the grid

the grid

Sunday, 30 March 2025

2025 Session 1, Week 13

 It's now officially spring here in the UK since the clocks went forward last night. It is also getting warmer and there are daffodils everywhere, and hyacinths and magnolia starting to bloom. I hate losing the hour, but the longer evenings are definitely compensation.

This is the last week for goal setting as next week is the last in the session, so we'll review session goals, as usual, and maybe look ahead to next session. Volunteers for hosts welcome!

Today's prompt is stolen from a question a friend asked on Facebook last week, and is just for fun: If money were no object, what would you treat yourself to each week or month? The one restriction is that the treats have to be ephemeral, not lasting objects, so for example, fresh flowers each week, a regular supply of fancy chocolate, a massage...

Last week's goals:

Daisy

Admin catch-up
Read student chapter (different one!)
Last concert for season
Document planned course changes
Grant application

Heu mihi

1. Reread ch. 1; deal with ch. 2 OL text if the library gets it to me this week
2. Send lots of email reminders and Zoom links for various things
3. Clear up a couple of notes-to-self in Alignment
4. Return to exercise, again

JaneB

1) SELF-CARE (recovery and self-kindness)
* habits: something creative, D&D, read a novel, intentional movement 15 minutes x 3 days, a social thing
2) HOUSE-LIFE CARE
* 75% or more of the weekly minimal chores
* sort out the BOTTOM of the stairs area
3) TEACHING AND ADMIN
* prepare for submission of undergrad research projects (I get to administrate all of it this year - yay. not.)
* feedback on postgrad chapter (it's never-ending)
* start timetabling planning if possible (make list of what I need to think about, at least)
4) RESEARCH
* do at least two items on the Consultancy Paper list
* referee an article
* read for stupid research assessment thing duty which I do not want to do. Pout.

Susan

1. Read and trim paper for this weekend
2. Read essay for seminar tomorrow
3. Do several admin type things so they are DONE.
4. Pull together material for potential award.
5. Sleep
6. Keep reading for fun.

Dame Eleanor

- grade things
- graduate applications, process
- grant application, read/comment

Julie

1. Build a bridge!
2. Read through corrections to a thesis I examined last year.
3. Informal queries about PhD examiners for student.
4. Self-care: exercise, sleep, read, journal.

5. Life admin: renew health cards for Easter travel, research summer travel plans, do small to medium house jobs. 

Sunday, 23 March 2025

2025 Session 1, Week 12

 

Photo of the Mathematical Bridge, Queens' College, Cambridge (see https://history.queens.cam.ac.uk/college/mathematical-bridge for history, myths and technical details)

Hello everyone. Hope it's been a good week, or at least, survivable. The teaching term has now finished here, and the way this year has worked out for me, I have no marking now until next term. And I submitted the grant! So I'm in a bit of limbo, with two weeks left in the session and before holidays, which I don't want to waste, but am not quite sure what to do with TLQ wise. So the prompt for this week is thinking about how to get from one project to another. What 'bridges' do you build? I feel I need an equivalent for transitions of JaneB's 'parking on a downwards slope' to help decide what to pick up next. 

In the meantime, a photo of a bridge that is famous at my undergraduate university, mainly because there were all sorts of myths around it e.g. that it had originally been built without any nails, but a team of engineers had taken it apart and then couldn't figure out how to put it back again. The history page linked to above doesn't include that some of my wedding photos were taken on the bridge (we had no connection to the college whatsoever, but our own college was booked out for weddings two years in advance and this was the prettiest alternative venue). Feel free to share favourite bridges, if you have any!

Last week's goals

JaneB

1) SELF-CARE (recovery and self-kindness)
* habits: something creative, D&D, read a novel, intentional movement 15 minutes x 3 days, a social thing
2) HOUSE-LIFE CARE
* 75% or more of the weekly minimal chores, tidy up the upstairs landing (one day this WILL happen)
3) TEACHING AND ADMIN
* prepare little bit of teaching for next week & do ViLE stuff
* mark first year essays
* mark late draft of final year project
4) RESEARCH
* write letter for potential academic visitor
* look at the Consultancy Paper that is back on my plate, sigh. I am so fed up with this paper... (but I have quite a lot of hours in the office this week when I don't have teaching prep to do and that's a good setting to do a task I don't want to do, using the "I already don't want to be here..." logic).

