Back... with stories
I had a great time traveling the last few days. I wanted to post some pictures from my time in Texas and also recap some of my trips.

I had two on campus interviews this week, I will never do that again. Universities really run you through the gauntlet for these positions. My interviews started with dinner upon my arrival. The following day about 7 hours of interviewing, both schools had a total of about 25 people meet with me throughout the day. Very nerve racking. So to have two of these in one week was very hard on me. I need to sleep in my bed and relax!

One of my Brothers took this for me, my mom wanted to see a pic of me dressed up.

DePaul is right on Lincoln Park in Chicago. Great Location!

For my interview at DePaul the questions were very hard and they really drilled me about some complex issues and challenged my ideas and I reviewed case studies and past issues on their campus. Had a lot of interesting things happen to me there, as I first set foot on campus with the Director of Student Life... two girls were fighting in front of the Union. It was kinda funny. Then on the interview day, on my way back from a meeting on their downtown campus the train I was on caught fire. My tour guide and I had to evacuate the train and catch a bus back to campus. Crazy...

Right after my last interview I hoped on the road and came home. I barely had time to wash clothes, repack, and put in a few hours at CompuCraft and then fly to Dallas. My trip was the usual, I have grown accustomed to flying (in the past six months I have flown 7 times). SMU was amazing.

SMU has the most beautiful campus. Right in downtown Dallas but so green still.

On my tour we went through some of the fraternity and sorority houses... most of them were 2 to 4 million dollar homes... wow.

Of course I ate a lot of red meat while in Dallas... got to love Texas steaks!

Some Dallas area Brothers took me out, they got a limo and everything.

We went to this sweet club called Blue. Latin upstairs, hip hop downstairs. Very hot club.

Fernando does work with promotions... so we did not wait in line, paid no cover... and got VIP treatment.

Dallas as always was a ton of fun. SMU I think would be the better professional opportunity. I also liked how well they treated me. BMW at the airport, fancy dinners, awesome hotel room and room service... very posh. However, being close to Novali is more important. DePaul should let me know pretty soon what their decision is on their position. Once I hear from them I will go from there.

I am dead tired right now from the trips. Tomorrow (Saturday) I am going to get some work done on the car. Get that stupid seat belt latch finally replaced. I also need to wax the car see about getting a quote on getting my little rust spot that popped fixed. Sunday will be busy, I am running to Kalamazoo again and getting some work done in the office at GVSU, and then heading to the Airport to meet the Mexico gang and give rides to Trailagirl and BlondeAmbition.

Interviews are done!
My interviews went well. DePaul was very tough and asked me hard questions and really drained me mentally. I loved meeting the students and really enjoyed the campus visit. I am hoping to hear from them within the week about the position.

I finished SMU today. It was a good interview. Much more laid back then the DePaul interview and I enjoyed the campus. The trip here to Dallas has been awesome. They picked me up in a BMW and treated me to awesome dinners and I am in a great hotel room in downtown Dallas. The campus was more beautiful then I thought it would be.

Right now I am waiting for the Dallas area Brothers to pick me up. They are taking me out on the town tonight and even got a limo! I have not been to Dallas in over a year so I am excited to see what we get up to. This is a fun town, but first some dinner. In good Texas fashion I will order a huge steak... yum.

I will back in Michigan tomorrow. My race this Saturday was canceled so I will have a chance to relax all day Saturday and get some work done on the car. I finally got my new seat belt latch in... no more touchy seat belt.

Passports, Cords, Patent, Sunglasses and a Suit.
Okay. Busy last few days... lets recap. The weekend started on Friday with a trip to Kalamazoo. Gary graduated and is now leaving for Germany to live with his wife. So us Betas got together and said our goodbyes to Gary... the thing is his passport never arrived so we might have to say goodbye again.

Rudy and I made it out to Hartford to have dinner at Gary's Family's house.

Gary with his brothers... family resemblance... I think so.

Saturday morning I got up and went to Lansing. Andres was graduating. It was a very casual ceremony which surprised me but it was great to meet the new members from his fraternity and also hangout with my parents. We had an awesome BBQ and a great time with Andres and his Brothers. I am so proud of my little brother, he landed a great job with Dupount and will be moving out East later this year.

Andres getting his dilploma, all dressed in green with his Honor Cords.

We try hard to make our parents proud, and with three kids as college alums I hope they are.

Andres with his fraternity Brothers. Phi Iota Alpha.

The BBQ was at an awesome park in Lansing (even though music was not allowed). We ate like kings...

On Saturday I also got some sweet news. I got a letter from Johnson Controls. While I worked there I was a part of three innovation disclosures and finally... I got a patent! I got my paperwork to submit to receive my official US Patent. How awesome! Almost makes me want to become a designer again...

Sunday was mothers day and I headed to Chicago. We did the family tour with Novalí. First to her Great Grandma Gomez out on the Southside of Chicago. Then off to her visit her Great Grandma Escribano. Novali loves her abuela Anna and they play like little kids. Of course I ate some great Puerto Rican food and called my Mother and she talked to Novali on the phone.

