Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

Well, I have new cards and a new website is in the works! But I have also been chasing my tail with clients, networking, trade shows, and of course, more snow! I regret not being diligent the last week about the blog, it is critical to show progress and highlight each day with events. Over the weekend I did attend a trade show in Lancaster that led to a possible project in the city of Lancaster and a chance to get into some more re-use work. Drafting, painting the house, meeting with my graphic designer to get my cards, soccer games, and sketching have been a great way to keep busy. More in the next day or so, I do have two ideas that can be fleshed out into articles, just need an hour to write. I did take some time to watch a movie or the Olympics recently. The Queen was a great movie in the style of a play. More to come soon!

Forgetful

I write things down so that I don't have to remember too many items. I think my downfall this weekend was having either too much time or too many places to visit. I lost a piece of paper that had several ideas. They will return to me, I am sure.

Baroque Traditionalism?

I was thinking this might be a term for what I see with "traditional" architecture in America. We take all of the shapes, forms, finials, cupolas, bays, gabling, from past architecture styles and ply them on everything. This is when "less is more" is appropriate, not "less is a bore." Knowing to not overload the visual presentation of a building is key and artful. Restraint could be what is wrong with the American personality, spending too much, owning too much, eating too much, and by association, applying too much to our built environment. Paring back can simplify the look, unify design, and create more affordable and more palatable architecture.

Cards, etc.

Business cards are done and I am excited. They will be here next week along with preliminaries on a new website. Can't wait to get more logo stuff, maybe some t-shirts, etc.!

Lent

After having a hamburger for lunch, during the first day of Lent, I have sworn off beef and pork for as long as possible, probably past Easter. After cutting back for the past year due to the economy, I feel this will be a benefit for my wallet and health. Being Lutheran, I don't need to give up anything, but why not?

One Year

Full time job has been down 1 day for a year! woo. I feel as though I have used the time well, making contacts, drawing houses, reading, volunteering for the township, and more stuff around our house. Not a great event to celebrate, but by this time next year, we should be boiling hot, instead of tap water.

Cities

Traveled with the family to Easton to visit the Crayola Crayon factory for a decent trip and getting out of the house before another snowstorm. Taking the highway there is great, fast trip. Easton reminds me of several Western PA cities, such as Greensburg and Washington, due to the hills. But a downtown core that seems to be working on revitalization. Looked like some great restaurants and bars, small shops, and civic institutions to make it an active downtown. There is something that I just love about the energy that can be in a city.