The first order of business is to change my line from the self proclaimed “Marion County’s Number 1 Handicapper” to the self proclaimed “First Coast/Flagler County/Central Florida’s Number 1 Handicapper…..formerly known as Marion County’s Number 1 Self Proclaimed Handicapper.”  Good, we have item one cleared up. 

Last Year:

Last season I posted a 42-38 overall record, grossing a fair $325 fake dollars profit on the season.  At least I didn’t lose it all and have to “re-up” my fake loot.  If you have a spent any time on the site, you are aware that I will do the following things:

1.        Be bankrolled with another $1000.00 in fake dollars.

2.        Drive points home by making usually inappropriate pop culture/historical references.

3.       Attempt to offend many through abusive language and picking on readers’ favorite teams (I’m looking in your direction Hawaii).  

4.       Give my best effort to have the highest win to loss ratio I can throughout the 2008 football season.

5.       Spent way too much time and effort covering the University at Buffalo Bulls and the Indiana Hoosiers (most likely).

6.       Hold a party for myself when I hit 100,000 hits on a website with no marketing dollars, or any other dollars behind it.

Without further ado, I present,

The Most (self proclaimed) Accurate 2008 College Football Preview on The Internets!

Meet The New Boss...

All of these coaches have new homes in college towns around the nation.

Bobby Petrino-  I used to work at a restaurant called Zebb’s Bar and Grill during a summer while in my  college years at Buffalo.  I held down the worst job I have ever had that summer.  I washed dishes.  While it was great fun to mock the service people and all their daily drama, (these problems usually happen when everyone dates everyone else at work) the menial tasks were definitely something that were more appropriate for a Buffalo State graduate than a budding UB soon to be Junior (folks in Erie County, NY might get that joke).

Anyway, the worst part of the job was cleaning the bathrooms after work.  Not just the men’s bathroom, but the women’s room as well.  To those of you not well versed in the cleansing of wash closets of the weaker sex, they have metal bins fixed to the wall of the stall used for…..well……..used feminine hygiene products.  This is what Bobby Petrino, the Louisville Cardnials........I mean the Atlanta Fal…….I mean the Arkansas Razorbacks head coach reminds me of, a used tampon in its final resting place in a family restaurant on Niagara Falls Boulevard.  This year at least Petrino has some company in that bin (Rich Rodriguez).

June Jones-  While Hawaii was in love with Jones, and it seems he reciprocated that love for a long time; in the end the relationship was no different than two high school sweethearts who part ways to attend college.  In the end someone gets fat and the other person ends up sleeping around.  Jones was sick of the bullshit from Hawaii, and Hawaii became the fat chick who was once hot.  SMU wooed Jones away from Hawaii by offering fertile recruiting ground and a sound salary.  Seriously, when is Hawaii going to have another Colt “I’m not a rapist” Brennan fall into its lap?

Bo Pellini-  His stock has never been higher and Nebraska’s fan base couldn’t be more unrealistic about who they should have brought in.  In the end they settled on Pellini over my man Turner Gill.  This took forever and I chronicled it at great length.  At one point I was even called by media members, “A popular scenario.”

David Cutcliffe-  It appears the negative Karma from that whole Duke Lacrosse thing may be over since they convinced Cutcliffe to abandon his post at Tennessee to take over the coaching reigns at the cover your eyes bad Duke football program.  Seriously, Duke makes Buffalo look decent.  Heath Shuler, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Thaddeus Lewis?  Obviously you know the first three names, the question is will you know the last one by the end of the season?

Rick Neuheisel-  Can Neuheisel take over LA?  Can UCLA improve?  Can Rick turn down an NCAA Tournament Bracket?  Good luck to the Bruins.

Domer Update-

I giggled with glee all season last year as Notre Dame magnificently fell from Touchdown Jesus’ good graces and became a has been in the world of college football.  Now is not the time to pile on though.  Even Chuck Weis let us know this at the end of last year.  Here is a quote from Weis last season from Ian O’Connor’s piece entitled “A Dame Shame,” “So let me just say people better enjoy it now, have their fun now."      

We all had our fun Chuck.  Please read my preview from last season about the last time Notre Dame won a bowl game. 

*Note-  I gave the Irish WAY too much credit last year.

The only other thing I can add to my Notre Dame preview this year are words from the always prim proper Dana Jacobson. 

January, 2008 at the Mike and Mike Roast- 

“f**k Notre dame”  
“f**k touchdown Jesus”  
and “f**k Jesus.”

August, 2008 On ESPN First Take-

“People keep asking where Justin Tuck came from [in reference to the Osi Umenyora injury].  It’s not like he came from nowhere, Notre Dame’s not exactly a nowhere school.”

LWN can only assume a stipulation in the Jacobson-ESPN employment agreement now states that she “must paint Notre Dame in a positive light, at all times……just like NBC does.”

Cheating Scandal Redux:

There still has been little movement on the USC-Reggie Bush scandal.  I certainly hope that the NCAA will continue the investigation because if they can throw the book at Indiana for some phone calls, how in the world are they going overlook the now MULTIPLE claims that USC players have been given money and “extra benefits” due to their proposed professional fame and potential marketing opportunities of these athletes? 

On a related note, I certainly hope Bush comes clean soon because I am getting sick of watching “Keeping Up With The Kardashians,” hoping that Bush will slip up and come clean while on camera.

UB Bulls Preview-

This is what I said last season in the preview:  “Look for good gains this year, but I predict only a four win season.  Next year, UB will contend for the MAC East title.”  Well UB won five and were the co-MAC East title winners. 

Quick, how many Bulls were drafted in 2008 and how many Alabama Crimson Tide players?  The correct answers are two and zero. 

But I am getting off subject.  UB comes into 2008 with, dare I say high hopes.  They return QB Drew Willy, RB James Starks and WR Naaman Roosevelt.  On defense, Davonte Shannon will continue to wreck havoc in the secondary and the offensive line will be anchored by senior Jeff Niedermier.  Willy will become UB’s all-time completions leader tonight.  Starks will rush for over 1,000 yards this year again and Roosevelt will break 100 catches this season.  I am going on a limb and saying it.  UB wins the MAC and goes bowling this year with a 7-5 overall record!  Turner Gill will be named coach of the year, and then bolt to somewhere like Oklahoma State…..because he’s a man, he’s over 40!

BCS Conference Previews

ACC

The Atlantic Coast Conference is like a girl who wears to much make up.  From a far it appears to be pretty good until you start actually looking at it.  Outside of Virginia Tech no one is any good…..except for Clemson.  I am going to go out on a limb and (pick the preseason favorite) say that the Tigers take the reins in a conference no one wants to win anymore.  After all, they were 9-4 last year and return 17 starters.  Two of those starters are RB James Davis and his backfield partner C.J. Spiller.  The first test comes tonight when the Tigers face overrated Alabama. 

BIG 10

I think it is Wisconsin’s year, mainly because I don’t want to see Ohio State in another BCS Bowl.  That question will most likely be answered on October 4^th when the Buckeyes travel to Madison.  Wisconsin travels to Fresno State, Michigan, Iowa, Michigan State and Indiana this year.  Lucky for them they get OSU, Penn State and upstart Illinois at home.  Led by P.J. Hill and Travis Beckum and a stout defense, the only question for the Badgers is at QB.  If Hill is healthy that won’t matter.  I say Wisconsin slays the juggernaut and wins the Big Ten.

