October 2008 Archives

Another busy busy week. Many posts to post and catch up on… Here’s an observation authored by our very own Patrick…

Roadwork. The monster lurking in the shadows of the daily commute,
ready stop the unsuspecting driver (rocking out to his favorite morning
radio show) dead in his tracks. It seems that whomever is in charge
delegating these horrible acts of humanity can see inside your mind–knows the route that you intend to travel …and then–just like that
there is a sudden highway emergency that needs to be taken care
of…IMMEDIATELY!

Working out in Bridgehampton,  I’ve witnessed firsthand an array of things that slow me down and occasionally delay my arrival at Breakwater Design. My personal favorite was when the brilliant town
officials (whom we love) decided to make CR-39 a 4 lane road and at the same
time have LIPA bury lines on the “back roads” so that we, commuters to the East End, had no where
to go — Great idea!

But its not just here on our little piece of the Empire
state, its everywhere! Just this past weekend I was traveling to my own
get-a-way in the mountains of upstate New York, and on RT-17,  which is
a huge part of my trip (roughly 63.4 miles) there was road work in 5
different locations–is that really necessary?

What can one do? Get
mad? Blog about it? Yell at people? It isn’t the worker’s fault. That one worker holding the
infamous “SLOW” sign completely aware of the infuriated commuters as they
pass him one by one. He knows that every single one of them despises him
and everything he stands for? How do you think that makes him feel
about himself? I bet he goes home a cries every night, how fair is that?

Then again, maybe he really doesn’t care.

I guess all I’m really trying accomplish here…is, HEY, folks over at Road Work Enterprises–give me a break, stop
poking around in my head to see where I’m going. There are plenty of
people going nowhere fast that wouldn’t mind another detour.
I’m busy. Let me keep my foot on the gas.

We have started many posts about Facebook and then deleted them… it’s actually a very touchy subject, but one that we feel deserves to be recognized. Firstly, social networking sites are good things–Most any kind of networking is positive and functional. But they do not come without abusers.

We have recently noticed that there seems to be some sort of surge with Facebook “Friending”–people signing up left and right… which not only proves that people are not working at thier desks, but also leads to the purpose of this post… A few observations of bizarre behaviors and uncomfortable situations…(in no particular order)

• There is a Facebook etiquitte that seems to require people to agree to “Friend” invites.. For example: One indivdual (that many hold at a distance)…  signed up recently and within a few hours contacted several hundred people that he 1) Once went to school with 2) Is related to 3) Once dated 4) Once dated a friend of 5) Once dated a relative of 6) Once met through a former friend 7) Once met through a current friend Once worked with. Some–not knowing who he was, and Most–knowing exactly who he is and not liking him… agreed to be his friend and opened up their Facebook lives to him. Now he knows.
• Ex’s contacting ex’s and their friends to become “Friends”. We just think this is odd.
• Asking to “Friend” someone you went to nursery school with, but haven’t talked to since–without a “Hey how are you?, We went to nursery school together”… 
• Asking to “Friend” someone you went to nursery school with, but haven’t talked to since–The brain morphs you know… they could be insane.
• Putting your phone number up there … Not knowing that the person you just “Friended” from Nursery School is psychotic.
• That girl you knew in college that acted like she didn’t know you when you ran into her on the street in New Orleans in 2000–she now wants to “Friend” you… 

We just want people to behave.

Soup Wars. 

Clever attacks and clean designs… misleading, however–Everyone knows that canned soups suck.

A favorite line from a favorite John Cusak timeless…. but I think we all are.

I have been told since the beginning of my time that I am not good with the numbers. And although, as a graphic designer, I work with measurements and equations on a daily basis… The understanding of THE MARKET seems to escape me. Admittedly, I flunked out of economics, but I didn’t really try to GET IT. I took more design studies to suffice and had a grand ol’ time.

Now I am paying the price… most of what is going on is wah-wah to me and as a small biz owner, that is BAD. As we happily hum along (singing our Breakwater song), the evil cloud of NOT GETTING IT has not yet found our little (signless) hiding place… we will take cover, and hum a little lower…

More on the World’s tallest building.

…”There is nothing like it in Dubai”, His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said at the launch…. Read More Here

We mentioned previously that Patrick is kickin’ it in the Caribbean this week–hence our missing posts… But thanks to those that were worried about us. We miss him terribly (if you are reading, please come back). Here are a few things that we wanted to talk about this week so far, but couldn’t because we have been trying to keep up with the rapid speed talents of our missing friend.

• Our Client, Araiys Design, is backing the Lobster Inn/Condominium conversion…. trapped by CR39 is a scary thought. 
• Dubai or Abu Dhabi, what’s your preference?
• Even Martha gets fungus…
• Really cool carafes…
• AND, on a personal note, if we lived near, I might stalk the writer of Suburban Bliss….

There’s too much negativity in the world this week, so here’s a personal observation…

Every once in a while my Grandma sneaks into my subconscious. For example.. this morning our son Will woke up (after a full night’s rest, thank you) at 5am. As I began to doze off during the morning bottle–there she was “You aarrhhh Going to MISS YOUR TRAIN”. Okay, I’m up now.

There have been other occasions, I have to say, on an almost daily basis — ironing linen pants, thinking of her advice on keeping them wrinkle-free… “Just don’t sit down…what would you need to sit for (fo-ahh)”… Cleaning the tiles while showering–regardless of inhaled toxins, it does save time if you think about it… And for those who have been to my house and think I’m strange… Coffee will taste better if you store the grounds in the freezer.