My First Week- a recap

People have asked how my first week has gone, and overall, it has been great.

I have met a lot of interesting people from all over, and from other disciplines as well. One of my roommates/housemates- the British term flatmate would probably be more appropriate- is a doctoral candidate in bio-med from Tucson. I met a girl from the Bay Area who worked for Google and now is a geriatrics major. I don't know if major is the right word for people pursuing their master's, but I have yet to find a better term, though I am open to suggestion :P

A lot of the people in my program, urban planning, are sustainable land use, which is good to know, though I think we all have different goals for what we would like to end up doing with our degree.

I have heard people say that it's hard to find an L.A. native, but I don't think that they're asking in the right circles. I think those people are talking about Hollywood. The girl whose parents own the house I am renting a room from is an L.A. native and I met a guy at our program's mixer who was born and raised in Orange County.

A lot less people than I thought are opting for transportation, which I found interesting as infrastructure is such a big issue with the Obama administration right now due to all our aging bridges, highways, etc.,

We all come from different backgrounds, but our prior academic studies and their connection to our current passion is interesting. For example, one person that I met last night at the mixer is doing his concentration in transportation, and if memory serves, and if I heard him correctly over the incredibly loud and even worse "music" he said that he was a chem and micro-bio major. I asked him why and how he made the leap to urban planning and he said that he had been working on something insert science words here- the reverb drowned it out- something about making fuels that were more efficient or something.

We have several philosophy as undergrad majors people, which I really thought was an interesting leap. I'll have to hunt them down and ask them what changed their course in direction.

And as much as I hated moving around as a kid, it has really helped me both in my profession and also being able to relate to people. I was able to talk with a person who has lived here in L.A. for nine years, but came from Iowa, I was also able to talk with another person who was a self-proclaimed "Mr. Hartford" and I was able to call him on his bluff. Turns out he really is from Hartford, CT, not Avon, or Glastonbury, etc., I connected with an old friend on Facebook who I went to high school with in Connecticut, but now lives in Madison, WI, even though she spent her whole life in Massachusetts.

Class commentary

When I first registered for classes I thought, this is silly- why can't I sign up for a bunch of classes? Why do they only recommend that you start with 8-10-12 credits? Oh, now I see your point.

I am taking Sustainable Cities on Mondays, (only, having shown up on Wednesday with no one there- read your schedule genius!) which as I have had only one class so far I can't really comment on it, other than the professor seems very well educated and knows what he's talking about, which is always good. And it is "seminar style," so we do a lot of reading between classes and then apparently come back and sit at a long conference table. Though it pays to show up early as there are more chairs and students that would like to sit in them than there is room at the table. Oops.

Luckily for me, can I sound a little smug?, the building that my class is in is literally right across the street from where I live and it's only about a ten minute walk to class, getting up to the 4th floor, included.

Tuesday/Thursday is my history of urban planning and legal environment of planning classes- back to back, hence my death race to get to legal on time, which is significantly farther than I'd like. Fortunately, a good majority of my history class also goes to the legal class.

My history class is taught by the former department chair, but due to inevitable department reshuffles now no longer holds that particular position and I think oversees the undergrad division. The class is a little different than I'd pictured it in my head. But then again so was my visual culture, which had nothing to do with say, ads on TV and everything to do with semiotics and Levi-Straus, not the jeans guy! The class has started out being grounded in theory with Kevin Lynch and Spiro Kostof, two of the first theorists. My syllabus says we're going to be talking about Chicago and Irvine, so party on.

My legal class is a LOT more fun than I ever imagined it would be. My working knowledge of the law outside the basic amendments and Illinois work comp is pretty limited. I know I've never been able to talk my way out of a ticket that's for sure.

So, I was a tad apprehensive, thinking that I was going to have to commit a lot of statutes and dates and laws to memory. Nope. But my class has helped make my sit-in's on the site plan reviews in Visalia make a lot of sense.

Now I know why, for example, Dennis, the city manager (?) always added that the developer needed to submit an EIR (environmental impact report) after he'd discussed all of the other codes like fire and health and safety. Also, my professor is a hoot.

He has all these sly remarks that makes one think one is watching an old movie like the Man Who Came to Dinner or a Marx Brothers. Example:

"I used to live in Kansas. But being in the Midwest, I don't really consider that living."

Being slightly anal and definitely a little OCD I have marked all of my major assignments on a giant dry-erase board that I found on the side of the road and promptly Lysol'ed the heck out of before bringing it inside.

I figure that it's dumb to try to read too far ahead, especially for my history and legal classes as I know I need Sloane to break down whatever we read for his class and Kushner definitely can break a case down into sound bytes.

But it is comforting knowing exactly what will be expected and how to budget my time.