Look out for:  Ohio State, Michigan

BIG 12

Oklahoma is the best thing going in a stocked conference.  Naysayers will recognize that I have omitted the Tigers of Mizzou, but I think Sam Bradford and his very large offensive line will take the conference and make it to the BCS title game in Miami.  Bradford is a true sophomore and if he improves upon (or matches) his 3,121 yards passing with 36 touchdowns, it’s hard to deny the Sooners have a shot this season.  Oh, I forgot one thing.  Oklahoma has DeMarco Murray, who some say is BETTER than Adrian Peterson. 

Look out for:  Missouri, Colorado

BIG EAST

No I can’t…..I can’t do it.  I can’t put Pittsburgh as the winner of the conference this season, but I guess I need to respect the ‘stache of Wannstedt and put the Panthers atop the Big East conference this season….because I can’t find anyone else to choose.  Syracuse is terrible, Rutgers is Rice-less, UConn is uninspiring, Cincinnati will be too streaky, USF will fade down the stretch, Louisville is a shadow of themselves and I think West Virginia is going to miss Steve Slaton a lot.  West Virginia is also down a coach by the way.

For Pitt the 2008 season began when they beat top ranked West Virginia, which may have been the straw that made Rich Rod bolt to Michigan.  LeSean McCoy will probably rush for over 1,500 yards this season, Pitt gets WR Derek Kinder back and they also return all of their linebackers this season.  Keep in mind this Pitt defense also was ranked third nationally against the pass and returns two starters there as well. 

SEC

Anyone but Vanderbilt Ole Miss, South Carolina, Kentucky and Mississippi State can win this conference.  If I were really pressed for an answer, I would say that Georgia is not as good as advertised and they will miss the injuries/suspensions more than most think.  Additionally, your team’s national championship hopes rest in the hands of Matthew Stafford.  That’s cause for concern in my book.

I am going to go with LSU as the SEC champion, because their quarterback transferred from Harvard.  If there is anyone out there kicking them for mistakes made, it is certainly Ryan Perrillouix. 

 PAC 10

The Trojans should fall off this year. I think that Arizona State will finally overtake USC because you can’t stay on top for this long and you cannot cheat this long without getting pinched.  The bell tolls for the Carroll.  Your deal with the devil is on and soon he will come to collect.  Your only hope is that Mark Sanchez gets injured more severely or comes down with another case of the “sexual assaults” again.  Why do I say this?  Because Mitch Mustain is a much better QB.  He was 8-0 as a true freshman two years ago at Arkansas. 

Rudy Carpenter and Dennis Erickson will make moves this season and win the PAC 10.

Look out for:  Arizona-  Mike Stoops needs to have a good season to keep his job. 

Oklahoma is my national champion by the way in case you were wondering. 

Let's go Irish!

1. Randy Edsall is coaching under a new contract, which includes a $1.5 buyout clause should he leave UConn after this season.  Rich Rodriguez left West Virginia for Michigan despite a whopping $4 million buyout clause.  Will another post-season bowl appearance make Edsall a hot commodity for big-time coaching positions?  If so, will $1.5 million keep him from jumping ship?
2. When sitting in your seat at Rentschler Field, look left, look right and look up.  Imagine an extra 10,000-15,000 seats in the stadium.  Then imagine Penn State on the field in their white road uniforms playing UConn.  This is the vision Edsall has for the program.
3. Notice that you cannot see the gold dome of the state capitol from Rentschler Field.  This a good thing.  As the UConn-Notre Dame negotiations demonstrated, the legislature should not stick its nose in the increasing complex world of Division I football series agreements.  Like church and state, football and state politics should remain separate.
4. Speaking of gold domes, UConn will be playing Notre Dame in 2009, in the House that Rockne Built.  Will UConn be ready to play Notre Dame on a national stage? 

I know that we are going to be best friends, I can feel it.  Could you please, I beg of you, just add some elevators to your buildings?

Love Cas.

I can't believe that I'm finally here.  It was a rather pleasant experience being trans-Atlantic, minus the FAA's internal communication air traffic breakdown part.  By the GRACE of God, we only experienced a delay on the runway in the take off pattern, and had no delay with our landing.  Forty five minutes later we were in the air.  I had a lovely French woman sit beside me, (I also had the aisle seat which is another plus!), and she helped me with my French.  It's crazy comparing the flights with 2 years in between; the whole airplane had tv's with great movies might I add, contrary to our flight to Europe before.  I still stand strong with my thought that international flights do in fact have the best food.  Dinner included a filet with mashed potatoes, brie cheese, baguettes, a bottle of white wine (for "sleeping" the stewardess told me), tapioca pudding, and chocolate banana cake.  Tea and coffee followed and in the morning upon waking up I glanced down and saw I had been gifted with breakfast on my tray table, consisting of a muffin avec beurre, OJ, and yogurt, followed by another round of tea and coffee.

We landed at Charles de Gaulle at around 8:50, which isn't bad considering the huge delay we had prior to take off.  Interesting fun fact-Terminal E (where we arrived) is not really a terminal.  You land, the plane moves around, and you then get bussed to the appropriate covered "area" to go through customs.  Very strange.  Going through customs was a breeze.  The guard was impressed with my french compared to the previous Americans he interviewed, smiled and laughed and said, "Bonne chance avec vous cours." How sweet!

Blessing #2:  I was able to find all of my luggage and load all 156 pounds of it onto a dolly in under five minutes.  All 3 of my bags came out in a row-dreamscore.  My taxi driver was extremely courteous, and between the airport and the end of my cab ride I was having full conversations with the driver.  I was able to explain Northeastern's co-op program, in French, which came as a shock to myself!  I have a hard time explaining it in english as is.  I'm already thinking in french more, which is a nice shift in pace.

It really hit me-what I'm doing here-not when we landed (believe me I was a little giddy), but in the cab crossing over the Seine.  I looked up at the Notre Dame and it clicked-I just really moved to a foreign country.  At the moment I am totally alone, with no one I know here right now, with a slight language barrier, and a whole lot of luggage<--understatement. Upon that realization (which I guess is the closest I'll come to culture shock while over here), for that 30 seconds I almost worried about what I had gotten myself into; nothing familiar, and no longer an Acela ride away from my family or a boat ride to extended family should anything happen.

Well that thought dissipated when I looked back at the Notre Dame for a second glance.  I think it's good that I acknowledged mentally and spiritually that this is it, for keeps, but didn't let it put a damper over what I'm about to experience.  Arriving at the hotel I was excited my room was on the 2nd floor, until I remembered that I am in France, and in France the ground floor is not the "first floor" like in the states, but rather a "zero" floor, which means I'm on the 3rd floor American.  156 pounds of luggage and 32 stairs later (yes, I counted), I finally was in my room.  Not for the faint of heart.  College definitely taught me to suck it up and take the cheaper route, hence booking a room where the bathroom is outside in the hallway which made me feel like I was back in Kerr Hall.  My room has a sink though, and a lovely opening window to people watch.  Did I mention the no elevator part?

In true French fashion, right as I was about to cat nap, a protest of around 200 people passed by my hotel.  Already exhausted, I had no clue what they were saying, I'm assuming something about human rights as that's a hot topic these days.  There goes my nap...I got up and went to explore my future neighborhood.

