A Monumental Photo

This summer, when Orin was in Washington DC with YNIA, one of the other staffers, Ralph Stewart, had Orin pose for this photo:

And again, don't forget to keep playing our Haiku Challenge V, just below!

Orin, YNIA DC

Hi all,

This is Orin, writing from Washington DC on my phone... Young Neighbors in Action (youngneighbors.org) is about to begin later today, and I'll again be the prayer and music person.

I won't be able to post as many pictures as last year - I didn't bring my laptop, and there's no wi-fi near here anway. We're at St. Anthony's, very near the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. I'll try maybe to email some pics to Shannon along the way.

Please keep us all in prayer this week!

Two Cerneka Men and a Beach

The Cerneka family vacation with the Ramsay's continues...

Guest Contributer - The Good "Old" Days

Hell0 All!

This is Erin - Orin's Erin. I thought I would help the boys out by guest blogging for them. They are both busy vacationing, working, and writing music. Also - the summer camps like Youth Sing Praise and Young Neighbors in Action are upon us but I'm sure they will keep you updated.

I was cleaning up my iphoto library and found some great pictures of Orin and Shannon taken from the road... The road in Biloxi, Mississippi to be exact.

I have traveled with them on many a trip (this particular time they were featured speakers for the Diocese of Biloxi CYO Conference). I must say - surprisingly - it is a bit comparable to life on the road with a rock band: (as I've done that, too) lots of driving, lots of truck stop bathrooms, and lots of hotel breakfasts. The major travel difference is that I'm NOT the only girl anymore.

But I digress...



Oddwalk's Five song CD Little Steps was named on this trip. (After an excruciating 15 hour car ride of discarded titles and a John Tesh concert - that is a story for another time...)





We began this day with a healthy breakfast at IHOP (Rooti Tooti Fresh and FRUITY - see fruit is healthy)


Not sure why I was getting the dirty looks because I certainly wasn't the one wearing a sailor hat)













































This was my drink from the Blow Fly Inn - The fly is fake - Orin and Shannon put it in my water glass. The Blow Fly Inn is no longer there, neither is most of the shoreline of Biloxi - The people there still need our prayers and our help!


So that is a glimpse into life on the road with Oddwalk. There is much more craziness but more often than not - really boring car rides and Orin and Shannon overestimating their 'funny-ness factor.'

Nevertheless - I'm honored to meet many wonderful people and see "The Church" as the Universal Body that it is...


I think Journey sums it up quite eloquently...

" 'Cause lovin' a music man ain't always what it supposed to be..."

Have a safe and blessed summer,
erin

Festival of Faith Pictures

The Diocese of Orlando, Fl Festival of Faith a couple weeks ago brought in 3,100 8th-12th graders, and 30,000 people overall! They posted a few pictures of us in a slideshow at their site, here they are, as best as we can show them:

Young people streaming into the convention center - even though word had gotten out by then that we were there.

We think that's us on stage.  That appears to be Shannon's large head on the comparatively small jumbotron, anyway.

Orin about to embark on the "squirm around on the ground" portion of his big keytar solo.  No pants were harmed (this time) in the making of the big keytar solo.  Theo looks amused.

The big keytar solo comes to a fitting end - note the video camera which appears to have gotten the perfect shot.  We're not sure if he or the palm trees enjoyed the solo as much as Theo.

May 9 Pictures, Part the First

While we got some awesome video and many other folks were taking some pictures during our set, those will have to wait for another day.  So, here are a few pictures Orin took with his phone the beginning of a busy May 9.

The view from the back of the hall.  3,100 were in attendance that day.

The hall just beginning to fill, and the stage.

Closer view of the stage area.  We're not used to drums and bass as part of the day!

On the flight home, Orin snapped this picture of a weary father with a sticker on his head.

May 9 - Busy Day

Oddwalk, on May 9, began the day in front of 3,100 8th trough 12th graders from the Diocese of Orlando Florida at their Festival of Faith, celebrating 40 years as a diocese.  Orin immediately following the set got on a plane back to St. Louis so he could graduate from Aquinas Institute of Theology with his Masters!

Photos to follow - today we're just going to enjoy the party in the park (the rain is supposed to avoid us until later - yay!) and the last couple days of Orin's Dad in town.

Dad & Wii Update

Just a quick note to say that Orin's Dad now routinely beats him badly at Wii Pool.  His dad did own a pool hall once upon a time, though...

Oddwalk is off today for a 24 hour jaunt to Orlando, and back to St. Louis for Orin's graduation and party!  More later...

First Communion Fun

Orin's niece-and-godchild Madelyn celebrated her first communion yesterday in Hokah, Minnesota. The day was filled with unique places and moments. Here are a few:

The 2nd-graders around the altar for the eucharistic prayer.

After communion, the class sings "His Banner Over Me is Love"

The "Reserved Pew" banner, made by Madelyn

St. Peter's in Hokah.  See below:

It really is on the 4th floor!

At the reception, three stories down, on our reserved table.

Apparently, many students had been learning Roman history.  There were many informative signs up with Top 10 lists.  This one, on Roman clothing was probably one of the best.  Note #5: "The Romans knew how to make hoods" and #10: "At 5,000BC, everyone wanted a fur coat."

The hotel thought the afternoon party was for a 7 year old's graduation, I guess.

