the grid
Sunday, 30 December 2018
We'll be back next week!
As you wrap up your 2018 and look forward to planning for 2019, we'll be back next week with a new session of Top Left Quadrant. This will be a 12-week session and participants veteran and new are welcome to join!
Thursday, 27 December 2018
"The Blackberries are Definitely a Metaphor"
I found this post when I was cruising around the web recently, and thought it went well with our garden metaphors. So here it is, a bonus to the fall group, about the difference between blooming and fruiting:
https://crossknit.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/the-blackberries-are-definitely-a-metaphor/
"Last year I realized I had to do more than stop fighting. The blackberry bramble had gone everywhere, but I wasn’t getting any more blackberries than in the years when I’d tried to hold back the thorny tide.
"Last year, I treated the blackberries like I wanted them. I pruned them purposefully instead of whacking them back willy-nilly. Contained them to healthy cane, confined them to an area I wanted them in. Gave them things to grow on, and clipped away intrepid exploring vines that threatened to choke out the rosemary bush.
"Last year I gave the blackberries the same attention (my dad would call it benevolent neglect) that the rest of the yard gets; no more, no less.
"Last year, I couldn’t pick all the berries in time. I turned my hands purple daily. The Weimaraner learned to pick berries off the cane, carefully, with fuzzy dog lips rolled back from her front teeth. . .
"Sure, you can bloom where you’re planted. But sometimes you need a little help if you want to bear fruit, too."
https://crossknit.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/the-blackberries-are-definitely-a-metaphor/
"Last year I realized I had to do more than stop fighting. The blackberry bramble had gone everywhere, but I wasn’t getting any more blackberries than in the years when I’d tried to hold back the thorny tide.
"Last year, I treated the blackberries like I wanted them. I pruned them purposefully instead of whacking them back willy-nilly. Contained them to healthy cane, confined them to an area I wanted them in. Gave them things to grow on, and clipped away intrepid exploring vines that threatened to choke out the rosemary bush.
"Last year I gave the blackberries the same attention (my dad would call it benevolent neglect) that the rest of the yard gets; no more, no less.
"Last year, I couldn’t pick all the berries in time. I turned my hands purple daily. The Weimaraner learned to pick berries off the cane, carefully, with fuzzy dog lips rolled back from her front teeth. . .
"Sure, you can bloom where you’re planted. But sometimes you need a little help if you want to bear fruit, too."
Monday, 17 December 2018
September-December: Week 15
It's harvest time. Some of us have reaped what we sowed; some reaped the whirlwind; some seeds were blighted while others may just be awaiting a new season. Oceangirl had unexpected storms and a ravaged plot, but we'll gather round to offer neighbor(u)rly help and bring flowers we grew in other gardens.
I've tried to gather both the original session goals and the last posted goals, whether from last week or farther back. Apologies to anyone I've missed, and for not finding the midterm corrections, and for wonky formatting (I'm away from home, without all my usual programs). Let's think about the whole time: How have the last 15 weeks gone for you?
Bardiac
Session
Goals: revising a small paper, my sabbatical project (getting a solid draft of
a paper in place), working on and submitting my promotion materials.
Daisy
Last
posted goals
This
week I will finish the revisions for my accepted paper and get that sent off as
an early Christmas present to myself!
Session
goals:
1) Finish student paper with graduated student
2) Write Northern project paper
3) Write Pretty Area paper
4) Write at least part of Fiddly Methods paper, for sending to fiddly methods people to finish
5) Do all the data parts of ongoing joint project papers
2) Write Northern project paper
3) Write Pretty Area paper
4) Write at least part of Fiddly Methods paper, for sending to fiddly methods people to finish
5) Do all the data parts of ongoing joint project papers
DEH
Last
posted goals
1.
Health: the usual.
