Hey folks!
Sorry it took me so long to update. The start of the semester is upon us here at Stonehill which has made me very busy. Well, that and the fact that I did not have the internet for three weeks!
Anyway...BIG NEWS!!
WE ARE MOVING!!
I will no longer be updating this site. Stonehill created a brand new page for me and we are taking our show on the road.
www.stonehillblogs.org/mgorman
Set your bookmarks now!
Don't fear though. This blog will still be here and you can look back at all the cool things I've done over the last year on this very site.
Take care and I'll see you at my new home!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Wedding Bells
Hey there folks,
Right now the sun is setting on a balmy August afternoon and I figured I would look back and tell you all a little bit about a big happening in my family from last month.
Frequent followers of the blog may know my cousin Eddie and his fiance Ashley from my time down in D.C. They live in Virginia and I was a often in there apartment watching Yankee games or spending my last day in a snow-covered capital.
Well after ten years of dating (all the way back to junior year of high school) and six months of engagement, the day had finally come for them to tie the knot! They got married in their hometown of Wappingers Falls, NY. I was also very fortunate to be asked to be a groomsman in their wedding party.
My duties as a groomsman commenced with a bachelor party in June held in none other than Seaside Heights, NJ. Come mid-July however, it reached it's pinnacle with the big day.
The wedding was set for Friday evening, but I made the trek from MA to NY early for the rehearsal dinner. They decided to hold it at my uncle's (Eddie's father's) house. Complete with deck, pool, and enough room to crash, it had everything we were looking for. Once back from the church, the wedding party wasted no time in sampling the caterer's hors'doeuvres.
The groomsmen were also sure to do one thing immediately: empty their pockets. With the combination of 20-something men and an in-ground pool, it only meant that sooner rather than later we would get our turn touching the bottom of the pool with our dress pants and polo shirts. One by one, the groomsmen would shoot looks to each other planning which unsuspecting soul that would get next. I eventually fell. Before the night was done, all the members of the wedding party except the bride would find their way in the pool.
After we dried ourselves off, we went inside for the wedding party gifts. While the bridesmaids got necklaces, the groomsmen received engraved wood baseball bats to mark the occasion.
The next morning was a case study in gender differences. The women woke up around 7:30am, ate breakfast, got their hair done, got their makeup done, set up the bridal suite, took pictures, waited for the limo, yada, yada, yada...
We groomsmen awoke around 10:30 or 11am, realized what time it was, went back to sleep, woke up an hour or so later, had some lunch, and swam in the pool. Around 2:30, we started getting dressed and climbed in the limo (complete with suicide doors for that Back to the Future look) and made our way to the church. Here we are recreating our best Michael J. Fox pose...
After a brief ceremony, we were back in what was now a very crowded limo for a ride to the picture location: a park along the Hudson river. We took a few pictures and spied an empty shipping vessel docked and climbed aboard for some action shots. We then made the short ride to the reception, which was a tent overlooking the Hudson and Mid-Hudson Bridge.
The wedding party camped out in the bridal suite enjoying the drinks and hors'doeuvres that the wait staff kept bringing us. I was starving, so this was a welcome surprise. When I had devoured all I could from the suite, we were all introduced and the party was officially kicked off.
It would not be a wedding without ridiculous dancing...and this was no exception. It seems that we are all given immunity from looking like fools. Whether it is my cousin's husband Rob stinging guitar solo during 'Don't Stop Believing", my cousin's boyfriend Chris channeling his Darwinian past through his crocodile nose and gorilla thumping, or my trademark "crypt walk" during "Beat It", it seemed like we are were serial offenders that night.
Here's to another great family wedding in the books!
Congrats Eddie and Ashley!
Take care all!
Right now the sun is setting on a balmy August afternoon and I figured I would look back and tell you all a little bit about a big happening in my family from last month.
Frequent followers of the blog may know my cousin Eddie and his fiance Ashley from my time down in D.C. They live in Virginia and I was a often in there apartment watching Yankee games or spending my last day in a snow-covered capital.
Well after ten years of dating (all the way back to junior year of high school) and six months of engagement, the day had finally come for them to tie the knot! They got married in their hometown of Wappingers Falls, NY. I was also very fortunate to be asked to be a groomsman in their wedding party.
My duties as a groomsman commenced with a bachelor party in June held in none other than Seaside Heights, NJ. Come mid-July however, it reached it's pinnacle with the big day.
The wedding was set for Friday evening, but I made the trek from MA to NY early for the rehearsal dinner. They decided to hold it at my uncle's (Eddie's father's) house. Complete with deck, pool, and enough room to crash, it had everything we were looking for. Once back from the church, the wedding party wasted no time in sampling the caterer's hors'doeuvres.
The groomsmen were also sure to do one thing immediately: empty their pockets. With the combination of 20-something men and an in-ground pool, it only meant that sooner rather than later we would get our turn touching the bottom of the pool with our dress pants and polo shirts. One by one, the groomsmen would shoot looks to each other planning which unsuspecting soul that would get next. I eventually fell. Before the night was done, all the members of the wedding party except the bride would find their way in the pool.
After we dried ourselves off, we went inside for the wedding party gifts. While the bridesmaids got necklaces, the groomsmen received engraved wood baseball bats to mark the occasion.
The next morning was a case study in gender differences. The women woke up around 7:30am, ate breakfast, got their hair done, got their makeup done, set up the bridal suite, took pictures, waited for the limo, yada, yada, yada...
