Friday, June 23, 2005 (posted August 9, 2005)
it was as simple as changing a shirt
So my last day at the NFCYM offices, I wear a company shirt.  It has the NFCYM logo, it says NFCYM, it says STAFF.  Now, remember that today is my transition day. So, I load up the last box, jump in the car, and drive up for a Friday afternoon staff meeting up in Baltimore.
I arrive just as the new office staff is completing prayer. Immediately, Chris Ashby launches in on me regarding "that damn NFCYM staff shirt… you don’t work for them anymore… etc.  You get the idea.  I reach into my backpack and pull out an Archdiocese of Baltimore High-LI shirt and layer it on top of the NFCYM shirt.  As the rest of the staff howls, Ashby responds, "that much better!"
Honey, I’mmmmmm hooooome! << Work Day >>

  Friday, June 23, 2005
Pardon our dust
Today is transition day.  It may be a while between blogging.  We’ll see what the clock and the computers allow. << Blogging >>

  Thursday, June 23, 2005
SAME BAT-Channel but no bat-time
Saw Batman Begins tonight.  If I had some time, I’d write about good and evil, Star Wars and Batman, the role of mentoring in discipleship, false mentors and their impact on relativism with some JP II quotes as well as B XVI’s.  But, there is no time at all.  Maybe early next week after homework and job transitions settle down. << Culture >>

  Wednesday, June 22, 2005
early morning touring
Got to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge ($5 toll!!) and climb and descend the steep hills of San Francisco.  All of this before 7:30 am in the morning.  Cool.  The rest of the day was on the plane.  << Work Day >>

  Tuesday, June 21, 2005 (First Day of Summer)
summer lovin’  had me a blast!
Spent the morning with Bishop Walsh and about thirty diocesan priests of Santa Rosa for a Clergy Days presentation.  In the afternoon, coordinators of youth ministry joined in along with young people.  It was a good and hopeful day of dialogue. Before and after, a lovely drive in the hills of Nor.Cal and some brief walks near Clear Lake.  And an opportunity for a glass of the local product with the lovely Anna Scally. << Work Day >>

  Monday, June 20, 2005
The Longest day of the Year
Tomorrow is the start of summer, the longest day of the year.  Could have fooled me, I thought today qualified.  Up at 5:30 am est to travel to Santa Rosa.  7:30 am flight was delayed for parts. American West ad to send out to Dulles for parts.  They arrived around 11 for the fix, but it didn’t take.  The counter sent the passengers packing with lunch coupons and then cancelled the flight. Everyone back out to the ticket counter to rebook.  I get a United flight that leaves for LA at 7pm.  Arrive at LAX around 10:30 pm pst, early enough to catch an earlier connection.  Arrive at SFO after 11:30, rent a car and drive to Santa Rosa.  Asleep, finally, at 1:30 am pst/ 4:30 am est (A glorious 23 hour day!)  Up at 5:30 pst for more driving to the speaking gig.  Glamorous, eh?  << Work Day >>

  Sunday, June 19, 2005 (Father’s Day)
Fourteen hours later back at the yards
BALTIMORE — Perhaps his anger was precipitated by the out-of-town scoreboard, which revealed that both the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox were winning easily while the Orioles’ chances for victory were still very precarious.
These were the Colorado Rockies, the second-worst road team in the Major Leagues, and they were threatening to take two out of three games at Camden Yards. That reality would have sent the Orioles reeling as they begin a 20-game stretch against teams with winning records.
So there was a sigh of relief when Rafael Palmeiro hit a two-run home run off Jeff Francis to give the Orioles a one-run lead in the sixth. Manager Lee Mazzilli then thought Chris Gomez added an insurance run with a solo homer.
Gomez trotted the bases but was stopped as he rounded second by third-base umpire Chris Guccione, who first ruled it foul. After meeting with Guccione, crew chief Charlie Reliford insisted the ball sailed inches to the left of the left-field foul pole. A furious Mazzilli argued the call and moments later was ejected for the first time in his Orioles tenure. He didn’t see his club hold on for a 4-2 win in front of a Father’s Day crowd of 45,945 as the Orioles clinched a 5-1 homestand. << Friends and Family >>

