Conclusion of the Brethren Service Center BVS Project

This last Friday, my services at the Brethren Service Center for my first BVS project concluded. I spent two years here and I must say it was definitely an experience. I am going to talk about this past week that I had leading up to the last day.

Monday: Francie and I had to make one last trip to the Southern PA District office because we had to work on the administrative assistant’s PC. We had to reload everything from scratch because she kept getting the BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) when she boots up Windows. That was an interesting day. That was my last day in New Oxford so it was cool to see Georgia and Cindy again.

Tuesday: The new Mid-Atlantic District Executive Gene Hagenberger invited me out to lunch with him and his daughter. We went to this place in New Windsor called K&B and had a sub sandwich. This was a little nice restaurant that I didn’t know it was here close to me. I also started taking pictures of each department starting with the Conference center and Material Resources.

Wednesday: I don’t recall anything happening on Wednesday except my next group of pictures was the Buildings and Grounds staff and the MAD office.

Thursday: Roy Winter, BSC Executive Director and I went out to lunch at this place in Union Bridge. I can’t recall what the name of this place is but it was the second time I have eaten there. This time I had a bacon burger instead of the chicken fried steak I had last time. Then I went down to the warehouse and took pictures of the BDM staff. I went back up to my office where I got a picture of Barb and Francie. Then I went back down to the warehouse where Zach Wolgemuth, Jane Yount and I had a meeting regarding the BDM facebook page. I volunteered to help them out with the pace even when I am gone.

Friday: My last official day of work. In the morning, Francie threw a little get together for me in the Blue Ridge building where we all sat around and had donuts and juice. This was cool because I thought she would do something like this but I didn’t know exactly. It got a little emotional for me because it was when I woke up this morning that I knew I was leaving it hit me.

Saturday: I just continued to pack up some of my things. Packed up some boxes that are going to be sent to me when I am in Kansas. Not much else went on.

Sunday: I hung out with a friend of mine, Jerrel that lives here in the Becker apartments like I do and just kicked it and listen to some music. I also showed him how to upgrade his memory on his computer when he is ready to order it. Then during the evening, it was my final game night. The volunteers and I didn’t do much playing, but we did hang around and have some good snacks. Then we all took a lot of photos. It was fun. I am going to remember this night for a long time. I didn’t get that emotional, but again it was one of those things that reminded met that I was leaving. I am still trying to adjust to the idea of that because this has been my home away from home the last two years or so.

Monday: I dropped my boxes off in my former office so that Francie knows where they are when she sends them to me. From there I just picked up the apartment a little bit and packed my bags that I am taking home with me. Larry and Elaine Balliet invited me to dinner this evening. We went to this place called Papa Joes. This is a very good Mexican restaurant. I had eaten there twice. And again, it didn’t disappoint. From there, I went over to my friend Emma’s apartment, where my friends Al and Liz were there so we can watch some WWE wrestling. That was Monday.

Tuesday: I got up and prepared for the big day. I made sure everything was packed up and ready to go. Then I went outside to walk around a bit because it was something that I like to do. It was so humid though. When I walk just a little bit, I start to sweat. Then I came back up to my apartment and waited to take by bags over to Francie’s car. From there it was lunch time, where I wanted to go and say goodbye to everyone. After that, Francie drove me to the airport and a lot of hours later, I am back in good ole California.

It had been a great last week for me. Everyone was cool and supportive of me leaving. It is going to take some time to get used to not being in New Windsor, but I will manage. I like to thank everyone at the Brethren Service Center for being able to take me in and allowing me to do my service for them. I like to thank all the volunteers who I have had the pleasure of becoming real close with. It has been an great experience for me and I wouldn’t change nothing about it.

All Love:

Jay C. Irizarry

One work week left!

Well I have one work week left here at the center. I guess as the days go by it gets a little more exciting to know that I am going home for three weeks, the off to Wichita. I still have mixed emotions about leaving, but I know it's time because I know I can't stay here another year as a BVSer. It will drive me insane. I need something new in my life. I need another challenge. Going home will clear my head a bit. This last week I am here, I am going to focus on taking as much photos as possible. I've taken a lot of photos since I been here, but there are quite a few people here who I haven't got a picture of yet, but I am going to change all that this week. Not much else to to this week but that. I still have a little more packing to do, most of it will be shipped to Wichita when I get there. I still can't believe my time here is coming to a close, an end of an era.

Last week was a good work week for me because I got a lot done. I felt like that is a good thing because I don't know how much I work I got this week because it is my last week. I got a chance to meet two people on staff that work in the Dominican Republic, Irv and Nancy Heishman. I was very impressed with them. They seem like really nice folks. We prepped one of our Dell Latitude D630 laptops for Irv. Then I got a chance to work with the new Mid-Atlantic District's new District Executive. His name is Gene, and is very cool guy. I prepped a new laptop for him as well. Then on Thursday, I had dinner with Roy Winter, who is the Executive Director of the Brethren Service Center and Brethren Disaster Ministries, and his family. That was one of the better evenings I had in a while. I helped him configure his new second hard drive that he bought for his home PC. I was happy that I was able to help out Roy before I left. Roy is one of the coolest people here at the center and I got so much respect for him as a person, and as the boss of the center. Then my good friend Bekah Houff came down to the center for a week to lead her workcamp. It was awesome seeing her again. I always enjoy visiting any of my unit members and it was cool to talk to her throughout the week while she was here.

Now I am just prepping for the final days that I am here. I think maybe like two or three days before I leave, I might get more emotional, but right now I am just waiting. I am definitely going to keep in touch with most of the people from the center. I can't wait to see what life is going to be like away from here. I hope I find happiness soon. Well, off the have one hellava week. Peace!

At the golf range! July 2009

Jay and Larry Balliet

Two weeks and some change...

Well, it's finally August. Something that at one point I wished never came. But it is here now. As the days go by and the closer I get to going home, I get a little more anxious about moving on from here. I have made this place a home for some time and to move into a different direction is going to take some time to get used to, just like it was for me to get used to not living at home. Around here I just been preparing to leave. Last Wednesday, I sent three boxes back home. The rest of my things will be shipped to Wichita when I arrive there. Now I am just counting the days.