We groomsmen awoke around 10:30 or 11am, realized what time it was, went back to sleep, woke up an hour or so later, had some lunch, and swam in the pool. Around 2:30, we started getting dressed and climbed in the limo (complete with suicide doors for that Back to the Future look) and made our way to the church. Here we are recreating our best Michael J. Fox pose...
Cue the "Here comes the bride..."
After a brief ceremony, we were back in what was now a very crowded limo for a ride to the picture location: a park along the Hudson river. We took a few pictures and spied an empty shipping vessel docked and climbed aboard for some action shots. We then made the short ride to the reception, which was a tent overlooking the Hudson and Mid-Hudson Bridge.
The wedding party camped out in the bridal suite enjoying the drinks and hors'doeuvres that the wait staff kept bringing us. I was starving, so this was a welcome surprise. When I had devoured all I could from the suite, we were all introduced and the party was officially kicked off.
It would not be a wedding without ridiculous dancing...and this was no exception. It seems that we are all given immunity from looking like fools. Whether it is my cousin's husband Rob stinging guitar solo during 'Don't Stop Believing", my cousin's boyfriend Chris channeling his Darwinian past through his crocodile nose and gorilla thumping, or my trademark "crypt walk" during "Beat It", it seemed like we are were serial offenders that night.
Here's to another great family wedding in the books!
Congrats Eddie and Ashley!
Take care all!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
We're Back!!!
Here's another YouTube video courtesy of Brian and I. This time we tackle the SpoCo...
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Good Food, Good Weather, and E Street Radio...
Hey folks,
The title says it all. It is the story of my vacation.
We started out Friday morning. My parents came and got me at Stonehill, pulling up in a grey Chevy Malibu. I instinctively piled in the backseat, ready to relax with my earbuds and a fully-charged iPod. Then my mom dropped the A-bomb:
"You're driving."
"Oh, C'mon!"
"We got satellite radio..."
Done.
You may or may not know that my one of my favorite things in this world is XM/Sirius radio. It is awesome. I am constantly amazed at all the options and, of course, the all Bruce station E Street Radio. We don't have it in any of our cars, so whenever I get a chance to use it, I jump at it!
There I was, rolling down Route 6 blasting "Badlands" and ready to start my vacation. We got into our hotel around 4 and I took the liberty to plop myself down on the bed for a much-needed nap.
Upon waking, I hazily turned to A&E for the Criminal Minds marathon. Before I was able to get too invested in Hotch and the team, my mother hurried me along to get ready for dinner. The Lobster Claw in Orleans awaited the hungry Gormans.
As we took our seat in booths that made a school bus seat feel comfortable, I promptly ordered and soon devoured the swordfish and a side of scallops. After we were done, we stopped over at the Eastham Post Office to mail the postcard that was given with our check and spied a Christmas Tree Shop. A good hour and fifteen minutes later, we were finally out of the store and on our way to the next stop of the night: a Cape Cod League Baseball game!
I love going to Cape League games. Unfortunately, the real MLB names like the Mets, Athletics, and Cardinals have been replaced by the likes of the Harbor Hawks, Anglers, and Firebirds. You still get to see some great players and just enjoy a cool summer evening. We stayed in Orleans for a home game, dodging rain drops as we sat in our lawn chairs.
We left the game a tad early and cruised around Route 28 for a bit. I stopped at a store that smelled like old incense and browsed the selection of Springsteen posters and Dylan records. In the end, as is the sign of a great night, we ended up at an ice cream shop next to our hotel.
The next morning came quite quickly as we caught the mid-morning ferry to Nantucket. I had never been before, so I did not know what to make of the farthest point in the eastern U.S. My parents and I browsed the shops and side-streets and stopped into the likes of Vineyard Vines, Murray's Toggery, and the Black Dog. After our walking, we crashed near the docks and ordered drinks and appetizers at a local restaurant.
To escape the heat, we booked tickets aboard a tour bus so that we could get a better sense of the island. The bus took us all around and we were able to see Sankaty Light-the island's lighthouse and tried to decipher an incredibly convoluted story on the island's origin. Upon disembarking on our tourist-infested adventure, we walked over to American Seasons, our restaurant for dinner.
The ambiance was really something. It felt like we were eating in a garden terrace. Our family, as usual, did not disappoint when it came time to order, as we shared two appetizers as I dove right into the flat-iron steak.
With our ferry approaching and our time on the island finished, we got ready for day of travel and family. By early afternoon, we were on the road once again. This time heading to Narragansett, R.I. to visit my cousins and my uncle and aunt who flew up from Florida. Momentarily pausing from the Bruce-tunes, we heard on the radio that a 2 mile back-up awaited us on the Sagamore. Upon conferring with a trusty Cape sherpa, we were instructed to find a mysterious "service road" that may or may not end at Hogwarts. Pressing on, we found the traffic report to be...totally false! Maintaining 65 the whole way, we made it across the Pell and Jamestown bridges and into Narragansett in short order.
Arriving at the house, we were greeted by my Aunt Eileen and my Uncles Joe and John as well as their kids, my cousins Joey and Erin, with her husband Greg. Of course, I can't forget Joey's son A.J. and Erin's daughter Isabella. We caught up with each other and stayed late into the night eating and drinking. With the little ones running around, it was also anything but boring. It was really great to see them all.
