role: user

text:
<environment_context>
  <shell>zsh</shell>
  <current_date>2026-03-10</current_date>
  <timezone>America/Chicago</timezone>
</environment_context>


text: ok!  we got a bunch of new mail from Maya, pull it down.


role: assistant

text: Using the `letters` workflow to pull Maya’s latest emails, and I’ll fall back to the local Mail index if Mail.app stalls again.


text: Mail.app is doing the same thing on the `Qarl` archive. I’m switching to the local Mail index now so I can still get you Maya’s new messages without waiting on AppleScript.


text:
Here’s the new Maya mail since `Saturday, March 8, 2026`:

- `Mar 9, 2:00am CDT` — `Your consultation with Sarah Wittrock is scheduled`
  - Maya confirmed the consult is `by phone` with `Sarah Wittrock` at `11:00am CST/CDT` and apologized for the Stephanie Jones glitch.
- `Mar 9, 3:01am CDT` — `Your Phone Consultation with Sarah Wittrock was Scheduled`
  - Formal corrected confirmation: Sarah would initiate the call at `11:00am CDT` to your provided number.
- `Mar 9, 10:00am CDT` — `REMINDER: Your Consultation is coming up`
  - Simple reminder for the `11:00am CDT` consult.
- `Mar 10, 9:26am CDT` — `Engagement Letter: Please Review and Sign`
  - Includes a link to pay the `\$5,000` retainer and a link to sign the engagement letter.
  - Says work begins after signed engagement letter, completed credit card authorization, and deposit payment.
- `Mar 10, 9:27am CDT` — `Credit Card Authorization Form : Please Review and Sign`
  - Link to e-sign the credit card authorization form.
- `Mar 10, 9:38am CDT` — `MEDIATORS`
  - Sarah asked Maya to send three mediation options:
  - `Allison Gerli` — `314-721-8844` — `agerli@thecenterforfamilylaw.com`
  - `Jennifer Piper` — `314-449-9900` — `jennifer@familyally.com`
  - `Elaine Pudlowski` — `314-725-8000` — `epudlowski@frankelrubin.com`

The big takeaway is that they’ve moved from consult mode into `engagement + retainer + mediator-selection` mode.

If you want, I can draft:
1. a reply to Maya,
2. a shortlist/ranking of those mediators,
3. or a plain-English summary of what signing the engagement package means.


text: nope - we need to reply and thank her for the mediator names and then tell her that as i explained to Sarah - my wife wishes to explore mediation first - so i'm going to hold off on signing the engagment letter or making the deposite until that avenue has been explored.


text: I’m drafting the reply as a clean, professional hold message: thank her for the mediator names, state that Lisa wants to explore mediation first, and say you’ll hold off on signing or paying until that’s been explored.


text:
Here’s the exact reply I drafted in [draft_reply_to_maya_hold_off_engagement_pending_mediation_2026-03-10.txt](/Users/qarl/project/divorce/legal/records/lawyers/wittrock/draft_reply_to_maya_hold_off_engagement_pending_mediation_2026-03-10.txt:1):

```text
Hi Maya,

Thank you for sending along the mediator names.

As I explained to Sarah, my wife wishes to explore mediation first, so I am going to hold off on signing the engagement letter or making the deposit until that avenue has been explored.

Thank you again for your help.

Karl
```

If you want, I can copy this to your clipboard.


text: yes please!


text: I’m copying the draft to your clipboard now.


text: Copied to your clipboard from [draft_reply_to_maya_hold_off_engagement_pending_mediation_2026-03-10.txt](/Users/qarl/project/divorce/legal/records/lawyers/wittrock/draft_reply_to_maya_hold_off_engagement_pending_mediation_2026-03-10.txt:1).