Tiny Apartment Is Made With 25,000 Ping-Pong Balls
Daniel Arsham’s apartment in Brooklyn is the only pint-sized place we’ve ever wanted to live in. It’s a mere 90 square feet -- that’s about big enough to fit a toothbrush -- but the decor’s so sleek and minimal, we’d trade in our own sardine can in a heartbeat.
The apartment’s a loft attached to the offices of Snarkitecture, the cool-kid architecture firm where Arsham is a partner, and it’s basically just a room that serves two functions: sleeping and dressing. But oh, what a room it is.
The walls look like great big, pixelated screens that fade from gray to white as you approach the ceiling. On closer inspection, the pixels are actually ping-pong balls -- a whopping 25,000 of ‘em. We half expect someone to come out and call a Powerball winner.
The rest of the place is a study in simplicity. Arsham’s got a bed with some built-in shelves and a dresser, where he keeps a few clothes. To enter the loft, he climbs a ladder through the office’s employee bathroom.
The apartment -- which Snarkitecture designed -- was built in two months for less than $100 a square foot. That’s about $50 cheaper than your average loft. Impressive. Then again, by the looks of it, all they really had to do was shop at the local sporting goods store.
Today marks my Maggie-girl's 7th birthday! She was born on 2/1/04 and I adopted her just 10 weeks later on Easter weekend in April 2004. She was just 4.9 pounds and a ball of naughty energy! She tested every single last ounce of my patience for about 3 years, but I loved her to pieces, so it didn't matter.
In those early days, she chewed through cords, ate woodwork, went potty in her crate (and everywhere else), pooped in my shoe (I discovered this when I put my bare foot into the shoe.....with a toe ring on), ate post-its, ate matchbooks, dug in the dirt in plants, chewed on my glasses, destroyed every single toy she was given and the list goes on and on. Really, how much damage could a tiny little dog do??? Oh, she was on a mission to show me.
Here is the evidence that she ate a pack of gum while I was in the shower (and the pack of gum was in a zipped up purse!)....
Here we are in Toledo with the Wienermobile!
But on the flip side, she has been my friend, my rock, my companion, my travel buddy, my comfort and the only thing that was consistent in my life at times. Maggie was just 10 months old when my ex left and I moved the two of us up to Toledo to start a new life. She was also the ONLY familiar non-new thing when I moved to Texas (new state, new job, new house, new friends, etc.). Wow - what a blessing she was to come home to every day!
And now that we welcomed Owen into our little family, she has really stepped up and been a great 'big sister' to him and taught him how we do things. She is 'the mature one' - never thought I would say that! HA!
At any rate, today I wish my sweet Maggie a very happy birthday - and MANY more!
I found a FANTASTIC new show on The History Channel recently - "Decoded" with Brad Meltzer. It's a must-see for other history geeks like me! Here is the description of the show from The History Channel's website:
What if the history you knew was only half the story? Brad Meltzer's Decoded investigates the other half: the secret history of the symbols and codes that surround us everyday. Best-selling author Brad Meltzer has been writing novels for more than a decade. He has studied and written about some of the most revered institutions and documents in human history, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the Presidency, the Secret Service, Wall Street and the Bible. Brad has assembled a team to investigate the countless clues and theories uncovered through his years of research, but unexplored until now. From the dollar bill to the first Presidential Codes, the hidden messages of the Statue of Liberty and the ciphers protecting the location of lost Confederate gold, the team uncovers the truth behind history's most provocative secrets.
Each episode is one hour and he has his team of experts go out and investigate different mysteries from history. The experts are: an engineer, a lawyer and a professor.
Some of the topics they have investigated have been: the Lincoln assassination, secrets of the Statue of Liberty, some lost Confederate gold buried in the south, Secret Societies, the White House, and Secret Presidential Codes. I find it absolutely FASCINATING and the show is VERY well done!
I think I am going to read Brad Meltzer's novels too, because if they are anything like the show, I'm IN!
