Exploring Campus...

I have started to explore campus just a bit more. As this is one of the most inspiring places in the U.S., I have decided I need to make it a priority to walk around and see places outside of the business school's region.


I know I have lived in some awesome places such as on the lake at Loyola and a block away from Wrigley Field, but Notre Dame is something completely different. Hence, my trips to look around and take in the different architecture, history, my grandfather's dorm from when he was here from 1946-1949 and the grotto.


Here are some photos with some captions about my adventure....


When Mike was here, he had never been to the grotto so of course, I had to take him there. I don't know the exact head count of how many people come here to pray, but it is truly amazing. If you go the Sunday or Saturday of football weekend, expect to wait to be able to kneel and pray in front of Our Lady.

When Father Sorin first came here to found the school in 1842, he called it “L’Université de Notre Dame du Lac” or "The University of Our Lady of the Lake" because there had been such an awful snowfall that he thought there was only one lake. Little did he know there was two. Here is a photo of the lake that I took on the same visit with Mike to the grotto.

The Golden Dome is one of the most famous images at Notre Dame. When my mom came to visit she thought that it was so cool that each day when I drove onto campus I took Notre Dame Ave. so that I could see the dome. It is definitely worth the extra minute-long light.

This is a photo from my car while I was stopped at the light. No one was injured while it was taken. It doesn't do it justice, but it is quite the sight to see each morning and it reminds me of why I chose this university.

Last Tuesday, I decided it was about time I found my grandfather's dorm. I walked around for probably less than five minutes before finding it right next to the administration building. It is crazy to think that he actually lived at one point in this building when he was my age and just starting out in the world. It is a boys' dorm so some of the guys were probably thinking I was a creep while taking photos of it on my droid, but I didn't care. I wonder what room he was in?

This past week, I found out that inside each of Notre Dame's buildings there are chapels. I guess there are something like over 130 masses said each week here on campus. Insane! Either way I decided I would check Mendoza's chapel out. It was on the second floor and masses are said there daily at 12:30. I have yet to go to one, but I did find it a nice place to escape the day-to-day chaos that has become my b-school life. 

Favorite Godson

Colleen just posted photos of Nolan, my Godson, the other day on Facebook.

I haven't seen him in so long and I swear that although I am obviously biased, he is the most adorable little boy ever. Anyways, I needed to show them as part of the bragging section of my blog.

The first photo also includes my other favorite cousins, Jack and Meghan.

Favorite New Activity: MBAA

I am very excited about this new activity! 


This past Monday, I threw my hat in the ring to be the MBA Association's 1st year's representative. There are two reps for the 1st year student body and then one international rep for the 1st year student body who assist with the MBA Association and represent our student body 1st years. Also, FYI for those who don't know, the MBAA is the governing body of the all the clubs, activities, tailgating/football events, club representatives, etc. regarding the ND MBA program. Well, the votes were tabulated at 4:30 this afternoon from all of my classmates, and I won! 


Dan Marques is the other 1st year rep and then Antonio Espinoza is the international's rep. I am very excited though as this was a big election involving all of my classmates. I feel really honored to have been chosen and to be able to take a leadership position early on in something I care about. Plus I get to represent the best MBA class ever in ND's history! :)

Favorite News Article: Brutus vs. Rufus

Brutus Buckeye v. Rufus the Bobcat

Sept. 18, 2010

The fur was flying in Columbus, Ohio, before the kickoff of the Ohio State-Ohio University football game. Ohio's mascot, Rufus, stalked Brutus Buckeye into the end zone, where he proceeded to punch the unsuspecting mascot several times in the head. It was later revealed that the man inside Rufus was not even enrolled at Ohio University.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1009/mascot.fighting/content.1.html#ixzz10J8KhlWk

The other advertisement: Mow The Lawn

See the blog below for the original information on this viral ad.

