When I read Dame Eleanor’s description of the ocean voyage in her response to the Week
One prompt, I was struck by the phrase, “with some trunks marked "Not Wanted On
Voyage" consigned to the hold . . . .” What have you put in those trunks? What storage
methods are working for you, and what ones have failed you? What things won’t stay in
the trunks, slithering forth like a noxious fog to disturb your sleep or concentration?
One prompt, I was struck by the phrase, “with some trunks marked "Not Wanted On
Voyage" consigned to the hold . . . .” What have you put in those trunks? What storage
methods are working for you, and what ones have failed you? What things won’t stay in
the trunks, slithering forth like a noxious fog to disturb your sleep or concentration?
Please answer the prompt if it speaks to you. For the rest, please report your progress on
your weekly goals, with an analysis of what went well or badly, and set goals for the
coming week.
your weekly goals, with an analysis of what went well or badly, and set goals for the
coming week.
Bardiac:
1. Finish an assessment narrative. What a pain.
2. Write at least 5 pages of my essay.
3. Work on a scrap book project for friends' child. (birthday coming soon)
4. Take a hike! Ride my bike. (try to rhyme for fun.)
5. Practice more! (esp using some techniques my teacher has worked with me on.)
Dame Eleanor Hull:
Regular stretching and exercise; keep doing knee push-ups (30 with good form).
Return to normal early sleep schedule.
Regular language and translation work.
Make a plan for the last set of article revisions.
Do some planning for fall classes.
Do 2 house-related things.
Elizabeth Mitchell:
Finish annual faculty report.
Conduct staff evaluation.
Put in next round of interlibrary loan requests.
Write 5 hours x 3.
Good Enough Woman:
1) Keep working on healthful-ish food choices. Look for fiber and veggies on menus.
2) Write short story (eep!)
3) Do daily push ups and squats (10 of each)
4) Move like water / float like mist (but also be willing to be the stone in the river sometimes?) as I
enter the intense family time that will begin on Friday (double eep!)
enter the intense family time that will begin on Friday (double eep!)
Heu mihi:
1. Enjoy our little trip to our Northerly Neighbor without stressing over money. This is a very real
challenge for me.
challenge for me.
2. Finish one book.
3. Sit on the weekend (when we're back home)--so x2 this week.
Humming42:
1 Organize Tiny Project snippets
2 Find pdfs for Overlooked lit review
3 Write syllabus for summer classes :(
4 Complete and submit two book reviews
JaneB:
1) only do actual work things on Friday other than emergency emails and planning
2) potter and putter at various small household projects, aiming for an hour a day
3) exercise a little every day
4) do something summery or creative every day
5) eat healthily, drink plenty of water, sleep a lot.
Karen (held over)
1. Run on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
2. Marking! Finish all the marking!
3. Grant decision and 1 hour of drafting
4. Schedule workshop
5. 3 hours reading
OceanGirl101 (held over)
a. write 5,000 words for Ch 6
b. restake tomatoes in the garden and weed all over
c. have handyman repair garage door
d. walk for 2 hrs total and lift weights 3 x
e. find a new massage therapist who is good working with injuries (I have chronic back pain from an
old severe injury)
old severe injury)
Plant Girl:
1. Get in my regular stuff as much as possible (research, running)...
2. But allow for the fact that I'm getting married Friday and won't have a ton of time for my regular
schedule starting Thursday into Sunday.
schedule starting Thursday into Sunday.
3. So try to enjoy the experience, and not feel bad about not working / exercising / and eating way too
much cake.
much cake.
Susan:
1. Book orders -- maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow morning
2. Finish merit review (due Saturday, so it will be done)
3. Start reading book for next book review (I've got two train trips, so should be fine.)
4. 6 more journals -- then I'll really see the progress!
5. Sort out old desk in den
6. Get rid of old sofa on Craigslist (new one ready for delivery)
7. Keep walking
8. Figure out sleep, or why am I so tired?
9. Do one fun thing
Waffles:
possible 3-day meeting
What Now?
Finish the dang essay! 
