New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan was on 60 Minutes recently and the interview was great. I love this man! So engaging and personable yet adhering to the teachings of the Church with no apologies.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Balanced Life Weekly #42
Hello everybody and welcome to another edition of Balanced Life Weekly! Got several things to share this week of interest so let's get right into it!
Health
This last week was very challenging on the calorie and exercise front but in a fun way. Last week was Kristen's Spring Break so we headed down to Hattiesburg to celebrate her mom and sister's birthdays as they are one day after the other.
On Friday we went down to New Orleans for the day and had a fun time. I had never been to NOLA as they call it down there for short. Once there we were hungry! I decided to eat like a local and since it is Lent and a Friday, I had a Catfish PoBoy with a mini cup of Gumbo. I enjoyed it after which we walked the mall by the Mississippi River there. I have never seen so much hot sauce sold in so many stores! I love hot sauce and live for the challenges of spice...in-fact I embrace spicy food! Later we ate at a dessert style restaurant called Stanley next door to St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. All total I would say we walked a good 2 miles in downtown New Orleans despite my bad eating choices.
The next day, we went to Mass on Saturday evening and afterwards, attended the Irish-Italian Festival on the parish grounds. Being that Fr. Tommy gave us a Lenten exemption for the festival, I had a beer...not just any beer, it was after all an Irish festival so I had a Guinness and I also had an Italian Sausage dog.
Oh, did I mention earlier that day Kristen and I had lunch at Qdoba? Yeah, I had about 3200 calories that day and no exercise.
So I say all this for the reason that despite my weekend of festive foods, I still lost 1 pound! I thought I would gain or at the very least stay even, but I lost weight! What happen was is once we were back in town Sunday evening, I went to our fitness center and got my cardio in, the following day I did more cardio in the neighborhood and walked and ran a 5K. Earlier today I did yard work pulling shrubs and branches from the backyard to the front to be hauled away later in the week. I was sweating hard and with LoseIt! I calculated about 570 calories burned doing that.
So the point is I was able to get back on track with my fitness and eating healthy again. This is great because if I ever go somewhere, I know I can enjoy the local cuisine and yet get back on track quickly. Oh, as of now I have now lost 15 pounds!!
Wise
So with one trip down there is one to go and that is this weekend in Nashville for PodCamp Nashville. I am looking forward to learning new things, networking with other bloggers and podcasters, and of course seeing friends from other cities and states. Some I have seen before, others I have not. I am taking my iPhone, iPad, and digital camera with me so look for a lot of pictures, video, and some sound-seeing tours next week.
Well, that is going to do it for this week's Balanced Life Weekly. I managed to write this blog post entirely on my iPad using BlogPress. Quite handy considering I will be using this method to live blog from PodCamp Nashville. See you all next
Health
This last week was very challenging on the calorie and exercise front but in a fun way. Last week was Kristen's Spring Break so we headed down to Hattiesburg to celebrate her mom and sister's birthdays as they are one day after the other.
On Friday we went down to New Orleans for the day and had a fun time. I had never been to NOLA as they call it down there for short. Once there we were hungry! I decided to eat like a local and since it is Lent and a Friday, I had a Catfish PoBoy with a mini cup of Gumbo. I enjoyed it after which we walked the mall by the Mississippi River there. I have never seen so much hot sauce sold in so many stores! I love hot sauce and live for the challenges of spice...in-fact I embrace spicy food! Later we ate at a dessert style restaurant called Stanley next door to St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. All total I would say we walked a good 2 miles in downtown New Orleans despite my bad eating choices.
The next day, we went to Mass on Saturday evening and afterwards, attended the Irish-Italian Festival on the parish grounds. Being that Fr. Tommy gave us a Lenten exemption for the festival, I had a beer...not just any beer, it was after all an Irish festival so I had a Guinness and I also had an Italian Sausage dog.
Oh, did I mention earlier that day Kristen and I had lunch at Qdoba? Yeah, I had about 3200 calories that day and no exercise.
So I say all this for the reason that despite my weekend of festive foods, I still lost 1 pound! I thought I would gain or at the very least stay even, but I lost weight! What happen was is once we were back in town Sunday evening, I went to our fitness center and got my cardio in, the following day I did more cardio in the neighborhood and walked and ran a 5K. Earlier today I did yard work pulling shrubs and branches from the backyard to the front to be hauled away later in the week. I was sweating hard and with LoseIt! I calculated about 570 calories burned doing that.
