I am SO proud of mike and nick right now. I always prayed that they would tuen out great, I knew that they had great hearts, and Mike came in 4th in his sectional track meet today as a freshman! on varsity and won the student government election. SO proud of him. He spends his time and does so many thigns better thabn I ever have and I’m so happy for that. SO proud of him, he was an athlete today and it was so great to see him. I saw maybe a little of myself, but mostly something better-him. So happy and proud, my heart was beating out of my chest.

Nick, too. He;s so great., got into NJHS today and umped his first game…so proud of him, kid has a grea heart and great faith.

Thing i learned today: Having true faith means trusting, and it gives you a serene, Holy calm like no other.

He acts upon principle. His norm of conduct is not the Spartan “Shall I be caught?” but the Christian “Is it right or wrong?” No other approval can substitute for him the approval of his own conscience. He cherishes self-respect. Clean of thought, of word, of action, he prizes his honor as the gospel “pearl of great price,” as a radiant heritage come down to him from generations of noble forebears. He is considerate towards others. Putting them in his own place, transferring to them his own personality, he treats them as courteously as he should wish to be treated himself. He is prompt to assist them in their need, even anticipating their requests. He observes gentlemanly restraint He is cheerful without being boisterous; companionable without being boresome; studious without being pedantic. He has the happy faculty of enjoying himself with moderation, and therefore without regret. He has a keen sense of fair play. He curries no favor, seeks no undue privileges. He knows how to take a just defeat without claiming some abstruse “moral victory.” He recognizes courage and ability even though they work to the disadvantage of the home team. He is loyal—to his teams, to his fellows, to his Alma Mater. His loyalty—no merely abstract ideal, however lucent—makes him active in the affairs of the school. He can always be depended upon to do his part. He has a hundred admirable traits, all amounting to the one: he is always and everywhere a gentleman. –The St. Bona Venture, Friday, Sept. 25, 1936

Today was a very good day. How could it not be, we got up and had a quick breakfast before getting our pictures taken all around the resort and the beach. They really are something, great shots by the camerawoman. Didn´t do too much, just hung out at the pool most of the day before playing basketball, beach football and watching a rugby match. Each night at dinner, we´ve had these 3 Amigo guys come and sing at our table. They´re great. Mass was interesting to say the least, all in Spanish. The director of rec asked anyone if they had readings in English, but I couldn’t go back to my room to get them so the whole Mass was in Spanish. All I recognized was Alleluia, Jesus Christo and resurrection. It´s OK though, same Jesus in the host! And it´s so great to see him, so great! Coffee was great to drink again, too. Speaking of language, i´ve found it amazing how people seem to get their point across even they don´t know the other language. But as great as it is here, I think if our country was to change and have both languages, it would be very hard for business. At least until people learned the languages, which I think will def. happen. I think i´ll be the last generation that doesn´t need to. I don´t think that´s necessarily a bad thing having both languages in the USA… Great article I found in the Miami newspaper, which we get here on some days…Off to the beef restaurant for dinner, leave tomorrow for the USA and then Bona´s! I love it here, but I´m ready to go back. Miss my girlfriend and home, and I´m sure I´ll miss my family here as soon as I leave…Here´s the link… http://www.miamiherald.com/486/story/995989.html

Today was a long, lazy, easy day. I’m about to go to the bar as the family is going to bed, quite a departure from the racuous night of last. Long story short, we all went out, Nick and Mike went to a kids bar while Dad, Mom and I went to the real bar until the night club oponed, at which time I engaged in a long but unsuccessful plot to get Mike past the 18-and-up bouncer dude.

Finished the night by watching the end of the Passion outside on a projector screen. Spent most of the day spread out on the bed or chair on the beach, reading. Took a nap and we went to a Mexican restaurant, which was interesting to say the least. You never know what you’re going to get in this country, but it’s usually good at the places we eat. By now Mom is even letting us drink the water. Haha.