On the way over to the Marais, I found a lot of things that were interesting to my eye.  paris, really, I feel is exactly like Boston in more ways than people realize.  The Seine looks as dirty (or dirtier) than the Charles, with people on boat tours similar to duck boats. Every corner there are multiple languages being spoken, like Boston, and if you replaced the facade of the French buildlings with brownstone and the iron balconies with bay windows, it's just like Newbury Street.  Except every street in Paris would be Newbury St.  All the rues here has restaurants with outdoor seating that would put Stephanie's to shame.  Every corner turned it seems as if a French version of Armami Cafe is pops up, followed by endless retail storefronts.  One can spot an American here easily-they stick out like a sore thumb.  A REALLY sore thumb.  Most of the girls here who are visiting Americans, and I'm not sure why, are walking around in sweat pants and hoodies.  Never been my style, and I guess that works for some people, but it really makes them apparent and easier "traps" I guess.  The Parisians, in stark contrast, are so effortlessly chic.  One thing in particular, they're all wearing converse, from 5 to 55, I've counted over 30 pairs today while strolling.

My neighborhood is tres tres chic. Wow. Corners hold organic eateries and the flagship A.P.C. store, which is right across from the flagship American Apparel (and oxymoron in my eyes to have that here). The prices are ridiculous. Eating lunch today, I also discovered the secret to how french women do not get fat. They take at least an hour to eat a meal. I've read about this eating strategy before, and since I had plenty of time and no responsibilities today, I tried it out. A small portion of penne with mushrooms and creme sauce, a coffee, and 65 minutes later, I was stuffed. It works. Americans should adopt it. I have now decided, after my experiment, that a). I could get used to this, and b). I'm going to try this in other areas while living here. It's odd, walking around Paris and wathcing how others interact, it's as if time is virtually suspended here....on a consistent basis. No one is rushing, everyone saunders, and lingers around a table, which I would find rather annoying in agitating in Boston and most certainly in NYC, but in Paris is just clicks. This might be a nice change of pace.

One change of pace I could really use: a lower exchange rate. And with that, au revoir.

While a couple of items were rather indulgent (new house, cars for everyone, lots of overseas travel), I realized that many could be accomplished without a fortune. The list empowered me to do the things I love, such as spend more time with my family, develop my skills as a writer, and communicate more often with family members who live hundreds of miles away.

It was the same feeling of empowerment felt by the main characters in the film The Bucket List, though they had, if you’ll pardon the pun, a real deadline to meet.

Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) and Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) find themselves roommates in the cancer wing of one of Cole’s hospitals. Both men receive news that they only have six months to live.

Carter expected to feel liberated once he heard how much time he had left on this earth. It turns out he doesn’t feel liberated at all. He’s depressed by the news, burdened by his responsibilities to his family and mired in the regret of not following his dreams to be a history teacher.

Edward, however, seizes the opportunity to go out with a bang.  He convinces Carter to leave his family behind for awhile as they live out the wishes on their bucket list – the list of things they desperately want to do before they “kick the bucket.” After lots of excitement, trips to faraway lands and luxurious accommodations, Carter reaffirms the love he has for his wife and family, and his new best friend.

If someone could tell you the exact time and date of your death, would you want to know? I don’t think I would—the big, red circled date on the calendar would be too much of a hindrance on what happens today.

I prefer the outlook put forth by John S. Dunne, CSC, my freshman theology professor at Notre Dame. As he writes in his book A Search for God in Time and Memory, Father Dunne believes that man fears what he can’t control. Man will pray for strength to change the things that should be changed, but he lets God deal with everything else.

(Reinhold Niebuhr’s “Serenity Prayer” comes to mind: God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.)

In this ideology, God is no more than a high powered executive who handles problems passed up the ladder.

However, if man takes the time to examine his/her own life, and compare it to the lives of great writers and philosophers from the past, man will find similarities and truths that resonate through everyone’s life. These truths illuminate another dimension of man, one that reaches beyond the self and one’s individual life story. In this dimension, beneath these life experiences, lies the possibility of companionship with a compassionate God.

This compassionate God is much more than a super CEO; he is Abba, my Father, who loves me today for who I am. He knows what’s best for me, including how long I should stay on this earth.

He has cleansed me of my sins and wiped away the fear of death. I trust that he has my best interests in mind and will keep me on this earth as long as he needs me to be here. Now unburdened of deadlines, I’m free to live fully in His love and to share that love with others.

As for my own bucket list, I have written a few items. Some are things I can probably do: run a half marathon, watch a Cubs’ spring training game in Arizona, take future grandchildren to Disney World. Some are things I dream about: take Linda to Hawaii and Rome, write a song that’s sung on the radio, and sing at Mass with the Holy Father.

Looking back over my first 50 years, I’ve already been very lucky, like Forrest Gump, to enjoy some unique experiences. I’ve gazed upon the Sistine Chapel, enjoyed beer in Munich, eaten fish and chips in London and bent backwards to kiss the Blarney Stone. At the stroke of midnight one New Year’s Eve (before I was married) I kissed a former Miss America. President Nixon patiently waited for me to take his photograph. I sang the National Anthem at Wrigley Field, chatted about baby girls with Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley, and was beckoned on stage by Tim McGraw to help him connect with a young fan.

But NONE of these events mean more to me than taking Linda’s hand in marriage, watching baby Kristin open her eyes at the sound of my voice, celebrating with Connor after his marching band’s victories, or “high fiving” Tommy after he struck out the last two batters to beat the undefeated Indians.

Like in the film, all our life experiences should be judged by two questions: “Did you find joy in your life?” and “Did your life create joy for others?”

How will you answer? Your answer will be the true measure of your riches.

CF
___________________________________________________________
First published in the August 8, 2008 issue of The Tennessee Register.
© 2008 Christopher Fenoglio

SOUTH BEND, IN (TGIAB) - With the increased revenues to the TGIAB.com website due to the recent traffic generated by the Greatest Playlist of All Time voting, TGIAB.com decided now was the time to committ serious resources to putting a reporter on assignment in South Bend, IN.  Our belief is that by imbedding a reporter on the campus of Notre Dame, TGIAB.com will be able to show it's readers what it is like on the campus of the University of Notre Dame (aka Universitatis Moronis) as the campus both prepares and wins National Championships in the falls of 2009 and 2010.  It is clearly the most likely outcome with players such as Robert Hughes and Jimmy Clausen playing for Coach Charlie Weis' high flying (in 2005 & 2006) offenses.  While on assignment, I will be the eyes and ears of TGIAB.com on the Irish football team.  While I won't really have much insider knowledge, I will work my sources here, here, here, here and here.  While here, I will also work to scout other Notre Dame teams, most specifically the Irish basketball team, but that information is for another day.  Suffice it to say, we here at TGIAB.com take our responsibility of providing you, our readers, information of the highest order and have committed to providing you in depth coverage of Notre Dame football (at least during the season).

With that said, here is the 2008 Notre Dame Fighting Irish season preview.  This is a realistic and objective look at the team's schedule, so everything you read here should be used when betting on the team in Vegas.*

September 6 vs. San Diego St. University

San Diego St. was almost as bad record wise as Notre Dame last season, going 4-8 against worse competition.  SDSU's claim to fame is alumni Marshall Faulk.  The only way SDSU should win this game is if the coach at

SDSU gets in his time machine, goes back to 1992 and brings back Faulk to run against ND's defense.  And I don't think that Back to the Future was a documentary of real events, though I guess I could be wrong.