2. Teaching: finish grading for both classes.
3. Research: finish the introduction! Polish the conference abstract.
4. Life Stuff: deposit/bills, more Xmas shopping/cards, more trip planning/prep.
2. Teaching: finish grading for both classes.
3. Research: finish the introduction! Polish the conference abstract.
4. Life Stuff: deposit/bills, more Xmas shopping/cards, more trip planning/prep.
Session:
Live my life, i.e. try not to put things off b/c we want to move.
Finish the last set of revisions, answer queries about the translation in
a timely manner, return to book project.
Keep on top of teaching/grading/planning.
EAM
Last
posted goals:
Pack
for the trip.
Practice zen at every opportunity.
Unpack what I can from the office.
4 hours on the dissertation.
Practice zen at every opportunity.
Unpack what I can from the office.
4 hours on the dissertation.
Session
goals:
Plan re-entry from sabbatical, endeavoring to hold on to lessons learned.
Intersperse fun things.
Foster mindfulness.
Move--walk, do Tai Chi.
Create--write, knit, draw.
Plan re-entry from sabbatical, endeavoring to hold on to lessons learned.
Intersperse fun things.
Foster mindfulness.
Move--walk, do Tai Chi.
Create--write, knit, draw.
GEW
Last
posted goals:
Between
now and Dec. 21:
1) Finish grading and write rec letters.
2) Finish Christmas shopping and wrap presents.
3) Meet with co-instructor for SF class to plan syllabus.
4) Prep revisions to research/argument class.
5) Clean linen closet.
6) Clean garage piles.
7) Spend 2-3 hours drafting conference paper.
8) Pay bills
9) Prep for trip (pack, get house and notes ready for housesitters)
10) Walk 2x, Yoga 2x.
1) Finish grading and write rec letters.
2) Finish Christmas shopping and wrap presents.
3) Meet with co-instructor for SF class to plan syllabus.
4) Prep revisions to research/argument class.
5) Clean linen closet.
6) Clean garage piles.
7) Spend 2-3 hours drafting conference paper.
8) Pay bills
9) Prep for trip (pack, get house and notes ready for housesitters)
10) Walk 2x, Yoga 2x.
Session
Goals:
1) Be a gracious and helpful Drama Mama*
2) Do special outings with my son every 2-3 weeks
3) Read two SF criticism books
4) Access and read the year-in-review article for c18, and read one c18 monograph
5) Draft conference paper for spring (since next semester will be super busy)
6) Clean out my piles in the garage, clean linen closet, working on picture framing
7) Do NaNoWriMo (I want to do this but am not sure if I can)
8) Do final edits for accepted article
2) Do special outings with my son every 2-3 weeks
3) Read two SF criticism books
4) Access and read the year-in-review article for c18, and read one c18 monograph
5) Draft conference paper for spring (since next semester will be super busy)
6) Clean out my piles in the garage, clean linen closet, working on picture framing
7) Do NaNoWriMo (I want to do this but am not sure if I can)
8) Do final edits for accepted article
heu mihi
last
posted goals
1.
Language x 5, write x 4, sit x 4, exercise x 5.
2. 2500 words of Novel.
3. Solve thorny historical problem for Silence.
4. Spend at least 2 hours of daylight time neither working nor doing anything on this list.
2. 2500 words of Novel.
3. Solve thorny historical problem for Silence.
4. Spend at least 2 hours of daylight time neither working nor doing anything on this list.
Goals
for the term:
1. Submit Wonder.
2. Deal with other writing projects as they arise.
3. Write 30 minutes daily (M-F).
4. Language review daily (M-F).
5. Sit more.
6. Dillydally less.
2. Deal with other writing projects as they arise.
3. Write 30 minutes daily (M-F).
4. Language review daily (M-F).
5. Sit more.
6. Dillydally less.
Humming42
Last
posted goals
1
Write winter blog posts
2 Write 1000 words for Tiny Project
2 Write 1000 words for Tiny Project
Session
1
Finish and submit Sweet
2 Write 25000 words on Tiny Project
3 Submit way, way overdue film review
4 Make plans with Overlooked co-author
5 Write Snow short essays (left over from late winter)
6 Submit abstract for Pop
7 Submit abstract for Roads
8 Write lit review and methods section for Hashtag
2 Write 25000 words on Tiny Project
3 Submit way, way overdue film review
4 Make plans with Overlooked co-author
5 Write Snow short essays (left over from late winter)
6 Submit abstract for Pop
7 Submit abstract for Roads
8 Write lit review and methods section for Hashtag
JaneB
Last
posted goals
1)
write this year's "christmas letter"
2) wrap all the gifts I need to mail, and mail some of them
3) self-care: the usual
5) write talk for end of semester conference
6) work up diary now next semester's timetable is finally available!
2) wrap all the gifts I need to mail, and mail some of them
3) self-care: the usual
5) write talk for end of semester conference
6) work up diary now next semester's timetable is finally available!
Session
1)
write one grant application
2) Progress equivalent to one paper on publications.
2) Progress equivalent to one paper on publications.
3)
self-care - to re-establish adequate habits around sleep, water and food,
exercise, housework, sitting
4) self-care - financial. Sort out all the paperwork and re-establish a filing system of sorts and a more thoughtful budget.
5) self-care - Doing Things Other Than Work. NaNoWriMo, a substantial amount of handicraft progress, and continuing to explore bullet journalling or other ways of Making Marks On Paper Which Are Pleasing To Me.
6) teaching prep - have made reasonable progress on setting up new teaching and major revision of statistics handouts for the second trimester (say have a document which identifies the class topic/key outcomes and a couple of readings/activities identified for every new classroom session plus have at least half the statistics material done).
7) be kind to myself!
4) self-care - financial. Sort out all the paperwork and re-establish a filing system of sorts and a more thoughtful budget.
5) self-care - Doing Things Other Than Work. NaNoWriMo, a substantial amount of handicraft progress, and continuing to explore bullet journalling or other ways of Making Marks On Paper Which Are Pleasing To Me.
6) teaching prep - have made reasonable progress on setting up new teaching and major revision of statistics handouts for the second trimester (say have a document which identifies the class topic/key outcomes and a couple of readings/activities identified for every new classroom session plus have at least half the statistics material done).
7) be kind to myself!
Oceangirl101
Last
posted goals
get
back to my home in Arizona relatively unscathed by all of this and to figure
out my Christmas plans
Goals
for this session:
1. Complete one chapter of the book (writing and copy editing)
2. Submit one article (about 75% written)
3. Do teaching prep/grading as needed, and with more leeway time than normal the weeks I will be traveling to my Mom's
4. Do admin to get family leave for the Spring
5. Exercise 3 x a week
6. Call friends as needed (1 x a week or more) to get support with the ugly family stuff
7. Visit Mom once every 4 weeks, call daily to check in with her or her caregivers
2. Submit one article (about 75% written)
3. Do teaching prep/grading as needed, and with more leeway time than normal the weeks I will be traveling to my Mom's
4. Do admin to get family leave for the Spring
5. Exercise 3 x a week
6. Call friends as needed (1 x a week or more) to get support with the ugly family stuff
7. Visit Mom once every 4 weeks, call daily to check in with her or her caregivers
PlantGirl
Last
posted goals
1. Run at least once before TG and once after (if possible)
2. FL work x2 or 3
3. Read something for fun
4. Do something artsy again
5. Collate responses to book and organize notes in preparation for working on it again after TG
Waffles
Last
posted goals
1.