  Saturday, June 18, 2005
Great night at the yards
BALTIMORE — As he flicked his powerful wrists and sent the ball sailing, Sammy Sosa made his customary hop he performs when he feels the ball is long enough for a home run. Most of Sosa’s balls land well beyond the fence, seemingly relieved to land in an excited fan’s hands for a souvenir.
This one, potentially No. 583, was a little more stubborn. The ball jumped off Sosa’s bat like a powerful shotgun blast, but as it glided through the humid Baltimore air, it began to lose steam. Does Sosa, at age 36, still have enough strength to swat a ball to the opposite field for a home run? The ball answered, "Yes," as it cleared the right-field scoreboard, as Sosa’s career home run No. 583 had arrived.
Sosa tied his contemporary and home run peer Mark McGwire for sixth on the all-time list as the Orioles cruised to a 7-2 win over the Colorado Rockies in front of 43,067 at Camden Yards. << Friends and Family >>

  Friday, June 17, 2005
ONE
The new diocesan directors last weekend were all helpfully asking about the transition between the NFCYM and ArchBalt.  I would just smile and raise one finger. 
"One month?" they would ask, dreaming of vacation time at the beach.  I would just shake my head No.
"One week?" they would ask, considering that ample time for rest and clearing one’s head. I would just shake my head No.
"One day?" they would moan, suggesting that this is hardly a reasonable amount of time to take off one hat and put on another. I would just shake my head and say, "No, it’s only an hour!"
Next Friday, I finish up an early day on Friday around 3pm- not that unusual.  But, I drive up for a staff meeting (It is the rare moment when all the ArchBalt staff will be in one place this summer).  Transition time: one hour. << Work Day >>

  Thursday, June 16, 2005
too busy to blog
I missed a rare blogging day- mea culpa! Lots has been happening-  more move-in at ArchBalt (it made the news- see the .pdf file.), time with the stir-causing social partner, laundry, homework, etc., etc.  Also, got a physical today- blood pressure, blood work-up, e.k.g., full reflex check, and the happy little prostate check (More than you wanted to know, right?) All well within the normal range- it turns out that I am likely to continue to live for a while longer. << Blogging >>

  Tuesday, June 14, 2005 (Flag day)
SO OUTTA THERE
The NDDIers took off today. I lugged the stiff back to the office and am taking meetings in my gift O’s shirt. Last night we hiked a sweaty group of diocesan youth ministers through the monuments.  Their imaginations where challenged at Einstein. The hearts were heavy though Vietnam but soared at Lincoln.  Korea reminded them of sacrifice.  WWII was about majesty.  Sounds like a good description of another day in Catholic youth ministry- imagination, living with your heart, sacrifice, majestic. << Youth Ministry Stuff >>

  Monday, June 13, 2005
A BRICK HOUSE
This morning, I woke up early (5:30 am- actually, it is my standard time, but I’m sure you’ll think it early) and ran my morning conference chores- reset the room, run off more copies, blog. On the drive over this morning, the Commodores reminded me that "She’s a…  Brick…  Hooooouse." Today we are visiting the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. Clark is interning there this summer at the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, but it is also a nexus of Catholic thought and national activity as well.  It is a brick… hooooouse, not really, but it has the "mighty, mighty’ elements of the song some days.  << Church >>

  Sunday, June 12, 2005
Ticked off Jesus
Today, we traveled over to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the Noon mass, full of incense, Latin Choir singing, etc., etc.  Our guests, as they always are, are all rather fascinated with the image of Christ in Majesty, the centerpiece of the Great Upper Church. At 3,600 square feet and containing nearly 3 million tiles, it is the one of the largest mosaics of Jesus in the world.  None of that makes any difference. To most who view it, this is a contrasting image to most of our images of Jesus.  He looks ticked-off and ready to smote the world. << Church >>

  Saturday, June 11, 2005
AND we are off
Binders have their inserts, food and booze is purchased, exhibits are up, team has met, let’s go….  The News Diocesan Directors are a mixed group, more guys than ladies (not unusual), more confidence than previous years, more ethnic diversity than pervious years.  They arrive at 3pm (well most of ‘em) and we work hard until 10 last night. Sunday’s afternoon is free, time for touring for them- office catch-up and nap for me. << Work Day >>

  Friday, June 10, 2005
here they come
We have guests in this weekend for the New Diocesan Directors’ Institute.  It’s a four-day training that I’ve helped to run and it is very much becoming my swan-song around here.  We are hosting folks from: Amarillo, Bridgeport, Burlington, Cleveland, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Detroit, El Paso, Erie, Grand Island, Green Bay, Jefferson City, Manchester, New Orleans, Pensacola-Tallahassee, Phoenix, Rockford, IL, San Angelo, San Bernardino, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Winona, Washington, DC, and Wheeling-Charleston.  C’mon, you got to admit- – - this is kinda cool!
there I GO
The swag from yesterday’s going away luncheon included a opening day baseball and coffee cup from the Nationals, a t-seat and two tickets to the O’s, a baseball related tie, and a NFCYM logo-ed baseball signed by the staff.  Very sweet! << Work Day >>

