The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas reminds me of some of my favorite memories growing up. The Dallas Convention center hosted the largest cheer competition in the country. Cheer has always been a big part of my life so I spent many weekends here. The maximization of space at the convention center is incredible and is easily accessible to all. It has one large arena and several other performance halls. It is set up as a long strip so it is easy to find the ballroom you are looking for. The large glass windows have always been something that I remember about the venue from all of my competitions there.

As I mentioned on my third blog, Italy was a trip of a lifetime. And as I also mentioned in a previous blog that by being catholic and getting to visit buildings with catholic significance I feel closer to my faith, visiting the Vatican was breath taking. I always grew up hearing my family members and relatives tell me stories of when they visited Italy and some saw the Pope and the Vatican and I thought that was so cool. I never thought I would get the chance to do so myself! On my study abroad trip we had a choice to go see the Pope give a blessing or to go to the catacombs. As cool as the Catacombs seemed I wanted to live out one of my bucket list goals and see the Pope. The Vatican itself gives such a presence of power but in a good way. Even though it was massive and very luxurious looking, it made me personally feel at home, welcomed, and like there was truly something holy about the place. Which, obviously there is but I felt it too. Walking through seeing the perfectness and the story telling of the Bible everywhere really brought everything to life. When I went to the blessing it was raining outside and thousands of people were gathered outside to see the Pope come out onto the balcony to speak and give the blessing. The building of the Vatican proves itself to b e holy, respected, a place to gather, a place to worship, a place to be welcomed, and a place of perfection. Hearing the Pope and seeing him come out from the building was so un real. The emotion that architecture is able to bring to people is quite amazing. Because of its structure and presence people of all religions and cultures are intrigued by it and respect it. I think it was overall one of the best experiences of my life and made me feel so connected.  This picture is from the inside when walking through surrounded by art and windows with such brightness and peace. It was so amazing everywhere I looked. (I took this picture myself!)

The good ole liquor store a college mans best friend. After a long school week I love to drive over to Classen Blvd. and grab a couple of bottles of wine and liquor for the weekend. My weekends start on Thursdays by the way. Norman Discount has a very chill environment and the staff knows about their liquor. it is always fun to talk with them about different whiskeys and which one I should try next. I am a huge wine guy during the week though something to take the edge off each day. Heck, I am sipping on some wine right now. the key to success though is to sip not drink and that way you don’t get drunk and you can make it to class the next day. I enjoy going to this liquor store and going to miss this little place on Classen Blvd. Not to mention it is right next to Slim Chickens which is always a plus.

Santikos Palladium is a massive theatre in San Antonio Texas. It exists as a for-profit company that gives back to non-profits in San Antonio such as donations, sponsorships, grants, and overall benefits the lives of the whole community. Walking into this theatre is something you can’t even describe. Not only are there movie rooms but there is also a dining area, a bar, a gelato stand, a bowling alley, and an arcade. Going to the movies is a childhood memory that I’ll forever cherish. It was a routine every Friday to go see a film even before my stepmom came into my life and it was just me and my dad. My dad and I agreed that Santikos was the best theatre we ever started going to. It was the first time I ever walked into a building and was taken back by how it was built. I found myself questioning how they made certain pieces fit the way they did. The outside gave off very greek style vibes and the inside had so many different designs that complimented each other so appeasingly. This building is the one place I can not wait to go with my dad when we visit home. It brings back so many good memories.

I understand that it is particularly cliche to blog about my own home. However, I am fascinated with its history relative to my family. My home located in the Southside of Fort Worth was designed and built by my grandfather in the early-1960s. The home is a red brick ranch style home with an expansive back yard and looming oak trees. My family moved from Colorado in 2004 and we bought the property from my grandparents as they were looking to downsize. The house was then gutted and redesigned from the studs up by my parents. It’s just a fascinating scenario where many years were both spent in the original home as well as the redesigned version. I have many fond memories relative to both. Ironically, I spent all of my years in Texas in the same room that my mother grew up in. Likewise, my mother has lived at the same Briarhaven Road address for the majority of her life. I enjoy the idea of homes being passed down through family and am grateful to be a recipient of that process.

Monnet Hall is located on the North Oval, right next to the Union. It was a building that took me a year to go explore, but when I finally got a job at the Western History Collection I was able to see places where the general public is not allowed to enter. The entire building was built in two sections and one is older than the other. Unfortunately, it is not ADA Compliant because there is no elevator on the front end of the building, which is the half where the library lives. The library is incredibly nice and is home to so many books both on the first level and the second level. There, it is quiet but not as quiet as the Great Reading Room in Bizzell Memorial Library. My least favorite parts of this building are the stacks where all the manuscripts live and the very bottom floor. I would bet this building is haunted because there is a kitchen in the basement that doesn’t work and many of the workers would say how creepy noises come from it. There is also a second basement in the one of the rooms in the basement that has a tunnel that no one is allowed into. The vibes are incredibly eerie in that building, but I loved working there. I get scared easily so anytime I would have to pull manuscripts I would either sing loudly or put headphones in.

Sigma Chi home of the white cross, this is where I meet some of my closest friends today. It was a huge hangout for us as Freshman and distracted me from school if I am being honest. I learned a lot about myself and how to be a young man. I was a U-Sing Director two years ago and we made it to Holmberg for the first time in 9 years. No one thought we had a chance; but through my leadership we proved to  the University and Greek life that we belong at Holmberg Hall as well. I am junior now and not really involved anymore, but I have many great memories from this house and all of my brothers. I think everyone should join some kind of club or greek life while in college it can really make a diffrence.

The Pi Beta Phi house will always be home to some of my fondest memories. Getting to live with 80 of my closest friends is an experience I will never forget. The wrap around porch and the use of columns give the house a southern look. I really liked the large windows in every room and the amount of sunlight they let in to allow for natural lighting. The Pi Phi house has been remodeled on the inside several times but has always maintained it’s charming exterior. The addition of a new wing on the left side of the house has allowed the house to grow while still mimicking the southern architecture of the original house.

This post is displaying the Bizzell Memorial Library here on our campus. This is a building that has a very unique architectural design and is used by so many people each and every day. It was built in 1929 and has continued to top charts on how architectural significant it is. I think it is amazing how many stories and different areas there are inside this building that people get to go to and study. This library was originally built to have a Cherokee architecture design and serene study areas for the students. The outside of the building has a very gothic look with lots of windows and pointy features. I chose this building because of the historical significance it has had on the campus and in my life. I go there all the time to study and get homework done.

This is my house in Tulsa, Oklahoma. My house is located in Midtown Tulsa. This place and building mean a lot to me, especially since it is the building in which I grew up in most of my life. My home in Tulsa has and still does have a positive impact on me. During springtime the house is virtually almost covered by trees and vegetation, and the backyard is 1 1/2 acres. So, there was so much room for me to run around and it also had a basketball court. In the far back, there was a rock water fountain that was almost like a stream. I spent a lot of time outside in the backyard and I made a ton of memories being back there. The back yard also has a pool, which I nearly spent every day in the summer there swimming as a kid. A funny story about my house is that when we first moved in, my whole family (6 of us) moved into the pool house while the house was under some remodeling.  After everything was done, we received an anonymous letter in our mailbox saying that our house looks like Bass Pro! Amongst other things, they also said. However, my family didn’t take any offense to it since we all love it and we love how it looks like a cabin. My family is very much into the outdoors and country.