Draft of JAMA peds paper
2. Draft of review letter
3. Review of journal article
4. Read over mentor's feedback on F32 paper and make a plan
5. Abstract for atlanta conference
6. Make plan for K based on mock review feedback
2. Draft of review letter
3. Review of journal article
4. Read over mentor's feedback on F32 paper and make a plan
5. Abstract for atlanta conference
6. Make plan for K based on mock review feedback
Session
goals
1. PTSD
2. Aim 1
3. Asthma X2
4. YRBS
5. Diss
6. Methods paper
7. Journal review
2. Aim 1
3. Asthma X2
4. YRBS
5. Diss
6. Methods paper
7. Journal review
Sunday, 9 December 2018
September-December: Week 14
In this session, this is the last week for which we’ll set goals. In week 15, next week, we’ll report on session progress. Three months and a bit have gone by while we have cultivated our gardens! Here's a link to the post in which we posted session goals: http://topleftquad.blogspot.com/2018/09/september-december-week-one.html Judging by the small number of comments on the last post, this past week was one in which
many people were Overcome By Events. These things happen! I hope you
were getting things done and just not finding time to check in.
For discussion this week: favorite tips for time management or Getting Things Done? Or, from the other side, common advice that just doesn’t work for you?
About our next session: Humming42 has kindly offered to host. H42, are you up for doing that on your own, or would you like to share the job with someone else? IOW, there’s room for another organizer if we stick to the two-host format we’ve used for awhile now. Any takers?
Bardiac (held over)
1. Work on the paper. Write two pages (what's left of the week is short)
2. Practice!
Daisy (held over)
1) Finish all the half-done things from last week!
which includes:
1) Get the major figures for Northern Paper finished
2) Do point form discussion sections for each figure
3) Write my section for cool joint paper
DEH
1. Health: the usual.
2. Teaching: start grading undergrad final papers as they come in; order books for spring gen ed class. 3. Half an hour of spring class planning.
4. Research: finish the introduction! Polish the conference abstract.
5. Life Stuff: haircut, deposit/bills, Xmas shopping, trip planning, find an account number.
Elizabeth Anne Mitchell (held over)
Combine two earlier versions of the Introduction.
Read and annotate five articles.
GEW (held over)
1) Clean my stuff and kids' stuff from garage as much as possible.
2) Clean linen closet. (Buy some new towels as a reward?)
3) Chip away at research papers (at least 4-5 per day, with extras on Wednesday) while doing other daily TRQ grading and prep. Try to finish research papers by 12/3.
4) Walk at least twice.
heu mihi
1. Language x5, write x5, sit x5, exercise x5.
2. Write 2500 words of Novel.
3. Student work: Grade the papers that come in today; follow up with three or so Problem Students.
4. Keep on slogging towards the semester's finish line....
Humming42
1 Finish reading current review book
2 Write winter blog posts
3 Work on VSE abstract
JaneB
1) write this year's "christmas letter"
2) wrap all the gifts I need to mail, and mail some of them
3) self-care: the usual
4) prepare for the event (actually TRQ, but...)
5) draft talk for end of semester conference
6) grade the two small sets of work I have in right now (draft essay, interim report).
Oceangirl101
Make progress with estate organizing and prepping house for market
PlantGirl
1. Run at least once before TG and once after (if possible)
2. FL work x2 or 3
3. Read something for fun
4. Do something artsy again
5. Collate responses to book and organize notes in preparation for working on it again after TG
Waffles
1. Focus on F32 aim 1 paper
2. Abstract for APA
3. Make plan for K letters
4. IRB close out/renew
5. LOR for 2 of my mentees
For discussion this week: favorite tips for time management or Getting Things Done? Or, from the other side, common advice that just doesn’t work for you?
About our next session: Humming42 has kindly offered to host. H42, are you up for doing that on your own, or would you like to share the job with someone else? IOW, there’s room for another organizer if we stick to the two-host format we’ve used for awhile now. Any takers?
Bardiac (held over)
1. Work on the paper. Write two pages (what's left of the week is short)
2. Practice!
Daisy (held over)
1) Finish all the half-done things from last week!
which includes:
1) Get the major figures for Northern Paper finished
2) Do point form discussion sections for each figure
3) Write my section for cool joint paper
DEH
1. Health: the usual.
2. Teaching: start grading undergrad final papers as they come in; order books for spring gen ed class. 3. Half an hour of spring class planning.
