Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!!

As you can see below, I've posted several pictures on the site. The ones with a Christmas tree in the background are recent (duh) and the ones where I have hair and look happy are from before I entered the novitiate (double duh).

As many of you know, I'm leaving for my LONG retreat tomorrow. Please pray for me and know that I will be praying for you. I mean that literally - I will say "I am praying for all those who are praying for me, but NOT for anyone who has failed to remember me in his/her prayers." So take the hint: I'm about to spend a MONTH talking to God and if you want me to put a good word in with the big guy, you'd better pray for me...or else.

Before I go (I need to clean my room and pack. GULP) I just want to say that I had a good visit home. I managed to tell my family that I....LOVED them (Yeah, I don't say it very often. I have a hard time sharing good feelings and emotions, but I figured that my parents should realize that Jesuit camp is having at least SOME effect on their son). Also, I was really just so pleased to see Mike and Brian English (the whistle players) at our Christmas party and the next day for lessons. These are two of the best kids on the market today and I'm really honored to know them. Good guys, good family, and GREAT musicians. Keep an eye out for them in the future - because they are the future!

*Mike, you have ten years to master the accordion and then, at the peak of your fame and fortune, you can foresake it all to join the Jesuits. I chose the Jesuits because I couldn't get a date, you can choose the Jesuits because you didn't go to Ignatius. It all works out in the end, of course. Brian, keep living the life, man, keep living the life*

Thus, I take my leave of you. I wish you all a blessed and happy beginning to the new year and I look forward to telling you all about my retreat experience when we return in February. Until then

Cheerio!!

Ryan

This is my usual position at a feis - dejected and leaning against the wall! 

Anne Hall, Ryan Duns, John Cunniffe, and Matt Coleman. 

The night before my last feis. On the right is Matthew Coleman (GREAT fiddle player from Canada. If you run a feis, GET HIM!!) and the BEAUTIFUL Anne Hall (no words can describe her). Those children are homeless vagrants we found on the street, gave them a t-shirt, and made them pose for the picture. 

Three generations of musicians. That's Tom Hastings - my teacher - playing with the guys and me. Hooray! 

Mike and Brian English. These are the BEST two guys I know and the future of Irish music in Cleveland.