Mr. Ireton
by Jay Green
The Bishop Ireton Mr. Ireton contest was once a tradition at the school. Though it has been some time since the last Mr. Ireton contest this year our school has decided to bring it back. It is under the name of the First Annual Mr. Ireton Contest.
The contest began like anything at Bishop Ireton, with a prayer. Then we were introduced to the hosts of the show, Senior Vincent Cuellar, a senior who has hosted other Bishop Ireton Events such as the powder puff game, Junior Haley D’Antuono and Senior Kara Schab, both of whom are on the OSG. Finally we were introduced to the judges of the contest, Senior Oscar Adams, Sophomore Allie Swager, Junior Megan Becker and Freshman Gibson Hawk, just to name a few. After this the contest finally started.
Since there were no Freshman contestants this year the contest started out with the sophomores. The first of these Sophomores was Ricky Baier who went out doing all sorts of crazy things. This is what the Mr. Ireton contest is really all about. Following Ricky’s lead, Sophomores Dave Souliotis and Anton Ekman rounded out the Sophomore class. These performances were followed up by Juniors Kyle Brooks, David Brenier, and Michael Barber. Lastly, it was the Seniors turn, Mac Fife, Taylor O’Sullivan, and Jamie Mangan.
But what is it like to be a contestant in this contest? To answer this question I asked none other the Sophomore contestant Dave Souliotis. His response was “It was actually a
very weird experience, but it was fun because it’s been so long since the last contest.” When going out on to the stage he thought, “It was pretty cool to see all the students in the auditorium, it was pretty fun.” And that’s what this contest is all about, fun.
After the contest all the contestants were brought on stage and told the winners would be announced at the winter ball the upcoming weekend. The day finally comes and if you have not heard by now, the winners were Sophomore Anton Ekman, Junior David Brenier, and
Senior Taylor O’Sullivan. These three, along with all their fellow contestants,
received Best Buy Gift Cards and are now known as Mr. Ireton. Hopefully this fun contest will be back next year.
Not Feeling the Love
by Lisa Bernardi
Hallmark, Godiva, Victoria’s Secret, and the Neiman Marcus perfume counter: Everywhere you look, stores have stocked up for Valentine’s Day and cranked up the prices. By now, this is nothing new; heart-shaped paraphernalia began appearing on shelves as soon as all of the Christmas merchandise was cleared out, and will be replaced by edible bunnies and egg decorating kits once February 15th hits. It is now nearly impossible to pick up a pack of gum and a bottle of shampoo at CVS without tripping over, running into, or being smothered by boxes of cheap cardboard print-outs that we commonly refer to today as “Valentines”.
It would be an understatement to say that Valentine’s Day has become an overrated, commercialized holiday. The consumer industry forces us to fork over the cash and get that boyfriend or girlfriend something they probably don’t need or want. Sure, most girls would love to join the Best Valentine competition among their peers with a show of flowers and chocolate. But ladies, think about it: If your friends didn’t care about what you got, would you?
For those of us who are recent victims of a breakup, the concept becomes increasingly ridiculous. One minute we’re enjoying some quality time with the rebound boys Ben and Jerry and watching One Tree Hill reruns, the next we’re throwing a spoon at the happy couple in the Kay Jewelers commercial. We get a sudden urge to ditch the Trident and the TRESemmé and set a match to those $4.99 cardboard boxes, but we take a deep breath and proceed to the next available register.
A recent poll by TeamDating.com showed that 91% of men view Valentine’s Day as their least favorite holiday, but who can blame them when the average guy spends $122.98 on Valentine’s Day while the average woman spends less than half of this? “I have a fiancé and we never really get sappy about that stuff,” says Mr. Bass. “I guess it might be a little more fun when you first start dating somebody, but even then I probably wouldn’t do much.” Of course, that’s not to say that Mr. Bass is less kind and chivalrous than the guy paying up to $100 for an exquisite bouquet of flowers that, let’s face it, will be dead within the week.