I am thankful for my Dad this week. I know I have probably posted this picture on my blog many times, but I don't care because it's my favorite. My Dad wasn't a super lovey dovey kind of guy all the time....I would even describe him as a guy's guy in some ways. But he did tell us he loved us and he did give GREAT bear hugs.
Today I am thankful for the 25 years that God gave me with him. I wish I had appreciated him more, asked for more advice, thanked him more, hugged him more and called him more.....but I cannot change those things. What I CAN do is honor him by being a daughter that he would be proud of. He provided for us and made sacrifices so that we would have a comfortable, stable and happy life. That's how he showed his love. Oh, and those great bear hugs too. :)
It's that time again - the anniversary of my Dad's death. Every year it gets a little easier, but it's still a sad reminder of a devastating day in my family's life. Eight years ago this morning, Dad passed out of this world and into the next. We are the ones that are sad - I hope he is fishing on a huge lake in Heaven, exactly where he would want to be.
On a day-to-day basis, I obviously have learned to live without a Dad, but when I had my car accident several months ago, I really missed him and wanted to pick up the phone and call him and ask him what to do. The girl in the car that hit me immediately called her Dad and he arrived in minutes to the scene of the accident. He knew what to do, comforted her, made decisions on her behalf since he was knowledgeable about cars, and drove her home. It made me really lonely for my Dad and that feeling of security and safety that only a Dad can provide. When I got home, I called my Mom and burst into tears and ended up crying for 2 hours! It surprised me how emotional I got over a car accident, but I guess it's in times like that that I really realize that he's gone and not around to be that comforter. What I wouldn't have given for a "Dad hug" on that night.......
I hope he's at peace and proud of me as I navigate life without a Dad. I wish he was here to give me advice on how to maintain my house, my car and my investments! I wish I could hug him and thank him for all he did to set me up for success in this world. I'm proud to call him Dad!
Last Thursday, I took myself on a date! It was a great night and I might make it a tradition. I went to Cheddar's for dinner (my favorite place) and then headed to Arlington Music Hall in the historic old downtown part of Arlington (about 7 miles or so from where I live).
I have been to see both the Dallas Symphony and the Fort Worth Symphony in both of their grand facilities. The performances were fantastic and beautiful and grand. But there's just something about going to a smaller production that is quaint and charming.
Here's the orchestra starting to set up and get tuned.
The venue is definitely smaller and historic. Oh, and I'm the youngest one there by like 40 years. I have done this solo date night one other time (in December for their Christmas concert) and now I think I might make it my monthly tradition!
Here's the conductor and musicians in action!
I love this shot - I found it on the internet and had to include it.....
The building is restored, although I don't know all of the history.
And this is the view when it's empty. I love love love that pretty red curtain!!
For me, there's just something liberating about taking yourself out on a date and not caring what anyone thinks of you. I loved my night at the mini symphony!
Never take what you have for granted, because it could be what someone else is not capable of having. ~Unknown
AMEN! I feel like I want to say this to people all the time.....and at the same time, I am guilty of doing this very thing. UGH. Don't you just cringe when you are in a conversation with a bunch of women and one of them says something like "My husband and I just LOOK at each other and we're pregnant - it was so EASY!" when you know that someone else in the group is DYING to get pregnant and is just heartbroken with fertility problems? You know that Woman #1 didn't mean to be rude or hurt someone else's feelings. But it happens all the time - we ALL take things in our lives for granted.
This week especially, I am feeling the guilt of taking my Dad for granted and now he's been gone for 8 years. All the things I want to say to him or ask him or bounce off him..........ugh. I know I definitely took him for granted for my whole life, just assuming in my perfect little world that Dads live forever. Well, I can say for SURE that they don't and that you don't always get warning (I didn't). So go hug your Dad, appreciate your blessings and don't take a single thing for granted!
Since I love lists so much, I am going to do more on my blog. I'm sure it will make for interesting reading down the road when I look back at what my "Top" lists were made up of!
