books and bottle openers

On Tuesday, two of my colleagues and I conducted a workshop at a nearby Navy base. This base is on it's own island and it is a mecca for wildlife. No development, tons of evergreens and miles of pristine shoreline. Eight bald eagles nests! Deer running wild! Seals frolicking! It's probably what the Olympic Peninsula looked like 50 years ago. Anyway, long story short it was a beautiful day and we all know those are numbered. None of us felt like going back to the office after we ate lunch and Dutch apple pie with our clients at a greasy spoon. So we picked up a sixer and hung out on the island next to our lovely Navy base. We managed to make our way back to the evening ferry, where I read my book. Quite the Navy day. I filed the hours as 'reconnaisance'.

have you seen the remote?

I have long been proud to say "I'm not really into TV". I'm sure it's obnoxious, as most people are into TV, if not supremely into it. Somehow my disinterest in TV was a badge of honor. It's the direct result of some seriously strict TV privileges as a kid. (I remember my Dad let me and my sis watch Wonder Years while my mom was at Central Connecticut, getting her Masters degree at night. She came home, and guns were blazing because we were in front of the boob tube on a school night. That was the end of my knowledge of Kevin Arnold's antics).

Fast forward about 18 years (which you can actually do on TVs now!) This summer we bought a flat screen after the old hunka mysterious broke. Dave gave me a few remote control tutorials, and I now have total management over some gooood TV watchin'. I'm down with our On Demand service. It's totally efficient. Current obsessions include Top Chef (go Jennifer!), Project Runway (go Carol Hannah!), and Mad Men (go Joanie!). Oh yes, and the MTV opus, Sixteen and Pregnant.

I think Dave is startin to sweat now that he's got competition for the idiot box. When his softball team decided not to play this season I was actually bummed because it meant I did not have remote control autonomy Friday nights. What am I becoming?

keeping the wheels on

Summer is slowly slipping away, which opens new opportunities (doing more artwork, cooking big meals that require a stove) and closes the door on other delights (the sun, long days, aggressive use of our beloved grill). Today it's so beautiful outside and I want to do something but don't know what. Maybe I'll ride the ol' bike.


I've been riding lately after a month-long haitus. Dave outfitted my bike with a pannier (modern day saddle bag) and a headlight, plus I got a super cute helmet. Nothing gets a girl in gear like... new gear. I also had my final Crossfit personal training sesh today. My trainer pumped up my ego by asking if I was a rock climber or gymnast, because I have a strong upper body and I "move well". But then he made me do wall-ball jumps, and said "A-ha! I found something you aren't good at!". At which point I spit on the ground, stormed out in a rage and pedaled home. Or something like that.

Last week my whole family was gathered at the cabin in CT for Labor Day festivities. I totally felt left out and wanted to be there to meet my cousin's new baby (the first of our generation). When I talked to my sis this week, I lamented the fact that while I can make it to Christmas and weddings on the East Coast, I miss all the smaller and impromptu gatherings. She reminded me to enjoy the friends and family I have here, because once we're gone, we'll be missing THEM. So I'm focusing on enjoying my Northwest peeps! My sister, she's so smart.

40 hours a week plus bennies

Not sure if you've heard but there's a recession going on? Uh yeah, I guess it's pretty substantial. Sounds like we hit bottom and are swimming back up to the surface with a weight around our collective ankles. Fortunately, I work for a small consulting firm- 15 people, half of whom are partners- and they haven't had to lay off anyone. However, our workload is definitely light and I have clocked some serious hours dicking around with design stuff. Tasks include but are not limited to updating our company's website, developing promotional material, and volunteering for the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association. Turns out if you help lay out the organization's monthly newsletter, you are automatically inducted into the Communications Committee. Excuse me while I add that to my resume...

It's been really fun, because my bosses basically say, "Can you make us an ad?" or "Can you make some posters for an interview?". The only real limitations are the page size, otherwise I have free reign (well at least 'till I turn it in for their review, at which point they edit). Unfortunately there's no client to bill, so I wonder how long my whimsical design days will last...Anyway, I think it's cool that there is a place for a designer, for creativity, in the urban planning world, and that I sort of found that out by accident.

I always wonder if I want to go to Planning Grad School. I can argue both ways- on one hand, I'd pay to get a degree to do EXACTLY what I do now. On the other hand, I could fill in some professional and academic blanks and generally be more marketable. A friend gave me great advice: Don't enroll in a grad program unless you are absolutely convinced you should be there. Otherwise you'll be writing term papers at 2am questioning what the hell you're doing.

Obviously, my love affair is with design. Every month I tear into my HOW magazine, but do I devour my PLANNING mag with the same gusto? No way. I often contemplate working 4 days at my real job and doing my artwork on the 5th day. My bosses are flexible, schedule-wise, and our home office is really coming together (we got shelves! glorious shelves!). For some reason the two sides of my coin are advanced degree in Planning or ramp up the art business on the side. At the moment, I veer towards my own art projects. I even opened a "business" bank account and am paying someone to re-do my portfolio website. Maybe the dream isn't such a reach...?

In other news, here's my new favorite neighborhood bar, the Dray. It's where I hang when I'm not working.