Storm Claudia brought a day of heavy rain and flooding to my part of the UK yesterday, and I was very glad it was my non-contract day so I could stay in, even if I did have work to do! Not having Thanksgiving to look forward to can make this part of the year especially "slogging through mud that sticks to your boots" in nature, but we are definitely past the half way point of the semester so we should all give ourselves a little pat on the back and some virtual chocolate!
This week, lets talk about how we corral our writing implements on our desks and when we're moving around - do you still have a nice pencil case like we had in school, or are you more of a "pen in every bag and pocket" type? Does your desk have a special pen pot or tray, or do writing implements hang our free-range?
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| A Shoutypants laser-hunting victory caught on camera! (Ignore bucket of washing up items being collected from all over the house, I didn't get to clear the photo zone before playtime was demanded) |
<b>LAST WEEK'S GOALS:</b>
Daisy
Sample processing
Review
Awful 1.5-day committee meeting in different town
Friend visit in former town after meeting
Dame Eleanor Hull
- at least 4 writing sessions
- grade undergrad papers; grade last grad quiz, make up next one & grade it; grade at least one in-class assignment from undergrads; do some prep of objects for a special class
- more work on sample syllabus for a proposed course
- more planning of writing projects
- dig compost-heap potatoes
heu mihi
2. Read grad student's note and respond to it
3. Three articles/chapters
4. Follow up on conference-related work
5. Cook and deliver meal for sick colleague
6. Get Covid vaccine
7. Exercise etc.
JaneB
a) intentional movement for at least 15 minutes three days
b) making a couple of times a week
c) two gently social things (D&D hopefully)
d) keep up reading for pleasure
IMPROVING MY ENVIRONMENT
a) 75%+ of the weekly list of chores
b) make a plan for the shelving in the living room
c) don't make clothes worse
TEACHING AND ADMIN:
a) prepare week 10 materials
b) limit teaching and admin to 5 hours at weekend
c) finish current graduate student text and do at least one more piece of graduate student writing (both MSc by thesis students submitted drafts of stuff last week)
RESEARCH
a) prepare for large project meeting (comment on revised document)
b) finish very long lasting multi-author paper resubmission
c) if possible read revised manuscript from last autumn's visiting pot-doc.
Shoutypants in action - excellent.
ReplyDeleteI have pots on my desk for pens, pencils etc, though neither is special. Otherwise, I have a pen in every bag and hate losing them. I do have a cute little set of drawers my daughter painted for me years ago which I use for paper clips and drawing pins.
Last week:
1. PhD viva. - YES (went well, interesting discussion, just very long!)
2. Submit proposal for conference next year. - YES
3. Work on article edits - 1 day. - YES
4. Work on chapters - 1 day for each. - MOST OF A DAY ON EACH.
5. House/life admin: find plumber for annoying small things that don't seem to be working, send BIL birthday card, chase prescription, book eye test for daughter, book haircut for me. - NO, YES, NO, YES, YES. And piano has gone to a new home!
6. Self-care/fun: find date to meet up with friends, read, journal, sleep, exercise, pub quiz with other friends. - NO, YES, YES, NOT ENOUGH x 2, YES (we were terrible)
One day on each writing project did work quite well, though they are all at an advanced stage, so I can park on a downhill slope now with all of them. It might not be such a good strategy at the start of projects.
I started with some kind of cold/virus mid-week, which has left me feeling low on energy. It's worst first thing in the morning, which is not great for bouncing out of bed and getting two teens out the house on time. I did still manage to get a reasonable amount of writing done, but a lot of house/life admin stuff fell by the way. I also bumped another car in a dark car park on Friday evening and did more damage to the other car than to mine. I have sorted things out with the owner, but that was quite a lot of time and energy and money spent on a stupid mistake. So all in all, not the best week. Storm Claudia didn't batter us too badly, though, and I had a nice walk this afternoon in autumn sunshine.
Next week:
1. Finish article edits and resubmit.
2. Finish one of the chapters and send to editors.
3. Work on other chapter if time.
4. House/life admin: find plumber, chase prescription, take car for service/MOT and hope worrying engine noise doesn't turn out to be serious, start Xmas planning.
5. Self care: get over cold/virus!
Oh no, a virus and a car prang, that is not a good week! I hope you feel a lot better soon and that this week runs more smoothly!
DeleteLots of DONE, though, and I'm glad to hear you found a home for the piano! But echoing JaneB's wishes for improvement all round in the coming week.
DeleteGood work on finding a home for the piano! And so sorry for the virus/cold. I hope you feel better soon!
DeleteGlad the PhD went well. Good luck getting over virus, they are awful this time of year...Hope you recover fast and nobody else succumbs...