I have work-study, which won't make or break me, but I would like that extra X $ alloted to me. And I have applied for a reading tutoring program, one of whose schools is literally right across the street from me- so fingers crossed!

The second half of the semester I swap history & legal for theory (planning, of course) & stats- ack! Luckily, my stats professor announced that he hadn't taken stats himself since he was in school, so we won't get weighed down in a lot of extra superfluous stuff.

I'm fairly confident (even if my pater familia is not) that I will do well in that class as I have always preferred large groups of numbers, especially of concrete data that I could use rather than 8% of 3/4 of 250- if you know the answer great, I don't care. But if you want me to explain why it is important that we build housing for the needs of the 35% of the population that are married, but with no children, the seniors that make up 20%, the singles that compromise 30% of the population and not just the 15% of the two-parent, married with children population for whom suburbia is designed.

Plus, the class's full name is statistics and arguing from data- so all those junior high debate team competitions and trying to sound like I knew what euthanasia was will come in handy too!

Notes from the Underground, or more like the hyper-manicured grounds

For those of you who are unaware, after a long and arduous process, I am officially a first year grad student at USC, or S-C, as they call it here, now enrolled in the school of PPD- Planning, Policy & Development- with an emphasis on sustainable land use i.e. go green! More green building materials, more access to mass transit, building environments that promote a better standard of living for all people, etc.,

I am still getting used to seeing kids clad- willingly- in apparel (and not just the athletic kind) that bears the school's logo and/or colors.

At my art school, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to wear the apparel sold at the bookstore was to be met with indifference, or why did you spend $60 on that hoodie?!

There are probably a thousand "beach cruiser" bikes here too- in just about every color imaginable- though they tend toward the citrus hues and a lot of Pepto-Bismol pink. These bikes would get you laughed out of any self-respecting "real" bike shop- one gear!? you've got to be kidding me! But they're happy to sell them to you on Main Street in Santa Monica for $300+ a pop. Ouch.

It is also "rush" week at school this week i.e. sorority Barbie Yup, every stereotype you think of when the word "sororities" comes up is pretty much here. I am obligated to say tho, that not all sororities are like that. As one of my best friends is both a self-proclaimed metalhead and member of a very non-Barbie-ish sorority.

But it is a beautiful campus- really freakin beautiful- I can't decide which is my favorite building- pictures to follow- and the faculty are top-notch.

It's nice to have pretty buildings to look at as I engage in a death sprint from my Tuesday class of the History of Urban Planning in Ralph and Goldy Lewis Hall to um, I call it Tapien, which is about a 1/4 mile away, which wouldn't be bad, except I only have ten minutes between classes- thanks to a last-minute scheduling change.

I like to pop in my earbuds and crank up the ol' ipod, but I have to be mindful of the maintenance, grounds, and other staff who whiz around on their little electric cars, driving like the maniacs that they and every other driver are in the City of Angels- hello! I pay your salary- yes you! Would it kill you to slow down? At least the carts are electric.

Some kids also ride their skateboards, which I possess absolutely no experience in, and only have admiration for them as they navigate around the swarms of bodies. I'd like to learn, but I'm pretty sure that I do not possess the requisite inner-ear balance necessary not to kill myself.

I've been able to watch the USC band practice their songs and I must say that it is quite inspiring, think "Chariots of Fire". Though again, as a former art school attendee I simply cannot comprehend the hoopla surrounding the Trojan football team, nor the desire to fork over $160 of my student loan dollars to attend 6 home games. Um fight on?

I can know pick out an undergrad from a grad student at sixty paces, the Lauren Conrad wannabees don't count. Nor the guys who hope to be the next Brody Jenner *shudder* I thought they broke the mold. Some of the guys it is a little harder- facial hair is not a surefire indicator, though it usually points to underclassman. But it amazes me how little I have in common socially with the vast majority of these people- even the seniors. We have different attitudes on cell phones, ipods, and even laptops- all of the aforementioned items were not "givein's" when I was their age- they were all pricey, techy gadgets that I could live without, not something that everyone and their grandma (!) have. I think the fact that we are carbon-based life forms are the only thing that we have in common. Cuz it certainly ain't music.

So, there, in a nutshell, is the USC social campus.

This Better Not Be Fatal

So, I have officially completed my first week of grad school without harm or loss of limb- wooh!

I realized that I only posted one entry for July, and August is almost over now too. But in my defense, I moved down to LA and settled in, which despite having done this more times than I can remember, I still do everything at the last minutes :P And yes, having a lot of "stuff" doesn't make the process any easier. Luckily, one of my new roommates is a kindred spirit who understands the psychologically soothing effects of familiar baubles.

