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Sears Tower skydeck ledge
My sister, fiance & my mother are in Chicago for her 2nd of 4 bridal showers. Her fiance just sent me a picture of the Sears Tower “Skydeck Ledge.” Wow! Wish I was there!
The Ledge brings an exhilarating new experience to the Skydeck. At 1,353 feet up, The Ledge’s glass boxes extend out 4.3 feet from the skyscraper’s Skydeck on the 103rd floor, providing never-before-seen views of the city. An unmatched view is not all the Skydeck offers. From the moment visitors arrive they enjoy interactive and educational attractions that not only highlight the iconic landmark, but also celebrate Chicago’s sports, architecture, pop-culture, history, food, music and people.
Christmas decorating … begin!
Let the Christmas decorating begin!
Arby’s + Wonder Woman + Ph.D
Avoiding “Black Friday,” I ventured out with friends shopping on Saturday. Not much better, I think.
During lunch at Arby’s, I put together this “kid’s toy” that said age 3+. Probably the worst kid’s toy EVER! Even with 2 bachelor’s degrees, I had difficult putting this 15 piece paper-cutout of a “bobble head Wonder Woman.” She didn’t last long after her completion either.
Thanksgiving “Attitude of Gratitude” prayer
I hope everyone had as great a Thanksgiving as I did, with family & friends!
Attitude of Gratitude (prayer)
Dear Lord, we come to You today
With a humble attitude.
For all you give, our hearts are full
Of love and gratitude.Thank you for this special time
To offer our Thanksgiving.
Thank you for this food, and for
The blessed lives we’re living.
In Jesus’ name we pray; Amen
—By Joanna Fuchs
nativity display at a mall ?
I was shopping with family & friends at the Town Center in Boca Raton and saw this beautiful nativity display inside. There was also a Hanukkah display on the other side of the mall.
In Neiman Marcus, there was a creative display over the escalator of butterflies and small mirrors that looked impressive. The picture doesn’t do it justice.
poisoned Pickle burger @ Sonic
After communal Night Prayer, on our way to return of Hertz rental car (for our trip to Mt Rushmore+), we drove through Sonic to celebrate having a car to get around in (we’re getting a bit tired of the bus system). I ordered a Sonic burger with NO pickles and, (as my colorful history with pickles would have it), I received a plain burger with a beef patty and JUST pickles on it. We were already on the move and didn’t want to go back, but I ate the burger (minus the pickles) anyways. My first bad experience at my favorite burger place. I would have take a picture of the burger, but it was too dark.
[This “Pickle burger” ended up being the root cause of my food poisoning experience over the next few days.]
I also noticed that our Hertz rental car came with a GPS that you’d normally pay extra for, but with Brian’s shmoozing of the Hertz counter-girl (with stories of Pittsburgh & St. Petersburg), we got it for free (which is exactly what it’s worth). It’s called the Hertz NEVER Lost, but any emphasis to a name like that should be a clue it should be called the ALWAYS Lost … not the most reliable. I wish I brought my Garmin … i miss her (Cassandra) voice.
Vocation talks @ AMHS
Yesterday (Monday) and today, we did “Vocation Talks” at Catholic high schools. I, along with Nick and Fenley, spent the day at Archbishop McCarthy High School (AMHS) giving talks in theology classes about the vocations to Priesthood and Religious Life … mainly our personal testimonies of how we came to be in seminary. There are about a dozen other seminary brothers doing the same thing at other Catholic high schools throughout the Archdiocese of Miami … all in an effort to promote Vocations.
The day was GREAT! We were well received by all students and teachers with some excellent questions about vocations ranging from general to personal questions on our own discernment journey. Each of us did about 8 to 10 talks throughout the day … I did fewer than the others cuz I spoke over my 10 to 15 minutes … 🙂 … but we eventually covered all students of the school over the two day period.
We started the day off with Mass with Fr Chris Bartos. Fairly new to giving our vocation testimonies, we were a bit nervous about sharing out life journeys, but managed to connect with the teenagers very quickly. The questions ranged from the simple (like “Can you still play paintball when you become a priest?” — my most common questions of the day) to the more challenging (like “How do you know where you’ll be assigned when you become a priest?” and “Why would someone choose to be a diocesen priest over a religious priest?”) to the super personal (like “Are you afraid you may want to get married after becoming a priest?”). We could definitely feel the attention they gave toward Catholic vocations in their thought provoking questions and comments.