And with that, my vacation was complete. We drove the sad drive back to Easton on Monday morning and I prepared myself for work the next day. All in all, the three ingredients above made for one heck of a vacation.
Coming soon: a brand new YouTube video and wedding bells in the family...
Take care!
The title says it all. It is the story of my vacation.
We started out Friday morning. My parents came and got me at Stonehill, pulling up in a grey Chevy Malibu. I instinctively piled in the backseat, ready to relax with my earbuds and a fully-charged iPod. Then my mom dropped the A-bomb:
"You're driving."
"Oh, C'mon!"
"We got satellite radio..."
Done.
You may or may not know that my one of my favorite things in this world is XM/Sirius radio. It is awesome. I am constantly amazed at all the options and, of course, the all Bruce station E Street Radio. We don't have it in any of our cars, so whenever I get a chance to use it, I jump at it!
There I was, rolling down Route 6 blasting "Badlands" and ready to start my vacation. We got into our hotel around 4 and I took the liberty to plop myself down on the bed for a much-needed nap.
Upon waking, I hazily turned to A&E for the Criminal Minds marathon. Before I was able to get too invested in Hotch and the team, my mother hurried me along to get ready for dinner. The Lobster Claw in Orleans awaited the hungry Gormans.
As we took our seat in booths that made a school bus seat feel comfortable, I promptly ordered and soon devoured the swordfish and a side of scallops. After we were done, we stopped over at the Eastham Post Office to mail the postcard that was given with our check and spied a Christmas Tree Shop. A good hour and fifteen minutes later, we were finally out of the store and on our way to the next stop of the night: a Cape Cod League Baseball game!
I love going to Cape League games. Unfortunately, the real MLB names like the Mets, Athletics, and Cardinals have been replaced by the likes of the Harbor Hawks, Anglers, and Firebirds. You still get to see some great players and just enjoy a cool summer evening. We stayed in Orleans for a home game, dodging rain drops as we sat in our lawn chairs.
We left the game a tad early and cruised around Route 28 for a bit. I stopped at a store that smelled like old incense and browsed the selection of Springsteen posters and Dylan records. In the end, as is the sign of a great night, we ended up at an ice cream shop next to our hotel.
The next morning came quite quickly as we caught the mid-morning ferry to Nantucket. I had never been before, so I did not know what to make of the farthest point in the eastern U.S. My parents and I browsed the shops and side-streets and stopped into the likes of Vineyard Vines, Murray's Toggery, and the Black Dog. After our walking, we crashed near the docks and ordered drinks and appetizers at a local restaurant.
To escape the heat, we booked tickets aboard a tour bus so that we could get a better sense of the island. The bus took us all around and we were able to see Sankaty Light-the island's lighthouse and tried to decipher an incredibly convoluted story on the island's origin. Upon disembarking on our tourist-infested adventure, we walked over to American Seasons, our restaurant for dinner.
The ambiance was really something. It felt like we were eating in a garden terrace. Our family, as usual, did not disappoint when it came time to order, as we shared two appetizers as I dove right into the flat-iron steak.
With our ferry approaching and our time on the island finished, we got ready for day of travel and family. By early afternoon, we were on the road once again. This time heading to Narragansett, R.I. to visit my cousins and my uncle and aunt who flew up from Florida. Momentarily pausing from the Bruce-tunes, we heard on the radio that a 2 mile back-up awaited us on the Sagamore. Upon conferring with a trusty Cape sherpa, we were instructed to find a mysterious "service road" that may or may not end at Hogwarts. Pressing on, we found the traffic report to be...totally false! Maintaining 65 the whole way, we made it across the Pell and Jamestown bridges and into Narragansett in short order.
Arriving at the house, we were greeted by my Aunt Eileen and my Uncles Joe and John as well as their kids, my cousins Joey and Erin, with her husband Greg. Of course, I can't forget Joey's son A.J. and Erin's daughter Isabella. We caught up with each other and stayed late into the night eating and drinking. With the little ones running around, it was also anything but boring. It was really great to see them all.
And with that, my vacation was complete. We drove the sad drive back to Easton on Monday morning and I prepared myself for work the next day. All in all, the three ingredients above made for one heck of a vacation.
Coming soon: a brand new YouTube video and wedding bells in the family...
Take care!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Stonehill Eight, Stonehill Nine...
The second day began with a whimper...
I was tired and getting sick, but still had one more day left. We woke up early once again to a breakfast of french toast and scrambled eggs. Soon after breakfast was done, we made sure the incoming students got right off to their advising meetings without delay as the PM's enjoyed the sun and caught up on the first day of Orientation. With the echo on "Piano Man" on our minds, we simply laid in the grass and waited for the half-hour to be over.
Once the meetings ended, the shuttling began. With rotation sessions once again filling the morning, we did little more than make sure everyone in our group got out. Once Dunkin Donuts opened, we had our fill of watermelon coolattas and iced coffees to get us through the day.
With lunch came burgers and salad, but also a surreal feeling that the end was sadly, close at hand. We went back into our groups for a final group time to reflect on the day and a half that was, play some final games, and say our goodbyes for the summer.
I took my mark on the steps of Donahue Hall and stood among the Peer Mentors welcoming the incoming class up the steps and to college life. A member of our group read in front of all a statement that encompassed the characteristics of our group and where we stand in the greater Stonehill community. I blew my vuvuzela, which by now had become a trademark in our group, and just like that, the students went home and our job was done.
