Can you tell it's vacation time?

Well, the blog doesn't get updated as much, I get more phone calls and emails from friends and make more myself and thoughts are drifting back towards work that needs to be done for Orientation at the Seminary (as well as the dreams of a beautiful college football season)... it can only mean it is time for vacation!!! The plans are being made slowly but surely, right now it is going to be fairly low key with time spent with friends and family. However, I am going to take a few days later this week to go down the shore and relax a bit on the warm sands while listening to the joyeous sounds of the ringing of bells and children screaming on the boardwalk and smelling the deep fried oreos which are guarenteed to take a year off of your life with every bite while scalding the roof of your mouth. mmmm.... I can taste them already.

It is also this time that my Verizon ring back tones (they play instead of you hearing ringing while Verizon tries to connect you to me) are reset and I wanted to do something a little different and change the song on a daily basis... I have a different tune for every day of the week, although I am a little upset that She's Leaving Home was not available for Wednesday's. oh well, some things are a stretch, but hey, that is part of the fun... what are you waiting for CALL ME!

OK, so I could officially tell that I am a seminarian because of what I am about to tell you I got excited about this weekend. It was the 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time which meant, that's right kiddies, TIME TO SWITCH YOUR BREVIARIES!!! Ok, I will wait for the laughter to die down now. Sorry, I get excited about the little things, and cleaning out my breviary, knowing that I will not see this volume again until after Christmas is an emotional time... actually I think it is more about thinking about the last time I used the new breviary... thinking about the prayers that were poured out, the things that I struggled with during that time and looking back at it today. Funny how things work, I know that the people in Guatemala were very deeply in my prayers the last time I used this volume, and on the same weekend that we switch, who do I have dinner with? Two of my friends from the Guatemala trip! We ate at Blue Water Seafood Company in East Brunswick which doesn't look like much from busy Route 18, but the food is excellent. Kind of middle of the road price wise, entrees are about $15-25, and the atmosphere may not be the best for some... it was quite hot and a bit noisy. Yet, we were still able to have a nice conversation and catch up a bit which was nice. If you do decide to go, just know that there is Valet parking due to the very small lot and it is BYO, so be prepared, but if you like seafood, you will enjoy the choices here. Here is a picture of Elsa, Mel and I from Guatemala :)...


So, last night, Tom Glavine finally did it, winning the 300th game of his career. Will he be the last person to do it? I think so... pitchers today just don't go that long and the ones that are close on the list may not have enough time or strength left in their arms. But, what do I know? I was planning on going to next Saturday's Mets game if he didn't win last night against the Cubs, but thanks to him I saved myself at least $40 :) Thanks Tom! I did win tickets a few weeks ago to the Tigers vs. Yankees by coming up with the answer of Sgt. Slaughter in trivia... actually our whole team just rocked that night, but the last question was worth 30 points, so I declare myself the champ (and I am humble too).

Well, that's all for now... a big thanks to Matt Hardesty for providing this wonderful Moment of Zen, he is absolutely correct that if this isn't a moment of Zen I don't know what is... well... perhaps, THIS. Always have to do one better... heck, that is why I am from Jersey. :) Pax