the grid

the grid

Sunday 28 July 2019

Summer-north, Winter-south Week 10: Focus

Hello everyone! Thank you for your forbearance as I disappeared last week; and many thanks to DEH for picking up the slack. I was away on my Family Beach Week, and, while I planned to do a quick and promptless post last Sunday, I promptly forgot. So here we are.

It's about 5 weeks until I go back to teaching, and we'll be away for one of those weeks. The time is closing in. So, for this week's theme, I propose Focus: remembering those things that really need to be done. (I refrained from saying "what's really important," because then we get into things like relaxation and restoration and whatnot, and what I really mean is the stuff on your research / teaching / goal lists that you're going to be kicking yourself if you neglect altogether this summer.)

What will your focus (or foci) be for the next few weeks? What might you allow to fall by the wayside?

Looking forward to catching up with you all!

Dame Eleanor Hull:
1, gym/walk/swim x6, stretch x6, usual low-FODMAP cooking.
2, gardening, make an appointment for maintenance.
3, complete conference paper draft; touch R&R so I remember what I'm doing with it.
4, translation proofing.
5, continue planning courses, ~ 2 hours.
6, drill grammar or vocabulary x 4 in one language.


Elizabeth Anne Mitchell:
One hour x 6 on Prudence apparatus. 
One hour x 5 hours on file cabinet. 
Three hours on the writing course.
Meditate x 5.


Good Enough Woman (carried over):
1) Write 5x
2) Exercise 5x (and get at least 5000 steps most days)
3) Take daughter to waterpark on Tuesday
4) Enjoy anniversary celebration. Try to relax and not worry about what's happening with kids, chores, academic tasks, etc.
5) Check in with son to see if he wants to go on any special outings
6) Find one good plant-based meal to try
7) Get 201B and 201C syllabus work mostly done. Write two sets of study questions for new texts.


heu mihi (carried over):
1. 5-10 hours on edits for monograph
2. 2-4 hours on Wonder
3. Read 30 pages of Proust (finish Sodome et Gomorrhe)
4. Read another monograph
5. Read grad student's chapter
6. Do all the beach prep (which is considerable, as I like to prepare for trips as I might prepare for death)
7. Exercise x5, language x5, sit x??


humming42:
1 Write and submit a book review
2 Keep up with grading and comments
3 Write and submit panel abstract
4 Write something every day


JaneB:
(Pre-conference:) make sure I prioritise self-care over what I "ought" to do or owe the faculty for part-paying-for the trip
(At the conference:) every day, attend one session's worth of talks, read one poster, talk to one person about science who isn't involved in FlatProject (so that can be a current collaborator or a science friend or a new person), and drink at least 2l of water! And that is ENOUGH.

oceangirl101:
1) finish Ch 3 writing, start edits
2) choose books for fall, course planning
3) read two diss chapters for students
4) do some organization work to prepare for postdoc starting in the fall
5) meet with illustrator on figures for book
6) exercise x 4
7) fun x 2


Susan (carried over):
1. Finish edits on text of Memorial. (I got comments from the editor, which were "BE BOLD", so . . .)
2. Start working on footnotes for Memorial (There are a lot of placeholder ones)
3. Keep walking
4. Enjoy London
5. Keep reading for fun


Waffles:
1. Diss paper R&R
2. Revise and re-submit to a different journal rejected F32 paper
3. Start reshaping victimization paper #1
4. Get some articles for victimization paper #3



Sunday 21 July 2019

Summer-north, winter-south, week 9: ride within yourself

Greetings, all! It's DEH again, the medievalist-cycling fanatic (I guess pilgrimages were the medieval version of the Tour de France), still thinking of everything in terms of cycling metaphors. The language used by professional cyclists and their commentators is, um, idiosyncratic at times: "going backwards" means people are passing you even as you keep riding forwards; to say a descent is "technical" translates to "terrifyingly twisty"; and does anyone remember the race in which Bob Roll suddenly blurted out “diamond star halo" when waxing enthusiastic? Did I hallucinate that? (Edited to add: no, it was in the 2012 Paris-Nice.)

Anyway! "Ride within yourself" is something like "keep your eyes on your own page." Do what you can do; don't exhaust yourself trying to keep up with someone who just blew past you. Just keep riding at a steady pace, recuperate as best you can, conserve your strength, limit your losses. Don't make it worse. Sometimes people who have to "ride within themselves" for awhile on a steep ascent make it back and are able to attack. Sometimes they still lose time, just not as much as if they really blew themselves up.

If you're riding back into form, terrific! But even someone who's making it into form may have a day when you need to conserve strength. Make sure you look after yourself this week. Our session still has a few more weeks to go, so plan how you're going to survive to ride into your own metaphorical Paris at the end. Just get there. Even the "lanterne rouge" (slowest time on the race) is someone who finished. DFL>DNF>DNS.