Dame Eleanor

- read dissertation for said commitment
- review the next batch of grad applications
- half an hour of research a day
- review comments on Alms from a friendly reader
- yoga x5, cardio x5
- fill a form and book a hotel for a May thing
- show up for all the necessary meetings etc

Susan

1. Read next article for journal
2. Keep digging for archives
3. One weights, 2 workouts of some kind while traveling
4. Keep reading for fun

Heu mihi

1. Read rest of dissertation
2. Enter edits into MS doc; finish??
3. Return to essay due April 15
4. Be okay with not exercising, other than lengthy walks to and from conference venue (see above re. virus + conference)

Daisy (carried over from last week)

ENDLESS student thesis stuff
Learn new music
Midterms, study guides, marking
Plan analytical work

Contingent Cassandra

--Finish signup directions and guidelines for transcribers, communicate with people who have volunteered to test the directions/site
--Take a full day off: read a book and/or take a long walk
--plan for archives trip: list documents to find; check if an appt is needed; if so, make one
--As time allows, continue work on site: add additional documents ; experiment with adding person, place, and/or event items
--Write department chair, program director, and scheduling coordinator re: possible adjustments to fall schedule
--Continue movement, especially strength training of arms/shoulders (perhaps begin using some of the recommended post-op stretches as warmups?)
--Continue work in the garden (weeding, seed-sowing, mulching, bed-building)
----Begin taxes
--As time allows, continue household work, especially packing/mailing returns, taking things to storage, and/or generally rediscovering/rearranging things.

Julie

1. Submit grant application (deadline Friday).
2. Review session for first-years.
3. Sign off two grant applications for other people.
4. Tedious bit of admin (ethics audit)
5. Final meetings of term.
6. Informal queries about PhD examiners for student.


Sunday, 16 March 2025

2025 Session 1, Week 11

 Prompt for this week is one we may have had before, so apologies if I'm duplicating, but sometimes reminders can be helpful. I'm thinking of this one as how do you get started when your batteries feel low? I got home this afternoon after a weekend away which was fun, but intense, and because of engineering works on the railway, the journey back today took six hours of trains and buses compared with the usual three to four hours. So I felt completely groggy and found myself sitting vacantly in a chair for a while not knowing where to start with unpacking bag, laundry, writing a shopping list, thinking about this post etc. In the end, I had a shower, read for twenty minutes and now still feel tired, but a bit more awake. Reading something, even if just for a few minutes, is often a way I can summon up a bit of energy. Going for a walk is another option. So what strategies or techniques do you have to get yourselves moving, literally or metaphorically, when you feel brain fogged?

Last week's goals:

Jane B

1) SELF-CARE (recovery and self-kindness)
* habits: something creative, D&D, read a novel, intentional movement 15 minutes x 3 days, a social thing
2) HOUSE-LIFE CARE
* 75% or more of the weekly minimal chores, tidy up the upstairs landing (one day this WILL happen)
* a couple of small things off the list
3) TEACHING AND ADMIN
* prepare remainder of teaching for next week & do ViLE stuff
* write even more applicant letters
* meet with now-senior grad student to go through their technical terminology (their phonetic spelling is amusing at times but science also needs consistency...)
4) RESEARCH
* review article for journal
* if possible, spend an hour on reading/writing for vague grant idea
* if time, look at the Consultancy Paper that is back on my plate, sigh. I am so fed up with this paper...

Heu mihi

1. Research: Edit (on paper) chapter 5 and conclusion. Take a look at article due in April just to remember what I still have to do.
2. Grad students: Read intro and first chapter of a dissertation. Meet with various people. Plan *and announce* memorial event for student who died in December.
3. Teaching: Keep it going.
4. Exercise: Do what I can and forgive myself if I miss days.

Susan

1. Figure out the paper I'm giving in 2 weeks and write it. (It's theme and variations with what I've done already, so not as daunting as that sounds.)
2. Read next journal article for press, deal with the next version of "And Also"
3. Figure out visit with old roommate who was recently widowed.
4. Make plans for conference in Boston the end of next week
5. Weights x 3, one good walk, one yoga
6. Keep up with the reading
7. Maybe do a few of the image permissions?

