ramblings from the road -- day 12

This post also marks a milestone in the history of "scenes from an italian restaurant" -- post 100!

This morning we had the concluding session of the Hartford NACAC College Fair. In honor of the fair, I thought I would share some observations that I made throughout the course of the program:

1. Keuka College (NY) has the most enormous signage I have ever seen in my life. To add to it, their rep showed up in sweatpants, sneakers, and a long-sleeve t-shirt with the college's logo on it. Is this a marketing strategy?

2. My booth was next to Meredith College (NC) for all 3 sessions. Meredith is an all-women's college in Raleigh, North Carolina. Nothing could be more amusing than watching the guys pony up to that table and start filling out an information card.

3. Our reps are celebrities! I met a guy that knew Adam from a CTCL swing, and another guy who knew Travis from fairs on Long Island. Way to go, guys!

4. Juniors in Connecticut are on top of things. People were lined up in the parking lot an hour prior to last night's program. (And I am certain it wasn't so that they could have first dibs on the Expo Center's french fries.)

5. It was never more evident that being a part of CTCL (Colleges That Change Lives) is so important for Hope. We definitely have name recognition in the east because of it.

6. Contrary to popular belief, "MI" is more easily identified as "Miami" rather than "Michigan." I hear that Holland, Miami is quite a place.

7. And finally, a priceless exchange from 2 booths down which involved the rep from John Cabot University, an American liberal arts college located in Rome, Italy:

Student (referring to the college's display): "Is that your campus?"
Rep: "No... that's the Coliseum."

It would be inappropriate for me to post this on the blog, but for an additional laugh, ask me about the Meredith rep's comments about Duke's recent troubles.

Tonight I am headed to downtown Hartford with my sister and brother-in-law to check out a nice restaurant/comedy club. Tomorrow I will be on the road back to Rochester for the weekend and the NACAC program there. Have a great weekend!

ramblings from the road -- days 10 and 11

Based on the wise counsel of a good friend, I have decided to combine yesterday's and today's posts. Hopefully the blog might then stay up to date for the rest of my trip. For that reason, this may be a bit more extended than usual!

day 10









Day 10 was a driving day for Andy! I made my way from Rochester, NY to Manchester, CT (just outside of Hartford). Most of you know that I grew up in Rochester, and you might be surprised to know that I had never made the drive any farther east than Syracuse. It was a terrific day to be on the road! As you head east along interstate 90, the terrain becomes more and more picturesque because you are actually driving along the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. It is incredibly beautiful, and becomes even more so as you drive past Albany into Massachusetts. I would imagine that it is even more wonderful during the fall!

I got my hotel and did some work! Then, my sister and brother-in-law picked me up at the hotel and took me out for dinner. They actually live in Manchester, and I hadn't seen them since Christmas, so it was awesome to catch up. Friday they are going to take me to their favorite dinner spot in downtown Hartford -- I am really excited about that!

Then it was back to watch "Lost", as nearly all of Wednesdays typically conclude. Let me just say -- creepiest episode I have seen in a long time. Anyone watching for the first time last night should know that it was not at all reflective of what "Lost" is typically. What a great show!

day 11

I am partway through day 11 right now! This morning I had the early session for the Hartford NACAC college fair -- I think I talked to more students that I did at the Buffalo fairs, which I found very surprising!

This afternoon is a combination of work and working out, and then I head back to the city for the evening program. It might even be better than this morning's session, with all of the parents that will be out with the students. Definitely looking forward to that!

Weekend #2 of my trip is approaching quickly. It is hard to believe that one week from today I will be back on the road to Michigan. I am looking forward to it! In the meantime, I am excited about a great week of visits and fairs. Back tomorrow with more from the road!

ramblings from the road -- day 9

NOTE: Although this post was written on Wednesday, the contents refer solely to the events of Tuesday.

The halfway point! Today was day 9 of my grand tour of the East Coast. I had three high school visits, and they were all pretty darn fruitful. We continue to build a presence in western and central New York.