Favorite Advertisement: Schick Quattro TrimStyle For Women

Favorite may be pressing it, but I am very amused by Shick Quattro's new advertisement regarding "mowing the lawn" and "trimming the hedges". Last night, Mike and I were watching Jersey Shore, which I enjoyed immensely after my first midterms in three years, and all of a sudden this came on. Of course, being a Ritter, I immediately was like oh my goodness, what ad is this for? And then, yes, the realization that Quattro meant for this ad to be...that naughty. I am going to publish one more advertisement by Schick after this one. It is just the viral ad that is not on television. It has a funny tune though and has definitely caught my attention despite it being quite on the edge of inappropriateness.

Favorite Activities: Fantasy Football

I am in a Fantasy Football league for the fourth year in a row now. I have had okay track records with 2nd place being my best result thus far. However, I think this may be my year. Well, I also thought that ND would beat U of M and start the season 4-0 and that the Lions would win against the Bears....so who knows if I can predict anything. (although I was right on the Lions win as those refs obviously cannot tell a catch when they see one!)

So here is my team, Ritter's Bad Boys Check it out:
QB: Tom Brady
Backup QB: Eli Manning (Mike's regular QB is Stafford since he wasn't there for his draft haha...if only he could have my backup)
WR's: Marques Colston, Steve Smith, Hines Ward
Backup WR: Santonio Holmes (if he ever stops smoking crack maybe I can put him in my lineup)
RB's: Maurice Jones-Drew, Ryan Grant
Backup RB: Ahmad Bradshaw
TE: Visanthe Shiancoe (kicked butt this weekend)
Backup TE: Todd Heap
Kicker: Phil Dawson (Last year since Cleveland only scored via field goals this was an awesome idea... Who knows if it will work this year.)
Backup Kicker: John Kasay (Kasay really kicked Dawson this week so he may have to sub in week 2)
Defense: New Orleans
Backup Defense: Baltimore

Thus far, I am 1-0, beating Adaku at the moment by 20 points..I don't think she will catch up. However, next week I play against the Romo-sexuals and with a name like that, I may have to be scared.

Favorite Forward: The Lion

Kim sent me this forward the other day. I got a major kick out of it:

This is the true story of a garage owner in New Mexico....

He was sick and tired of thugs breaking into his garage shop to steal tools, etc. so he came up with this idea. He put the word out that he had a new Mexican Lion that would attack anyone that would break in or climb his fence.   Would-be thieves saw the "Lion" from a distance and fled the scene. 

Now I read up to here and thought it was dumb, but then check this out.

How can you not think that is funny?! Anyways, I am thinking we could make Tommy into a wolf probably if anything ever happened.

Favorite Moment: First Football Game as a Student

I have been very VERY busy the past week with classes, extracurriculars, studying for midterms and recruiting events so I am sorry for my lack of blogs lately! I think I will be able to get the hang of all of this soon enough though.

As it is the eve of my second football game, I must say that I had an incredible time last Saturday tailgating and attending the game. It is so different when you are actually a student. I have this pride that I never had before for Michigan State or Notre Dame when I would cheer for them in college. I love them, but I don't feel that sense of obligation and overall intensity.

Mike and I went to the tailgate around 10AM and I don't believe that our night ended until around 11PM since we ended up grabbing dinner with Fadel (a 2nd year MBA who went to LUC in Mike's grade) and Amy (bff, freshman year roommate, Maddie's cat-sitter). 

Check out some photos:

Front Row: me..duh...Kelly (Dan's wife, my new friend), Karla (Antonio's wife. He is in the program. She organizes girls' night on Tuesdays. She is from Mexico and makes the best sangria known to mankind.) Back Row: Mike, Brian, Rob, Mike, and Dan (Kelly's husband and all the men next to Mike are in my class too)

Amy and I at the MBA Association's tailgate. She obviously came to visit me and not Fadel.

Mike & I hanging out in the student section

The band @ halftime