Pillars of freedom

So this started as a blog on a theme, then I decided to make it a themed blog but one that's also chronological... so (this was originally started 12/20/06 12:17am with just the wtc stuff...)

Recently I've had a few experiences with some friends... I went to the Cfr day in Newark, with Melanie, Terry and Vicki two of whom I really hung out with for the first time, and the last of which this was only really the second time. Ah new friends... life is beginning to look somewhat normal.

Religious freedom (monasteries)

There's something about Religious freedom that makes so much sense that I'm very happy it's chronologically the first that I wanted to remember. It seems a cornerstone of really valuing a person, even though it brings the heart break of knowing that some people may never find Christ, (heck I may never find Him!) it also is seems fundamentally intrinsic to valuing a person. You can never win over a person by violence. Regardless of how that is manifest. And forcing a faith on someone seems completely contrary to what it's supposed to do.


Freedom of Association (aka. Friends)

After volunteering with the CFRs in Newark NJ, we headed over to go watch the live nativity in the Bronx (NYC, NY) a fun little drive, where a seatbelt fight occurred as in a fight with the seat belts. Not with each other.


The live nativity was really cool, with tons and tons and tons of people filling up a blocked off street in the south bronx... the CFRs are known and loved everywhere in this area.

It was a very nice take on the nativity story... a bit funny at times, but the focus was amazing.

Freedom of Speech (rapping friars)

This is Br. Paolo... looking at a video of him playing with his fingers or freestyling, I can't remember which, but he did both ;-) He's a great guy. And so pure of heart.

Freedom of Movement (Ice skating rinks)


After the Live nativity, I went and hung out with Annie. Annie is amazing! I love her so much, she's a coworker/friend/sister from NET and lives in Connecticut (the only person I think). She brought a few of her kids and a parent (she's a youth minister) down to NYC for the holidays. It was nice to spend time with her. We went met up on fifth ave. near the Cathedral (where we went to pick up some of the kids who wanted to go skating at the Rockefeller Center) then trekked uptown to FAO schwartz and finally to central park where the three girls skated, and the Mom and I headed to get starbucks for those of us who didn't want to spend $12 to skate or would rather just chill.

That finished my Saturday... and then Tuesday...

Pillars of freedom?

I finally decided/got the courage to take pictures of the "sculpture" that is part of the twisted remains of part of the WTC. That resides in one of my parishes (I go to several, St. Vincent Ferrer most days for daily 12:10 mass, St. Patrick's Cathedral or St. Francis for 1 or 1:15 mass if class lets out late or I'm a bit slow, St. Malachy's "The actor's chapel" on Times Square for Adoration with the Emmanuel community and my favourite priest so far in this city, Fr. Nicolas who is amazingly loving. And tonight I think I've added another one... Holy Innocents just south of Times Square... it's gorgeous and has adoration until 5pm)


I think it a funny coincidence that the day I decided to take pictures of some steel from the WTC 911 attacks that resides in a church I've been going to for months, was also coincidentally the day they decided to raise two main main columns for the new WTC. (Something I just discovered as I'm about to head to bed.)


The church I go to, St. Francis, is also the church where the first official victim of 911 was a friar at...
Fr. Mychal Judge, the Chaplin of the NYC firefighters. And victim 001 of the wtc attacks.

Now I could go on and on about how I think monuments are important, and how the freedom tower is a monument for many Americans, but I really think the pillars of freedom aren't just monuments. In fact I'd say the Monuments only have meaning because of the pillars of freedom that give them meaning.

Freedom of assembly (another live nativity, this time in Times Square)

Live nativities seem the thing in NYC... this one was in a parking lot in times square (I went to it after adoration on Tuesday night)... just half a block from Broadway... Steven Baldwin apparently talked, and apparently walked right besides me without me batting an eye. (I think I wouldn't recognise any celeb unless they were pointed out... they just aren't any more or less important to me than the next guy.)


And Freedom of Movement #2... Charmin...
Charmin had this great idea to give NYC a Christmas present... and after dinner Tuesday night, I decided to partake much needed public bathrooms in times square... there are 20 of them, on a slightly raised stage... so when you come out the staff cheers and claps... which is actually not as embarrassing as it sounds... because they only do it for people that look like it would be okay with them... which apparently is not me.
Inside the toilet, you get to try out their newest toilet papers... I couldn't tell if there was only one or three types...

And you also get a view... mine was the "top of the Rock" (Rockefeller center) Hetti got disorientated... and almost vomited while I was using the toilet...
There's also a stage where people get to dance... if you want to (the staff is very energetic, and I don't think I could keep it up)... There is also a constant song playing, that though pleasant and actually not as annoying as I would think a repeated song would be, would still get annoying after working for a few hours listening to it, I think.

So there I've blogged... I put photos up, tied it all together with a theme, used headings, and witty commentary... I deserve a big pat on the back!

Hetti's new roost

So Hetti, aka. My rubber chicken/travel companion/loyal friend/constant reminder of worldwide friends has decided to run free... which means I get to carry her lazy featherless butt around.

