Saturday's Squirrel.

Hey, I am working here.

With the biggest winter storm of the season fast approaching campus, our furry friends were busy hoarding necessities before hunkering down for the snowy blast. But with accumulations expected to exceed seven inches, will our friends be able to find their stashed edibles? When asked this question, a campus squirrel non-verbaled, "Dumpster." Smart.

They're getting married!

There was more than just wine on that tour!

It's official. They're getting married! Derry Herlihy '11, Stedsman, and Nola Seta '11 are to be married this May at St. Francis Xavier Church in New York City. Congratulations and best wishes to Derry and Nola respectively, and on "marrying into the Sted's family," Nola said, "I am so excited to be marrying my St Edward’s Hall Gentleman! After six years of being a guest of St. Ed, I feel privileged to finally be joining the family. Looking forward to sending some future Stedsmen your way!"

That's something worth...

...listening to! Sted's senior and music engineer, Mitch Abraham, released his first music CD entitled "Out of Touch." On the achievement, Abraham said,

                    "It's a solo project that I started last year when I first began making music. I'm
                    extremely excited to finally release the "Out of Touch." I’ve been 
                    working on it since the summer and the reactions from everybody have been
                    great so far! I wrote, recorded, and produced all the tracks myself. The music is
                    sort of a mix between Indie-Rock and Nu-Disco. Some of my influences are
                    Oliver Nelson, Strange Talk, Van She, Foster the People, and Oliver. In the
                    future I'm planning on getting back to doing some remixes and hopefully  
                    starting a new EP as well!"

CHECK HERE to stream Abraham's EP (extended play) release on Soundcloud. There's also a button on each of the tracks that links you directly to the iTunes page where you can buy the songs. PLUS, all the old remixes Abraham has done in the past are on the page as well. The EP will also be on Spotify within the next few days.

On Abraham's accomplish, Fr. Ralph said, 'Well, I am a musical engineer too. I played the clarinet in seventh grade."

Introducing...

... The Gentlemen's Monthly Digest: A Bi-Annual Informational!

Over a year ago, in an effort to keep you, Alumni and friends of St. Ed’s, connected to the first and greatest of all Notre Dame residence halls, St. Ed's launched The Gentlemen’s Monthly: A Daily Blog of the Life and Times of St. Edward’s Hall. With its daily post, The Gentlemen’s Monthly keeps you informed of hall happenings, thoughts of residents past and present, as well as the unique things that happen, making St. Ed’s what it is… a home and great place to be. 

To keep you connected to the life and times of St. Edward’s, the Hall is happy to give you The Gentlemen’s Monthly Digest: A Bi-Annual Informational, or in other words, a semester e-Newsletter. 

The Gentlemen’s Monthly Digest offers you the reader a quick way to hear, in a “digestible way,” from the Hall president to the newest freshman, from the Hall Haberdasher to the Hall Bard, the life and state of the Hall. 

To take a gander at The Gentlemen’s Monthly Digest, click on the following link: steds.nd.edu/newsletter

On the launch of the Gentlemen's Monthly Digest, Neil Sielski, Sted's senior and digest designer, said, "We're proud to present this newsletter as testament to the passionate work that our gentleman do for their hall and friends. I would also like to say that any typo of factual error is infact a clever ruse that I have designed to test you. You'll love this newsletter, I guarantee it!"

Sted's loves...

Grasberger: Always accepting registrations

...their moms! That's right, and to show their love, affection, and devotion, the Hall is hosting once again Moms' Weekend. Held this year from March 20th through March 22nd, Moms' Weekend will be an opportunity for the Gentlemen to honor and fete their moms as well as an opportunity for Sted's moms to meet other moms, their son's friends, and enjoy campus on a non-football weekend. Moms' Weekend Commissioner, Mark Grasberger, is hard at work to make this the best weekend yet, and on organizing the third Moms' Weekend, Grasberger said, "Moms' Weekend is upon us... a weekend to celebrate our mothers who first taught us to love generously. We owe them this special weekend!" Well said Mark... well said indeed!

If you would like to register, email Mark by clicking here.

It was all smiles for...

Holding the check: Verhamme (L), Krauss (C), and Murphy (R)

a photo op in Sky Lounge (4th floor lounge) this past week when the Sted's Presidential Team held a very special check. Last fall, President Mike Murphy and his Vice-Presidential Team rallied the Gentlemen of the Hall and launched an all out offensive against Malaria. Pressing hairstyles of the past, namely the "mullet," into service and opening a front on the ice of the Compton Hockey Arena for a broom ball tourney, $4,550 was raised for the purchasing of mosquito bed nets to stem the spread of this deadly and debilitating disease. On the photo opt, an unnamed Stedsman, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, "It an amazing achievement for an administration that works every other week!"

