the grid

the grid

Sunday 28 October 2018

September-December: week 8

Good Enough Woman reminds me that we haven't done the traditional halfway-through revisiting of session goals, in case people need to revise the goals set at the beginning. So if you have realized that you need to jettison (uproot?) some goals, or revise (transplant?) others, there's no time like the present. (It's not going to get any earlier.)

We might think about the goal-revision as setting up the indoor garden, as in this post, which at first I thought was going to make me grumble about hardiness zones and people who can have artistic winter gardens, but in fact is about bringing plants inside: http://maryannemohanraj.com/2018/10/17/winter-garden-2/

What are you bringing inside and finding a sunny window for?

Bardiac (held over)
1. Practice a LOT for orchestra rehearsal and lesson.
2. Revisions.
3. Regular exercise, stretching.


Daisy
1) Get the major figures for Northern Paper finished
2) Do point form discussion sections for each figure
3) Write my section for cool joint paper
4) Do one relaxing thing like yoga or a run or a walk, anything counts

Dame Eleanor
1. Health: go to bed by 10:30 every night, stretch daily, walk or cardio daily, weights 3x. Make appt with doc and request referral to physical therapy for neck. Fun reading and self-nurturing acts daily.
2. Research: put in 4 hours and/or write 2000 words; keep up with languages.
3. Teaching: grade the next iterations of undergrad short paper, grad bibliographies. Design and post two new assignments for undergrads.
4. Life Stuff: file form, make deposit. Plan another trip to see my dad. Plan trip with Sir John in January. 2-3 household tasks. Haircut.
5. Several boring work admin things (not my idea of important, but required).


EAM
Write for 3 hours as many days as possible.
Straighten and organize on days I can't write.

GEW
1. Celebrate my 50th birthday [with] a party.
2. Move like water through daughter's Halloween party.
3. Grade a little bit on Sunday despite all inclinations not to.
4. Read for fun a lot.
5. Fiddle with the novel project just a bit.
6. Don't feel guilty about ignoring some work things.
7. Revisit goals to plan for rest of this TLQ session.

heu mihi
1. Write/read x 5, sit x 5, language x 5
2. Stretch x 6, exercise at will
3. Read something for pleasure
4. Just stay on top of all the stuff, and don't overuse alcohol as a reward for long days

Humming42
1 Finish and submit current book review
2 Four hours on Tiny Project
3 Draft curriculum proposal and send to committee

JaneB
1) coffee shop with pen, notebook and fancy coffee!
2) do an hour on straightforward research thing for FocusedWoman
3) type up the patterns for the first two squares of the blanket. Either work on the next design, or start on a re-knit of the one I just did.
4) no refined sugar, make sure I drink enough fluids, and take a minute's standing break every 45-60 minutes of desk time.

oceangirl101
1. Make decision about Spring semester leave
2. Email/phone meetings with potential graduate students
3. Read books x 2 and take notes
4. Exercise x 4
5. Help Mom with some estate planning loose ends
6. Think about work that needs to be done for collaborative paper
7. Liase with Mom's doctor and hospice team


Plant Girl (held over)
1. Finalize my conference paper, get to conference, enjoy/do well at conference. Try not to be shy/awkward at conference.
2. Try to squeeze in FL work in spite of conference travel
3. Keep on top of applications
4. Try to at least think about chapter edits? I got some encouraging initial feedback from the peer review on my proposal so I really should be motivated/excited about it.

Waffles
1. Dyad and election portion of manuscript
2. Stupid PTSD paper
3. Stupid asthma paper
4. Finish research strategy of NIH K
5. Do 4th interview
6. Winnow down results of intersectionality paper and see if a clearer story emerges

Sunday 21 October 2018

September-December: Week Seven

I loved DEH's topic last week, and I wish I could rip out the grading plot right now because it has gone absolutely wild and become extremely invasive, so much so that I didn't end up making time to respond to DEH's topic.

This week, I'm thinking about a few of you who are planning to do NaNoWriMo. I'm wondering how you do it--how you make time and how you keep pressing forward through the shades of uncertainty and into the thickets of imperfect prose. I have thought about doing NaNo, and I'm curious. I also think your insights will be useful even for those not doing NaNoWriMo because it's likely we all have projects that could use some extra attention in November before the holidays hit.

Another possible topic for those who aren't doing (or haven't done) NaNo is how you're adjusting to shorter days. Last week, heu mihi mentioned having to give up early runs because it's getting darker, and I, too, am starting to notice the daily differences. What changes to your rhythms will you have to make as your gardens receive a little less light?

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!


Bardiac (held over)
1. Practice a LOT for orchestra rehearsal and lesson. (We didn't have an orchestra rehearsal this past week, but the week before, I was BY FAR the weakest player. I'm so much a beginner, in many ways, but good practice should mean that I can learn these parts. 
2. Revisions.
3. Regular exercise, stretching.

