This song is one of those rocking jump around sounds that sounds timeless and at the same time is not in your face. It's all about being buddy buddy or having a friendship and doing things together, having adventures. I really enjoy it.
Haven't posted in a few days b/c they have been blending a bit lately. Though a few things have occurred:
1) Got off the train on the exercise/diet b/c my birthday is this Saturday (turning 21!!) but was put back on it when I ran into a friend from architecture (tall, gay, keeps himself in peak athletic condition) and I'm rethinking it all. I need to be competitive in all aspects. I may not end up being the best - but if I keep working at it I will be able to compete on the same level
2) Been hanging out with one of my really good girlfriends every single day b/c of lack of work. She would be a best friend but she got demoted b/c she doesn't like Gilmore Girls. Who doesn't like the Gilmore Girls?! Something is wrong with her.
3)Been watching the French Open still, LOTS of it. Today there was an excellent match between Fabio Fognini and Gael Monfils that had to be called due to darkness. It'll be like a sudden death match when they go on tomorrow, excited!
4)Started reading "Crabgrass Frontier" from one of the classes I took a while back. While in the class I only had to read excerpts, so now I'm filling in the rest. It's a really good book that deals with American suburbia, so if anyone is into that, be sure to check it out. Also have my Oxford Architecture dictionary, so I have to crack that open as well.
5)Randomly asked to party with a friend last night. Brought up a lot of old high school stuff, very weird but interesting as well. That and I got so drunk off of beer alone (never happened before) and went to Whataburger with new friends. One was Asian (who actually drove amazingly, he's a valet), one had a name like mine and the other went to my hs (who I recognized b/c I thought he was cute back then. still is. haha). Still an excellent time to be had. I just need to tell more friends, take me away for the night. Then everything would be alright and I'd have such a delight. Ok, I'm done rhyming.
Start work in about 1 1/2 hrs as we are officially OPEN! Cannot wait.
Design your day ^^
Ever since I heard the song "Catch You" I've been a fan of Sophie Ellis Bextor. I feel that her new album is going to be a good dance floor stomper that'll be enjoyable by all. I am now beginning to realize that my form of speech is beginning to be "imperialized," if you catch my drift. Hm.
So yesterday I really enjoyed training for work. We got an idea of how to use all of the different machines in the store, including how to make all the different types of drinks and paninis. My goodness - everything tastes SO good I'm really excited about this concept store and I'm glad the drinks are delicious b/c it makes everything so much easier to sell when it tastes that good. There are also very cute looking people who work at the store. I won't acknowledge that they are though b/c I don't want to go down that road. But yeah, everywhere I go - hot people, it's getting ridiculous.
After that, I ended up going to the commencement ceremony by fluke, to see a friend of mine graduate. It's crazy b/c there are so many people that the way it's done is that this ceremony is optional, but it's still a big deal b/c it's on the main mall, there are fireworks, etc. etc, We couldn't find a seat so we didn't stay long, but still it gave a bit of confidence when I saw the people that were graduzating that I knew from the architecture school. It felt good to see them there.
After that we ended up going to my friend's frat party. It was very interesting b/c it was a multicultural frat (of mostly Indians) and it was suuuuuper awkward but I still got drunk so that's fine. In fact, I got pretty drunk. Not trashed, but I felt it for a good while after words. Enough to talk to this guy from my Italian conversation class that I think is hot. It was nice lol
Today I've been watching the French Open. I LOVE tennis. It's the one thing I wish I could've done with my life - I didn't really learn about the sport until I was 13, but nonetheless I'm still very passionate. Who I think will win is Nadal and Henin. Who I would like to win is Djokovic or Gasquet, and then Sharapova or Jankovic. We shall see.
Other than that I'm taking today off. I need to go talk to a friend that is having issues with her bf (they've been dating for over 2 years!) and though I know they were going to come to a crossroads when she decides where she wants to go med school, but that's still a year away.
For me it's bittersweet, I would like to date someone, but I don't want to hurt someone b/c I know I won't sacrifice my future for someone else. At least right now. Things like this always change.
P.S. - go check out Daniel Brands. He lost his match but his looks win the war.
I really like this song. I was going to post the actual video, but I felt like it didn't have the same vision that I see when I hear it, so I didn't haha. I really like their style, it's like what would've happened if disco continued on into the 80s with a touch of psychadelica.
I have to say that I am a fan of dwell. Though some of my professors may argue against its validity, I think it still brings up a valid aspect to the argument of architecture, more specifically what is good architecture. B/c honestly that what it boils down to for a lot of architects - why is this good in the first place?