We stood on the steps, took pictures, and hitched rides on golf carts back to the Commons for our wrap-up meeting. After the meeting, we all received our paper plates to make our "Paper Plate Awards" for our partner. Each year, we design and decorate paper plates to give our partner that highlight an certain aspect of their personality.
This year, I gave Nicole the "Ribbon 'round my Finger Award." For some reason that week, I simply lost everything that I had. From binders to books, bags to cowbells, she was the one who reminded me where everything was and made sure I didn't worry.
We presented our awards later that night at a banquet held in Alumni Hall. We are given a nice dinner and an ever nicer slideshow remembering the week that just passed. The night is filled with laughter and tears.
Around 7pm or so, every member of the Orientation team gets up and presents the paper plate award to their partner and says a little about what the experience has meant to them. These can go on for a loooonnnnngg while and this year was no exception. At around 12am and a venue change, we finally had all the team members say their peace. The hugs and goodbyes continued well into the night.
Jeff and I were hungry so we decided to take a ride over to the Brockton Burger King for a little Whopper action. Though the sustenance couldn't mask my tiredness, I finally called it a night around 3am. I had to drive to Seaside Heights, NJ in the morning for a Bachelor Party and needed at least try and rest.
As I look back on Orientation, I realize it was the "First of My Lasts". The beginning of my closing chapter here at Stonehill. Never again will I experience the excitement of a Day One Breakfast in Cleary Dining Room, or the thrill of running into the Sports Complex yelling and screaming, or the pride at the end of the second day as the group ascends the Donahue Stairs. But I can say this: if this week and a half was any indication of my remaining time here, it is going to be one helluva year...
I was tired and getting sick, but still had one more day left. We woke up early once again to a breakfast of french toast and scrambled eggs. Soon after breakfast was done, we made sure the incoming students got right off to their advising meetings without delay as the PM's enjoyed the sun and caught up on the first day of Orientation. With the echo on "Piano Man" on our minds, we simply laid in the grass and waited for the half-hour to be over.
Once the meetings ended, the shuttling began. With rotation sessions once again filling the morning, we did little more than make sure everyone in our group got out. Once Dunkin Donuts opened, we had our fill of watermelon coolattas and iced coffees to get us through the day.
With lunch came burgers and salad, but also a surreal feeling that the end was sadly, close at hand. We went back into our groups for a final group time to reflect on the day and a half that was, play some final games, and say our goodbyes for the summer.
I took my mark on the steps of Donahue Hall and stood among the Peer Mentors welcoming the incoming class up the steps and to college life. A member of our group read in front of all a statement that encompassed the characteristics of our group and where we stand in the greater Stonehill community. I blew my vuvuzela, which by now had become a trademark in our group, and just like that, the students went home and our job was done.
We stood on the steps, took pictures, and hitched rides on golf carts back to the Commons for our wrap-up meeting. After the meeting, we all received our paper plates to make our "Paper Plate Awards" for our partner. Each year, we design and decorate paper plates to give our partner that highlight an certain aspect of their personality.
This year, I gave Nicole the "Ribbon 'round my Finger Award." For some reason that week, I simply lost everything that I had. From binders to books, bags to cowbells, she was the one who reminded me where everything was and made sure I didn't worry.
We presented our awards later that night at a banquet held in Alumni Hall. We are given a nice dinner and an ever nicer slideshow remembering the week that just passed. The night is filled with laughter and tears.
Around 7pm or so, every member of the Orientation team gets up and presents the paper plate award to their partner and says a little about what the experience has meant to them. These can go on for a loooonnnnngg while and this year was no exception. At around 12am and a venue change, we finally had all the team members say their peace. The hugs and goodbyes continued well into the night.
Jeff and I were hungry so we decided to take a ride over to the Brockton Burger King for a little Whopper action. Though the sustenance couldn't mask my tiredness, I finally called it a night around 3am. I had to drive to Seaside Heights, NJ in the morning for a Bachelor Party and needed at least try and rest.As I look back on Orientation, I realize it was the "First of My Lasts". The beginning of my closing chapter here at Stonehill. Never again will I experience the excitement of a Day One Breakfast in Cleary Dining Room, or the thrill of running into the Sports Complex yelling and screaming, or the pride at the end of the second day as the group ascends the Donahue Stairs. But I can say this: if this week and a half was any indication of my remaining time here, it is going to be one helluva year...
Monday, July 12, 2010
Stonehill Six, Stonehill Seven...
Hey there folks!
We are back to orientation after a short break in posting. I'll promise I'll wrap this up soon and there'll be plenty more to tell about my vacation and a wedding in the family.
But let's get back to Orientation Session 2.
I awoke early yet again on Thursday morning. I finally began to feel the effects of orientation. My voice was hoarse and my throat was throbbing. But this was a special opening: I was assigned to an entrance!
The entrance, in my opinion, is the best assignment for PM's on the first day. You are the first person to see them as they drive into campus. We try to be as energetic and ridiculous as possible while, inevitably, the incoming freshman cower in the back as their mom or dad honks the horn at our signs.
I was posted at the Route 123 entrance. So I grabbed a vuvuzela (those annoying horns from the World Cup) and a sign ("Honk if you're awkward!") and made my way to the entrance with the rest of the crew.