Daisy
1) Get the major figures for Northern Paper finished
2) Do point form discussion sections for each figure
3) Complete figures for co-authored study
4) Write my section for cool joint paper

DEH
1. Health: go to bed by 10:30 every night, stretch daily, walk or cardio daily, weights 3x. Make appt with doc and request referral to physical therapy for neck. Fun reading and self-nurturing acts daily.
2. Research: put in 4 hours and/or write 2000 words; keep up with languages.
3. Teaching: grade two more things (undergrad short paper, grad bibliographies). Design and post assignment for undergrads (another one).
4. Life Stuff: lump bills and form together and do it all at once. Plan another trip to see my dad.

EAM
Write for 3 hours as many days as possible.
Straighten and organize on days I can't write.

GEW (held over)
1) Finish stitching leaves onto dress.
2) Finish and submit funding request.
3) Write belated thank you notes to people that hosted us this summer.
4) Read one chapter of SF criticism.
5) Hem my son's curtains. I've been putting this off for over a year.
6) Finish all but one stack of essay by Thursday (eep!).
7) Do more planning for the novel and write at least 300 new words.
8) Hang more pictures in office.
9) Get rid of something from garage pile.
10) Dare I plan to clean out the linen closet? Probably not.

heumihi
1. Write x 5, language x 5, sit x 5, exercise x 3
2. Article review
3. Submit Wonder
4. Official abstract for Impatience
5. Finish reading diss for Impatience; figure out next steps

humming42
1 Complete revise and resubmit
2 Prepare and present Craft
3 Prepare and present Castle

JaneB
1) do second piece of late refereeing
2) do straightforward research thing for FocusedWomand
3) clear off my desk at work.
4) type up the patterns for the first two squares of the blanket. Either work on the next design, or start on a re-knit of the one I just did.
5) no refined sugar, make sure I drink enough fluids, and take a minute's standing break every 45-60 minutes of desk time.
6) coffee shop with pen, notebook and fancy coffee!

oceangirl101
1. Read and comment on grad student diss chapter
2. Email/talk with two prospective graduate students
3. Skype into workshop meeting that I had to miss traveling to
4. Liase with Mom's hospice team
5. Get things done around house- move Mom TV into bedroom, new call system etc. 
6. Exercise x 4
7. POA stuff at bank, go through security box

Plant Girl (held over)
1. Finalize my conference paper, get to conference, enjoy/do well at conference. Try not to be shy/awkward at conference.
2. Try to squeeze in FL work in spite of conference travel
3. Keep on top of applications 
4. Try to at least think about chapter edits? I got some encouraging initial feedback from the peer review on my proposal so I really should be motivated/excited about it.

Waffles
1. Reimbursement paperwork for LV
2. Finish that darned review!
3. PTSD paper - revise and send onto collaborators
4. Revise asthma paper (review)
5. Finish analyses and figure out journal for quant asthma paper
6. Take stock of journal review project and push to get it done
7. Get audio recordings to transcriptionist and figure out what is wrong with backup recorder


Sunday 14 October 2018

September-December Week 6

Last weekend, in a fit of literalizing our metaphor, I ripped out most of the oregano that has colonized my front garden over the last few years. It's amazing how much open space there is now. There must have been other plants there at some point, and possibly some of them will come back next spring now they're not being choked by the oregano. Or maybe I'll plant something if we're still here. Now we're on the verge of frost, so there's not much point, now, in putting anything in.

Do you have a plot that's overgrown, or in which something isn't doing well, that you could rip out and use for something else?

As usual, respond to the prompt if it speaks to you; report your wins; reflect on your losses; post your new goals.

Roll call:

Bardiac
1. Practice a LOT for orchestra rehearsal and lesson.
2. Revisions.
3. Regular exercise, stretching.

Daisy
Next 2 weeks' goals:
1) Get the major figures for Northern Paper finished
2) Do point form discussion sections for each figure
3) Complete figures for co-authored study
4) Write my section for cool joint paper

Dame Eleanor Hull
1. Health: go to bed by 10:30 every night, stretch daily, walk or cardio daily, weights 3x. Massage, or make appt with doc and request referral to physical therapy for neck. Fun reading and self-nurturing acts daily.
2. Research: put in 4 hours and/or write 2000 words; keep up with languages.
3. Teaching: grade two more things (undergrad short paper, grad bibliographies). Design and post assignment for undergrads.
4. Life Stuff: lump bills and form together and do it all at once. Plant something cold-hardy in the newly opened space in the garden. Plan another trip to see my dad.

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
Plan best way to deal with next lithotripsy and recovery.
Revise outline and plans for the rest of October and November.
Write for 3 hours for 5 days.
If writing proves impossible, file, shred, organize for 3 hours that day.

