Somehow I got up at 4 AM, got the generator running, cleared the driveway and then missed the sunrise. However I was outside and looked around at the trees covered with snow and marveled at the wonder of God's creation. As much as I dislike the cold, the snow really is beautiful...after all the parts of the house are clear.
Hi M! She said she was stalking me here.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Snow in October
Was up at 4 AM - no power, fire up the generator. Wow - about 14-18" of snow. Heavy and wet. Had the driveway cleaned by 6:30. C had to head to work for 6:30 and he made it there safely.
Got most of my reading for class done. Today is busy - have to write a paper that is due Tuesday. Also have to prepare for my talk next Saturday at MoSJ. Patriots at 4:15, so I lost 3 hrs of time there.
Off to start accomplishing stuff...
Got most of my reading for class done. Today is busy - have to write a paper that is due Tuesday. Also have to prepare for my talk next Saturday at MoSJ. Patriots at 4:15, so I lost 3 hrs of time there.
Off to start accomplishing stuff...
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tuesday - New class
Tonight we start our second class, lasting 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. A bit more challenging - a lot of reading and a paper due each week. Subject is Church and Church History. The reading was good so far, with an easy read on the development of the first 5 centuries or so. Fortunately, I took an online class at University of Notre Dame last year on the first 500 years of the church and followed that with the next 500 years in a second online class. Although we covered 100 years per week, I at least had a glimpse into the time period in preparation for this class. I'm no history major!
M takes her driving test as part of her class this week. With luck, we'll be heading to the Registry later this week and a written test there, then a road test.
M takes her driving test as part of her class this week. With luck, we'll be heading to the Registry later this week and a written test there, then a road test.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Saturday AM and all is quiet
My favorite time of the week. K is already off to have the final yard sale of my parent's stuff. We are hoping that we have a firm buyer for the house. C is asleep and M slept over a friend's house (actually, C's girlfriend's house) so I am alone with J - the dog.
Another week has flown by. I am lector at 8 AM mass tomorrow, I haven't been at the parish in two weeks, with the UK and then the Formation Weekend, so it will be good to re-connect with the 8 AM Mass crowd after mass.
We start our second class next week in Church. 4 weeks and then Thanksgiving. This class will be more challenging as there is a paper due each week. On Nov 5, I am speaking at another Men of St Joseph men's breakfast in Litchfield. More practice, new topic.
K has decided to go back for some schooling in a new field. Great news and it will be quite challenging as the course work is M-Th for 18 weeks from 4-10 PM. She'll work all day and then jet off to school. It will be fun around the house. Looks like the kids will have to get some chores!
With no class this week, I was able to attend Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesday. I didn't realize how much I miss that with the busy-ness of school. It also reminds me of Mom, since for the last year, I would call her on my way there. I think of her each time I go, among the many other times I think about both parents.
So, a few last pics of England with some comments:
Another week has flown by. I am lector at 8 AM mass tomorrow, I haven't been at the parish in two weeks, with the UK and then the Formation Weekend, so it will be good to re-connect with the 8 AM Mass crowd after mass.
We start our second class next week in Church. 4 weeks and then Thanksgiving. This class will be more challenging as there is a paper due each week. On Nov 5, I am speaking at another Men of St Joseph men's breakfast in Litchfield. More practice, new topic.
K has decided to go back for some schooling in a new field. Great news and it will be quite challenging as the course work is M-Th for 18 weeks from 4-10 PM. She'll work all day and then jet off to school. It will be fun around the house. Looks like the kids will have to get some chores!
With no class this week, I was able to attend Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesday. I didn't realize how much I miss that with the busy-ness of school. It also reminds me of Mom, since for the last year, I would call her on my way there. I think of her each time I go, among the many other times I think about both parents.
So, a few last pics of England with some comments:
The tower in the center of Manchester
My hotel
The Midland Hotel, next to my hotel.
Albert Hall?
Is this the location from the Beatles song? How many holes does it take to fill it?
A strange architecture for a Hilton Hotel.
Final night at pub. The ale goes down too easily. This glass was not my first of the night.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Home and then away again
Got home friday from the UK, went to bed early and then up early Saturday morning for our first Formation weekend of the year. Topic is spirituality of the leader. We really love these weekends. So even though I had no time at home after travel and have not seen the kids, except to provide my daughter spending money, we are really happy to be here. Have a few last photos from the uk including the last night in the pub. More after I get home today
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Trade show, day 2 of 3 complete
Day 4 in Manchester UK almost complete. Can you guess the weather? The sun came out this morning, realized where it was, and quickly hid behind the clouds all day. No matter - cooped in a convention centre for the day, wouldn't have seen the sun anyway.
One more day and then flight home early Friday. Good dinner with friends last night, expect another with new friends tonight.
Looks like we sold my mom's home - it will be tough to let my childhood home go to someone else. I suppose we musts let go and move on. No more Christmas at that home, no more sleeping over on Thanksgiving for the family. Time for new family traditions.
One more day and then flight home early Friday. Good dinner with friends last night, expect another with new friends tonight.
Looks like we sold my mom's home - it will be tough to let my childhood home go to someone else. I suppose we musts let go and move on. No more Christmas at that home, no more sleeping over on Thanksgiving for the family. Time for new family traditions.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Pats are on in the UK!
Thought I'd have to listen to the game over the web, but the Patriots are on Fox in the UK!
Go Pats!
Go Pats!
Forecast - cloudy and chance of rain
You know you are in the UK when the forecast is overcast and light rain for the week.
