Wow it has been a while...

I have been very very busy this semester. Things have been starting to come to a close now, and so I am able to spend more time putting somethings together for some blog posts that will be up this week.

First in my Constructional Sequence Video that I've made for this last project. This isn't perfect, but I had fun.

More to come next few posts.

More Photos.

New Photos posted to facebook. Commentary to follow eventually...


http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2253312&id=17017637&l=d6dc6

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2253327&id=17017637&l=f14a8

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2253330&id=17017637&l=4edfd

I'm in Boston

I'm exhausted, but I wanted to go over a little bit of what I did today... for pictures go to:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2252704&id=17017637&l=af0b2

Quick run through
1. Drove w/ Momma to Airport really early.
2. Left at 6:05am CDT, Arrived 9:55 EDT about 20 of my classmates were on the same flight.
3. Got off plane, waited for Chris.
4. Chris and I waited for Shuttle for about 20 minutes, and then took it to the subway, which we took to Government Center and then we went from there to our Hotel, and checked in.
5. 12:00 Chris and I decided to take a walking tour of the area around our hotel. We ended up going further than we expected, making it all the way to the Boston Public Library. But we didn't go in anywhere.
6: 1:30 Chris and I went in the City Center Food Court and ate at a local sandwich shop where we had FRESH tuna salad sandwiches. Nothing like it.
7: Got back to hotel and went on a walking tour with Larry. Went to some of the same places as I did w/ Chris, but we actually went into many of them, and we went much further, heading all of the way down to the Smoots bridge, Stopping for Free Coffee at a new completely organic/natural coffeehouse. Good coffee! Then we took the bus across the river to MIT, and we went to the Boat House project site.
8: A few of us went from the Boat House to Harvard to see Renzo Piano. We waited in line for an hour or so hoping to get in an open seat. While we were waiting, he walked right by! We did get in, and he was an amazing speaker, entertaining and everything. The lecture hall was gorgeous too.
9: After the lecture, we took the subway back to the hotel where we met Larry before heading to Little Italy for dinner.
10: Larry, Vikki, Jill and I ate a wonderful Italian Dinner.
11. We stopped by a Gelato/ Bakery afterwards, but I was too stuffed to eat.
12. I'm back in the hotel and want to sleep.

Busy life.

I haven't written in a while... Mostly because of how busy I've been with classes, family and such. Here's what's happened major in the past few months.

I worked at the same firm over Christmas Break that I worked at over last year, which was a lot of fun. Now I'm back at KSU working for the Facilities Planning office.

I Found out I'm going to be an Aunt in July this year, I'm really excited about this, and I'll find out whether its a boy or girl next week.

Started a side job doing computer drafting for a new Villa Fay apartment building just down the street from where I live.

Have a wonderful Studio professor, Larry Bowne, who pushes me to do my absolute best with everything, and has helped my designs blossom. I'm also in his Seminar class, The Sewer and it's representations, very interesting material if I say the least.

I am going to Boston and New York City next week (March 9-17), and I'll try to put most of my pictures up from this asap.

I will also put up photos of the KaMMCO Building I helped design when I get home next weekend to take them.

Well, I've got to get back to work.

Little Update... more to come.

So, my classes are over, all but finals. I have a final on Monday, one on Wednesday, and a portfolio due on Wednesday. I'm moving everything out of studio this weekend, and will also have a lot of time on my hands. So I'll be updating this blog more this weekend as well, with personal photos and other computer renderings.

This week I've turned in 2 projects. Here's one of them, all of these were created by myself, with the assistance of some photos found online, 3DS Max, and Photoshop This is the house for Travis McGee, that I designed earlier this year. The actual Images print out on 11x17's but for blog purposes, they are smaller.

I am having a good time. Watch for more to come!

Oh... by the way, I am constantly updating my Christmas list (see earlier post). I am adding several inexpensive gift ideas, as well as marking off an item which I just had to have before Christmas.

Boston Trip: Planning for March 9th-13th

My Studio is going to Boston, MA in the Spring, well at least from March 9th-13th. My Studio will be touring the area as a class field trip.

There is a chance my class may swing down to NYC that following weekend, but plans haven't been finalized for that yet.

My Spring Break is the following week, so we have a lot of flexibility.

We are in charge of our own transportation to and from the area, so I can plan on staying longer, and spending an extra few days there with my friends, or travelling around NYC, or whatever I want. It completely depends on how much money I want to and can spend.

Trip details:
Cost: $75 deposit due December 30th
est. $350+/- total for the week hotel expenses, public/ train transportation, and admittance to events and museums. (A GREAT DEAL) We will also be responsible for several of our own meals.

We will be staying at the OMNI PARKER HOUSE, a hotel which overlooks Boston Common.
We will be in the North End, where we plan on walking the Freedom Trail, and visiting the OLD NORTH CHURCH.
We will go to the Italian District, and eat real Boston Pizza at Regina's Pizza,
We will see the Green Monster, at Fenway Park, although it won't be baseball season yet.
We will visit both MIT and Harvard Campuses, taking in the beautiful buildings designed by some of the best Architects the World has ever known.
The Contemporary Art Museum cantilevering over the Charles River, will be one of my favorite stops on this trip.
We plan to take a Train up to New Hampshire, to see the Exeter library, (on Thursday)

Lastly, We will check out of our hotel by 11:00am on Friday Morning, when some classes may head to NYC for a few days.