We got some great reactions from both incoming students and Stonehill staff alike. But soon the time came to head back to the Sports Complex and do our famous run-in and cheer! It was weird to know it would be the last time I'd ever do it, but armed with my whistle and cowbell I knew at least it wouldn't be half-hearted.
We met our group soon after and began, once again, all that is orientation. It was another beautiful-yet slightly hotter-day so we moved some games inside and made sure to take a few more water breaks. We found that our group loved a game we had recently learned called Ninja. It's a pretty fun game and involves so bobbing and weaving. It was a perfect antidote for the usual early awkwardness.
At night, it was once again time for PlayFair. Nicole was lucky enough this time to be able to head to W.B. Mason Field early, while I made head-counts and made sure everyone got there on time. It turned into another beautiful night for my last PlayFair. It was our turn also to leave early, so just before the famed "Rock, Paper, Scissor Showdown" half the team had to leave their posts and help set up the Commons Activities. This included filling up cups of water for the thirty post-PlayFair students and getting the makeshift bingo hall ready for use.
The dance took on a special meaning for all the seniors. We made sure to dance throughout the night as much as we possibly could and enjoy being on the that stage one last time. Once "Piano Man" came on, there were very few dry eyes in the place. The seniors formed a smaller circle surrounded by a larger contingent of PM's and we swayed to the melody before eventually breaking up to find a partner to finish the song with.
It was at this time that the end of Orientation felt all too real. Only one more day was left...
We are back to orientation after a short break in posting. I'll promise I'll wrap this up soon and there'll be plenty more to tell about my vacation and a wedding in the family.
But let's get back to Orientation Session 2.
I awoke early yet again on Thursday morning. I finally began to feel the effects of orientation. My voice was hoarse and my throat was throbbing. But this was a special opening: I was assigned to an entrance!
The entrance, in my opinion, is the best assignment for PM's on the first day. You are the first person to see them as they drive into campus. We try to be as energetic and ridiculous as possible while, inevitably, the incoming freshman cower in the back as their mom or dad honks the horn at our signs.
I was posted at the Route 123 entrance. So I grabbed a vuvuzela (those annoying horns from the World Cup) and a sign ("Honk if you're awkward!") and made my way to the entrance with the rest of the crew.
We got some great reactions from both incoming students and Stonehill staff alike. But soon the time came to head back to the Sports Complex and do our famous run-in and cheer! It was weird to know it would be the last time I'd ever do it, but armed with my whistle and cowbell I knew at least it wouldn't be half-hearted.
We met our group soon after and began, once again, all that is orientation. It was another beautiful-yet slightly hotter-day so we moved some games inside and made sure to take a few more water breaks. We found that our group loved a game we had recently learned called Ninja. It's a pretty fun game and involves so bobbing and weaving. It was a perfect antidote for the usual early awkwardness.
At night, it was once again time for PlayFair. Nicole was lucky enough this time to be able to head to W.B. Mason Field early, while I made head-counts and made sure everyone got there on time. It turned into another beautiful night for my last PlayFair. It was our turn also to leave early, so just before the famed "Rock, Paper, Scissor Showdown" half the team had to leave their posts and help set up the Commons Activities. This included filling up cups of water for the thirty post-PlayFair students and getting the makeshift bingo hall ready for use.
The dance took on a special meaning for all the seniors. We made sure to dance throughout the night as much as we possibly could and enjoy being on the that stage one last time. Once "Piano Man" came on, there were very few dry eyes in the place. The seniors formed a smaller circle surrounded by a larger contingent of PM's and we swayed to the melody before eventually breaking up to find a partner to finish the song with.It was at this time that the end of Orientation felt all too real. Only one more day was left...
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Stonehill Four, Stonehill Five...
Session One was done. Wednesday was a day for some rest and relaxation.
Despite it being my one day off that week, Wyatt and I awoke early (9am) to make our way to Back Bay Bagel. We each had a gift certificate there, so we sat in peace devouring our bagels and juice.
Back on campus, we retreated to my room for the USA World Cup game on my big screen. We sat in dread until the first minute of extra time when the USA team scored a goal that sent them to the next round and saved them from elimination! We went nuts!
Wyatt left soon after and I spent the afternoon left with nothing to do...
...so naturally I indulged my passions: clean clothing and Bruce Springsteen. As the purple knee-socks spun in the dryer cycle, I laid on my bed watching the new Bruce concert DVD that had come in the mail for me. Eventually, my rest turned into a full-on nap. I really needed it.
I woke up around 3:30pm and showered and dressed for our 4pm "meeting". Every year on our day-off, the PM team organizes a trip to do something fun. Last year, we stayed on campus and did karaoke. This year, we met to find that we were going to Starland Recreation Center. It about 30 minutes away and has mini-golf, go-carts, laser tag, etc.
A few of us piled into my car as we hopped on Route 3 to find the place. Once there, we got right in line for the laser tag. I showed off my stealthy moved honed from years playing NERF around the house...by myself. What got me was they didn't keep score!!?? Are you kidding me?!
Go-carts and I normally don't mix very well; I almost seem to crash them or have some time of incident that almost gets me banned. However, I climbed into this one, looking around at the unsuspecting tween workers who have no idea of my history.
Thankfully, no incidents this time. Afterward, we hit up the batting cages and even some mini-golf.
We capped the evening off with a sno-cone and soon we were back on campus getting ready for Round 2. Nicole and I hung name-tags up, we went over the grid, and soon I retreated to my bed for an attempt at some sleep.
