ND vs Syracuse, Part Two

I believe I ended my last post with us leaving South Dining Hall. We were now headed to see the football team. Before the game the team attends Mass and then as a group walks over to the stadium. Everyone lines the sidewalk and claps and cheers as they walk by. When we were in the Basillica I had asked the usher when Mass was and when they would be leaving so we our timing should have been perfect. The usher was mistaken, Mass was earlier than he had thought so we had missed the football team. Oh well, next time.

While Sarah and D headed for the parking lot to get our football tickets from Uncle Phil, John and I headed over to watch and listen to the band on the steps of Bond Hall. They perform all of Notre Dame's traditional songs as well as the music that will be played at that day's halftime show. It is a popular event and usually is quite crowded and today was no exception despite the cold. But as luck would have it we were early for that so we walked over to the Library to pay homage to Touchdown Jesus.





Back to Bond Hall and the band. Did you know the band is the oldest collegiate marching band in the country?





Here is a short clip of the band playing on the steps.





As soon as the band was finished playing we headed over to the Administration building to listen to the trumpets play. I have never seen it so crowded. John and I couldn't even get under the dome. Despite that it still sounded great.





John and I didn't know it but Sarah and D were there too except they had managed to get under the dome. Can you see them in this video?






Various parts of the band are performing in this general area and then regather outside the Administration Building just like us. Another piece of trivia for you, students are not allowed on these steps until they have graduated. Until she graduated Sarah always went in a lower level doorway and would walk up the stairwell to get to the first floor. Graduation has its privileges.





The band regathers and then are led by the Irish Guard and the cheerleaders to the stadium. People line the sidewalks to cheer as they make their way to the stadium.
Even though it was cold there was still quite a crowd.





We walked to the stadium and took up our perch so we could watch the band enter the stadium. Sometimes we can get to the front but no such luck today. Here comes the band!





Once the band was in John and D decided to find their seats but Sarah and I decided to stay and watch the rest of the show. The teams will be coming through to do their warm-ups on the field. When the visiting team comes through the Irish Guard stand at attention at the top of the tunnel and the band stands at attention. As the football team walks by everyone is quiet and stares.





All that changes as the Irish make their way to the field. The Guard remove their hats in respect and the band plays the fight song as the crowd cheers. It really is fun to watch. Here comes Jimmy!





Here comes Charlie!





The show was over and Sarah and I made our way to our seats.

ND vs Syracuse

Knowing what I know now, the game was as dreary and gray as the day appeared to be but let's just pretend we don't know the outcome of the game and just enjoy the day.

After parking and a short walk to campus our first stop was The Grotto also known as The Cave of Candles.

But first a photo of an outdoor walkway I had never noticed before. Sarah couldn't understand why I wanted to stop and take a picture but I liked it for some reason.





For those of you that don't know the official name of ND is the University of Notre Dame du Lac which means Our Lady of the Lake. Here is a description that I found on the internet that describes what the Grotto means to those that visit.

Father John E. Fitzgerald penned these words about that special feeling that radiates from the Grotto and touches the heart:

It's quiet and shady there. Just what there is about the place can't be described because it's different for everyone. Nobody knows how many candles have been burned or prayers answered there. From the great Golden Dome of her University Our Lady reigns as our Queen. Yet at the Grotto she seems to have stepped down a little closer to us that she might emphasize the other side of her personal relationship with us -- that of Our Mother.













Next stop, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.





John is about to get his first look inside the Basilica.





I know from the outside it looks quite plain but the inside is another story.





This is Sarah would like to get married. Do you think she and Cory have made a good choice? I don't think we need to put bows on the pews to pretty it up.





Our next stop was South Dining Hall. One, we were hungry and two, this is a possible reception site. Imagine it without all of the students and with round tables. There are other options but this one is in the running.





After lunch we decided to walk around campus and see the sights. Because of the snow and cold it wasn't as busy as normal but I think John got some idea of what game days are like on campus.



More tomorrow.....

I Need Your Opinions

I am looking for your opinions. I am seriously thinking of asking Santa for a new computer for Christmas. Do I stay with a PC or make the switch to a Mac?

Is this dog too old to learn new tricks?

Wandering around the net tonight I found this person's opinion on this very subject.

The easy answer according to me: Macs are superior in quality of hardware, and design of the operating system. They work very well for me, and for the folks that I support, but they are just computers!

The better question is to ask your self what you want your computer to do. Do you want a nice all around computer to play music, to surf the web, to do your homework, and your banking? Macs will work fine with less headaches.

Do you need to run specialized software that deals with artwork and publishing? Macs.

