Things I have learned while on Sabbatical

So for those of you who don't remember, I have been on "sabbatical" following the retreat at LaPorte (miss you all!). I highly recommend taking a sabbatical as it gives just more time to chill and you can never go wrong with that. Besides learning that the Keenan Revue (my dorm's big event that i came out for) was not this weekend, I have learned some other things.

1. Time really does travel faster here at Notre Dame
2. Blu-Ray is awesome.
3. Duncan Hall is phenomenal. Especially the chapel
4. Explaining what exactly I am doing with my life takes up a lot of words.
5. Blu-Ray really is better quality than DVD.
6. Hesburgh Library is actually a pretty solid place to get work done.
7. The Dark Knight in Blu-Ray is like watching it in theaters.
8. Free pizza is always delicious.
9. Prioritizing who you are going to see in a week is somewhat difficult.
10. I need to get a Blu-Ray.

Education, education, education

Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without
it nothing great was ever achieved.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I ran across an article talking about education that I wanted to share with you guys. It's actually the first chapter of a book (I think), but it's worth the read, especially if you're considering teaching as a vocation. I might end up getting the book...

The number one thing I took from the article is enthusiasm. I hope to be more enthusiastic with my classes from here on out.

Ultimate Pool

Today in Wilmington...

Today, Gen and I made another attempt to take advantage of our house location by catching the Obama/Biden train-stop in Wilmington. Obama traced the footsteps of past presidents who trained into Washington, D.C. from Philadelphia. Obama and Biden both spoke before a decent crowd in Wilmington where we had a chance to say hello.

Snarkiness

A Conversation with my mentor, Terry Gerlach in the office

Me: So yeah, I am pretty busy today so I am trying to work on being a bit more self-centered today.
Terry: ...And how is that any different from every other day?
(me scowling)

The Next Day

Terry: It's been such a long day. I am so brain dead!
Me: ...And how is that any different from every other day?
(Terry rises up out of her chair and "chases" me down the hallway as I cower in fear)

Comic Relief

Have y'all seen Jim Gaffiain? He's hilarious! I have no idea how to get the video on here, otherwise I would... maybe Isaac should catechize us about how to do that. So here is a link to one that my friends and I watched at probably 1:30am New Years day.

Hot Pocket

Oh, and don't fret, I'm not RickRolling you! (Thanks Isaac, I never thanked you before) Some of the high school kids and I were talking about getting RickRoll'd. Pretty awesome I could partake in that conversation!

Helloooo Sabbath

If you include Mass I will be putting in 11 1/2 hours at the parish today... Definitely coming in really late tomorrow!

I had Mass at 8:30am, RCIA after that, a youth ministry team meeting at noon. I decided to not waste the gas and the 30-40 min. in total driving time of going home and back here, so I stayed! Mmm aren't I awesome. So I walked to a grocery store to pick up some pizza sauce for our youth group dinner tonight, did some stuff for my lesson, took a nap, set up the room downstairs, and got really amused by this ball that lights up if you hit it against something! It's pretty awesome. I still have half an hour before the kids come... kind of wish I brought one of the books we'll be reading for our class!

ok cool. k bye.

Are You A Voyager?

Over Christmas vacation I watched almost the entire first season of Star Trek Voyager. It's a good show. There are some catechetical moments, mostly when Captain Janeway or another member of the crew is faced with an ethical and moral dilemma. In one episode, Tuvak, the Vulcan who relies heavily on logic, defies the captains wishes because he believes the captain wants something to be done but doesn't want to face the moral dilemma herself. She eventually finds out, to which she replies:

"You can use logic to justify almost anything. That's its power, and its flaw."

For those of you who finished reading all the way through the post and didn't stop at the words "Star Trek", congrats!

P-R-E-C-E-P-T-S

(Not quite R-E-S-P-E-C-T. But close).

So I have to sub for fourth grade religious education tonight. The lesson: The Church Teaches. I get to figure out how to explain vocabulary terms like "magisterium" and "precepts of the Church." Luckily, the teacher's guide included this (rhyming) acrostic to help me out:

Participate in Mass and observe all holy days.
Reconciliation calls you to mend your sinful ways.
Easter is the time to receive Communion yearly.
Church members act to serve the Church that they all love so dearly.
Eat no meat and fast when asked to show your true devotion.
Penance is a way to show your sorrowful emotion.
Talents, time, and treasure will help the Church grow strong.
So do your part and keep these rules to show that you belong.

New Year's Resolutions

So I hope everyone's breaks went well. Any good stories? I got a lot of reading done, finished West Wing Season 4, vacuumed my house top to bottom, watched The Dark Knight, did some service, drove some nuns around, went to Coronado Island off San Diego, watched The Dark Knight again, explained to my friends what exactly I am doing, watched Wall-E(amazing), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (lukewarm-good), and Bedtime Stories (good with my 8 year old godson) and Marley & Me (ask Gen what I thought of it. she was disgusted when i told her), ate a good amount of Korean food, met a former Rose Queen, ignored people and met up with others, and got out of jury duty.


I am posting my resolutions here to remind myself and so that others can hold me accountable.

1. Travel more around the east coast especially all the historic stuff.
2. Stop making fun of Gen (so far I am holding strong)
3. Reading more.
4. Actually go to the gym
5. cut back on McDonald's

What are some of your resolutions?