Anniversary to myself

I miss Spain.

It was only a year ago that I was buying my first pair of hiking shoes at Bivouac , deciding what pair was the best bet to walk in if I were averaging 18-24 km a day of both flat and extreme hill terrain. Little did I know that I was going to step in a puddle of glass in a Barcelona club a week before the walk started, forcing me to walk in half a pair for another week.

 

Damaged foot to the left; Bivouac shoe to the right

Needless to say, one calf – still bigger to this day – became significantly larger than the other. Once I was able to comfortably fit my wrapped and damaged foot in my unworn shoe (they were already broken out from intensive training in Ann Arbor), I needed 600 mgs of Ibuprofen for that other unmuscular leg. - On that note: medicine is super cheap and readily available in Spain.

And after just another week, I was able to shake off any thoughts of pain, and thereafter, enjoy views like this…

Taking a moment to look back and visibly see the unbelievable path, outlined among the mountains of green, that I had just walked.

WOOD

Oh the discovery! London designer, Elisa Strozyk, has done wood good by taking textiles to a new level. At first catch and glance, a wooden carpet doesn't seem all that innovative, but at closer look, it's evident that the entirety of the carpet is made of hundreds of individually veneered wooden pieces. The carpet curves, curls, crawls, folds, and gathers at will.

http://www.elisastrozyk.de/seite/woodtex/woodencarpet.html

Next step (after steps find perfect job and find affordable nyc apartment): Purchase this baby - depending on whether my new apartment has wooden floors, tiling, or carpet. Too much wood is overkill.

Grad Life

Packing four years of college life into a Prius in less than 24 hours was crazy, to say the least. But after dumpster diving for free cardboard boxes, a trip to Salvation Army to donate boxes spilling Maize and Blue, several trips to the dumpster, a long day of Commencement events and after parties with 10,000 Michigan Graduates in the rain, and help from my parents and 6'4" brother with whatever remaining energy they had retained, it was done... almost.

1 of 3 donation boxes

 It would happen that I get a speeding ticket on my last Michigan to NYC push. I was admiring the "Caution: Falling Rocks" signs of Pennsylvania and passing the side of the crawling semi-truck next to me when I see a cop, already out of his car and literally 500 feet on the highway in front of me, waving to me. Hoping it was just a friendly wave, I pass... until I see his lights behind me.

I was meant to stay in Ann Arbor. I was meant to stay in college. I'm not supposed to graduate yet. I don't know anything, yet! ... I keep repeating. 

And then I checked my Financial Aid and Account status today, 2 weeks after the Commencement at the Big House. To add to my series of fortunate events, it turns out that I owe $59 to the University of Michigan, who's probably holding onto my diploma until I pay this. Of course, printing fees. Nothing is free: You would think that after the printers in the Architecture school "break" and deny your 50 requests and pleas to print one file, that you be free of charge. No. I should have learned after 4 years: If the printers don't print it the first time, they will not print it the second time. Nor the 50th time. They will, however, electronically print you a fine that threatens a hold on your diploma. 

So I will pay this fine today as I start my life as an addition to the unemployed post-graduate population, and restart blogging as my hometown friends are still finishing up school elsewhere 

Update: Sunday, May 6, 2012 01:06AM

You're welcome fellow degenerate Graduates

Best commencement speaker I could have asked for. We didn't get Obama again, but we definitely got an inspiring alumni that we could all relate to.