This afternoon I worked out and got on the phone for a while. Then I went to my parents' house for a great dinner: Mom made grilled chicken with carrots, and a buttery pan bread (e.g. Yorkshire pudding) that is so good. After that, I visited with my friend Christine and her husband and saw their new house for the first time. Everybody is growing up!

Tomorrow I head to Connecticut for the national college fairs in the capital city of Hartford. Back tomorrow!

ramblings from the road -- day 8

Shoot -- I am actually writing this on day 9! Yesterday was a full day with visits and phone calls. We are keeping Alltel in business over here.

My hotel has a really nice fitness center with four treadmills and multiple ellipticals and stationary bikes. It's just an inviting place to work out with new machines and several TVs throughout. I haven't really been staying in locations that are conducive to an outdoor run, so nice fitness centers definitely do the trick.

The most wonderful curly-haired lady took this picture of me from Fiddler on the Roof. Then she was kind enough to find out my email address and send it to me. What a gal!

I'm off for some more high school visits with prospective students -- then home for dinner! Back with more later on!

ramblings from the road -- day 7

It has been a great first week on the road this spring. I spent the weekend at my parents' house, and it is always nice to go home there and relax for a couple of days.

Had the chance to catch up yesterday with a couple of friends from high school, and today was just a relaxing day all around. Hit up the Tim Horton's for some breakfast goodness, and then burned it off with a cool 5K (pace: 8'16"/mile; duration: 25'46").

The Tigers had a good day today, both in golf and in baseball (although the latter was at the expense of my beloved Yankees, and will ultimately give me the chance to show off my cooking skills due to an ill-conceived wager).

I am now at my hotel for the week, and am looking forward to some great high school visits in the next two days. Then, on to Connecticut! Have a great week -- back tomorrow with more from the road.

ramblings from the road -- day 6

I heart Panera. Not only is it the largest provider of free wireless access to the Internet in the entire United States, but they also have these muffin tops they call "muffies." Add that to a cup of freshly brewed coffee, and I am quite certain I will never be more productive.

Last night I slept for 11 hours. I honestly can't remember the last time I did so, and I must have needed it. There are some mornings when it is just a blessing to wake up naturally to the light of day. This was one of those days.

I had the good fortune of getting out for a run (5K), and am pleased to see that my pace continues to improve. I average 8'30" per mile for the duration of my just over 3 miles run. I suppose a goal pace for me right now is 8 minutes per mile, and I think I will definitely get there. Disney World Half Marathon, here I come!

Had a great lunch with a good friend from high school, and then over to the local Panera to continue writing notes to the students I had seen this week. And here I sit, relaxed and enjoying the time I am spending the great state of New York.

Back tomorrow from a new hotel where I will be enjoying this. Be blessed!

ramblings from the road -- day 5

Last night I had the great pleasure of attending the Chapel Choir concert at Trinity Reformed Church in Rochester, New York. It was excellent, and although it was the final stop of a long tour, I felt the choir did a tremendous job of keeping the energy high throughout the performance. I'm not going to lie -- I got a little choked up when all alumni and friends of Hope were asked to sing the alma mater. It definitely holds a special place in my heart!

I managed to get myself very lost in the city of Buffalo today. Well... I guess I shouldn't say very lost. I had directions to this high school that ended up being part of a college campus. Not very typical, this the lost-ness that happened. No worries, I made it there! And now I know where to go in the future.

I am actually back in Rochester tonight and staying with my parents for the weekend. So far it has been a relaxing time! We headed out for dinner tonight, and went to this Mexican restaurant that is new to the area (since I've been around, anyway). We sat down, ordered, and had our food within about 10 minutes' time. Incredible.

I'll be catching up with some good friends tomorrow, and then on Sunday I will eventually make my way to the hotel I will be staying in the next couple of days. Should be a good weekend!

In other news, the Dave Matthews Band is back on the road for the first time this year. You can check out the real-time setlist here.

