LA Congress Update 1

Emailing this from Orin's phone - let's see how this works...

Oddwalk had a very successful day 1 - youth day. We played for about 500 people totalm had a great time, and got out a good message (we think) about vocations. We got our exhibit hall booth mostly set up, rehearsed for the opening prayer today, and had a visit with Orin's friends Jade and Scott, heading to the ESPNzone in Downtown Disney. Today is the opening prayer, lots of time at the booth, and a rehearsal for a Peace Prayer sponsored by GIA.

More news, pics, and video later!

Big, Big Day!

So, not only does Oddwalk fly out to LA today to attend and perform and exhibit at the LA Religious Education Congress for the first time (and hopefully make a big impression on the west coast), but it's also the first preseason game for the Cardinals today (so what if it's against St. Louis University?)!

Oh, and it's snowing, at least right now, in St. Louis.  (It's pretty fierce.  Anyone?  Anyone?)

We'll be sure to keep you updated on the latest LA Congress news, and hopefully have some pictures and video to show you later too!  Please pray for safe travels and a successful trip - this is a potentially big occasion for Oddwalk!

pOddcast - Mercy at Work

New on the pOddcast - A song written by Orin to (hopefully) become the theme song for the Jeff City Christpower, Summer '08.  Lead vocals by Oddwalk friend and Jeff City youth minister Kate Martin, recorded once again by Mike Kivett.  Find it in the Gcast player in the sidebar, on iTunes, or on the main site. Enjoy!

(In fairness to Mike, all but the vocals were done in Garageband.  Whee!)

Keep Practicing, Son!

Once again, more proof that Noah Cerneka is a Keytar Superstar in training (Erin Hammond and her mom Pam help with conditioning while friend Elise Ainsworth-Bryson looks on):

(Taken at the Oddwalk Christmas/CD release Concert, January 2008)

Ladies and Gentlemen, Neil Diamond!

Many moons ago, we reported here that Oddwalk and Neil Diamond were friends on MySpace.  We still are in fact.  Why?  Because of Shannon's awesome impression of him, of course.  To see just a glimpse of it, watch this video of Oddwalk performing at Immaculate Conception School in Columbia, IL on January 31 during Catholic Schools Week this year.  We're not sure who the videographer is yet though - we found the video while odd-ego-surfing on an ICS media-sharing website.  Enjoy!  (And bonus points if you name the song shannon quotes from.)

It'll grow back

Two of Orin and Erin's friends, Meghan and Danielle teach at Incarnate Word Academy in St. Louis.  Recently a student there was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  Watch this video and/or read this article to find out what the students and teachers - especially Danielle (that's her in the video preview below) - did about it.   As Meghan reported to us, it really is "something inspiring and hopeful."

pOddcast: One Family

New on the pOddcast: a new song, "One Family" by Shannon.  Written for use at TEC functions, with lead vocals by his wife Erin, recorded by Oddwalk supporter Mike Kivett.

Find it in the Gcast player in the sidebar, on iTunes, or on the main site.  Enjoy!

You shouldn't use a microphone as a ________ either.

This was called to our attention by Orin's former boss at the Shrine, Fr. Raul.

If you missed it, the Cardinal tried to use the wireless microphone for the sprinkling rite!  We must say, not a good use of technology in liturgy.

Now - create your own punch-line to the headline above.  Fill in the blank, keep it clean, and post in the comments.  Have fun!

Debbie Downer?

This morning, I took my daughter, Madeleine, to preschool. This being Valentine's Day, Madeleine was decked out in a pink shirt with hearts on it and a little funny looking headband (also with hearts on it) that she got from Grandma C. The combination of the holiday and the clothes was almost too much for Madeleine to take. As soon as we walked in the door of the preschool, Madeleine told everyone she could find...HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

One of these greetings took a little bit of a turn at the end. Here is how she greeted her friend Shelby:

Madeleine: Happy Valentine's Day, Shelby!

Shelby: (Blank Stare)

Madeleine: And Jesus Died.

-Shannon

Happy St. Valentines Day

Or, for those who don't care for it to be so happy, indexed has this today:

Repenting Made Easy: iGod

With gracious thanks to muddys.net:

iGod.

Trivia Night Reminder

Oddwalk will be the emcees for a trivia night supporting Belleville Young Adult and Campus Ministries!


When: Saturday, February 16, 2008
Doors open at 6PM, trivia starts at 7PM

Where: Corpus Christi Church, 206 Rasp St., Shiloh IL

Cost: $80 per Table of no more than 8

Cash prizes to the top teams.

Prizes for the best variation/decorations on the theme:
Valentine's Day!

Also 50/50 drawings, raffles, and mulligans!!!

Food can be brought in,
drinks will be available for purchase.