Dame Eleanor

- continue work on slides for at least one conference paper
- do some scholarly reading, take notes on whatever has stickies sticking out
- do some odds and ends of grading and ViLE stuff
- read/comment Thing for a friend
- fill in one set of forms that involves money
- yoga x5, trainer session if I'm healed up enough
- find & print some tax documents
- calls about an insurance bill
- more graduate applications (or maybe I'll leave them till after break!)
- sit outside on warm days
- 90-minute massage
- read something fun
- organize the linen closet; do some other tidying up

Daisy

ENDLESS student thesis stuff
Learn new music
Midterms, study guides, marking
Plan analytical work

Contingent Cassandra (carried over from last week)

--Continue work on site: figure out csv import; add additional documents (both full documents & individual pages for transcription); work on making site more easily navigable, especially from key landing pages
--Draft call for transcribers and other helpers and run draft and site by organizational leaders who need to okay distribution of the call via the organization’s communication channels
--Finish signup directions and guidelines for transcribers, communicate with people who have volunteered to test the directions/site
--Write department chair, program director, and scheduling coordinator re: possible adjustments to fall schedule
--Write colleague who has recently dealt with HR/university’s medical leave system for advice
--Continue movement, especially strength training of arms/shoulders (perhaps begin using some of the recommended post-op stretches as warmups?)
--Do additional work in the garden (weeding, seed-sowing, mulching, bed-building)
--Make progress on choosing/ordering refrigerator (and possibly stove), moving over-fridge cabinet, other fridge-replacement-related moving around of things, and/or packing/mailing returns.
--Plan/prioritize other household work

Julie

1. Finish the marking (due Thursday)
2. Somehow find time to work on grant application.
3. Final proper bit of teaching of term.
4. Finish booking train tickets, apply for daughter's provisional license, optician's appointment, plan for weekend in London (son in a cross-country race on Saturday).


Sunday, 9 March 2025

2025 Session 1, Week 10

 Hello at the end of what has been an unseasonably warm weekend in the UK. It is scheduled to be cold again this coming week, but yesterday and today were glorious. I sat outside a café yesterday afternoon with a good friend, while our daughters sat by the river with ice cream.

Prompt for this weekend is thinking about friendship. I am absolutely drowning in marking and other stuff, and it is going to be a hard few days before I surface. But I spent all of yesterday with very good friends who were visiting from Scotland. The female half is one of my oldest friends from university and she and her partner have been rocks the last few years. Their kids and mine get on great. We don't manage to see each other that often, but it is always a huge boost when we do. And tonight the kids and I went for dinner with local friends, who again have made a point of being there for us the past few years. We have a regular monthly evening together.

As a result, I am feeling more up to facing the coming week than I was on Friday when I felt absolutely exhausted. Being part of this community is a boost as well, even if Susan is the only one I have (knowingly) met IRL. (Since I have yet to go to a US conference, I doubt I've met anyone else from TLQ, but who knows? Maybe one day).

So what friendships and communities keep you all going? Friends from childhood, uni days, more recently? IRL or online?

Last week's goals:

JaneB

1) SELF-CARE (recovery and self-kindness)
* habits: something creative, D&D, read a novel, intentional movement 15 minutes x 3 days, a social thing
2) HOUSE-LIFE CARE
* 75% or more of the weekly minimal chores, tidy up the upstairs landing (one day this WILL happen)
* make card & get presents for Ma's birthday (this is the many-events period of the year)
3) TEACHING AND ADMIN
next week is Reading Week so no classes for my undergraduates - but the following week is overly full for me with some new material, so I'd like to get ahead. Also that way I might manage a day or two OFF (to catch up on house stuff) next week since apparently my normal weekend isn't enough to do that right now...
* prepare half of teaching for week after next & do ViLE stuff
* email all tutees who didn't make the meeting
* plan some methods training with new masters student
* check in with student with crisis
* write more applicant letters (I did all of MINE by the deadline but as ever the reward for doing things is more things and now I need to help out with other people's allocations)
* meet with now-senior grad student to follow up on their mid-year meeting
4) RESEARCH
* exciting new project idea meeting
* if possible, spend an hour on reading/writing for vague grant idea
* if time, look at the Consultancy Paper that is back on my plate, sigh. I am so fed up with this paper...

