Travelling in flickr

Around 2 years ago, I helped Michael Maltzan Architecture wrap up the design and documentation of a small pavilion in Jinhua China. Later that year I had the excellent coincidence of being invited to a wedding in China which afforded me the opportunity to visit the project under construction. I realized at that time, I would probably never see it completed and would have to rely on the local architect's photos to see how it 'turned out'. That was before I knew Flickr.....

This photo of the pavilion was taken by flickr user Z & G. You may see the rest of Z & G's visit here.

Driver's education the Smith way

Lesson #1: You are NEVER too young to learn how to drive.

Lesson #2: You learned to drive on a vehicle with a gear stick taller than you.

Lesson #3: You got your first ticket under the age of 16. My own brother once got a ticket at the age of 10? Dad you will have to verify that.

Lesson #4: You can drive with your knees and actually prefer too.

Renovation update

before and after
Originally uploaded by m free.

Our bedroom before and after... minus a closet door and plus two cats.

Dorm Room Ballers

These guys are amazing!

I'm 3!

Three years ago today, I started at my current job and it is now the longest job I have ever held.
I guess you could call that maturity.

getting my pink on

Last year about this time, I bought a Aporocactus flagelliformis. Yes I said f l a g e l l i f o r m i s, also commonly known as a rat's tail cactus or in our family know as Lenny. Lenny came with a nice note card and picture that showed pink flowers sprouting from almost every square inch of him. BRIGHT PINK FLOWERS. The $15 could not have flown out of my wallet faster. Since then I have been eagerly awaiting Lenny to show his 'true colors'.

Behold the flower of Lenny.

Lost and found

This morning when I left the house for work I was greeted at the door by a lost dog...to be specific an itty-bitty-cutie-patutie-chahuaha. He pranced right up to me said Hello and promptly licked my shoes.

I liked him immediately.

So I called up Dave to tell him in addition to two cats, we would now also have a dog..and his name would be Rocky. The conversation went like this:

Me: "Dave! There is a cute little dog on our porch."
Dave (mildly interested): "Yea, I saw him when I left too."
Me: "He is soooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute!"
Dave (mildly excited): "Yea, He's pretty cute."
Me: "Let's keep him!!"
Dave (not at all excited): ".........ummm"
Me: "fine"

After which I put him in the car to take him to the pound. Only to drive 1/2 a block see a flyer for him and return him to his owner.

I tried to get a photo but he was a quick little guy and this is the best I got. Note shoe for scale.