Back from Cincinnati…(Part 2)

Most of Friday was spent listening to presentations by Dr. Ken Hardy and Dr. Mary Pipher, who are psychologists/therapists. While I thought both were pessimistic on their view of today’s youth, I thought they offered good insights into how to deal with extreme cases. One of the helpful insights they mentioned was the important role a community can play children’s lives.

Friday evening, the schools from the west coast held a dinner at Blackfinn Restaurant. It’s an Irish pub within walking distance of the Hilton, where the conference was. There we had the choice between a few different dishes. I chose the glazed salmon (even over the steak tips); I was very pleased with my choice. Over dinner, I had the opportunity to socialize with some of the different faculty members from the schools in Napa and Sacramento. After that dinner, we walked back to the Hilton and Br. George introduced me to a number of Brothers and other Lasallians that were in the hotel bar. One of the Brothers that I got hang out with a lot while in Cincinnati was Br. Claude (pictured left). Br Claude, originally from France, works in Rome as part of the governing council for the Brothers. I definitely learned a lot about the French society and religiosity from him, as well as a lot of general insight about the Christian Brothers around the world.

On Saturday, there was a morning session that included a panel discussion and closing remarks. More of the fun things to blog about happened in the afternoon and evening. Given the afternoon off, I walked around downtown since that’s where the hotel was. I walked a few blocks south to the Ohio River. I walked over the Covington Suspension Bridge which was constructed in 1865 by the same designer who did the Brooklyn Bridge. This bridge was the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge. As I started walking across it I noticed that cars driving over it made an unusual buzzing sound. I looked over and noticed that there was no asphalt, but rather just a metal-grate-thing. If you dropped any pennies out your car while driving over the bridge, they would fall straight into the river. Well I walked over into Kentucky and back into Ohio. That afternoon, I also walked over the Cathedral of Cincinnati, which was about 10 blocks away.

That evening there was a Mass and dinner award ceremony at the Lasallian high school in Cincinnati, La Salle High School. The Mass was held in the school’s chapel, which is one of the nicer school chapels I have seen. Above the altar is the sign “Live Jesus in our hearts…Forever,” which is the saying Lasallians use to end their prayers. At the award dinner, I sat at a table that was comprised of educators from New York. It was an interesting group, personalities were almost what I would expect out of a group of New Yorkers (loud, opinionated, etc). It was a good time nonetheless and a good time to network.

Saturday night after getting back to the Hilton, I joined my semi-colleagues from DeLaSalle HS who were in attendance at the conference and we went out for ice cream and walked alittle around downtown. One of them pictured here is CJ (on the left) who works in our school’s campus ministry. Br. Bede (on the Right) currently works in Chicago, but he also joined our group. When we got back, I joined some of the others in the hotel bar for some more socializing.

Finally, Sunday arrived and I packed up and prepared for my 12 hour drive back to St Paul. I can tell you about how many hours I listened to my CD player and how many hours I chatted on my cell phone with my hand’s-free device, but I will spare you the details. I made PBJ’s for breakfast and dinner; however, I did decide to treat myself out to lunch. On my way through Chicago, I went to Super Dawg for a Chicago hot dog. It’s on the corner of Nagle and Devon. It’s been featured on the Food Network; and when I had gone to Chicago a few years ago for Thanksgiving with John we had gone there. Lily would be able to tell you that my hot dog came in a poppy seed bun with NO ketchup. Though there was an assortment of other possibilities (besides ketchup) I got only mustard and onions.

Tidbit By Thomas: I had another great Thanksgiving here in Minnesota. Charlie’s family was as fun as ever and the food was as good as ever. One of the specialties at Charlie’s Mom’s thanksgiving is her spaghetti; turkey takes the back seat to the spaghetti. It’s a family tradition they’ve had for years and years. I ended up bring the layered jello to her house. At his Dad’s thanksgiving, the turkey was tender and I brought a box of assorted Blue Diamond Almonds.

Back from Cincinnati…(part 1)

Last Wednesday I ended up leaving my apartment around 6 A.M. After stopping for gas in Madison, I made it into Chicago little after 12:30. My first stop in Chicago was at St Patrick HS. Br. Konrad, the president of the school, gave me a tour of their school. The school was founded nearly 148 years ago and was original located in downtown Chicago. Since then it has moved to northwest Chicago and I was thoroughly impressed by their facilities…from their great theater to their computer labs and their indoor pool. From there I traveled to De La Salle Institute off of Michigan Ave and 35th St., just south of downtown. There I met Br. Kevin. The Brothers have a house kitty corner from the school. When I got there, Br. Kevin took me across the street to the school, it was right before school was getting out.
So when school let out, we were able to walk around the school and visit with the students and faculty. Five mayors of Chicago have gone to DLSI, including current mayor, Richard Daley. The community of Brothers there had 5 brothers there the night I was there. They were all very friendly and welcoming. Because I know several Brothers they know, staying with them was like hanging out with old friends.