September 13 vs. Michigan

With Rich Rod in town and a loss of key players like Ryan Mullett (transfer to Arkansas), Michigan may struggle this year.  Michigan's offense returns only 1 player from last years offense (source: Michigan fan), which was already a let down (though ND sure couldn't tell).  What will Rodriguez do without the incomparable Pat White?  I think not much.  But the real way that we know that Notre Dame will win the game is that they always beat Michigan the year after they lose at Michigan by a score of 38-0.

September 20 @ Michigan St.

Notre Dame hasn't beaten MSU in South Bend the last 6 times the Spartans rolled into town.  However, this game is in East Lansing, where the Irish have won the last three.  Our guess is that the Irish, coming off of the big win against Michigan, will once again seize the day and beat the Spartans in East Lansing.

September 27 vs. Purdue

Notre Dame has struggled with Purdue over the years, losing several games in a series the Irish should dominate.  We here at TGIAB.com believe that this year will be no different.  Especially with a young team, Notre Dame may be at the point of the season where a let down is possible.  We expect that Notre Dame will struggle early but that Jimmy Clausen (or maybe even Joe Montana's son) will be able to lead the team to a succesful comeback in the closing minutes, ala the way Joe Montana lead the team to victory in 1977. 

October 4 vs. Stanford

Notre Dame beat Stanford last year when Notre Dame went 3-9.  Stanford sucks.  Basically, we just hope that David Grimes doesn't get screwed out of another touchdown.

October 11 @ North Carolina

Notre Dame travels down to Chapel Hill for a hotly contested visit to take on the mighty powder blue uniforms of the Tar Heels.  With at least one of TGIAB.com's crack team of writers currently planning on attending, we are sure that ND will not want to let dogolfer down.  Still, Butch Davis' team will work hard to slow up the very hot Notre Dame team.  North Carolina will throw out the players that Butch has recruited the last several years, some very talented players.  But Notre Dame has recruited even better, an Michael Floyd, the freshman receiver, will be a large part of Notre Dame's victory over the Tar Heels.

October 25 @ Washington

Notre Dame travels into Seattle to have a stare down with the molder of men.  Tyrone is on a short leash this season as he needs Jake Locker to become Superman and lead the Huskies to a winning record and possibly even a bowl win.  While Ty will try to out clap the Irish (if you ever attended a Notre Dame Pep Rally while Ty was the coach, you should understand), it will not be enough.  Notre Dame, against all of the odds, starts out the season 7-0 and will look to equal Ty's start of 8-0 in 2002.

November 1 vs. Pittsburgh

There is a lot of hope that the Panthers will be a very good team this year.  Part of this comes down to the success Dave Wandstedt had last year instilling his defense, beating West Virginia and on the recruiting trail.  This all sounds great and good.  But here's the thing, the coach is Dave Wandstedt.  As a Bears fan, I know this means that Pitt won't be good.  It's a simple rule.  The last person to fit this same rule was Pete Carroll.  Look how well that turned out for USC...  Notre Dame wins and moves to 8-0.  Luckily, this means that alumni get excited and buy the rest of the tickets for the Syracuse game, meaning Notre Dame's streak of sellouts will continue to 2009.

November 8 @ BC

Boston College always beats Notre Dame when Notre Dame shouldn't lose.  BC has also beaten Notre Dame every year that I have lived in South Bend.  I will be living in South Bend.  Due to my desire not to be kicked out of Notre Dame, I am POSITIVE that Notre Dame will beat the Eagles.  And I mean beat them.  Notre Dame will not lose it.  There will be no repeat of 1993 or 2002.  It seems like this is Charlie's year...

November 15 @ Navy (in Baltimore)

Notre Dame travels into Baltimore to start a new winning streak against the Midshipmen.  After 43 straight victories, the pitiful Irish of 2007 found a way to lose to Navy.  It was a tough pill to take.  Navy lost a great coach in Paul Johnson, who overthe previous 5 or so years had restored the program to respectability.  Notre Dame will struggle to contain the triple option offense of the Midshipmen.  And, after 43 years, Navy will be looking to make the streak two games going the other way.  And so it will be.  With at least three members of the TGIAB.com in attendance (there, but are they really sober enough to be with it?), Notre Dame falls to Navy in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore.  Notre Dame fans riot and burn down Baltimore.  One Mr. Colnitis will never be the same.  Interestingly, his friends will be relieved by this turn of events (the loss of Baltimore, not Notre Dame).

November 22 vs. Syracuse

After the loss to Navy, Notre Dame has something to prove.  The team has fallen from #5 in the polls all the way down to #16.  However, at 9-1, the team is still in the running for a BCS or other New Years Day Bowl.  With that in mind, the team sends out its own practice team since the Syracuse Orange team admits that they do not have enough athletes to compete with anyone above the D-III level.  While the game will be close as Evan Sharpley will lead the practice team for several scores, Robert Hughes will punch holes through a defense that is not deep enough to stop the first team Notre Dame offense.  Notre Dame moves to 10-1.  The outcome will be the same even if Syracuse plays in the place of the Notre Dame practice squad.

November 29 @ USC

After 6 years in the darkness, Notre Dame fans are losing hope that the team can beat USC.  In a period in which Notre Dame has lost three games by 31 points, another game by 38, another by 20 and the 6th in the infamous "Bush Push" game, Notre Dame has shown that they may not have the horses to compete with the Trojans.  However, some day, Charlie will find his inner Braveheart.  This year will be that year.  This game will be that game.  And on this day, Charlie will rally the Irish and they will defeat the undefeated Trojans, ruining the Trojans push to play for the National Championship and propelling Notre Dame into one of the BCS games.  At this point, it is unclear if Notre Dame will play for the whole enchilada, but the fact that Navy went 12-0 won't hurt.

Reporting from South Bend, this has been a special preview prepared on assignment by ndgravy.

The humidity, heat, constant noise, cramped quarters -- these are all familiar sights and sounds when it comes to life under the Dome, and none have been scarce during these past few days before the start of classes.  While on vacation, there are some things you just don't miss.

While away for college, there are some things that you just can't live without.

The stay back at home was a great time to laugh and share with friends and family, re-visit favorite restaurants, and have a go again at unread and unfinished books. Throughout these relaxed and quiet days, I was never really sure what day of the week it was or what the agenda for the day would be, but I was definitely certain of one thing: Sunday, whenever it did end up coming around, was the time to get back to my home parish for the observance of the Lord's Day.

On my first Sunday back from school, I couldn't help but smile and marvel at the community that is the parish of St. Vincent de Paul. Tucked in a sea of suburban neighborhoods, St. Vinny's is the quintessential family parish. Stay-at-home moms, white- and blue-collar workers, the impatient teenager, and the pious grandmother all worship side by side in this humble and simple sanctuary. There is something about the parish life that is comforting, constant, and ever-welcoming. St. Vincent's is, and always will be, "a people's parish."

Many milestones in my life have taken place in my parish church: I received my First Holy Communion in this parish, made my first Confession, and was sealed with the Holy Spirit in Confirmation at the hands of the auxiliary bishop. I served Mass at St. Vincent's, adored Christ in our Eucharistic chapel, and prayed my rosary at the foot of the Blessed Mother statue, her mysterious eyes always looking down on me with that maternal care only a beloved son can know.

I've listened to missionary preachers from Latin America and "Rome boy" theologians - from the same pulpit; I've heard Handel's Messiah and the angelic tones of the children's choir; I've been to glorious Easter Vigils packed with incense and light, and to quiet, Wednesday evening masses in the crowded chapel; I've seen the saving waters of baptism fall over the foreheads of newborns, and the same water sprinkled on caskets and urns; I've cried and wept over sins and failures, and smiled and breathed again after leaving the confessional.

