OK, so I'm trying to figure out what to say when I email hiring managers directly for UW positions I've already applied for through HR. I was thinking of something like this:

Dear Dr. So-and-So,
I recently applied for the JobTitle opening in your department through the UW Human Resources website, but I wanted to send you a brief note expressing my strong interest in the position. I have spent most of my career in university biomedical departments, including over four years at Former UW Department, so I believe I have much to offer you. If you have any questions about my experience, please feel free to email me at this address or call me at PhoneNumber. Also, my former supervisor, Dean NiceGuy, has assured me he would be happy to discuss my qualifications with potential UW employers. He can be reached at Email or Phone.

Sound reasonable? I suck at this part of the job search because I've always been able to get by without doing it. I'm trying to keep it brief, because they already have my cover letter and resume with all the details about what I can do for them.

but I wanted to send you a brief note expressing my strong interest in the position

I'd change that 'but' to an 'and' so it sounds less confrontational, but otherwise it looks great to me.

Mommmm, Cindy's threatening to take all the cake!

I'm trying to keep it brief, because they already have my cover letter and resume with all the details about what I can do for them.

That sounds reasonable. Brief and to the point, but letting him know you're really interested. Job~ma.

Mal just laid down the law: Robert, for reasons best known to himself, launched into a really annoying Maroon 5 song, and Mallory, who'd been playing quietly next to us, came unglued! Bright red, roaring, stomping feet, tears. Robert's still apologizing.

So. Funny. They definitely come with their own taste, don't they?

Em fell out of our bed this morning. Big red lump on her head.

Jake once rolled off the bed directly into the empty laundry basket on the floor. I was folding clothes, he was lying there gurgling, and I didn't know he could roll over yet. I informed him later that a quick aside would have been a lot less scary.

Thanks, Jessica! I'll go ahead and send it.

How often do you feed her solids?

3 times day.

Susan, sounds good to me!

I sent off two resumes this morning. One of them was to the guy who'd offered me a job back in May. I'm hoping he's still interested in me.

Our wireless router gets delivered today. I'm very excited. I know I'm going to end up spending the rest of my day setting up the wireless network and the new DSL modem, so I just wish it would get here already!

Goodish news:

**********

In New Orleans' historic French Quarter of Napoleonic-era buildings with wrought-iron balconies, water pooled in the streets from the driving rain, but the area appeared to have escaped the catastrophic flooding that forecasters had predicted.

On Jackson Square, two massive oak trees outside the 278-year-old St. Louis Cathedral came out by the roots, ripping out a 30-foot section of ornamental iron fence and straddling a marble statue of Jesus Christ, snapping off only the thumb and forefinger of his outstretched hand.

At the hotel Le Richelieu, the winds blew open sets of balcony French doors shortly after dawn. Seventy-three-year-old Josephine Elow of New Orleans pressed her weight against the broken doors as a hotel employee tried to secure them.

"It's not life-threatening," Mrs. Elow said as rain water dripped from her face. "God's got our back."

Less goodish news lakeside:

***********

On the south shore of Lake Ponchartrain, entire neighborhoods of one-story, shotgun-style homes were flooded up to the rooflines. The Interstate 10 off-ramps nearby looked like boat ramps amid the whitecapped waves. Garbage cans and tires bobbed in the water.

Two people were stranded on the roof as murky water lapped at the gutters.

"Get us a boat!" a man in a black slicker shouted over the howling winds.

Across the street, a woman leaned from the second-story window of a brick home and shouted for assistance.

"There are three kids in here," the woman said. "Can you help us?"

How often do you feed her solids?

3 times day.

You could probably do four 8-oz. bottles now, one with/after each meal, one at bedtime, but your pediatrician can advise you best. I'm trying to remember what Sara was getting at that age and it's amazing how it blurs so quickly.

and straddling a marble statue of Jesus Christ, snapping off only the thumb and forefinger of his outstretched hand.

My friend Betty (who used to live in New Orleans) called this "Touchdown Jesus" because the shadow it cast in the streetlights made it look like he was going back for a pass.