Last weekend I did something that I hadn't done in years. I went to a driving rage to hit a bucket of golf balls. I went with my friends and fellow volunteers Larry and Elaine Balliet. It was fun just to go out there and hit some balls. My technique wasn't great by any means, but I did end up hitting a few that I was proud of. I am kind of hoping to do the same when I get back home. I might end up doing it again before I leave.

This last week in Information Services was very interesting. I got lot of work done in the office. I worked on a few laptops, prepping them and making sure one is fixed just right for one of the fellow employees. I was happy that accomplished a few things this week.

So far I haven't told to many people back home that I was coming the 18th of August. There were a couple of people I had to tell. One was my dad, because he needed to know when I was coming home. The other was my friend Glenn, because I needed a ride back from the Sacramento airport. Then I posted it on Facebook, and now my blog. But I haven't called most people back home. I am kind of hoping to call when I get in. But I will see how that works out.

This week is going to be a good week for me, I hope. A friend of mine from my BVS unit, Bekah Houff came in for the week to do some work for the church workcamp. I am excited to see her, especially because I am leaving pretty soon, at least something cool is going on around the center. Then Ric and Jan Martinez, a volunteer couple who I got a chance to know since being here, returned for the third time since I been here. I am really fond of Ric and Jan, so it will be nice having them around when I leave.

Not much else going on. These next two weeks are going to be an emotional time for me because it is an end of an era, but happy that I am going somewhere in September. I catch myself thinking how hard it is for me to pack up my things because I had made this place home away from home for the past two years. I know its time to leave because I am ready, but I am just going to take in the positive moments that happen here at the center. Anyway, got to go. Be back soon.

Coming home...August 18th

Well its official. August 18th is the day I return home from a two year service in New Windsor. I still have mixed emotions about it. On one hand, when I get home things have changed in a major way. On the other, I need to be in a place I don't have to think about a lot of the things I see around here that I am not to happy about. Hell, lets face it. I haven't been happy in a long time. Not just around here, but pretty much my whole surroundings in my life. I think of my age 29. At 29 most people have some sort of major responsibility that makes their life worth living. At this point, I haven't found anything that I would die for. And I don't mean marriage and kids and all. It could be anything from getting a career job, to church, to the people around me. But that's half of what I feel. My father told me to take to positive in everything I do. Lets look at the positive that had gone on since summer 2007:

- The first thing that comes to mind is at 27, I finally get a chance to leave home for a while, something I haven't experienced yet. Not only do I get a chance to leave, but I get to experience life across the country, which is something that I always wanted to do. And thanks to BVS, I was able to do just that

- I have never worked at a place more than a year and a half. I now had been working in the IS department at the Brethren Service Center for two years now.

- I am in a better position financially than I was year before I left. I learned what it means to save money for a change and will carry on to when I finish up BVS and go into a better job.

- I was able to meet a lot of different people from all over the country. All kinds of people. From younger adults to older adults. I was able learn from people that made a big difference in my life. To me this was a big deal because I am a people person and for me to hang out with people who I now consider my east coast family is something special, and it makes it more comfortable for me to be here an a little town called New Windsor.

- I had fun working with all kinds of IT technology, with the Dell PC's and laptops. That is what made my work enjoyable.

- I got a chance to go to Washington, DC a few times since it is only 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours away from New Windsor. I also got a chance to to to Elgin, Illinois twice. Elgin reminds me of Modesto because of the way the town looks.

- I got a chance to live in an area where it snows during the winter and the beginning part of spring. I come from a place where it never snows. To actually see snow and walk all over snow is a bit different from what I was use to.

Those are some of the positives that I had experience since I left California to come to Maryland. Now I am going to talk about the positive things that I will take when I return for three weeks or so:

- I get a chance to meet and visit my two new nieces, Kali and Lillian. I also get a chance to see my older niece Priscilla once again. I got to see her before I left. She will be bigger and older when I see her again.

- Visiting my church family. Some of them still remembered that I left to the east coast and kept in touch with me, which makes me feel good.

- Going to see my Grandmother is number one when I get home.

- Going to my favorite movie theatre again.

With all the positive things that I am going to do when I get home, there is always going to be that "things done changed" going on in my head. There are going to be things that remind me that I may be the same guy, but others have changed. Now I can say that right now, and no one is going to convince me other wise because they don't see what I see. I see something completely different than everyone else. However I do believe in one thing: I am going to change a lot of things that are going on in MY life. And that is what I need to do. Don't focus on what things have changed as far as everyone around me, but to change things for myself and don't give a dam what people think about that. And if I can do that there is no more excuses for myself. I should think of this as coming home is for me, and what I got to do. Not for what others have or what they are doing. I am going to see some folks and some of them I hope want to see me, but this trip isn't to spend every moment going everywhere and seeing everyone I can, because I am not to spend every minute doing that. This is to focus on my future and prepare myself for trying to find something to die for. Trying to find some sort of happiness so I can move on and achieve my goals that I want to. I am just counting the days to my return.....

Welcome, Kali Bryanne Irizarry!

On 5 July 2009, my brother Josh and his girlfriend Courtney became parents for the first time to a baby girl named Kali Bryanne Irizarry. This is my third niece. I am really excited about it because finally I get to see my brother as a father. My father must be really excited because he is now a grandpa. He has a granddaughter, which is new territory for him because he only had two boys. My mom sounded pretty excited as well. She was waiting for them to have a baby and now they have. I can't wait to meet her when I get home. Congrats to both Josh and Courtney for becoming parents to Kali and making me an uncle for the third time.

Starting July with a Post!

July is finally here. It is time for me to get ready and to leave next month. Again there are a lot of things going through my head. I am not 100 percent ready for me to go home yet, but I think there are things and people I need to see. I keep saying that always in this blog, but the closer August gets, the more I dread. However I will say that I am looking forward to Wichita. I think Wichita is going to bring a new element in my game. I am really excited about it. I look forward to reuniting with the Chryslers and the Hubers, my good friends I made over here at the center. Today was a good day. Had a pretty good day at work. I got two laptops working, one in which the wireless adapter wasn't working correctly. It took a long time to find the correct driver, and I finally did, I was like "Dam, I could do anything in this field now". I looked for months to try to find that exact driver and now that I have found it, I feel like a small weight lifted off my shoulder. I feel pretty good. It got me to thinking today, I want to start thinking of moving up in the IT field rather than just staying a technician. I am hoping Kansas gives me that opportunity to do so. In the mean time, I might take this month and next month and prepare myself for a lot of things coming my way. My website is my main priority. After that, I will go from there. Anyway, I guess I will go for now. Peace!

