It was a year ago, the Tuesday of finals week, when I got the call from the Y to go out to Colorado. Everything has been reminding me of the Y lately.

Tara and I had dinner Friday and reminisced over margaritas. We both realized how much we miss the Y and how special the time there really was. She said that looking back it was a good thing for her to be around people with some direction and faith, one of the nudges she needed to help her become Catholic. She and her mom filled out an application for her sister hoping it would be a positive influence.

Then Sunday at a dinner at St. Stephen's I overheard a girl at another table mention working at Snow Mountain Ranch, the sister site to Estes Park Center, this summer. My ears perked up, and I leaned over to talk. And last night I was feeling nostalgic so I reread all my posts from last summer. Good times, good times.

So I'm half regretting my decision not to return to the Y this summer and seriously considering going back after graduating next year. We'll have to see how that works out.

The masses have been clamoring for a new entry. Here you go; it's a bit of a rant.

I've decided that I spend far too much time watching TV. The interesting thing is that I don't really watch that much. But what I do watch--aside from the occasions I tune into EWTN--is a bunch of crap. Simpsons reruns, Queer Eye, American Idol, home improvement shows, and a few others.

What I'm really doing when I watch turn on the TV is procrastination. I'm avoiding the school work I need to do; I'm neglecting the leisure books I want to read or time I could be spending in prayer. It's also interesting that for a classy gent such as myself who hates "reality shows" for their mindless, voyeristic quality sure watches a lot of said programs. Thank God I broke myself of that dirty Real World habit.

I often wonder why it was so easy to go three months without television while at the Y last summer. I suppose living in the glory of the Rockies was the biggest factor; I could walk out the door and climb a mountain at whim. And it's amazing the amount of other truly fulfilling things I was able to do: I attended daily Mass on my days off; I read plenty of books; I went into Estes and sat on the Riverwalk or went to an outdoor concert with friends; I swung down to Boulder and wandered Pearl Street.

When I think about the amount of time I had last summer and everything I accomplished within that time coupled with the fact that I have easy access to a TV, I tend to agree with my future roommate, Nick, who is adamant in insisting that next year our house not have a television in the shared living space. It sucks the life out of me. You want the modern opiate of the people? Forget religion, it's television.

I'll be abstaining from TV for the next several days in order to celebrate the Easter Triduum more fully. Maybe it's something you could try, too.

Like the mythical bird, I rise from the ashes.

I've been aching for Colorado lately. Not so much this week, actually, but last Wednesday on the four hour car ride from home to school when all I had were CDs and my thoughts, the CDs turned my thoughts to the mountains. I got a little teary-eyed for the Rockies, my friends, the Y.

The bouts of heartache tend to wash over me every once in awhile and stay for a couple of days. And they pass as quickly as they come, but they still come. During those periods I kick around the idea of another summer at the Y, and when the mood lifts so do the thoughts. Because it just wouldn't be the same.

I think about the money that I need and the money I would be paid, and I reconsider. But the biggest problem is that I'm too nostalgic; I'd want things to be exactly the same as last summer.

That's impossible; most of the friends I met wouldn't return, the job would become too stressful, even the mountains would somehow change.

It would be too different and I wouldn't be able to handle it. And worst of all, I'm afraid it would affect the memories of my first summer in the mountains.

Thankfully, the heartache doesn't come or last too often.

Been a while. Since Xanga was down for a week, I've got some catching up to do.

Had planned on going up Longs on my days off last week. Monday night I didn't wake up early enough. Tuesday I arrived at the trailhead at 12:30am--the parking lot was nearly full at the time--and napped for a couple of hours. When I woke up, there were people mulling around making noise, and I suddenly had another "Safeway moment" (see Sunday, July 27, 2003 entry) where I envisioned 100 people on the trail and 50 people at the summit. Not my idea of an enjoyable hike. I realized that my summer wouldn't be a failure if I didn't didn't climb that one mountain, and since my heart wasn't in it, I went home.

Went to the Estes Park Brewery to eat on Tuesday night with my friends Jack, Mark, and Matt before Jack and Mark left the next morning. The food was OK; I had a beer brat and homemade rootbeer (as I'm not a beer drinker) and lots of laughs. Then Wednesday Matt, Frances, and I got food and sat on the Riverwalk. Good times, good times.