So the point is I was able to get back on track with my fitness and eating healthy again. This is great because if I ever go somewhere, I know I can enjoy the local cuisine and yet get back on track quickly. Oh, as of now I have now lost 15 pounds!!
Wise
So with one trip down there is one to go and that is this weekend in Nashville for PodCamp Nashville. I am looking forward to learning new things, networking with other bloggers and podcasters, and of course seeing friends from other cities and states. Some I have seen before, others I have not. I am taking my iPhone, iPad, and digital camera with me so look for a lot of pictures, video, and some sound-seeing tours next week.
Well, that is going to do it for this week's Balanced Life Weekly. I managed to write this blog post entirely on my iPad using BlogPress. Quite handy considering I will be using this method to live blog from PodCamp Nashville. See you all next
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Bagpipes at Mass
We attended Mass at St. Thomas in Hattiesburg over the weekend and as part of the Irish-Italian Festival, they had bagpipers there and they played at the conclusion of Mass.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Balanced Life Weekly #41
Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of Balanced Life Weekly. Let’s get into what is going on this week!
Health
YAY! I’m down a total of 14 pounds now! This is despite my consumption at the Mexican buffet on Sunday. I did great on my calories last week until the weekend where we had a birthday dinner for my mom at Cracker Barrel on Saturday and then after church lunch at D’Casa where I enjoyed the buffet. I tend to bank my calories for the week for the weekend.
Later this month or early next I will be looking to get some serious running shoes for my 5K in June here in Tupelo. My friend Jeremy just got his as well and really likes them. We will both be running the 5K which will be my first run and his third.
Wealthy & Wise
Another promising bit of good news is I may have a firm lead on a job. It involves selling Apple products and it is in town not far from the house too. Other than that, I can’t say anything more at this point. Needless to say though the job is right up my alley!
Faith
We are now 1 week into Lent and so far I am doing good on what I set out to do. I haven’t watched any national news channels like Fox, CNN, CNBC, etc. and have avoided playing my FB games such as CityVille (with the exception of Sunday of course). It was really hard to not watch the news channels with the events in Japan last week, but I did my best to keep up with web based news sites and Twitter updates.
Well, that is going to do it for this week’s edition of Balanced Life Weekly. Be back next week for another update.
Health
YAY! I’m down a total of 14 pounds now! This is despite my consumption at the Mexican buffet on Sunday. I did great on my calories last week until the weekend where we had a birthday dinner for my mom at Cracker Barrel on Saturday and then after church lunch at D’Casa where I enjoyed the buffet. I tend to bank my calories for the week for the weekend.
Later this month or early next I will be looking to get some serious running shoes for my 5K in June here in Tupelo. My friend Jeremy just got his as well and really likes them. We will both be running the 5K which will be my first run and his third.
Wealthy & Wise
Another promising bit of good news is I may have a firm lead on a job. It involves selling Apple products and it is in town not far from the house too. Other than that, I can’t say anything more at this point. Needless to say though the job is right up my alley!
Faith
We are now 1 week into Lent and so far I am doing good on what I set out to do. I haven’t watched any national news channels like Fox, CNN, CNBC, etc. and have avoided playing my FB games such as CityVille (with the exception of Sunday of course). It was really hard to not watch the news channels with the events in Japan last week, but I did my best to keep up with web based news sites and Twitter updates.
Well, that is going to do it for this week’s edition of Balanced Life Weekly. Be back next week for another update.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Catholic Media Promotion Day
Today is March 15th which is Catholic Media Promotion Day. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness of the role Catholic New Media is playing in our more interconnected world thanks to Social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and so many more. Part of Catholic Media Promotion Day is to name 3 of your favorite Catholic blogs, 3 of your favorite Catholic podcasts, 3 other Catholic related media, 3 random Catholic things online and your own personal projects. So without further ado, ket me make my contribution.
My 3 Catholic Blogs
The Curt Jester
This is an outstanding blog written by a former atheist named Jeff Miller. Jeff manages to strike the right balance between Catechesis and humor. I enjoy reading his blogs daily and read his archives for when I need key information which is very handy for me since I am an RCIA sponsor. Check out The Curt Jester, I think you will love it as much as I do!
American Papist
Also a great blog is American Papistwritten by Thomas Peters. If you watch Life on the Rock on EWTN, then you have probably seen Thomas as a guest on the show. American Papist is chalk full of great thought and Catechesis.