Today's list is my Top 10 Favorite Cities that I have visited (in no particular order):
Today I am thankful that I am able to live in a place where there are endless things to do, see and explore. Although I also believe that wherever you live, there are things to explore and places you haven't seen yet. Most people just don't do their homework and find them!
I am so thankful that I have a curious spirit and that I find such joy in experiencing the world with a more adventurous attitude - more so now than any other time in my life and I feel that trend is only growing. There is so much world to see - whether it's right out your back door or halfway around the world!
I thought this article was FASCINATING, so I'm sharing it - I feel OLD just reading it!
Things Babies Born in 2011 Will Never Know by Stacy Johnson Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Huffington Post recently put up a story called You're Out: 20 Things That Became Obsolete This Decade. It's a great retrospective on the technology leaps we've made since the new century began, and it got me thinking about the difference today's technology will make in the lives of tomorrow's kids.
I've used some of their ideas and added some of my own to make the list below: Do you think kids born in 2011 will recognize any of the following?
Video tape: Starting this year, the news stories we produce here at Money Talks have all been shot, edited, and distributed to TV stations without ever being on any kind of tape. Not only that, the tape-less broadcast camera we use today offers much higher quality than anything that could have been imagined 10 years ago -- and cost less than the lens on the camera we were using previously.
Travel agents: While not dead today, this profession is one of many that's been decimated by the Internet. When it's time for their honeymoon, will those born in 2011 be able to find one?
The separation of work and home: When you're carrying an email-equipped computer in your pocket, it's not just your friends who can find you -- so can your boss. For kids born this year, the wall between office and home will be blurry indeed.
Books, magazines, and newspapers: Like video tape, words written on dead trees are on their way out. Sure, there may be books -- but for those born today, stores that exist solely to sell them will be as numerous as record stores are now.
Movie rental stores: You actually got in your car and drove someplace just to rent a movie?
Watches: Maybe as quaint jewelry, but the correct time is on your smartphone, which is pretty much always in your hand.
Paper maps: At one time these were available free at every gas station. They're practically obsolete today, and the next generation will probably have to visit a museum to find one.
Wired phones: Why would you pay $35 every month to have a phone that plugs into a wall? For those born today, this will be a silly concept.
Long distance: Thanks to the Internet, the days of paying more to talk to somebody in the next city, state, or even country are limited.
Newspaper classifieds: The days are gone when you have to buy a bunch of newsprint just to see what's for sale.
Dial-up Internet: While not everyone is on broadband, it won't be long before dial-up Internet goes the way of the plug-in phone.
Encyclopedias: Imagine a time when you had to buy expensive books that were outdated before the ink was dry. This will be a nonsense term for babies born today.
Forgotten friends: Remember when an old friend would bring up someone you went to high school with, and you'd say, "Oh yeah, I forgot about them!" The next generation will automatically be in touch with everyone they've ever known even slightly via Facebook.
Forgotten anything else: Kids born this year will never know what it was like to stand in a bar and incessantly argue the unknowable. Today the world's collective knowledge is on the computer in your pocket or purse. And since you have it with you at all times, why bother remembering anything?
The evening news: The news is on 24/7. And if you're not home to watch it, that's OK -- it's on the smartphone in your pocket.
CDs: First records, then 8-track, then cassette, then CDs -- replacing your music collection used to be an expensive pastime. Now it's cheap(er) and as close as the nearest Internet connection.
Film cameras: For the purist, perhaps, but for kids born today, the word "film" will mean nothing. In fact, even digital cameras -- both video and still -- are in danger of extinction as our pocket computers take over that function too.
Yellow and White Pages: Why in the world would you need a 10-pound book just to find someone?
Catalogs: There's no need to send me a book in the mail when I can see everything you have for sale anywhere, anytime. If you want to remind me to look at it, send me an email.
Fax machines: Can you say "scan," ".pdf" and "email?"