To all who helped make this victory possible THANK YOU!

Your Sunday...

Look: A break in the "permacloud"

...picture from Notre Dame. Here's a view of campus from the 11th floor of Grace Hall, a former residence hall but now an office space. Amazing view, and even more amazing that someone designed (and someone else approved) an 11 story residence hall!!! Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Saturday's Squirrel.

He likes muffin tops.

With campus in the firm hold of winter, our furry friends have to "bulk up" to stay warm. This means a lot of scavenging, unproductive digging, and of course, begging.  When taking this picture, our campus friend non-verbaled, "Got anything for me?"

Three of a kind.

Thanks Betsy for taking the picture.

The brothers Vogel, Peter '12 (Left) and Ned '17 (right), proudly display their St. Edward's sweatshirts while relaxing at home during the Christmas holidays. Dad, Ray, wanted in on the action, too.  After receiving the sweatshirt as a Christmas gift, Ray said, “I enjoy wearing it and being an honorary Stedsman.”  On being asked if he was living vicariously through his kids, Ray said, "Yes, but the sweatshirt looks better on me." Indeed it does Ray...indeed it does!

Soon, you too can be like Ray and wear Sted's Hall apparel! More to come...next week.

We're back in...

Minor: Call me chef, thank you.

...business! After a hiatus during Finals' Week and Break AND after a brief technical difficulty with the website (blaming North Korea), Ed's is once again open for business, bringing Stedsmen of all ages nutritional goodness from the microwave and panini grill. When asked what was "hot" at Ed's on Wednesday evening, Will Minor, Sted's freshman and Ed's sandwich artist, said, "Everything." On where his hair net was, Minor reported, "I've checked everywhere except for the tip jar. It's just overflowing."

It's going to be...

Rutkowski: Big Bird or Pokeman character?

...a great season for Sted's hockey! Tuesday marked the start of the Sted's hockey season, and this season is marked by not only a high level of fan exuberance but also the return of old as well as new talent to the squad. On the opening of the season, John Rutkowski, Sted's sophomore and hockey fan, said, "The physicality of (Brendan) Flynn and (Jake) Wittenberg, coupled with the coaching talent of Coach Zach Daniel, can only equal a win." Indeed, John....a win indeed!

A great story.

Who's really in charge here?

During the past summer, several Gentlemen from Steds participated in the Center for Social Concerns' International Summer Service Learning Program, or ISSP for short. Here's what Frank Spesia, Steds junior and ISSLP participant, had to say when I finally caught up to him...

St.Ed: Frank, I heard that you did an ISSLP this past summer. Where did you go?

Spesia: I went to Komga, which is in the rural Eastern Cape of South Africa.

St.Ed: South Africa? Never been there, though after going to a Bush Gardens once in Tampa, Florida, I feel as if I have. Still, what were you doing there?

Spesia: I worked at Open Arms Home for Children, which is an orphanage that currently houses 57 kids aged 6 months to 16. I did a lot of different jobs while there, but every day I taught for a few hours in the preschool on-site. It really helped me stay fresh with my counting and color recognition. I read so many children's books that I now have 'a very hungry caterpillar' memorized!

St.Ed: Did you drive in South Africa? Don’t they drive on the wrong side of the road?

Spesia: I drove to Cape Town at the end of the trip. It was a 12 hour drive on the wrong side of the road, and there were very little traffic laws. Fortunately, I have exceptionally fast reactions and a natural ability to avoid head on collisions, so I made it there in one piece. 

St.Ed: I know they speak English down there, but you know, it’s like “English English” or “English English” with a Dutch twist… sounds like something you would add to a coffee. So, did you have problem communicating?

Spesia: I understood what everybody was saying, but they had the most ridiculous accents that it made serious conversation very difficult. It's hard to keep a straight face when somebody is talking in a voice that is like a bad british accent on steroids. It's almost too weird... it seems fake.

St.Ed: Why would you recommend an ISSLP to your fellow Stedsmen?

Spesia: ISSLP is a great way to get hands-on experience in a professional field that you are interested in (health care, business, etc.) while traveling abroad and experiencing another culture. It's also a near guarantee that you'll make at least one new friend, which honestly is why I signed up.

