Autumn Excitement

Quinn in Montenegro (third from left)


Hello All! Sorry for another slow update. But I have waited until we have any actual news to report, and now I do!

Quinn has submitted her thesis for review. We will know the results within the month - we assume very good marks. She returns to LA on October 20, spends a week there and in Berkeley with Reilly, then I join her on the 27th, and we drive back to New Orleans. Oh My - we actually have DATES!

In the meantime she has been busy - she finished her courses (successfully), composed her thesis, and found time to discover a Roman shipwreck off the coast of Montenegro. What? How much does Quinn Rock!

I have been much less interesting. I'm putting together an application for the PhD program Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, mostly just so I can feel theologically-productive. Besides that, intellectually, I've been reading a lot of Calvino (Cosmicomics anyone?) and Gram's favorite, Henri Nouwen. I've also replaced Catholic for Episcopal mass, over the various, impassible disputes I had with the Roman Church. Its kind of a big story (an we can talk about it, if you want). Besides that, I continue slinging bananas in my monkey suit at Brennan's, and occasionally as a Maitre D' - shifts that mostly just make me mad at the management and ownership, and I don't get to wear my cool bowtie or cufflinks.

Summer Lovin

Hello Summer! Hello Friends!

Quinn has traveled all over. At the moment she is between Southampton and family in London, laying low and working on her thesis. Her advisers have accepted her topic of study, New Orleans as a port city, studied for the first time as a physical/archeological interest rather than historical/cultural. Recently she visited Denmark, where she and her classmates mapped, rowed, and excavated big Viking ships! She also has direct knowledge of boat construction technology, and a few splinters to prove it.

She is returning to the US! She plans to be in New Orleans for the middle of August (the hottest month).

Then she's spending some time diving in the Adriatic off of Montenegro. Could life get any sexier for her?

I have temporarily settled. I now live in an apartment (at 1442 Toledano St, NOLA 70115), and I begin my upgraded job as Maitre D' at Brennan's on Monday. Both of those could very easily hold me for a while, so Gram can put out one of her holy candles.

So much happening this summer! Weddings galore - Cat and Cody, Gary and Megan, Emily and Grant. I am receiving visits from Dad and Patrick just this week upcoming, and from Mom and Gram sometime later this summer. Also, Elliot and Audrey are moving/moved to Baton Rouge, which has proven disastrous to my productivity.

And heck, we just got back from intensely fun bro time in the Northwest!

Life, in all, is very good right now. The countdown to together is in days, not months. Do wish well for us, as our mental health clock rolls over from 'jog' to 'sprint' for these last weeks.

Oh, and we usually talk about food...
Alfonso's, on Frenchman Street, does three course, real Italian dinners for a good budget. The staff is family - yours and the chef's - and the food is creative and legit. I had fish baked with a crazy-good spicy/tangy cream sauce (paprika and cayenne were there?), covered in shrimp and crawfish. This after a heaping portion of pasta with real Italian (ie, runny) marinara sauce, a B+ salad, and tasty garlicy bread. And good wine. And fun company - thanks to Amanda for dragging me out (she had fresh fettuccine with cream sauce and tons of baby clams).

Yes we are alive.

We are! Lets see...

I am still at Brennan's. Sadly, none of my job opportunities in February and March worked, even my really sure-shot. I don't know why, and I don't care to dwell on the future. Also, the Holy Cross college adjunct teaching/lecturing idea seems to be falling through because of budgetary shortfalls. I am going to Monroe to talk to teens about making decisions, so... yay? I guess, as has always been the case, I will be waiting for summer jobs to open up, playing chicken with Quinn's opportunities.

Which are not forthcoming. Southampton has not been as rigorously scheduled as one might expect, which leaves everyone in the dark about such basic calendars as 'graduation' and 'moving back from England'. In the meantime, the weather there is still miserable, if slightly less bone-chilling, and Quinn rocks! She got one of the highest scores ever recorded on one of her finals! And they are finally studying interesting things, like how and why boat construction dramatically changed between 1420 and 1520, and how the British Museum uses archaeology in its exhibits! Also she's thinking of cutting her hair!

New Orleans is magical this time of year. Every single day brings new festivals and fun things, and the weather is better every day. So much sun and green! The restaurant revels in luxury, and gives me plenty of free time to be generally awesome and happy.

These are some random pictures from sorta lately. Sorry to be so uninteresting after a year of excitement!


Quinn's new hair ideas?


Congratulations to Grant and Emily! I just got the 'Save the Date'!

Not Much New

Hello all! Not too much going on in either of our worlds. I am recovering from Mardi Gras (working, not partying) and excited to finish the interview process for a job as an Admissions Counselor at Loyola. Some good books, good friends, waiting tables, and an ongoing successful Vespers program all on my plate today. Also, my sister and new nephew are healthy and safe, back at home, after a rather ideal (if long) delivery and some typical causes for observation.

Quinn is just getting over a bad cold/flu/thing she picked up last week. It was especially insulting because she had just picked up her dive kit and was excited to use it at the pool, but had to sit out (although it seems she was in good company). Her classes continue, sometimes over-long, usually more interesting and rewarding than last semester. Heck, she gets to dive.

We should have some pictures of Quinn's new kit soon, I hope. Afraid I don't really have anything to photograph.

-Andy

Quinn's Trip to New Orleans

Quinn traveled to New Orleans to celebrate our 5 year anniversary and the successful completion of her Fall semester. We really packed in the fun! We ate the best food in town - boudin and scallops at Beaucherie; blackened redfish and bacon-wrapped quail at Jacqueimos; some amazing chicken and the most unusual, delicate cheesecake at Bistro Daisy; duck po-boy at Crabby Jack's. Everything tasted amazing.

We also enjoyed the political/erotic comedy of Krewe de Vieux, one of the first parades of the year, and the most popular 'underground' parade. We went there with our friend (and Quinn's twin) Mary, who had just gotten engaged that morning! Go Ryan! That evening we visited the mothership, Buddig Hall, to distract Shea, Alex, and Dayaamai.

Quinn is off again. Since Tuesday she has learned about ship architecture, practical scuba, and museums. She thinks that this semester should be more interesting, so the challenges less challenging, than last semester.

I am still waiting on news from three jobs. Meanwhile, Katie is still waiting to deliver Jack. In all, it is a very pregnant week for us (get it - metaphorical and literal. yuckyuckyuck).

It is warmer in New Orleans...

The view outside Quinn's room

Quinn's super awesome look (long hair!)
(it is night time - the white is reflected snow)

So it is very cold in Southampton. Snowing. Buses suspended, making it hard to get to campus to work on the special graphing and mapping programs. Also, most trains to London suspended, making a family trip from London impossible. In all, a very cold, wet, generally unpleasant January in Southampton. http://www.southamptonweather.co.uk/

But it is looking up! For our five year anniversary we are splitting the plane ticket that brings Quinn to New Orleans! She arrives on January 27, and stays until January 31. A whirlwind trip!

This (second) year of separation has been hard for both of us. Like last year in reverse, it is hard to say that "we are both in the right place for now" or any such general positive truism. But there have been some silver linings - Quinn has been able to work hard, without distractions, and grow independently; I have that 'year in the desert' I was looking for. We have both made, developed, and maintained good friendships, partly in response to missing each other. If nothing else, we have a new sense of scope for unpleasantness, a renewed appreciation of each other, and stories to tell grandchildren. And this, too, will pass.

PS - I am still well, still waiting to reel back a few lines I've put out, and I have a theology appointment this week. Oh, and a haircut, and new shoes!

-Andy