August 17, 2012
So today is move in day for ND freshmen. Has it really been 15 years since I was one of those students?!?!
Way back when in '97, I didn't know what to expect, and I was surprised almost immediately. I'm not Catholic, went to public school, was used to being in the racial minority at school (and I'd never been around so many white people before...lol), had my eye stuff going on, I wasn't a legacy kid, didn't drink (and didn't want to), was rather shy (much more so than I am now), didn't know a soul there, and I was quite possibly the poorest kid there not from a 3rd world country. Hearing all of the F-bombs by my dormmates freaked me out a little bit; I had no idea good Catholic boys cussed so much.
My dad had a truck, and my mom wanted to see me off, so we all took the boring trip up US 31 together. It was the most time they'd spent with each other since splitting up when I was 3 or 4, but it was nice--weird, but nice. As soon as we got my stuff in my room, they left. My mom wanted to stay a little while longer, but my dad drove and wanted to go, so they went. Pretty much everyone else I met had parents stay the weekend as customary. I mostly tagged along with my roommate and the guys next door since I was on my own.
I remember walking over to Carroll Hall for a bonfire or something, the first mixer kind of event that comes to mind. It was the same awkward conversation over and over: Where are you from? What dorm are you in? What's your major? It was still cool. The graffiti dance was fun the next night, I think. We were all supposed to wear white shirts and bring markers to write our numbers on each other. I didn't have a plain white shirt, so I turned one that had a logo on it inside out. For the first 2/3 of the dance, I played basketball (it was held outside on basketball courts), mainly trying to dunk. I almost got a couple to go, and then I got tired. My shirt was all sweaty from running and jumping, and I'm not sure why anyone would have wanted to touch me. I didn't quite stink, though; my deodorant worked. I still have the shirt in a bag somewhere, but I forgot who was who almost immediately, kinda defeating the purpose of the exercise. I was too shy to call anyone, anyway, so it didn't matter that much.
I was supposed to go to some meeting as part of the orientation on Monday night, the infamous and awkward "don't rape girls" skits (from what I heard afterward, anyway). I was content watching Monday Night Nitro (WCW wrestling) and just chilled with some upperclassmen to catch that in the dorm TV room. When I asked them about how mandatory the event I ultimately missed was, I was told that as long as our beloved rector, Fr. Steve, hadn't called for it, I didn't have to go, so I didn't.
It was a good, weird, eye opening, awkward, transitional, and a little bit lonely time. It took me a little while to find my groove, especially socially, but I'm very thankful for the time spent and had opportunities at Notre Dame and in Sorin College (my dorm, for non-Domers). I met some amazing people, was challenged academically, learned a lot, and became a better man through it all. It was often tough--dealing with my eye stuff, having craziness going on at home, letting go of being so self-conscious--but that's all part of growing up, and I did a lot of that my 5 years there.
Part of me would like to go back and do it all over again (a little bit better this time, though), but a bigger part of me is just happy to have the memories (and is still burnt out on school...lol). Wow...15 years...I feel so old...but I remember it like it was the day before yesterday, and I'll always have that.
...And our hearts forever, LOVE THEE NOTRE DAME!!! GO IRISH!!!!
Showing posts with label Notre Dame. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Notre Dame. Show all posts
Friday, August 17, 2012
Monday, October 18, 2010
A Fabulous weekend...GO IRISH!...
I had an amazing weekend! It was a great time, and something that I really needed. I felt pretty good, for the most part, surely in large part from the rush of being back on campus with good company Saturday and from seeing some of my little ones on Sunday. Thanks so much to Mrs. ETHM and her dad for the great conversation and for their generosity for bringing me!
I got picked up and went to my friends' house on Friday night to make it easier to leave in the morning for ND. It was also nice to hang out, too. The pizza was good, as was the company. Despite the strong indifference by us guys, we were overruled and watched The Runaways after eating. It was alright. I wasn't super familiar with the story of the band and didn't realize that they were all so young. It was a crazy time. We all went to bed after the movie.
I slept well and was surprisingly refreshed to be up before 7AM, a time that I'm usually just lying down. Just over 4 hours of sleep did the trick, which isn't usually the case anymore. Being excited to get back to Notre Dame after so long surely helped give me some extra pep. It only took a few minutes to get ready and we headed out.
It was a nice, easy drive with very little traffic. Even when we got into South Bend, it wasn't too bad. We had a nice conversation, my friend, her dad, and I, on the way up. It was mostly political in subject matter, which isn't something I usually enjoy, but I liked it. Our views are similar on most of what was discussed, so there wasn't any arguing, really, but even when we disagreed, it was very pleasant and respectful. Especially at home, this isn't something I'm used to. It felt good to have a cordial, intelligent, and engaging conversation about potentially touchy topics. It was nice to mix in some ND talk from an older alum, too. It's hard to have an appreciation for how special a place Notre Dame is without having gone there and the shared experiences, even if 40 years apart, for a unique bond among Domers.
