PLP... in the Game!
So this was a race weekend. Friday night Hermen was able to come with me and Team PLP (Parking Lot Performance) ran all over the place on Friday night. We each got about 8 runs around the course and it was sweet! Check out the pics:

Ready and set for the first run of the weekend.

Lined up and ready to hit the course.

Hermen was really handling the NX well and making some good times.

The sun was hot and so was the NX... had to have the heater blowing to keep it cool.

The course was very technical and had hard curves and turns.

Hermen posing before his last run of the night.

The night was awesome! I really got to push the NX and get a feel for the course. I hope Furrin Group (my car club) keeps hosting these Test-And-Tune nights the night before the races. Also as a final treat I got another cool video of the NX running to post...
Video
First clip is curve three, second is Hermen killing a cone, third is the slalom, and fourth is Hermen getting it right.

So Saturday was the big day and I had to go it alone. Hermen had to work and Team PLP was left to just me. The Auto Auction had an exotic car auction and before the racing I headed to check out the rides. They were better then last year! Check these out:

This old Ford GT... 600Hp! Sounded like a true race car.

They had some older classics as well... old 57 Chevys, 64 Impalas, and this nice Benz.

A Porsche Boxter and a few Ferraris... wish my garage looked like that.

Hands down one of the greatest super cars ever... Ferrari Testarossa.

So after the car dreaming it was back to the track area. There were more cars in my category then usual. There was 15 cars entered, 2 ended up not running due to technical problems so I had 13 cars to deal with. I am posting here a few pics of the types of cars that race with me, people have been asking what my competition is... so here are some typical cars you will see out there with me.

From left to right... Pontiac Firebird, Porsche 914, Subaru WRX, and a Dodge Neon.

This Eclipse took fasted time of the time.

In front a Honda S2000 and behind a Corvette.

Miatas really clean up in a few different divisions. So light, so small... just zippy.

In my class typically are newer model imports. This weekend I had a few Neons, Acura Integras, Honda Civics, an Eclipse, VWs, and even a Ford Contour with the SVT package.

So here is the breakdown of the day. Each car got 6 runs. I was feeling good and after the first run I was in 7th out of 13. I ran it clean and stayed on course. Each run after that I shaved time off... (my first run was 51.120 seconds). After the 5th run I was in 9th place with a time of 49.361 seconds. A great improvement from my first run. The final run I was set to move up a few spots. The guys ahead of me did not make any better times... I started the run. I hit the first two corners perfect... the slalom I nailed like a pro... and then on the fourth corner, heading toward the finish... I overshot the gate cone. I nearly missed it... I had to slam on the breaks to make it. I was just going too fast.

I ended the day 9th out of 13. Not to bad for my second season out there, and having the second oldest car in my class. I went home, washed the car, rubbed the cone marks off of it (a few did get hit) and then went out for the night with the Brothers in Kalamazoo. Sorry no pics this time...

Will the NX make it?
Alright. Race time again folks. I am pretty excited, and worried as well about the little NX. This Friday I have a test-and-tune that Hermen and I are heading over to and running the NX. Team PLP is back in the game! Then Saturday morning in Moline, MI the NX will be back in action.

The NX is needing some repairs. My axels (I blogged about this before) are in a really bad shape, and now I am developing a small leak in my exhaust which needs to be repaired. I am gonna need about $600 to get her back into top shape. I will run her hard this weekend regardless. I don't work at GVSU after this week so if I end up carless for a week or so while I fix her... no big deal. I can find rides to CompuCraft.

So for those who have been wanting to see a race you are invited this weekend. Racing starts at 10am on Saturday at the ABC Auto Auction grounds. It is in Moline right off of Exit 72 on Highway 131 (just south of GR). The auto auction is also running that exotic car auction that day (last year tons of classics, Ferraris, Lambos, etc.). So you can catch both. My heat will be later in the day, probably a little after 12. Come on out if you want. Good times!

