On assignment...

O SEA...

... in Southern California. Spending time in Southern California, one must soak up all here is to soak up... sun, surf, and of course, Californian cuisine. So, this meant having dinner at Orange County's hottest new restaurant, O SEA. Designed, owned, and operated by Mike Flynn '11, Stedsman and native Californian, O SEA is a restaurant serving seafood with an eye as to where seafood is headed, drawing on the dynamic flavors of places like East Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Mediterranean. With dynamic flavors like that, how could one not stop by and sample the fare? As they say, "When in California..." So, Fr. Ralph, joined by Alec Lis and Peter Raus, Steds seniors and locals, enjoyed a relaxed dinner that was truly a Californian culinary experience. On the dinner, Fr. Ralph said, "I cannot find the words to express my experience at O SEA. You're just going to have to come HERE and experience it yourself. Really. It's that's good. Say, can we open another O SEA at Eddy Street Commons?"

TO SEE more about O SEA, click HERE.

... with happy owner (R) and customer (L) and...

... even more happy customers, Lis (L) and Raus (R) who will come back for more.

On assignment...

Golden lemons from the golden tree: Haag and Lis

... in Southern California. Many would think that a lemon is a lemon. Interestingly enough, that is not the case. And after traveling to Southern California and spending time with native Alec Lis this truth was not only discovered but also tasted. Under the Lis' tutelage, Fr. Ralph Haag, CSC, discovered that all lemons are not the same as they were added to his summer beverage of choice. What's that? Well, a gentleman doesn't tell everything. Anyway, the Meyer lemons, picked in Lis' backyard, right off the tree, provided for a most refreshing splash. On picking lemons off the tree, Haag said, "Can I get one of these trees at Steds? I'll never have to worry about scurvy again. Really."

Best of...

..the Gentlemen's Monthly. Yes, FOUR years ago today, here was today's posting. Enjoy this blast from the distance past.  

Your Sunday picture...

A quiet and beautiful campus scene

...from Notre Dame. Here's a look the Clarke Memorial Fountain, remembering all Notre Dame graduates who died in foreign wars. Usually the meeting place for students for away football wins, suffice it to say, today is is quiet and peaceful. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Western Steds...

Enjoying the view

...is preferable to the real Steds right now. Why? The heat and humidity of Northern Indiana have become insufferable, but it all has given way to the sun and surf of Orange County California. On moving Steds out west, Fr. Ralph said, "I am enjoying the change of scenery, and as always, I wish we ALL could be Californian."

Your Sunday picture...

Roaming about

… from Notre Dame. Here’s a picture from the Charles Hayes Sculpture Garden on the south side of campus. Formally the campus dump, this small piece of land has been transformed into a small park. And while there are several pieces of sculpture in the garden, one of the most unique and stand out piece is one of a horse. Made entirely from various pieces of tree branches woven together, this horse never fails to captures one’s attention or in this case, phone camera. Enjoy, and enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Best of...

..the Gentlemen's Monthly. Yes, SIX years ago today, here was today's posting. Enjoy this blast from the distance past. 

Flashback Thursday...

Kolb making a fashion statement

...on Friday. Something that many have never heard about on campus is the “World Heavyweight Championship Belt.” What is it? Well, after a series of year long events, testing participants’s knowledge and mental fortitude, the championship belt is awarded to the person who has garnered the most points. Yes, I know what you are thinking…it sounds just like NASCAR.

A few days before graduation and to the chagrin of his fellow competitors, Josh Schultz, Steds senior, was crowned the official belt champion for the 2014-2015 academic year. Following only by a few points, Joel Kolb, another Steds senior, finished in second place.

On his second place finish, Kolb said, ”With his indomitable spirit, enviable gullet size, and formerly curly-haired head, I knew he would be a tough competitor. Looking back on it, it seems inevitable that the biggest WWE fan in the group would bring home the belt."

But is anyone going to Disney World?

Summer...

Summer has arrived

... starts today! Well, meteorological summer that is. Yes, June 1st marks the start meteorological summer, and now, you might be wondering what is meteorological summer? Meteorologists didn't invent this summer for fun. I have been told that meteorologists prefer to deal with data from whole rather than fractions of months and align calendar dates more closely with the temperatures felt during that period. All of this allows them to more easily compare weather patterns from one season to another -- something the astronomical convention makes cumbersome due to seasonal lag. On the start of meteorological summer, Fr. Ralph said, "Meteorological or astronomical, I don't care... so long as there is plenty of sunshine so I can work on my base tan."