Let us know how you're doing, what you're planning for next week, and what sort of support we can provide you as we all progress toward the final stage!

Dame Eleanor Hull
1, gym/walk/swim x6, stretch x6, usual low-FODMAP cooking.
2, pay bills, make an appointment for maintenance.
3, conference paper draft for writing group; touch R&R so I remember what I'm doing with it.
4, further translation editing.
5, continue planning courses, ~ 2 hours.
6, drill grammar or vocabulary x 3 in one language.
7, assemble paperwork for passport appointment.

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
One hour x 6 on Prudence apparatus.
One hour x 5 hours on file cabinet.
Three hours on the writing course.
Meditate x 5.

Good Enough Woman
1) Write 5x
2) Exercise 5x (and get at least 5000 steps most days)
3) Take daughter to waterpark on Tuesday
4) Enjoy anniversary celebration. Try to relax and not worry about what's happening with kids, chores, academic tasks, etc.
5) Check in with son to see if he wants to go on any special outings
6) Find one good plant-based meal to try
7) Get 201B and 201C syllabus work mostly done. Write two sets of study questions for new texts.

heu mihi
1. 5-10 hours on edits for monograph
2. 2-4 hours on Wonder
3. Read 30 pages of Proust (finish Sodome et Gomorrhe)
4. Read another monograph
5. Read grad student's chapter
6. Do all the beach prep (which is considerable, as I like to prepare for trips as I might prepare for death)
7. Exercise x5, language x5, sit x??

Humming42
1 Write and submit review due this week
2 Keep up with grading and comments
3 Write something every day

Karen?

KJHaxton?

JaneB

1a: 5-10 minute exercise routines, track noodling and sleep (as a step towards changing the habit), journal daily
1b: pick up the spaces that have been decluttered, make another appointment (for early August).
1c: park the square I was working on and start a new version. Touch one other crafty project
2a: Complete application for Pointless But Gratifying, complete as much data analysis and write as much of the conference talk for Fragment as possible, get the conference poster sent off for printing, write up a first draft of FavouriteIslandsGrantIdea, process FlatProject results when they come off my computer, help out with data analysis for another paper to be presented at the conference (writing days)
2b: continue making teaching related lists
2c: Find samples for FavouriteIslands analysis and pass any that need it on to technician. Clear off my lab corner so I can start analysis on the ones I didn't finish last summer.
3: extras: half an hour of office decluttering, start organising things for the conference trip

oceangirl101
1) go through 2 weeks of mail/email, bills etc.
2) get AC fixed
3) exercise 3x
4) fun 2x
5) outline last bits of Ch 3
6) write 2000 words
7) choose books for fall

Susan (held over)
1. Finish edits on text of Memorial. (I got comments from the editor, which were "BE BOLD", so . . .)
2. Start working on footnotes for Memorial (There are a lot of placeholder ones)
3. Keep walking
4. Enjoy London
5. Keep reading for fun

Waffles
1. Make progress on R&R
2. Answer questions on qual manuscript (hopefully after my questions about authorship are cleared up)
3. Figure out what needs to be done for victimization paper
4. Make a plan for SOQIR papers
5. Make a plan for a relationships and health paper
6. Figure out where to send desk rejected no-longer-JAMA peds paper. :(
7. Set meeting with coauthors to talk about other rejected paper

Sunday 14 July 2019

Summer-north, Winter-south, Week 8: Riding back into form

Those of you who have been around awhile know that I'm a cycling fan and spend a large hunk of July watching the Tour de France (at home on TV, so far, but some year I'm going to be in France for it!). At this time of year, I tend to think in cycling metaphors.

Sometimes, riders start a race in not-great shape due to recent illness or injuries, and use the race itself to train for the race. They may not be candidates for the overall win, but over the course of three weeks (the length of the Grand Tours, the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, the Vuelta à España) they can shape up enough to win some stages, or even a jersey in the mountains or points competitions.

Similarly, sometimes riders suffer injuries or illness during a race, not bad enough to abandon, but enough to slow them down for awhile. They can continue to work for higher-placed teammates. Here, Dylan Groenewegen, a sprinter on the Jumbo-Visma squad, comes to mind. He crashed in the first stage of this year's Tour, near the end, and lost the opportunity to win the stage. One of his lead-out men took the stage and the yellow jersey, so at least his team did well. Then Dylan came back and won stage seven.

On the other hand, Tejay Van Garderen (one of only four Americans in this year's race, and the most likely to place well) crashed out of the race on stage seven. He's now cheering on his team from home while his broken thumb heals. Mark Cavendish, a British sprinter, stayed home altogether, because his team director didn't think he was fit enough for the race. He went for a ride with a five-year-old "to cheer us both up."

