WINTER EXTRAVAGANZA

Stay at the Montage Resort:

Philip was awarded through his job a weekend stay at the resort he has been working on so diligently since August. He was an independent contractor up there (Deer Valley) and would have to drive to the mountains an hour every day. We were thankful for the job, but it was a temporary job and as of Dec. 20th we are looking for a new job. Hopefully a much closer one! They had a dart wall down in their pub and we ordered chicken pot pie and barbecue chicken pizza that was absolutely expensive and delicious. Then for desert we had the largest root beer floats ever! They also had a bowling alley in which we paid $55 per hour. This place is absolutely insane. I cannot believe that people live like this. Our dinner at the Apex restaurant was over $100 each time, and we ran up a bill for the entire stay over $3000. We were so lucky and blessed to have been able to stay here! It was in good timing because it was right before my stressful finals week! Playing in the snow. I love these photos of Philip. I think he looks like a stud. :) That's the new jacket I bought him for Christmas and gave it to him early so we could look fancy.

Halloween: Helping Philip at Work

We did a 10 hour work-day each at Philip's job on Saturday before Halloween to make some extra money. Face-plates galore--these rooms are huge! We were greeted at the end of the day with a beautiful snow! 

Philip's Birthday included his favorite meal and a  BYU football game.

Then, we went to a Utah football game---tickets I got for being a student! Now I'm starting to feel some loyalty. I haven't really felt that excited about this Alma Matter's sports because I'm still attached to U of I. There were so many great memories and I really felt a part of the excitement there. Of course we were very lucky to be a part of the riots of the Finals in Basketball, and were able to break into our Football stadium and do cartwheels... :) Good memories Jessie and Phil Street.

They won vs. BYU, and rushed the field. This is when I could sympathize with BYU. I really think I will cheer for them in the future. Their teammates and fans are so much more polite and encouraging. I'll also be supporting Philip's all-time favorite team, so I suppose that is alright.

CHRISTMAS CARD 2010

They are a bit late, but here are our Christmas cards! Merry Christmas!

I am trying my hand in a little graphic design, so let me know if you need anything done!

HEALTH EGO FIRM

 

This is a little video and photo shoot we did for our Professional Practice Class. We had to explain where we wanted to go in architecture by emphasizing where we didn't want to be. And for the record, I don't want to be Frank Gehry, and question anyone who does. However, he is the most extreme case I thought of on the spot! :) Enjoy!

ALMOST ARCHITECTURE

 A Day in the Life of a University of Utah Student....Friday I had the privilege of walking through the construction site of the CITY CREEK PROJECT with 14 architecture and city planning students. We saw the multi-million dollar parking deck which inhabits an entire block underground. We also were guided through the condos to get a beautiful view of the city and the ongoing project below.

After returning to school, the student I TA for had a final project review, so I walked around trying to hear them present while Philip was asked to be a juror for one of the sections. I'm having so much fun being involved, I hardly want to graduate!

A older missionary couple who has been serving in our church for the last 2 years are leaving and I was asked to do a sketch for a thank you gift. I sketched our church - a modernized model of an former baptist church - is a similar reflection of the inner-city member that attend. A very unique, yet well loved bunch. It gave me a chance to be outside for a while and truly enjoy the nature of detail. I always credit my dad for that hobby. And, I was immediately blessed, as I found a free ergonomic chair on the side of the road for studio! No more sitting on a stool!

SHADOW PRAISE

In Praise of Shadow by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki is a book implying the ideals of the national Japanese character. The subtle life lived in shadow by the traditional Japanese has forever changed my perspective on the decay of material and the western push for science without design. It poses this unique questions: What would it be like if the Japanese were the first to design the toilet? Would it be made of wood so that with every use the splinters and rot would make you aware of that distinct experience? Would it place your feet in grass and draw your eyes toward a beautiful landscape? Is our world being designed and built for a much younger, faster generation without consideration for the elderly? Is there as much appreciation for handmade material and imperfection, especially when observed under the brightest fluorescent light?

COVERED IN MY RUIN

"Words without thoughts never to heaven go."


I left you here,
covered in my ruin

I returned once more to the place now covered in soil. A tunnel to a new world. A different one which is now unrecognizable. How many faces will I pass as the wind blows my hair. And remains. Unnoticed. It is supposed to be that way because my thoughts will fade. But they have not yet disassembled themselves into the right place. I walk through the soil with my shadow--my feet on manicured ground and my black hole of memories bring longing for peace. O, maybe until the next time this lesson is learned.

