Vegas Baby... VEGAS!
So with this new trip to Chicago I scored a four hour layover in Las Vegas. I figured... why not? Not only did I save money by having more connecting flights, but I would get a chance to see Vegas a little as well. Can't beat that, right? Ding ding ding...

So I called Steve, one of my Chapter Brothers, who lives in Vegas. I got lucky and he was free, and called me a few seconds after I landed in Vegas. He scooped me up and we saw the town with his girl Christie. I have known Steve and Christie for nearly 6 years now... and I have not seen him in nearly two years. It was great to catch up. Check out the pics:

While waiting for Steve I noticed that even the airport in Vegas had neon lights all over!

Driving into the town reminded me of so many movies! Especially my fav, Swingers.

Steve knew a guy at Margaritaville and we went there first.

The Buffett theme was too much for me, but I am sure some people loved it. Good food for sure.

The skyline was great, tons of lights and people all over.

Steve is from this area and at WMU he was known as "El Principe" in the fraternity.

All of the buildings had beautiful lights and every details was perfect.

We went to Cesar's for a little shopping.

Steve and Christie have been together for a long time, they used to crack me up in Michigan.

In Vegas... every little corner had a slot machine in it.

It was good to see Steve again. I also met "Sam" from the show The Apprentice who was on the strip in Vegas and Steve recognized him. I did not realize the guy was that short.

It was cool seeing Steve at home. I knew it was hard for him at WMU, he hated the Midwest. He was way too Cali for West Michigan. I could tell he feels at home there, even in 105 degree heat (they said that was cool!). Thanks for showing me around Steve! I will be back, and I will bring more Brothers with me.

Wednesday I arrived in Chicago. Got my rental car and played with Novali just a little before heading to Michigan. A quick stop in Kalamazoo for lunch and some errands with the Brothers, and then off to Albion. The campus was very nice, but the surround area left much to be desired. Lets see how this interview goes...

Novalí Updates
I will post pictures and comments about the Oregon Country Fair later this week. First thing I wanted to get done this weekend was update Novalí's site.

This morning my parents went to visit Novali and called me. I talked to her twice this week and I get to see her on Wednesday! Then I noticed I have not updated her website much lately and that I only post small pictures on my blog. So I added a few more picture pages, a new Flash header on her homepage with some new pics, as well as links to her Puerto Rican day video. So check out her site and enjoy!

www.centellas.org/novali

The next three weeks are going to be very hectic for me. This week I travel to Chicago, Albion, and Peoria (two big interviews). I get back to Oregon for a week, and then back to Chicago for two days, then Orlando for four days to the Sigma Lambda Beta Convention (I am doing four presentations). I get back from that trip and two days later I leave for San Francisco for a four day Western Region Greek Association Board meeting. By the time I return from those trips I should hopefully have a job offer from one of my two interviews and then be preparing for my move back to the midwest... ah the life I lead.

Oregon Country Fair
Thats right, country fair, not county fair. There is a difference. This weekend is the Hippie Meca event of all events. The Oregon Country Fair was started in 1969 by the large commune of hippies here. They had their own community, a "free" college and trade schools for their system of self sustainability, grew their own crops and considered themselves the counter culture of America. I read an article about this community of people and they made some bold and strange statements.

One thing which struck me was that they came to Oregon because they were free of the persecution they faced in other parts of the country and came here because they had more of an ability to be free here. Which to me means no one here stopped them from smoking lots of pot, doing other drugs of choice in the 60s, not sending their kids to "regular" school, not paying taxes (Oregon has no sales tax either), and got to walk around shirtless (as mentioned before it is legal for anyone to be shirtless here).

They compared their pilgrimage to Oregon to the Oregon Trail, and even to the Cherokee Trail of Tears. Hello... what? The men and women on the Oregon Trail went on a long journey, many died along the way, and they were poor people looking for a place to settle and raise families, to survive and make a life for themselves. Not to run from the government rules and hide their drug behavior and anti-American protests. The trail of tears... now this is just absurd! The native Americans were forced to leave THEIR lands... they were killed, hunted, poisoned, lied to, signed false contracts, and in many ways enslaved by the USA. How can hippies, who don't want to wear bras, think we should be communists, live in VW Vans, disagree with the government no matter what (I disagree as well at times, but not just for the sake of disagreeing with the "man") compare themselves to that? Are they seriously so disillusioned in their views or see themselves as such outcasts?

