Washington

...is beautiful. I miss the ocean. This particular beach, on Kamano Island, isn't particularly sandy, but the day was perfect; there was little humidity, a good strong breeze, and a steady tide. And loads of excellent skipping stones lying about. The sand was loose enough that your foot would plunge a good 4 inches every time you took a step.

You can't really see it in the picture, but you could see the snowcapped head of Mt. Rainier off in the distance, almost in the exact middle of the photo, which I think was the only place in the entire camp that you could peek at the mountains. It scares me just a little bit that Mt. Rainier is an active volcano, because I'm pretty sure that I'm not ready to tangle with something like that and win. Anyway, I won't be moving there any time soon, so it looks like the only natural disaster I need to worry about is static electric shocks during Chicago winters.

We set up tea lights along the edge of the L-shaped dock, and trooped the kids out there one night for Adoration. Then we had Fr. Robert rowed out from the side, and calling out to the kids, just like Christ called out to the apostles, as we were sitting out in the perfect stillness of the water. It also invoked the imagery of the liturgy for that day, when Jesus calms the waters of the storm. It was a very cool moment, sitting there with Jesus in the Eucharist right on the dock, in a prayerful moment of solidarity with nature and each other. Just slightly cooler than sitting on the dock and radioing in that "the kids were in position." The cloak and dagger of youth ministry, of creating context. Teaching literature could be a heck of a lot easier with a dock and a lake close by.

Two years ago at this retreat, Fr. Pat gave a talk using the imagery of Moses taking his shoes off at the burning bush, because of the sanctity of holy ground, and also as a sign of reverence. Little did Fr. Pat know that he was establishing a camp tradition where the kids always take their shoes off before entering the chapel, even to this day. Visitors show up with puzzled looks. Some of our staff have found shoes or flipflops outside of the sanctuaries of various local parishes, and inevitably, one of our kids is in there, praying. I'd like to think that it says a lot about these kids, the level of their reflection, and their receptivity to the faith.

One down, two to go. Next retreat in less than two weeks, which should be just enough time to get back on a regular sleep schedule. Honestly, I can't wait.

heading west

Off to Seattle. See ya on the 27th.

cup de mundial

National Geographic, of all places, had a little write-up on the World Cup, excerpted here:

"...What is soccer if not everything that religion should be? Universal yet particular, the source of an infinitely renewable supply of hope, occasionally miraculous, and governed by simple, uncontradictory rules ('laws,' officially) that everyone can follow. Soccer's laws are laws of equality and nonviolence and restraint, and free to be reinterpreted at the discretion of a reasonable arbiter. What the ref says goes, no matter how flagrantly in violation of dogma his decisions may be. My official rule book, after presenting a detailed enumeration of soccer's 17 laws, concludes that the ref can throw out any of them in order to apply what it rather mystically calls 'the spirit of fair play.'" -- Sean Wilsey

What makes this the best international sporting event (no one watches the Olympics anymore since American television has reduced it to skating and gymnastics) is that every single game means something to pretty much an entire country of people. I caught the end of Saudi Arabia vs. Tunisia (widely panned as the dog match of the first round), and it was absolute pandemonium as goals were scored on each side in the final 8 minutes to come to a disproportionately boring-looking 2-2 draw. There were rumors flying around about the Saudi players being promised a lucrative ($12 mill) bonus if they make it to the second round. Saudi journalists were showered with threats and had to be escorted from the pressbox when Tunisian fans took exception to their loud and partisan encouragement.

Before Tunisia's tie, when Togo scored the first goal in their match against South Korea, that was the first time an African nation had led in the tournament. When Korea eventually won that match (Ahn with the winner, what!), it was the first time Korea had won on European soil. Every goal, every match is potentially the greatest sporting achievement in that particular nation's history, which is saying something, and that makes it compelling to watch.

During the 2002 World Cup, my buddy D was surprised to discover that I was rooting for the Korean squad rather than the US. "You're American, tho," he reasoned. This is true, but I was born in Korea. Also, if Team USA did well, no one would care here. It'd get swallowed up in the baseball coverage over the summer and NFL camps opening. If Korea won a match, just a single match, it's be history; their semifinal finish made everyone on that team a folk hero, with coach Guus Hiddink given honorary citizenship. And it'd be the same in every smaller-but-equally-soccer-crazed nation in the Cup: the Ivory Coast, Ukraine, Serbia-Montenegro, the Saudis, etc. Nothing better for a sports addict.

weight watchers

I referenced the All-Fat team on a previous post, so I figured I should reveal the rest of the team. It's one team out of many from baseball conversations with my bro, which have also birthed the All-Hefty White Man Team, the All-Time Afros Team, and All-Time Players We Hate Team.

The parameters were simple: had to be on a major league roster this year, had to be "fat," not just "big." So, no Lance Berkman or Jim Thome on here. (An All-BigBoned Team would straight up kill folks.) Also, I tried picking halfway decent players; it's no fun if you're fat AND you're no good.