Contingent Cassandra

--Continue work on site: figure out csv import; add additional documents (both full documents & individual pages for transcription); work on making site more easily navigable, especially from key landing pages
--Draft call for transcribers and other helpers and run draft and site by organizational leaders who need to okay distribution of the call via the organization’s communication channels
--Finish signup directions and guidelines for transcribers, communicate with people who have volunteered to test the directions/site
--Write department chair, program director, and scheduling coordinator re: possible adjustments to fall schedule
--Write colleague who has recently dealt with HR/university’s medical leave system for advice
--Continue movement, especially strength training of arms/shoulders (perhaps begin using some of the recommended post-op stretches as warmups?)
--Do additional work in the garden (weeding, seed-sowing, mulching, bed-building)
--Make progress on choosing/ordering refrigerator (and possibly stove), moving over-fridge cabinet, other fridge-replacement-related moving around of things, and/or packing/mailing returns.
--Plan/prioritize other household work

Julie

1. Revisions to grant application.
2. More and more marking.
3. Read final chapter of thesis and meet with student.
4. Teaching prep: keep minimal.
5. Celebrate (hopefully) with other grad student after her viva.
6. Get organised for friends visiting this weekend.
7. Book train tickets, find replacement booking for Easter, apply for daughter's provisional driving license (so not ready for this).
8. Self-care: read a novel, try to get outside as much as possible.

Susan

1. Finish the "And Also" response, add footnotes
2. Add the next revisions to my talk, practice it again
3. Try to get back to exercise: weights x 2, yoga x 1, 1 good walk
4. Figure out the next 3 talks (increasing panic, as one is at the endof the month)
5. Read for pleasure
6. Keep up with earlier dinners / bedtime
7. Work on migrating church website to a new hosting platform
8. Make reservations for summer travel.
9. Enjoy the public lecture and it being done.

Daisy

ENDLESS student thesis stuff
Advertising posters and organizing for interdepartmental event
Many meetings about hiring
All the marking…
Make March plan for schedule and activities

Distinguished Dame Eleanor

- continue work on slides for at least one conference paper
- do some scholarly reading, take notes on whatever has stickies sticking out
- load some more stuff to ViLE site
- read Thing for a friend
- fill in one set of forms that involves money
- yoga x5, cardio x5, trainer session
- find & print some tax documents
- order more flowers for niece
- set goals for March

Heu mihi

Shovelling!


Sunday, 2 March 2025

2025 Session 1, Week 9

 


Some crocuses (croci?) as a reminder that spring will be with us sooner or later. It does finally feel springlike here, though still cold first thing and at night.

Today's post is inspired by something JaneB said a little while ago about having Sunday conversations with herself, which I thought was a nice way of putting it. Writing TLQ posts on a Sunday suggests this is a day of preparing for the following week, setting goals etc. But it's also hopefully a day of rest, whether religious or not. How do you balance the two? Is Sunday all about gearing up for the week ahead? Or is it a day for rest, for fun stuff and if so, does that help with the week ahead? What Sunday rituals do you have?

Last week's goals:

JaneB

1) SELF-CARE (recovery and self-kindness)
* habits: something creative, D&D, read a novel, intentional movement 15 minutes x 3 days, a social thing
2) HOUSE-LIFE CARE
* 75% or more of the weekly minimal chores, tidy up the upstairs landing (one day this WILL happen)
* get a birthday package in the post for my sister (it includes a plushy baby goat as we have been exchanging screaming goat memes over some parental frustrations lately)
3) TEACHING AND ADMIN
* prepare teaching for next week & do ViLE stuff
* nag all tutees about meetings
* mid year monitoring for one grad student, check in with another (who has personal drama going on which has required her to pack up herself and her dog and move back in with her mother at no notice, so is not having a good time and possibly needs to take a study break),
* write applicant letters
4) RESEARCH
* meetings about five differenet obligations will probably take ALL my research time this week... but lets pretend magic will happen and have a couple of "an hour on" stretch goals!
* if possible, spend an hour on reading/writing for vague grant idea
* if time, look at the Consultancy Paper that is back on my plate, sigh. I am so fed up with this paper...

