A Few Life Updates

Well hey! Hi! How's it going? It's been a Hot Second since I've shared some Good Old-Fashioned Life Updates. And boy howdy are there some to share. I'm going to make this brief, because I've been trying to write this post for like three months and have been too intimidated for some reason, mostly because I feel like I have to write tons of stuff for each thing and include pictures, so I'm going to keep this to bullet points with no pictures because I need to just get past this post so I can write other things!

When will I write other things, you ask? No clue. But hopefully other things will get written at some point! 

Okay, so the updates:

1. I finished my thesis! It was only 177 pages long, and I'm incredibly proud of it. Dominican cloister gardens for the win. :) Apparently, one of the Dominicans on the West Coast who I know and love sent it to all of the Dominicans in the Western Province (kill me now) and someone at the Angelicum has been sending it to a bunch of people, too. Ah, niche notoriety. 

2. Related to the above--I graduated college! My whole family came, and I loved getting to introduce them to my professors. One of our priests from the Newman Center came to my convocation (I was giving a speech) and he walked into the venue in his Roman collar, and our department head was like "Oh, you must be here for Sam, right?" It's nice to be known and loved. 

3. I worked in my field for a hot minute over the summer and was supposed to continue at that firm, but The Economy intervened, so now I'm working at a church in the Chicago area as their Sacramental Coordinator, and enjoying that very much! If you're coming through the Chicago area, let me know--if I know you, I'd love to see you! I have lots of space on my futon. :)

4. I bought a car! It immediately started causing minor problems, which I suppose is what I get for buying a Prius for $7000, but I love it dearly and I believe it will serve me well despite said issues. (Or I hope so, at the very least.) It has been christened "Lady Frances" after St. Frances of Rome, who is known for being very introverted--appropriate for a nearly silent car. 

5. I signed an apartment lease! It's in a slightly uninspiring complex (and it's carpeted, blech) but it's affordable, roomy, and in a safe neighborhood. I've had a lot of fun sprucing it up and slowly acquiring furniture and knick-knacks. 

6. I bought a rabbit! She will be joined by another rabbit as soon as I get her spayed, but for now she is the undisputed queen of my apartment, and a lil sassmeister. She's a Netherland Dwarf--white, with black markings--and I've named her Ekaterin, after the character from The Vorkosigan Saga. She mostly gets called "Kat" or "Tiny Bunny" though. 

7. Saving the best for last...I got engaged! *cue confetti* My fiance is someone who I had been friends with for three years before we started dating (finally) and who is much-quoted on this blog. While the engagement has come with ups and downs emotionally and in terms of stress, I'm really excited to be getting married, and so is he! Our wedding is going to be in Summer 2026, and I wish it was much sooner! 

Hopefully that was a satisfying update, and hopefully I can be back to my new sporadic posting habits soon! Meanwhile, let me know what you guys have been up to, and if there's anything you particularly want to hear from me!