that's right, folks! from tomorrow until the end of the summer (for me, like all you educators know, that's the beginning-to-middle of august), i will hopefully be drawing your attention to some of the more peculiar, mortifying and extraordinary elements of my summer experiences here back in new england. this should provide you with a much more in-depth look at how i'm doing and what i've been to than my usual 3-5 page tirades that may leave you wondering "when is he gonna wrap it up?" or "why doesn't he just pick up the phone and call me for goodness sake!" whatever your response may be, feel free to visit my blog frequently, once in a blue moon, or just this once. either way, i appreciate your time, comments and friendship.
take luck,
tk
*God bless this country and our global communities
Monday, May 31, 2010
the D word
i'm sure you thought you were gonna get a naughty word out of me. nice try. what this subject lines refers to is the current state of dating or lackthereof. i have had several conversations with friends about the lost art of dating and courtship. honestly, it comes as no surprise to me, as i have been working closely alongside young adults for the past seven or eight years of my life--either as a mentor, colleague, teacher or chum. from what i have witnessed, young persons would rather have a one-night stand than make themselves vulnerable than risk possibly being rejected by a close friend or complete stranger by asking them out on a date. knock, knock...is there anything more risky that having casual sex with someone whom you do not even know? sex makes promises, real promises!
this past semester, i attended a Theology on Tap event sponsored by JCU's Campus Ministry program, in which Fr. Cozzens, S.J., whom many folks (both young and old) are fond of, shared his insights about sexual activity on/off college campuses as well as the "hookup" culture. i would like to refer to you to an article entitled "Sex, lies and the hookup culture" by Donna Freitas in the fall 2008 edition of the magazine U.S. Catholic (for the full article, click here). one of the evidenced-based arguments that Freitas discusses in her article is that a majority of young adults--regardless of gender/or sexual orientation--seek "old-fashioned romance. it's talking--just talking for hours, on a pretty beach, over dinner, under a starry sky." wowzers?!? not only did this discovery knock my red socks off, but i couldn't believe what i was reading! if this is true, then let's continue tapping into this developing phenomenon, Ms. Freitas and co.
since this entry has been in draft status for a couple months now, i wanted to publish it quickly to stir up some conversation...
this past semester, i attended a Theology on Tap event sponsored by JCU's Campus Ministry program, in which Fr. Cozzens, S.J., whom many folks (both young and old) are fond of, shared his insights about sexual activity on/off college campuses as well as the "hookup" culture. i would like to refer to you to an article entitled "Sex, lies and the hookup culture" by Donna Freitas in the fall 2008 edition of the magazine U.S. Catholic (for the full article, click here). one of the evidenced-based arguments that Freitas discusses in her article is that a majority of young adults--regardless of gender/or sexual orientation--seek "old-fashioned romance. it's talking--just talking for hours, on a pretty beach, over dinner, under a starry sky." wowzers?!? not only did this discovery knock my red socks off, but i couldn't believe what i was reading! if this is true, then let's continue tapping into this developing phenomenon, Ms. Freitas and co.
since this entry has been in draft status for a couple months now, i wanted to publish it quickly to stir up some conversation...
Sunday, May 9, 2010
worth the wait
please allow me to set the scene for you...bottom of the ninth. tigers lead the tribe 6-4. one out. left-handed rusell branyan is pinch hitting for mason and has a 1-2 count on him against the tigers' shutdown closer, jose valverde.
h.paul, yi and myself have been freezin' our bottoms off for the past three hours. at this point, the stadium is about seventy five percent empty, and we have since moved closer to the field from our ticket-listed, nose bleed seats--section 570 of progressive field for those of you who are keeping track at home. after finishing our $3.50 cup of lukewarm hot chocolate, we are just about ready to chalk up another tribe lost and hit the road when...
the 1-2 pitch...a swing and a pop foul to the left (wait a minute...oh my goodness, i might have a chance at this!)
since i was a boy, i have always brought my baseball mit to every MLB game that i've attended. i figure it is always good to be prepared. you never know when you might need to use the glove. well, today, for the first time in awhile, it would be put to use.
that ball that branyan fouled back was still climbing higher and higher. as soon as i realized that this was going to be a close play in the empty seats in front of me, i sprang from my seat and quickly darted down the steps, all the while keeping a close eye on the descending baseball. not a single fan was within 20 feet of me, when the ball hit the heel of my raised mitt (and painfully the palm of my left hand) squarely and bounced onto the pavement below this empty row of seats. before the rush of kids and die-hards reached "my row," i doze on top of the baseball, before it could escape me. as i rose to my feet victoriously with this timeless token, fans behind me began "BOOing" me!?! i couldn't believe it, especially since I HAD THE BALL!soon enough, i had those same fans cheering for my dear friend, yi, because of the occasion described below.
because this was the first professional baseball game that yi had ever attended, i decided that she needed an official MLB baseball as a memento of this historic event in her life. yi now possesses the first ever foul ball that i almost caught (see margins).
h.paul, yi and myself have been freezin' our bottoms off for the past three hours. at this point, the stadium is about seventy five percent empty, and we have since moved closer to the field from our ticket-listed, nose bleed seats--section 570 of progressive field for those of you who are keeping track at home. after finishing our $3.50 cup of lukewarm hot chocolate, we are just about ready to chalk up another tribe lost and hit the road when...
the 1-2 pitch...a swing and a pop foul to the left (wait a minute...oh my goodness, i might have a chance at this!)
since i was a boy, i have always brought my baseball mit to every MLB game that i've attended. i figure it is always good to be prepared. you never know when you might need to use the glove. well, today, for the first time in awhile, it would be put to use.
that ball that branyan fouled back was still climbing higher and higher. as soon as i realized that this was going to be a close play in the empty seats in front of me, i sprang from my seat and quickly darted down the steps, all the while keeping a close eye on the descending baseball. not a single fan was within 20 feet of me, when the ball hit the heel of my raised mitt (and painfully the palm of my left hand) squarely and bounced onto the pavement below this empty row of seats. before the rush of kids and die-hards reached "my row," i doze on top of the baseball, before it could escape me. as i rose to my feet victoriously with this timeless token, fans behind me began "BOOing" me!?! i couldn't believe it, especially since I HAD THE BALL!soon enough, i had those same fans cheering for my dear friend, yi, because of the occasion described below.
because this was the first professional baseball game that yi had ever attended, i decided that she needed an official MLB baseball as a memento of this historic event in her life. yi now possesses the first ever foul ball that i almost caught (see margins).
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