Topic: I have put all work things that are not directly related to research in trunks. I have also put all non-urgent medical things in trunks as well. The medical things are behaving, probably because I am in control of them, and plan to pursue them once I am back from sabbatical. Some of work has been behaving as well--I have managed to keep the lids on committee work and politics, thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of work stuff is not behaving well at all; again, this is almost completely due to the lack of control I have over it. I did agree to do the staff evaluation which was due April 30th, but got delayed by moving the office, and then further delayed by my supervisor, who insisted on vetting it. I also agreed to finish the grant, which was also delayed by the move. However, I have been called in three times to deal with the new office--first to pick through furniture, and the second and third times to figure out the configuration. And I had to write my annual activity report, which is due tomorrow. As all of you know, the actual time of the disruption is small compared to the ripples caused by it, especially when there is an attached emotional charge.
Last week’s goals:
Finish annual faculty report. Yes!!!
Conduct staff evaluation. Not yet, but scheduled for Tuesday.
Put in next round of interlibrary loan requests. Yes
Write 5 hours x 3. Yes!
Analysis: Despite the angst of being called in Friday afternoon to deal with the office, I have been able to dive back into the research, spending many hours reading and writing in an anchoress-like state. I also forced myself to do all the administrative writing first thing, so that I could reward myself with the research. Luckily, the portable air-conditioner in the garret study seems to be fighting the 90-degree weather the mid-Hudson valley has been enjoying since Friday, and is scheduled to enjoy for the next week.
Next week’s goals:
1) Write 5 hours x 7.
2) Revise schedule to make up for the break I took in New Orleans.
3) Meet with subordinate for requisite signing in quintuplicate the staff evaluation.
3) Taking a page from heu mihi, sit quietly, without phone or book or other distraction, for half an hour x 7.
I’m trying heu mihi’s “sitting” because I left my phone at home yesterday morning when I went to a coffee shop to write. I realized what a crutch the darn thing is, and it make me think of Pascal’s Pensees. The following translation is clunky, but it gives the gist of it. “The only thing that consoles us for our miseries is diversion. And yet it is the greatest of our miseries. For it is that above all which prevents us thinking about ourselves and leads us imperceptibly to destruction.”
Have a lovely week, everyone. Excelsior!
Quintuplicate? I'm sorry. Our staff evaluation system is not great, but it's online, at least.
DeleteI am trying to put a selection of work things in the trunk but they keep pinging out everywhere. I imagine them as a set of stiff net tutus or underskirts with sharp, scratchy edges and seams which don't actually cover the body decently, looking ethereal when worm, but refuse to fold and as soon as one is all tucked in out pops part of another, drawing thin red lines on the unwary arm.
ReplyDeletegoals for last week:
1) only do actual work things on Friday other than emergency emails and planning mostly
2) potter and putter at various small household projects, aiming for an hour a day inadequately
3) exercise a little every day not really
4) do something summery or creative every day nope
5) eat healthily, drink plenty of water, sleep a lot.I did sleep a lot...
Ugh. I itch. This is a mix of hayfever, seasonal allergies, and just general malcontentness with the world (right now also a new skin reaction to the one sun cream my skin generally tolerated OK last summer). I also itch because I can't settle to any one work thing... this week I have an all day outreach event (done, today), an all day workshop, an office day (with paperwork! and meetings!), a writing day with FocusedWoman and a two day writing retreat. Busy...
goals for this week:
1) write the damn summer lists (I bought a new notebook and put headings on pages. I have NO MORE EXCUSES)
2) use the writing retreat to review Picky, Touchy, Ferret and Foxy, assess their statuses, and decide which one to focus on this summer. If I get bored or run into too many blocks, work on Gallimaufrey paper or MScpaper (which suddenly has a new direction and possible solution as we finally got the raw data from the student. In the most wrongest format possible, but at least that can be fixed, whereas no data canNOT be fixed).
3) cut out refined sugar wherever possible.
4) buy a new sunhat.
JaneB, your image takes me back to wearing crinolines as a child--itchy, scratchy, awful things!
DeleteIt's hard to get things done when one is physically miserable--considering that, you have done well. You certainly have my sympathy! I hope you can get some good work done during the retreat.
I like "buy a new sun hat" as a weekly goal. Otherwise, sorry for the itchyness...
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was able to avoid a 3 day meeting last week, which was really good as once I got back from almost 2 weeks of conferencing, the last thing I wanted to do was to spend more time with people! I didn't get much work done in those 3 days, and am struggling to get myself to focus today. Some of that is the heat (heat wave! just ordered an air conditioner), some of it is a bizarre meeting I had with my postdoc mentor last week that is casting a pall over things a bit, and some of it is pure laziness!
