things coming along

Dearest Friends:

First day of work fine. Here are the essentials:

There are three staff attorneys, not including the coordinating attorney (to whom I report), three legal assistants, the director, two interns, and a receptionist. It's a small, but well-respected non-profit with a very Austin state of mind and a nice vibe. Everyone is young and smart; laid back, but hardworking. I pretty much have carte blanche to develop their pro bono program -- in their words "it's an open book for [me] to write". My office is huge, but without window.

In an ironic twist, when I got home there was an email from the philosophy dept telling me they now have a TA spot for me after all. And, an email re possibilities in the Spanish Department. Somebody, somewhere has a sense of humor. I've thought it over and still think the non-profit is the best option, though I'm sure some committee members won't be too happy about it. I made the best decision I could given the circumstances at the time and, having considered the options yet again, think the decision to look out of department/out of U still makes the most sense.

During the next couple of weeks, however, once I've found a rhythm and schedule, I'll need to figure out the best times to work on the diss and keep at it. It's still my top priority and I'm relying on my friends, i.e., you guys, to help keep me connected to campus and focused on the diss. The blog should also be a useful tool.

Hope everyone is well.

B.