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Aug. 3rd, 2007 10:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
transomwhiplassI want this!
Wait.. maybe this
..and this
Regardless of birthdays, homecomings or any such shenanigans.. I think I need that. Like, even if it was mid March.. I would want that. Must acquire. This does bring up that sticky situation of birthdays..
People always do ask about birthdays and what someone else might want. It's funny because a) no one likes that question, b) I never know c) sometimes it seems tacky/lame to hand out a list and blow the surprise (though I did compile all of my siblings Christmas lists for my parents in an excel sheet, I think I even ran some comparison purchase prices and provided links too--wow, so, I have always been weird).
Honestly, what I tell people is that I love handmade things. Like, a goofy drawing made with crayons I will probably keep forever. If people know me, they know I am a pack rat like that--it will probably end up on a bulletin board well into my middle age. I really actually wish I had a refrigerator of silly drawings made by my friends of us getting into ridiculous situations. That sounds like the most amazing art project fathomable (note to self: orchestrate studio crayon madness party). Really--there is nothing I could ever need or want as long as I know I have really good friends, I have found fulfillment in that. That really makes me sound like a boring ass grown-up, what the hell happened to me. That's part it but additionally I have just acquired a tremendous stash of shit in my near 21 years on this planet and since I am generally very good a taking care of my things (and I am an aforementioned pack rat), the mountain grows. It's hard to ask for stuff when I don't think I need much stuff.
Italy has given me plenty of time to linger on things I wish I had and watered it down to a few simple things that I might crack and buy for myself--call it back to school shopping. I could never ask anyone to buy me anything (not necessary) but I know I do like giving gifts myself so I am going to run through a few things mostly for my own noting, since my memory constantly fails me in my old age. So things I want regardless of birthdays/homecomings/back to schooling/etc:
- I really want a mint and/or a basil plant. I've been thinking about how much I've wanted a few herbs to have around the house just for general use. Basil is awesome to have around (this I knew before but confirmed in Italy). I love mint more than most things. A spring of it in random things can be the perfect refreshing touch to a beverage. Given the shocking global mint shortage (according to experiential research, rather than reported news, conducted in Oregon and Naples, Italy), I think it might be important to have some of this around in case of an impending mojito meltdown crisis.
- Cooking utensils. Annie got me one of those fantastic cookie dropper scoops and I think of her every time I make Wookie Cookies (a lot). I am such a cooking nerd these days and even though I have far more utensils than anyone I know or than I could possibly need (3 ice creams scoops??). I am a collector of this gadgetry. I like going to Hartwicks, William Sonoma, or Sur La Table to browse more than any other stores I can think of.. After all, it is my not-secret, unfulfilled dream to be real-fake chef. (OMG. I cannot forget to look for those wusthof knives when I get home.) Right now, I think my most coveted random item is a bamboo steamer for making those dim sum "Cha Siu Bau" rolls that I love so friggin' much.
- Large kitchen gadgetry. I should get a griddle/George Foreman this year (I think I probably have enough credit card reward points after my planet ticket fiasco to get one for free now). However, I do lust after panini presses. Oh, especially this one they showed on the gadget show on Food Network--they called it a breakfast machine because it had a press and griddle and something else in one so you could make your eggs and your toast at the same time.
- Cookbooks. Yeah, I have like.. 2 or 3 cookbooks. One on fixing cake mixes (useful, but not conducive to a balanced diet) and one I found for $3 at the bookstore next to Cosmic Pizza, featuring amazingly de-fatted/low calorie italian dishes. I haven't actually made anything out of there since I am dubious that it could actually taste good, I was more morbidly curious and could not say no to reading through it for $3. I might try something out of there eventually. I think I should go to Powell's or Smith Family and acquire a few more: I think one on Indian food or curries could make for some fun experimentation come fall. I think also something for cooking seasonal/local foods would be cool. It's been a sweet deal to get local produce all the time here--it tastes so much better (eating produce off-season can result in one of those "never again" situations that has afflicted certain acquaintances of mine with aversions to potentially AMAZING produce like strawberries, peaches, and honeydew).
- A fish. I miss Pandora Fauntleroy and her replacement.. what's her name. I don't remember. I think I am over the trauma and ready to dabble in the occasionally morbid science/art of pet ownership. Maybe a hermit crab would be fun too: I would keep him in studio and name him after a famous architect (Koolhas, Pei, Kulka, Mercutt??), an obscure term (Belvedere, Sexfoil, Caryatid?), or possibly T-Square. Maybe I shouldn't be allowed to have a hermit crab... or children.
- Studio lamp. God, I need one of these--I cannot believe I have roughed it through four (campus) studios under those sick florescent lights. A good focal lamp is totally overdue. I should have invested in a good studio chair last year too. For the amount of time I spent in those rooms, though I HAVE pared it down a lot (it's still a lot), I should try to make the experience something passing for "comfort."