ReplyDeleteGoals for this next week:
1) Revise the results and introduction section for Aim 1 paper
2) Revise the results for a marriage recognition paper
3) Draft IRB for new grant (yay! it's a small grant to do some piloting with my own sample!).
Have a great week everyone!
I'm glad you avoided the meeting--that sounded brutal, even without conferencing for weeks before it.
DeleteThe heat is enervating, especially here where we are not used to it. The New Orleans natives seemed to handle it fine, but all us conferees were wilting quickly--and now the heat has followed us home!
Congrats on the new grant! And try to keep cool!
I like the prompt, but I don't have a ready response, so I'll just jump into accountability and analysis.
ReplyDelete1. Enjoy our little trip to our Northerly Neighbor without stressing over money. This is a very real challenge for me. — Did pretty well with this, and am feeling a little bit better about finances generally now that I've finally gotten around to looking up how my pension at Idyllic State actually works. (It might just be okay that we don't have a huge stash of savings. Maybe. And I'm thinking a lot about how little we--by which I mean, me and people around me--talk about money and how to manage it, or how much you should aim to save, etc.)
2. Finish one book. - Done—read two! Well, only parts of one, but they were the relevant parts, so I'm moving on now.
3. Sit on the weekend (when we're back home)--so x2 this week. - Nope. I'm going to Start Again this week.
Analysis:
Not much to say, really, since we were on vacation! I'm pleased to still be on track with my reading project, and maybe just about ready to re-enter the whole writing thing. It's a little shocking that classes start again in just two months, which means I'm halfway through the teaching break. Trying not to be bothered by that, but instead to remember to do summery things while I can--this weekend, we went to the pool AND to a six-year-old's birthday party at a new-to-us swimming hole, both of which felt *very* summery. I need to remember to treat summer like summer.
This week, Husband and Child will be away Wed-Sat, so I also need to buckle down a little bit.
This week's goals:
1. Read relevant parts of two books
2. Reread Wonder and figure out re-entry point
3. Finalize and print Impatience + associated handout
4. Sit x 6
5. Read the work of one graduate student
6. Back to regular exercise (heat permitting)
Your observation about how little academics talk about money is spot on, heu mihi. I get the feeling a lot of folks think we should be above all that (insert insouciant hand wave here); my father told me that in his generation, only the wealthy could get PhDs, so maybe it is a holdover from that. Whatever, it is a weird phenomenon!
ReplyDeleteConsidering you were away, you got some work done, so good job on that. I always realize the passage of time at the beginning of a new month--as if I can see the sand draining through the hourglass. Your admonition not to waste summertime by worrying about its passing is one I needed--thank you!
I recently read two things--an article about Why Middle-Aged Upper-/Middle-Class Women Should All Be Depressed and a book about raising kids to have a good attitude towards money--that bemoaned how few people in their forties (my decade) have even just a piddly $50k saved. My first thought: What the what! I am 42 years old and I have saved $8300. (It was more, but the move three years ago was expensive, and we're still recovering from that + the outrageous cost of preschool.)
DeleteBut then I thought: Does my TDRA count? What about my pensions? How much is in those pensions, anyway? I haven't a clue. How do they work? And what are all these savings for, anyway?
And then: Why am I so thoroughly clueless about this, and why, especially, does the book about how to talk about money NOT discuss any of these issues, at all?
Long reply to your reply (clearly I should reactivate my own damn blog), but this nonsense has been on my mind lately. Good thing I got tenure, in any case, so that--assuming public universities aren't shut down in the next 23 years--I have a current pension plan in place!
I think this is a great observation. My husband & I basically had all our wealth in retirement accounts. And yes, it counts as savings. But I'm always shocked at colleagues who *don't* think about and don't even know what the default is.
DeleteI'd like to look at that article, if you don't mind sharing the info, please.
DeleteYes, we don't talk enough about salary stuff or about saving for retirement, dealing with mortgages and all that.
I'm worried about my retirement, and then I look at information about what most people my age have saved, and I wonder how we're going to survive. I have a sad sense that it's not going to be pretty, not at all. People live longer, but Social Security is less secure and doesn't keep people out of poverty. (I think it could, if we'd raise the limits and such... but I'm no financial wonk.)
Yes, Heu, please DO reactivate your blog.