Mom, Mike, Nick and I all got to take pictures holding parrots, which was a real thrill! Tomorrow is Easter, and we’ll have a photo shoot on the beach before Mass at noon. Also, we met some people from South Buffalo- small world. Well I’m going to go meet some people and watch the show at the bar. Relaxing can be hard work sometimes!

I’ve remembered just how truly hard this day is. Only God can know how my heart felt when we were sitting at lunch and I realized the magnitude of the hour being past 12. I had to go to the bathroom, I just couldn’t stand it. So many questions went through my mind. Why did Jesus have to die for me? Why??? Why couldn’t I be a better man, why couldn’t I be a better follower of him? Why did I have to sin, again, over and over again?

We said the stations of the cross later. It wasn’t that I felt guilty for being in a wonderful place like this at a time like this. It was just that I realized all the pain Jesus went through, and for me! To think I would ever do him wrong sounds preposterous at a time like this.

As I sat and listened to the Rosary on my Ipod, one thought struck me: The soldiers who casted lost on Jesus’ clothes after he was crucified. They casted lots so they could decide what to take. What to take. They were concerned, like we so often are, about taking, for our own happiness. But just like them, our taking won’t win us true happiness. It’s our giving that will. The kind of giving that Jesus gave, up on Golgotha, the place of the skull, up on the cross. Giving our lives to each other, to Jesus, to God, to helping rather than hurting, to giving rather than taking. Take, take, we take. If only we could just give a little bit more. I hope I can learn to give a little more to those around me, those I love, rather than take for what I think will be my own happiness.

I wonder what it would be like to talk to Jesus, face to face, especially on a day like this. I have a feeling of what I would say to him. I’d just thank him for giving his life, during his life, and also in death, for me. It’s almost crazy to think that Jesus Christ, the greatest guy in the whole world, would ever make so many enemies, would ever be crucified. But his true enemy was the world. The corrupt world that he lived in, and that we live in. You often hear people talk about the world we live in, like our society has devolved from some great, moral society. Sure, America is less moral as a whole than in 1950, but people are the same as they were in the year 33 A.D. Jesus lived in the same world as we do now: A world of humans and their faults, of greed, lust, but also kindness and care. He showed us how to go about living in this world. He showed us the promise that could be won from living justly in a world like this. He showed us that to be human, with our faults and many natures, isn’t perfect, but our Father’s love for us makes us perfect in some way. Jesus showed us that we can’t just survive in this world, we can thrive in it. We can make a difference in it. It can be done. We just have to let go of the world, and follow him. We just have to live in the world, not of it. I love Jesus and I hope everyone will take all the suffering of today and see it through the joy our risen Lord on Easter, the greatest day.

So after waking up at 3 a.m. yesterday and traveling for 12 hours, we finally got to the Dominican Republic last night. What a beautiful place this is. We’re staying in a resort called Dreams in Punta Cana, and the name is fitting to say the least. Got in around 430 after a very eye-opening 1-hour ride from the airport (which was like none I’ve ever seen, by the way. We got off the plane right on the tarmac and all the buildings were huts! Dad was pleased when he was forced to fork over $50 for the five of us upon arrival. The woman didn’t speak any English except for “Cash!” which she yelled at my Dad. Initiation fee, as another American put it.) The island is so undeveloped  except for the coastal areas.

We laid on a bed on the beach in the moonlight last night with a giant palm tree over us, and I was just awestruck at the beauty of the place. Woke up late today (I’m writing this from the computer in the lobby) and headed down the beach with Mom. She have the maid a necklace of the Blessed Mother, you know those ones that they send you in the mail all the time. She was thrilled. Today there is NOTHING on the schedule, which is a very pleasant change. Stations of the cross and some reflection on Good Friday, then some more relaxation. We’re in tropical paradise on the same day Jesus uttered the same words to his companion on the cross. Hope everything is great at home, and I’m thinking about you.

Driving home tonight from my friend’s house after the Fiesta Bowl, Darryl Worley’s “Have You Forgotten” came onto my Ipod. It was a song that had been all but forgotten, especially in these times. What seemed so pressing seven years ago, immediately after the horror and uncertainty of 9/11, has somewhat receded into the distance of many people’s memories. For some, work has taken place. For others like me, it’s school, bowl games, sports, writing, even girls. The day-to-day.