About 25 people left Housekeeping on Friday with another 25 to follow next week. That left us with one other driver besides myself so Saturday was a fun day at work. I drove three cleaning crews, not an easy feat to begin with, but then at one point I had to move one of Joey's crews and hunt him down because he had his two-way radio off. It was a little stressful.

Sarah, Andrea, and Ryan, friends from Red Oak, arrived on Friday morning. Sarah and Andrea worked here in the past and are the reason I found out about the place. It was great to see them. We went out to Lonigans and the Wheel Bar Friday and Saturday and hung out last night. They left this morning for Denver and head home after a Bjork concert at Red Rocks tonight.

Today was my last day of work, and I had the most fun in a long time. Tina gave me a card and a couple of lucky charms but still hesitated about the holy water. I've got a bit more packing to do tonight before I check out and hit the road at 8:30 tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow night I will be through the flatlands of Nebraska and into the gentle hills of Iowa. I will miss looking out my window to see the mountains. Three months certainly flew by quickly. But at the same time, it's time to return to normal, to wake up from this dream. I only hope that when I awake these memories don't leave me like mountain mist.

Had dinner with Steve, Cindee, Al, and Rusty Hays last night. Went to Village Pizza. It was very good food. Maybe we should have gone there when the family sans Brother was here. Sorry, Sarah.

Afterward we went to "Thursday Night Live" at the new performance park at the end of Elkhorn. The performer was Mark Hofgard. His music is inspired by nature and kinda New Age-y, along the lines of Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller. Hofgard is a neighbor of Al and Rusty in the RV park. Next week is the Estes Park Village Band, a mix of marches and contempary music. I think I'll go.

We've been getting a lot of much-needed rain the past couple of days. It was just storming here--sprinkling now--and continuous thunder rolls, the kind that clap loud and long and then linger with rumbles. It hailed some, too (And since you're wondering, Mom and Dad, I haven't checked my car for dents, yet). Thanks to all the percipitation, the fire danger is at Moderate, though a fire ban is still in place.

I meant to send Brother a birthday postcard on Wednesday, but I forgot. All the same, somebody at home tell him I love him more than he loves me.

More later.

Today, once again following in my family's footsteps, I hiked up to Gem Lake and then on to Balanced Rock. The hike to Gem climbs all the way, pretty rough, but the lake area is worth it. The trail to Balanced Rock is unimproved but less strenous, I though, at least on the way out.

Tony told me the other day that he will be moving out this Friday. He's going to one of the other dorms. He just got a TV and DVD player, too.

Two more weeks and I'm on my way back through the flat plains of Nebraska to the rolling hills of Iowa. Where's the time gone?

More later.

Another slow day in Housekeeping. This is due to the GMA conference--Praise in the Rockies--that has been here for the past week. The nights have been hopping though; they have had concerts in the Longhouse every evening. Tonight's is the last one and features Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith.

Summer staff are starting the leave one at a time. The real exodus occurs two weeks from Saturday, when about 130 people will be checking out of staff housing. Two days after that and I'll be gone, too.

Here's a taste of what I have to look forward to when I return to life with roommates. I received an email from my "friend" and future roommate, Luke, in which he writes about a picture of him and several friends which appears in a new UNI publication:

I would just like to say that THERE IS NO MENTION OF SETH ANYWHERE, and this makes me VERY happy. There is however a lovely picture of Corey and Caroline looking at my Math for El Ed Teachers book in my room, AND courtney pointing something out on my computer. I find this pictures utterly hilarious. Anyways, besides the enormous news of seth not being mentioned anywhere, I am extending this invitation without my roommates consent. (way to start off the year, I know, I know.) I think it would be great fun if we all did something on saturday night on move in weekend. Like get together for a little cookout and just have some fun. Write me back, because I haven't heard from some of you in forever. Actually, Seth, don't email me. I hope you move out. Love- Luke

This is very unappropriate. I expected Luke would be trouble to live with, but I had no idea that the horror would begin even before we moved in. He also has a slanderous Xanga site which I do not recommend anyone read.

More later.

I was in Safeway looking for dinner last night after Mass when I was suddenly hit by a tidalwave of angst. It was in the freezer section (no offense, Dad) surrounded by a couple of people bickering over different flavors of ice cream when I realized, I don't want to be here anymore. I was annoyed by the tourists and missing family, friends, and familiar surroundings.

