Take-it-easy Tuesday

Today I took advantage of the fact that my lack of motivation lined up with, while not quite a dearth of homework, still a little lighter load.  I also did some cantor scheduling -- I'm in charge of that this semester and neglected to schedule people for the two extra Family Weekend Masses, so lining that up has been exciting!  I'm getting good at chasing down cantors who don't respond immediately to e-mails (and it's much more fun to be the chaser than the chasee in this scenario, a new experience for me).

And: this came in the mail this morning, along with a sweet note!  It made my day to get mail and know that you were thinking of and praying for me, Mrs. Vietzke; thank you. :)

Back to the Books

Today was rather uneventful, but I did get a picture:

The freezer door kept coming open, and I couldn't figure out why, so this was my short-term solution.  (It turns out that it bounces open when you close the fridge door, so it doesn't need the tape as long as you check it after closing the fridge).

As if that isn't adventure enough, we had some excitement just now:  I just came back from a Music Ministry Coordinator (MMC hereafter) meeting, and on the walk back saw a gorgeous moon.  Hannah is taking astronomy this semester, so I thought she would appreciate it; they were just finishing night prayer as I walked in, so I wrote her a note to try to keep the grand silence. :)  So we all trooped outside, but there was no moon to be found!  We went down Grand toward Cretin a ways, then came back (not talking to each other, you recall, and giggling hysterically as we are running down Grand in socks and pajamas), tried the back of the house, but without success.  Apparently the night skies change faster than I realized, but at least it made for an entertaining episode. :)

Today, I:

• ...coordinated Mass music (which, since the mic was set up and Michaela was there to play and rehearse with the other instrumentalist, meant that I adjusted the cantor volume).  Everything went smoothly, and we had two French horns, which was beautiful!
• ...had a good, long talk with my family over the phone. :)
• ...walked to Barnes & Noble with Hannah to study (and got frozen yogurt on the way back!)
• ...realized that I don't have actual television channel capabilities, so did not watch The Paradise.
• ...finished all my homework for tomorrow.
• ...forgot to take a picture.

Tommie-Johnnie Saturday

The title of this post is a little deceiving, as it implies that I actually went to the game, which I didn't.... But the campus was alive and packed with fans and revelers, and the game was the defining event of the day.  I guess that going to the library today was probably the lamest thing I could have done, but while I was there I found some new stained glass and got some pics for you:

St. Alphonsus Ligouri:

St. Francis de Sales:

(These windows made me realize that I know way too little about both of these saints, especially A.L.)

This morning we had a nice sunny study session and saw this little guy on the table:

He was really cute (this is about life size) until we realized that he is probably a baby centipede. :P  (We decided not to kill him in order to reinforce the positive behavior of being outside rather than in the house.)

Though it was rather pathetic, I did get a lot done this afternoon, and I am now off to watch Pride and Prejudice with my housemates!  So life is good. :)

Fun Friday

Hi, everyone!

There were three main highlights of today:

1)  Perpetual Adoration on campus began yesterday, and I spent my first hour there today.  It was wonderful to be back in front of the Blessed Sacrament again!  I also made a connection:  Jesus on the cross is the fulfillment of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden; by eating that fruit, Adam and Eve were separated from God, but we can come back into communion with Him by eating Jesus, the fruit of the Tree of life.  How about that??

2)  Iced tea, chat and study time with Erin this afternoon.  Always good to see her! :)

3)  Hanging out with Nick Kl., everywhere from my house to Guitar Center to Target -- Amanda, I thought of you when I saw the following instruments:

What started as, "Look, there's a guitar for Amanda!" grew quickly, as it turns out that there are lots of sparkly and colorful instruments. :)  (There were also some purple drumsticks next to pink drumsticks that look just like Advent candles!)

And here's a guitar for both Amanda and Katie (and I might have to take a turn on it, too):

It was so great to see Nick again (and I got bread and bananas at Target; so win-win ;)).

Tomorrow is the Tommie-Johnnie game, so, Go, Tommies!

The Thursday of Free Food

Between a music major picnic lunch and a paired course dinner gathering, I was set for food today. :)  At the picnic, I ate with the other Lit music majors, all wonderful girls.  This evening, my class and our professors discussed an article, "Is Google Making Us Stupid?", which led to interesting discussion about technology and its place in our lives (the consensus being: use it, but rule it -- don't let it rule you).

Adventure of the day:  I planned to go to 5:05 Mass and to the discussion after that; however, due to a mis-communication, there was no priest (and therefore, no Mass).  So Jenna and I set off for the cathedral, but made it just as communion was about to start.  We were still able to have a short prayer time in the beautiful downstairs chapel, then rushed back to Sitzmann Hall (the Catholic Studies House) for my dinner.  As I said, quite an adventure!

This was in the chapel; I wonder if it's a mini organ (there is a keyboard behind it)?

And right outside the chapel was this:

...a Lego model of the Cathedral!  Pretty cool -- I doubt that even Wyldstyle (aka Lucy) could have done it better herself. ;)

Oh, and in other news, I got my first "Duh" sticker at my piano lesson yesterday:

My piano teacher is great and very artsy (her studio is full of color and modern art).  She is quite sweet but has Ugly Dolls that she throws at students when necessary -- or so she says, though it hasn't happened to me yet; as you can see, however, I earned my first "Duh" sticker for not ordering my Cowell music (whoops)!

Piano Day

Sorry about the lack of post yesterday; at 10:00 I remembered my Theo homework, so I did that instead of posting.  However, I wasn't really feeling the sit-in-the-dark-downstairs-by-myself vibes, so I studied in the closet:

(It wasn't as dismal as it looks in this picture.)

On Wednesdays, I practice piano, have piano ensemble and a piano lesson all within 5.5 hrs -- so only 1.5 of them are not spent at the piano.  Thankfully, I enjoy piano, though if practice was last instead of first, I don't know if I could do it.  (Herein lies the reason that I am not a Piano Performance major!)

Somehow I have the feeling that I'm not making very much sense, so I will bid you all goodnight and leave Philosophy for tomorrow morning. :)