- Picture frames. I have a lot of pictures: photos, drawings, or otherwise. We have a stark number of bare walls in our apartment (my walls are totally covered, on the other hand) and I think it would be fun to spruce up the walls (maybe in the hall or the stairs) with some framed craziness. I'm thinking about going to goodwill and just getting a stash of these then maybe painting them to make them a nicer color than ugly goodwill wood.
- Accessory type stuff. I've made myself a few bracelets that I like. I'm looking to expand my collection. I rarely wear necklaces on a regular basis, sometimes I feel inspired--I don't know if it's because I don't like them much or because I just don't have a large selection. I've realized I really like charm type things & bracelets. I think it was always my unrealized childhood desire to make a charm bracelet. I have these three silver charms I got in Santa Fe that I really like, I think it might be fun to collect a couple more. I do like the idea of being able to take them off individually and put them on a necklace chain from time to time. The kitschy type of handmade-ish stuff at shanalogic.com (like I posted above) really appeals to me, like those AMAZING earrings my mom bought for me that look like screws. I also like etsy.com. Before I leave Italy, I think I might look around the flea markets to buy a ring or two. I think I was always wary in high school because of my finger fit, but I liked to wear my class ring when I got it before it became 2-3 sizes too big. So maybe I should look for something smaller to play around with.
Really, this birthday shouldn't be a dilemma. It's easy since I am out of the country. In Venice. Oh, did I mention they moved our feast to the night of my birthday. Well they did. So, I get to spend a birthday in Europe followed by a whole freaking week with Heidi afterwards where we are going to have creative escapades through all of the sites and sounds writing our lifestyle auto-biography from breezy cafes and next to picturesque lakes. Additionally, it sounds like Heidi is all about planning some kind of Eugene and Portland shenanigans parading me around like a debutante of the bar scene, as traditional. Actually I don't predict messy, drunken times but I think it'd be fun to go out for my first time and have my favorite people that have had to be of age and work around my youth for the last few years. After this, I get to start planning for my babies' birthdays (i.e. my studio year-younger darlings) since I am the youngest person I know.. usually. Anyway, that will be fun. Oh, and I'm sure some kind of back to school bash/hey we are all home again fiesta/oh god we are going to die in Structures seance, will have to go down.
---
In all of this, I forgot to say how freaking DONE I am! We finished studio yesterday. Review was kind of goofy, I think we befuddled/stupfied our reviewers because we were so out in left field. Our structural integrity was put towards much suspicion (cantilevers are only supposed to go out about 1/3rd, we went out 1/2). Yeah, so it wasn't too feasible but, if they were deciding to build a new building in Rome--that's hardly feasible too. So would putting a modern facade on it. It might as well require some long hours for a structural engineer. Overall, I got smacked around a lot, but I spent a lot of my review literally laughing it off during their questions as I answered their doubts. I don't know if they liked it at all, but we were "applauded for our courage" to attempt such a design. That was enough for me. This was about learning through doing the impossible and uncomfortable.. too often I restrain myself at home due to my own comfort zones. With those destroyed here already, it seemed like trying out something completely bizarre was only appropriate. Maybe it was something I had to work out of my system, maybe it will transform into a running theme, maybe it will result in just some subtle edginess in my future designs--regardless, I feel good about what I did and what I accomplished. This term was the polar opposite to last term; juxtapositioned--each one made the other's value more apparent.
Today was a rather off day for me personally between trying to clean up, finish our media work (so we could be done for real). I managed to maintain a headache over night, take a spill down the stairs (practically flinging my iPod down the three story atrium) and just generally be stress mess. Though, afterwards, we packed up and went to this Indian restaurant in Trastevere. I ended up getting the vegetarian dinner for two with one of my friends. It was probably the most expensive meal I can remember ordering, but was still "modest" for Roman standards. When we got our food, we realized it was well worth it when the dishes kept coming. It was probably more food than I've eaten in any two days and all of it was SO delicious. It seems weird to order Indian food in Italy, I know, but the place had great ambiance, Chris found it (he's had good luck finding great places to eat/drink) and technically, I am closer to India now that usual. Anyway, it was FANTASTIC. So, Italian meal to finish up studio and Indian to finish up the work part. Good times. Oh, and my headache went away as soon as the food came--mmm.. medicinal samosa. It was probably all stress anyway.
Monday morning we head out from Rome at 6 AM to Siena (to get the Art kids), Verona, Vincenza, and then Venice. After Sunday, I will probably be incommunicato for a couple of weeks. I'll be keeping a hard journal then and will probably post those online for safe keeping.
Oh: My Photos. Mostly geeky architecture shots with a few oddball cultural ones to mix. Tomorrow I hope to post some of my sketches against the actual scenes I drew.
Okay, it's time to find something else to do. Hopefully I will have something to write about for one last post before I am off!