BULLETPROOF GLASS

Still loving strong...
Philip's idea yesterday to go on a jimmy johns picnic. :) We shared lots of kisses and laughs on that hillside. The summer air is cooling rapidly at night and everyday approaches the colors of fall more and more. O how I love the mountain air. My lungs can never forget how easy it is to breathe. Hoping to go on another hiking adventure this weekend before school starts!

Spiritual Thought
Proverbs 1:2-7 --- Proverbs 9:9-10
I personally long for understanding and ability to remember the scriptures and stories of the gospel. I want to be able to give people a thought that resonates in their mind and I want those words to come from my mouth, yet be the Father's. Those are exactly the things that I admire from Christian when I learn about His pure love, and I wish to set free those thoughts to someone else. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." To truly fear the lord - submit to his plan, be reverent and humble, study his scriptures and pray with purity of heard and exceeding faith, it must be always... and at every occasion. Only then have I noticed my wisdom and eloquence in teaching the gospel. And in those few times I have been able to be free with peace flooding my heart.
I've been preparing lessons for our women's meeting on Sundays and it has truly been a blessing. I am starting to overcome my fear of public speaking---something I prayed to be stronger in, so of course, I'm thrown into the wonderful task of standing up each Sunday and trying my best to humble myself and let the Spirit take wing.

Gracious Charity
There really is a love so pure. Mimi Locher, my favorite professor here at the U called today with an offer for me to take a TA position teaching first year architecture students (Juniors). It has really boosted my excitement to start the school year now that I have paid in-state tuition! Especially after being denied residency in Utah and questioning whether or not I could make it back to school this fall! What a promise from the Lord to take care of me, His daughter!

CALF CANYON AND ME

Our Design-Build Bluff coordinator allowed me a personal day to go on a hike since I was having some drama issues pile up from the last couple of months. I started off with a scripture reading, prayer, journal entry and wound myself around the lake into the canyons. I have never been so alone in such a vast place for so long a time. I sang, screamed, cried, 3-second delay echoed, ran, moped, skipped, and laughed out loud too many times at the thought of my actions. Someday I'll get enough permission to post the photo I wanted to. This day was all about me and my lone moment with the Lord's Earth. As always, I was released to freedom in my exuberance for these sacred three hours.

JOURNAL ENTRY 7PM

 "Don't you feed me lines about some idealistic future
Your heart won't heal right if you keep tearing out the sutures"
Postal Service cruising on the Res every morning and afternoon. I'm lost somewhere between the landscape layering itself and these words every time.




Something in me changed today. I love Wednesdays here in Bluff. I love when in a classroom and talking about symbolism and mythology and history and how everything ties to this beautiful landscape. I'm in it right now and have felt inspired to appreciate my day on paper. Janet came in today where Haley and Jonathan and I spoke with her about selling her pottery and jewelry on etsy.com, a handicraft sellers website. I saw here eyes light up and her mind working behind them, in awe of how much she would be able to benefit. (Janet is the woman whose family we are building a home for here on the reservation. Her whole family is supported by her business of making pottery and lives off of only $9000 a year). My excitement matched hers. I couldn't wait to start documenting her items. :) The Merlin, her man, started showing Bob, Blake and I his and Janet's drawings for our clay wall. The symbolism in both her pottery and jewelry tells of Navajo stories and important symbols. Each is crated with these sacred meaning in mind. There is much planning and much thought. I love that she embraces her cultures so. I was illuminated by this moment.. That, and the clay that Atsushi, Hiroko, Blake and Bob hand-carried out of comb ridge was ready. My head is a spinning case of reels - my vocality in my dreams last night was a witness. This is precisely the time when I want to be artistic and create. It is the relief I seek and can feel. I wish there was time right now. soon. Wedding will be over. Decisions will be in stone. And I will be able to have my breath again.

JOURNAL ENTRY JAN 18

 Yesterday @ 5am we woke up here in Bluff to try to get rides in Hot Air Balloons at the Bluff Balloon Festival. Sarah Frass and I got to go up with Glenn and Cookie from NM in their Pink Yellow and Black Balloon. We unpacked the balloon, fired it up & chased it to monitor its position along the bluffs. It was a once in a lifetime chance and so beautiful to see the desert landscape from that perspective. We are so small in this place.