Dame Eleanor

- measurable work on essay for proceedings volume
- continue work on slides for at least one conference paper
- do some scholarly reading, take notes on whatever has stickies sticking out
- fill in two sets of forms that involve money
- catch up with ViLE stuff
- revise syllabus
- yoga x5, swim 1-2 times, trainer session
- finish application for the Revised Thing
- find & print some tax documents
- send birthday cards for two friends
- go to former student's presentation

Susan

1. Put final touches on lecture for next week
2. Figure out what I'm doing in the 3 other talks I'm now giving before the end of June, use that to plan my time. (It's all theme and variations, but I don't want them to be all the same.)
3. Read for pleasure
4. Weights x 3, walk to work once, yoga x1
5. Keep up with regular bedtime, earlier dinner
6. Make plane reservations for summer

Daisy

ENDLESS student thesis stuff
A different grant application
Three student grant applications
Reference letters
Final bits of all musical, all the time…

Contingent Cassandra

--Continue work on site, including getting transcription and user accounts set up; figure out csv export and import (which seem to require two separate procedures)
--Add additional documents to site (and/or divide existing ones into pages for transcription)
--Continue movement, especially strength training of arms/shoulders (since having those as strong as possible going into surgery presumably can’t hurt, though nerve damage is admittedly a somewhat separate issue)
--Do some work in the garden
--Plan/prioritize other household work

--Write paper proposal for fall conference (being optimistic here, but this is a once-every-three-years conference that focuses exactly on my specialty, so I really want to go. Also, it's in a close-by city reachable by train, and mid-fall, so chances of my being able to attend seem good)

Heu mihi

Still travelling?

Julie

1. Finish last section of research proposal, send application to colleagues.
2. Do fiddly bits of grant: revising costings etc.
3. Write two references for students.
4. Read student's PhD thesis.
5. Advise other student about viva.
6. Start marking ALL the essays.
7. Research summer holiday options, book train tickets for two weekends away, organise lift-sharing for various sporting events.


Sunday, 23 February 2025

2025 Session 1, Week 8

 Hello everyone! If I'd posted yesterday, this would be very upbeat, as it was suddenly warm and springlike here. The crocuses started coming out, I planted some bulbs, the garden was full of birds, my mother texted happily to say she had hung the washing outside for the first time this year. All the signs of spring...

Today it is wet, the sun has not shone all day, and we have weather warnings for gale force winds. The crocuses (croci?) are probably wishing they'd stayed underground longer, and my washing is on the dryer in front of the kitchen radiator. Heigh-ho.

Everyone seems to have a lot on their plate right now, and it is still February. So today's prompt is inspired by a blogpost I saw recently on 'What is saving your life right now?' What are you turning to for moments of sanity in all the madness, or what hacks do you have e.g. quick and easy meals, postponing things, for getting through busy days?

Last week's goals:

Julie

1. Write full draft of grant proposal to send to colleagues.
2. Exercise, sleep, healthy eating.
3. Trip to farm shop (they sell fancy candles).
4. Be kind to myself and focus on the kids.

JaneB

1) SELF-CARE (recovery and self-kindness)
* habits: something creative, D&D, read a novel, intentional movement 15 minutes x 3 days, a social thing
2) HOUSE-LIFE CARE
* decide about decluttering & communicate early
* 75% or more of the weekly minimal chores, tidy up the upstairs landing (one day this WILL happen)
3) TEACHING AND ADMIN
* prepare teaching for next week & do ViLE stuff
* schedule individual meetings for all tutees
* write applicant letters
4) RESEARCH
* if possible, spend an hour on reading/writing for vague grant idea
* if time, look at the Consultancy Paper that is back on my plate, sigh. I am so fed up with this paper...