Good Enough Woman
1) Finish stitching leaves onto dress.
2) Finish and submit funding request.
3) Write belated thank you notes to people that hosted us this summer.
4) Read one chapter of SF criticism.
5) Hem my son's curtains. I've been putting this off for over a year.
6) Finish all but one stack of essay by Thursday (eep!).
7) Do more planning for the novel and write at least 300 new words.
8) Hang more pictures in office.
9) Get rid of something from garage pile.
10) Dare I plan to clean out the linen closet? Probably not.

heu mihi
1. Submit Wonder
2. Write x 5, language x 4, sit x 5, exercise x 4
3. Evaluate grant proposal
4. Finish reading diss for Impatience; figure out next steps   

Humming42
submit my portfolio for promotion

JaneB
1) finish last of the deFurballing of the house and hoover ready for when Fluffball is ready to expand his range
2) do late refereeing
3) do straightforward research thing for FocusedWomand
4) clear off my desk at work.
5) type up the patterns for the first two squares of the blanket. Either work on the next design, or start on a re-knit of the one I just did.
6) no refined sugar, make sure I drink enough fluids, and take a minute's standing break every 45-60 minutes of desk time.
7) coffee shop with pen, notebook and fancy coffee!

Oceangirl101
1. Meetings to get Mom's hospice team started
2. Strategize with Mom/therapist about sister's visit
3. Email with prospective student
4. Read graduate student diss chapter and make comments
5. Read and take notes on 2 more books for CH 3 and 6
6. Get Mom's tv moved into her bedroom
7. Exercise x 4 or 5

Plant Girl
1. Finalize my conference paper, get to conference, enjoy/do well at conference. Try not to be shy/awkward at conference.
2. Try to squeeze in FL work in spite of conference travel
3. Keep on top of applications
4. Try to at least think about chapter edits

Waffles
1. Really do need to get that final review done
2. Also really need to give student feedback on their paper
3. Finish PTSD analyses write up 0
4. Do a little shaping of intro for review paper for the journal’s audience
5. Make K revisions.

Saturday 6 October 2018

September-December: Week Five

Last week at the writer's conference I went to, one writer said that she writes first thing every morning because then the rest of the day already feels like "a win." It wasn't the first time I'd heard this general idea, but I'm not sure I'd heard it exactly that way. Or, if I had, I found it more provoking that I have in the past. So now I'm thinking about what this might mean for me and whether or not I'm willing to make some changes.

What about all of you? What could you do first thing in the morning that would make the rest of the day feel like a win? Do you already do this? Is it feasible to create this time if you use some of the fencing or force fields we talked about last week?

I hope you all have a lot of "wins" this week and that you recover from the recent news cycles, regardless of what part of the world you're in.


Bardiac
This week is it for the revision!

Daisy
1) Work on one section of Northern Paper (better name than New paper…)
2) Check on former grad student and help if stuck
3) Make one new figure for Norther Paper
4) One completed data set for co-authored study, plus associated figures now TRQ unfortunately
5) Lingering service tasks for national organization for upcoming meeting now TRQ unfortunately

DEH
1. Health: go to bed by 10:30 every night, stretch daily, walk or cardio daily, weights 3x.
2. Research: make plan, write 2000 words; keep up with languages.
3. Teaching: grade two more things. Figure out what else I ought to be doing. Read a lot.
4. Life Stuff: lump bills and form together and do it all at once. Rip out more oregano. Plan another trip to see my dad.

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
Get through lithotripsy and recovery.
Pull together realistic plans for the last three weeks of the sabbatical.
Write for 2 hours for 4 days.

GEW
1) Tailor my daughter's dress for the dance.
2) Take son on an outing? If not this week, then next.
3) Write 15 minutes, 6 days. Figure out writing schedule (a.k.a. build fencing).
4) Keep a steading pace on grading, 6-10 essays per day, depending on day.
5) Get rid of one more thing/pile in the garage.
6) Hang pictures in office.
7) Read chapter of SF or c18 crit.
8) Start funding request docs.

heu mihi
1. Student stuff: read chapter; prep questions; rec letter
2. Write x 5, language x 5, sit x 5, exercise x 5
3. Schedule WtW event
4. Block purple sweater

humming42
1 edit submitted book review
2 set up reading group
3 research for online presentation
4 find recommended sources for R&R

JaneB
1) finish last of the deFurballing of the house and hoover ready for when Fluffball is ready to expand his range
2) do late refereeing
3) do straightforward research thing for FocusedWomand
4) clear off my desk at work.
5) type up the patterns for the first two squares of the blanket. Either work on the next design, or start on a re-knit of the one I just did.
6) no refined sugar, make sure I drink enough fluids, and take a minute's standing break every 45-60 minutes of desk time.
7) coffee shop with pen, notebook and fancy coffee!


oceangirl101
1. Meetings with Mom doctors to figure out when to transition to real hospice
2. Research- take notes on readings for book, organize Ch 6 and Ch 3 if have the head space for it
3. Send emails to get replacement teacher the help he needs
3. Read diss chapter of graduate student and make comments
4. Exercise 5 x 
5. Get Mom's tv moved into bedroom

Plant Girl
1. WORK ON CHAPTER EDITS 
2. Send in two more job applications and a fellowship application
3. Enjoy time with family this weekend
4. Get in some FL work, 4X ideally

Waffles
1. Two reviews I am tardy on - held over
2. Mentee’s methods and results - held over
3. Finish analyses and results for asthma paper - held over
4. Work on aim 1 discussion then send to co-author - held over
5. PTSD analyses write up