The next few days are going to be crazy: travel for work, followed by one final weekend downtown for tribunal case sponsorship training and the lector installation mass for the cohort behind us, followed by quasi-business-but-mostly-fun travel to Mexico. A few weeks after that we have our real vacation set: England and Scotland by train.

Still feels weird to know that I’m done with school. It’s generally dominated my brain for the last 4-5 years and all at once, that’s it. Only a couple of us were able to make it to the graduation ceremony this past weekend, but the ones who went said they called out our names, so I guess it’s more or less official.

I’m in (I think) the final part of 2666. It’s been wonderful, bleak, and weird, all at the same time. I don’t know if there are any answers coming, but won’t be surprised either way. The chapter “The Part About The Crimes” was difficult, relentless reading. One bright spot was catching various references the author makes to other Mexican writers - Paz and Rulfo - who I’ve recently read.

Regarding the conclave and election of Pope Leo XIV: hooray! It was great fun to watch the announcement. Very excited to see what’s next.

The weather here has been characteristically spring-ish: warm, then cool, then warm again, then thunderstormy. Most of the pollen has thankfully cleared out and everything is lush and green. It’s not been hot yet, but I think we’re getting into the high 80s this week, which will be wonderful.