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Thursday, 24 February 2005
"Saw Varsity's horns off!"
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05


I just received the picture from the St. Paul Prom when the students and two former students of A&M sawed Varsity's horns off. I thought I would share it with you.



Posted by Big Mike at 1:10 PM CST
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Tuesday, 22 February 2005
"Parting is such sweet sorrow." ... Not always.
Mood:  sad
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05


Where's the sweet? William was full of it. I am talking about the parting of the basketball season. I feel not sweetness about it. I write this blog after an upseting 5 point loss to Trinity Christian in San Antonio. I didn't know that I would take the loss or the end of basketball season this bad, but I have. It is a feeling I don't think can be fully understood until you have coach a whole season, grown close to the team, and truly have faith in the teams potential. Anyway, my sorrow is only for the end of the season. I am very proud of the girls. They played their hearts out all season and did what we asked of them even changing positions mid-season or playing two different positions during the same game depending on the lin-up that was in the game. The girls stepped up to the plate and gave so much to the team. And for all of this, I have nothing but an abundance of pride.

I hope that the teams sticks together. We will an intergral part of the team at point guard to graduation, however the other four starters were sophomores, so we foreseeably have another two years with them. As a matter of fact the whole team minus our one senior point guard was comprised of juniors or below. Next year should be exciting to watch. By this last game different players have stepped forward almost as specialists in different areas: stealing, rebounding, driving to the basket, and defense. We even saw the glimpse of a possible three point specialist our last two games, who shot 3 for 3 from beyond the arc (two of them coming in the playoff loss).

My sadness increases as I realize that I will not be here to watch the girls play next season. But alas my calling to be a priest leads me back to the seminary to complete my formation, though I will do it with a heavy heart.

I will stop here before my eyes become Niagra Falls.

Posted by Big Mike at 12:01 AM CST
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Thursday, 17 February 2005
I have a correction on yesterday's story, so let me "Whip it" out.


As you may have gathered from the hint in the title, but in addition to Vanilla Ice's song the boys basketball team went further into music history and proceeded to sing Devo's "Whip it." This further extended my shock.

Posted by Big Mike at 10:43 PM CST
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Wednesday, 16 February 2005
History Repeating Itself, in a Vanilla way.
Mood:  quizzical
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05


People always say, "History repeats itself." Though I have seen the truth to this statement, I never would have believed what it to repeat itself as it has. The St. Paul Prom and last night's return trip from Brenham for the girl's and boy's basketball teams are proof. I couldn't believe my ears at the prom when I heard over the DJ's speakers the once popular lyrics, "Ice, Ice, baby, too cold, too cold..." I dismissed it as the DJ merely playing this past hit for nestalgia's sake. But my original thoughts were affirmed when I heard the boys team in the back of the bus rapping the whole song, not missing one word. -- (I should know, because sadly enough I still know the song.) -- As I conversed with a Sophomore on the girl's team about the song, I found out that it had become popular again and so much so that it is NOW HER RING TONE! Who woulda thunk it: Vanilla Ice resurected from his lyrical grave. All I can say to that is, Wow.

Posted by Big Mike at 10:41 PM CST
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Friday, 11 February 2005
Time for more fun!
Mood:  silly
Topic: Funny/Cool


I came across these games online and thought you might like to give them a try. I can't get enough of them, and try to out do my score endlessly.

How far can you walk in a drunken stupor. I've staggered 57 meters.
http://www.funny-games.biz/home-run.html


For those Coona**es out there. How far can you chunk a t'r. I done did it 443.42.
http://www.funny-games.biz/tyre-toss.html

Without letting your mind go in the gutter, how fast can you play this game. Last night I approached 300 mph, believe it or not. It was like 276 or something like that.
http://www.funny-games.biz/spank-monkey.html

What you would like to do in the office to waste time before work gets out, but don't want to paper wads all over your office. Now you can throw paper at the waste basket endlessly with no clean-up necesary. My best is 10.
http://www.funny-games.biz/paper-toss.html

I will update my scores on this entry if I beat them. Post your scores by clicking the link below that says "post your comments." I look forward to see how you far against me and all those millions who read this blog.

Posted by Big Mike at 11:10 PM CST
Updated: Sunday, 20 February 2005 10:47 PM CST
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Saturday, 5 February 2005
I Went to Prom
Mood:  party time!
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05


I was invited to go to the St. Paul Prom, and no not as a date, but by the Junior Class. And yes, the prom was early this year, with an appropriate them: Madi Gras. I knew this was going to be a different my high school proms when Father Bob asked me to take his Mass kit and his chasuble to the KC Hall where the prom was being held. This prom actually started with a Mass, and then a catered meal by a local caterer who happens to be the school maintenance man. Andy is a jack-of-all-trades kind of guy. Anyway, the dance didn't start until the dinner was over, which by the way was served by the freshman class. Once the music started it was a typical high school dance...no one got up to dance until about an hour into the dj's set. Being the polka town that Shiner is, of course there were a few polkas played among the country, rock, and hip-hop. I don't mean a country song that doubles as a polka song to dance to, but actual bonafide polka songs. I thought I had seen it all when a teacher grabbed Andy the caterer to lead the grand march. Yes I said the grand march, which until then I had only seen at wedding receptions. For those who aren't familiar to what a grand march is; I will explain it briefly. In a nut shell it is a couple's conga line. One couple leads the other couples around the dance floor weaving here and there, then making a bridge all pass under to continue the bridge for the other couples. And at times, the lead couple even splits up to lead their particular gender around the dance floor to meet with their original partner on the other side of the floor. Unless you've been in one, you can't know how much fun they are. I did, however, end up going danceless, unless you count sawing Varsity's horns off dancing. Yes they actually played the Aggie War Hymn and all the future Aggies sang the song, to a degree, with the two Former Students--myself and the spouse of a coach. When the students linked up I couldn't help myself but run up and join them. It was great to see their Aggie spirit. However, being politically sensitive, the dj also played "I've Been Working on the Railroad" for the t-sips that were present. The evening ended up being very enjoyable, even if I was dateless.