I think I'm managing to ride back into form. At least, this past week I had more good days than bad ones; stuff is getting done. I'm also helping out my teammates on the latest round of Huge Honking Translation edits, so even when I'm not making progress on my own goals, I can do something for the team. It's something.

How's your race going? If you're not winning, can you ride back into form? Can you help out the team? Can you cheer someone else up? Let us know how you're doing and what your goals are for the coming week.

Dame Eleanor Hull

1, gym/walk/swim x6, stretch x6, usual low-FODMAP cooking.
2, pay bills, make an appointment for maintenance.
3, keep writing/editing R&R.
4, further translation editing.
5, continue planning courses, ~ 2 hours.
6, drill grammar or vocabulary x 3 in one language.
7, make appointment to get replacement passport.

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell

Contact Associate Dean.
Contact Department Chair.
Contact supportive administrator.
Call for doctor's appointment.
Finish job application.
Finish peer review.
Two hours on Prudence apparatus.
Three hours on file cabinet.

Good Enough Woman

I hope you’re feeling okay. Best wishes!

heu mihi

1. 5 hours of copy-editing
2. Two thirty-minute sessions on Wonder
3. Language x 4
4. Sit x 3 (please!!)
5. 2 hours of yard work
6. Clean the house in preparation for Saturday visitors
7. Finish reading monograph; 30 pages of Proust

Humming42

1 Draft Time abstract
2 Write and submit a review
3 Blog post
4 Write for Tiny Project every day

JaneB

1a: 5-10 minute exercise routines, track noodling and sleep (as a step towards changing the habit), journal daily
1b: pick up the spaces that have been decluttered, make another appointment.
1c: park the square I was working on and start a new version. Touch one other crafty project
2a: Spend a day on Fragment and send emails about FlatProject, review an article, complete application for pointless but potentially gratifying thing
2b: start making some lists, send more emails about the recce visit
2c: Find samples for FavouriteIslands analysis and pass any that need it on to technician. Clear off my lab corner so I can start analysis on the ones I didn't finish last summer.
3: extras: half an hour of office decluttering

oceangirl101

I hope the trip and research are going well!

Susan

1. Finish edits on text of Memorial. (I got comments from the editor, which were "BE BOLD", so . . .)
2. Start working on footnotes for Memorial (There are a lot of placeholder ones)
3. Keep walking
4. Enjoy London
5. Keep reading for fun

Waffles

Did you get your K revision done?

Sunday 7 July 2019

Week 7: Midpoint Check-In and Recalibration

I'm sorry to have to tell you that we're about halfway through the session. We might not be exactly halfway--I haven't actually counted--but 7 weeks is usually right around the midpoint.

So let's return to both last week's goals and our session goals, if that suits you, and make any necessary adjustments now that we're well into the summer/winter!


This is also a great time to check back in if you've fallen by the wayside. I hope that everyone's been well and finding nice little pockets of enjoyment in their lives.

Session Goals:

Dame Eleanor Hull:
1, underpinning all the rest, maintain healthy exercise and eating routines.
2, live with uncertainty and work the process w/r/t house.
3, finish 3-year-old R&R.
4, conference paper/part of book chapter.
5, plan all 4 classes for next year.
6, regular reading/study of foreign languages.


Elizabeth Anne Mitchell:

  • Organizing Goals: 
    • Create and execute a clear organization to the scholarly apparatus for Prudence. 
    • Slash and burn through three lateral file drawers.
  • Writing Goals:
    • Edit three pages a day of Prudence. 
  • Health Goals:
    • Get through surgery and recovery.
    • Continue to walk, dance and move.
    • Continue to eat better than I did a year ago.
  • Creativity goals:
    • Write at least fifteen minutes a day on a creative project--novella, novel, or story bible.
    • Knit for at least a half-hour daily.


Good Enough Woman:
1) 5 hours of exercise per week
2) 5x meditation per week
3) 5 hours of writing per week
4) 5 hours of prep work per week
5) 5 hours of house chores per week (organizing, gardening, etc.)
6) 5 new family-friendly plant-based meals to add to the repertoire


heu mihi:
1. Read 20 books (mix of work and leisure)
2. Meet deadlines: (a) submit Death essay by June 15; (b) draft/write/submit up to four conference abstracts (due June 3, Sept. 15(?), Sept. 15(?), and Oct. 1); (c) submit proposal for edited collection by Sept. 1; review copy-edited book MS (June/July-ish--depends on when it comes in)
3. Revise Wonder essay and figure out where to send it next
4. Revise novel draft from NaNo 18
5. Yard work for 3 hours/week
6. Run 6 miles one time
7. Language study (30 minutes, 5 times a week)
8. Sit (in meditation) some amount


humming42:
1 submit Perform abstract
2 write Perform as if I will present in Fall
3 write and submit Slow
4 develop full outline for Tiny Project
5 organize and outline for December essay


