My job
I feel like a new professional... yes I know I am new to the field, but AFA (Association of Fraternity Advisors) really pumped me up. I was reminded why I love this job, why I love the field I chose, why I dedicate my time (on and off the clock) to work with fraternities and sororities. I made some new commitments, made some new networks, and made new connections with old friends.

My clothes arrrived... late afternoon on my second day... but I did not let that ruin my day. I still went to sessions (in two day old clothes) and I did not let it get to me. The workshops were not as good this year, but time spent with my Western Region Greek Association Board and also with the Betas, Gammas and other NALFO professionals there was awesome.

We were at an amazing hotel property, view of the Hollywood sign and the strip. Celebrity sightings all over the place, David Swimmer, the entire General Hospital Cast, Daisy Fuentes (she spoke at our luncheon), MC Lyte, Tarantino, John Stamos, and many other B List celebrities were to be seen. It was interesting.

Our hotel was next door to the famous theater and connected to the big mall.

View from my hotel window, that is the hollywood sign in the distance.

It was great hanging out with my fraternity Brothers who were there and our headquarters staff Jim Trajilio and the famed Mary Peterson. After convention this summer I felt someone unconnected from the fraternity, but this brought me back in full force. We made some plans as to ways that I can help be involved with the Betas on many different levels. Needless to say I am excited.

The WMU Crew back together. Steve (my Greek Advisor, now at IU), Kristen who was Greek woman of the year when I was man of the year, and Ryan Weier who was IFC president when SLB came back to campus.

The Betas... we represented hard for the frat. Doing big things.

Hanging with the Brothers was great. Our last night we went to a place called Miyagi's. We had a good time, Ammar and I reminded each other of the good ol' MOA days. We had Moet, music, and a place were tons of A List people go... the parking lot was like a car show... I loved it!

Well anyhow, I am at LAX and getting ready to fly home. I have a busy week ahead of me and I am looking forward to being back at my office and getting started on the list of things I committed to do at AFA. Wish me luck!

Long day...
So my trip to Hollywood has gotten off to a terrible start. American Airlines did not get my bags to me... hopefully they will arrive in time for me to change tomorrow morning. I had an overly long layover in the Ohare Airport and was frustrated the entire time trying to use my laptop without it crashing every 5 minutes on me...

I walked Sunset Blvd. looking for Kinko's.

I really wish they would open some of these in Michigan!

I arrived in Hollywood and my shuttle took forever. Then when I got to the hotel my room reservation was all messed up (thanks Cressie), so tonight I have to pay for a room all to myself, and then for the rest of the time I share with two of my fraternity Brothers so save costs (thanks again Cressie). But at least I made it to my destination safely.

Then I meet with the WRGA Folks... I get some more ideas and off to Kinko's... which turns into a living nightmare. Half of their computers were broken, the other half did not have the software I needed, and their printers were horrible. Why aren't all Kinko's the same? They were telling me... "You can't do that Kinko's."... which makes me mad because twice this year I have done that at other Kinkos. I just want to print from my Mac people! Ah!

So right now it is 4:55 AM Eastern Time, I just finished my last prints at Kinko's... and I need sleep... one item on a long to do list. Wish me luck folks. I hope my bags are waiting for me at the hotel room.

Driving and Driving
My holidays are generally filled with a lot of driving, and this year was not exception. The major driving started last weekend with the fraternity Thanksgiving dinners, as well as the major eating...

The Epsilon Chapter, WMU Betas.

The new Alpha Gamma Chapter, GVSU Betas.

My break started on Wednesday when I planned to run to Grand Rapids to look at some potential hotels for my fraternity formal, pick up my laptop from CompuCraft and then buzz to Kalamazoo. However the snow put a major kink in those plans. Grand Rapids got hit with 8 inches of snow while I was there, and since I had not put the winter tires on my Sentra yet... I was a little stranded. It was good because Ramon and Heather also got stuck in Grand Rapids and we made it out and watched a ton of high school reunions, left the MargaritaGrill petting zoo, watched guys with no game, and exchanged some fun stories (Ramon - somethings you are never supposed to tell anyone...).

Thursday it was off to Meijer to get some last minute things, and also to Division street to a Latino grocery store to find some yucca. I found what I needed and rolled to Kalamazoo to get Vic and Miguel... well not that simple. My typical route, 131, was closed and I ended up taking side roads into Kalamazoo. Making a normally 45 minute trip into 1 and a half hours... wow... I got the guys and we headed to Albion... once again... traffic turned a 45 minutes drive into... yep, you guessed it... 1 and half hours. No fun at all!

The snow

Dinner table.

Snacks... snacks...

Dad carving the turkey... a dark on the outside, but just right on the inside.

Fried yucca, one of my favorite Bolivian foods I can get in the States.

I think everyone got seconds... and thirds.

The good food made the wait worth it. My parents arrived and we started to munch... summer sausage, shrimp, crackers, assorted nuts, chips and salsa, and plenty of Coca-Cola. Everyone played Dominos while I watched the last couple items cook and fired up the yucca. Then dinner was served... the Turkey got a tad over cooked (I must have bumped the oven temp while I was cooking other things... it got switched to 450!), and the yucca I bought was not the best (not in season) and the rest of great!

We ate like pigs, and then in Centellas tradition we looked up movie times. We decided to see the Incredibles. Excellent choice, we all loved the movie. From there Mom and Dad went home, and us guys went back to the house and watched more movies.

Friday morning I took the guys back to Kalamazoo. I also stopped at Office Max and got a 9.99 Wireless Router! Then I buzzed up to Grand Rapids again. The snow caused me to never make it to pick up my laptop on Wednesday, so I had to do that, and also Ramon and I planned to see some more hotels. It was a good trip (plus I was pumped about the router deal and getting my laptop back), and Ramon saw the Hilton and like I figured it made him want to have formal there as well... Ramon and I worked on our Formal 2005 proposal and we will see how it goes. Fingers crossed.

Friday night I drove to Chicago to see Novali. She was a little crabby but still my little angel. In the morning we played and had a great time. Nothing too special on this visit, it was cold and rainy so not many options of things to do outside anymore. We watched some movies and I chased her around the house pretending to be a monster trying to eat her arm. Saturday went to a wedding, which was in an amazing church! The reception was also very nice, out in Joilet. Not much of a wedding guy.

Hide and Go seek...

hiding in the closet

Sunday her and I played some more, watched Lion King, and had breakfast (I had coffee, she had cereal). Then I took off back to Michigan. This past couple days I spent a lot of time in my car. It was great to get around and take a break from work. Today I tried to get caught up on things before taking off to Hollywood... the to-do-list is getting larger then the amount of time I have left... ah! Also, my laptop is acting a little funny since getting worked on, I am worried they did something wrong to her. With all the stuff I got going on right now I can not afford to be without my computer, or more importantly time to drive to Grand Rapids again to drop it off and pick it up.