I called a couple of friends--Tonia and Lacy--who had sent me ten pounds of candy in a care package earlier this week, and I felt much better. We had fun at work today, too, which helped.

Someone had found a bottle of holy water yesterday and brought it in to our office manager, Tina. She got a real chuckle out of it, because in addition to "instructions" and the Prayer to St. Michael, the bottle reads "Dispels the Devil." I told her that I wanted it, but she refuses to give it up.

More later.

Well, I've been doing my research on LT, GCM, and The Rock. I had no idea of the close ties.

You can research their websites, too, if you like, (check out the statement of faith) but the gist of the story is a group from Ames, IA, came out to Ft. Collins, CO, ten or so years ago and started Summitview Community Church, and five years ago decided a "revolution in church" was needed and launched The Rock, a worship service that is meant for college students and young singles. I think this Saturday might be the night I finally check out The Rock....

In other religion related news, another Lutheran convention is here this week--FLY: Free Lutheran Youth. My roommate Josh is half working, half participating; today he lead a service project in town. He also showed me a brochure his Bible school was distributing, which includes a picture of him on the cover.

The Association Free Lutheran Bible School is a two year school located in the Twin Cities has only about 150 students and six faculty. When I mentioned that I was taking an Old Testament class this fall from my public university, he said that the class was probably going to be alright, since the OT is basically history.

I found this to be an interesting comment coming from a student at a Bible college. Without the Old Testament, the meaning of New would be deminished. The NT shows how Christ fulfilled the OT. I thought at Bible school they would teach that the OT is much more than "basically history." But then what do I know about the Bible? I'm Catholic. Maybe he just misspoke.

In non-religion related news, I hiked up Estes Cone this morning on my "unusual" day off (unsual because it is not my usual day off...). Made it back down before the rain came. It's a rough one, climbing without many switchbacks to the top, then scrambling up the false summit, then down a bit and back up the summit.

Gotta go trim my beard.

More later.

Had meant to mention the bear attack that occurred last Sunday morning.

A group of five was backcountry camping near Fern Lake when a black bear tore through one tent and bit a camper on the head. When the man yelled the bear released him and moved on to another tent, where it scratched yet another man. The two men received serious lacerations.

It was the first case of a bear attack in RMNP in 30 years. However, this is a puzzling case because the group had taken all the necessary precautions to protect themselves, including storing food in bearproof containers and cooking away from their tents. Black bears rarely attack humans, which makes it even more strange.

The Park closed hiking in the area for the rest of the day and restricted backcountry camping for the following several days. I don't know whether the bear has been captured yet; if and when it is, it will be destroyed.

I'd posted on Tuesday, but it didn't actually post. I'm not happy; it was informative and highly witty.

The family is here, except for Brother, who does not love me enough to visit. Arrived on Sunday at Estes Park Campground, whick is at the end of the road past the Y. We hiked the Old Ute Trail East on Monday and the Loch/Timberline Falls/Lake of Glass/Sky Pond on Wednesday. They went into Estes yesterday as a break from hiking; don't know what they did today. Whatever it was, they did it in the rain this afternoon.

My UNI friends Josh and Ashley were here, too. Arrived Saturday afternoon, hiked Flattop on Sunday, Twin Sisters on Monday, and together we attempted Longs on Tuesday.

I'm not sure Josh can set or read a clock, God bless him. We'd planned on getting up at midnight to be on the trail by 1:00 to make it off the mountain before the impending thunderstorms. In reality, we woke up at 11:00 and got on the trail at midnight. Then a few miles in we came across a search and rescue team for acute altitude sickness. It had snowed up there on Sunday, and the rangers told us that there was snow at the Keyhole and it was a mess afterward.

So we just about made the Boulderfield before all the variables got to us--three hours of sleep, 40 degree temperature, wind, the snowy trail ahead--and we decided to turn back. It was not a total loss, though; I was able to hike halfway to the heavens with two good friends, which is still better than half the people here for the summer will do and more than most here for a day or a week. Besides, I'll be going back up in a couple of weeks, this time to the summit.

Had our busiest day so far last Saturday, working until 6:45. We cleaned up after the 2500 Lutherans, who weren't all that messy. Today was supposed to be very busy, but we were done by 4:00. They always lie to us about how much work we are supposed to have, then it turns out not to be that bad--except for last Saturday, of course. All this crying wolf gets a little annoying. Monday is supposed to be busy, too, and I'm scheduled to work.

