Continued: Summer Thoughts from abroad.

The summer junket continues...

Even though classes may be over, it does not mean that students are not matriculating during the summer. In addition to Alex "Shelly" Schelhorn matriculating at the Notre Dame "Centre" in London,  Brandon Ryan, Steds rising junior, and  Tommy Davis, Steds rising senior, are as well. While his summer coursework is demanding and unforgiving,  Shelly, Ryan, and Davis, were able to find the time to take a side trip to Kent and visit the chalk cliffs of Dover. On their trip, Brandon Ryan, Steds President and travel companion, said,"Though it may look like a brotherly embrace, we were actually clinging to each other for fear of being blown off the edge by the coastal winds.”

She played like a champion...

A project worth reading!

...at National History Day! After placing first at her school competition AND then first at the regional competition, Meg Grasberger, sister of Stedsmen Nick ’12 and Mark ’17 Grasberger, advanced to the state competition (Pennsylvania) for National History Day. What was her history project? A history of one of the most historical universities…Notre Dame… of course! On her performance at state, Meg said, “Unfortunately, I did not place at state, but it was a great experience. There were so many amazing projects that I was up against, but I guess the judges didn't like Notre Dame enough!"

Indeed, Meg. As they say, "Haters gonna to hate." Chin up!

Saturday's Squirrel.

Campus trash: dinner buffet

Hard times! Yes, it's hard times. With students away, who is feeding our furry friends? Indeed, who is feeding them, and what are they feeding them? Well, it looks like those around campus are not as generous as students are, and with the times being leaner than normal, it's necessary to swallow one's pride and take dive into the a trash can or two. When spotted in a trash can with a muffin, a furry friend non-verbaled, "Don't worry. It was on top of the trash."

Diaster Zone: Campus

Noooooo....not that tree!

This past Monday afternoon saw damaging and destructive storms pass through campus. The storm, with its rain, wind, and lighting and thunder lasted only a few minutes, but in that short span of time, the damage had been done. Suffice it to say, from the golf course to God Quad, from North Quad to Cedar Grove Cemetery, many, many trees, small and tall, young and old, were felled that afternoon. On the arboreal damage, Fr. Terry said, "We have lost all concept of windfall."

Understanding Fr. Terry. In his quote, Fr. Terry was referencing the ancient practice during the time of King (St.) Edward, where the king owned all trees. Thus, it was illegal to cut down any trees. BUT if the tree fell because of wind.... well, it's fair game. Have at it! Hence the word, windfall.

Summer thoughts from abroad.

Schelly: pondering if he should cross yonder hill

Even though classes may be over, it does not mean that students are not matriculating during the summer. One such student is Alex "Shelly" Schelhorn who is matriculating at the Notre Dame "Centre" in London. While his summer coursework is demanding, Shelly was able to find the time to take a weekend side trip to Ireland and visit the Wicklow Mountains. On Schelly's trip, Brandon Ryan, Steds President and travel companion, said,"I could tell, in that moment, that Schelly had truly become one with the land of his ancestors."

Your Sunday Picture...

...from Notre Dame. Here's a view of the Main Building from St. Joseph's Lake. It's a beautiful summer day, not too hot but with plenty of sunshine. The prefect day indeed. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Exit Western Steds.

The Sun setting on Californian fun

As they say, all good things must come to an end. Unfortunately, it was time to move the Steds command center back to Notre Dame. Still, these past days have been filled with surf, sun, and fun. It been an opportunity to take in the sights, history, and even an earthquake of Southern California, but first and foremost, it's been an opportunity to see and reestablish the bonds of friendship with current and past Stedsmen and their families. And what fun that was! On saying goodbye, St. Ed said, "I may have to say goodbye... but I'll be back!"

Something old, something new.

Herrfeldt and Oh in their respective Yacht Dance shirts...

This year marked the graduation of David Oh. Oh, who started matriculating in 2008, left the University after his freshman year to serve in US Air Force as a translator. When his service was over after four years, David returned to the University to complete his studies. 

