the grid

the grid

Monday 27 August 2018

June-August Journey Week 12

To my surprise, here we are at the end of the 12-week summer cruise. Check
about the cabin, make sure you haven’t left anything behind that you want to
take with you, and mind the gap between the gangway and the dock. Several
of us encountered rougher seas than we had planned, but everyone did an
admirable job gaining their sea legs.
At the end of our session, we co-hosts ask that you look back on your session
goals as well as last week’s. What worked better than you expected? Can you
somehow keep some of that alive during the coming semester? What didn’t
work, but gave you ideas for other permutations to try in future?

If anyone is willing to host or co-host for the fall/spring semester session,
please let us know. As always, it was a pleasure to sail with all of you.

Bardiac
Session goals:
1. Hike a LOT. I need to be ready to do 8 miles x 3 days, in Yosemite
(so up hills at altitude) by the end of July.
2. Start outlining and working on an essay that's part of my sabbatical.
3. Do some sabbatical planning. I have some travel funding...
4. Shorter term: Do a short project for our Women's, Gender, and Sexualities
Program.
and 5. Practice the violin! I'm working on shifting, vibrato, and double stops
especially, and on the second piece in the fourth Suzuki book.

Last week’s goals: (held over during trip out west)
1. Finalize some plans. Since this involves my Mom, it will take time (because
she's communicating with five other people...)
2. Finish weeding. I need two hours before it gets hot. Hopefully tomorrow.
3. Exercise.
4. Pack.
5. Write enough that I feel like I've made progress.

Dame Eleanor Hull
Session goals:
Stay fit and healthy while moving, completing the translation work, and
doing one last set of article revisions.
Keep up with language study and read for my book project.
Prep fall classes.

Last week’s goals:
Self/health: Yoga and cardio at least 5 times each (try for 7), weights 3,
make appointment for eye exam, try to move sleep time to or toward 10-6.
Research: 4 hours revisions, 2 hours language.
Teaching: syllaboi for two classes.
Life Stuff: fill in & mail a form, do car thing, clear some tabs, make a
deposit, find an i.d. number.

Elizabeth Mitchell
Session mantra: “The best revenge is to be unlike him who caused the injury.”
--Marcus Aurelius
Session goals:
Follow the sabbatical schedule without being mental.
Intersperse fun things.
Foster mindfulness.
Move--walk, swim, do Tai Chi.
Create--write, knit, draw.

Last week’s goals:
Take good notes at doctor's appointment.
Enjoy celebratory wine trail.
Read a couple of articles.
Plan the stone removal and after-stone month.
Practice good self-care.

Good Enough Woman
Session Goals:
1) Writing: Complete the bulk of the work for my online SF writing class,
and, in addition to some short pieces, write 10,000 words of a novel.
3) Health: Keep moving my body while on the trip and throughout the summer,
and make sure we often look for light and healthy food options and avoid the
"three large meals a day" mentality that can happen while traveling or while visiting people.
4) Reading: Read at least two books of academic criticism (one c18 and one SF)
and approximately 20 SF short stories (in addition to novel reading)
5) Money: Don't overspend (I know this is vague. I need to figure out how
to frame this one.)
6) House: Clean "my section" of the garage, clean linen closet, clean out freezer,
frame stuff and hang it, clean shelves and cabinet where my work stuff has piled
up, clean out bathroom cabinets
7) Teaching: Prep for fall before I go to LA, clean out office.

Last week’s goals:
1) Rest as much as possible
2) Read three SF stories
3) Write for 20 minutes x2

Heu mihi
Session goals:
1) Mini conference paper (Impatience)
2) Amy abstract
3) Wonder essay
4) Read 16 books--I have a list, but I can swap things in and out, and not all
are research-related
5) Sit regularly; remember to start again
6) Run 5 miles once this summer
7) Make a photo album (I'm like 4 behind)

Last week’s goals:
1. Revise 100-level syllabus for Diversity program I'm a part of
2. Dissertation
3. Read and give feedback on exam rationales for grad student
4. Grad syllabus
5. Reread “Read” (essay I wrote 3 years ago for a collection; just got
feedback; revision is due on Sept. 3!!); make revision notes
6. Sit x 6
7. Exercise x 5
8. Complete anniversary book
9. Brew beer (cheating a bit because I did this yesterday)
10. Make a big pot of tomato soup (tomato season is always a little hectic around here)
11. Email catch-up: student publication; department party; TA mentoring