Back tomorrow with more from the road!

ramblings from the road -- day 4

Today marked the first of five days of high school visits. Both stops that I made today were terrific! We are starting to make some great connections in Western New York, and I look forward to continuing to build relationships with some really fine schools.

(Okay, that might have been a bit too serious for the typical banter that this blog employs, but it's totally true.)

In just a few minutes I will be driving to Rochester for the Chapel Choir concert. It is the last stop on their spring break tour, so it should be a great performance -- definitely looking forward to it. Tomorrow I head home for the weekend after a couple more high school visits. Should be a relaxing weekend -- I'll be glad to catch up with my family!

Not really any funny stories today, just a solid day on the road. More tomorrow!

ramblings from the road -- day 3

Today's edition is so high-tech! If you're reading this in Facebook, click on "view original post" to listen!

ramblings from the road -- day 2

I am basically spending the day at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center in downtown Buffalo. We had a session there this morning that lasted from 9 until 1, and then I will be headed back there tonight for the evening session.

A couple observations from this morning's session:

1. 1st student to visit my table: 25 minutes after the program began

2. Saw some gals whose high school I will be visiting later this week, so I got to plug my visit

3. A woman came up to my table and said that her daughter (or grand-daughter?) lives in New Jersey and that she was picking up information for her. She must have taken 3 of everything on my table.

Before I left for the road, I made the connection that the band "Low Stars" wrote the tune "Calling All Friends", which is the title song of the ABC show "What About Brian." It's a terrific song, and I was fortunate to be able to pick up the CD at Starbucks, who has the group under their HEARMUSIC: The Sound of Starbucks record label. Always excited for new music.

That's all for now! Be blessed -- back tomorrow with more good stuff from the road.

ramblings from the road -- day 1

I've shared with many of you that I set out on the road today for the great states of New York and Connecticut. I'll be participating in many college fairs and visiting some high schools while I'm out here as well. In addition to snippets of my regular itinerary, I'll be posting thoughts and observations.

This morning I left Holland and drove to Buffalo, New York. The drive takes one through Canada, and I made fairly decent time at 7 hours. NOTE: This can be a long time in the car when you are alone. Thankfully, I had a new mix CD and my XM satellite radio to keep me company! New music is always tremendous.

Rolled in to the hotel around 4 and attempted to get caught up on the emails. This is maybe my favorite part of any travel day. I get to see what's happening both personally and in the office -- I enjoy staying connected! What was the life on the road like pre-email, I wonder?

There is one thing that I am always a bit concerned about when I do the cross Michigan-Canada-New York drive. The border crossings. Now, having attended Hope, I have done this drive back and forth literally 50 times, and I can safely say that you just never can know what to expect. Sometimes there is a line of cars an hour long. Sometimes the official gives you the third degree. Sometimes they look at you and send you on your way. Well, today I must have seemed suspicious, because the customs official and I had a nice a little conversation. It all stemmed from the fact that I had my golf clubs in the back seat.

To be honest, I had no idea what the weather was going to be like when I got to New York. I hadn't really checked it online or anything, but I was certain that should I have the opportunity to play golf, I wanted to be prepared. (It was 60 degrees in Holland last week, come on.) As I get closer to the Canada-US border at Buffalo, all I can see is 3 or 4 inches of snow on the ground. Needless to say, the customs official was a bit interested in the golf clubs in the back seat. "Not exactly golf weather," he says to me. "I guess it was just wishful thinking," I reply. He let me through without any trouble, but it was a bit nerve-wracking nonetheless.

Always an interesting trek to the great state of New York. Tomorrow I head out to the city for a national college fair. Thankfully, George Mason won't steal our thunder again like last year. More tomorrow.

new music... again

It's hard not to be inspired when you listen to good music. A friend shared this album with me, and although it is a departure from the style to which I most often listen, I dig it. I liken him to the quiet sound of Joshua Kadison (remember that guy?) mixed with just a little bit more soul.