Wait.. maybe this
..and this
Regardless of birthdays, homecomings or any such shenanigans.. I think I need that. Like, even if it was mid March.. I would want that. Must acquire. This does bring up that sticky situation of birthdays..
People always do ask about birthdays and what someone else might want. It's funny because a) no one likes that question, b) I never know c) sometimes it seems tacky/lame to hand out a list and blow the surprise (though I did compile all of my siblings Christmas lists for my parents in an excel sheet, I think I even ran some comparison purchase prices and provided links too--wow, so, I have always been weird).
Honestly, what I tell people is that I love handmade things. Like, a goofy drawing made with crayons I will probably keep forever. If people know me, they know I am a pack rat like that--it will probably end up on a bulletin board well into my middle age. I really actually wish I had a refrigerator of silly drawings made by my friends of us getting into ridiculous situations. That sounds like the most amazing art project fathomable (note to self: orchestrate studio crayon madness party). Really--there is nothing I could ever need or want as long as I know I have really good friends, I have found fulfillment in that. That really makes me sound like a boring ass grown-up, what the hell happened to me. That's part it but additionally I have just acquired a tremendous stash of shit in my near 21 years on this planet and since I am generally very good a taking care of my things (and I am an aforementioned pack rat), the mountain grows. It's hard to ask for stuff when I don't think I need much stuff.
Italy has given me plenty of time to linger on things I wish I had and watered it down to a few simple things that I might crack and buy for myself--call it back to school shopping. I could never ask anyone to buy me anything (not necessary) but I know I do like giving gifts myself so I am going to run through a few things mostly for my own noting, since my memory constantly fails me in my old age. So things I want regardless of birthdays/homecomings/back to schooling/etc:
- I really want a mint and/or a basil plant. I've been thinking about how much I've wanted a few herbs to have around the house just for general use. Basil is awesome to have around (this I knew before but confirmed in Italy). I love mint more than most things. A spring of it in random things can be the perfect refreshing touch to a beverage. Given the shocking global mint shortage (according to experiential research, rather than reported news, conducted in Oregon and Naples, Italy), I think it might be important to have some of this around in case of an impending mojito meltdown crisis.
- Cooking utensils. Annie got me one of those fantastic cookie dropper scoops and I think of her every time I make Wookie Cookies (a lot). I am such a cooking nerd these days and even though I have far more utensils than anyone I know or than I could possibly need (3 ice creams scoops??). I am a collector of this gadgetry. I like going to Hartwicks, William Sonoma, or Sur La Table to browse more than any other stores I can think of.. After all, it is my not-secret, unfulfilled dream to be real-fake chef. (OMG. I cannot forget to look for those wusthof knives when I get home.) Right now, I think my most coveted random item is a bamboo steamer for making those dim sum "Cha Siu Bau" rolls that I love so friggin' much.
- Large kitchen gadgetry. I should get a griddle/George Foreman this year (I think I probably have enough credit card reward points after my planet ticket fiasco to get one for free now). However, I do lust after panini presses. Oh, especially this one they showed on the gadget show on Food Network--they called it a breakfast machine because it had a press and griddle and something else in one so you could make your eggs and your toast at the same time.
- Cookbooks. Yeah, I have like.. 2 or 3 cookbooks. One on fixing cake mixes (useful, but not conducive to a balanced diet) and one I found for $3 at the bookstore next to Cosmic Pizza, featuring amazingly de-fatted/low calorie italian dishes. I haven't actually made anything out of there since I am dubious that it could actually taste good, I was more morbidly curious and could not say no to reading through it for $3. I might try something out of there eventually. I think I should go to Powell's or Smith Family and acquire a few more: I think one on Indian food or curries could make for some fun experimentation come fall. I think also something for cooking seasonal/local foods would be cool. It's been a sweet deal to get local produce all the time here--it tastes so much better (eating produce off-season can result in one of those "never again" situations that has afflicted certain acquaintances of mine with aversions to potentially AMAZING produce like strawberries, peaches, and honeydew).
- A fish. I miss Pandora Fauntleroy and her replacement.. what's her name. I don't remember. I think I am over the trauma and ready to dabble in the occasionally morbid science/art of pet ownership. Maybe a hermit crab would be fun too: I would keep him in studio and name him after a famous architect (Koolhas, Pei, Kulka, Mercutt??), an obscure term (Belvedere, Sexfoil, Caryatid?), or possibly T-Square. Maybe I shouldn't be allowed to have a hermit crab... or children.
- Studio lamp. God, I need one of these--I cannot believe I have roughed it through four (campus) studios under those sick florescent lights. A good focal lamp is totally overdue. I should have invested in a good studio chair last year too. For the amount of time I spent in those rooms, though I HAVE pared it down a lot (it's still a lot), I should try to make the experience something passing for "comfort."
