Happy Easter!

The Vigil Mass was great, as was the whole of Triduum. We're all quite worn out, what with finals and three majors Masses under our belts, but giddy with joy that it all went well.



Now, take us to Mexico!

Checklist

Meet with advisor to discuss finer points of thesis- check.

Submit thesis.

Present music seminar class with a crash course in Indian music theory & sitar music- check.

Paper on the evolution of the zither via acculturation along the Silk Road... erm, due Tuesday...

Submit two final papers for 16th and 17th century fantasy class- check.

Music for Mass Sunday, Thursday and Friday- half-check (it's not Sunday, Thursday or Friday yet).

Packing for Mexico-- must find work gloves and sunscreen!!! Lots and lots of sunscreen!

But... I'm done with classes for the quarter! Boo-yah!

"Bring out your dead." "I'm not dead!!!"

I'm not dead, everyone!

This blog has been placed on the back burned since the quarter began, and I apologize for that. And I don't even really have time to write now.

The past few weeks, in a nutshell: planning the Tijuana fundraising dinner (heading the food committee), cantor training (especially in preparation for Holy Week, which is also finals week. God save us all), midterms, papers, a LOT of reading, and general running around.

I remind myself that in 31 days, I shall be on a plane to Mexico. It's warm there. And we get to hang out with migrant workers and an MC priest and the orphans that he cares for.

31 more days...

Battle scars

Who knew you could beat yourself up so much just making pancakes?

This was a jump over the counter that went slightly awry...

Above is the burned (but healing nicely) knuckle. Ah, the joys of fundraising. I only found the bruise about ten minutes ago. I didn't notice it for two days (it's so cold out, why would I wear a skirt and notice it?). I'm rather impressed at it, actually.

Work hard, play harder

But maybe not in that order.

Last night was the engagement celebration for the happy couple (read: alcohol flowed like a river because we were all so excited that we didn't think we were drunk. Hence, a margarita and two Irish car bombs... yikes). Good conversation, good laughs, good times.

But the good times waxed on until roughly 1:30am, and we had a fundraiser for Tijuana at 8 the next day (e.g. today). Oh, buddy. Patrick and Corina and Marc and I drove to the church, and Marc and I were a wee bit hungover and under-rested. REALLY oh, buddy- he and I had a jam-packed day today (breakfast from 8-2, retreat meeting 2-4, PM meeting (for him) 4-5:30, choir 5:30-6:30, Mass at 6:30.), and we both started it off in... less than ideal shape. We were both remarkable productive, considering that...

I think we made a killing at the breakfast (the good people of Sacred Heart tend to bank roll a lot of this trip for us), which was great. It got a little crazy because we forgot how temperamental the grill is and fell behind in the making of the pancakes (there was a huge line) because it was too hot to cook. I was in charge of the eggs (with a lot of help, obviously. When you need to crack 100 eggs, it's good to have a lot of people!) which went fine until I burned the skin off of my knuckle trying to stir bake them (my out fault. Note to self: wear oven mitts next time). No biggie, just wrap it and keep going (though Marc made me take a break).

Then, off to the retreat planning meeting, which went well. Many plans were made, especially Corina's awesome t-shirt design! We designed a pretty kick-ass skit, too (going to the doctor for a physical; get your heart, mind, soul, and strength checked out. It was funny...).

Then Mass itself, and finally home to do all the homework that I put off in order to work so much today and play so much yesterday!

End of the year

Tonight was the Mexico trip reunion, which made for a fun evening. Although it's difficult to look at us all at the end of the year. Many of us prepare to make transitions in our lives e.g. graduation, moving away, etc. I'll miss a lot of these people- they've done a lot for me, my Catholocism, and my psyche. I found them right when I needed them, and what a happy home it's become. Now I feel like I'm in high school again, watching all my senior friends take off. Then again, that means it falls to those of us who remain to carry on and give that same kind of community to each other and the newcomers next year.

Speaking of people leaving and whatnot, Godspeed and good luck to Lauren, my friend, and her fiance, Adam. They're getting married at Notre Dame on Saturday. This is a pic of her and me at her bachelorette party.

Expect some pictures from Mexico soon; I'm going to ask John to make a CD for me of the ones in the slide show tonight.