recently a building was completed and now stands as the tallest in the world. it's an impressive feat of engineering. i'm sure some praises are due. but with all the forethought and skill required to make something like this stand i've never really been impressed by this particular architecture. to build something tall for the sake of building something tall seems a bit arrogant and tacky. i wonder how this building addresses the environment? how does it address the community? a structure built on the backs of slaves by a country now in a tremendous amount of debt. i cannot seem to understand the appeal. the allure to this architectural culture.

but the other day something happened. something switched on. or off. i'm not sure yet. it felt almost like a chill running down my spine. it was subtle but it was enough to get my attention. it happened while i was downtown. i was noticing the city skyline. how suddenly uninteresting it appeared to me. the lack of impressive architecture. of tall architecture. i began to resent the thought that buildings have remained a certain height so the homes on the west hills could maintain their view of mount hood. for a moment i had an unfamiliar lust for the built form. like howard roark in the fountainhead. i wanted to see massive and impressive buildings. buildings that expressed both power, beauty, and progress. in a city noted for being so creative it sure wasn't represented in its architecture.

and then the chill left and i couldn't help but smile. i felt like i was beginning to understand why tall buildings are built.

tonights menu:

salmon burgers with brown sugar, dried chilies, and bacon
asparagus drizzled with a dijon vinaigrette
raison D'etre ale brewed by dogfish head

i'm pretty excited about this one because the only thing i had to buy to make this happen was the beer and asparagus.
there's pretty much a huge party in my mouth right now.

i'm a bachelor tonight.
mish is at the coast with some friends.
i'm happy for her.
i'm glad she gets to head out there for the night.
its just me and the har-man now.
so whats on the to do list:
wax snowboard
write thank you cards
stain wood frame for vegetable garden
fill out scholarship applications
make chicken curry dish (mish got me a jamie oliver cookbook that i've been stewing over now.
tonight i made a chicken korma curry dish. it was pretty tasty but not nearly as spicy as i was hoping it to be.)
laundry
clean house
drink a nice brew from hopworks brewery
watch some simpsons
wash the dishes in the sink.
maybe get to some homework if i have time.

i think that about covers it.

last night i was sitting in my building systems class listening to a lecture on foundations. you know stem walls and footings and things of that sort. and i started thinking about foundations in a more relational way. i started thinking about stability and about the things that foster or prevent it. and i began to think about how we so often chase after things that bring instability. that cause anxiousness or worry. my professor kept talking about certain issues builders run into during the initial building process. he said its hard to convince home owners to spend a little extra on soil test, structural engineers, etc. when people really just want the money to go towards kitchen counter tops or hardwood floors. then i thought about how this can sometimes be a reflection of our relationships with others. how most often we want to skip over the laborious part because it seems difficult or boring. i don't know. i think multiple thoughts are beginning to collide here and I want to avoid that. it just makes my heart heavy when we opt for things that bring instability.