Yet, before Oh left the University in 2009, he designed that year’s Yacht Dance shirt. Saved after all these years, Oh sported his Yacht Dance shirt and stood next to sophomore Jackson Herrfeldt, who was wearing this shirt, the current shirt, designed by Daara Jalili.

On the Yacht Dance shirt fashion show, Oh said, “The old man is finally graduating, but the legend that is the Yacht Dance lives on. I have witnessed its greatness, and it’s been a pleasure!”

Oh, yes... here's the back of the shirt...

Western Steds continued.

The Gipper

Any trip to California would be incomplete if there wasn't a trip to Simi Valley. Yes, that's right... Simi Valley and see the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. And what a trip it was! Not only could you see memorabilia of the the 40th President of the United States and his wife, Nancy, but you could also take a walk on Air Force One, a Boeing 707 that was in service during Reagan's presidency and only retired by George W. Bush in 2002. Suffice it to say, the trip was well worth fitting the L.A. traffic. On visiting the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, St. Ed said, “They just make presidents like they used to…”

Still yet, Reagan's connection and love of Notre Dame was tangible at the library. Take a gander at the license of plate of Reagan's limousine.

I want a license plate like this!

Saturday's Squirrel.

Hello stranger...

Once again, we don't have a Saturday's squirrel as much as we do a Saturday's critter.  Here is a lady bug on a blossom of a tree on God Quad. It looks like your typical "nature scene," a cute lady bug on a pretty and delicate blossom, but it's not. On this nature scene, Fr. Terry Ehrman said, "Both the insect and tree are non-native to northern Indiana. So, it is NOT your typical nature scene."

Set you DVR.

Hanging around in a tree: Rahill (L) and Engelman (R)

Pat Rahill, recent graduate and Stedsman, along with his friend and recent graduate, Charlie Engelman, has a love of nature. Together they created the 12-part mini-series Nature Boom Time for the Nat Geo Wild Channel. Their show focuses on looking at nature in a more fun, engaging, and accessible way as they traveled to the coolest forests around the United States, from giant kelp forests off of the California coast to temperate rainforests of Washington State. On the creation of the show, Rahill said, “It was an amazing opportunity, and I am happy to share it with the Notre Dame community!” 

TO WACTH Nature Boom Time on Nat Geo Wild Channel, every Saturday morning, click HERE. 

TO WATCH Rahill’s interview on last April’s ND Day, click HERE.

Western Steds...

Surf's up... it really is

... in Newport Beach, California. Leaving campus behind, operations have moved west, to warmer, sunnier, more agreeable clims. While it is quite nice to be on campus, it's nice, every now and then, to have a change of scenery and lifestyle... and southern California truly has its own lifestyle. On moving operations, St. Ed said, "I wish we ALL could be Californian."

Your Sunday picture...

A small slice of the Garden of Eden

...from Notre Dame. As the weather has been most agreeable, no too hot nor too cold, and with equal parts of sunshine and rain, campus rose bushes have begun to bloom. Here's a view of campus rose bushes in St. Edward's Park, but unfortunately, the picture doesn't do them justice since you cannot smell them! On the roses in bloom, Fr. Terry said, "You know what it means when the roses are in bloom? There's a lot of pollen in the air."

Ars gratis...

A sublime triumph 

...artis. Art for the sake of art is old saying. But, when you have a beautiful scene, like the Main Building, you cannot help but capture it through whatever means possible. That is what's Meg Fyan, a student at Xavier College Prep in Phoenix, Arizona, did when she captured this fall view of the Main Building with paint on canvas. On painting this sublime scene, Fyan said, "As Aristotle said, 'The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.'"

The King is...

Farewell flame boilers... 

...dead. Sad, but true. Without any pageantry, not even a simple goodbye, the flame boilers of La Fortune's Burger King were unceremonious dumped on the back of a unmarked flatbed truck, whisking them away from campus to rest who knows where. With the Burger King now gone, Smash Burger, with its "fresh and healthy" options, will ascend to the open space at LaFun. On the passing of the Burger King, an unnamed student said, "It reminds me of King Richard III who was also unceremonious buried in the late 1400's. He was recently found in a parking lot in Leicester, England. So, I wonder where and when our Burger King will be found."