Thursday morning, I took off around 8 CST. I drove though Indiana down to Cincinnati. There wasn’t anything too exciting to see in Indiana, but the drive was not that bad. I got to Cincinatti around 1:30 EST in the afternoon. I got check into my room, checked into the conference and the first pre-session to the conference started at 2:30. The theme of the conference was “Providing Sanctuary for All in Times of Crisis” and particular pre-session dealt with grief and loss. It was nice to walk into the session room and see one of my old mentors from CBHS, Mr. McIntosh. I haven’t seen him in a couple of years so it was a great to see him and catch up with him over the weekend. The conference officially started later in the evening with the opening prayer service and key note speech by Br. Alvaro (pictured right), who is the superior general for the Christian Brothers (a.k.a. the head Brother from Rome…who is in charge of the governance of the Brothers worldwide.) I have met him a couple of times before when he has visited the United States. He recognized me and I gave him a framed picture from the last time we had met in Memphis.

Second part of trip to come later in the week…

Tidbit By Thomas: Happy Thanksgiving!!! I will be spending it with Charlie and his family like I have the past couple of years…I’m thinking of making layer jello to take over there….

Getting Ready for Cincinnati

Well there’s not too much to update on. I’ve been keeping busy, more or less, substituting at De. I finished my tenure as a cashier in the cafeteria. It took me a week to master the cash register, but by the second week I had it figured out. I’ve also been busy substituting various classes from Spanish to French, religion to history, and geometry to government.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, I take off for Cincinnati, Ohio. There is a Lasallian teacher’s conference there. This year’s theme of the Huether Lasallian Conference is Providing Sanctuary for All in Times of Crisis. Thanks to the generous help of the Christian Brothers in Napa, who I lived with over the past summers, I am able to attend. I hope it will be a good time to strengthen good values and network with other Lasallians.

On Wednesday, I will leave early in the morning around 5:30 and I hope to make it into Chicago around noon time. I will be visiting St. Patricks HS and De La Salle Institute; both are Lasallian high schools in Chicago. I will be staying the night in Chicago with the Brothers who work at DLS Institute.

On Thursday I will finish driving to Cincinnati in the morning and hopefully make it there around noon. The conference starts that afternoon. In Cincinnati, Br. George has offered to share his hotel room with me. (Br. George worked at CBHS while I was there and then lived in Napa the summers I was there.) I’ll be attending different talks and sessions and hopefully be able to network with others.

I will drive back the 11 hours from Cincinnati to St. Paul on Sunday. And I will be sure to post stories and pictures next week.

Tidbits by Thomas: Preparation from Trip –
Completed:
-Snack food
-Check car and fueled up
-Change for Chicago toll ways
-Make business cards with contact info and CV.
-Clothes Packed
To Do:
-Make PBJ sandwiches for tomorrow’s food
-Pack camera, charge batteries
-Finish maps
-Make music CDs
-Pick up apartment before leaving.
-Go to bed early

Catch up for the week

So, what was Thomas for Halloween? Well, I was myself. Hahaha. I don’t even remember the last time I actually dressed for Halloween anyways. Besides running errands, I didn’t do anything for Halloween.

I’ve been busy working the last couple of weeks at De. This week I’m working not only as a substitute there, but also a cashier in the cafeteria. My first experience as a cashier. Mix that in with working with some interesting characters in the cafeteria, and it’s an interesting experience. Good part about working in the cafeteria though is 1) free lunch and 2) if there are leftovers, we get to take them home. So yesterday, I got three cheese burgers and a loaf of garlic and parmesan bread.

I took my meager Citi gains and threw it at UA (Under Armour). After it reported a good quarter but shaky outlooks for the fourth quarter, it dipped and dipped and dipped. While I did not catch the low, I’m glad I did not by it before its reporting.

Tidbit by Thomas: Right now I’m watching Anthony Bourdain on Travel Chanel in Japan, rerun I’m guessing (though it’s a new episode to me). While I was finding it interesting, he lost respect points when he couldn’t even pronounce “obon.” He calls it “oban.” Oban, oban, oban. It’s ironic they are showing that episode today since yesterday was “all souls day” for Catholics, Orthodox and a number of other Christians. All souls days is when we remember in special way those who have already died.