Midyear Session 2025 week 7

I hate to tell you this, but we're midway through the session! And that means checking in on our goals, deciding what to keep, what to get rid of, as well as (sometimes) having to add something new that has come up. Sticking with the recipe theme, sometimes things go bad in the fridge, or the electricity goes off and you have to use up everything in the freezer, or something delicious comes in as a gift or appears at the farmers' market and so you drop the original plan in order to use the new item. So if something like that is going on, think of it as being a thrifty house-holder and using your stores effectively.

Of course, you may already have accomplished something significant, so we can have midterm celebrations along with the sorting-out of goals. Here's something sparkly for all of you (alcoholic or not, as you prefer). Tell us what you're lifting a glass to!

First, here are last week's goals; session goals are further down:

Dame Eleanor Hull

- enjoy conference and visiting friends
- write down everything anyone wants me to do and leave it till I get home

heu mihi

1. Finish book to review
2. At least 50 pp. of Italian novel
3. Keep my inbox(es) fairly clear
4. Finish green sweater that I don't really like

JaneB

1) building better habits: one creative thing with the hands, keep reading for pleasure, start a new yarn project
2) Environment: get caught up on chores, electric meter visit, book car for service
3) blocks: no goals this week
4) writing: at least one hour on each of three different projects with meetings this week
5) grad students: meetings, comment on mountain of first draft of discussion from now-senior graduate student, try to sort out review meeting for junior MSc by Research student
6) be kind to myself and stick to the three days.

Julie

1. Write and submit report for PhD review.
2. Read chapter for a PhD student.
3. Finally finish French PhD I was reading.
4. Read a paper the French PhD student has sent me and email back with comments.
5. Last big meetings of term, get Windows upgrade, do other work-related admin, catch up on emails.
6. Self-care: read, exercise, catch up on TV series, enjoy time with brother and niece.

Susan

1. Make sure power point is set up for talk
2. Read paper one more time. Do I dare read off my i Pad?
3. Spend some time with microfilm
4. Read essay for young scholar
5. Enjoy the workshop
6. Get ready for vacation

And now for the session goals. How are you doing? Are things ripening in the garden? Is there anything you can put in the compost?

Contingent Cassandra

You had a lot going on; do you want to post rest-of-summer goals now?

Daisy

Two new papers submitted
Revised course material for fall and winter
One defended graduate thesis
Good experience for 2 hired undergraduates
Kayaking
Exercise
Garden improvement

Dame Eleanor Hull

* write essay due at the start of September
* plan work for summer TA and do some supervising of her
* write and deliver two conference papers, focusing most energy on the one that will be the core of a book chapter
* plan classes for next year
* submit two course proposals
* swim 2-3 times a week
* yoga on the deck as often as possible
* work in the garden 3x/week
* do 5 Life Stuff tasks 

heu mihi

1. Research/writing: Complete copy-edits of book, submit revised article, submit abstract for MK, start working (idly) on research for MK, read and review book
2. Creative: Finish green sweater, work on knit dress, make a book or two, other projects!!
3. House: Clear out storage area, fix basement doors that don't close properly, wash windows at some point
4. Family: Costa Rica album, anniversary book, vol. 2 of uncle's memoirs
5. Personal: Read Italian novel vol. 2, get outdoors as much as possible, lots of exercise
6. Misc. work: Update program website, prep new class

JaneB

Home, self and life:

1) Building better habits: more small things that bring joy, especially in terms of making stuff/doing art. More things which engage my brain and are Not Work (D&D, reading for fun). Paying attention to eating as a self-kindness not as a tool to shut up the toddler/appease the negative brain weather.

2) improving my environment: sorting out the war/floor-drobe situation, doing one big Improvement Thing (I'd like that to be getting a sofa - so would ShoutyPants!), getting the front gutters replaced, doing a big turn out of the spare bedroom/craft space/home office where I spend most of my time at home.

Academic work (the job and the work both):

3) use the block model as last summer - aiming for 24 blocks (3-4 hours of future-focused work like preparing for teaching in the following year). Aims are to get on top of teaching prep and maybe do some "just for me" research tasks (exploring future ideas).

4) I have a lot of writing projects (grant ideas and journal articles) which all involve other people therefore are not fully in my control - I'm setting the goal of substantial progress on four of them this summer.

5) supporting graduate students (it's only sort of a TLQ thing, but it is taking up a larger than normal amount of my summer, and it is important, so I'm including it).