I really don't have a huge problem with hippie ideals. I know my comments don't sound like that, but I have no problem with people who don't bother me. Bother me... and we got a problem. So maybe I don't think Bush is the devil, that is my view. Yelling at me about it, or being mean to me for not thinking he is the devil pisses me off. Have your views, I have no trouble with that. Just let me have mine. Here is their hypocrisy...

They claim America is brainwashes and does what their leaders tell them (duly elected by the people leaders mind you). So they want me to believe what they tell me? So they want to brainwash me... so where is my choice here? So I should brainwashed by them cause they smell bad and are living a "herbal" holistic life? They want to FORCE their views on me, and call me ignorant for believing something else, and not believing what they tell me.

Next point. I also noticed on the information for the Oregon Country Fair that they are a 501(c)3 organization. Which means they have a certain government allowance from the IRS that they are a non-profit company (like any educational foundation for example). So they can take tax deductible donations and don't pay the taxes I am. Well now... self sustainability... anti-government... seems to me that they sustain themselves off of donations that people write off on their taxes, and that the government has granted them special privileges. Wow... the government does suck, and man if you really try to can live without them. Its like complaining about what McDonalds and corporate fast food giants have done to American culture while sitting in the drive threw lane talking on my cell phone asking my family what happy meal they want. Makes no sense. Hypocrisy.

I do not claim to be an idealist. I really don't care. But just don't make yourself out to be better because you believe certain things... just cause someone else told you to believe them. Here is one of the main hippie comments that makes me mad.

No War. War never solves anything. Alright now... I am not saying I believe war is the only solution. But sometimes force is what it takes. I mean anyone who says war never solved anything obviously never read a history book. Seems to me that the revolutionary war worked out pretty well for the USA... I mean the UK still occupies lands in other countries to this day. Civil war... I think there is a whole cultural portion of America's population that seems pretty happy we went to war on that one. Lets see... what's next... I think Jewish people are pretty happy about one of those World Wars... I mean that seemed to solve something for them. No war my butt... sometimes force is needed. (This is not a debate on the Iraq War, maybe in a later blog).

Please feel free to share your views, it is a free country (we fought for the right to free speech).

Trip to the Midwest
So Bradley University called today... I am one of their top three candidates and they want me to come to campus. Four applications out... four times I make the campus visit list. That feels pretty good. Guess what day they wanted me to interview? The same day at Albion College. I got them to move it to a few days afterwards.

I am trying to figure out travel between the two interviews and find some time to see Novalí. It looks like I will fly into Chicago on Wednesday July 14th, then drive to Albion, MI for my interview there on the 15th. After that interview head to Chicago to spend time with Novali (who I just got off the phone with... she is too funny). Then I drive on Sunday the 18th to Peoria, IL for my interview with Bradley. On the morning of Tuesday the 20th I drive back to Chicago and then fly over to Oregon. I love short jam-packed trips, and this one will be more packed then ever!

Fireworks and Bands
This weekend was a great time to get away, some time to relax, see a new city and good ol' fireworks. Friday work ended at noon and then the adventure began.

The first destination was Florence. This coastal city is west of Eugene and has beautiful dunes, water is too cold for swimming but awesome sand. It was a slow drive because of the holiday traffic but worth it for the ocean view. Turning and heading north provided even more views and some cool stops. The Sea Lion Caves were great and learned some interesting things about those large fin footed animals. The next stop was a small sea side restaurant for great fresh sea food. After more time following the ocean the road turned toward Portland.

The winding Highway 101 which hugged the coast was a fun drive.

Florence had sweet sand dunes and cold water.

The buildings were beautiful and lots of cliff side lighthouses.

The views of the ocean stretched for miles and miles.

Portland was fun. It's the biggest city in Oregon, but still not much larger then Grand Rapids. The first night was a trip to WallBangers a dueling piano bar. The music was great and a lively crowd of birthday and bachelorette parties kept the place entertained. The next stop was a club called Lotus... old school to say the least and not the scene I prefer. A stop around some properties and a 7-11 for some late night snacks and the night was over.

