Let us Build an Architecture of Love

Today was a long, busy day.

We got up early and caught a bus into campus to see the architecture commencement ceremony. As usual, there is the university-wide graduation, and a separate architecture ceremony. Apparently, the commencement speaker for the university-wide event was the author of Mother Goose and Grimm and his speech was a riot- my friends said people were tearing up with laughter.

The robes here are really nice. At ASU, you get these burgundy/maroon gowns which are made of the cheap shiny material they use to make disposable table cloths. Saori pointed out that a large group of people wearing them look like a bunch of cockroaches. The Wash U robes are mostly rentals, much higher quality. The fabric hexagonal hats they wear are also pretty awesome. Actually, in graduation, I'm mostly looking forward to wearing one of those hats.

The setup for commencement was very sweet- a bunch of white folding chairs on the main lawn in the allee of massive oak trees, with brookings hall in the background. With all the wealthy parents in town dressed up and the tent with free refreshments, it really felt like a wedding. Saori and I sat with our friends in a row towards the back with good shade and cheered and clapped for everyone as they graduated and for the speakers. The undergraduate speaker was a student who gave a rambling speech really about not much. A bit to studied and self-aware, I thought, but not bad.

Linda Jia gave the graduate commencement speech- all the speakers were voted by the students, which is cool- and he spoke about the great experience of school and the necessity for an architecture based on love. Zeuler, my studio professor, gave the faculty speech, which was brief and heartfelt, and the president of Trivers associates, a local firm, talked about the value of renovating old buildings in cities.

It was a really nice ceremony overall, with free sodas and water and snacks served throughout the ceremony. Afterwards, everyone lingered in the dappled lawn, posed for photos, and chatted with professors, family, and friends.

Saori and I were invited to a picnic in forest park, so we gladly accepted and wandered over. Shu's family and Anna's family and some of Helen's family had laid a spread of Pappy's barbecue, watermelon, fine cheeses, wine, beer, and champagne, and we joined them for awhile for a picnic and conversation on the grass by the lake.

It was a lovely day and a lovely time, and I really would like to do this for my graduation as well.

We took the metro back to our neighborhood, stopping only for the liqour store where Saori got a bottle of saki and I got a pick-your-own six pack. Lately, I've realised I've been drinking a lot of beer (well, maybe not so much but 2-3 beers a day) which is a lot for me, and I want to cut that down, so I'm starting with limiting myself to a beer a day. Of course, we are also in the midst of celebrations so I'm not too hard on myself. Once things settle down for the summer, I should probably stick with a beer a day or less. To help with this, I'm attempting to buy really good, expensive beers, so I'm less tempted to just throw one back.

Anyway, walked home, and then we both crashed for a few hours, exhausted from the sun and all the walking. I got up finally and went for a 30 minute run, and then Saori made us a lovely dinner of salad and leftover pizza I swiped from the Luxmark information session. Still no word from them, but I'm hopeful for monday.

Tonight, we were just bushed. Too much socialising and partying has drained us.