We made good time, a little under 3 hours, I think. We were able to park on campus, in the lot just nort of the Grotto, thanks to my friend's dad's connections. We stopped at the Grotto for minute, then made our way to the Basilica for a quick walk through. I'd almost forgotten how beautiful it is inside. Then we stopped at Sorin, my old dorm for a bit.
I looked for my named carved on a brick on the porch, but I couldn't find it. Someone probably carved over it. There are new porch swings now. They're a little smaller, but they still have the same view of God Quad that I miss. Even after being gone for 8 years, the bells chiming every 15 minutes still got a reaction out of me ;). We made our way to the Bookstore, which was, of course, packed. They picked up a couple trinkets and I just looked around a little. We stopped at the Visitor/Alumni Center nextdoor to pick up some maps. I still remembered where everything was, but there is so much new stuff that I needed a little help with that.
Next up was the new DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, but it was closed and we couldn't get inside. I was really looking forward to checking that out...next time, for sure. They'd just broken ground as I was finishing up school, and then they'd just had some of the foundation and framing up the last time I was there that next fall when I last made it up. We walked through some tailgators and made our way to the Joyce Center. We couldn't see the inside because the basketball team was practicing, but the renovations that we were able to see are very nice. We meandered through and got to the North Dome of the JACC to see if they had the tables set up for class reunions. I'm not sure if there'd be any reunions, but the tables were there, as were a few corporate booths. I got a few freebies. My friend and her dad left from there to go to a lecture at the Snite Museum of Art. I was interested in going, but wanted to use the time to walk around and see the new sights.
From the JACC, I got a quick look at some of the new athletic facilities. They open up the football practice fields for fans now, which was very cool. From there, I made it to the new Jordan Hall of Science. It's amazing. And huge. They had some chemistry exhibits in the main hallway with a movie special effects theme. There was break-away glass, fake blood, a cool touch screen computer and many others. A doctoral student and her husband did the fake blood, and they were from France. It was nice conversing with them in French for a bit.
I kept making my way north taking in the new buildings and general atmosphere. It was such a lovely day, perfect for walking around and for catching a football game. After making my rounds, I headed back to Sorin to meet a friend I hadn't seen since 2002. I got a little stuck by the crowd lining up to watch the team walk from the Basilica to the Stadium. Once I got back to the dorm, I went inside and checked out the first floor a bit. The TV lounge has been upgraded and is really nice. They have a note by the light switch asking people to turn everything off if you're the last one leaving. I got bitched at when I was there for doing stuff like that...lol I guess I was just ahead of my time.
While I waiting for my friend, I started to eat the rest of my lunch, then continued after she, her husband, and her parents arrived. It was nice to catch up with her in person and to meet her family. She's one of the couple people I've been in regular contact with since school, and it was cool to be able to look her in the eyes and not just read her words. We all had a nice chat, reminiscing a bit, and just enjoying such a beautiful day.
Then it was off to the Stadium for the game. I wanted to get there a little bit early so they could check my backpack. I like to watch the team warm up, too. I got there before my friend and her dad, but they made it in plenty of time before the kickoff. Our seats were good, in the southwest corner. We had a decent vantage point, but I had forgotten how hard the benches were and how close they were together. I wasn't really used to actually sitting in them, though, as students only sit at halftime. The folks sitting around us were pretty cool, for the most part, but a couple of ladies sitting directly in front of us must not have realized how little room there was. It wasn't too bad, but it took some maneuvering to get comfortable.
Overall, the game was good. Winning by 24 is never bad, but we were pretty sloppy in the first half despite the score. We lucked out with the turnovers. Most of the action happened on the other side of the field, though, so it was hard to see exactly what was going on at times. I can't remember being at a game when it was so unbalanced that way. And despite a few minutes of unexpected rain, it was still beautiful out.
The worst part of the game, and this is definitely nit picking, was the Western Michigan band. They kept playing the Rocky theme (at least 25 times) and they played almost every time the ND band did, and since WMU was closer to us, ND got drowned out. WMU still isn't as annoying as USC, though. I'm not sure I could have taken it had we been playing the Cheaters...err...Trojans.