Julie

1. Research & writing (this will be buffet style)

  i) Revisions to article currently under review (assuming it will come back some time this session)
  ii) Outline at least, write if possible, two different chapters I've been invited to contribute to edited volumes. Both mean revisiting old material, so I'm dragging my feet a bit here. One is also for a popular audience, so a different style of writing (cookery?) than I'm used to.
  iii) Organise workshop in June
  iv) Do some research on current project. Depending on outcome of grant application, work out priorities for next year.
  v) book review

2. Teaching

  i) Get all marking done.
  ii) Read final final drafts for one PhD student; wait to see if other student will ever send written work (this is heading for a car crash).

3. House

  i) Big project for this session: getting the garden how I want it.
  ii) Small jobs as and when time allows.

4. Fun stuff/self care

  i) Exercise - improve fitness.
  ii) Eat healthily - this session will either be great for this or terrible.
  iii) Sleep!
  iv) Continue reading for pleasure
  v) Journaling, more creative stuff.

Susan

1. Get Famous Author out the door (goal June 1)
2. Write short essay about recent book, theoretically due June 1
3. Write keynote address for late June workshop, preferably before I fly to the UK on June 15
4. Start poking around in archives on new project
5. Have a good vacation with my sister in Paris and with friend
6. Start preparing my head for the fall and a return to teaching.
7. Keep up with some kind of exercise/ fitness
8. Enjoy myself - museums, theatre, etc.
9. Be sociable, try to meet people

2025 MidYear Session, Week 6

 We have just had a couple of days of Really Hot Weather by UK standards - which means humid and sticky and miserable, given our infrastructure is all set up around the oceanic climate norms of cool, damp, and frequently windy.  So lets talk about heat-wave beverages and treats - what would you ideally have on hand?  I've already written about my Grandma's lemonade, but elderflower cordial made up with cold water, ice and a dash of sparkling water is another lifesafer, or Citron Presse.  And putting individual serve smoothie pouchs or yoghurt tubes designed for kids into the freezer creates healthy delicious ice-lolly type treats for grownups too.  What about you?

LAST WEEK'S GOALS:

Dame Eleanor Hull

- write next conference paper
- errands in Our Quaint Village (previous town)
- swim x3 (pool is reopening!!), cardio & weights x2
- pack for next trip
- tasks for summer TA (very urgent!)
- continue progress on clearing study and/or guest room
- read book for mystery group meeting

Heu Mihi

1. Round of revisions to article
2. Italian novel to p. 196
3. Draft fall syllabus
4. Start reading book to review
5. Respond to student re. grad handbook; finish (??) handbook revisions

JaneB

1) building better habits: one creative thing with the hands, keep reading for pleasure, start a new yarn project
2) Environment: get caught up on chores, make the most of spending time with the decluttering person
3) blocks: no goals this week
4) writing: referee another article: at least one hour on each of three different projects with meetings this week or next
5) grad students: meetings, comment on mountain of first draft of discussion from now-senior graduate student
6) be kind to myself and stick to the three days.

Julie

1. Prep for workshop (read papers for my session, think of some discussion points), try to enjoy workshop when it happens
2. Finish PhD thesis if time.
3. Review for PhD student.
4. Read book in library in Paris on Wednesday afternoon.
5. Pack for trip, organise son's expedition (possibly at a distance)
6. Enjoy weekend with friends!

Susan

• Vacation!  Hope it was wonderful!

2025 Midyear session, week 5

Week 5 already; goodness, time flies when you're having fun! Thanks, JaneB, for doing last week's post, and for a fun on-theme discussion question. I'll be traveling again next weekend, so I hope you can pitch in again, but then I'll be back to do the midterm check-in and the rest of the summer.

Also, we're sending good thoughts to Contingent Cassandra and Daisy! We hope all goes as well as it can.

That's the housekeeping taken care of. This week's discussion question: what food do you like to pack for a trip? Is it different for a road trip or plane flight? Do you always hit a particular restaurant on your way out of or into town? As usual, answer if the question speaks to you, and skip it if it doesn't appeal or if you're in a hurry.

How did you do last week, and what's on your plate for the coming week?

Dame Eleanor Hull

- Have a good time at conference
- Visit the library here in hope of finding something useful for essay due in September
- unpack at home
- behave self at fundraising shindig
- put up next week's main TLQ post
- work on organizing either guest room or my study

heu mihi

1. Try very hard not to get kid's cold
2. Enjoy my birthday (tomorrow)
3. Enjoy kid's birthday (Saturday)
4. Italian novel to p. 147
5. Tenure letter, which includes finishing a book and reading 3 articles
6. Do at least one self-indulgent fun thing for my birthday

JaneB

1) building better habits: one creative thing with the hands, keep reading for pleasure, start a new yarn project
1b) go to physio appointment re Hurty Foot
2) Environment: get caught up on chores, make booking to see decluttering person
3) blocks: do one teaching block
4) writing: referee an article: spend an hour on one of the research writing things I need to do
5) grad students: meetings, start junior MRes student on their lab work
6) be kind to myself and stick to the three days.