Gotta go find the folks for a hearty camp stove-cooked meal. Hopefully they've dried off.

More later.

How do you like the new color scheme? White was driving me crazy. This is much more earthly, like the dry dusty roads I drive daily here at the Y.

Today was about as boring as possible. There were only 20 cabins to clean, no lodge rooms, finished by noon. This is because we are inundated by a conference group of 2500, mostly teenagers. The group is the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, the title of the conference has something to do with fostering discipleship. I'm just hoping they're better behaved than the Fellowship of Christian Atheletes (see Friday, June 20, 2003 entry). We'll see when they check out on Saturday.

Was driving yesterday when my van ran out of gas. Obviously, I wasn't paying any attention to the gauge. I happened to be right in front of Housekeeping and we were more or less finished with the day's work so it was no big crisis. In retrospect, I'm probably the last person they should have driving the vans.

My family sans Brother will be arriving in Estes this Sunday after a college visit to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Why Sarah is considering going to school there, God only knows. I've told her that I hope she as a Catholic can tread the sea of Mormons.

Josh and Ashley, friends from UNI, will be arriving Saturday night. They'll be hiking Flattop Sunday as a primer for Longs on Monday (or Tuesday; haven't talked to Josh for a week). As far as I know, Longs is still technical past the Keyhole, so I'll need to find some gear for us. It will be an interesting week, juggling time with family and friends, hiking Longs and the others Mom has planned, and cleaning cabins. We'll see how it works.

I was looking in the mirror last night and for a split second I thought my hair made me look like Megatron from the cartoon, Transformers. I don't have a picture of myself (If you're ingenious, you might find an old one the web, though my hair isn't at all as long as it is now. But I won't post it here because it nearly makes people die from laughter) so you'll have to use you're imagination.

More later.

Well, I had planned on hiking today, but last night I got a call from my roommate, Tony. He had been in Grand Junction since Wednesday, having taken a Greyhound from Denver. He'd misunderstood the bus time table and missed the bus yesterday; the next earliest bus left at 2:00 this morning. So he needed someone to be at Denver at 6:45 to pick him up. I, being a good person and a fantastic roommate, woke up at 5:30 to get there on time. When we got back at a quarter to 10:00, I just went back to sleep.

Didn't do anything exciting for my birthday. But they treated me really well at work. They decorated the van I was driving with balloons and streamers, and our office manager Tina kept calling me "Birthday Boy" on the two-way radio. One of my crews even gave me a present: a feathery pink sleeping mask they found in one cabin.

The mask matches the pink robe I found and wore all day yesterday. To greet passers-by, I stuck my hand out the van window and waved a white rag. We also had a group of ninjas checking out; co-driver Scott and I were afraid that they could attack us at any moment. Ninjas fight all the time, after all. We had a lot of fun, though it was just a little wierd.

Hope to do some hiking tomorrow, maybe FHO--Flattop, Halletts, and Otis.

More later.

Happy 4th.

On a whim, I treated myself to a early birthday treat: Blues Traveler was playing at Red Rocks last night. Though I tried to find somebody to go with me, everyone here was either too Christian or too cheap so I went alone. Not as depressive as I thought it would be, going to a rock concert alone.

It was a lot of fun, like sitting in on a jam session. The bass beat your heart in your chest and Popper's harmonica both whined like a Siren and clucked like a chicken, a glorious combination. Camera flashes echoed lightning in the east, but the rain missed us.

Might go up Twin Sisters to watch the fireworks. We should be able to see not only Estes' but Loveland Grand Lake, and possibly Boulder. Should be beautiful.

How will I be celebrating my birthday tomorrow? I'll be working. Woo-hoo.

More later.

My weekend begins tomorrow, and much needed, too. Wednesday and Thursday I drove crews and cleaned; yesterday and today I only cleaned. That's more work than I'm used to.... Today was a easy day as far as Sundays go.

Hikemaster's last Wednesday was Orienteering. I can now triangulate and do all sorts of other nifty tricks with a map and compass. Interesting side note: the instructor told us that Fr. Gregory from OLM is a world class orienteerer. When he gets back from vacation in Europe, I'll have to talk to him about it.

