STRESS!

I am the Michael Jordan of stressing myself out.  As I was getting ready for the holiday season I could feel it creeping up on me, there was a lot going on.  Closing the building, lots of traveling, getting ready for vacation, and then being ready to be back at work.  With the holiday season, finances become stressful...this all begins to pile up and then bang it hits me.  Luckily, for everyone else this happened yesterday when I was completely alone.  Because of the massive blizzard that was about to erupt in the northeast, I got up and left the ville (Lakeville) much earlier than planned to get back into the city.  Alivia and I were suppose to be flying out Monday morning so I wanted to make sure that I got back in case the weather got bad...which it did, flight was cancelled and we now leave Tuesday!

I started to find myself getting annoyed on the commuter rail, for no real reason.  I got back to my apartment and watched the Patriots game half heartedly (even though they were closing out the AFC East and the top seed in the AFC!).  I, then preceded to completely break myself down in the gym...I was in their for a solid 90 minutes and tried to tire myself out so much that I wouldn't be able to focus on really anything.  However, all that really did was get my brain moving faster than it already was...CUE THE SNOW

I took this time to just go hang out in the snow.  The snow was not very conducive to snowball making, snowman making, or really anything.  But I can't begin to explain how peaceful it was...to be on a totally empty college campus, standing in the middle of the quad just taking in the scene.  Emmanuel is a beautiful campus anyways, but the snow just made it look majestic.  I must have been out there for over an hour accompanied by only my headphones and the occasional plow, who probably thought I was mental.  

Returning from the gym and the snow, I was at this point wiped out.  The campus soon after lost power and I was left with Samuel Adams in the bongos.  A dangerous combination if anyone else was left in the building...luckily for me and for the rest of the building, I was alone. I rocked out for a good half hour and when all was said and done I realized this; I need to only stress about the things that I can control.  There are so many things that are out of my hands that I get myself so worked up about...I need to take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the ride.  Maybe the cancelled flight to Vegas, the extra day in Boston, and the insane blizzard happened for a reason.  May be a bit self-centered to think all of those things happened so I can realize to chill out...well I'm just glad I benefited from the storm. 

Ben Folds live in Berlin - Rock This Bitch In Berlin

He made this song up on the spot....pretty funny. (yes i'm obsessed)

Ben Folds sings with STREET CORNER SYMPHONY on The SING-OFF Finale

Dexter!

I usually have a tough time with television shows. I'm more of a movie person I guess. If I  don't really get sucked in or invested, I tend to give up after a couple of weeks.  Every once in a while however, I get wrapped up into something...something like Dexter.  In a little over a years span, I have managed to plow through 5 straight seasons of Dexter.  I love it, it's a little weird that my favorite show involves rooting for a serial killer who works for the Miami Police Department, but it has happened.

Henley!

 I'm sure (I hope) other people who love this show go through the same emotions...almost trying to relate or connect with Michael C. Hall's character.  I would like to think that no matter how we connect that our actions would not be the same...but the thought process that goes into his day to day life.   His problem solving methods might be a bit different but I think we are all faced with choices...choices that involve consequences. The decisions we make, large or small, shape the person we are...the person we want to become. 

I think why I resonate with this show is that it is just nice to see someone, even though he may be a serial killer, struggle with the same life decisions that we all go through on  daily basis.  Struggling to understand who he is...who he wants to be.  Balancing his own thoughts of himself with those of the people around him.  Trying to steady the roles of being a father, brother, being at his day job, and his night job...we can understand the frustration that goes on in his brain while trying to keep all those plates spinning! I don't think I really know what I'm getting at here except 1. If you don't watch Dexter you should and 2.  Who doesn't love a Henley right?

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Strip My Mind (Album Version)

Great Song from the movie "The Fighter"

Animal- Neon Trees (griffsmith version)

One of my RA's little brothers put this together, hilarious!

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in


 moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of 


challenge and controversy."



~Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Man, The Myth, The Legend...James Lorello

I received some great news last night! One of my former students from when I was working at the University of South Florida (Go Bulls!) emailed me last night to let me know he won the ACPA outstanding residence life graduate student of the year award.  I had the privilege of working with James Lorello for two years and was lucky enough to have the opportunity to supervise him for one year on the Maple Staff (HOOOOOT).  He was an all star.  James has a great grip on reality and has a gift for gauging situations and reading people.  He has a great heart and is going to make a phenomenal student affairs professional.  He was a joy to supervise and it was fun watching him grow during my two years at USF.  I wish I could take some credit for his success but I know he was on his way well before me...I'm just glad I got enjoy some of the ride.  Congrats Buddy.  The award is well deserved and I hope we see you in the northeast very soon!

Engaging

How do we actively engage the students who aren't looking for it?  It is easy to engage those who are ready and willing but those are the easy students...really those aren't the students we should be targeting.  Those students are going find a way to become engaged, participate, grow, and learn.  On the flip side, there are always going to be students who do not want to have anything to do with what you have to say...and that' s OK too, not ideal, but OK.

How can we draw them in? We can intentionally program, create conversations, make connections, etc...but how can we really bring them in? Engage them?  This isn't a post that is going to give too much insight, I'm really posing this question to you?  What has worked for you?  What has not?  What can we do to reach the students who so often go unreached?