After the Irish victory, we made our way across campus back to the van, stopping by LaFortune first. It's a bit different from when I was there. They'd renovated some restaurant areas right after I left, and now the lounges are upgraded, too, with flat screen TVs, etc. The first floor, at least, still has the same basic setup, though. They still have the Irish Impact poster that I'm in hanging just outside the Huddle Mart. I was a student manager working the game (hoisting the kicking net in the south end zone) on my 20th birthday (November 21, 1998), and I'm a blurry blob in the background.
And we passed by the Administration Building (the Dome), too:
It was easy getting off of campus. There was traffic for awhile in South Bend on the way home, but it flowed nicely. It wasn't bad at all once we were on the outskirts of town. It was a nice drive down US 31 back to Indy. We had more good conversation, with my friend's dad making sure she kept an eye on our speed. It was cute/funny listening to those exchanges ;). We got some drive through fast food in Kokomo for dinner which did the trick. We made good time on the way back, too, getting to my friend's house around 9:30PM. We spent a few minutes catching up on the day's events with my friend's husband. He didn't go to the game because he had to work. She checked up on their toddler son whom she hadn't seen since morning and her hubby was kind enough to drive me home. We were all tired or else we may have hung out a little more.
I crashed not long after I got home. The plan was to sleep for a couple of hours, then watch the taped UFC 120 before looking over all that I'd missed on Facebook and Twitter (didn't want to spoil the results). I didn't get up until the next morning, and family came over shortly after I was awake for a cookout birthday party for my brother. It was nice to see everyone, especially my little ones. It's crazy how fast these kids are growing up, and how independent they're becoming. It was a good time catching up on this and that and just being around each other. I got a bit woozy towards the end of the visit, but it wasn't too bad. I didn't make it to zombie levels ;).
Once everyone was gone, I went back to my room, watched the UFC, then got caught up online. There was the Colts game, too. That all took awhile, and then the weekend started catching up with me a bit, so I went to bed. I was hoping to have this post up Saturday night, then when I didn't get up from my 'nap,' and then Sunday evening didn't work out, either, but that's how it goes. The Colts being the late game didn't help with that. I was only about 2/3 into the game as I was messing around online at the same time. We won, and I'll take it. The Colts have a bye next week, which is much needed with everyone being banged up.
I'll take it. I had an awesome weekend. There was good company, a nice homecoming (at ND), and time well spent with my family. All were long overdue. I'd forgotten about the smell of the grills on football Saturdays, and how the campus is so beautiful this time of year. Seeing how young the students looked made me feel so old, though. Did I look like that to the alumni when I was there? I guess I really hadn't been back in awhile. I'm so happy and thankful to have had the opportunity. I've wanted to visit much more often, but being sick and broke put a damper on all of that. Even if I can't get tickets, I'll try to see if I can at least ride up with friends again to be a part of the overall atmosphere again. I still have some places to check out that were closed this past weekend.
Thanks so very much to all who made it such a special and invigorating weekend for me! I haven't smiled that much for that long in such a great while. From the bottom, top, and all sides of my heart, thanks again!
...And our hearts forever, LOVE THEE NOTRE DAME!!!
-B :D
I got picked up and went to my friends' house on Friday night to make it easier to leave in the morning for ND. It was also nice to hang out, too. The pizza was good, as was the company. Despite the strong indifference by us guys, we were overruled and watched The Runaways after eating. It was alright. I wasn't super familiar with the story of the band and didn't realize that they were all so young. It was a crazy time. We all went to bed after the movie.
I slept well and was surprisingly refreshed to be up before 7AM, a time that I'm usually just lying down. Just over 4 hours of sleep did the trick, which isn't usually the case anymore. Being excited to get back to Notre Dame after so long surely helped give me some extra pep. It only took a few minutes to get ready and we headed out.
It was a nice, easy drive with very little traffic. Even when we got into South Bend, it wasn't too bad. We had a nice conversation, my friend, her dad, and I, on the way up. It was mostly political in subject matter, which isn't something I usually enjoy, but I liked it. Our views are similar on most of what was discussed, so there wasn't any arguing, really, but even when we disagreed, it was very pleasant and respectful. Especially at home, this isn't something I'm used to. It felt good to have a cordial, intelligent, and engaging conversation about potentially touchy topics. It was nice to mix in some ND talk from an older alum, too. It's hard to have an appreciation for how special a place Notre Dame is without having gone there and the shared experiences, even if 40 years apart, for a unique bond among Domers.
We made good time, a little under 3 hours, I think. We were able to park on campus, in the lot just nort of the Grotto, thanks to my friend's dad's connections. We stopped at the Grotto for minute, then made our way to the Basilica for a quick walk through. I'd almost forgotten how beautiful it is inside. Then we stopped at Sorin, my old dorm for a bit.