Today I kept Novalí home from day care and we went shopping. To my surprise she remembered the last time her and I walked to the store from here. She is getting to be the age that she remembers more and of course talks all the time! We went to eat, shopped, and I got my haircut.

Novalí playing under the table with her Great Grandma Escribano.

She grows any faster she will be bigger then her mother by the end of the year!

She is learning how to catch so I spent time Monday playing catch with her.

It was an awesome day for a walk, so we got dressed and off and we went.

At the restaurant she preferred to color then eat... she colored a nice clown for her mami.

We stopped in the dollar store and she got some new sunglasses... its all about accessories.

Tonight I interviewed with student leaders at DePaul. It was nice to see the campus again and we had some interesting dialog. All in all I feel pretty good about how it went.

Tuesday will be about 7 hours of interviews with different departments within the university. I am excited and nervous, worried and ready, confident and apprehensive all at the same time. Hopefully all will go well, I got a new pad of paper for notes, new suit fitted and pressed with a sweet shirt and tie combo, and fresh haircut. Wish me luck.

The Plex... DuPlex
Ladies and Gentlemen, the party was off the chain. People doubted we could do it on a Wednesday night... but like I said... never doubt a Beta. We had tons of friends come by the house, we had a great time. We had two floors of music, on the top floor we had Hip Hop and House running by DJ Money Max (Maximo) and on the lower level I was playing the Latin music that made everyone shake their hips... DJ Cruceño got to spin it one more time.

Here are the pics...

The purple basement all clean	The Rich Street Duplex was ready for a good time.
The Betas	AOPi showed up and rocked the party.
Kiss me I'm Mexican! (I am not... but I used that line on St. Patty's Day to)	When Elaine wasn't busy spilling stuff...
Everyone wanted to sign the table.	Hermen, Max, Ramiro and Chris doing the GV stroll.
Who invited the AXOs? Wait... that was me.	The ASA girls had to do a little ditty on the dance floor.
Max, myself, and Ramon busted out the new Stroll... name coming soon...	The basement was giggin... DJ Cruceño (me) was back in action playing Latin music in the Basement.
We packed it out...taught the girls how to dance to Latin music to.	AOPi and ASA in the house.
Melva... trying to be the center of attention...	Becky and Cressie Lee.
DJ Money Max handle the music on the top floor... makin' em dance.	Chillin on the front porch with Gammas from GV and MSU.... the party winding down.
We did not make it through both bags of limes...	...we did make it through all of these and cleaned the fridge...
Bro... Bro.. Bro.. no really... go to your room.	Does he live here?

We had a great time and we will do another one soon. Thanks to those who came a long way (CMU, Albion, MSU, etc.) and to everyone for having fun, being safe, and dancing like their is no tomorrow. The Betas will be working on some more strolls to unleash... so watch out for the next Gig...

Coming to a theater near you... Duplex House Jam Part II...

Happy Cinco de Mayo
I am not a holiday person. However I was thinking... we never had a party at our house. So I made the call... Cinco de Mayo party at the Rich Street Duplex. I started inviting people. Good thing the roomies were down for it, and tonight the party is on. Ask your friendly neighborhood Beta for directions.

We cleaned the house, threw crap out, shoved stuff under beds, crammed it in closests... we are ready.

Tonight will be a full moon... I took this last night... what will we shoot tonight at the party?

Of course we cleaned out the fridge. Made room for some choice beverages.

On this fine Mexican holiday we will have plenty of cheap American beer.

We tossed everything in the fridge... I had to eat Hermen's ribs to make room. I felt bad... actaully no... no I didn't.

There will be nutrious fruit for the health conscience folks as well and safe rides to whoever needs one.

Everyone will be safe, everyone will have fun, and the Rich Street Duplex will never be the same. Maybe we are starting a proud GVSU tradition... Cinco de Mayo with the Betas!

Car time and interviews
The only productive things I have done the last few days is work on my car and look for a job. GVSU posted a position doing recruitment in the Chicago area, which might become a good back up plan to DePaul (I interview on May 10th & 11th). I am going to Dallas to interview with Southern Methodist University. They want to pay all my travel expenses so I can't say no to that...

The car. She is getting some much needed attention now. She does have a small rust spot coming back which I am not happy about. I have gotten some new parts for her and working on the final audio set up. Unfortunately I ran out of money... today I had to roll change I am so broke!

Today my new valve cover came in that I am trying to polish it. It is much more work then I thought it would be... but it will be worth it. A little elbow grease never hurt anyone. Also the other day I took some pictures of Becky driving the car to get some shots of the rims spinning. A guy on my forum had one and it looked great so I wanted to try it.

Becky wanted to practice driving stick, and I want a cool shot.

I love having the rims back on, she looks so much better with them.

She has never been cleaner and I am finally getting to the small details.

Packages from the UPS man and car parts on the kitchen table are a common site lately.

Tomorrow is the car show in Holland and I am excited to go and see some cars. I am not taking the NX, but I hope to see some hot cars and get some ideas for my car. I hope we have nice weather....