Earthquake?

One of our volunteers came in today and I asked if I felt the earthquake.

Earthquake? What earthquake?

Turns out there was one outside of Chicago, and it work up our volunteer (but not her husband). She thought she was crazy at first, and then she turned on the news: yup, there was an earthquake.

Did anyone else in the area feel it? Or did you all sleep through it like I did?

Technology Fail

Well, this has been and epic week.

Within less than 168 hours I have managed to destroy my computer, iPod AND cell phone.

Please please please put me in a padded cell with nothing fragile, delicate or breakable. Maybe some tech company can hire me to be a product tester! If it can survive me, it can survive anything!

Yikes.


My iPod and computer fried each other when I went to charge my iPod. Then this morning, Matthias and I went out to brunch after Mass. As we were getting in the car to leave, he bent down and picked something up:
"Um. This isn't your cell phone is it?"

It was. The thing had been submerged in a puddle in the gutter next to the car for over an hour.

Keep the technology away from me!


Now of course, the downside of all this is that while some people have said "Oh God is just trying to tell you to give up technology for Lent" I really really think it's the exact opposite. The devil is trying to stop me from actually living up to my Lenten resolve. Let's revisit that right here.

My Lenten Blog Rules:
1. Post something of substance daily.
2. Posts must be constructive and charitable.
3. Whining, moping, complaining, etc is strictly forbidden.

Well, the devil's got the upper hand now apparently - because here I am breaking #3 like a frenzied bull in a china shop.

So what do I do now?


UPDATE: After having sat out and dried for sometime, I can happily report that my cell phone survived the incident! (Sort of) Most of the functions are intact. I can hear out of it, but the microphone isn't working. I think it's because it is the smallest opening so it will take longest to dry out.
My cell phone has actually been in water before (for a few seconds...stupid flowers and their stupid water for the definitely not stupid 40 Devotion last year)and the same thing happened. About 3 days after the water the phone was back to nearly-normal.

Ice and Snow

In other news, it has been bitter cold around here. We're in the midst of a heat wave at the moment - it's a balmy 23° out there! In the middle of this past week, temperatures were down around -20°...let me emphasize that: NEGATIVE 20! 20 BELOW! With wind chill it was supposed to feel like -39° ...and believe me, it did. Bitter, bitter cold.

It was so cold that on Friday the furnace in my house was working overtime and yet the thermostat still read only 54°. The cold water pipes in the kitchen had frozen! Fortunately, after I ran the tap - both hot and cold - for a while, the water began to flow again.

Cold. Cold. COLD!

Looking around this is what I see outside my bedroom window:

photo:me 1/18 on WQE's camera

Yikes! Better not drop on anyone...unless they're trying to break into the house or something. (Have I ever mentioned how much crime there is in my neighborhood? Not good. Definitely not the Notre Dame "bubble" over here.)

I need to stop slacking!

Just thought I'd mention that.

As you go about your lives, remember to always keep others in your prayers.

Just thought I'd mention that too. It's really easy to forget.

And remember to always pray.

That's even easier to forget.

If only!

Generate a Barack Obama Quote!

"I think it's time we had a national conversation about heterodoxy. We need to get past all the gather hymnals and recognize that we are our own best hope for overcoming bongo drums. We need maniples , not heretics. Maniples are our sanctity. And we need to have change in heterodoxy."
Generate your Barack Obama quote at Buttafly.com

I BELIEVE IN MANIPLES!



If only he did too.


More like Johnny Domer runs for president

HT to Thornie and thanks to Gianna for playing Mad Libs with me on this one :-)

Alternate versions supplied by the generator:

"These people haven't had sanctity for fifty years. So you can't be surprised if they get bitter and cling to their gather hymnals and their heretics and their bongo drums. That's what my campaign is about. Teaching all the little people in this country that they can have maniples."

"You know, there's a lot of talk in this country about heterodoxy. Well I think Americans are tired of the same old gather hymnals. Ordinary Americans believe in maniples , they want less heretics, they just aren't sure if their leaders believe in sanctity."

The Future of a Philosophy Major

The man who is truly good and wise always makes the best of circumstances. - The Philosopher

Two posts ago, I referred to Homeless Bill. In case you were wondering about that, and what one ever does with a philosophy major from Notre Dame:




P.S. The introduction from the creator:

...This is inspired, I guess, by my family's worries that this is indeed how I'll end up. I know that you, [Matthias], have been subjected to the same warnings and title of "Homeless," so this one's for you...

