McFlurry and Pizza
Finally my shop got my car done! The seats are in, the suspension is installed, and I went to pick it up. I was all excited, glad to have my car back. So I went to Holland to get the car, paid Speedwise (one of my shops) and headed back to Allendale.

On the way back the brake light went on, never happened to me before. A few seconds later I lost pretty much all feeling in my brake peddle. I was able to drive it just slow enough to pull into a garage in Allendale.

They inspected the brakes, come to find out a hose got loose and fluid leaked. However, in the time it took for the brake light to come on, and me to find a garage to put it in, I ruined the master cylinder. So now I am facing a major repair to my brake system, and I have no car for the weekend. Normally I would not mind so much but this was my weekend to see Novali. It has been three weeks already, now it will have to be four since I can not make it.

It was a stressful day. I am tired from this long week, my car had to break down, I won't get to see Novali (unless by some miracle they get my car done tomorrow), I did not get caught up on work stuff, and I am just plain annoyed with school.

On the plus side, I got to eat a McFlurry today, those always cheer me up. I love McDonalds McFlurries with oreos. Yum yum, thanks Becky. Then Hermen took me for Chicago style pizza at this place in Grandville. Nice to have good friends around to fatten you up to try to make you feel better.

A Year in Review
Thanks to Mom and Dad for dinner last night. The Japanesse Steak house was awesome as usual. Miguel, Andres, and Raquel it was good to see you three. I wish we all could get together more often.

This post dissappeared, not sure what went wrong. So here it is again, or for the first time for those who did not see it during the brief time it was online.

** original post **
Yesterday I got nostalgic. I was replying to a birthday email, and I started to think of all the great things I got to do this year. So here is my year in review.

Last Birthday I got to hangout with Dishwalla and the Verve Pipe all day. They were in concert at GVSU, and I had to work the event. So my assignment was to drive the bands around. How cool was that? Good start to a great 24th year on the third rock from the sun.

One of the real exciting parts of the year was all my traveling. So let me telling you all the places I went, in order of appearance. I am leaving out trips to Chicago, cause I go there often for various reasons.

Lawrence, KA. - spent four days there at a conference.
Columbus, OH. - conference again.
Arlington, TX. - got the big Texas trip compliments of UTA.
San Francisco, CA. - conference. Compliments of WRGA.
Santa Barbara, CA. - 2 day stop on Highway One.
Los Angelos, CA. - vacation.
Philadelphia, PA. - went to visit my younger brother Andres.
NewBurg, NY. - Vic's sister's wedding. The old roadtrippers back in action.
San Francisco, CA. - Board meeting. Compliments of WRGA.
Cape Cod, MA. - vacation.

Those were some fun trips, meet fun people, and ate some great food. I remember places by the food I had while I was there. I also learned how nice it can be to travel on someone else's dime, very good.

What else have I accomplished this year, besides getting free trips you might ask? Well here are some things.

I started graduate school. Meet new challenges, rose to the occasion and succeeded. I was part of the team that won the GVSU case study competition, nice plaque for the collection. I was also nominated, and placed on the Board of Directors of the Western Regional Greek Association.

My start up company, OutSight Design is doing very well, not a millionaire yet but business is good. I have done websites for CompuCraft, real estate, Greek Life, shirts for the Betas in Michigan, shirts for Gammas, brochures, flyers, etc. You name it, I can design it, just send me an email at, sales@outsightdesign.com.

I also started racing this year! Did my first AutoCross event in June and had a blast. It is my new hobby, and once my car is back I plan to get back into it. Very relaxing, and one of the few things in life that makes me get jittery the day before. I love my little Nissan NX 2000.

Novali is bigger then ever, got her back to Saginaw a few times this year. Her use of the Spanish language is amazing and I hope she keeps it up. She brings a smile to my face everyday (her pictures are in my office), and I wish I lived closer so I could see her more. I hope she knows how much I love her, even though she would not sign Happy Birthday to me yesterday. No song.