The Temptations Papa Was A Rolling Stone

Reminiscing

This picture really doesn't have a whole lot to do with
this post, but it made me laugh!  My college roommates...and Steve

I was fortunate enough to have some pretty incredible college experiences.  The good and the bad, I would like to think I had a well rounded 4 years at Emmanuel.  The other day my old college roommate and I were catching up on everything since it's been a while since we have seen each other and our old baseball times became a topic of interest. Rocky is probably the smartest guy I have ever met.  It was clear that out of all my friends there was a good chance he was going to be the most successful...and you know what the kid deserves it.  He is incredibly intelligent and logical, but what sets him a part is his work ethic.  His goal is to constantly be the hardest worker in whatever he's doing and that was evident when it came to baseball.  Unfortunately and fortunately, living with this kid did not allow me to miss any 6 am practices...which would have been nice here and there.

Championship!

 We played 3 years of baseball together at Emmanuel, the last probably being my favorite memory that I left this place with. "Wait, so this 4 ft 6in kid played college baseball?" Well, sort of...it was a start up program, I'm not Pedroia, I promise. The fall of my senior year, we ended up taking down the league championship, our first year in the league!  Just being selected to participate in this league was an honor in itself, as it was the first time the team really competed in its existence, but for it all to culminate into a trophy was pretty amazing and a great way to start your senior year.  This morning, I was going through some old pictures and found some that I'm going to post just because it makes me feel good to think back on how much fun those times were.  I was able to participate in a lot of things in and outside the Emmanuel College community but none will ever amount the fun, excitement, and hard work that occurred with this group of guys.

The Captains

This game was the closest I came to being thrown out of a game.
The Umpire seriously called this guy safe, be real now.

Miss this kid

College Roommate!

ESPN OTL: John Lennon Murder, 30th Anniversary

30 year anniversary of the Murder of John Lennon

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon - Michael C. Hall Christmas Song (12/7/10) - Video - NBC.com

Getting Ready for the Dexter finale!

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon - Michael C. Hall Christmas Song (12/7/10) - Video - NBC.com

Another Great Weekend!

I can't remember enjoying my weekends like this since I was in college!  Friday happened to be my birthday, Alivia and my sister put together a little surprise birthday party for me.  Well, it was sort of a surprise, I have some...unintelligent...friends that are not really great readers and decided to call me the day before and apologize for not being able to make it. Well, my sister and brother did do a great job of tricking me and Kevin and Kristen both decided the day of that they could "no longer make it" to my birthday outing. Needless to say, they all made it and we had a great time.  Our Night began at the Black Rose down near Fanueil Hall. Alivia and I went there for dniner (which was excellent) and then Vedran was the next to show up.  Things began to escalate quickly as more people continued to show up...drinks were moving faster, the band began playing, and more friends kept showing up!  It really was an excellent night.  We went from the Black Rose to Sissy K's and that is where the evening commenced.  It was a great birthday...even though I was turning 26 I sure felt like I was still 21 for that night, but the morning after quickly reminded me that I was definitely not 21.  Recovery time is not what it once was.  

I also got to spend some time with the family on Sunday.  The parents came up and took Alivia and I out to lunch. I know I mentioned this last post but I really do appreciate the time I spend with my family more and more.  Even if it's only for an hour here and there it is really just nice to be around them.  Overall, it was a great weekend.

One other note from the weekend, it's officially winter.  Just in case people missed the memo, I figured it was my responsibility to pass that along.  It is now the season of over-sized jackets, hats, and gloves.  I feel like it happened over night, where it was still fall...chilly but now that wind chill is in full effect, not a huge fan but that means snow is coming and I do enjoy me some snow!

I love this city!

With that being said, it also means it is time for Christmas (and closing!).  I am so excited for winter break.  I get to spend a little bit of time at home, some time away from college students, and some time in VEGAS!!!!  This year is absolutely flying by and it's nice to be in a good mood again.  I find that the days that I am happy far outnumber the days that I am unhappy...and I'm pretty darn sure that this would not be the case if I was still at the school that shall not be named.


One last thing for all you sports fans out there.  Today's date is Tuesday, December 7th and I think it's important we talk about the New England Patriots.  They absolutely smoked the New York Jets last night.  I'm all for competitive football games, I'd rather watch a nail-biter than a blow out.  But you can bet the house that I watched that game in its entirety last night.  I loved every minute of that sch-lacking the Jets, Sanchez, and Ryan took last night.  It just made me happy inside, I don't care if that's lame.  You can say it's just sports, or just a football game, but I can tell you this...I slept better last night because we whooped some ass!

I have always liked Tom Brady but I'm pretty sure I've fallen in love with him this year.  He has taken his leadership abilities to new heights.  When he first started winning games he wasn't the key.  He managed games and let the strengths of the team take over.  Now, he is the leader.  He is the strength.  He has reached that Michael Jordan phase of his sport where by him being on the field he makes those around him better.  You can see it in the way he talks to the young guys after mistakes are made but also by the way he reacts when they are successful.

Jimmy's 1993 ESPY Speech

In Honor of Jimmy V week, I felt it is appropriate to post this incredible speech. Jimmy V passed a month after this speech.

A Celebration Of Jake Hanna

This video is of my late great Uncle Jake Hanna. He was an unbelievable drummer!