4. Research: finish the introduction! Polish the conference abstract.
5. Life Stuff: haircut, deposit/bills, Xmas shopping, trip planning, find an account number.
Elizabeth Anne Mitchell (held over)
Combine two earlier versions of the Introduction.
Read and annotate five articles.
GEW (held over)
1) Clean my stuff and kids' stuff from garage as much as possible.
2) Clean linen closet. (Buy some new towels as a reward?)
3) Chip away at research papers (at least 4-5 per day, with extras on Wednesday) while doing other daily TRQ grading and prep. Try to finish research papers by 12/3.
4) Walk at least twice.
heu mihi
1. Language x5, write x5, sit x5, exercise x5.
2. Write 2500 words of Novel.
3. Student work: Grade the papers that come in today; follow up with three or so Problem Students.
4. Keep on slogging towards the semester's finish line....
Humming42
1 Finish reading current review book
2 Write winter blog posts
3 Work on VSE abstract
JaneB
1) write this year's "christmas letter"
2) wrap all the gifts I need to mail, and mail some of them
3) self-care: the usual
4) prepare for the event (actually TRQ, but...)
5) draft talk for end of semester conference
6) grade the two small sets of work I have in right now (draft essay, interim report).
Oceangirl101
Make progress with estate organizing and prepping house for market
PlantGirl
1. Run at least once before TG and once after (if possible)
2. FL work x2 or 3
3. Read something for fun
4. Do something artsy again
5. Collate responses to book and organize notes in preparation for working on it again after TG
Waffles
1. Focus on F32 aim 1 paper
2. Abstract for APA
3. Make plan for K letters
4. IRB close out/renew
5. LOR for 2 of my mentees
Sunday, 2 December 2018
September-December: Week 13
I want to begin by offering condolences to oceangirl101. Quite a few members of this group have ailing parents or have lost parents, and we are so sorry about your mother. We are thinking of you and glad you are part of this group.
<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
This week's topic:
A week or so ago, I came across this tweet:
Apparently, Amanda Brooke wraps up gifts to herself that she can open every time she gets 10,000 more words done on her book project. This seems kind of brilliant. In general, for many people, December is a time of gift giving, and often when I'm out shopping for others, I find a few things that I would like for myself. Normally, I'm not much of a shopper (except for books), but this time of year, I can be seduced by little fun things (like a necklace I found last weekend that has a pendant made from a piece cut out of an old library card). See these things I want also makes me think about rewards.
Do you plan to reward yourself for any of the things you've accomplished this session? Do you have reward strategies in place when you work? I'm wondering if for our next session, I should use Amanda Brooke's strategy and purchase and wrap my rewards ahead of time, labeling each of them with one of my session goals. That might get me going! How do you reward yourself, and do you need any new strategies?
December can be a difficult month, so I hope you're all able to find some shiny bits to keep you going this week!
P.S. Speaking of keeping us going, do we have one or two people who might be willing to host TLQ next session?
Bardiac (held over)
1. Work on the paper. Write two pages (what's left of the week is short)
2. Practice!
Daisy (held over)
1) Finish all the half-done things from last week!
which includes:
1) Get the major figures for Northern Paper finished
2) Do point form discussion sections for each figure
3) Write my section for cool joint paper
DEH
1. Health: the usual.
2. Research: finish the introduction to the translation.
3. Teaching: one set of short assignments; comment on grads’ drafts.
4. Life Stuff: bills etc for December, get siding fixed, book a trip with Sir John.
5. Admin: order books, program review contribution.
GEW
1) Clean my stuff and kids' stuff from garage as much as possible.
2) Clean linen closet. (Buy some new towels as a reward?)
3) Chip away at research papers (at least 4-5 per day, with extras on Wednesday) while doing other daily TRQ grading and prep. Try to finish research papers by 12/3.
