Shanty and Siblings.

   The shanty that I've been living in has officially been condemned. This was an obvious choice taken by local law enforcement and should have happened months earlier in my opinion, but let's be honest-who's going to argue with paying almost nothing for rent? The bottom floor apartment apparently has a terrible sewage leak(THANK GOD I'M ON THE TOP FLOOR.) My neighbors however are outraged and scrambling to figure out affordable housing options. I feel terrible for them especially because some have been unable to deal with the current state of the place. I'll be sure to let you know if any shit geysers happen up on my level. 
  
     On a much different note. It's national siblings day. I honestly don't think either of them bother to read my blog anymore. (They've lost track or think it's still shutdown, which could be a very good thing for me.) Anyway, as I've said in previous posts my sisters have always taken extremely good care of me and I have always been blessed enough to say that I've had three moms-as good or terrible as that sounds. Some of the best moments I've had with my sisters have come when I was in desperate need. This includes and is not limited to: beating up an older bully kid in middle school, chauffeuring me around for the first 16 years of my life, providing me with a place to hide, providing me with money on occasion, usually returning my texts and phone calls, giving me the blunt/honest truth anytime I need it. -This has been a bit overlooked times and even misinterpreted in a negative light, but I think there is a lot to be said about someone who will be completely honest with you in a loving yet stern way. I sometimes felt that I grew up lost in their massive shoes, but there is something about living in their shadow that has enabled me to plot my own course-figure out life for myself. After I acknowledged that they were both much more awesome, smart, athletic, creative and ambitious than I could ever be. 
         As a kid I served, as their dating advisor, their best friend, and (at times) their go-to fashion expert. I was that little kid at home who with a big mouth that was always willing to dish.  I can truly be myself around them without feeling like I have to mask anything, which has not been the case with other members of my family.  The most interesting memories I have are of things like when they got 'that car' or met 'that guy', when they 'went on that vacation' or 'had that minor life setback',  when they 'got those awards' or 'got that new shiny diploma'.  It's so refreshing knowing that I can always talk to them about things even if I've spared them from my recent dating experiences. 

          As siblings we share the most genuine and honest feelings of love. It stems from the origins of where we came from. Something about being kids together bonds you to an individual like nothing else. It's as if everyone else begins reading the book in the fourth or fifth chapter, while your siblings got to begin the story at the very beginning. They are the few people who understand the whole picture. I am lucky to be on such close terms with my siblings, and I'm excited to see where their lives take them. I'm excited to continue 'reading' (and of course, being there to give my critique.) 

       I already see a special bond forming between my niece and nephew. They don't understand it as I do from a pseudo-adult perspective, but they already have each others back at daycare and on the playground. It's fun to watch. 

My sister's shout out on Instagram.

(I'm a hot mess in these, but It's perfect.) 

20 Questions Monday:
 Here are some more basics- enjoy.
1.What is your lucky number? 
2, 22, 222, 17, 49, 9  one of those. 
2.Do you have pets?
One day maybe.
3.If you were a superhero what powers would you have? 
I think I would be like superman..flying/strength or maybe water stuff like Aquaman(and so I have the excuse to carry a trident.) 
4.What would your superhero name be? 
Something completely ridiculous like the flying nugget -I'll work on it. -_-'
5.Would you build/design your own house? 
I would love to! I have a few plans already made up. I'm waiting on that winning lotto ticket.6.
6.Can you solve a rubix cube? 
Never actually tried. Sooo I'm guessing NO.
7.Can you juggle?
yes. 
8.Do you have a cherished childhood teddy bear?
Yes, his name was Snickers(-like the candy bar. I was a fat kid. Don't judge. )
9.Have you ever been bungee jumping. 
  no thanks. 
10. What type of holidays do you prefer?
long ones. 
11.Can you tap dance?
 nope. 
12. What's your favorite zoo animal?
hmmm...
13. What's your favorite sport?
I like basketball in March, but in the last couple of years I've been addicted to Major League Baseball.
14. What's your favorite pizza topping?
 CHEESE
15. What's your favorite alcoholic drink? 
  I am a whiskey and ginger kind of guy. 
16. What's your favorite non-alcoholic drink?
   It's an Iced Chai with soy and Cinnamon Dulce from Starbucks. I don't get it all the time but it's a real treat when I do. 
17. How many hats do you own? 
 I have a few, but one special one that some say I wear too much... 
18.  Do you like the pool?
 Yes, I love it!
19. Ever met any Celebrities?
   Samantha Brown from the Travel Channel.. and that's about it. 
20. Sunrises or sunsets?
    I like both actually, but depends. Sunrises at the beach. Sunsets on lakes and around campfires. It's strange like that. 

From Sea to Shining (Let's) See.

