where does this train go?

­So I’d thought I’d take some time to reflect on a few things on my time in Boston so far. This, in my slow attempt to move this blog to something a bit more professional… or at least substantive. Though I’m sure at times I move further away. Oh well… its all a process.

Over the last few weeks I’ve had a litany of opportunities to meet up with people that I haven’t seen since college, or even high school. Some of these meeting have been by chance. Randomly running into people while on a lunch break in Chinatown, while the majority were planned. I found myself in one such engagement last night. Sharing drinks with someone that I haven’t seen (or spoken to) in almost ten years. Outside of the obvious “what the hell have you been up to” questions it evolved into a sort of cat and mouse game of rediscovery. I’ve found that in these recent re-meetings I have figured out a lot more about myself than I otherwise knew, or acknowledged.

With what probably resembles the efficiency of speed dating one is forced to come up with concise answers that otherwise float around in my head for days. The example of what do I see myself doing with architecture entails roughly a couple hours of explanation, but I’ve found can be summarized in a few seconds. And I’m not sure if that is a good or bad thing.

Having to describe who you are, to someone who once knew you is a very odd experience. Immediately one (or perhaps just I) compares their past and present life. It affords you the opportunity to accept, or discharge your personal qualities. For example, often when around people you’ve known for a while you behave as well… you always would. Even if that’s not necessarily you, or maybe just that it is you, but doesn’t seem noteworthy.

I’m not suggesting that since I’m in a new city I’ll become some new person or suddenly change. But its certainly provides a very nice framework in which to establish (or at least become aware) of what qualities of life I’ve come to enjoy and those that I haven’t. These meetings have really highlighted the changes that I’ve gone through and how much I’ve changed, and stayed the same over the years.

So my time in Boston so far has given me the time to finally slow down a bit, and through the establishment of a normal work routine and meeting these old friends figure out how I want to spend my time here.

I’ve also discovered (ironically considering my previous statement) that I cant stand slow people. Their lives just don’t make sense to me. Those that walk slowly down the subway platform or sidewalk, the slow drivers in the left lane… People often tell me life is about the journey, but I would disagree, life happens at specific locations, events, places. And I want to be there when it does, so get out of my way.

I also thought I’d take the time to outline (mostly to myself) a few of the projects I’d like to get started on.

Submitting my thesis work to the BSA student competition. This will require a fair amount of work to get the project to the quality I’m sure they are looking for and fulfill the requirements but I think it would be fun to try and would certainly get the ball rolling in terms of working on my book again and getting it ready to make printed copies.

Rebuilding my portfolio of work… and organizing it into a respectable website. I feel like I have a decent amount of work and I want to come up with a better way of showcasing it.. this requires a fair bit of planning and help…..

Getting my laptop stand idea to a point where it can be legitimately shot down or not as a viable project