WIAW: What I Love About Architecture

I'm keeping today's post short and sweet. 

Our study group starts again after a month hiatus on Saturday and I'm actually looking forward to it.  I know I will handle things better than I did for the Construction Documents exam.

In the meantime, School M is finally complete!  Even though the school had minor HVAC and Electrical renovations, it felt pretty awesome getting experience in Project Management.  Hopefully, the same experience I'm getting for Project C will help me when I retake CDS for the Architect Registration Exam.

Last week, my boss, our client and I toured School M to see the final updates and our next scope for the School.  The tour lasted for an hour and I forgot how big the school was.  My feet were killing me!  On the way out, I found this little one on the canopy:

Other than seeing my finished product, I love knowing that the end user loves it too :-).

Tibby Tuesday: Did I do that?

Long time no see!

Right now, I'm wrapping up Project C.  Because of this, a lot of my posts have been limited.  It sucks, but that is a consequence of Architecture!  Anyway, Mr. Tibbs has been greeting me everyday after a busy workday.  He has been wanting to be on my shoulder or my knee more than usual, so I've been taking advantage before his mood changes.  The one thing I forget when he get affectionate is that he still isn't a fan of the guest room.  It has a television, but he doesn't have his cage with all his toys.  He has gotten better over the past year, but he still prefers our room when I have him with me.  He let me know that again last week:

He loves landing on our bookcase. 
Excuse the dust!

I'm still learning, lol.  I can't wait to be greeted with kisses from my two favorite men!

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Week Wrap Up With Photos

This post will contain all the weekly themes, enjoy! 

Guys, I'm tired.  Not just physically, but mentally.  Today is my first slow day in the past week and I finally get to sit down and post.  The times I thought I could post, I just didn't have the energy to do so.  This caused a semi-hiatus.  My blog wasn't the only thing that suffered, but so has my studying.  I know my exam is on Monday, but studying has not been first priority thanks to a couple of deadlines.  Here was the schedule I thought I was going to have this week:

Monday - Friday:
830am - 1pm: Work (with a hint of studying)
1pm - 2pm: Study
2pm - 530pm: Work (with a hint of studying)

Saturday:
STUDY!!

Sunday:
Relax but lightly go over some the information I don't understand.

Here's what really happened:

Monday:
Travel to Savannah with my boss.  If you don't know, it takes 4 hours to get from Atlanta to Savannah.  Originally, I wasn't suppose to go, but my co-worker had a meeting and I had to step in for him.  This was my first time going, and since this was a long trip, I used the 8 hours of travel to my advantage.  The travel wasn't the part that was draining, it was the HEAT.  While Atlanta got rain, Savannah was bright and sunny.  Normally that would be awesome, but I had to climb a flat roof and walk around a site.  My hair even suffered from all the heat and felt so dry (I had to do the LOC method when I got home).  Gosh, 85 degrees feels more comfortable than what I felt.  Here are some pictures:

Roof and site visit adventure. 
(Lower right) I'm the one in the pink.  By this time, my shirt was stuck to my skin.

Yummy food from The Pirate House

I finally got back in town at 10pm.  I didn't see Mr. Tibbs all day and he was been semi-cranky all week because of missing me and molting.  He finally started acting like his normal self last night.

Tuesday - Thursday:
Work on Marketing project.  I love marketing projects.  It reminds me of Architecture school; there are a couple of restrictions but you can be as creative as you want to be.  No details, just conceptual designs.

The difference between Architectural school and marketing projects, there is a shorter deadline.  We had to design everything in 4 days and present it.  Thank God I'm not part of the presentation group.  The design group produced everything from hand sketches to 3D models.  The presentation group presents it today, so hopefully we get the project!  I feel confident that we will.  Because of this project, I couldn't study during lunch like I planned.  I did study here and there once I got home.