Cake!

And this morning: snow!  We even drove through a bit on the way to the airport and saw a recently jack-knifed trailer in the ditch.

Oh Henry!

This past Thursday, Oddwalk put on a performance for the PSR program at St. Henry Church in Belleville, IL. We were excited about the opportunity to return, as we had presented there in 2007 as well. It's actually where our video of "The Cubs Song/Old Irish Blessing" comes from.

The show went very well. Thanks to everyone who had a hand in bringing us back. Thanks especially to the young people whose singing and participation made the show a success.

The most entertaining part of the evening might have been when the son of one of the organizers, an excitable little five year-old boy named Jay, made his presence known.

As people were arriving at the Church, Jay welcomed them in yelling: "Welcome to the Happy Monster Band"! Trying not to take that too personally, we later found out that the "Happy Monster Band" is actually a show on Playhouse Disney. WHEW!

Blogging Catch-up

Hi all,

Been a busy couple weeks. Here are a few pics and stories to catch us all up.

Orin's wife Erin, Easter Morning at St. Dionysius, Tyler, MN.  It was snowing that morning, as it was in St. Louis too.  This is the Church Orin went to for 18+ years growing up.

The nice basket of plants and flowers sent up by the Shrine musicians.  It was difficult for Orin to be away from the Shrine for Holy Week and Easter.  Knowing all was in good hands helped a lot.

Orin's mom's gravestone the morning after the funeral.  In an unintentional homage to his dad, Orin slipped a bit of his finger into the picture frame.

After taking that picture, Orin went to Sioux Falls, SD to hop on a plane to help out at the National Catholic Educators National Convention, this year in Indianapolis, IN.  Oddwalk helped at an opening prayer, gave a workshop on catechizing and evangelizing in an entertaining way titled "Scars and Ugly Shoes" and also helped out at the GIA booth in the exhibit hall for a few days.

We had many good conversations with Sue and David, met David Haas and Lori True officially for the first time, and learned a lot about GIA and their artists and products.

Across from us (this is where the usual "Oddwalk Experience" returns) was an interesting exhibitor, marketing mats that young folks could use to take their mid-day naps at school.  They were soft and colorful, and had a built-in pillow -- not much more a 5 or 6 year old could ask for, really.

They were given, though, what we all thought was a rather unfortunate name.  I guess the thought process was something like, "Well, what could we name these products that KIDS would use to take NAPS on... Wait!  I've got something clever!"

That's right, the Kid-Napper.  Sheesh.  Unfortunately, the picture of the guy at the booth most of the time didn't turn out too well.  He looks though,  let us assure you, just like someone you'd expect to see at the Kid-Napper booth at the National Catholic Education Association National Convention.

The end.

It's not "cream," it's "pepper white."

Last week Erin Hammond (Orin's wife, but not in a possessive way) upgraded her vehicle.  Away went the 2004 Saturn Ion-1,

And in came the 2005 Mini Cooper! (Pictured here while still on the lot:)

If you want a fun story about pricing and negotiations, let us know in person next time...  It all worked out okay in the end, that's the happy news.

And the Saturn never, not even once, burst in to flames on the open highway.  Let's hope the same holds true for the Mini.

Oddwalk and Large Animal Statuary

A week ago, Oddwalk visited the Diocese of Norwich, CT for a couple evenings of Advent fun and prayer. During free time one day, we visited an OMI retreat house in Willimantic and Oddwalk friend Fr. Chava Gonzales. As we were leaving the site, our host, Janet, suggested we should visit the frog bridge while we were close.

This sounded like something Oddwalk should do.

The story (one of may, I'm told) is that the frogs saved the town one night during the American Revolution. British soldiers were advancing on the town under cover of darkness. The frogs, however, were awakened by them, and made so much noise that the townspeople were alerted, and rose to defend themselves.

The frogs are sitting on giant spools, as thread-making was once the city's main industry.

Oddwalk has a history with encountering giant animals on trips. Recall a few months ago when we met a giant pheasant just outside of Huron, SD?

Here's a reminder:

And here's last week (Notice any similarities?):

Havre Nice Day! (As Shannon might title this post)

Oddwalk had a splendid time in Montana this past weekend. We flew into Billings on Friday evening, and drove a couple hours partway to the event location (Montana is big, it's true!), staying overnight at the Yogo Inn in Lewistown.



To plug in his cell phone overnight, Shannon had to climb on the desk and reach enarly up to the ceiling. Well, he didn't really have to, but he really wanted to.

The next day, we drove another stretch to Great Falls to meet our host's family and see some Montana-esque sights, including the world's shortest river - really. That's most of it pictured below.




We also saw an Albino Trout at the hatchery, and thought "Albino Trout" might be a good name for a rock band.



We also stopped at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. There we saw a nicely done exhibit, which included this life-sized model of the expedition pulling a canoe up a hill as they had to portage 19 miles around the Great Falls on the Missouri River.



The event itself, in Havre, MT went quite well, but we forgot completely to take any pictures of it. Sorry. The youth were energetic, the food was great, and a good time, as they say, was had by all. Thanks again to Anthony Allen and all the great people of Great Falls/Billings for a wonderful trip.

Here's a nice shot though of Sunrise Monday morning from the plane:

Orin's New Car!

A Mazda 3 hatchback!