Nice hotel, just across the street from the show. I was lucky to sleep almost the entire flight, woke up with 20 minutes before landing in London Heathrow. However, the flight was not without adventure. About 2 hours into the flight, we heard the flight attendant call a "Code Red" at the back of the aircraft. After a bit of activity, another voice inquired if there was a doctor on board the aircraft. It started me thinking of how that would impact the flight when we were 2 hours over the Atlantic. I wondered if we would turn back, or land at another airport prior to Heathrow. A short bit later they brought the passenger up to first class to manage her care for the duration of the flight. She was a young woman and it made me think and pray for her well being regardless of how it impacted our flight plans. I imagined myself in her shoes, frightened of what could happen to her health 35,000 ft above the Atlantic ocean halfway between the USA and UK. In the end we landed on schedule and the flight was met by paramedics to treat the young lass.
So now that I have arrived, most of the anxiety has left and I am going to enjoy the week here - Friday will arrive before long. Lots of friends here and colleagues from the states for the trade show. This will be my only method of communication for the week, so I'm hoping for a few posts. In the meantime, here are some photos of the hotel room and the view of the convention center from my room:
Nice hotel, just across the street from the show. I was lucky to sleep almost the entire flight, woke up with 20 minutes before landing in London Heathrow. However, the flight was not without adventure. About 2 hours into the flight, we heard the flight attendant call a "Code Red" at the back of the aircraft. After a bit of activity, another voice inquired if there was a doctor on board the aircraft. It started me thinking of how that would impact the flight when we were 2 hours over the Atlantic. I wondered if we would turn back, or land at another airport prior to Heathrow. A short bit later they brought the passenger up to first class to manage her care for the duration of the flight. She was a young woman and it made me think and pray for her well being regardless of how it impacted our flight plans. I imagined myself in her shoes, frightened of what could happen to her health 35,000 ft above the Atlantic ocean halfway between the USA and UK. In the end we landed on schedule and the flight was met by paramedics to treat the young lass.
So now that I have arrived, most of the anxiety has left and I am going to enjoy the week here - Friday will arrive before long. Lots of friends here and colleagues from the states for the trade show. This will be my only method of communication for the week, so I'm hoping for a few posts. In the meantime, here are some photos of the hotel room and the view of the convention center from my room:
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Oh no! No phone!
Heading to Manchester, UK in a few hours and just discovered that I will have no phone for the week. Seems none of the family has a global phone. My Droid 2 won't work there. I can't wait to ditch the Droid for an iPhone. It will be my first venture into an Apple product.
Finished our first class on Thursday. We've learned a lot about the individual synoptic gospels from an academic perspective. Next up will be a Formation Weekend as soon as I return from the UK, followed a week later by class #2 - Church History.
Just a quick post - still scrambling trying to get everything I will need for the next week packed into a small travel bag.
Next communication will come from international lands...
Finished our first class on Thursday. We've learned a lot about the individual synoptic gospels from an academic perspective. Next up will be a Formation Weekend as soon as I return from the UK, followed a week later by class #2 - Church History.
Just a quick post - still scrambling trying to get everything I will need for the next week packed into a small travel bag.
Next communication will come from international lands...
Monday, October 3, 2011
Anxiety and anticipation
Now starts a very busy two weeks, with two "lost" weekends in the mix. I say lost only because weekends are my time. I try to find some alone time and a good amount of family time on weekends. Next weekend, I head to the UK on Saturday night. I like England, but still the idea of losing 'my' weekend to travel never excites me. Until I arrive at the destination. It's a Saturday night flight that arrives Sunday late morning. I'm traveling with a friend which will make it easier, and I sleep ok on a plane - although those around me won't, the poor souls, due to my snoring.
I return Friday, 10/14 around 2 PM (hopefully) and then bright and early Saturday morning, head to Contoocook for our first Diaconate Formation weekend of the 2011-2012 Formation Year. Topic is Spirituality of the Leader. Formation weekends are fantastic, we've really enjoyed each one. The instructors change each time, and I do have a favorite in the past, but each weekend has been a great experience with the topic, the food and especially the community of Candidates and Leaders. And...we have improved our coffee plans this year. We consume enormous amounts of coffee - in the past, faster than we can brew. So we are donating two Bunn coffee brewers that I am purchasing and bringing with us to the facility. All the Candidates are contributing as our gift to the facility (and ourselves!)
So some prep work this week before the trip in addition to the usual grind. Lots of reading still to do for class, but I will be complete by tomorrow night. First class is almost complete. We turned in our paper last Thursday, so the 'homework' portion of the class is done. Next class on Church history is not so simple, with 2 page papers due each week and a 5 pager at the end. Right before our first lesson (on a Formation Weekend) on Homiletics!
Off to meet with my spiritual director in a few hours. Another part of Formation I really like. Keeps me growing spiritually while all this education happens.
I return Friday, 10/14 around 2 PM (hopefully) and then bright and early Saturday morning, head to Contoocook for our first Diaconate Formation weekend of the 2011-2012 Formation Year. Topic is Spirituality of the Leader. Formation weekends are fantastic, we've really enjoyed each one. The instructors change each time, and I do have a favorite in the past, but each weekend has been a great experience with the topic, the food and especially the community of Candidates and Leaders. And...we have improved our coffee plans this year. We consume enormous amounts of coffee - in the past, faster than we can brew. So we are donating two Bunn coffee brewers that I am purchasing and bringing with us to the facility. All the Candidates are contributing as our gift to the facility (and ourselves!)
So some prep work this week before the trip in addition to the usual grind. Lots of reading still to do for class, but I will be complete by tomorrow night. First class is almost complete. We turned in our paper last Thursday, so the 'homework' portion of the class is done. Next class on Church history is not so simple, with 2 page papers due each week and a 5 pager at the end. Right before our first lesson (on a Formation Weekend) on Homiletics!
Off to meet with my spiritual director in a few hours. Another part of Formation I really like. Keeps me growing spiritually while all this education happens.
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