What a Freakin' Week!

It's been one hell of a week. This is the week when two icons had passed away, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. When I heard Fawcett passed away I was like 'dam', I can believe it. She seemed to young to pass. But when MJ passed, I was so shocked, just like the rest of the world. And just like everyone, they will remember MJ for the music and performances. He was one of the best ever to grace the stage. I won't probably remember the last 10 years of his life or so when he was going through all his B.S but for me it was just about the music, his performances, and dances that made him who he is.

Then the next thing that happend was hearing that Shaquille O'neal being traded to the Cleveland Cavs for Ben Wallace and some other guy. The media kept hyping this trade rumor up so much that when the trade went down it didn't seem like it was news. It was more like finally it went down. Most people, like myself, think that Shaq is not the answer to LeBron James's destination. Shaq will help out the best he can, but he is old now and doesn't dominate like he once did. I think they picked up Shaq so someone can guard the Magic's Dwight Howard. Howard is a monster down at the post. When Shaq was in his prime, that probably could have worked. But now, Howard owns him. The Magic themselves made a big time trade to get Vince Carter from New Jersey. Carter is an All-Star player and is dam good. I guess they got pissed that the Lakers destroyed them in the finals so they had to get some more weapons. When the Cavs and Magic play in the playoffs next year, it will be very interesting to watch. Until then, I still am enjoying the Lakers 15th and Kobe and D-Fish's fourth title.

Well enough about whats going on in the news. On Thursday, Francie and I went back to the Southern PA District office to drop off a computer I had cleaned out for them. It is always good to go over there. Then today, I went to the movies again with my friend Al and seen "Transformers 2". I must say I really enjoyed the movie. I thought it was awesome. However there were a couple of seens in the movie that prevented it from being better than the first one. I would rank them about the same, maybe giving the first a slight edge because it was the first and it was hard to top it. I knew that going in that the second one had a lot to live up to. I was happy with it anyway and I look forward to getting it on DVD.

Very early this morning, Ed and Betty Runion, another favorite couple of mine who served here at the center for two months, finished up for the year. They volunteered here for years as hosts, but this was the third time they volunteered since I been here. They came the beginning of May and finished up end of June. They will be back and but I won't be here when they do. I am really going to miss them a lot. I will always going to remember Ed for helping Felix out mowing the centers lawn. Betty has got a great since of humor and was always so friendly. Other than the Hubers, Chryslers, and Hermonson's, I spent more time with them then any other volunteer couple. I am going to miss playing games with them. They are truly wonderful people.

Other than that everything is everything. It's almost July, which means I got a month and a half left. Now it's about preparing to leave, packing my stuff up and shipping it home. They enjoying the time I got left here and applying to whereever I go. Another chapter in my life is going to get wrapped up soon and so look forward to it.

Checking in on a Tuesday morning!

Well I think I will need to check in. This might be a little shorter than usual because right now I don't know if I got much to talk about. Had a decent weekend. Did the usual. Played cards with the volunteers on Sunday night. Watched some of the US Open. I did however get some work done on my website. My slump is starting to fade again. I am getting motivated once more to get this dam thing done. I still like what I have done up to this point but I know I still have some more work to do.

My mind and thoughts right now are to finish up and go home for a small break. I kind of dread going home still, but the more I think about it, the more I excited I get. There are a few things that I like to do and some folks that I need to visit, which I am definitely looking forward to. The next thing on my mind is Wichita. I am trying to prepare myself for a new life for at least another year. More about that later on.

Anyway, I am trying to keep a low profile here right about now. The more quiet it is around me, the better it is. The more quieter I stay, the less stress I get and the less pissed off I get as well. If that happens, then there is a chance that I can complete my overall goal right now. The overal goal is to complete two good years here at the center. I have never worked at a job longer than a year and a half. Already I beat that, and now two year mark is coming up and I look forward to that. So far things are looking good. I just hope and pray they continue to do so.

Congrats...2009 NBA Champion LA Lakers

Finally, after seven long years I can say this.......the LA Lakers are the NBA Champions for the 15th time. And finally I can say this....congrats to Kobe Bryant on winning his fourth ring. It's been a long time coming. So many years, so many situations, so many games, so much drama. It all finally paid off. They got close last year with Boston, but they ran into a team that seemed a bit more hungrier than them. Especially with Kevin Garnett (KG). KG has been playing the the league far to long not to have a ring. I couldn't stand watching the Celtics win, but I was happy for KG, is was the only good thing worth seeing.

This year was different. I kept saying that Kobe and the Lakers were on a mission the whole season from the start. They felt disappointment, and now they are to go and redeem themselves. From the start of the season, they looked great. People seen that. Kobe was developed into the great leader, and the other players wanted to play with him. Every person on that team played a great and important role. Andrew Bynum had came back from injury from the previous season. Lamar Odom accepted his roll off the bench and came back with authority. Trevor Ariza, a player we picked up last year, stepped his game up. Pau Gasol, the player Kobe needed to get this level. When the Lakers picked up Gasol, the first thing I said was "Hell Yeah". I was excited to get someone with his skills and talent. I was familar with him when he was playing for Memphis. This made the Laker nation very happy. And then Kobe, the best player on planet Earth. He did a great job in transforming his game to fit it around his team. The first thing he needed to do was start trusting that these guys are going to make shots. Then from that point, it was on.

