please.

i have been having such a difficult time with getting things done. i haven't missed any assignments or anything, but i'm not doing the readings like i'm supposed to be, and i'm procrastinating on everything else. i think i'm really ready to be done with school. i like going to class and a lot of the homework that i do have i enjoy, but i feel that once i get home and find myself alone and with a tv, all i feel like doing is sitting on my ass. i try getting myself to read, but i end up falling asleep most of the time when its a huge textbook. recreational reading is fun, but i feel more guilty doing that than i seem to when i watch tv, which doesn't make sense. i need new hobbies: piano is at my dad's house and ever since i moved away from it 2 years ago something died in me. i only get to play it once a week. i need to get out and do things; maybe i should join a hiking club, or something of that nature. get involved in something. meet new people, find new activities. i just feel like i'm existing, and i want to live again. its been so long.

yeah, a hiking club. i'm going to go out and buy some really good shoes and start looking into it. if anything maybe i can find some people to go with every week if i can't join a club. wish me luck.

21 years and counting

so its finally happened. i've reached another pivetal point in my life: turning 21. its such an interesting phenominon. for the first time ever, i actually felt older on my birthday, like i really had aged. its probably because for the first time ever i felt like an adult. i was able to go out any where i wanted and hang out with people my own age or older. it was very interesting. i had a fabulous birthday. i really ended up having a weekend long celebration: i'm very spoiled.

friday i went to school early in the morning, and then straight to work. work has been so exhausting lately. its difficult because my dad is so busy, and 95% of the time he can't talk. since its only us in the office, i sit around and keep quiet for hours upon hours, surfing the web and twiddling my thumbs basically. it's exausting because its so boring. but at least i'm getting paid well. before i left work to go home, evan called me and asked if i wanted to go to dinner for my birthday since he wouldn't get to see me for the rest of the weekend. me, gina, evan and caleb went to oregano's for some grub and had a great time. we were there a total of 3 and a half hours or something like that, mostly cause the wait was so long and because we just sat around and talked forever. it was a really nice nite. i also got a package i had been waiting for from amazon: the last kiss soundtrack and a few books of poetry by rumi. very exciting.

saturday: went to work because lara couldn't work for me. we had to scrap the camping plan cause it wasn't gonna fit into the weekend unless i had saturday off. it wouldn't have been too bad, but work was a mad house. i came in at 10, and there were 5 different camera crews shooting footage in the model and the gallerey. they are all competing in the urban affair competion to create a short film that best portrays urban living. they all wanted to use our office/project in their videos. it was insane. one of the guys also had to shoot a commercial for a new energy drink (i can't remember the name of it for the life of me...). he set up a little scene at the bar we have in office, and then asked me and my dad if we wouldn't mind being in the commercial. we had to sit there and drink energy drinks out of wine glasses and give a couple of fake toasts. it was so weird, but supposedly the commercial should air on tv or something. i don't know if its gonna be a popular channel, or if its even going to air more than once, but still it was kinda funny. i'll keep you posted...

that night i went home and had an amazing meal with my mom and tim. she made mashed potatoes, steak and gravey, one of my favs. she also backed me a chocolate cake with rasberried in it. soooo good. we sat and watched an old movie (the canterville ghoast-such a crack up), and she gave me a new chair for my desk, 500 thread count sheets, a new pillow, and the life aquatic dvd. such fantastic presents, and a really amazing card. i love my mommy. she takes good care of me and i'm lucky to have such a wonderful person in my life.

12am- hit the bars...Rula Bula to start. Caleb, Gina and Daniel all met up with me, and some of Gina's friends were there as well. i was being such a naive idiot. everyone kept asking me what i wanted to drink, and i didn't have the slightest clue. they had to run through a million drinks with me before we decided on one: irish car bombs all around. it was pretty good, surprisingly. then we walked outside, (it was pouring by the way. we had one of the biggest storms that night. my hair turned into a puff ball...), where i got a large glass of blue moon. it took about ten minutes for me to feel the car bomb. by the time i had finished the beer, and i was already really loopy, and so was gina. we decided to hit the Que Club, where Caleb bought me a whoping long island iced tea. needless to say, i drank about a fourth of it and i was done. we went and played some pool, and i must say that i royally kicked ass. i suck at pool normally, but i guess get a couple of drinks in me and watch out. otherwise, maybe it was just a lucky night...

at about 2 am we started heading to gina's house. her and i were both pretty far gone at this point, so caleb came with us. we took a cab, and i got to her place and crashed for about 5 hours. i woke up at 7 and was trying to force myself to sleep. i have discovered that when i drink, i crash hard and wake up restless after only a few hours: its pretty consistent.

sunday morning: my acutal bday. we all get up at about 10 and i head home. i meet up at my dad's house to go to lunch with him and raeann. we sit down for a bit to talk, and my dad decides he wants to give me my presents. he and i had picked his gift out this pasdt week, so i already knew what it was, but i was really excited. i got a brand new canon camera. its sweet. i've been needing a new camera for years now, so it was perfect. but there was another surprise in the bag: a manilla envelope. i opened it up and saw three sheets of paper: a list of places to have a passport ordered, a passport application, and a computer printed out certificate. i read it: THIS CERTIFICATE ENTITLES YOU TO ONE ROUND TRIP TICKET TO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, COURTESTY OF GROSSMAN TRAVEL. (grossman being my dad's girlfriend raeann.) i was in shock. i reread it over and over again, and when i finally realized what it was i was holding in my hands i started to cry. i received an almost garauntee that i was going to europe at last. i couldn't believe it. my dad has been talking to me about how i feel about raeann and him getting married lately, and i've been telling him how wonderful i think it would be. she makes him so happy, and she and her kids are wonderful. the fact that they are so close to such a commitment explains the size of the gift, but i still can't believe it. she's amazing. her and i talk all the time about traveling, and she knew that this would be perfect for me. she is so thoughtful and kind, and i just can't get over it. thanks again raeann. you have literally saved me, and i don't know if that's explainable, but its true.