- Picture frames. I have a lot of pictures: photos, drawings, or otherwise. We have a stark number of bare walls in our apartment (my walls are totally covered, on the other hand) and I think it would be fun to spruce up the walls (maybe in the hall or the stairs) with some framed craziness. I'm thinking about going to goodwill and just getting a stash of these then maybe painting them to make them a nicer color than ugly goodwill wood.
- Accessory type stuff. I've made myself a few bracelets that I like. I'm looking to expand my collection. I rarely wear necklaces on a regular basis, sometimes I feel inspired--I don't know if it's because I don't like them much or because I just don't have a large selection. I've realized I really like charm type things & bracelets. I think it was always my unrealized childhood desire to make a charm bracelet. I have these three silver charms I got in Santa Fe that I really like, I think it might be fun to collect a couple more. I do like the idea of being able to take them off individually and put them on a necklace chain from time to time. The kitschy type of handmade-ish stuff at shanalogic.com (like I posted above) really appeals to me, like those AMAZING earrings my mom bought for me that look like screws. I also like etsy.com. Before I leave Italy, I think I might look around the flea markets to buy a ring or two. I think I was always wary in high school because of my finger fit, but I liked to wear my class ring when I got it before it became 2-3 sizes too big. So maybe I should look for something smaller to play around with.
Really, this birthday shouldn't be a dilemma. It's easy since I am out of the country. In Venice. Oh, did I mention they moved our feast to the night of my birthday. Well they did. So, I get to spend a birthday in Europe followed by a whole freaking week with Heidi afterwards where we are going to have creative escapades through all of the sites and sounds writing our lifestyle auto-biography from breezy cafes and next to picturesque lakes. Additionally, it sounds like Heidi is all about planning some kind of Eugene and Portland shenanigans parading me around like a debutante of the bar scene, as traditional. Actually I don't predict messy, drunken times but I think it'd be fun to go out for my first time and have my favorite people that have had to be of age and work around my youth for the last few years. After this, I get to start planning for my babies' birthdays (i.e. my studio year-younger darlings) since I am the youngest person I know.. usually. Anyway, that will be fun. Oh, and I'm sure some kind of back to school bash/hey we are all home again fiesta/oh god we are going to die in Structures seance, will have to go down.
---
In all of this, I forgot to say how freaking DONE I am! We finished studio yesterday. Review was kind of goofy, I think we befuddled/stupfied our reviewers because we were so out in left field. Our structural integrity was put towards much suspicion (cantilevers are only supposed to go out about 1/3rd, we went out 1/2). Yeah, so it wasn't too feasible but, if they were deciding to build a new building in Rome--that's hardly feasible too. So would putting a modern facade on it. It might as well require some long hours for a structural engineer. Overall, I got smacked around a lot, but I spent a lot of my review literally laughing it off during their questions as I answered their doubts. I don't know if they liked it at all, but we were "applauded for our courage" to attempt such a design. That was enough for me. This was about learning through doing the impossible and uncomfortable.. too often I restrain myself at home due to my own comfort zones. With those destroyed here already, it seemed like trying out something completely bizarre was only appropriate. Maybe it was something I had to work out of my system, maybe it will transform into a running theme, maybe it will result in just some subtle edginess in my future designs--regardless, I feel good about what I did and what I accomplished. This term was the polar opposite to last term; juxtapositioned--each one made the other's value more apparent.
Today was a rather off day for me personally between trying to clean up, finish our media work (so we could be done for real). I managed to maintain a headache over night, take a spill down the stairs (practically flinging my iPod down the three story atrium) and just generally be stress mess. Though, afterwards, we packed up and went to this Indian restaurant in Trastevere. I ended up getting the vegetarian dinner for two with one of my friends. It was probably the most expensive meal I can remember ordering, but was still "modest" for Roman standards. When we got our food, we realized it was well worth it when the dishes kept coming. It was probably more food than I've eaten in any two days and all of it was SO delicious. It seems weird to order Indian food in Italy, I know, but the place had great ambiance, Chris found it (he's had good luck finding great places to eat/drink) and technically, I am closer to India now that usual. Anyway, it was FANTASTIC. So, Italian meal to finish up studio and Indian to finish up the work part. Good times. Oh, and my headache went away as soon as the food came--mmm.. medicinal samosa. It was probably all stress anyway.
Monday morning we head out from Rome at 6 AM to Siena (to get the Art kids), Verona, Vincenza, and then Venice. After Sunday, I will probably be incommunicato for a couple of weeks. I'll be keeping a hard journal then and will probably post those online for safe keeping.
Oh: My Photos. Mostly geeky architecture shots with a few oddball cultural ones to mix. Tomorrow I hope to post some of my sketches against the actual scenes I drew.
Okay, it's time to find something else to do. Hopefully I will have something to write about for one last post before I am off!