Next up was the new DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, but it was closed and we couldn't get inside. I was really looking forward to checking that out...next time, for sure. They'd just broken ground as I was finishing up school, and then they'd just had some of the foundation and framing up the last time I was there that next fall when I last made it up. We walked through some tailgators and made our way to the Joyce Center. We couldn't see the inside because the basketball team was practicing, but the renovations that we were able to see are very nice. We meandered through and got to the North Dome of the JACC to see if they had the tables set up for class reunions. I'm not sure if there'd be any reunions, but the tables were there, as were a few corporate booths. I got a few freebies. My friend and her dad left from there to go to a lecture at the Snite Museum of Art. I was interested in going, but wanted to use the time to walk around and see the new sights.
From the JACC, I got a quick look at some of the new athletic facilities. They open up the football practice fields for fans now, which was very cool. From there, I made it to the new Jordan Hall of Science. It's amazing. And huge. They had some chemistry exhibits in the main hallway with a movie special effects theme. There was break-away glass, fake blood, a cool touch screen computer and many others. A doctoral student and her husband did the fake blood, and they were from France. It was nice conversing with them in French for a bit.
I kept making my way north taking in the new buildings and general atmosphere. It was such a lovely day, perfect for walking around and for catching a football game. After making my rounds, I headed back to Sorin to meet a friend I hadn't seen since 2002. I got a little stuck by the crowd lining up to watch the team walk from the Basilica to the Stadium. Once I got back to the dorm, I went inside and checked out the first floor a bit. The TV lounge has been upgraded and is really nice. They have a note by the light switch asking people to turn everything off if you're the last one leaving. I got bitched at when I was there for doing stuff like that...lol I guess I was just ahead of my time.
While I waiting for my friend, I started to eat the rest of my lunch, then continued after she, her husband, and her parents arrived. It was nice to catch up with her in person and to meet her family. She's one of the couple people I've been in regular contact with since school, and it was cool to be able to look her in the eyes and not just read her words. We all had a nice chat, reminiscing a bit, and just enjoying such a beautiful day.
Then it was off to the Stadium for the game. I wanted to get there a little bit early so they could check my backpack. I like to watch the team warm up, too. I got there before my friend and her dad, but they made it in plenty of time before the kickoff. Our seats were good, in the southwest corner. We had a decent vantage point, but I had forgotten how hard the benches were and how close they were together. I wasn't really used to actually sitting in them, though, as students only sit at halftime. The folks sitting around us were pretty cool, for the most part, but a couple of ladies sitting directly in front of us must not have realized how little room there was. It wasn't too bad, but it took some maneuvering to get comfortable.
The worst part of the game, and this is definitely nit picking, was the Western Michigan band. They kept playing the Rocky theme (at least 25 times) and they played almost every time the ND band did, and since WMU was closer to us, ND got drowned out. WMU still isn't as annoying as USC, though. I'm not sure I could have taken it had we been playing the Cheaters...err...Trojans.
After the Irish victory, we made our way across campus back to the van, stopping by LaFortune first. It's a bit different from when I was there. They'd renovated some restaurant areas right after I left, and now the lounges are upgraded, too, with flat screen TVs, etc. The first floor, at least, still has the same basic setup, though. They still have the Irish Impact poster that I'm in hanging just outside the Huddle Mart. I was a student manager working the game (hoisting the kicking net in the south end zone) on my 20th birthday (November 21, 1998), and I'm a blurry blob in the background.
 |
| I'm pointing at me, of course. That was almost 12 years ago...wow. |
And we passed by the Administration Building (the Dome), too:
It was easy getting off of campus. There was traffic for awhile in South Bend on the way home, but it flowed nicely. It wasn't bad at all once we were on the outskirts of town. It was a nice drive down US 31 back to Indy. We had more good conversation, with my friend's dad making sure she kept an eye on our speed. It was cute/funny listening to those exchanges ;). We got some drive through fast food in Kokomo for dinner which did the trick. We made good time on the way back, too, getting to my friend's house around 9:30PM. We spent a few minutes catching up on the day's events with my friend's husband. He didn't go to the game because he had to work. She checked up on their toddler son whom she hadn't seen since morning and her hubby was kind enough to drive me home. We were all tired or else we may have hung out a little more.
I crashed not long after I got home. The plan was to sleep for a couple of hours, then watch the taped UFC 120 before looking over all that I'd missed on Facebook and Twitter (didn't want to spoil the results). I didn't get up until the next morning, and family came over shortly after I was awake for a cookout birthday party for my brother. It was nice to see everyone, especially my little ones. It's crazy how fast these kids are growing up, and how independent they're becoming. It was a good time catching up on this and that and just being around each other. I got a bit woozy towards the end of the visit, but it wasn't too bad. I didn't make it to zombie levels ;).
