Okay, truth be told I have not had a chance to post pictures yet, I am sorry to report. I am hoping to on Tuesday. Do you ever have one of those days (several in row to be exact) when you aren't sure what you did, that is other than wasting a perfectly good and free day. Well we have had the past three days off and I have done nothing. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH That ahhhhhh is because I know there are a million things I needed to do but didn't. Funny how life is like that. We cram everything all the time and then when we have time we waste it.
On a side note, this morning disaster nearly struck. I was at a local parish for Mass (and to get out of the building) when it happened. When I went to kneel for the consecration and somehow in a way only I can, I threw my glasses off my head. In slow motion I saw them fly across the air and land on the pew in front of me. This normally would not be a problem except I could see the woman in front of me going to sit down. Not sure whether to yell, cover my eyes or pray for a miracle, I risked a horrible ackward and potentionally deadly situation (her husband was huge) and went to grab the glasses. I could just see my luck as the woman sat down on my hand and the husband turned around to see what was going on and strangled me. Luckily I am fast like a cheetah and was able to rescue my glasses before disaster struck. The Mass was beautiful and my glasses are resting comfortably and safely.
Tomorrow is off to Hershey Park for Pray, Reflection and Relaxation or just relaxation.
- pictures coming soon! I promise!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
I CAN TALK!
Well, some how I made it! I actually survived the silent retreat to my own suprise. I almost went crazy, but I made it. More details to come tonight, I am hungry must go feed my tape worm.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Silent Retreat
I had hoped that I would be able to post some pictures today, but sadly my computer is not yet hooked up in my room. I am currently posting from the library, or as the message taped to the monitor says "primarily doing theological research." Not much to report from this end except later today we start a two day silent retreat. AHHHHHHHHHH!
All of you who know me well, know that keeping silent and free from distraction is not my style. I imagine it will be quiet the challenge, no talking, no phone, no electronics, no computer, no music for two days! The world today is filled with so many distractions and so much activity. I can't imagine a moment in my life when it has ever been truly still. I suppose in two days I will be able to. I am little worried I will be like an addict going through withdrawal. In the end I am excited to have a chance to center myself and focus on what is most important, my relationship with God. It is crazy how busy we make ourselves in life. Every day at Trinity seemed to fly by as I ran from place to place, pulling projects together, printing papers, talking with others, hiding from Yrag, talking on two cell phones at once, feeding bellringer, burying bellringer, buying a new bellringer and burying bellringer. I imagine if I asked most of you, you would agree. In fact how fast did this summer fly by? How is the new school year already starting? Wasn't it just yesterday you were a freshmen? Life is crazy like that sometimes, we spend all of our time running and never stop to sit, listen and experience God's presence.
I will see you all in two days!
-Mr. Nelson
p.s. I am eager to hear how things are going with all of you (another year at Trinity, moving into College, or returning to college).
All of you who know me well, know that keeping silent and free from distraction is not my style. I imagine it will be quiet the challenge, no talking, no phone, no electronics, no computer, no music for two days! The world today is filled with so many distractions and so much activity. I can't imagine a moment in my life when it has ever been truly still. I suppose in two days I will be able to. I am little worried I will be like an addict going through withdrawal. In the end I am excited to have a chance to center myself and focus on what is most important, my relationship with God. It is crazy how busy we make ourselves in life. Every day at Trinity seemed to fly by as I ran from place to place, pulling projects together, printing papers, talking with others, hiding from Yrag, talking on two cell phones at once, feeding bellringer, burying bellringer, buying a new bellringer and burying bellringer. I imagine if I asked most of you, you would agree. In fact how fast did this summer fly by? How is the new school year already starting? Wasn't it just yesterday you were a freshmen? Life is crazy like that sometimes, we spend all of our time running and never stop to sit, listen and experience God's presence.
I will see you all in two days!
-Mr. Nelson
p.s. I am eager to hear how things are going with all of you (another year at Trinity, moving into College, or returning to college).
Friday, August 22, 2008
Bellringer VI
I have finally made it! I am a Seminarian at Saint Mary’s in Baltimore.
As I type this it is late Friday night and I am sitting in my sweet room (by sweet I mean cozy, by cozy I mean small), with Bellringer VI at my side. Now the keen observer might ask Bellringer VI, I thought it was Bellringer V, it was……
I left for Baltimore early Thursday morning from my Aunt and Uncle’s home in New Jersey. After a few days visiting relatives with my parents, I was off to my new adventure. I was told I should arrive between 9:00am – 2:00pm on Thursday. Being the cool guy I am, I knew that I could not arrive at the beginning or I would look to eager. So the way I figured it I would arrive around noon. My plan was brilliant as always until I decided to take a fateful break in Delaware. After a few minutes of stretching time and a walk around a few stores I got back in my car and headed back to the high way. After a couple minutes on the highway again I noticed what seemed to be a never ending traffic jam going the other direction, after continuing ten more miles of gridlock I thought to myself “that stinks, those suckers stuck there will never get home.” It was at that precise moment that my GPS system regained its signal and began to speak to me.
“Exit right,” it said.
That is funny why am I exiting right, I thought.
“Turn left, then turn left.”
Captain Intelligence here had gone the wrong way. All those cars I laughed at were now in front of me and I was at the end of a very long traffic jam.
