Surgery is a Pain [Updated]
Surprise, I'm having surgery! Becuase my insurance ends at the end of April (maybe? it might not end for another year now with the new Obama Care changes), I have been going to the doctors to get things checked out. Things I have been ignoring -- I know, that's bad. Turns out that when I got really sick in Munich, Germany a year ago -- I should have gone to the doctor. Anyways, my doctor told me that I should get the surgery now before it gets worse. I agreed. He says it will be a simple outpatient procedure with a four hour hospital stay. I will be under anesthesia and will take pain pills for the next few days. He also said that he would be surprised if I did not feel up to going to work Friday -- but everyone is different and we will see. Wish me luck 
So that was wishful thinking. In the hospital I felt fine -- all of the medicine and anesthesia. When I got home after the surgery, I went right to bed and slept. Friday, when my alarm went off for work... I slid out of bed and collapsed to the floor in pain. I grabbed by pain pills and swallowed them down as fast as I could. I called in work sick -- my boss told me before my surgery that he didn't expect I would make it in on Friday -- he was right. For the next few days, I have been in bed watching TV or sleeping. Saturday was the most painful. So far, Sunday, has not been so bad -- but I really hope I feel better then this Monday.
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Diploma
I got my diploma framed today. Shari, my mom, bought the frame for my graduation present back in May. I went into the frame shop in the MSC basement and they had everything on record. I checked to see what combination of frame/matte my mom decided on -- it was exactly what I would have choose. I guess she knows me. Anyway, what was funny is the check in lady's husband lived in Germany for over two years and speaks fluent German. He just got back from a business trip from Germany -- what a coincidence. I wonder if he was on my plane back to Texas? Spooky.
What Are You Doing After Graduation?
I'll tell you what I am doing: traveling! This is what I have going on, starting today:
- I am free for 4 days.
- Then I have my last day (again) at the Dean of Faculties Office (May 12th).
- The next day I am going down to Houston for the day and night (tentative), picking my dad up from IAH the next morning.
- I graduate the following day (May 15th).
- The 16th I am spending all day with my dad; showing him around B/CS.
- The 17th my dad and I are going down to IAH in Houston: hes flying back to SLC and I am flying to Germany.
- I am in Germany for 2 weeks.
- I get back and have 24 hours to get ready for my studio mates wedding on the 30th.
- The next day I have free, doing laundry and packing for Hawaii.
- June 1st I go to DFW in Dallas, flying to Hawii for 7 days (If the insurance people will not reimburse me for the ticket).
- I will be back June 8th.
Then I have no idea what is going on. Who knows, I may be living in New York (I have applied for an entry-level LA job in New York, NY -- but no idea if I will get it).
Graduation Photos!
A little while back a group of my studio mates went out and took graduation photos. I just got them recently and sent out my graduation announcements. Everyone received my iconic 2x3 photo -- me sitting in flowers -- and some received a 5x7 of the one posted here. The photo shoot went all day long. We went all over campus (campus gardens, entrance sign, landmark buildings, so on) taking serious photos, funny photos, and group shots. It was a fun day spending time with studio people outside the classroom.
I cannot believe that my college days are numbered. Less then 20 more days as a college student, then I will be a college graduate! Ugh, then I have to be a real member of society; a cog in the grand design. Which is perfectly fine with me, who said there is anything wrong with being a cog? It will be a new experience, right? Right.
On that note. This semester I have really been a college student. Don't get me wrong, I have been a college student for the past 6 years -- what I mean is that my other semesters have been so packed I never really did the iconic college student things. In the movies you see college students always partying, studying, going to the pool/tanning, hanging out, getting in some kind of trouble or love triangle. Once I said "like in the movies," and a person responded, "that only happenes in the movies, real people don't do that." I finally have a comeback for them, "it's my life, if I want it to be like the movies, I am going to make it like the movies." That reminds me, tomorrow I need to burst out into song like in a musical.
Anyways, problem is, in my major we don't really get to do that. We go to class all day, work around 20 hours a week (if you were so luckily, like me), then at night work on homework/projects. We would work at night on our projects for weeks at a time -- all night; our projects would take forever. Sometimes we would pull all nighters then present the next day. Some people in my studio sometimes pulled three day/nighters. By the time they presented we had to hold them up with a stick and string like a marionette. Remember, we also had our other classes that we had to study for, like the other majors, on top of studio class.
This semester has been very organized, calm, and collected. Two of my classes have finished three weeks before school ends. With all this "free-time" my studio has been 'living it up' like true college students -- mature college students. We have been going to play volleyball/tan, out to the clubs/bars, dinners/BBQs, and just hanging out -- just like in the movies. Some of us are also actively looking for jobs, some passively, some have jobs (about 1/3). With the economy the way it is right now, very limited full-time positions open, it is kind of futile looking. I guess it is prudent to at least get your name out.