I found this month's issue to be particularly important to me, as it is concerning megacities, and not necessarily the ones you would think of first - Sao Paolo, Jakarta, Seoul, and Mumbai.
My favorite thing was this quote:
"Arriving at a metropolis is like stepping onto a moving sidewalk at an airport. Your legs are going at the same pace, but the world around you is moving a bit faster. The speed is addictive. Get used to it."
I can't wait to be a part of this!
On top of that, there is also information on parks in the city, which is an important concept in urban areas; where do you go for a breather?
Yesterday was a pretty good day, sans the fact I figured out my gpa and my whole goal of a 3.3. I can say for sure I will have no social life come September 1 (sigh). Oh well, I do enjoy my major and I feel I can make an impact and a contribution to the profession. I also know that if I can pull that off before the end of my tenure at school I can find a way to guarantee a grad student position somewhere.
For now I have to go to work.
Design your day!
Crystal Castles - Celestica
You know, I got over the band pretty quickly when they had their first album b/c a lot of it sounded like white noise to me. But this song is more celestial and etherial so I think I'll give them another listen.
Woke up later again today - 1:30 - as training was delayed YET again. But this time it's b/c they're installing TVs so I let it slide. I want to watch World Cup while I'm working so I cannot wait! I almost went home this weekend back to visit my entire family but unfortunately the timing didn't work out. It's very odd b/c lately I've been wanting to see them. It's one of those things for me that I want to have every now and again but can't do for very long. I love my family, but it really stresses me out if we're around each other for too long. Nevertheless, I know how important they are to me and my success so at times I must succumb. But not this weekend :p
Yesterday, when my friend's friends came into my house and I was in a state of poor dress, I was reminded of how I should be sketching everyday and working on my skills. Well, that didn't happen yesterday - but - I did find a slew of competitions that I can enter and work on during the summer. I like this b/c I can both improve my design process, show you guys some work, possibly get some recognition that will boost my portfolio, and maybe even win some money! You can never have too many supplies in architecture; remember that.
Well for now I'm off to the bank and then late tonight an apartment complex is hosting a late night with free food and drinks. Seriously, around here they will do anything to get students to lease. But it's cool, we get to have fun for free. But during that time I will organize these competitions in order of due date along with setting up a second blog for my atelier (excited!) and then catch up on anime while doing dishes and then fitting in some italian practice in there somewhere. Note that this is all a lot of fun for me!
Tomorrow I'm posting concerning my new dwell magazine that I just received in the mail. Excitement!
Sometimes, I like being told what to do. hehe
The verses have a little work that needs to be done in the mix, but I like the chorus. It's very big and very commanding. Hopefully Ms. Kelly can bring it back.
Yesterday was my first day of training and so far I really enjoy the place and I think overall it's going to be a super successful store - I can feel it. I'm going to not acknowledge that I work with a pretty good looking guy, so I'm only mentioning it once. OK.
Today I was supposed to have another day of work, but it was canceled b/c they need to set up a few more of the machines, so for now I get the day off! (hence why I'm here at home and why I just got up at this hour). Though I wish I would have known my friend, who is my roommate's gf, had to bring in her friends to the house right now. It's a mess! Now I'm totally embarrassed.
Either way, it's really cool b/c I got to do a mini-project with my atelier (if I haven't explained what that is, I'll do it later) and help figure out the color choices for tshirts and apron. I have to say Adobe Illustrator is my number one favorite tool to use for my design work. Revit is excellent in rendering as well, however, that takes a computer hours to just sit there and get work done. Insane!!!
Hopefully today I can command myself to get some work done, I really have not done much at all, and that sucks.
Alejandro Sanz ft. Alicia Keys - Looking for Paradise
Hopefully that works....
Today I started the first of my habit-forming techniques that will help ensure pure success during the school by going to bed at midnight and waking up at 6am. I know some people think that's crazy, to only sleep for 6 hours, but for me that's a great night's sleep and on top of that being in architecture means that every second counts. Today I got up at that time, but then I went back to bed after using the bathroom haha. My body clock doesn't seem to be fully fixed yet, so we'll tweak that. Anyway, today is my first day of training at Dolce Finale and I'm very excited. The Health Inspector FINALLY came, so today begins a summer that will be full of busy busy business; but at the same time I really enjoy working - it's a passion of mine to make people feel good b/c I know at any place that serves sweet things (which are my favorite kind of things) all they're really looking for is a slice of paradise. Well, I have to be there in about 20 so I have to keep this one short, but I hope you all have found your own piece of that pie, I may have found my niche in this quiche. (yes, tacky, I know.)
