It's the final countdown period again, stress levels rising, sleep periods decreasing, and eye-bags ever-growing. 2 1/2 more weeks to final review?!? Where did this entire semester go to? I don't even feel like I've done any architecture this past 3 months... eeps.
Some quick updates on the happenings in the past 2 weeks:
1. My housemate managed to get her cat chair (known as such due to the pungent cat pee smell emanating from it) stuck in the narrow staircase, in the attempt to bring it from my room down to hers, causing me to have to crawl under the cat chair on all fours in order to get to my room upstairs. (After that saga, the cat chair is now back in a corner of my room, with an air freshener dispenser sitting happily on it.)
2. My other housemate, who's a photo major at Pratt, slapped on generous amounts of petroleum jelly and then literally poured beads all over my face, just so I could model for one of her jewellery photoshoot assignments. Conclusion: It's pretty hard to see/smile/look vaguely interested in the camera when beads are constantly dripping into your eyes and mouth. Also, check out the standing hair done the ghetto way with innovative use of a bottle (for stabilising of form) and tons of hairspray and bobby pins.
3. Went to Central Park to check out the sights + pretty colours of Fall, but arrived WAAAY too late with only 5 mins of daylight left. The rest of the time in Central Park was spent trying to navigate our way through in the dark. I did get to the restaurant where Carrie fell into the lake while arguing with Mr. Big (Bigg?) though. And to the ice-skating rink, as the picture testifies.
4. Went on a field trip to the ghastly-looking mix of Niemeyer+Corb UN building. The view of the Crysler Building from the Main UN building was awesome. You realise what a central position this is with regards to its position in midtown Manhattan, and even to the greater world.
5, 6. Felt powerful to be inside such a place where so many important world-changing decisions are made, and privileged to have had the opportunity to sit where the world leaders sit, to walk into the General Assembly rooms constantly on tv, and to stand on the podium where announcements are made to the rest of the world. Of course, we couldn't just stand there, be serious and NOT monkey around.
7. Watched the NYC marathon right outside my school's Higgins Hall Architecture building, at exactly the 8 mile mark. Lance came by too, barely 10 feet away from the sidewalk I was standing on, cheering my voice hoarse to bits. He's the one in the green tee, kakis/busybodies in tow, with the camera crew right in front of him, voraciously taking in his every move. He finished the race in slightly less than 4 hours, merely 40 minutes short of the race winner. Livestrong yo!
8. Fall came and went. Am sad that I can no longer see vibrant colours of golds, reds, and orangey-hues bursting out and engulfing the trees in the neighbourhood. Now mostly everything has been reduced to a drab grey when the sun's hiding behind the clouds, and the leaves all fallen to brown mush as we tread on them daily on the sidewalks.
9, 10. Had my 3/4 term review as well... So much work to do, so little time, so little desire to plunge right in. What can I do to convince myself to hang in there, and that all sacrifices made, sleep or otherwise, will be worth it in the end? And while I'm at it, seriously, what is architecture?
11. Skipped 2 classes in a single day just to queue for a live taping of the Daily Show with comedian Jon Stewart, which my housemate had reservations for. The waiting line was crazy but the pre-empt to the show was hilarious. I appreciate the fact that these Americans are willing to laugh at themselves, and that they have the freedom to do so. People are so witty it puts me and my lame jokes to shame.
12. Going to my friend's bf's first solo art exhibition in NYC tomorrow night. It must have been a tremendous undertaking to realise such a dream, and I'm excited to go, not only because of the free beer (did anyone mention FREE BEER? Kudos to Brooklyn Brewery!) but also because I personally know the artist this time, and so it makes the show more real.
13. We're having a surprise bachelorette party for my classmate on Saturday night because she's getting married at the end of the year! I'm invited to the wedding too, but it's in Minnesota so I'll probably just get buy her a lapdance and get it over with.
14. It's 4.45am and I should be asleep by now. Mingming's coming over in April! Yey! :)
15. More updates will come after the end of the final reviews I guess! Till then, I am resigned to the fact that I won't have any life to speak of.