Got off work early Thursday and Friday and went south to RMNP's Wild Basin entrance. Hiked Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls Thursday, Finch Lake Friday. That was six miles roundtrip and eight miles roundtrip, respectfully. Friday night I finished about 9:00 when it was just getting dark. The flashlight I had wasn't worth much, and to be safe, I sang Sinatra loud enough to keep the bears away.

Will be hiking Twin Sisters tomorrow with a Hikemaster-guided group. I want to know exactly what is expected of me if I become a Hikemaster.

Told Heider I would put some of my poetry up for the world to read. This one was published in UNI's student publication, InnerWeather.

Listen

While you are talking
in the harmony and cadence of your voice
my mind slips away
into the breakfast menu
the falling leaves
the time between heartbeats
the phoenix's nest.

When I return
you haven't left me
your eyes still ablaze.
Guilty, I pick up the breadcrumbs
and nod my head
and my smile veils my journey.

More later.

This weblog thing is pretty useful. I had dinner with Hays last night, and afterward Cindee brought out a "care package"--complete with a huge bag of peanut butter cups. She'd read about my craving in an earlier post. That almost topped the steak and potato dinner we had.

Went back into Ft. Collins yesterday and bought me up some nice hiking boots. Have been wearing them around to break them in and was hoping to put them to use at Hikemaster's tonight. It was the rescheduled "Snow and Ice Techniques" session, but once again the weather in the Park did not cooperate. The regular weekly session is tomorrow night, and hopefully, we'll be able to get on the trail a bit.

Sunday was another fun day at work. We cleaned 95 cabins and 300 lodge rooms. That's half the camp. Didn't get finished till a quarter to six. Afterward I took Tony to town for a job interview at Subway. He was hired on the spot and had orientation last night. He says he likes it so far. He'll be riding a bicycle for a month until he takes a motorcycle class in July and buys the Residence Coordinator's bike.

Back to work tomorrow. If I'm driving, I'll try not to hit anything or go into ditches.

More later.

Another long day. Didn't get done till 5:15, but my two crews rocked out, doing somewhere around 10 cabins each. That was even after I got stuck this morning....

OK, here's what happened. I was going to strip a cabin that is way out of the way. When I got there, the guests were leaving and in my way. The only place I could go was down a fork in the road, and when I tried backing up, I got stuck in mud/dirt. I sat around for 40 minutes until someone could come to tow me out.

One lodge crew only cleaned 18 rooms today. They were in Twin Sisters Lodge and the group who had stayed there, the Fellowship of Christian Atheletes, were distructive. They kicked out screens, broke beds, and left horrible messes (and a porno magazine). I'm not quite sure those kids have grasped the "Christian" part of there organization yet.

Went to the LT thing last night. Tara went with me for moral support. The band started out with a couple of songs--a few I knew--and then the speaker talked for 45 minutes or so. He told the group that he wanted to help us be sexually whole and talked about the importance of waiting till marriage, etc. He spoke about how sex is the great expression of love between husband and wife, but he didn't say anything about sex's second purpose: procreation. Didn't get a chance to ask questions, either. Maybe next week I will see what "The Rock" is all about.

Headed to Hikemaster's now. It's all about RMNP history. Then to the Malt Shop in Estes and maybe a night hike up Twin Sisters with a few people...if the weather cooperates.

More later.

Wild day in the Rockies today, folks.

This afternoon we had our first big storm since I've been here. It hailed for a good half an hour, and poured and lightninged for twice as long. The water washed debris to block the entrance to the Y. B&G used the snowplows to clear the way. Then water flooded several rooms in our newest lodge, Wind River, and set off the fire alarms, causing an evacuation of the building. A couple of the cabins and other buildings, including Housekeeping, began to leak.

The fire alarms also when off in Eagle Cliff lodge twice, and the housekeeping crews there had to leave both times which set them back in their work. So three other crews, including my own, were send to help them finish. There was the entire second floor to do--fifty, sixty rooms--and we did it in an hour and a half. Pretty good considering the kids who had stayed the night left a disgusting mess.

Hikemaster's session last night was about geology. We went into Moraine Park in RMNP and looked at rocks. Of the three rock types--igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary--RMNP has only igneous and metamorphic. We also talked about glaciers and rivers and erosion. Tomorrow night there is another session of RMNP history, complete with slides. And Tuesday next week is the make-up for Snow and Ice Techniques; Wednesday is Orienteering.