It's nice to have her around as a reminder that I'm not alone. (Don't tell her that I enjoy being around her, she might demand more of my time and I already give her every waking minute... And I DON'T have any plans of giving her every sleeping one too!)


Oh and that green thing Hetti's using as a nest... yeah that's my scarf... she tries to peck me everytime I come near to grab from her. She's a bit testy these days. (the background is the 3rd floor north bridge tiles... I really love the bridges... Never thought I would, but they're something that gives Hunter some character and makes it a bit more homely... go fig, a bridge!)

Odd offer

One of my profs just offered me an incomplete due to the circumstances surrounding my life this semester, and I've accepted it, even though I'm so close to having everything done. Not that I've started or been able to focus on the the final things in the class, but that I only have three things I have to get done... a final exam, paper and assignment.

So my finals are over, and I only have a makeup exam in French to deal with tomorrow... then I'm free like Hetti, who's been getting a lot of looks lately for being in my backpack (it's nice to have a friend with you at all times).

Wow... I have the rest of the week free now... part of my recovery can commence.

I'm the bacon... what are you?

So... after having found out I'm the type of person to be bacon (for breakfast, are you the bacon or the eggs, the pig is committed, the chicken is just involved)... I'm bacon again...

I can't live life without giving it my all... so I've done it again.

I'm going to Europe for a month on pilgrimage... a month to find out how much the Holy Family cares about me. Some of you may recall that I've been having a crisis of faith lately... so this may seem odd, but like I said I'm the pig. I've got to give it all to find out.

And I'm giving it all to find my Mommy... Mary, if you're in Europe, I'm coming to find you.

I can't live the normal life... I dream.

Call this the first Faith or Bust pilgrimage...


"[Faith or Bust is] about living your life as if every moment was your last. As if you were bearing the magnificent cross of Christ.

Its about denying yourself, picking up your cross and following (Lk 9:23).

There will be falls, and none of us are saints yet, but we commit to picking our selves up with the grace of Christ, and being perfect as He is perfect (Mt 5:48).

We are called to be saints. And we will answer.

"Remember, Christ is calling you; the Church needs you; the Pope believes in you and he expects great things of you." John Paul the Great"

Mirror post of Faith or Bust...

So what's up with Faith or Bust?

Well... Faith or Bust 2007 is in the planning stages... Which means I'm not sure what all is going to happen or how yet to carry it all out. I do know that it's going to happen, and I'm going to plan a few meetings for the NYC area soon... I just need to figure out who's interested and what times they're available. What I can say is if YOU are interested, I suggest you gather a database of everyone you've ever known, Last year we sent out a few hundred letters asking for 5$ each, and we got all the money we needed for our trip.

The trip will occur Mid may to Mid august and will be in KOLKATA (CALCUTTA), India.

Some tentative deadlines:

Sending me an "interest" email (stating your name, address, parish affiliation how much time you want to spend in India (1 month -3 months) and why you want to go to India with Faith or Bust. Also, what gifts do you bring and anything else you want to add?)	ASAP
First Meeting NYC metro (general Info, and questions)	By end of January
Subsequent Metro area meetings	twice a month
Local area meetings	twice a week
Commitment decision	Early April or earlier if you're ready
Have all donation letters sent	Early April

Some notes...

• I would like to meet everyone who wants to go, well before the first meeting, and I'm willing to travel to whereever you live (possibly even to California).
• If you don't live in the NYC metro area, fear not! You can still go, we'll work it out, most things we can talk about on cell phones, email, or in person (I'll see what I can do to visit at least once).
• I'm an idiot and a sinner, so bear with me and the mistakes I'm bound to make.
• AND PLEASE EMAIL ME any questions you have, this will give me some things to blog about and things to gather together.
• Also, the trip is limited to 12 people per month (some exceptions might be made if there are people staying longer).
• The cost is probably going to be around 3000$ (regardless the length of your stay, the flight is the most expensive thing), 2/3rds or more of which you'll get by donations. I'm serious when I say you will get.
  
• Remember: God provides, even when we doubt. Even when our own fears and darkness seem to obscure any light, His love is burning through all the emptiness.
• Everyone going will have some area of responsibility (coordinating flights, things to bring, meetings, website/logo design, etc.)
  

God bless!

~Edward.
my email is: sirhair at gmail dot com

Walking aimlessly

So today I was walking aimlessly about, using up tons of phone minutes, and trying to avoid thinking about the current stresses in my life.

And I stumbled across FAO Schwartz...

The big piano from Big

Stuffed Animals :-)

Bigger stuffed animals! The Mammoth is $12,000 the small mammoth (behind the big one and possibly not pictured) is 1,5000 or 2,000 not sure...

HAGRID!

Batman!

Darthy Old chap.

Outside on fifth ave. A big snowflake.


a cooler picture of it.

Farewell dinner

Tonight was the Farewell Dinner for NSE (perhaps most of the people are only here for the first semester) and it was perhaps the single most enjoyable of them all... food and time to actually meet people. Very nice. I sat with some people I hadn't really gotten to know but had bumped into occasionally throughout the term.