There is one special category as a result of Oddwalk's presence!
There are still tables available!
If you can't get enough people together for a table - they can put you on the house team!

For more info, click here!

Surely no worse than us Americans though

LONDON (AFP) - Britons are losing their grip on reality, according to a poll out Monday which showed that nearly a quarter think Winston Churchill was a myth while the majority reckon Sherlock Holmes was real.

OddPoll - Lenten Practices

We've added a new poll for the next week or so, in the sidebar, just below our pictures:

What Lenten Practice Will You Participate In This Year?

- Giving Something Up
- Reading More Scripture
- Praying More
- Something Else

You may select more than one item.

Turn Away From Sin...

...and be faithful to the Gospel.

Or, put another way, give up what separates you from God, and put your trust in your Christian community, Jesus' cross, and his new creation.

As we all hopefully are aware, the penitential season of Lent begins today, Ash Wednesday, this year February 6, almost as early as it can be.

We've experienced some schizophrenic weather lately, one day winter, the next spring, the next we've returned to winter.  The season of Lent is closely connected with the transition from Winter to Spring, the name itself coming from an Anglo-Saxon word lecten meaning springtime. Lent is also a period of preparation for Baptism (and other initiation sacraments) in the Catholic Church, celebrated at the Easter Vigil liturgy. It has a length of 40 days, modeling Jesus' fast in the desert as well as other prominent old testament 40's (Moses, Elijah, and others).

We'd like to take a moment to offer a few suggestions on ways to celebrate (yes, celebrate, albeit in a somber way) Lent as a time of transition and preparation in our own lives.

Prayer, almsgiving, and fasting and abstinence from meat (on Fridays) have long been traditions in the Church. Self-denial promotes self-discipline in one's faith. It also allows one to give to the poor and hungry what one has denied to self. Perhaps take some time during Lent, especially on days of abstinence to make donations to food pantries or homeless shelters.

Many of us come from a tradition too of "giving up" something for lent, another form of self denial, be it chocolates, TV, soda, or the like. Perhaps consider giving up something a little less tangible, and something that doing away with will improve your life: give away your angers, your judgmental attitudes, or your fears and anxieties. Perhaps even give away some of your security, as any sort of growth is difficult in a place of comfort.

One last, important, suggestion: take some time to explore what your church or (secular) community has to offer over the next six weeks. Being a part of one's community, however it is defined, is vital to an understanding of faith and our place in God's creation.

Welcome Lent this year with an attitude of progress and change, and the season will become for you that very time of growth. Let this be our common prayer for one another this coming season.

In Christ,
Shannon and Orin


PS - some of the info in this post came from a book titled "Catholic
Customs and Traditions" by Greg Dues, published by Twenty-Third
Publications, (c) 1992

[originally posted here, March 1, 2006, and slightly adapted for 2007 & 2008]

Super Duper Amazing Tsunami Whammo Stupendous Toally Rad Get Out And Vote Or You're Not Cool Tuesday Type Day

So, if you're in one of the Super Tuesday primary/caucus states (like Missouri and Illinois) and are 18 and registered to vote and all that stuff, get out and vote!  Today!  Right now!  Go!

Seriously.

92 Year Old Hole in One

Oh, did we mention he was BLIND too?

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - A hole-in-one is rare on the golf course, but what are the odds of a blind golfer sinking one?

Leo Fiyalko couldn't see it, but his golf buddies did: a hole-in-one on the fifth hole at the Cove Cay Country Club in Clearwater.

Fiyalko is 92 and has macular degeneration. He's been golfing for 60 years, but his 110-yard shot with a five iron on January tenth was his first hole-in-one.

As he puts it: "I was just trying to put the ball on the green."

Fiyalko tees off every Thursday with a group of golfers ranging in age from 70 to 90-plus.

His friends at the country club presented him with a plaque last week to commemorate the feat.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Catholic Schools Week 2008, Immaculate Conception, Columbia, IL

Oddwalk performed a concert Thursday night (as the snowstorm began) in Columbia, IL. Thanks to Oddwalk fan Nick who took these photos (and more) of our appearance!

Here, Shannon surprises everyone with the big solo in the middle of "Just Because You Can" - usually, that's Orin's job.

Orin strikes one of the classic "Wanna Be A Rock Star" Keytar Solo poses.  The pants remained intact – this time.

The concert ended with a usual "Matilda the Gorilla" Oooh-Oooh-Ah-Ah-a-long.

Thanks again to all who braved the weather to come out last night, and for all the folks we saw over Catholic Schools Week: Jefferson City MO, Troy MO, O'Fallon, IL, and Columbia, IL!  O'Fallon MO, sorry we missed you today, but we hope you enjoyed the snow day, and we'll catch up soon!