Try this on for size

I've been showing this to my students at class today, and thought I might as well share it with you as well! Sarah and I went to the Apple store Saturday in New York. The store's architecture is really neat--glass building above ground, regular store underground. Here's a picture of the store, then another one of me with the newest iPod shuffle (only $79 for 1GB).


It has a small clip to connect it on your belt. I'd be afraid I would lose it!

NY or bust!

Good morning! And a good morning it is at that. Sarah and I are going to go to New York City today! She finished her big exam yesterday, and we got round trip tickets on a China Town bus to go up and back to the Big Apple from Philly. Our agenda? Enjoy the experience.

Yesterday Sarah joined me at my school's faculty Christmas party. It was at Sister Owen's convent! It was my first time at a convent--much less for a party! (the house felt kind of like a cottage at Hope. I think it'd be fun to live in a place like that with four other good friends!) The teachers were very welcoming to Sarah, and she got to meet all the people I've been talking about with her for the past few months. As my experience has been with teachers, student stories started coming out soon after the party got started...the stories are just a little more exciting here compared with Hudsonville. =)

We also were able to help cook food for Liberti's Friday homeless ministry. The recipe said, "how to cook for 75 hungry people." Unfortunately, due to the timing of my faculty party, we were unable to serve it and spend time with people as they ate it, but it was still a good thing to be a part of.

School's out on Thursday. I'm exciting for this week--even though Sarah is leaving Monday morning for home. My hope is to get a bunch of things done for school, as well as do more research on online institutions for a masters degree I'd like to get started in January. Unfortunately, those things aren't exactly free! Oh well...it's an investment, right?

Oh my darlin'...African-American style

Add today to the list of cultural experience I've had in Philadelphia. This morning I played piano for the prayer service introducing students to confession and communion. I had planned on playing one song at the beginning of the service, then some Jay Rouse Christmas music for communion and confession.

I got to the parish (church) as school was starting to give myself 15 minutes to warm up and get the feel of the piano. Sister Stephanie, who had asked me to play and had given me the music, was there, and I asked her to sing along as I played. When she started singing, I soon realized she was singing neither the notes nor the rhythm to the notes I was playing from the hymnal--only the same words! The hymn had the same root chords as "Oh My Darlin'", which is what she was singing, but a different melody and rhythm. So, we slowed way down, went through it several times, and I plunked out a melody and chords. She told me that pianists in the African-American church sometimes only play with the hymnal for the words; they adjust to the feel of the song for that congregation! More like jazz piano, I suppose.

Anyway, the service went very well. The 6th grade teacher led the words and I played along. In all openness, I was pretty nervous for this. Last time I had played for Our Mother of Sorrows, and this was my first time at St. Ignatius. Despite my tension/worries beforehand and last minute changes, I loved playing for the service. It was an opportunity to use my gifts and serve the school as a whole. Playing Rouse' music always relaxes me, so being able to practice the songs and play them today were fulfilling.

Christmas pictures

Here's the roommate, the dog, and me.

And the girlfriend. =)

Oh Christmas Tree

There she is! Not too shabby for a couple of 20-year-old guys, eh?

Football remains

Saturday afternoon Seth and I played flag football with about 12 other guys from Liberti. We had a great time! My jeans got nice and dirty, which is always the goal. I "tackled" a few people accidentally, but hey--that's part of the game. The weather was perfect for football--crisp with no wind. The air was cool enough to keep the hands chilled and just enough to keep you moving. Nothing like football with a bunch of guys (including a pastor) to liven up a Saturday. =)
Sarah and I also went out to La Luna with people from our church's home group for some salsa dancing! There were lessons, dancing, and even some performances from locals who are competing in the national event this week in Las Vegas! They used the event as a warm-up. What they did was so amazing, it didn't even seem like they were salsa-ing any more! Very cool.

The cutting edge of photographs

Kudos to Krista Carter. While she and Dan were here, they taught me a new way to take pictures of people: have them blow air through their lips! As they do that, snap a candid picture of them! They're pretty funny. Here are the results so far:
My roommate Seth

My girlfriend Sarah

Dan the man

And me.