Dame Eleanor

- tidy up the chapter and send to friend
- continue work on slides for at least one conference paper
- do some scholarly reading, take notes on HJ essay
- process at least 6 grad applications (this will not be the end)
- catch up with ViLE stuff
- yoga x5, swim 1-2 times, show up for trainer but try to take it easy
- continue work on application for the Revised Thing
- one appointment; visitation for former colleague; get birthday cards for two friends

Susan

1. Actually get to work on moving forward on Rest of Life
2. Finish working on maps
3. Do the easy permissions
4. Clear out more email (it's very satisfying)
5. Start filling out tax information for accountant
6. Exercise: weights x3, walk to work once, 1 yoga
7. Healthy eating and sleep
8. Enjoy being Auntie next weekend

Daisy

Student thesis stuff
Grant application
All musical, all the time…

Contingent Cassandra

--Continue work on site as time allows
--Continue some movement
--Visit historical society and convey results to nephew (who has an interest in the part of our family history I’ll be investigating)
--Enjoy conference & time away more generally; catch up with friends.

Heu mihi

On holiday, I think, or at least travelling!


Sunday, 16 February 2025

2025 Session 1, Week 7: midterm check-in

 Hi all. I dithered about whether this week or next was supposed to be midterm check-in, but decided it might as well be this week. So a time to look back at session goals and reflect on how they are going. Are there any you want to drop? Anything new to add? And how have you been doing with gifts to yourself this session? I need to work on sleep still, and am going to buy myself more candles just as soon as I'm somewhere that sells nice ones. Last week's goals also posted below.

SESSION GOALS

JaneB

1)      SELF-CARE (recovery and self-kindness)
* Maintaining good habits - something creative every week, D&D related time every week, reading regularly, intentional movement, something social with a non work person even if it's a typed conversation.
* Specific things - reading & journalling through the "self care for autistic adults" book I didn't do last session.
2) HOUSE-LIFE CARE
* Habits - 75% or more of the weekly minimal chores, 1 small additional environment thing a week
* Specific things - researching for the changes I want to make to my downstairs living spaces this summer, keeping up with garden trimming as and when spring comes along, creating some better financial habits

2)      TEACHING AND ADMIN
* successful teaching delivery (which has to happen, but it will take a good chunk of time each week so it's going in...)
* productive engagement with teaching redesign process (whilst pushing for my needs to be met e.g. being allowed to take time to think about decisions not make them on the fly, information in writing, etc.)
* stay in my lane! (especially with the further reduction in hours and the big research project having finally started).
* support senior grad student - submission is early March - and external Research Master's student - submission is mid March - plus other students, but these two are the priority until late March.
4) RESEARCH
i) measurable progress on at least two papers - two, because this session is almost 100% teaching weeks for me (there is the inter-semester marking week, and the week when the second years are on their overseas trips, but those are realistically going to also be structured by teaching-related needs.
ii) find out my commitments in the small cog in a big project situation and meet them as I can around my own capacity

Julie

1. Research (TLQ)
i) Write article for end of January deadline.
ii) Write longer version of grant application for 1st March deadline.
iii) Spend remaining small grant money.
iv) Figure out some research for after 1st March.
2. Teaching
i) Marking: finish current batch, do next batch mid-February.
ii) Keep teaching prep as minimal as possible.
iii) PhD students: R has submitted, so just viva guidance; I is writing up, needs carrot; M has extended yet again, needs big stick.
3. Admin
i) Usual round of moderating other colleagues' marking, being a good citizen etc while also saying no as much as possible.
4. Kids
i) Meet with teachers, advise on subject choices, try not to lean too heavily on them.
ii) Usual ongoing work of parenting - try to do this with minimal shouting/resentment.
iii) Encourage family time: films, reading together, make travel plans.
5. House
i) Essential financial stuff
ii) Small jobs, but no impossible goals.
6. Fun stuff/self-care
i) Sleep!
ii) Exercise
iii) Healthy eating.
iv) Read.
v) Creative stuff
vi) Make travel plans for Easter and summer.

Daisy

Exercise regularly
Finish one new paper, one old one (feels like there should be a borrowed one and a blue one too…)
Shepherd department through hiring process for critical position (more than one if we get lucky)
Get my lab and sample archive organized
Teach well and refresh key lectures
Support grad students to finish projects
This week’s goals
Exercise 4 times
Start sample archive project
Sample processing
First week’s lectures and labs
Meet grad students and make term plans

