Married Monday: Count Your Blessings

It has been a couple of weeks since I've posted.  The normal deadlines have increased, along with my attempts to study for my second exam while balancing my mini family.  Life has been the same up till August 29th. 

That Thursday, I was running late coming home.  I had a deadline and lost track of time.  Brian had to go to choir rehearsal that night and I wanted to make it home in time to see him off.  I made it home 5 minutes before he had to leave and I talked with him for a few before he kissed me and left.  He decided to take my car since his car was already in the garage. 

Hours later, I was on Google Hangout with my study group.  I was expecting Brian to be home by 930pm but I knew the rehearsal usually runs late.  At 945pm, I got a call from Brian saying that he was in an accident and was on the way to the hospital.  Brian didn't know the severity of it at the time, so he told me not to worry and he will give me updates soon.  Later, I found out he was T-boned by a guy who ran a stop sign.  I couldn't do anything.  I was shaking, crying and freaking out.  I didn't know what hospital he was in and I was too emotional to drive his car.  My uncle helped me out by finding out all the information I needed and picking Brian up.  Brian had soreness on his left side and had to take off work for a day.  I had two projects to turn in the next day.  So I finished everything and left early to take care of him.

My car on the other hand:

 

With the damages shown, Brian should have been seriously injured and everyday I let him know that.  I hug him all the time.  I know he is probably tired of me by now, but I just think "what if."

This situation has been an inconvenience for us: missed work, half days and calling our Vehicle Tag Office and insurance non-stop.  My in-laws even drove down to help us.  With all of this happening, this situation has also given me a new prospective on life and learning to appreciate everything.  I'm not saying that I didn't do this before, but it definitely reassured me to count my blessings.  Cars can easily be replaced, but life can't. 

Overall, this whole process has eaten up my motivation to study or post.  With that said, posts will be a little slow for a while to focus more on my family and my studies.  It's hard writing something when I'm feeling this way. 

I will update BR 2.0's Facebook page in the meantime.     

Cya Soon,

Tibby Tuesday: Study Time

It's time to study again for the Architect Registration Exam!  My Saturdays are starting to be filled again with study sessions.  This time, T and I decided to incorporate homework into our sessions to encourage ourselves to study more at home.  I think it's working so far, but I'll see when my exam date for Site Planning & Design gets closer.

Last Friday, I got a new study partner as I completed my homework:

I think he understands this stuff better than I do!

ARE Update: CDS Scores

It has officially been a month since I took the Construction Documents and Services portion of the Architect Registration Exam.  Last Wednesday, I talked about how I was waiting, waiting and waiting some more for my scores.  Thursday morning, I got an email from my State Board with my scores.  I just got to work and I was already having a rough morning.  After seeing the email, I freaked out and told my co-workers and my bosses that my scores had came.  I should have told them after I opened the email so I wouldn't have an audience, but after waiting for almost a month, I didn't care.  My computer froze for a bit when I clicked on the attachment, but when it finally opened, I saw this:

FAIL

I failed my first exam.  Guys, I had a feeling I didn't do so well.  My nerves got the best of me and I did the one thing that everyone says don't do for these exams and that is "don't think practical."  I applied everything I learned at work and that hurt me.  As I stared at the sheet, I tried not to cry.  I didn't want to be known as the "cry baby" at work, especially being the only female designer.  I took a few seconds to let it soak in, then I told my boss.  He told me don't let this exam break me and don't let it deter me from taking my future exams.  He also told me about his personal experience with the exam and how he had to retake a portion a couple of times.  My other boss had the same experience with his exams.

Then I had to let my study partner, T, know the scores were in and my results.  He started to freak out.  He was driving at the time, so he pulled over and checked his email.

FAIL

Once I saw that, I couldn't concentrate.  I was hoping that both of us passed, but after I received my scores, I wanted him to pass even mroe.  What did we do wrong?!  We decided to go out for lunch to go over our results to see where we went wrong.  Below are the areas that I either got moderate or major deficiencies* in and what I figured out went wrong for myself (I passed content area 2: Environmental issues):

I needed to get at least 75% correct in each content area.

