Llama Love!

Today was move in day at the University of Portland with lots of fun things to do all over campus.

Be the "I" in PILOTS!

The BEST thing they had on campus? Hugs with Rojo the therapy llama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved on this sweet boy for a full five minutes. He was soooo cute and very loving. If we ever get acreage, I definitely need a pet llama!

 

After the hug, I got to give him a 'carrot kiss.' I won't lie, I was a little nervous. Have you seen how big llama's bottom teeth are?

 

 

The good thing is, the giant teeth are only on the bottom and llama's can't bite you with them.

Carrot kiss, then "Can you believe I just kissed a llama??!"

University of Portland ROTC Commissioning Ceremony

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the Army & Air Force Commissioning ceremony for ROTC students at the University of Portland. It was very cool! One of our student workers, Taylor, is in the Air Force ROTC program and graciously invited our office to her ceremony.



via Taylor's mom's FB page.

Newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Taylor with President-Father Poorman

Here's a great shot with Taylor and her family. I loved the fact that her dad & brother wore their uniforms too! Very cool!

 

Congratulations Taylor! I am so excited for you and your career! ♥

Thank you for your service to our country!

Touring the New Rec Center!

The new Beauchamp Recreation Center on campus is really coming along!

Remember that Go Pilots beam I signed way back in October? The center was just a steel structure then. Now...there is just 7 months until the center is open & ready to use.

I don't have my own hard had yet, so I borrowed my boss'. Also, SKANSKA is the construction company in charge of the BRC, not TODD. Sorry SKANSKA!

Sorry for the blurry photo...but you get the idea.

This is where the treadmills & ellipticals will be set up, facing this view of campus. Pretty nice!
 

Me, Sandy & Fay: the faces of Physical Plant!

Happy New Year!

This post is three weeks late. Sadly, this blog has become a casualty of working full time.
Free time priorities have changed, so the blog has been pushed way down the list. At least it still gets updated! I gave up writing for The Columbian months ago.

On January 2, 2015. Omid, Ward & Jeff decided to roast another pig.

I was scheduled to go back to work on the 2nd, but took the day off.

I texted this photo to my team and told them this was how I spending my day. ☺

Because it was so cold outside, the pig took 12 hours to cook. We were all starving by the time it was finished. It was tasty!!

This little piggy tasted soooo goooood!!

Everyone went home with roast suckling pig, and I even took some in for my team.

The next day, Omid, Matty, Alysa and I attended the UP vs. Gonzaga basketball game. My boss graciously gave us four tickets to the game AND four passes to the Pilot Club!

We got to mingle with the UP Adminisration (Omid even met the President of UP!), and eat lots of good food. There was even a full bar for the 21 & over crowd.

Though we were rooting for UP, Gonzaga won. The Gonzaga players were just amazing to watch! At the time of this game, they were ranked #6, this week they are ranked #3!

Celebrity Sightings!

 

Did you know the University of Portland has its share of celebrities? One is a current student, two are alumni and one is the fabulously hip new President! So far, I've had my photo taken with two of the four.

 

 

Meet Kevin Chung!

Kevin is the star of Ping Pong Playa! Omid, the kids and I discovered this movie back in 2009.

We all fell in love with Kevin and his adorable character. I blogged about the movie here. Kevin also stars in the movie SPORKS which we haven't seen yet, but it's on our list.

Meet Father Mark Poorman!

Father Poorman is the newly inaugurated 20th President of the University of Portland. He is so adorable and approachable and is known for taking fun selfies with students/faculty/staff! I have tried on several occasions to get a selfie with Father Mark, but have been unsuccessful. Lucky for me, my boss is besties with Father Mark & arranged a one-on-one for me to get my photo taken in Father Mark's Presidential office! Thanks, André! By the way, having my photo taken with Father Mark was the absolute highlight of my day!

The other two UP celebrity alums are Raj (Kunal Nayyar) from The Big Bang Theory

 

 

and Erik Spoelstra, head coach of the Miami Heat.

 

I'm not sure how often these two visit campus, but hopefully, I'll be able to take a selfie with them too!

GO PILOTS!

This post is a bit backwards! Blogger wouldn't let me move the photo, so the photo above is the beam in place. Read below to know more!


Exciting things are happening on campus! The University of Portland is currently building a new student recreation center. Boss Lady Fay told me about a beam I could sign, so I did. 

Can you see my name in the exclamation point?
I thought it was only appropriate to sign it there.
Most everyone knows that I LOVE exclamation points!!!!!



UP Update!

 

Time for an update on my new position at the University of Portland!

 

I was a bit nervous, as I left such a loving work environment at the Camas School District. The honest truth is I went from one family to another! 

 

First day selfie!

There are approximately 100 employees in the Physical Plant department that I work in. Everyone has been very friendly and patient while I learn the ropes & the culture.  My two favorite people in the PP department are Sandy & Fay. Wonderful, patient and just all around lovely ladies! I am so grateful that they are the ones training me.

Fay even brought in Thai iced teas for everyone!
 

So far, so good! I am happy that the transition from Camas has been a positive one.☺

Go Pilots!

Say what?! Me, endorse another university besides WAZZU?

It's hard to believe, I know. But...after months of searching and lots of prayer....I have accepted a position at the University of Portland!

I am sad to have to leave my job at the Camas School District, but really need full time employment. I will miss my wonderful ELL team & the sweet students, my lovely coworkers, not to mention the most amazing supervisor I have ever had (shout out to you, Dana!).

I always say, "You will never catch me wearing purple!" Well, I'm eating those words. At least it's for UP and not U of W! Don't worry friends...I bleed crimson!  GO COUGS!!!