  Thursday, June 9, 2005
Transition time
I was interviewed by the Catholic Review yesterday. Here’s hoping that I was semi-coherent.  I wrapped up a major post-NCCYM task yesterday.  I am organizing for NDDI which starts tomorrow with team arrival.   Staff meeting and a going-away lunch are conflicting with a conference call today.  It’s all just a little insane.  To celebrate, Clark took a digital head shot of me for the newspaper.  Inside secret…  I’m not wearing any pants. That probably explains the goofy smile! (Click on thumbnail to enlarge) << Work Day >>
Break your worst work habits
Did you ever think your work habits may be holding you back? Probably not, because habitual behavior is subconscious — it’s done without thinking. See the article. << Youth Ministry Stuff >>

  Wednesday, June 8, 2005
CARPE ManaÑa
Leonard Sweet has suggested what is fast becoming my personal motto:  Seize Tomorrow.  He says that the Diem is fleeting as it quickly escapes through our fingers. Our work needs to be in advance of what is to come – - – like a quarterback throwing in front of a racing downfield receiver.  We need to aim in advance of where we are called to be, where others are called to be.  Seize the interview. << Youth Ministry Stuff >>
Stop! Are those live fish under your skirt?
As I am soon to be flying, I am now concerned about this news article. << Funny Business >>

  Tuesday, June 7, 2005
woot!!!  There it is!!!
The digital camera arrived from Woot today.  A new era in blogging with pictures is about to begin! (Click on thumbnail to enlarge)  << Blogging >>
Study links teens’ body image to suicide
Suicidal impulses and attempts are much more common in teenagers who think they are too fat or too thin, regardless of how much they actually weigh, a study found.  See article. << Youth Ministry Stuff >>

  Monday, June 6, 2005
YOU PUT YOUR RIGHT FOOT IN
Spent this morning at the ArchBalt position and this afternoon at the Federation. There is certainly enough to keep a one-armed paper hanger busy around these parts.  I have the wrap up of this position and I am slowly but surely knocking off industrial sized efforts one by one.  The "to-do" list of the new position grew significantly today as well, but I am already working some knowledge of the system on my own behalf (I hope.) I am certainly taking an aggressive stance to it.  You do the hokey-pokey ’cause that’s what it is all about!  << Work Day >>
AREN’T WE ALL A LITTLE TIRED OF ALL THIS?
I sure am… << Culture >>

  Sunday, June 5, 2005
CIRCLE of FRIENDS
Last night, the AYM crowd and adjunct friends and family gathered to celebrate Maggie’s 50th and doctorate graduation.  Beyond the small stir of bringing along a date, I was reminded by the same stir-causing social partner, that this circle of friends is warm, gracious, and laughs a lot. Another opportunity to count blessings! << Parish >>

  Saturday, June 4, 2005
WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE WAKE UP MY TONGUE?
Made a presentation today at Sacred Heart in Glyndon.  The power point was decent and the presenter was ready. I was, however, confounded by some tripping over my tongue. What’s up with that?   << Work Day >>

  Friday, June 3, 2005
What’s Driving Today’s Innovations?
If necessity is the mother of invention, what "necessities" are driving today’s proliferating innovations in church life? This interview identifies four longings that are prompting new ways of doing church. << Church >>

  Thursday, June 2, 2005
PAPER DOLL MANIA
Youth Specialties inserted two dress-’em-up paper dolls of their leaders Tic and Marko in the summer Magalog. Now, here comes the video and pictures. Check the new video out here. << Funny Business >>

  Wednesday, June 1, 2005
YOU’ve Been warned
Looking ahead, the movie Narnia will be released by Disney on December 9th. This will be the film version of C.S. Lewis classic The Chronicals of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a powerful Christian allegory of Christ’s redemptive love.  My summer reading list just transformed, I do believe.  << Culture >>
the surprise meeting
Threw my own schedule out of whack last night as I discovered that there was a planning meeting for the the ArchBalt delegation for World Youth Day and opted to attend.  It was a surprise to my soon-to-be new office mates as well.  It looks to be a relatively uncomplicated  (as if any international travel with young people is easy or painless) effort.  Hope so! << Work Day >>