Austin TX ASLA and 24th Birthday
Wednesday (April 15, 2009) I went to Austin for the annual Texas American Society of Landscape Architects conference. The first night some of the students where invited to the legislative reception. A group of us met Cathy Hendricks, the executive director of Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE). The TBAE is the group that licenses landscape architects. It was an amazing experience to mingle with all the legislative people trying to further landscape architecture in the public sector. That night Briana and I camped out with a group of the boys from my studio. We camped at Mckinney Falls National park. It was such a perfect night; nice temperature, cricket serenade, and a sky full of bright stars.
The next day we went to the office conference held at the Austin convention center downtown. It was just like the other conventions I have been to before, vendors and lectures. From all the lectures I went to, I was not that impressed. I think it is because most of them were about sustainability; I get all that at school. At the end of the day was the Awards Banquet from 7 to 10pm. We have a three course diner as they announce and give out awards. Some of my professors and classmates won, congrats guys! After the dinner, being my 24th birthday, I took a few of my studio mates for a night on the town, on 4th street. Oh, before we left the dinner, Ann McGinnes, one of the Texas A&M board trustees, knew Briana and Pual from previous events and usually went out with them. She could not go out with us this night, so she gave our group some spending money -- she really knows how to treat students. She also introduced me to the webmaster of the Texas ASLA website; I may be doing some work with him. After going out, Briana and I stayed at my friend's house because we heard it was going to rain that night -- we did not want to camp in the rain.
Friday, I dropped Briana off at the conference. I decided not to go because I was not that interested in the lectures that day -- and I had a stomachache. After my tummy felt better, I decided that this was my birthday weekend so I was going to do what I wanted; I went shopping all over Austin. In the afternoon, after shopping for club underwear, shirts, and a few personal items, I got a call from someone at the conference. I had won an item from the silent auction, a 25 year old bonsai of a grape vine. It looks really organic and old. All my non-landscape friends just look at me and ask if I can keep it alive. I would not be a very good landscape architect if I cannot keep one plant alive. It is a grape vine, so It does not need to much water. Briana got a ride back to College Station from a studio mate and I stayed in Austin with Sheldon for my birthday weekend. I cannot for the life of me remember what I did friday night -- I guess I should ask Sheldon.
Saturday, Sheldon and his band went to the recording studio to practice around noon. I stayed at the house and relaxed until they came back at 6pm. Then Sheldon told one of his band mates and I that we where invited to dinner with his mom and brothers wife in downtown Austin. We had a fantastic meal at Fogo de Chao and desert at the Melting Pot. It was a nice treat that fit perfectly into my birthday weekend. That night I got tickets to ArtErotica 2009, an AIDS benefit hosted by the Octopus Club of Austin. One of my goals for my birthday weekend was to do something good, but really fun in the process. I found this benefit and it satisfied my goal. For the small ticket price, you got into the benefit and could have unlimited free beer, cocktails, and desert. All around the walls was the silent action of erotic art. In the far end of the building was artists painting nude models. I had so much fun. I won something too, not about to tell you what, but I did win something (second silent action thing I won on my birthday weekend). The benefit ended at midnight, so I went to the 4th street clubs again until 2am. The picture is one of the bar tenders, named James -- I got his number, but misplaced it, oh well.
Sunday, I got up at 9am and headed back to College Station. I made it from Sheldon's house to my mom's driveway in exactully 1 hour and 30 min (normally takes 2 hours) -- I did not hit a single light and there was no traffic. At 1pm was my classmates bridal shower I was invited to. It was neat to attend, just like in the movies -- food, presents, and games.
“Oh, It’s April”
It is Easter Sunday, so my mom and I made a day of it. We got up late, went shopping, got a late brunch, and then for the rest of the day watched movies we got from Blockbuster. Later in the night, my mom was checking email. For those that do not know about my mom's email habits, she just responded to an email I sent back in September of 2008. Anyways, this blog title is a quote from her when she resized she missed a faculty meeting that was rescheduled in March and she just tried to add it to her calendar.
This got me thinking about my calendar. This week I have Texas ASLA convention in Austin, which is over my 24th birthday, so I am going to stay with some friends over the weekend and party. Sunday is my friend M'Lynn bridal shower. Next week, two of my classes are ending early to allow us to focus on "finding" jobs. I will still have wine tasting class and work.