Strangeness... or Funny?
Weird things happen to me, and often times I wait a while to be able to laugh at them. Take Sunday; I was finished packing my bag for my trip to see Novali and all of a sudden.... BAM! Lightning struck the house! I am watching TV and from the window came the biggest light I have ever seen! Then lightning so loud it shook the house and scared the crap out of me! Then the TV went out... Internet went down (yeah the internet I just spent 2 hours on hold trying to get fixed...). I have never been so scared (well with the exception of that time I got rear ended by a Semi truck on the highway). Needless to say... Hermen's TV is broken now, so might the DVD player, and also the wireless internet router and modem. Sucks.

Alright... the real story here, Novali. I had an awesome two days with the little one, well she is not so little anymore. I got there and as usually she was excited to see me. We hung out, watched some movies and she showed me her new toys. I taught her how to do a somersault, gave her a bath and put her to bed. She was very entertaining. She sings more now, notably the theme song to her Abuela's novela (Spanish Soap Opera) and sings it like a rock star. Hands in the air, face toward the sky, all the passion in her face like they do on TV. It was funny... well enjoy some pics.

On my arrival she jumped on me and gave me a big hug and we watched... Lion King.

I worked on teaching her a somersault... patience...

She would laugh hysterically on each one.

Of course I taught her to say, "Tada" after each roll.

Then we sat down and read a book before bed time and she told me what each character was doing.

All her clothes get stuck on her head coming off... so she stops and swings the sleeves around.

Saying a little prayer and in her PJs and ready for bed after her bath (sorry no embarassing bath pics this time).

After some rest we got up, and headed out to the store (yes she wanted to shop for more glasses...), but we stopped at the playground first.

She crawled around, over and through everything... got her pants dirty... but papi does not care.

She was not scared of any slides, climbing any height, and evening going high on the swings.

We headed home, watched more movies and she played and ran all over... got dirtier, markers... crayons...

Smiling with her mom just before I took off... then she got to crying. I hate leaving.

Now I am home, working at CompuCraft this morning and then off to GVSU to wrap up a few things. This Friday I am helping to coordinate the regional Association of Fraternity Advisors conference. Well let me get back to work now. Adios!

Get a Night Life
So our favorite watering hole got flooded with the torrid rains we received here in West Michigan the last few weeks. The famed BFE is flooded, no ten cent drafts, no shooting pool, no hanging out on the deck.

The entire parking lot is flooded out! Poor BFE has been closed for about a week now.

The water early this week was nearly at the level as the deck, we used to sit out there and try to flick caps into the river... now you could just drop them over the edge.

So we have have had to find new things to do at night. Thursday night was the first crazy one. I was in Kalamazoo with Ramon to meet with the Brothers there and we went to Club Soda, my old stomping ground. It was a blast! All the Betas in town came out and we had a good time. Lets recap with some pics...

Ish, Ramon and Rudy... ready to get down. Well except Ish... he's whack.

Ramon was making the ladies laugh.

Vic getting his groove on with two ladies.

Ramon saying... hey do you like my pants?

Normally I stick to merengue and bachata... I did a Salsa finally.

Juan (AKA Fabio) with his pimp shirt.

Rudy teaching the ladies about Covert!

Ramon busting out the Cumbia skills.

The gang, representing in our special section.

Rudy left guys at the club, so I crammed way too many people in my little car...

It was a memorable night. I am glad I don't have a real job yet... I get to sleep in! Besides the being broke part it is everything I hoped it would be.

Friday... slept in, wrapped up a few things in the office, and was on hold for an hour trying to get my internet fixed at home. After the stressful day... Friday guys night out. I rallied a few brothers together and we planned to do something different. Colleen from WMU had some friends coming up, so we thought we would meet up with them. Lame... we met them at 48 West, which is cool... if you are like 40. I'm not that old yet. Then the gang wanted to head to Monte's, not really my scene but we made the best of it. Found some cool people there I knew and we got down.

Montes is a dance club a little away from downtown. Mostly locals... I prefer the college scene.

Found some people I knew from GVSU and we danced and partied.

Once again got to see Vic getting down. I miss partying with him.

Not sure why Ramon took this picture of himself...

I also ran into some Sig Ep friends, Joe and Justin (we served on IFC together) from WMU at the bar. I had not seen them in nearly three years. They were not surprised to hear I was looking for a job as a Greek advisor, and I was not surprised to hear they are both big money businessmen in Detroit area. They were the two coolest Sig Eps from Western (most of them I did not get along with...).