Susan

1. Polish and give big public lecture on January 15
2. Submit almost final text of Famous Author to press on Feb 1, and do whatever further edits are needed after my editor and reviewers read it.
3. Get maps done for Famous Author
4. Get image permissions for Famous Author
5. Take care of whatever I need to do on Big Collaboration (we're waiting on a few more contributors to cut their essays to the required length, and then it's in production, so it will be dealing with the copyedited ms.
6. Pick up work on the Rest of My Life project when i recover from January.
7. Keep up with exercise, do more walking
8. Read for pleasure
9. Do fun things

Heu mihi

1. Good habits: Continue with exercise regimen; practice inversions three times a month; reintroduce meditation into my life to any extent
2. Read 1 Italian book (I've just ordered "L'amica geniale" from our local bookstore!)
3. Finish reasonably polished draft of article due in April (for workshop)
4. Final revisions to book manuscript
5. My actual job: Create online teaching supports for grad students; work on data to advocate for an administrative change
6. Finish two in-progress knitting projects and make progress on my big new fun one

Dame Eleanor

- make measurable progress on two research projects
- manage teaching and GTAs effectively
- gym and yoga 5x/week (each)
- be adequate at committee assignments

Contingent Cassandra

--Make substantial progress on Study Leave project (which has multiple components and possible outcomes, so one of the things I need to do soon is some more detailed prioritizing and planning)
--Continue exercise habit
--Work on other self-care activities, especially identifying leisure activities that are truly restorative
--As time allows, make progress on making my home more livable for me, and workable for having guests over (I've lived in a one-room apartment for the past 17 years, and, while it has its attractions, and at this point feels like home, it's also both overcrowded with stuff and in need of some repairs, replacements, and updates, starting with the fridge and stove).

LAST WEEK'S GOALS

Contingent Cassandra

--Work out the one thing that still needs to be solved before I can begin adding documents to study leave site and add at least one document.
--Assuming that adding a document doesn’t reveal additional issues to be solved (e.g. with display of files), begin setting up/testing transcription function, including creating test user account(s).
--Attend virtual transcription event
--Contact friends in conference city; make train reservation; make historical society reservation
--Get back into pattern of movement: lift weights 3x, regular stretching/body weight exercises, walking and/or stair climb as weather allows (apparently we’ve got another spell of stormy cold weather coming)
--Continue trying to figure out workable daily/weekly routines, starting with establishing an end of day/bedtime routine.
--Mail things I’ve packed; pack some more
--If at all possible, do some work on taxes

Dame Eleanor

 keep working on revisions to a chapter
- continue work on slides for at least one conference paper
- do some scholarly reading, take notes on the last book
- process at least 4 grad applications (maybe finish?)
- student conferences
- meet with grads
- gym x4, swim x2, yoga x5
- start putting together materials for the Revised Thing

Heu mihi

1. Research: Finish reading that book (1 more chapter!); reread chapter 1 edits and enter them into the document (also enter Intro and Preface edits)
2. Finish scheduling online teaching workshop (finding a date is proving difficult)
3. Process journal revision #2
4. Work on organizing Big Giant Event with Famous Writer (happening in April)
5. Two sets of inversions????

JaneB

1)      SELF-CARE (recovery and self-kindness)
* habits: something creative, D&D, read a novel, intentional movement 15 minutes x 3 days, a social thing
2) HOUSE-LIFE CARE
* 75% or more of the weekly minimal chores, tidy up the upstairs landing - these should be this week's top priority as it's a lighter work week...
3) TEACHING AND ADMIN
* prepare teaching for next week & do ViLE stuff
* comments on Very Long chapter for senior grad student
* planning meeting with new MRes student
4) RESEARCH
* read/comment on latest version of the paper that never, ever ends
* if possible, spend an hour on reading/writing for vague grant idea
* be on the ball for grad student meetings

Daisy

URGENT Student thesis stuff continued…
Midterms, set/give/mark…
Review
Visit
Exercise twice maybe?

Susan

-Catch up with email and everything that slid last week
-review ms for journal
-plan for next month or so of work
-figure out paper that was just accepted for March conference
-get back into exercise pattern
-return to healthy eating
-get good sleep

Julie

1. Teaching prep, keep minimal.
2. Work on grant for at least a day.
3. Write abstract for contribution to edited volume.
4. Admin stuff.
5. Feedback on two grant proposals.
6. Read book for book club on Friday.
7. Small house jobs: clean nesting box and buy new bird feeder, clear out some drawers.