Tuesday, May 29, 2007
As part of the eventual recovery of the front yard, a new tree has been planted to replace the weed originally planted by the City. A gingko for those of you who care about those things. The lovely granite cobblestones arrive on Friday...ending the long journey of re-landscaping this patch of land.



Thursday, May 24, 2007
Dear Mr architect registrar. Attached is a photo of a recent acquaintance who claimed to be an architect. I have my doubts. His young age aside, he uses a lizard as part of his logo. I'm not the coolest guy in the world, but this diminutive designer is using a logo that is way to hip for our somber and navel gazing profession. Please investigate his credentials, summon him to the disciplinary committee and generally make his life miserable (as you do with the rest of the membership). Thanking you in advance.




Wednesday, May 16, 2007
When you are three...there are details about hiding from dad that need to be perfected.




Saturday, May 12, 2007
Barry Bell's funeral is today.
Barry was my professor in second year at Architecture School. It was his first real job and it was a life changing experience for me. The school at the time was rife with cynisism and politics because of a power shift which in turn caused a polemic shift. I signed up for the old school and was more than a little concerned about the new school. As a young man prone to taking extreme positions, I saw myself as a rebel, and took every chance to immaturely criticize or take a stand for what I perceived to be cool. Grafiti was one outlet for me and I took every chance around school to express my contrarian ways. I always had a marker with me. At some point I saw a flyer that had the word "God" on it. I can't remember the context, but i saw it as a chance to express my Nietzchian values. "God is dead" I scrawled naively...not quite understanding the real meaning of those words from Nietzche. I came to learn later that they represent a message of hope rather than an emphatic subversion...at the time they were as cool as I got. I came back to my graffiti some time later and written below my comment was another "for some maybe...but not for all". It was written in the unmistakable hand of Barry, using the fountain pen that became his trademark at the school. This small gesture, changed everything for me at the school. I was on one hand embarrassed by my dumb comment and on the other enlightened. I don't think he ever realized that one of his students wrote that comment...but for me his response epitomized his quiet, thoughtful manner in educating all these young minds. I followed Barry throughout my remaining years at the school...I eventually moved away from him as my own positions became stronger and I had the confidence to present them to my peers. I owe most of what I am today as an architect to Barry. His passing is tragic and has been devastating to all who knew him. He died way to young.


Tuesday, May 08, 2007
So I had a meeting this afternoon with a potential new client in Gatineau. The part of Gatineau that contains the Casino. I was a little early for the meeting, so I stopped by the casino on a lark...I told myself I would pop in and drop a tooney in a slot. Why I did this I don't know...mostly cause I preferred to kill 15 minutes there rather than Reno Depot. So I walk in with the only 2 bucks I had, and look for a somebody leaving a machine. The trick I hear with slots is to find somebody who has been playing a machine for awhile and swoop in after they leave. So I see the stereotype retiree about to leave a machine...just as she has her back turned getting ready to leave, I dropped a coin in the machine. To cut a long story short...I'm $50 richer. And I signed the contract with the new client.


Monday, May 07, 2007
Funny pose...She's either doing the knee flex to look at her shoe...or she having a hard time getting use to the heel. I prefer to think the first option.




Thursday, May 03, 2007
A nice spring morning out the front window...




Tuesday, May 01, 2007
el grande boat con il pontoons
Here it is on a pitstop at the house. Its on its way to the cottage for a season of watery fun. Turned out to be a pretty good deal considering the guy included the trailer. No more fishing from the canoe...now we can fish using guns.