I've been having similar thoughts. I'm in a state where the pension system is on the verge of a breakdown. I do have some TIAA-CREF savings in addition, but that was always supposed to be "extra," and for the last several years I've greatly regretted sticking to the regular pension plan rather than taking my money out when we had the chance, maybe 15 years ago, and going with TIAA-CREF all the way. Fortunately Sir John has saved assiduously, but I feel dumb and un-feminist relying on my husband. I need to meet with an advisor from the pension fund and think seriously about when to retire. Some of my colleagues have retired early so as to get some money while they still can, and invest it, while using a spouse's salary for living expenses. It's a thought!
DeleteBardiac, I try not to include Social Security in any computations, given how fragile it seems to be. And that leaves me very worried.
DeleteDame Eleanor, your friends' path is something to consider, un-feminist as it may be. I debated with myself for a long time when moving to this job 6 years ago; it's a tough decision.
I am trying valiantly to overcome my introversion to meet with an advisor.
As far as putting things in trunks go, I think for now I'm putting away some course planning. I have three new classes in the fall, but I don't need to get to them for at least three more weeks, so for now, the book and regular self care is more important.
ReplyDeleteReview of last week:
1. Get in my regular stuff as much as possible: somewhat successful; I did no freelance work at all but worked on the book for two days. Ran once, so not horrible for a busy week.
2. But allow for the fact that I'm getting married Friday: this went swimmingly and I had a great time, and was able to not do any work and just enjoy time with family for a few days.
3. So try to enjoy the experience: didn't feel bad one tiny bit about all the cake!
This week:
1. Get back to a regular rhythm with the book.
2. Do freelance work somewhat more regularly.
3. Workout three times & run 5k Saturday.
4. Eat healthier / cook at home after four or so days of junk / restaurants.
How's it going? A week with a national holiday in the middle may not be the best for getting back to a regular rhythm; I hope you're doing better than I am!
DeleteCongratulations on the wedding going swimmingly, especially for being able to relax!
DeleteClass prep is always good to put in a trunk. Otherwise, it is one of those ever-expanding objects, like spray insulation.
One run and two sessions of work on the book during the week of a wedding is very good!
Well, honestly, I did completely forget about the holiday (it's never been a big one in my family), and that did end up throwing me off a big. I did get my exercise in more regularly and got back to some FL work, but I'll see how this day ends as far as the rest of it. Thanks for checking in!
DeleteThanks, Elizabeth! I'm trying to think about class prep as necessary but not vital right now, especially since I have some deadlines coming up I've been complete ignoring. And you're right -- I feel pretty good about what I did accomplish last week!
DeleteInteresting prompt. What I'd like to stash away is my emotional response to life at the university. I want it to roll off me. It doesn't, but I can try.
ReplyDeleteLast week:
1. Book orders -- maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow morning DONE
2. Finish merit review (due Saturday, so it will be done)DONE (though I was late, finishing late Sunday, and then discovering omissions this morning.
3. Start reading book for next book review (I've got two train trips, so should be fine.) Started
4. 6 more journals -- then I'll really see the progress! 3 only
5. Sort out old desk in den NO
6. Get rid of old sofa on Craigslist (new one ready for delivery) YES! And new sofa has arrived!
7. Keep walking YES, pretty much.
8. Figure out sleep, or why am I so tired? Some
9. Do one fun thing YES
Analysis: My mother has been on IV antibiotics this week (through Wednesday) and I've had to transport her several days. It's meant that (for instance) Saturday morning just went with the infusion, breakfast, and the rally for families. I'll be glad when this is done...
Also, the merit review -- which covers 8 years -- was more emotionally draining than I expected. I hate looking at teaching evaluations, and I have to do it. I think that I've done a good job, but it's just a lot of work. It also makes clear to me how much I've done in the last 8 years... but it was 8500 words I wrote. And it just feels like a waste of time.
On the plus side, I love my new sofa - a sectional with a chaise! -- and I'm sitting on it now to write. It's the start of rearranging my living room -- now need to get a new tv and media cabinet, and reupholster a bunch of furniture. But I've meant to do this for about three years, so. ..
Goals for this week:
I'm thinking of this week as reading and planning. And I want to take Wednesday off from academic work.
1. Finish book for book review, write review
2. Read 9 journals
3. Re-read Violence essay, order books
4. Clean desk in den, maybe get rid of it
5. List turntable and tape deck on Craigslist
6. Keep walking, eating relatively healthfully
7. Do one fun thing
Ah, to be able to pack away my responses to the work life! I fail miserably, but I should try, like you say, Susan.