'cause you gave everything that you could give
and this is the only life that I can live
and I am grateful
but I've grown weary of this fight
so no regrets, it's better left unreconciled

I love new music

Anyone that knows me knows that I love new music. Sometimes iTunes and its music store can cause a little bit of trouble, though. Thankfully I do have some semblance of self-control, but since iTunes had to go and re-release all of John Mayer's As/Is series, I think we now might have a problem.

Awesome site

Check out Finetune, a free music site with tons of great artists...

we were snowed in... it's cool

The western coast of Michigan got a tremendous amount of lake effect snow this weekend, about ten inches or so. We were pretty much snowed in on Saturday night, so our house rented "The Illusionist." It was great.

I wasn't sure what to think actually -- I was so confused between it and "The Prestige." The movie pleasantly surprised me. It was subtle, simple, and sweet.

If you ever have a lazy Friday evening, be sure to pick this up.

contemplative Christmas

It never fails. I go searching for an ornament (hidden in boxes in my old bedroom) on Christmas Eve amidst corrugated containers of my own personal belongings, and end up coming across pictures and notes from high school and college days gone by. (I feel no remorse for this run-on sentence.)

I was driving by my old high school today and realized that next year it will be six years since I've graduated. It certainly feels like forever. I recall memories of the choir room (senior high room 302), "Singing Saints" practice Monday afternoons on the stage, musicals every spring and summer, hanging out with the 'friends' on New Year's and other times, and so many other thoughts stir the deepest reaches of my heart and mind.

I found a note from an old friend with whom I have not spoken in several years. They had wished me tremendous success and joy in my future, and I wonder: what have I done in these years to fulfill their prayer for my life?

I suppose my hope is this: that although I am blessed with people around me with which I am happy to create new memories, that I may also be able to recall those moments and people that have defined me.

Merry Christmas to all of those who have played a part in the story of my life thus far. I've loved these days.

When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And then I fall asleep counting my blessings

just tremendous

A combination of most everything I find wonderful in the world...

tis the season!

lost in translation

The television show, "Lost", is currently on hiatus. Six of the season's twenty-two episodes were aired this fall (mostly while I was on the road -- don't worry, I still saw them), and now it is a waiting game until the first week in February, when ABC will show sixteen episodes in a row with no repeats. The question is not why do I like the show, but rather: why am I, like so many others, missing it?

I believe the answer is that, in a world which faces so many challenges, we long to engage in a suspension of our disbelief. I believe we grow if we are forced to grapple with situations and circumstances outside our own.

Some would argue about the value of television, and with good reason. It is, after all, spoon-feeding us every bit of information it has to offer. However, if we choose to engage beyond the program in further thought and discussion, how can we do anything but grow in the process. That is the answer: to grow, we must engage in fruitful thought and discussion with those around us.

Programs like "Lost" insure that an inherent value remains in a medium that easily transformed the way humans share and receive information.

what inspires you?

I believe there are moments in our lives when God gives us the opportunity to be inspired. This is something that makes us most human. It is as if our souls are hungry for this kind of thing. When we are inspired, we are motivated and given the strength and power to do great things.

PBS is in the middle of their annual holiday pledge drive. I love these times of year. Not because I end up giving any money to public broadcasting (maybe I should), but because they show the greatest specials, from Yanni concerts to retrospectives on Victor Borge. This season PBS is broadcasting a concert in tribute to James Taylor. It is running under the "Great Performances" label, and it is terrific.

For whatever reason, this has truly inspired me in my music and songwriting. I think I am afraid to write music because I am afraid it will not be what I want it to be. That it will be unoriginal and not exciting to anyone. This special has, for whatever reason, inspired me to change my thoughts and take some chances with my music.

Jesus, take the wheel.

EDIT: One more thought. It's about leaving a legacy. At some point in our lives (from what I can tell in my brief years of existence), we have the opportunity to choose our adventure. Inspiration allows us to make the right choice, no matter where we are in life.