Pack 143 Triathlon

Visit to South Bend, IN

This is the home of Notre Dame. They have a beautiful campus and a huge basilica. There is also grotto in dedication to our lady of lourdes.
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Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto at Notre Dame

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Across America there are many unique items of interest. While traveling to some of the most rural towns in the US, I make an effort to see some of these. Annette found a list of 50 (one for each state) and this is one of them. The World's Largest Egg to commemorate the 1946 Egg Festival in Mentone, IN is pictured below. Driving in reminded me the movie Doc Hollywood except I did not see a pig on a leash.

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The Grandman Triathlon

This Saturday will be anoth first for me. I started riding a bike again a few months ago when I decided to do the Grandman. It is a sprint triathlon (for some people maybe); but I am excited. I have never tried this and if I can finish in less than 2 1/2 hours, I will be pleased.

I have a new road bike this week and already I can tell you that a road bike makes a huge difference over a mountain bike. I will update with pictures after the event but I got my cool baby blue swim cap and my number (#18).

Now that I have done my first one, I can honestly say that the swim is the hardest part. I finished in 1:55:24 which I am very happy about. The next event is June 25th at Oak Mountain State Park in Birmingham, AL.

Horn Island Campout

Last weekend, we started a new tradition. I took Christopher camping on Horn Island (off the coast of Mississippi) with some friends from school. It was a guys trip and we had a blast. We were sunburned, beaten nearly to death by the boat ride there and back, sanded down to raw meat and exhausted; but we were both smiling and laughing. Of course, there will be stories to tell and these will be embellished as needed. Whether we talk about the libations that took over Friday night, the painful post libation morning Saturday, hitting the sand bar while tubing, watching the walk of shame from secret bathroom locations, laughing at the boat that was washed way up on shore, the incredible stars and the cool fireworks; it was all fun.

We all learned alot and are already adding (and subtracting) from the list of supplies for next year. Memorial Day will have a whole new tradition for me.

Approaching Easter

Tonight we had a meeting for the RCIA program at St Dominic where Annette and I are sponsors for our friends David and Lisa Hickman. It is been almost a full year of preparation for them and for me as well. I have enjoyed most of the meetings and I have learned a lot about the Catholic Church and the Catholic Faith. Fr. Jim posed a question tonight of "where are you tonight in your journey" and asked each of us to think of the path that has led to where we are right now.

I am thankful for my job and the material goods that we have. I am thankful for the wonderful community that are children are being raised in. I am thankful for my family and children. And most important, I am thankful for my growth in faith.

But as Fr. Jim said, it is not meditation of thanksgiving but of where I am. I am learning more about my faith through Mass and through the Eucharist. Attending daily Mass whenever possible and especially when I am out of town is a blessing. The Blessed Rosary and participating in the Pilgrim Virgin has brought a peace to me when I feel like I am ready to blow a gasket. The Men of St. Joseph has served as both a prayer group and an intellectual fountain for me. By hearing others talk about how some parts of the faith are difficult to understand, but all are critical to the whole of the body of faith; it makes me realize that the journey to understanding is a little rocky. And that is OK!

My health is better that it has ever been. My back hasn't hurt in months. My weight is under control. My labs look great. But then I have a little rock in the path; apparently my rhythm isn't what it should be. So cardiology here I come. I am so glad that my faith is healthier too; it sure makes the rest easier to bear.

So as I look forward to the Easter weekend, we Catholics call it the Triduum. Here are my suggestions to anyone: 1. Watch the Passion of Jesus Christ; 2. Then say the Rosary and contemplate the Sorrowful mysteries; 3. Then go to Mass and know that the BODY, BLOOD, SOUL and DIVINITY of Christ is truly present; 4. Then realize that all that is given to you and me as a GIFT.

That will definitely help to put life's events in the proper order.