Julie

1. Finish reading PhD thesis.
2. Progress review for PhD student.
3. Do some planning for a book chapter.
4. Boring admin stuff: send yet more details about patio furniture, collect prescription, go to doctor's appointment, get appointment and X-ray for son, renew library book.
5. Self-care/fun stuff: video call with friends, read, exercise, get back to healthy eating (fruit snacks!), get more sleep, maybe do something creative.

Susan

1. Finish the review essay
2. Draft keynote for the end of June
3. Read dissertation chapter
4. Keep unpacking and reorganizing
5. Get garage door fixed
6. Get organized for trip to UK/ France
7. Keep up with the exercise

Midyear Session 2025 Week 4

 Hi everyone, I'm just popping in this week whilst our hostess is travelling - I hope it went well!

It's been a very slow/brain dead week here (end of term-itis, I hope) so I've been watching a lot of random short-form videos because that's been about the right speed.  I seem to have a fairly wholesome persona to the algorithm - rescuing cats from trees, a wombat sanctuary, baby zoo animals, baby goats, D&D facts or stories, random science facts.  And for some reason, this week, snack plates - people putting together a balanced plate of snacks for children after school, as a quick lunch, to go with a movie - so for this week's prompt, what 5-6 items would you put on an adult snack plate, whether that was to go alongside an afternoon of writing or sitting out in the garden, or for a lazy evening with books and cats/people of your choice? 

DAISY

Taking June off from goal setting

DAME ELEANOR

* finish first/most important conference paper
* Plan summer TA work to at least first approximation
* gym x 4, yoga x 5
* do some poking at one course proposal
* make appointment for eye exam
* at least 3 hours on garden
* work on organizing either guest room or my study

HEU MIHI

1. Italian novel to p. 98

2. Finish copy-edits

3. Kid's birthday prep

4. See some friends

5. Go for a walk in the woods

JANEB

1) building better habits: one creative thing with the hands, keep reading for pleasure

1b) pay contact lens replacement bill, book GP appointment re Hurty Foot which is Not Going Away

2) Environment: get caught up on chores, make booking to see decluttering person

3) blocks: make a list of teaching-related blocks for this summer

4) writing: do at least one hour on each of two different writing projects (in addition to meetings/emails with people about projects).

5) grad students: meetings, hope defense goes really well

6) be kind to myself because some weeks are just grey and low energy and that is just HOW IT GOES.

JULIE

1. Finish book and write review

2. Chase workshop participants, finalise programme ahead of organisers' meeting on Thursday

3. Read a PhD thesis in my research area.

4. Boring work admin: do mandatory online training, book Windows update, book train travel.

5. Boring home admin: cancel a subscription, chase patio furniture company, change son's orthodontist appointment, pack for weekend away.

6. Self-care: continue healthy eating (at least until weekend), exercise, sleep, journal, read.

SUSAN

1. Finish everything for book and share file on Monday

2. Write review essay

3. Unpack, get house organized

4. All the appointments

5. Find new home insurance

6. Get exercise

Midyear Session 2025 Week 3

I've enjoyed the reminiscences and recipes shared so far! Thank you all. I hope any travellers have had/are having good trips. Contingent Cassandra, I hope you're doing well. 

This week's discussion question is about meal plans: do you plan for the week? And if so, how far in advance? That is, do you make a meal plan and buy things for it, or do you go to the store (or farmers' market), see what looks good, and plan from there? Or no plan? And how do your meal planning methods map onto your approach to planning work? 

JaneB, next Sunday I'm traveling to a conference, so if you could handle the check-in, that would be great! 

Let us know how you did with last week's goals, and we'll cheer you on!

Daisy (held over)

Catch up from conference absence
Extensive journal tasks
Read and edit thesis chapters
Read and edit three student project proposals
Write outline of paper from conference talk

Dame Eleanor Hull

* celebrate birthday and anniversary
* 8 hours work toward first/most important conference paper
* 2 hours planning summer TA work
* gym x 4, yoga x 5
* do some poking at one course proposal

heu mihi

1. Finish and submit abstract (due Friday)
2. Work through copy-edited version of Front Matter, Intro, Chapter 1, Chapter 2--aiming for one document a day for four days
3. Read prospectus (and prepare for Thursday defense)
4. Start Italian novel
5. Maybe?? begin storage room clear-out
6. Exercise
7. Put feedback on essay into one place so that I can easily access it later

JaneB

1) building better habits: three gentle movement sessions, one creative thing with the hands
2) Environment: get caught up on chores, contact decluttering person
3) blocks: make a list of teaching-related blocks for this summer
4) writing: make a list of all the writing projects and where they are on 1st June. Do (much postponed) task for the Wednesday meeting this week.
5) grad students: read things, meetings, prep questions . . . 