DeleteAt home, I keep most of the pens etc. on my desk in two mugs, one for general writing implements and one for paint brushes, screwdrivers and other Desk Miscellany, Things like tape and erasers live mostly in a couple of small three drawer storage units where I also keep brush pens and stickers and some sewing supplies and STUFF. I have a mesh pencil case in my work bag but mostly use one pen that is clipped to the outside pocket. And at work I tend to have random loose pens on my desk for me, and a pencil pot (old baked bean tin, edges smoothed, decorated for me by my Godson about 25 years ago with pictures from a Christmas catalogue!) holds cheap pens and pencils for students to grab. There is a drawer where most stationary stuff gets tossed, which is occasionally mildly orderly, and did get turned out in July so it's quite good right now. For the moment. Also there's a pen or pencil or both in the pocket of pretty much any coat I own, any bag I own etc.
ReplyDeleteLAST WEEK:
Well, I made it through the tough week. I used to do days that long without more than a mild complaint, four or five times a week, but current me is NOT up to that any more! This coming week is a bit lighter, the following week is another very busy one, then it's all downhill.
SELF-CARE:
a) intentional movement for at least 15 minutes three days yes
b) making a couple of times a week one
c) two gently social things (D&D hopefully) yes - phone call with an old school friend, D&D with my nibling
d) keep up reading for pleasure yes, slowly
IMPROVING MY ENVIRONMENT
a) 75%+ of the weekly list of chores yes
b) make a plan for the shelving in the living room hahah no
c) don't make clothes worse Shoutypants climbed into the pile, dug around until a green and cream shirt was on top, then spent the day there whilst I was at work. I try to always leave something black at the top... so the clothes are hairier and cat-arranged now.
TEACHING AND ADMIN:
a) prepare week 10 materials mostly - couldn't do it all because my teaching team member had set the due date for submitting the data I need them to use in class later than normal and I didn't have access to it. sigh!
b) limit teaching and admin to 5 hours at weekend about 5 hours
c) finish current graduate student text and do at least one more piece of graduate student writing (both MSc by thesis students submitted drafts of stuff last week) yes, and a long chat with the MSc by thesis student whose work I had time to look at
RESEARCH
a) prepare for large project meeting (comment on revised document) yes
b) finish very long lasting multi-author paper resubmission no, continues next week
c) if possible read revised manuscript from last autumn's visiting pot-doc.not yet
I did manage to also set a model running on the laptop which I should have returned to IT months ago, but which was conveniently lying around in the office, so that counts as passive research (this is for an unfunded piece of work which could be rather exciting, which means my collaborator and I are doing it in corners of time on whatever computer we can scrape up, but at least we've got it all started now - she's doing another two runs on her old personal lap tops at home, but I have a cat who cannot be trusted not to nap on a running laptop and haven't found a safe place to leave one where he can't access it, so need to do mine at the office!
THE COMING WEEK:
DeleteSELF-CARE:
a) intentional movement for at least 15 minutes three days
b) making a couple of times a week
c) two gently social things (D&D hopefully)
d) keep up reading for pleasure
IMPROVING MY ENVIRONMENT
a) 75%+ of the weekly list of chores
b) make a plan for the shelving in the living room
c) don't make clothes worse
TEACHING AND ADMIN:
a) finish week 10 and prepare week 11 materials
b) limit teaching and admin to 5 hours at weekend (I have an online PhD defense to do on my non working day...)
c) do at least one more piece of graduate student writing (both MSc by thesis students submitted drafts of stuff last week)
RESEARCH
a) finish very long lasting multi-author paper resubmission
b) if possible read revised manuscript from last autumn's visiting post-doc.
Hairier and cat-arranged is surely an improvement? You are very fortunate to have a cat who helps with your clothes! It looks like you did a lot including self-care things, and I'm glad to hear that this week will be lighter.
DeleteHairier clothes also keep one warm more effectively... Shoutypants is clearly looking out for your welfare with the colder weather!
DeleteHope the lighter week stayed that way!
Pencil cases: I have a lovely periwinkle-blue one for my dead-language colo(u)red pencils, a small desk-drawer full of pens and pencils, a case of beautiful fancy colored pencils that were a present, at least one pen in every bag, and somewhere around here a box of spares/strays that I assembled before we moved . . . I should probably just give those away, or leave them lying around classrooms, because it's not as if I remember to "shop the box." When I was in NYC last summer, I went to the Strand and bought small cloth zip pouches (mostly with cats in the design) to give various friends and great-niblings; these seem to have been a hit. I kept one for myself but haven't started using it yet.
ReplyDeleteHow I did:
- swim x3, cardio x3, weights x2, yoga x5: YES. Swam 3 miles. It was an excellent week for exercise.
- at least 4 writing sessions: YES, though sometimes they were perfunctory (adding a quotation, that sort of thing).
- grade undergrad papers; grade last grad quiz, make up next one & grade it; grade at least one in-class assignment from undergrads; do some prep of objects for a special class: started papers; graded quiz, made up next one & graded it; yes; yes.