Once everyone was gone, I went back to my room, watched the UFC, then got caught up online. There was the Colts game, too. That all took awhile, and then the weekend started catching up with me a bit, so I went to bed. I was hoping to have this post up Saturday night, then when I didn't get up from my 'nap,' and then Sunday evening didn't work out, either, but that's how it goes. The Colts being the late game didn't help with that. I was only about 2/3 into the game as I was messing around online at the same time. We won, and I'll take it. The Colts have a bye next week, which is much needed with everyone being banged up.
I'll take it. I had an awesome weekend. There was good company, a nice homecoming (at ND), and time well spent with my family. All were long overdue. I'd forgotten about the smell of the grills on football Saturdays, and how the campus is so beautiful this time of year. Seeing how young the students looked made me feel so old, though. Did I look like that to the alumni when I was there? I guess I really hadn't been back in awhile. I'm so happy and thankful to have had the opportunity. I've wanted to visit much more often, but being sick and broke put a damper on all of that. Even if I can't get tickets, I'll try to see if I can at least ride up with friends again to be a part of the overall atmosphere again. I still have some places to check out that were closed this past weekend.
Thanks so very much to all who made it such a special and invigorating weekend for me! I haven't smiled that much for that long in such a great while. From the bottom, top, and all sides of my heart, thanks again!
...And our hearts forever, LOVE THEE NOTRE DAME!!!
-B :D
Friday, October 15, 2010
Doc appointment went well, ND tomorrow!...
I saw one of my surgeons today. He's a really good guy, genuinely cares, and answers all of my questions, no matter how haphazard or long-winded they are, and without making me feel stupid for asking something that's maybe not terribly relevant. His assistant is super nice, too, and we got to talk for a few minutes. It's always good to feel listened to and cared for by doctors. A healthy detachment is fine, but that doesn't mean that they should be aloof. Knowing that they all care (and pretty much all of my regular docs are cool this way) really helps to put me at ease with my situation. I feel that they're doing all that they can to help me, and when they can't, they help me find others who can.
We went over the MRI from last week and the overall tumor situation. Everything is stable. If the tumors have grown, it's not by much. It's hard to be exactly precise because each scan has slightly different images. There's nothing drastically different. The chiari malformation was specifically looked at. All the fluids seem to be flowing nicely, but my cerebellum does definitely hang down a bit lower than normal (which is what a chiari malformation is). It's possible that this contributes to my troubled throat function, but it's more likely that the tumor affects the cranial nerve that controls that. There is a surgery to help correct the malformation, and my surgeon will confer with my neurologist about it, but, at this point, it looks like we'll just keep an eye on it. The surgery basically entails reshaping my skull a bit at the base to alleviate any pressure on the cerebellum. While it is a big deal, and has its risks, it maybe seems a bit scarier than it sounds because it involves my skull and brain and all that.
After the appointment, my mom drove me to pick up a pizza from Papa Murphy's for tonight. They make the pizza, then you take it home and actually bake it. Because of that, I was able to use my food stamps to buy it, which worked out for me. It feels good to contribute a little, especially when I'm being treated to the game. After getting the pizza (sausage and pepperoni is what they wanted...add mushrooms, and that's my usual order, so it works out), I got a few things at the grocery store. Being financially challenged (or, more bluntly, being all but broke), I'm planning on packing a lunch to take with me. I'll just make a couple turkey sandwiches and bring some chips and carrots to go with those. Next up was a little lunch from McDonald's dollar menu, to go, then home.
I still have a few things to get together before I get picked up tonight. I'll round up my meds, clothes, toiletries, and the food, and I'll shower here in a little while, too. Then I'll get picked up tonight. We'll eat, maybe watch a movie and/or play a couple games for a bit. We'll be heading out of here at 7AM, so we should get to campus by 11AM. Hopefully the traffic isn't too bad and we arrive a little earlier. I haven't been on campus since 2002, and there are lots of new buildings that I want to check out. I'll be working on a to do list and a map here shortly. I'm hoping to meet some friends who'll be up for the game, too. So far, I've arranged to see one. We'll be in front of Sorin, my old dorm, at 12:45PM just before the band plays at Bond Hall (which was usually my wake up call as a student as it's just behind the dorm). The plan is to get to the Stadium around 1:45PM for the 2:30PM start. Well, TV coverage starts at 2:30PM, the actual kickoff won't be until about 2:45PM or so.