     So the job hunt has taken some interesting turns. I have been interviewed for positions in: FL, NY, CA, MS, OH, MN, MA, PA, DC, VA, NC and TN.. -most of which have just happened in the last week. I'm still up in the air as far as where I'm heading though. The amount of interest and positive feedback I've received on my work experience and writing is very exciting. The range of jobs I've been interviewed for is also very broad. I initially thought that my degree was one that limited my  prospects, but I'm finding just the opposite to be true. The jobs span from public to private, non-profit, for profit, government on the state/local/ and federal levels--preservation, architectural history, research, museums, communal activism, lobbying, consulting, design, tourism, grant writing, development and so on..
                                        This like most of my most exciting blog posts rely on time to tell. I've also begun working on a new vblog introduction I think it is best to start vlogging during the move and adjustment to new place. I think it will provide readers with some much needed excitement. Again, I feel as if I'm on the brink of something new and exciting. I'm ready for change and STABILITY thanks to the last eight crazy years.

   I started a new project today, which really started a few weeks ago. I had been drafting some of my old projects from undergrad, but today I started drafting Urban plans from around the world. So far I have completed a basic grid of New York 1811 and a Savannah plan that outlines the city's evolution from 1733(founding) to the progress made up to 1856. 

                      1818 Savannah City Map (This is prior to the Forsyth Park addition.)

   It seems to be a fruitful process. I not only get to brush up on my line weights but I'm using a process a professor at UVA stands by. She claims that to fully know a place or a city's design, you must be in the seat of the planner/architect by drawing it(or in this case drafting it.) I plan on doing a few more but haven't exactly decided which ones. If nothing else they're giving me pieces for my portfolio or something to pin up on my walls. Versailles may be my next undertaking.[below]

1746 engraving by abbot Delagrive

20 questions Monday:  Okay, so I thought that some of my readers clearly needed to learn more about me according to some of the emails that I've gotten in the last couple of days. I'm thrilled to hear I still have readers after being gone for a whole year. 
Question 1: Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4.(?)
 (Hella Random)  "Its form and function reflect many of the most pervasive cultural elements in eighteenth century civilization." This is sooo painful, I'll spare you but the book is excellent! "Bourgeois Utopias" By, Robert Fishman  
Question 2: Stretch your arm as far as you can what can you touch? This question also terrible. I can touch both walls of my apartment. I am soo ready to ditch my current apartment, perhaps I'll elaborate on the terrors of my apartment/neighborhood in a future post. 
Question 3: Before you started this survey where were you going? I just got back from the gym (STAR FOR Me )
Question 4: What is the last thing you watched on tv? hmmm, well I gave up tv for lent last year and I realized how much of a distraction it was to me.. Not to mention how much it consumed from a college budget. The internet has since became my source of movies and news. 
Question 5: With the exception of the computer what can you hear? I can hear cars and people walking around upstairs. 
Question 6: Did you dream last night? YES, I have extremely vivid dreams and dream almost every night.. It's usually a mixture of what I've read before I go to sleep and what is actually going on in my life. Sometimes I can't remember my dreams immediately when I wake up, but I usually remember them during the day at some point. It's strange and I've given up trying to understand them mostly. I tend to pay more attention to the nightmares than the dreams. 
Question 7: When did you last laugh? I laugh a lot. This is hard to answer. 
Question 8: What is on the walls of the room you are in?  I have tons of stuff actually.. This is a great question. I have a couple of diploma frames. Some blueprints. Some old posters that I've collected at (I collect a lot of old posters): An advertisement for the Outdoor Art Exhibit in Washington Square Park(One of my favorite public squares in NYC) from October of 1955, An advertisement from the Federal Civil Defense efforts from the US government 1959 that features a figure--that looks exactly like me--building an at home fall out shelter with the help of his free booklet on "How to Build a Family Fallout Shelter". I love having a random assortment of imagery and objects. It keeps my mind going. 
Question 9: What is the weirdest thing you've seen lately? Today I broke up a fight between two kids in my neighborhood. It was so random.They were younger teenagers.. SOOO RANDOM
Question 10: Last Film you saw? Dallas Buyers Club.. It was quite depressing. Nothing like a good aids movie to make you celibate for life. 
Question 11: If you could live anywhere on Earth where would it be? I've been fortunate enough to live in several different cities. I guess I've figured out that the question is not WHERE? but WITH WHOM WOULD YOU SURROUND YOURSELF? I'll let you know when I figure that one out. 
Question 12: If you became a multimillionaire overnight what would you buy? I think I would buy comfort and security for my family and self. I would def. try to establish something for the support of the humanities and art as well as some medical research and taking care of those old folks in my family(which is everyone because I'm the youngest.) 
Question 13:What is something about me most people don't know? I've only broken one bone in my life and it was my pinky toe that I ripped off… (I still have it now-no worries) 
Question 14:Do you dance? 
Heck yes. I dance all the time..
Question 15: Who was the last person to call you? 
My dad- he calls me on his way home usually because the road is long and boring. 
Question 16: Last thing you downloaded on your computer? A new job application… (lame I know)
Question 17: Last time you swam in a pool.. I was in New York and It was inflatable. 
Question 18: Type of music you like most? I'm a believer in lyrics.
Question 19: Music you dislike.. Lyric-less 
Question 20: Song you're listening to now? Jekk -Five o'Clock (it's a winner) 

Okay I'm hoping I can find better questions for next week these were terribly boring.