The consumer industry has made it their job to convince us that we need to buy more from them, regardless of how great of a boyfriend you were for the other 364 days. If you didn’t spend most of your last paycheck on flowers, chocolate, and dinner, they want to make you feel bad about it. Because the only way you’ll ever be as happy as the couple in the Kay commercial is if you buy her a diamond necklace, right?
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Valentine's Day Tunes: The Top 15
by Patrick Evans
Valentines Day is a time for love and relaxation, and what’s a better way to relax than to listen to your favorite romantic tunes? Music arouses some of our deepest emotions, and on Valentines Day these feelings can be even stronger. Throughout the ages, music has been the world’s calming device. If you’re looking for that perfect song to listen to on the way home, or with your special someone on Valentine’s Day, check out these top 10 love songs, recommended by Ireton students and faculty!
- With You- Chris Brown
- Breathe – Faith Hill
- I’m Yours- Jason Mraz
- I’ll Be- Edwin McCain
- Just to See You Smile- Tim McGraw
- My Heart Will Go On- Celine Dion
- Isn’t She Lovely- Stevie Wonder
- Your Song - Elton John
- Love Story – Taylor Swift
- Lovebug- Jonas Brothers
- Drowning- Backstreet Boys
- It’s Your Love- Tim McGraw
- You’re Beautiful- James Blunt
- Forever- Chris Brown
- Always- Blink 182
Teachers' Thoughts on Valentine's Day
by Chelsea Anderson
What would be your ideal Valentine’s Day?
“Spending the day with your Significant Other – maybe sightseeing, a car trip somewhere, strolling around a little town. Go to dinner someplace you both like.” – Mrs. Tunic
“Spending a day on the beach, or maybe a spa, and coming home to a completely clean house that I didn’t have to clean. Then a dinner out at the Melting Pot.” – Mrs. Reddig
“At the beach during the day – relaxing and riding bikes, dinner at night – with flowers and music, followed by a walk along the beach.” – Mrs. Henry
“A Saturday with a 1:00 PM reservation at a vineyard for a wine tasting and lunch with my wife and daughter.” – Mr. Rainey
“Day at the spa followed by a lovely dinner at a French restaurant.” – Mrs. Hughes
“My ideal Valentine’s Day would be to spend the entire day with the person I loved with no distractions at all: no TV, no cell phone, no computer. To completely and totally disconnect!” – Ms. Melanson
“Dinner for two by candlelight.” – Mr. Dight
“Having a quiet evening with someone special, none of this hype that surrounds
the day.” – Ms. Leslie
“My ideal Valentine’s Day would involve a roaring fire, a bottle of wine, and my wife to snuggle with!” – Coach Verducci
“I would like to have a candlelight dinner with my husband and then go to a play or a movie.
We have such a family life that one on one time with my husband is really special.” – Mrs. Faletti
“Breakfast in bed, pajamas all day, laundry done, dishes clean, house decluttered and a wonderful dinner prepared (completely) by someone else!” – Mrs. Eichler
"Hanging out with my best buddies and sharing old stories." - Dr. Hernandez
What’s your favorite thing about Valentine’sDay?
“My favorite thing is that it is a holiday dedicated to one of the most important of Christian ideals: LOVE. In a chaotic and fractious world it is great to spend a whole day focused on nothing but love.” – Ms. Melanson
“My Favorite thing about Valentine's Day - exchanging valentines, flowers, RED, RED, and more RED.” - Mrs. Hughes
“To say ‘I Love You’ right out loud.” - Mr. Rainey
“Acknowledging and recognizing the ones you love.” – Ms. Henry
“Giving my husband and son a little gift to show I love them.” – Mrs. Reddig
“Homemade cards.” – Mr. Dight
“My favorite thing is seeing my wife and children smile!” – Coach Verducci
“My husband and I exchange mushy cards.” - Mrs. Faletti
“It is the anniversary of my husband and my first date. This year is 13!” – Mrs. Eichler
"Everything is red - my favorite color." - Dr. Hernandez
What do you think the perfect Valentine’s Day gift is for a girl? For a guy?