I really like Ke$ha's music I'm just not a fan of her very much, too trashy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSR1eE9-lRo&feature=player_embedded
I'm using this song b/c it's a video made by a graduate from my school and he also did a really good "Telephone" video before this. Also, yesterday my roommate left for home and I have downstairs all to myself. This means less clothes hahaha. Though overall I've been a bit bad concerning my diet. He said I could eat whatever was left in the fridge, so I decided I might as well finish everything off now b/c my body won't be able to absorb all the calories at once (I know, I shouldn't be doing this in the first place).
Well, I feel a lot more like myself now that I've begun watching anime again (something I was really missing during school) and I think it may be helpful to my overall work ethic during school. It seems every episode I learn something new or am reminded of the morals that I need to embody and exemplify. One, from Ookiku Furikabutte, it about the mind and how it is similar to how we eat. In order to get the most out of it, we have to use our mind in three ways.
1) Focus on the work you have in front of you, the future (think about the food you are going to eat)
2) Focus on what you are doing as you do it (really focus on eating and savor each bite)
3) Focus on what you have done to get where you are and the work you put in (remember the work you did to make the meal and how good it was eating it)
It is by focus on all these aspects that you can get the most out of life.
This is going to be what I am aiming for. The more I get my grades back from this last semester, the more I know that I have to kick it into high gear if I want to make it into grad school, but even that, my closer goal is to pass into the advanced studios, and even before that I need to survive this summer. For the night, I rest; and tomorrow I fully begin again to the fullest!
In other news, I finished up Gossip Girl. OMFGG!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QPTZc1LudI
Katy Perry - California Gurls
This post is about a good friend of mine who I call my "onee-chan," or little sister. She goes to school now in California now, and this song reminds me of her, because just like Katy Perry, no matter the background put behind her, her voice and true self shines through.
I saw a lot of Sex and the City last night with my friends and I learned a lot about relationships and sex, though it's hilarious because a good deal of things I already knew. One of them really bugged me though, and it was the notion of marrying someone who loves you more than you love them. This also reminds me of my onee-chan: she has an older bf over there who loves her to death, but I think it's too much for her and I know for a fact that during winter break she cheated on him with an old bf. So why is she still with him? Obviously it's not what she really wants, which is important in a relationship, you have to want what you have.
Today was a culmination of things both good and bad. Got back my first grade - not excited with C and this knocks me a bit down with my overall goal; however I remind myself that these grades reflect the work I had done and not the work I have yet to do. On a plus I found some design competitions (free entry!) that I plan on participating in. I'm also working with a friend on a side project we're calling atelier A so I'm very excited about that.
I also just realized I missed the new Wonder Girls song! I'll proably post that soon.
Anyway, I went to dinner with a group that was (supposed) to be people that used to live on my floor. Only the main girl who is going off to medical school actually showed up - others had other plans and were too busy - along with my old roommate along with my best friend/his gf and my current roommate. Things went well so (stupidly) I invited him to go out with me. Bad idea. I am already aware of how he is, and none of my friends like him, yet I tried one last time to give him a chance. But no, at the party (which was insane, 3 storys of an apt building with a replica of the school tower that high) he had a problem with me standing where he had been (which is where I had been right before) and decided to shove me over, when I spilled (more purposefully than accidentally) a bit of my beer on him. This caused him to tip the whole cup over, which made more of a mess than anything on him and made him look like a douche in front of frat guys no less. I'm pretty much done trying to be social with him, it's too much work.
Other than that, I had a really good time - saw tons of people I knew, including one guy who was way too trashed for his own good and actually has a secret girlfriend, and then hung out with my good friend Ashley along with the guy who I got over and his new guy who he met two days ago and is really really into him (though old crush is pretty unaware and usually drunk haha). All night he whispered to us "he's just testing, right? right?" while I tried to explain this was no test. No matter - at the end we parted ways with those two left alone and me 6 hours before i have to get up to sing happy birthday for a girl I don't know with people from my acappella group.
This is my social life.
I can't wait to start work.
It's Kylie Minogue's new single, of course I'm going to post it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekPRAeHc-L4
I feel absolutely amazing right now.
I had planned to post today, because I am officially done with school, and was supposed to start work tomorrow. Well, today I watched lots of LGBT-related stuff on logo and current tv and received an e-mail saying that the Health Inspector hadn't come by the restaurant yet. No HI = no food. Oh well, that means I get more time to reflect and develop myself. Also, more time to clean out my studio!
