travels, love, and kittens

Music: Marconi Union: 13 (2009)

I've been whipped up in so much traveling, work, and car repair that I've hardly had the time to blog, and somewhere in the middle I forgot to post about my summer travels. As some of you know, I was invited to speak with my brethren of Enlightenment Lodge in Colorado, Springs. They flew me out and put me up in a nice hotel overlooking Pike's Peak (that's my hotel window to the left). Colorado Springs was b-yew-tee-full! The weather was dry and a comfortable 75 degrees the whole time!

I spoke in the lodge about the significance of orality to Masonic ritual, but was really blown away by the way these brothers ran their ceremony (candlelight, meditation, and other elements that are more typical of "traditional observance" lodges). After the meeting, we retired to the basement for an "agape" or, as we say in Austin, a festive board---lots of toasts and intellectual discussion. The food was marvelous. Finally, I was treated to a mighty fine cigar at a "hidden" speakeasy bar. The whole visit was wonderful!

After my Masonic moment in Colorado Springs, I hiked it up to Boulder and environs, where I visited with Brian and Amy, the first couple I ever married as a minister in the Universal Life faith. Last I saw them, they lived in Baton Rouge---so it's been four years. In that time, they moved to Colorado and had a baby, the adorable Hayden who, I confess, I fell in love with (Uncle Josh had a lot of fun playing with Hayden's toys, too). Readers may remember Hayden from her precious Elvis wig glamour shot over the holidaze. Anyhoo, I had a marvelous time catching up with them, and also found some time to hang out with some peeps from Colorado State and the University of Colorado, and had a moment to reunite with my grad schoolmate Chani.

After Boulder, I met up with my University of Denver buddy Bernadette, and then it was home. But not long, 'cause I turned around and flew to Hotlanta to visit with friends at Georgia State and the University of Georgia, as well as a new colleague from the University of Memphis and my friend Chris Lundberg (we had a "reading group" meeting on Lacan and rhetoric). After pow-wowing with genius, I met-up with fellow former Louisianans Roger, Wendy, Gretchen, and Mindy! I also got to visit with my folks (this is mom to the right) and see my granny, who's in a home.

So, with all these lovely people I got a real love-bombing. That's why it's sometimes hard to get all this affection and friendship and then come back home to triple temps and . . . work. And work I must. So, enjoy some photos (galleries here, here, and here!).