well, i'll have to continue this later. got a lot of homework to do.

but, in 8 months, europe: you betta watch out, cause here i come!

made it through first week of school...

everybody breath with me.... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. nice to be through with the first week of school. wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. i found myself worrying just a little that i'd be in for some trouble, but i think i'll make it through the semester in one piece. it will be challenging, that's for sure, but do-able. i think what had me worried for a while was that i was having trouble figuring out a schedule that would be easy to work my job at the same time. it looks like i have it all situated. in class t-fri mornings, and i work friday after class and saturday all day. its perfect. i also have the opprotunity to work for my dad for his buisiness if i find some extra time during the week. i'm going to be taking 16 credits of all upper division design classes, one of which is a graduate level class (yikes). each one will require a lot more writing and reading than i'm used to, and i still am anxious to find out what the tests are like, but i'm still excited. i have a lot of great minded teachers. i am lucky enough to have wil heywood again, whom i adore tremendously. of all people i have met in my life, he has got to be one of my favorites. i admire him so much as an intellectual, a teacher, and a human being. i have morton for aph 313, and i love that he will jump up and down during lecture, evening running over and literally HUGGING a support column to define how passionate he is about architecture. i have tom witt for Design Methodologies (grad class), whom i like a lot already as well. the class touches on understanding how to analyze design using a is philosophical approach. its very theory based, and makes you think a lot. (in the ways that i like to think... i feel like this class was almost made for me.) there's only 9 people in the little room, so we have long discussions the entire class period. its a lot of hard work, but worth it i think. i definetely need to drop my argentinian tango dance class, which makes me sad, but getting out at 10pm at night when i have to be back on campus at 9:15 the next morning is a little tough, especailly with where i live.

some interesting finds for the week:

-having class at 9:15 is the most difficult commute of my life. it takes me 1 full hour to get from my apartment to the parking garage near the centerpoint theater...and then 10 min to walk to class. this will take an adjustment, because traffic around campus has increased considereably, especially that time of day.
-i actually have classes with friends. it glorious, since i spent the entirety of last year alone with a bunch of interior design freshman girls (for the most part...)
-TEMPE=HUGE! its amazing to see all the development thats going on, some of which i don't necessarily agree on. its the most condensed space in AZ, which is good on some levels, but the fact that most of the people are still driving makes the traffic horrendous, and i think driving in it takes a year off my life daily.
-i love upper division classes.
-landscape arch classes are very different from architecture ones...
-i hate having food poisoning. PERIOD.

k, that's it for now. i'm trying to go camping for mi compleano (i don't think i spelled that right...i miss italian), next week. waiting to hear if my co-worker is able to work for me next saturday. if so, i'm off to make smores and do some fishing! (that was a sidenote).

i'm signing off.

my tummy hurts...

well, i really wanted to continue discussing some of the amazing things i did in california, but i'm a little wiped out today. i either have a stomach flu or food poisoning, and i was up all last night. blah. it amazes me how much i have to slow down my life when i get sick to that extreme. i had to miss a class this morning, and it would've been the first time attending it this semester. luckily, since it was the first day, i didn't miss much. but i like to be there the first day to meet the teacher and prepare myself for what's to come. i'll have to track down his email somewhere...

anyways, i'm not gonna go into details about my day because it may gross a lot of you out. and my tummy hurts and i'm extremely sleepy so i'm off to bed. if i'm feeling better tomorrow, i'll explore my writing a little more than i have tonight.

ciao.

i am dumb...

can't believe its been 2 weeks since my last post. i promised myself that i would keep this up, and i went on vacation and got all lax. though half of it wasn't my fault. i wasn't near internet for half of the time, even though i brought my computer. oh well, onward ho.

california was awesome, as always. i had such an amazing time with everyone. it was a very relaxing trip. my whole summer has kind of been that way. quiet and calm. its interesting not having crazy stuff happening all the time to keep me on my toes. i've actually found myself bored most days. i'm really anxious for school to start so i can start tapping into myself a bit again. i feel i remained, um, "neutral" for the last 2 months. like i was more existing than living. california helped jump start me a bit again.

i spent the first couple of days in walnut creek with my old roomate Marhanda. we had an amazing time. her place was unbelieveable. i actually found out that she has the studio and a wonderful back yard and garden, complete with a pool, for only 600 is a month. Fantastic! the first day we went for a 2 mile walk around the neighborhood. it was so nice being outside in the green and cool weather. then we had a good healthy oatmeal applesauce pancake breakfast (get all that?). she had a long interview at a firm that afternoon, and i spent the day outside writing in my journal. it was amazing.

the next day she went into work, and i just worked on booking train tickets for Sacramento and such. when she got back in the afternoon we got ready and went into the city. (San Fran). went to pier 39 and the fishermans warf, then to ghiradelli square. we ate fish and chips at chowders and i bought the most amazing yellow peach the size of a fist at the fruit market. it was the best peach i had eaten in over 10 years. by the time i was done with it i had peach juice all over my face. couldn't help it really...

i pretty much did the same thing i do every time i go there. a lot of the touristy stuff. we also went up to lombard street and drove around union square. next time i go i'm taking an architectural tour of the city, shopping at the stores on powell, riding a trolly car (still haven't done that), and well, pretty much buying an apartment complete with georgian windows overlooking the bay. yep, that's what i said. i can dream...