In December 2008 Daniel and I traveled all over the place to see his family and mine. Earlier in the month I visited Andy in South Bend as she moved there shortly before to start a new job at Notre Dame University in the library there. Later in December we visited Daniel's family in Indiana and then Mom/Dad/Andy joined Daniel and I in Pewaukee for the holidays. IMG_4539 I was comimg back from a trip through O'Hare for work and so I took the famed South Shore Line (Vomit Comet) to South Bend, not too bad a trip but the cars weren't in the best of shape IMG_4546 The University was consumed with merriment - here's the staff/faculty Christmas party in the Main Building, there's a hand bell choir down below IMG_4551 The building is an amazing structure, but perhaps the paint job here went a bit over the top IMG_4553 Andy poses with Daniel's friend from college in Indiana now works in Student Services at ND IMG_4557 Why prevent food recycling? IMG_4558 This cookie should be much less cheerful - it's the last one left! IMG_4567 Crescendo, bells! IMG_4576 The Columbus murals in the Main Building have painted tassels surrounding them and the artists of a Milwaukee-area firm placed hidden characters amongst the tassels IMG_4573 A hula dancer IMG_4574 A fly-fishing hook IMG_4575 Kermit the Frog IMG_4577 A bowling pin IMG_4578 What a fancy golf cart...perhaps a bit over done again though... IMG_4580 It was cold... IMG_4583 The Basilica of the Sacret Heart, the entrance near the Main Building says "God Country Notre Dame" a famous saying IMG_4585 A soldier's helmet and I assume unit symbols of deceased alumni of ND perhaps from WWI IMG_4591 IMG_4597 Holy Chrism is prominently displayed at the back of the basilica IMG_4600 Holy water IMG_4601 Basil Moreau was the founder of the Order of the Holy Cross. Although the order was not the first to arrive in the area (the Jesuits as always had that honor in 1685 building a log chapel in 1686 on the short of St. Mary's Lake), the supression of the Jesuit order prevented their return and eventually the bishop offered the land in 1842 to the order for a university to be established within 2 years or the land would revert IMG_4602 St. Mary on the top of the golden dome of the Main Building (color shifted to be green in honor of the Fighting Irish) IMG_4603 IMG_4609 I know you've always wanted to see a Snite in person, but I think they might be dead as it is named after the Snite family IMG_4612 Andy in her fancy new office (sparse on the wall hangings, but I think she later fixed that) IMG_5965 Later in December, Daniel and I headed down to visit his family in Columbus and ran into some WACKY weather...here you can see the effect of suspended ice in the air (ice-bow/halo) IMG_5967 Thankfully the roads were ok when we passed through but perfect conditions for liquid rain freezing upon impact with many layers caused heavy ice on everything else IMG_5971 IMG_5972 IMG_5983 EXTRA crispy with all this ice! IMG_5985 A short while later we returned to Pewaukee to spend more quality time with Mom, Dad, and Andy - we got to play DOMINOS! IMG_5989 IMG_5993 Jude tallies the score IMG_6005 Then it was off to the Country Inn & Suites for their light display - a bit cheesy but it was something to do and I got a discount at work IMG_6007 IMG_6014 PRODUCT PLACEMENT is everywhere! IMG_6024 They even want me to buy a pet Mammoth - I won't! IMG_6029 Sad little snowman! IMG_6030 A line of penguins in lights IMG_6042 Freaky light tunnel IMG_6048 IMG_6050 IMG_6052 Well...it IS Wisconsin... IMG_6057 Indeed it is... Return to Features