Thank you to the Serra Club for arranging the talks and the staff at Archbishop McCarthy High School for their great hospitality … with extra-special thanks to Fr Chris Bartos and the students who walked us around the beautiful campus as our “guides” each day [there were more than just in the pictures]. They all helped to make it an effective experience and lots of fun! — Thanks again!
An AWESOME day full of graces, blessings and growth in the Kingdom of God! — Lunch in their new cafeteria was awesome too … 🙂
best brownie @ AMHS
The last couple of day, I was with a couple seminarian brother doing vocation testimonies about our journey to the seminary at Archbishop McCarthy High School (AMHS). I’ll do another post about the actual talks, but wanted to post some pictures on the beautiful campus that I took walking around, most especially their new cafeteria.
Their chapel, in the center of the campus, has morning Mass everyday with Fr Chris Bartos @ 7:20am. The chapel is absolutely beautiful [I posted more pictures of it during the summer when I was working with the summer school “Work Study Program”].
Their cafeteria was just finished and opened back in September and has an amazing selection of “5 star” food [with some “5 star” prices … according to some kids], but is definitely a experience. Subs, wraps, pizza, chicken, salads, desserts and lots more that I forgot. Personally, I had their pizza one day and a turkey wrap the next … both delicious. But what I will never forget … is the softest, moistest, chocolateyness, most delicious BROWNIE EVER!!
P.S. Sorry Nick … for catching you in all the pictures 🙂
break begins back HOME
packing summer room
tropical storm Fay
With tropical storm Fay on us, schools are closed Monday & Tuesday. Occational wind and rain, but nothing too bad in Broward County. Started packing up to return to seminary this Thursday.
Smart People (poor 2008 movie)
Watched “Smart People” … not good (Dennis Quaid should of given that away).
The Dark Knight (movie)
The Dark Knight (2008 movie)
Saw with D+T … a vice comparision.
Ocala + Tampa beach wedding + petting zoo + “trust Jesus” skywriting
I spent the weekend with some friends in Ocala as well as a beach wedding in Tampa. Did a Petting Zoo called Uncle Joe’s(?) Farm. On the way home, I caught a shot of some skywriting “TRUST JESUS.” — Great weekend
Wanted (movie)
Wanted (2008 film)
Spent some time with a local seminarian friend. Saw Wanted … pretty good.
Hancock (movie)
Hancock (2008 movie)
Birthday @ Boomers
Birthday @ Boomers
Birthday @ Boomers Golf & Games in Dania Beach, FL.
Sex and the City (movie)
Sex and the City (2008 movie)
Ultra Music Festival (day 2)
I didn’t go to Ultra Fest today because our Spanish class had a dinner & study session at our professor’s home from 4-8pm, but here are some YouTube clips from what I missed (I saved $90, but I still would have liked to be here). See yesterday’s post for day 1 line-up and Ultra Fest info.
SATURDAY – PHASE TWO: Paul van Dyk, Underworld, Carl Cox, Armin Van Buuren, Sasha and John Digweed, David Guetta, Benny Benassi, DJ Dan and Donald Glaude, Layo & Bushwacka!, Fedde Le Grand, Andy C + MC GQ, Planet of the Drums (AK1200, Dieselboy and MC Messinian, Goldie, Dillinja and Lemon D, Fabio , Shy FX, Ed Rush + Optical, DJ Fresh and MC Ivory, Photek, Adam F and Francisco Rossi.
Ultra Music Festival 2008 Commercial
Ultra Fest 2008 Tribute
Underworld – Born Slippy @ Ultra Fest 2008
Paul van Dyk @ Ultra Fest 2008
Carl Cox @ Ultra Fest 2008
Armin van Buuren @ Ultra Fest 2008
More clips here.
SJVCS Seminary Life Album
July '09 -- hospital chaplains @ IPF
Easter '09 -- Miami SJVCS friends
the Son always finds a break in let the clouds
Feb '09 -- school vocation talks @ AMHS
Feb '09 -- cold breakfast with brothers (Matias, Fenly & Randy), now at SVDP and Imad (at SJVCS)
Superbowl '09 -- eating great @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- Worklist Coordinators?
St Raphael Chapel mural @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- retreats @ SJVCS
"It's not easy being green"
Catholic Kermit 
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