Home again in NJ

Well, I just got back from Steubenville last night. As you could tell from my last post, my father was able to come with me to University Day. But anyway, I was originally supposed to head back home on Saturday, but decided to stay another day. So on Saturday and Sunday, I went to mass in Christ the King chapel (I have to make sure I don't get used to parking in the staff parking lots). I really liked the music at the masses. But I wish the Tabernacle wasn't hidden off to the side of the chapel. I happen to prefer to be able to see the Tabernacle. That's just my two cents.
Oh, I forgot to mention the other day that I saw the room I was considering renting. It's on Williams Place, not too far from Oregon Ave and Brady Ave. It's a really nice neighborhood. The landlady is really nice, as is her dog. I saw the room, and it's a good size. The bathroom is across the hall from the room. Plus the house is about a mile from campus. So I told her that I would take the room. She's supposed to contact me in a couple of weeks concerning the room.
So the other day I mentioned that I was advised to take Intro to Catechetics. The only section that fit in my schedule meets Tuesday and Thursday at 8am. Good thing I won't live too far from campus. But anyway, that gives me a total of 15 credits for the semester. That's a bit of a full load for me. But they're mostly theology and catechetics classes anyway. So it shouldn't be that bad. Plus I'm hoping to (hopefully) spend fall 2010 in Austria. I've always wanted to go overseas. Plus they go to Rome and Assisi. So I would love to go. I'd probably be the oldest Franciscan student in Gaming. But I feel that fall 2010 would be the perfect time to go, since it wouldn't be too cold in Austria while I'm there. Plus I wouldn't graduate until 2012 anyway. So fall 2010 would be the best time for me. My dad once went to Rome when he was in the Navy back in the mid 1960's. He was hoping to see the pope (then was John XXIII), but he was out of town. But he really liked Rome. So I'm looking forward to that. I'm also looking forward to seeing Assisi, since St. Francis is one of my favorite saints. So we'll see what happens.
So we left for home shortly after going to church. My dad decided to take the cheap way home...via I-80. Bad mistake. We hit construction at least four times while driving through Pennsylvania on I-80. When we had taken the Pennsylvania Turnpike on the way to Ohio, there was no construction at all. I'll tell you one thing...when I move to Steubenville for the fall semester, I'm taking the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It may cost more, but at least I won't have to worry about construction. Plus now I know how to pump gas (I pumped gas for the first time yesterday). So I'm good to go. Although the gas cap on my Ford Taurus is a pain to take on and off. And I've learned that you can't just tell the gas station cashier that you're going to fill up the tank. You have to give a certain amount, like $20 or $30. That means you have to know how much gas you really need. It's really easy to take that for granted when you live in NJ, and don't have to pump your own gas. I just hope I don't forget how to pump gas before August.

University Day

So here I am in Steubenville for university day. It's been a very busy day. The day started with mass at Christ the King chapel. Fr Scanlan said the mass...his enthusiasm is contagious. I loved the music in the mass. And everyone sang so loudly. It was great.

After mass, we had a quick breakfast in JC Willliams Center. Afterwards, we went back to the chapel. There we were greeted by the Franciscan faculty. Then we went to the various session for career planning, financial aid, and other logistics that need to be taken care of. During these sessions, I got my ID picture taken, meal plan taken care of (I got the Commuter Plus plan), parking permit taken care of, and even discussed with the theology department concerning academics. I will be a double major in Catechetics and Theology, with a Franciscan Studies minor. Plus I will spend fall 2010 in Austria. So I was advised to add Intro to Catachetics to my schedule, plus to take a class in the summer of 2010 (the name escapes me at the moment). So I should graduate in 3 years, which was my plan to begin with. I will be busy, that's for sure. But I'm happy. I just pray I can pay for this all. You know something, Rutgers was never this involved with my academics as Franciscan is. I don't feel like I'm just a number at Franciscan. That's how it was at Rutgers...there were so many people there that there was no way the faculty could remember who you were. I'm almost tempted to demand my money back from Rutgers, since they did me no good at all. All I can say is thank God that Franciscan has given me a chance to make a new start.

So in between the sessions, we had lunch. The lunch was meatless in respect to human life. I don't usually have meat on Fridays anyway. So the menu included pasta salad, tossed salad, personal pizza, and fish sandwiches. I had the fish, and it was delicious. My father enjoyed the food too. He walked all over the campus, up the hills and down the hills. We even went over to the Portacuna chapel and tomb of the unborn child. Some of those children would have been born in the late 1980s...they'd be in college by now. We really need to pray to end abortion.

Changing the subject, here are some photos from the day.

Housing update

Remember when I mentioned about the housing the other day? Well, I may not get that listing. Right now it's between the landlord's good friend and myself. And the good friend is the front runner for the room. So I've had to look at other options, since I probably will not get this room. I found one room for rent on the FUS off campus housing site, places4students.com. It's $300 a month, and it includes utilities. And the house is less than a mile from the campus, and in a nice neighborhood. So I told this landlady that I would stop by to see the room while I'm in Steubenville next week for University day. I am hoping that I secure housing pretty soon so I won't have the spend the upcoming school year in my car.

Oh, by the way, I found instructions online for pumping gas. It was at this website www.wikihow.com/Pump-Gas

Now if I lived in any other state besides NJ or Oregon, this 

wouldn't be an issue. Next week I get to pump gas for the first 

time. Pray that I don't mess up! :-)

God bless!

My father now knows that I am going to Franciscan

My mother told my father a couple of weeks ago that I am going to Franciscan University. I've been putting off telling him because I was afraid he would get mad at me for going back to school again at the age of 34. But, he didn't get mad...though I sometimes get the feeling he would rather me get a job than to go to school. So now everyone knows that I'm going to Franciscan University in the Fall. I just pray I'll be able to pay for it, God willing.

University day is next Friday. And as of this moment, it is just me going. Why, you may ask? Because of the fact that University day starts with mass at 8am, I would have to leave home on the 11th. My father's long weekend doesn't start until the afternoon of the 11th, and I would have had to have left by then. So my father can't come. And I don't think my mother will be able to go either. So I will have to make the trek by myself. It shouldn't be that bad, though I will have to learn how to pump my own gas (people in NJ aren't allowed to pump their own gas). I know that regular gas is 87 octane, and that most gas stations want you to pay before you pump the gas. Maybe, since I live across the river from Staten Island, I should take a trip over there to practice pumping my own gas. But then again, I'd have to pay to drive across the Outer Bridge to get to Staten Island. Plus gas in NY is more expensive than in NJ. Oh well, it was just a thought.

As for housing, there is one listing that looks promising. I've been in contact with the landlord, and right now it looks good. The house is in a nice area of Steubenville, and it's really close to campus. So I'm hoping this will be the one for the year. Plus it's a nine month lease. So I would move in right before orientation, and then move out when the school year is out. Plus it's furnished. So I really hope I get it. Just keep praying for me. And I thank you all for your prayers. 

:-)

God Bless!