Here's the lineup:
1. Ronnie Belliard, 2b, Cle - Height: 5-8 Weight: 197
.276, 4 HRs, 29 RBI, quite the Sox-killer, and following in the footsteps of fellow Cleveland 2b Carlos Baerga on the All-Fat Team.

2. Kevin Mench, OF, Tex - Height: 6-0 Weight: 225
.291, 11 HRs, 35 RBI, and the biggest head in the majors (8.5 hat size). God bless ya, Kevin.

3. Miguel Tejada, SS, Bal - Height: 5-9 Weight: 213
.332 15 HRs, 49 RBI. Middle infielders are difficult to pick cuz they're all little guys. Miggy's not even fat, I just put him on here because I can't believe he's 213 lbs. He must be incredibly dense, like gold or uranium.

4. Miguel Cabrera, 3b, Fla - Height: 6-2 Weight: 246
.339, 9 HRs, 43 RBI. Media guide lists him as 210, but he says he's closer to 246, was 260 at the beginning of the season.

5. Adam Dunn, OF, Cin - Height: 6-6 Weight: 275
.229, 19 HRs, 36 RBI, .557 SLG and built like a tight end. A tight end that never works out.

6. Prince Fielder, Mil - Height: 6-0 Weight: 260
His daddy was a long time member. 854 OPS, *4 stolen bases* (!?)

7. Matt Stairs, OF, KC - Height: 5-9 Weight: 215
.255, 5 HRs, 21 RBI. If a fire hydrant became a man, it would look like this.

8. Bengie Molina, C, Tor - Height: 5-11 Weight: 225
.292, 5 HRs, 16 RBIs. Catchers are hard to pick because they're ALL pudgy. I want to see this guy and Paul Konerko in a footrace.

The pitching staff... is quite formidable
Starters
Carlos Zambrano, ChiC Height: 6-5 Weight: 255
5-3, 2.93 ERA, 97 Ks in 92 IP. And a face only a mother can love.

C.C. Sabathia, Cle Height: 6-7 Weight: 290
5-2, 2.62 ERA, 1.11 WHiP. Once all that beef gets moving, he can throw at 100 MPH.

Livan Hernandez, Was Height: 6-2 Weight: 245
5-6, 5.06 ERA. Having a bad year this year, but has traditionally been an excellent rubber-armed innings-eater. Just an excellent eater in general, apparently. I didn't *think* they had KFC Buffets in Livan's native Cuba, but...

Sidney Ponson, StL Height: 6-1 Weight: 250
4-1, 3.54 ERA. A bounceback year for the Prince of Aruba in StLoo.

Bartolo Colon Height: 5-11 Weight: 250
Currently on the DL, but the 2005 Cy Young winner. Or, as I like to call him, Andre the Giant.

The bullpen gets even richer and thicker.
Bobby Jenks, ChiW Height: 6-3 Weight: 280
2-1, 2.93 ERA, 18 saves, 33 K in 27.2 IP. Immortalized as the poster boy for the All-Fatty Team when his manager called for "da Beeg Boy" in the World Series.

Bob Wickman, Cle Height: 6-1 Weight: 240
1-1, 2.95 ERA, 9 saves.
Proving once and for all that baseball players are not necessarily athletes.

That's a pretty good team, definitely a division winner and a playoff contender. Balls hit to the outfield would be quite an adventure, as would be getting to routine grounders, but good power and excellent pitching.

hurray for summer weekends

"It is always the case that the greater the joy, the greater is the pain which precedes it. Why should this be, O Lord my God, when you are your own eternal joy, you are Joy itself and you are always surrounded by creatures which rejoice in you? Why is it that in this part of your creation which we know there is this ebb and flow of progress and retreat, of hurt and reconciliation? Is this the rhythm of our world? Is this what you prescribed when from the heights of heaven to the depths of the earth, from the first beginnings to the end of time, from the angel to the worm, from the first movement to the last, you allotted a proper place and a proper time to good things of every kind and to all your just works? How can I hope to understand the height and depth of you, from the greatest to the most lowly of your works? You never depart from us, yet it is hard for us to return to you."

--St. Augustine, Confessions

Also, they are making 24: The Movie. Tingk. TINGK. Tingk. TINGK.

Going to the game tonight. Hope to see a victory, even a flawed one, which seems to be a Sox trademark this season. At least I get to hang out with my dad.

credo

"I felt a deep moral obligation to my students; that is why I spent so many hours in preparation for each class. In an age of social justice one phase that seems neglected is the moral duty of the professors to give their students a just return for their tuition. This applies not only to the method of teaching but to the content as well. A teacher who himself does not learn is no teacher. Teaching is one of the noblest vocations on earth, for, in the last analysis, the purpose of all education is the knowledge and love of truth."

--Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Thank goodness for great weather during the Printer's Row Book Fair, which led to great purchases, like the pearls of The Quotable Fulton Sheen (which yielded the above), some Graham Greene, my own Moby Dick (apparently, I might be the only person who likes it), and some kids' stuff for the goddaughter, all for $25.

streaming

Nice writeup about Mexican wrestling by the NYT, backgrounding Nacho Libre, which will soon rest by Anchorman and Zoolander in my DVD collection. No, this is not what Ed is doing while "studying to be a priest in Rome."

---

My dad is one of the nicest people I know. Correction. My dad *IS* the nicest person I know, and not the kind of nice that's annoying and grating, but the kind that really makes you feel great for having talked to him. It's really genuine and heartfelt. And it occurred to me that he does and says these little things that make people feel great.

For example, he was emailing with the mother of our two boarders that stay with us on the weekends during the school year. She and her husband are very grateful to our family for taking care of their kids while they are in Korea, and my parents are good about keeping them up to date about what's going on at school, etc. Apparently, in the course of email correspondence, my dad signed off by using the Korean word for "sister-in-law" to refer to the boys' mother, and that moved her to tears. In a phone call to my mom, she explained that it touched her that my parents would view them as truly a part of family, especially since they are already brimming over with gratitude at how my parents lovingly treat their sons. Anyway. I never give my dad enough credit for doing things like that, making people feel welcome and comfortable and loved.

---

My baseball team sucks. Too many mental errors, which is showing up in defensive lapses and lack of execution on offense. We're playing like the 2004 White Sox, with lots of homers, ok pitching, and shoddy D (Jose Valentin, may you die the death of a 1000 groundballs hitting you in the chest).

1. Brandon McCarthy is being ruined in the bullpen. Can't really blame this on anybody when you can't crack the best starting rotation in the majors, but he's not handling the irregular workload as a reliever very well. There really isn't anything to do except wait for him to get better. It mainly means that his changeup has lost effectiveness, which just happened to be the cookie he threw to Ronnie Belliard (4-time All-Fat Team selection) last night.
2. Rob Mackowiak is a crappy centerfielder. I've seen more line drives get into the gaps this past week since he took over for BA then ever. I think it's best to shore up the defense to support the not-so-Cy-Young pitching, get back to playing the run prevention game that this team was supposed to be built on. I understand that Anderson's robust .164 is ugly, but the defense has been airtight. I don't get where the "I don't care what he hits, long as he catches everything" mentality of a few weeks ago disappeared to. If he's not getting sent to the minors, then he needs to play close to everyday, for his own development and for the sake of a suddenly flyball-happy staff.
3. On the other hand, Juan Uribe needs to sit his ass down. Anderson at least has the excuse of being a rookie, but an established veteran hitting .208? He's got the worst approach at the plate I've ever seen, right now, like a colorblind, attention-defecit turnstile. And his defense has been showing some cracks, too, particularly the boned grounder during the Cubs series. I'm all for Alex Cintron getting some more ABs.
4. What's happened to execution? Bunting guys over, advancing runners, sacrifice flies? Everyone is seriously homer happy. Once you get past Dye in the 5 spot, pitchers get to cruise for 4 outs.

And, the Sox still have the second best record in the AL, just 2.5 back of the D's, so no one feels particularly sorry.

By the way, the Royals are becoming the Jake Plummers of fantasy sports. To wit: I used to pick up the defense that Jake Plummer was playing that week because I knew it was a guaranteed 2 INTs, a few fumbles, and a chance for a defensive score. Now, when my fantasy baseball team needs some pitching help, I just check the schedule to see who the Royals are facing.

---

June already. And still no work. Should be an interesting three months until September. I could be in another state (WA), another country (KOR), completely penniless (loans), cut off from everyone, or working outside of teaching (youth ministry). I really honestly thought that this sort of up for grabs spontaneity ended by the time you're 30. If uncertainty builds character, then I've got enough to squeeze out 5 lb blocks of it every morning.

But strangely enough, I'm still pretty happy.

---

"We cannot peer into God’s mysterious plan – we see only piecemeal, and we would be wrong to set ourselves up as judges of God and history. Then we would not be defending man, but only contributing to his downfall. No – when all is said and done, we must continue to cry out humbly yet insistently to God: Rouse yourself! Do not forget mankind, your creature! And our cry to God must also be a cry that pierces our very heart, a cry that awakens within us God’s hidden presence – so that his power, the power he has planted in our hearts, will not be buried or choked within us by the mire of selfishness, pusillanimity, indifference or opportunism.

Let us cry out to God, with all our hearts, at the present hour, when new misfortunes befall us, when all the forces of darkness seem to issue anew from human hearts: whether it is the abuse of God’s name as a means of justifying senseless violence against innocent persons, or the cynicism which refuses to acknowledge God and ridicules faith in him.

...The God in whom we believe is a God of reason - a reason, to be sure, which is not a kind of cold mathematics of the universe, but is one with love and with goodness. We make our prayer to God and we appeal to humanity, that this reason, the logic of love and the recognition of the power of reconciliation and peace, may prevail over the threats arising from irrationalism or from a spurious and godless reason."

Pope Benedict XVI, 5/25/06 at Auschwitz