spreading myself thin...just how i like my pancakes

Some of you may be curious about my previous post on the excitement of graduate school opportunities, so here is some of what I was referring to.

I am currently working with two professors the first job is trying to streamline the department with using online portfolios, and encouraging students to begin getting their work online.

The second job I started last week and it entails doing some research for very interesting projects. In a nutshell, we are looking at LEED certified schools, measuring classroom performance compared to traditional, older school models. My professor is working on a few other projects as well, but I will talk about those later when things start rolling...basically it's a lot of interest in "green" architecture which I is great b/c that is why I came to Oregon.

I am really excited to be working with both of these professors, they are fantastic and I respect them both immensely, and to top it off they are both paid positions.

Also, as per encouragement from a professor, I am submitting a paper to the National Solar Conference. It is for a project myself and three other students worked on last Winter. We basically studied water trombe walls and how effective they would be for passive heating.

Also, next term I will be a graduate teaching fellow, I am really excited for this opportunity because I would like to eventually teach. GTFs at UO get all the perks...free tuition, a pay check, and health insurance.

...and on the side I am heading up Public Relations for the AIAS UO chapter.

So that's it, a lot of neat opportunities outside the normal classroom setting. The downside is personal time is now really limited, but I figure so is my time here at school, so better take advantage.

Today I was minding my own business, cutting chipboard for a model, when all of a sudden someone behind me mentions something interesting. So I quickly turn around to look, and while my body turns, my cutting hand does as well, and slices right through my finger, taking out a good chunk.

I drew a sketch of what I thought my finger would look like after healing so I could show Dan without removing my bandaid (It's the bottommost sketch).


That may be slightly exaggerated, but its still ugly.

The People's Bathroom

This is the bathroom closest to my studio. What makes it so special? Notice there is no boy/girl indication, it's for the people...of all genders. Most of you may not be surprised by this sort of thing, but after spending four years of your life at BYU, trust me it's news. I lived in a dorm in which the men had to be in a completely separate building...this is a big leap from that.

So the big question is, do I use it? Of course I use it!! I don't really think of the restroom as my private time, and I don't think it is something to be shy about. I have even carried on handwashing conversations with guy friends. Although I don't quite think I am ready for professor contact...that may take time.

This weekend Dan and I jumped at an opportunity to go to The Shire. The Shire is 75 acres of landscape, set aside by John Yeon, an Oregon Architect. Yeon loved the Columbia River Gorge and wanted to protect it from logging, so he bought this land and upon his death donated it to the University of Oregon. It is private property and access is very limited, so we were lucky.

Yeon loved Multnomah falls, and so at every 'viewing point' along his 75 acres, he has carved out a view of the falls.

The Gorge

The Shire

To make the trip even better, we had perfect weather, found pear trees, and I was able to watercolor.

it is so exciting when.....

the link between the graduate world and the professional becomes more clear; when opportunities are presented to you and you don't have to desperately seek them. when the seemingly scattered pieces finally fall together.

he knows me too well.

When I am busy with school, Dan does the nicest things...like cleaning the house, walking me to school, and putting out four glasses of water


Dan knows how much I love water...4 times as much as the average person.

Football Team!

Why American Football is called 'football' I don't know, soccer utilizes the foot much more and so I think it deserves to be called by its appropriate title (the rest of the world calls it such).

So, Dan and I joined an indoor football (soccer) team, with some of our friends from architecture school.

Dan scored two goals today and I scored one..Dan also said he wanted me to tell you that my goal was the "game killer". The only reason I admit that is because when I did score the goal he screamed and celebrated so loudly it was kind of ridiculous and really funny.

Since Dan and I have been together we have been incredibly lucky to travel to so many places together: london, paris edinburgh, new york, costa rica, st.louis, portland, san diego, las vegas, eugene, seattle, and most recently Vancouver!

the architecture department funded a bike tour of the beautiful city of Vancouver, B.C. (not to be confused with Vancouver, Washington). we stayed two nights and then took the train back Sunday morning.

the tour was led by Vancouver's city planner and lead on much of the Olympic Village project. fantastic opportunity, eh?

closest thing to a group photo

for more photos visit my facebook album

enough about bikes already eh?

Sorry for another bike post, but this is a terrific video reminding everyone about bike safety

it's official...

my bike has successfully completed the Asian transformation. Yes, that is an umbrella holder on my bicycle, and yes it had to be imported from China. I came so close to buying one while I was in Japan (everyone has these on their bikes), but to my regret I passed up the purchase opportunity.

