Intaxication

Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

I thought this new word was perfect for this time of year, and it is so true that first few seconds when you finish doing your taxes, and then it hits you. I am just glad to have our money back.

Finally!

I finally signed up for all three of my remaining Architectural Registration Exams. Yep, all three, in the span of about 8 days. Building Planning, Building Technology and Site Planning. Two of them are 6 hour tests, one is only 4 hours. But all are longer than the other 6 sections that I have taken.

I got tired of everyone asking me about it, and, work is slow. Right now is a good time to get these done. My work load has decreased substantially, and that gives me the ability to take what amounts to three days off to take these tests. It will be nice to at least get them behind me for the first try, I am hoping, and fairly confident that I should be able to pass them on the first try, provided I don't let my head get in the way. These tests are all graphic divisions, involving design, but they are not to see if you can be a good "Designer". They are testing your ability to meet a client's program and needs. I have to approach it differently than we would in the real world. Any mistake, and error, or any oversight results in FAIL. Good design does not earn extra credit.

So, March 4, 10 and 12, here I come.

Zach Lutz

Zach Lutz's Adventures in Racing has been added as another place to waste time. He is a nice young man I met at the track this past weekend. He and his father are both avid racers, and Zach will be competing in the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Series this year as a Rookie. his blog will follow that, and tell the stories of life as a racer in the series. He is also sporting a few pictures I took of his car this past weekend. So that is kinda cool for me, to see my pictures on a blog that is going to actually get some views. It should be fun to watch him progress.

Economic Uncertainty

These economic times are starting to hit home. Yesterday was particularly upsetting. A very good friend was laid off, and while she felt it a blessing to not be working for the evil woman she worked for, she is now out of work, a situation I would be terrified of Then, we got news that UPS will not be doing annual pay increase for management, and they will discontinue their 401K match for the foreseeable future. And, then, to make matters worse, my office has lost two big projects in the last 4 days, one of them was mine. It was what was going to be in production for the next two months, permitting for two months after that, and then construction for 14 months. So, the next 18 months of work for me, just evaporated. Poof, working on it hard everyday one week...sitting around with nothing to do the next.

I have been told that if worse comes to worse, the partners will weather the storm with me on board, and the 4 of us will get through it, and that is comforting, but if it gets worse than that, I will be out of work, with no where to go. I don't have any skills that would be useful in any other field. I just hope and pray that something changes. A certain someone preached "Change" for the last two years at us, filled our heads with it, I think it is about time he steps up to the plate, and actually goes through with it.