Saturday was prefect weather again and it was a great day to walk all over the city and see what was going on. Lunch was at a place called Rock Bottom, which like all Oregon bar and grills had their own beer. There was a Jazz festival going on near the water and in Oregon style a saturday outdoor market. This market was not nearly as hippie as the Eugene one and had some fun booths and so many food vendors. Some more shopping and getting deals (anyone who knows me knows I love sale shopping) it was off to dinner at this great spanish placed called OBA. It had tappas, an ample selection of wine and a soft atmosphere.

The city was very clean and easy to get around on foot.

Rock Bottom makes a great IPA and good chicken salad.

The Jazz festival included dance lessons and of course food.

The Portland Saturday market was huge!

It looks live bands are a staple product in Oregon during the summer.

OBA is well known Spanish stop in the Posh Portland District.

Sunday tried to stop in Salem (Oregon's capital) to see the capital building and get some lunch. Lunch was hard to find, once I remembered it was a holiday the only place open in Salem was the stop. A herbal tea, veggie sandwich, and political paper type place. You know, my favorite type place. One of the magazines advertised "holistic" dental care? What is that? It said... "We treat the entire individual, not just the teeth." On top of legalize marijuana adds, petitions against Walmart, and one add with a picture of MLK saying "Got Milk?"... which was for a peace organization. What does Milk have to do with Peace?

Lots of rose gardens and not so famous houses.

Capital Manor... not what we were looking for.

After the fun herbal experience trying to find the capital was just as hard. One sign pointing to "Capital Manor" turned out to be a retirement village... and the Historic Salem tour signs took me to nothing Rose Gardens and famous homes which I did not consider so famous. So back to Eugene it was.

Sunday night in Eugene was Art and the Vineyard and of course fireworks. The city of Eugene puts on a great show for the fireworks. They had art displays, bands, and lots of food booths (including one from Peru which was awesome!). I am not usually a fireworks fan, but with some fried plantains and fresh lemonade it turned out pretty well.

What else but live bands... and old people dancing.

Compost, Garbage and Recycling... some one stood by and watched to be sure you put it in the right place.

These kids had balloon swords and holsters, they get creative these days on what they make out of balloons. What happened to balloon dogs?

It was great watching the father and son teams lighting and watching their fireworks.

Once if got fully dark.. the show started.

The finale was great, everyone cheered.

Monday went shopping with Shelley and her daughter that is in town visiting. Jennifer (Shelley's daughter) brought with her Shelley's newest purchase... two little dogs. A mini Dashound and mini Fox Terrier. These little dogs are a riot and will be fun around the house. We will see what adventures they get into as the start to interact with the old cats.

I am looking for more adventures with friends out here. It was fun tooling around Portland, and for anyone who wants to make a weekend trip to the Northwest let me know. Shelley and Herb are great hosts (right Heather?) and there is a lot to do. I got Brothers in Seattle that I want to visit and maybe even a trip into Canada to see Vancouver.

35 Days and Hippie Debates
Well bad news... at the University of Oregon they get paid once a month. Checks come on the first of the month. I started with only five days left to go in a month. That means I am 35 days away from my next payday. Guess how many days UoO allows you to go without a check... you guessed it. 35 Days! So... since I did not start one day sooner I will not get my first check until August 1st. This means Sam is going to have to take a loan from the Sutherland Credit Union.

Some of you noticed my recent post about the hippies at the Saturday Market in Eugene sparked a little debate. For those who know me, know I love a good debate. Sometimes I pick an opposite side just so I can start a rousing arguement, you know, just for fun. You also more then likely know that changing the mind of a Centellas is nearly impossible and only happened one or two times in the history of time. So enjoy the arguements, don't take things personally, and come back for more if you want. We got plenty.

So to change to a new subject... what are you doing this weekend? Me, a trip to Portland to explore the sights and see what's crackalackin over there. I also will now put in a shameless plug for those to mark August 6th (Bolivian Independence Day) in their calenders.

