Newby here, desperate for some advice

[JRuss]

Thanks, EDF. Re the e-mail, I feel like I avoided some of the traps I've fallen into in the past, but I was mostly just there and present, maybe occasionally getting in some validation phrases like "I understand" and "that must feel like [_____]". My thinking was that maybe a short, concise e-mail would fill in the gaps of what I wished I'd said. I can also see how it could feel to her like I was pushing too hard or trying to earn brownie points.