They played great through the season. They won 65 games from the regular season. They never lost more than 2 games consecutively. They only thing that bothered me was that they would loose to the Charlotte Bobcats twice this season. The Bobcats haven't been good since their existence. Then they loosing to the TrailBlazers in Portland. They had a tough time there. But they found a way to win most of the other games. In the playoffs, they started off looking real good in the first round. Utah, a team they beat last year in the second round, was the fist team they had to play. It was a tough battle, but LA wrapped it up in five games. The second round was the most frustrating of all. Houston Rockets was their next opponents, and they gave LA the fight to the finish. This was a very physical series, a series that had taken the Lakers the whole seven game series to beat them. I was so upset with this series because Yao Ming, the Rockets big center and best player, got hurt in game 1 and was unable to go the rest of the playoffs. The Rockets other best player and scorer, Tracy McGrady, was inactive for a season-ending injury. The Rockets best players were out, and the Lakers needed to take them to seven games anyway. Next up, Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets were playing better basketball then anyone at that moment. They looked pretty good. They weren't the same team that LA destroyed on a 4 game sweep last year in the first round. The Lakers were able to beat them in six games to advance to the NBA Finals for the second year in a row. This time things were going to be different. Orlando Magic, a team that had beaten the Celtics in a long game 7 series in round 2, and then had beaten the Cleveland Cavs, the team with the NBA's best record and who at the time had an 8-0 run going into the eastern conference finals. It was supposed to be the Cavs and the Lakers meeting in the finals. It was supposed to be LeBron vs. Kobe, but the Magic had other plans. They put a beat down on the Cavs in six games to set up a meeting with the Lakers. A lot of good that did. Lakers were on a mission to destroy, to claim their trophy they they worked so hard for. They did so by beating the Magic in game 5 to claim their 15th NBA Championship. Kobe and Derrick Fisher winning 4, while Phil is now considered to be the greatest coach ever, winning a record of 10 rings (a ring for each finger). Kobe's first 'ship without Shaq. I know deep down inside he is happy about that, but he won't admit to it on TV. He collected his first Finals MVP award, the only award he hadn't been able to win. Now I truly believe he can play in peace now. And I think that will make him a better player for that. Right now I am enjoying this championship that I wanted the Lakers to get for over seven years, the last time they won. Folks keep talking about repeat, but I don't want to talk about that right now. Lets just enjoy this one until the next season begins.

Once again, Congrats to the Los Angeles Lakers, the 2009 NBA Champions!!!!!

Checking In!

Well, I just want to check in. Everything is still good to go. Just counting my days until I leave to go to Kansas. Most people always ask me if I am looking forward to going home, because I am going back to California for a couple of weeks before heading to Wichita. I say, "Yeah I am looking forward to it, but as much as my next project. I got a lot of expectations the next time around. I have goals that I want to achieve over here. This time I will accomplish them. What I mean by that is I had goals for my second year here in New Windsor, but I feel like I haven't even started on them yet, which means I may not get any of them done before I leave. I did create smaller goals that I want to meet before I leave, and I will do that. But in the big picture, I didn't achieve what I set out to do. I am going to make sure that I will complete my goals to in Wichita before I finish up BVS altogether. I think its going to take going home for a bit to do that. I need to be refreshed. I need a new start. I need to be in a different environment. I look at what I want to do in Wichita and that excites me. I think this time around, I need to be more creative, which my next position will possibly allow me to be. I need to get that smile back that I once had. When I first started here in New Windsor, I had that glow. The glow that I hadn't had before. The glow that says "I am going to have a great time here and my life is going to change for the better". I think ever since last November or December, I had lost it. Now is the time to go back and get it. New Windsor however was a success. When I look back and think of what I accomplished, I will think of things that I hadn't done before since arriving. New Windsor taught me to be more responsible for myself, as well as other things. I will take the things that I had picked up in New Windsor, and apply them to Wichita.

In other news, the Lakers have a 2-1 lead over the Magic in the NBA finals prior to this blog. Tonight they will play game 4. I have high hopes for the Lakers to win this game to take a commanding 3-1 lead. Kobe will have a much better game than he did on Tuesday. The rest of the team will come through.

Well the humid season has begun around here. I feel like I am quite used to it by now, but I still remind myself that I am from California, where it is mostly dry heat and manageable, even though sometimes it gets over 100 degrees some days. I was just thinking, and I am going to be in three different types of weather climates this summer: the east, the west, and wherever Kansas lands. I am not sure what Kansas weather is like, but I look forward to finding it out.

Everyone has been good over here so far. The host volunteers have been great. Now we have Ed and Betty Runion, who have been here twice before since I have been here. They have been here a lot longer though. Ed and Betty have been really great to me. I will always remember them even after they leave at the end of the month and when I leave in August. Then we have Larry and Elaine Balliet, who are just awesome people, just like the Petry's told me they would be. They are one of those couples I am going to remember and talk about for a long time. They got wonderful personalities and have great sense of humors. Then we got Art and Lois Hermanson, who have volunteered the longest. All my friends around here have been doing their thang as well, like Chef Walt, Cori, and Harry. All stayed busy and stayed cool.

Right now I am just trying to keep my head above water. Trying to stay focused on the task at hand. Trying to reach my ultimate goal here, to complete two years with now issues. I feel like that is going to happen. My attitude hasn't been up to par, but I am working on it each day, telling myself that I need to keep my head up and keep doing what I have been doing the last couple of years. Well that is the check in. I keep posting.

Kansas....Here I Come!

Since the middle of April, I started getting in contact with the BVS office regarding my next project. I talked to Dan McFadden, BVS director regarding two projects that I had in mind. My first choice was to go to Wichita, Kansas and volunteer at a place called “Trees for Life”. I am not sure what this organization is all about, but I do know that they are looking for someone with IT skills. At first, from the BVS project book description, I thought they were looking for a web developer for their website. That is what I had an interest in. I also liked the fact they work with a lot of people. I enjoy working with different folks. It seemed to be to right project for my third year of BVS. This last week, they had called me up and I got a chance to talk with them for a just a little while. I asked them about the environment of what I am going to be doing, and where I am going to be. After being here in New Windsor for 2 years, all these questions seem to be important to me. It wasn’t so when I first started BVS. Anyway, I liked what they had to say about the organization. I started with just a few questions, but I will have more coming up. I think they had a good feeling about me and they told me that they would get a hold of me a few days later. This was on Monday, and by Wednesday, they sent me an email saying they would like for me to come aboard. I was like finally, I don’t have to stress about getting into a new project by August. So, Kansas, here I come.

