I just got back from my week out at the AZA conference, held this year in Milwaukee, WI. In some ways it was the typical conference with booths, business cards and goody bags. We were the only Architecture firm there, and as a result were approached by a number of interpretive display folks. But I’m constantly amazed at how hard people work in zoo design to treat the animals as a real client and go beyond zoos just being a business. There’s something wonderfully tangible about architecture, nature, and the senses that I feel I’m more aware of every day.

I also extended my trip to visit the East Coast to meet up with my pals at blip, create tapas with Liz, hang with Jen in the village, see my family, and wish my Mom a happy birthday.

My flight back home ended with being placed next to a 70 year old fellow originally from Wisconsin, who’s now living in Washington State. He found it interesting that I worked for a place that does zoo design, and the topic of animals led to a story. He told me that when he was a teenager, he used to hunt mink by a stream on his way to high school. The forest where he hunted is gone, but the excitement he conveyed at remembering his time outdoors when he was younger is something I’ll remember whenever I encounter programs that bring kids into the outdoors. It’s magical; it’s very real.

I finally, somehow, got some African violets to stay alive -and- bloom again! The evidence:

We’re looking for jobs in Seattle. We’ve been up there twice and I know it’s an awesome city.

I’m so excited and while there have been so many wonderful things that have happened in FL (getting married, the orchids, the beach) I know I’ve been looking forward to this move for years.

A photo back from our road trip, here’s the Hoh rainforest in a somewhat rare bout of sunshine. The greenest place I’ve ever seen!

Elaine in front of Monrovia

I went to St. Peter’s Church in Midtown Manhattan today to view Cities of Peace, a collection of paintings organized by Dr. Ellen Frank and created by a group of painters from all over the world. I’m proud to say that my sister Elaine was one of the painters, and she worked long and hard for 3 months at the “Illumination Atelier” on Long Island.

I’m not usually one to go to galleries to look at art, but I really do admire the idea behind the Cities of Peace project. It’s all about working together to build and repair what other humans destroyed. There aren’t many things much more noble than that.

Are you working your butt off, but still don’t have what you want?

Annie Leonard spent 10 years traveling around the world to find out what’s really going on in the way of manufactured goods and the impacts on people and the environment.

Click on the link for a really awesome explanation of how our consumer culture really got its start (hint, hint, our government during the ’50s). It’s interesting and not overly preachy. You’ll be motivated.

Story of Stuff