Monday began with Pilates with Claudia, as usual. At 10:00 a.m., there was a very important meeting with Chancellor-Elect Gearhart, the UA Executive Committee, Deans, members of the campus faculty and the faculty senate about the budget and what the upcoming budget looked like for the year at the University of Arkansas. At noon, I went to the Washington County Bar Association luncheon with Malcolm. The speakers were very interesting. They were the two candidates for the Arkansas Court of Appeals – Courtney Henry and Ron Williams. Both are alums of the University of Arkansas School of Law and we wish them well in the election race. It was good to be there to visit with the members of the Washington County Bar and to be able to hear the candidates’ presentations to the group. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to attend that luncheon.

After lunch I met with Chris Kelley and that was a very good meeting. There were a number of initiatives Chris will be working on for the law school, so thanks Chris for all you do, particularly for the ties you are building for the law school in the Ukraine. At 3:00 p.m. I met with Colleen Williams, one of our library faculty, and we had a good meeting as well. That meeting was immediately followed by a meeting with Professor Carl Circo, our most recently tenured faculty member. I’m certainly pleased to have Carl join the ranks of the tenured faculty in the law school and I had a good meeting with him as well.

At 7:00 p.m. I had dinner with Michelle McCall and Kedron Benham and we ate at our favorite place again, Taste of Thai. And you know what, foodies? I don’t remember what we had! I think I had Pad See Eu. I know we began with the chewy rolls and I can never remember if those are called spring or summer rolls. They gave me two wonderful books – “Miss Hickory” by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey and “A Place for You” by Paul Tournier. It’s wonderful to have their friendship, support and encouragement. What a nice way to end a very long day: with good friends and a quiet meal.