So, I'm excited, and I have some decisions to make. Whether or not to extend my trip into Spring Break, where I will go, where I will stay, and what I feel like I ought to take in.

If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Well, I have a few months to decide, so I can still book my flights early.

Christmas Wish List

I made this list when it was requested by a few friends that I put it on here, do not feel obligated to get me anything from here.

My Christmas Wish list.- Not in any particular order
· Netflix Gift Subscriptions for 1 DVD at a time unlimited per month. (I won’t be able to watch more than 1 at a time)
Available at: http://www.netflix.com/GiftPurchase
· Deep soup bowls/cups: Must be Microwaveable and good for 2-3 cups of liquid
· Small Thermos' for coffee, tea, or hot cocoa.
· Water bottles: for the Rec
· Small and Medium sized mixing bowls
· *Drafting stool/ Chair for studio: Back support, No arms, and cushions would be appreciated (would appreciate it to raise up 24”+)
· Cheese, Summer Sausage, and Cracker gift boxes (always good during holidays)
· Home-made treats (use your imagination)
· Hot Cocoa Mixes or Coffee Blends (pick out ones you like, and I’ll probably like them as well)
· *5 button optical mouse: for my laptop computer (wireless not desired due to battery consumption, and my tendency to lose things)
· *DVD-R for my TV
· *Printer for my laptop
X (already received)*Wall Charger for my Sam sung Cell phone: X
· Flour sack towels
· Big Bath Sheets (large towels sized 34x68 or comparable)
· 1 Gigabyte or larger flash drive
· Exercise Capri's Size Large (preferably with tied or adjustable waists b/c I am losing weight)
· Sweaters (large and not cut short
· Luggage(for travelling)

· Wal-mart Gift Cards (for groceries, and other necessities)

· Varney’s Gift Certificates

(for model building supplies and text books, I've spent almost $200 here this semester alone, not including textbooks, which is more than I've spent at Wal-mart) :

Available at: http://www.shopvarneys.com/

· *Ramsey/Sleeper’s Architectural Graphic Standards tenth or 11th edition: an invaluable resource for every architect.

NEW ITEMS ON MY LIST:

Cash or Checks: money always comes in handy for tuition and other costs.

Sketch book (8.5x11 or bigger)

*Narnia: Prince Caspian on DVD (widescreen format preferred)

Gently used items are acceptable. My rule: if you can get it cheaper, and it works just as well, then get it used!



Other Tips for gifting:
My favorite color is white, I collect snowmen, blue, black and red look good on me, I swim and exercise every week. I’m going to Boston/ New York in March, so any items that would help me in my travelling would be helpful. I appreciate things with multiple functions



*If you wish to purchase this Item, with a need of only 1, please contact my mother to let her know you want to get me this Item: mkemper@fbtopeka.com or if you have her cell phone #, just call, this is to ensure that I don’t get multiples (she will keep it quiet until I receive the gift)

Update 11/19/08

Photos to come when I get my camera and computer together:

I have been very busy lately, with work, school, and Studio. Last week was insane, I was working on Three projects
One for Environmental Systems Due Tuesday,
One for my Computers class, with an interim due date on Tuesday,
And I had a Studio Mid-Crit on Wednesday, which required most of my Studio Drawings to be done, and a rough model.

Then, on Thursday I had a test in my Structures Class
Wednesday night, though, I took time away from studying to go to the Rec with Stephanie, where I found out that I've lost 2olbs since school started in late August. (oh yeah!)

So, I didn't get to work until Thursday, and I had to catch up on a lot of things there.

On Friday, I mostly relaxed, and worked all day except for one class period, because my professor wasn't going to be in Studio.

Then, on Saturday, I went back to Topeka, where I joined my mom for a late lunch at the Mall, followed by those fabulous nuts that they coat in the most amazing sweet glazing. We went home and watched a movie called "Nine Months" through my Netflix account on my computer.
We picked L.J. up from Chick-fil-A and took him to TWHS for his play preparations.
We met up with my brother Jere, his wife Reagan, my Aunt Beth, and my "sister", Kristin to watch L.J.'s performance in "Our Town" which were wonderful, both he and the play.

I think that during the play I realized that I wasn't feeling so well, My throat was sore, and I felt a little warmer than usual, not feverish, but like I was fighting off something. I didn't feel miserable until late Sunday Night.

We didn't go to bed until 11pm that night, and I was too tired to put the bedding on my bed, so I just slept on the couch, which I find more comfortable anyway.
Sunday morning came too early. Mom had to be at the Church really early in order to make the 9 pots of coffee with the one operational maker available. Thankfully enough, she let me and L.J. sleep in.

