rashionally speaking

OK. So when I was down at the lakehouse packing a few things away to take to Austin, I somehow came in contact with something nasty. I've got a rash. My mother has a rash. We make a lovely pair. So the family doc has us on a course of something that should prevent spreading and speed recovery. Basically, I just want to be presentable and not slathered in toothpaste (the only thing that has really stopped the itching) my first day of work, which happens to be this Friday. Am keeping my minty-fresh toes crossed.

As for the rest of my stay in Dallas, it has been tremendous, just the vacation I needed after a year's hard work. Mom and I spent our time gardening, figging (picking and making fig preserves -- our first ever and incredibly good), going to the movies, putting up hammocks in the gazebo, taking evening drives down to the DQ for an ice cream cone, and generally having a grand old time admiring hay bales and sunsets, cardinals and humming birds. I even made some of my famous pomodoro (from home grown tomatoes) and we put a batch of that in jars too, for future pastas. There are photos of all of this, which, as you all now know, I-will-post-when-I-get-to-austin.

And have also been spending a lot of time with Nemo, whom I missed terribly while away. I think he's happy I'm back -- keeps tabs on where I am at all times and proudly delivered his very first mouse to me the other day. I went for my shoes in the morning and there, between shoe left and shoe right, was a (very dead) mouse -- a wonderful, if somewhat feline, welcome home present. In the meantime, he'll be staying in Dallas chez Ma, who can give him the care and attention he needs, at least until Jan. I'll miss him terribly, but for now, it's definitely for the (his) best.

On the job front -- all systems go and am actually excited. Good thing too, b/c I just got an email today that said PHL doesn't have a TAship after all, but that something might come through last minute. Friends, THIS is exactly the sort of thing I'm looking forward to NOT having to deal with (though I am thankful to PHL for looking out for me; it's just the nature of the beast).

On other news -- Will be in DC in late September, three or four days for a conference, so that's good. I'll get to see S & G and maybe A, if she's back from her tour of Africa. And, since I didn't have time to set up an interview with the Bolivian embassy in Argentina, I'm going to try to get someone at the embassy to talk to me about Evo & Co's plans for the Bolivian justice system while in DC.

So, overall, things these days are and will be for the foreseeable future very hectic and very busy, but I'm beginning to think that's not such a bad thing.

Don't lose heart, I'll post photos soon!

B.