Here we go again...
Despite it being my one day off that week, Wyatt and I awoke early (9am) to make our way to Back Bay Bagel. We each had a gift certificate there, so we sat in peace devouring our bagels and juice.
Back on campus, we retreated to my room for the USA World Cup game on my big screen. We sat in dread until the first minute of extra time when the USA team scored a goal that sent them to the next round and saved them from elimination! We went nuts!
Wyatt left soon after and I spent the afternoon left with nothing to do...
...so naturally I indulged my passions: clean clothing and Bruce Springsteen. As the purple knee-socks spun in the dryer cycle, I laid on my bed watching the new Bruce concert DVD that had come in the mail for me. Eventually, my rest turned into a full-on nap. I really needed it.
I woke up around 3:30pm and showered and dressed for our 4pm "meeting". Every year on our day-off, the PM team organizes a trip to do something fun. Last year, we stayed on campus and did karaoke. This year, we met to find that we were going to Starland Recreation Center. It about 30 minutes away and has mini-golf, go-carts, laser tag, etc.
A few of us piled into my car as we hopped on Route 3 to find the place. Once there, we got right in line for the laser tag. I showed off my stealthy moved honed from years playing NERF around the house...by myself. What got me was they didn't keep score!!?? Are you kidding me?!
Go-carts and I normally don't mix very well; I almost seem to crash them or have some time of incident that almost gets me banned. However, I climbed into this one, looking around at the unsuspecting tween workers who have no idea of my history.
Thankfully, no incidents this time. Afterward, we hit up the batting cages and even some mini-golf.
We capped the evening off with a sno-cone and soon we were back on campus getting ready for Round 2. Nicole and I hung name-tags up, we went over the grid, and soon I retreated to my bed for an attempt at some sleep.Here we go again...
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Stonehill Two, Stonehill Three...
The night of tossing and turning had come to an end. It was Monday morning. Showtime.
I awoke from my room in the Sem early. Like 5:45am early. Showered, dressed in head-to-toe in purple, and drove to the Commons for breakfast with the other PMs. It always seems that it is at this point that it really hits me. Music is playing (cue the "Bulletproof"), everyone in the room is filled with nervous energy, and it all culminates when the Director of Student Activities, Jim Hermelbracht, greets us with a hearty "Good Morning!!"
I awoke from my room in the Sem early. Like 5:45am early. Showered, dressed in head-to-toe in purple, and drove to the Commons for breakfast with the other PMs. It always seems that it is at this point that it really hits me. Music is playing (cue the "Bulletproof"), everyone in the room is filled with nervous energy, and it all culminates when the Director of Student Activities, Jim Hermelbracht, greets us with a hearty "Good Morning!!"
After our breakfast of eggs and bacon, we are off to our assigned locations. I was stationed at Boland Hall. Along with a few other PM's, we helped check incoming students into where they'd be staying that night.
9:30am came very quickly as the masses assembled at the Sports Complex for the Opening Ceremony. It is at this time that the PM's run in and do the famed "Stonehill Cheer" that are the inspirations for the titles of the posts. Nicole and I donned tiaras and a hat shaped like a baseball respectively. For the record, the whistle was a total bust.
After we all ran out, we stood around the Sports Complex with our signs and it was showtime. We met our groups and proceeded to spend some time with them, bring them to various presentations, and eat a boxed lunch on the quad. The time eventually winds around to dinner and everyone begins to prepare for PlayFair that night.
Inevitably, this is the conversation between a PM and an accepted student:
Student: What's PlayFair?
PM: Hmm...I can't really explain it.
Student: Why can't you tell us?
PM: It's hard to explain. It's kinda like a giant icebreaker. But fun! And active!
Student: (skeptical look)
PlayFair is best described as a three-ring circus that acts as a giant, non-awkward icebreaker. It is very active and you meet almost all the students at that session in about 2 hours. PM's usually have just as much fun as the students do. We usually work up a heavy sweat by the time the students get to it.
We all line up on the football field in two lines clapping, chanting, and just all around being loud. The students then must run through us like the starting lineups for a basketball team. 
After PlayFair, the skeptical looks turn to big smiles and exclaimations of "Wow, that actually was pretty cool."
When it is done, everyone goes to the Commons for some activities like Bingo and a dance. Yet again, the PM's seem to be the center of attention as each evening winds to a close with the playing of Don't Stop Believing and Piano Man. The seniors prepared ourselves for the sadness that would accompany these songs come Thursday night, during our last orientation. For now though, the mood was light and as we went to bed it became hard to believe it was only Monday still.
Tuesday came quite early. Though sad to say, it was almost like sleeping in. I awoke around 7am and met our group for breakfast. Tuesday is a lot less tiring of a day for the PM's as the incoming students are in meetings and presentations for much of the shortened day and we simply walk them from place to place for much of it.
After lunch, we have our last group time. This is always a fun one because after about 30 hours together, the students really open up and feel comfortable with each other. We usually play some games, reflect on orientation, and have some time to check out the bookstore!
At 3pm, the PM's line the steps to Donahue Hall as the students walk up the hill for the closing ceremony. Liz, our Orientation Coordinator, gives a little speech and each group presents a series of "We Are" statements that best sums up their group's characteristics. It was a pretty cool end. 
And with that, session one was done! The team retreated to the Commons to sprawl across the floor and go over what went right/wrong with the session. We moved it along quite quickly however, because, per tradition, we are treated to dinner at TownSpa, a local pizza joint.