Humming42
Session goals:
1 Submit Jewel article
2 Submit film review
3 Submit four current book reviews
4 Draft Sweet for September submission
5 End the session with at least a solid outline for Tiny Project
6 Prepare to meet with Overlooked co-author in September
7 Draft abstract for Travel project

Last week’s goals:
1 edit submitted book review
2 write all syllabi
3 make arrangements for reading group
4 add structure to Sweet paper and figure out lit review/methods

JaneB
1) be feeling calmer and more in control of my professional and personal life.
This would ideally involve:
a) the house being noticeably more organised,
b) having a clear, agreed plan for my new admin role in place,
c) have reviewed and prepared for all my teaching for the year,
d) be feeling like I know what my next steps are for writing and research
activities until at least the end of January,
and e) having some better self care habits in place
2) specifically I want to have ProblemChildren1 and 2 resubmitted
3) and measurable progress made on at least Ferret and Gallimaufrey
Review, and probably also Picky and Touchy
4) and a full, rough draft of Gallimaufrey Grant Application

Last week’s goals:
1) self-care: focusing on drinking enough water, on taking time
to eat the food I choose, on moving a little extra each day
(at least back stretches), "sitting".
2) analyse at least 1 sample in preparation for FavouriteIslandsMeeting
3) make travel plans for FavouriteIslandsMeeting
4) Prepare for societything meeting. Enjoy said meeting.
5) spend an hour on teaching prep
6) do NOT think about ProblemChildren at ALL.

Karen
Session goals:
1. Write acquittal grant application
2. Write catalogue essay
3. Get research backlog onto uni recordkeeping systems
4. Complete draft of glover paper
5. Love the idea of book reading challenge so will steal that from heu mihi
6. pick up Couch-to-5k again and do three sessions per week.

Last week’s goals: (held over)
(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

OceanGirl101
Session goals:
1) finish the majority of writing for my book (complete two of the
four remaining chapters and take notes for the rest)
2) exercise a lot, including going to the gym 3 x a week and
walking/swimming a few hours a week
3) cultivate local friendships and a veggie garden and
4) do some home care and some personal care, including lots of stretching.

Last week’s goals:
1. Finish comments on Info Flow and send to collaborators
2. Look at new graphs for foodwebs
3. Write or work on tables 2 x 4 hours for book
4. Rework two syllabi, varied teaching prep
5. PT for arm x 2, gym x 3
6. 2 fun things

Plant Girl
Session Goals:
1. Research and draft Chapter 5 of my book project
2. Finalize and submit book proposal to first choice press
3. Draft tentative article on plant pornography (yes, you can ask me
about that, and no, it's not my book topic)
4. Reach a healthy balance between work and taking care of myself,
in terms of reading for fun, cooking at home, exercising, etc.
5. Plan for three new courses in the fall.

Last week’s goals: (held  over)
1. Finalize syllabus for first class, including printing out some worksheets,
etc., for the first week of classes.
2. Submit some reimbursement requests (which requires learning where
the dept photocopier is and how to use it).
3. Go to a workshop on our CMS, which I have used before but
am not a pro at.
4. Finally, try not to flounder while my husband is out of town. As someone
with mental health issues I don't do well when my primary support system
is missing, so I try to reach out to friends, but as we all know, academics often
have friends very far away. So my text messaging will go up for sure!

Susan
Session goals:
1. Finish revisions of essay "Violence" -- which is in pretty good shape,
but has been sitting for a few years, so a little bib work is undoubtedly necessary.
2. Read: catch up on journals and I've got three pending book reviews
3. Get ready for the fall semester (overdue book orders, syllabus for new
course, etc.)
4. Keep walking. I've been aiming (pretty successfully) for 10,000 steps a day.
5. Continue clearing out stuff.
a. Get the den to be less of a dump. (mostly paper that I need to confront)
b. Get rid of more clothes that I don't wear
6. Do at least one fun thing with a friend each week.