This week seemed to be interesting. First, I finished up replacing the last PC I need upgrade. I have been working on this project for the last couple of months. It was the food service PC and I was happy that the last PC was Chef’s. I really didn’t have to do much to his new PC because he just checks his email, and sends his lunch menu email weekly. Now Francie doesn’t have to worry about replacing PC’s and laptops for the next year or two.

The next thing that happened this week was the Lakers and Magic played their first game of the NBA finals. The Lakers gave them a beat down in LA for game 1. I hope this sets the tone for the rest of the series. I am hoping the Lakers come through and win this series to collect their 15^th championship, and Kobe and Fisher will get their fourth. I have been dreaming of a fourth ring for Kobe since 2003. It’s been that long. They only need to win 3 more games. However I know it’s going to be a tough series.

Today I had helped out the Conference Center with a banquet they were having. I always enjoy helping them out whenever I can because they know I appreciate what they do for my department. This was the second time I got a chance to help them out. The first time was when Al and Susanne Chrysler were here on their last night and they needed the extra help. I chipped in and helped out. Since I only have about two more months here, anytime I get a chance to help them out again, I will.

Happy Birthday, Pop!

The last time I wrote in this blog, it was my mother's birthday. Now its my father's birthday. "Happy Birthday, Pop. Hope you had a great day."

I guess I haven't been writing much because for two reasons. 1) There wasn't much going on the past couple of weeks, and 2) When I did have something to write about, it wasn't appropriate to write about it. Well, at least in this blog. I might write about it in my next Coast 2 Coast newsletter. Let's see. Work has been good. Still social life kind of sucks again. It's been in a drought for a while. However, I am still playing cards with the volunteers here on Sunday and Wednesday evenings. I always enjoy the game night because it gets me out of my crib. And plus I love playing cards. I started a new book, one of which my dad sent me two Christmas's ago. Then this weekend, I got some more work done on my personal website. It's coming. I promise. Anyway, the Lakers are back in the Finals for the second straight year. I look forward to watching the finals. Still not much going on this week so far, but will see. Got to go. Peace.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I want to wish my mom a "Happy Birthday". Hope you celebrate when you get back from your trip.

This Past Weekend.....

There were two things that highlighted last weekend. First off, it was Mother’s day weekend and I had called and wished my mother a Happy Mother’s Day. Of course I already blogged about that. Secondly, I went to my friend Al and his wife Liz’s crib in Taneytown. It was the first time I had gone to their place since being over here. I spent a few hours over there, just chillin and playing Xbox. It was the first time I had played the Xbox 360 and I must say I am impressed, even though I am not much of a gamer. Liz had made dinner for us. She made spaghetti which was good. Then I went back to my crib. Before heading over to game night, Al gave me something I thought was hella cool. He called it a late birthday-going away present. It was a Joe Montana football card with his real signature. That’s crazy. Al is a big time sports memorabilia collector. He already had Montana’s signature on a plaque. When he gave me his card, I was like, “Dam, this is great”. I very much appreciated him doing that for me. Even though I have left my card collecting days behind me, its always cool when I can get something like this. Earlier this year, he got Ray Lewis to sign a PS2 football game cover for me. I was excited about that. I was even more excited to receive a card with the signature of one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL.

The second thing that I thought was cool was on Monday. I had taken a day off because I need to use some of my vacation time before I leave in August. I bought this RL Stine book called “The Wrong Number” a week ago and started it on Monday afternoon. The book is 168 pages and for the first time ever, I had read the whole book in one day. I finished around 11:30pm. To me that was a great accomplishment. It made me be more motivated about reading, which I haven’t been in such a long time. I started with RL Stine first because he was my favorite author growing up. I figured if I can complete a couple of his books before I start of some of my better books, then maybe I can complete the rest of the good books I have.

There was a third incident that happen to me over the weekend that was all good, but this is something I can’t blog about.

Overall, I had a great weekend and I hope to continue with weekends like this until I finish up here in New Windsor.

Happy Mother's Day

Well, its 3am in the morning (like the new song from Eminem), and I am still awake. Mostly because I made a new memory to take back with me back home, which I cannot talk about on my blog. First and formost, I want to take this opportunity to wish every mother a "Happy Mother's Day". Mom's have toughest job in the world. I always say this about fathers, but I can say this about mothers as well. Any woman can become a mother, but it takes a real woman to be a "Mom". Much love and respect to all the real mom's out there. I want to give a special shout out to my mom especially because without her, I wouldn't be here. I also want to give a special shout out to my grandmothers. This is one day that all mom's should be recognized for what they do and what they mean to all us.

Well this week was pretty cool. This past Tuesday (a day after my birthday), my friend Al and myself went to see "Wolverine" and it kicked ass. To me, it was the best X-Men movie yet. If anyone hasn't gone to see the movie, I so recommend it. If people want to see it, I also recommened staying through all the credits because there is an extra scene afterwards. I hope they come up with more Wolverine sequills. Also on Tuesday, Francie and her friend and Finance lady, Barb, took me out to lunch for my birthday. We went to a little restraunt here in New Windsor just down the street from the center. It wasn't the best meal I had, but it sure beat out having pasta bar that day at the center, knowing that spagetti day was on Friday. The rest of the week went pretty well, nothing to exciting. Work is work and I don't have anything to report on this entry. Be back soon.

29 and counting....

Well, what can I say. Yesterday begin a new year for me, and its telling me this time that I am one year from turning 30, an age I didn't think I was going to make so fast. This time next year I am going to look back and think of things that I could have done better with my life. But until then, I am going to try to make 29 a great year. It's that last year that I am in my 20's so I plan on making to most of it.

Just like any other birthday, I didn't do anything exciting. I wanted it to be like any other day, except hoping to hear from a few people back home. The highlight of the day for me was my good friend Wolfgang made an appearance at the center. I haven't seen him in a month in a half, so it was great to see him. I got a few people who remembered my b-day (for all those who remembered, I say "Thank You"). I got a chance to talk to my mom and dad for a little while, my brother Todd called me, my friend Al called, and got a few messages from some of my friends on Facebook. But other than that, it was like any other day. I did some laundry and tried to watch one of my dvd's.

