Semester impends

The semester has been looming over me ever since I got back. The public schools started this week. I was tremendously relieved when I realized that the University doesn't start next week, but the week after.

I've made progress in getting ready for the start of the semester. I've still got a few things to finish: a few wikis to set up and the graduate course resources. But I'm hopeful I can have those done by the end of the day on Monday.

The larger challenge is going to be developing a proposal for HHMI. I am playing a small part in one piece, but am taking the lead on a second piece. The deadline is soon: the beginning of October. I'm really excited about doing it.

We had a meeting about the other part yesterday. Elizabeth invited me to attend the meeting where she tried to persuade the chemistry faculty to participate. She did a masterful job and most of the faculty were won over, I think. I was flattered when one of the pieces of the grant would be to hire "another Steve Brewer" for chemistry.

For now, its the weekend. Lucy and I went to the library and I got some books to read on a rainy afternoon. Hurricane Danny is moving up the coast and its supposed to rain non-stop for the rest of the day and most of the day tomorrow. I'm making a pot of tortilla soup to keep away the gloom and the chill.