...about a transplant

just a couple scenes...
and definitely not finished.

(sorry for the crappy quality)

mike's mom sent him thin mints.

this is what happens when mike gets thin mints >





i'm glad he shared.
thanks, barb!

obey....please.

Shepard Fairey,
the graphic propaganda engineer, has created a poster for the Barak Obama campaign. Not only do you get a limited-edition, hand numbered, screen printed gem dripping with the aura of a revolution; your 70 greenbacks contribute directly to the Obama campaign.

I have officially boarded the bandwagon. I hope you do too.

purchase a poster here.

If you're on a tight budget, you can print these lil guys and post them around your hood >
progress poster

tight

Printemps à Paris

The trees are starting to show signs of a seasonal shift, but we are all still waiting on the weather to catch up.

Tour de Perret

Palais d'Iéna






Perret's office where he and Corb hungout (now a kitchen store)


Notre-Dame du Raincy

Frozen Frites

Paris, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down

ROSECRANS BALDWIN on Paris:

"No one hears you when you say you’re sick of Paris. Sick of Paris: three words that make sense to people separately, but not in sequence. And they’re right—what am I talking about? What about champagne for sale in gas stations? And aisles dedicated to yogurt in grocery stores? And grocery stores that only sell frozen food of such high quality that, when reheated, it beats most bistro meals? And my boss and his thousand Lacoste shirts in every color? And all the gossip and insights: how French men go to pieces when they’re dumped; how Parisian girls won’t sleep with you unless you have permanent residency papers. And the white morning sunshine in Place de la Concorde, and its slow wheel of drivers, and me on my bike. And homeless men spreading out a picnic on a Metro platform. And Techtonik kids."

>> TAKE A BREAK <<

(also today, props to Css for his kind words and impeccable timing)

GAME ON!

RSA_PARIS


RSA_HOUSTON

seriously though...

class photos taken by mike binick the day after our mid-term review.

Congrats to the home crew!

Rice University's very own Quyen Ma, Viktor Ramos, Peter Stanley, and Matthew Crnkovich won the China Lab Charrette!

my bedroom came with a bookcase/place and a doll collection...

"You and the Hornets are Great"

< charlotte hornets on the paris metro...RESPECT.

(apologies...line 14 is a bit shaky for no flash.)




...which reminds me of those who deserve extree respect for extree worn-in versions!

Macarrons

(the official french version for one particular bay area impostor*)
*correction: ...bay area macaroon expert.

Special Delivery

sweet birthday drawing from my niece anna. check out her signature...she's already doing something cool with her palindromic name and mirroring the second half. A+++

thanks anna banana!

Sunset on Spring Break

Too short :(.
After 3 days of skiing, Justin and I decided it might be time to take a shower...at least before we get on the train back home, to Paris.


we were ripe. my hair hurt.

View from the top

Video from the Aiguille du Midi:


Mont Blanc (15,774 ft) behind us:

Ski Day Three > Vallée Blanche

We saved the best for last. At 8:45 am we met our guide, Bernard, who equipped us with harnesses and avalanche receivers. We loaded the Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi and 20 minutes later were 2,800 meters higher.

The Vallée Blanche starts at 3842 meters (12,602 ft) on the Aiguille du Midi. Bernard roped our six person team together and we carefully made our way down a narrow catwalk with a 40 degree drop off one side for quick access to the Chamonix valley floor (we only had to negotiate a drop off on one side as Bernard took us on the lower route - see pic). We strapped our skis on atop an icy knoll. Bernard started the descent, looked back at us and said, "Stay to the left; there is a crevasse to the right." And with that, each of us peeled off, one by one.




(Bernard was born and raised in Chamonix. He also likes to yodel in the valley flats...and I love him for that.)

The Vallée Blanche run is over 10 miles long. Halfway, we stopped at the Refuge du Requin for a break before dropping into the breathtaking Mer de Glace glacier.




the little black dots to the right of the glacier are skiers!


again...the string of black dots at the base of the glacier is another group of skiers. Just on the other side of the peaks to the left is Italy. Groups from Courmayeur access the Vallee from that side.


Bernard is also an amateur photographer.


(luckily, not used.)

Ski Day Two > Brévent + Flégère

Blue Bird Flégère:

...looking towards Les Grandes Montets.



We had no idea that we had just skied passed a heli landing pad until this lil yellow guy suprised us. When you buy a lift pass, they ask you if you'd like insurance...we said yes, but luckily we didn't have to get taken back to the valley this way. Beside the pad you can see the avalanche status flag: "moderate" today. In the background you can see the Aiguille du Midi. The ridge line to the left of it leads to the infamous Vallee Blanche.

***

Connected to Flegere via tram is Brevent. Another tram takes you up to 2525 meters (over 8,000 ft) rewarding you with a 360 degree view of the Alps and access to our favorite pitch of the day, the Charles Bozon.







My rentals were pink boots with glitter buckles and skis with angel wings....go figure.

Local Flavor

v

Ski Day One > Les Grandes Montets

Wednesday we woke to snow showers and headed to Les Grandes Montets. Unfortunately, due to high winds, the tram to the very top was closed. Regardless, we had more than enough to ski. Towards the end of the day, we followed a group off piste through almost a foot of fresh powder before having to hike our way a few hundred yards back up to the nearest lift.

night train to CHAMONIX

TONIGHT!!!! updates to follow next weekend!
all snow dances...full speed ahead, svp.

day at the pomp