The one thing I think about is that I didn't want this birthday to come so soon because it means that I have to leave New Windsor pretty soon. This is something that I don't want to to right at this moment, even though I am planning on moving on. And now that it has passed, it will seem like tomorrow for when I leave. I think that is a little depressing, but hey thats life, right? Well I should say, thats my life, LOL.

Food 4 Thought....

Well, this post is a little bit different than the rest. Hopefully I can use this for not just for whats going on in BVS but whats on my mind as well. I mentioned this before, but I don't think I did a very good job at that. It is highly unlikely of me to write two posts so close together, but I just wanted to get some things off my mind....Hopefully I am aloud to, LOL.

Still been thinking about home a lot, mostly coming home to visit over the summer. I here of so much change over there its crazy. I am not sure if I can keep up with it. Its almost like it seems better for me to stay put over here, but I know that is not going to be the case. My brother Josh and his girlfriend Courtney are about to have a baby. My brother Todd and his girfriend Katy just had their second child. My dad has changed the house so much that when I come back, it will seem like a new place (well, new to me anyway). I have a new pastor at the church, whom I haven't met face to face yet. Glenn is officially retired again, and getting a little bit older than when I left. My mom is working a completely different shift at work then when I left. There are a few changes in Waterford, and some more major changes in Modesto. There are some friends of mind who I haven't heard from since I left. This is what I get to come home to. Even when I come home, I have no crib or no ride, which will make it hard to do anything. But home is home anyway.

I am thankful to BVS because BVS gave me an identity that I didn't seem to have before. Everyone in my life seems to be on track about how they are living their lives. They know who they are and where they are going or what they are doing. Before BVS, the only thing I knew was I liked being in the IT field. I liked working with computers. Now that I am in BVS, even though that is what I am doing right now, I think BVS has given me some what of an identity that I don't think anyone back home, except maybe Glenn and Donna (who were former BVSer's) would know what I am talking about. I don't even think the people in my church would know what I am talking about. I just hope I can do another year or two in BVS before I have to go back to the real world and look for a paying job.

My time here in New Windsor is getting shorter and shorter. I am going miss everyone around here when I leave. There were some wonderful people who I met along the way and I very happy to have met each and everyone of them. In my next newsletter I will talk about lot of those folks. But as much as I like New Windsor, I am looking forward to starting my next project wherever it may be. Doing something new sound great to me right about now. Right now I feel like New Windsor was the place for me to do what God has given me the talent to do, which is work on computers. My next project, I will go to a place where I can have somewhat of an adventure. I can't seem to call New Windsor an adventure because of what the everyday life here is, but I did get a chance to do a few things over the past two years which I am greatful to God for.

May….The Birthday Month!

I call this blog "the birthday month" because for whatever reason, there are quite a few birthdays this month that I know of. I will start off with mine, being on the fourth. My step father’s birthday is the same day as well. That gets cooler to me every year. Then both my parents, one of the 14th and the other on the 31st. I got a couple of cousins as well. I also have a lot of friends that are in May as well. To me, I always think of May as the birthday month.

Enough of birthdays, it’s been a little while since I last wrote. I have been working on the website a bit and its coming pretty good so far. Then I started getting back into reading. I am excited about this because I wanted to get back into reading since I came here, but I just always didn’t seem to do it. I needed to go back and finish this book I started a couple of years ago, and I did just that this last week. I feel pretty good about that. I hope to continue reading more.

Work has been going good lately. This past week, Francie and I went to New Oxford, PA to install three new PC’s in the southern PA District office. We finished up everything we wanted to accomplish, but it took a lot longer then we expected. We went Tuesday, hoping to finish up by noon. We didn’t get done until Wednesday afternoon. The week started off like that. We had to install a new PC for one of the employees here at the center on Monday. I thought it was going to be few minute job, but Francie and I had issues with this badge printer and it ended up taking up most of the day. This week was a good work week because we were busy, but some of the jobs should have been done a lot sooner than expected. The one good thing about all this is that I had learned about what to expect when being a little over confident in my timing. I think that is what it was, over confident.

The volunteers for the month of April had left this week as well. Tom and Maryellen Flory, and Dean and his wife Gloria served as hosts in the Windsor and Old Main buildings. It was a pleasure getting to know them. These couples were first time hosts and they are looking forward to returning next year. I had a good time playing games with them and being able to enjoy their company during breakfast and lunch. Today at breakfast was pretty cool. Larry and Alice Petry stopped by for a little bit before heading to Washington, DC. I thought it was great to see them. They, along with Dean and Gloria, and Jan and Roma Thompson, who were here signing their new book they wrote about the center, sang “Happy Birthday” to me since they weren’t going to see me on Monday. I thought that was great. I haven’t had someone sing happy birthday to me in years. So this was something I won’t soon forget.

A couple of weeks ago, I got in touch with Dan McFadden, the BVS director about my next project. I told him that I was interested in Trees for Life project in Wichita, Kansas. I haven’t heard anything yet, but I look forward to hearing something in the next few weeks.

Man, it seems like I haven’t talked to anyone back home in while. The only exception to that was my Grandmother, who I called on her 84th birthday this past Sunday. I think I will try to do better job on keeping up with the communication for my loved ones back in Cali.

Well that was my past couple of weeks. Be back real soon.

March 2009 Pics!

Game night - 29 March 2009
Top: Lois & Art Hermanson; Michael; Al Chrysler
Bottom: Hazel Hill; Cori Hahn; Valerie; myself

Game night - 29 March 2009
Al & Susanne Chrysler; myself

First Blog of April!

I've been slacking lately by updating my blog, but I hope to have at least four this month, even if I have to write two a week. That was my goal this whole year. A few things had happen the last couple of weeks. First thing is first, last week I was able to go to the movies for the third time of being here in New Windsor. I went with my friend Al and we went to see the fourth “Fast and Furious”. I really liked the movie overall. I still think the first one was the best, but this one had a better story line than the second one and that is why I liked it. They focused more about the story line than the cars in this one. There were a few scenes in there, where they could have left out, but it was still worth watching and still worth getting on DVD when it comes out. The same day, Al and I watched Wrestlemania 25 at his mom's house. This was the second WrestleMania I got a chance to see since being over here. I thought this WrestleMania was the best one I've seen in a long time. Most of them usually suck, but this one wasn't half bad. They focused more of the wrestling then the usual bullshit. I enjoyed it.

