whoo-hoo! i passed ARE #2, construction documents & services. probably barely passed.

i still haven't scheduled the next exam, or even started studying for it. this is mostly because i can't decided which test to take next. i wanted to switch over to the graphic exams, but i have to figure out how to study for them; we don't have study books for them.

but i don't have time to think about it right now. soon...

We were swinging an arc around the top of Brooklyn just then. We had flown over Staten Island, had gotten a long look at the skyscrapers of lower Manhattan through a haze, and had just seen the neighborhood where i live due to a plane dipped into a course change. Our constant descent meant you could see the people on the sidewalks and read the signs on buildings. We were moments from touching down at Laguardia. Ten seconds out i snapped this pic. We have good sunsets in New York.

WHOO-HOO !!! I passed my first ARE! (Architect Registration Examination) and so did my study partner. Such a relief. And the champagne is on the way. Now, only eight more tests to go.

February has really gotten to me. i was already crabby today when i got to work today. and then we didn't have heat again until after lunch... around two, i think. my toes are still thawing. times like these i just want to go home. and then move some place warmer. why put up with this?

i guess i like to think that i enjoy winter. it's great to have changing seasons and see everything die and then regenerate in the spring. and snow can be really beautiful, especially since it covers all the dirt of the city.

but snow is really only fun when you get a "snow day," and that doesn't happen in new york city because the subway doesn't shut down. okay, it shut down twice since i've been using it, and those were momentous occasions: it took a multistate power grid meltdown to stop the trains, and everything else, and then there was the transit strike, which didn't stop me from having to go to work; it just involved lots of walking and bike riding in the freezing cold for a few days.

Perhaps if NYC got 6 feet of snow like upstate. maybe then i'd get a snow day. or that one town that had 12 feet! that would be awesome! excpet new yorkers as a rule don't eat at home, so everyone would probably starve.

i don't know where this complaining was headed, so i'll end it. i guess it's almost March. i think i can make it through the winter. i'm feeling better already. aren't you glad you read this?

Okay, the Puerto Rico pictures are online. (link below) I only uploaded a selection of the images from the picture pool, but these are still a lot. photography credits go to ryan, christina, omar, connie, and me.

here's the itinerary so you can understand what you're seeing:

day1: arrive at rented apartments, walk around Old San Juan
day2: drive to El Yunque rainforest, rehearsal dinner in San Juan
day3: Ocean Park beach, wedding at old fort, reception dinner
day4: drive/boat ride to Culebra island, Flamenco beach, dinner Old San Juan
day5: walk + shop Old San Juan, fly home

picture link: H E R E

two weeks ago i was swimming in a rainforest waterfall, napping on an island beach, and sipping pina coladas. The temp didn't go below 70 or above the low 80's. perfect.

it was 8 degrees going to the gym this morning, and has warmed up now to 16. we didn't have heat in the office this morning until about 11. the gallon jug of water in our fridge was frozen solid, and i was cadding in scarf and a hat. Paul made me some tea to sip and thaw my hands until the heat came back up. but my toes are still frozen.

i miss you, Peurto Rico!

(note: inappropriate contents have been replaced)

i think the picture says it all.

we spent our last few hours in puerto rico [over]eating an amazing meal at Pamela's on Ocean Park Beach. sooooo good.

this dog seems to be a regular at Pamela's. He had the puppy-dog eyes and why-won't-you-give-me-a-table-scrap look down pat. I think his thickness proves his begging abilities; he was pretty much rectangularly shaped with four little legs splayed out from his body. The waiters spoke to him (i didn't understand the spanish) and gave him a water bowl at one point. And when they cleared our plates, he hedged his bets and waddled closer to another table that still had their food.

okay... i'm signed up to take my first architect's exam. a friend convinced me to schedule the same test so we could study together. i hadn't even started to prepare for it, but i guess a looming test date is the best incentive to start. so now i'm taking spare moments to read through a study guide. this stuff is pretty dry, so i sometimes end up falling asleep.

i was just thinking that i should probably just announce when i have successfully passed each exam, thereby avoiding any embarrassment should i fail them. oh, well. i can take it.

wish me luck!

once again, santa brought me almost everything on my christmas list. i guess the flat screen HDTV i asked for was too big for the chimney because i couldn't find it anywhere. i know it was a tough year, but i don't think high fuel costs should affect someone with flying reindeer.