My window of extra time had evaporated; I was starving and rummaging through my car for food (thank you God for sending me Swedish fish). As the clock was moving ever close to 2:00pm I had to make an important decision, whether or not to stop for lunch. You all know me well and so do the folks at Chick Filet, my new favorite restaurant!
Once I arrived I was welcomed by returning seminarians who registered me, brought me to the cafeteria for a bite to eat (two lunches, score!). By the time I was finished they had unloaded all of my things, brought them to my room and even parked my beautiful 2003 Toyota Camry (they were totally jealous of my car, I could tell, they did not say it but I knew what they were thinking. Let’s face it, wouldn’t you be – a 2003 Toyota Camry is greatest car ever made, or at least it has to be until my next car).
After a few hours of setting up my room I settled in for a wee nap, and then went off to the first official program. We began in the chapel were we officially welcome by the rector, Father William Hurst. He gave us a very powerful welcome in one of those rare moments in life where someone speaks from the heart, without notes and just connects with you, and everyone for that matter, in one of those “wow” moments.
Right after that it was off to a social in the lounge and a chance to meet all the other new guys.
I firmly believe one of the most awkward things in life can be meeting new people. I am not sure about you, but I hate walking into a room where I know no one and then having to be the biggest geek in the world and start a conversation with people I don’t know. I imagine many of you who just graduated know exactly what I am talking about and may be dreading the same very thing. I have eyes like hawk, ears like a bat and am fast like a cheetah, but I still hate awkward new beginnings.
Luckily so far everyone has been super nice and very friendly, which has made it much easier.
I hope to have pictures up soon so I can show you my sweet room and what this place looks like. Thanks for reading, keep checking in and keep me up to date on how things are going on your end.
- Mr. Nelson
Late Breaking Developments
1. Tonight at dinner we were told of the schedule ahead, which included a free trip to Hershey Park, which when announced received thunderous applause, for some strange reason I noticed the mention of the free tour of the Basilica did not.
2. Someone mentioned the words “silent retreat,” I am not going to lie, not so excited about that one.
As I type this it is late Friday night and I am sitting in my sweet room (by sweet I mean cozy, by cozy I mean small), with Bellringer VI at my side. Now the keen observer might ask Bellringer VI, I thought it was Bellringer V, it was……
I left for Baltimore early Thursday morning from my Aunt and Uncle’s home in New Jersey. After a few days visiting relatives with my parents, I was off to my new adventure. I was told I should arrive between 9:00am – 2:00pm on Thursday. Being the cool guy I am, I knew that I could not arrive at the beginning or I would look to eager. So the way I figured it I would arrive around noon. My plan was brilliant as always until I decided to take a fateful break in Delaware. After a few minutes of stretching time and a walk around a few stores I got back in my car and headed back to the high way. After a couple minutes on the highway again I noticed what seemed to be a never ending traffic jam going the other direction, after continuing ten more miles of gridlock I thought to myself “that stinks, those suckers stuck there will never get home.” It was at that precise moment that my GPS system regained its signal and began to speak to me.
“Exit right,” it said.
That is funny why am I exiting right, I thought.
“Turn left, then turn left.”
Captain Intelligence here had gone the wrong way. All those cars I laughed at were now in front of me and I was at the end of a very long traffic jam.
My window of extra time had evaporated; I was starving and rummaging through my car for food (thank you God for sending me Swedish fish). As the clock was moving ever close to 2:00pm I had to make an important decision, whether or not to stop for lunch. You all know me well and so do the folks at Chick Filet, my new favorite restaurant!
Once I arrived I was welcomed by returning seminarians who registered me, brought me to the cafeteria for a bite to eat (two lunches, score!). By the time I was finished they had unloaded all of my things, brought them to my room and even parked my beautiful 2003 Toyota Camry (they were totally jealous of my car, I could tell, they did not say it but I knew what they were thinking. Let’s face it, wouldn’t you be – a 2003 Toyota Camry is greatest car ever made, or at least it has to be until my next car).
After a few hours of setting up my room I settled in for a wee nap, and then went off to the first official program. We began in the chapel were we officially welcome by the rector, Father William Hurst. He gave us a very powerful welcome in one of those rare moments in life where someone speaks from the heart, without notes and just connects with you, and everyone for that matter, in one of those “wow” moments.
Right after that it was off to a social in the lounge and a chance to meet all the other new guys.
I firmly believe one of the most awkward things in life can be meeting new people. I am not sure about you, but I hate walking into a room where I know no one and then having to be the biggest geek in the world and start a conversation with people I don’t know. I imagine many of you who just graduated know exactly what I am talking about and may be dreading the same very thing. I have eyes like hawk, ears like a bat and am fast like a cheetah, but I still hate awkward new beginnings.
Luckily so far everyone has been super nice and very friendly, which has made it much easier.
I hope to have pictures up soon so I can show you my sweet room and what this place looks like. Thanks for reading, keep checking in and keep me up to date on how things are going on your end.
- Mr. Nelson
Late Breaking Developments
1. Tonight at dinner we were told of the schedule ahead, which included a free trip to Hershey Park, which when announced received thunderous applause, for some strange reason I noticed the mention of the free tour of the Basilica did not.
2. Someone mentioned the words “silent retreat,” I am not going to lie, not so excited about that one.
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