Last week’s goals: (held over)
1. Revisions on WITCH (minor, but necessary - it may be a "lovely article"
but it isn't quite ready for prime time.
2. Finish syllabi, start building course websites
3. Read 3 more journals
4. Print out Violence, figure out what more needs to be done
5. Read article for review
6. Keep walking

Waffles
Session goals:
1. PTSD
2. Aim 1
3. Asthma
4. YRBS
5. Diss
6. Maybe one expectancy paper

Last week’s goals:
1. Send postdoc report to higher ups (this is cheating, I did this this morning!)
2. Respond to emails from when I was gone! (cheating again as I responded this am)
3. Do review for JMIR
4. Write up YRBS results
5. Work on asthma discussion
6. Aim 1 paper - revise results
7. Figure out next steps for couples study
8. Finish intersectionality section
9. Revisions to body image paper

What Now?
Session goals:
* to finish and send off an article I’ve been working on off-and-on
for a while now;
* to get myself back into physical shape for teaching after a winter and
spring spent sitting and reading;
* to prepare to teach two brand-new courses
* to declutter and streamline our home, which is more cluttered than ever
since I’ve been here full-time for a few months!
* to get myself back into the habit of studying Hebrew and Jewish stuff
more broadly, which has gotten pushed to the back burner in recent weeks.

Last week’s goal: (held over)

1. Keep my head above water!

27 comments:

  1. Session goals:
    1. PTSD - Mostly done - stats people just need to revise analyses and then I’ll adjust the paper
    2. Aim 1 - Intro, methods, and results done, but need to revise results.
    3. Asthma - Discussion needs revision, then done
    4. YRBS - talking to statistician today about interaction effects, then will be able to finish everything but discussion.
    5. Diss - this has been a mess. All I need to do is trim by 1000 words, then will be ready to submit.
    6. Maybe one expectancy paper - yeah, no.

    Last week’s goals:
    1. Send postdoc report to higher ups (this is cheating, I did this this morning!) - DONE
    2. Respond to emails from when I was gone! (cheating again as I responded this am) - DONE
    3. Do review for JMIR - DONE and this was super interesting. It was for a research protocol journal, and the protocol I read was similar to my work (I think they suggested me as a reviewer), so getting to read about their methods in depth was really enlightening. I wish my field would write more methods pieces (particularly about recruitment of our hard-to-reach population).
    4. Write up YRBS results - ALMOST DONE (everything I understood is done).
    5. Work on asthma discussion - I DID WORK ON IT, BUT GOT SO FRUSTRATED, I PUT IT ASIDE.
    6. Aim 1 paper - revise results - NOT DONE
    7. Figure out next steps for couples study - NOT DONE
    8. Finish intersectionality section - ALMOST DONE
    9. Revisions to body image paper - DONE

    I did better than I thought last week. I started to work on the asthma discussion and got so frustrated (as I noted above) that I had to set it aside. This project has been really frustrating and I haven’t been able to get my co-authors (all senior faculty) to give me the kind of help I need. I just got so frustrated by all the critical comments from the senior faculty - and felt annoyed that they didn’t try to help out with revising anything. Like one person commented about needing to reorganize the discussion - and this person has done nothing on the paper at all - so I don’t understand why they couldn’t pitch in and help organize it? Another person commented that more cites were needed in the discussion - and again, why not add some in? I feel like my best collaborations have been with people who will take a stab at working on things - and the worst is when I just get critical comments from my co-authors so I end up feeling like everyone’s secretary rather than feeling like part of a team. I dunno - figuring out how to collaborate is definitely an ongoing learning process.

    I did better this session than I thought I would - but my high level of travel and conference presentation preparation definitely didn’t help. BUT, I feel like I have developed some good habits (like meditation every day before I begin working) that are helping me get back to my former level of productivity.

    Next week’s goals:
    1. Finish YRBS paper
    2. Finish asthma paper
    3. Make progress on couples study since I had planned to go live next week!
    4. Revise results for aim 1 paper
    5. Lancet re-review

    Thank you for the awesome hosting, Elizabeth Anne and Dame Eleanor!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This has been a very good session for you, Waffles, despite the setback on the asthma study. Collaboration certainly does take some finesse, especially when working with senior people who can make your life uncomfortable if you bug them about pitching in.

      Good job learning some good habits this session, too!

      Delete
    2. So glad you are feeling more focused and productive and, I hope, just more grounded in general.

      So, regarding the asthma study, that would drive me nuts. I would be pretty angry if someone was supposed to be a co-author but really only gave me more work to do (regardless of whether or not their suggestions were good one). I hope that's not typical even if it's more common that one would like.

      Kudos for a good session!

      Delete
  2. Thank you EAM and DEH for excellent hosting and a fun and summery theme! Any volunteers for the next session, or suggestions of dates?

