Working long, dedicated hours is not unique to architects.  I'm sure everyone feels they've let their finish-line-tunnel-vision get the best of them from time to time.  However, when I sent this doodle to my husband, he reminded me I missed a step...

How could I forget the Bar?  Not only a place to hide out, what architect hasn't dreamed of designing and then operating their own bar?  I blame college.  When Studio got overwhelming, we'd head to Louise's.  Good times...now I want a schooner of Boulevard Wheat!

In the past year, Bart and I have had our eyes open for a building to purchase to house his shop, office, as well as a small gallery and preferably a tenant space to rent.  We've spent countless hours going up and down our neighborhood in Oak Cliff [because who wouldn't want to bike to work]  as well as all throughout the Dallas Design District and neighboring Riverfront area.  No solid luck so far but it'll happen.  One day.  Even if we must win the Lottery first.

An unexpected side effect of the search is that I've come to love the nondescript warehouses along Irving Boulevard.  What used to be shabby, rundown buildings to me, I now see in a new light:  well designed, functional, beautifully executed buildings of simple means.

From the research I've done, the large majority of these buildings were built in the 1950s.  Most have brick facades trimmed with stone.  Today's developer would simply utilize tilt wall construction or simply expansive metal buildings as an inexpensive means to an end.  Unfortunate, isn't it?

Hank joined Bart at the table as he was going through some house plans for bidding.

Hank said, "Daddy, this drawing looks like a road."

"Actually, these are house plans," Bart replied. "See, it's a drawing of a house but you're looking down as if you were Jesus."

Now, doesn't that sum up every architect's dream....'as if you we're Jesus'?