St.Ed: Indeed Frank! From the picture, it looks like you have made more than just one friend! Congratulations!

Up, up, and...

But could he do an "extraction" from Campus?

...away in a helicopter. Yes, Stedsman Brendon McCarthy '09, M.Ed. '11, training as a Navy pilot in Pensacola, Florida, recently passed his helicopter solo test. As you can tell from the picture, everything went well with a safe landing back at the base. On his solo, McCarthy said, "If you live, you pass." Congratulations!

Your Sunday...

Wear some sunglasses...

...picture from Notre Dame. Maybe it's just me, but I think that the Dome shines even brighter against a cold winter's morn. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Saturday's Squirrel.

Can we be friends?

Yes. They're back. Friends, we are not alone. No, we are definitely not alone. The cold weather hasn't banished those whom we share this campus with… fuzzy fur balls whose antics can be hilarious, quizzical, and at times, down right audacious. Thanks to Neil Sielski’s photographic talents of capturing “nature in the raw,” The Gentlemen’s Monthly brings you a "continuing" feature, “Saturday’s Squirrel,” a highlighting of one of our loveable furry campus neighbors. Who knows, next time when you are on campus, you might just recognize a “Saturday's Squirrel.”

Where have all the...

Enjoy the silence.

...the scholars gone? Indeed, where are all the rising scholars of St. Edward's Hall? It's a Thursday night in the Gregorian Mural Room, and it should be full of people studying and "homeworking." Yet, there's not a warm body in sight! On this disturbing scene, A.J. Tablada, Sted's AR and budding entrepreneur, said, "Things are looking drastically different compared to Finals' Week. It can't be too early to start studying right?" 

What did he...

But what flavors did Vogel and Very choose?

...choose? Yes, what Dum Dums sucker flavor did Brain Manzo, former Stedsman, choose? The "sucker cube" made by Maem, Hall housekeeper, affords the "sucker" to see all available flavor options, eliminating one having to settle for a less desired flavor. The cube is a breakthrough for sucker lovers, really. On choosing a flavor, Manzo, said, "I chose strawberry." I guess long gone are the days when Brian would choose the sucker with the "?"... the mystery flavor sucker. Oh, where has the sense of adventure gone!

It may be January...

It could be worse...

...but we're already thinking of Spring Break. With a morning like today's, where it felt like -10F, it's hard not to think of Spring Break. On dealing with the cold temps, Fr. Ralph Haag, CSC, rector, said, "I am not waiting for Spring Break. I'm closing my eyes and going to Santa Barbara right now. It's called the power of imagination."

Memories from the...

Don't mess with this sax player

...Music City. With break over and classes starting today, our bowl game in Nashville is a distant memory for most of us. Yet, for this Stedsman, Chris Rho, freshman and saxophone player, it's as if the game was just played yesterday. As the team gave it their all on the field, so did Rho and the ND Band. On the game, Rho said, "Although this season had its ups and downs, the future looks bright. With Malik leading the way and the Band doing their part, there's no doubt, we'll be prepared for the Longhorns next year!"

Rancher Larry says...

Trust Rancher Larry

...it's time to get back to the homestead. That's right. With Christmas Break over, the Hall has reopened, and classes are starting tomorrow.  So, listen to Rancher Larry.  Get back to Sted's, buy your books, and go to class because the Spring Semester is starting. Good luck!

Your Sunday...

It's cold out there!

...picture from Notre Dame. Here's a look at a snowy St. Edward's Hall from St. Edward's Park. While the snow is pretty to look at, it's cold...really cold. So, if you are a resident returning today, dress warm. Enjoy your Sunday!

If we had classes today...

Now if only that shadow was from a groundhog.

...they would have been canceled. Really. Thanks to another polar vortex, it's frigid cold. So, stay home, and stay warm wherever you are!

Word in the hallway...

No one home.

...is that.. Wait. Everyone is still on Christmas Break. Come back next week when someone will be around to say something glib or give their two cents!

Your Sunday...

Don't worry. That hay is dry.

...picture from Notre Dame. The three Magi, Caspar, Melchior, and, Balthazar, (above, pictured left) made it to Notre Dame on time for today's feast, the Epiphany. While your day may not have been filled with gold, frankincense and myrrh, hopefully, it was filled with rest, relaxation, and family and friends. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Happy New Year...

What a Sted's firework display would look like if we had one...

... to you, Stedsmen, and to your families! May the New Year, 2015, be a prosperous year for  us all!