alive and well

Dear Friends:

Yes! I am alive and well, believe it or not. The job is fantastic. I really like where I am and things just "feel right" -- how often does that happen? I like the people, the size, the feel. Had my first staff meeting and my first outing with everyone to lunch (for intern appreciation day -- their last day) and it was great. Went to a nice little Austin institution (i.e., restaurant) I wasn't aware existed and it was genuinely fantabulous. I'll be going back. For lunch. For dinner. For whatever. The only problem is that there isn't a really good coffee shop in the immediate area, so I guess I'll have to hit the Starbucks on Guadalupe (near 35th) during the lunch break. I already have one on South Congress I stop at every morning for a venti anything, which gets me through to lunch. I suppose I should make an effort to stop at Jo's, but it's on the wrong side of the street.

On other fronts, computer in the shop. SUV in the shop and so is my favorite pair of jeans (at the tailor for mending). Ran over some construction I couldn't avoid in front of the U on Saturday (not speeding) and it did something nasty to the vehicle. Snapped the emergency break cable amongst other things and I'm sure I'll be kissing my first pay check and a bit more good-bye. Damage caused by unavoidable street repair/construction being done for private purposes really ticks me off. The search for a dealership was hell, until I realized there was one just behind the house, which was convenient. Have a rental lined up with Enterprise (which doesn't work on weekends and really doesn't deliver the car like advertised) tomorrow morning at 7:30, which should at least get me to work and back until the poor SUV is fixed.

What else? Had lunch with Jane, which was fantastic. Start my second week of work tomorrow and am hopeful that everything makes it out of the shop and that that's it for a while. I'm giving myself this month to get the work schedule down and will begin the University schedule when the academic year begins.

Had great news from my friend DJ, who (now after Munich) is moving to Nice (how do you do it?) and from my friend Susannah, who does whatever it is one does in Florida.

Long way of saying all is well and sorry for the absence, it's been a crazy week! Once I get my own computer back, I'll post photos of the office. Until then, hope everyone is well.

B.