“Flowers for a girl.” – Mrs. Hughes
“A poem written especially for that one person.” – Mr. Rainey
“I think the gift of your undivided time is the best Valentine’s Day gift for anyone.” –Ms. Melanson
“Not sure, but chocolate always goes over well at our house for either.” – Mrs. Reddig
“A mixed CD.” – Mr. Dight
“For a girl – jewelry.” – Ms. Leslie
“Perfect gift for a guy is a massage; for a girl it is jewelry.” – Coach Verducci
“I think men and women would both like: chocolates, flowers, balloons, going out on a romantic date.” – Mrs. Faletti
“Guy – If I knew I would have had an easier time these past 13 years! Girl – Roses and a spa gift certificate.” – Mrs. Eichler
"For both, to feel loved." - Dr. Hernandez
Chick Flicks ala Ricardo
by Ricardo De Los Rios
What do the movies The Notebook, P.S. I Love You, and Made of Honor have in common? Besides the fact that guys tend not to be attracted to these types of movies, what is the common focal point of these movies? The great actors? Get real, Ryan Gosling? Patrick Dempsey? Gerard Butler in P.S. I Love You? No, none of that. The truth is that these movies, all three deemed “chick flicks”, have given present-day enamoring high expectations. One expects flowers, smiles, and zero conflicts when going headfirst into a relationship. Yet, is there space for conflicts, when the flowers wilt and smiles turn to frowns? No, movies like these have hampered the maturing of present-day teen relationships and now have made it difficult for some to experience. This is to basically grade these stories on reality and the manner in which they carry out love.
Should one ask any girl around them what The Notebook is, surely you will listen to a tirade about how marvelous, majestic, and amazing the film version of Nicholas Sparks’ bestseller. The tale focuses on love, surviving years of trials and separation, after a short summer fling. How touching. Love that survives after witnessing war, suffering, and separation a decades’ worth. Love, as much as one wishes it to be, is just as difficult in trying to maintain it within close proximity, let alone after ten years, yet it is a great story because the star-crossed lovers partake in showing affection in a downpour, cliché. Grade: D-
In P.S. I Love You, Gerard Butler plays a dying Irishman writing endless notes, to be given to his love, postmortem. The plot goes on about how Butler’s lover finds these little letters in checkpoints he describes in the letters. Hillary Swank plays the unsuspecting lover, finding out the depth of love her deceased beloved had for her, going as far as to send her on a trip to Europe. This tale, as many reported tears shed, does love a somewhat good idea. In that, we must learn to love after loss, in this instance by Swank’s learning to become whole again after Butler’s death. Grade: C
Made of Honor was one of the biggest flops in the past year. A tale of a womanizer being picked to be his best friend’s Maid of Honor, the idea just as dumb as a talking Volkswagen, and the ensuing trouble that occurs. A woman picking a Maid of Honor of the opposite gender, falling in love with that Maid, and later marrying that Maid, makes no sense whatsoever. Swayze’s character allows his love to come close to marrying a Scottish prince, in Europe, and almost without giving a word of honesty. Total failure, abomination, and disgust. Grade: Less than F.
In reality, one must be guessing that after the author of this article has shred to pieces three popular movies about love, what is this guy about? The author gives these pieces of advice. Never expect the highest of things. You are young, you are poor (relatively), and almost certainly living on your parents’ dollar. Ladies, please, please, please do not think of guys as deserving to cater to every one of your needs. It is a cooperative effort, where a pair of hands create possibilities, not just the guy’s. We get enough slack at home and do not need another mother to have us wait on them hand and foot. The guys, treat her right. Never neglect her, abuse her (obviously), and never take whatever you have, as much as you think you deserve better, for granted. Cherish the experience, every person becomes another part of you, and molds you into the better person that you will be seen as later on in life.
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