Friday:
Studying.  Remember I said some people from our firm will be presenting the project?  Well because of that and other people taking vacation today, there are only four people working today.  Do you know what that means? Study time!  Right now I'm typing and reading.  I guess the closer the exam date, the more I'm loving it.  Last weekend, this was me:

Today this is me:

This week, I was able to fit in some study time, but not what I originally planned.  I went over the material again and it's sticking but nerves are starting to kick in.  I'm scared about Monday.  When I feel like I'm "beastin' it" I find out I'm not there yet:

Oh well, Monday will let me know!  Wish me luck!

Tibby Tuesday: A Cabin for a Tibby

When I was in Architecture school, during my second year, I had a project where we had to design a cabin for an Architect.  The imaginary cabin's site was set on the horse stables on campus and the cabin had to lightly impact the site.  Our cabin also had to use a connection mechanism in the design.  I decided to use the hinge connection for the doors, windows and tables.  This was a fun project and I got an A+ on it.

Eight years later, Mr. Tibbs reminded me that my professor was wrong when she came up with the program.  It was actually a Cabin for Mr. Tibbs!  On Thursday, I brought Mr. Tibbs in the computer room while Brian was at choir rehearsal.  Mr. Tibbs hates being in the room alone, so I decided to bring him with me so he can help me study for my exam.  Bad move.  I didn't bring his bell with me and he didn't take that to well.  After flying on my bookcase with my college diploma, he eventually flew on the floor by my cabin.  He walked around the cabin and created the perfect picture moment:

This picture is now my desktop wallpaper for work.

I laid some paper on the floor and let him play and watch TV while I studied for my exams.  Eventually, he climbed up my leg and he watched me study and sneak in a game of Candy Crush.  It was a fun night and Mr. Tibbs let me know a couple of things:

1. It's all about Mr. Tibbs and he only approves photos that make him look awesome.
2. He loves my University and would major in "Bellology" if he could.
3. He would like to move into my Cabin. (The roof comes off so, he could play in it if I wasn't so attached to my model)
4. If you want him to go somewhere, always bring his bell or you will PAY!

Thrown into the Lion's Den (An Introvert's Prospective)



Lion = Clients and Contractors
Source: Google Images

 Last week, Architecture forced me to step outside my comfort zone.  Project C and School M once again caused me to used my phrase: Be Assertive.  It has been working in my favor, and I have shown my bosses that I have grown in the past 5 years.  I know the more I speak in front of people and practice ahead of time, the more I will forget that I'm an introvert and soft spoken.  This doesn't work in my favor when I have to spontaneously speak at an event.  For three days, I was thrown into the Lion's Den (but in a good way).

Chela's Nervous Scale:
1 (lowest level) - Fully prepared.
5 (mid level) - Presenting to people I know.  I'm nervous because I'm presenting, but I can be myself since I know everyone.  
10 (highest level) - Life changing presentation that can make or break my career.  At this point I look like I just took a swim in my suit.

Day 1: Project C
Nervous Scale: 5
Friday April 26, I took Mr. Tibbs to the vet.  Everyone left a little early, so I didn't get a chance to talk with Boss J about Monday's meeting for Project C.  He had a slight cough, but he said we would talk about it before the meet.  I put my presentation information on a thumb drive and left for the day.

Last Monday, he didn't show up for work.   His cough had gotten worse, so he asked Boss S to take his place.  Worried that I would be forced to speak, I reviewed the PowerPoint with Boss S and we headed to our client's office.  I remembered we went through the same situation during our last meeting with the client and Boss S finished the presentation for Boss J, so I remained calm during the 30 minute ride.  The conference room was small and only 3 out of the 4 clients showed up.  After I set up the computer, I asked Boss S if he was going to present.  Then he said something I wasn't expecting: "No, I'm going to throw you in the Lion's Den."

Peter Griffin saw what I did there.
Click here to see the Family Guy reference.

The presentation went well and if I didn't know a piece of information, Boss S covered me.  I was the one that put all the research information together and I knew the audience, so it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  I got a pat on the back from Boss S and we went to lunch before we headed back to the office.

Women in Architecture: Custom Details

On April 5th, Project F's measured drawings were submitted.  It feels freaking awesome to have that load off my shoulders.  Since this building is historical, I had to custom make each detail.  It was a lot of work! 

For Wordless Wednesday, check out my images that I created below: