Were you there when they...

ND Tiger bait? Tosh!

...beat LSU? In keeping with my moratorium on traveling to away football games, I was not there, BUT Stedsmen were in attendance. Sted's seniors, Andrew Borchert and Jacob Haley, were in the stands cheering their Irish on to victory in what has to be one of the best endings to a game this Bowl Season.  On the Irish win in the Music City Bowl, Borchert said, "Good win to end the season on a 'high note.'"

Word in the hallway...

Trewitt: We're on a mission from God. We're getting the band back together!

...is that Zach Trewitt is headed to Nashville for the Music City Bowl. Yes, this Stedsman and trombone player in the Notre Dame Marching Band is headed to Nashville for Tuesday's matchup against LSU. On going to Nashville, Trewitt said, "The Band is very excited to be going to Nashville. The "City of Music" is welcoming the "greatest band in the land," and we are looking to make it bigger than Taylor Swift. Geaux Irish, beat Tigers!" 

Your Sunday...

But where's the snow?

...picture from Notre Dame. Here's a look at the University's Christmas tree in God Quad. While it may not look like much, I say it give the Christmas tree a few years. I am sure it will lose its "Charlie Brown" look...really.

Merry Christmas!

To you, Gentlemen of St. Edward's Hall, and your families, Merry Christmas! May the Christ Child guide you all to happiness and peace this Christmastide and throughout the New Year!

VIDEO: Fr. John Jenkin's Christmas Greeting

And then...

Nothing going on here, really.

...there was none. Yes, with everyone away, it's a little slow at St. Edward's, but fear not, the blog will continue on, bringing you the life and times of Notre Dame's oldest residence hall!

Your Sunday...

A December view of God Quad

...picture from Notre Dame. Here's a view of God Quad from the La Fortune Student Center. A dreary day, indeed, but at least there is no snow! Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

It's time...

But what's in your big, red bag?

...to go home. With finals over, everything on campus closed, and the Hall closing at 2PM, it was time for everyone to say goodbye and head home for the Christmas Break. On leaving for Christmas Break, Chris Torres, Sted's senior, said, well, the picture says it all....goodbye!

Who knew...

Marcos: Those skates aren't for you.

...that Santa's sleigh was a purple PT Cruiser? Well, sort of.  This year the Gentlemen adopted a local family of six, with children ranging from 13 yrs to 1yr old, for Christmas.  Filling the kids' wish list that had roller stakes to Barbie dolls, the Gentlemen made Christmas happen for this family. On making Christmas a reality, Marcos Esquivel, Sted's junior, said, "Finals were cold and unkind, yet the hearts of Stedsmen were warm and charitable." Indeed Marcos....indeed!

Let's take a break...

Don't be shy, have another helping.

...from studying! On Wednesday evening, the Gentlemen took a break from their studying with a soiree of sorts in the first floor lounge where there was Christmas music playing (even some karaoke), decorating of the Hall Christmas tree, and of course, food. From Famous Dave to Domino's, from Taco Bell to egg nog and ginger bread cookies, there was some thing for every discerning palate. On the study break, Joe Scollan, Sted's RA and aspiring doctor, said, "Jovial, community building, and filling... the three aspects of being a gentlemen."

Oh, the things...

Resident of 331: a budding dentist, a wise sage, or both?

...the Gentlemen write on their dry erase boards. Yes, when a part of a regular routine with brushing, flossing can help protect tooth enamel from decay and prevent bad breath. I now know what I am asking Santa for. Thanks for the tip Room 331!

Closing is such...

Whhhhhhhy?????!!!!

...sweet sorrow. Yes, that's exactly what one Stedsman experienced when he discovered that Ed's, the in-Hall eatery, was closed for the semester. While it was just short of a wailing and a gnashing of teeth, the sorrow was clearly visible. Of Ed's closing, Spencer Edman, Steds senior and RA, said, "Missing Ed's during such a crucial week in the semester is a hole in my heart... mostly because that hole was normally filled with greasy pizza sticks and delightful (and healthy) paninis... BUT THAT'S THE POINT. Ed's completed me."

Rancher Larry says...

Don't question Rancher Larry

...it's Finals time! Indeed, it is, and good luck to all Stedsmen! Remember, if it's Calculus, then the answer is either 7 or empty set. If it's Bio, then the answer is dihydrogen monoxide. If it's anything else, well, you're on your own! Good luck!

Your Sunday...

At least it's not cold.

...picture from Notre Dame. A unique view of the Dome and the Basilica from Holy Cross Hill. Enjoy your Sunday where every you may be!

Sweet Revenge.

FSU: Broken spirits and busted hoop dreams

Sweet revenge indeed! In a crowded Purcell Pavillon, the Notre Dame Men's Basketball team demolished Florida State. Having the lead at the half, the Irish continued to build on their lead in the second half  ultimately burying their opponent. On Fr. Ralph sitting on the ND bench as team chaplain, Jon Heintz '09, J.D. '14 said, "I can only imagine how the football game would have been different if Fr Ralph had been on the sideline."

Word in the hallway...

Stoker: All smiles on the eve of Finals' Week

...is the question "What are you doing with your Study Days? With all classes now over and Finals' Week on the near horizon, yes, what exactly are the men of St. Ed's doing with their Study Days? When asked this question, Andrew Stoker, Sted's junior and resident man in the hallway, said, "Sorry mom." DON'T WORRY... everything will come up roses Mrs. Stoker!

Commence studying!

Murphy's Study Days: Catching up on laundry 

Yes, today was the final day of classes, and now, students are in "reading days," days devoted to studying for finals and other "things." On classes now over and done with, Michael Murphy said, "To all those who used to say 'Well I'll just do really well on the final' to justify your performance throughout the semester, well, now is our time to deliver! Happy studying." Indeed, happy studying! 

The tree is...

Welcome back Christmas tree!

...back! After a brief hiatus, our Christmas tree has returned to its usual perch above the main entrance of the Hall. Where it went, who cares? The important thing is that it's back, shining in the darkness, reminding us of the coming light of Christmas.  On the Christmas tree's return, a Stedsman, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, "My nights just got a whole lot brighter!"

Then and Now.

I think that Oh was a general...

Having left the University in 2009 to join the US Air Force, David Oh, Stedsman and now US citizen, has returned to Steds with stories to tell. Having been deployed in South Korea, David not only served as a translator but also performed many covert operations. It’s true! Have you seen Kim Jong Un’s limp? Ask David how he really got it. For more about David’s time away and return, click HERE. Still, on his departure and return to the University, Oh said, “I am definitely older, but it would be a mistake to equate that with more wisdom on my part. I'm still just an undergrad!” Indeed, you are David, indeed you are.

Are you there...

Electronic Ed's: Making your Ed's night easier

...caller? No, you're not because we don't have an Ed's phone anymore! Why? Tough times? Cut backs? No, not at all. Rather, Ed's has taken a giant step forward thanks to Spencer King, Vasihanv Murty and Kevin Boyd. Thanks these Stedsmen's computer skills and ingenuity, it's now possible not only to place orders at Ed's electronically but also to tell when orders are done and ready for pickup through real time updates. Take a gander. It's simply amazing.  It's SO EASY to use, you HAVE to place an order. On the electronic breakthrough at Ed's, King said, "The taste of success is sweet, but not quite as sweet as Ed's' strawberry smoothies," while Murthy said, "the website is going to usher Ed's in to the 21st century."

Your Sunday...

...picture from Notre Dame. An afternoon sun setting on the Basilica and the last Sunday of the Fall Semester. Happy Sunday wherever you may be!

A sad day...

Sted's Christmas: the magic is gone

...at St. Edward's as our Hall's exterior Christmas tree was stolen in the early hours of Saturday morning. Alert the police, CIA, FBI, DEA, ATF, Coast Guard, Postal Police, Homeland Security, TSA, air marshalls, the local mall cops, and the appropriate branch of the Salvation Army, and seal the borders! Dennis Rankin '09, former Stedsman, and his fiancée, Courtney Marek '09 of Cavanaugh Hall, came all the way from Atlanta to see the lights of Steds but were disappointed. On someone stealing the Hall's Christmas tree, Rankin said, "Really?" Well said, indeed, Mr. Rankin. Really?

Home! Sweet Home!

But did the gingerbread house find a home?

Chris Rho (L), Will Minor (C) and Sam Bradley (R) took a break from their academic labors to dabble in the culinary arts and gave gingerbread house making the old college go. Surprisingly, their creation, a replica of the Hall, was not only accurate but also painfully sublime. Of Sted's in gingerbread and graham cracker, Bradley said, "The only thing greater than our love of candy and frosting is our love of the one and only St Edwards Hall." Oh, how sweet...

On the 3rd day of...

Jake Miler caught completely off guard

...Advent, our University gave to us... a T.V.! Scheduled to be delivered and installed in August as a part of "Renovation 2014", the T.V. finally arrived yesterday to the surprise and shock of residents. The new 4th floor lounge, SkyLounge, has a new 48" T.V. for residents to watch as they "lounge". Of the new T.V. in SkyLounge, Jacob VandenBosch, Sted's Junior and SkyLounge fixture, said, "I think the T.V. will bring camaraderie and spirits to an all time high, but it will bring productivity to an all time low." Indeed, Mr. VandenBosch...you can't have it both ways! 

Decorating the Hall...

But do they know what they're doing?

...for Christmas has started. With University groundskeepers coming tomorrow to place the Hall's exterior Christmas decorations, Ned Vogel (L) and Andrew Borchert (R) as well as Joe Scollan (not pictured) took it upon themselves to assemble and string the Hall's exterior Christmas tree with lights. Surprisingly, stringing Christmas lights is an art and a science. On decorating the tree, Borchert said, "Took time out of their studies to make sure that the tree was decorated with the love and dedication it deserved." Good on you Borchert...good on you indeed!

It's back...

Occupied scholars in the Gregorian Room

...to go at St. Edward's. With Thanksgiving Break in the rear view mirror and classes ending next week, residents are gearing up for the semester's last round of tests and papers before the fun of Finals' Week. Of the upcoming Finals' Week, Fr. Ralph said, "Since I have NO tests or papers coming up and with NO finals on the near horizon, I'm coasting in on cruise control."

They're up to something.

Can it be that good?

Yes, Steds juniors and computer science majors, Spencer King (above with computer), Vaishnav Murthy and Kevin Boyd, are up to something, but what is it? Whatever it is, with all the smiles, it has to be good. On what's happening, Boyd said, "This is going to continue the magic." Suffice it to say, more to come.