Best of...

...the Gentlemen's Monthly. Yes, four year ago today, here was today's posting. Enjoy this blast from the past.

Not Squirrels...

Yes. This bird lives at Notre Dame.

...but birds. While Notre Dame has its fair share of squirrels, it also has a great number of birds. Thanks to St. Mary and St. Joseph's Lakes, Notre Dame has a diverse population of birds from the common to, well, the not so common. Fr. Terry Ehrman, CSC, a botanist and theologian at Notre Dame, not to mention bird lover, captured this beautiful picture of a Great Blue Heron on St. Mary's Lake. On capturing the Great Blue Heron, Fr. Terry said, "At Notre Dame, the lover of birds draws near to the Kingdom of God where "the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches" (Matt 13:32). Indeed, Fr Terry... indeed!

Your Sunday picture...

Now only if the football team looked this good

... from Notre Dame. Summer is truly over as residence hall staffs return to campus today for the start of training. Yes, once again, there is noise in the hallways of St. Ed's as seniors and RAs, Matt Cyrs, Christian Kirby, Sam Schaeffer, Josh Blossfeld, and John Quinlan, moved in for their last and final year at Notre Dame's oldest and most storied residence hall. The RAs were also joined by grad students and Assistant Rectors, Frank Spesia and Pete McKeon. Later, they all were invited to dinner at the football stadium and for some time on the field as well as dinner. On the new Hall Staff, Fr. Ralph said, "Steds has the winning hand. They're all aces!"

Even though it is...

Taking five (left to right): Ryan Shelley, Chuck Rioux, Will Connolly, John "Poz" Posluszny, 

Joe Corcoran (front), Pat Digenan, and Greg Connors

… summer, let’s remember a different time... a cooler time. Yes, while many of us experienced a heat wave or two this summer, drawing our thoughts to this past winter might bring some relief. This past Christmas Break, Steds juniors headed out west for some rest and relaxation amid the mountains of Montana. Skiing during the day and soaking in the hot tub in the evening helped our Gentlemen prepare themselves physically and mentally for the Spring semester. On their Montana winter retreat, Will Connolly said, “Yes. We traded our books for skis and our coffee for hot coco. A week on the slopes in Montana was a fine way to transition away from finals and towards a beat down by the pretty blonde haired quarterback of Clemson. I just wish Poz could navigate a simple green ski trail the way he can navigate a DJ table.” He later added, “A special shoutout to Mr. Digenan (Pat’s dad) and Mr. Eldridge (Will’s uncle) for chaperoning and chauffeuring, the trip!”

Our Stedsmen on the slopes

Stedsmen reunite...

Minnesota Smiles: Sam Bradley, Kevin McCarthy, Ryan Meder (Background) 

and Kim Bradley, Mickey Dwyer, Randy Bradley (Foreground)

... in Minnesota! Members of the Steds Class of 2018 gathered in Minnesota, America's "Great White North," for some summer fun. Thanks to Kim Bradley for the above photo, we can tell from the smiles and greenery in the background, it appears that fun and summer weather make up that far north! Who knew? On enjoying their time together in Minnesota, they said, "Seeing all of the water on our flight in to Minneapolis, it true! Minnesota really is the 'Land of 10,000 Lakes!'" When asked if they’ll be back in January to go ice fishing, they replied, “Yeah, you betcha!” Okay, but Gentlemen, know I am taking your reply with a grain... a small mountain... of salt. Just saying.

Best of...

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

Will it or...

Mission Impossible: Ready for students?

...will it not be ready when students arrive? Who knows? Still, the bigger question is will Starbucks, Smash Burger, and other summer improvements be ready when students arrive! Yes, as they have been working on the exterior, they have also been working on the interior of LaFortune. Without doubt, students will notice and enjoy both the aesthetic and gastronomic upgrades. On the construction work at LaFortune, an unnamed rector said, "I looked behind the curtain of Smash Burger, and well, it doesn't look like they will be smashing out burgers any time soon."

Saturday Squirrel.

Now moving to the good side of campus 

Our furry friends are deep, possessing many hidden and unknown dimensions. One of those hidden dimensions surfaced recently. Outside the Riley Art Building, a student art installation was hung in branches of the trees along east end of South Quad. What the installation represented remains unknown, but the thoughts of the squirrel who ran across it are not. On seeing the above art hanging in a tree, this squirrel non-verballed, "We have litter on the ground, and now, we have to have litter in the trees too? That's just nuts. There goes the neighborhood!"

Where are they...

What else could a Stedsman ask for?

... now? Yes, where is the man, the myth, the legend, Frederick "Fritz" Schoenhut V '11? It's an important question because Fritz is an important person in Steds history. It was under his leadership and tutelage as Hall President that the "Renaissance" (said with an English accent) of Steds was ushered in, bringing with it things that all Stedsmen cherish... Ed's and the Steds gym. And it was this renaissance that paved the way for the later "Golden Age" of Steds. So, where is Fritz now? On catching up with the former Mr. President at the Hamptons, Fritz said, "I am rounding out my birthday weekend in style with my Steds hat on the beach." Happy belated birthday Mr. President!