Let's see - where can I start?
I feel like I've been given an entire new start. I picked the graduate school I wish to attend and have a goal. The Bartlett at UCL. It may be an ultimate dream, but I know going there that I can achieve the things I want to do. Also, I'll be in London! I was originally supposed to graduate (just in time to live in London for the Olympics) but maybe I can be there while I do my professional residency.
With this I now have a place that I am moving towards and a direction that I am looking towards, and I really like this. It is also great to have this while I work on improving myself. This comes along with going out last night to Rain (the local spot for well-to-do gays and dance crazies like myself) and looked at the guys around. The guys I wanted - the guys I was honestly interested in - were easily 5 to 10 years older than myself. Which got me thinking, "I have time to work on myself." I mean, I am only 20 going on 21. I have three years left of undergraduate work, not to mention an entire summer where all I am doing is working. I feel that I have my entire life ahead of me and maybe it's the endorphins from breathing in all of this amazing rain but I know what I want and I know that there is more to my life than the parties of west campus and these overly pretentious people who won't let their guard down for a second, along with a bevy of useless frat boys and sororowhores who want nothing more than fame, riches, and status.
I am on my soap box and saying, I design to express myself and the towns I grew up in. I design for the future that will come. I design for the problems that are now. And one day, I will find someone who is better than all the lovers in the world. But for now, I've got to get to the me underneath all these little Russian dolls.
Here's some lyrics I just made and needed to get down:
Walked back in the rain - down the 24th lane
I live only a block away - the end of my day
which has turned into night - only see street light
dripping and drench - I knew everything would be alright
Everything will be alright.
Neon Trees - Animal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY--Yu4kzz0
I really need to post everyday, I think this really helps destress and put things in order. I've become an animal these days - very independent but also have changed my eating habits to what they should have been all semester. That means eating much much more fruits and vegetables - 5 to 10 a day for sure. My goal this summer is to lose somewhere in the neighborhood of 25-50 lbs (possible as I'm over 200) and overall get much fitter and healthier. I'll finally get a chance to do that once I'm now out of studio!
Things that have happened lately - got over the last guy completely after he broke down in my arms about his body image issues and just all the problems in his life. I learned a lot about him, and as I liked him less as a boyfriend I've loved him more and more as a friend. Sappy, I know.
Recently I've also thought that this will be my independent summer. I'm living away from my mother for the first summer ever and it establishes myself as a permanent resident in the city I live in. Walking around the neighborhood tonight, I thought to myself "I wish I was in Europe, bout for now, this will do."
Other things I should be doing - studying for my finals! I've begun a bit already, but going over to my friends to play with her dog didn't help. Also the fact that every time I look at my Italian work it says that things will be OK. I hope so - but tomorrow I study for my Construction Final. I honestly have less than a full hour of studying that I've done for that class, and both finals are on Thursday. I also have to pick up my "composizione" and re-do that, along with calling my mother and sorting a bunch of other things.
Well, nothing is as stressful as architecture was. But of course, I'm going to be studying during summer.
I took a different approach to today.
Though normally I choose to pick a song I'm listening to and discuss my day to day and how that fits in, this post is a bit different. I finally got a chance to see Tom Ford's "A Single Man" and was absolutely taken in by the themes, methods, and expressions exuded by both the characters and the actors that embody them. It truly made me re-evaluate where I am and what I do. I feel that now that I have finished my project I have all of these things that I wish to carry on but that I have been emotionally exhausted. This comes at a time when I need to keep up the best of appearances, especially as we are re-presenting the project on Friday to both city officials and local architects in San Antonio. I hope that I can help spur a change in the city, but also receive a better critique than Wednesday. I feel that it was too shrt - there wasn't enough discussion as to what my project principles were and though it wasn't necessarily a bad review it wasn't a good one either. I think the only thing I did gain was a contact in the SA development office by the name of Richard. He seems like a very nice guy, so it would be interesting to see what is occurring in the city, though he had bad breath, and if you have to time to be well-dressed you have time to take care of things like that.
hifting back to the film, it seems to have reinforced some ideas concerning the type of man - as now I'm finding it increasingly difficult to find a woman with the qualities - I wish to meet. I feel that I want someone who is truly mentally stimulating and able to match me in terms of honesty and insight. Intelligent conversation is my number one goal - the desire to connect on a level that is not merely physical.
To make another note on the film, it really brought back the idea of the Era of Cool - early 1960s mod that really intrigues me. On a final note, Nicholas Hoult is a superb actor and an excellent-looking man.