Lay Mis Reprise

My dear friend, Matthew of Holy Whapping was privileged to see the last "preview" of the school year of the masterpiece-in-progress show "Lay Miserables," which hopefully everyone remembers me writing about a little while ago. He decided to write about it today. You should go look at his post over the Shrine.
He heralds it as "definitive proof that the Catholic Nerd Quotient at Notre Dame is only increasing."

I do have a sneak preview that I might be able to leak to the public, with permission of my co-writers. Stay tuned.


In other news, I realized my label cloud "What I write about" on the sidebar doesn't show up in Internet Explorer, and the blog just looks terrible in Safari (everything looks like it's in bold). Have other people noticed this? Any tips on fixing it?



And in most important news, thank you to everyone who's been praying for me. The situation improved a bit after small confrontation and quick action, but I am still in great need of prayers.

Prayers needed, and other stuff

About an hour ago I got a phone call I was looking forward to; but turns out the conversation was near the exact opposite of what I was expecting (and wanted) to hear.

Unfortunately, this summer is not going to be what I thought it would.

Please pray for my current situation. The help I asked for in my last post is even more important now.


Thank you, Vincenzo for posting this - it cheered me up.

A Notre Dame favorite that you will undoubtedly hear if you are on campus for more than a week. Yes I know, this is not the *same* video Vincenzo posted, because I was not yet on this earth in 1981, do not remember too much of the 80s in general, and, frankly, the clothing they are wearing in the video Vincenzo posted scares me. (Sorry Vincenzo and other real Journey fans.)

Also, I know the all words are not the most applicable to most of my life. But, both my parents were born and raised in "South Detroit" or "Downriver" as it's more often called...which reminds me of another thing that cheers me up: THE REDWINGS shut out the Penguins last night, and thus are well on their way to claiming their 4th cup in 11 years (the Pens haven't won it since '92, by the way).


Isn't it pretty? (Actually, I always thought it was a little clunky; but nevertheless one of the more attractive sports trophies.)

I love the Wings. I have been a fan since I was a kid. Heck - (I'm about to type blasphemy) - I was a Wings fan long before I was an Irish fan. I know more about hockey than football.
(Stop gasping in horror, y'all)

But back to more serious issues, please do pray for me and my life's situation right now. Thanks.

Happy Friday

On K80's white board, done by The-next-next-door-neighbor & My Roommate, photographed by me, March 2008.

I miss these girls so much already!

Random Roadtrip!

Tired of being cooped up beneath the permacloud, Matthias and I have decided to hit the road in search of greener pastures. Chances are we'll only find more snow - but that's ok, because we're headed to Pennsylvania and the fairest Land of Mary to spend an evening each with our families before driving back to Notre Dame on Sunday.

Hopefully the weather won't be too bad and maybe I'll even get some thesis material while I'm in Baltimore.

Say a prayer for our travels!



Our Lady of the Highways, pray for us!
St Christopher, pray for us!

Lay Miserables

A few people are going to kill me for posting this 1) because I'm supposed to be writing my thesis so I have time to work on this project and 2)for airing our dirty laundry out on the blogosphere....BUT it is hilarious and by far my favorite way to waste time this semester...

A few of us have taken to rewriting the great musical "Les Miserables" so as to immortalize our own personal drama. And so we most over-enthusiastically present:

"All the drama you never wanted to see again, set to music!"

Mind you "Miserables" is pronounced with a heavy American accent, none of that French stuff - just like the name of our dear University. NOTE-ER DAY-M, MIZ-RA-BULS not no-treh dah-meh, or mis'eh'ahb. It describes us exactly as we are: miserable laymen.

The musical explores our not-infrequent vocation/dating/roommate/academic crises, and everything in between.

One of the last songs we worked on together before parting for break was "Stars" - a wonderful song sung by Javert - or in this case, a roommate resolving to move out.

I can't get it out of my head. So here is one of our verses. (Know that the South Bend 'permacloud' is infamous and so the sky has a lustrous pink glow at night.) Watch the YouTube video, get the music stuck in your head, and maybe it will get out of mine so I can finish my thesis.

Enjoy!

Stars, in your multitudes,
Scarce to be sighted,
Clouded by South Bend,
No order, no light.
You are the sentinels
Hidden but sure:
Keeping watch in the night,
Keeping watch in the night.

More to follow...maybe.

Vote - Catholic Blog Awards

Voting is now open for the 2008 Catholic Blog Awards!

Some very kind person nominated me for the "Best Individual Blog" Category. Of course I'm running against most of the Catholic blogosphere on that one, but very sweet nevertheless, and I appreciate the nomination and any votes I may get.

