It was fun

Thanks everyone for a wonderful Thanksgiving break. It is a blast to have everyone home even if it is for a short few days. Annie, all the pies and breads were sweet as was your way around the house...

Drew your words of wisdom interspersed with your sounds of utter weirdness make every conversation worthwhile and entertaining. Tom, your quiet way and firm humor keep me laughing for days after. We all miss you guys everyday and the countdown is set for when you all visit again.

James's birthday is coming up...The big 15!!!!

Thanks for coming!

It was great to see you all here for the Mass last night.

Thanks for coming. It was a fuller sweetness with y'all there.

WHITE LILY RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

love DAD

Friday

This Friday I'll be "inscripted among the canditates" as per the "rite of liturgical admission."

It's a pre-req for receiving the sacrament of Holy Orders.  The idea, in short, goes like this:  anyone can aspire to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders, but only candiates can be ordained.   Friday is the Mass with the Rite whereby I'll go from an "aspirant" to an aspirant who is "among the candiates."

This is what was going to happen at Mattaponi over the summer.

Y'all are welcome.  Mass is at seven.  They'll have a little reception to follow like last time.

Lemme know what ya think.

Adios.

life on the Nottingham Ranch

(Dad's email)



Hello,



Attended the Oakcrest Gala...lots of fun...the day before, Oakcrest teachers offered suggestion or the "Big Auction Item"...among items considered:Library items, trips, and then Ellen suggested Spirit Items, like vinyl banners for the Green and White Teams, a MAscot banner for the "Charger" etc....the Oakcrest Administration voted....decision: SPirit Item, and Ellen ROyals will announce it..



SO this young rookie teacher got up in front of the black tie formal dressed group and "Gave an Awesome spirit-filled rousing ..."Your-daughters-will-take-their-spirit-outside-these-walls-to-the-World" speech...and she raised around $2500!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow!!



James returned from his Mountaineers 29 mile 3 day hike.....blistered worn out feet, tired limbs....left here THursday morning......to the eastern mts. of Tennessee.....rained all night Thursday, intermittent and all afternoon and night Friday...sleeping bag soaked, clothes soaked, back pack soaked....but while half of the group was held up at the 11 mile mark on Friday at 3:30 pm, James was asked by his Geometry teacher to travel another 9 miles forward in the rain and dark with

the all-important keys to the van for the teachers in the advanced group....



So, he and 8 other Heights' "Rangers" headed off through the wiles of a Hobbit-like "MIRKWOOD" forest, dark, rock-strewn, cumbersome, narrow paths, pitch-black visibility,pouring rain, armed with small flashlights whose batteries were weakening.....within 200 yards of the final shelter, 6 of the fellows could go no further, and they pitched their wet tents up.....while James and one other brave "Strider-like" Ranger (these are characters from "The Hobbit" or those of you not versed in J.R.R. Tolkien references) went forward to drop off the keys!!!



Soaked to the bone, this young man from the House of Royals, gobbled down some handfuls o trail mix (gorp), ate a small remnant of sausage still remaining in his satchel, and he lay down upon the concrete of the shelter, his wet sleeping bag for a miserable cover, and heard the "rap, tapping" o the rain as it hit the corrugated tin roof of the shelter.......



The next morning, when the entire group reassembled, the Geometry teacher, who gave James the assignment to forge ahead the night before with the keys, approached him and gave him an honorable bow saying only, "Hail, ROY - to - the - ALS!"



I am sorry that you all missed Sunday breakfast today, because you missed Mom comparing James' night journey as a metaphor for our faith, referencing the saints and heroes o the Church...awesome!!!! You also missed the scrambled eggs and sausage and toast with jam and coffee!!!!!!!



Well, Ellen is out getting some dessert....and Ann, your Peter has just returned from playing soccer down at Norwood Park!



Countdown to Thanksgiving vacation is 9 days!!!!



Please keep prayers for dear Aunt Eileen in Wheaton, IL who is dying of cancer...Mom and Dad - Nana and Grandfather are heading out to see her and Uncle Bernard next weekend.....



Go Navy!!!!!!!!!!!!Beat Army!!!!!!!



love.....Dad and Mom..........Katy, Cecy's has her corduroy overalls on!!!!

Well Done, James!!!

(Dad's email)

All,

Tonight, your grandson/brother/nephew/son James....was awarded the Coach's Award for the Junior Varsity Soccer Team 2004-05 year. "For the player who best displayed enthusiasm, intensity and spirit and was always there for the team."

According to James, his award is simply......"Talent on loan from God"(borrowing from Rush Limbaugh)..."having more fun on a soccer field then any human being should be allowed to have"...."a season in which we had fun"...."hip, hip...HUZZAH!! HUZZAH!! HUZZAH!!"

John Paul was there in Chesterton Hall to see his brother!!!

For the Varsity Team, Victor Faustino was the Offensive Player of the Year, Pat Selwood received the Coach's Award and the former Petrei Award now Maginnis Award went to David Mitchell.....

...Among the recipients of the Petrei/Maginnis Award was your Grandson/brother/nephew/son Thomas Joseph...he was captain of the 2002-03 Varsity Soccer Team...

Bye or now!!!!! son/brother/Dad/husband.......Tom

Election Results for Thought

52% of the Catholic vote went for Bush

61% of the weekly church-goer vote went for Bush

59% of the married- with- children vote went for Bush

23% of the gay-lesbian-bi-sexual vote went for Bush

80% of the most- important- issue- is- moral- values vote went for Bush

For a complete breakdown of election results click ***HERE***

Bush Wins

wOOOOOOOOOOOO hOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

another 4 more years. ANd Daschle lost too,,, this is all just great

Nov. 2, All Soul's Day/Election Day, 5:30 p.m.

My wife and my children: from the remarks of my colleagues (18) upon their return from the polling locations, the turnout is near record breaking.....as of this time 5:30 there is no "news" regarding results.....I even wonder if over the next 12 hours we will have something definitive...what a period of eerieness, uncertainty...So we try to predict - yes, President Bush will win 275-285 of the Electoral College Votes....and then Senator Kerry will legally challenge voter tallies....but we will have President Bush for another term......we'll not worry about what happens after that...Just let's get through the next 12-24 hours.....

I'll be coming home...

...on election day to vote. We have mass at 4:30 here in emmitsburg on tuesday for All Souls. I'll be on the road, probably by 6 or 6:30. The polls close at 8. I'll want to be on my way back here no later than 8. So might I drop in for a brief bite to eat, say...7-7:30?