4) Walk at least twice.*
heu mihi
1. Language x5, write x5, sit x5, exercise x4.
2. Gen Ed & HFA reviews (this all needs to happen, so it will).
3. Catch up on emails, for Pete's sake. Both accounts.
4. Finish NaNo.
5. Plan revisions to Silence.
humming42
1 Submit Archives abstract
2 Submit Road abstract
3 Two hours on winter blog posts
4 Finish reading current review book
JaneB (not sure if you wanted these carried forward, but here they are just in case)
1) keep NaNo-ing
2) self care - water, sugar minimising, NO WHITE BREAD or pastries, movement, sitting
3) an hour of TLQ writing or writing related work on top of care-and-feeding of ProblemChild2
<3(((oceangirl101)))<3
PlantGirl
1. Run at least once before TG and once after (if possible)
2. FL work x2 or 3
3. Read something for fun
4. Do something artsy again
5. Collate responses to book and organize notes in preparation for working on it again after TG
waffles
1. Focus on F32 aim 1 paper
2. Abstract for APA
3. Make plan for K letters
4. IRB close out/renew
5. LOR for 2 of my mentees
<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
This week's topic:
A week or so ago, I came across this tweet:
Apparently, Amanda Brooke wraps up gifts to herself that she can open every time she gets 10,000 more words done on her book project. This seems kind of brilliant. In general, for many people, December is a time of gift giving, and often when I'm out shopping for others, I find a few things that I would like for myself. Normally, I'm not much of a shopper (except for books), but this time of year, I can be seduced by little fun things (like a necklace I found last weekend that has a pendant made from a piece cut out of an old library card). See these things I want also makes me think about rewards.
Do you plan to reward yourself for any of the things you've accomplished this session? Do you have reward strategies in place when you work? I'm wondering if for our next session, I should use Amanda Brooke's strategy and purchase and wrap my rewards ahead of time, labeling each of them with one of my session goals. That might get me going! How do you reward yourself, and do you need any new strategies?
December can be a difficult month, so I hope you're all able to find some shiny bits to keep you going this week!
P.S. Speaking of keeping us going, do we have one or two people who might be willing to host TLQ next session?
Bardiac (held over)
1. Work on the paper. Write two pages (what's left of the week is short)
2. Practice!
Daisy (held over)
1) Finish all the half-done things from last week!
which includes:
1) Get the major figures for Northern Paper finished
2) Do point form discussion sections for each figure
3) Write my section for cool joint paper
DEH
1. Health: the usual.
2. Research: finish the introduction to the translation.
3. Teaching: one set of short assignments; comment on grads’ drafts.
4. Life Stuff: bills etc for December, get siding fixed, book a trip with Sir John.
5. Admin: order books, program review contribution.
GEW
1) Clean my stuff and kids' stuff from garage as much as possible.
2) Clean linen closet. (Buy some new towels as a reward?)
3) Chip away at research papers (at least 4-5 per day, with extras on Wednesday) while doing other daily TRQ grading and prep. Try to finish research papers by 12/3.
4) Walk at least twice.*
heu mihi
1. Language x5, write x5, sit x5, exercise x4.
2. Gen Ed & HFA reviews (this all needs to happen, so it will).
3. Catch up on emails, for Pete's sake. Both accounts.
4. Finish NaNo.
5. Plan revisions to Silence.
humming42
1 Submit Archives abstract
2 Submit Road abstract
3 Two hours on winter blog posts
4 Finish reading current review book
JaneB (not sure if you wanted these carried forward, but here they are just in case)
1) keep NaNo-ing
2) self care - water, sugar minimising, NO WHITE BREAD or pastries, movement, sitting
3) an hour of TLQ writing or writing related work on top of care-and-feeding of ProblemChild2
<3(((oceangirl101)))<3
PlantGirl
1. Run at least once before TG and once after (if possible)
2. FL work x2 or 3
3. Read something for fun
4. Do something artsy again
5. Collate responses to book and organize notes in preparation for working on it again after TG
waffles
1. Focus on F32 aim 1 paper
2. Abstract for APA
3. Make plan for K letters
4. IRB close out/renew
5. LOR for 2 of my mentees
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