It's in the parish where the loftiest of doctrines and the simplest of devotions both find their home. It's where the believer and the uncertain can mingle and re-discover God together. It's where the priest and the parishioner are neighbors, where tabernacles aren't far from shopping centers, where sacrifices are offered daily in the midst of a bustling city. At times, it's like a Trappist monastery, and at others, like a zoo.

As my pastor once told me, The parish is really where it's all at.

As a new semester starts up again, it'll be hard returning to "real" books, leaving the "real world", and getting back to the surreal place that is college. But even in the midst of this meandering journey we call life, I can always be assured that the parish, with all its beauty, quirks, and grace, will keep its unchanging address as my one, true, and only home.

Adopted from a previous post under the same title over at Golden Is Thy Fame.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Scripture:
After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples
and eaten breakfast with them,
he said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John,
do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him,
“Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him,
“Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed
that he had said to him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you
know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old,
you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death
he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him,
“Follow me.”
John 21:15-19

For whom, for what shall we pray?
Peter had three times denied that he knew Jesus at all.
The Risen Lord's three questions here
remind Peter of his sin and give him the opportunity
to make up for it...

- For those who have sinned and who doubt God's mercy...

- For those who believe they are beyond God's pardon...

- For those who find it difficult to confront their own sins...

- For men and women called to feed the Lord's lambs,
to tend the Lord's sheep...

- For those who fear death...

Let us pray:
Come, Holy Spirit of God!
Give us the courage
to stand in the light of God's truth
and to confess our infidelities.
Draw your Church,
your ministers and your people,
to the font of God's mercy
where our sins are washed away.

Give us the wisdom to understand
that nothing can come between us
and the love of God in Christ Jesus -
not even death itself.

Give us fear not of death
but of anything that keeps us from the life
that is ours in Christ.

Give us confidence to surrender
to the mercy of God;
melt our hardened hearts,
shaping them as God made them to be.

With the fire of your love in our hearts
warm us to the work
of feeding those who hunger for God,
of tending those who ache for God's embrace.

Help us, young and old alike,
never to fear the path
along which you draw us closer to God.

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your people
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created
and you will renew the face of the earth.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...

This year, he is picking them to win 11 games again.  This is a man who has no legitimate reason being called an ESPN analyst if he is going to continue to make a mockery of the position.  Yes, Notre Dame will improve from last year, but it is hard NOT to do so after a three win season.  But eleven wins?

Give me a break.

This is what Holtz has become.  Another ESPN made commodity with no real insight and value to the college football fan.  I mean, if he has to tape one more pep talk, I will no longer watch.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Scripture:
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.

You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7--11

For whom, for what shall we pray?
- For restless hearts, burdened with doubts,
for those who live with anxiety and depression,
and for those whose nights are long and sleepless...

- For those who do not trust,
for those whose trust has been abused,
for those who lack confidence in their own faith,
and for the broken hearted...

- For those who are lost and cannot find the way,
for those who stumble on the path of holiness,
for those whose tears have no end,
and for those who seek the comforting embrace
of God's peace...

Let us pray:
Come, Holy Spirit of God!
Calm our restless hearts with the peace
that you alone can give.
Soothe and comfort us
when we are troubled in mind and heart
and let serenity be your gift to us.
Grant us sound sleep and dreams
that lead to morning's dawn.

Mend the brokenness of our broken trust
and with your Spirit's strength
make firm our faith when we doubt.

Give us your wisdom and counsel
when we are confused and know not
where to turn.
When we stumble on the path of holiness,
let your fiery presence light our path.

Teach us to delight in your Word
and to hunger for its truth.
Give us joy in our sorrow
and gently wipe every tear from our eyes.

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your people
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created
and you will renew the face of the earth.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...

- For the Church of God,
acquired with Christ's blood,
washed clean in the blood of Christ,
nourished by the body and blood of Christ...

- For those who were savaged by wolves
while the shepherds averted their gaze...

- For those whose grieving tears
flow unceasingly for the damage done
to the Church, our mother, and to her children,
our brothers and sisters...

- For the gracious Word that can build us up again
and consecrate us with the gifts and fruits
of the Spirit...

Let us pray:
Come, Holy Spirit of God!
Purify the hearts of shepherds
and consecrate them anew
for the care of your flock...

Come, Spirit of mercy:
bind up, heal, mend, make whole
the souls, the hearts the memories,
the lives
of those who were wounded
in their innocence...

With the truth of the Word,
be the Spirit breathing within and among us;
speak tenderly to the heart of the Church
and help us to hear the Word
who saves and heals...

Shower us with your gifts,
O gift of God most high!
Feed us with your fruits,
O comforter of souls!
Quench our thirst for God,
O font of life and fire of love!
Be sweet anointing from above,
Be sweet anointing from above...

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your people
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created
and you will renew the face of the earth.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Scripture:
I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks
to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus.
But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem.
What will happen to me there I do not know,
except that in one city after another
the Holy Spirit has been warning me
that imprisonment and hardships await me.
Yet I consider life of no importance to me,
if only I may finish my course
and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus,
to bear witness to the Gospel of God’s grace.
Acts 20:17-27

For whom, for what shall we pray?
- In what ways has God's Spirit desired to
compel my heart, my mind, my imagination?
Have I resisted the Spirit's draw
or have I allowed myself to be compelled?

- St. Paul followed the Spirit's lead to Jerusalem,
not knowing what awaited him there
and yet aware that ahead, somewhere,
lay imprisonment and hardships.
How might I trust more deeply the Spirit's teather?
What have I to fear?

- Dare I pray for the Holy Spirit's gift of courage?

Let us pray:
Come, Holy Spirit of God!
Draw me out of myself, my comfort, my contentment
and lead me to where God's grace awaits...
Draw me out of my inertia, my laziness, my corner
and lead me along the path of God's desire for me...
Free me from the prison of my fears and mistrust
and with couraged trust lead me by your light...

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your people
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created
and you will renew the face of the earth.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...

Offense: The biggest loss here is at quarterback with Kevin O'Connell getting drafted by the New England Patriots.  The replacement has finally  decided by Coach Long on Wednesday and, the race was between Ryan Lindley who is a redshirt freshman, then there is junior college transfer Drew Westling, and then the only player with playing experience is Kelsey Sokolski.  The winner of the competition is Lindley who will get the start against Cal Poly next Satuday.  The offense will need to rely on the running game for the first few games, because the Aztecs lost two receivers to the NFL.

The running game had only 1,247 yards on the yeaer or just at 100 per game, that could be because the Aztecs were down quite often and were playing catch up.  Atiyyah Henderson who was projected to be considered all-league last pre season, but was a huge underachiever and only gained 183 yards, and as of this time in camp Henderson is tied with Brandon Sullivan as the starter as of now.

Defense: They gave up 34 points per game last season, and can not be competitive by allowing that many points.  The defense does return eight starters, so they should be better.  The defensive line was the worst part of the defense and had a very tough time stopping the run.  This year new position coach Mike Nelson started spring with a blank slate and quickly made some changes.  Multiple players changed positions on the line in an effort to shore up the line. 

The strength of the defensive will be the Aztecs linebackers who have multiple seniors at this position and could be one of the best in the league, and they will be lead by Russell Allen who has 36 career starts. The defensive backfield should be very strong as well, and with both starting corners returning they should be able to perform well against the leagues wideouts.