To my family, I am trying hard to make you proud. I know I don't make it home as much as I should, or call much. But I blog, and I email. Your support has made me successful, thanks.

Another year in grad school, then who knows what will lie ahead for me. I don't like to plan the future anymore, I just let it happen and go for the ride. It was a good ride this year, and I feel refreshed... even though I am in my quarter life crisis now. Did I mention the motorcycle I want to get?

What happened to the song?
Yesterday was long, I started work at CompuCraft at 8am. Then worked at GVSU for a few hours before my long 3 to 9 class stint. After that a meeting with NPHC, then off to meet my Brothers and friends at our campus hangout, BFE. Long day.

It was a long day. So long that my phone battery died, I got so many calls wishing me Happy Birthday that my phone died. That was nice. Thanks to all those who called, or emailed me.

I got a cake at work at CompuCraft, carrot cake, yum. A nice card from the gang, no song. No cake at GVSU, we like to act real corporate like and we have one birthday cake per month for everyone. Does anyone remember the Sienfeld episode with Elaine and all the cake parties at work... Classic. I got a nice card from the group there, but I wanted more cake. Once again no song.

Class, was long. One from 3 to 6, then the other from 6 to 9. Announcements on the birthday were made, people said congrats. No card, no cake, and more importantly no song.

Then BFE with the gang. Drove over with Becky (still no car, bitterness continues... it will be done "soon"... I hate soon I want now). All the GVSU Brothers were there, many friends, and a waiter to gave my Brothers suggestions on the worst things to give me to drink. I think one of them was actaully gasoline, smelled like it, tasted like it. Thanks for spending my Birthday with me, cheerin me on when I went bowling for barstools, and just being my friends. It was fun, I feel fine today, but I still wonder... what happened to the song?

Just pictures
Well there is a little more then just pictures on this post, but mostly pictures. Just the final recap of the trip.

After Anne took off on Monday for Albany, NY Becky and I decided we would cook dinner. So we went and ran errands and got food to cook. We made swordfish Shish-Ka-Bobs. I love to cook, I rarely do it, but it was a good time.

The drive back was not too bad. We stopped to see Becky's Grandma which was a nice stop. Good old stories, she compared the University of Alaska to a gas station. Funny story, Becky should blog about it, wait, Becky still does not have a blog.

I arrived just in time to catch a short nap, and then head off to Campus Life Night at GVSU. This week is going to be insane for me catching up and getting ready for the semester to really get rolling. So for those who have been getting slow or no email replies from me... I will get with you as soon as I can. Be patient. Thanks.

I just compiled the pictures from the trip. Here they are in living color, enjoy.

www.centellas.org/sam/pics/capecod03/capecod03.html

This one time... at band camp...
This weekend has been a reminder as to why Becky and I became such good friends. Each night we have stayed up late, talking about why we are both over educated and undermotivated, the reason relationships are impossible, how far away Mexico is, the benefits of me going to Bolivia and never coming back, why neither of us have tangible goals anymore, and the status of my battle against this little cold sore on my mouth (as of this morning I am winning, even though I thought the tide had turned last night).

Those conversations make me thankful that the great cubicle gods made Becky and I neighbors. In all seriousness I would never have chosen Becky as a friend. From the outside she looks to me like the typical bougie New Englander.

Went to expensive boarding school, drives a Honda that was given to her, has a private school sticker on her car window, shops at Ann Taylor Loft, parents own land on Cape Cod, and has been to as many places as Marco Polo. But the Becky I got to know; her parents worked multiple jobs and slaved to pay for those boarding schools, her grandpa left her the Honda when he passed, went to private college to play sports, no excuse for Ann Taylor, dad after moving from Germany to the US worked hard to barely save enough to live but never be fully excepted on the Cape, and has traveled because of school opportunities or jobs. We actaully have a lot in common, but only on the inside, not the outside. Glad we got to know eachother.