You may think it looks ridiculous, but when it's pouring rain, I will casually ride by you as you fight off the downpour in your rainpants and jacket, and think to myself, "now who looks ridiculous?"
j/k...I will wave and feel bad for you.

bike accessories

my ultimate japanese/ european/ 60s bike is almost finished. one item i was set on acquiring was an old generated light. i found some old parts at the co-op, but i hadn't the slightest idea how to wire one. so i went to my local shop and they told me they had some used generated lights that they could put on my bike...the cost-$30. the set they offered was mostly plastic and $30 seemed too steep for a used light, so i headed back to the co-op and spent hours trying to fashion my light using my own intuition. i had to take parts from about 5 different lights (the co-op basically had a bucket of used parts, nothing intact, lots of twisted wires) but i finally got one in working order. cost? $5.00 exactly.


my next purchase was a copper bike bell. i could have definitely bought a cheaper one, this was $12, but it has a pleasant ring and crane makes a great product...and i was slightly swayed by the fact that it's japanese (maybe i should have save that confession for the confessions blog).


all that's left is tune my breaks and replace the black cabling for yellow.

cost to date? $62
estimated completed cost? $65
total under budget? $35

ma and pa millson come to eugene

my mom and dad came to visit this weekend. they are the best, and i mean it.


we ate delicious food, went swimming, visited crater lake, and watercolored (well my mom and i did while pa went to the visitor center). i wish they came more often.


here's my watercolor. i wish i had more time to paint, or had discipline to wake up earlier. i really love doing it and i want to get better.

labor day adventure

Hiking Skinner's Butte

BEFORE THE HIKE

matching bandanas because we are married.

dressed like a mom.
atop that green mound lies our destination

ON THE TRAIL

Tree shaped like a sqaure. From this angle it is hard to see, but the branch goes out 90 degrees, then there is a tree growing straight out of it. Nature does funny things when noone is looking.

this tree looks like its resting on the rock, but its actually cantilevered!

AT THE TOP

almost there...
there

taking in the vista

after living in Eugene for almost a year, we can finally say we hiked the Butte

Bike progress

Our bikes are up and running, though still have a way to go.

My brakes need some work, and I am going to change the brake cables to a bright yellow, I also want the bar grips to be yellow, though that will be tougher to find. I need a bell and a generated light as well. Here is my price break down thus far:
Frame: free (used)
Front wheel: $10 with tube and tire (used)
Back wheel: $15 with tube, tire, and freewheel (used)
Truing wheels: $3 did them myself with 10 minutes of instruction
Basket: $18 (new)

Running total: $46.00

Dan's bike actually cost much more than we anticipated. We couldn't find any used 26" tires, so we put new tubes and tires on his bike. He will also put new bars on his bike and new brake cabling. His total as yet:

Tubes: $6 for two (new)
Tires: $30 for two (new)
Chain: $1 (used)
Front basket: $18 (new)
Back rack: $15 (used- a little pricy, but a unique shape)
Replaced bearings, cleaned hub cone: $6 (did himself with 10 minutes of instruction)
Dan's total: $76.00

They ride pretty well, we tested them today with a grocery run to Trader Joes, and managed to carry back 50lbs of groceries. I can't wait until they are all set.

At Dan's rate he will be over our $100 budget, considering his new bars are $28, but I decided to share my budget with him so hopefully together we can be under $200.

Slikscreening

I wanted a picture of the temple in my house, but I wanted one that was more artistic and different. After looking casually looking online for the last few months I decided to make my own. Here is the screen print I made of the San Diego temple.

I also screen printed my favorite zen rock garden, Tokai-an. Tokai-an is not open to the public, but we were allowed special permission. This garden is breathtaking.

I am selling these prints on etsy, click here if you are interested!

old photos!

i love finding old photos on my computer. i used to hate digital cameras because they obliterated the excitement of finding forgotten photos on freshly developed film. but now that excitement is manifest in a different way, through misplaced or overlooked files. so here are some photos that i have found recently.

a visit from dan during our long-distance engagement.

dan's office in london.

marriage licensce! awful photo.

while on the topic of bikes....

I photographed mine recently b/c I love it so much. This post is really for my own vanity and enjoyment, thanks for indulging me.

sammy part deux

Sammy's band played Portland last night and Dan and I made it down. It was so great to see her, and see she and Sean play. They are both so talented.

our summer project

As I mentioned before, Japan is really great with bicycles. Their track bikes are incredible, but I fell more in love with their 'around-town' bikes. Around town bikes in America are too bulky, or they are too upright. These bikes are casual and beautiful.

This was mine:

And here's one that I covet. Look at the brakes!

EVERYONE rides these bikes

So Dan and I have decided to try and replicate one of these bikes as best we can. But because we don't actually 'need' any more bikes (I have two road bikes and two beach cruisers) we decided to set a budget...$75.

We both found lady frames for free, now its just a matter of getting them working. We replaced Dan's chain and casette at the co-op, got him a saddle ($6 total) and he will need to buy new tires and tubes (about $30) and he is good to go. My bike, while I love the frame, needs a lot more work, new brakes and shifters, wheels, etc. But I am feeling hopeful.

I have finally selected a few photos to upload to the web. By a few I mean 450... but that's small considering how many I actually took.

Click here to experience my trip. Arigatou gozaimassss.

You may remember this post from a while back when architect extrodinaire, Kengo Kuma, came and spoke at our school. He is one of my favorite architects, and while in Japan I was in contact with his office about visiting some buildings.

They were extremely nice, but unfortunately we left Tokyo before we could visit his office, but Nick did and look what he brought back for me!

is it weird to get an autograph from an architect? like a celebrity?
to me kuma is like a celebrity, his office does incredible work...so no it's not weird it's awesome!

thanks Nick!