But I couldn’t forget what happened that day. sure, the political battlefields or lines or real battlefields were different now (I just saw a poll on a blog in which finding Bin Laden was the last of about nine priorities for the new president-elect Obama), but what mattered is still the same. As immersed as we are in what we’re doing, the raising of our kids, jobs, work, responsibilities, I hope we, as Americans, still remember what’s important.

I slowed my car from a quick 60 to a slow 45 mph. Then a crawling 35. Then decided to take an alternate route home so I could listen to Alan Jackson’s “Where Were You (When the world stopped turning)”. Made me remember what 9/11 really taught us. Yes, we need to defend ourselves and our country. Yes, freedom isn’t, and probably won’t ever, be free. Yes, the soldiers know what they’re fighting for, and despite what any media outlet might tell you, it’s the right thing. But more than that, it’s what makes freedom worth being free: our lives, our families, the ones we love. After those planes hit, that’s who those who were lucky enough clung to. Our loved ones. In tragedies like that, we see what really matters: our families. I hope we can all keep that in mind. And I hope our new President goes a long way not only in making friendships and building bridges with those who might someday be our allies, but also in defending freedom from those who say they never will. Because as poetic as things might have been on the campaign trail for president-elect Obama, they’ll be difficult in office. One of the main reasons I didn’t vote for the guy was because of my doubts about him as a moral leader. I sure hope he proves me wrong, and I’m behind him 100%

But this entry wasn’t supposed to be about politics. It’s about knowing what really matters. I’m so thankful for God and the wonderful family he’s blessed me with. I hope we all keep that in mind just how blessed we really are. I hope we all continue to pray for Israel and Palestine, too. Hopefully Jesus’ birthplace can oneday see peace.

I just got stuck online reading all the blogs on buffalonews.com. I really miss going to One Bills Drive for media day now. Once I start reading these blogs or sports articles, I just kind of get immersed in them. Hopefully this thing with the news works out, because I’d love to be writing and reading and working all day.

Today has to be a good day. The family’s back in school and Dad’s at work, and even though I got up fairly late (12:30), I have a lot to do today. Got to do a bunch of errands, laundry for Mom and get a workout plan together. Then possibly dinner @ Shannon’s if I can convince Dan to drive from his house.

I can’t wait to get back to Bona’s, though. Like I said the other day, I love being home, but I’d study all day if I could just be back. I need work to do. I need to be back. Wednesday is the Bonnies’ first A-10 game, which they should win over a bad Fordham team (we’ll finally see if they’ve learned how to close a team out) and I’ll be back Saturday for Duquesne, the second conference tilt. Not long till we’re back. Got to get working out hard core because we’ll be testing in a few weeks for spring rugby season. Go time.

Today was a great day! Interview at The Buffalo News went great. The newsroom was huge! I couldn’t believe it. I almost kind of didn’t want to leave. Hope it works out- I think it will.

Went and met with Dick Gallagher after, the guy who founded Western New York High School Sports. He is such a great guy. Met with him downtown at this place called Terrace House, a sheltoneer he founded for the chemically dependent to turn around their lives. I really want to help him with his magazine and it sounds like he wants me to write a few feature stories.

Dick’s such a great guy, he kept talking about God and how he was working for him. And he really is. He does so much for everyone, he puts probably 18 hours a day into staying fit, God, his work, and the high school sports, which is a job in its own. What a splendid guy. You can tell he realizes his own mortality now, but whatever happens to him, he knows he’s been doing God’s work. Guys like that are great. He’s got that twinkle in his eye. Special guy, he’s a blessing.

Got more internship stuff to do, setting up an interview with Niagara Gazette. Then write what probably will be my last Bills story. But you never know. The whole family went to Syracuse today so just hanging out here. Going to rake sticks and do some landscaping stuff early with Tony tomorrow. The next few days should be fun!