We had Salad...

Calamari (Still haven't had any good calamari in the US, but at least this one wasn't overcooked and rubbery)

Clams... I've had oysters before, and now I've had clams! Not too bad... not too bad

A good penne pasta...

Some ravioli that wasn't bad...

eggplant parmigiana which was okay.

Paloma who was a bit grieved by it being farewell to friends

As were Amira and I.

But luckily, I found the dessert platter...




And left the carcasses of two platters in my wake... Yummy. The brown stuff was really good by the way...

New Yorkaration

So aside from a ton of random unwanted things happening in the recent past, this week wasn't so bad.

First off, I've been blessed with a few new friends who are quite cool and fun to be with.

(Christy and I)

And I've seen a number of really cool things...

This is from the time warner mall on columbus circle (opposite the southwest corner of central park).
This is framed by some building in the 50s near Park Avenue, that I thought captured something beautiful about the city...
Finals have been upon us, causing much stress... much much much stress...
And I thought this was a beautiful shot... I call it "Aspirations" it's an unedited photo I took today on the hunter 3rd floor east west skywalk.

so this was a quick post just to keep you all updated... hope things are well, where you are.

Nadia's last night

last night (this was originally written last Saturday), Chantal, Nadia (Chantal's visiting Friend from Oxford), and I went to the Empire State Building,
which has both beautiful hallways
and leathal weapons disguised as tickets. (Mine sliced my finger).
There are apparently two viewing levels 86th (16$) and 102nd (30$)... and as we are all college students and can do math, 14$ for 16 levels is a bit steep when you probably have an almost identical view.

And what a view... we had come just as night had gotten dark (circa 6) and the skyline was as gorgeous as the westside was frozen.

(The Chrystler building, apparently referred to as a SHE whereas the Empire State Building is referred to as a HE according to Chantal)


(Three other landmark buildings, the two closest are near/on Madison Square Park (NOT GARDENS) and the furthest is in Union Square.)
(the green is looking up the spire of the Empire state building from the 86th floor observation deck)
(Us three)

(a view west towards Pennsylvania Station/Madison Square GARDENS {the dark drum shaped building near the center of the photo, and Macy's on 34th street with the christmas tree lights decorating the exterior {bottom right})
(a view northwards towards the GE buiding (blue) central park (the large darkened rectangle seen behind and on either side of the GE building) You can also see the Bronx (most of the lights towards the top) Queens (those towards the far upper right) and Harlem (the bright straight avenues right above central park))


Double take as we leave the observation deck.

The Empire State building from a few blocks south

Subway entrance hit by a vehicle.


ANGEL BUM!


In Union Square we got to play with the snowflake lights... they react to your movement, if you step on them they run away or swarm you. There is also a mode that allows you to play soccer with the lights... or snowflake hockey if you'd rather. It was alot of fun and I felt like a little kid... :-)


After these pictures, I ran uptown on the subway to go to an art show sponsored by the archdiocese (free wine and food... very good ;-) ) stayed there for like 30 minutes and ran back down... now I mean I RAN... so round trip it took about 1hour 20 mins... when I got back we watched the Tenacious D movie... which wasn't horrible, but could have been much better.

Edification

There is little more edifying, than having attractive women find you attractive. Easiest example: I was just approached in a diner (I'm currently eating my after-mass breakfast at 233pm) by a beautiful woman and told I'm cute.

Also, I've had some sketchy internet lately, so I've not been able to upload pictures... I hope to find a good connexion in a few minutes and upload a blog...

Every year

Every year I grow older, I wonder what the hell is happening?
Part of every year seems to be much harder than the last, every year more tiring and painful than the last. I don't know what the deal is. Every year I feel like I can't be broken anymore without dying.
And this year has been no exception. I've never felt so abandoned, so homeless, so unable to even do menial tasks.
There are so many things happening right now I don't know how to deal. I'm all alone in a city of 8 million. With the occasional guest star I use as a distraction.

I'm empty and being emptied more. A desert being sucked even more dry.

I just need someone here. But everyone is gone or going. I need a motherly embrace, a friendly caress as I let go. But I have no one to turn to.

I wonder how long this loneliness will last.

First day of snow

Today at 1020ish, I saw my first NYC snow... It was light and didn't last more than a few mins, but I'm hopeful for the rest of the day. I'm not really sure why, but the first day of snow brings hope. Brings the reminder that the world is brand new each day, and though you still have the struggles and pains of yesterday, it'll all be okay. And just maybe the answer to your hope is around the corner.

Dr. update...

So I had my monthly check up Friday... and after four hours I was finally done... Three hours of waiting and an hour appointment. Where I had blood drawn, and an x-ray scheduled for Tuesday... (I've been more congested and a few other minor issues).

So that's another joy in my life right now (sarcasm). Amongst other things like papers, classwork, living in hostels and other confusing things I'm not handling as well as I'd like.


Gah.