    If no-one has other plans by then, I'll put a placeholder post up next weekend so we can all keep up a bit of momentum at this messy, semester-starting time of year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jane. Putting up that post will be very helpful.

      Delete
    2. If no one else can do it, I imagine that I can, especially with a partner. I can't promise any brilliant metaphors, but I can keep us moving along. I could do a welcome/introductory/sessions goals post on Sept. 8th and then we could go from there. Maybe we could end around Dec. 15th?

      I'm totally open to something different, too.

      Delete
    3. That would be great! Anyone up to help GEW?

      Delete
  3. last week:

    Two or three very hot and muggy days, then the weather cooled down. I slipped on the stairs Tuesday and seem to have set off my tendonitis - stairs hurt, sitting in chairs requires constant self-reminders not to wind my foot around the leg as that will really hurt when I stand, it hurts in bed, and I haven't done any serious damage just another inconvenience which doesn't go with my "poor me" state of mind!

    1) self-care: focusing on drinking enough water, on taking time to eat the food I choose, on moving a little extra each day (at least back stretches), "sitting". mostly, not really, not really, some days
    2) analyse at least 1 sample in preparation for FavouriteIslandsMeeting finished the one that didn't get finished last week, began another. Not going to get done :-(
    3) make travel plans for FavouriteIslandsMeeting not really
    4) Prepare for societything meeting. Enjoy said meeting. it went pretty well, overall. I skipped the field day due to stupid ankle, but actually I'd run out of steam a bit so that was not entirely bad. It went pretty well overall, I guess, but it was all a bit distant, you know?
    5) spend an hour on teaching prep ish.
    6) do NOT think about ProblemChildren at ALL.yes

    the session:

    Grumble grumble it has not been a great session. Too hot, too humid, too much bureaucracy and now I'm pretty depressed again. But, life, it goes on.

    1) be feeling calmer and more in control of my professional and personal life. NO
    This would ideally involve:
    a) the house being noticeably more organised, it's not actually worse...
    b) having a clear, agreed plan for my new admin role in place, sort of
    c) have reviewed and prepared for all my teaching for the year, hah hah NO, I don't even have 100% certainty over which modules I teach on never mind who is in which team. I did... something.
    d) be feeling like I know what my next steps are for writing and research activities until at least the end of January, I know a little more than I did
    and e) having some better self care habits in place wobbly but not vanished...
    2) specifically I want to have ProblemChildren1 and 2 resubmitted HAHAHA no. GRRRR
    3) and measurable progress made on at least Ferret and Gallimaufrey Review minute, but measurable in very small units, and probably also Picky and Touchy NOPE
    4) and a full, rough draft of Gallimaufrey Grant Application nope

    On the publication side, the first paper from LikesMaths thesis (she did the work and wrote the chapter, I turned it into a shorter journal format) is submitted, SurprisePaper (a review article) is accepted and the paper that has been going on and on forever looks like it's also found a home (minor revisions).

    And I survived, so far at least!

    Last week’s goals:
    1) self-care: focusing on drinking enough water, on taking time
    to eat the food I choose, on moving a little extra each day
    (at least back stretches), "sitting".
    2) analyse at least 1 sample in preparation for FavouriteIslandsMeeting
    3) make travel plans for FavouriteIslandsMeeting
    4) Prepare for societything meeting. Enjoy said meeting.
    5) spend an hour on teaching prep
    6) do NOT think about ProblemChildren at ALL.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Congratulations on the publication progress! Considering that you feel about summer the way I feel about winter, I think you did very well to survive and get some things done. Best wishes for a manageable autumn!

      Delete
    2. What Dame Eleanor said, especially given the hot and sticky summer the UK has had to endure. As for self-care and figuring out future activities, movement, even baby steps, is important, so be proud of those accomplishments, as well.

      Delete
    3. Some great successes tucked in there at the end! Huzzah! After a rough, hot summer, I think you can call it a win that the house isn't worse and self-case hasn't vanished.

      I hope the cool weather begins to feel restorative and that your ankle/leg heals quickly.

      Delete
    4. LikesMAths paper was rejected without being sent to reviewers. Seems entirely an apt conclusion to the summer!