The House Sitter
Well Shelley is back now. We worked together the last few days and she has a little different management style then I am used to, but that is a good cause I need that experience. I am loving the office and working on the recruitment planning with the students. Some highlights from house sitting and work so far...

Saturday night I cooked, it was my first time cooking here. I kinda burned the food (too used to my Foreman Grill) and ruined a pan. I felt kinda bad about that. When Shelley got home I mentioned there was a pan soaking in the sink... and that it had seen better days. She did not seem to mind too much... but either way I owe Shelley (and Herb, her husband) a new pan. I did wash the Audi, which was in desperate need of a good bath. So I pulled a mini-love your car day and cleaned the inside as well. Hope the NX does not get too jealous.

Sunday was an IFC recruitment meeting. Orientation (called IntroDUCKtion) starts in two weeks and they have done little to nothing so far... so in steps Sam. I also have my nickname out here, the former Greek Advisor was a red head named Carly. So of course I am the "new" Carly as the students say, but I remind them that I am just the "Summer Carly" and now the nickname has been born. So if you come out here and hear them call me the "Summer Carly", don't be surprised. I think the guys are disappointed I am not cute like she is, they'll get over it.

Monday after work Herb cooked, and man he is some chef! I can't even list everything he made. Deviled eggs, roasted pork, sausage, teriyaki chicken, vegetables, lettuce wedge, cubed cheese (not sure why but cheese in cubes just tastes better), and tons of other stuff. It was a feast... best meal I have had in a long time. We got leftovers today for lunch and I am wondering what he will whip up today...

Got more meetings today. Meeting with the Panhel pres to go over GEORGE. That is what they call the master recruitment schedule. The thing is crazy, they have the week of formal recruitment planned to the minute. They have travel time to the Rho Gammas hotel, walking distance between houses timed, recruitment for the women here is an exact science. A little scary... and then today at 5 pm I meet with IFC. Their recruitment is let's say... not an exact science. The IFC actually plans very little at all, and there is nothing formal set up. This fall that will all change. It sucks that I will not be around to see the fruits of my labor, but I am excited to help them develop something new.

Another cool term from here is something they call the Greek Grid. During the Week of Welcome (WOW) they do the grid. that means for the high traffic times of the day fraternities and sororities are paired up and assigned parts of campus to "hangout" in wearing letters. This way students see Greeks all over the place. It creates the illusion to freshmen that Greeks are everywhere (Greeks are 10% of campus). A very cool idea, and I get to help plan the strategy for this fall. So I got my generals hat on... planning the attack grid.

I am trying to book my flight into Michigan for my Albion interview right now. Man flights from here are expensive! Good thing Albion is paying me back for the flight. Either way, I will be in town the weekend of July 16th, so hopefully I will run into some of you.

Hippie Fest
For those who did not know... Eugene is a hippie meca. On campus there is always some protest going on (only like three people there... but a protest none-the-less) and bums all over who don't believe in "work" for some reason. So I'm supposed to give them some of the money I "worked" to earn. Yeah right.

The students in the office are a lot of fun, and it is summer so there are not many people around, but those who are around are the committed ones. So it makes it more fun to work with them. I am going to love working here for the summer.

So the weather is perfect here, and no it is not raining. Everyone thinks it rains here all the time. Actually the summers are very mild and dry. It is like 70-80 everyday and a blend of soft clouds and breeze keeps it a great temperature to hangout and relax under.

Saturday was chill day. I started with lunch with Audra (the office coordinator) and her family. Her son is 24 and just started law school so that was cool to chat with him about the local attractions. We had some money Mexican food and then went to one of the posh shopping districts. Very nice, and they had a Coldstone Creamery, Becky I know you love that place. Then I headed on my own to the Eugene Saturday Market (AKA Hippie Fest). The arts and crafts were great and the smells from the food booths was making me drool... then the shirtless men, bums, hemp, women with hairy armpits, bob markley stickers, and people trying to get me to sign petitions ruined it for me. It was interesting to see the people though.

Hemp Fest is coming soon... no hippie town is complete without someone wanting to legalize the whacky tabacky.

Tie-Dye everything... even bras. And here I thought hippie chicks did not wear bras.