DeleteWe are looking at a sectional with a chaise, but haven't gotten to the point of ordering it. The chaise would be at the end of the room where the fireplace is, so I'm hoping we'll get it by winter.
Considering your having to help your mother, you got a lot done!
I’ve tried to put all service-related stuff in the trunks, but that stuff is starting to heckle me, reminding me it’s still there and will be there while I read all those novels and pretend like summer is way, way longer than it is. Looking for the balance.
ReplyDeleteLast week:
1 Organize Tiny Project snippets: yes
2 Find pdfs for Overlooked lit review: yes
3 Write syllabus for summer classes: not yet
4 Complete and submit two book reviews: one done, one underway
This week:
1 Write syllabus (although really trq at this point)
2 Submit second book review, also trq
3 Write and submit long overdue film review
4 Work on Sweet lit review
I've stuffed my service into trunks, as well, Linda, but they will begin to bother me when the Fall semester starts. I should be happy they are silent now, though.
DeleteGood job on goals--it looks like you might be achieving your balance!
I'm back after a week on leave, where the highlight was two days of reading and garden planning by the fire, and the lowlights were having to deal with work things on three days.
ReplyDeleteFor the prompt, like humming42, it's the service tasks that keep popping up. I think of them less like a packed trunk and more like a jack-in-the-box or whack-a-mole that refuses to stay down.
Last two weeks:
1. Run on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
A couple of runs done
2. Marking! Finish all the marking!
Yes!
3. Grant decision and 1 hour of drafting
No
4. Schedule workshop
No, but have organised a couple of other events that aren't this one
5. 3 hours reading
Maybe one hour of work reading in small pieces
This week:
(Mostly going to be semester preparation and service whacking, so being realistic here)
-Runs on Friday, Sunday
-Write syllabus
-30 min writing time building off idea gathering from syllabus
Your whack-a-mole image is quite evocative, and so very true of service things. The minute you think you've laid one thing to bed, something else pops up.
DeleteYour days of reading and garden planning sound wonderful, Karen. And you got all the marking done--brava!!
Here goes:
ReplyDelete1. Finish an assessment narrative. What a pain.
2. Write at least 5 pages of my essay.
3. Work on a scrap book project for friends' child. (birthday coming soon)
4. Take a hike! Ride my bike. (try to rhyme for fun.)
5. Practice more! (esp using some techniques my teacher has worked with me on.)
I did finish the assessment narrative thing. Ugh.
And I'm about half done with the scrapbook.
I really do like the luggage idea. I need to think about what I should just pack away!
Meanwhile, for the rest of this week:
1. Exercise.
2. Weed the damned garden
3. Write 5 pages
4. Practice
5. Finish scrapbook.
Assessment narrative--ugh, indeed! The scrapbook gift is such an interesting idea.
DeleteIt can be hard to figure what to pack-- depending on my mood, I want to pack too little or too much. It might be a good exercise, though.
Where has this week gone??
ReplyDeleteI'm getting sick of having things in (real) boxes. I miss my nice china, my fiction, and the blender. It was one thing when I was thinking I could live without things for a relatively short time, but now all of those things have been packed for over a year (because I thought we'd get the house on the market last year and then didn't) and I am getting tired of this, the more so because no one has come to see the house yet. I had hoped that things would move faster. My ship is becalmed!
How I did:
Regular stretching and exercise; keep doing knee push-ups (30 with good form). Doing pretty well here with the regular stuff; only up to 20 pushups, though. June was hard on me, physically, and it shows up in de-conditioning.
Return to normal early sleep schedule. YES
Regular language and translation work. YES
Make a plan for the last set of article revisions. YES
Do some planning for fall classes. NO
Do 2 house-related things. YES but not the things I meant!
On several of these things, I'm assisted by posting so late in the week. The sleep schedule, especially, has only recently been re-established.
Goals for the rest of this week:
Keep up stretching, cardio, weights, and push-ups.
Finish translation review.
Write something for writing group.
Clean the garage, work on the garden, book a trip to see family.
This week went quickly for me, too, Dame Eleanor. I can also sympathize with having your things in boxes--our garage is still full, and the ones I want are buried somewhere, which is frustrating as hell.
DeleteAll the best for sleep being re- established, and for July being easier for you.