But thanks everyone for your gifts. B+T, the meat tenderizer you gave me made it through airport security in my checked bag. Holly+Chris, the headphones kick, and i can't wait to peruse itunes to spend the GC. Mom, thanks for finding that gift you forgot to wrap. sorry dad i didn't love the shirt, but now YOU get to wear it! Anna, the pretzels rule. Marshalls, i can't wait to wear my homemade FruitbytheFoot stickers.

Thanks for a great stay in She-Vegas/Sure-Boredom/Sheboygan. It was above freezing probably the entire time, and that single hour of sunshine was a real treat. Thanks too for the extra five, six pounds from the constant eating and loads of christmas goodies around the house. i thought of you this morning at the gym.

i forgot to post this pic earlier. christina is singing me 'happy birthday" with my makeshift birthday cake; the cake is a pint of haagen-das, and the candle is a match stuck into the ice cream. by the time she was done singing (and prancing), the match was going out. c gasped to get my attention (i was taking this picture). i lowered the camera and saw the flame dying, so i lunged towards the flickering flame and at the same time blew out a quick puff of air. i got it just in time. then we died laughing.

The state education department of the university of the state of new york has informed me that i "have been found eligible" to take the 9 tests of the architect registration examination. i guess i'll be studying my way through most of 2007! yeah to me.

maybe i'm just tired, but i'm really not looking forward to this. it seemed like test taking was over for me a long time ago. and for these tests i really have to study to pass. however, i am hopeful that studying will help fil in all the gaps in my knowledge in the myriad aspects of architecture and the profession.

wish me luck. i need it.

I Hate T-Mobile 's Unfair Policies

My stolen phone saga continues. To review: When i realized a couple weeks ago that my phone had been stolen and called T-Mobile to freeze my account, the rep told me that the thief had already racked up $130 in international calls. Whoa! sucks, right? but it could have been worse.

I got my phone bill today, and it wasn't $130. My bill is for $590. I had a lengthy conversion with a customer service rep, and the superviser, Sam, and they insist they can't do anything for me. Actually, when i said that i can't afford to pay this, he offered to try and set up a payment plan for me. But not now. He wants to call me back closer to when my bill is due.

It is their policy that the customer is responsible for all calls, even if stolen, up until you call and freeze the account. Everyone i tell about this doesn't believe me, and once i convince them that it's true, are shocked and disgusted at the unfairness. this policy applies to you too! and there's nothing you can do about it.

i told the customer rep on the phone that it's disgusting that T-Mobile is profiting from my misfortune. my phone is essentially a credit card with which one can buy calls all over the world, surf the web for a fee, and buy all kinds of downloads (my thief bought $72 worth of ringtones.) But a credit card company would not make you pay for fraudulent charges. How can we make this true for cell phone companies too?

Thankgiving giving is next thursday! and the day after the official start to the christmas shopping season. So PLEASE let me know what you want for christmas. I really need help with ideas. This is assuming that 'you' are someone that i buy presents for.

If you need some ideas for me, i have racked my brain to think of some stuff i want. You can access the list by clicking the green link on the top right side of this page. Easy, right? I'll keep updating it as i think of additional things.

Christmas is in 38 days!

reasons that it's a good thing to have your phone stolen:

6. You get to spend days shopping around for a replacement phone: stores around town, online, ebay auctions. It's so exciting!
5. You get to reenter all your contacts... again.
4. You avoid all those pesky calls from friends and family.
3. You get to pay full cost for an overpriced cell phone that will probably break as soon as you drop it.
2. You get to help out a bunch of strangers with their international calls to Colombia, Venzuela, Panama, etc.
1. You have two chargers; one each for work and home.

so... some people just suck. like my neighbor who plays his music so loud that it was making it hard to hear our tv earlier this evening. or the person who swiped my cell phone and racked up a fortune in international phone calls. or the telephone company that is going to try and make me pay for it all. Jesus wants me to love these people, but it's hard enough to just not hate them.

now, do i fork out the cash to get the fancy phone again? (say yes.) either way i have to pay for a phone, full price, without the incentives you get when you sign up for a new plan. why not pay a tad more for the good phone? it's hard to go back once oyu have the good stuff. since i just started my plan, i can't get a discount from the store... yet. they thought if i would wait a month i could get a discount. but the discount price is basically what the phone is going for on ebay. crap i forgot to bid on the phone! two good auctions just ended 10 minutes ago.

whatever, i'll put it off again for another day.