Do you want to run games? Windoze. Do you want to work with specialized applications in industry to control machines (such as a machine shop), or specific cad applications? Windoze. Do you want to dance with the Devil and dare viral infection, and other OS related headaches? Windoze.

Windoze hands down is the most popular OS on Earth. But then again, using that arguement, there are more insects on the planet than human beings. Which would you rather be?

I think it is fairly easy to tell where he stands. But the question is where do you stand? Let me know, I want to hear your opinions.

EMPHASIS, Part Two

Yes, we spending another week on the importance of emphasis in a scrapbooking layout.

This time the idea was to use a very large photo to emphasize its importance. I have been waiting for this week because I knew I was going to use this photo.





My second layout for this week.





Because I am writing this post earlier than normal and leaving tomorrow, I can't show you my Real World Color layout. She won't give the assignment until Saturday and I will be at Sarah's. You will just have to wait for another time. Thanks for taking the time to look at my layouts.

Thanksgiving, Part Three

Not only did we get to enjoy a fabulous dinner and a exciting card game there was also a football game that afternoon. I was excited because I never get to see the Lions play so this was my chance. They didn't let me down and are on their way to become the first team to win all their preseason games and lose all their regular season games.





Here are my two girls enjoying the game.









It was also an exciting Thanksgiving for Jo. This was her first trip to her cousin's house and I think she really enjoyed herself. She ate Meggie's food and learned where the treats were kept. After watching Meggie play with her rope she finally figured out what to do with it and much to Meggie's annoyance played with her toys. Thnaks, Meggie, for putting up with our little girl. She had a wonderful visit.

We decided we needed a picture of the dog cousins. We quickly figured out that a picture of just the two of them wasn't going to work. Nancy tried holding them together.





Next, Katie decided she would try to hold both of them. They just weren't cooperating.





We decided the best idea would be one dog, one girl. That worked. Aren't they just the custest cousins you have ever seen?





Ahhh, the engaged couple. Cory is smiling now but





little does he know that in just a few hours an unnamed person will throw him under the bus in a game of Hearts.





It was a great Thanksgiving and were glad we got to share it with our family.

Thanksgiving, Part Two

For most families Thanksgiving is all about the turkey. I'm not saying we didn't enjoy dinner but the real reason this family gets together is this:





Yup, it's all about the cards with this family. The game of choice is Hearts. It is a game where the first person to reach 100 points loses. The person who is sitting with the least amount of points is then declared the winner.

The two sister-in-laws sat out the game, plus the respective dog cousins, but the family overwhelmingly agreed that Cory would not be granted that same privilege. Poor guy, little did he know what he was in for.





The first game was played without incident with the winner being none other than Bob.





Everyone was enjoying the second game.









Even D was enjoying a beer, though it looks like he could use a little help opening it.





Then things turned nasty. A person who shall stay unnamed was sitting pretty with the least amount of points.





Poor, poor Cory is sitting at 99 points. Yes, he only needs one more point and the game is over. He must play this next hand very carefully.





An unnamed person is also playing her hand very carefully. If Cory goes over 100 and she stays in her position with the lowest score she wins.





I am sitting and watching. I start yammering away about something which for some reason has everyone's attention. We are in a spirited discussion so people are half paying attention to the game and half listening and talking. Bad move. The distraction was enough for this unnamed person to shoot the moon. For my side of the family that means she took all the points. She now has two choices. She can add 26 points to everyone's score which puts Cory over 100 and her winning the game or she can subtract 26 points from her score which means Cory lives to play another hand. What shall she do? Let's just say Cory has set a new family record. He is the first person to go out of the game with 125 points which is also the most points one could possibly score.

This unnamed person with ice running in her veins won the game. When it comes to cards in this family there is no mercy.





There is still time to run, Cory.

Thanksgiving 2008

I know I am skipping around but I will get back to New York. For now it is on to Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving this year was spent at Bob's lakehouse in Michigan. His family plus our family. We arrived Thanksgiving morning with the turkey already in the oven. This year some of the cooking duties fell on the younger generation. What would Thanksgiving be without rolls and Katie volunteered to bake them this year.

















They were all ready to bake except for one more step. Something to do with a blue bathtub I believe.





While the rolls were rising it was time to get that turkey out of the oven.









How many brothers does it take to carve a turkey?









The turkey is carved and the rolls are ready to come out of the oven. They tasted as good as they looked.









Does the china look familiar?





Looks like D is ready.





It seems whenever I am around this family, random photos appear on my camera. This is one of them. I am cutting Sarah's contribution to dinner. She made pumpkin cheesecake which was excellent. Thanks phantom photographer! And thank you, Katie and Sarah, for your dinner contributions.





Tomorrow photos of what Thanksgiving is really all about.