Julie

1. Mark three dissertations.
2. Mark one exam script that slipped through the net.
3. Reference for former PhD student
4. Read book and write review.
5. Book London train tickets.
6. June birthdays: niece, MIL, FIL.
7. Finish patio furniture
8. Pay in cheques.
9. Self-care: healthy eating, exercise, sleep.

Susan

1. Finish most of last work of Famous Author:
-- Request permissions
--- Read through one last time
(There are a few minor references I will do when I get home, but my hope is that by the middle of the day Wednesday, I can turn my attention to other stuff.
2. Re-read book I'm supposed to write 3000 words on by June 1. (Goal: June 6)
3. Return all books to library stacks, scan stuff that will be useful to scan
4. Pack up my books and get them approved to leave the library
5. Pack up apartment
6. Keep having a good time
7. Try to get some exercise!

Midyear Session 2025 Week 2

In the US, we have a 3-day weekend to celebrate Memorial Day. As an official holiday, it's supposed to commemorate those who served in the armed forces, but I think it has roots in older customs of tending graveyards and giving them a good spring-clean when the weather warms up enough to do so. So the theme for discussion this week is a dish or meal that you associate with someone you'd like to memorialize: Grandma's cookies will do fine if you don't want this to get too heavy.

I hope you've had a good week, and that Contingent Cassandra and heu mihi are enjoying their travels! Late additions are welcome, as some of us are still goal-setting for the session, so if you've been thinking about it, here's your engraved invitation. Please join in! 

For a bit of inspiration (I hope), roughly five years ago we were imagining magical assistants to help us tame the monster of preparing to teach online in the fall. If you want an alternative to this week's food theme, is there a magical assistant you'd like to have for this session?

Let us know how you did with last week's goals, or what fun things you did on vacation!

Daisy

Catch up from conference absence
Extensive journal tasks
Read and edit thesis chapters
Read and edit three student project proposals
Write outline of paper from conference talk

Dame Eleanor Hull

* prep food for 2-day symposium, go there, try to have a good time
* finish new raised bed and plant veg
* swim x2
* write 2x 1 hour
* scholarly reading/note-taking 2x 1 hour
* hang out with visiting friend next weekend

JaneB

1) set session goals in personal and professional spheres
2) TRY to get caught up with feedback to graduate students on written stuff (four items to do - realistically I should manage two)
3) mark two pieces of undergrad work that had extensions
4) set up a new teaching notebook
5) do gentle stretching workout three times
6) DON'T do any work work at least two days at the weekend

Julie

Finish marking exams (due Thursday)
Book travel for two workshops in June.
Finish assembling new patio furniture (unless it rains); buy new pots and plants for patio.
Prep for daughter's birthday party on Saturday.

Susan

1. Keep plugging away on Famous Author. With luck get everything just about done by Friday. Including asking for permissions.
2. Exercise
3. Enjoy myself in my last two weeks here.

Midyear session 2025 Week 1

This will be our first goal-setting week, and it's a good time to set session-long goals. How long is the session? Fourteen weeks, once again, so the final goal-setting week will be week 13 (10 August) and the reporting and rejoicing week will be 17 August. We'll have a midterm check-in on 6 July, week 7.

What do you want to rejoice about in the middle of August? That is, what accomplishment of yours shall we celebrate? Since it's summer (for those of us in the northern hemisphere, and in recent sessions that's been all of us [anyone Down Under want to join in? please do!]), I think some Fun Life Goals would be a good accompaniment to academic goals. 

Our theme is food, so consider whether you want to have a starter, main course, and dessert, or a succession of small plates, or a buffet from which to pick and choose.

So, three things, this week, assuming you introduced yourself in week 1 (and if not, please go ahead and do that this time): session goals, goals for the coming week, and, if you like, a suggestion for a quick and tasty meal, maybe a one-pot wonder.

Oh, and here's the boilerplate from previous sessions about goals: Goals can be in any aspect of life, although the key focus is often writing tasks that are personally and professionally important but that never quite tip over into important AND urgent. Urgent things sometimes find their way in here too; that is completely okay, and process goals are also most welcome. 

If you've been thinking for awhile about joining in, we'd love to have you try us out this time around!