The main thing the defense needs to do is to improve in stopping the run, and force teams to pass which will play in the strength of the  Aztecs.

No chance...  @Notre Dame, @TCU, @BYU, Utah

50/50... @San Jose State, Idaho, Air Force, @ New Mexico, Colorado State, @Wyoming, UNLV

Lock it up... Cal Poly (barely)

Projected Record: 4-8

Notre Dame Projected Record 7-5

Biggest Question Mark:  Will the Irish's O-Line give sophomore Jimmy Clausen a chance to set his feet, and if so will Clausen be able to take advantage of it?

Biggest Game: September 13thvs. Michigan - There are many challenging games for the Irish, but after an opening tune-up with San Diego State, the Irish need to win this one to keeps hopes high.  Blowout losses to the Wolverines the past two seasons killed player confidence, leading to disappointing results.

Junior tackle Sam Young returns to anchor what must be an improved offensive line if the Irish hope to return to a bowl game in '08.  Irish quarterbacks - 3 different QBs started for the Irish (one of whom transferred two weeks into the season) - were sacked a whopping 58 times last season.  That means one out of every 7 times an Irish QB dropped back to pass, he was brought down before he got the ball off.  That of course fails to include QB hurries, which happened on a good amount of the remaining attempts.  Weis has hinted at a running-back-by-committee approach, splitting carries between junior James Aldridge and sophomores Armando Allen adn Robert Hughes.

Defensivly, the Irish are without star safety Tom Zibikowski, a four year starter.  Free Safety David Burton should sure up the secondary.  Burton picked off three passes in '07 while recording 87 tackles.  Then again, Weis is hoping opposing players don't get to the third level as often as they did in a disterous 07 campaign.

Army Projected Recrod 3-9

Biggest Quesion Mark: Who will Stan Brock name his starting QB?  The answer will tell a lot about the Black Nights philosphy in 2008. 

Biggest Game:  December 6th vs. Navy.  The pre and post-game ceremonies are one of the high points of the college football season.  Recently, however, the time between has been anything but.  Eventually, the Knight need to right the ship (no pun intended) in order to keep this rivlalry more then just a tribute to the troops.

Stan Brock is ready to return Army football to its routes.  The good ole' fashioned triple option made its return to West Point this spring, and the Black Knights hope the flashback style offense can break the skid of losing seasons that dates back to 2006.  Carson Williams returns after starting at QB for Army in 2007, but many questions loom over the spot.  Williams is more of a drop-back style passer, and while he's the returning starter, the move to option could jeopordize his spot.  He'll most likely get the snap on opening day, but will need to show some mobility if he hopes to keep freshman Paul McIntosh (Indiana's Mr. Football last year) on the bench.

The Defense is led by the line up front which returns 3 starters.  Ted Bentler started the final 8 games of the season, while both defensive ends return.  One end, Junior Victor Ugenyi is expected to be the unit's leader after registering 7.5 TFL in 2007.

Navy Projected Record 8-4

Biggest Question Mark: Will both lines play strong enough to let the Midshippmen keep thier winning ways alive?

Biggest Game: November 15th vs. Notre Dame (in Baltimore) - Can the Midshippmen make it two in a row?  Its possible.

"We're not going to revamp stuff".  That's the message being send around the Annapolis camp this fall after coach Paul Johnson left to take over the duties at Georgia Tech.  First year head-man Ken Niumatalolo has made it clear he knows the reason for Navy's recent succes, and doesn't intend to mess with it. 

The offense will be led by (say this three times fast) QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, as Jarod Bryant moved from QB to the slot.  Both will be intrigul weapons in the high-powered option attach.  However, there are plenty of spots to fill, as only four starters return on the offensive side of the ball.

Western Kentucky Projected Record 3-6

Biggest Question Mark: The FBS transition continues, but is the inexpiereinced defense ready for 10 FBS foes in 2008?

Biggest Game: November 1st vs. North Texas: Last year's game was a classic, with the Mean Green coming away with the one point win.  There will be little defense played, as this one could easily end with both teams in the 40s, if not higher.

In thier first season as a FBS program, WKU ended up 7-5, including a win over FBS foe Middle Tennessee State, and a near miss (27-26) against North Texas.  This year, things only get tougher.  The Hilltoppers have only 2 FCSteams on the schedule, and have tough road games at Indiana, Alabama, Kentucky and Virginia Tech along witha home match-up with a good Florida Atlantic team. 

WKU's spread offense has some firepower, which was best shown in a 87-0 drubbing of West Virginia Tech (so close).  QBs David Wolke and K.J. Black split time last season.  An injury forced Wolke to sit out of spring practice, allowing Black to get a one-up heading into fall camp.  Their main target will be Quinterrance Cooper, who recorded 22 grabs for 255 yards and 2 scores in his freshman campaign as the teams third option. 

The defense has spots to be fille, as bothsafeties, two d-lineman, and two linebackers must be replaced off the 2007 team.  With some of the talentied offenses they'll be facing, they'll need to get in the groove in a hurry if they have any hope at posting a respectable record in 2008.

This week we move from the realm of figure papercraft to that of architecture papercraft.  This is what I traditionally think of as papercraft, having started down the papercraft avenue with the likes of Alan Rose's excellent "Build Your Own" series, such as the Japanese Pagoda.

This one is a nice rendition of the Notre Dame cathedral, courtesy of Canon 3D Papercraft.  Instructions are here.  Enjoy!

I was not expecting it, in fact I did not know it had happened until it was over. Lucky I did not know else I would not have been able to remain calm. I just thought it was something that happened to other people - mimes.

Oh, it started innocently enough a few laughs here, a chuckle there. I thought it was mild street entertainment. We all did. Some in the line thought nothing of it and with mild politeness ignored him or looked the other way. He was not dressed as a mime, there were no white painted faced with black make-up. No black and white striped shirts. No gloves.

This mime was no country mime, he was subtle. I was in line to go up to the top of Notre Dame, it would have been a long wait in line without the entertainment. He silently stalked passerby's while wearing a Quasimodo mask, he followed them closely, they turned around startled then laughed. There were many variations on this including following and then holding their hand, creeping up at waist height and draping arms over shoulders. All of this was aimed at us in line. We laughed, we chortled, in short we were amused.

All of this was in silence. Everyone approached thought it was funny: local parisians, americans and other tourists. Except the british. They responded by yelling for him to go away then walking away quickly. I guess it is a cultural memory of the one hundreds year war.

I was lucky. As the line progressed forward it forced me to leave the scene and climb up to the gargoyles on the roof. When I came back down after peering over the city the mime was gone. It took me months to realize that it was a mime, I quail at the thought of how close I came to mimedom.

For whom, for what shall we pray?
- We receive the Holy Spirit in a particular way
in the sacrament of Confirmation: have we forgotten
the Spirit we received?

- The Holy Spirit offers us seven gifts:
wisdom, understanding, right judgment,
courage, knowledge, reverence
and wonder and awe in God's presence now?
Which of these gifts do I need in my life now?
Which of these gifts does the Church need now?

- Does it seem that our times, our culture,
have "never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit?"
How might my life be a source of the Spirit's gifts
in my corner of the vineyard?

Let us pray:
Come, Holy Spirit of God!
Refresh your vital presence in my mind, my heart,
my thoughts and my imagination...
Open me to your gifts
and lead me to rely on them;
give me the grace to be Spirit-driven...
Descend upon the world
and make your dwelling in the hearts of all...
Set us on fire for the reign of peace
you offer in your gifts...

