The people have...

... have spoken! While highly unscientific, this poll conducted by room 119 clearly shows what everyone has known but was afraid to admit. Despite all the upgrades and quick clean up of biological and chemical spills, SDH just doesn't cut it. Yes, despite the obscene amount of food offering and copious amounts of Fro-Yo (frozen yogurt), SDH and its offerings just cannot compete against, well, even the expired offerings of a no-name gas station. Unscientific as it may be, the people have spoken. On the results of the first floor dry erase poll, Matt Cyrs, RA of the 1st floor, said, "People may have spoken, but the question remains, we they actually travel to the Marathon gas station up the road? I am thinking they won't."

Up and...

Josh saying good bye to a temporary friend

... and out. Our injured Gentleman, Steds senior, Josh Blossfeld is up and out of medical mobility to scooter and once again is moving about through bipedal action. But what was it like for our brave Stedsman, recovering quietly on the fourth floor? When Blossfeld wasn't scooting about, I managed to ask him about medical sojourn at Steds. 

St. Ed: Being in a mobility cart really had you in the slow lane, didn’t it?

Blossfeld: To be honest, the scooter was much faster than I expected. I’m sure I made some people jealous when I’d cut them off on the sidewalk going full speed. Although once the snow hit, it was clear the scooter wasn’t a 4-wheel drive vehicle.

St. Ed: What were some of your strategies to minimize the inconvenience of your condition? For example, did you study and eat less? 

Blossfeld: I mostly avoided the dining hall while injured, which was good for getting great meals but not good for my wallet. I certainly spent a lot more time studying and getting sleep that I typically would, so I could feel well rested once I could walk again.

St. Ed: To be honest, your liberation from your leg cast and mobility cart is a bit of a surprise. If my memory is correct, then you still had another week to go?

Blossfeld: I was able to convince my doctor to let me out a week early, which was huge. I think he recognized that I wasn’t willing to miss another Game Day regardless of what he said, so he compromised and let me out early.

St. Ed: Now that it is all over and you are whole again, if you could do it all over again, would you?

Blossfeld: The valiant side of me says I’ll do anything for hall and king, including breaking my leg on the football field. But the rational side of me definitely wishes I called for a fair catch instead of trying to return that punt.

We did it...

Steds: We have arrived... we have arrived!

... and now, we're minted. Yes, thanks to Fred Schoenhut, father of Fritz Schoenhut '11, Steds is represented on the Jersey Shore! A gift for his stay and hospitality shown during his stay at Avon-by-the-Sea this the past summer, Fr. Ralph gave a coveted Steds A vs. Steds Big Cats Derby scarf to Fred, who in turn gifted it to his favorite establishment, D'Arcy. Known as the place to watch English Premier League soccer games and with a number of other soccer scarfs adorning the ceiling and walls of the restaurant, the Steds scarf has a “jumped the queue” and landed in a place of recognition and pride. On seeing the scarf, Kevin Thompson, former AR and ND MBA grad, said, "They have scarves all over the walls and ceiling. Did you have anything to do with this over the summer." Oh, Kevin... a Gentleman doesn't tell everything, but many thanks to Fred!

Keeping the...

Kilted Steds: a motley crew

... tradition alive. Yes, at the start of Founder's Week, the Stedsmen kept an old Steds tradition alive; a tradition that even predates the current rector. What is it? Yes, you guessed it- the tradition of "kilting." Along with some non-washable paint and a healthy measure of spirit, the Gentlemen fashioned for themselves kilts with fabric purchased from the local Hobby Lobby, and then, properly outfitted, they promptly headed off to the football prep rally. On the continuation of this beloved and cherished Steds tradition, Matt Coffey, resident Nebraska and Steds A Team goalie, shared, "Some people say the tradition of Kilting is older then Steds itself, dating back to Pottawatomie days- the native people of this region. All I know is nothing builds up hall spirit and unity like plaid skirts and body paint."

Good morning...

Eoghan: "The man behind the curtain"...

... Notre Dame! One of the newest voices to "Sounds of the Notre Dame" is none other than Steds very own, Eoghan (pronounced Owen) Fay. If you're not in Steds to see Eoghan, then you can hear him on 88.9FM as he hosts his weekly radio show broadcasting to northwest Indiana and beyond. When Eoghan wasn't playing music and taking calls, I managed to ask him a few questions about being the "Voice of the Fighting Irish."

St. Ed: How did you learn of ND’s radio station moreover that you, a student, could be a radio host?

Fay: In September,  on Activities Night, I signed up for ND TV, and I went to the student media information night. Somehow I ended up with a radio show on WSND FM. I guess I have a face for radio… and a voice for silent film.

St. Ed: Okay, so you sign up and go to a meeting. What radio show do you host? Does it focus on any particular musical genre?  

Fay: My radio show is Daybreak from 7-9AM. It's a light listening and classical music breakfast show. All the music is classical but sometimes I play more modern pieces, like John Williams' "The Imperial March" to celebrate the release of Disney's "The Mandalorian." 

St. Ed: The glamorous world of radio can all go to one’s head, so how do you keep it down to earth?

Fay: Yes, the glitz and glamour of radio certainly can go to your head. I keep myself grounded by checking the number of listeners - one day I hope to hit double digits.

St. Ed: What do you hope your listeners walk away with when they tune in and start their mornings with you?

Fay: I hope my listeners walk away with the knowledge that I'm doing my best to bring them good music in the mornings. I can't promise great conversation but I can guarantee brilliant music. In Ireland people sometimes talk about "craic agus ceol"  or “fun and music.” On Daybreak there is ceol (music) but not much craic (fun).

St. Ed: Let’s get real. How do you keep it fresh on the radio?

Fay: To be honest, it's difficult to keep things fresh when none of the artists have not dropped fresh music since before the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. I like to try though, by mixing in some different stuff, for example having Fr. Ralph on to play Bach's "Coffee Cantata" and provide an insightful commentary with it. 

On hearing that Eoghan has a weekly radio station show and that Fr. Ralph joined him on the air, Frank Spesia, Steds AR and musical troubadour, said, "Sadly, it really is as the song says, 'Video killed the radio star.'"

... with "the man who should never have an open mic", Fr. Ralph.

Your Sunday picture...

And it's cold...

... from Notre Dame. Earlier this week saw campus receive its first substantial snow. This happened to the horror of many but for others, namely students, it was received with great joy. Why? Because of the campus wide snowball fight on South Quad. However you like to enjoy the snow, enjoy this snowy ND picture, and enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!  

Saturday Squirrel.

Meal time...

Our furry friends are really racking up the pounds as winter is fast approaching. With the recent snowfall and cold temps, our friends have received a reminder to put on some winter weight with earnest. So, whenever and wherever a meal can be found, our squirrels will stop and have a bite. And that's exactly what this squirrel did. Finding a meal in a tree, this squirrel didn't waste anytime devouring it. But there's more. This squirrel ate his meal in a various precarious place... a tree limb over St. Joseph's Lake! Be careful, or you'll be in the proverbial drink. On eating a meal in such a dangerous place, this squirrel non-verbaled, "Dare devil? Absolutely not. Just having a meal and enjoying the view!"

...and more