Tonight, tooonight. Toniiiiiiiiight, tonight....dah dah dah.

So what shall I write about tonight...

Maybe how I have decided to try to practice architecture on my own because I don't want to continue to go from job to job being treated poorly?  (My last two bosses have been real gems!)
Maybe how I am really excited to teach Building Systems again this fall?
Maybe I could write about how much studying for and taking the ARE's suck!
I could write about the things I have learned about myself over the last couple years?
Maybe how I quit drinking soda and caffeine a couple months ago?
I could talk about how I went to the doctor last week and at the end of the appointment she said "Thank you for taking such good care of your body!" and how that was pretty funny to me because I have been putting so much negative emotional emphasis on my body that I was expecting a big lecture not a "Thank you!"
Oooo I could talk about how cute Loki is...well I could always talk about how cute he is.
Maybe I could write about how happiness is a choice and I choose to be happy.
Maybe I could write more about why working part-time is the BEST thing since...Costco was founded!

Or maybe I could just say that I am so thankful for my life and for the many blessings that I have received from Heavenly Father.  And that I am grateful that I am able to help and serve others as He needs me to.  I could also say that despite my best efforts to screw up my own life I know He has my back and is watching out for me and that no matter how bleak things may seem at times I know that things are going to be alright.

Old Update

I wrote this a couple months ago and never really finished it then didn't posted it...here you go anyways...


So working part-time is pretty much the best thing in the world, minus the drastic reduction in pay.  I have always hated going somewhere and sitting at a desk for 8+ hours 5 days a week.  I need a variety of activities to keep me from going insane.  That's one of the reasons I love architecture so much is that there is such a variety of work...and construction sites are just awesome.
I have decided to try to go out on my own as a sole practitioner and teach part time.  To me that would be ideal.

I am 2 tests down, taking SP&D on Friday.  Then I have to decide whether to continue with the ARE 4.0 and take 4 more exams or "transition" to ARE 5.0 and only take 2 more exams.  The issues are that it would be a gamble to take the new exams because the only study material available would be from NCARB which is very limited.  And there would be no community support for the exams because nobody has taken them, therefore no advice.  I could always wait for a month or so for some feedback from test takers.  Eh...I'll figure that out after the roll-out on June 29th.

Houston guy is a no go.  Eh whatever.  My father always told me to never put all of my eggs into one basket, so I'm fine.  I'm thinking that divorced guys may be the next avenue to explore.  FML.  I hate dating.

OH MY GOODNESS!  I have a new nephew!!!!!  His name is Colton Reece Brecht and he is pretty much perfect.  Dina and I went and visited Briana, Chris, and Colton a few weeks after she had him.  Ohhhh man that little bean is so freaking sweet and easy going, I already love him so much!  On a side note: child bearing, birth, and breast feeding is strange and pretty much disgusting.

Today is my mom's 66th birthday!  I am continually grateful for her and for what a good example of hard work and perseverance she displays every single day of her life.  She is tough as nails but is one of the most kind, loving, and generous people in the world.  I am so blessed that she is my mom.  I just hope that when the time comes that I will be able to help her in whatever way she will need.

HAMOC&B are leaving NYC and moving back to Maine in two days.  I think it will be great for them to be in a big house (which is beautiful!) where they have room to breathe and stretch out.  And they'll be close to Erika.

"I never met anybody that I couldn't learn from." - Henry B. Eyring
I've always loved this quote.  It reminds me that every person I encounter or work with has something to offer me.  It could be their conduct, knowledge or experience that I learn from.

Oh yeah, I finally started seeing a therapist again!  Hallelujah!  It's interesting because I have never been to an LDS therapist of counselor before.  I've only been to this guy twice but already it is so awesome because he understands my motives and background so easily.
I have struggled with depression since I was a teenager.  It sucks, but it's just something that I have learned that I have to deal with.  In some ways I am grateful for the struggles that I have had with it because it has made me a much more empathetic and sympathetic person.  Struggling with depression is something that I don't particularly advertise, but I don't hide it either if somebody asks or it arises in a conversation.  I'm not afraid of the stigma because a long time ago I had to learn that the taboo surrounding counseling or therapy stems from other people's fears that they will be judged and thought of as weak or "crazy" by their peers.
Counseling and therapy is about learning tools to keep yourself and your life in perspective.  It also helps you learn and recognize behaviors in yourself and in others and understand where they come from, which in turns makes you more compassionate and understanding.
I honestly feel that everyone, no matter how "happy" they feel they are, could benefit from seeing a counselor or therapist at some time in their life.  The world would be a much better place.