- more work on sample syllabus for a proposed course: SOME
- more planning of writing projects: NO
- dig compost-heap potatoes: Tried! I was surprised not to find any spuds. I was sure I saw potato plants growing, but maybe they were some other nightshade. Anyway, the compost heap has been turned over.
ALSO: got new mail.com account so I'm back, though it seems my new profile picture isn't showing up yet (as of time of posting; maybe later?); revised & sent a letter of recommendation (& got a request for another 2, 'tis the season); agreed to do the Companion essay.
Not exactly things accomplished, but distractions: my MIL spent several days in hospital, much family drama there. We saw a calico cat outside, apparently feral, and I've been leaving out food and a trap, made an appointment to have her spayed (TNR), but she has not put in another appearance. I have a theory that we are at the outer edges of the territory of a feral colony around here somewhere, so that every so often one or two young ones come exploring, but they wind up retreating to their usual areas. I hope either she's already been done (I didn't get a good look at her ears to see if one's tipped), or she'll come back, preferably before she has kittens under the deck.
New goals:
Delete- swim x3, cardio x3, weights x2, yoga x5
- at least 4 writing sessions
- finish grading undergrad papers; finish prep of objects for a special class; write two more assignments
- finish sample syllabus for a proposed course
- put new sticker on licence plate
Lots of things done! Happy to see you are doing the Companion essay, it sounded like the sort of thing that would end up being satisfying!
DeleteI have multiple jars for pens and pencils (2 on my desk, one in the kitchen.) I always have a couple of pens I actually use out of the jar, but they get lost under piles. I also carry some in every bag I have, AND I have one of those cute little bags that Dame Eleanor described that I use as a pen/pencil case that goes into my bag of the moment. My hunch is that I need to go through all the pens to see if they work, as some are antique and /or cheap. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteHow I did:
1. Write paper YES (on plane, not ideal)
2. Enjoy conference YES
3. Hang out with friends and academic friends YES
4. Try to get some exercise during conference NOT really, just walking around snowy/slushy city
5. Deal with any emergency stuff on work YES
6. Sleep well NO
7. Be zen about airline travel on 12 hour trips.. MOSTLY
I mean, I made it through the week! The conference was fun and I met a recent Ph.D. doing great work that is connected to mine. And I saw friends, academic and non-academic. Due to early arrival at the airport in case immigration was slow, my travel day yesterday was 17 hours door to door, including a suitcase that arrived at my house this morning because it didn't make the 20 minute connection for my last flight of the day. (I ran.) Anyway, it's over, no more travel for a while. Right now I have a sore throat, and I'm not sure whether I'm getting sick or whether I just need to crash after getting up at 4:30 yesterday morning and getting home at 7:45 while moving from the east coast to the west.
The good news is that I just went to a meeting that was discussing the big report on useless policy, and everyone liked our report. And I don't think I have to talk about it ever again, which would make me very happy.
Goals for this week:
1. New batch of copyedits on Famous Author
2. Deal with last questions on Big Collaboration because my co-editor is in Japan
3. Clear desk of junk
4. Catch up on teaching stuff
5. Get back into exercise
6. Read some journals
7. Do some needlepoint
8. Sleep
(And I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but that's okay. If I get through the week I'm good! )
DeleteGlad the conference was fun! And I hope you did not get sick after all that!
DeleteMy myriad of random writing implements are all in coffee mugs. Branded coffee mugs are a standard guest speaker gift around these parts for university visitors so I have many from doing talks, more than I will ever drink out of, so they are pen holders.
ReplyDeleteLast week’s goals
Write something on a paper again DID THAT
Sample processing YES ONGOING
Review NOPE
Awful 1.5-day committee meeting in different town DONE
Friend visit in former town after meeting
Thursday check-in, so that sort of covers the week… I’m sick, and behind, and so tired I fall asleep any time I sit still for more than 5 minutes… And I have 5 different performances coming up so every night is practicing…
This week’s goals
Data for new/old paper
Sample processing
Two reviews now urgent
Review committee homework
Well, the awful meeting is over with and you did some writing, so those are wins! I hope you feel better soon. Lots of hot drinks . . .
DeleteWell, it's Friday, so I'll keep this brief.
ReplyDeleteLast week:
1. Decide on and announce spring and summer teaching - YES
2. Read grad student's note and respond to it - YES
3. Three articles/chapters - YES
4. Follow up on conference-related work - YES
5. Cook and deliver meal for sick colleague - YES
6. Get Covid vaccine - YES
7. Exercise etc. - YES
That was a lot of Yes, but only #3 actually took much time! Still, good for me.
This week I've been taking a break from exercising--I hurt my SI/lower back--and honestly my goals were pretty much...not there? I had some journal-related work to do, and it was my husband's birthday, but all the rest was just clicking along through the semester.
So I'll say for this week--especially since it's almost over!--no goals.
Looking forward to catching up with you all in the coming week!
Take the YES you can get! I hope your back improves soon. It's no fun having back trouble.
Delete