Anyway, I am now the proud new owner of a brand spanking new Macbook and with a steady connection, I hope to use this forum as a way to present what I have been learning at my very expensive school, partially due to the insistence of my pater familia, but also partially, hopefully for my peers, who can serve as a regulating system- letting me know if I am off-base, was sleeping when the professor made a point that I consequently misinterpreted, etc.,

I am very excited about my classes- summary to follow :)

I have also developed a terminal case of adult-itis- I took it upon myself to clean my shared bathroom, which didn't look like it had seen a sponge since I-don't-want-to-think-about-it. Now it is all sparkle-y clean and the trash isn't higher than the toilet tank- gross, I know. But my landlord is really chill, so it balances out.

I know that you can't go home again, but once you start to notice that things are dirty and actually take steps to clean up, can you go back?! Time will tell! Watch this space!

the Problem with Joe

I used to live where I live now about (oi) 15 years ago. As I was much younger I don't have very many concrete memories of what life was like. However, I do remember stopping at the slightly more expensive grocery store in town at night to get something. I remember the plaza and the grocery store's facade and how the interior lights slipped out on the sidewalk and into the interior of our mini-van. I don't remember what we were buying or why, but I remember the feel of the place. Guess I was destined to be a planner.

As fate would have it, I now live within walking distance of that plaza from my past. The grocery store is out of business, the slightly upscale restaurant across the way has changed owners at least twice and the drugstore closed and is potentially going to be turned into a CVS.

The plaza still has a Carl's Jr. fast food restaurant, a donut shop that keeps truly sporadic hours, a Dollar Store, a Sally's Beauty Supply, and an improbably located Edible Arrangements.

Despite these amenities the plaza feels incredibly vacant, owing largely to the gaping hole/empty retail space where the grocery store used to be. It's kind of like a sledgehammer went through a wall. Yes, the wall is still standing and is still technically whole, but it needs to be fixed.

So, one can imagine my surprise and delight when over my housemate's Sunday dinner the idea was mentioned that a Trader Joe's was in talks to set up shop where the grocery store had been. This is a phenomenal idea as the nearest Trader Joe's is an hour away in Fresno, which seems rather far to drive to by little frozen tiny cubes of basil, no matter how much my dad raves about them. Meanwhile, when I am in L.A. I drive by at least three Trader Joe's.

Unfortunately, the rumor of a soon-to-open Trader Joe's was dispelled by another member at the gathering who had asked an employee at the Fresno Trader Joe's and that person had said that there is no truth to the rumor. And that corporate needed there to be at least 45,000 people or something in the area before they would consider building one. What their corporate people failed to recognize where the surrounding areas of my town, that yes are small, but also are not conveniently located near an access road to get to a freeway or highway to connect them to Fresno. Several of the neighboring towns are situated so that in order to get to Fresno, they have to drive through my town. Hmmm.

I've done a lot of research on downtown revitalization, one of my main areas of focus for my future urban planning practice and history has taught us that clearing out a bunch of land and plunking down a mall can backfire over time as the novelty wears thin.

However, with Trader Joe's, and this is not an endorsement of their company, but merely an economic observation, that store offers many goods and food stuffs that other stores do not carry in the area, due to lack of perceived demand. Trader Joe's is a niche market and frankly is a market waiting to be filled here by shoppers of all economic backgrounds. I worked for a neurosurgeon for a while whose wife enjoys gourmet cooking, I also have a friend who is going for his master's in plant biology who equally enjoys cooking, even if his income is much more modest and lucky duck that he is, lives in Fresno and enjoys frequenting his local Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe's is not a shopping mall, it is, pared down to its essence (no pun intended) a grocery store, but a specialty one at that. Unlike a mall, which people may grow tired of, it has the potential to increase profits as the population continues to grow and last time I checked people need to eat at least once a day. It also would be able to revive an area that is frankly depressed. It also can utilize a pre-existing structure with very little interior renovation. Most of the fixturing from the original grocery store is still in place. The lights are all on all day, which makes me twitch, but that's a story for another day.

The people at the top level at Trader Joe's Inc., Corp.? whatever- need to look beyond their narrow parameters and see what an opportunity a new location could be not only for them, but also for the surrounding area. Just sayin. . .

If I Ever Leave This World Alive -Flogging Molly

I thought it appropriate to use a Los Angeles-based band, and one of my favorites, as the title for my latest posting.

Grad school is soon upon me, and I like to have everything nailed down as much as possible. So, I thought that I had a place all lined up. It was cute, private, and close to school.

Then I called the property manager to check on whether the owner was agreeable to my lease terms and he thought that I had found another place and found another tenant! This is despite my pronouncement that I loved it and that I would take it. In the City of Angels where you can't throw a Variety newspaper without hitting a waitress-actress hyperbole is just bole.

This is not something you want to hear during the middle of your work day. I raced home and immediately hit Craig's List.

