If you look to the right, you can see a box with the title "What I'm Reading & Doing." The items listed there are short updates on what I'm up to during the day. I'll post things there if I think of something I want to share, but don't believe it's worthy of its own blog post.

Every day or so I spend a little time scanning some various blogs, usually related to Catholicism, technology, or photography, of course. When I see an interesting item, I will share it with you in that box to the right. That way, you can see some of the recent things I've enjoyed viewing online.

The technology I'm using to make this work includes: Google Reader, which helps me to read many blogs very quickly; Twitter, which allows me to post very short notes, quickly; and Twitterfeed.com, which allows me to combine the two into one place on my own web page.

Anyway, let me know if you like this feature or not!

-Jason

It's been a few weeks since I wrote about leaving St Louis, so I thought an update might be in order. Fellow seminarian Kregg and I have settled into the rectory at St Leo's Parish in Minot, ND.

Looking back, it has been an eventful two weeks. Thus far, we have:

• Led Communion services, including the "preaching" of homilies on back-to-back weekdays.
• Assisted with three days of vacation Bible school for kids from 3 to 9 years of age, for up to 9 hours a day!
• Attended a committee meeting a the local Catholic high school.
• Attended a meeting about a pilgrimage to Rome for high school students (we don't get to go along.)
• Been involved in the planning of both a wedding and a funeral, and served at both.
• Attended the 50th anniversary celebration for three priests in our diocese.

The experience of praying with the readings of the day, writing a homily, and then doing all those other things, day after day, was exhausting. But it was also enjoyable. It has been the most priest-like experience I've had thus far. Especially on those busier days, I felt like a priest.

The schedule has eased up a bit this week. But soon may be visiting the sick, doing office work, etc., etc.

Another very notable aspect of the last few weeks is that I am finally at home! Until I was twelve, I lived just fifteen miles west of here. So I know my way around this town and I know some of the people that still live here (including my grandma). I also know the backroads and, unlike St Louis, can easily ride bike on them. So I have been enjoying a bit of exercise, and a trip down memory lane. For example, here's the house I lived in as a kid:

Sadly, it appears to have been neglected since my family moved out.