The W of Chicago

I stayed in a hotel called the ‘W’ a couple weeks ago.
It was crazy.
It was clearly the ritziest hotel I had ever been in.
The room was approx. $300 a night and they spared NO expense on the decorating.
Every single thing in the hotel and my room was unique… the art on the walls wasn’t the stuff you can buy at Walmart (sunset paintings or abstract color swooshes).. they were original works of art.
One especially nice piece was a deep frame that had a metallic mat and bamboo visible thru the 8” opening… it was done very well.
There was a framed window opening into the shower room – and shutters that could be pulled for privacy. Quarry tile covered the bathroom and the shower was nothing more than a single piece of thick thick glass extending out from the wall – to keep the shower water from splashing on the nearby sink.
The shower head was large and mounted on the ceiling overhead… it was more like standing under a waterfall than a shower.
Too cool.
The furniture seemed to be imported from someplace incredible and I didn’t want to sit on anything… for fear I would break it or mess it up somehow.
I realized that I wasn’t actually relaxing… It was all too unique and showy for me to relax.
I tend to enjoy myself in hotels where I am reminded more of my home than a museum.
I was relieved when I checked out… like I had spend a day in a china shop with a bull that I was responsible for.
Stressfully weird.

Start Up Pains

What a crazy life.
I THOUGHT that by starting my own business… I would have more time on my hands… you know… time to play with the kids, change the oil in the car, rake the leaves… anything.
Let me be the first to say… I HAVE NO TIME AT ALL!
I haven’t found a minute to myself yet... and it’s been a month (on the 11th).

I’ve been busy designing buildings, sketching, site planning, master planning, and traveling (teaching people how to use a program called SketchUp).

I took on the SketchUp training to add variety to my life and to fill in the gaps should my architecture design business fall short… and have found myself REALLY busy.

I’m in hopes that it is a phenomenon associated with START UP, and not going to be like this for the long haul.

One more crazy thing about owning your own business (I’m no pro yet, but will be soon enough).. is billing. I was used to a paycheck every two weeks deposited right into my checking account. Now I send out bills and WAIT. Good grief.. don’t these people know I have mouths to feed around here!
I am in hopes that this too is a symptom of START UP and things will smooth out as I get going.

And finally, I hate how I haven’t been keeping up with the Adventures of Stu the Lemming on my Daily Sketch Blog (What is the true meaning of Daily anyway? I’m not going to even give you a link :(.
For anyone who knows what I am talking about… soddy. Poor Stu is ricocheting around in the belly of a sea creature all this time!

I’ll try harder… When I get some time.