Jody, James, Nadene and I will be piling into Dora the Explorer today bound for Dallas, along with the rest of the GCCDS, for the Structures for Inclusion conference. We stop over tonight at the Blue Moon Guesthouse in Lafayette, Louisiana. This is always a great conference and this weekend should be very interesting.
My friend Malcolm Christopher Eckel turns 24 today. In honor of your birthday, Chris, I thought I’d pull out a couple pictures from back in the day. Those were good times.
On Tuesday, my parents and I visited Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve outside of New Orleans. The day was sunny but cool enough to discourage bugs, perfect weather for a bayou walk.
Carmen’s house has made immense progress in the past week. Two groups are currently working on it; Christian Aid Ministries, the group that framed the house, is currently building the ramp and finishing the siding and exterior, while Hope Force is sheetrocking the interior at a rapid pace. They expect to be painting the interior and exterior by next week.
Barry Schwartz’s 2009 TED speech ties in with many of the discussions we have been having here at the GCCDS about values, ethics, service, and leadership. – – – About this talk Barry Schwartz makes a passionate call for “practical wisdom” as an antidote to a society gone mad with bureaucracy. He argues powerfully that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire, and practical, everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world. About Barry Schwartz Barry Schwartz studies the link between economics and psychology, offering startling insights into modern life. Lately, working with Ken Sharpe, he’s studying wisdom. Watch the video …
Yesterday was Mardi Gras, the conclusion of the Carnival season. This is the second Mardi Gras I’ve spent in Biloxi. (And Ocean Springs and New Orleans). The parade featured 120 floats and other units and an estimated 85,000 people showed up to watch.
Sunday was an eventful day and, as usual, I only managed to take a few pictures. I am not sure how to train myself to be better at this. I went to New Orleans with Doug, Jesse, and KC, and met a large group of friends to watch the Krewe of Thoth and Bacchus parades. Here’s a look at Thoth passing our friend’s house on Magazine Street:
Alan, Leah, and I did the TatoNut ride this morning with the Gulf Coast Bicycle Club. About 30 miles total through scenic Ocean Springs, ending at the TatoNut donut shop. When I returned home, I found this scene next door: Nobody seems to have been hurt. Don’t smoke in bed.
For America, it was yet another Monday; for me, it was my first official day of work as an intern architect in the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio! “Why so excited,” you ask, “when you’ve been working there more or less continuously since September of 2007?” Because — and this is crucial — for the past three of those months, I haven’t been paid. These are the joys of university hiring. Anyway, I’m psyched to have everything finally official. Among the many things I have this week that I didn’t have last week: A job. The expectation of a salary. …