Southern Fried Catholicism
Last but certainly not least is Southern Fried Catholicism. This blog is near and dear to my heart because it is literally right down the road from me in Oxford, MS. Maintained by the great folks at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church right at the gates of the University of Mississippi. Writers of Southern Fried Catholicism are Brad Noel and Fr. Joe Tonos who of course is the priest at the parish. They also hold a great weekly event called Good Cheer that takes place at locations around the famous Square in downtown Oxford.
My 3 Catholic Podcasts
First off let me say this is very hard for me cause I can only pick 3 and I listen to so many Catholic podcasts, so if I leave anyone out here, please don’t take it personal.
iPadre
I have been listening to iPadre for several years now and I am fortunate to call Fr. Jay a very good friend of mine. His weekly podcasts are straight forward and powerful. Fr. Jay has a deep faith and love for the Catholic Church and his podcast is full of great teaching.
Catholic in a Small Town
If you are looking for a fun and hilarious podcast about a Catholic family living their everyday life, than check out Mac and Katherine Barron’s Catholic in a Small Town podcast. They also usually have a movie review each episode of their weekly podcast. My wife and I have had the opportunity to meet Mac and Katherine and they are just as genuine in person as they are in their podcast.
Fr. Bill’s Podcast
My wife and I love listening to Fr. William Holtzinger’s weekly homilies which he turns into a podcast. If we lived in Oregon we would be a member of his parish. He is also a fellow Pac-10 fan so he is a great guy right off the bat there.
3 Other Catholic Media
EWTN
Of course one of my favorite TV channels is EWTN. Great teachings and entertaining content. When I wake up in the morning, I like to watch the morning Mass held on the grounds at the EWTN campus. They also have a daily Rosary on the show as well lead by Mother Anjelica and the Sisters. Life on the Rock is a great show tailored for the younger audiences and Raymond Arroyo hosts The World Over which covers Catholic news events over the last week.
The Catholic Channel
If there is a reason I love satellite radio, it is because of The Catholic Channel on SiriusXM. From The Catholics Next Door with Greg and Jennifer Willits to The Catholic Guy with Lino Rulli to The Busted Halo with Fr. Dave Dwyer, they are just full of entertaining and informative content 5 days a week. You can find The Catholic Channel on ch. 159 on Sirius and channel 117 on XM.
SQPN
Of course SQPN is the biggest Catholic Media hub for me. Headed up by Fr. Roderick Vonhögen, SQPN has formed a network of Catholic podcasts from people around the world. Topics range from faith to health to entertainment to technology. It is always fun stopping by SQPN Live and seeing what is going on that particular day and chatting with fellow fans of SQPN. I can truly say I have made some great friendships via SQPN!
3 Catholic Apps
This covers the random area, I thought I would discuss the use of technology in Catholicism via applications on mobile devices.
iMissal
I love this application! It costs about $5 but includes all the readings you would need. As the title implies, it is basically a digital missal right on your iPhone or iPad device, it is also available in the Android Market for the same $5 price.
Confession
There has been a lot of news surrounding this new application. What the app does is guide you to make a good confession which you still have to see a priest to make as it should be. It goes down a list of the 10 Commandments asking you questions pertaining to each commandment. Based on what you check off, it will create a list of sins that is also password protected so you can take your iPhone or iPad into the confessional with and make a good confession. The application is $2 and very useful and informative.
Divine Office
One of my favorite apps in the Divine Office application for the iPhone and iPad at $15. This app contains all the Liturgy of the Hours prayers and so much more.
My Project
Finally there is my own personal media project. I write 3 weekly tech blogs at TupeloGeek called Tuesday Tech Talk, AppleTalk Thursday, and Googling Friday. I also write a personal blog called Balanced Life Weekly about my pursuit of better health, wisdom, and wealth. Recently I launched a blog called The Walking Catholic which is more focused on faith and health issues, it may also one day launch me back into the world of podcasting. I hope you will take the time to visit my blogs and leave a comment. Well, I hope you have enjoyed my insight on Catholic New Media and what I enjoy listening to and watching and interacting with. God Bless!!
My 3 Catholic Blogs
The Curt Jester
This is an outstanding blog written by a former atheist named Jeff Miller. Jeff manages to strike the right balance between Catechesis and humor. I enjoy reading his blogs daily and read his archives for when I need key information which is very handy for me since I am an RCIA sponsor. Check out The Curt Jester, I think you will love it as much as I do!
American Papist
Also a great blog is American Papistwritten by Thomas Peters. If you watch Life on the Rock on EWTN, then you have probably seen Thomas as a guest on the show. American Papist is chalk full of great thought and Catechesis.