The first weekend in May I am going to Splash (in Austin) with some friends. The next week is the last week of school, with reading days (no class) and redefined days. Then it's finally graduation week. I am picking my dad up from the airport Thursday, then friday is commencement. I am spending time with my dad Saturday. Sunday my mom is taking both of us to the airport so he can go back to Salt Lake and I to Europe (my graduation gift to myself). I'll be in Germany for two and a half weeks. I get back May 29th. I'll spend one day recovering, then Meryl comes to pick me up as we head to Dallas for one day.
Then on June 1st, Meryl, Hector, and I head to DFW airport to fly to Honolulu, Hawaii. We are going to see a high school friend that joined the Coast Guard and got stationed in Hawaii (of all places). We all got together and figured we should see him and his wife once they got settled in -- and when will I get a chance to stay free in Hawaii again? I will get back to Texas June 7th. I may stay up in Dallas for the rest of the week before I come back to Bryan and join the real world looking for a "real" job.
I am still waiting to hear back from the City of San Diego job I applied for -- I my be going to San Diego for an interview. If I do not hear anything soon, I may go to San Francisco the last week of June. Either way I am a busy little bee for the next two months.
Sigma Lambda Alpha (ΣΛΑ)
I have good news. Today I was notified that I have been inducted into Sigma Lambda Alpha (ΣΛΑ). Sigma Lambda Alpha is a national scholastic honor society recognizing academic achievement among students in the Landscape Architecture field. I was told I would have been inducted sooner, but for some reason I was overlooked; it has been corrected and now I am a member.
Preparing to Graduate
Who knew that graduation meant you had so much to do? I'm not really talking about finding a job; I am talking about preparing to graduate. I have so much on my to-do-list suddenly -- not to mention the money. First I had to pay $40 just to process that I am graduating. Now, I need to order graduation announcements, senior pictures, cap & gown, official transcripts, degree audits, degree frames, so on. There are so many options to; for example, with graduation announcements: do I want the tri fold or single fold, embossed or script, ATM Monogrammed, leather bounded or cardstock? And that's not even going into envelope choices.
I even have something for you to do if you are planning to attend the graduation ceremony: http://graduation.tamu.edu/guests.html
Strange Underground
Texas A&M University was established in 1871; with the majority of buildings built in the 40-50s. The technology used to heat/cool the main campus buildings is over half a century old. Yes, I am talking about the TAMU Tunnels -- commonly referred to as the "steam tunnels." Of course with old things, comes controversy and mystery. "Some say that secret societies meet down there. Others tell stories of weapons being stored underground. But, either way, many people agree that if you get caught sneaking into them you will be expelled" (Battalion, 2007). For more then two decades the tunnels have been closed to students -- and for good reason.
When I was a freshman, I was once told a story by an alumni -- back with the University was still Texas A&M College for men only -- his dorm and another dorm (both old buildings supplied by the tunnels) were constantly in a state of rivalry. One night, a group of students went into the tunnels and turned off the rival dorm's master water supply. Then they went up into the building and removed the toilet fixtures right off the walls. Some students then buried the toilets around campus as the others went back into the tunnels and turned the dorm's water supply back on -- they even locked the master valve in the tunnels with a padlock. Of course with no fixtures on the walls the building began to flood with thousands of gallons of water.
The alumni went on to say that they never found the students that did it. And the dorm had so much damage the college gave a reward to anyone that found one of the buried toilets -- because it would be cheaper then buying new ones. He also said, not all of them were found and are most likely still buried around campus. I do not know if this is true, but it made for a good steam tunnel story.
Now, why am I telling you about the A&M steam tunnels, you ask? Today I got to enter the tunnels. Under my work building of Henderson Hall (an old dorm) is a primary access point for entering the tunnels. There are miles of tunnels under A&M campus, just 10 feet under our feet in some places. We went into the tunnels to check out the buildings foundation, not exactly any destination. I asked questions (I was interested, so shoot me) about the tunnels. I found out that you could walk from married student housing all the way to Kyle field completely underground in the tunnels (and not in a straight line like on the map above). For those that do not know campus, married student housing all the way to Kyle field is the red line on this map. Now I can say that I have been in the infamous steam tunnels (and not expelled).
Rant ‘n Rave
Okay. I do not usually rant; but today, because I have been doing a lot of decorating lately (the house), I feel I need to. In the mornings of Tuesday and Thursday, Darrell usually drops me off on west campus on his way to work. I then walk (about 10-15 min) to main campus to my work building. Today it was raining, so I took a bus. I have not been on a campus bus in a long time, probably over a year. Anyways, this is my complaint:
Who decided the new seat fabric? Who in their right mind found that fabric and told themselves, "This is what I want. This fabric is perfect." It doesn't even have any school colors (maroon or white). The fabric a year ago was maroon with the school logo on it. What happen to that? Now it is fuzzy purple and orange? Umm, Okay, I'm done.