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your people
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created
and you will renew the face of the earth.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...

St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, Bl. Basil Moreau, pray for us.

We were at a playground a couple days ago and heard a woman speaking English to her daughter.  This doesn't happen nearly as often as we thought it would.  We'd both like to think that before long our French will be good enough to strike up conversations with strangers and meet people wherever we go, but the reality is that we can get by doing errands or navigating the city and we're not yet ready for real conversations.  So for now it would be nice to meet some English speakers who could help us get adjusted to life in Paris. 

With kids as cute and engaging as ours people stop to talk to us all the time, especially at playgrounds.  But over here there's lots of hand signals, shrugs, and very strained exchanges. 

One French woman at a playground introduced us to her very cute 16-month old girl named Alma, who ran around with Joseph a little.  We were able to easily convey how old our kids are, but when she asked their names she couldn't understand us when we said "Rachel."  We both repeated it several times, and she just kept giving us this blank look and shaking her head.  When we pointed to Joseph and said his name she smiled and said "ah, plus simple."  So now we need a French-friendly nickname for Rachel, or we need to work on our French accents fast.

When we heard this woman speaking English my instinct was to grab Danielle who was sitting next to me on the bench, not out of excitement but to restrain her from pouncing.  But she was real cool - stealthily circling her prey while "playing with Joseph," disarming her with a friendly aside, and leaving with a phone number.  Not unlike what she did to me nine years ago.  This woman was extremely nice, has two kids very close in age to ours, and lives nearby - so we've started our network.  Several other English-speaking Parisians have trickled into our sphere as well - our current landlord, our next landlord, a really nice woman who may be taking over our temporary apartment, and I'll soon be getting together with an old high school friend who lives here.  Best of all, the folks at my program have been extremely helpful and accomodating - not only will I be meeting a lot of people there, but they are also helping me rapidly cross many items off our daunting to-do list - things like health insurance, renters insurance, applying for my long-stay residence permit, opening a bank account, and so on.

None of the administrative tasks are keeping us from getting out and exploring, which we're especially eager to do now while the weather is nice and I have time before my program starts.  We've been to - I think - four different open air markets already and loving them.  Most open air markets are in a given spot twice a week, with the vendors setting up in the same booth each time.  There are two very nice ones where we live, covering four days of the week, and that is where we buy much of our food.  At first we were thrilled just to buy an apple, but now we're figuring out when and where to find the fish guy, olives, spices, stuffed grape leaves, and more.  Food at these markets is fresh and extremely affordable - prices at least as good as in the U.S. if not better - wheras in the grocery stores selection is worse and prices are much higher. 

On the other hand, some things here are ridiculously expensive.  Peanut butter in a grocery store was about seven dollars for a small jar.  We sat down at a cafe to get a coffee yesterday morning, something we hadn't done yet, and spent five euros (eight dollars) on two small coffees.  The cafe/bar scene is really interesting - you never see anyone walking with a coffee or getting it to go the way you do in the U.S.  But at any given time you'll see several cafes on each block with folks sitting there at a small table, facing out towards the street, drinking coffee or wine.

Another crazy expense - when you call a taxi, as we had to do the night I took Joseph to the hospital - you pay for the cab from wherever they were when they started driving to pick you up.  When the taxi arrived at our door the meter said 11 euros (~18 dollars), just for the privilege of getting in.  The ride to the hospital only added a few euros more.  Hopefully we won't be doing that too much.

Today we went down to Hotel de Ville, a beautiful landmark in the center of Paris and the city hall.  It also houses a massive department store, where we saw kids clothes that were way too expensive (Rachel is outgrowing or destroying almost everything we brought.)  The city set up what they call Paris Plages, where they take a stretch of road that runs right along the Seine through the heart of Paris and turn it into a beach for the month of August.  Today was actually the last day of the Paris Plages and we were glad to be able to make it down there to enjoy it.  Afterwards we ate our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches outside of Notre Dame.

A few other highlights from our first week:

• Parc de la Villette, Parc de Belleville, and Parc de Buttes Chaumont.  Three amazing parks all within striking distance of our apartment.  Each one is so big that it takes days to hit all corners and see them all.  I could write a long post about each one, but this blog post is already too long.  But we'll be going back to each one and hopefully will gather more photos and details to convey - they are all really impressive and nothing like parks in the U.S.
• Jardins des Tuileries.  Famous gardens adjacent to the Louvre, along the Seine.
• Jardin de Luxumbourg.  Another famous, beautiful garden, this one in the Latin Quarter.
• Sacre Couer.  Basilica at the highest point in Paris,
• Arenes de Lutece.  An ancient Roman amphitheater in the Latin Quarter - from the 1st century AD.  It was re-discovered in the 1800's during a dig, and excavated and preserved.  It was turned into a public park and now you can actually run around in the amphitheater - kids were playing soccer while we were there - and they've surrounded it with beautiful gardens and a playground.
• Jardin des Plantes.  Paris's botanical gardens, which also house the Natural History Museum (which we did not go into.)

It should be noted that these parks and gardens are not small.  Most of them are 50-100 acres each and have several miles of trails.  Most have a playground somewhere in them, if not carousels, pony rides, puppet shows, and more.  We've seen a lot but we've barely scratched the surface.

I posted the following on my Xanga page at two fifty-nine a.m. on the twelfth of September, back in 2005. So long ago! I had headed home for the day — or maybe only for a couple of hours –, and on my way back to Notre Dame, thoughts emerged in my head, as I breathed deeply the heavenly scent of mint whilst heading north on US 35 north of Knox, that later that night became this post. In the spring of 2006, under a title that I don’t recall, it ran in Common Sense, the left-wing student-run paper at Notre Dame. (Yes, I wrote for a left-wing paper.) Perhaps not the most scintillating piece that I’ve ever written, it nevertheless conveys a degree of emotion that I usually refrain — or at least try to — from allowing to slip into my writing. Doubtless, some edits, particularly for any typos in the original post, occurred prior to the run in C.S.; I published here, at Nathancontramundi in March, and, back in North Judson, have decided to re-post it because, as I drove north on IN 39, about five twenty this morning, the intoxicating aroma of mint hit me for the first time in far too long. Now, as in March, I present it, errors intact, as I posted it on Xanga.

***

A certain security exists in the nighttime drive through mint country in late summer. The calm breeze, wafting that strong, almost intoxicating (but not in an inebrious way) scent of mint, sets the soul at ease. I know that the drought-like conditions of the past summer stunted terribly the yields, and that farmers will suffer this as they continue the struggle required simply to make ends meet. But the sense of safety is still present.

I fear that this is a false sense; perhaps for me it isn’t, but for the mint country of rural Indiana that is my home justification for this fear is plentiful. Maybe, though, it’s not the people, my neighbors, who fear for themselves. Rather, I fear for them.

I don’t, I think, risk misrepresenting myself very much when I assert that I come to Notre Dame from a place inconceivably different from the cities, suburbs, and communites whence most of my peers moved on to Our Lady’s University. A few certainly knew conditions worse than those that surround me whenever I venture home; some, even worse. Most though, without a doubt, can only imagine what life is like for the “ordinary people”. Maybe they can’t.

The student body of this school is known for its involvement in service projects; for this they ought to be commended. Taking oneself out of the comforts of the upper-middle class world, if only for a weekend, or even for an hour, requires a love of neighbor that in many is little more than skin-deep, little more than a clever disguise for self-centered intentions. Some students, quite admirably, have even pulled themselves out of the comforts of this country to cohabitate with some of the most abused, ignored, pawn-like members of our society, starving, victimized humans in Uganda, or Costa Rica, or Southeast Asia.