I woke up at 7:15 and hollered down to L.J. he made a reply that to me sounded Cognisant, but apparently wasn't, because 7:35 came around, 10 min before we had to leave for church, and I yelled down the 10 minute warning, and he wasn't up yet, and yelled back "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" Well, I had. Anyway, he woke up and got dressed and out the door with his Tux, Trumpet, and French Horn in my car. We scraped the frost off my windshield (first time I've had to do this this year) and went to the early service at church, getting there just right on time.
L.J. and I left the church after the first service, and with time to kill, we journeyed to Downtown Topeka so I could see KaMMCO and it's progress. We then drove to Washburn and I helped L.J. and his instruments into the concert hall, where he was going to practice before the Topeka Youth Symphony performance later on in the afternoon.
I then went home and played on my Computer for a few hours until My mother and Aunt Beth arrived so we could go out for lunch.
We had lunch at Johnny Carino's starting around 11:30am, and ending much later at 1:30pm. Mom had to leave to pick up L.J, and they came back to joined us around 12:45 or so. I ate more during that meal than I have in a long time, Stuffed Mushrooms, Salad, Bread, and my main Entree, Angel Hair pasta with Chicken and Artichokes. It was awesome, the only thing better during that meal was my family being around me.
We all went to the concert by 2:00 and enjoyed watching L.J. play both his French Horn and Trumpet, and during one song, he switched between the two, which is a difficult adjustment to make, as I well know.

This weekend made me really proud of my little brother. He's done some of the things that I really wanted to do during High School, but my classes, and other priorities never aligned in the right direction to allow me to do them. Seeing L.J. in the tux was very impressive, he looked so good, and grown up too.

Well, I returned to Manhattan after the performance, I wasn't ready to go, but I had to so I could get more work done for classes. While working, I watched Sweeney Todd, a gruesome movie, which I would only recommend to those who laugh at gore, and don't take it seriously, and don't look away at each throat slicing scene, as I did. The end redeemed it slightly, but not completely. It could be a decent Halloween Movie. I was glad that I only rented it, seeing it once was enough.

Because I still wasn't feeling well, I took Medicine, and went to bed early. Waking up feeling only worse, but I still went to work and classes.

I did have a small adventure on Monday, when the power went out at 1:00 on most of campus. The reason? According to rumor, a squirrel fell onto the Southwest Sub Station Transformer, and when it exploded, it made the squirrel fly and hit the back-up Transformer, causing that to blow too. The power didn't come back on until I left Studio at 4:30 when it was too dark for me to do studio work at my desk, and after I met with my Professor.

I went home and studied some for my Tuesday Systems Test, but went to bed early again, taking more medicine, because I was feeling awful.

Tuesday morning came around, and I felt a little better, but I decided to not go into work until after my test, so I could rest some and study more. I took my test, and I think I did okay. Then I went to work for a few hours, and back to classes. I thought I had a meeting that night, but I guess it was actually scheduled for tonight, so I finish this up and go there afterward.

I woke up this morning feeling a lot better, practically healed from my Brief cold. I slept in a little later than usual, and left my house late too, forgetting my lunch as I went out the door.

So, I went to work, and forgetting that it was Wednesday instead of Tuesday or Thursday, I forgot to go to my Structures class at 10:15, so I designed a couple of logos for a competition in the Facilites department. I'm sitting in Studio right now, with a long list of things to do for Friday and also for Monday, so I thought I would update this now, incase I don't get around to another update until Monday.
I'm hungry, and really wanting food, but that will have to wait until I get home from the meeting which ends at 7:00pm, because I can't afford to go and buy my dinner at the Union. I have a cup of hot cocoa here to tie me over though, so I'm not totally with out anything.

Well, I will have to wrap this up, so watch for the photos, and I hope to update you again around Monday or so.

Have a great Week!

E-mails

If you received an e-mail just now, you have been connected to my blog by e-mail, that means that I have put you on the list of 10 people who will get e-mails whenever I update my blog.

I have 6 on my list right now. I you want on this list, or know someone who wants an e-mail each time I post a new post, let me know, and I can put them, or you, on the list.

If you got an e-mail, and you would rather not get a message whenever I update my blog, just let me know, I could use your slot for another person.

I have just discovered how to do this, so I hope it works.

As always you can contact me at mkemper@ksu.edu (checked everyday), or resas_pieces78@hotmail.com (checked weekly)

Legacy

Recently I received an E-mail from my mom, which had these photos attached.

Most people when they die have some sort of epitaph on the front of their tombstone...

R.I.P.

Loving Mother...

Faithful Wife...

or some humorous quote.

On my Grandparents' Tombstone, picked out by my Granddad after Grandma passed away a few years ago, they have a simple front listing their names, important dates, the tombstone has a modern curved form, with a vase for flowers also on the pedestal. On the reverse side, they have the legacy they've left behind:

They list their children's names.

This will make it easier for future generations to track lineage, and adds another conversation point when going to visit Lewis and Betty in future years.

In all reality, stories fade. In several generations they may not know of Grandma's Teaching, or Grandpa's handiwork, but they will be able to know what their true legacy is: their children, their grandchildren, and now their great grandchildren, so on and so forth. People who are into heritage may find this in years to come can also see who their children were and automatically have more of a family tree. What a wonderful thought.