Southern Fried Catholicism
Last but certainly not least is Southern Fried Catholicism. This blog is near and dear to my heart because it is literally right down the road from me in Oxford, MS. Maintained by the great folks at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church right at the gates of the University of Mississippi. Writers of Southern Fried Catholicism are Brad Noel and Fr. Joe Tonos who of course is the priest at the parish. They also hold a great weekly event called Good Cheer that takes place at locations around the famous Square in downtown Oxford.
My 3 Catholic Podcasts
First off let me say this is very hard for me cause I can only pick 3 and I listen to so many Catholic podcasts, so if I leave anyone out here, please don’t take it personal.
iPadre
I have been listening to iPadre for several years now and I am fortunate to call Fr. Jay a very good friend of mine. His weekly podcasts are straight forward and powerful. Fr. Jay has a deep faith and love for the Catholic Church and his podcast is full of great teaching.
Catholic in a Small Town
If you are looking for a fun and hilarious podcast about a Catholic family living their everyday life, than check out Mac and Katherine Barron’s Catholic in a Small Town podcast. They also usually have a movie review each episode of their weekly podcast. My wife and I have had the opportunity to meet Mac and Katherine and they are just as genuine in person as they are in their podcast.
Fr. Bill’s Podcast
My wife and I love listening to Fr. William Holtzinger’s weekly homilies which he turns into a podcast. If we lived in Oregon we would be a member of his parish. He is also a fellow Pac-10 fan so he is a great guy right off the bat there.
3 Other Catholic Media
EWTN
Of course one of my favorite TV channels is EWTN. Great teachings and entertaining content. When I wake up in the morning, I like to watch the morning Mass held on the grounds at the EWTN campus. They also have a daily Rosary on the show as well lead by Mother Anjelica and the Sisters. Life on the Rock is a great show tailored for the younger audiences and Raymond Arroyo hosts The World Over which covers Catholic news events over the last week.
The Catholic Channel
If there is a reason I love satellite radio, it is because of The Catholic Channel on SiriusXM. From The Catholics Next Door with Greg and Jennifer Willits to The Catholic Guy with Lino Rulli to The Busted Halo with Fr. Dave Dwyer, they are just full of entertaining and informative content 5 days a week. You can find The Catholic Channel on ch. 159 on Sirius and channel 117 on XM.
SQPN
Of course SQPN is the biggest Catholic Media hub for me. Headed up by Fr. Roderick Vonhögen, SQPN has formed a network of Catholic podcasts from people around the world. Topics range from faith to health to entertainment to technology. It is always fun stopping by SQPN Live and seeing what is going on that particular day and chatting with fellow fans of SQPN. I can truly say I have made some great friendships via SQPN!
3 Catholic Apps
This covers the random area, I thought I would discuss the use of technology in Catholicism via applications on mobile devices.
iMissal
I love this application! It costs about $5 but includes all the readings you would need. As the title implies, it is basically a digital missal right on your iPhone or iPad device, it is also available in the Android Market for the same $5 price.
Confession
There has been a lot of news surrounding this new application. What the app does is guide you to make a good confession which you still have to see a priest to make as it should be. It goes down a list of the 10 Commandments asking you questions pertaining to each commandment. Based on what you check off, it will create a list of sins that is also password protected so you can take your iPhone or iPad into the confessional with and make a good confession. The application is $2 and very useful and informative.
Divine Office
One of my favorite apps in the Divine Office application for the iPhone and iPad at $15. This app contains all the Liturgy of the Hours prayers and so much more.
My Project
Finally there is my own personal media project. I write 3 weekly tech blogs at TupeloGeek called Tuesday Tech Talk, AppleTalk Thursday, and Googling Friday. I also write a personal blog called Balanced Life Weekly about my pursuit of better health, wisdom, and wealth. Recently I launched a blog called The Walking Catholic which is more focused on faith and health issues, it may also one day launch me back into the world of podcasting. I hope you will take the time to visit my blogs and leave a comment. Well, I hope you have enjoyed my insight on Catholic New Media and what I enjoy listening to and watching and interacting with. God Bless!!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Photo Update
Ok so over the weekend I was in the SQPN chat room and I mentioned this blog and Fr. Roderick checked it out but was wondering where my pictures were. Well I have decided to post a couple here, the first one was taken about a month ago which at that point I was down about 5 pounds, the second one is today where I am now down 13.5 pounds. Doesn't look like much yet but the more I update this blog with monthly photos, you should see the difference.
Profile Shots
February 13th
March 14th
Front Shots
February 13th
March 14th
Profile Shots
February 13th
March 14th
Front Shots
February 13th
March 14th
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