I'm really excited to be going back. It's been way too long. It's just been tough being sick and broke and all that. I can't believe it's been 8 years. It'll be nice to reconnect a bit. It's a special place, surely to me, and it's been a big part of my life. I'm looking forward to it being a more active part, even if just for a few hours. If you're going to be on campus, let me know and we'll meet up!
GO IRISH!!!
-B
We went over the MRI from last week and the overall tumor situation. Everything is stable. If the tumors have grown, it's not by much. It's hard to be exactly precise because each scan has slightly different images. There's nothing drastically different. The chiari malformation was specifically looked at. All the fluids seem to be flowing nicely, but my cerebellum does definitely hang down a bit lower than normal (which is what a chiari malformation is). It's possible that this contributes to my troubled throat function, but it's more likely that the tumor affects the cranial nerve that controls that. There is a surgery to help correct the malformation, and my surgeon will confer with my neurologist about it, but, at this point, it looks like we'll just keep an eye on it. The surgery basically entails reshaping my skull a bit at the base to alleviate any pressure on the cerebellum. While it is a big deal, and has its risks, it maybe seems a bit scarier than it sounds because it involves my skull and brain and all that.
After the appointment, my mom drove me to pick up a pizza from Papa Murphy's for tonight. They make the pizza, then you take it home and actually bake it. Because of that, I was able to use my food stamps to buy it, which worked out for me. It feels good to contribute a little, especially when I'm being treated to the game. After getting the pizza (sausage and pepperoni is what they wanted...add mushrooms, and that's my usual order, so it works out), I got a few things at the grocery store. Being financially challenged (or, more bluntly, being all but broke), I'm planning on packing a lunch to take with me. I'll just make a couple turkey sandwiches and bring some chips and carrots to go with those. Next up was a little lunch from McDonald's dollar menu, to go, then home.
I still have a few things to get together before I get picked up tonight. I'll round up my meds, clothes, toiletries, and the food, and I'll shower here in a little while, too. Then I'll get picked up tonight. We'll eat, maybe watch a movie and/or play a couple games for a bit. We'll be heading out of here at 7AM, so we should get to campus by 11AM. Hopefully the traffic isn't too bad and we arrive a little earlier. I haven't been on campus since 2002, and there are lots of new buildings that I want to check out. I'll be working on a to do list and a map here shortly. I'm hoping to meet some friends who'll be up for the game, too. So far, I've arranged to see one. We'll be in front of Sorin, my old dorm, at 12:45PM just before the band plays at Bond Hall (which was usually my wake up call as a student as it's just behind the dorm). The plan is to get to the Stadium around 1:45PM for the 2:30PM start. Well, TV coverage starts at 2:30PM, the actual kickoff won't be until about 2:45PM or so.
I'm really excited to be going back. It's been way too long. It's just been tough being sick and broke and all that. I can't believe it's been 8 years. It'll be nice to reconnect a bit. It's a special place, surely to me, and it's been a big part of my life. I'm looking forward to it being a more active part, even if just for a few hours. If you're going to be on campus, let me know and we'll meet up!
GO IRISH!!!
-B
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Notre Dame 23 Purdue 12
GO IRISH! I liked what I saw, for the most part. There were some first game hiccups, but we played hard and executed fairly well. I think Purdue will be much better as the season progresses, too. Seeing the game today, I'd be much more worried about catching them in mid-October. We need to take better care of the ball and tackle better, and we'll be alright. Bring on Michigan next week!
I was expecting there to be a lot more social media stuff going on during the game. It's probably better for me that there wasn't (back and forth between the PC and TV makes me woozy), but it was a little surprising/disappointing that more people weren't commenting. I was very much paying attention to the game, for the record, so no worries there, but I was kinda hoping for a little more back and forth, albeit electronically, during the action. Hopefully most of my ND peeps were in the Stadium and had their phones off :).
Machete is a badass flick! Even when something silly or obvious or cliché was happening, it was still money. Go check it out, you'll be glad you did. Hell, I wouldn't mind watching it again. It was nice hanging with my friend again, as always, and thanks to her for treating. Danny Trejo is a scary dude and was awesome in this movie.
Wow, I really thought I'd have more to say this time. I guess I'm just too tired. It was a good day. ND won, I got out of the house, and saw a great flick with good company. I'll take it. Family's supposed to be coming over tomorrow (later today...Sunday, anyway), and it'll be nice to see my little ones, especially, but also my siblings, should they not flake out.
...And our hearts forever, LOVE THEE NOTRE DAME!!!
-B
I was expecting there to be a lot more social media stuff going on during the game. It's probably better for me that there wasn't (back and forth between the PC and TV makes me woozy), but it was a little surprising/disappointing that more people weren't commenting. I was very much paying attention to the game, for the record, so no worries there, but I was kinda hoping for a little more back and forth, albeit electronically, during the action. Hopefully most of my ND peeps were in the Stadium and had their phones off :).