JaneB:
1a - self-care. water (lots), food (eat well), sleep (get into better habits), calm (cultivate it), less noodling (more deliberate choices)
1b - creating domestic order (a sub-class of self-care, but one with particular needs right now). continue to make progress with decluttering, with particular goals of having a kitchen I want to use and to have gotten a series of small handy-person-needed tasks done.
1c) making things. I want to get on with the research-related squares which have been quite neglected, finish never-ending project (which is in cotton yarn so pretty summer-handwork-friendly) and a pair of socks. Work on my NaNoWriMo novel from last year, and if I find the right mental space write some poetry.
2a - research writing. Get ProblemChild2 dispatched if possible to its first choice journal. Fragment (a new project F paper) - this will be a conference presentation in July and should become a complete paper manuscript by the end of the session. And get FlatProjectFirst into a fairly complete draft (assuming the problem I spotted last week is just a quirk and not an oh bug*ger we need to redo everything). Also write equivalent of one research grant application.
2b: teaching prep (to make space for more calm in semester). Key areas are "new" modules (complete rewrites of the GiantFirstYearModules, which I rather resent right now) and setting up a new teacher bag and teaching prep system (I like making systems).
2c: research data and admin things (I need to do some sample analysis on samples from FavouriteIslands, work out some storage solutions for twenty-mumble years of samples which are bursting out of their boxes and implement them, and refresh our collection of teaching/outreach visual materials for my core area, so it comes under research as it will be fun...).


karen:
- have a creative work complete to the point of showing to collaborator
- have a complete first draft of conference paper
- complete WIL project to the point of having report/actions written up
- complete coursework masters internal review to the point of having draft proposal ready for senior leadership group
- do a park run


KJHaxton:
1. to build in writing time into my schedule. Aim: 1 hour per day.
2. to research-analyse-write deliberately and to a plan. Aim: make a plan for each project
3. to work modestly on teaching prep to make space during semester time for items 1 and 2 on this list. Aim: 1 half day per week
4. to work modestly on admin tasks to make progress, but on a schedule that suits me, not the latest 'emergency'. 


oceangirl101:
- complete 2.5 chapters of book (or more)
- work on resilence and time paper with colleagues
- widen/strengthen group of local friends/support network
- self care: eat well, garden, exercise 4x a wk


Susan:
1. Finish Violence
2. Review collaboration paper (almost done)
3. Finish memorial
4. Prepare two semi-new courses
5. House stuff: roof, new floor for bedroom, new ceiling fans? Decluttering
6. Keep (return to) walking
7. Read for fun as well as work


Last week's goals: 

Dame Eleanor Hull:
1, gym/walk/swim x6, stretch x6, usual low-FODMAP cooking.
2, house-showing prep.
3, keep writing/editing R&R.
4, revise translation intro as desired by editors.
5, continue planning courses, ~ 2 hours.
6, drill grammar or vocabulary x 3 in one language.
7, Take steps toward replacing passport.


heu mihi:
1. Language x5, write x5, exercise x4, sit x?
2. Work through all of new draft of Wonder (first, messy round of revisions)
3. Grad student essay
4. Make Summer 2017 albums (2 volumes)
5. Read some stuff


humming42:
1 Draft Time abstract
2 Write and submit a review
3 Blog post
4 Write for Tiny Project every day


JaneB (carried over):
1a: water, 5-10 minute exercise routines, sleep schedule
1b: pick up the spaces that have been decluttered, make another appointment.
1c: pick up the square I was working on and make some progress
2a: Spend half an hour each on Fragment and FlatProject, review an article, complete application for pointless but potentially gratifying thing
2b: start making some lists, send more emails about the recce visit
2c: Find samples for FavouriteIslands analysis and pass them on to technician
3: extras: half an hour of office decluttering


oceangirl101 (carried over):
1) meet with govt officials, local offices to discuss 2020 project
2) give back analyzed objects and organize at the Museum, discuss idea for exhibit
3) meet with landowners/council of elders to get permissions
4) see my second family (my adopted family at my field sites)
5) travel to a new island and see if I want to work there
6) eat some really yummy fish, swim and snorkel as much as I can, hike, enjoy a beer or two, and generally get away from it all for awhile


Susan (carried over):
1. Finish book orders
2. Finish clearing desk
3. Possibly get some book organizing done?
4. Get reviews into Zotero so all the random clippings can be recycled 
5. Do one manuscript review
6. Pay relevant bills
7. Pack
8. Walk 3 times 
9. Try to be mellow 

Waffles:
So the goals for this week are just about getting my K revision done (drop dead date Wednesday of next week; submitted near final version to grants manager today). I also have to review a predoc NIH grant by Friday.