      Delete
  4. Session goals:
    1. Hike a LOT. I need to be ready to do 8 miles x 3 days, in Yosemite
    (so up hills at altitude) by the end of July. DONE! Though I ended up not getting to Yosemite because of the fire and air quality.
    2. Start outlining and working on an essay that's part of my sabbatical. DONE!
    3. Do some sabbatical planning. I have some travel funding... not done :(
    4. Shorter term: Do a short project for our Women's, Gender, and Sexualities DONE!
    Program.
    and 5. Practice the violin! I'm working on shifting, vibrato, and double stops
    especially, and on the second piece in the fourth Suzuki book. NOT done. I'm now back to practicing, but it's a bit like starting over...

    Last week’s goals: (held over during trip out west)
    1. Finalize some plans. Since this involves my Mom, it will take time (because
    she's communicating with five other people...)
    2. Finish weeding. I need two hours before it gets hot. Hopefully tomorrow.
    3. Exercise.
    4. Pack.
    5. Write enough that I feel like I've made progress.


    The short term goals all got done, since they were necessary to my trip.

    For this week, the goal is to make progress on an essay revision.

    Thanks again, everyone! Thanks for keeping me on the list. I'd love to participate again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That all looks like good progress to me! Remember Dr Crazy's maxim that 60% complete is a WIN!

      Delete
    2. You are welcome to join in anytime. We should have some discussion about the next semester's session in the next couple of weeks, I believe, so watch this space!

      I find practice does take a while to start up again after a break, but I do feel that I regain the momentum more quickly than I did the last time I let things lie fallow.

      Delete
    3. I'm so sorry you didn't get to Yosemite, but I hope you had a great summer. I'll back track to see if you wrote about it last week . . .

      Looks like it was a good summer over all!

      Delete
  5. How I Did:
    Session goals:
    Stay fit and healthy while moving, completing the translation work, and doing one last set of article revisions. Not so much: I have ongoing neck/back problems, so I could be fitter, and the last set of revisions remain incomplete. The translation work is done, however.
    Keep up with language study and read for my book project. YES/NO.
    Prep fall classes. MORE OR LESS. I have to finish a syllabus today (yes, classes started yesterday . . .)

    Last week’s goals:
    Self/health: Yoga and cardio at least 5 times each (try for 7), weights 3, make appointment for eye exam, try to move sleep time to or toward 10-6. SLACKED on yoga (4 times), YES cardio, weights, eyes, and sleep.
    Research: 4 hours revisions, 2 hours language. LA LA LA LOOK OVER THERE! (In other words, ha ha nope.)
    Teaching: syllaboi for two classes. ONE.
    Life Stuff: fill in & mail a form, do car thing, clear some tabs, make a deposit, find an i.d. number. NO, YES, NO, YES, NO.

    Reflections:
    Last week, I got my hair cut, had a massage, had my car emissions checked, made a deposit, and had an eye exam. I felt like I was doing very well with Life Stuff, although it's true that I'm still neglecting the paperwork (but I'm getting to the point where not-doing it is bothering me enough that I'll just get it done, I think).

    As to the session, I guess I shouldn't have set as a goal something that is not really in my control. It did not occur to me that the house would not sell within a few months---it's a nice house, in a desirable town with good schools and services. My main problems with it are that it is old (which is very, very common here) and far from where I work (which would presumably not be a problem for people looking for a house here). I thought it might take awhile, and that perhaps I would wind up moving during the semester, but that was my worst-case scenario. Ha! Now I'm looking at continuing a commute that has become even longer and more exhausting due to road work on all routes, and moving during the semester would be a consummation devoutly to be wished. What I'm really peeved about is having decided not to take a trip I would really like to have taken, because MOVING, and now we might as well have traveled, because NOT moving.

    At least the translation is done. There's drama involving the publisher, now, but the whole thing should go forward.

    Looking at my accomplishments over the last few years, I notice that things take me vastly longer than I expect them to, but I do eventually get them finished. I wish I were better at either (a) gauging how much time I will really need, or (b) sticking to self-imposed deadlines, but at this point, I think I'm just going to feel pleased that I do get things completed, however long it takes, and resign myself to being a slow worker.

    Thanks to Elizabeth for co-hosting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I also cleaned the refrigerator and we had three outings-with-friends. It was a busy week.

      Delete
    2. Personally, I think you need to put a post-it note on your monitor that reminds you that you finished the translation--the behemoth that you have been wrestling is done!

      I'm sorry the house has not sold, and therefore the commute is still part of your life, and hope that it will sell sometime this semester.

