Perceptions

This morning the the pedal bar broke off my bike on the way to class. Because of this I didn't have time to get coffee and was falling asleep in class. During my next class I was informed that an event that I would really love to attend is going to be held at a time for which I have already made plans. At the gym, I realized after working out that I didn't put any protein in my protein shake, so all I had to recover with was a banana and some milky water. I had been suffering the intense heat and direct sunshine all day, but when I went out to the pool to tan it was overcast and windy. When I got home I stepped into the shower, only to have a piece of plastic from a broken towel rack stab me in the foot. I got out and called the haircut place - they were booked until close. I took some laundry to the dry cleaners to find it was also closed. On the way to the dry cleaners I met a girl from one of my classes who wanted to talk to me, but I didn't use the opportunity to seduce her. I can't download reading files from Blackboard, even though my teacher has assured me I can.

Today sucked donkey balls.

NO!! This morning I overcame a difficulty and made it to class on time, and saved a couple bucks by not buying coffee. I also answered 5/6 in-class quiz questions correctly. I went to the gym and didn't waste time lounging at the pool. I discovered that a cute girl is attracted to me, and she is not only in my class but lives on the same floor of my apartment complex. I also found out what time the dry cleaners and haircut places close, and I didn't spend any money eating out. I'm now the cafe with plenty of time to do some much needed reading on a subject I'm passionate about, architecture.

Today was good.

UT Architecture Tour: Waller Creek

Here are some images from today's campus walk-about. Richard Cleary is the professor leading our Campus Architecture & Planning summer course.

Summer Courses at UT & Landscape Architecture

This summer I am taking four classes at UT. The first two, The Human Body and Campus Architecture & Planning, began at the beginning of this month and have been fun so far. I really need to make As in these classes in order to have a competitive GPA for grad school application, but it's tough to stay focused during the summer. After dropping a hint to my Dad, I now have a short-term incentive to make all As as well - a new camera! I made an A on the first test so we'll see how it goes.

I am now seriously leaning towards landscape architecture as my future profession. Ideally I would be accepted to the Master of Landscape Architecture program at UT for the fall of 2011, but I haven't even begun to assemble my application portfolio (in fact I don't even know when the deadline is). I need to get smart on both landscape architecture and the application process at UT if I want to stand a chance of getting into that program next year.

And you may have noticed I also updated this site ;)

Hope Had Died

I wrote this short story for my ANS 361 class, Suicide in Japanese fiction. It combines literary elements and parallels the contents of several works we read throughout the class. Part of this project also included a libretto detailing how the story related to our other readings. "Hope Had Died" is loosely based around real people and real events.

Hope Had Died

Another Sleepless Night

Disorder in the World of Suicide

Today

It's strange how oftentimes my life will become organized only after I suffer through an exceptionally turbulent period. For instance, on Wednesday night I couldn't sleep at all, so I got up at 6:30am on Thursday and started my day. This might not seem like a big deal, but let's just say that I'm not exactly a morning person. That night I was so tired that I went to sleep at a reasonable hour - midnight - but then woke up at 7:30 this morning with a pounding headache and a terrible realization that I had a paper due in class at 9. I hadn't even started the paper, and it wouldn't be accepted late.

Surprisingly, I busted out the paper in two hours in my living room and made it to class about 45 minutes before it let out. The paper wasn't my best work but I'm pretty pleased with myself considering the time constraints. After class I saw my adviser and sorted out a schedule that will allow me to graduate at the end of this year, which got me thinking about my future options for grad school and employment. I'm beginning to compare landscape architecture to structural architecture, and at this point the former looks quite appealing.

Inspired, I then visited the School of Architecture graduate office and browsed through the application portfolios of accepted non-majors. Some of them were amazing, but I on the whole I know I can create something very competitive. With this in mind I returned to my apartment and finished a painting I had been working on.

Here is the paper I wrote this morning for ANS 361 Suicide In Japanese Fiction.

And here is the painting.

A New Day

I'm Wide Awake It's Morning

Here's a paper that I wrote last night for ANS361, Suicide In Japanese Fiction. It's nothing groundbreaking but I'm kind of proud that I forced myself devote some quality time to it.

Two Audiences, One Message

by Tom MacDonald