I've lined up a few prospects in a variety of situations: a thirty-something married couple, a grad school film student, a professor, and a recent grad whose parents own the house- all different, but all potentially good fits.

I enjoy variety including my living situations. I've mainly lived with one another person, but in may different places: the ghetto of Chicago, a nicer section of Chicago, an island off Savannah, Georgia, the Central Valley of California, and even alone in the suburb of Chicago.

And I've met a variety of people living in these different places: a vegetarian interior designer, a Scientologist "chiropractor", a fencing enthusiast/part-time nudist, a sociologist/music moron twin (I can say that I'm her "sister"), a graphic designer whose never met a rainbow she doesn't love, a landscape designer/ VW enthusiast, etc.,

As unnerving as it is trying to find a new place in a strange city, I've enjoyed meeting all kinds of different people as prospective housemates, or even potential friends? :) "Cold calling" prospective housemates feels a little like going on a blind date- putting your best foot forward, inflating your good qualities, etc., But sometimes things work out! I'll keep you posted. Happy 4th y'all!

Grow a Pair!

Haha! Got you! Please, I consider myself to be vaguely tasteful and this blog's subject matter is not worthy of Maxim, but more along the lines of Better Homes and Gardens. Sortof.

This is merely a rumination on my childhood summers, prefaced by a sensationalist title to capture the reader's attention. It worked, didn't it?

Anyway, as I have mentioned ad nauseum, I have lived in a lot of places growing up. But one of the few consistent memories that I had was my mom's love of planting and gardening, wherever we lived. Sometimes the properties we lived on were not sympathetic to a garden, but they would accept bushes, flowers, shrubs, etc.,

My mom is not a girlie girl. She is happiest digging in the dirt, planting new, er, plants, plucking a homegrown tomato off the vine for dinner, or cutting a few roses and putting them in a bowl to spruce up the dining room table. She enjoys other activities, to be sure, but this is one of the major activities that I believe give her a defined sense of pleasure.

I, on the other hand, despite my aspirations, do not like to garden. Despite being a latent environmentalist, I could take or leave plants for my own personal use. I go into Home Depot's garden section and fall over from sticker shock. $42 for a tree?! I could buy shoes! I had a topiary in high school, as I was obsessed with them, but not enough to water it. Mom nursed that back to health.

I have lasting scars from the time I tried to weed our rose beds as the weeds were getting as tall as I. And I had heard our landlady express dismay over how her prized roses were being overrun by weeds. So, seeking an opportunity to do a good deed, I pulled and I yanked and I got two 3-inch gashes for my efforts.

I also attempted to grow a little basil from seeds purchased from the dollar section of Target, but they started to look a little sad. So, I fed them just a little Miracle-Gro and that annihilated them. No joke. It was there one day looking a little peckish and dead as a doornail the next.

I think it all stems back from my childhood. My mom tried her best to get us kids (my brother and I) involved in gardening. She even let us pick out our own seeds and plant them. But Wisconsin soil is fickle and while green beans, tomatoes, and zucchini tend to proliferate- slightly more Utopian horticultural dreams like watermelons, do not. I think I also tried to grow something else that did sprout but was not as interesting on my plate as it was on the shiny seed packet. Probably spaghetti squash or something like that.

But for those of you who do not have black thumbs I urge you to try a little garden, even an herb garden. Especially if you have kids. As we get farther and farther from nature I think more and more kids literally believe that food only comes from restaurants and the grocery store and that dirt's only purpose is to turn into mudpies. Show them where it really comes from. I remember the incredible pride I felt as a second grader when my alfalfa shoots sprouted in my milk carton. I wasn't terribly taken by the taste of my labors, but I loved that I had grown it all by myself. Well, cheek to jowl with my classmates' milk cartons in that windowsill. But my alfalfa was mine alone! I had raised it up from the darkness and into the light! Hyperbole? Probably. But success? You bet your sweet bippie.

As my fresh cilantro becomes a weekly habit at 30 cents a week I am going to grow my own cilantro and try that basil again. Maybe even a little rosemary in honor of my grandma? I've already got the OK from my new property manager!

To paraphrase circa 1980's Sesame Street won't you come out and (grow something) with me?

GQ put out a very informative article in their May 2009 issue called, "Grow Your Own: a Man's Introduction to Gardening" Unfortunately, they did not provide a hyperlink to the article. So if you want to read it, leave me a comment and I'll send you a PDF or there's always ebay- Zac Efron is on the cover if that's any additional incentive. :) Happy summer y'all!

Also, I don't know him from Adam, but a Mr. Colin McCrate, founder of Seattle Urban Farm Company was mentioned in the article. Here is a link to their blog, http://sustainableseattle.blogspot.com/2009/04/seattles-colin-mccrate-in-may-gq.html