Posted by Big Mike at 12:01 AM CST
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Saturday, 29 January 2005
Long Time No Blog
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05


Many things have happened since I last wrote. I will spare you a long blog and give you a few highlights. Christmas came quickly and I joined my pastor for the marathon of Masses starting Friday evening at 5:00pm and ending Sunday morning at 10:30am seven Masses in all; however, I took a short cut, which skipped me passed the Saturday vigil Mass and the Sunday 7:30 morning Mass. No sooner did Christmas come and go, the New Year had started and I had to report to the seminary for our week long silent retreat. I suffered through...prayerfull attended the retreat without saying a word to anyone until the end. Some may find that surprising, but it is true...honest. January saw much of what happened before. Basketball season continued and we have seen great success on the court at 2nd in our district. Also dealing with the sport of basketball: I have started playing basketball with the youth of the parish. So far, we have had a good showing of youth of both the public and Catholic schools. January 22, my niece/Goddaughter Brenna Elizabeth Rother was baptized in the Faith. This past Thursday a friend came down and we made a pilgrimage to the Spoetzl Brewery where the nectar of the gods is brewed...Shiner Beer. Being the special people that we are, we were even given a behind the scenes tour. It was awesome! And lastly, tonight, January 29, we showed our appreciation for our beloved pastor on his birthday, by having a pot luck dinner. The seniors and I even put on a skit that dramatized a funny event in the life of Father Bob.

Posted by Big Mike at 11:04 PM CST
Updated: Friday, 11 February 2005 11:38 PM CST
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Thursday, 9 December 2004
My New Niece
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Family


Here is the promised pic of Brenna my new niece of two and one half weeks.



Posted by Big Mike at 9:32 PM CST
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Wednesday, 1 December 2004
Over Sensitivity and/or Zealousness for Sexual Inclusivity? You decide.
Mood:  quizzical


I was recently preparing for a class presentation on the Kingdom of God when I found out that the word Kingdom is "sexist." What are we supposed to call them then, person-who-rules-dom? The actual quote is: "...in light of today's appropriate sensitivity regarding exclusive or sexist language, many prefer to avoid the word kingdom. The common practice today is to replace it with the word reign or, less frequently, rule."* I would argue the point that this is the common practice, maybe in his region. Furthermore, this, in my book, is plain lunacy. I have conceded to certain ideas like using "she/he" when talking about a general person, but this, I believe, is too far. Your comments are welcome, as they always are. Just click on the link below that says post your comments. You can even see what others have written and start a discussion on the issue if you so choose.

* (The revised edition of the Catechist's Guide of Confirmed in the Faithful Community: A Senior High Confirmation Process, Thomas Zanzig, Winona, Minnesota: St. Mary's Press 2001, p. 119)

Posted by Big Mike at 1:11 PM CST
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Tuesday, 30 November 2004
*happy sigh*, Another Two Become Inseparably One: Willandra or Sandrill
Mood:  happy
Topic: Family


This blog is a month late but I want to share a beautiful event I had the esteemed pleasure and honor in attending and being a part of the wedding of good friend of mine from high school up north...North Texas. This is the very friend that used to put me through UIL Number Sense Boot Camp--Don't ask. I still twitch when I think about it. :-) The beautiful bride first requested my presence at the wedding as a server to assist the priest in the Mass, to which a graciously accepted. Not long went by when she contacted me again and begged for my "beautiful voice"--Her words not mine--to sing or chant the Responsorial Psalm. Again I accepted graciously. I was very happy to be apart of her (and her soon to be husband's) wedding. And finally, soon before the wedding date, I received one more email that requested that I do the prayers of the faithful. Yet, again my answer was positive. I wanted to do what I could to help get these two love birds hitched, as we say in Texas. I didn't mind, and was actually honored, to be the go to guy to pick up the slack as it were. Had I been able I would have married the two, but last time I checked this was not possible until my bishop ordains me and grants me the faculties. But then the bishop of Dallas would have to concede and all that good stuff, but I digress back to the join of Sandra and Will. The wedding went off with only one minor mistake. I chanted the response a little wrong, but fixed it because there was no way I could remember how I had accidentally done it the first time. After the wedding, the wedding party and the guests made their way to the hotel where the reception was held and great food, fellowship, and fun was had by all. Now for you girls who are interested in the decoration...and don't tell me you weren't wondering what the wedding looked like. Well in all my masculine, testosterone infested perception of d?cor, the decorations were very "Autumny." The colors were the color of the changing leaves...that is oranges, reds, yellows, not green then brown like most trees of the south. I had a true sense of what Autumn is in other parts of the country. Another, thing I thought was unique, at least to me because I have never seen it, was that the brides maids had one color dress, something like a redish brown, but very pretty and fit the "theme" of the decoration very well (forgive me Sandra the I don't know the color). The maid of honor had a cream colored dress, which set her apart from the other girls in the wedding part sort of in a place of honor as she is the maid of honor. Anyway, it was a very beautiful occasion and I am very happy and proud to have been present.

Posted by Big Mike at 12:01 AM CST
Updated: Wednesday, 1 December 2004 1:38 PM CST
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