At the end of March, Al and Susanne Chrysler, who were hosts of the Windsor building here at the center, finished up their 6 months of volunteering. I really enjoyed their stay and their friendship. I noticed that the volunteers that stay longer than a month or two, or even come back a second or time, I get closer too. I feel consider Chrysler's family to me now, just like I consider the Huber's last year. If I get to go to Kansas for my next project, I look forward to seeing them if possible.

Speaking of my next project, I emailed BVS about my two projects I had in mind to see if I can get some information on each project so I can make my decision soon. I haven't heard from them yet, but I hope to this week because I want to get into something by the end of the month if it is possible. This is the time to get things going. I also hope by the end of the month I will get a chance to schedule a time to go back home for a few days before I start my next project. I will start thinking of that after I take care of my next project business.

The IS department is still going strong. I am taking care of business as usual. I am beginning to prep some of the newer PC's so that Francie doesn't have to worry as much as far as replacing them at least for a year or two. I look forward to finishing this project. This week we are going to Southern PA district office to install 3 new PC's. The computers that they are running right now are quite old. We recommended getting three new PC's for their offices and they agreed. Francie ordered them a couple weeks ago and now I am ready to install them this week some time. I look forward to that.

Not much else to talk about, but I am going to write again some time this week. I think there is going to be some more things to write about in a few days or so. Until then......Peace!

12 Days Came and Went!

As of this moment, I am enjoying my 3 day weekend. On Friday, I just finished working 12 days straight and I feel pretty good about it. That doesn’t seem like much, since there are some jobs that have people working 7 days a week. I not exactly exhausted from finishing 12 days but its something that I don’t normally do. I think this is the second time that I done it since being at this project. The other time was when I went to Elgin the first time for the same reason, the board meeting.

Anyway, this past week was cool and a little sad at the same time. I don’t think I can get into about what’s going on here, but let’s just say that the economy is hitting the church, just like everything else. Here in IS we are stay busy. My next big project is swapping out old PC’s for newer ones. We purchased three new PC’s back in December and now I am going to find places for them. This is the fun part of my job. I am going to be swapping out some more old ones and replacing them with a later upgrade, not just the new PC’s we purchased a few months ago. This week I am excited to be doing some tech work in Southern PA. I consider this a field trip. Then I was just informed that Francie and I will be heading to DC a couple more times in April to do some work over there. That is going to be a little emotional, and at the same time, one of the more interesting tasks that I will have done. These next trips to DC will be a first that Francie and I will be going to DC together to work. I’ve been to DC before to do some work, but I went solo.

Last week, I got a chance to watch the TNA wrestling pay-per-view. My friend Al invited me over to his mom’s to watch it, and in a couple weeks, we are going to watch Wrestlemania 25. That will be my second Wrestlemania in a row I got a chance to see.

This past Friday, one of my BVS unit members, Bekah Houff came through for a small visit to the center. I got a chance to talk to her for a few minutes before she went to VA. I thought it was great. Anytime I get a chance to see a unit member coming back to New Windsor for a day, or whatever, it is always a blessing to me. It was great to see Bekah again before I leave to my next project. That definitely made my day.

Be back next week!

1 Week 2 Remember

From last Monday to today, I have had one interesting week, one that I shouldn’t forget anytime soon. There was so much going on but I think I will only talk about what I thought was interesting. To start off, last Monday was the last day I got chance to work with a good friend of mine name Wolfgang Spreen. Wolfgang had been with the company for over 5 years and I believe the God has showed him another direction to go with his life. I was real sad about that because Wolfgang had always been the guy that made my job more enjoyable and fun. I love my job anyway, but he made it better. Most people here at the center probably don’t know that he is one of the funniest people I have ever been around. I think everyone needs someone like that in any job. However he also took his job seriously, wasn’t always all jokes. Wolfgang could do it all. Since I came aboard, he had several jobs that he was doing. He spent a lot of time working with the Buildings and Grounds department, a tour guide for any new folks who haven’t seen the center, our mail man, and 10% in Information Services where he took care of ordering our print cartridges and toner, and took care of our daily backup tapes of our server. He also spent a lot of time working with the Health and Safety committee. And he also made our weekly “Simply News” newsletter. The man did it all. That was some of the things was doing when I got there until now. He was doing more that that way before that. I just want to take the time and show some respect to the man who made an influence in my life since day one of my project and to let people know that if there were a lot more people like Wolfgang in this world, we would be much better off. He might one day read this and get on me about my punctuation on this blog, LOL. Anyway, I am going to miss him a lot and wish him the best of luck on the future and what his next plans are.

The rest of the week, Francie and I spent time preparing for the Mission and Ministry Board meeting that took place Friday through today. I enjoyed preparing for it because I felt we got a lot of things accomplished. We set up a room for one of the Elgin staff members to work out of. Then we went and built an Internet café for some of the board that didn’t travel with their laptops. They can get online as well as print documents from a printer we installed. We also installed a laptop in the auditorium room so people can show their presentations on. The meeting went real well. I enjoyed seeing a few people from Elgin, who I haven’t seen since I been there last year. The meals were goods, the host and the BSC staff did a great job organizing the weekend, and to me it felt like a successful few days. If this is my final board meeting, I am glad it was in New Windsor. Elgin is pretty cool, but New Windsor for the past two years is my home away from home.

A funny thing happen to me today. I got my $40.00 coupon for the digital converter box I purchased last month. When I applied to get this coupon before I bought the box, the government said they ran out of coupons, that there were no funds available at the time. I thought ,“alright, I bought it at full price at $50.00, whatever”. Now after over a month of using this box, I finally get my coupon. Can you believe it? Not like its going to do me any good any more. Now I think, “at least I got now”.