      I also feel your angst with the slowness of getting things done, and am heartened that you decide not to beat yourself up over the slowness. I have trouble giving myself enough time to allow for just not feeling it, but I'm working on that. Also, remember that slow is not a code word for bad--often the opposite is true.

      Thank you for co-hosting, Dame Eleanor. The cruise was a pleasure!

      Delete
  6. Again, thank you all for journeying with me this session. Special thanks to Dame Eleanor for the evocative topic, and for being my co-host.

    How I did:
    Session mantra: “The best revenge is to be unlike him who caused the injury.” Marcus Aurelius I managed to disassociate myself from my workplace far better than I expected. I think the Emperor would be proud.

    Session goals:
    Follow the sabbatical schedule without being mental. Given the circumstances, I did all right. I had to cancel the research trip to the Morgan, but I can reschedule in October.
    Intersperse fun things. Surprisingly, I did get to do some fun trips, and have pictures and a case of wine to prove it!
    Foster mindfulness. A muted win on this one, in that I didn’t get as far with meditation as I would have liked, but some baby steps. I was far more mindful of what I ate, too.
    Move--walk, swim, do Tai Chi. Some, no, no. I did manage to walk more this summer, and did lose some weight.
    Create--write, knit, draw. I did okay on this goal. I wrote about 10,000 words this session--not as many as planned, but it’s something. I knitted three large projects and two small ones, and I tried to learn how to draw, with minimal success, but it was fun.

    Last week’s goals:
    Take good notes at doctor's appointment. Done
    Enjoy celebratory wine trail. Done with enthusiasm
    Read a couple of articles. Nope
    Plan the stone removal and after-stone month. Done
    Practice good self-care. Pretty well. I watched what I ate, walked, hydrated okay

    Analysis: To be honest, my reaction as I was writing the above was surprise. I truly felt that the session had been largely wasted--being under the weather, being suborned to come into the office from time to time, and just not having the burning drive with which I started the sabbatical. However, I got more done than I expected. Also, relief is on the horizon--I have the first procedure in two weeks, and the second three weeks after that.

    I fell down on the exercise worst of all, but was pleased to find in my pre-op exam yesterday that I have lost ten pounds since January. My second-worst was the meditation, but I think I will find it easier to sit still in a few weeks.

    Thank you all, because if I didn’t have to own up to what I was accomplishing, I’d have read far more novels instead!

    Have a lovely break, all who are taking one, and hope to see everyone again soon. Float like mist!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I mean, there's nothing wrong with reading a bunch of novels, is there? (she says sheepishly)

      EAM, your progress on TLQ is amazing considering the kidney stone situation. I tend to let those things distract and derail me nearly completely. It's fantastic that you still got so much done. And, of course, that no invasive surgery is needed.

      Nice work on the 10,000 and knitting projects! That's great. :)

      Delete
  7. Thank you to our wonderful hosts, whose creativity and support are always appreciated.

    Fall semester is coming at me like the Tour de France peleton, and I’m barely limber enough to step out of the way of the oncoming cyclists. Soon I will be able to get to the sideline where I can cheer them all on. I’m interested to see what the coming months will bring, and look forward to seeing you all here.

    Session goals:
    1 Submit Jewel article: YES
    2 Submit film review: NO
    3 Submit four current book reviews: YES
    4 Draft Sweet for September submission: IN PROGRESS
    5 End the session with at least a solid outline for Tiny Project: MOSTLY
    6 Prepare to meet with Overlooked co-author in September: IN PROGRESS
    7 Draft abstract for Travel project: UNCERTAIN

    Last week’s goals:
    1 edit submitted book review: NO
    2 write all syllabi: YES (not that I had a choice!)
    3 make arrangements for reading group: NO
    4 add structure to Sweet paper and figure out lit review/methods: MOSTLY

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you make it to the sideline safely! I came to campus today, and it is complete mayhem out there.

      I know that you felt you struggled much of this session, Linda, but you got a lot done--one submission, one draft-in-progress, reviews done, and work on another article. Great job!

      Of course, I think of another topic now that this session is over. So many of us struggle with structure, it would be great to hear how people structure their "free" time.

      I'm looking forward to the next session as well.

      Delete
  8. Thanks very much, as always, to our hosts! I haven't been a very active commentator this session, but I've also enjoyed reading everyone else's updates. Thanks to you all for being here.

    I think that my most successful strategy this summer was to set the bar generally pretty low. It was refreshing to NOT insist upon Writing All The Things this summer, for a change. Instead, I *read* All The Things--well, one shelf of the things; I've got quite a few more, but it was a start.

