I’ve had a rather miserable day. Even after going to Sweetwater and drowning my pains in root beer, I didn’t feel much better for very long. Sure, there was the inevitable sugar-high, but that died off as it always does. Instead, salvation from my day full of headaches came in the form of an email.

Henry Jenkins, the Director of MIT’s Comparative Media Studies program replied to a very special request today. I had emailed him recently, asking for a favor that I thought would be too much of an imposition, but I was holding out hope. He’s been so helpful thus far that I felt rather bad about asking him for this one additional thing, and I was almost afraid to open his reply tonight for fear he’d respond negatively. Instead, he made my day. My week, even!

What was the favor? In preparing my proposal for the expansion of the Daily Prophet, I wanted to pull out all the stops. Professor Jenkins was already gracious enough to let me include an article he wrote about my efforts, but my Mom made another suggestion. “Direct letters of recommendation,” she said, “are always an added bonus.” So I took a chance and asked Professor Jenkins for just that; a few words of support for the Daily Prophet’s forum, support, and educational substance, written and signed by him personally.

He said yes! I’m so thrilled! I’ve done more hunting around and I found his own website, read his curriculum vitae, and learned a bit more about what his program at MIT is all about. I have to say, it is the most amazing feeling knowing that someone as learned, experienced, and well-respected as Professor Jenkins is willing to put his name and his reputation behind my project. Something I developed is actually recognized by an expert in the field; what I’ve done is respected and supported. That’s given me exactly the punch in the arm I needed to get to work writing this proposal despite this nasty headache I’ve had for the fourth day in a row.

You know what other good news I got? It actually came up right here on my blog just last night – my beautiful, wonderful, charming, brilliant sister-in-law Monica has offered to be Prophet, Incorporated’s Chief Financial Officer. I am *so* thrilled! I was worried beyond belief about having to find a finance guru that I could trust. Thank goodness Monica’s a CPA with a Masters! Tim, you should be so grateful for having married such an amazing woman.

Monica had me fax my IRS forms to her today so she could take a look and make sure I didn’t mess anything up. Now it looks like I won’t have to try to track down an attorney and convince them to work pro bono for me. Instead, Monica’s being generous, but believe me, the minute I can pay her – as well as the other members of my board of directors – they’ll be reimbursed for all their hard work and support.

After talking to Tim about all of this last night that gave me another punch in the arm – enough to write the history of the Daily Prophet and everything it has accomplished so far. All I have to do now is try to edit it down a bit and then it’ll be all set. 🙂 I’m so excited. It’s so comforting to see other people rallying around something I believe so strongly in. I’m so grateful that my family’s so diverse and generous, and I’m thankful that the generosity of strangers makes them feel like family too.

Now if only we could convince Lyle Lovett to host a benefit concert, we’d be all set! Hehe. You think I’m kidding, but oh no, I’m not. 😉

Wow, it’s almost four in the morning. These stupid headaches have my sleeping schedule so messed up. Looks like it’ll be another late start to the day tomorrow… or later today… or something. Either way, this day has been sufficiently picked up, brushed off, and set straight again. And that makes me very happy indeed.