Vic and I watched Van Wilder and ate some McDonalds (yes I did not eat the bun). Then it was time to get some rest.

Today was supposed to be a long day of nothing. Did not go as planned. Becky woke me up asking for help moving some stuff. So I woke Vic up and we went to help, got some free food out of the deal. Then we got some groceries and watched Bruce Allmighty while waiting for the cable guy. Tonight Becky is coming over, she leaves for Colorado in three days so we are hanging out tonight. Adios!

Goodbyes
This week is when most grads move on to greener pastures. Some first years off to internships and practicums, seconds years off to the real world and responsibility, and then some of us will just be bums all summer. So this week we have been hanging out a lot and I figured it was a good time to invite everyone to the house. So we had a BBQ at my apart last night. Good times!

Slocum brought the meat, everyone brought ice (I was worried about ice... and then we had too much), Heather made an awesome dip for fresh strawberries, Carrie made the beans, the Traila girls (minus Dre, we missed you!) made a potato salad, a few people brought pop and other assorted beverages, and we combined our condiments together and had enough for everyone.

The strawberries... I forgot about Atkins and ate one... or two... Oops.

The guys threw the frisbee a few times in the pug farm... lucky the dogs were locked up and Landis jumped the fence.

Adrian manned the grille while I defrosted our ten tons of frozen hamburger.

I was in Atkins heaven... 10 dogs and four burgers.

We hungout and ate outside... lots of Central girls.

I decided we should use an ice cream scooper for the beans... it was cool.

We were low on seating, so I busted out Hermen's desk chair... Everyone had races or was pulled by a car...

Shawna said if I put a picture of her on the blog she would comment... well... there it is. She left early to watch American Idol. Addict.

After the BBQ some of us headed to Holland to the New Holland Brewery to celebrate Miguel "Oso Negro" Ortiz's birthday. Not sure how old he is anymore but we had a good time. I don't see him much anymore, been really busy. I plan to get out there soon and hangout with him and his little baby girl soon.

Oso has always been a funny character. This is a pic from a party a while back. We have had some good times hanging out together. Happy Birthday Bro, have a great day. So how old are you...

Thanks to the grads who swung by the house. Good luck to everyone on your future endeavors. To those being bums this summer... me to. Lots of car work and pondering the meaning of life.

No Internet
Added 5/25: Pictures
As most people know, I can not live without the internet. During my six day trip to Indiana I was only able to get internet once to check up on things. I got back into Michigan last night... and the internet at home was out! So then this morning I decided to stroll into work at CompuCraft a little early, and guess what? No internet here either, our DSL line is down! So I had to head to campus to finally get a web connection.

This last week I was at the Undergraduate Infraternity Institute (UIFI), and it was more then I could have ever hoped for! I had a great time, met some great facilitators, and worked with some amazing students. I really needed that to pump me up and get my focused again on why I decided to do this full time. I also renewed my commitment to Sigma Lambda Beta and am planning some new things I want to do with the Betas as well. I am very pumped!

We were put up in an amazing sorority house on Indiana's campus.

Our facilitation team was great, we were an awesome team.

UIFI's curriculum is perfect and the activities really get the students thinking.

In our free time we played a lot of Mafia, danced, and played the famous game... Big Booty.

The games were tons of fun, one day it involved water... which was good since it was so HOT down there!

The activity was about building community... and getting soaking wet in the process.

Of course a water fight broke out afterwards... I put my camera down and got in it.

At the end of the week we had a social.... glow bowl!

Chrissy, me, Kate and Adriene from Chapter 6.

Damien from Phi Beta Sigma taught the group a stroll, they caught on quickly.

Graduation day, rumor has it I shed a little tear... I can not confirm or deny that at this time.

My group, or Chapter 6 to be exact, dressed up for graduation.

It was a rejuvenating time. I really needed the chance to work with some students with passion and fire about being Greek and making a difference with their chapter, council, campus and communities. I made some awesome new friends and I am pumped to hear about all the changes they will take back to their campuses. Big shot out to the facilitators, and Chapter 6!

Now back to the grind, meetings, website designing, fraternity stuff, and cleaning the house. Fun fun fun. And for those still wondering... DePaul emailed me (no call, just email) and turned me down. Their loss...