Crunch time Again : - )

work work working........found this comic on the web while reading some architecture article and for some reason it reminds me of how i feel right now : - ) like i have a big building on my back

today's press

So here is the latest on my work project!!! Yea for me, this means I have lots and lots of work!!!

NEW YORK REGION | June 27, 2006
Fulton Street Transit Center Plan Stands
By THOMAS J. LUECK
Despite running $45 million over its $799 million budget, the plan for a Fulton Street transit center linking a dozen Lower Manhattan subway lines will not be scaled back, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said yesterday. Work on the project, which requires the relocation of commercial tenants on the east side of Broadway between Fulton and John Streets, is to begin in September, with completion planned for June 2009, the authority said, adding that it had asked the Federal Transit Administration, which has dedicated $4.5 billion to rebuilding Lower Manhattan, to fill the gap.

Army Building in Brooklyn

While on our little field trip (see previous post) we went into this old army building. I am not sure what it's current use is or was, but it has sort of abandoned train stop inside. It's an amazing old concrete building with a great court open air courtyard in the middle.

Grimshaw Field Trip

Last week we went on a little office field trip to Brooklyn to see the new prototypes for some street furniture that Grimshaw designed for a Spanish company called CEMUSA .

I don't know which part was more fun seeing the prototypes or riding the water taxi across the east river. It was a beautiful day and it was nice to be out of work early on the river.

Pretty soon there will be more than 3,000 bus stops all over the city designed by Grimshaw in addition to some public toilets and news stands.

about two weeks ago i joined my room mates for the 4th annual big apple bar-b-q in madison park. it felt pretty funny to be eating bar-b-q from texas and other southern states in the middle of nyc, but it was a treat none the less to have ribs, cold slaw and baked beans! one restaurant serving lots of pork was giving out these big pig ears, which my room mate and i dawned for about 5 seconds to take this picture :)

Some Random Shots of the city

First pic is in midtown, second pic is a pic from Central Park from last month and the third is a street in Tribeca very near my office.

Times Square with H-Town Friends

A few weeks ago some friends from Houston were in town so I had to hit the tourist spots with them : ) My friend Caro snapped this one of us in Times SQ, and though it is a terribly unflattering profile pic of me I thought I would share since the rest of the picture is so great : ) and the other pic is of my friend caro and brett at a restaurant

Visit to the Flower Markets

my room mate has a side job of doing flowers for weddings and this Saturday I decided to join her and our neighbors (her fiancé and brother) when they went to buy flowers at the wholesale markets on 28th st.

it was quite the experience, first of all we had to begin our shopping at 5:30 am: ) to assure we got the freshest flowers available. To my surprise the place was hopping with others such as us.

The array of types and sizes of flowers was amazing including many exotic ones important from different parts of the world.

Aunt Gloria in NYC!!!

My wonderful aunt Gloria was here this weekend all the way from Brownsville Texas!!! We had a great time catching up. Glo I am glad that now you are not just looking at me on my blog but you’re on it too!!! Thanks so much for taking out of your busy schedule to hang out with me. You look great in this photo even if as you said you "did not have your face on". Besos mi Tia!

NJ Nets VS. Miami Heat

I had the chance to go to an NBA playoff game Friday. Although I had only become a Nets fan about 1 day earlier it was still a blast. Sadly they lost but it did not dampen this new fans spirit!

I saw the mighty Shaq and the others "heat" up the fourth quarter to close in on us after 3 quarters of being tied...oh well. It was still great to be at a live pro game again after all these years of forsaking my favorite past time.

Cherry Blossom Festival

I went to the Cherry Blossom Festival this past weekend. It was held at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. The weather was amazing…it was definitely an I love living in New York day.

It was nice to visit Brooklyn as well. There are some beautiful Brownstone walk-ups there and many more quiet residential areas there than in Manhattan. I originally went to the festival to watch my co-worker’s drum performance.

Here is a pic of me with two friends from work :) we are in one of the many green houses inside the Botanic Gardens.

Birthday Dinner #2!!!

Here I am with my future room mates having yet another birthday dinner!!! am i spoiled or what? FYI - First pic is Ray, Eunice and Moi : ) Second pic is Jean, TJ and Elbi

Birthday Dinner

My 26th birthday on Sunday was great! I spent the first part in Flushing Queens with friends that I fellowship with and ate lots of good Chinese food and then had great Greek food at night with my co-workers Chi, Jake, Christian and Virginia. They gave me the best gift!! a huge Sponge Bob chair I had admired at a balloon shop near our office (they also gave me flowers). It was a great surprise that garnered me all kinds of attention when I took it on the subway with me : ) For the moment I had to deflate the poor guy though since my bedroom in my apartment is hardly big enough for me much less sponge bob too!

Top of the Rock

I went to the top of the Rockefeller Building with some friends this past Friday night and the views were fantastic! There was also this great room with all these funky lights that moved according to your motion.

Long Beach Island Retreat with Brothers and Sisters

I had a great time of fellowship and fun with the brothers and sisters I meet with here in Manhattan. We drove about two hours outside the city to Long Beach Island in New Jersey. We rented this great house for a great price since it is still off-season.

I made so much guacamole you would not believe it, silly little tid bit but thought i would add it. I think these northerners are deprived of their guac (as jen calls it) fix and they could not get enough!

In addition to all the food and cooking there was lots of good fellowship too and time in the Lord, not to mention singing and getting to know each other better. Ok got to get to work, here are a few pix.