Machete is a badass flick! Even when something silly or obvious or cliché was happening, it was still money. Go check it out, you'll be glad you did. Hell, I wouldn't mind watching it again. It was nice hanging with my friend again, as always, and thanks to her for treating. Danny Trejo is a scary dude and was awesome in this movie.
Wow, I really thought I'd have more to say this time. I guess I'm just too tired. It was a good day. ND won, I got out of the house, and saw a great flick with good company. I'll take it. Family's supposed to be coming over tomorrow (later today...Sunday, anyway), and it'll be nice to see my little ones, especially, but also my siblings, should they not flake out.
...And our hearts forever, LOVE THEE NOTRE DAME!!!
-B
Thursday, September 2, 2010
The Fever lost :(
The good news of the day is that I caught up on some sleep. I don't feel very refreshed from it, but I guess it's better than not having slept. I'll take it. Also, my buddy stopped by to help me look at my sports cards. We still have no idea what they're worth, but at least he has a better idea of what I have. That goes for both of us, actually, since I hadn't looked at them in forever. The next step is determining their value (any help would be much appreciated!!!). I'll be looking around online to see if there's any free place (I've just been lazy about searching) that can help. If push comes to shove, I guess I can go to a card shop and see what's offered there.
The bad news is that the Fever lost, so our ("our," even in defeat) season is now over. It's disappointing, but I'm still proud of the gals. We were just too inconsistent and gave up too many rebounds. Not being able to hit a shot down the stretch didn't help, nor did some less-than-stellar officiating. If we hit a couple more shots and/or stop them a few more times, then the whistles wouldn't matter as much. Live and learn, watch out for us next year!
It'll be interesting what we do in the offseason. Especially after re-signing a bunch of players already recently, I doubt we'll make any major moves. The only can't-miss college prospect I can think of is Maya Moore from UConn (oh, how it hurts to type that), and unless we make a huge deal, we're not getting her. I'm not sure if (veteran Aussie PG) Tully Bevilaqua is coming back, but I think it's more likely that she gives it one more year. That's not a done deal, though. Whatever happens, I'll be there to cheer them on next summer!
So now it's Phoenix and Seattle out west, and Atlanta and New York in the east. I don't like NY or Phoenix, so I guess I'm rooting for Atlanta over Seattle in the Finals. Seattle's won before, plus a successful team in the ATL would be good. I do hope for good TV ratings the rest of the way, whoever wins. The WNBA needs support, the players deserve it (most of them, anyway), and the more popular the league is, the healthier it is, and the better it is for the Fever.
There's the Colts preseason game tomorrow. I hear that the starters won't play. I'll tune in, just because it's football. Hopefully those who do play represent themselves well as they fight for roster spots and playing time. Maybe a guy will stick out and make an impact. Because of a college football game, the Bellator fights will be tape-delayed on Fox Sports. I was under the impression that wouldn't happen anymore, but whatever. I'll just have to avoid the results for a few hours. I'm not sure who else is on the card, but the main event is interesting: Joe Soto (champ) vs. Joe Warren for the 145 pound title. Soto won Bellator's the first tournament for that weight class, and Warren the second one earn the title shot. I've heard good things about Soto, but haven't seen him fight, yet. He was a college roommate of Jon "Bones" Jones, and actually got him into MMA. Warren is a world class wrestler and a tough dude, so it'll be a good scrap.
And Notre Dame kicks off the season on Saturday against Purdue! I'm really excited for that! I like what I've seen and heard from Coach Kelly so far, and I think we have a decent team returning from last year. It'll be interesting to see how the adjustments to/by new coaching regime work out. I think Purdue will be a good test, too. I really wish I could be there to catch the game in person. I haven't been back to campus in so long.
Whoa, I just realized that it's been since the fall of 2002. I've been too sick and broke to make the boring trip up US 31 since. I've heard and read and seen pictures of how much the campus has changed with new buildings and everything. I can't believe it was 13 years ago that my parents dropped me off at my dorm, the great Sorin College (GO OTTERS!!!). Wow...was it really that long ago? I still miss sitting on the porch swings people watching, avoiding the sprinklers at night (even when it was already raining), watching the sunset while walking to the dining hall, the excitement of football Saturdays. I don't miss early classes, homework, not being able to do homework because my eyes hurt, those damn bells every 15 minutes from the Basilica (which is right next to Sorin for non-Domers), alumni barging into my room while I was getting dressed on football Saturdays showing their kids and grandkids where they lived as undergrads, parietals (opposite sex out of non-public dorm space after midnight on weekdays, 2AM weekends), or underclassmen who can't hold their liquor. I miss being around people, being around smart people, walking around the lakes, cheering at the games (and not just football for me), working the late shift at the Huddle Mart, having more of a future to look forward to. I don't miss getting hit in the nuts every time I did the push-ups after an ND score, but I do miss being in that situation ;).