The Konowicz family took me in, made me feel at home, and I want to thank them. Thank you. This afternoon Becky and I will hit the road back to Michigan. Here is a quicky recap on my last two days. The rest of this Blog will have less sap.

Saturday - We did not end up going out. Which was fine with me, we stayed in a discussed politics and education. It felt like I was in the Centellas house, except without my brothers to start a heated debate or my mother to ask us over and over again, "are you boys sure you don't want more coffee, it would only take a second." The Konowicz are so well traveled and educated that it made for great conversation. The fact that Anne works for the Democrats in NY added a lot to, felt like a more "official" political debate. We rented Frida, didn't watch it, Anne went to bed early, and then later the younger adults went to bed.

Sunday - Ran errands. I love running errands. I feel so useful. Went to the bookstore, to Best Buy (of course on a trip I get into upgrade recommendations for people, more RAM for Konowicz family computer), the mall to fix Anne's watches, and home to hit the beach again. We walked to the beach right near the house. A short 5 minute walk and I was staring at the ocean. The weather was great, sand was hot, the view was remarkable, and I sat there and read a car magazine (the new issue of Super Street was out).

Before we packed up to leave I started to once again to make fun of the ladies Cosmo magazine. My compliant with the magazine is on the dating tips. Seriously, a magazine, written for women, by women, about women, will never ever give you good dating or relationship tips. They had, "Fifty Ways to Keep Your Man Interested", and it was a joke. Each 20 word description I could boild down to 4 words, or cut it out completely cause it was crap. Here is a short excerp:

#20 - My girlfriend knew that I loved Christmas. So one year, a few weeks before xmas she snuck into my apartment, and decorated my bathroom with tinsel and christmas lights. (I parafrased this)

If some girl did that to me, I would call 911 and say I had a pyscho break into my house. End of relationship. What guy wants tinsel in his bathroom? Most guys so rarely clean their bathroom that I am sure that tinsel would still be around for many months. Secondly, what guy wants his girl all over his bathroom? Not me. Another:

#5 - Greet me at the end of the day with an article you clipped out of the paper for me, or a new candy bar I might like. I love knowing that you think about me when I am not around.

Honestly now... they were digging deep with this one. This is what a girl wants. A guy wants a fat steak on the dinner table when he gets home, that will show him you were thinking about him while he was gone. And all the other ones about leaving notes on pillows, and funny voicemail message, come on now. Girls want that, don't write a magazine about what girls want and disquish it as tips on how to keep a man. One more, okay two.

#33 - Worry about me. Whenever I talk to my girlfriend from my cell phone in the car, she reminds me to wear my seat belt.
#50 - MY fiancee sometimes wakes up earlier than I do and does my dishes or puts away my clothes, but she never mentions it when I get up. It's so cool that she does that stuff just to be good to me and not because she wants the credit.

My mom should be the only women telling me to buckle up. If I want a maid I will hire one. Stop reinforcing the male dominated society and telling women to pick up after us. When I ask you to help me with chores, that is different, if I don't ask you, don't touch my dishes or underwear in my room. And this never mention it thing... just seems like ammunition for the next fight. "Well I get up and pick up your dirty clothes... blah blah blah." Ladies, do not pick up after us. If we wanted that we would move back home and have mom do it, don't try to be my mom.

Enough about cosmo.

I might ad more later, maybe. Well at night then we ate like kings again. Great chicken Mrs. Konowicz! Then we watched Frida, too long, okay acting, decent historical references, Salma Heyek.

Enough about Frida.

Today - I got up early to Blog. Wanted to keep you all updated on my trip. Having breakfast/coffee with Becky, Anne and Elisa (Becky's friend with the Jeep at the beach). That should be nice, then relaxing a little before starting the drive home.

I am excited to go back, my birthday is soon. As usually I am not a big birthday person, generally I never even go out or do anything real special. I don't even know what I want from anyone.

Late idea. What about a theme blog, critquing Cosmo every month? Something to think about...

I got to run... need to iron my shirt. Adios.