Content Area Vignette No. 1 - Building Section Vignette (moderate deficiencies)
The vignette was a breeze.  I had 3 minutes left and then I figured out I drew the wrong wall.  I didn't have a chance to fix it.

Source: Google Images

Content Area 1 - Codes & Regulations (moderate deficiencies)
I got too confident and decided not to study this portion.  Once I saw the questions, I knew I mess up.  I'm surprised I didn't get major deficiencies.

Source: Google Images

* Content Area 3 - Construction Drawings & Project Manual (major deficiencies)
Content Area 4 - Project & Practice Management (moderate deficiencies)
I was too practical and chose the answer close to what I do on a day to day basis.

Source: Google Images

The scores don't tell me if I was below failing by one point or if I just sucked, but I know what to look for when I retest.  After we figured out our mistakes, T and I pinky promised each other this will be the last time we cry about our exams.  We are starting our study group up again next week, so that will be the time we revamp our study habits and stay strong.

Let see how Site Planning and Design goes in September!  And I will fight CDS again in December (around the holidays). 

Merry Christmas ARE.

ARE Update: Waiting Game

Today, I am sitting here at my computer drawing on one screen and checking my email for my scores on the other.  For the State of Georgia, I heard it usually takes an average of two weeks to receive scores out of the normal 4-6 weeks that NCARB has stated. When the Blackout first started on July 1st, I was excited that Prometric/NCARB was changing their system. Unfortunately, everyone decided to rush and take their exams in June before testing was shut down for two month. This caused a slow doing in receiving scores.

The first two weeks of waiting, I kept myself preoccupied. I stayed away from any study material and I enjoyed what I missed during my study time in May and June. Then week three happened. My study partner "T" started to text me if I had received my scores.  I know the State Board for Georgia doesn't allow you to check your scores like other states, but I kept going on their website and checking my email. I even went on the AREForum to see if anyone heard anything. Then NCARB sent out a message:

"The last batch of score reports for Architect Registration Examination (ARE) divisions administered on or before 30 June 2013 is being graded by Prometric and will be sent to your jurisdiction or NCARB by July 31."

Then I started to notice people started to receive their scores. Something wasn't right, so I emailed my state board and found out this:

"I have not received your exam score for Construction Document & Services from NCARB. The last ARE scores reported from NCARB were taken 6/22/2013. "

Anyone who had taken their exam the week of June 24th had not received their scores. Yesterday on the forum, California received their scores online.  I don't know if it's a good sign for other states, but that means I have a chance of receiving my scores before the 31st.  I guess I have to make sure I don't let my mind wonder while I wait:

Source: AREForum

Especially #1:


Source: AREForum



Architecture Random: Candy Crush

Brian and I are I'm very competitive.  It has taken me years to admit it, but I am.  Any video game that Brian has played, I've always found a way to "attempt" to beat his score.  I can only beat him in two games, but other games, I lose horribly.  Then Candy Crush came along. 

Source: Google Images

First it started with me catching up to my sister's level, then I accidentally got Brian hooked. 

Source: Google Images

Before I got serious about studying,  Brian and my sister were trailing me.  Once I got serious about the Architect Registration Exam, I only played Candy Crush in my free time, allowing Brian to catch up.  Two weeks before the exam (during my weakest moments), Brian caught up.  The day after the exam, I found out Brian was 20 levels ahead of me!  Today, he is 40 levels ahead.

Me: Level 213

Brian: Level 253

Now that NCARB started the Black out period for the ARE yesterday, I started my mission to catch up!

Last week, I was 8 levels behind him till I got stuck on level 201.  Brian has felt sorry for me and helped me figure it out.  Today, I'm on level 213 and I'm trying to keep myself distracted while I wait for my Construction Document and Services scores.  I think I can catch up before I start studying for the Site Planning and Design Exam in August. 

Let's see how I do!