Every corner had their little band playing trying to make a little loot.

Where ever there was a band... there was a tribe of hippies lying around.. "being free."

Of course free range organic vegetables...

These peppers looked good...

On each corner was someone trying to get people to sign a petition for something. Grassroots at its finest.

This guy's sign said, "Too Honest to Steal, Too Lazy to Work." Well I was to lazy to bend over and give his lazy butt some change.

This guy is famous for selling Frog Joke Books. I should pick one up one of these days, he is on campus everyday.

In the main tent there was a little band... and of course a crazy hippie dancer. Reminded me of Zach J. at a Nepenthe Show... Remember Andy?

One of the most common sites for me... laptop, cell phone and coffee drink at the Indigo District Coffee House. Gotta love free wireless.

It was a nice day... I rolled around with the top down... getting a tan.

Besides driving around and hanging out at my new wireless cafe I have been watching a lot of movies and working on websites. They have the super duper cable package at Shelley's place so I been watching that. I also updated my chapter website... check it out...
WMU Betas
Sign the guestbook for me. I like to know who visits the site. Tomorrow I am meeting with the IFC Recruitment chairs and starting one of my big summer projects... to build an IFC Forma Recruitment process...

The Crib
Well I am here... I posted last night a little about the trip and some info about my misadventures. Today I wanted to post about where I am and what I am doing. Well here is the deal.

I am currently living with Shelley (my boss) who is out of town. Her house sitter let me in and I set up in the guest room. I am now the house sitter and will be until Shelley gets back late next week and I hear about my place being ready. Shelley left me notes all over the house on how to do everything. I am still finding some of the post-it notes.

The kitchen had the most post-it notes.

Details directions for plant care.

House/car keys and more directions.

Even furniture had notes on it.

The cats toys... and many more notes.

The Drop Top Audi...

Once I settled I took a drive around the city. The Audi handled better then I imagined it would, and I can't wait to take the top off one of these days! I picked up some items from the store and then headed to bed.

Today was my first day in the office. I got here a little before 8 am and got settled after a quick tour of the Union and off to work. I am proofing a ton of brochures right now, they have the best literature here for information. Great stuff! I will be mostly working with IFC and Panhel recruitment for the fall while I am here. It feels wierd to be a Duck... maybe I will go and pick up a U of O sweat shirt today... better wait until I get paid, still broke.

More Adventures
The trip to Seattle was an adventure. Walking miles to find internet, seeing weird people in the airport, and getting stuck in the middle seat between two large people. Ah... traveling, what fun.

In Seattle I got picked up by a fraternity Brother, Anthony "Dough", I have known for a long time. It was great he even looked up train and bus prices for getting to Eugene. He drove me around the city and then we got some Korean food. Seattle is great and I am sure I will have some adventures here this summer.

Then Dough swung me by the Beta crib here. Carlos and Jacob where there and we hung out, we ended up hanging out at PhillyPhil's with a Brother from Miami(OH). We had some Heffenweizen and exchanged old Beta stories all night which was funny... Then they drove me around the city a little more and showed me the Freemont Troll.

Ian, Jacob, PhillyPhil and Carlos.

Had to take a pic of the Space Needle.

Some of the Bros on the Freemont Troll

Me in front of the Troll... it was huge.

Wednesday morning got up and Carlos, Ian and I headed to the bus station. Before leaving Carlos' new roommate showed up, they are excited to have a cute girl moving in. She asked about Eugene and I was telling her how hippy it was out here... you know... granola and sandals all the time. Then she said, "I know what you mean, I'm from Olypia, they have this old school there, and they never fix the old buildings.." Ian and I looked at eachother... I looked at her and smiled, thinking to myself... good thing you are cute, cause you got nothing else going for ya... what does old buildings have to do with hippies?

The bus is always an adventure... and 6.5 hours later I was in Eugene. We had one nice stop... Portland. It was a great drive and that city seems really cool. For sure a weekend visit there is in order.

The Union Station was an awesome old building.

The cities here are so green and surrounded with mountains and trees.

I got to Shelley's house and got the house tour. Very nice... and she left the keys to the Audi convertible for me to use until she gets back next week... yeah! Let the adventure begin....