Did you see Up in the Air? The movie where George Clooney plays a guy who travels to a different city each week to fire someone? Well, except for the firing, I'm that guy now. And I kinda dig it. Sure, there is some loneliness, but there is also freedom. Nobody knows me, I can be anyone, I can do anything. And that, in a word, sums up New Orleans.

Only this time I wasn't lonely. It was a big conference - 50 teachers plus some spouses and the five of us hosts. It was a city I'd been to before and kind of knew my way around. I had 10 and 12 hour days planning and preparing at the start of the week. Not lonely especially because 4 teachers from my former school were in attendance and I enjoyed hanging out with them in restaurants and bars.

And then I had my private time, too, hitting up St. Anne's Street and the gay bars. One night I even took one of my ex-colleagues out with me. It was a quiet night of shared secrets and confessions. It was interesting.

And then home again for one night. Barely even time to go out to a Silverlake piano bar and have a few cocktails (I was going through withdrawal - it had been almost 24 hours without vodka). And as I write this, I'm in Anaheim. Sure, not a world away, but far enough that I get to be anyone I want and do anything I want.

So yeah, I could get used to this. Except it's only a summer fling.

I broke New Orleans down to "Business" where you'll see pictures of the official N'awlins trip, and "Pleasure" where you'll see what the rest of the teachers did not. Enjoy.