    I really liked spending a lot of time reading, but I'm ready to ease off there (1-2 books a week, when they're academic monographs, begins to feel a bit overwhelming) and think about my own projects, present and future, once more. What's cool, though, is I've already had three conversations in which I can say that something I've read this summer--outside of my research area--might be useful for my interlocutor.

    Sitting remains an ongoing challenge, but it's at least entering into my consciousness on a more regular basis (which means that I'm not simply forgetting to do it so often).

    Session goals:
    1) Mini conference paper (Impatience) - DONE
    2) Amy abstract - DONE? I sent her an email. I probably need to revise the abstract to make it sound official, but it's not actually due until November.
    3) Wonder essay - Nearly ready for writing group; not ready for submission
    4) Read 16 books - YES!!
    5) Sit regularly; remember to start again - Started again and again. I think that this is my lot.
    6) Run 5 miles once this summer - Yes, on June 22.
    7) Make a photo album (I'm like 4 behind) - Yes; now I'm 3 behind.

    Last week’s goals:
    1. Revise 100-level syllabus for Diversity program I'm a part of - DONE, with much additional tinkering this week
    2. Dissertation - DONE at last (and defended)
    3. Read and give feedback on exam rationales for grad student - Yes
    4. Grad syllabus - No, but it's close
    5. Reread “Read”; make revision notes - Yes--drafted revision.
    6. Sit x 6 - x4, but that's better than x0, so.
    7. Exercise x 5 - x4 (The rain got the better of me)
    8. Complete anniversary book - YES
    9. Brew beer - YES
    10. Make a big pot of tomato soup - DONE and then some: We are well stocked with tomato soup, gazpacho, pizza sauce, and puttanesca
    11. Email catch-up: student publication; department party; TA mentoring - DONE (by Monday bedtime, anyway)

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    1. Wow, heu mihi, 16 academic monographs! I love to read, but that's beyond me, I'm sure. As Dame Eleanor said (last week, I think), a summer of reading was a great idea. I'm reading snippets (or one article) in many books this summer, and I find I want to read the whole thing, even if it isn't completely relevant to the dissertation.

      And you got a lot done beyond the reading, as well. As for last week, did you sleep at all, or were you making soup at 2am? An impressive list, and a good job making inroads on all of them.

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    2. Ditto what Elizabeth said, especially on the last week! And the summer of reading sounds like a great way to plant seeds for later growth. I'm glad it was rewarding.

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  9. Thanks so much, DEH and EAM for hosting. I dropped off the map a bit because of a revision deadline, some travel, and a illness. Also I just finished my third week of the semester (we start SO early and go SO long), so I'm just getting my feet back under me.

    1) Writing: Complete the bulk of the work for my online SF writing class,
    and, in addition to some short pieces, write 10,000 words of a novel. NOT DONE.
    3) Health: Keep moving my body while on the trip and throughout the summer,
    and make sure we often look for light and healthy food options and avoid the
    "three large meals a day" mentality that can happen while traveling or while visiting people. MEH.
    4) Reading: Read at least two books of academic criticism (one c18 and one SF) NOT DONE.
    and approximately 20 SF short stories (in addition to novel reading) NOT DONE.
    5) Money: Don't overspend (I know this is vague. I need to figure out how
    to frame this one.) NOT DONE.
    6) House: Clean "my section" of the garage, clean linen closet, clean out freezer,
    frame stuff and hang it, clean shelves and cabinet where my work stuff has piled
    up, clean out bathroom cabinets OMG, NOT DONE.
    7) Teaching: Prep for fall before I go to LA, clean out office. PARTIALLY DONE.

    Well, until looking back at this list, I was feeling pretty good! I think I set goals that were not realistic (for me) under the conditions of a six-week road trip with my family. And when I got back, I had to focus on the article revision, which I completed.

    I had a great trip with my family, including teenagers who don't have THAT many years before they fly the coop, and I got and R & R that I resubmitted. I'm going to say it was a good and productive summer. My standards might be low, but so be it.

    Last week’s goals:
    1) Rest as much as possible. DONE.
    2) Read three SF stories. NOT DONE.
    3) Write for 20 minutes x2. NOT DONE.

    I'm recovering from my illness, I just took a three-hour nap (I cannot remember when I last did that), and soon I will be ready to start fresh!!

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