Thanks to the Fever for a good summer, my only consistent out-of-the-house distraction! We'll get'em next year! And I'll do my best to hook more people into coming out and support you like you deserve! Now it's time for football season, so GO COLTS! And, more importantly, GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!
Proud Fever Fanatic, Colts fan (even when they sucked!), and ND Alum,
-B :)
The bad news is that the Fever lost, so our ("our," even in defeat) season is now over. It's disappointing, but I'm still proud of the gals. We were just too inconsistent and gave up too many rebounds. Not being able to hit a shot down the stretch didn't help, nor did some less-than-stellar officiating. If we hit a couple more shots and/or stop them a few more times, then the whistles wouldn't matter as much. Live and learn, watch out for us next year!
It'll be interesting what we do in the offseason. Especially after re-signing a bunch of players already recently, I doubt we'll make any major moves. The only can't-miss college prospect I can think of is Maya Moore from UConn (oh, how it hurts to type that), and unless we make a huge deal, we're not getting her. I'm not sure if (veteran Aussie PG) Tully Bevilaqua is coming back, but I think it's more likely that she gives it one more year. That's not a done deal, though. Whatever happens, I'll be there to cheer them on next summer!
So now it's Phoenix and Seattle out west, and Atlanta and New York in the east. I don't like NY or Phoenix, so I guess I'm rooting for Atlanta over Seattle in the Finals. Seattle's won before, plus a successful team in the ATL would be good. I do hope for good TV ratings the rest of the way, whoever wins. The WNBA needs support, the players deserve it (most of them, anyway), and the more popular the league is, the healthier it is, and the better it is for the Fever.
There's the Colts preseason game tomorrow. I hear that the starters won't play. I'll tune in, just because it's football. Hopefully those who do play represent themselves well as they fight for roster spots and playing time. Maybe a guy will stick out and make an impact. Because of a college football game, the Bellator fights will be tape-delayed on Fox Sports. I was under the impression that wouldn't happen anymore, but whatever. I'll just have to avoid the results for a few hours. I'm not sure who else is on the card, but the main event is interesting: Joe Soto (champ) vs. Joe Warren for the 145 pound title. Soto won Bellator's the first tournament for that weight class, and Warren the second one earn the title shot. I've heard good things about Soto, but haven't seen him fight, yet. He was a college roommate of Jon "Bones" Jones, and actually got him into MMA. Warren is a world class wrestler and a tough dude, so it'll be a good scrap.
And Notre Dame kicks off the season on Saturday against Purdue! I'm really excited for that! I like what I've seen and heard from Coach Kelly so far, and I think we have a decent team returning from last year. It'll be interesting to see how the adjustments to/by new coaching regime work out. I think Purdue will be a good test, too. I really wish I could be there to catch the game in person. I haven't been back to campus in so long.
Whoa, I just realized that it's been since the fall of 2002. I've been too sick and broke to make the boring trip up US 31 since. I've heard and read and seen pictures of how much the campus has changed with new buildings and everything. I can't believe it was 13 years ago that my parents dropped me off at my dorm, the great Sorin College (GO OTTERS!!!). Wow...was it really that long ago? I still miss sitting on the porch swings people watching, avoiding the sprinklers at night (even when it was already raining), watching the sunset while walking to the dining hall, the excitement of football Saturdays. I don't miss early classes, homework, not being able to do homework because my eyes hurt, those damn bells every 15 minutes from the Basilica (which is right next to Sorin for non-Domers), alumni barging into my room while I was getting dressed on football Saturdays showing their kids and grandkids where they lived as undergrads, parietals (opposite sex out of non-public dorm space after midnight on weekdays, 2AM weekends), or underclassmen who can't hold their liquor. I miss being around people, being around smart people, walking around the lakes, cheering at the games (and not just football for me), working the late shift at the Huddle Mart, having more of a future to look forward to. I don't miss getting hit in the nuts every time I did the push-ups after an ND score, but I do miss being in that situation ;).
Thanks to the Fever for a good summer, my only consistent out-of-the-house distraction! We'll get'em next year! And I'll do my best to hook more people into coming out and support you like you deserve! Now it's time for football season, so GO COLTS! And, more importantly, GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!
Proud Fever Fanatic, Colts fan (even when they sucked!), and ND Alum,
-B :)
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