Got my own postcard in the mail today, now I can get an EP library card. I love the used book store in town, too. Was there Monday and found Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor for $4. Plus the person who had had it before saved a couple of newspaper clippings on Keillor's '85 wedding and the "last" Prairie Home Companion in '87. I read LWD five years ago while we were vacationing here in RMNP.... It had to have been fate.

Will be leaving in a little bit to go to something at 9:00. It is something to do with LT. In addition to the Saturday night "Rock," there are things at 9:00 on Tuesday and Thursday. I say "things" because I'm not sure they're worship services so much as presentations. Tonight's topic: Sex. I'm curious to hear what the speaker will say, especially how it will be tied into any sort of worship. Plus I know what the Church says about sex; I'm wondering what GCM says. And being the Socratic gadfly I am, I will ask questions. This will be the first time at a LT/GCM function and not sure what to expect.

More later.

Hmm.... There are several mistakes in my last entry and attempts to edit them have gone unsuccessful. Will keep trying.

Had a nice couple of days off. Went to 8:30am daily Mass both days; very nice. Was in Estes yesterday. Stopped by the public library and paroused their collection. They're lacking a few books I was to read; hopefully, I can get them through inter-library loan.

It's quite an ordeal to get a library card, too. I need to have proof of a local address, and the only way I have of doing that is to mail a postcard to myself.

Found the design plan for the West Corridor of the Estes Park Riverwalk in the library's reference section. The Riverwalk exists east of Moraine Ave a block behind downtown Elkhorn Ave and provides pedestrian access to shops and restaurants and places to sit and enjoy the convergence of the Big Thompson and Fall Rivers.

Unfortunately, the riverwalk only spans half of the downtown commercial district. So EP is working on extending it west of Moraine, expanding parking, updating existing Tregent Park, creating a "gateway" on Elkhorn and Moraine Aves as a signal to traffic, and so on. They just finished a beautiful bandshell/amphitheater at the far west end that had been included in the design plan. It's hidden behind some other businesses in the Old Lumberyard area. I discovered it last night. It's nestled on a small piece of land between the Fall River and the cliffs, which serve as its backdrop.

I'd wanted to go hiking today and had gotten up and gone into RMNP, but it started to rain and the weather has been dreary ever since. So I drove south on CO HWY 7 to the Wild Basin entrance and then to Allenspark.

It's back to work tomorrow. Have Hikemaster's, too.

More later.

Drove the van again today. I'm really enjoying the work. One of the perks to going ahead and stripping cabins is that I get first choice of the food left behind. Popsicles, ice cream bars, Hi-C; you name it, I claim it. And of course I share.

I also pick up any comment cards guests fill out. Found a doosy today. It said: "Please wash the comforter on the big bed. After our stay, it's as dirty as the sheets are." I don't exactly know what they meant by "dirty," but you can bet that I took the comforter--and to be safe, the blanket--to laundry. "Their's not to reason why; their's but to do and die."

Tomorrow should be another action-packed day in Housekeeping. Not quite as busy as last Sunday, but busy nonetheless. Here there is no such thing as a day of rest.

Found this quiz on cousin Robbie's site and tried it myself. And the results are:

You are Romans. You have insight on what it means to turn your life around and try to live for God. You really want people to understand the deeper things of God, but have a tendency to come across as pushy and prideful...and at times, mayber you are. But you know your weakness and work hard at trying to temper it with grace and compassion.

Which book of the Bible are you? brought to you by Quizilla

Sounds about right. I do these things once in awhile and they're usually right. Except for the "Which drink are you?" quiz; that one was faulty. "What drink are you?" you ask? A White Russian. I think not.

Remember that guy from Drake I had dinner with the other night (see Thursday, June 05, 2003)? He came with me to Mass tonight. I'm surprised he was so eager to come, actually. Most college-age Protestants I've met are leery of doing so.

He was writing things down throughout the entire Eucharist. I was trying to be charitable and patient but was expecting him to lambaste me afterwards. That didn't really happen. Talking during the car ride back, he thought Mass was too structured, too rooted in tradition (Granted, Our Lady may not have been the most ideal Mass he could have experienced. It is a little dry). I'm not sure that I responded as well as I could have. Sure, there's no rock bands or exciting sermons like "The Rock," the LT/GCM service held here on Saturday nights, but then this is worship, not entertainment.

More later.