Coming back to campus, some of the team went to hang out in a common room while others went to the Quad for some Capture the Flag. I tried the latter and got bored, so I headed in fairly quickly to see the rest of the team. My plans to get to bed early were easily forgotten as the midnight hour passed. After almost dozing off on the O'Hara Common Room floor, I summoned my strength and retreated to my room. But not before grabbing my comfy mattress-topper from my room!
Session 1 down, 1 more to go. But not before our day off and a much needed surprise...
To Be Continued.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Stonehill Zero, Stonehill One...
Hey folks,
I'm currently back at work in the Admissions Office. I am rested, (relatively) healthy, and no longer wearing head-to-toe purple. That, my dear friends, can only mean one thing...
...Summer Orientation is over :(
Let me now try and recap the last week and a half that was in the next few posts:
We began last Thursday (17th) meeting in the Sem for a welcome back lunch and to exchange the binders we made for our Secret Peer Mentor (think Secret Santa with little gifts throughout the semester). The binder you make for them, they use throughout Orientation to carry all of the many schedules, rosters, and papers we need. After that we over we did some training for the rest of the day. We ate dinner with our partner and had to reach under the chair for the word that our group name was to include. This year my partner was Nicole, a rising sophomore.
Everyone on the Peer Mentor team get paired with another PM, usually finding out who they are in a dramatic fashion right before we leave for the summer. Together, these two partners make up an orientation group and lead about 25-30 new students throughout orientation. As for the names, they are based upon our overall orientation theme. This year's was "Forever Young". Therefore, each word had something to do with youth or childhood. We had the luck (some would say) to have chosen the word "Barbie". Sure enough, by the end of the dinner Nicole and I put our heads together and Barbie and Ken's Sassy Stonehill Superstars was born!
Our night ended it in the common room watching the Lakers take on the Celtics in Game 7. As the only Lakers fan in the place, I was jeered throughout the game. But, as usual, came out victorious! Later on, we played a giant game of hide and go seek in and around the Sem.
The next day was an early morning for us as we received presentations and updates from offices around campus such as Community Expectations, Health and Wellness, and Academic Services. Later that night, the fun began as we were each given $20 to spend on our groups. So the carpools to iParty and Wal-Mart began...
We rode with Diana and Bri, who bought a inflatable pony that each member of their group ended up signing. But the most inventive in the car had to be Lauren and Kate who needed props to make them look like a scientist. Naturally, they stopped at Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton and went to the nurses station! Nicole and I bought some plates to use as door tags and some cowbells and whistles that we could use for our big entrance...
Coming back to campus, we made some signs and enjoyed some late night take-out. The next day we were up early again. This time we were quizzed on everything Stonehill from what to do if you have a bad roommate to what options there are to stay healthy on campus. Before we knew it, training was over! Very soon, orientation would be all too real...
We had a day off on Sunday, Father's Day, so I woke up early to surprise my pops back in CT. My mother told him that they would go out for a nice lunch at one of our favorite restaurants: Rein's Deli. I met my dad at the table as he came to take his seat. He was pretty shocked, but he was really happy. We had some great reubens and sweet potato fries. Before we knew it however, I had to turnaround and make the trek back up to Stonehill for a 6pm meeting.
At the meeting, we went over the 20 page schedule for orientation called the Grid. After that was done, we made the final preparations for tomorrow and took our team picture.
You work up quite an appetite planning so a bunch of us went to Five Guys Burgers and Fries for sustenance. If you followed my blog at all when I was in D.C., you know the most dangerous place in the world is between me and a Five Guys burger. I was in heaven.
All that eating can make a person pretty tired, so I tried (emphasis on tried) to fall asleep early. As I lay on my lumpy mattress, it became all too real: my last orientation was about to begin.
To Be Continued...
I'm currently back at work in the Admissions Office. I am rested, (relatively) healthy, and no longer wearing head-to-toe purple. That, my dear friends, can only mean one thing...
...Summer Orientation is over :(
Let me now try and recap the last week and a half that was in the next few posts:
We began last Thursday (17th) meeting in the Sem for a welcome back lunch and to exchange the binders we made for our Secret Peer Mentor (think Secret Santa with little gifts throughout the semester). The binder you make for them, they use throughout Orientation to carry all of the many schedules, rosters, and papers we need. After that we over we did some training for the rest of the day. We ate dinner with our partner and had to reach under the chair for the word that our group name was to include. This year my partner was Nicole, a rising sophomore.
Everyone on the Peer Mentor team get paired with another PM, usually finding out who they are in a dramatic fashion right before we leave for the summer. Together, these two partners make up an orientation group and lead about 25-30 new students throughout orientation. As for the names, they are based upon our overall orientation theme. This year's was "Forever Young". Therefore, each word had something to do with youth or childhood. We had the luck (some would say) to have chosen the word "Barbie". Sure enough, by the end of the dinner Nicole and I put our heads together and Barbie and Ken's Sassy Stonehill Superstars was born!
Our night ended it in the common room watching the Lakers take on the Celtics in Game 7. As the only Lakers fan in the place, I was jeered throughout the game. But, as usual, came out victorious! Later on, we played a giant game of hide and go seek in and around the Sem.The next day was an early morning for us as we received presentations and updates from offices around campus such as Community Expectations, Health and Wellness, and Academic Services. Later that night, the fun began as we were each given $20 to spend on our groups. So the carpools to iParty and Wal-Mart began...
