Last One: Thank You

  As my time is about to come to a close in Eugene, I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to everybody which includes those that worked very hard on my behalf to make it possible for me to come up to those that encouraged me along the way.  I feel that I have done well and hope you can feel the same way that I do.  The formula of work, play, as well as trying to socialize with the world is good,  I think, is a good combination.
  While I have spent the last two months here in Eugene, I have created a blog sharing my pictures and my written portion explaining what I have done.  It was hard as was expected but I did it!!!  I made the long drive here and I will make the drive back to Albuquerque, I lived in a very nice safe duplex house, I found a nice place of people at work, enhanced my technical background, talked to a few people as well as share a few laughs here and there, and basically was able to fit in.  These things take time but I DID IT!!!!  Once again, I have tried to do good which I feel that I have achieved.
  On the personal side, I was able to fit in nicely and really tried my best in everything which I promised I would do.  My days were long but they flowed nicely as it was not a struggle to finish a day off as I went to bed feeling like I spent my time well.  I really do like the Pacific NW but I also like other places as well, so it will be hard for me to decide where I will eventually settle down and write more stories of who I am.
  Since I feel that this is a team effort on everybody's part, I will have to use my imagination of the picture I will share.  For those that are unable to recognize, this picture shows my brother and the rest of his ultimate players on his team.  It took a lot of muscle and perseverance to make it!!!  Once again THANK YOU!!!!

Coastal Shots

  Last weekend we made a trip to the coast (Newport) to see if we can see any action on the water.  There is always action in the water though it may not be the kind that you are looking for.  We saw huge waves, some zodiacs, a few sea lions swimming about, but no whales.  We did have a blast as these pictures show:

A Glimpse Into the Future

  I thought I would share some pictures of when the family came over to my place following a pizza meal.  It was really awesome having my brother and his family come over.  I don't think I need to elaborate on the pictures below as we posed as the camera went click.

My Birthday Bonanza

  I had an extra awesome birthday this year as I did a lot.  This morning I went over to Lane's Aviation School where they teach the skill of flying which is something that I have always been wanting to do.  Saw a lot on my tour where Bruce my tour guide was very good in showing me around.  First I saw the very expensive flight simulator computer where somebody could enhance their flying capabilities dealing with several what if scenarios.  One could practice flying at night, one could practice flying in difficult weather conditions and so on.  Pilots can also use the simulator in dealing with a possible malfunction; can they still make use of other equipment that is still operating to guide the plane in a safe mode?  Personally I got a thrill out of looking at the equipment as my picture below depicts:

   Also heard a conversation between a pilot and the air traffic control center which I thought was interesting.  Just like learning a discipline, it is a language all by itself.  Saw several instruments on the panel on a plane that was parked outside and saw a flying map that is used in helping a pilot in charting out ones' course.
  Later in the afternoon I was in the mood to go for a swim which I did but what I did not know that the facility was also equipped with several fun areas like a water slide, a fountain, and a tidal wave area that creates several huge waves.  These pictures below shows the fun I had:

  Before we sat down for some Chinese food, we stopped off at a Barns and Nobles where I captured these two pictures:

 

 Thanks to everybody I had a really nice birthday.  I appreciate everybody's sincere sentiments!!!!

U of O festivities plus an extra

  It was cool walking around the U of O last Saturday with Steve and family.  Lots of people hanging  around getting a bite to eat, others listening to a music band that brought onlookers from all over.  Here is a shot of many vendors that were trying to lure you there way plus another of an individual enjoying his food.

  
  After we ate, we stopped inside to listen to a 3 man band who was playing some cool music.  The music was pretty moving where I was imitating the guy who was playing the bongo as well the one who was playing the saxophone, sorry no pictures.  As I was coming into the area the music was so moving perfectly coordinated that I saw a lady do a few cool dance moves.  It was fun watching her as she went about not only entertaining herself but me as well.  I think by showing a picture of the band one can picture how smooth they were in entertaining the audience.  The guy in the middle was the leader of the band so of course he was the most gifted entertainer in my mind.

 

  Lastly I took a stroll over to the track and field facility and watched a several runners compete in a meet under the lights.  Here they are, a tight bunch as the are coming around the bend.

  Yesterday for Mothers' Day we hiked Mt. Pisgah as this picture proudly shows, a hike that was roughly 1.5 each way.  Those clouds in the sky one could mistakenly think they were smoke coming out of from above an active volcano, sorry it was just a bunch of puffy cumulus clouds that were nearby where we were on top of the mountain.

Thank You Next Step

  As my time comes to a close, I thought I would pay tribute to you guys at Next Step as my way of thanking you all for allowing me to come in and be apart of a valuable organization.  It was really neat to be able to work with all of you as we all try to find a way to enhance a computers' life so that a workable machine is available to anybody who desires for one.  It was cool to get a sense of how this is done simply by removing some of the old worn out parts that need replacing while at the same time acknowledging those that do work with worn out parts in their efforts to make it usable once again.  That is simply AWE SOME!!!!
  I have had the pleasure to go on a few tours here and there: the cheese factory in Tillamook, Boeing in Seattle among visiting several museums/aquariums to seeing several other types of exhibits; what they all have in common are that they are extremely educational and Next Step is no different.  Except here I can say that I was part of the process of doing something good and that is to rebuild a computer with the aim of making it available to another person.  I will certainly miss all of you guys, thanks so much!!!!
  Below are a few candid photos of some of the people that make up my department, Refurbishing.  I hope you feel good of the training you provided me in my ability to rebuild a computer with new parts.

Lots of Fun

  Besides working, it is important to develop a social aspect in an effort to make someone more well rounded.  I did just that as this past weekend brought in a lot of fun.  Went over to a friends' home of my brother where there was festivities centering around this years' KY Derby.  It was awesome as we were greeted by nice people, food as part of a buffet line, even an encouragement to place a bet on a certain horse that one wanted to see finish first along with the odds. 
  The women who were there were dressed in a festival way by wearing one of those traditional hats that all women wear while attending the Derby at Churchill Downs.  The hosts/hostess also went a step further by providing the words to My Old Kentucky Home as we all sang as the horses marched onto the track.  Below is a picture of a guy who could have easily been apart of our party.

  I also saw this years' Eugene Marathon were thousands of runners took part in the annual event.  It was fun cheering the runners on as several passed us often in crowded packs.  Even saw a family member part take as my brothers' sister-in-law and brother-in-law competed.  It was fun to see them full of energy as we mutually saw one another.

 

  I thought the city did a good job in coordinating the event where the course meandered throughout the city so that the locals can get a glimpse of the runners as they passed at various mile markers.  The runners were seen through downtown streets, bike paths, neighborhoods with a climatic finish at the end.  The track and field facility at the U of O opened up their gates allowing the runner to finish up inside a cheering stadium something similar if you recall of how the marathon was run back in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.