I am on day 8 of my 12 days in a row working. Last time I done this was the first time I went to Elgin. For some reason, I am a bit more tired this time around. I think I will be OK but I think at the end of the week I will be really tired, LOL. HAHA. Nah, for real, I think its cool that I worked 12 days because I’m not really used to it and it made me think I can do it again a few more times if I am needed for that again.

I’ll be back over the weekend!

A Good Week!

I thought of this week as being a pretty good week, especially at work. I stayed pretty busy throughout the whole week. The first thing I wanted to do was prep our two new PC’s for the Mission and Ministry Board meeting next week. The next thing I did was help Francie work on getting this archive for one of the Annual Conference staff. It was located on our so-called Novell Servers. I say so-called because we had to resurrect the servers in order to get their email archive. I hope we get a chance to retire them again. Then I just worked a little on fixed assets, which is a program to organize all our hardware located in the whole Church of the Brethren. Then I helped one of the field staff repair an XP installation so she can get her files. And then a few things here and their which I won’t get into in my blog so I wont bore the ones that read this.

This past Tuesday, I went to dinner with one of the volunteers here at the center. We ate at a mexican restaurant located at the mall in Westminster. I been there a few times and this was his first time eating here. Then the volunteers and I went to play games on Wednesday night, just like we do on Sunday nights. I had a good time once again. Now I am just chillin and having a good weekend and preparing for next week. Starting this coming Monday, I will be working 12 days in a row because the board meeting is next week and I need to be working, making sure all the computer technology is up and running for each meeting. I don’t recall ever working 12 days in a row, that includes the last two times I went to board in Elgin. The first time I went to board, I think I took the next day off after coming back. The second time I went to board, I got sick and stayed in the BVS house all week. So this time, I am up to the challenge. Of course its always cool knowing that I have a possible two 3 day weekends after that if I choose to do that.

Just to recap again, this past week was pretty cool and I look forward to having another great week, that just so happens to be the longest so-called week in my project. The weather seems to be changing a bit lately. Last weekend it was pretty cold and snowing. This weekend it supposed to be close to if not in the 70’s. How crazy is that for spring here on the east coast.

More and more I am missing family back home. But I am missing my unit members even more. I think about it every day. I think it’s because there aren’t too many people my age that I hang around with over here at the center. I mostly hang out with the older adults, which is great because I think they are the best people in the world, but some times I feel like I got to let loose every now and then, but I am not getting that opportunity yet. I look forward to getting that in the future, preferably in the fall….I guess I will be going now. …….Peace!

Some Recent Pics!

2/17/09 - Washington, DC


Larry & Alice Petry; Jay - The Petry's final
game night


Dick & Erma Foust; Jay; Al & Susanne Chrysler;
Alice & Larry Petry - The Petry's last day

I'm Back!

Well it’s been about a month and this is the first blog in a few weeks. I know I promised myself that I was going to try to do at least four blogs a month and I should have. I feel like I have been slippin’ a bit but this is a new month and now I will get things back to normal.

First off, the reason why I haven’t written anything in a while is because I was in my website mode. I have been making improvements on my upcoming website and I want to get up as soon as possible. My goal is to upload it is the end of this month. I really been putting the effort in creating something I can be happy with. I can’t wait for everyone to see it. However that is no reason not to blog. I guarantee I will do so much better at writing. That is one of the things I will be talking about and a personal goal of mine for this month.

Next, a couple weeks ago, I got a chance to go back to Washington, D.C for the fourth time since being here in New Windsor (5th time overall). I went with Larry and Alice Petry, a volunteer couple who host the Zigler building at the center. We just went for the day and went to see a few things. The first thing we did was visit this environment place, where they had a big plastic “Smokey the Bear” that speaks. We spent a few minutes in there and then after that we went to see if the Department of Treasury tours were going on. When we got there, they had closed the tours for an hour and a half, so we had to come back. In the mean time, we went to this art museum where they showed different types of sculptures and painted artwork that I thought was real interesting. We ended up watching this movie that showed a 30 minute science project that when I watched it, I had to laugh a bit because there were things in that video that I had to question whether it could be done or not. I would like to explain more, but it’s hard to put in words. Let’s just say it was one of those science projects that kept going and going. I heard about this video prior to going to DC again. That is one of the reasons I wanted to go again. After that, we went back to the Department of Treasury and waited in line for about 45 minutes to an hour before we got in. When we did go in, it took another 20 minutes before the tour actually started. I got to see more money up close and personal than I will ever see in 10 lifetimes. That was crazy. After the tour, we went to this place called Union Station to get something to eat because it was around 3pm and we haven’t had lunch yet. After we ate, went upstairs of Union Station and looked around for a bit. Alice needed to buy two Obama shirts for her grandchildren and I hung around for a bit. From that point on, I was pretty wiped out and we headed back home. It was a great day to be in DC.

Speaking of Larry and Alice Petry, they had been here since the beginning of January and yesterday was their last day. I really enjoyed their company. They are without a doubt one of my favorite volunteer couples to come here at the center and host one of the buildings. I have met them prior to the showing up here to host. They usually come here once a year in April to assist the BVS orientation coordinator at the BVS older adult unit. I am really glad I got a chance to get to know them, not just through BVS, but as volunteers here at the center. I am going to miss them a lot.

This month should be pretty busy for me. First, I plan on being in the gym twice or three times a week. That is something I haven’t done yet, but since I am leaving in about 5 or 6 months, I want to take advantage of the gym while I still have it. The next thing is getting my website up and going. I want it up very soon. I want to show people what I have done up to this point. Then I think I am going to start watching what I eat and what I drink. I need to loose a few pounds going into the next project, and I need to do it now. Then the Church of the Brethren’s Missons and Ministry Board (formally known as the General Board) is coming up in two weeks. I look forward to that. That is one of the only weekends I am going to work but I am excited about because I get a chance to visit a few people that I don’t see on a daily basis. However, it won’t be as big as before. The staff is staying put while the board itself is coming. I thing there are a few staff members, but I think they are executive directors giving some sort of report to the board. Anyway, I am still thinking of what my next project should be. I am going to see if I can get some updated information about the projects that are out there and the ones that are really in need of some help. I will always keep my options open. This month should be pretty exciting. I look forward to keep posting my reports.