tulane (again)

Business Stop(s): Tulane University

Mode(s) of transportation: Continental Airlines, rental car (Cadillac STS - yeah, the bad ass one, rented by BHurrle)

Eats: Tulane faculty/staff dining hall (HA!), Acme Oysters

Memorable Moment(s): 6:40 am flight, snow on the ground in Cleveland, Acme Oysters (and Abita Amber Ale)

This was my second time eating at Acme Oysters in the French Quarter (last time was with Megan in 2002 or 2003, when we were staying at the Iberville Suites and Acme was just down the block) and I must recommend it. It's a very low-key, casual spot with New Orleans fare, much of it fried. Got a recommendation from our server, Justin, to order the fried catfish and fried shrimp, along with the charbroiled oyster appetizer... good stuff.

the second second birthday party weekend

Last weekend, we had the second second birthday party for Tyler. Had several friends come over with their kids for a playdate. Tyler had a ball... He seems to love company once he gets used to all the people. So, Saturday morning was spent cleaning and readying the house and then the party, then a little R&R for the remainder of the day.

Sunday, Megan and I went shopping while Tyler played with Oma and we all had dinner together.

patriots - jets reminding me...

Just finished watching the Jets narrowly beat the Patriots 34-31 in overtime (Thank God for Thursday night football!)... now, I'll be honest, I don't really care about either of these teams, but this game reminded me of why football can be awesome, even when you don't care about either team. The final two minutes of regulation were nail-bitingly exciting (a tip-of-toes touchdown catch by Randy Moss!) leading into overtime. I think I should make a concerted effort to watch at least the last two minutes of every single televised football game... but I probably won't.

back to the STL

Business Stop(s): A.T. Still University, St. Louis University

Mode(s) of transportation: Northwest Airlines, rental car (Toyota Rav-4 rented by BHurrle)

Eats: J.F. Sanfilippo's, PB&J

Memorable Moment(s): America's Hometown, Kirksville "family photo," boarding flights 10 minutes before departure

Flew into St. Louis Monday afternoon and had dinner at J.F. Sanfilippo's, which was all right... I feel like the quality of the service and food was no better than a Carabba's or a Macaroni Grille, but it was not bad. Tuesday, BHurrle and I drove 3 hours up to Kirksville, MO (through Hannibal, which is Mark Twain's birthplace and is labelled "America's Hometown..." so, this is where America was born and raised up to be a precocious little punk and then, finally, grew up, moved to New York, got some fashion, taste, open-mindedness and sensibility and eventually aspire to greatness through the election of Barack Obama!). In Kirksville, we saw a terribly hilarious series of stickers on the back of a minivan that begged to have a picture taken... so, here is that picture (coming soon).

We presented to the School of Health Management at A.T. Still University and then drove 3 hours back to STL. On Wednesday, we presented to St. Louis University's Graduate School, then I flew back to Baltimore. Had a layover at the Detroit airport, where I ate a Peanut Butter, Honey and Banana sandwich at a place called PB&J... I've always wanted to try it out and this was my chance. I definitely enjoyed the PBH&B, so I'll be going back next time I'm in DTW.

missing a special day

So, call it poor planning or foolish justification-ing, but I ended up traveling on Tyler's second birthday and I'm sad not to be with him. I did get to sing Happy Birthday to him on the phone this morning, but it's just not the same. So... Tyler, I love you... I'll never miss another birthday.

potus obama

Honestly, I've never stayed up glued to election results before... but, this one was all-consumingly important. I actually entertained the possibility of fleeing the country if McCain won; only because I need to feel like our great country is on the right track. So, this year, I watched... CNN mostly... hoping, praying for an Obama victory. When 11pm rolled around and the blue states filled the screen and McCain was on TV conceding the election (something we haven't seen on election night in a long long time) and CNN (along with all the other even more biased networks) called it for Obama, I sat watching his first speech as our President-Elect and I cried a little. In fact, Megan woke up and heard me sniffling and asked if I was crying... "Yep," I said. I was moved... moved to tears, but also moved to action, moved to hope, moved in the right direction for the first time in 8 long years. So, YIPPEE! A democrat back in office... a young guy with new ideas, fresh ideas, and the force of a democratically-controlled Congress! I'm energized and excited for the next 4 years. This is the first time I've ever thought, We should go to the Inauguration... We live 18 miles away, it's not only historic, it's what WE wanted. We should go! I'm thinking it now!

So, I immediately taught Tyler the all-important answer when I ask him "Who's your president?" And he says "Obama." Nice.

un-American?

Just finished watching an episode of Real Time with Bill Maher. John Legend was on the panel and, on the topic of the Republican rhetoric and criticisms of Barack Obama, he pointed out that, if you think about it, all of the rhetoric against Obama has been in an effort to "question" his American-ness. Connie Shultz brought up a statement by William Sloan Coffin who often answered his critics who questioned his patriotism by saying that the true patriot is one who maintains "a lover's quarrel" with his country. This made me think about my own views of being a patriot and my own views of my country. So, here's my attempt at profundity: Is America the best country on Earth? Yes. Is it the best country it can be? No. Color THAT my lover's quarrel with my country.

William Sloan Coffin also said "The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love."