Pre-uking Days 1994-95

http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/SFMOMA.html

I was out in the old work shed... where I used to do so evening work when I drew by hand and I found this photo. It shows two of my old projects in one photo. I worked for Romak Iron Works as a project manager and one of my most pretigious projects was the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It was designed by the Italian Architect Mario Botta.

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I also has an old work acquantance that was in a pinch because his only draftsman had to go to the Philippines to see his dying mother. He asked me to draw the black ribbed sinking ship sculpture. That was my first "ship" that I ever drew. It is now covered with green see-thru glass and it is just across the street from the entrance to the SF MOMA.

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I have another photo of a circular stairway that was inside the Anne Darling store at Union Square also in San Francisco. This photo is more indicative of what my field work environments looked like... (more later)

Ukulele Internet Radio - UKEFARM

Where can you hear Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Janet Seidel, Bruce Shimabukuro, Boulder Accoustic Society, Dan Soybean Sawyer, Bill Tapia, Lil' Rev., Victoria Vox, Craig Robertson, the Langley Ukulele Ensemble, Ukulele Eck and the Fabulous Lacklusters (Girl from Oklahoma), Clif, Gerald Ross, Janet Klein, James Hill, Jim Beloff, Jake Shimabukuro, Brook Adams, Kimo Hussey, Lyle Ritz and our local favorite: Steven Strauss?

I have my own business and work from my home. It's a very short walk to my office where I work as a Structural Steel and Miscellaneous Metals draftsman. What is that? Whenever I fill out applications they never know where to put me. Sometimes I'll be in Construction and others I'm an Architect. I have a B.S. in mathematics and a minor in statistics. I have worked in the steel industry as a draftsman, chief draftsman, estimator, project manager, senior project manager. But after 9 years, I was layed-off, with many others about 6 years ago, and decided it was time to give it a go on my own.

I miss working as a project manager on such projects as: S.F. Museum of Modern Art, Yerba Buena Gardens Children's Center on top of Moscone Center, No. Concord Martinez BART Station, West Pittburg BART Station, St. Mary's College Performing Arts Theater, and several other lesser known projects. I worked for Romak Iron Works during this time and they treated me exceptionally well while I was there.

Well, what I actually do is study Architectural, Structural, and Landscape design drawings and make erection and fabrication drawings for a few select Bay Area fabricators. I draw beams, columns, stairs, handrails, gates, glass handrails with brass handrail caps, ladders, and a boat? Kind of a boat, there is a black iron sculpture across the street from the SF MOMA that is clad with green glass that I drew.

Oh, I feel like Garrison Keillor, starting with a point in mind and making a complete tale before getting to the point... while I work sometimes I like to have some smooth ukulele music in the background. So I go to http://www.live365.com/ and play my favorite station "Ukefarm Radio"

It's really fun to hear those ukulele players that I've had the opportunity to meet at Mike DaSilva's studio or at the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz. Steven Strauss, who is the musical conscience, of our Berkeley Ukulele Club has a few songs from his excellent UkeBox album so I always get a kick when I hear his unique and sweet ukulele playing.