The polls are open until March 17 - but don't sit around and then forget to vote!

go here now

Going out of Season?

Yesterday was the first time in a long time that I consciously realized that the ground was no longer predominately white.

It will snow again of course because this is South Bend; but I think we may be out of the solid white season (like what you see below.)


photo credit: me 12/07


Speaking of weather, the poor Basilica steeple is still broken. While the stained glass in the Lady Chapel has long since been fixed, a leak has developed in the West Transept, so there's been a bit of scaffolding up in there.


As for the snow, maybe the great Scout the Weatherman can let me know what he thinks.

Saintly Soaps and Sancti-Teas!

WOW! Before Mass tonight my fellow church lady told me I had to see what she posted on the Church Lady blog...Saintly Soaps and Sancti Teas!

I think I might just have to put in an order. The only hitch is that all prices are in Canadian dollars and there's a flat rate shipping cost of $15 for American orders. At first we were complaining, but that's really not that bad if a few of us pooled together our orders.

So, Miss Caitlyn and I will order the Pier Georgio Tea... and for all of the members of the Congregation of Holy Cross there is

*Drum Roll*






BROTHER ANDRE SOAP!!!!!



YOU KNOW YOU ARE GETTING SOME!
Yes, R., I mean you! Reeeee!

We may also need a stock of St Maximilian Soap. If only they had some for St John Neumann too!

backlog

I've finally published a few half-written posts. Please check them out. I still have a couple hanging around. My apologies.

War!

No - not that war, Domers. Too much stupid out of hand media in the past 48 hours regarding this university. Chill out. - those are my only comments for at this time.

Watch this and laugh.


Thanks to Thornie and the Cannonball and Catholic Warrior!

Book Meme #1

Well, Ma Beck effectively tagged me for this one. The instructions are:
1) Find the nearest book to you with at least 123 pages.
2) Turn to page 123.
3) Find the 5th sentence.
4) Type the next 3 sentences after the 5th sentence.
5) Tag 5 people

"To eat with faith means to eat 'spiritually,' 'eat within, not outside,' 'to eat in the heart, not to crush with teeth.' It means not only 'to eat his body and blood in the sacrament but to the point of participating in the Spirit [of Christ].' In simple terms, if one wants to recieve the body of Christ spiritually, he should be within the body of Christ, which is the Church."

Roch A. Kereszty, OCist. The Wedding Feast of the Lamb

I'm reading the book right now for my Theology course "The Mass of the Roman Rite" taught by the most tremendous Fr. Neil Roy.



I'll tag:

1. Anna of A Good Excuse to Wear A Veil
2. Lucy of City of Steeples
3. Em, Matt, Dan & Drew over at the Shrine of the Holy Whapping
4. Joseph of Veritas Vos Liberat
5. Claire of Confessions of a Cronic Dork

The Hermeneutic of Suspicion

Hey everyone -

Just so you all know, you should check out this out.

What a bunch of nuts

Gaudete!

Despite exams, Gaudete!


Yesterday I got a call from the lovely Lucy that sent me dashing across the snowy campus in a skirt, knee highs, and Mary Janes (a look I inherited from Lucy by the way) to find her and Drew of Holy Whapping in the Notre Dame bookstore with
wonderful news!

Congratulations!

I am so happy for them!


Another, less significant, reason for rejoicing: We finally got a really good snowfall! It's about time (just like the engagement of Lucy and Drew :-P)

And so we celebrated with snowball fights...

Behold, a scene from the Post-Post-Trid-Mass-Brunch Snowball Fight outside South Dining Hall:

Uhh that's a rather large 'snowball.' Watch out!!

We successfully snowballed friends on their way to the Dining Hall after 10am Basilica Mass and members of both the Folk and Liturgical Choirs. Haha! (ps, don't worry we only threw snowballs at the choir members we knew!)

The afternoon was quite beautiful.





What a wonderful Gaudete Sunday!

(both photos: me 12/16/07)

Ugliest Vestment Contest

Oh man! Here they are! Get on over to the Crescat and vote on the Canonball's Collection of (batshit)Crazy Clerical Clothes!


I have to say, the Pie Chart (#14 Mens) is one of the nastier ones given the setting...like Thornie's #16 Hippy Crack Vestment is certainly horrendous but at least it's outside...#14 is just taking itself to seriously.



But wow...they're all pretty bad.

My apologies to anyone I may have disturbed in the computer cluster when I laughed at #11 Toxic Waste

and
#8 in the Stole Category

and a few of the others