We rode with Diana and Bri, who bought a inflatable pony that each member of their group ended up signing. But the most inventive in the car had to be Lauren and Kate who needed props to make them look like a scientist. Naturally, they stopped at Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton and went to the nurses station! Nicole and I bought some plates to use as door tags and some cowbells and whistles that we could use for our big entrance...
Coming back to campus, we made some signs and enjoyed some late night take-out. The next day we were up early again. This time we were quizzed on everything Stonehill from what to do if you have a bad roommate to what options there are to stay healthy on campus. Before we knew it, training was over! Very soon, orientation would be all too real...
We had a day off on Sunday, Father's Day, so I woke up early to surprise my pops back in CT. My mother told him that they would go out for a nice lunch at one of our favorite restaurants: Rein's Deli. I met my dad at the table as he came to take his seat. He was pretty shocked, but he was really happy. We had some great reubens and sweet potato fries. Before we knew it however, I had to turnaround and make the trek back up to Stonehill for a 6pm meeting.
At the meeting, we went over the 20 page schedule for orientation called the Grid. After that was done, we made the final preparations for tomorrow and took our team picture.
You work up quite an appetite planning so a bunch of us went to Five Guys Burgers and Fries for sustenance. If you followed my blog at all when I was in D.C., you know the most dangerous place in the world is between me and a Five Guys burger. I was in heaven.
All that eating can make a person pretty tired, so I tried (emphasis on tried) to fall asleep early. As I lay on my lumpy mattress, it became all too real: my last orientation was about to begin.
To Be Continued...
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Newest You Tube Sensation
Hey folks,
Really quick little post for you. Evan, a Stonehill Admissions Counselor, gave us a nice little project for a lazy Monday afternoon at work. His instructions: take the office's FlipCam and make a funny, yet informative video talking about Stonehill's Freshman Housing...
Dear World,
You're welcome.
Love,
Brian and Matt
Really quick little post for you. Evan, a Stonehill Admissions Counselor, gave us a nice little project for a lazy Monday afternoon at work. His instructions: take the office's FlipCam and make a funny, yet informative video talking about Stonehill's Freshman Housing...
Dear World,
You're welcome.
Love,
Brian and Matt
A Day in the Bronx
Hey folks,It's the middle of a relatively slow, yet shortened work week here at The Hill. Tomorrow is my last day before an extended break to train for freshman Orientation! Come Thursday, the other Peer Mentors and I will be back for a week and a half to meet the Class of 2014.
But before I go, let me fill you in on the happenings a pretty cool weekend.
I actually had to head home this weekend because my Dad got tickets to a Yankees game on Saturday. It is now a longstanding annual
tradition with my family. We started back in 1998 and, oddly enough, my first-ever Yankee game was rained out. Since then, we go every year to at least one game. If we're lucky, we also try and go to other ballparks as well, including Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, and Camden Yards.So my two uncles, my dad, and I left for the ballgame around 8:45am. We stopped at an amazing place for breakfast: Duchess. It has been a tradition for us since we started. Duchess is best described as a type of fast-food diner popular in Southern Connecticut. So armed with home fried and hash browns, we continued into the Empire State for our meeting with the most successful team in all of sports.
We made it to the Stadium around 11am or so. We had some time to kill so we mosied on in to the stadium's Hard Rock Cafe for some drinks. I was pretty impressed with it. It wasn't that crowded and the service was great! Maybe it was also the fact that staring me right in the face was a wall filled with Bob Dylan memorabilia, including his leather jacket and used setlist.
After spending some time there, we made our way to our seats and promptly ordered up some hot dogs before the game started. It turns out it was "Military Appreciation Day" at the 
Stadium, so a military plane flew overheard and several paratroopers jumped out and landed on the field. The first one landed and then introduced the others as they fell. It was pretty cool. (Alright, so it was at this point that I was going to paste the two videos I took of the paratroopers coming in to the Stadium. Unfortunately, my computer does not care about my blog much at all and they won't upload. If I get it to work soon, then I'll put 'em up.)
Stadium, so a military plane flew overheard and several paratroopers jumped out and landed on the field. The first one landed and then introduced the others as they fell. It was pretty cool. (Alright, so it was at this point that I was going to paste the two videos I took of the paratroopers coming in to the Stadium. Unfortunately, my computer does not care about my blog much at all and they won't upload. If I get it to work soon, then I'll put 'em up.)
Once the game started, it was pretty much all Yankees. Derek Jeter led off the bottom of the first with a home run (his first of two in the game) and later on Jorge Posada crushed a fastball into right field for a grand slam. Javier Vasquez pitched pretty decently and got the victory as the Yanks beat the Houston Astros 9-5. Below is a picture of the old Yankee Stadium, which is located across the street from the new one. Last year when I went, it was still standing. Now it is a mere pile of dirt...
On the way back home through Connecticut we continued our tradition and stopped at the famed Duchess for dinner. It was delicious. They have great hot dogs and cheeseburgers. I opted for the bacon cheeseburger. It did not disappoint! Anybody heading down to Southern CT, I highly recommend it!I made it back to the house later that night and I was exhausted. My mom made me some food and I ended up crashing on the leather chair watching HBO on Demand.
All is right with the world.
Take care everybody! Coming up...Orientation!
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