Most of them barely get it, though. Or so it seems to me. Their concern, their attempt to rally support for their causes, is sincere. Nevertheless, only a couple, maybe just those who’ve freed themselves from the security of living in this country — along, of course, with the very few who emerged from settings similar to or worse than mine — really, truly, deeply understand.

I’ve always been fortunate, lucky, blessed, whatever you will. My family’s roots in my community reach far deeper than most of my peers’; my mom and dad, employed as a medical assistant and a rural mail carrier, respectively, earn income that, for our area, is reasonably high. It’s not the same as the annual salaries of lawyers, doctors, and investment bankers, but it typically suffices, or at least it did before bills from two universities started arriving in the mail; at least it did before my dad was out of work for half a year because of health problems.

I’m fortunate; but I’m surrounded by the down-trodden. Starke County, Indiana, which happens to border the extreme southwest corner of St. Joseph County, is the second poorest, if not the poorest, county in Indiana, by no means the wealthiest of states. This past summer, serving as an assistant manager in the grocery store where I’ve worked since July of 2000, I earned $8.00/hr. That was good money.

Most of the jobs that actually exist in my hometown are in the retail sector. Retail, across the board, across the country, is always at the low end of the wage spectrum. Here in North Judson, wedged in between acres of corn, mint, and hay, it hits rock bottom. Some of us earn, say, $6.00/hr, nothing about which to brag, for sitting atop the lifeguard chair at the country club’s pool. The pay perhaps fails to suffice, but the workload, the seasonality of the job, and our age combine to provide some sort of justification for this.

Single mothers working eight-hour days on their feet, serving up $13.99 prime rib meals or standing at the cash register, allowing their souls quietly to slip away, find any sort of justification or satisfaction to be something chimerical. Or at least they view satisfaction quite differently. For some of our parents, our attending Notre Dame was an attainable form of satisfaction. For many whom I know, clean clothes, functioning shoes, and three (with help often from school lunch programs) squares for their kids add up to satisfaction. The car payment might have to wait; rent, too; but the kids will not go to bed hungry. It takes work. It takes love. It takes every ounce of being.

My passionate hatred for Wal*Mart, my detestation of most things corporate, is by now known to many. Nevertheless, criticizing wholly, without any sympathy, those who skip over my employer’s store, or perhaps only “cherry-pick” there, and drive thirty miles to Wal-Mart troubles me too much. When I am aware that a fellow student recently has been to Wal*Mart, or will be heading there, or to Target, or Meijer, or many similar stores, I typically lose the slightest bit of respect for him. Usually a student here need not frequent the store because of legitimate financial hardship. It just happens to be cheaper. We should know better, but we don’t.

People back home, even some who earn those meager wages working in a grocery store that without question suffers from the Waltons’ presence thirty miles away, need to go to Wal*Mart.

Of course, because of the dearth of jobs in town, many flock to this same store seeking employment. Some of them actually make a bit more than they would in town, at least before the costs of gasoline and eventually repair of problems caused by the wear and tear of the trip on the car are factored into the equation.

In a way, the seemingly ever-increasing prices at the pump benefit my home town. Driving thirty miles to W*M does not result in the same overall savings that it once did. As much as I rejoice at the possibility of even slight growth in economic activity on Lane St., this saddens me. The entire system is broken; as long as it is, shopping locally will hurt them as much as it helps them. And now, it seems, the harm of shopping at Wal*Mart has become more visible. Escape, though, is virtually impossible.

What, on cursory glance, at least by “progressive” standards, provides the most trouble is that these people never vote “in their best interests”. Democrats typically in the past, though not so much of late, have retained a stranglehold over much of local politics. But this is the oft-forgotten rural, conservative branch of the Democratic party. The same electorate constantly supports the GOP in the presidential elections, not to mention Senatorial and Congressional races.

A sense of puzzlement, sometimes even resentment, emerges in those who look at this scenario from the left. These lookers-on just don’t get it. They can rant for days about “Jesusland” and “off-shoring” and about the ignorance of these people. But they can’t know. These are two different worlds. The separation between them, though, is far from merely an economic one.

Faith in God, particularly of various Protestant persuasions, drives these people. Even those who end up giving birth to five children by four different fathers have this faith. Even those who get drunk on Saturday night and end up in bed with a near-stranger and then walk into church in their Sunday best without a hint of shame on their faces have it. And it’s not a matter of simple hypocrisy. It’s a matter of existence. Failing always to live up to the standards that one professes indicates not hypocrisy at its heights, but instead humanity as it really is.

This faith is nearly incomprehensible to many of its secular critics. It still baffles me as a Catholic, even though I’ve grown up surrounded by it, sometimes threatened by it, sometimes strangely encouraged by it. The Republicans may someday lose this sector, but the Democrats likely never will gain it. Inroads may be made, but no great ideological shift will occur. Part of it is psychological: the Republicans at least seem to welcome God-fearing people, while the Democrats, at least in these minds, do not.

Something more, I suspect, is at play here, too. Many of these people rely on welfare programs. A heck of a lot of them abuse these same programs. Some of them would be in the street without hand-outs courtesy of you, me, and the rest of tax-paying America. However, a certain sort of unseen, almost undetectable resentment accompanies the reliance on, and even the abuses of, the welfare state.

The father whose job disappeared from under his nose and whose unemployment benefits have run dry often cannot help feeling shame as he opens that check, as he signs it, as he cashes it; cannot help feeling embarrassed as he hands his HoosierWorks card over to the cashier as a teenage boy, perhaps a friend of his son’s, bags the bread, eggs, and lunchmeat for $6.00/hr. Six whole dollars each hour, six dollars worked for, and not received from a helping hand. The same welfare programs intended by the Democrats (and, perhaps still beyond the realization of this father, the GOP by now as well) to help the man hurts him. He becomes a slave, and as long as the system runs as it does, he’ll remain a slave, even if he gets back on his feet. Because wage slavery and welfare slavery, at the core of the matter, are frighteningly similar.

But I’ve digressed even further than I often tend to do. Back to the mint. Dismal thoughts of drought-caused yield reductions aside, the scent of the mint on a warm September night is reassuring. It’s sexy. This is the smell of life and death, of love and hate, of humanity. It’s the smell of fear.

Not until one smells the mint can one begin really to understand what it all means — the plight, the faith, the strange reassurance, the hope. Only then. ]]> http://karlomleonor.wordpress.com/?p=461 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:57:08 +0000 kleonor http://karlomleonor.wordpress.com/?p=461 Scripture:
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?

One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.

Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks;
you my glance seeks.
Psalm 27:1, 4, 7-8

For whom, for what shall we pray?
- Who do I know who lives in the darkness,
looking for the light of the Holy Spirit?

- Who do I know who lives in fear,
aching for the strength of the Holy Spirit?

- Who do I know who seeks the Lord
and who needs the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

- Who do I know who seeks God's embrace
and who needs the warmth of the Holy Spirit?

Let us pray:
Come, Holy Spirit of God!
Be a light for my step along my life's path;
take away my fear and anxiety and help me trust;
show me the face of the Lord smiling upon me;
lead me to the intimacy I desire with my God...

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your people
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created
and you will renew the face of the earth.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...

St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, Bl. Basil Moreau, pray for us.