On Friday, March 6, we welcomed Sofia Francisca into the world.
Mom and baby are doing great and should come home later today. Her big siblings are very excited—lots of happy tears at the hospital when they came to visit.
I meant to write something to note the first anniversary since Paco died. But there is just so much going on that I couldn’t get to it. Not least of which is that we’re heading to the hospital in a little bit for my wife to be induced with baby number five. In the midst of the grief, there is joy.
It’s Ash Wednesday. My father died this morning. He was a good man, and a great dad. Stoic to the end, he was in good spirits when I spoke with him on Monday.
Last year, Paco died on Ash Wednesday.
Drafting a new a syllabus for a Great Books course on Rome (Ancient, Christianity, Medieval). It’s shocking how much has to get cut to make it fit.
If you haven’t had to shovel snow in slacks and loafers because the city did a second round of snow removal while you were at work, well then you haven’t really lived.
10 degrees, stomach flu, and a foot of snow. It’s not a solution but I’m drinking a hot toddy while watching Gaby’s Dollhouse with the 5-year old.
Few things are as joyous as surprising your collegiate best friend, in person over beers, that you moved back.
The long national nightmare is over. I got my new work laptop today. It’s the most bureaucratically locked down machine I’ve ever used. And I’ve used military computers. But it’s also brand new. Trade-offs!
Last day in California visiting my mom before the big move. We of course had our last meal proper. In-N-Out.
Took all day to load the trailer. One last family photo before we left for good. Lot of tears. We’re going to miss this place.
An hour left in 2025 and we’re almost done packing this house. Friends coming early to help load the trailer.
What a year. Missing Paco, but very much looking forward to new beginnings in 2026.
Turned in my work laptop and signed out of the university email/calendar servers. Today was my last day at Arizona State University. Six and half lovely years, with great colleagues.
Finished reading: For the Time Being by W. H. Auden 📚
Def rereading next Christmas when I’m not distracted with grief. But even in grief, this hits hard and good.
🎵 Christmas Cookin' - Jimmy Smith - ★★★★☆
Last year, I took this snapshot of Paco while we waited in line for Santa at a farm that does holiday events. It was a moment of peaceful calm for my otherwise very energetic boy.
This year, my wife took the kids to the same event last minute. My oldest had his siblings recreate it for me.
🎥 Trailer for The Oddyssey, with a surprise glimpse that Tom Holland is playing Telemachus.
Arizona in December…
… where it’s sunny, 80 degrees, and the city pool event is Swimming with Santa.