One picture to a frame: Such a waste of wall/counter/desk space to have a separate frame around each picture. Eight gigabytes of pictures and/or video in a digital frame encompassing every person you've ever met and everything you've ever done -- now, that's efficient. Especially compared to what we used to do: put our friends and relatives together in a room and force them to watch what we called a "slide show" or "home movies."
Wires: Wires connecting phones to walls? Wires connecting computers, TVs, stereos, and other electronics to each other? Wires connecting computers to the Internet? To kids born in 2011, that will make as much sense as an electric car trailing an extension cord.
Hand-written letters: For that matter, hand-written anything. When was the last time you wrote cursive? In fact, do you even know what the word "cursive" means? Kids born in 2011 won't -- but they'll put you to shame on a tiny keyboard.
Talking to one person at a time: Remember when it was rude to be with one person while talking to another on the phone? Kids born today will just assume that you're supposed to use texting to maintain contact with five or six other people while pretending to pay attention to the person you happen to be physically next to.
Retirement plans: Yes, Johnny, there was a time when all you had to do was work at the same place for 20 years and they'd send you a check every month for as long as you lived. In fact, some companies would even pay your medical bills, too!
Mail: What's left when you take the mail you receive today, then subtract the bills you could be paying online, the checks you could be having direct-deposited, and the junk mail you could be receiving as junk email? Answer: A bloated bureaucracy that loses billions of taxpayer dollars annually.
Commercials on TV: They're terrifically expensive, easily avoided with DVRs, and inefficiently target mass audiences. Unless somebody comes up with a way to force you to watch them -- as with video on the Internet -- who's going to pay for them?
Commercial music radio: Smartphones with music-streaming programs like Pandora are a better solution that doesn't include ads screaming between every song.
Hiding: Not long ago, if you didn't answer your home phone, that was that -- nobody knew if you were alive or dead, much less where you might be. Now your phone is not only in your pocket, it can potentially tell everyone -- including advertisers -- exactly where you are.
Today's post is #2 of 2 at DFW Gun Range. I love this picture - it's the main entrance - BULLSEYE!
There was a waiting line to get a lane to shoot from - LOTS and LOTS of shooting that day!
My partner in crime decided that we needed to shoot a machine gun - an Uzi! So he rented the one that they had and the staff member came over and taught us how to hold and use it. Here she is! Isn't it AWESOME?!
The staff guy was required to load, unload and be there when we were firing it. And in the picture above, you can see that he bolted the gun to the lane enclosure too. Safety first with machine guns, huh??
Here's me getting ready to fire - lots of prep to get the gun in the right position. The guy who helped us was great - he's "supervising" me! (PS - I need supervising!)
Now I'm aiming........
And now I'm firing a machine gun at a target of Osama Bin Laden!!!
Here's Lee firing the same Uzi....
This is our target when we were done with the machine gun - I don't think Osama would've gotten out alive. :)
I put the used targets up in my garage - it's my new "theft deterrent system" in the garage. If someone breaks in during the night through the garage, maybe they will think twice about coming in the house!!
About a week ago, I went to DFW Gun Range in Dallas to shoot guns. This would be my second time at a gun range and I was way excited. I went with a friend who has a pistol of his own and I planned to aim and fire away!
Here are all of the guns you can rent.......
This is what the 'lanes' look like at this place (a different place than last summer when Laura and I took that gun class at Elm Fork Shooting Range). You can set your target close to you or very far away - there is a little remote control button in each lane so you can move your paper target.
Here is Lee shooting his 357!
And this is the 'recycling bin' of brass!
It was a busy day at the gun range (coincidentally we were there only hours after the Tucson shooting - creepy).
This is what the guy next to us was shooting - yikes!
Here's me shooting the 357 - I had pretty good aim that day!
Here's a look down the 'hallway' of 'lanes' - I don't know the proper terminology yet.....
This is the 357 pistol that we were shooting.
Seriously - a VERY busy day - look at all of those casings!!!
